JP2001138600A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the selection of a recording medium and controlling of recording so as to achieve an optimum result corresponding a kind of an image to be printed by a user when using one of the various types of printers which is utilized for a recorder such as a recorder having a function of a printer, a duplicator or a facsimile, or an output device for compound electronic instruments including a computer and a word processor and a work station. SOLUTION: A medium for a recording sheet P is conveyed before printing, and a kind and a size of the recording sheet P are recognized by a recognizing means, thereby performing the controlling of the recording suitable for the medium to be used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly to a recording apparatus capable of printing on various types and sizes of recording media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus having functions such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, or a recording apparatus used as an output device of a composite electronic device or a workstation including a computer or a word processor, etc. The image is recorded on a recording medium such as a thin film or a plastic thin plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial type printing apparatus employing a serial scanning system in which main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording medium, a recording means mounted on a carriage which moves along the recording medium. The image is recorded (main operation), a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance) after the recording of one line is completed, and then the image of the next line is recorded on the stopped recording medium (main operation). operation)
The above-described operation is repeated to perform the above-described recording on the recording medium.

On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the transport direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and after one line of recording is performed collectively, By performing a predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch conveyance) and repeating the operation of collectively recording the next line, the entire recording material is recorded.

[0005]

In an ink jet recording apparatus or the like capable of printing in various types and sizes, the user can select a recording medium, select recording control, etc., depending on the type and taste of an image to be printed. It is carried out.

However, the number of combinations of recording control for each recording medium is extremely large, which has confused general users. That is, in order to make full use of it, sufficient knowledge was required. On the other hand, operability has been improved by layering the menu of the printer driver, etc.
It is still a difficult situation for general users to master completely.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has as its object to provide means for solving these problems.

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing a recording apparatus described in any of the following items (1) to (8). is there.

(1) In a recording apparatus having a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium, and transporting means and guide means for transporting the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, the recording medium recognizing medium is fed. A recording medium for recognizing the type, size, and the like of the recording medium.

(2) In the recording apparatus having the recognition means for the front end and the rear end of the recording medium, by sending a recording medium for notifying the recording medium provided with a notch in the medium, the recognition means causes the medium to be recognized. The recording device according to (1), wherein the type, size, and the like of the recording medium are recognized.

(3) In the recording apparatus having detecting means for detecting a state of a printing surface on the recording medium, the detection is performed by sending a recording medium recognizing medium provided with an identification pattern on the medium surface. (1) wherein the type, size, etc. of the recording medium are recognized by means.
The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims.

(4) The recording apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the recording control optimal for the recording medium to be used is performed based on the recognition result.

(5) The recording apparatus according to the above (1), wherein information such as a print mode, dithering, color setting, and density can be recognized as the content of the recognition.

(6) The recording apparatus according to (1), wherein the recognition content is to return to a default mode by turning off the power of the recording apparatus and pressing a reset key.

(7) The recording apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the recording medium for recognizing the recording medium also serves as an auxiliary sheet for reliably feeding the paper in the automatic paper feeder.

(8) The recording apparatus according to the above item (1), wherein the recording medium for recognizing the recording medium also serves as a sheet feeding roller of an automatic sheet feeding apparatus and a cleaning sheet of a conveying roller of the recording apparatus main body. .

[0017]

According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, in a recording apparatus having a recording head for forming a recording image, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, and a guide means, the recording medium is recognized before printing. By sending media for
By recognizing the type and size of the recording medium by the recognizing means, it is possible to perform optimal recording control for the recording medium to be used.

It is to be noted that the recognizing means includes a tip of a recording medium,
A means for recognizing the rear end, by sending a medium for recording medium recognition provided with a notch in the medium, the recognition means detects the length of the notch, the type of recording medium,
The size and the like can be recognized.

Alternatively, the recognizing means is a detecting means for detecting a state of a printing surface on the recording medium, and the detecting means is provided by sending a recording medium recognizing medium having an identification pattern provided on the medium surface. Thus, the type, size, and the like of the recording medium can be recognized.

Further, information such as print mode dithering, color setting, and density can be recognized as the recognition contents.

The contents of the recognition can be returned to the default mode by turning off the power of the recording apparatus, pressing the reset key, and feeding a new recording medium for recognition.

Further, the recording medium for recognizing the recording medium can also serve as an auxiliary sheet for reliably feeding the paper in the automatic competition apparatus.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to recognize a recording medium and to perform optimal recording control for the recording medium by passing the recording medium through a recording apparatus before printing. Beginners, children, elderly people, and the like who have difficulty setting the recording control can easily obtain a desired print result.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail based on a plurality of examples with reference to the drawings.

[0025]

(Embodiment 1) The construction of a first embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A recording apparatus 1 having an automatic paper feeder includes a paper feed unit 2, a paper feed unit 3, a paper discharge unit 4, a carriage unit 5, and a cleaning unit 6. Therefore, these are divided into items for each section and outlines will be sequentially described. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the recording apparatus 1, FIG. 2 is a front view of the recording apparatus 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a medium for recognizing a recording medium according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus.

(A) Paper Feeding Unit The paper feeding unit 2 feeds a pressure plate 21 (FIG. 1, 3) on which a recording medium (hereinafter, “recording sheet P”) is loaded and a recording sheet P (FIG. 3). The paper rotating body 22 (FIG. 3) is used as the base 20 (FIG. 1).
It is configured to be attached to. A movable size guide 23 is movably provided on the pressure plate 21, and regulates a stacking position of the recording sheets P. The pressure plate 21 is rotatable about a rotation shaft connected to the base 20, and is urged to the feeding rotating body 22 by a pressure plate spring 24 (FIG. 3). A separation pad 25 made of a material having a large coefficient of friction, such as artificial leather, for preventing double feeding of the recording sheet P is provided at a portion of the pressure plate 21 facing the feeding rotating body 22.

Further, on the base 20, a separating claw 26 (FIG. 3) for covering a corner of the recording sheet P in one direction and separating the recording sheets P one by one, and a separating claw 26 of thick paper or the like cannot be used. A bank 27 integrally formed with the base 20 that separates the objects, the separating claw 26 operates in the plain paper position, and the switching lever 28 and the pressure plate 21 for switching so that the separating claw 26 does not operate in the thick paper position. A release cam 29 for releasing the abutment of the feed rotator 22 is provided.

In the above configuration, in the standby state, the release cam 29 (FIG. 3) pushes the pressure plate 21 down to a predetermined position. Thereby, the contact between the pressure plate 21 and the feeding rotating body 22 is released. In this state, when the driving force of the transport roller 36 is transmitted to the feed rotator 22 and the release cam 29 by a gear or the like, the release cam 29 is separated from the pressure plate 21, so that the pressure plate 21 rises, and Rotating body 2
The recording sheet P is brought into contact with the recording sheet P, the recording sheet P is picked up by the rotation of the feeding rotating body 22, starts feeding, is separated one by one by the separation claw 26, and is sent to the sheet feeding unit 3. . The feed rotating body 22 and the release cam 29
The recording sheet P rotates until the recording sheet P is fed into the feeding unit 3, and the recording sheet P is again brought into a standby state in which the contact between the recording sheet P and the feed rotator 22 is released.

(B) Paper Feeding Unit The paper feeding unit shown in FIG.
6 and a PE sensor 32. A driven pinch roller 37 is provided in contact with the transport roller 36. The pinch roller 37 is held by the pinch roller guide 30 and is urged by a pinch roller spring to press the pinch roller 37 on the transport roller 36 to generate a transport force for the recording sheet P.

Further, an upper guide 33 and a platen 34 for guiding the recording sheet P are provided at the entrance of the paper feeding section 3 to which the recording sheet P is conveyed. Further, the upper guide 33 is provided with a PE sensor lever 35 for transmitting the detection of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet P to the PE sensor 32. Further, a recording head 7 that forms an image based on image information is provided downstream of the transport roller 36 in the recording sheet transport direction.

In the above-described configuration, the recording sheet P sent to the sheet feeding unit 3 includes the platen 34 and the pinch roller guide 30.
Then, the sheet is guided by the upper guide 33 and sent to a pair of rollers including a transport roller 36 and a pinch roller 37. At this time, the PE sensor lever 35 detects the leading end of the conveyed recording sheet P, and thereby obtains the printing position of the recording sheet P. The recording sheet P is conveyed on the platen 34 by rotating the roller pairs 36 and 37 by an LF motor (not shown).

The recording head 7 (FIGS. 2 and 3) uses an easily replaceable ink jet recording head integrally formed with the ink tank. The recording head 7 can apply heat to the ink by a heater or the like. Then, the ink causes film boiling due to the heat, and the ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head by a pressure change caused by the growth or shrinkage of bubbles due to the film boiling, whereby an image is formed on the recording sheet P.

(C) Carriage section The carriage section 5 has a carriage 50 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) on which the recording head 7 is mounted. The carriage 50 has a guide shaft 81 and a carriage 50 for reciprocating scanning in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording sheet P.
Are supported by guide rails 82 that hold the rear end of the recording sheet 7 and maintain a gap between the recording head 7 and the recording sheet P.
Note that the guide shaft 81 and the guide rail 82 are attached to the chassis 8.

The carriage 50 is driven by a carriage motor 80 (FIG. 2) attached to the chassis 8 via a timing belt 83. The timing belt 83 is stretched and supported by an idle pulley 84. Furthermore, the electric board 9 is mounted on the carriage 50.
A flexible substrate 56 (FIG. 1) for transmitting a head signal from (FIG. 3) to the recording head 7 is provided.

In the above configuration, when an image is formed on the recording sheet P, the roller pairs 36 and 37 (FIGS. 1 and 3) convey the recording sheet P to the line position where the image is to be formed (the position in the conveying direction of the recording sheet P). At the same time, the carriage 50 is moved by the carriage motor 80 (FIG. 3) to the row position where the image is formed (the position perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording sheet P), and the recording head 7 is opposed to the image forming position. Thereafter, the recording head 7 ejects ink toward the recording sheet P in response to a signal from the electric substrate 9 to form an image.

(D) Paper Discharge Section In FIG. 3, the discharge section 4 is provided such that the transmission roller 40 comes into contact with the transport roller 36, and the transmission roller 40 comes into contact with the paper discharge roller 41. Accordingly, the driving force of the transport roller 36 is transmitted through the transmission roller 40 to the discharge roller 4.
1 is transmitted. Further, a spur 42 is in contact with the paper discharge roller 41 so that the spur 42 can rotate following the paper discharge roller 41. With the above configuration, the recording sheet P on which an image has been formed by the carriage unit 5 is nipped by the nip between the discharge roller 41 and the spur 42, conveyed, and discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

(E) Cleaning Unit The cleaning unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 uses a pump 60 for cleaning the recording head 7 (FIG. 3) and a driving force from a cap 61 for suppressing the drying of the recording head 7 and a conveying roller 36. It comprises a paper feed unit 2 and a drive switching arm 62 for switching to the pump 60. Drive switching arm 6
When the reference numeral 2 is other than paper feeding and cleaning, a planetary gear (not shown) that rotates about the axis of the transport roller 36 is fixed at a predetermined position, so that the driving force is transmitted to the paper feeding unit 2 and the pump 60. Not done.

When the drive switch arm 62 is moved by the movement of the carriage 50, the planetary gear becomes free. Therefore, the planetary gear moves in accordance with the forward and reverse rotation of the transport roller 36, and the transport roller 36 is moved. When the motor rotates forward, the driving force is transmitted to the paper feeding unit 2.
0 is transmitted to the driving force.

Based on the above configuration, various recording controls such as paper feed control, ink discharge amount control, carriage speed control, and paper feed control are performed according to various recording media, required image quality, and the like.

Next, a recording medium for recognizing a recording medium and a recognition method according to the present invention will be described: FIG. 4 shows a recording medium for recognizing a recording medium according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. In FIG. 4, when a normal recording medium is set, areas S, T, and U1 are areas through which the PE sensor lever 35 (FIG. 3) passes. And
The S, T, and U1 portions are holes formed by cutouts, and the lengths of the holes in the feeding direction are different depending on the recording medium.

Based on this configuration, the recording medium is set in an automatic paper feeder before printing, and the paper is fed by a resume key or the like. Then, the medium is pulled into the recording apparatus. At this time, after detecting the leading end of the medium by the PE sensor lever 35 (FIG. 3), the notch S end (FIG. 4) is detected.

In this normal recording medium, the medium is recognized as a medium for recognizing the recording medium by detecting the S end that cannot be recognized, and not the normal resume operation, but the notch length as follows. While checking the state, the printer enters a mode for feeding one sheet. Here, the feed amount from the S end to the end is measured by a timer or an LF motor (stepping motor).
Is recognized by the number of pulses. Subsequently, the T notch and the U1 notch are similarly recognized.

Here, the length of S is the type of recording medium, the length of T is the size of the recording medium, and the length of U is image quality selection. For example, the user purchases A4 size glossy paper and sends the recording medium recognition medium enclosed in the bag before printing, so that the S section recognizes that the paper is glossy paper and T The user can recognize that the document is A4 size.

As for the U portion, as shown in FIG. 4, by changing the feeding direction of the medium, U1 may be used for normal quality, U2 may be used for high quality, and two media for recording medium recognition may be used. It is also possible to set one of the sheets for normal quality and the other for high quality.

By recognizing various kinds of information of the recording medium in the above flow, sending this information to the host side and processing it,
At the time of printing, desired conditions can be set on the printer driver.

This setting is performed when the power of the recording apparatus is turned off,
By pressing the reset key to return to the default mode (plain paper mode), the settings are not forgotten to be released. Furthermore, if a predetermined recording medium is always used, setting on the driver is possible, and a user who has difficulty in this operation can register when the recording medium for recording medium recognition is sent three times in succession. Etc. may be used.

With the above configuration, the user does not need to perform any complicated setting of the printer driver, and can obtain a desired image quality on a recording medium to be recorded.

Further, it is possible to prevent printing out of the medium size having a large obstacle.

FIG. 5 shows an electric board 9, a carriage 5 and a power supply 11 for realizing the above-described configuration / action of the embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a configuration block diagram showing a relationship with 1 and detailed description of each configuration is omitted.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the recognition using the recording medium for notifying the recording medium provided with the notch has been described. However, here, the horizontal registration detection for reciprocating printing provided on the carriage 50 is described. Recognition by a reflection type optical sensor (not shown) will be described: FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a medium for recording medium recognition according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As with the first embodiment, this medium is provided with a notch in the PE sensor lever 35 of FIG. 3 and three black solid portions V, W, and 3 on the position row in the main scanning direction. X
Has been arranged. The length of this solid black portion in the main scanning direction is
As in the first embodiment, the type, size, and image quality selection of each recording medium are recognized.

Based on the above, the recording medium recognition medium is set in the automatic paper feeder, and is fed by the resume key. The information is sent to the solid portion, where the main scanning is performed, and the length of the black solid portion is recognized, whereby each information of the recording medium can be obtained.

According to the above configuration, as in the first embodiment, the user does not need to perform any complicated setting of the printer driver, and can obtain a desired image quality on a recording medium to be recorded.

(Embodiment 3) In the first and second embodiments described above, only the type, size, and image quality of the recording medium are selected.
It is also possible to give more detailed settings. For example, print mode for setting documents, graphics, photos, etc.
Dithering to set image processing pattern, error diffusion,
By using a medium for recognizing a recording medium with a sample image for black, yellow, magenta, cyan color settings, density settings, and the like, a desired print can be obtained very easily.

(Embodiment 4) Further, the role of an auxiliary sheet for securely feeding the above-described recording medium for the recording medium by the automatic paper feeder, and the feeding of the automatic paper feeder By also serving as a cleaning sheet for the roller and the transport roller of the recording apparatus main body, in addition to the above-described various effects, it is also possible to improve the reliability of transport of the automatic sheet feeding apparatus and the recording apparatus.

Each of the above embodiments is not limited to these, but includes the recognition of medium information by sending a medium to a recording device widely.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained: It is possible to perform optimal recording control for a recording medium without performing complicated settings such as paper settings and print mode settings on the host-side printer driver. Thus, a user can easily obtain a desired print.

Further, printing outside the medium size can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the configuration of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a medium for recognizing a recording medium according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a medium for recognizing a recording medium according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording device 2 Paper feed part 3 Paper feed part 4 Paper discharge part 5 Carriage part 6 Cleaning part 7 Recording head 8 Chassis 9 Electric board 20 Base 21 Pressure plate 22 Feed rotation body 24 Pressure plate spring 25 Separation pad 26 Separation claw 27 Bank part 29 Release cam 30 Pinch roller guide 32 PE sensor 33 Upper guide 34 Platen 36 Conveyance roller 37 Pinch roller 40 Transmission roller 41 Paper discharge roller 42 Spur 50 Carriage 56 Flexible board 60 Pump 61 Cap 62 Drive switching arm 80 Carriage motor 81 Guide shaft 82 Guide rail 83 Timing belt 84 Idle pulley 101 MPU 102 Gate array 103 RAM 104 ROM 105 CR motor driver 106 LF motor driver 107 LF motor P Recording medium The recording sheet)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium; and transport means and guide means for transporting the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. A recording medium for recognizing a type, a size, and the like of the recording medium. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said recording apparatus has a recording medium recognizing means for recognizing a leading end and a trailing end of said recording medium. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a type, a size, and the like of the medium are recognized. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit configured to detect a state of a printing surface on the recording medium, wherein the detecting unit transmits a recording medium recognizing medium provided with an identification pattern on the medium surface. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of the recording medium, the size, and the like of the recording medium are recognized. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording control optimal for the recording medium to be used is performed based on the recognition result. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information such as a print mode, dithering, color setting, and density can be recognized as the content of the recognition. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognition content is to return to a default mode by turning off the power of the recording apparatus and pressing a reset key. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium for recognizing the recording medium also serves as an auxiliary sheet for surely feeding the sheet by an automatic sheet feeding apparatus. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium for recognizing a recording medium also serves as a sheet feeding roller of an automatic sheet feeding apparatus and a cleaning sheet of a conveying roller of the recording apparatus main body.