JP2001158168A - Recording medium and image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium and an image recorder capable of stably detecting and reducing a manufacturing cost by decreasing the labor hour and the time in the case of manufacturing. SOLUTION: In the recording medium for recording an image, medium information of the medium is provided at the end face of the medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc. and a recording medium applied to the image recording apparatus, and more particularly to a means for identifying the type of the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For the purpose of improving image quality, a recording medium applied to an image recording apparatus of an ink jet system or the like includes, for example, improving ink penetration to improve ink bleeding, ink fixing time, In order to improve the color development of paper, coated paper with an ink receiving layer on the recording surface of the recording medium, or to give the recording medium after recording a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) )), And various recording media according to image recording such as OHP sheets and iron-printed paper, and glossy paper with a glossy recording surface and increased media thickness. ing. Normally, the image recording apparatus controls the ink ejection amount, the density, the ink ejection amount, and the ejection pattern on each of the recording media according to the plurality of types of recording media so that optimal image recording can be performed. I have.

Heretofore, it has been common practice for a user to identify these recording media, and to input recording media information to an image recording apparatus by operating a printer driver by the user. However, since the operation is relied on the user, a mistake in the user's operation makes it impossible to set the optimal recording conditions for the recording medium to be used, and cannot obtain a desired recording result,
In some cases, expensive specialty paper such as coated paper or glossy paper is wasted.

On the other hand, conventionally, an image recording apparatus is provided with a sensor comprising a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, and the recording medium is identified by irradiating the recording medium with light, based on the reflectance of the surface of the recording medium and the light transmittance. was there.

[0005] Further, there is a type in which medium information indicating the properties of a recording medium is formed in a part of the recording medium. For example,
183770, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-030073, medium information is provided outside or on the back surface of a recording surface of a recording medium, and the image recording apparatus is provided with a unit for detecting the medium information to perform recording control in accordance with the detected information. There was something to do.

[0006]

However, if the identification is performed using the reflectance or light transmittance of the surface of the recording medium, it is easily affected by a change in the distance between the recording medium and the detecting means. Further, it is difficult to adjust the intensity of light and the focus of the light emitting unit, and thus it is difficult to obtain a stable detection result.

Further, if the medium information is provided outside the recording area of the recording surface of the recording medium or on the back surface, the medium information must be added to each recording medium during the production of the recording medium. In addition, there is a problem in that it takes a lot of time and costs to manufacture the recording medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium and an image recording apparatus capable of performing stable detection and reducing manufacturing costs by reducing labor and time for manufacturing.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a typical configuration of a recording medium according to the present invention is a recording medium for recording an image, wherein medium information about the recording medium is stored in an end face of the recording medium. It is characterized by being provided in.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a recording medium and an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a recording medium according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of adding medium information to the recording medium, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image recording apparatus.

(Recording Medium) As shown in FIG. 1, a recording medium S according to the present embodiment has media information A1, A2, B1, B2 which are information on the recording medium S provided on end faces S1, S2. is there.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the process of adding the medium information A1, A2, B1, B2 to the recording medium S at the time of manufacturing the recording medium S, first, a number of recording media S are aligned and stacked. To make the end surfaces S1 and S2 look like one surface.
Then, the end surfaces S1, S in such a state as to become this one surface
2, the media information A1, A2, B1, and B2 are attached to the end faces S1, S2.
Perpendicularly from the uppermost recording medium S to the lowermost recording medium S at once.

With this configuration, when the recording media S are loaded, the media information A1, A2, B
1. Since B2 is added, the labor and time required for manufacturing can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Here, the media information A1, A2, B1, B2
Is an ultraviolet ink that becomes visible by irradiating light of a specific wavelength such as ultraviolet light, and is invisible information that is normally invisible to human eyes. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a problem that the image becomes difficult to see due to the overlap with the recorded image.

The medium information A1, A2, B1, B2 is
Invisible information such as magnetism may be used, and an effect similar to that of ultraviolet ink can be obtained. Also, by recording the media information A1, A2, B1, B2 in a bar code, stable detection of the media information A1, A2, B1, B2 can be easily performed, and the media information A1, A2, B1, B2 can be detected. Troubles such as detection errors can be effectively prevented.

The media information A1, A2, B1, and B2 include information indicating the size and type of the recording medium S. Thus, when a recording medium S having a different size from the recording medium S specified by the user is loaded, an error can be displayed before image recording. Further, by detecting the type of the recording medium S, it is possible to control the amount of ink ejection, the density, the amount of ejection, and the pattern of ejection, and to perform optimal image recording on the recording medium S.

The media information A1 and A2 are provided so as to be symmetrical by 180 degrees with respect to the center of the recording medium S. Accordingly, even when the recording medium S is set in the image recording apparatus upside down, the medium information A2 can be reliably detected.

When the recording medium S can be recorded on both sides, the medium information A1 and B1 are provided so that the medium information A2 and B2 are similarly symmetrical about the center in the width direction of the recording medium S. . Accordingly, the medium information B1 can be detected even when the recording medium S is set upside down in the image recording apparatus, and even when the recording medium S is set up in the image recording apparatus upside down and back and forth. Information B2 can be detected.

When the recording medium S can be recorded on only one side, information indicating that the recording medium S is on the back side is included in the medium information B1 and B2. Thereby, when the recording medium S is set upside down in the image recording apparatus, the recording medium S
Can be detected as being upside down, and it is possible to prevent the recording medium S from being wastefully consumed by stopping the image recording.

(Image Recording Apparatus) Image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, the recording media S stacked on the feed stacker 2 are fed to a feed roller 3 that is driven by being connected to a pulse motor 10.
Is supplied to the detecting means 9 and the recording means.

The detecting means 9 is provided upstream of the recording means in the transport direction. The detection means 9 emits light, irradiates the medium information A1, A2, B1, and B2 of the recording medium S with light of a specific wavelength such that the ultraviolet ink reacts, and receives and reads the reflected light to read the medium information A1, A2, B1, B
2 is detected.

The recording medium S from which the information has been detected reaches the nip between the transport roller 4 and the pinch roller 5. Here, the transport roller 4 is rotated by a transport motor (not shown) which is a driving source, and the recording medium S is transported to the discharge unit while the image is recorded by the recording unit.

In the recording means, an ink jet recording head 6 is removably mounted on a carriage 7. The carriage 7 is supported by a timing belt (not shown), and is driven by a carriage motor, which is a driving source, so that the carriage 7 is guided by the guide shaft 8 and reciprocally scans in the main scanning direction (the direction of arrow A). And the recording medium S
The ink is ejected from the recording head 6 in accordance with the conveyance by the conveyance means, and the image is recorded.

In the discharging means, the recording medium S on which the image is recorded is discharged out of the image recording apparatus by a discharge roller and a spur roller (not shown).

When the medium information A1, A2, B1, B2 is magnetic, it is detected by using the detecting means 9 as a head for reading it. Further, the detecting means 9 can be suitably used not only in the image recording apparatus 1 but also in, for example, a reading device for reading a document.

[0026]

As described above, in a recording medium for recording an image, medium information about the recording medium is provided on the end face of the recording medium. As a result, since the medium information is added to a number of recording media at a time in a state where the recording media are stacked, the labor and time required for manufacturing can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The medium information is invisible information such as ultraviolet ink and magnetism. This can prevent the recorded image from being disturbed.

Further, by recording the medium information as a bar code, the medium information can be easily detected, and troubles such as a detection error of the medium information can be effectively prevented.

Information indicating the size of the recording medium is included in the medium information. Thus, when a recording medium different in size from the recording medium desired by the user is used, an error can be displayed before image recording, and it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being wasted.

The information indicating the type of the recording medium is included in the medium information. Accordingly, it is possible to control the ink ejection amount, the density, the ejection amount, and the ejection pattern to perform the optimal image recording on the recording medium.

The medium information is provided so as to be symmetric with respect to the center of the recording medium by 180 degrees. This makes it possible to detect medium information even when the recording medium is set in the image recording apparatus upside down.

Medium information is provided so as to be symmetrical about the center in the width direction of a recording medium recordable on both sides. Thereby, even when the recording medium is set upside down in the image recording apparatus, the medium information can be detected.

Since one side of the medium information provided symmetrically at the center in the width direction of the recording medium includes information indicating that the recording medium is the back side, the recording medium is set upside down in the image recording apparatus. In this case, it is possible to detect that the recording medium is upside down, and it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being wastefully consumed by stopping the image recording.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording medium according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of adding medium information to a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A1, A2, B1, B2 ... medium information S ... recording medium S1, S2 ... end face 1 ... image recording device 2 ... feeding stacker 3 ... feeding roller 4 ... transport roller 5 ... pinch roller 6 ... recording head 7 ... carriage 8 ... Guide shaft 9 ... Detection means 10 ... Pulse motor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium for recording an image, wherein medium information about the recording medium is provided on an end face of the recording medium. 2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said medium information is invisible information. 3. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said invisible information is ultraviolet ink or magnetism. 4. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said medium information is recorded as a bar code. 5. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the medium information includes information indicating the size of the recording medium. 6. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the medium information includes information indicating a type of the recording medium. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the medium information is centered on a recording medium.
7. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is provided so as to be symmetric with respect to 180 degrees. 8. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said medium information is provided symmetrically with respect to a center in a width direction of the recording medium. 9. The recording medium according to claim 8, wherein one of media information provided symmetrically at the center in the width direction of the recording medium includes information indicating the back side. 10. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a detection unit for detecting medium information of the recording medium according to claim 1. Description: