JP2001315318A - Ink jet recorder and ink jet recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an ink jet printer which can form a good image without requiring any intricate interpolation processing, e.g. alteration of mask pattern or the number of pass, even when a nonejection nozzle is detected. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder comprises means for detecting a nozzle 408X in nonejection state among a plurality of nozzles 408, means for setting an optimal ejection quantity of a nozzle 408Y1 adjacent to a nonejection nozzle detected by the nonejection nozzle detecting means, and means for controlling ejection of a nozzle adjacent to the nonejection nozzle 408X based on a set value set by the ejection quantity setting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method for performing recording by discharging ink from discharge ports formed in a plurality of nozzles. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method that enable detection.

[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 multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer or a word processor, etc., is made of paper or plastic based on image information. Recording sheets such as thin plates (for example, sheets used for OHP) (hereinafter, also referred to as recording media)
Is configured to record an image. Such a recording apparatus is classified into a recording method such as an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, and a laser beam type according to a recording method of a recording unit to be used.

Among these recording methods, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) discharges ink from an ink jet recording head (hereinafter also referred to as a recording head) as recording means onto a recording medium such as a recording sheet. This makes it easy to make the recording means compact, and can record high-definition images at high speed. Furthermore, printing can be performed on plain paper without the need for special processing, so running costs are low.Because of the non-impact method, noise during printing operation is low, and multicolor inks are used. This makes it easy to record a color image.

There are several methods in such an ink jet recording system. One of them is to provide a heating element for applying thermal energy to ink in a nozzle, and to generate heat in the nozzle by the heat of the heating element. There is a bubble jet (registered trademark) recording method in which ink is ejected from a nozzle using foaming energy generated when a bubble is generated in the ink. Here, the heating element as a recording element for generating energy for discharging ink can be manufactured using a semiconductor manufacturing process. for that reason,
An ink jet recording head using a bubble jet recording method has a configuration in which a recording element is formed on an element substrate made of a silicon substrate, and a top plate having a groove for forming an ink flow path formed thereon is joined thereto. Has become. The top plate is made of resin such as polysulfone, glass, or the like.

Further, utilizing the fact that the element substrate is made of a silicon substrate, not only the recording element is formed on the element substrate but also a driver for driving the recording element and the recording element are controlled in accordance with the temperature of the recording head. In some cases, a temperature sensor used in such a case, a drive control unit of the temperature sensor, and the like are formed on an element substrate.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-256883 discloses an example of a substrate for the above-described ink jet recording head. FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a conventional substrate for an ink jet recording head disclosed in that publication.

In FIG. 9, a heating element 101 as a recording element for applying thermal energy for ink ejection to ink is disposed on an element substrate 100 which is a substrate for a recording head. A power transistor (driver) 102 for driving each heating element 101 is provided for a plurality of heating elements (printing elements) 101 arranged in parallel. Further, on the element substrate 100, a shift register 104, a latch circuit 103, and a plurality of AND gates 115 are formed. Shift register 104
Receives serially image data from the outside via a terminal 106, and inputs a serial clock synchronized with the image data from a terminal 105 to hold image data for one line. The latch circuit 103 latches one line of image data output in parallel from the shift register 104 in synchronization with a latch clock (latch signal) input via a terminal 107, and To be transferred in parallel. Multiple AND gates 11
5 is provided corresponding to the power transistor 102, and applies an output signal of the latch circuit 103 to the power transistor 102 in response to an external enable signal. 108 is a power transistor 1 as a driving element
02 is a drive pulse width input (heat pulse) terminal for controlling the ON time of 02, that is, the time for driving the heating element 101 by supplying a current from outside the recording head unit. 10
Reference numeral 9 denotes a terminal for inputting a driving power supply (5 V) for a logic circuit such as the latch circuit 103 and the shift register 104. Further, a ground terminal 110, a terminal 112 for driving and monitoring the sensor 114, and the like are provided. Thus, the terminals 105 to 112 formed on the substrate 100
Is an input terminal for inputting image data and various signals from the outside.

Further, a sensor 114 such as a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the element substrate 100 or a resistance sensor for measuring the resistance value of each heating element 101 is formed on the element substrate 100. As mentioned above, the driver,
A head in which a temperature sensor, its drive control unit, and the like are configured on an element substrate has been put to practical use, and contributes to improvement in the reliability of a recording head and miniaturization of an apparatus.

In such a configuration, image data input as a serial signal is converted into a parallel signal by the shift register 104 and is held in the latch circuit 103 in synchronization with a latch clock. In this state, when a drive pulse signal (enable signal for the AND gate 115) of the heating element 101 is input via the input terminal 107, the power transistor 102 is turned on in accordance with image data, and the corresponding heating element 10
A current flows through 1 to generate heat energy. A top plate is joined to the element substrate 100 to form a liquid flow path (also referred to as a nozzle) for discharging ink and a common liquid chamber communicating with the liquid flow path. With this configuration, the ink stored in the ink tank (also referred to as an ink storage unit) is supplied to each nozzle via the common liquid chamber, and stable supply of the ink is achieved. As described above, the ink in the liquid flow path (nozzle) is heated by the thermal energy generated by driving the heating element, and the ink is ejected as droplets from the ejection port at the tip of the nozzle.

Here, one of the important points for performing stable printing or the like is the presence or absence of ink at the time of printing in the common liquid chamber in the head or in each nozzle. In other words, when the amount of ink in the ink tank is low, or when air is mixed into the nozzle from the nozzle tip or when bubbles generated in the common liquid chamber move to the nozzle, the ink becomes stable. And it becomes difficult to discharge the recording paper, which may degrade the recording quality. For example, when a situation occurs in which it is difficult to stably eject ink only to a specific nozzle among a plurality of nozzles provided in an ink jet recording head and the nozzle becomes a defective nozzle, recording by the defective nozzle is performed. Is not performed, a portion where the recording is not performed in the recorded image occurs in a stripe shape. In addition, when the amount of ink in the common liquid chamber becomes low, ink may be supplied to only some of the nozzles. Similarly, the recording quality is degraded.

Conventionally, in order to detect such a state in which a defective nozzle causes partial non-ejection of ink,
There has been proposed a method for detecting the state of ink in a common liquid chamber or a nozzle, particularly the presence or absence of ink.

For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 58-118267 proposes a method of detecting the presence or absence of ink for each of a plurality of nozzles arranged in an ink jet recording head. That is, in the case of this method, in order to detect the presence / absence of ink in each nozzle, a temperature detecting element whose resistance changes due to heat is arranged in each nozzle separately from the recording element. Then, when the ink in the nozzle is exhausted, utilizing the fact that the rate of change in temperature rise near the nozzle due to heat generation of the heating element as a printing element is utilized, the temperature rise change is detected by a temperature detecting element. Thus, the presence or absence of ink is detected.

In the configuration disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-118267, an element or a sensor capable of detecting the temperature is arranged for each nozzle in order to directly confirm the temperature near the nozzle. Further, it is necessary to arrange the temperature detecting element and the driving element for driving the sensor in the nozzle or on the head substrate. Such a configuration can be effectively applied to a print head in which nozzles are large and nozzles are arranged at a relatively low density.

However, in recent years, there has been a demand for achieving higher-speed and higher-definition printing. To meet such demands, the number of nozzles arranged in an ink jet printing head has to be increased, and Higher recording density is being promoted year by year by arrangement.

In such a substrate for an ink jet print head in which nozzles are arranged at a high density, a temperature detecting element or a sensor is disposed inside or near the nozzle in correspondence with each printing element, It is becoming difficult to arrange driving elements for driving sensors and sensors on a substrate. The same applies to the case where the number of nozzles is increased, and the number of elements arranged on the substrate is also increased, so that the chip size of the substrate for the inkjet recording head is increased, or the sensor element and other circuits are electrically connected. This leads to a multi-layered wiring layer for
This will increase the complexity of the structure on the substrate and increase the manufacturing cost of the chip.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-118267 does not specify the structure of a detecting terminal for electrically connecting a temperature detecting element to the outside of the head. If the corresponding detection terminals are provided on the substrate, the number of terminals required for the head increases. Furthermore, various parts such as an increase in the number of wirings such as a flexible substrate for electrically connecting the head and the printing apparatus, and an increase in the number of elements on the printing apparatus main body for individually controlling signals in those wirings, etc. In this case, the size of the apparatus is increased, and it is difficult to avoid an increase in cost.

In the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-118267, a temperature change is detected, and the recording method to which the detection method can be applied is a heating element that generates heat energy. There is also a restriction that the recording method is limited to a recording method used as a recording element.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a recording element for supplying energy for discharging ink in the nozzles to the ink jet recording head substrate, a driving element for driving the recording element, and a driving element for driving the recording element. There is proposed an ink jet recording apparatus provided with an electrode capable of detecting a voltage change between the recording element and the driving element through ink in a nozzle. According to this, the ink in the print head can be detected with a very simple configuration without using a temperature sensor or the like, and can be widely applied to a printing method using a printing element other than a heating element. It has become something.

By detecting the state of ink supply into the nozzles, it is possible to determine whether or not the nozzles are in a state in which ink can be ejected properly. Based on the determination result, the recording operation is performed. Is controlled to optimize the formed image.

[0020]

However, after detecting a non-ejection nozzle as described above, conventionally, the non-ejection nozzle is complemented by changing the mask pattern or the number of passes based on the detection result. Has been performed, the processing for that is complicated, and there is a disadvantage that much time is required. In particular, when the above-described complementing process is performed when a non-ejection nozzle is detected during a printing operation, there is a problem that a large amount of time is required and the throughput is significantly reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Even when a non-ejection nozzle is detected,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of forming a good image without a complicated process such as changing a mask pattern or changing the number of passes.

[0022]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus including an ink jet recording head for performing recording on a predetermined recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports formed in a plurality of nozzles, Non-discharge nozzle detecting means for detecting a non-discharge nozzle in a non-discharge state among the plurality of nozzles, and discharge amount setting for setting an appropriate discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to the non-discharge nozzle detected by the non-discharge nozzle detection means Means, and a discharge control means for controlling discharge of a nozzle adjacent to the non-discharge nozzle based on a set value by the discharge amount setting means.

Here, the discharge amount setting means sets an appropriate discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to at least one side of the non-discharge nozzle, or sets a proper discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to both sides of the non-discharge nozzle. It is assumed that an appropriate discharge amount is set. Further, the ejection amount setting means sets a predetermined reference ink ejection amount as an appropriate ink ejection amount for a nozzle not adjacent to the non-ejection nozzle, while, for a nozzle adjacent to the non-ejection nozzle, When it is necessary to discharge ink from a non-discharge nozzle When setting a corrected ink discharge amount obtained by adding a fixed value to the reference ink discharge amount as an appropriate discharge amount and dispensing with ink discharge from a non-discharge nozzle The reference ink ejection amount is set as an appropriate ejection amount.

In addition, the ink jet recording head may include:
A recording element for supplying energy for discharging ink, a driving element for driving the recording element, and a voltage change between the recording element and the driving element generated according to the driving of the recording element. And a detection electrode that can be detected via ink on the substrate for an inkjet recording head. ,
The non-ejection detecting means may drive the recording element and detect a supply state of the ink into the ink jet recording head based on a voltage change detected by the detection electrode when the recording element is driven. .

The non-ejection nozzle detection means can detect a non-ejection nozzle during a non-printing operation or during a printing operation. For example, in an ink jet recording apparatus having the above ink jet substrate, the non-ejection detecting means drives the recording element and detects the ink supply state each time before the start of scanning of the carriage accompanying the recording operation, or the like. , Or every other scan.

Further, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording method for performing recording on a predetermined recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports formed in a plurality of nozzles. Detecting the non-discharge nozzle in the state, setting an appropriate discharge amount of the nozzle adjacent to the detected non-discharge nozzle, and controlling the discharge amount of the nozzle adjacent to the non-discharge nozzle based on the set discharge amount. It is characterized by.

[0028]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a substrate for an ink jet recording head to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part necessary for describing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration of elements and terminals shown in FIG. 1 and the number thereof.

The basic configuration of the ink jet recording head substrate shown in FIG. 1 is such that a detection electrode 118 used for detecting ink is added to the ink jet recording head substrate 100 described with reference to FIG. This is the configuration. It can be clearly seen from the figures that the invention can be implemented without significant complications compared to conventional configurations. The detection electrode 118 is formed on the protective film 4 as described later.
05, the anti-cavitation film 205, and ink in the nozzles are AC-coupled to the drive circuit of the heater 101. Reference numeral 116 in FIG. 1 denotes an AC coupling portion, which forms an equivalent circuit as a capacitor as shown in FIG. A portion surrounded by a dotted line B in FIG. 11 is a portion in the nozzle where the electric resistance changes according to the amount of the ink, as described later, and D in FIG.
The driving signal from the gate 115 is shown.

The basic structure of the present invention and the principle of detection for each nozzle will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the substrate for an ink jet recording head shown in FIG. 1, and shows a schematic layout of elements, electrodes, terminals and the like provided on the substrate. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a top plate for forming discharge ports and nozzles is joined to the inkjet recording head substrate shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also,
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the substrate and the nozzles in a state where the top plate is bonded to the substrate for the inkjet recording head. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line aa in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state of the voltage of each part on the substrate for an ink jet recording head when the heating element as the recording element is driven in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the substrate for an ink jet recording head of the present invention viewed from above, and mainly shows a characteristic configuration of the present invention. As in FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 shown in FIG. 2 denotes a heating element used as a printing element (hereinafter, referred to as a heating element).
The driver 10 is a driving element.
2 driven. Reference numeral 203 denotes a wiring that connects between one end of the heater 101 and the driver 102;
Reference numeral 1 denotes a wiring for supplying a power supply voltage to the other end of the heater 101. 4, a protective film 405 (protective layer) that is electrically insulated is formed on the heater 101, and an anti-cavitation film 205 is provided above the heater 101 via the protective film 405. Are located.
In FIG. 2, the heater 101 and the driver 102
The illustration of the protective film 405 is omitted in order to explain the arrangement of the components. Further, the ink jet recording head described in the present embodiment generates bubbles in the ink in the nozzles by the thermal energy generated when the heater 101 is driven, and discharges the ink by the growth pressure of the bubbles.
(See FIGS. 3 and 4), which employs a so-called bubble jet method. The above-described anti-cavitation film 205 causes the shock when bubbles generated at the time of discharging ink contract when the heater 101 and the protection film 40 are exposed.
5, and is made of a high melting point metal such as tantalum.
Reference numeral 118 denotes an electrode wiring provided for detecting ink.
Reference numeral 117 denotes an external terminal provided at an end of the electrode wiring 118 for electrically connecting the electrode wiring 118 to the outside of the substrate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the characteristic structure of the substrate for an ink jet recording head according to the present invention includes a structure in which a cavitation resistant film 205 is divided for each heater (recording element) 101 and a driver 102. The detection electrode 118 is laid out at a position separated from the wiring 203 between the heater 101 and the driver 102. The detection electrode 118 can be formed as a wiring pattern.

How to detect the presence or absence of ink in the nozzles in the configuration of the ink jet recording head substrate shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As described above, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the top plate 314 is joined to the substrate 100 for an ink jet recording head.
The nozzle portion 408 (see FIG. 4) and the common liquid chamber 311 are formed by bonding the nozzles 408 and 0. In FIG. 3, the configuration of the wall member above the top plate 314 is indicated by a dotted line in order to explain the configuration of the nozzle unit 408 and the common liquid chamber 311. Further, as shown in FIG.
5 is an anti-cavitation film. Further, as described above, since the heater 101 which is a recording element is located below the anti-cavitation film 205 and the insulating protective film 405 is formed on the heater 101, the heater 101 is not used in FIG. Not shown. The same applies to the driver 102 for driving the heater 101, which is not shown in FIG.

In the present invention, a portion of the heater 101 (not shown in FIG. 3) including the cavitation-resistant film 205 separately provided for each nozzle, and the driver 102
(Not shown in FIG. 3), the nozzle portion 408 formed by the nozzle wall 312, and the detection electrode 118 for detecting ink.
And the relationship becomes important.

In FIG. 4, the power supply section 111
Is supplied to the heater 101 in accordance with switching by the driver 102 to generate thermal energy. Bubbles are generated in the nozzles by the heat energy, and ink is ejected from the ejection ports 310.

Here, before the heater 101 is driven by the switching of the driver 102, that is, at the time when the driver 102 is turned off, the heater 10
1, the potential of the wiring 203 between the heater 101 and the driver 102, and the potential of a part of the wiring on the driver 102 (the part on the heater 101 side from the portion of the driver 102 that functions as a switch) Power supply wiring 1
11 is the same as the potential. In addition, the ink (generally conductive because of the presence of ions in the ink components) is electrically floating, that is, the ink is in a DC high impedance state with respect to GND. In some cases, the protective film 405 becomes an electrically insulating film.
The potential of the upper anti-cavitation film 205 is in an electrically floating state like ink, that is, in a DC high impedance state with respect to GND (ground). Similarly, the potential of the detection electrode 118 is basically in an electrically floating state, and the potential is substantially determined by the input impedance of a device connected to detect the potential of the detection electrode 118. In the case of this example, in order to detect the potential of the detection electrode 118, the voltage monitors M and 1M to 10M are connected between the detection electrode 118 and GND as shown in FIG.
MΩ resistors were connected in parallel. Therefore, before the heater 101 is driven, the detected potential becomes 0 V.

On the other hand, when the heater 101 is driven, that is, when the driver 102 switches (ON) so as to connect the wiring 203 to GND, a current naturally flows through the heater 101. At this time, the potential of the heater 101 decreases as it approaches the driver 102 side, and the wiring 203 between the heater 10 and the driver 102 and the driver 102
The potential of the upper partial wiring rapidly drops to almost the GND level. In FIG. 4, a portion surrounded by a dotted line A is
This shows a portion where the voltage drops sharply when the heater 101 is driven. When the voltage drops as described above, the protective film 405, which has worked as an insulating film in terms of direct current, functions as a dielectric film of the capacitor, so that the protective film 405 is provided from the heater 101 to the driver 102 via the protective film 405. It has been found that a potential change is transmitted to the anti-cavitation film 205 and the ink positioned thereon in an alternating manner. Therefore, the ink is supplied to the nozzle section 408 and the common liquid chamber section 31.
When it is at 1, the potential change is transmitted to the detection electrode 118. Further, the nozzle portion 408 and / or
Or, when there is no ink in the common liquid chamber 311,
Although a potential change is transmitted to the portion of the anti-cavitation film 205, the electrical resistance in the nozzle portion 408 and / or the common liquid chamber portion 311 between the portion and the detection electrode 118 is significantly increased. , The change in potential transmitted to the detection electrode 118 becomes extremely small,
Alternatively, the change in potential is not transmitted to the detection electrode 118. As described above, the potential change of the detection electrode 118 varies depending on the amount of ink present in the nozzle portion 408 and the common liquid chamber portion 311, and extremely depending on the presence or absence of ink. It is possible to detect the amount of ink present between the electrode 118 and the ink, or extremely the presence or absence of ink.

2 and 4, a portion surrounded by a dotted line B indicates a portion where the electric resistance changes depending on the amount of the ink, that is, a portion which has a great influence on the change in the potential of the detection electrode 118. Further, a portion surrounded by a dotted line 116 in FIG. 2 corresponds to an AC coupling portion in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining an ink detecting operation using the above-described detection principle. Reference numeral 701 denotes an enable signal for determining a timing for driving the heater 101 and a driving time. Heater 1
01 is sequentially driven individually in synchronization with an enable signal based on a driver drive control signal (not shown).
Reference numeral 703 denotes the potential of the wiring 203 between the heater 101 and the driver 102, and similarly to the change in the potential 703, the potential of the heater 101 near the driver 102 and the partial wiring on the driver 102 (driver The electric potential of the portion in the heater 102 (the portion on the heater 101 side) also changes. The portion where the voltage changes, including these portions, is also called a voltage change region. The heater 10
On 1, the amplitude of the change in the potential differs depending on the position, and becomes larger as the position is closer to the driver 102. Further, it is considered that the surface potential of the insulating protective film 405 is almost the same as the potential of the voltage change region thereunder. 70
4 and 705 are ink detection signals obtained by a change in the potential of the detection electrode 118, and the detection signal 704 is
The detection signal and the detection signal 705 when there is ink in the portion B in FIG. 4 are detection signals when there is no ink in the portion B. When there is ink in the portion B, the electric resistance of the portion B is small, so that the change in the potential detected by the detection electrode 118 and the change in the detection signal 704 are large. On the other hand, when there is no ink in the portion B, since the electrical resistance of the portion B is large, the change in the potential detected by the detection electrode 118 and the change in the detection signal 704 are small. Thus, it can be seen that the detection signal detected by the detection electrode 118 changes depending on whether or not there is ink in the portion B. Of course, the detection signal detected by the detection electrode 118 changes according to the amount of ink present in the portion B.

The detection signal from the detection electrode 118 is time-divided in accordance with the drive timing of the heater 101, so that the amount of ink, or extremely the presence or absence of ink, can be detected for each drive nozzle. it can. The detection signal 704 in FIG. 7 is a detection signal when ink is present in all of the driving nozzles. Similarly, the detection signal 704 in FIG.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a detection signal when there is no ink in all of the driving nozzles. Therefore, for example, when there is no ink in one driving nozzle, only the detection signal corresponding to that driving nozzle appears as a detection signal 705 having a small change, and the detection signals corresponding to the other driving nozzles are detection signals having a large change. It will appear as signal 705.

Since the anti-cavitation film 205 is separated so as to correspond to the heater 101, a change in the potential of each nozzle according to the presence or absence of ink is reliably detected without being affected by the adjacent nozzle. be able to. In addition, as described above, the anti-cavitation film 205 is separated corresponding to the heater 101, and the detection-side electrodes 118 are commonly used for all the nozzles, and the nozzles are sequentially driven in a time-division manner to form an array. The presence or absence of ink in each of the plurality of nozzles is determined by one detection electrode 11.
8 can be detected by the detection signal.

As a signal source of the ink detection signal,
Since the heater 101 itself can be used, the presence / absence of ink for each nozzle can be detected by using a logic circuit provided in a print head to constitute a shift register or the like, and the structure is complicated. It is possible to detect the presence / absence of ink with a very simple configuration without making the configuration.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied.

In the figure, a lead screw 84 is
The forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 81 causes the drive force transmission gear 8
The rotation is reversed through 2,83. The carriage HC has a pin (not shown) that engages with the spiral groove of the lead screw 84, and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b in the drawing according to the rotation direction of the lead screw 84. A head cartridge IJ comprising an ink jet recording head 85 and an ink tank 86 is provided on the carriage HC.
H is mounted. The ink jet recording apparatus IJRA shown in FIG. 8 is a recording apparatus generally called a serial printer, and performs main scanning of the carriage HC in the directions of arrows a and b and sub scanning of the recording sheet 87 as a recording medium. Are repeated, the recording operation on the entire surface of the recording sheet 87 is performed.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a control unit for executing the printing control of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1000 denotes a control circuit;
100 is an interface for inputting a recording signal,
The interface 1100 receives data transferred from a host device or the like connected outside the recording device IJRA. 1001 is an MPU, 1002 is an MPU 1001
RO for storing a control program to be executed by
M and 1003 are dynamic RAMs for storing various data (such as the recording signals and recording data supplied to the head). 1004 is a head cartridge I
A gate array that controls supply of print data to the JH, and includes an interface 1100, an MPU 1001,
Data transfer between the RAMs 1003 is also controlled. 1009
Is a carriage H on which a head cartridge IJH is mounted.
Carrier motor for scanning C (FIG. 8), 1008
Is a conveyance motor for conveying the recording paper 87 as a recording medium. Reference numerals 1006 and 1007 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1008 and the carrier motor 1009, respectively.

Reference numeral 1117 denotes a terminal 117 shown in FIGS.
, And via a terminal 117 thereof,
Detection electrode 11 of inkjet recording head substrate 100
8 is electrically connected. When the ink is detected, a voltage change according to the amount of ink is sent from the terminal 117 to the signal line 1117.
Is input to the control circuit 1000 of the apparatus main body. 1
Reference numeral 012 denotes a signal line for outputting various signals including an enable signal for driving the heater 101 as a printing element, a clock signal input to a logic circuit on the element substrate 100, a latch signal, and the like. Also, 101
Reference numeral 6 denotes a signal line for supplying driving power for driving the heater 101 as a recording element from a power supply unit (not shown) to the head cartridge IJH. Reference numeral 1017 denotes a signal line for supplying power to the logic circuit of the printhead element substrate 100 mounted on the head cartridge IJH.

In such a configuration of the control unit, the heater 101 is driven at an arbitrary timing, and a detection signal obtained by the detection electrode 118 on the element substrate 100 is input via the signal line 1117 and the terminal 117. hand,
By monitoring this, the presence or absence of ink in the nozzle can be detected.

The timing for detecting the presence or absence of the ink is, for example, that when the recording operation is not performed on the recording medium (during the non-recording operation), the driving for each nozzle is sequentially performed. Thus, the presence or absence of ink for each nozzle can be detected. Generally, in an inkjet recording apparatus, in order to recover the ejection state of the inkjet recording head, a preliminary ejection operation of preliminary ejection of ink, that is, an operation of ejecting ink that does not contribute to image printing from the recording head, is performed. It is known that the state regarding the presence or absence of ink in each nozzle can be individually detected by using this preliminary ejection operation. Of course, it is also possible to detect the ink during the recording operation.

The monitoring of the signal obtained by the detection electrode 118 is performed by the control means M provided on the control circuit.
This can be performed by the PU 1001. In addition, by associating the driven heater 101 with the change in the potential of the detection electrode 118, the presence or absence of ink is detected for each of the arranged nozzles, and a state in which ink is exhausted and ink cannot be ejected occurs. Nozzles, or nozzles with the possibility of non-ejection of ink, can be specified. Of course, it is also possible to detect the ink during the recording operation.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above,
By separating the anti-cavitation film 205 in correspondence with the heater 101, it is possible to reliably detect a potential change of each nozzle according to the presence or absence of ink without being affected by an adjacent nozzle. In addition, the detection electrode 11
8 is used in common for all nozzles, and the detection electrodes 11
By associating the detection signals from 8 with the driving timing of each nozzle, the presence or absence of ink in each of the plurality of nozzles can be detected by the detection signal from one detection electrode 118. Further, by using the heater 101 itself as a signal source of the ink detection signal,
The detection of the presence / absence of ink for each nozzle unit can be performed using a logic circuit conventionally provided in a recording head to constitute a shift register and the like, and has a very simple configuration without complicating the structure. Can be used to detect the presence or absence of ink.

Various methods can be employed for driving the nozzles. In accordance with the driving method, the detection signals from the detection electrodes 118 are associated with the driving nozzles, and the presence or absence of ink for each driving nozzle is determined. Can be detected. As a nozzle driving method, a generally known block driving method, that is, a method of driving the nozzles in units of a plurality of blocks can also be adopted. In that case, the presence / absence of ink in the nozzles is detected for each block by the detection signal from one detection electrode 118. The anti-cavitation film 205 may be provided without being separated between a predetermined number of nozzles. For example, when the nozzles are driven in blocks, a plurality of nozzles in the same block or predetermined nozzles in different blocks are used. Regarding several nozzles, the anti-cavitation film 205 may be provided without being separated.
In addition, one detection electrode 118 may be provided so as to be common to all of the plurality of nozzles formed on the substrate 100, or a plurality of detection electrodes may be provided so as to correspond to a predetermined number of nozzles. Further, the substrate 100 and the top plate 314 may be any as long as a nozzle is formed for each printing element or for each of a plurality of printing elements.

In the present embodiment, the following processing is executed for the nozzles that are determined to have failed ejection by the above detection operation. Hereinafter, processing modes in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
7 will be described. The recording head 100 in FIG. 12 includes k ink ejection nozzles 408 (k> n). Each nozzle has a heater 1 for discharging ink.
Although 01 is provided, by controlling the magnitude of this output, it is possible to control the ink ejection amount within a predetermined range. The output of the heater 101 is determined by its drive (energization).
, And is controlled by referring to a predetermined output control table T shown in FIG. Normally,
Heat level 3 is selected, and the ink ejection amount from each nozzle is kept constant. As the value of the heat level increases, the output of the heater 101 increases, and the ink discharge amount increases. That is, the heat level corresponds to the ink ejection amount, and setting the heat level means setting the ink ejection amount.

Here, it is assumed that the non-ejection of the n-th nozzle is confirmed by the above detection operation before the carriage HC starts moving in the main scanning direction (see FIG. 13). In order to compensate for the non-ejection of the n-th nozzle, the ejection amounts of the nozzles adjacent on both sides of the nozzle, that is, the (n-1) -th nozzle and the (n + 1) -th nozzle are increased.
This makes it possible to make white streaks due to non-ejection of the (n-1) th nozzle inconspicuous. In particular,
The (n−1) th and (n +)
By rewriting the 1) th value from 3 to 5, the ink ejection amount can be changed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, there is a case where recording data is input such that there is no dot to be formed by the non-ejection nozzle 408X. In this case, since it is necessary to form a blank in a portion corresponding to the non-ejection nozzle 408X, it is not necessary to particularly control the ink ejection amount of the adjacent nozzle, and the normal ejection operation amount Perform formation.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, there is recording data of a dot D to be ejected from the non-ejection nozzle 408X, and the (n-1) th and (n) adjacent to both of them are present.
In some cases, one of the (+1) -th nozzles 408Y1 and 408Y2 (here, 408Y1) does not have print data of dots to be printed. In this case, the ink discharge amount is increased only in the nozzle 408Y1 where the dot to be discharged exists.

As shown in FIG. 16, the non-ejection nozzles 408X1 and 408X2 are
There may be a case where it exists between 408Y2 and 408Y3, that is, a case where the non-discharge nozzles 408X1 and 408X2 exist alternately. When a plurality of non-ejection nozzles are present at relatively close positions as described above, it is originally desirable to perform the recovery operation of the print head. However, when the detection is detected, the print operation is being performed, and the recovery operation is immediately performed. In such a situation, it is possible to obtain a certain degree of image complementing result by adjusting the discharge amount of the adjacent normal nozzle 408Y by the heat level 7.

Also, as shown in FIG.
When two Xs appear consecutively, the discharge amounts of the nozzles 408Y1 and 408Y2 on both sides sandwiching them may be adjusted by the heat level 7, thereby preventing the occurrence of white streaks. it can. However, in the case where a plurality of non-ejection nozzles are continuous, like the case shown in FIG.
Executing the recovery operation is most desirable in forming a high-quality recorded image.

In the above embodiment, if the non-ejection nozzle 408 is detected and the recording data for forming a dot by the nozzle is input, the heater of the non-ejection nozzle is driven in accordance with the recording data. Although it is possible, the driving of the heater 101 in this nozzle is preferably cut off. Further, in the above embodiment, when there is a non-ejection nozzle, the ejection amount of the nozzle adjacent to the upper and lower sides is increased, but ejection is performed only to the nozzle adjacent to one of the nozzles. Volume control may be performed.

(Other Embodiments) By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the detection electrode 118 is connected to the driver 102 in the positional relationship between the portion A where the potential is changed by driving the heater 101 and the detection electrode 118 as shown in FIG. Deployed away from In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the protective film 405 is formed substantially uniformly. The present invention is not limited to such a configuration shown in FIG. 4, and a portion that becomes a signal source that causes a potential change in a nozzle by driving heater 101 may have a modified configuration. good.

FIG. 5A shows the configuration shown in FIG.
An example of a configuration in which the thickness of the protective film 405 located at the portion E on the heater 101 is smaller than other portions of the protective film 405 is shown. According to the configuration of FIG. 5A, the capacitance of the portion E where the thickness of the protective film 405 is reduced can be increased, and as a result, the change in potential transmitted to the ink in the nozzle can be increased. The detection sensitivity of the ink based on the detection signal from the detection electrode 118 can be increased. Therefore,
The portion E becomes a particularly strong signal source in the signal source F for generating the ink detection signal due to its large capacitance. The signal source F includes a portion of the heater 101 closer to the driver 102, the wiring 203, and the driver 10.
2 (a portion on the heater 101 side from a portion acting as a switch in the driver 102) on the second wiring 2 to form a voltage change region. As a result, it is possible to reliably detect whether or not ink exists in the portion B between the portion E and the detection electrode 118 in the nozzle.

FIG. 5B shows that the thickness of the protective film 405 located on the portion E on the heater 101 is made thinner than the other portions of the protective film 405 and the detection electrode 118 is placed above the driver 102. 2 shows a configuration arranged in the first embodiment. Note that the thickness of the protective film 405 in the portion E is as shown in FIG.
In comparison with the case, it is further thinned. This figure 5
According to the configuration of (b), by reducing the thickness of the protective layer 405 in the portion E on the heater 101, the capacitance in the portion E is reduced by the capacitance in the portion of the wiring 203 between the heater 101 and the driver 102. Can be larger than G in FIG. 5B is a signal source composed of the wiring 203 portion. Further, by disposing the detection electrode 118 on the driver 102 and bringing the detection electrode 118 close to the portion E, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of ink in the local portion B between them.

FIG. 6 shows still another configuration example in the case where the protective film 405 in the portion E on the heater 101 is thinned. In FIG. 6, the protective film 4
05 is composed of two layers of protective films 405a and 405b, an anti-cavitation film 205 on the heater 101 is formed on the protective film 405a, and furthermore, the protective film 405a is formed.
And 405b have different relative dielectric constants. Specifically, the protective film 405a is a member having a higher dielectric constant than the protective film 405b. Thus, the protective film 405a on the heater 101
Is thinner and has a higher dielectric constant, the portion E becomes a stronger signal source, and the detection sensitivity can be further increased.

As described above, the energy transfer efficiency of the protective film on the heater can be increased by reducing the thickness of the protective film on the heater or increasing the dielectric constant of the protective film in that portion. With such a configuration, since the heater portion largely functions as a signal source, the position serving as the signal source can be necessarily limited to a specific position on the heater. Furthermore, it is difficult for other parts except the upper part of the heater to act as a signal source, so that the influence of noise that causes erroneous detection during ink detection can be reduced, and as a result, the ink detection sensitivity is improved. It is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of ink. In addition, as described above, by limiting the position serving as the signal source, the detection electrode can be flexibly arranged on a driver or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the bubble jet recording method in which ink is ejected using a heating element as a recording element has been described as an example. However, it is possible to detect a change in the voltage that occurs when the printing element is driven via the ink in another printing method. Therefore,
The present invention can be widely applied not only to the bubble jet recording method but also to other recording methods.

In the above-described configuration for detecting non-ejection, an example in which an anti-cavitation film is formed as a substrate for an ink jet recording head on an upper portion of a heater to suppress an impact at the time of defoaming when air bubbles are contracted. Explained. However, if the conductive ink is used, the detection principle of the present invention can be applied even when there is no anti-cavitation film.

Further, the configuration for detecting whether or not there is a non-ejection for each nozzle for complementing the recording position corresponding to the nozzle where the non-ejection has occurred is not limited to the configuration described above. It is also possible to employ various known techniques. As a configuration for detecting the occurrence of an ejection failure for each nozzle, for example, a test pattern is printed on a recording medium such as paper, and the occurrence of the ejection failure is determined based on the result of a user visually checking the recorded pattern. There are known a method of inputting information about nozzles, a method of reading a recorded pattern by an optical sensor, and detecting a nozzle having a discharge failure. In the present invention, such a method can be appropriately adopted.

However, in the method of visually checking the test pattern by the user, it is conceivable that a check error by the user, an error when the user inputs information on a non-ejection nozzle, or the like may occur. Further, in the configuration in which the recorded pattern is detected by the sensor, the accuracy of the sensor is required to read the pattern corresponding to each nozzle, and the position where the ejection failure occurs and the nozzle are accurately determined. There is a problem that it is difficult to associate.

The present invention employs the principle of detection described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 to detect a state in which non-ejection has occurred for each of a plurality of nozzles provided in a print head. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately and quickly detect a state in which non-discharge has occurred in each nozzle. Therefore, by complementing the printing position corresponding to the nozzle where the non-ejection has occurred according to the detection result by controlling the ejection by the adjacent nozzle, the streak caused by the non-ejection nozzle can be made inconspicuous with high accuracy. Even if non-ejection occurs, a good recorded image can be obtained.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration in which the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as a single recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body is attached to the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recording head discharge recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to the recording head having only one corresponding to a single color ink, it corresponds to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to the printing mode of only the mainstream color such as black, and may be either an integrated printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. However, the present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of a full-color recording mode using different colors or a multi-color recording.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink in a liquid state may be used. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the liquid sheet or the solid sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state where the liquid sheet or the solid substance is held in the concave portion or through hole. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Non-discharge nozzle detection means detects the presence of a non-discharge nozzle,
For a nozzle adjacent to at least one side of the non-discharge nozzle, it is determined whether or not the control of the discharge amount is necessary.
By controlling the ejection amount of the nozzles using the determination result, appropriate image correction can be easily performed without a complicated interpolation process such as a conventionally required change of a mask pattern or a change in the number of passes. This makes it possible to form a good image without white streaks or the like. In addition, if the detection of a non-ejection nozzle is performed by detecting, via ink, a voltage change between the printing element and the driving element that occurs in accordance with the driving of the printing element, a temperature sensor or the like is arranged as in the related art The nozzles can be formed at an extremely high density as compared with the case, enabling high-definition image formation, and can be widely applied to various recording methods.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view for explaining an electrical schematic configuration of a substrate for an inkjet recording head to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the substrate for an ink jet recording head of FIG. 1;

3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a top plate is joined to the substrate for an ink jet recording head of FIG. 1 to form a nozzle.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion around a nozzle taken along the line aa in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the vicinity of a nozzle of an inkjet recording head according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view around a nozzle of an ink jet recording head according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining an ink detecting operation of the ink jet recording head according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an electrical schematic configuration of a conventional element substrate for an ink jet recording head.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of an ink detection circuit formed on a substrate for an inkjet recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory plan view schematically showing nozzles formed on a substrate for an inkjet recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of an output control table for each nozzle formed on the inkjet recording head substrate.

14 is a schematic diagram showing each nozzle and dots to be formed on the inkjet recording substrate shown in FIG. 12, showing a case where dot formation data exists only in nozzles adjacent to both sides of a non-ejection nozzle. I have.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing each nozzle and dots to be formed on the inkjet recording substrate shown in FIG. 12, showing a case where dot formation data exists only in a nozzle adjacent to one side of a non-ejection nozzle; ing.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing each nozzle and formed dots in the inkjet recording substrate shown in FIG. 12, showing a case where non-discharge nozzles and dischargeable nozzles are alternately present.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing each nozzle and dots to be formed on the ink jet recording substrate shown in FIG. 12, showing a case where two non-ejection nozzles are continuously present.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 inkjet print head substrate (element substrate) 101 recording element (heating element) 102 driving element (driver) 103 latch circuit 104 shift register 116 AC coupling section 118 detection electrode 203 wiring section 205 anti-cavitation film 310 discharge port 311 common Liquid chamber 312 Nozzle wall 314 Top plate 405 Protective film (insulating protective film) 408 Nozzle part 408X Non-discharge nozzle 408Y Discharge nozzle D dot

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masao Kato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toshiharu Inui 3- 30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside the non-company (72) Inventor ▲ Taka ▼ Katsuhiko Hashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kentaro Yano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Shinji Takagi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tomonori Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. F-term (Reference) 2C056 EA08 EA29 EB03 EB04 EB08 EB27 EB39 EB40 EB51 EC08 EC69 EC72 HA05 KD06 2C057 AF21 AG46 AK10 AL03 AL04 AL05 AL13 AL17 AM15 AM40 BA03 BA13

Claims (35)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head for performing recording on a predetermined recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports formed in a plurality of nozzles. A non-discharge nozzle detecting means for detecting a non-discharge nozzle in a non-dischargeable state; a discharge amount setting means for setting an appropriate discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to the non-discharge nozzle detected by the non-discharge nozzle detection means; An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: an ejection control unit that controls ejection of a nozzle adjacent to a non-ejection nozzle based on a setting value of an ejection amount setting unit. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ejection amount setting means sets an appropriate ejection amount of a nozzle adjacent to at least one side of the non-ejection nozzle. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discharge amount setting means sets an appropriate discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to both sides of the non-discharge nozzle. 4. The ejection amount setting means sets a predetermined reference ink ejection amount as an appropriate ink ejection amount for a nozzle not adjacent to the non-ejection nozzle, and sets a predetermined reference ink ejection amount for a nozzle adjacent to the non-ejection nozzle. When it is necessary to discharge ink from a non-discharge nozzle, a corrected ink discharge amount obtained by adding a constant value to the reference ink discharge amount is set as an appropriate discharge amount, and ink discharge from the non-discharge nozzle is unnecessary. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference ink ejection amount is set as an appropriate ejection amount. 5. The non-discharge nozzle detecting means detects a non-discharge nozzle during a non-printing operation.
5. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 4. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-ejection detecting means detects a non-ejection nozzle during a recording operation. 7. An ink jet recording head, comprising: a recording element for supplying energy for ejecting ink; a driving element for driving the recording element; and the recording element generated in accordance with the driving of the recording element. 7. An ink jet recording head substrate comprising: a detection electrode capable of detecting a voltage change between the driving element and the driving element via ink on the ink jet recording head substrate. Or an ink jet recording apparatus as described above. 8. The non-ejection detecting means drives a recording element and detects a supply state of ink into an ink jet recording head based on a voltage change detected by the detection electrode when the recording element is driven. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the driving of the recording element and the detection of the ink supply state by the non-ejection detecting means are executed during a recording operation. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the driving of the recording element and the detection of the ink supply state by the non-ejection detecting means are executed during a non-recording operation. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the driving of the recording element and the detection of the ink state by the non-ejection detecting means are executed before the start of a recording operation. 12. The ink jet recording head is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and performs recording by discharging ink as the carriage moves in the main scanning direction. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the non-ejection detecting means executes the driving of the printing element and the detection of the ink supply state each time before the start of the scanning of the carriage accompanying the printing operation. Inkjet recording device. 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the non-ejection detecting means performs the driving of the recording element and the detection of the ink supply state at least every other scan before starting the carriage scanning accompanying the recording operation. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-ejection detecting means executes the driving of the recording element and the detection by the ink state detecting means in a time division manner for each nozzle.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-ejection detecting means executes the driving of the printing element and the detection of the ink supply state in a time-division manner for each of a plurality of nozzle blocks to be driven simultaneously. The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 17. The ink jet recording head substrate, wherein an insulating protective film is formed on the ink jet recording head substrate, and the ink is located on the ink jet recording head substrate via the protective film. 17. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of items 16 to 16. 18. The detection electrode according to claim 18, wherein the detection electrode is located apart from a voltage change region between the recording element and the driving element, the voltage of which changes according to the driving of the recording element. 18. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of items 7 to 17. 19. The method according to claim 7, wherein the transmission of a voltage change between the ink and the ink and a voltage change region between the printing element and the driving element is performed by capacitive coupling. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 20. The protective film is formed so as to partially change the capacitive coupling between the voltage change region and the ink, and the detection electrode is configured to sandwich the capacitor with a small capacitive coupling. 20. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided apart from the recording element and the driving element apart from a portion where coupling is large. 21. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the portion having a large capacitive coupling is a thin portion of the protective film located on the recording element. 22. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording element is a heating element that discharges the ink by generating bubbles in the ink. 23. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective film includes a cavitation-resistant film that suppresses cavitation impact generated when bubbles in the ink are eliminated. 24. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said anti-cavitation film is a tantalum film. 25. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the anti-cavitation film is separated for every predetermined number of the nozzles. 26. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the anti-cavitation film is separated for each of the nozzles. 27. A portion of the protective film on the recording element, the capacitance per unit area of which is set to be larger than other portions. 27. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a cavitation film is formed. 28. A control circuit as an ejection control means for selectively driving a plurality of the printing elements on the substrate for the ink jet printing head. Inkjet recording device. 29. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said control circuit includes a shift register for outputting serially inputted recording data in parallel. 30. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the control circuit includes a latch circuit for temporarily holding print data output in parallel. 31. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the control circuit stops driving of the recording element in the non-ejection nozzle detected by the non-ejection nozzle detection unit. 32. A top plate that forms nozzles corresponding to a predetermined number of the recording elements by being coupled to the inkjet recording head substrate according to claim 7 and the inkjet recording head substrate. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 33. The top plate forms a common liquid chamber communicating with a plurality of the nozzles by being coupled to the substrate for the inkjet recording head, and at least a part of the detection electrode is located in the common liquid chamber. 33. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 32, wherein: 34. An ink jet recording method for performing recording on a predetermined recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports formed in a plurality of nozzles, wherein the plurality of nozzles are in a non-dischargeable state. Detecting a discharge nozzle, setting an appropriate discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to the detected non-discharge nozzle, and controlling a discharge amount of a nozzle adjacent to the non-discharge nozzle based on the set discharge amount. Ink jet recording method. 35. An ink jet recording method for performing recording by discharging ink from discharge ports formed in a plurality of nozzles of an ink jet recording head, wherein the ink jet recording head supplies energy for discharging ink. A recording element, a driving element for driving the recording element, and a voltage change between the recording element and the driving element generated according to the driving of the recording element. And a detection electrode that can be detected through the ink jet recording substrate. A non-ejection nozzle is detected from the plurality of nozzles based on a voltage change detected by the detection electrode. Set the appropriate discharge amount of the nozzle adjacent to the nozzle, and based on the set discharge amount, Ink jet recording method is characterized in that so as to control the discharge amount of nozzles.