JP2002211001A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder in which running cost can be lowered by using up ink as much as possible and a risk generation point can be lowered as much as possible even if a user selects to use up ink until it is not ejected. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder comprises a recording head 1 ejecting ink to a recording medium, and an ink tank (ink containing/supplying means) 30 for holding ink in an ink absorber 33 of porous member and supplying ink to the recording head 1 at the time of recording wherein the quantity of ink being ejected per unit time from the recording head 1 is controlled depending on the residual quantity of ink in the ink tank 30.

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 for recording on a recording medium by discharging ink.
In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus using a sponge or the like made of a continuous fine porous material such as polyurethane having elasticity and liquid absorbing property as an ink containing member of an ink tank for containing ink to be supplied to a recording head at the time of recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium such as an HP sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as “recording paper”) employs various recording methods such as a wire dot method, a heat-sensitive method, a thermal transfer method, and an ink jet method. It has been proposed as a form in which a head can be mounted.

[0003] Among such recording apparatuses, as a low-noise non-impact recording method, a recording head of an ink jet recording method for discharging ink from discharge ports (nozzles) arranged on a recording element to perform recording on recording paper is used. The recording device provided (hereinafter, referred to as an “inkjet recording device”)
High-density and high-speed recording operation is possible.

Incidentally, an ink jet recording apparatus adopts a configuration corresponding to a specific function and a usage form of a system to which the apparatus is applied, etc. In general, the ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which a recording head ink tank is mounted, The apparatus includes a transport unit that transports the recording paper, and a control unit that controls these units.

Then, the recording head for ejecting ink droplets from the plurality of ejection ports is serially scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction (sub scanning direction).
On the other hand, during non-recording, the recording paper is intermittently conveyed (pitch-fed) by an amount equal to the recording width. By using a recording head in which a number of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on a straight line parallel to the sub-scanning direction, the recording head
By performing scanning twice, printing is performed with a width corresponding to the number of nozzles.

In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus has a low running cost, can be downsized, and can easily cope with color image recording using a plurality of color inks. Above all, a line type recording apparatus using a line type recording head in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the width direction of the recording paper can further increase the recording speed.

[0007] For the above reasons, the ink jet recording apparatus is an output means of an information processing system, for example, a printer as an output terminal such as a copying machine, a facsimile, an electronic typewriter, a word processor, a workstation, or a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk. It is used as a handy or portable printer included in a device, a video device, and the like, and has already been commercialized.

On the other hand, as an energy generating element for generating energy for discharging ink from a discharge port of a recording head, one using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or irradiating an electromagnetic wave such as a laser to generate heat. There is a method in which an ink droplet is ejected by the action of the heat, or a method in which a liquid is heated by an electrothermal conversion element having a heating resistor.

Above all, a recording head of an ink jet recording system of a type in which ink droplets are ejected by utilizing thermal energy can perform high-resolution recording because ejection ports can be arranged at a high density. In particular, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generating element can be easily miniaturized, and has the advantages of IC technology and microfabrication technology, which have recently made remarkable progress in technology in the field of semiconductors and markedly improved reliability. This is advantageous because it is possible to make full use of, to facilitate high-density mounting and to reduce the manufacturing cost.

In the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus, the ink tank for supplying ink to the recording head has a simpler structure and is made of a continuous material such as polyurethane having elasticity and liquid absorbing property to stably supply ink to the recording head. A second ink absorber having a fiber bundle such as a polyester fiber compressed and bundled in the same direction as a first ink absorber such as a sponge made of a microporous body and in contact with the first ink absorber; And a container for accommodating these ink absorbers, and a lid member for sealing the container.

The recording head includes a chip type integrated with an ink tank and a recording head detachably connected to the ink tank.

By the way, in the ink tank configured as described above, the ink stored in the ink tank is held by capillary action of the ink absorber.

On the other hand, although the details will be described later, the supply of ink from the ink tank to the recording head is also performed utilizing the capillary phenomenon. In other words, the supply of ink from the ink tank to the recording head is performed by the balance between the pressure difference due to the capillary phenomenon of the ink absorber and the recording head and the total gravity acting on the ink due to the positional relationship between the recording head and the ink tank.

The pressure generated by the ink absorber due to capillary action (hereinafter referred to as "negative pressure" because the pressure is generated in the direction opposite to the ink ejection direction when viewed from the recording head side) Regarding the amount of ink stored, the negative pressure is small when the amount of ink is large, and the negative pressure is large when the amount of ink is small. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the ink remaining amount is large, the negative pressure of the ink absorber is small, the pressure difference with the recording head side is large, and the amount of ink that can be supplied to the recording head per unit time is large. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of ink decreases, the negative pressure of the ink absorber increases, the pressure difference with the recording head decreases, and the amount of ink that can be supplied to the recording head per unit time decreases. Become. Then, the non printing becomes impossible remaining ink supplies exactly the ink to the recording head when it becomes W _e.

The number of nozzles used by the recording head for printing and the driving frequency of the recording head (= printing speed) are determined depending on the printing mode such as high-speed printing, high-quality printing, and draft printing. The recording data is recorded with the number of nozzles determined for each print mode. Therefore, the required maximum ink flow rate per unit time is determined for each print mode. That is, each print mode has the maximum value when all the solid data is used. For example, assuming that the required maximum ink flow rate per unit time in a certain print mode is V ₀ , and the minimum remaining ink amount capable of supplying the ink flow rate V ₀ is W ₀ , the conventional printing is performed as shown in FIG. It was done.

First, when printing is started (step S501), the remaining ink amount W of the ink tank stored in the EEPROM is read out (step S50).
2) Compare the remaining ink amount W with W ₀ (step S50)
3). Then, when W is greater than W _0, the process proceeds to step S509. On the other hand, when W is smaller than W ₀ , if printing is performed at the maximum required ink flow rate V ₀ , ink supply cannot be made in time during printing and non-ejection occurs. Then, a warning is issued to prompt the user to replace (step S505). When the user selects the replacement of the ink tank, after replacing the ink tank (step S506), the remaining ink amount is reset and stored in the EEPROM (step S507), and the process proceeds to step S509.

On the other hand, if the user selects to use the currently installed ink tank as it is, the process proceeds to step S509 without replacing the ink tank (step S508). In step S509, one line of print data is read into the line buffer. Then, printing of one line is executed while counting the number of ejection dots (step S510).

Next, it is determined whether printing for one page has been completed (step S511). If one page has not been completed, the process advances to step S509 to print the next line. When printing for one page has been completed, the amount of used ink is calculated from the number of ejected dots, and the amount of used ink is subtracted from the initial amount of used ink to update the remaining ink amount calculation and store it in the EEPROM. . Then, it is determined whether or not the next page is printed (step S513). If there is printing of the next page, the process proceeds to step S502, and if there is no printing of the next page, printing ends (step S514).

[0019]

However, conventionally, since the printing conditions such as the number of nozzles used for printing and the recording head drive frequency are uniformly determined for each printing mode, as described above, the ink tank replacement is required. when replacing an ink tank according to the alert, the ink amount that can be used depending on printing conditions (W ₀ -W _e) is discarded, had led to the running costs of up.

On the other hand, when the ink tank is used without replacing it despite the warning of replacing the ink tank, for example, FIG.
Remaining ink amount of deliverable ink flow rate per unit time at the time of less W ₃ than W ₀ in ₀ V ₃ (<V 0)
As, if necessary ink flow rate was used ink to the W ₃ has come is print data such that V _0, becomes non-ejection not keep up supply of ink recording Heddohe,
Since the printed matter is useless, the user uses the product while taking risks. The risk occurrence point was higher there at the point of the ink remaining amount W _0.

[0021] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to reduce the running cost by using up as much ink as possible, and to reduce the risk even if the user chooses to use the ink until ejection failure occurs. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the generation point as much as possible.

[0022]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head for ejecting ink to a recording medium for recording, and an ink absorbing member made of a porous member. In an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink storage and supply unit for holding and supplying ink to the recording head along with recording, ink per unit time ejected by the recording head according to the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage and supply unit The amount is controlled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the user controls the amount of ink ejected by the previous recording head per unit time according to the remaining amount of ink in the ink containing and supplying means. A mode and a print mode that is not controlled can be selected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control of the amount of ink is performed by controlling the number of ink ejection nozzles of the recording head used at the time of recording. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control of the ink amount is performed by controlling an ink ejection frequency at the time of recording by the recording head.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by controlling the amount of ink per unit time required by the recording head for printing in accordance with the remaining amount of ink in the ink containing and supplying means, the ink remaining in the ink containing and supplying means is almost completely reduced. Ink can be used up to this point, and running costs can be reduced, and risk generation points can be reduced.

[0027]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a carriage on which a recording head cartridge 1 is removably mounted, which is fixed to a frame 4 at both ends. The guide shaft 5 and the guide rail 12 arranged in parallel to each other are slidably supported in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium P and parallel to the surface of the recording medium P.

Further, the carriage 2 has a carriage driving belt 11 wound around a driving pulley 13 fixed to an output shaft of a carriage driving motor 10 and a driven pulley (not shown) rotatably supported on the carriage. When the carriage drive motor 10 is driven, the carriage drive belt 11 rotates and the carriage 2 reciprocates in the above-described direction.

The recording head cartridge 1 includes a nozzle portion 50 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) as a recording head for ejecting ink based on a recording signal which is an electric signal for ink ejection, and a monocolor holder 60 (see FIG. 2). And the mono-color holder 60,
An ink tank 30 containing ink is detachably held. The nozzle unit 50 is provided at the bottom (the lower end in the figure) of the recording head cartridge 1, and the ink is ejected downward in the figure.

A recording signal to the nozzle section 50 is transmitted from a control board (not shown) for controlling the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus via a flexible cable 3 provided on the carriage 2. The flexible cable 3 is arranged along the moving direction of the carriage 2 and forms a loop as the carriage 2 moves. The recording head cartridge 1 will be described later in detail.

On the other hand, the recording medium P has a frame 4 at both ends.
Is mounted on a pressure plate 8 which is rotatably supported on the platen. Pressure plate 8
Is biased toward the pickup roller 9 by a biasing means (not shown), and the recording medium P stacked on the pressure plate 8 is pressed against the pickup roller 9.

When the pickup roller 9 is rotated by a sheet feeding command, the recording medium P is sent out by the frictional force between the pickup roller 9 and the recording medium P. The pressure plate 8 is used in a conventional automatic sheet feeding apparatus. A separation means (not shown) such as a separation claw as described above is provided, and only one recording medium P at the uppermost position is fed out by the operation of the separation means.

The recording medium P sent out by the pickup roller 9 is conveyed below the carriage 2 while being nipped by the conveying roller 6 having both ends supported by the frame 4 and the pinch roller 7 provided on the base 14.
Recording is performed on the recording medium P at this position.

Further, on the downstream side of the carriage 2 with respect to the transport direction of the recording medium P, a paper discharge roller 15 and a spur 1
The recording medium 6 which is disposed opposite the carriage 2 and passes below the carriage 2 is discharged by being sandwiched between the discharge rollers 15 and the spurs 16. The above-described pickup roller 9, transport roller 6, and paper discharge roller 15 are driven using a paper feed motor (not shown) as a drive source.

In the following description, the upstream side with respect to the transport direction of the recording medium P is referred to as the back side, the surface thereof is referred to as the back side, the downstream side is referred to as the near side, and the surface is referred to as the front side.

Next, the recording head cartridge 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording head cartridge 1 of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from a direction in which the head terminal portion 53 can be seen, FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. It is a principal part expansion perspective view of 50.

The recording head cartridge 1 is a monocolor cartridge, and has a nozzle section 50 for discharging ink.
And a mono-color holder 60 having a box-like shape having an opening on the upper surface, and an ink tank 30 for storing mono-color ink is detachably mounted inside the mo / color holder 60. Be attached.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4, the nozzle portion 50 has a base plate 5 made of a metal plate such as aluminum.
1, a grooved member 52 having a plurality of liquid paths 50d and a groove forming the common liquid chamber 50c is fixed, and an ejection port face 50a facing the recording medium P is provided with each liquid path 50d.
A plurality of discharge ports 50b, which are open ends, are formed.
In the present embodiment, the number of the discharge ports 50b is 128.

Each of the liquid paths 50d is formed at a predetermined pitch, and an electrothermal converter (a heating resistor or the like) for generating ink discharging energy is provided on the base plate 51 corresponding to each of the liquid paths 50d. 50e is provided. The common liquid chamber 50c communicates with the ink tank 30 (see FIG. 3), and ink is supplied from the ink tank 30 to the common liquid chamber 50c. Each electrothermal converter 50e
Are electrically connected to the head terminal portion 53 shown in FIG. 2 via wiring (not shown).

The head terminal portion 53 is provided on the base plate 51.
The wiring connected to each electrothermal transducer 50e is connected to the head terminal 53 by wire bonding.

The ink supplied from the ink tank 30 to the common liquid chamber 50c and temporarily stored enters the liquid path 50d by capillary action, forms a meniscus at the discharge port 50b, and fills the liquid path 50d. Keep. At this time, when the electrothermal transducer 50e is energized and generates heat based on the recording signal transmitted to the head terminal portion 53, the electrothermal transducer 50e
e is rapidly heated and the film is boiled, and the liquid path 50d
Air bubbles are generated in the discharge port 50b due to the expansion of the air bubbles.
Is ejected from the printer. Here, the electrothermal transducer 50e is shown as an energy generating element for generating energy. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a piezoelectric element that generates mechanical energy for instantaneously applying discharge pressure may be used.

At the bottom of the container 32, a monocolor holder 6 is provided.
An ink supply port 32a into which the zero ink intake tube 60a (see FIG. 3) is inserted is formed, and a cylindrical support portion 32b stands upright around the ink supply port 32a. Ink supply port 32a
Before the ink tank 30 is mounted on the monocolor holder 60, the ink is sealed with a sealing material (not shown) to prevent ink leakage.

An ink absorber 33 made of sponge or the like is accommodated in the container 32, and the ink is absorbed and held by the ink absorber 33. Support 32
b, an ink supply member 35 composed of a unidirectional fiber bundle
Are inserted and supported, and the ink absorber 33 is in close contact with the upper end surface of the ink supply member 35. The ink absorbed by the ink absorber 33 is supplied to the ink supply member 3.
5 to the ink supply port 32a.

The ink tank 30 is connected to the mono color holder 60
When the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink supply port 32a, the ink intake pipe 60a of the monocolor holder 60 is inserted into the ink supply port 32a, the two ink communication pipes communicate with each other, and ink is supplied to the nozzle unit 50 via the ink flow path 60b. At this time, the seal ring 61 provided around the ink supply port 32a is in close contact with the outer green portion of the ink supply port 32a, and ink leakage is suppressed.

The ink supply port 32a and the air communication port 31
a through a rib 34 (FIG. 3) at a predetermined position inside the container 32 and inside the lid member 31 so as to communicate with the air through the air layer.
Here, only the rib 34 of the lid member 31 is shown) to form a predetermined space between the ink absorber 33 and the container 32 or the lid member 31, and to a part of the inner surface of the support portion 32b. And a slit (not shown) for communicating the inside of the container 32 with the outside. In this way, by communicating the inside and the outside of the ink tank 30 via the air layer, the ink is blown out or leaked from the ink supply port 32a when the sealing material sealing the ink supply port 32a is peeled off. Can be prevented.

Further, even if the ambient temperature of the ink tank 30 increases during printing, the ink in the ink tank 30 is not pushed out. Further, since the ink does not stay on the inner wall of the container 32, there is no possibility that the ink leaks from the ink supply port 32a or the air communication port 31a, and the ink consumption efficiency is improved.

In the recording head cartridge 1 having such a configuration, as the ink is ejected from the nozzle portion 50, the ink is consumed in order from the ink near the filter 62 at the end of the ink intake tube 60a. That is, since a large number of fibers are bundled in the same direction in the ink held by the ink supply member 35, a capillary force acts in the fiber direction. By this capillary force, the ink is supplied to the ink supply member 3.
The ink quickly moves along each fiber in the filter 5, reaches the filter 62, and is reliably supplied to the nozzle unit 50 from the end of the ink intake pipe 60a through the ink flow path 60b.
As can be understood from this operation, the ink supply member 35
If the ink is reliably supplied to the recording head cartridge 1, excellent ink supply can be performed to the recording head cartridge 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus.

The position of the carriage 2, the presence or absence of the recording medium P, and the temperature of the ink can be known based on the detection of the carriage home sensor 21, the paper sensor 20, and the temperature sensor 22. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1000 denotes an MPU for executing a control procedure such as a preset program to control each unit, 1001 a ROM storing a program or the like corresponding to the control procedure, and 1002 as a work area when the control procedure is executed. RAM used.

Reference numeral 1003 denotes a total ink dot number coefficient means for calculating the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 30, for example, from the beginning of the ink tank. An EEPROM 1004 rewritably holds coefficient results such as the total number of ink ejection dots and the calculated remaining ink amount.
Each data can be retained even when the power of the ink jet recording apparatus is turned off.

Reference numeral 1005 denotes an informing means for informing a warning of replacement of the ink tank 30, and 1006 denotes an input means by which the user inputs settings such as a print mode.

By the way, as described above, the ink tank 3
The relationship between the remaining ink amount of 0 and the flowable ink flow per unit time from the ink tank 30 to the recording head cartridge 1 has the relationship shown in FIG. In other words, when the remaining amount of ink is large, the negative pressure of the ink absorber is small and the pressure difference between the recording head and the recording head is large, and the amount of ink that can be supplied to the recording head per unit time is large. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of ink decreases, the negative pressure of the ink absorber increases, the pressure difference with the recording head decreases, and the amount of ink that can be supplied to the recording head per unit time decreases. . When the ink remaining amount becomes W _e, it becomes impossible print no longer able to supply exactly the ink to the recording head.

In FIG. 6, the total number of nozzles used in the recording head cartridge 1 is 128 nozzles,
Nozzles, 1/4 of 32 each V ₀ ink flow units maximum required per time when using nozzles, V
_1, and V _2. Let W ₀ , W ₁ , and W ₂ be the minimum remaining ink amounts that can supply V ₀ , V ₁ , and V ₂ as the supplyable ink flow rates per unit time, respectively.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing a printing sequence of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

The user can select a low running cost mode or a high speed printing mode. First, a case where the user selects the low running cost mode will be described.

The user selects the low running cost mode (step S101), and starts printing (step S102). The remaining ink amount W stored in the EEPROM 1004 is read (step S103). The temperature sensor 22 detects the ambient temperature to predict the temperature of the ink, and corrects W ₀ , W ₁ , and W ₂ . This is because the ink ejection amount changes depending on the environmental temperature as shown in FIG. 9 (step S104).

Next, W is compared with W ₀ , W ₁ , and W ₂ (step S105). When W> W ₀ , W ₀ ≧ W
> When W _1, when W ₁ ≧ W> W ₂ (step S1
06), the process proceeds to step S107, W> W 128 nozzles, W ₀ ≧ W> 64 nozzles when the _{W 1, W 1 ≧ W>} W each one row in 32 nozzles when the ₂ when the ₀ Is read and printed (step S
107, S108). The ejection ink amount for one line just printed is calculated (step S109). As a calculation method,
A method is used in which the number of ejected ink dots is counted and multiplied by the amount of ink per dot at the ink temperature predicted in step S104.

Then, the remaining ink amount W is updated by subtracting the calculated amount of discharged ink from the remaining ink amount before printing (step S110). Step S109, S11
0 is implemented by the remaining ink coefficient means 1003.
Thereafter, it is determined whether printing for one page has been completed. If the printing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S123. If not, the process proceeds to step S107 to print the next line.

On the other hand, when W ₂ ≧ W in step S105 (step S112), an alert for replacing the ink tank is output by the notification means 1005, and the user is made to select whether or not to replace the ink tank (step S113). When the user selects the ink tank replacement (step S114, user selection A), the ink tank remaining amount W is reset to an initial value (step S115), and the step S115 is performed.
Proceed to 105 (step S116). Step S1
If the user selects not to replace the ink tank in step 13 (step S117), one line of print data is read and printed with 32 nozzles (step S11).
8, S119).

Next, similarly to steps S109 and S110, the ejection ink amount for one printed line is calculated (step S120), and the remaining ink amount W is updated (step S12).
1). Then, it is determined whether or not printing of one page has been completed. If the printing has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S118 to print the next line, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S123 (step S122).

In step S123, the remaining ink amount W is
It is stored in the EPROM 1004. Then, it is determined whether or not the next page is printed (step S124). If there is a next page to be printed, the process proceeds to step S103 to print the next page. If there is no next page to be printed, the process ends (step S
125).

Next, a case where the user selects the high-speed printing mode will be described.

The user selects the high-speed printing mode (step S201) and starts printing (step S20).
2). The remaining ink amount W stored in the EEPROM 1004 is read (step S203). A temperature sensor 22 detects the ambient temperature, correct the W ₀ by predicting the ink temperature (step S204). W is determined whether greater than W ₀ (step S205), if it is greater, printing reads the print data of one line in the 128 nozzles (step S206, S207). Then, the ejection ink amount for one printed line is calculated (step S208), and the remaining ink amount W is updated (step S209).

Next, it is determined whether or not printing for one page has been completed. If not, the flow advances to step S206 to print the next line. If completed, step S223
Go to (Step S210).

[0067] On the other hand, W in step S205 it is when the W ₀ or less, and outputs the ink tank replacement warning by notifying means 1005, user make a selection of whether or not to replace the ink tank (step S211). When the user selects the ink tank replacement (step S212, user selection A), the ink tank remaining amount W is reset to an initial value (step S213), and the process proceeds to step S205 (step S214). If the user selects not to replace the ink tank in step S211 (step S215), one line of print data is read and printed with 128 nozzles (steps S216 and S21).
7).

Next, the ejection ink amount for one printed line is calculated (step S218), and the remaining ink amount W is updated (step S219). Then, it is determined whether or not printing of one page has been completed.
Proceeding to 216, the next line is printed, and when finished, the flow proceeds to step S221 (step S220).

In step S221, the remaining ink amount W is
It is stored in the EPROM 1004. Then, it is determined whether or not the next page is printed (step S222). If there is a next page to be printed, the process proceeds to step S203 to print the next page. If there is no next page to be printed, the process is terminated (step S
223).

In the present embodiment, the number of nozzles used for printing on the recording head cartridge is divided into three stages according to the remaining amount of ink. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if it is divided into stages, the desired effect can be obtained although the degree differs.

In the present embodiment, the number of nozzles used for printing on the print head cartridge is controlled to control the ink flow per unit time supplied to the print head cartridge. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The ink flow rate per unit time supplied to the recording head cartridge may be controlled by controlling the driving frequency for discharging ink from the recording head cartridge while always using all nozzles (for example, 128 nozzles) of the head cartridge. That is,
When the remaining amount of ink becomes small, the ink discharge frequency may be reduced to reduce the amount of ink supplied per unit time.

[0072]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a recording head for discharging ink to a recording medium for recording, and recording by holding ink on an ink absorber made of a porous member. Controlling the amount of ink ejected by the recording head per unit time in accordance with the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage and supply unit in an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink storage and supply unit for supplying ink to the recording head As a result, the running cost can be reduced by using up the ink as much as possible, and the effect that the risk occurrence point can be reduced as much as possible even if the user chooses to use the ink until ejection failure occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording head cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention as viewed from a direction in which a head terminal portion can be seen.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a recording head cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a nozzle portion of a recording head cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank and the amount of ink that can be supplied from the ink tank to the recording head cartridge per unit time.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a printing sequence of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing sequence of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an environmental temperature and an ink ejection amount.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining amount of ink in an ink tank and the amount of ink that can be supplied from the ink tank to a printhead cartridge per unit time.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a printing sequence of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording head cartridge 2 Carriage 22 Temperature sensor 30 Ink tank (ink storage and supply means) 32 Container 33 Ink absorber 35 Ink supply member 50 Nozzle part of recording head cartridge 51 Base plate 1000 MPU 1001 ROM 1002 RAM 1003 Ink remaining amount coefficient means 1004 EEPROM 1005 Notification means 1006 Input means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording head for performing recording by discharging ink on a recording medium, and an ink storage and supply unit for retaining ink in an ink absorber made of a porous member and supplying ink to the recording head with recording. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of ink ejected by said recording head per unit time is controlled according to the remaining amount of ink in said ink containing and supplying means. 2. A print mode in which a user can select a print mode in which the amount of ink ejected by a previous recording head per unit time is controlled or a print mode in which the amount is not controlled, in accordance with the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage and supply means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control of the amount of ink is performed by controlling the number of ink ejection nozzles used for recording of the recording head. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control of the ink amount is performed by controlling an ink ejection frequency at the time of recording of the recording head.