JP2008168497A - Recording apparatus, and method and program for controlling it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus which performs recording by a recording head while carrying a recording medium in a sub-scanning direction by rotational drive of a carrying roller, and which can perform high-quality recording by accurately detecting the amount and direction (the amount and direction of movement along a main-scanning direction) of meandering of the recording medium in a cycle equivalent to the one rotation of the carrying roller, by a simple and inexpensive constitution. <P>SOLUTION: A sensor 121 detects a home position of a rotational position of an LF roller which is driven by an LF motor E0002. A counter 122, which is reset by its output, counts the driving pulse of the LF motor, so that the rotational position of the LF roller can be detected. A CPU 1 determines measured data on the amount and direction of the meandering, corresponding to the detected rotational position, from a rotational position-meandering amount table 4a, and controls the recording operation of the recording head H1001 so that the displacement of a recording position in the main-scanning direction by the meandering can be corrected depending on the amount and direction of the meandering. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium along a main scanning direction by a recording head while conveying the sheet-shaped recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by rotational driving of a conveying roller, a control method therefor, and a control program therefor It is about.

  There are recording apparatuses used as recording units such as printers, copying machines, and facsimiles, or recording apparatuses used as output devices of information processing apparatuses such as computers, word processors, and workstations. These recording apparatuses record images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or a plastic sheet based on image information. In the general configuration, recording along the main scanning direction is performed on the recording medium by the recording head while the sheet-like recording medium is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by rotation driving of the conveying roller.

  Such a recording apparatus includes a so-called serial type and a line type. In a serial type recording apparatus, main scanning is performed by moving the recording head in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium. That is, after a line of an image is recorded (main scan) on a recording medium by a recording head mounted on a carriage moving in the main scanning direction, pitch conveyance is performed to convey the recording medium by an amount corresponding to one line. By repeating the operation to be performed, recording is sequentially performed on the recording medium line by line.

  In the line type recording apparatus, the recording head is configured as a full line head that collectively records lines over the entire width of the main scanning at a fixed position. Then, one line is recorded over the entire width of the main scanning by the full line head while conveying the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. In the case of a full line head using the ink jet method, the width of one line in the sub-scanning direction is 1 to several dots and is very small. For this reason, recording is performed sequentially line by line while continuously transporting the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction.

  The recording apparatus is classified according to the recording method into an ink jet method, a wire dot method, a thermal method, a laser beam method, and the like. Among these, the ink jet system performs recording by ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium from a large number of nozzles (ink ejection ports) provided in the recording head. With this method, the recording head can be easily downsized and high-definition images can be recorded at high speed.

  In recent years, in an inkjet line recording apparatus, a full line head is often configured as a so-called long connecting head as shown in FIG. In this head, a plurality of recording element substrates H1100a to H1100d each having a large number of nozzles arranged along the main scanning direction are alternately arranged in a staggered manner along the main scanning direction. There is a so-called full multi-color recording apparatus in which a plurality of heads that perform recording of different colors with a full line head such as a long connecting head are arranged at intervals in the sub-scanning direction. Color recording can be performed at high speed.

  In these recording apparatuses, the position of the center of the outer circle is usually shifted by several μm from the ideal position (hereinafter referred to as runout) due to the processing accuracy and the like of the transport roller for transporting the recording medium. As a result, the conveyance speed fluctuates within a predetermined amplitude with one rotation of the conveyance roller during conveyance of the recording medium, and the conveyance position of the recording medium deviates from the ideal position in the conveyance direction. Thereby, in the case of the ink jet system, the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the recording head on the recording medium is shifted in the sub-scanning direction.

  This displacement of the landing position in the sub-scanning direction becomes a problem particularly in a color full multi-head type recording apparatus. This is because if the amount of deviation of the landing position in the sub-scanning direction differs among the plurality of full-line type recording heads of this apparatus, the position of the recording image of each color will shift in the sub-scanning direction. For this reason, in this apparatus, the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the plurality of recording heads is made to coincide with the roller circumferential length for one rotation of the conveying roller, so that the position of the recording image between the plurality of recording heads is sub-scanned. Measures are taken to prevent it from shifting in the direction.

  Further, due to the swing of the transport roller, the transported recording medium meanders with one rotation of the transport roller as a cycle and is about 10 to 20 μm along the main scanning direction perpendicular to the transport direction (sub-scanning direction). The phenomenon of reciprocating in the range occurs. As a result, in an ink jet apparatus, the landing positions on the recording medium of ink droplets ejected from a large number of nozzles of the recording head during recording are shifted in the main scanning direction. That is, the recording position is shifted in the main scanning direction, and the recording quality is deteriorated.

  In particular, in the case of the long continuous head shown in FIG. 15, which will be described later, black stripes, white stripes, and the like are generated at the connecting portions in the main scanning direction between the plurality of recording element substrates H1100a to H1100d, and the recording quality is remarkably increased. It will deteriorate (see FIG. 18 described later). Further, in a color full-multi recording apparatus, the recording position of each color image by each of a plurality of recording heads shifts in the main scanning direction due to meandering of the recording medium, and the recording quality deteriorates.

  In order to solve such problems, the amount and direction of movement of the recording medium along the main scanning direction due to meandering are detected, and the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to meandering is corrected accordingly. Thus, it is necessary to control the recording operation of the recording head.

On the other hand, a configuration for detecting meandering of a recording medium in a printer is described in Patent Document 1 below. In this configuration, the light receiving portion made of a photodiode or the like and the light emitting portion made of an LED or the like are arranged so as to face each other via one end portion in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording medium 2 to be conveyed. Light is emitted from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit through the recording medium. Then, the light receiving unit detects the light receiving area of the irradiated light, thereby detecting the amount of displacement (movement amount) in the vertical direction (main scanning direction) with respect to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium. Detected.
JP 2006-206226, paragraph [0037], etc.

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, a minute (for example, a range of 10 to 20 μm) movement amount and movement direction along the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording medium caused by the shaking of the conveyance roller are real-time. Therefore, it is difficult to detect accurately.

  On the other hand, there is a detection means (sensor) that can accurately measure the behavior in the main scanning direction during conveyance of the recording medium in real time, and a typical example is an LDV (laser Doppler sensor). Thus, a configuration is conceivable in which the behavior of the recording medium is directly measured on the medium surface, and the movement amount and movement direction along the main scanning direction due to meandering are detected in real time.

  However, detection means such as LDV that can directly measure the behavior of a recording medium are expensive, and cannot be mounted on a recording device such as a printer aimed at commercialization.

  Of course, the problems relating to the meandering of the recording medium being conveyed are not limited to the ink jet recording apparatus, but are common to other recording apparatuses.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus with a configuration that can be realized easily and inexpensively, and a movement amount and a movement direction (meandering amount and meandering) along the main scanning direction due to meandering of the recording medium with one rotation of the conveyance roller. (Direction) is to be accurately detected in real time. Then, according to the detection result, the recording position shift in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording medium is accurately corrected so that high quality recording can be performed.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention (Claim 1) includes a transport device that transports a sheet-like recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by rotational driving of a transport roller, and transports the recording medium by the transport device. In a recording apparatus that performs recording along the main scanning direction on the recording medium with the recording head,
Detecting means for detecting the rotational position of the conveying roller;
Information processing for performing information processing from the rotation position of the conveying roller detected by the detection means to determine the movement amount and the movement direction along the main scanning direction due to meandering of the recording medium at the rotation position as the meandering amount and the meandering direction, respectively. It has the means.

Furthermore, the present invention (Claim 2)
The recording operation of the recording head so as to correct the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording medium according to the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium obtained by the information processing means during recording. It has the control means which controls.

  In the present invention, a recording apparatus control method and a control program configuration corresponding to the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present invention (claim 2) are employed.

  According to the present invention, the rotation position of the conveyance roller is detected, and the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium at the rotation position are obtained from the detected rotation position. Can be detected. Moreover, the configuration for detecting the rotational position of the transport roller and obtaining the meandering amount and meandering direction from the rotational position can be realized simply and inexpensively. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform high-quality recording by accurately correcting the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording medium according to the accurately detected meandering amount and meandering direction. Excellent effect is obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, as the best mode, an embodiment in a printer as a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording sheet as a sheet-like recording medium by an inkjet method will be described.

  Note that “recording” in the recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to forming an image of significant information such as characters and figures as in the printer of the embodiment, and may be significant or insignificant. It also refers to the case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc. are widely formed on a recording medium, or the medium is processed regardless of whether it is manifested so that humans can perceive it visually. To do.

  “Recording medium” refers to not only paper commonly used in printers but also a wide range of materials that can accept ink, such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. And Moreover, it is not restricted to sheet-like things, such as paper.

 Further, the term “ink” should be broadly interpreted in the same way as the definition of “recording”, and by being applied on the recording medium, formation of an image, pattern, pattern, etc., processing of the recording medium, or We shall refer to a liquid that can be subjected to ink processing. The ink treatment is, for example, solidification or insolubilization of the color material in the ink applied to the recording medium.

  Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a recording apparatus of a system other than the ink jet system.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording apparatus of the present embodiment is a serial type, that is, the recording head is moved intermittently in the sub-scanning direction by intermittent rotation driving of the conveying roller, and the recording head is moved in the main scanning direction to record the image line by line. The recording apparatus is configured as an inkjet printer that performs recording (printing).

[Device body]
First, the apparatus main body of the ink jet printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the outer shell of the printer main body M1000 of the printer of this embodiment includes an exterior member including a lower case M1001, an upper case M1002, an access cover M1003, and a paper discharge tray M1004, and a chassis M3019 accommodated in the exterior member. (See FIG. 2).

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

  Further, one end of the paper discharge tray M1004 is rotatably held by the lower case M1001, and the opening formed in the front surface portion of the lower case M1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. For this reason, when performing the recording operation, by rotating the paper discharge tray M1004 to the front side and opening the opening, it is possible to discharge the recording paper from here, and sequentially stack the discharged recording paper. It has come to be able to do. The paper discharge tray M1004 contains two auxiliary trays M1004a and M1004b, and the support area of the recording paper can be expanded or reduced in three stages by pulling out both trays as needed. It is like that.

  One end of the access cover M1003 is rotatably held by the upper case M1002, and an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. By opening the access cover M1003, the recording head cartridge H1000 or the ink tank H1900 (see FIG. 3) housed in the apparatus main body can be replaced.

  Further, a power key E0018, a resume key E0019 and an input key group (not shown) constituting the operation unit 7 (see FIG. 8) are provided on the upper surface of the rear part of the upper case M1002, and the LED E0020 and the like which constitute the display unit 8 are provided. A display element (not shown) is provided.

[Recording mechanism]
Next, a recording operation mechanism stored and held in the apparatus main body M1000 of the printer will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The recording operation mechanism includes an automatic feeding unit M3022, a conveyance unit M3029, a recording unit, and a recovery unit M5000 shown in FIG. The automatic feeding unit M3022 automatically feeds recording sheets one by one into the apparatus main body sequentially. The transport unit M3029 is a transport device that transports the recording sheets sent one by one from the automatic feeding unit 3022 to the recording position on the platen M2001, and further transports the recording paper from the recording position to the discharge unit M3030. The recording unit records an image on the recording sheet conveyed to the recording position. The recovery unit M5000 performs a process of recovering the ink ejection failure state of the recording head H1001 of the recording unit to a normal state. Hereinafter, the recording unit and the conveyance unit M3029 will be described in order.

<Recording section>
The recording unit includes a carriage M4001, a CR (carriage) motor E0001, a recording head cartridge H1000 (see FIG. 3), and the like. The carriage M4001 is slidably supported on a carriage shaft M4021 fixed to the chassis M3019, and a CR belt M4018 is fixed to the back side thereof. The CR belt M4018 is stretched between a CR motor pulley M4024 and an idler pulley M4020. When the carriage M4001 moves, the CR motor E0001 is driven to rotate the CR motor pulley M4024 in one direction or in the opposite direction, thereby causing the CR belt M4018 to travel in one direction or in the opposite direction. Accordingly, the carriage M4001 can be reciprocated along the carriage axis M4021, that is, along the main scanning direction. A recording head cartridge H1000 shown in FIG. 3 is detachably mounted on the carriage M4001.

  The recording head cartridge H1000 is a recording that discharges ink droplets corresponding to dots from a plurality of nozzles (ink discharge ports) in accordance with a plurality of ink tanks H1900 that store ink and image information that records ink supplied from the ink tanks. It consists of a head H1001. The recording head H1001 is a so-called cartridge type that is detachably mounted on the carriage M4001.

  The recording head cartridge H1000 shown here is capable of color recording with photographic tone and high image quality. For this purpose, for example, black, light cyan, light magenta, cyan, magenta and yellow ink tanks H1900 are prepared as the ink tank H1900. As shown in FIG. 4, each ink tank H1900 is detachable from the recording head H1001.

  The recording head H1001 is composed of components shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. That is, the recording element substrate H1100, the first plate H1200, the electric wiring substrate H1300, the second plate H1400, the tank holder H1500, the flow path forming member H1600, the filter H1700, and the seal rubber H1800 are included.

  The recording element substrate H1100 is a Si substrate, and although not shown in detail, a plurality (a large number) of recording elements (electrothermal transducers) for ejecting ink on one side thereof and supplying power to each recording element. Electrical wiring such as Al is formed by a film forming technique. A plurality of ink flow paths corresponding to a plurality of recording elements and a plurality of nozzles H1100T are formed by a photolithography technique. Further, an ink supply port for supplying ink to the plurality of ink flow paths is formed to open on the back surface.

  The plurality of nozzles H1100T are arranged such that a plurality of nozzle rows (the same number as the number of ink colors that can be printed by the printer) are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction. ing. Ink droplets of different colors are ejected for each column.

  The recording element substrate H1100 is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200. An ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100 is formed in the plate H1200. Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is bonded and fixed to the plate H1200. The plate H1400 holds the electrical wiring board H1300 so that the electrical wiring board H1300 and the recording element substrate H1100 are electrically connected.

  The electrical wiring board H1300 applies an electrical signal for ejecting ink droplets to the recording element board H1100. The electrical wiring board H1300 includes a plurality of electrical wirings (not shown) corresponding to the recording elements of the recording element board H1100 and an external signal input terminal that is located at an end of the electrical wirings and receives electrical signals from the apparatus main body. H1301 is formed. The external signal input terminal H1301 is positioned and fixed on the back side of the tank holder H1500.

  The tank holder H1500 detachably holds the ink tank H1900. A flow path forming member H1600 is fixed to the tank holder H1500 by, for example, ultrasonic welding to form an ink flow path H1501 extending from the ink tank H1900 to the first plate H1200.

  In addition, a filter H1700 is provided at an end of the ink flow path H1501 that engages with the ink tank H1900 on the ink tank side so that entry of dust from the outside can be prevented. Further, a seal rubber H1800 is attached to the engaging portion with the ink tank H1900 so that the ink can be prevented from evaporating from the engaging portion.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the carriage M4001 is provided with a carriage cover M4002 for guiding the recording head H1001 to a predetermined mounting position on the carriage M4001. Further, a head set lever M4007 is provided that engages with the tank holder H1500 of the recording head H1001 and presses the recording head H1001 to be set at a predetermined mounting position.

  Further, a contact FPC (flexible print cable) E0011 is provided at another engagement portion of the carriage M4001 with the recording head H1001. The contact portion and the external signal input terminal H1301 provided on the recording head H1001 are in electrical contact with each other so that various information for recording can be exchanged and power can be supplied to the recording head H1001. Yes.

  An elastic member such as rubber (not shown) is provided between the contact portion of the contact FPC E0011 and the carriage M4001. The contact portion and the carriage M4001 can be reliably brought into contact by the elastic force of the elastic member and the pressing force by the spring of the head set lever M4007. Further, the contact FPC E0011 is connected to a carriage substrate (not shown) mounted on the back surface of the carriage M4001.

<Transport section>
Next, the conveyance unit M3029 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 includes an LF (line feed) roller M3001, a pinch roller M3014, an LF motor E0002, and the like.

  The LF roller M3001 is a conveyance roller that conveys the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction by its rotational driving. The LF roller M3001 is fixed to a drive shaft M3001a (see FIG. 6) that is rotatably supported by a chassis M3019, and is provided in parallel with the platen M2001. Then, the rotational driving force of the LF motor E0002 fixed to the chassis M3019 is transmitted to the drive shaft M3001a through a gear train such as the gear M3013, whereby the LF roller M3001 rotates together with the drive shaft M3001a. In the present embodiment, the LF motor E0002 is a stepping motor, that is, a motor that is rotationally driven by a fixed angle for each drive pulse, but may be a DC motor.

  The pinch roller M3014 is pivotally attached to the tip of a pinch roller holder M3015 rotatably supported by the chassis M3019, and is pressed against the LF roller M3001 by a spring M3016 that urges the pinch roller holder M3015. That is, the recording paper is pressed against the LF roller M3001. And it rotates following the rotation of the LF roller M3001.

  When transporting the recording paper, the recording paper is sandwiched between the LF roller M3001 and the pinch roller M3014, and the LF motor E0002 rotates the LF roller M3001 in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 6). Thereby, the recording medium can be conveyed along the upper surface of the platen M2001 in the sub-scanning direction (the arrow F direction in FIG. 6). Note that the LF roller M3001 has a larger diameter than the pinch roller M3014, but in FIG. 2, only the portion exposed in the gap on the back side of the platen M2001 is shown.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 is detected during the recording operation. That is, the rotation angle in the rotation direction corresponding to the recording paper conveyance direction from the rotation home position (reference position) is detected. As a constituent of the detecting means, as shown in FIG. 6, a circular home position indicator plate 120 is fixed to one end of the drive shaft M3001a of the LF roller M3001. The home position indicator plate 120 is formed with a slit 120a serving as a home position indicator. A home position sensor 121 is also provided. The home position sensor 121 is configured as a transmissive optical sensor in which a light emitting unit 121a including a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving unit 121b including a light receiving element such as a photodiode are opposed to each other. The home position sensor 121 is fixed at a predetermined position so that the light emitting part 121a and the light receiving part 121b face each other with the outer peripheral part of the home position indicator plate 120 interposed therebetween.

  When the LF roller M3001 rotates, the home position indicator plate 120 rotates, and when the slit 120a reaches a rotational position between the light emitting unit 121a and the light receiving unit 121b as illustrated, the light from the light emitting unit 121a passes through the slit 120a. Via the light receiving unit 121b. As a result, the slit 120a is detected, and the rotation position of the LF roller M3001 at this time is detected as the home position of the rotation position. The home position varies depending on the fixed position of the home position sensor 121 in the rotation direction of the home position indicator plate 120, but is not particularly limited.

  Furthermore, a rotation position counter 122 is provided as a detection unit that detects the rotation position of the LF roller M3001. The rotation position counter 122 is reset by a detection signal when the home position sensor 121 detects the home position. Then, the number of drive pulses after the home position of the LF motor (stepping motor) E0002 is detected is counted. The number of drive pulses to be counted is the number of drive pulses in the forward rotation direction corresponding to the recording paper transport direction.

  Here, the LF motor E0002 rotates by a constant step angle for each drive pulse, and the LF roller M3001 similarly rotates by a constant step angle. Accordingly, each of the count values sequentially counted from 0 by the rotation position counter 122 corresponds to each rotation position in which the LF roller has rotated by one step angle in the normal rotation direction from the home position, and indicates each rotation position. It will be a thing. Thereby, the count value of the number of drive pulses output from the rotation position counter 122 (hereinafter referred to as the rotation position count value) can be handled as data indicating the detection result of the current rotation position of the LF roller M3001. . In this way, the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 is detected.

  When a DC motor is used as the LF motor E0002, a rotary encoder may be connected to the drive shaft M3001a of the LF roller M3001 as a rotational position detecting unit. It is assumed that the encoder has a function of detecting the home position of the rotation position and a function of detecting the rotation angle from the home position.

  By the way, when the recording paper is conveyed, the conveyance speed fluctuates within a predetermined amplitude with one rotation of the LF roller as a cycle due to the vibration of the LF roller M3001, and the recording paper conveyance position is reached. Shifts from the ideal position to the front and back in the transport direction. The relationship between the shift amount of the transfer position and the transfer amount is shown in FIG. This shows the measurement result of an actual LF roller. Each point on the X-axis where the transport amount is taken corresponds to each rotation position of the LF roller (rotation position in the rotation direction during transport). That is, FIG. 7A shows the relationship between the transport position deviation amount and the rotation position of the LF roller. This relationship is substantially a sine wave relationship, and the period (wavelength) A of the sine wave is equal to the length of the outer periphery of one rotation (one rotation) of the LF roller.

  In addition, as described above, the recording paper to be conveyed meanders with one cycle of the LF roller due to the LF roller swinging, and is about 10 to 20 μm along the main scanning direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (sub-scanning direction). The phenomenon of reciprocating in the range occurs. The relationship between the moving amount of the reciprocating movement along the main scanning direction and the forward and backward moving directions along the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording paper (hereinafter referred to as the meandering amount and the meandering direction) and the conveyance amount corresponding to the rotational position of the LF roller. It is shown in FIG. The meandering direction is indicated by plus and minus meandering amounts. The relationship in FIG. 7-2 is also a substantially sinusoidal relationship having a period A for one round of the LF roller, as in FIG. However, the phase of the sine wave is 180 degrees out of FIG.

  In the present invention, paying attention to such a relationship, the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 in which the meandering amount and the meandering direction in the conveyance of the recording paper are detected via the home position sensor 121 and the rotational position counter 122 during recording by the printer. I asked for it. Therefore, in the printer, for each lot of production of the LF roller M3001, the meandering amount and the meandering direction according to the rotation position in one rotation cycle of the LF roller M3001 during recording paper conveyance are measured. Specifically, the rotational positions are the rotational positions for each step angle from the home position corresponding to the number of drive pulses of the rotational position count value of the rotational position counter 122 described above. A data table in which each data of the rotational position, that is, each data of the drive pulse number of the rotational position count value, and each of the meandering amount and the meandering direction measurement data at each rotational position is associated with the printer. Is stored in the storage means. The data table is hereinafter referred to as a rotational position / meander amount table.

  Then, in the printer control system described below, during recording, the meandering amount and meandering direction measurement data corresponding to the data of the number of drive pulses corresponding to the rotational position count value output from the rotational position counter 122 are stored in the rotational position / Search from the meandering amount table. In this way, the meandering amount and meandering direction can be accurately detected in real time.

[Control system]
Next, the configuration of the printer control system will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the CPU 1 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2 and controls the following units connected via the bus 6 to execute a recording operation. The CPU 1 is information processing means for performing information processing for obtaining the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording paper from the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 detected as described above during recording. Further, it is a control means for controlling the recording operation of the recording head H0001 so as to correct the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording paper according to the obtained meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording paper. .

  The ROM 2 stores a control program executed by the CPU 1. The control program includes a control program for performing control according to the control procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The RAM 3 is used for temporarily storing various data processed by the CPU 1, such as recording data.

  The EEPROM 4 is used for storing data to be written and saved as desired. The data of the rotational position / meander amount table 4 a described above is written in the EEPROM 4.

  An external I / F (interface) 5 performs data communication with a host device such as an external computer.

  The operation unit 7 is provided with various input keys for the user to operate the printer, such as the power key E0018 and the resume key E0019 shown in FIG.

  The display unit 8 is provided with display means such as LED E0020 and a display (not shown).

  The head controller 9 controls the drive of the recording head H1001 in accordance with a command from the CPU 1 to perform recording.

  The CR motor control unit 10 controls driving of the CR motor E0001 in accordance with a command from the CPU 1 to reciprocate the carriage M4001 along the main scanning direction.

  The LF motor control unit 11 controls the driving of the LF motor E0002 in accordance with a command from the CPU 1 and causes the recording paper to be transported. As described above, the home position of the LF roller M3001 rotated by the LF motor E0002 is detected by the home position sensor 121, and the rotation position counter 122 is reset by the detection signal. The rotational position counter 122 counts the driving pulses of the LF motor E0002 generated by the LF motor control unit 11, and outputs rotational position count value data as rotational position data of the LF motor E0002. At the time of recording, the CPU 1 searches the rotational position / meander amount table 4a for the meandering amount and meandering direction data corresponding to the drive pulse number data corresponding to the rotational position count value output from the rotational position counter 122. Then, according to the obtained meandering amount and meandering direction, control is performed so as to correct the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording paper.

[Printer operation]
Next, the operation of the ink jet printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10 show a control procedure executed by the CPU 1.

  When apparatus main body M1000 is connected to a power source, first, a first initialization process of the apparatus is performed in step S1 of FIG. In this initialization process, an electrical circuit system check such as a check of the ROM 2, RAM 3 and EEPROM 4 of this apparatus is carried out to confirm whether or not this apparatus can operate normally.

  Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the power key E0018 is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S3, where a second initialization process is performed.

  In this second initialization process, various drive mechanisms of the apparatus and the print head H1001 are checked. That is, when initializing various motors such as the CR motor E0001 and the LF motor E0002 and reading head information, it is confirmed whether the apparatus can operate normally.

  In step S4, an event is waited for. That is, it is monitored whether a recording (printing) command event from the host device via the external I / F 5, a key event from the operation unit 7 by a user operation, or an internal control event occurs for this apparatus. . When these events occur, processing corresponding to the events is executed.

  For example, when a recording command event is received from the host device via the external I / F 5, the processes in steps S5 to S9 are executed. If a power key event is generated by a user operation, the process of step S10 is executed. If another event occurs, the process of step S11 is executed.

  Here, in step S5, the recording command from the host device is analyzed, the specified paper type, recording paper size, print quality, paper feed method, etc. are determined, and data representing the determination result is stored in the RAM 3.

  Next, in step S6, paper feeding is started by driving the automatic feeding unit M3022, for example, by the paper feeding method specified in step S5, and the recording paper is sent to the recording start position.

  In step S7, one page is recorded. In this recording operation, the recording data sent from the external I / F 5 is temporarily stored in the recording buffer in the RAM 3. Next, the CR motor control unit 10 is commanded to drive the CR motor E0001 to start the movement of the carriage M4001 along the main scanning direction. At the same time, one line of the recording data stored in the recording buffer is supplied to the head control unit 9, the recording head H1001 is driven according to the recording data, and ink droplets are ejected from a plurality of nozzles H1100T. Let the line be recorded. When the recording operation for one line is completed, the LF motor control unit 11 is instructed to drive the LF motor E0002 by a predetermined amount and rotate the LF roller M3001 by a predetermined amount so that the recording paper corresponds to one line. Only a fixed amount is sent in the sub-scanning direction. Thereafter, the recording for one line and the paper feeding for one line are alternately repeated to sequentially record one line at a time.

  During the recording of one page, control is performed to obtain the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording paper from the rotational position of the LF roller M3001, and the recording position is corrected.

  When the recording of one page in step S7 is completed, the recording paper is discharged in step S8. That is, the LF motor E0002 is driven to rotate a paper discharge roller M2003 (not shown) to convey the recording paper, and the conveyance is continued until it is determined that the entire recording paper has been sent out from the apparatus main body M1000. As a result, the recording paper is discharged onto the discharge tray M1004.

  Next, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the recording operation for all the pages to be recorded has been completed. If pages to be recorded remain, the process returns to step S5 and the processes in steps S5 to S9 are repeated. Then, the next page is recorded. When the recording operation for all pages is completed, the process returns to step S4 to wait for an event again.

  On the other hand, in step S10, printer termination processing is performed to stop the operation of the apparatus. That is, the power is turned off after the power of various motors, the recording head H1001, and the like is shifted to a state where it can be turned off. Then, it returns to step S2 and waits for the power key E0018 to be turned on.

  In step S11, event processing other than the above that occurred in step S4 is performed. For example, the ink ejection recovery process of the recording head H1001 corresponding to a recovery command from the input key of the operation unit 7 of this apparatus or the external I / F 5 or a recovery event that occurs internally is performed. After the end of the process, the process returns to step S4 and waits for the next event.

  Next, the details of the operation for performing the control for correcting the recording position by obtaining the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording paper from the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 during the recording of one page will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control in FIG. 10 is started at the start of the recording process for one page. First, the CPU 1 reads the rotational position count value from the rotational position counter 122, that is, the count value data of the driving pulse number of the LF motor E0002 indicating the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 (step S21).

  Then, the meandering amount and meandering direction data of the recording paper corresponding to the read drive pulse number of the count value are obtained from the rotation position / meandering amount table 4a (step S22).

  Next, the writing start position (recording start position) of one line of the recording head H1001 is set to be shifted in the main scanning direction according to the obtained meandering amount and meandering direction (step S23).

  For example, when the resolution of the recording output of the printer of this embodiment is 2400 dpi, the interval between the recorded ink dots is about 10 μm. In such a printer, for example, as shown in FIG. 7-2, when a sinusoidal meander having an amplitude of about 14 μm occurs, a recording position shift of one pixel or more in the main scanning direction occurs at the maximum ( C section in FIG. 7-2). For this reason, for example, when the meandering amount and meandering direction obtained in step S22 are those near C, and a recording position shift of one pixel or more occurs in the main scanning direction, the writing start position is obtained for the meandering amount. Set to shift in the meandering direction opposite to the meandering direction. Thereby, it is possible to correct the recording position shift in the main investigation direction due to the meandering of the recording paper. Of course, the entire recording position of one line is shifted in the main scanning direction by setting the writing position of one line in the main scanning direction. Of course, if the amount of meandering is zero or close to zero as shown in B section in FIG. 7B, the recording position is not shifted.

  Next, one line is recorded from the set writing position (step S24). That is, the carriage M4001 travels in the main scanning direction by driving the CR motor E0001. At the same time, the recording head H1001 is driven in accordance with the recording data for one line from the set writing position, and ink droplets are ejected from the plurality of nozzles H1100T to perform recording.

  As a method for controlling the writing position, for example, a CR motor E0001 is used as a stepping motor, and the recording start timing of the recording head H1001 is managed by the number of driving pulses of the CR motor corresponding to the position of the carriage M4001 in the main scanning direction. There is. There is also a method in which a linear encoder for detecting the position of the carriage in the main scanning direction is provided, and the recording start timing of one line is managed based on the detected value.

  When the recording of one line is completed, it is determined whether the recording of one page is completed (step S25). If not completed, the LF motor E0002 is driven by a predetermined amount to rotate the LF roller M3001 by a predetermined amount, and the recording paper is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount corresponding to one line (step S26). . Then, it returns to step S21 and repeats operation | movement after step S21. When the recording of one page is finished, this process is finished.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, the meandering amount and the meandering direction are detected from the detected rotational position based on the actually measured rotational position of the LF roller M3001 and the relationship between the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording paper. Therefore, the meandering amount and meandering direction can be accurately detected in real time. Moreover, the configuration for detecting the rotational position of the LF roller M3001 and obtaining the meandering amount and the meandering direction from the rotational position can be realized simply and inexpensively. Then, according to the detection result of the meandering amount and the meandering direction, the recording position shift in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording paper can be accurately corrected to perform high quality recording.

  If the relationship between the measured rotational position, the amount of meandering and the meandering direction is very close to a sine wave, trigonometric function data indicating the relationship is stored in the EEPROM 4, and the triangle is calculated from the detected rotational position. The meandering amount and meandering direction may be calculated by calculating the function.

  In the recording paper transport device of the printer of Example 1, the recording paper is sandwiched between the LF roller and the pinch roller, and the recording paper is transported by rotating the LF roller. However, it may be a belt conveyance type apparatus shown in FIG.

  In the configuration shown here, a conveyance belt (endless belt) 123 made of a film, rubber, or the like is stretched between an LF roller M3001 and a driven roller M3002 provided in parallel therewith. A pulley 124 is fixed to one end of the drive shaft M3001a of the LF roller M3001. When the rotational driving force from the LF motor E0002 is transmitted to the pulley 124 via a timing belt (not shown), the LF roller M3001 rotates, for example, in the clockwise direction, and the conveying belt 123 travels as indicated by the arrow F. . The recording paper is supplied from the automatic feeding unit M3022 onto the conveyance belt 123 and is attracted to the conveyance belt 123 by an electrostatic method, an air suction method, or is pressed by a spur or the like. As the transport belt 123 travels, the recording paper is transported in the arrow F direction (sub-scanning direction).

  Even in such a configuration of the transport apparatus, similarly to the first embodiment, the recording paper to be transported meanders with one rotation of the LF roller M3001 as a cycle due to the shake of the LF roller M3001. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the home position indicator plate 120, the home position sensor 121, and the rotation position counter 122 are provided, and the rotation position of the LF roller M3001 is detected as the rotation position count value of the counter 122. Each time one line is recorded, the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording paper are obtained from the rotation position count value of the counter 122 before that, and the writing position of one line is shifted in the main scanning direction according to the result. And the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to meandering is corrected.

  As described above, even when the recording paper conveyance device of the printer is a conveyance belt (endless belt) system, the same operation and effect can be obtained as in the first embodiment.

  Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording apparatus of the present embodiment is an apparatus configured as a color full-multi type printer in which a plurality of full line heads that record different ink colors are arranged at intervals in the sub-scanning direction as recording heads. . The full line head collectively records lines over the entire width of the main scan at a fixed position, and is a so-called seamless head or long continuous head. The seamless head performs batch recording of lines over the entire width of the main scanning by a single recording unit without a joint. The long connecting head is arranged in a plurality of rows by alternately staggering a plurality of recording portions for recording a line over a part of the full width of the main scanning in a staggered manner along the main scanning direction. The line recording over the entire width of the main scanning is performed.

  FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the recording paper conveyance system of the recording apparatus of this embodiment, the arrangement of the recording head, and the like. 13 and 14 are a schematic cross-sectional view and a top view schematically showing the configuration of the recording paper transport unit (transport device) of the apparatus.

  A recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is of a type called a roll paper printer that performs recording on a roll paper 112 that is long and wound as a recording paper. Examples of the roll paper 112 include a label paper in which a label piece is temporarily attached to a mount, a tag paper having a perforation in a thick paper, and the like. The roll paper 112 is attached to the roll unit 101.

  The roll unit 101 is provided with a roll drive shaft 113 on which the roll paper 112 is mounted and a roll sensor lever 114 whose position changes depending on the slack of the feeding portion of the roll paper 112. Further, a roll motor 129 is provided for rotating the roll drive shaft 113 via a belt 117 and a pulley 113a. As the roll motor 129 is driven to rotate the roll drive shaft 113 counterclockwise in FIG. 12, the roll paper 112 is fed out. At that time, the drive of the roll motor 129 is controlled by the position of the roll sensor lever 114, and the feed speed of the roll paper 112 is adjusted. Then, the fed roll paper is supplied to the recording paper transport unit in the main body of the recording apparatus 100.

  In the main body of the recording apparatus 100 in FIG. 12, a roll paper conveyance path is formed extending left and right. An LF roller 118 that conveys the roll paper 112 and a pinch roller 119 that presses the roll paper 112 to the right end (on the roll unit 101 side) are provided in the vicinity of the conveyance entrance. In addition, a discharge roller 130 for discharging the roll paper 112 and a pinch roller 131 for press-contacting the roll paper 112 to the left end conveyance exit are provided.

  A platen 111 is provided along the lower side of the roll paper conveyance path between the LF roller 118 and the paper discharge roller 130. A plurality of spurs 115 are provided on the platen 111 at intervals in the roll paper conveyance direction (left direction in the drawing), and a plurality of spur driving rollers 116 are provided to face each of the spurs 115. Yes. Each spur 115 presses the roll paper 112 against the spur driving roller 116. That is, the roll paper 112 on the platen 111 is prevented from floating by being pressed against the platen 111 side.

  Also, above the platen 111, for example, recording heads 102 to 105 for recording ink colors of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively, are in the roll paper conveyance direction. They are arranged at intervals in the (sub-scanning direction). The plurality of recording heads 102 to 105 are ink-jet full lines provided with nozzle rows (ink discharge port rows) for performing recording over the full width of the main scan (the full width of the roll paper 112) at a fixed position. Head. The seamless head or the long connecting head described above is used. In the case of a seamless head, a single recording section composed of a recording element substrate, which will be described later, is provided with a single nozzle array having a length corresponding to the entire width of the main scanning along the main scanning direction. The recording of the line over the entire width is performed collectively without a joint. Details of the configuration of the long connecting head will be described later. The number of nozzles as the width in the sub-scanning direction of the nozzle array extending along the main scanning direction of the recording head is one or several.

  Black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) ink droplets are selectively ejected according to the recording data from the nozzles of the nozzle rows of the recording heads 102 to 105, respectively. Make a record. The ejected ink is supplied from the ink cartridges (K) 106, (C) 107, (M) 108, and (Y) 109 to the corresponding recording heads via pumps and tubes (not shown).

  At the time of recording, the LF roller 118 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing via the belt 126 by driving the LF motor 125 shown in FIG. The paper discharge roller 130 is rotated counterclockwise via the belt 128 by the drive of the paper discharge motor 127. Further, the spur drive roller 116 rotates counterclockwise by driving a motor (not shown). Thereby, the roll paper 112 is sequentially conveyed leftward in the drawing. At the same time, the recording heads 102 to 105 are driven in accordance with the recording data, and recording is sequentially performed for each ink color line by line. Since the width of one line in the sub-scanning direction is 1 to several dots and is very small, the roll paper 112 is continuously conveyed, and recording is sequentially performed line by line. The portion of the roll paper 112 that has received the recording is sequentially discharged out of the apparatus main body by the paper discharge roller 130.

  The relationship between the conveyance speed V3 of the paper discharge roller 130 and the conveyance speed V1 of the LF roller 118 is V3> V1, and the relationship between the conveyance force F3 of the paper discharge roller 130 and the conveyance force F1 of the LF roller 118 is F3 <F1. And As a result, the roll paper 112 can be conveyed while being tensioned between the LF roller 118 and the paper discharge roller 130 while slipping the roll paper 112 between the paper discharge roller 130 and the pinch roller 131.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the conveyance speed V2 by the spur driving roller 116 and the spur 115 is in a relationship of V3> V2> V1, and further, the conveyance force F2 is in a relationship of F3 <F2 <F1. Thereby, the conveyance amount in the sub-scanning direction (conveyance direction) corresponds to the rotation amount of the LF roller 118 with high accuracy. Further, the roll paper 112 can be conveyed while being pulled by the spur driving roller 116 and the paper discharge roller 130, which have a lower conveyance force downstream of the LF roller 118, thereby preventing the roll paper 112 on the platen 111 from being lifted.

  The configuration of the control system of the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is the same as the control system according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 8 except that the CR motor E0001 and the CR motor control unit 10 are replaced with the discharge motor 127 and the control unit of the same motor. Shall be. Further, it is assumed that the recording head H0001 and the head control unit 9 are replaced with four color recording heads 102 to 105 and respective head control units.

  Also in the configuration of the roll paper transport device of the recording apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the roll paper 112 being transported meanders with one rotation of the LF roller 118 as a cycle due to the shake of the LF roller 118 as in the first embodiment. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, the home position indicator plate 120, the home position sensor 121, and the rotation position counter 122 in FIG. Then, the rotational position of the LF roller 118 is detected as the rotational position count value of the counter 122.

  In addition, before the recording apparatus is shipped from the factory, the meandering amount and meandering direction of the roll paper 112 according to the rotational position of the LF roller 118 are measured in advance, and the rotational position is associated with the measurement data of the meandering amount and meandering direction. / The meandering amount table 4 a is stored in the EEPROM 4.

  Then, during the recording operation, the CPU 1 retrieves the meandering amount and meandering direction data corresponding to the rotational position data of the LF roller 118 detected in real time from the rotational position / meandering amount table 4a, and finds the meandering amount and meandering direction. Detect in real time.

  When the recording heads 102 to 105 are seamless heads, the image data to be recorded on each recording head is recorded while shifting in real time in the main scanning direction (nozzle row direction) according to the detected meandering amount and meandering direction of the roll paper. Let That is, control is performed so that the recording position of a single recording portion of each recording head is shifted in the main scanning direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the landing position deviation of the ink dots in the main scanning direction between the recording heads 102 to 105, that is, the recording position deviation, and the positional deviation of each color image.

  Here, the timing of shifting the image data of each recording head in the main scanning direction needs to be corrected according to the transport distance from the LF roller 118 to the nozzle position of each recording head. However, if the distance between the recording heads 102 to 105 is equal to one turn of the LF roller 118 (the amount of conveyance for one rotation of the roller), timing correction is not necessary. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 7B in the first embodiment, the relationship between the conveyance amount and the meandering amount is a sine wave relationship with one rotation of the LF roller as a cycle. For this reason, the meandering amount and meandering direction of the roll paper at the respective head positions arranged at intervals of one round of the LF roller are the same. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the correction of the image shift timing according to the meandering in each recording head. That is, the placement of the ink dots between the recording heads is eliminated by the above arrangement.

  On the other hand, when the recording heads 102 to 105 are long connecting heads, control different from the above is performed according to the meandering amount and meandering direction of the roll paper. Before describing it, the configuration of the long connecting head will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A recording head H1001 (corresponding to 102 to 105) as a long connecting head shown in FIG. 15 is a so-called bubble jet (registered trademark) side shooter type. That is, recording is performed using an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling in the ink in accordance with the electrical signal.

  As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 16, the recording head H1001 includes a recording element unit H1002 and an ink supply member H1500 of an ink supply unit H1003. Further, the recording element unit H1002 is composed of components shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. In FIG. 17, H1100 is each of four recording element substrates constituting the recording unit, and H1200 is a first plate formed by bonding two plates. H1300 is an electric wiring board, H1400 is a second plate, H1600 is four ink inflow filters, and H1601 is an individual filter.

  The basic configuration of the printing element substrate H1100 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the nozzle row 1106 is only one row.

The first plate H1200 is made of, for example, an alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) material having a thickness of 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

  The first plate H1200 has a configuration in which two plates H1201 and H1202 are bonded together by an adhesive or the like. Each of the plates H1201 and H1202 is formed with an ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100. An ink supply port (not shown) of the recording element substrate H1100 corresponds to the ink supply port H1201 of the first plate H1200, and the recording element substrate H1100 is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200 with high positional accuracy. . The first plate H1200 has an X-direction reference H1204, a Y-direction reference H1205, and a Z-direction reference H1206, which are positioning references.

  As shown in FIG. 15, four recording element substrates H1100 are arranged in a staggered manner on the first plate H1200. That is, they are arranged in two rows of two, shifted alternately in the sub-scanning direction along the main scanning direction. The members of the recording element substrate H1100 are appended with “a” to “d” at the end, and the members of the four substrates H1100 (a to d) are distinguished. Each substrate H1100 (a to d) is provided with a nozzle row H1106 (a, b,...) Along a main scanning direction in which a large number of nozzles that discharge ink droplets are arranged in a straight line. The length of each nozzle row H1106 is a part of the full width of the main scan of the recording head H1001, in this case, approximately 1/4. For example, when the full width of the main scan is 4 inches, 1 inch + α And Thereby, it is possible to perform recording by connecting lines over the entire width of the main scanning, for example, 4 inches, with the four substrates H1100.

  Further, the end portions of the nozzle rows H1106 of the recording element substrates H1100 adjacent in the sub-scanning direction are overlapped when viewed in the sub-scanning direction. The overlap region is indicated by a symbol L in FIG. Here, in the region L, the end H1109a of the nozzle row H1106a and the end H1109b of the nozzle row H1106b overlap. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the recordings by each recording element substrate H1100.

  The electrical wiring substrate H1300 applies an electrical signal for ejecting ink to the recording element substrate H1100, and has an opening H1303 for incorporating the recording element substrate H1100. The plate H1400 is adhered and fixed. The electrical wiring board H1300 includes an electrode terminal (not shown) corresponding to an electrode (not shown) of the recording element board H1100 and an external signal input terminal H1301 that is located at the end of the wiring and receives an electrical signal from the recording apparatus main body. have. The electrical wiring board H1300 and the recording element board H1100 are electrically connected. As the connection method, for example, an electrode (not shown) of the recording element substrate H1100 and an electrode terminal (not shown) of the electric wiring substrate H1300 are connected by wire bonding using a gold wire.

  The second plate H1400 has an opening H1401 for receiving the recording element substrate H1100 bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200, and is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200.

  A groove formed by the opening H1401 of the second plate H1400 and the side surface of the recording element substrate H1100 is filled with the first sealant H1304, and the electric mounting portion of the electric wiring substrate H1300 is sealed. In addition, an electrode (not shown) of the recording element substrate H1100 is sealed with a second sealant H1305 to protect the electrical connection portion from ink corrosion and external impact.

  The ink supply member H1500 is formed by resin molding, for example, and includes a common liquid chamber H1501 and a Z-direction reference surface H1502. The Z reference plane H1502 positions and fixes the recording element unit H1002, and serves as the Z reference for the recording head H1001. The ink supply member H1500 is provided with an ink inlet (not shown), and is connected to an ink inflow filter H1600 in the recording element substrate H1100, and serves as an ink inlet from the printer main body.

  Further, the plate H1202 and the ink supply member H1500 are bonded together with an adhesive or the like in a state where the common liquid chamber H1501 covers all the individual filters H1601 disposed on the plate H1202. Further, the common liquid chamber H1501 is provided with an ink outlet (not shown) for allowing the supplied ink to flow out of the head.

  The recording head H1001 is configured by coupling the recording element unit H1002 shown in FIG. 16 to an ink supply member H1500. The coupling is performed as follows.

  The opening of the ink supply member H1500 and the recording element unit H1002 are sealed with a third sealant H1503, and the common liquid chamber H1501 is sealed. Then, the Z reference H1206 of the recording element unit H1002 is positioned and fixed to the Z reference surface H1502 of the ink supply member H1500 using, for example, a screw H1901. Further, the external signal input terminal H1301 portion of the recording element unit H1002 is positioned and fixed on the back surface of the ink supply member H1501, for example.

  In the full multi-printer using the long connecting head as described above, the output image of each recording element substrate is printed on the recording paper with the end of the nozzle row H1106 of each recording element substrate H1100 as the boundary of the joint of the recording image. Alignment is performed in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. In this way, the entire image is recorded.

  However, when there is meandering in the main scanning direction of the recording paper (roll paper) due to the shake of the LF roller, the image recording position on the recording paper for each recording element substrate H1100 is shifted in the sub-scanning direction. A streak occurs in the output image on the recording paper at the edge.

  For example, let us consider a case where the recording head 102 is a long connecting head and the recording paper (roll paper) P meanders as shown by an arrow N as shown in FIG. Here, for the sake of simplicity of illustration and description, only three H1100a, H1100b, and H1100c are shown as recording element substrates of the recording head 102. In this case, on the recording paper P, the recording paper is skewed in a direction in which the respective images are separated along the main scanning direction on the recording paper P at the connecting portions of the recording images between the ends of the recording element substrates H1100a to c. White streaks U occur when Further, a black streak T is generated when meandering in a direction approaching along the main scanning direction. In this way, white stripes U and black stripes T are alternately generated. As described in the first embodiment, the relationship between the amount of meandering and the conveyance amount is a relationship of a sine wave having a period A for one round of the LF roller (see FIG. 7-2). For this reason, the interval between white stripes U and the interval between black stripes T in FIG. Of course, the same applies to the other recording heads 103 to 105.

  In order to solve this problem, the CPU 1 searches the meandering amount and meandering direction data corresponding to the rotational position data of the LF roller 118 detected in real time from the rotational position / meandering amount table 4a and performs meandering. Detect quantity and meander direction in real time. Then, in accordance with the detection result, the image data to be recorded and output from the recording element substrates H1100a to H1100d of the recording heads 102 to 105 is corrected so as to correct the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to meandering.

  As the method, one of the columns of the recording element substrates H1100a and H1100c and the columns of the recording element substrates H1100b and H1100d arranged along the main scanning direction is a reference column and the other is an adjustment column. Then, the output image of the recording element substrate in the adjustment row is recorded on the reference row recording element substrate while being shifted in the main scanning direction in accordance with the meandering amount of the recording paper and the detected data in the meandering direction. That is, recording is performed while the recording position of the recording element substrate in the adjustment row is shifted in the main scanning direction. As a result, an output image free of white and black lines on the recording paper due to the meandering of the recording paper can be obtained, and high-quality recording can be performed.

  As another correction method, image data (recording data) to be output to the end in the main scanning direction of the recording element substrate in the adjustment row is increased or decreased in the main scanning direction according to the meandering amount and the meandering direction detection data. This method also provides an output image free of white and black lines on the recording paper due to the meandering of the recording paper.

  Further, by controlling according to the meandering amount and the meandering direction detection data, the ink dot landing position deviation in the main scanning direction between the heads 102 to 105, that is, the recording position deviation is prevented, and the image misregistration of each color image is prevented. Can be prevented.

  In the configuration of this embodiment, the recording paper conveyance device is of the conveyance belt (endless belt) type as described in FIG. 11 of the second embodiment, and similarly, the meandering amount of the recording paper is determined from the rotational position of the LF roller. The meandering direction may be detected to correct the recording position.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mechanical configuration inside the main body of the printer. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording head cartridge of the printer. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where a recording head and an ink tank of the cartridge are separated. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a recording head (inkjet head). 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration for detecting a rotational position of an LF roller in the printer of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between a conveyance amount of a recording medium due to a shake of an LF roller of the printer and a conveyance position deviation amount in a sub-scanning direction. FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between a conveyance amount of a recording medium and a meandering amount due to a shake of an LF roller of the printer. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the printer. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the operation of the printer. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a recording operation for one page in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a conveyance belt type recording paper conveyance device according to a second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the arrangement of a roll paper conveyance system and a recording head of a full multi-printer according to a third embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the roll paper conveying apparatus of the full multi printer. It is a schematic top view which shows the structure of the roll paper conveying apparatus of the same full multi printer. It is a perspective view of the assembled state of the long joint head used for the full multi-printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a recording element unit and an ink supply member of the head are separated. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the recording element unit of the head. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that white stripe and black stripe generate | occur | produce on a recording paper by the meandering of the recording paper with respect to a long head.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4 EEPROM
4a Rotation position / meander amount table 9 Head control unit 10 CR motor control unit 11 LF motor control unit 102 to 105 Recording head 112 Roll paper 118 LF roller 119 Pinch roller 120 Home position indicator plate 121 Home position sensor 122 Rotation position counter 123 Conveyance Belt 125 LF motor E0001 CR motor E0002 LF motor H1001 Recording heads H1100a to H1100d Recording element substrate M3001 LF roller M3014 Pinch roller M4001 Carriage

Claims (15)

A conveyance device that conveys the sheet-like recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by rotating the conveyance roller is provided, and recording is performed along the main scanning direction on the recording medium by the recording head while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance device. In the recording device,
Detecting means for detecting the rotational position of the conveying roller;
Information processing for performing information processing from the rotation position of the conveying roller detected by the detection means to determine the movement amount and the movement direction along the main scanning direction due to meandering of the recording medium at the rotation position as the meandering amount and the meandering direction, respectively. A recording apparatus comprising: means.   The recording operation of the recording head so as to correct the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording medium according to the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium obtained by the information processing means during recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the recording unit. Storage means for storing measurement data obtained by measuring the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording medium according to the rotation position of the conveying roller;
The information processing unit obtains a meandering amount and a meandering direction of a recording medium from a rotation position of a conveyance roller detected by the detecting unit based on the measurement data stored in the storage unit. The recording apparatus according to 1. The recording apparatus is configured as a recording apparatus that performs recording one line at a time by moving the recording head in the main scanning direction while intermittently conveying the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by intermittent rotation driving of the conveying roller.
The control means controls the recording operation of the recording head so as to shift the recording start position of one line of the recording head in the main scanning direction according to the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium obtained by the information processing means. The recording apparatus according to claim 2.   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording head is configured as a full line head that collectively records lines over the entire width of main scanning at a fixed position. The recording head as the full line head is configured to collectively perform recording of a line over the entire width of the main scanning by a single recording unit without a joint,
The control unit controls the recording position of the recording unit of the recording head to be shifted in the main scanning direction according to the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording medium obtained by the information processing unit. Item 6. The recording device according to Item 5. The recording head as the full-line head is arranged in a plurality of rows by alternately shifting a plurality of recording portions for recording a line over a part of the full width of the main scanning in the sub-scanning direction along the main scanning direction, As a whole, it is configured to perform recording by connecting lines over the entire width of the main scan,
The control unit shifts the recording positions of some of the recording units of the recording head in the main scanning direction in accordance with the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium obtained by the information processing unit. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording apparatus is controlled as follows. The recording head as the full-line head is arranged in a plurality of rows by alternately shifting a plurality of recording portions for recording a line over a part of the full width of the main scanning in the sub-scanning direction along the main scanning direction, As a whole, it is configured to perform recording by connecting lines over the entire width of the main scan,
The control means outputs to the end in the main scanning direction of some of the recording sections of the recording head in accordance with the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium determined by the information processing means. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording data to be controlled is controlled to increase or decrease in the main scanning direction.   The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the recording heads are arranged at intervals in the sub-scanning direction.   The conveying device includes a pinch roller that presses the recording medium against the conveying roller, and conveys the recording medium by sandwiching the recording medium between the conveying roller and the pinch roller and rotationally driving the conveying roller. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   The transport device has an endless belt stretched around the transport roller, and transports the recording medium supplied onto the endless belt by the endless belt traveling by the rotational drive of the transport roller. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   12. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head has a plurality of nozzles, and is configured as an ink jet recording head that records an image by discharging ink droplets from the plurality of nozzles. The recording apparatus according to item 1. A conveyance device that conveys the sheet-like recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by rotating the conveyance roller is provided, and recording is performed along the main scanning direction on the recording medium by the recording head while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance device. A method for controlling a recording apparatus,
A detection step of detecting the rotational position of the transport roller;
Information processing step for performing information processing for obtaining the amount of movement and the direction of movement along the main scanning direction due to meandering of the recording medium at the rotational position as the meandering amount and the meandering direction from the rotational position of the conveying roller detected in the detection step, respectively. When,
Control for controlling the recording operation of the recording head so as to correct the deviation of the recording position in the main scanning direction due to the meandering of the recording medium according to the meandering amount and the meandering direction of the recording medium obtained in the information processing step. A control method for a recording apparatus, wherein the process is executed. Using storage means for storing measurement data obtained by measuring the meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording medium according to the rotation position of the conveying roller,
The meandering amount and meandering direction of the recording medium are obtained in the information processing step from the rotation position of the conveying roller detected in the detection step based on the measurement data stored in the storage means. 14. A method for controlling a recording apparatus according to 13. A conveyance device that conveys the sheet-like recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by rotating the conveyance roller is provided, and recording is performed along the main scanning direction on the recording medium by the recording head while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance device. A control program for a recording apparatus,
15. A control program for a recording apparatus, wherein the control means for controlling the recording apparatus includes a control procedure for executing each step of the control method for the recording apparatus according to claim 13 or 14.

Images