JP2009277260A - Information recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a collision between a disk-like recording medium and a print head and an abrupt increase in mist by a satellite drop regardless of the type of the disk-like recording medium by providing a mechanism for adjusting a distance between the print surface of the disk-like recording medium and the print head in an information recording device capable of recording and/or reproducing information on the recording surface of the disk-like recording medium and printing characters, images or the like on the print surface. <P>SOLUTION: The information recording device comprises: the print head 150 that is arranged at the print surface side of the disk-like recording medium 5 fitted to a disk fitting section 136 and has an ink discharge section 150a for discharging ink drops toward the print surface; a head moving mechanism for moving the print head 150 between a print position that opposes the print surface of the disk-like recording medium 5 and a retraction position separated from the print surface; and a distance detection section 170 for detecting the distance between a chucking plate 130 for holding the disk-like recording medium 5 and the ink discharge section 150a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus capable of recording and / or reproducing information on a disk-shaped recording medium, and in particular, printing of characters, images, and the like on a printing surface opposite to the recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium. The present invention relates to a possible information recording apparatus.

  A conventional information recording apparatus such as an optical disk apparatus is configured such that a medium such as an optical disk is transported to the inside of the apparatus by a storage mechanism, and then clamped (chucked) to a spindle motor, and a pickup apparatus such as an optical head mounted with a lens, In general, it is widely used as a device for reading or reading information. As such an optical disc, for example, an optical disc having a recording capacity of several megabytes and several gigabytes such as a CD (Compact Disk) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) is used.

  Recently, optical disc media such as Blu-ray disc (hereinafter referred to as “BD”) capable of high density recording and HD-DVD (High Definition Digital Versatile Disk) have been developed. The basic structure of this BD and HD-DVD is the same as that of conventional media such as CD and DVD, but by shortening the wavelength of the light source and increasing the NA (Numerical Aperture) value of the lens, The recording capacity is 5 to 10 times or more that of conventional media such as DVD.

  As the number of information recording devices such as an optical disk device using a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk medium capable of high-density recording increases, the amount of information to be recorded increases. Further, as the number of disc-shaped recording media recorded with high density increases, it is not easy to manage disc-shaped recording media on which such a large amount of information is recorded.

  On the other hand, various methods for displaying management information of a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk medium on a medium such as a disk have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method of recording on a recording surface of a disc so that management information of the optical disc medium can be visually recognized. Specifically, a method of recording in an area different from the information recording area on the recording surface of the optical disk using a laser beam of an optical pickup has been proposed.

  In addition, characters, images, and the like corresponding to information recorded on the information recording medium are also printed on a label surface opposite to the recording surface of the information recording medium such as an optical disk. Specifically, for example, printing is performed on the label surface of the optical disc using an ink jet printer capable of label printing. In addition, some optical disc apparatuses capable of label printing incorporating an ink jet print head inside are also in practical use. As such an optical disk apparatus capable of label printing, an optical disk apparatus which performs printing on a label on a rotating optical disk by mounting a print head on the optical disk apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 2), or an optical disk apparatus incorporating a printing function therein (See, for example, Patent Document 3).

  In an optical disc apparatus having a label printing function as described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, ink droplets are ejected from the print head in accordance with the number of revolutions of the disc while the print head is moved parallel to the label surface (printing surface). The characters and images are printed on the label surface. In this case, the print head usually performs printing by being positioned above the label surface with a certain amount of clearance from the label surface in order to avoid the thickness of the disc-shaped recording medium such as an optical disc or the surface blurring. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-280953 Special table 2002-512140 gazette Japanese Patent No. 3341572

  By the way, in an optical disc apparatus having a label printing function, it is necessary to print on the label surface of disc-shaped recording media having various thicknesses. For this reason, the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head may collide with each other unless a large clearance is assumed between the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head.

  On the other hand, if the assumed clearance between the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head is too wide, for example, when printing on the label surface of a thin disc-shaped recording medium, a clearance larger than expected is generated. For this reason, if the clearance is too wide, mist (ink droplets floating in the optical disk device casing) due to ink droplets that are ejected slowly from the print head or ink droplets that receive a lot of air resistance (so-called satellite droplets) suddenly develop. Will increase.

  However, conventionally, there is no mechanism for adjusting the distance (clearance) between the label surface (printing surface) of the disk-shaped recording medium and the print head, so depending on the type (particularly the thickness) of the disk-shaped recording medium, There has been a problem that the recording medium and the print head may collide or mist due to satellite droplets may increase rapidly.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and can record and / or reproduce information on a recording surface of a disk-shaped recording medium and print characters, images, and the like on the printing surface. In such an information recording apparatus, a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the printing surface of the disk-shaped recording medium and the print head is provided, so that the collision between the disk-shaped recording medium and the print head and the satellite are independent of the type of the disk-shaped recording medium. It aims at suppressing the rapid increase of the mist by a drop.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, a disc-shaped recording medium is detachably mounted and a disc mounting portion that rotates the disc-shaped recording medium is mounted on the disc mounting portion. A pickup device that is arranged on the recording surface side of the disc-shaped recording medium and records and / or reproduces information on the disc-shaped recording medium; and the disc-shaped recording medium mounted on the disc mounting portion is recorded on the recording surface A chucking plate that is held from the opposite printing surface side, and an ink ejection that is disposed on the printing surface side of the disk-shaped recording medium mounted on the disk mounting portion and that ejects ink droplets toward the printing surface And a print head facing the print surface of the disc-shaped recording medium mounted on the disc mounting portion. A head moving mechanism that moves between the printing apparatus and a retracted position separated from the printing surface; and a distance between the chucking plate that holds the disk-shaped recording medium mounted on the disk mounting unit and the ink discharge unit. The print head is moved so as to approach or separate from the printing surface according to the distance detection unit to be detected and the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit detected by the distance detection unit. There is provided an information recording apparatus comprising: a distance adjusting mechanism that adjusts a distance between the printing surface and the ink ejection unit.

  With such a configuration, the information recording apparatus according to the present invention may always measure the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection portion of the print head regardless of the material of the printing surface of the disk-shaped recording medium. Therefore, according to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the cost can be reduced with a simple structure of the measurement mechanism (sensor or the like). Further, according to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the clearance can be measured easily and accurately regardless of the material of the printing surface of the disk-shaped recording medium.

  In addition, the distance adjustment mechanism moves the print head to a printable position where the print head does not contact the print surface and the ink droplets can reach the print surface. May be. In this case, the information recording apparatus further includes a print propriety determination unit that determines whether or not to perform printing on the print surface of the disc-shaped recording medium mounted on the disc mounting unit, and the print propriety determination unit includes When the distance adjusting mechanism cannot move the print head to the printing position, it may be determined that printing is not performed on the printing surface.

  The information recording apparatus further includes a disk discharge mechanism that discharges the disk-shaped recording medium to the outside of the information recording apparatus when the printability determination unit determines not to print on the printing surface. May be.

  Further, at least a part of the surface of the chucking plate is made of a metal (particularly white metal) such as aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel plate, or the like, and a material having a regular reflectance larger than the diffuse reflectance. It is preferably formed of a material painted with a highly reflective paint such as a white paint.

  The distance detection unit may detect the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit at least once before the print head performs printing on the printing surface.

  The distance detection unit includes a first distance detection sensor and a second distance detection sensor that measure a distance between the chucking plate and the ink discharge unit, and the first distance detection sensor includes A first distance reference value is set, and a second distance reference value different from the first distance reference value is set in the second distance detection sensor, and the distance adjustment mechanism includes the chucking plate and the The print head may be moved so that the distance to the ink ejection unit is a value between the first distance reference value and the second distance reference value.

  Alternatively, the distance detection unit includes one distance detection sensor that measures a distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit, sets a distance reference value in the distance detection sensor, and the distance adjustment mechanism The print head is adjusted so that the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit is equal to the distance reference value or a value within a certain range including the distance reference value. You may make it move.

  The head moving mechanism may move the print head at a position deviating from the rotation center of the disc-shaped recording medium.

  According to the present invention, in an information recording apparatus capable of recording and / or reproducing information on a recording surface of a disk-shaped recording medium and printing characters, images, etc. on the printing surface, the printing surface of the disk-shaped recording medium Regardless of the type of disc-shaped recording medium, a specific mechanism that adjusts the distance between the print head and the print head suppresses the collision between the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head and the rapid increase in mist caused by satellite droplets. It becomes possible.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

(Configuration and operation of conventional information recording apparatus)
First, based on FIGS. 1 to 5, the configuration and operation of an optical disk device as an example of a conventional information recording device will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an optical disc device 700 (tray method) having a conventional label printing function, and FIG. 2 is an optical disc device 800 (slot-in method) having a conventional label printing function. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a radial direction and a tangential direction of the optical disc 5, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a conventional optical disc apparatus 700. These are plan views showing the internal configuration of a conventional optical disc apparatus 700. FIG.

  The optical disc device 700 and the optical disc device 800 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are, for example, optical disc media having a recording capacity of several megabytes and several gigabytes such as a CD (Compact Disk) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), BD ( Optical disc apparatus capable of recording and reading digital information using optical disc media having a recording capacity of tens of gigabytes such as Blu-Ray Disk (HD) and HD-DVD (High Definition Digital Versatile Disc), and near-field recording Among these, it is an example of a removable optical disk device capable of exchanging media. Some of these optical disc apparatuses have an information recording surface on one surface, and a label surface (characters, images, etc. corresponding to the recorded information) on the other surface (the surface opposite to the information recording surface). In some cases, label printing can be performed inside the apparatus using a disc-shaped information recording medium having a printing surface of the above-mentioned information. Both the optical disk apparatus 700 and the optical disk apparatus 800 are examples of optical disk apparatuses capable of label printing.

  First, the external configuration of the optical disc device 700 and the optical disc device 800 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the tray type optical disc apparatus 700, an upper lid 712 and a tray 720 are provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 710. When performing maintenance such as replacement of the print head (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and replacement of the cap and ink reservoir (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the upper lid 712 is removed and the optical disk device 700 is viewed from above. It can be carried out.

  The tray 720 is provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the optical disc so as to protrude from the inside of the optical disc apparatus 700 to the outside by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown). Further, on the upper surface side of the tray 720, a disk mounting portion 722 that is a substantially circular recess having a diameter substantially the same as that of the optical disk 5 is formed.

  Here, the radial direction means the radial direction of the substantially disc-shaped optical disk 5 as shown in FIG. In the present specification, a virtual axis that passes through the rotation center c of the optical disk 5 and is parallel to the radial direction is referred to as a radial axis (R). On the other hand, the tangential direction means a direction perpendicular to the radial direction on the optical disc 5. In the center of the optical disk 5, an opening 5a that fits into a hub portion (not shown) of a spindle motor (not shown) provided inside the optical disk devices 700 and 800 is formed.

  The optical disc 5 is placed on the disc placement portion 722 and conveyed to the inside of the optical disc apparatus 700 by a loading mechanism. In this way, after the optical disk 5 is transported into the optical disk apparatus 700, it is clamped (chucked) by a spindle motor (not shown), and an optical head such as an optical pickup (see FIGS. 4 and 5) on which a lens is mounted. By irradiating the information recording surface of the optical disc 5 with a laser beam, the information recorded on the optical disc 5 can be read or the information can be read from and written to the optical disc 5.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the slot-in type optical disc apparatus 800, an upper lid 812, an opening 814, and a slot cover 816 are provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 810. When maintenance such as replacement of a print head (not shown) or replacement of a cap or an ink reservoir (not shown) is performed, the upper lid 812 is removed and the upper portion of the optical disk device 800 is removed as in the case of the optical disk device 700. Can be done from. The optical disk 5 is inserted from the opening 814, conveyed into the optical disk apparatus 800 by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown), clamped (chucked) by a spindle motor (not shown), and mounted with a lens. By irradiating the information recording surface of the optical disc 5 with a laser beam by an optical head (not shown), information recorded on the optical disc 5 can be read or information can be read from and written to the optical disc 5. it can.

  Both the opening 814 and the slot cover 816 are provided on the entrance / exit side of the optical disc 5 of the housing 810 (the front side of the optical disc apparatus 800). Further, the slot cover 816 is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the opening 814 is opened during loading / unloading of the optical disc 5, and the opening 814 is closed during recording / reproduction of the optical disc 5.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal configuration and operation of the conventional optical disk apparatus will be described by taking the optical disk apparatus 700 as an example.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the optical disc apparatus 700 mainly includes a drive unit D7 that records and reproduces information using the optical disc 5, and a label surface (on the opposite side to the information recording surface of the optical disc 5). A label printing unit L7 which is provided on the printing surface) side, that is, above the drive unit D7 and performs label printing.

  The drive unit D7 is in a region surrounded by the front plate 714, the rear plate 716, and the two side plates 718 and 718, which form the casing 710 (both see FIG. 1) together with the upper lid 712 described above. A tray 720 that is positioned and movable by a predetermined loading mechanism; a chucking plate 730 that is provided above the center of the disk mounting portion 722 of the tray 720; and a lower portion of the tray 720 (information recording on the optical disk 5). And an optical pickup 740 as a pickup device provided on the surface side).

  The tray 720 places the optical disc 5 on a disc placement portion 722 that is a substantially circular recess provided on the upper surface thereof, and inserts the optical disc 5 into the optical disc apparatus 700 or ejects it to the outside. The tray 720 is provided so as to be movable back and forth in parallel to the radial direction of the optical disk 5. The optical disk 5 is ejected to the outside from the front side (front plate 714 side) of the optical disk device 700, or the disk is Or exchange.

  The chucking plate 730 is a member having an axis at the center, and is attached to a substantially rectangular plate-shaped chucking plate support member 732 via a bearing (not shown). Supported from the top. The chucking plate 730 is provided on the lower surface side (information recording surface side) of the optical disk 5, holds the optical disk 5 together with a hub portion of a spindle motor (not shown) that rotates the optical disk 5, and rotates together with the optical disk 5. To do. Further, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the chucking plate support member 732 are attached to the upper surface of the side plate 718, and the chucking plate support member 732 supports the chucking plate 730 at the center thereof.

  The optical pickup 740 is provided below the tray 720, that is, on the recording surface side of the optical disc 5 so as to be movable in the radial direction. The optical pickup 740 has a lens 742 for irradiating a laser beam toward the recording surface of the optical disc 5. The lens 742 collects the laser beam and irradiates the recording surface of the optical disc 5 with the laser beam. By doing so, it is possible to record and reproduce information.

  In the drive unit D7 of the optical disc apparatus 700 having such a configuration, the optical disc 5 is placed on the disc placement portion 722 of the tray 720, and the tray 720 moves into the device, whereby the optical disc 5 is stored inside the device. Then, after being clamped by being clamped by the hub portion of the spindle motor (not shown) and the chucking plate 730, the optical disk 5 rotates. While the optical disk 5 is rotating, the optical pickup 740 moves in the radial direction, approaches the information recording surface of the optical disk 5 so as to focus the laser beam, and reads and writes information.

  Since the other configuration of the drive unit D7 is the same as that of a known optical disc apparatus, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The label printing unit L7 mainly includes a print head 750, a print head moving mechanism for moving the print head 750 in the radial direction, and a print head maintenance unit that performs cap and cleaning of the print head 750.

  The print head 750 is disposed on the opposite side of the front surface side (front plate 714 side) of the optical disk device 700 with respect to the center (or chucking plate 730) of the optical disk 5, and the optical pickup 740 is an optical disk. 5 is provided on the opposite side (the label surface side of the optical disk 5) to be movable along the radial axis R (that is, in the radial direction of the optical disk 5). In addition, an ink discharge portion 750a is provided on the lower surface side of the print head 750 (the label surface side of the optical disk 5), and the print head 750 is directed toward the outer periphery or the inner periphery of the optical disk 5 rotating on the radial axis. The label printing on the label surface of the optical disk 5 can be performed by ejecting ink from the ink ejection unit 750a while moving.

  The print head 750 is held from three directions by a substantially U-shaped print head holder 752 and attached to the head support plate 754. Two head driving bearing members 756 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the print head 750 on the upper surface side of the head support plate 754. Each head driving bearing member 756 is provided with a bearing (linear bearing) 756a that penetrates in a direction parallel to the radial direction. In addition, two head driving shafts 757 arranged substantially in parallel (parallel to the radial direction) are provided so as to pass through the inner circumferences of the two bearings 756a arranged in the radial direction. Both ends of the two head driving shafts 757 (the end on the front plate 714 side and the end on the rear plate 716 side) are supported by the same shaft support member 758, respectively.

  Here, as the print head 750, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, there is a type in which a print head 750-1 having an ink discharge portion 750a is formed integrally with an ink tank portion. As the print head 750, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, a print head 750-2 having an ink discharge portion 750a is detachably connected via an ink tank portion 751 and a connecting portion 753. There are also things. In any type, in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, a portion for inputting a signal for controlling ink ejection is omitted.

  The print head moving mechanism includes a head driving motor 760, a ball screw 762 connected to the head driving motor 760, a nut 764 through which the ball screw 762 is inserted, a connecting member 766 that connects the nut 764 and the head support member 754, The head drive motor 760 and a drive mechanism support member 768 that supports the ball screw 762 are mainly configured.

  The head drive motor 760 rotates the ball screw 762 with the power. The ball screw 762 extends in a direction parallel to the radial direction, and the nut 764 is configured to be movable in a direction parallel to the radial direction by the rotation of the ball screw 762. The connecting member 766 connects the nut 764 and the head support member 754 to move the head support member 754 in a direction parallel to the radial direction as the nut 764 moves. The drive mechanism support member 768 supports a connection portion between the head drive motor 760 and the ball screw 762 and a tip portion of the ball screw 762.

  The shaft support member 758 and the drive mechanism support member 768 are attached to a plate-like support member provided on the upper portion (not shown).

  The print head maintenance means includes a cap housing portion 770 that houses a cap 772 and an ink reservoir 774. The cap 772 is for suppressing the drying of the print head, and the ink discharge portion 750 a of the print head 750 is capped by the cap 772 during printing standby. In addition, the ink reservoir 774 prevents the printing head 750a from clogging air and prevents air from entering the print head 750 (regardless of label printing, for example). This is a place where ink is ejected from the ink ejection section 750a. The cap accommodating portion 770 in which the cap 772 and the ink reservoir 774 are accommodated is installed on the rear side (rear plate 716 side) of the optical disc apparatus 700 on the side opposite to the ejection side (removal port side) of the optical disc 5.

  In the label printing unit L7 of the optical disc apparatus 700 having such a configuration, when the ball screw 762 is rotated by the rotation of the head drive motor 760, the nut 764 moves along the ball screw 762 in a direction parallel to the radial direction. Since the nut 764 is connected to the head support plate 754 via the connecting member 766, the head support plate 754 moves in the radial direction in cooperation with the movement of the nut 764. At this time, since the head driving shaft 757 is inserted through the bearing 756a inside the head driving bearing member 756 provided on the head supporting plate 754, the head supporting plates 754 are parallel to each other in the radial direction. Guided by the two arranged head drive shafts 757, it can move linearly in a direction parallel to the radial direction. Here, since the print head 750 is arranged so that its center is located on the radial axis R, the inner circumference direction and the outer circumference of the optical disk are moved along the radial axis as the head support plate 754 moves, that is, the nut 764 moves. It can move freely in any direction.

  Since the label printing unit L7 has the above-described configuration, as shown in the printing example of FIG. 7, an information recording apparatus such as the optical disk apparatus 700 can display characters and images on the label surface of a disk-shaped recording medium such as the optical disk 5. Etc. can be printed.

  By the way, in the optical disc apparatus 700 having the label printing function as described above, ink droplets are ejected from the print head 750 according to the number of rotations of the optical disc 5 while moving the print head 750 in parallel with the label surface (printing surface). Characters and images are printed on the label surface. At this time, the print head 750 normally prints with a certain amount of clearance from the label surface above the label surface in order to avoid the thickness of the disk-shaped recording medium such as the optical disk 5 and surface blurring. I do.

  Here, in the optical disc apparatus 5 having a label printing function, it is necessary to print on the label surface of a disc-shaped recording medium such as the optical disc 5 having various thicknesses. For this reason, the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head 750 may collide with each other unless a wide clearance is assumed between the assumed disc-shaped recording medium and the print head 750.

  On the other hand, if the assumed clearance between the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head 750 is too wide, for example, when printing on the label surface of a thin disc-shaped recording medium, a larger clearance than expected is generated. For this reason, when the clearance is too wide, ink droplets that are ejected slowly from the print head 750 or mist (ink droplets that float in the optical disk apparatus housing) due to ink droplets that receive a lot of air resistance (so-called satellite droplets) are generated. It will increase rapidly.

  However, conventionally, since there is no mechanism for adjusting the distance (clearance) between the label surface (printing surface) of the disk-shaped recording medium and the print head 750, depending on the type (particularly the thickness) of the disk-shaped recording medium, There has been a problem that the disk-shaped recording medium and the print head 750 may collide or the mist due to satellite droplets may increase rapidly.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described below, the label surface (printing surface) and printing of the disc-shaped recording medium clamped in the optical disc apparatus are printed. The clearance with the head (the ink discharge portion thereof) is measured, and the print head is moved according to the measurement result to adjust to the optimum clearance.

  Moreover, as a measuring method of clearance, the method of measuring height using the reflectance when light is applied to the printing surface of a disk-shaped recording medium, for example can be considered. However, if the clearance is measured using the reflectance of the printed surface in this way, it can be used with various printable disc-shaped recording media, such as those with a waterproof surface or glossy surface. A clearance measuring mechanism must be provided. For this reason, there is a problem that the cost required for the measurement mechanism (for example, a sensor) increases or the measurement of the clearance becomes difficult depending on the material of the printing surface, and as a result, the clearance may not be adjusted accurately. there were.

  Therefore, in the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the collision between the disc-shaped recording medium such as the optical disc 5 and the print head and the rapid increase of mist due to satellite droplets are suppressed, and the optical disc 5 etc. The distance between the printing surface of the disk-shaped recording medium such as the optical disk 5 and the ink ejection portion of the print head is indirectly measured for the purpose of accurately adjusting the clearance regardless of the type of the disk-shaped recording medium. . That is, in the optical disc apparatus 100, the surface of the chucking plate holding the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head are not directly measured without directly measuring the distance between the printing surface of the disc-shaped recording medium such as the optical disc 5 and the ink ejection portion of the print head. The distance to the ink discharge portion is measured, and the print head is moved according to the measurement result, so that the optimum clearance is adjusted. With such a configuration, the optical disc apparatus 100 may always measure the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection portion of the print head regardless of the material of the printing surface of the disc-shaped recording medium. Therefore, according to the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the cost can be reduced with a simple structure of the measurement mechanism (sensor or the like). Further, according to the optical disc apparatus 100, the clearance can be measured easily and accurately regardless of the material of the printing surface of the disc-shaped recording medium. Therefore, according to the optical disc apparatus 100, it is possible to suppress a collision between the disc-shaped recording medium and the print head and a rapid increase in mist due to satellite droplets regardless of the type of the disc-shaped recording medium.

(Configuration of Optical Disc Device According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention)
Hereinafter, the basic configuration of the optical disc apparatus 100 as an example of the information recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 9 and 10 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, showing an internal configuration of the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the label printing unit L1 of the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship among the print head, the optical pickup, and the optical disc in the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is one in which an optical disc 5 is inserted as a disc-shaped recording medium, and label printing can be performed on a label surface (printing surface) of the inserted optical disc 5. The optical disc apparatus 100 may be either the tray method or the slot-in method described above, but FIG. 8 shows an example of the tray method.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the optical disc apparatus 100, an upper lid 112 and a tray 120 are provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 110. When performing maintenance such as replacement of the print head (see FIGS. 9 and 10) and replacement of the cap and the ink reservoir (see FIGS. 9 and 10), the top cover 112 is removed to remove the optical disk device 100. This can be done from above.

  The tray 120 is provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the optical disc so as to protrude from the inside of the optical disc apparatus 100 to the outside by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown). Further, on the upper surface side of the tray 120, a disk mounting portion 122, which is a substantially circular recess having a diameter substantially the same as that of the optical disk 5, is formed. Note that the definitions of the radial direction and the tangential direction are the same as those of the conventional optical disc apparatus, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The optical disc 5 is placed on the disc placement portion 122 and conveyed to the inside of the optical disc apparatus 100 by a loading mechanism. In this way, after the optical disk 5 is transported into the optical disk apparatus 100, it is clamped (chucked) by a spindle motor (not shown), and a pickup apparatus such as an optical pickup mounted with a lens (FIGS. 9 and 10, etc.) By irradiating the information recording surface of the optical disc 5 with laser light, the information recorded on the optical disc 5 can be read or the information can be read from and written to the optical disc 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the optical disc apparatus 100 mainly includes a drive unit D <b> 1 that records and / or reproduces information using the optical disc 5, and the side opposite to the information recording surface of the optical disc 5. And a label printing unit L1 which is provided on the label surface (printing surface) side, that is, above the drive unit D1 and performs label printing.

(Configuration of drive unit of optical disc apparatus 100)
The drive unit D7 is in a region surrounded by the front plate 114, the rear plate 116, and the two side plates 118, 118, which form the casing 110 (both see FIG. 8) together with the above-described upper lid 112. A tray 120 that is positioned and movable by a predetermined loading mechanism; a chucking plate 130 that is provided above the central portion of the disc mounting portion 122 of the tray 120; and a lower portion of the tray 120 (information recording on the optical disc 5). And an optical pickup 140 as a pickup device provided on the surface side).

  The tray 120 is provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the optical disc 5 so as to protrude from the inside of the optical disc apparatus 100 to the outside by a predetermined loading mechanism (not shown). Further, on the upper surface side of the tray 120, a disk mounting portion 122 that is a substantially circular recess having a diameter substantially the same as that of the optical disk 5 is formed. With such a configuration, the tray 120 moves to the outer peripheral side or the inner peripheral side in the radial direction with the optical disc 5 mounted on the disc mounting portion 122, thereby inserting the optical disc 5 into the optical disc apparatus 100, The optical disc 5 can be ejected from the front side (front plate 114 side) of the optical disc apparatus 100 to the outside.

  The chucking plate 130 is a substantially disk-shaped member having an axis at the center, and is attached to a substantially rectangular plate-shaped chucking plate support member 132 via a bearing (not shown). It is supported from above by a plate support member 132. In addition, the optical disc apparatus 100 is provided with a spindle motor (not shown) as an example of a disc mounting portion according to the present embodiment on the lower surface side (data recording surface side) of the optical disc 5. The optical disk 5 is detachably mounted on the hub portion of the spindle motor, and the spindle motor rotates the optical disk 5. The chucking plate 130 holds the optical disc 5 mounted on the spindle motor from the label surface side of the optical disc 5. That is, the chucking plate 130 sandwiches the optical disc 5 together with the hub portion of the spindle motor, and rotates together with the optical disc 5 in the sandwiched state. Although not shown, one end in the longitudinal direction of the chucking plate support member 132 is attached to the upper surface of the side plate 118, and the other end of the chucking plate support member 132 supports the chucking plate 130. . At this time, the chucking plate support member 132 may support the chucking plate 130 in a cantilever state, and the other end may be connected to the side plate 118 by another member.

  In the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the distance detection sensor 170 as an example of the distance detection unit according to the present embodiment causes the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a of the print head 150 to be connected. Detect distance. Therefore, it is preferable that the chucking plate 130 is coated with a metal having a high reflectance or a paint having a high reflectance at least near the outer periphery used for distance detection. Examples of such a highly reflective metal include aluminum, stainless steel, and galvanized steel sheet, and examples of a highly reflective paint include white paint. In addition, it is preferable that at least the vicinity of the outer periphery used for detecting the distance of the chucking plate 130 is formed of a material having a regular reflectance greater than the diffuse reflectance. Since the chucking plate 130 is coated with such a metal or paint, the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a of the print head 150 by the distance detection sensor 170 can be facilitated.

  That is, in order to measure the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink discharge unit 150a, for example, a reflective photo interrupter is used in the present embodiment. A photo interrupter is an optical sensor in which a light emitting diode (LED) and a photodiode are set, and infrared rays are mainly used. The photo interrupter includes a reflection type and a transmission type. In this embodiment, it is preferable to use a reflection type. The reflection type photo interrupter can detect the distance from the object with high accuracy by emitting light from the LED, and detecting the reflected light or the like with a photodiode and examining the reflectance of the light of the object. It is like that. As such a reflection type photointerrupter, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged on the same plane, and an object capable of detecting a distance to an object by reflected light of a detection object has been put into practical use.

  Here, in this embodiment, since the distance is measured by applying light to the surface of the chucking plate 130, the distance can be measured with higher accuracy than measuring the distance by applying light to different types of disk surfaces. Although it is conceivable, in order to use reflected light, it can be said that the chucking plate 130 preferably has a surface that makes reflected light as large as possible.

  From the above viewpoint, it is preferable that the surface of the chucking plate 130 is formed of the metal or material as described above or is painted with the paint as described above.

  The optical pickup 140 is provided below the tray 120, that is, on the recording surface side of the optical disc 5 mounted on the spindle motor so as to be movable in the radial direction. The optical pickup 140 has a lens 142 for irradiating a laser beam toward the recording surface of the optical disc. The lens 142 collects the laser beam and irradiates the recording surface of the optical disc 5 with the laser beam. Thus, data recording and reproduction are performed.

  In the drive unit D1 of the optical disc apparatus 100 having such a configuration, the optical disc 5 is placed on the disc placement portion 122 of the tray 120, and the tray 120 moves into the device, whereby the optical disc 5 is stored inside the device. After being clamped by the hub portion of the spindle motor (not shown) and the chucking plate 130, the optical disk 5 rotates. While the optical disc 5 is rotating, the optical pickup 140 moves in the radial direction, approaches the data recording surface of the optical disc 5 so as to focus the laser beam, and reads and writes data.

  Since the other configuration and operation of the drive unit D1 are the same as those of a known optical disc apparatus, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Configuration of Label Printing Unit of Optical Disc Device 100)
The label printing unit L1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a print head 150, a head moving mechanism, a distance detection sensor 170, a distance adjustment mechanism, and a print head maintenance mechanism 190. The print head 150, the head moving mechanism, the distance detecting sensor 170, and the distance adjusting mechanism are provided on the substrate 119 as shown in FIG. The print head maintenance mechanism 190 is supported by a substantially U-shaped maintenance mechanism support member 196 installed on the lower surface side of the substrate 119. A substrate 119 is opened above the place where the print head maintenance mechanism 190 is installed, and the print head 150 can be blanked or capped during maintenance of the print head 150. Hereinafter, each member will be described in detail.

  The print head 150 is provided on the opposite side of the optical pickup 140 and the optical disc 5, that is, on the label surface side of the optical disc 5 mounted on the spindle motor, and is movable in parallel in the radial direction. In addition, an ink ejection unit 150 a is provided on the lower surface side of the print head 150 (the label surface side of the optical disk 5). The print head 150 performs label printing on the label surface of the optical disk 5 by ejecting ink droplets from the ink ejection unit 150 a to the rotating optical disk 5 while moving in a direction parallel to the radial direction.

  Although not shown, the ink ejection unit 150a includes, for example, a plurality of (for example, 300 to 400 nozzles having a pitch of about 40 μm) arranged in a direction parallel to the radial direction of the optical disk 5. The nozzles arranged in the direction parallel to the radial direction may be one row, but may be a plurality of rows (for example, two rows). In this case, the nozzles are two-dimensionally arranged on a plane parallel to the plane of the optical disc 5. Arranged.

  The print head 150 according to the present embodiment is a case where the print head 150 having the ink discharge portion 150a is formed integrally with the ink tank portion, similarly to the conventional print head 750 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B described above. However, the print head 150 having the ink discharge unit 150a may be separably connected to the ink tank unit via the connection unit.

  The print head 150 is held by a head holder 152 arranged so as to surround the periphery thereof. The head holder 152 is placed on the head support plate 154. One head drive bearing member 156 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the head holder 152 on the upper surface side of the head support plate 154. One bearing member 156 (visible in FIG. 9) is attached to the side surface of the head holder 152, and the lower surface side of the bearing member 156 is attached to the head support plate 154. The other bearing member 156 (which is visible in FIGS. 11 and 12) is attached to the bent portion with the end of the head support plate 154 bent upward. Each bearing member 156 is provided with a linear bearing (not shown) penetrating in a direction parallel to the radial direction. Further, two head driving shafts 157 are provided so as to pass through the inner periphery of the bearing (not shown) and are arranged substantially in parallel (parallel to the radial direction). Both ends of the two shafts 157 are supported by a shaft support member 158 attached to the front plate 114 and a shaft support member 158 attached to the rear plate 116.

  The print head moving mechanism according to the present embodiment moves the print head 150 in the radial direction of the optical disk 5 between a print position facing the label surface of the optical disk 5 mounted on the spindle motor and a retracted position separated from the label surface. And move it in parallel. Specifically, the print head moving mechanism includes a head driving motor 160, a pinion 162 that is provided on the motor shaft of the head driving motor 160, a rack screw 164 that guides the movement of the rotating pinion 162, and a limit sensor 168. , Mainly composed of.

  The head drive motor 160 rotates the pinion 162 with the power. The pinion 162 is a substantially cylindrical member, and although not shown in the figure, the outer peripheral portion of the tip portion is toothed. The rack screw 164 is a flat plate-like member extending in a direction parallel to the radial direction, and its position is fixed on the substrate 119 by a rack fixing member 166. The upper surface side of the rack screw 164 is also cut, and the pinion 162 and the rack screw 164 are positioned so that the teeth on the outer peripheral portion of the tip end portion of the pinion 162 and the teeth on the upper surface of the rack screw 164 mesh with each other. When a rotational force is applied to the pinion 162 by the head drive motor 160, the pinion 162 moves on the rack screw 164 in parallel in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the pinion 162 and the rack screw 164 are geared. However, the gear is not necessarily cut, and the pinion 162 and the rack screw 164 have a predetermined friction that gives a driving force to the pinion 162. It only has to come in contact with power.

  The limit sensor 168 controls the movement of the print head 150 in the radial direction. Specifically, the limit sensor 168 is configured as a substantially U-shaped optical sensor, for example, and includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element (not shown). The light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided to face each other, and light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the recess 168a in the vertical direction and is received by the light receiving element. On the other hand, a limit sensor light-shielding plate 169 is provided on the side of the head support plate 154 next to the head drive motor 160.

  Here, the limit sensor 168 is a member for controlling the printing area, and is installed at a position where at least the ink ejection part 150a of the print head 150 can reach the peripheral part on the rear surface side of the optical disk 5. It is preferable. By installing the limit sensor 168 at such a position, when the print head 150 performs printing on the label surface of the optical disk 5, the printable area can be widened, and printing near the inner periphery of the optical disk 5 is easy. Can be done.

  The distance detection sensor, which is an example of the distance detection unit according to the present embodiment, is a characteristic part of the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and the configuration and operation thereof will be described later.

  The distance adjustment mechanism according to the present embodiment causes the print head 150 to approach or separate from the label surface of the optical disc 5 in accordance with the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a detected by the distance detection sensor. To adjust the distance between the label surface and the ink ejection part 150a. Specifically, the distance adjusting mechanism is mainly composed of a head lifting motor including a motor shaft 180 and a movable portion 181, a flat support member 182, two shafts 186 for lifting the head, and a bearing 187. Configured.

  In the head lifting motor according to the present embodiment, the movable portion 181 is provided in contact with the periphery of the motor shaft 180, and the movable portion 181 moves up and down in the vertical direction as the motor shaft 180 rotates. The support member 182 supports the head lifting motor from below and is attached to the side surface of the head holder 152. The motor shaft 180 passes through the support member 182, and a lower end portion thereof is connected to the bearing member 156. The bearing 184 is formed on the support member 182. The shaft 186 extends in the vertical direction, and the upper end portion is inserted through the bearing 184. The bearing 187 is provided with two recesses, and two shafts 186 are inserted into the two recesses.

  Further, the distance adjusting mechanism according to the present embodiment is a position where the print head 150 is not in contact with the label surface of the optical disc 5 and can cause the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection unit 150a to reach the label surface. The print head 150 is moved to a printable position.

  The print head maintenance mechanism 190 has a cap 192 and an ink reservoir 194. The cap 192 is for suppressing the drying of the ink discharge port 150a of the print head 150, and the ink discharge portion 150a of the print head 150 is capped by the cap 192 during printing standby. In addition, the ink reservoir 194 is used to prevent air from entering the print head 150 in order to prevent a printing error such that the ink discharge unit 150a is clogged and the ink does not come out (regardless of label printing). This is a place where ink is ejected from the ink ejection section 150a. The print head maintenance mechanism 190 having the cap 192 and the ink reservoir 194 is installed on the rear side (rear plate 116 side) of the optical disc apparatus 100 on the side opposite to the ejection side (removal port side) of the optical disc 5. Note that the position where the print head maintenance mechanism 190 is provided is the standby position of the print head 150.

  Subsequently, the configuration of the distance detection sensor 170 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. 13 is a perspective view of the label printing portion L1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below (the label surface side of the optical disk 5), and FIG. 14 is a diagram of the print head 150 and the chucking plate shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which expanded the vicinity. 15 and 16 are a side view and a front view showing the configuration of the label printing unit L1 according to this embodiment, respectively.

  The distance detection sensor 170 as an example of the distance detection unit according to the present embodiment detects the distance between the chucking plate 130 that holds the optical disk 5 mounted on the spindle motor 136 and the ink ejection unit 150a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, two distance detection sensors 170 </ b> A and 170 </ b> B (also “the front side of the print head 150 on the side of the optical disk 5) facing the chucking plate 130 on the lower surface of the head holder 152 ( It may be referred to as “distance detection sensor 170”). Both the distance detection sensors 170A and 170B determine whether the light detection unit is closer or farther than a predetermined detection point by receiving light reflected from the light emission unit toward the chucking plate 130 that is an object. A reflective sensor is used.

  Here, as described above, the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection unit 150a and not landed on the label surface of the optical disc 5 become mist, contaminating the inside of the optical disc apparatus 100, and in the worst case, the optical pickup 140. There is a risk of contamination. If the optical pickup 140 is contaminated by mist while the optical pickup 140 is reading (writing) information on the optical disc 5, a collision between the objective lens 142 of the optical pickup 140 and the optical disc 5 may occur. There is also sex. Therefore, the closer the distance between the label surface of the optical disk 5 and the ink ejection part 150a of the print head 150, the smaller the amount of mist, which is preferable. On the other hand, since the optical disc 5 has a surface blur or the like, if the distance between the label surface and the ink ejection unit 150a is too short, the optical disc 5 and the print head 150 may collide. In addition, the optical disk 5 has a standard for thickness, and normally, a disk with a thickness greater than a predetermined thickness is not used. However, in some cases, the disk becomes thick because an extremely thick disk or a label sheet is attached. There is a possibility that the existing disc or the like is inserted into the optical disc apparatus 100.

  From this point of view, a distance detection sensor 170 is provided. In the present embodiment, specifically, the label is detected by detecting the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a as follows. The distance between the surface and the ink ejection unit 150a is indirectly detected. That is, different distance reference values are set for the distance detection sensor 170A and the distance detection sensor 170B. In this embodiment, as the distance reference value, a distance (for example, 0.5 mm) at which the optical disc 5 and the print head 150 do not collide is set as the first distance reference value in the distance detection sensor 170A. In addition, a distance (for example, 1 mm) that can suppress contamination in the apparatus by causing the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection unit 150a to land on the label surface of the optical disc 5 as the second distance reference value in the distance detection sensor 170B. It is set. In this specification, a position in a range between the first distance reference value and the second distance reference value is defined as a “printable position”.

  Then, the distance adjustment mechanism according to the present embodiment uses the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a detected by the distance detection sensors 170A and 170B as the first distance reference value set in the distance detection sensor 170A. And the second distance reference value set in the distance detection sensor 170B. The distance adjustment mechanism then sets the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a to a value between the first distance reference value and the second distance reference value according to the comparison result. The print head 150 is moved.

  As described above, the distance between the label surface of the optical disk 5 and the print head 150 (ink ejection unit 150a) is indirectly adjusted, and the optical disk 5 and the print head 150 collide or are ejected from the print head 150. This prevents ink droplets from becoming mist and contaminating the inside of the optical disc apparatus 100.

  The distance detection unit according to the present embodiment includes two reflection type distance detection sensors 170A and 170B. However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to use a reflection type sensor. For example, the distance detection unit includes a single distance detection sensor (not shown) that measures the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a, and the distance detection sensor includes a single distance reference value. Set. Then, the distance adjustment mechanism causes the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a to coincide with the set distance reference value or to be a value within a certain range including the set distance reference value. As described above, the print head 150 may be moved. As such a distance detection unit sensor, for example, a sensor capable of finely detecting the distance with one package as shown in FIG. 21 is used. In this case, the distance can be adjusted more finely and accurately. As such a sensor, for example, GP2S60 manufactured by Sharp Corporation or Z4D-B01 manufactured by OMRON Corporation is commercially available.

(Signal flow of optical disc apparatus 100)
Next, the flow of signals in the optical disc apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a signal flow in the optical disc apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the control device 10 of the optical disc apparatus 100 includes a central control unit 11, an interface unit 12, a drive control unit 13, a tray drive circuit 14, a recording control circuit 15, and a signal processing unit 16. , A print image generation unit 17, a print control unit 18, a distance sensor drive circuit 20, a print mechanism unit drive circuit 21, an ink ejection drive circuit 22, an ink remaining amount detection circuit 23, and the like.

  The central control unit 11 is a part that controls the drive control unit 13, the print image generation unit 17, and the print control unit 18. The central control unit 11 outputs the recording data signal supplied from the interface unit 12 to the drive control unit 13. The central control unit 11 also outputs the image data signal supplied from the interface unit 12 and the position data signal supplied from the drive control unit 13 to the print image generation unit 17 and the print control unit 18.

  The interface unit 12 is a connection unit that electrically connects an external device such as a personal computer or a DVD recorder and the optical disc apparatus 1. The interface unit 12 outputs a signal supplied from an external device to the central control unit 11. The signal supplied to the central control unit 11 is a signal corresponding to the external storage information stored in the external device. For example, the recording data signal corresponding to the recording information recorded in the information recording unit of the optical disc 5 or the optical disc And image data signals corresponding to visible information to be printed on the printing surface 5 (the surface of the optical disk 5 or the surface of the label sheet).

  Further, the interface unit 12 outputs a reproduction data signal read by the optical disc apparatus 1 from the information recording unit of the optical disc 5 to an external device. Examples of electrical connection specifications with such external devices include the ATA standard (AT Attachment), Serial ATA standard (SATAT), SCSI standard (Small Computer System Interface), USB standard (Universal Serial Bus), etc. can do.

  The drive control unit 13 controls the rotation of the spindle motor 136 of the disk rotation mechanism, and controls the operation of the tray drive circuit 14 and the recording control circuit 15. That is, the drive control unit 13 outputs a control signal based on the control signal supplied from the central control unit 11 and drives the spindle motor 136. Thereby, the optical disk 5 mounted on the turntable 136a of the spindle motor 136 is rotationally driven, for example, with a constant linear velocity. Further, the drive control unit 13 outputs control signals to the tray drive circuit 14 and the recording control circuit 15 in order to control the operations thereof. Further, the drive control unit 13 outputs the position data signal supplied from the signal processing unit 16 to the central control unit 11.

  The tray drive circuit 14 controls the rotation of a drive motor (not shown) of the tray transport mechanism. Based on the control signal output from the tray drive circuit 14, the tray drive motor is driven. As a result, the tray 120 is transported between the disk loading position inside the disk drive and the disk ejection position outside the disk drive. The recording control circuit 15 controls recording of a recording data signal by the optical pickup 140, reproduction of a reproduction data signal, and the like.

  The optical pickup 140 includes a laser light source 140a and a light receiving element 140b, and a light beam emitted from the laser light source 140a and irradiated from the objective lens is reflected by the information recording unit of the optical disc 5 and received by the light receiving element 140b. Is done. The recording control circuit 15 outputs to the optical pickup 140 a control signal for causing the light beam to be tracked on a track provided in the information recording unit to execute track servo and focus servo. A pickup drive motor is driven based on a control signal supplied from the recording control circuit 15. Thereby, the optical pickup 140 is moved in the radial direction of the optical disc 5 integrally with the slide member.

  The signal processing unit 16 performs demodulation, error detection, and the like of an RF (Radio Frequency) signal supplied from the optical pickup 140, and generates a reproduction data signal. Further, the signal processing unit 16 detects the position data signal as a signal having a specific pattern such as a synchronization signal or a signal representing the position data of the optical disc 5 based on the RF signal. Examples of the position data signal include a rotation angle signal indicating the rotation angle of the optical disc 5 and a rotation position signal indicating the rotation position of the optical disc 5. These reproduction data signal and position data signal are output to the drive control unit 13.

  The print image generation unit 17 generates a print image based on the control signal supplied from the central control unit 11. Further, the print control unit 18 is based on a control signal supplied from the central control unit 11, the print head 150 of the label printing unit L 1, a head moving mechanism that operates the print head 150, and the print head 150 and the optical disk 5. A distance detection sensor 170 that detects the distance from the label surface and a cleaning mechanism that cleans the print head 150 and the distance detection sensor 170 are controlled.

  The print control unit 18 generates ink ejection data based on the image data generated by the print image generation unit 17 and obtained from the image data signal supplied from the central control unit 11. Then, the print control unit 18 generates a control signal for controlling the label printing unit L1 based on the generated ink discharge data and the position data signal supplied from the central control unit 11, and the distance sensor driving circuit 20 Control signals are output to the mechanism drive circuit 21 and the ink discharge drive circuit 22. By controlling the print mechanism drive circuit 21 and the ink ejection drive circuit 22 by the print control unit 18, information such as desired characters and graphics is printed on the label surface of the optical disk 5 through the control of the print head 150.

  The distance sensor drive circuit 20 is connected to a distance detection sensor 170 that detects the distance between the print head 150 (the ink ejection unit thereof) and the chucking plate 130 and a head lifting motor (not shown) that adjusts the distance. ing. As a result, a detection signal corresponding to the detected distance is supplied from the distance detection sensor 170 to the distance sensor drive circuit 20. Then, a control signal for adjusting the distance is supplied from the distance sensor driving circuit 20 to the distance detection sensor 170. The control of the control signal and the detection signal is executed by the print control unit 18.

  The print mechanism drive circuit 21 is based on a control signal supplied from the print controller 18, the head drive motor 160, the cap 192, the suction pump 24, the blade 25, the distance sensor cleaning 26, and the head vertical movement 27. The head raising / lowering motor of the distance detection mechanism is driven. At this time, the head driving motor 160 is driven to move the print head 150 from the inner side to the outer side in the radial direction of the optical disk 5. The moving direction of the print head 150 may be moved from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction of the optical disc 5, contrary to the case of the present embodiment.

  The ink ejection drive circuit 22 drives the print head 150 based on the control signal supplied from the print control unit 18. As a result, ink droplets are ejected from the ejection nozzles in the ink ejection section 150a of the print head 150, and the ink droplets adhere to the label surface of the optical disk 5 that is driven to rotate. For example, three colors C (cyan), Y (yellow), and M (magenta) are stored in the print head 150. The combination of these three types of ink is displayed as visible information composed of image data represented by gradation values representing the brightness of each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

  Further, the ink ejection drive circuit 22 detects the remaining amount of ink stored in the print head 150 and displays the amount of the remaining amount on the display means. This detection of the remaining amount of ink is performed for each ink that is used. However, since the amount of ink used varies depending on the printing conditions, the amount of ink remaining is usually reduced to a predetermined amount or less. A message indicating that the remaining amount is low is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the central control unit 11 is provided with a printability determination circuit 31 as an example of a printability determination unit according to the present embodiment. The printability determination circuit 31 is a circuit for determining whether or not to perform printing on the label surface of the optical disk 5 mounted on the disk mounting portion. The distance adjustment mechanism mainly moves the print head 150 to a printable position. If this is impossible, it is determined that printing is not performed on the printing surface.

  Specifically, the printability determination circuit 31 detects, for example, the amount of power (voltage amount or current amount) applied to the drive coil (particularly the focus drive coil) of the biaxial actuator, and the detected power amount. Is a value within a predetermined range (reference power range) set in advance. When the detected power amount is a value within the reference power range, the head moving mechanism is operated to move the print head 150 to a predetermined printable position so as to approach the label surface of the optical disc 5. On the other hand, when the detected power amount is not within the reference power range, the control signal for ejecting the optical disk 5 is driven without operating the head moving mechanism to bring the print head 150 close to the label surface of the optical disk 5. The data is output to the tray drive circuit 14 via the control unit 13.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the drive control unit 13 is provided with a disk ejection circuit 32 as an example of a disk ejection mechanism according to the present embodiment. Accordingly, when a control signal for ejecting the optical disk 5 is input from the printability determination circuit 31, the disk ejection circuit 32 outputs the control signal to the tray drive circuit 14.

(Operation of the label printing unit of the optical disc apparatus 100)
The configuration of the label printing unit L1 of the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Subsequently, the operation of the label printing unit L1 having such a configuration will be described in detail.

  First, operations of the print head 150 by the head moving mechanism and the distance adjusting mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 again.

(I) Operation at the time of label printing of the print head 150 For example, it is assumed that the print head 150 is at a retracted position separated from the label surface of the optical disk 5. That is, it is assumed that the ink ejection unit 150 of the print head 150 is capped by the cap 192. In this state, when the pinion 162 is rotated by the rotation of the head drive motor 160, the pinion 162 moves along the rack screw 164 to the optical disc 5 side (front plate 114 side) in the radial direction. Since the pinion 162 is connected to the bearing member 156 via the head drive motor 160 and the head support plate 154, the bearing member 156 cooperates with the movement of the pinion 162 and moves toward the optical disk 5 side in the radial direction. Moving. In this case, since the shaft 157 is inserted into the bearing member 156 through a linear bearing (not shown), the bearing member 156 is guided by two shafts 157 arranged in parallel to each other in the radial direction. It can move linearly in a direction parallel to the radial direction. Further, since the print head 150 is connected to the bearing member 156 via the head holder 152 or the head support member 154, the print head 150 eventually cooperates with the movement of the pinion 162 and is parallel to the radial direction. Move in the direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the print head 150 may be arranged such that its center comes on an axis S that is offset from the radial axis R by a distance E. In this case, the head moving mechanism rotates the pinion 162 by the driving force of the head drive motor 160, and moves the bearing member 156 along with the movement of the pinion 162. Accordingly, the head moving mechanism freely moves the print head 150 on the axis S offset from the radial axis R in the direction parallel to the radial direction toward the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the optical disc 5. Since the print head 150 moves on the axis S offset from the radial axis R in this way, the print head 150 can move at a position that does not interfere with the chucking plate 130 and the optical pickup 140.

  Further, the print head 150 rotates the optical disk 5 in two areas obtained by dividing the area including the optical disk 5 along the moving direction of the optical pickup 140 (that is, the radial axis in this embodiment). On the other hand, it is preferably disposed in a region located downstream of the optical pickup 140. This is because the ink mist ejected from the print head 150 and floating is directed to the outside of the optical disk 5 due to the flow generated as the optical disk 5 rotates, but the print head 150 is offset upstream of the optical pickup 140. This is because the floating ink mist tends to accumulate on the optical pickup 140 side and contaminates the optical pickup 140. On the other hand, if the print head 150 is arranged offset to the downstream side of the optical pickup 140, the ink flows toward the side plate 118. For example, an ink absorber is provided on the side plate 118. The contamination of the optical pickup 140 is prevented, and the floating ink mist can be easily collected.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the movement of the print head 150 in the direction parallel to the radial direction is controlled by the limit sensor 168. That is, when the print head 150 moves to the front side of the apparatus and the limit sensor light-shielding plate 169 is positioned in the concave portion 168a of the limit sensor 168, the limit sensor light-shielding plate 169 blocks light passing through the concave portion 168a. Then, the light receiving element of the limit sensor 168 cannot receive light from the light emitting element, and thereby, the print head 150 is controlled so as not to move further to the front side of the apparatus.

  Here, in the above example, the print head 150 is linearly moved in a direction that is always parallel to the radial direction. However, the print head 150 moves so as not to interfere with the chucking plate 130 and the optical pickup 140. In this case, it is not always necessary to move in a direction parallel to the radial direction. However, in order to perform label printing on the optical disc 5 efficiently and at high speed, the print head 150 moves in a direction parallel to the radial direction of the optical disc 5 at least while moving on the optical disc 5, and from the optical disc 5. After deviating, it may move in a direction not parallel to the radial direction.

  In other words, the print head 150 is subjected to maintenance such as cleaning in the retracted position when label printing is not being performed, or is capped for the purpose of preventing drying of the ink ejection unit 150a. The retracted position needs to be a position that does not interfere (not contact) with a member such as the optical pickup 140 that moves on the radial axis. Therefore, the retracted position is preferably closer to the outer periphery (side closer to the side plate 118) than to the side closer to the center of the optical disc 5. Therefore, when the print head 150 moves off the optical disk 5 and moves to the retracted position, the print head 150 can move in a direction not parallel to the radial axis so as to move further outward than when label printing is performed. You may comprise as follows. If the ease of label printing and the printing speed are not taken into consideration, even if the print head 150 is on the optical disk 5, it is not necessarily radial if it moves so as not to interfere with members such as the chucking table 130. It is not necessary to move linearly on an axis parallel to the axis.

  As described above, the print head 150 that has moved onto the label surface of the optical disk 5 performs label printing on the optical disk 5 by ejecting ink from the ink ejection unit 150a while reciprocating on the label surface in the radial direction. Can do.

  As described above, the label printing unit L1 according to the present embodiment can print characters, images, and the like on the label surface of a disk-shaped recording medium such as the optical disk 5 as shown in the printing example of FIG. it can.

(II) Operation at the time of adjusting the clearance of the print head 150 After the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection part 150a of the print head 150 is detected by the distance detection sensor 170, a distance adjustment mechanism according to the detection result. The operation when the distance between the label surface of the optical disk 5 and the print head 150 is adjusted will be described.

  For example, according to the detection result of the distance detection sensor 170, it is assumed that the print head 150 and the optical disk 5 are in a state that is close enough to collide. In this state, when the motor shaft 180 of the head elevating motor rotates, the movable portion 180 rises in the vertical direction by the rotation of the motor shaft 180. Since the movable portion 180 is attached to the support member 182, a force for ascending the support member 182 works in cooperation with the rise of the movable portion 180. At this time, the shaft 186 with the upper end attached to the lower surface side of the support member 182 and the lower end inserted into the bearing 187 rises together with the support member 182, and the support member 182 is separated from the bearing 187. Here, since the support member 182 is attached to the side surface of the head holder 152, as the support member 182 rises, the head holder 152 also rises in the vertical direction, and the print head 150 moves away from the label surface of the optical disk 5. To do.

  On the other hand, according to the detection result of the distance detection sensor 170, it is assumed that the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection unit 150a are in a distant state where they do not land on the label surface of the optical disc 5 and become mist. In this state, when the motor shaft 180 of the head lifting / lowering motor rotates in the direction opposite to the above, the movable portion 180 is lowered in the vertical direction by the rotation of the motor shaft 180. Since the movable portion 180 is attached to the support member 182, a force for lowering the support member 182 works in cooperation with the lowering of the movable portion 180. At this time, the shaft 186 whose upper end is attached to the lower surface side of the support member 182 and whose lower end is inserted into the bearing 187 descends together with the support member 182, and the support member 182 approaches the bearing 187. Here, since the support member 182 is attached to the side surface of the head holder 152, as the support member 182 is lowered, the head holder 152 is also lowered in the vertical direction, and the print head 150 approaches the label surface of the optical disk 5. To do.

  As described above, the print head 150 is moved by the distance adjusting mechanism and the distance between the label surface of the disk 5 and the print head 150 is adjusted, so that the optical disk 5 and the print head 150 collide with each other, or the print head 150. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ink droplets discharged from the liquid from becoming mist and contaminating the inside of the optical disc apparatus 100.

  Next, the distance detection operation by the distance detection sensor 170 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship among the print head 150, chucking plate 130, and distance detection sensors 170A and 170B according to the present embodiment. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the chucking plate 130 and the distance detection sensors 170A and 170B according to the present embodiment. Furthermore, FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of the distance detection operation according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the optical disc apparatus 100 irradiates the optical disc 5 with light from the lens portion 142 of the optical pickup 140 while rotating the optical disc 5 mounted in the apparatus. Record and playback information. The optical disc apparatus 100 can print characters, images, and the like on the label surface 5A by ejecting ink droplets from the ink ejection unit 150a of the print head 150 onto the label surface 5A of the rotating optical disc 5. .

  Here, as shown in FIG. 20, the optical disc apparatus 100 determines whether or not the information signal can be read (written) on the optical disc 5 before performing the printing operation on the label surface 5A (S101). As a result of this determination, when the optical disc apparatus 100 determines that the information signal cannot be read (written) on the optical disc 5, the optical disc apparatus 100 ejects the optical disc 5 to the outside of the apparatus (S103).

Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the distance detection sensor 170A measures a distance L from the horizontal position H of the ink ejection port 150a to the horizontal position P of the surface 130a of the chucking plate 130. Next, the distance detection sensor 170A determines whether or not the measured distance L is longer than the distance L ₁ (for example, 0.5 mm) from the horizontal position H of the ink discharge port 150a to the horizontal position Gmin of the preset detection point. Is determined (S105). If it is determined that the distance L is longer than the distance L ₁ (L> L ₁ ), it is determined that the print head 5 and the optical disk 5 do not collide, and the print head 150 is moved by the head moving mechanism. The optical disk 5 moves from the retracted position.

When it is determined at step S105, if the distance L is determined to closer than the distance _{L 1} (L _{<L 1),} the distance adjusting mechanism, the position of the print head 150 from the label surface 5A of the optical disk 5 It is determined whether or not they can be separated (S109). As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the position of the print head 150 can be separated from the label surface 5A, the distance adjustment mechanism raises the print head 150 in the vertical direction to a position where it does not collide with the optical disk 5. Separate (S111). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S109 that the position of the print head 150 cannot be separated from the label surface 5A (out of the adjustment range), the print head 150 may collide with the optical disk 5. Therefore, printing on the label surface 5A is not performed (S113).

  Here, the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a print availability determination unit 31 (see FIG. 17). The print availability determination unit 31 determines the position of the print head 150 by the distance adjustment mechanism on the label of the optical disc 5. Whether or not printing is to be performed on the label surface 5A of the optical disk 5 mounted on the spindle motor is determined according to the determination result of whether or not the surface 5A can be separated. For example, if the distance adjustment mechanism cannot separate the print head 150 from the optical disc 5, the printability determination unit 31 determines that printing is not performed on the label surface 5A. In the present embodiment, a disk ejection circuit 32 (see FIG. 17) is also provided. Accordingly, when the printability determination unit 31 determines that printing is not performed on the label surface 5A and outputs a control signal for ejecting the optical disc 5 to the disc ejection circuit 32, after step S113, the disc ejection circuit. 32 may output the control signal to the tray drive circuit 14 (see FIG. 17) and eject the optical disk 5 to the outside of the optical disk apparatus 100.

After the print head 150 has moved to the printable position on the optical disc 5 side (above the label surface 5A) by the operation of step S107, the distance detection sensor 170B moves the horizontal position H of the ink discharge port 150a as shown in FIG. The distance L from the horizontal position P of the surface 130a of the chucking plate 130 to the horizontal position P is measured again. Next, the distance detection sensor 170B determines whether or not the measured distance L is shorter than a distance L ₂ (for example, 1 mm) from the horizontal position H of the ink ejection port 150a to the horizontal position Gmax of a preset detection point. Judgment is made (S115). As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the distance L is closer than the distance L ₂ (L <L ₂ ), the optical disc apparatus 100 suppresses the occurrence of mist due to the ink droplets ejected from the print head 5. Therefore, printing on the label surface 5A is performed (S117). In this case, the positional relationship between the distance detection sensors 170A and 170B and the chucking plate 130 is as shown in FIG.

When it is determined at step S115, the distance when L is determined to be a distance L away than ₂ (L> L ₂₎ is the mist by the ink droplets ejected from the print head 5 inside the optical disc apparatus 100 is contaminated Therefore, printing on the label surface 5A is not performed (S113). Also in this case, the optical disk 5 may be ejected outside the optical disk apparatus 100 after step S113.

  As described above, the distance detection sensor 170 as an example of the distance detection unit according to the present embodiment sets the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the ink ejection unit 150a to 2 before the print head 150 performs printing on the label surface 5A. It is possible to control the distance more accurately than in the past. However, the detection by the distance detection unit does not necessarily have to be performed twice, and may be detected at least once before the print head 150 performs printing on the label surface 5A.

(About the structure of the label printing part which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the label printing unit according to the modified example of the first embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a label printing unit according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the label printing unit according to this modification is different from the head lifting motor in the label printing unit L1 according to the first embodiment described above, for example, an eccentric shaft motor 180 ′. It is an example using. The eccentric shaft motor 180 ′ has a substantially oval cross section and is in contact with the support member 182 at the top. At this time, when the eccentric shaft motor 180 ′ rotates counterclockwise around the motor shaft 180a ′, for example, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 22, the support member 182 in contact with the upper portion of the motor shaft 180a ′ is moved. Ascend vertically. On the other hand, when the eccentric shaft motor 180 ′ is rotated clockwise around the motor shaft 180 a ′, for example, the support member 182 in contact with the upper portion of the motor shaft 180 a ′ is lowered in the vertical direction.

  In addition, since the other structure in the label printing part which concerns on this modification is the same as that of the label printing part L1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Operational effect of the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment)
The optical disc 5 that can be printed by the optical disc apparatus 100 includes various types such as those having a normal white label, those having a label surface that is waterproof, those having a glossy label surface, and those having a colored label surface. A product with a highly reflective surface is commercially available. In addition to the thickness according to the standard of the disc, a non-standard thickness, for example, a disc of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm is commercially available. Therefore, it is desirable that the optical disk apparatus 100 can perform label printing corresponding to various types of optical disks 5.

  Here, in general, an optical disk drive is configured to absorb the thickness of these disks to some extent by a mechanical deck. However, it is difficult to construct the mechanical deck and the label printing unit on the same substrate because the weight of the label printing unit is large.

  In addition, in the method of measuring the distance between the ink ejection part of the print head and the label surface of the optical disk using the reflectance of the label surface, the print head is used for a non-standard disk or an unexpected disk as described above. It is difficult to discriminate the distance between the ink discharge portion and the label surface of the optical disc. On the other hand, if the method of measuring the distance between the ink ejection unit 150a and the chucking plate 130 as in the present embodiment, the chucking plate 130 is inside the optical disc apparatus 100, and therefore the influence of dirt from the outside. It is hard to receive. Moreover, the reflectance of the surface of the chucking plate 130 can always measure the distance under ideal conditions by using a material or coating suitable for the sensor for detecting the distance. The position can be obtained indirectly. Therefore, according to the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, label printing can be performed in a state where the distance between the print head 150 and the label surface of the optical disc 5 is optimal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the distance between the print head 150 and the chucking plate 130 that holds the optical disk 5 in the optical disc apparatus 100 having the label printing function using the inkjet print head 150 is set. Therefore, the distance of the print head 150 from the label surface can be appropriately maintained regardless of the thickness of the optical disk 5. Therefore, contamination inside the optical disc apparatus 100 can be effectively prevented as compared with the conventional case.

  Conventionally, the distance from the label surface to the print head 150 is measured using the reflectance of the label surface in various states depending on the type of the optical disc 5, but in this embodiment, the same chucking is always performed. Using the plate 130, the distance from the label surface to the print head 150 can be indirectly measured. Therefore, the print head 150 and the label surface are appropriately used for the optical disc 5 having a label surface having various reflectances such as a glossy label surface and a waterproof label surface as compared with the conventional one. Can be printed at a distance.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the distance between the chucking plate 130 and the print head 150 is measured, the print head 150 and the label surface are appropriately arranged even for non-standard discs having different thicknesses of the optical disc 5. It is possible to print at a long distance.

  Further, as described above, since the material and coating of the chucking plate 130 can be made of a material suitable for the distance detection sensor 170 or can be coated, an inexpensive distance detection sensor can be used, and an optical disc apparatus can be used. Since the distance is measured inside 100, it is not easily affected by external dirt.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the print head 150 has been described by taking an inkjet type as an example, but other types of print heads according to the present invention may be used.

  Further, for example, a member such as a cap or an ink reservoir may have a shape different from that of the cap 192 or the ink reservoir 194 according to the above-described embodiment.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the optical disk apparatus (tray system) which has the conventional label printing function. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the optical disk apparatus (slot in system) which has the conventional label printing function. It is explanatory drawing which shows the radial direction and tangential direction of an optical disk. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the conventional optical disk apparatus. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the conventional optical disk apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of the conventional print head. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a structure of the conventional print head. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a printing at the time of using the optical disk apparatus which has the conventional label printing function. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an optical disc apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the optical disk apparatus based on the embodiment. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the optical disk apparatus based on the embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the label printing part of the optical disk apparatus based on the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the print head in the optical disk apparatus based on the embodiment, an optical pick-up, and an optical disk. It is the perspective view which looked at the label printing part which concerns on the embodiment from the downward direction (label surface side of an optical disk). FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the print head 150 and the chucking plate shown in FIG. 13. It is a side view which shows the structure of the label printing part which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a front view which shows the structure of the label printing part which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the signal in the optical disk apparatus based on the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the print head which concerns on the same embodiment, a chucking plate, and a distance detection sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the chucking plate which concerns on the embodiment, and a distance detection sensor. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the distance detection operation | movement which concerns on the same embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the positional relationship of the chucking plate which concerns on the embodiment, and a distance detection sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the label printing part which concerns on the modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Optical disk 5A Label surface 10 Control apparatus 31 Printability judgment circuit 32 Disc discharge circuit 100 Optical disk apparatus 120 Tray 130 Chucking plate 136 Spindle motor 140 Optical pick-up 150 Print head 150a Ink discharge part 160 Head drive motor 162 Pinion 164 Rack screw 168 Limit sensor 170, 170A, 170B Distance detection sensor 180 Motor shaft 181 Movable part 182 Support member 184 Bearing 186 Shaft 187 Bearing

Claims (7)

A disk mounting portion for detachably mounting the disk-shaped recording medium and rotating the disk-shaped recording medium;
A pickup device that is disposed on the recording surface side of the disc-shaped recording medium mounted on the disc mounting section and records and / or reproduces information on the disc-shaped recording medium;
A chucking plate for holding the disc-shaped recording medium mounted on the disc mounting portion from the printing surface side opposite to the recording surface;
A print head that is disposed on the printing surface side of the disk-shaped recording medium mounted on the disk mounting unit and has an ink ejection unit that ejects ink droplets toward the printing surface;
A head moving mechanism for moving the print head between a printing position facing the printing surface of the disk-shaped recording medium mounted on the disk mounting portion and a retracted position separated from the printing surface;
A distance detection unit that detects a distance between the chucking plate that holds the disk-shaped recording medium mounted on the disk mounting unit and the ink discharge unit;
According to the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit detected by the distance detection unit, the print head is moved so as to approach or separate from the printing surface, and the printing surface and the ink are moved. A distance adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance to the discharge unit;
An information recording apparatus comprising: The distance adjustment mechanism moves the print head to a printable position where the print head is not in contact with the print surface and the ink droplets can reach the print surface;
A printability determination unit that determines whether or not to perform printing on the print surface of the disk-shaped recording medium mounted on the disk mounting unit;
The information according to claim 1, wherein the printability determination unit determines not to print on the print surface when the distance adjustment mechanism is unable to move the print head to the printable position. Recording device.   3. The information recording according to claim 2, further comprising a disk discharge mechanism that discharges the disk-shaped recording medium to the outside of the information recording apparatus when the printability determination unit determines that printing is not performed on the printing surface. apparatus.   The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance detection unit detects a distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit at least once before the print head performs printing on the printing surface. The distance detection unit includes a first distance detection sensor and a second distance detection sensor that measure a distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit,
Setting a first distance reference value in the first distance detection sensor, and setting a second distance reference value different from the first distance reference value in the second distance detection sensor;
The distance adjusting mechanism may be configured such that the distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit is a value between the first distance reference value and the second distance reference value. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording apparatus is moved. The distance detection unit has one distance detection sensor for measuring a distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit,
A distance reference value is set for the distance detection sensor,
The distance adjustment mechanism is configured so that a distance between the chucking plate and the ink ejection unit is equal to the distance reference value or a value within a certain range including the distance reference value. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print head is moved. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head moving mechanism moves the print head at a position deviated from a rotation center of the disk-shaped recording medium.

Images