JP2011218597A - Recording device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device, along with a program, capable of shortening a processing time, while securing accuracy depending on a recording mode.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a recording head for recording on paper conveyed in a conveying direction; a carriage moving back and forth in a scanning direction intersecting with the conveying direction; an end detection sensor arranged on the carriage so as to detect a position of an end of the paper; a receive buffer for acquiring the recording mode setting in which either one of a plurality of recording modes including a high precision mode, middle mode, and high-speed mode, is selected; and a control device for controlling the carriage. The control device moves the carriage in one direction in step S18 so as to pass both side ends of the paper before recording starts when the receive buffer acquires the middle mode in step S11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a program.

  In general, as a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium, an ink jet printer that performs recording while reciprocating a carriage mounted with a recording head as a recording unit in a scanning direction is known. Conventionally, in such a recording apparatus, a sensor mounted on a carriage detects a front end portion of a recording medium to cue the recording medium, and detects a side end portion in the scanning direction of the recording medium. (For example, Patent Document 1).

  Moreover, in the recording apparatus of Patent Document 1, the method of detecting the side edge is changed according to the print mode. Specifically, in the high-accuracy mode that places importance on accuracy for printing color photographs and the like, first the head is positioned by detecting the leading end with the carriage placed in the center, and then the carriage is moved in the scanning direction. The one end is detected by moving in one direction, and then the other end is detected by moving the carriage in the other direction in the scanning direction.

  For example, in printing without a border of a photo, if the position of the side edge is shifted due to the skew of the paper, etc., ink droplets may be leaked and the inside of the apparatus may be contaminated, or the printing position may be shifted and the print quality may be reduced. This is because it is necessary to print accurately according to the position of the side end.

  On the other hand, in the high-speed mode in which speed is important for printing a monochrome document or the like, the processing time is shortened by detecting only the one side with the carriage movement.

JP 2007-118211 A

  By the way, in recent years, a recording apparatus equipped with a middle mode, which is positioned between the high-precision mode and the high-speed mode, has been adopted in response to printing of a document in which image data is mixed in character data. There is. Therefore, it has been demanded to shorten the processing time while ensuring the accuracy corresponding to the print mode.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a program that can reduce the processing time while ensuring the accuracy according to the recording mode.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus of the present invention includes a recording unit that performs recording on a recording medium that is transported along a transport direction, and a movement that reciprocates along a scanning direction that intersects the transport direction. Any one of a plurality of recording modes including a member, an end detection means provided on the moving member so that the position of the end of the recording medium can be detected, and a high accuracy mode, a middle mode, and a high speed mode are selected. Recording mode setting acquisition means for acquiring the recorded recording mode setting, and control means for controlling the moving member, and the control means, when the recording mode setting acquisition means acquires the middle mode Before the start of recording, the moving member is moved in one direction so as to pass through both end portions of the recording medium.

  According to the above configuration, when the middle mode is set, the control unit moves the moving member in one direction, so that the end detection unit can detect the positions of both side ends of the recording medium. At this time, since the moving member moves only once in one direction, the processing time can be shortened while ensuring the accuracy according to the recording mode.

  In the recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, when the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the high-accuracy mode, the control unit moves the leading end of the recording medium to a position where it can be detected before starting recording. The member is moved, and further, after the end detection means detects the leading end of the recording medium, the moving member is moved in one direction so as to pass through one end of the recording medium.

  According to the above configuration, when the high-accuracy mode is set, the control unit moves the moving member and detects the leading end portion of the recording medium by the end detection unit. Therefore, based on the detection result of the end detection unit. Accurate cueing. Further, after that, since the control means moves the moving member in one direction, at least the position of one side edge of the recording medium can be detected by the edge detection means.

  In the recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, when the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the high accuracy mode, the control unit moves the moving member to the center in the scanning direction of the recording medium before starting the recording. After moving to the corresponding position, the moving member is moved in one direction so as to pass through one end of the recording medium, and then moved so as to pass through the other end of the recording medium. Move the member in the other direction.

  According to the above configuration, when the high accuracy mode is set, the control unit moves the moving member to a position corresponding to the center in the scanning direction of the recording medium. Cueing can be done. Thereafter, the control means detects the position of one end of the recording medium by moving the moving member in one direction, and the control means moves the moving member in the other direction to detect the other end of the recording medium. The position of the part can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to accurately cue the recording medium and to detect the positions of both end portions in the scanning direction of the recording medium.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention further includes a leading end detection unit that detects a leading end portion of the recording medium in a conveyance path, and when the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the middle mode or the high speed mode, the leading end is detected. Cueing is performed based on the detection result of the detection means.

  According to the above configuration, when the middle mode or the high speed mode is set, the cueing is performed based on the detection result of the end detection means, so the moving member is used to detect the leading end of the recording medium. There is no need to move it. Therefore, the processing time can be shortened in the middle mode or the high speed mode.

  In the recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the recording unit is supported by the moving member, and after the start of recording, the control unit, when the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the high-accuracy mode, When the detection means changes the moving direction of the moving member after detecting the position of the side edge of the recording medium, while the recording mode setting acquisition means acquires the middle mode or the high speed mode, The movement of the moving member is controlled so that the edge detection means does not detect the position of the side edge of the recording medium.

  According to the above configuration, when the high accuracy mode is set, the control unit changes the moving direction of the moving member after the start of recording and after the end detection unit detects the position of the side end of the recording medium. Therefore, the position of the side end portion of the recording medium can be detected for each scanning along the scanning direction of the moving member. Therefore, recording can be performed with high accuracy in the high accuracy mode. On the other hand, when the middle mode or the high speed mode is set, the control unit controls the movement of the moving member so that the end detection unit does not detect the position of the side end of the recording medium after the start of recording. Therefore, the moving member can quickly change direction when the recording accompanying the movement in one direction is completed. Therefore, the processing time can be shortened in the middle mode or the high speed mode.

  In order to achieve the above object, a program of the present invention is a recording medium that is transported along the transport direction by an end detection means provided on a moving member that reciprocates along a scanning direction that intersects the transport direction. A program for controlling the moving member to detect the position of the end of the recording medium, wherein the computer is one of a plurality of recording modes including a high accuracy mode, a middle mode, and a high speed mode. A recording mode setting acquisition step for acquiring the selected recording mode setting, and when the computer acquires the middle mode, by driving the drive source so as to pass through both side edges of the recording medium, A movement control step for moving the moving member in one direction and a computer based on a detection signal output from the end detection means. Executes a detection step of detecting the position of the side edge portions of the recording medium.

  According to the above configuration, when the middle mode is set, the computer moves the moving member in one direction, so that the positions of both side edges of the recording medium can be detected by the edge detecting means. At this time, since the moving member moves only once in one direction, the processing time can be shortened while ensuring the accuracy according to the recording mode.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer with a main body case removed. Sectional drawing which shows a mode that a carriage moves typically. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a paper feed cassette. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a paper feeding cassette and a feeding device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of an electrical configuration of the printer. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a carriage movement control routine. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram for explaining how the carriage moves to detect the leading edge of a sheet in the high accuracy mode. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram for explaining how the carriage moves to detect the right end in the high accuracy mode. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram for explaining how the carriage moves to detect the left end in the high accuracy mode. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram for explaining how the carriage moves to detect the left and right ends in the middle mode. FIG. 5 is an operation diagram for explaining the relative movement of the carriage with respect to the paper, where (a) shows the printing in the high accuracy mode, and (b) shows the printing in the middle mode and the high speed mode.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the following description of the present specification, when referring to “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, “up-down direction”, the front-rear direction, left-right direction (scanning direction) indicated by arrows in each figure, and up-down Each direction shall be indicated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 11 as a recording apparatus is an ink jet serial type printer, and includes a substantially square box-shaped main body case 12 that covers the entire apparatus. The main body case 12 includes a printing unit 13 that performs printing (recording) on a sheet P (see FIG. 2) as a recording medium, and a plurality of (in this embodiment) located on the right side of the printing unit 13. There are provided four holders 15 on which the four ink cartridges 14 are detachably mounted. A paper feed cassette 17 in which a plurality of sheets P before printing are accommodated is detachably mounted in a storage recess 16 located below the printing unit 13 and opened forward. ing. Then, the paper P is fed (conveyed) from the paper feeding cassette 17 into the printing unit 13 by the feeding device 50 (see FIG. 5).

Next, the printing unit 13 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 13 includes a frame 18 having a substantially rectangular box shape. A platen 19 that supports the paper P that is transported (feeded) from the rear side in the transport direction (feeding direction) to the front is extended along the left-right direction in the lower part of the frame 18. . In addition, a bar-shaped guide shaft 20 parallel to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the platen 19 is provided above the platen 19 in the frame 18. The guide shaft 20 supports a carriage 21 as a moving member in a state where the guide shaft 20 can reciprocate along the axial direction (scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction).

  A driving pulley 22 and a driven pulley 23 are rotatably supported at positions corresponding to both ends of the guide shaft 20 on the inner surface of the rear wall of the frame 18. The drive pulley 22 is connected to an output shaft of a carriage motor (hereinafter also referred to as “CR motor”) 24 as a drive source when the carriage 21 is reciprocated. An endless timing belt 25 whose part is connected to the carriage 21 is hung. Accordingly, the carriage 21 is moved in the left-right direction via the endless timing belt 25 by the driving force of the CR motor 24 while being guided by the guide shaft 20.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in the frame 18, a linear encoder including a tape 26 to be detected that is disposed on the inner surface side of the rear wall and extends in the left-right direction, and a detection unit 27 provided on the carriage 21. 28 is provided. A large number of slits 26a are formed in the tape 26 to be detected at equal intervals along the left-right direction, and a plurality of (for example, two) sensors (two by way of example) are arranged at different positions in the left-right direction. (Not shown) is provided. Each sensor of the detection unit 27 outputs a pulse-like detection signal corresponding to the moving distance of the carriage 21 to a control device 70 (see FIG. 6) described later.

  The carriage 21 is connected to each ink cartridge 14 mounted on the holder portion 15 via a plurality of (for example, four) ink supply tubes (not shown) attached to the flexible wiring board 29. As shown in FIG. 2, a recording head 30 serving as a recording means for supplying ink from each ink cartridge 14 via a flexible wiring board 29 is mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 21 facing the platen 19. Yes. Then, ink droplets are ejected from a plurality of nozzles (not shown) opened on the lower surface (also referred to as “nozzle formation surface”) of the recording head 30 onto the paper P fed to the recording position on the platen 19, Printing is performed.

  Further, on the lower surface side of the carriage 21 and on the left side of the recording head 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an optical end detection sensor (signal output unit) having a light emitting unit 31a and a light receiving unit 31b. 31 is provided. In the edge detection sensor 31, detection light is output from the light emitting unit 31a toward the platen 19 (ie, downward), and the light receiving unit 31b is supplied from the platen 19 or the sheet P supported by the platen 19. Receives reflected light. A detection signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 31b is output from the end detection sensor 31 to the control device 70 described later.

  Further, a home position area where the paper P is not fed is formed on the right side of the print area where the paper P is fed within the frame 18. In the home position area, a maintenance device 32 for performing various maintenance such as cleaning of the recording head 30 is provided.

Next, the paper feed cassette 17 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the paper feed cassette 17 includes a cassette body 40 having a bottomed substantially square cylindrical shape that is open at the top. In the cassette body 40, a storage chamber 41 for storing the sheets P in a stacked state is formed. The storage chamber 41 is provided with a substantially rectangular plate-like installation table 42 on which the paper P is installed, and an elevating mechanism 43 for moving the installation table 42 up and down along the vertical direction. The elevating mechanism 43 includes a biasing member 44 (as an example, a coil spring) that is disposed between the bottom wall of the cassette body 40 and the installation base 42 and biases the installation base 42 upward.

  The paper feed cassette 17 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to accommodate paper P of various sizes. In other words, a pair of side guides 45 and 46 disposed on the left and right sides of the paper P are provided on the installation table 42. Both side guides 45 and 46 are located in the center of the cassette body 40 in the left-right direction and are symmetrical with respect to a center line L1 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 4) extending along the front-rear direction. Has been placed. The side guides 45 and 46 can be moved toward and away from each other in the left-right direction. As a result, the center in the left-right direction of the paper P (P1, P2, P3) stored in the storage chamber 41 substantially coincides with the center in the left-right direction of the cassette body 40 regardless of the size of the paper P.

  In addition, on the front side of the sheet P on the setting table 42, a front guide for setting the distance between the rear end of the sheet P stored in the storage chamber 41 and the rear side wall 40a of the cassette body 40 to be less than a predetermined distance. 47 is provided. The front guide 47 is movable in the front-rear direction according to the size of the paper P stored in the storage chamber 41.

  On the other hand, an insertion / extraction sensor 48 for detecting that the paper feed cassette 17 is mounted in the storage recess 16 is provided in the storage recess 16. From this insertion / extraction sensor 48, when the paper feed cassette 17 is mounted in the storage recess 16, an ON signal is output to the control device 70 described later, while the paper feed cassette 17 is not mounted in the storage recess 16. In this case, an off signal is output to the control device 70.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the paper P1 is an A5 size paper, the paper P2 is an A4 size paper, and the paper P3 is an A3 size paper. That is, among the sheets P1, P2, and P3, the sheet P3 is the largest and the sheet P1 is the smallest.

Next, the feeding device 50 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the feeding device 50 is disposed at the rear end side of the paper feeding cassette 17 and in the center in the left-right direction, and rotates based on the driving of the ASF motor 51 (see FIG. 6). A feeding roller 52 is provided. That is, the first distance between the feeding roller 52 and the left end of the paper P1 (P2, P3) is substantially equal to the second distance between the feeding roller 52 and the right end of the paper P1 (P2, P3). The first distance between the feeding roller 52 and the left end of the first size paper P1 is shorter than the first distance between the feeding roller 52 and the left end of the second size paper P2, and the feeding roller. 52 is shorter than the first distance between the feeding roller 52 and the left end of the third size paper P3. Similarly, the second distance between the feeding roller 52 and the right edge of the paper P1 is shorter than the second distance between the feeding roller 52 and the right edge of the paper P2, and the second distance between the feeding roller 52 and the right edge of the paper P2. The two distances are shorter than the second distance between the feeding roller 52 and the right end of the paper P3.

  A pair of driven rollers 53 and 54 are provided on the front side of the feeding roller 52 so as to be arranged in a line-symmetrical position around the center line L1. Each of the rollers 52 to 54 has an outer peripheral surface that is in pressure contact with the uppermost sheet P among the sheets P accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette 17 and that has an unillustrated axis extending in the left-right direction as a center. Each rotates.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an intermediate roller 55 having a diameter larger than that of the feeding roller 52 and rotating based on driving of the ASF motor 51 is provided above the feeding roller 52. . The intermediate roller 55 rotates around an axis (not shown) extending along the left-right direction. Further, in the vicinity of the intermediate roller 55, a substantially arc-shaped arc guide 56 disposed at a position spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate roller 55 by a predetermined interval is provided.

  A pair of paper feed rollers 57 having a driving roller and a driven roller is provided on the front side of the intermediate roller 55 and on the rear side of the platen 19, and a paper discharge roller having a driving roller and a driven roller on the front side of the platen 19. A pair 58 is provided. Each drive roller rotates based on driving of the PF motor 59 (see FIG. 6). A front end detection sensor 60 for detecting the front end (front end) of the fed paper P is provided between the intermediate roller 55 and the paper feed roller pair 57 in the front-rear direction.

  When the feeding roller 52 and the intermediate roller 55 are rotated, the uppermost sheet P in the sheet feeding cassette 17 is fed upward from the sheet feeding cassette 17. Then, the feeding direction (conveying direction) of the paper P is changed from above to the front by the intermediate roller 55 and the arc guide 56. As a result, the paper P is fed forward from the intermediate roller 55 side. At this time, when the leading edge detection sensor 60 detects the leading edge of the paper P in the feeding direction (front-back direction), the leading edge detection sensor 60 detects a leading edge (hereinafter referred to as “leading edge detection signal”). Is also output to the control device 70.

  Thereafter, when the leading end of the paper P in the feeding direction is sandwiched between the rollers constituting the paper feed roller pair 57, the paper P is fed onto the platen 19 by the paper feed roller pair 57. Further, when the leading end of the paper P in the feeding direction is sandwiched between the rollers constituting the paper discharge roller pair 58, the paper P is discharged out of the frame 18.

Next, the main part of the electrical configuration of the printer 11 of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 70 of the printer 11 is a computer 71 (enclosed by a broken line in FIG. 6) constructed by a CPU, ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, ASIC (specific application IC), and the like (not shown). Part). The computer 71 drives a CR driver 72 for driving the CR motor 24, a PF driver 73 for driving the PF motor 59, an ASF driver 74 for driving the ASF motor 51, and the recording head 30. The head driver 75 is electrically connected.

  The computer 71 includes a reception buffer 80, a main control unit 81, an image processing unit 82, a feeding control unit 83, and a CR control unit that functions as a control unit as functional units realized by at least one of hardware and software. 84, a paper information acquisition unit 85 and a memory 86 are provided. The memory 86 is composed of a RAM.

  The reception buffer 80 temporarily stores image information and print instructions received from the host computer 87 via the interface 88. This print instruction includes setting information regarding the print mode (any one of the high accuracy mode, middle mode and high speed mode) selected as the recording mode setting, size information regarding the size of the paper P to be printed, and the like. . Therefore, in this embodiment, the reception buffer 80 functions as a recording mode setting acquisition unit.

  Here, the high-accuracy mode is set when emphasizing printing accuracy, for example, when printing a color photograph or performing borderless printing, while the high-speed mode is emphasizing printing speed, such as a monochrome document. Set when you want to. The middle mode is set when a precision and speed intermediate between the high precision mode and the high speed mode are required, such as a document in which image data is mixed in character data.

  The main control unit 81 appropriately outputs a control command to the image processing unit 82, the feeding control unit 83, the CR control unit 84, and the paper information acquisition unit 85. Specifically, when the main control unit 81 receives a print command from the host computer 87 via the interface 88, the main control unit 81 outputs a control command for generating raster data based on the received image information to the reception buffer 80. The data is output to the processing unit 82. In addition, the main control unit 81 outputs a control command for starting the feeding of the paper P to the feeding control unit 83 and outputs a control command for starting the movement of the carriage 21 to the CR control unit 84. .

  The image processing unit 82 performs various conversion processes (resolution conversion process, color conversion process, halftone process, etc.) on the image information stored in the reception buffer 80 to generate raster data. The image processing unit 82 uses the generated raster data so that various ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 30 in conjunction with the feeding of the paper P and the movement of the carriage 21 during printing based on the image information. Based on this, a drive signal is output to the head driver 75. Then, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 30 based on the drive signal from the head driver 75.

  The feeding control unit 83 outputs a control command to the ASF driver 74 when feeding the paper P from the paper feeding cassette 17 into the printing unit 13. Then, the ASF motor 51 is driven based on the drive signal from the ASF driver 74, whereby the feeding roller 52 and the intermediate roller 55 are rotated. In addition, when the front end detection signal is input from the front end detection sensor 60, the feeding control unit 83 outputs a control command to the PF driver 73. Then, the PF motor 59 is driven based on the drive signal from the PF driver 73, whereby the rollers of the paper feed roller pair 57 and the paper discharge roller pair 58 are rotated, and the paper P is moved from the rear side to the front side in the frame 18. To be sent to. Note that the output shaft of the PF motor 59 of the present embodiment is provided with a rotary encoder 89 for detecting the rotation speed, rotation position, and rotation direction of the output shaft. The feed control unit 83 controls the driving of the PF motor 59 based on the detection signal from the rotary encoder 89.

  The CR control unit 84 calculates the position, movement speed, and movement direction of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction based on the detection signal from the linear encoder 28, and outputs a control command based on the calculation result to the CR driver 72. Thus, the movement of the carriage 21 is controlled. Further, when a request for information on the position of the carriage 21 (hereinafter also referred to as “position information”) is made from the paper information acquisition unit 85, the CR control unit 84 sends the calculated position information to the paper information acquisition unit 85. Output.

  The paper information acquisition unit 85 acquires information regarding the paper P to be fed based on various detection signals from the leading edge detection sensor 60 and the edge detection sensor 31. Then, the paper information acquisition unit 85 appropriately outputs the acquisition result to the feeding control unit 83 and the CR control unit 84, and stores the acquisition result in the memory 86 as end position information. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the linear encoder 28, the end detection sensor 31, the CR control unit 84, and the paper information acquisition unit 85 use the edge related to the position of the end (side end) in the scanning direction (left-right direction) of the paper P. Edge detection means for detecting the part position information is configured. Further, the leading edge detection sensor 60 and the paper information acquisition unit 85 constitute a leading edge detection unit that detects the leading edge of the paper P in the conveyance path toward the recording position.

  The edge position information includes left and right edge position information including information on the right edge position and the left edge position of the paper P to be printed and leading edge position information regarding the position of the leading edge of the paper P to be conveyed. . Then, before the start of printing, cueing is performed based on the tip position information, and printing is performed based on the left and right end position information.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 11 performs front end detection and side end detection according to the print mode. First, when the middle mode or the high speed mode is set as the print mode, after the leading edge detection sensor 60 detects the leading edge of the paper P, the paper P is transported by a predetermined transport amount and at the print start position. Cue to stop. In other words, when the middle mode or the high speed mode is set as the print mode, cueing is performed based on the detection result of the tip detection sensor 60.

  On the other hand, when the high accuracy mode is set as the print mode, the carriage 21 is moved to the center position in the left-right direction (the position corresponding to the center in the scanning direction of the paper P) and detected by the leading edge detection sensor 60. Based on the result, the leading edge of the paper P to be cued is detected by the edge detection sensor 31. That is, in the high accuracy mode, the cueing accuracy of the paper P is increased by finely adjusting the drive amount of the PF motor 59 based on the detection result of the end detection sensor 31 closer to the print start position. .

  When the high accuracy mode or the middle mode is set as the print mode, the edge detection sensor 31 detects the side edge of the paper P after cueing. On the other hand, when the high speed mode is set as the print mode, the edge detection sensor 31 is not detected, and printing is performed based on the size information included in the print instruction.

  That is, since the side edge detection by the edge detection sensor 31 involves the movement of the carriage 21, the processing time is increased by the movement time of the carriage 21. Therefore, in the high speed mode in which printing speed is important, the processing time is shortened by omitting the side edge detection.

  On the other hand, in the high-accuracy mode and middle mode in which printing accuracy is required, printing is performed based on the detection result of the side edge portion of the actually transported paper P, thereby correcting the deviation of the feeding position in the scanning direction. I am doing so. In the high-accuracy mode, both ends of the paper P are detected every time the carriage 21 moves in one direction (every pass) even after printing is started, and printing is performed based on the detection result.

  Next, a routine for controlling the movement of the carriage 21 in accordance with the leading edge detection and the side edge detection before starting printing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 and the operation diagrams shown in FIGS. 7 is executed by the main control unit 81 (image processing unit 82, feeding control unit 83, CR control unit 84, and paper information acquisition unit) constructed by the CPU in the printer 11 executing the program. 85) is executed.

  When the main control unit 81 receives a print command from the host computer 87 (recording mode setting acquisition step), the main control unit 81 outputs a control command to start feeding the paper P to the feed control unit 83. When the leading edge of the paper P is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 60, the main control unit 81 executes a movement control routine shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with the movement control program.

  First, in step S11, the main control unit 81 determines whether the print mode setting stored in the reception buffer 80 is the high accuracy mode, the middle mode, or the high speed mode. If the print mode setting is the high speed mode, the main control unit 81 ends the process. In other words, in the high-speed mode, the carriage 21 is not moved for tip detection or side edge detection, so that the recording is quickly shifted to recording. If the print mode setting is the high accuracy mode in step S11, the main control unit 81 proceeds to step S12. If the print mode setting is the middle mode in step S11, the main control unit 81 proceeds to step S18 described later.

  In step S <b> 12, the main control unit 81 outputs a control command for moving the carriage 21 to the center position to the CR control unit 84. Then, the CR control unit 84 moves the carriage 21 from the home position side to the center position as shown in FIG. During this time, the paper P is transported toward the print start position by the drive control of the ASF motor 51 and the PF motor 59 by the feed control unit 83.

  Next, in step S <b> 13, the main control unit 81 determines whether or not the edge detection sensor 31 has detected the leading edge of the paper P. Here, if the edge detection sensor 31 has not detected the leading edge of the paper P, the main control portion 81 makes a No determination and repeats the determination in step S13. When the edge detection sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the paper P, the main control unit 81 determines Yes and proceeds to step S14. After detecting the leading edge of the paper P, the feeding control unit 83 drives the PF motor 59 for a predetermined time, so that the paper P reaches the print start position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. That is, the cueing is completed.

  Next, in step S <b> 14, the main control unit 81 outputs a control command for moving the carriage 21 in the right direction (one direction) to the CR control unit 84. Then, the CR control unit 84 moves the carriage 21 from the center position toward the right side so as to pass through the right end of the paper P (see FIG. 9).

  In step S <b> 15, the main control unit 81 determines whether the edge detection sensor 31 has detected the right edge of the paper P. Here, if the edge detection sensor 31 has not detected the right edge of the paper P, the main control portion 81 makes a No determination and repeats the determination in step S15.

  When the carriage 21 moves to the right side and reaches a right end position (position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 9) corresponding to the right end side of the headed paper P, the magnitude of the detection signal from the end detection sensor 31 is increased. Changes. At this time, the paper information acquisition unit 85 acquires the position of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction from the CR control unit 84 as the right end S1 of the paper P. When the paper information acquisition unit 85 detects a change in the magnitude of the detection signal from the edge detection sensor 31, the main control unit 81 determines Yes and proceeds to step S16.

  In subsequent step S <b> 16, the main control unit 81 outputs a control command for moving the carriage 21 leftward (in the other direction) to the CR control unit 84. Then, the CR control unit 84 moves the carriage 21 from the right side to the left side so as to pass through the left end of the paper P (see FIG. 10).

  In step S <b> 17, the main control unit 81 determines whether the edge detection sensor 31 has detected the left edge of the paper P. Here, if the edge detection sensor 31 has not detected the left edge of the paper P, the main control portion 81 makes a No determination and repeats the determination in step S17.

  When the carriage 21 moves from the right side to the left side and reaches a left end side position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 10) corresponding to the left end side of the paper P, the magnitude of the detection signal from the end detection sensor 31 is increased. Changes. At this time, the paper information acquisition unit 85 acquires the position of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction from the CR control unit 84 as the left end S2 of the paper P.

  Further, the paper information acquisition unit 85 causes the memory 86 to store left and right end position information regarding the right end S1 and the left end S2 of the acquired paper P. When the paper information acquisition unit 85 detects a change in the magnitude of the detection signal from the edge detection sensor 31, the main control unit 81 determines Yes and ends the process.

  If the print mode setting is the middle mode in step S11, the main control unit 81 proceeds to step S18. In step S18 (movement control step), the main control unit 81 outputs a control command to the CR control unit 84 to move the carriage 21 in the left direction (one direction). Then, the CR control unit 84 moves the carriage 21 from the home position side to the left side so as to pass through both side ends of the paper P (see FIG. 11).

  In subsequent step S <b> 19, the main control unit 81 determines whether or not the edge detection sensor 31 has detected the right edge of the paper P. Here, if the edge detection sensor 31 has not detected the right edge of the paper P, the main control portion 81 makes a No determination and repeats the determination in step S19.

  When the carriage 21 moves to the left side and reaches the right end side position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 11) corresponding to the right end side of the headed paper P, the magnitude of the detection signal from the end detection sensor 31 is increased. Changes. At this time, the paper information acquisition unit 85 acquires the position of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction from the CR control unit 84 as the right end S1 of the paper P (detection step).

  In subsequent step S <b> 20, the main control unit 81 determines whether or not the edge detection sensor 31 has detected the left edge of the paper P. Here, if the edge detection sensor 31 has not detected the left edge of the paper P, the main control portion 81 makes a No determination and repeats the determination in step S20.

  When the carriage 21 further moves leftward and reaches a left end side position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 11) corresponding to the left end side of the paper P, the magnitude of the detection signal from the end detection sensor 31 is increased. Changes again. At this time, the sheet information acquisition unit 85 acquires the position of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction from the CR control unit 84 as the left end S2 of the sheet P (detection step).

  Further, the paper information acquisition unit 85 causes the memory 86 to store left and right end position information regarding the right end S1 and the left end S2 of the acquired paper P. When the paper information acquisition unit 85 detects a change in the magnitude of the detection signal from the edge detection sensor 31, the main control unit 81 determines Yes and ends the process.

  Next, operations and effects during printing of the printer 11 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 12, a region surrounded by a two-dot chain line is a print region (print position) where printing is performed. Further, in FIG. 12, the description of the carriage 21 is omitted, and the relative movement path of the carriage 21 with respect to the paper P is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  When the cueing is performed as described above, printing on the paper P is started. That is, in the high accuracy mode and the middle mode, ink droplets are individually ejected from each nozzle of the recording head 30 supported by the carriage 21 based on the left and right end position information stored in the memory 86. The scan (first pass) is printed. On the other hand, in the high speed mode, printing for the first scan is performed based on the size information included in the print instruction.

  Further, after printing is started in this way, the paper P is intermittently fed to the front side by the intermittent driving of the PF motor 59, and the carriage 21 stops feeding the paper P forward. It moves in the left-right direction at the timing (or timing just before stopping). Then, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 30 at the timing when the carriage 21 is positioned on the printing area of the paper P.

  When the reception buffer 80 has acquired the high-accuracy mode, after the printing of the first scan is started, the control device 70, as shown in FIG. Changes the moving direction of the carriage 21 after detecting the positions of both end portions of the paper P. That is, while the right end S1 and the left end S2 of the paper P are acquired for each pass, the next pass is printed based on the acquired left and right end position information.

  On the other hand, when the reception buffer 80 acquires the middle mode or the high speed mode, the control device 70 prevents the edge detection sensor 31 from detecting the position of the side edge of the paper P as shown in FIG. The movement of the carriage 21 is controlled as shown in FIG. That is, the detection by the edge detection sensor 31 is not performed, and printing is performed based on the left and right edge position information used in the first pass or the size information included in the print instruction. Therefore, in the middle mode or the high speed mode, the movement amount of the carriage 21 during printing is smaller than that in the high accuracy mode, so that the printing time is shortened.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the middle mode is set, the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 in one direction, so that the positions of both side edges of the paper P can be detected by the edge detection sensor 31. Therefore, even when the paper P is fed in a state shifted in the scanning direction, the printing position can be corrected based on the detected position of the side edge. Further, since the carriage 21 is moved only once in one direction in order to detect the side end portion, the processing time can be shortened while ensuring the accuracy corresponding to the recording mode.

  (2) When the high-accuracy mode is set, the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 to a position corresponding to the center in the scanning direction of the paper P, so that it is accurately based on the detection result of the edge detection sensor 31. Cueing can be performed. In addition, since the edge detection sensor 31 detects the leading edge at a position corresponding to the center of the paper P, it is possible to suppress a shift in the detection position due to the skew of the paper P.

  Further, after that, the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 in one direction to detect the position of one end of the paper P, and the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 in the other direction to move the other side of the paper P. The position of the side end can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to accurately cue the paper P and to detect the positions of both end portions.

  (3) When the middle mode or the high speed mode is set, the feeding device 50 performs cueing based on the detection result of the edge detection sensor 31, so that the carriage 50 detects the leading edge of the paper P. There is no need to move 21. Therefore, the processing time can be shortened in the middle mode or the high speed mode.

  (4) When the high accuracy mode is set, the control device 70 changes the moving direction of the carriage 21 after the end detection sensor 31 detects the position of the side end of the paper P after the start of recording. Therefore, the position of the side edge of the paper P can be detected every time the carriage 21 scans along the scanning direction. Therefore, in the high accuracy mode, it is possible to perform recording with high accuracy while correcting the error of the conveyance position in the scanning direction every time conveyance is performed intermittently.

  On the other hand, when the middle mode or the high speed mode is set, the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 so that the edge detection sensor 31 does not detect the position of the side edge of the paper P after the start of recording. Therefore, the carriage 21 can quickly change direction after the movement process is completed. Therefore, the processing time can be shortened in the middle mode or the high speed mode.

  (5) The feeding device 50 includes a feeding roller 52 disposed in the center in the left-right direction, a pair of side guides 45 and 46 disposed in a line-symmetric position around the center line L1, and a pair of Since the driven rollers 53 and 54 are provided, the paper P can be fed in the center. As a result, the skew accompanying the feeding of the paper P is suppressed, so that the cueing is performed based on the detection result of the leading edge detection sensor 60 in the middle mode, or the side edge detection after the start of printing is omitted. Also, it is possible to suppress a decrease in printing accuracy.

  (5) In particular, when performing marginless printing without margins on the side of the paper P, if an error occurs in the position of the side edge, a leak occurs in that portion, and the platen 19 is contaminated with ink. It may be done. When the paper P is fed in the center, both side ends of the paper P are contaminated, and there is a possibility that the paper P fed later will be soiled. Therefore, when center feeding is performed as in this embodiment, contamination of subsequent sheets can be suppressed by detecting the side edge in the high accuracy mode and the middle mode.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In step S12, the carriage 21 may be moved to a position where the leading end of the conveyed paper P can be detected. For example, the center of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction may move to a position that matches the center line L1, or the detection position by the end detection sensor 31 may move to a position that matches the center line L1. Alternatively, it may be moved to an arbitrary position near the center line L1 in accordance with the size of the paper P instructed by the print instruction, and may not necessarily be a position corresponding to the center line L1.

  When the high accuracy mode is set as the print mode, the carriage 21 may be moved in the left direction in step S14, while the carriage 21 may be moved in the right direction in step S16.

The configuration for center feeding of the paper P can be arbitrarily changed.
-One-sided conveyance that conveys (feeds) the paper P toward one side end of the conveyance path may be adopted. When the reception buffer 80 acquires the high-accuracy mode, the carriage 21 is moved to a position where the leading end of the conveyed paper P can be detected, and then one side edge of the paper P (in the case of left-justified conveyance) May move the carriage 21 so as to pass through the right end and the left end in the case of right-handed loading.

  In this case, the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 and the edge detection sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the paper P. Therefore, accurate cueing can be performed based on the detection result of the edge detection sensor 31. it can. After that, the control device 70 moves the carriage 21 in one direction toward the side opposite to the side on which the paper P is moved, so that the position of the side edge having the larger change according to the paper size is detected as the edge. It can be detected by the sensor 31.

  The reception buffer 80, the main control unit 81, the image processing unit 82, the feeding control unit 83, the CR control unit 84, the paper information acquisition unit 85, the memory 86, etc. are configured only by software, electronic circuits (for example, custom ICs), etc. The hardware may be configured by cooperation between software and hardware.

In addition to the high-accuracy mode, the middle mode, and the high-speed mode, one or more other printing modes may be provided.
The printer 11 may be a printer that can directly acquire image information from a memory card without using the host computer 87.

In the middle mode, after starting printing, printing may be performed while detecting the position of one or both side edges.
The printer 11 may be realized as a line head printer or a lateral printer in which the recording head is not supported by the carriage. Also in this case, it is possible to detect the position of the leading edge portion or the side edge portion of the paper P based on the detection signal output from the edge detection sensor 31 mounted on the carriage (moving member).

  In the above embodiment, the recording apparatus is embodied as an ink jet serial printer. However, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects liquid (recording material) other than ink may be employed. The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in the state when the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid state with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch the substrate may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these injection devices.

The recording apparatus can be changed to an arbitrary recording system such as a dot impact printer.
The present invention may be applied to a scanner, a fax machine, a copier, or a multifunction machine having these functions in addition to a printer.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as recording apparatus, 21 ... Carriage as moving member, 30 ... Recording head as recording means, 28 ... Linear encoder which comprises edge part detection means, 31 ... End part detection sensor which comprises edge part detection means , 60... Tip detection sensor constituting tip detection means, 70... Control device as control means, 71... Computer, 80... Reception buffer functioning as recording mode setting acquisition means, 84. , 85... Paper information acquisition unit constituting the edge detection means and the edge detection means, P.

Claims (6)

Recording means for recording on a recording medium conveyed along the conveying direction;
A moving member that reciprocates along a scanning direction that intersects the conveying direction;
End detection means provided on the moving member so as to detect the position of the end of the recording medium;
A recording mode setting acquisition means for acquiring a recording mode setting in which any one of a plurality of recording modes including a high accuracy mode, a middle mode and a high speed mode is selected;
Control means for controlling the moving member,
When the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the middle mode, the control unit moves the moving member in one direction so as to pass through both end portions of the recording medium before starting recording. A recording apparatus. When the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the high-accuracy mode, the control unit moves the moving member to a position where the leading end of the recording medium can be detected before starting recording, 2. The moving member is moved in one direction so as to pass through one side end of the recording medium after the end detecting unit detects the leading end of the recording medium. Recording device. When the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the high-accuracy mode, the control unit moves the moving member to a position corresponding to the center of the recording medium in the scanning direction before starting recording. Thereafter, the moving member is moved in one direction so as to pass through one end of the recording medium, and then the moving member is moved in the other direction so as to pass through the other end of the recording medium. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is a recording apparatus. A tip detecting means for detecting the tip of the recording medium in the transport path;
The cueing is performed based on a detection result of the tip detection means when the recording mode setting acquisition means acquires the middle mode or the high speed mode. The recording apparatus according to any one of the above. The recording means is supported by the moving member,
After the start of recording, when the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the high accuracy mode, the control unit moves the movement after the end detection unit detects the position of the side end of the recording medium. When the recording mode setting acquisition unit acquires the middle mode or the high speed mode while changing the moving direction of the member, the end detection unit does not detect the position of the side end of the recording medium. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the movement of the moving member is controlled. In order to detect the position of the end of the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance direction by the edge detection means provided on the moving member that reciprocates along the scanning direction intersecting the conveyance direction, the computer A program for controlling a moving member,
A recording mode setting acquisition step in which the computer acquires a recording mode setting in which any one of a plurality of recording modes including a high accuracy mode, a middle mode and a high speed mode is selected;
A movement control step of moving the moving member in one direction by driving a drive source so that the computer passes through both end portions of the recording medium when the middle mode is acquired;
A computer program for executing a detection step of detecting positions of both side edges of the recording medium based on a detection signal output from the edge detection means.

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