JP2018058376A - Ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can record an image on the entire region of a recording medium while reducing a conveyance amount of the recording medium to the downstream side in the conveyance direction from a nozzle of the recording medium having the high rigidity like CD and DVD.SOLUTION: An ink jet recording apparatus includes: a discharge roller pair 55 for conveying a medium tray 71 on which a recording medium is mounted, and in which a distance from a tip P1 to a position P2 on the rear end where the image is recorded is a distance L1; a recording unit 24 which records the image on the recording medium by discharging ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles 301 formed over a distance L2 from a position P3; a conveyance roller pair 54 which is at a position apart by a distance L3 satisfying L1-L2<L3<L1 from the position P3; and a control unit. The control unit, when a distance L4 between the image recording position on the most rear side within the image recording range of the recording medium and the position P2 is less than L1-L3, controls the recording unit 24 so as to record the image by using the nozzles 301 apart forward by equal to or greater than L1-L3-L4 from the position P3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium having high rigidity such as a CD or a DVD.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image recording apparatuses that perform image recording on a recording medium by ejecting ink based on an input signal are known. Such an image recording apparatus is generally called an “inkjet printer”. Image recording in an ink jet printer is realized by selectively ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles provided in a recording head.

  As recording media on which image recording is performed in an ink jet printer, recording media with high rigidity such as CDs and DVDs have been proposed in addition to recording paper. Generally, when recording an image on a recording medium having high rigidity such as a CD or a DVD, the recording medium is set on a dedicated tray. In many cases, the tray is inserted from an insertion port provided in the ink jet printer and is conveyed through the ink jet printer. Further, depending on the ink jet printer, the recording medium itself having high rigidity may be inserted from the insertion port and conveyed through the ink jet printer. The tray and the recording medium are transported in a first direction in the transport direction, and then transported in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the transport direction, and the ink from the nozzles is directly below the recording head. An image is recorded on the recording medium by the ejection. The tray on which the image is recorded on the recording medium and the recording medium on which the image is recorded are discharged from the insertion port.

  As an example of an ink jet printer capable of recording an image on a recording medium with high rigidity, Patent Document 1 discloses that a transport driven roller is released from a transport driving roller and inserted from a tray insertion opening in a first direction in the transport direction. An ink jet recording apparatus is disclosed in which a transport path for a tray on which a CD or DVD is set is formed. Further, in Patent Document 2 (fourth embodiment, FIGS. 64 and 66), the front end of a tray on which a CD, a DVD, or the like that is inserted from the tray insertion port in the first direction in the transport direction is set is located at the rear of the apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus that is transported in a first direction relative to a paper feeding apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2005-144931 A JP 2004-42392 A

  A recording medium with high rigidity and a tray on which the recording medium is set cannot be bent as much as a sheet-like recording medium. Therefore, when a recording medium having a high rigidity or a tray on which the recording medium is set is transported downstream in the first direction in the transport direction from the recording head, the downstream in the first direction in the transport direction from the recording head. The tray protrudes to the side. Therefore, as described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the transport driven roller disposed on the downstream side in the first direction of the transport direction from the print head is released from the transport drive roller. In this case, it is necessary to add a release mechanism that releases the transport driven roller from the transport drive roller. However, the addition of this mechanism increases the cost or size of the apparatus.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 2 (fourth embodiment, FIGS. 64 and 66), the protruding tip of the tray may collide with the apparatus housing. In order to prevent the collision, it is necessary to provide an opening in the apparatus or enlarge the apparatus. When the tray protrudes from the opening, the apparatus must be installed away from the wall of the chamber in which the apparatus is installed by the amount of the protrusion of the tray.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium having high rigidity or a tray in which the recording medium is mounted in a first direction in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from the nozzle. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing the transport amount to the downstream side and recording an image on the entire area of the recording medium.

  (1) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording medium or a recording medium having a first distance L1 from a first position that is a leading end in the first direction in the transport direction to a second position that is a rear end where an image is recorded. A first transport unit that transports a first tray on which a recording medium is mounted; and a third transport unit that is provided downstream of the first transport unit in a first direction in the transport direction and that is the most downstream side in the first direction of the transport direction. A plurality of nozzles formed over a second distance L2 from the position to the fourth position on the most upstream side, and a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles; Provided in a first direction in the transport direction at a position separated by a third distance L3 (L3 <L1 <L2 + L3) that is smaller than the first distance L1 and the sum of the second distance L2 is larger than the first distance L1. And a member. The fourth distance L4 of the distance between the image recording position in the first direction in the transport direction and the second position in the image recording range with respect to the recording medium is obtained by subtracting the third distance L3 from the first distance L1. When the distance is less than 5 distance L5, a sixth distance L6 (L6 = L5-L4) is obtained by subtracting the fourth distance from the fifth distance in the second direction opposite to the first direction in the transport direction from the third position. ) Including a control unit that controls the recording unit so as to record an image on a recording medium using nozzles separated from each other.

  If the third distance L3 is larger than the first distance L1 (L3> L1), even if an image is recorded on the recording medium by an arbitrary nozzle, the recording medium or the first tray does not contact the member. If the first distance L1 is larger than the sum of the third distance L3 and the second distance L2 (L1> L2 + L3), the recording medium and the first tray are the members regardless of which nozzle is used to record the image on the recording medium. Contact cannot be prevented. In the present invention, since the first distance L1 is larger than the third distance L3 and smaller than the sum of the second distance L2 and the third distance L3 (L3 <L1 <L2 + L3), an image is recorded on the recording medium by a specific nozzle. By recording, it is possible to prevent contact between the recording medium and the first tray and the member.

  When an image is recorded in the vicinity of the rear end in the first direction in the conveyance direction of the recording medium with the nozzles near the most downstream side in the first direction in the conveyance direction, the recording medium or the first tray in the conveyance direction of the first tray is recorded from the third position. The distance to the tip in one direction increases, and the recording medium or the first tray collides with the member. However, in the present invention, the vicinity of the rear end in the first direction in the conveyance direction of the recording medium (the position within the fifth distance L5 from the second position to the first direction in the conveyance direction) is the maximum in the first direction in the conveyance direction. Since printing is performed with nozzles that are not near the downstream side (nozzles that are separated from the third position by a sixth distance L6 in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the transport direction), the first in the transport direction of the recording medium or the first tray. The tip in one direction is not separated from the third position by the third distance L3 or more to the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction.

  (2) A second transport unit is provided downstream of the recording unit in the first direction in the transport direction. The second transport unit is the member. The second transport unit includes a first roller that is rotated by being driven by a drive source, and a second roller that is disposed so as to be in contact with the first roller. The third distance L3 is from the third position to the nipping position by the first roller and the second roller in the first direction in the transport direction.

  As described above, in the present invention, the first leading end in the transport direction of the recording medium or the first tray is separated from the third position to the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction by the third distance L3 or more. Absent. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the recording medium and the first tray from colliding with the second transport unit.

  (3) The control unit controls the recording unit to use an arbitrary nozzle for the sheet-like recording medium conveyed in the second direction of the conveyance direction by the second conveyance unit.

  Unlike the thick recording medium, the sheet-shaped recording medium is nipped even when it comes into contact with the second transport unit, and is therefore transported by the second transport unit in the second direction of the transport direction. Therefore, in the image recording on the sheet-like recording medium, there is no problem even if an arbitrary nozzle is used. By using an arbitrary nozzle, it is possible to record an image with high image quality.

  (4) The member is a portion of the casing of the apparatus that intersects with an area where the recording medium or the first tray is extended in the first direction of the transport direction.

  As described above, in the present invention, the first leading end in the transport direction of the recording medium and the first tray is separated from the third position by the third distance L3 or more to the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction. Absent. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the recording medium and the first tray from colliding with the casing of the ink jet recording apparatus. Further, it is possible to prevent the recording medium and the first tray from protruding from the casing of the inkjet recording apparatus to the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction.

  (5) The member is a protruding portion that protrudes most downstream in the first direction in the transport direction in the casing of the apparatus, and the third distance L3 is the first direction of the protruding portion from the third position. It is the distance to the tip.

  (6) The protrusion is a second tray capable of holding a sheet-like recording medium.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is installed such that the most protruding portion on the back surface thereof does not come into contact with the wall of the chamber in which the apparatus is installed. The most protruding portion is, for example, the second tray. Further, as described above, in the present invention, the leading edge of the recording medium and the first tray in the first direction in the transport direction is separated from the third position by the third distance L3 or more to the downstream side in the first direction of the transport direction. There is nothing. In the above-described configuration, the recording medium and the first tray do not protrude further than the most protruding portion on the back surface of the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording medium and the first tray from colliding with the wall of the chamber in which the ink jet recording apparatus is installed.

  (7) The above-mentioned member is mounted on the device, and a plurality of movable parts whose posture can be changed from the device to a first posture in which the protrusion toward the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction is small and a second posture in which the protrusion is large. Among these, the movable portion protrudes most from the apparatus toward the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction when in the second posture. The third distance is a distance from the third position to a portion that protrudes most downstream in the first direction in the transport direction from the device in the movable portion in the second posture.

  (8) In addition, a second transport unit provided downstream in the transport direction in the first direction from the recording unit is provided, and the movable unit is rotatably supported by the apparatus and has a second posture. It is a cover member that sometimes exposes the second transport unit.

  (9) In addition, the movable portion can change in posture from a first posture standing along the housing of the device to a second posture tilting from the device to the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction. It is a tray.

  (10) The movable unit is an image reading unit that is rotatably supported by the apparatus, covers the document when in the first posture, and reads an image recorded on the document.

  An ink jet recording apparatus may be equipped with a movable part whose posture can be changed. In this case, the ink jet recording apparatus is installed so as not to contact the wall of the chamber in which the apparatus is installed, regardless of the posture of the possible portion. The movable unit is, for example, a cover member, a third tray, and an image reading unit. Further, as described above, in the present invention, the leading edge of the recording medium and the first tray in the first direction in the transport direction is separated from the third position by the third distance L3 or more to the downstream side in the first direction of the transport direction. There is nothing. In the above-described configuration, the recording medium and the first tray do not protrude further from the front end of the movable portion that protrudes most from the back surface of the apparatus toward the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording medium and the first tray from colliding with the wall of the chamber in which the ink jet recording apparatus is installed.

  (11) The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention further includes a detection unit that is provided on the downstream side in the first direction of the transport direction from the third position and detects the recording medium. The detection unit detects a recording medium within a third distance L3 from the first position in the second direction in the transport direction.

  When the detection unit detects the vicinity of the rear end in the first direction in the transport direction of the recording medium, the distance from the third position to the front end in the first direction in the transport direction of the recording medium and the first tray increases. . As a result, the recording medium and the first tray collide with the member. However, in the present invention, only the vicinity of the leading edge in the first direction in the conveyance direction of the recording medium (within the third distance L3 from the first position to the second direction in the conveyance direction) is detected by the detection unit. Therefore, when the recording medium is detected by the detection unit, it is possible to prevent the recording medium and the first tray from colliding with the member.

  (12) In the present invention, a recording medium or a recording medium having a first distance L1 is mounted from a first position, which is a leading edge in the first direction in the transport direction, to a second position, which is a rear edge where an image is recorded. A first transport unit that transports the first tray; and a first transport unit that is provided on the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction from the first transport unit and from the third position on the most downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction. A plurality of nozzles are formed over a second distance L2 to the fourth position, a recording unit that discharges ink droplets from the nozzles to record an image on a recording medium, and a first in the transport direction from the third position. And a member provided at a position separated by a third distance L3 (L1-L2 <L3 <L1) that is smaller than the first distance and whose sum total with the second distance is larger than the first distance. An inkjet recording method applied to an inkjet recording apparatus First step of determining whether or not the recording medium is a sheet based on a detection result by the detection unit for detecting the body or an instruction executed on an operation unit for instructing operation of the apparatus And on the condition that the recording medium is not sheet-like in the first step, the first distance from the third distance to the second direction opposite to the first direction in the transport direction from the third position. The image is recorded on the recording medium using only nozzles that are separated from the fifth distance (L5 = L1-L3), which is a distance obtained by subtracting the fourth distance, by a sixth distance L6 (L6 = L5-L4), which is a distance obtained by subtracting the fourth distance. It can also be understood as an ink jet recording method comprising a second step of recording

  In the present invention, the vicinity of the rear end in the first direction in the conveyance direction of the recording medium (the position within the fifth distance L5 from the second position to the first direction in the conveyance direction) is the most downstream side in the first direction in the conveyance direction. Since printing is performed with a nozzle that is not near (a nozzle that is separated from the third position by a sixth distance L6 in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the transport direction), the first direction in the transport direction of the recording medium and the first tray Is not separated from the third position by the third distance L3 or more toward the downstream side in the first direction in the transport direction. That is, the thick recording medium and the first tray are not unnecessarily separated from the nozzle on the downstream side in the first direction in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  In the present invention, the vicinity of the rear end in the first direction of the recording medium is recorded by a specific nozzle, and the image is recorded by an arbitrary nozzle except for the vicinity of the rear end. Therefore, image recording can be performed on the entire area of the recording medium.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a multifunction machine 1 that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 2. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing the internal structure of the printer unit 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of the image recording unit 24. FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the printer unit 2 schematically showing the positional relationship among the image recording unit 24, the media tray 71, and the conveyance roller pair 54. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printer unit 2 schematically showing the positional relationship among the image recording unit 24, the media tray 71, and the conveying roller pair 54. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 130. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the recording process performed by the control unit 130. FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the relative positions of the nozzle 301 and the recording medium in each pass during the recording process. FIG. 9A shows a case where the transport amount of the recording medium is constant. , (B) shows a case where there are two types of transport amounts of the recording medium. FIG. 10 is a table showing the fourth distance L4, the sixth distance L6, the usable nozzles 301, and the nozzles 301 actually used in the first pass for each image recording position. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the multifunction device 1 schematically showing the positional relationship among the image recording unit 24, the media tray 71, and the members. FIG. 11A shows a wall surface 53 that constitutes the rear surface of the multifunction device 1. FIG. A case is shown, (B) shows a case where the member is the outer guide surface 29, and (C) shows a case where the member is a manual feed tray 56 fixed to the wall surface 53. ing. FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction device 1 schematically showing the positional relationship among the image recording unit 24, the media tray 71, and members. FIG. 12A shows a case where the member is the scanner housing 8. FIG. (B) shows a case where the member is a rotatable manual feed tray 56. FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the multifunction machine 1 schematically showing the positional relationship among the image recording unit 24, the media tray 71, and the member when the member is the scanner unit 3.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Multifunction Device 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a multifunction device 1 as an example of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the direction indicated by the arrow 13 is the width direction (left-right direction) of the multifunction device 1, the direction indicated by the arrow 14 is the height direction (up-down direction) of the multifunction device 1, and the arrow 12 The direction shown is the depth direction (front-rear direction) of the multifunction machine 1.

  The multi-function device 1 integrally includes a printer unit 2 disposed at a lower portion and a scanner unit 3 (corresponding to an image reading unit which is an example of a movable portion of the present invention) disposed at an upper portion of the printer unit 2. This is a multi-function device (MFD). The scanner unit 3 includes a document cover 7 as a top plate of the multifunction machine 1 at the top thereof. The multifunction device 1 has a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like. In realizing the present invention, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like are arbitrary functions. For example, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented as a printer having only a printer function.

  An operation panel 9 (an example of the operation unit of the present invention) for operating the printer unit 2 and the scanner unit 3 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the multifunction machine 1 and on the upper surface of the front side of the scanner unit 3. ing. The operation panel 9 includes various operation buttons and a liquid crystal display unit 11. The multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 130 that controls the operation of the multifunction device 1 based on input from the operation panel 9 (the control unit of the present invention). For example, see FIG.

  The scanner unit 3 is configured as a so-called flat bed scanner. A document cover 7 is provided on the upper portion of the scanner unit 3 so as to be freely opened and closed. A scanner casing 8 (see FIGS. 12 and 13) having a platen glass 6 (see FIG. 13) on its upper surface and an image sensor (not shown) below the platen glass 6 is provided below the document cover 7. Is provided. With the document placed on the platen glass 6 and the document cover 7 covering the platen glass 6, the image of the document is read by the image sensor.

[Printer Unit 2] Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer unit 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer unit 2 includes a casing 5 (an example of a housing of the present invention) having an opening 4 formed on the front surface. Each component of the printer unit 2 is disposed in the casing 5.

  Through the opening 4, a paper feed tray 20 and a paper discharge tray 21 (see FIG. 2) are mounted on the multifunction machine 1. In FIG. 1, the paper feed tray 20 and the paper discharge tray 21 are omitted. The paper feed tray 20 accommodates recording paper of a desired size such as A4 size or B5 size. As shown in FIG. 2, when the paper feed tray 20 is mounted on the multifunction device 1, the recording paper stored in the paper feed tray 20 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is the depth direction 12 of the multifunction device 1. Set to be. The paper discharge tray 21 is supported by the paper feed tray 20 and disposed above the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed tray 20 and the paper discharge tray 21 are mounted in the multifunction device 1 in two upper and lower stages.

  The multifunction device 1 has a function of recording an image on a board surface of a recording medium (an example of a recording medium of the present invention) such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM in addition to the recording paper. This function will be described later.

  A separation inclined plate 22 is disposed on the back side of the paper feed tray 20 mounted on the multifunction machine 1. The separation inclined plate 22 separates the recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 20 and guides it upward.

  A conveyance path 23 is formed above the separation inclined plate 22. The conveyance path 23 bends upward from the upper side of the separation inclined plate 22 and to the front side of the multifunction machine 1, extends from the rear side (rear side) of the multifunction machine 1 to the front side (front side), and further includes a drive roller 47 ( The nipping position by the conveying roller pair 54 (an example of the second conveying unit of the present invention) composed of the pinch roller 48 (an example of the second roller of the present invention) and the image recording unit 24. The lower side (an example of the recording unit of the present invention) and a paper discharge tray that passes through a nipping position by a discharge roller pair 55 (an example of the first conveying unit of the present invention) composed of a driving roller 49 and a spur roller 50. To 21. The recording paper fed out from the paper feed tray 20 is guided by the conveyance path 23 so as to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side, and reaches the image recording unit 24. The recording sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 21 after the image recording unit 24 records the image. The conveyance path 23 is formed by an outer guide surface 29 and an inner guide surface 28 that are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval except for a place where the image recording unit 24 and the like are disposed.

  Hereinafter, the direction in which the recording medium such as recording paper is conveyed from the nipping position by the conveying roller pair 54 to the lower side of the image recording unit 24 and the nipping position by the discharging roller pair 55 to the paper discharge tray 21 is defined as the conveying direction. The description will be made with the second direction 16 (corresponding to the second direction of the present invention) in the direction in which the recording medium moves by driving the first transport unit. On the other hand, the second direction and the reverse direction will be described as the first direction 15 (corresponding to the first direction of the present invention) in the transport direction. That is, the image recording unit 24 is provided downstream of the discharge roller pair 55 in the first direction 15, and the transport roller pair 54 is provided downstream of the image recording unit 24 in the first direction 15. In the present embodiment, the transport direction is a direction parallel to the direction indicated by the arrow 12 (front-rear direction).

  A paper feed roller 25 is provided on the upper side of the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed roller 25 is pivotally supported at the end of a paper feed arm 26 that moves up and down detachably from the paper feed tray 20. The sheet feeding roller 25 is rotated by a driving force of a sheet feeding motor 76 (see FIG. 7) transmitted by a drive transmission mechanism 27 in which a plurality of gears are engaged. The paper feed roller 25 separates the recording paper stacked on the paper feed tray 20 one by one and supplies it to the transport path 23. More specifically, the sheet feeding roller 25 is pressed against the recording sheet on the sheet feeding tray 20 and the sheet feeding roller 25 rotates in this state, so that the roller surface of the sheet feeding roller 25 and the recording sheet are separated from each other. The uppermost recording sheet is fed to the separation inclined plate 22 by the frictional force. The front end of the recording sheet abuts against the separation inclined plate 22 and is guided upward, and is sent to the conveyance path 23.

[Image Recording Unit 24] The image recording unit 24 includes a carriage 31 that mounts the recording head 30 and reciprocates in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2). The recording head 30 is exposed on the lower side of the carriage 31, and cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black from an ink tank 32 (see FIG. 3) through an ink tube 33 (see FIG. 3). Each color ink of (Bk) is supplied.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of nozzles 301 (an example of the nozzle of the present invention) are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 30. The nozzles 301 corresponding to the respective color inks are aligned in a line along the transport direction, and the respective lines of the nozzles 301 corresponding to the respective color inks are aligned in the reciprocating direction (the left-right direction 13) of the carriage 31. The number of nozzles 301 for each color and the pitch in the transport direction are appropriately set according to the resolution of the recorded image. In addition, the number of nozzles 301 can be increased or decreased according to the number of types of color ink. Hereinafter, the position on the most downstream side in the first direction 15 where the nozzles 301 of the respective colors are formed is defined as a third position P3 (corresponding to the third position of the present invention), and the position on the most upstream side in the first direction 15 is defined as the first position. A description will be given assuming that the position is the fourth position P4 (corresponding to the fourth position of the present invention). The distance from the third position to the fourth position will be described as the second distance L2 (corresponding to the second distance of the present invention).

  The recording head 30 discharges each ink as a minute ink droplet from a nozzle 301 provided on the lower surface thereof. As the carriage 31 reciprocates in the main scanning direction, the recording head 30 scans the recording paper, and an image is recorded on the recording paper conveyed on the platen 34.

  As described above, the image recording unit 24 is provided downstream of the discharge roller pair 55 in the first direction 15, and from the third position P3 on the most downstream side in the first direction 15 to the fourth position P4 on the most upstream side. A plurality of nozzles 301 are formed over two distances L2, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles 301 to record an image on a recording medium such as recording paper.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of guide rails 35 and 36 are disposed on the upper side of the conveyance path 23 in which the image recording unit 24 is disposed. The guide rails 35 and 36 are extended in the width direction (left-right direction 13) of the conveyance path 23 with a separation in the conveyance direction of the recording paper. The carriage 31 is slidable in the left-right direction 13 on the guide rails 35, 36 so as to straddle the guide rails 35, 36.

  The guide rail 35 disposed on the upstream side in the direction in which the recording paper is conveyed (second direction 16) has a flat plate shape in which the length in the left-right direction 13 is longer than the scanning width of the carriage 31. The upper surface of the guide rail 35 slidably carries the upstream end of the carriage 31 in the second direction 16.

  The guide rail 36 disposed on the downstream side of the second direction 16 is a flat plate having a length in the left-right direction 13 that is substantially the same as that of the guide rail 35. The upper surface of the guide rail 36 slidably supports the downstream end of the carriage 31 in the second direction 16. The upstream end portion 37 of the guide rail 36 in the second direction 16 is bent upward at a substantially right angle. The carriage 31 is provided with an engagement member (not shown) that engages with the end portion 37 so as to sandwich the end portion 37 of the guide rail 36. As a result, the carriage 31 is slidably supported on the guide rails 35 and 36 and can reciprocate in the left-right direction 13 with the end 37 of the guide rail 36 as a reference.

  A belt drive mechanism 38 is disposed on the upper surface of the guide rail 36. In the belt drive mechanism 38, an endless annular timing belt 41 with teeth on the inner side is stretched between a drive pulley 39 and a driven pulley 40 that are provided near both ends in the width direction 13 of the conveyance path 23. It will be. A carriage (CR) drive motor 311 (see FIG. 7) is connected to the shaft of the drive pulley 39, and a drive force is input from the CR drive motor 311. The timing belt 41 moves circumferentially by the rotation of the driving pulley 39. In addition to the endless annular belt, the timing belt 41 may be one in which both end portions of the endless belt are fixed to the carriage 31.

  The carriage 31 is fixed to the timing belt 41. Due to the circumferential movement of the timing belt 41, the carriage 31 reciprocates on the guide rails 35 and 36 with the end portion 37 as a reference. A recording head 30 is mounted on the carriage 31. Therefore, the recording head 30 can reciprocate together with the carriage 31 with the width direction 13 of the transport path 23 as the main scanning direction. An encoder strip 42 of a linear encoder is disposed on the guide rail 36 along the end 37. The linear encoder detects the encoder strip 42 by a photo interrupter (not shown). Based on the detection signal of the linear encoder, the reciprocation of the carriage 31 is controlled.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a platen 34 is disposed below the conveyance path 23 so as to face the recording head 30. The platen 34 is disposed over the central portion of the reciprocating range of the carriage 31 through which the recording paper passes. The width of the platen 34 is sufficiently larger than the maximum width of the recording paper that can be conveyed, and both ends of the recording paper always pass over the platen 34.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a purge mechanism 43 and a waste ink tray 44 are disposed outside the image recording range by the recording head 30, that is, in a range where recording paper on both sides of the platen 34 does not pass. The purge mechanism 43 sucks and removes bubbles and foreign matters together with ink from the nozzles of the recording head 30. The purge mechanism 43 includes a cap 45 that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head 30. When performing suction removal of bubbles or the like of the recording head 30, the carriage 31 is moved so that the recording head 30 is positioned on the cap 45. In this state, the cap 45 moves upward and comes into close contact with the nozzle 301 on the lower surface of the recording head 30 so as to be sealed. Ink is sucked from the nozzles 301 of the recording head 30 by a pump (not shown) connected to the cap 45.

  The waste ink tray 44 is disposed outside the image recording range of the carriage 31 and on the opposite side of the purge mechanism 43. The waste ink tray 44 receives the ink ejected from the recording head 30. This idle discharge is called flushing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink tank 32 is accommodated in an ink tank accommodating portion 46 provided on the front right side inside the casing 5 of the printer portion 2. In detail, the ink tank 32 includes four ink tanks 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K that store inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk). Become. Ink is supplied from the ink tank 32 to the carriage 31 through an ink tube 33 provided for each color.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a pair of conveying rollers 54 is provided upstream of the image recording unit 24 in the second direction 16. The conveying roller pair 54 is a unit in which a driving roller 47 and a pinch roller 48 provided below and in contact with the driving roller 47 are unitized. When the drive roller 47 is driven forward, the recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 20 is held between the drive roller 47 and the pinch roller 48 and conveyed onto the platen 34 on the downstream side in the second direction 16. Is done.

  A pair of discharge rollers 55 having a driving roller 49 and a spur roller 50 provided above the driving roller 49 is provided downstream of the image recording unit 24 in the second direction 16. The recorded recording paper is nipped by the drive roller 49 and the spur roller 50, and is conveyed in a direction (second direction 16) to be discharged to the paper discharge tray 21 when the drive roller 49 is driven to rotate forward. Further, when the driving roller 49 is driven in the reverse direction, a later-described media tray 71 (an example of the first tray of the present invention) is conveyed in the first direction 15. Since the spur roller 50 is in pressure contact with the recorded recording paper, the roller surface is formed in a spur shape so as not to deteriorate the image recorded on the recording paper.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the driving roller 47 is driven to rotate by a driving force transmitted from a conveyance motor 59 (an example of the driving source of the present invention) connected to one end of the driving roller 47 in the axial direction. Is done. The driving roller 49 is driven and transmitted by the driving roller 47 via the intermediate gear 57 and the belt 58 to be rotated. Further, the drive roller 47 and the drive roller 49 are controlled by a drive circuit incorporated in an ASIC 135 (see FIG. 7) mounted on the control board 52 (see FIG. 3), so that the rotation direction is forward or reverse. Switch to either. The rotation direction is switched by switching control for the conveyance motor 59 or by switching a gear that transmits the rotational force of the conveyance motor 59 to the rotation shaft of each roller.

  As described above, the transport roller pair 54 includes the drive roller 47 that is rotated by being driven by the transport motor 59, and the spur roller 50 disposed so as to be in contact with the drive roller 47. A driving roller 49 that is rotated by driving transmission from the conveyance motor 59 and a spur roller 50 disposed so as to be in contact with the driving roller 49 are provided.

  Further, the drive roller 47 and the drive roller 49 are intermittently driven with a predetermined line feed width when the conveyance motor 59 is driven and controlled. The rotations of the driving roller 47 and the driving roller 49 are synchronized. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rotary encoder (not shown) detects an encoder disk 51 provided on the drive roller 47 with a photo interrupter 60, and the drive roller 47 is based on a detection signal of the rotary encoder. And the drive of the drive roller 49 is controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper is conveyed in the second direction 16 intermittently on the platen 34 with a predetermined line feed width by the driving roller 47 and the driving roller 49. The recording head 30 is scanned for each line feed, and image recording is performed from the leading end side of the recording paper. After image recording is performed on a predetermined area of the recording paper by the recording head 30, the drive roller 49 is continuously rotated. As a result, the recording paper held by the drive roller 49 and the spur roller 50 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

[Media Tray 71] As described above, the multi-function device 1 has a function of recording an image on the surface of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. In the present embodiment, when an image is recorded on the board surface of the recording medium, the recording medium is placed on the media tray 71 and the media tray 71 is inserted in the first direction 15 from the opening 4 of the multifunction device 1. . Note that the multifunction device 1 may be configured such that the recording medium itself is inserted from the opening 4 of the multifunction device 1 without being placed on the media tray 71.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the media tray 71 is made of a highly rigid material such as resin, and the thickness in the vertical direction 14 is several millimeters (for example, 2 mm to 3 mm). The media tray 71 is longer in the transport direction (depth direction 12) and the width direction 13 than the thickness (height direction 14), and the transport direction (depth direction 12) is longer in the width direction 13. Longer than that. That is, the media tray 71 is a thin rectangular parallelepiped. On the upper surface of the media tray 71, there is provided a media placing portion 78 which is a circular recess and on which a recording medium is placed.

  In the following description, the front end of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 is defined as a first position P1 (corresponding to the first position of the present invention). When the recording medium is placed on the media tray 71 so as to protrude in the first direction 15, the tip of the recording medium in the first direction 15 is set as the first position P1. Further, the rear end of the first direction 15 of the image recording range in which an image is recorded on the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 is defined as a second position P2 (corresponding to the second position of the present invention). The distance between the first position P1 and the second position P2 is defined as a first distance L1 (corresponding to the first distance of the present invention). When an image is recorded leaving a margin at the rear end of the first direction 15 of the recording medium, the rear end of the first direction 15 of the image recording range excluding the margin is the second position P2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the media tray 71 on which the recording medium is placed on the media placing portion 78 is opened in the direction 77 (first direction 15) of the arrow in FIG. 4, the insertion of the media tray 71 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the drive roller 49 is driven in reverse. Thereby, the media tray 71 is conveyed to a predetermined position in the first direction 15.

  The predetermined position is a position where the tip of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 does not contact a member (corresponding to the member of the present invention) described below (for example, from the position where the tip contacts the member in the second direction 16). A position at a preset distance), and a position at which the rear end of the first direction 15 of the image recording range of the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 faces one of the nozzles 301 formed on the recording head 30 It is.

  The member is smaller than the first distance L1 in the first direction 15 from the third position P3 among the various components arranged in the multifunction machine 1, and the sum of the second distance L2 is less than the first distance. It is provided at a position separated by a large third distance L3 (corresponding to the third distance of the present invention). Here, the third distance L3 is defined as a distance along the transport direction of the media tray 71. That is, the relationship between the first distance L1, the second distance L2, and the third distance L3 is L3 <L1 <L2 + L3. In the present embodiment, the member is a conveyance roller pair 54. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the third distance L <b> 3 is from the third position P <b> 3 to the nipping position by the drive roller 47 and the pinch roller 48.

  When the media tray 71 is conveyed to a predetermined position, driving of the driving roller 49 is temporarily stopped and then switched to forward rotation driving. Accordingly, the media tray 71 is conveyed in the second direction 16, and the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 passes over the platen 34 while being conveyed in the second direction 16. As will be described later, ink droplets are ejected from a predetermined nozzle of the recording head 30 to the recording medium conveyed on the platen 34 in accordance with the position where the image is recorded on the recording medium. As a result, an image is recorded on the surface of the recording medium, and the media tray 71 is finally discharged from the discharge tray 21.

[Media Sensor 110] As shown in FIG. 2, a media sensor 110 (detection of the present invention) for detecting a recording medium inserted through the opening 4 of the multifunction machine 1 and conveyed in the first direction 15 through the conveyance path 23. 1 is provided in the multifunction device 1. The media sensor 110 is provided near the most downstream side in the first direction 15 on the lower surface side of the carriage 34. The media sensor 110 includes a light emitting unit (not shown) made of a light emitting diode and the like, and a light receiving unit (not shown) made of an optical sensor or the like. The light emitting unit of the media sensor 110 emits light downward, and the reflected light reflected by the media tray 71, the recording medium, or the platen 34 is received by the light receiving unit.

  Hereinafter, detection of the position of the recording medium (circular CD or DVD) by the media sensor 110 will be described.

  The media sensor 110 is slid together with the carriage 31. When the carriage 31 is slid in a state where the recording medium is supported on the platen 34, the media sensor 110 moves from the upper surface of the platen 34, the upper surface of the media tray 71, or the upper surface of the recording medium. Receives reflected light.

  By setting the upper surface of the platen 34 and the media tray 71 to a color having a low reflectance such as black, the detection value of the light receiving unit by the reflected light from the recording medium and the light receiving unit by the reflected light from the platen 34 or the media tray 71 The detected value becomes a different value. The detection value in the light receiving unit is sent to the control unit 130. Thereby, the control unit 130 obtains data on the positions of both ends of the recording medium.

  Next, after the media tray 71 is slightly conveyed in the first direction 15, the same processing as described above is executed, and the control unit 130 obtains data about the positions of both ends of the recording medium. As a result, the control unit 130 has obtained data at the four end portions of the recording medium. The center and diameter of the circle can be calculated if at least three points on the circumference become clear. Therefore, the control unit 130 can obtain the current center position of the circular recording medium based on the data at the four end portions.

  When detecting the recording medium, the media sensor 110 detects an area within the third distance L3 in the second direction 16 from the first position P1. For example, the media sensor 110 may determine the position of the media tray 71 or the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium conveyed in the first direction 15 or the position of the media tray 71 as described below. Detect the vicinity of.

  Note that, by setting the platen 34 and the media tray 71 to different colors, the detection value of the light receiving unit by the reflected light from the platen 34 and the detection value of the light receiving unit by the reflected light from the media tray 71 become different values. Thereby, the control unit 130 can obtain data on the position of the media tray 71.

[Control Unit 130] A schematic configuration of the control unit 130 will be described below with reference to FIG. The present invention is realized when the control unit 130 performs recording control according to a flowchart described later.

  The control unit 130 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 1. The control unit 130 is configured as a microcomputer mainly including a CPU 131, a ROM 132, a RAM 133, an EEPROM 134, and an ASIC 135. These are connected by an internal bus 137.

  The ROM 132 stores a program for the CPU 131 to control various operations of the multifunction machine 10. The RAM 133 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data and signals used when the CPU 131 executes the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 134 stores settings, flags, and the like that should be retained even after the power is turned off.

  Connected to the ASIC 135 are a media sensor 110, a paper feed motor 76, a CR drive motor 311, a transport motor 59, and the like. The ASIC 135 incorporates a drive circuit for controlling the motor for each motor. When a driving signal for rotating each motor is input from the CPU 131 to a driving circuit corresponding to a predetermined motor, a driving current corresponding to the driving signal is output from the driving circuit to the corresponding motor. Forward or reverse at a predetermined rotational speed.

  The media sensor 110 outputs an analog electric signal (voltage signal or current signal) corresponding to the intensity of light received by the light receiving unit. The output signal is input to the control unit 130, and the control unit 130 determines whether the electrical level (voltage value or current value) is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. For example, when the input signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, it is determined as a HIGH level signal (a signal due to reflected light from the recording medium), and when it is lower than the predetermined threshold, a LOW level signal (from the platen 34 or the media tray 71) is determined. Of the reflected light).

[Recording Process] In the printer unit 2 configured as described above, the fourth distance L4 (the distance between the image recording position on the most downstream side in the first direction 15 and the second position P2 in the image recording range on the recording medium). (Corresponding to the fourth distance of the present invention) is less than the fifth distance L5 (corresponding to the fifth distance of the present invention) obtained by subtracting the third distance L3 from the first distance L1, the second direction from the third position P3. 16, recording is performed so as to record an image on a recording medium using a nozzle 301 that is separated by a sixth distance L6 (corresponding to the sixth distance of the present invention) that is a distance obtained by subtracting the fourth distance L4 from the fifth distance L5. A recording process (an example of the ink jet recording method of the present invention) for controlling the unit 24 is performed by the control unit 130. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the recording process will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  When an image recording instruction is input to the multifunction device 1, it is determined whether the image recording instruction is for a recording medium or a recording sheet (S10, an example of the first step of the present invention). For example, when an image recording instruction is input by operating the operation panel 9 after the media tray 71 on which the recording medium is placed is inserted in the first direction 15 from the opening 4, the image recording instruction is It is determined that the image is recorded on a recording medium. Alternatively, even if the operation panel 9 designates image recording on a recording medium instead of recording paper, the image recording instruction is determined to be image recording on the recording medium. When the inserted recording medium or media tray 71 is detected by the media sensor 110, the image recording instruction may be determined to be image recording on the recording medium.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the image recording instruction is not for the recording medium but for the recording paper (S10: No), a first image recording process for performing image recording using an arbitrary nozzle is executed. (S20). In step S <b> 20, the paper feed roller 25 is rotated so that the recording paper on the paper feed tray 20 is fed toward the conveyance path 23 and conveyed to the lower side of the recording unit 24 via the conveyance roller pair 54. That is, the recording paper is conveyed in the second direction 16. Then, the recording unit 24 records an image on the recording sheet. At this time, regardless of the image recording position of the recording paper, an image can be recorded on the recording paper by any of the plurality of nozzles 301 provided. That is, the control unit 130 does not particularly limit the nozzles to be used for the recording paper that is an example of the sheet-like recording medium conveyed in the second direction 16 by the conveying roller pair 54, and the image quality and the printing speed are not limited. The recording unit 24 is controlled so that printing is performed using a combination of a used nozzle and a conveyance amount that provides the best balance. An example of image recording on a recording sheet will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

  In the description of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B described later, a unit of one scan in which the carriage 31 records an image while ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles 301 is referred to as a pass (P). For example, in FIG. 9, the first pass is denoted as 1P, and the second pass is denoted as 2P.

  Further, on the right side of each of FIGS. 9A and 9B, a recording sheet and a recording medium are written. At the time of image recording, the recording paper and the recording medium are conveyed in the second direction 16, that is, from the upper side to the lower side of the paper surface of FIG. 9. Line numbers 1 to 40 are assigned to the right side of the recording paper and the recording medium. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the length of the recording paper in the conveyance direction is a length corresponding to 40 lines. Each line of the recording sheet is given a pass number. This indicates that the image is recorded in the path of the number assigned to the row.

  For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 9, it is assumed that only one color is recorded on the recording paper and the recording medium, and the number of nozzles 301 provided in the recording unit 24 is nine. Each nozzle is denoted as N1-N9. The position of the most downstream nozzle N1 in the second direction 16 is the fourth position P4, and the position of the most upstream nozzle N9 in the second direction 16 is the third position P3. On the left side of each of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the relative position of the nozzle 301 with respect to the recording paper in each pass is shown. For example, in FIG. 9A, in the first pass, the nozzle N7 is located above the first line of the recording paper, the nozzle N8 is located above the fifth line of the recording paper, and the nozzle N9 is the recording paper. Is located above the ninth line. The pitch of each nozzle is assumed to be a length corresponding to four rows. That is, an image with a resolution of 1/4 of a pitch unit is generated by recording an image on the recording paper and the recording medium by the recording unit 24.

  At the start of image recording, the position of the nozzle 301 relative to the recording paper is the position of the first pass (1P) in FIG. In this state, the CR drive motor 311 is driven, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the nozzles 301 based on the print data. In the first pass, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles N7 to N9 to the first, fifth, and ninth lines of the recording paper.

  When the image recording for the first pass is completed, the CR drive motor 311 is stopped, the transport motor 59 is driven, and the drive roller 47 is rotated by a predetermined amount. As a result, the recording sheet is transported in the second direction 16 by a transport amount corresponding to nine lines, and then stopped. Whether or not the rotation amount of the drive roller 47 has reached the conveyance amount is determined based on the pulse signal of the rotary encoder.

  When the recording paper stops, the CR drive motor 311 is driven again, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the nozzles 301 based on the print data. In the second pass, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles N5 to N9 to the second, sixth, tenth, fourteenth and eighteenth lines of the recording paper. The same applies to the third and subsequent passes. As described above, the ejection of ink droplets from the nozzle 301 and the conveyance of the recording paper in the second direction 16 by the driving roller 47 are alternately performed, so that the recording paper moves from the front end to the rear end in the second direction 16. Images are recorded sequentially.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the image recording instruction is for the recording medium (S10: Yes), if the recording medium is inserted in step S10, the process proceeds to step S30 as it is, and only some of the nozzles are selected. A second image recording process is performed in which image recording is performed (an example of the second step of the present invention). If the recording medium is not inserted in step S10, the media tray 71 on which the recording medium is placed is inserted from the opening 4, and the recording medium is conveyed to the lower side of the recording unit 24 via the discharge roller pair 55. Then, the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the recording unit 24 records an image on a recording medium. At this time, depending on the image recording position on the recording medium, an image is recorded only by some of the nine nozzles 301 provided. In other words, the control unit 130 uses a part of the nozzles depending on the image recording position on the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 conveyed in the second direction 16 by the conveying roller pair 54. 24 is controlled. An example of image recording on the recording medium will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

  In the description of FIG. 9B, it is assumed that the first distance L1, the second distance L2, and the third distance L3 are represented by the number of lines of the recording medium, the first distance L1 is 85, and the second distance L2. Is 40, and the third distance L3 is 55.

  The media tray 71 is detected by the media sensor 110 in the process of being inserted from the opening 4 and conveyed in the first direction 15 toward the lower side of the recording unit 24. The current image recording position for the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 is, for example, the time from when the media sensor 110 detects the front end (first position P1) of the media tray 71 until the media tray 71 is stopped. , And the transport speed of the media tray 71 by the discharge roller pair 55. That is, based on the detection result by the media sensor 110, the first image recording position with respect to the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 is calculated.

  Specifically, it is recognized that the position of the nozzle 301 with respect to the recording medium is the position of the first pass (1P) in FIG. 9B. In the first pass (1P), it is recognized that the image recording range for the recording medium is from the first line to the 33rd line of the recording medium. Then, it is calculated that the first image recording position is the 1st, 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th, 21st, 25th, 29th, and 33rd lines of the recording medium. Each of these calculated image recording positions corresponds to the most downstream image recording position in the first direction 15 in the image recording range with respect to the recording medium.

  Next, the CR drive motor 311 is driven, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the nozzles 301 based on the print data. At this time, an image is recorded on the recording medium using only the nozzle 301 that is separated from the third position P3 in the second direction 16 by the sixth distance L6 or more. The sixth distance L6 is a distance obtained by subtracting the fourth distance L4 from the fifth distance L5 (30). That is, the sixth distance L6 is 30 when the first image recording position is the first line and 26 when the first image recording position is the fourth line. The sixth distances for other image recording positions are shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the first pass in this example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the first image recording position is the first line, the usable nozzle 301 is moved from the third position (40th line). The nozzle 301 is any one of N1, N2, and N3 that are separated from the second direction 16 by a sixth distance (30) or more. In this example, when the image recording position is the first line, the nozzle N1 is used. The nozzles 301 that can be used for image recording at other image recording positions and the nozzles 301 that are actually used are as shown in FIG.

  Ink droplets are selectively ejected to each image recording position by the usable nozzle 301 described above. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9B, in the first pass, ink droplets are recorded from the nozzle N1 to the first line of the recording medium, from the nozzle N2 to the fifth line of the recording medium, and from the nozzle N3. 9th line of media, 13th line of recording medium from nozzle N4, 17th line of recording medium from nozzle N5, 21st line of recording medium from nozzle N6, 25th line of recording medium from nozzle N7, and recording from 25th nozzle The ink is discharged from the 29th line of the medium and the 33rd line of the recording medium from the nozzle N9.

  When the image recording for the first pass is completed, the CR drive motor 311 is stopped, the transport motor 59 is driven, and the drive roller 47 is rotated by a predetermined amount. As a result, the recording medium is transported in the second direction 16 by a transport amount corresponding to one line, and then stopped. Whether or not the rotation amount of the drive roller 47 has reached the conveyance amount is determined based on the pulse signal of the rotary encoder.

  When the recording medium stops, the CR drive motor 311 is driven again, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the nozzles 301 based on the print data. As shown in FIG. 9B, in the second pass, the ink droplets are from the nozzle N1 to the second line of the recording medium, from the nozzle N2 to the sixth line of the recording medium, and from the nozzle N3 to the tenth line of the recording medium. , Nozzle N4 to recording medium line 14, nozzle N5 to recording medium line 18, nozzle N6 to recording medium line 22, nozzle N7 to recording medium line 26, nozzle N8 to recording medium line 30 , And discharged from the nozzle N9 to the 34th line of the recording medium. Similar processing is executed in the third pass and the fourth pass. However, at the time of transition from the fourth pass to the fifth pass, the recording medium is transported in the second direction 16 by a transport amount corresponding to 33 rows. That is, in FIG. 9B, the conveyance of the recording medium is alternately repeated for three times of one row and once for 33 rows. As described above, the discharge of the ink droplets from the nozzle 301 and the conveyance of the recording medium in the second direction 16 by the driving roller 47 are alternately performed, so that images are sequentially recorded from the front end to the rear end of the recording medium. Is done.

[Effects of Embodiment] If the third distance L3 is larger than the first distance L1 (L3> L1), the media tray 71 does not contact the conveyance roller pair 54 even if an image is recorded on the recording medium by an arbitrary nozzle 301. . If the first distance L1 is larger than the sum of the third distance L3 and the second distance L2 (L1> L2 + L3), the media tray 71 contacts the conveyance roller pair 54 regardless of which nozzle 301 records the image on the recording medium. It cannot be prevented. In the present invention, since the first distance L1 is larger than the third distance L3 and smaller than the sum of the second distance L2 and the third distance L3 (L3 <L1 <L2 + L3), an image is recorded on the recording medium by a specific nozzle 301. By recording, it is possible to prevent contact between the media tray 71 and the transport roller pair 54.

  When an image is recorded in the vicinity of the rear end of the recording medium in the first direction 15 by the nozzle 301 near the most downstream side in the first direction 15, the distance from the third position P3 to the tip of the first direction 15 of the media tray 71 is large. Thus, the media tray 71 collides with the transport roller pair 54.

  For example, in the flowchart of FIG. 8 described above, when the image recording in steps S50 to S70 is performed based on FIG. 9A instead of FIG. 9B, the media tray 71 collides with the transport roller pair 54. End up. This will be described in detail below. In FIG. 9A, in the first pass (1P), the distance between the second position P2 (position of the first row) and the third position P3 (position of the nozzle N9) is nine rows. Here, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the first distance is 85. Accordingly, the length of the media tray 71 protruding from the third position in the first direction 15 is a value obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned nine rows from the first distance (85), that is, 76. Here, in the flowchart of FIG. Since the above-described length (76) from which the media tray 71 protrudes is larger than the third distance (55), the media tray 71 collides with the conveying roller pair 54.

  However, in the present embodiment, a nozzle that is not near the rear end in the first direction 15 of the recording medium (a position within the fifth distance L5 from the second position P2 to the first direction 15) is not near the most downstream side of the first direction 15. 301 (nozzle separated from the third position P3 in the second direction 16 in the second direction 16) by the sixth distance L6 or more, the tip of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 is moved from the third position P3 by the third distance L3 or more. There is no separation toward the downstream side in the first direction 15.

  For example, as described in the flowchart of FIG. 8 described above, when the image recording in steps S50 to S70 is performed based on FIG. 9B, the media tray 71 does not collide with the conveying roller pair 54. This will be described in detail below. In FIG. 9B, in the first pass (1P), the distance between the second position P2 (position of the first row) and the third position P3 (position of the nozzle N9) is 33 rows. Here, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the first distance is 85. Therefore, the length of the media tray 71 protruding from the third position in the first direction 15 is a value obtained by subtracting the above 33 rows from the first distance (85), that is, 52. Here, in the flowchart of FIG. Since the length (52) from which the above-described media tray 71 protrudes is smaller than the third distance (55), the media tray 71 does not collide with the transport roller pair 54.

  In the present embodiment, the vicinity of the rear end in the first direction 15 of the recording medium is recorded by a specific nozzle 301, and the image is recorded by an arbitrary nozzle 301 except for the vicinity of the rear end. Therefore, it is possible to record an image on the entire area of the recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, unlike the thick recording medium, the recording paper is nipped even if it contacts the conveying roller pair 54 or the discharging roller pair 55, so that the second is set by the conveying roller pair 54 or the discharging roller pair 55. It is conveyed in the direction 16. Therefore, in the image recording on the recording paper, there is no problem even if an arbitrary nozzle 301 is used. By using an arbitrary nozzle 301, image recording with high image quality is possible.

  Further, when the vicinity of the rear end of the recording medium in the first direction 15 is detected by the media sensor 110, the distance from the third position P3 to the front end of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 increases. As a result, the media tray 71 collides with the transport roller pair 54. However, in the present embodiment, only the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium in the first direction 15 (within the third distance L3 from the first position P1 to the second direction 16) is detected by the media sensor 110. Therefore, when the recording medium is detected by the media sensor 110, the collision between the media tray 71 and the transport roller pair 54 can be prevented.

[Modification 1 of Example] In the above-described embodiment, the case in which the member is the conveyance roller pair 54 has been described. However, the member may be a casing of the multifunction device 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), the member may be a portion of the casing 5 of the multi-function device 1 that intersects the area extending the recording medium or the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 in the transport direction. Good. For example, the portion is a wall surface 53 that forms the back surface of the multifunction device 1. In this case, the third distance L3 is a distance from the third position P3 to the wall surface 53.

  As described above, in the present invention, the leading edge of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 is not separated from the third position P3 by the third distance L3 or more downstream in the first direction 15. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the media tray 71 from colliding with the wall surface 53 of the multifunction device 1 as shown in FIG. Further, it is possible to prevent the media tray 71 from protruding from the wall surface 53 of the multifunction device 1 to the downstream side in the first direction 15 and projecting outside the multifunction device 1.

[Modification 2 of the embodiment] When the multifunction device 1 has a protruding portion (corresponding to the protruding portion of the present invention) protruding from the rear surface of the multifunction device 1 toward the downstream side in the first direction 15, the third distance L3. May be the distance from the third position P3 to the tip of the protruding portion that protrudes most downstream from the multifunction device 1 in the first direction 15 in the casing 5 of the multifunction device 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the outer guide surface 29 constitutes a part of the wall surface 53 on the back surface of the casing 5 of the multifunction machine 1, and the outer guide surface 29 is positioned behind the wall surface 53. In this case, the outer guide surface 29 becomes the protruding portion. In this case, the member may be the outer guide surface 29, and the third distance L3 is a distance from the third position P3 to a portion of the outer guide surface 29 that protrudes most backward.

  In FIG. 11B, the front end of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 can reach the vicinity of the portion of the outer guide surface 29 that protrudes most backward. In this case, the vicinity of the front end of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 reaches behind the wall surface 53 on the back surface of the multifunction device 1. Therefore, in FIG. 11B, an opening 562 for penetrating the media tray 71 is formed.

[Modification 3 of Example] The protrusion described in Modification 2 may be a manual feed tray 56 (an example of the second tray of the present invention) that can hold a recording sheet. For example, as shown in FIG. 11C, the manual feed tray 56 is inclined obliquely upward from the wall surface 53 to the rear. A second transport path 233 is formed from the front end (front end) of the manual feed tray 56 to the junction 232 with the curved portion of the transport path 23 in order to transport the recording sheet in a U-turn. Yes. The recording sheet is inserted by the user of the multifunction machine 1 toward the confluence 232 existing forward from the opening 561 formed in the wall surface 53 on the back surface of the multifunction machine 1 while being carried on the manual feed tray 56. The recording sheet is conveyed to the lower side of the recording unit 24 by the conveyance roller pair 54 and the like via the second conveyance path 233. In the case of the above configuration, the third distance L3 is a distance from the third position P3 to a portion of the manual feed tray 56 that protrudes most backward.

  In FIG. 11C, the front end 15 of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 can reach the vicinity of the portion of the manual feed tray 56 that protrudes most backward. In this case, the vicinity of the front end of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 reaches behind the wall surface 53 on the back surface of the multifunction device 1. Therefore, in FIG. 11C, the wall surface 53 is provided with an opening 562 that is different from the opening 561 and that allows the media tray 71 to pass therethrough.

  The multifunction device 1 is installed such that the most protruding portion on the back surface does not come into contact with the wall of the room where the multifunction device 1 is installed. The most protruding portion is, for example, the outer guide surface 29 described in Modification 2 or the manual feed tray 56 described in Modification 3. When both the outer guide surface 29 and the manual feed tray 56 are provided in the multifunction machine 1, the most protruding portion is the manual feed tray 56 in the case of FIGS. Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, the tip of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 is not separated from the third position P3 by the third distance L3 or more downstream in the first direction 15. Therefore, the media tray 71 does not protrude further than the most protruding portion on the rear surface of the multifunction device 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the media tray 71 from colliding with the wall of the room in which the multifunction machine 1 is installed.

[Fourth Modification of Embodiment] The member is mounted on the multifunction device 1 and has a first posture with a small protrusion from the multifunction device 1 in the first direction 15 to the downstream side, that is, the rear side (corresponding to the first posture of the present invention). ) And a second posture with a large protrusion (corresponding to the second posture of the present invention), among the plurality of movable parts (corresponding to the movable portion of the present invention) that can change the posture, It may be a movable part that protrudes most downstream in the first direction 15. In this case, the third distance L <b> 3 is a distance from the third position P <b> 3 to a portion that protrudes most downstream from the multifunction machine 1 in the first direction 15 in the movable portion in the second posture.

  For example, the movable unit may be the scanner housing 8 of the scanner unit 3 (an example of the cover member of the present invention). As shown in FIG. 12A, the scanner housing 8 is rotatably supported by a support mechanism such as a hinge 81 on the rear side of the multifunction machine 1 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the upper surface of the casing 5. Yes. As a result, the scanner housing 8 has a closed posture (an example of the first posture of the present invention, the posture shown in FIG. 1) that covers the upper surface of the casing 5 and an open posture that opens upward from the upper surface of the casing 5 (of the present invention). It is possible to rotate between an example of the second posture and the posture shown in FIG. In the modification 4, the upper surface of the casing 5 is opened. Therefore, when the scanner housing 8 is opened upward as shown in FIG. 12A and the upper surface of the casing 5 is exposed, the user accesses the inside of the conveyance roller pair 54 and the like from the upper surface of the casing 5. It becomes possible. Then, the user can perform maintenance, jam processing, and the like on the components in the printer unit 2. Note that in the fourth modification, as in the third modification, an opening 562 for allowing the media tray 71 to penetrate the wall surface 53 is formed. In the case of the above configuration, the third distance L3 is a distance from the third position P3 to a portion of the scanner housing 8 that protrudes most backward.

[Fifth Modification of the Embodiment] As another example of the movable part described in the fourth modification, the movable part is configured such that the manual feed tray 56 of the third modification is rotatably arranged (the third tray of the present invention is used). It may be an example). For example, as shown in FIG. 12B, a supporting mechanism such as a hinge 563 is provided at the rear side of the multifunction machine 1 and at the lower end of the manual feed tray 56 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the wall surface 53 on the back surface of the multifunction machine 1. It is rotatably supported. As a result, the manual feed tray 56 is changed in posture between a second posture indicated by a solid line (an example of the second posture of the present invention) and a first posture indicated by a broken line (an example of the first posture of the present invention). . The manual feed tray 56 stands up along the wall surface 53 when taking the first posture. Further, when the manual feed tray 56 is in the second posture, the manual feed tray 56 is inclined obliquely upward from the wall surface 53 further to the rear side. Various sizes of recording paper can be placed on the manual feed tray 56 in the second posture. In the modified example 5, as in the modified example 3, the second transport path 233 and the opening 561 (not shown in FIG. 12B) are formed, and the manual feed tray 56 is in the second posture. In addition, a recording sheet is inserted by the user of the multifunction device 1. Similarly to the third modification, an opening 562 for penetrating the media tray 71 is formed. In the case of the above configuration, the third distance L3 is a distance from the third position P3 to a portion of the manual feed tray 56 taking the second posture that protrudes most backward.

[Modification 6 of Example] As another example of the movable part described in Modification 4, the movable part may be the scanner part 3. As shown in FIG. 13, the document cover 7 can be rotated by a support mechanism such as a hinge 82 at the back of the multifunction device 1 so as to open and close with respect to the platen glass 6 provided on the upper surface of the scanner housing 8. It is supported by. As a result, the document cover 7 is closed from the platen glass 6 and the document placed on the platen glass 6 (an example of the first posture of the present invention, the posture shown in FIG. 1) and from the scanner housing 8. The posture can be changed between the opened posture (the second posture of the present invention, the posture shown in FIG. 13). As described above, the scanner unit 3 is rotatably supported by the multifunction device 1, covers the document placed on the platen glass in the closed posture, and reads an image recorded on the document. Also in the modified example 6, similarly to the modified example 3, an opening for allowing the media tray 71 to pass through the wall surface 53 may be formed. In the case of the configuration as described above, the third distance L3 is a distance from the third position P3 to the portion of the scanner unit 3 taking the second posture that protrudes most backward. The document cover 7 may be integrated with an ADF unit for continuously reading a plurality of documents.

  The multifunction device 1 may be equipped with a movable part whose posture can be changed. In this case, the multi-function device 1 is installed so as not to come into contact with the wall of the room in which the multi-function device 1 is installed, regardless of the posture of the possible portion. The movable parts are, for example, the scanner housing 8 described in the fourth modification, the rotatable third tray 56 described in the fifth modification, and the scanner section 3 described in the sixth modification. The multifunction device 1 may be equipped with a plurality of these movable parts. In addition, as described above, in the present invention, the leading end of the media tray 71 in the first direction 15 is not separated from the third position P3 to the downstream side in the first direction 15 by the third distance L3 or more. For this reason, in the configurations described in Modifications 4 to 6, the media tray 71 does not protrude further than the tip of the movable part that protrudes most downstream from the rear surface of the multifunction device 1 in the first direction 15. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the media tray 71 from colliding with the wall of the room in which the multifunction machine 1 is installed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... MFP 2 ... Printer part 3 ... Scanner part 5 ... Casing 24 ... Image recording part 47 ... Drive roller 48 ... Pinch roller 54 ... Conveying roller pair 55 ... Discharge roller pair 56 ... Bypass tray 71 ... Media tray 110 ... Media sensor 130 ... Control unit

Claims (3)

A transport unit that transports in a transport direction a tray on which a recording medium having an image recording area in which an image is recorded;
A plurality of first nozzles provided on the downstream side in the first direction of the transfer direction with respect to the transfer unit, and including a first nozzle on the most downstream side in the first direction and a second nozzle on the most upstream side in the first direction. A nozzle having nozzle rows formed side by side in the transport direction, and a recording unit that discharges ink droplets from the plurality of nozzles and records an image on a recording medium;
A control unit,
The control unit
The first recording area on the most upstream side in the first direction of the image recording area from the upstream side in the first direction of the recording unit by the transport unit from the upstream side in the first direction of the recording unit is higher than the first nozzle. To the stop position positioned on the upstream side in the direction and on the downstream side in the first direction with respect to the second nozzle, and moved to the first direction to stop,
The tray is passed from the stop position through a position where the first recording area is positioned upstream in the first direction from the stop position, and the first recording area is more than the second nozzle. While moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a position positioned on the upstream side in one direction, the first position is higher than the nozzle facing the first recording area at the stop position in the nozzle row. An ink jet recording apparatus that controls the transport unit and the recording unit such that ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle located upstream in one direction toward the first recording region. The image recording area has a second recording area located on the downstream side in the first direction from the first nozzle when the tray is located at the stop position;
The control unit
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when an image is recorded in the second recording area, the recording unit is controlled to use an arbitrary nozzle in the nozzle row. The tray has a leading edge that precedes the recording medium when transported in the first direction by the transport unit;
3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a member that is positioned on the downstream side in the first direction and spaced from the tip when the tray is located at the stop position. 4.

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