JP2660717B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device such as a printer or a facsimile, and more particularly to a recording device capable of recording on various recording sheets in a plurality of recording modes.

[Conventional technology]

Recording sheets (recording media) used in recording devices such as printers and facsimile machines use paper, OHP (overhead projector) sheets, BPF (back print film), etc., according to image quality and intended use. .

There are various types of paper having different thicknesses and ink absorbencies.

The OHP sheet has a structure in which a recording (printing) surface is formed by coating a surface of a plastic sheet such as a polyester sheet, and is usually a transparent sheet.

In addition, the BPF generally has a structure in which a base layer and an ink transporting layer are bonded to both sides of an ink holding layer, and the base layer is formed of a transparent plastic sheet.

Various recording (printing) modes are employed depending on the type of the recording sheet as described above, and include a normal normal image recording (printing) mode and a pattern obtained by inverting the normal image. Or a BPF recording (printing) mode for recording (printing) from the back side.

By the way, recent recording apparatuses (particularly, color image recording apparatuses, etc.) include a multi-function type capable of performing recording in the various recording (printing) modes using the various recording sheets.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the conventional multifunction recording apparatus has the following problems.

The supply of various recording sheets to the recording unit was sometimes detected or sorted automatically. However, in general, it can also be visually identified and supplied manually or by a predetermined switch using a switch on the operation panel. It has been executed by a method such as driving and supplying a paper device.

For this reason, even when the recording sheet is fed upside down, recording (printing) is performed as it is, and printing failure or malfunction may occur.

In addition, normal image printing for paper, normal image printing for OHP sheets, BPF printing from the back side for BPF (back print film), and one for specific types of sheets. Since only the (regular) print mode is set, it is impossible or extremely difficult to record various kinds of recording sheets in a special mode such as a mirror image, although the recording is not proper.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art,
An object of the present invention is to provide a control unit capable of eliminating an operation error of a recording apparatus having a recording (printing) function in a plurality of modes and expanding its function.

[Means for achieving the purpose]

The present invention specifies a recording mode such as a normal image, a mirror image, and a BPF type, detects the type and front / back of the supplied recording sheet, and performs recording if the recording sheet is a normal recording sheet for the specified recording mode. The above object is achieved by a recording device configured to output a message when an image can be formed even on an irregular recording sheet and record the image if a user gives an instruction again.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color ink jet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a recording sheet 45 drawn from a continuous roll sheet 40 wound in a roll shape is conveyed by guide rollers 41 and 42 by the rotational frictional force of a feed roller 43 and discharged in the direction of arrow 44. .

A recording unit including a recording head unit 49 is arranged on the front surface of the recording sheet 45 between the upper and lower guide rollers 42 and 41.

The recording unit is provided with a guide shaft 46 installed in parallel with the guide rollers 42 and 41, and a head unit 49 for color printing is positioned on a carriage 48 that reciprocates left and right along the guide shaft 46. It is installed.

The head unit 49 includes four recording heads, that is, a head 49Y of yellow ink, a head 49M of magenta ink, a head 49C of cyan ink, and a head 49Bk of black ink. Each color ink is supplied from the ink tank.

By moving the carriage 48, it is possible to perform a recording scan on the recording sheet 45 with each recording head.

The recording head 45 is intermittently fed (line-fed) by the printing width (height) of each recording head 49, and while the recording sheet 45 is stopped in the feeding direction, the head 49 scans in the direction of arrow P. An ink droplet is ejected according to an image signal.

The carriage 48 is a carriage motor (pulse motor) 51
Is reciprocated via the timing belt 47, and the feed roller 43 is rotationally driven by the sheet feed motor 52.

1 and 2, a control circuit 53 for controlling the carriage operation outputs a reader control signal 55 to a reader unit 54, and outputs an image processing control signal 57 to an image control circuit 56. Recording heads 49Y, 49M, 49 for each color
For C, 49Bk, send the recording head control signal 50,
A carriage motor control signal 59 is output to a carriage motor driver 58 that drives the carriage motor 51, and a sheet feed motor control signal 62 is output to a sheet feed motor driver 61 that drives the sheet feed motor 52.

The image information “Y”, “M”, “C” for each ink color from the reader unit 54 is input to the image processing circuit 56, where the image signals Y,
The signals are sent to the control circuit 53 as M, C, and Bk.
Is based on this image signal, the recording heads 49Y, 49M,
An ink ejection control signal 50 is output to 49C and 49Bk.

Further, at a desired position on the path of the recording sheet 45, a sensor 6 for detecting the state of the front and back surfaces of the recording sheet is provided.
6 and 67 are arranged, and detection signals 66A and 67A from these sensors are transmitted to the control circuit 53.

As the sensors 66 and 67, a light source for irradiating the recording sheet 45 with light and a light receiving element for detecting the light amount are used, and the light receiving elements arranged at predetermined positions detect the reflected light amounts from the front and back surfaces of the recording sheet. A type that can detect the type of the recording sheet 45 or the front and back sides based on the values of the reflected light amounts on the front and back sides or the difference therebetween is used.

As shown in Fig. 2, the recording device specifies the printing mode, such as plain paper printing, OHP sheet printing, BPF type printing, normal image printing or mirror image printing, with touch keys, and controls the signals. An operation panel 70 for feeding into the circuit 53 is provided.

There are various types of recording sheets 45 such as paper, OHP sheets, and BPF, and the state of the front and back surfaces thereof is as follows.

That is, in the case of paper, the front and rear surfaces have rough surfaces, and even when irradiated with highly directional light, the reflected light becomes scattered light on both the front and back surfaces, and the directivity disappears.

In the case of an OHP sheet, both sides have glossy and smooth surfaces, and when irradiated with highly directional light, the reflected light on both the front and back surfaces also becomes a highly directional light beam.

In the case of BPF, the front surface is a glossy and smooth surface, but the back surface is rough, and when irradiated with highly directional light, the reflected light on the front surface also becomes a highly directional light beam, but the back surface is scattered. It becomes light and the directivity disappears.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a sensor for optically detecting a rough surface and a smooth surface.

FIG. 3A shows the case of a rough surface such as paper,
The highly directional light emitted from 71 through the slit 73 is scattered on the surface of the recording sheet 45, and the amount of reflected light entering the light receiving element 72 arranged on the reflected light path is a low level that is a fraction of the irradiated light. Decrease.

FIG. 3B shows a case of a smooth surface such as the surface of a BPF. Light having a high directivity emitted from the light source 71 through the slit 73 is reflected on the surface of the recording sheet 45 and is arranged on the reflected light path. The reflected light amount entering the light receiving element 72 is maintained at a high level without decreasing much more than the reflected light.

FIG. 3 (C) is a graph showing the output voltage of the light receiving element 72. FIG. 3 (A) shows a low level L, and FIG. 3 (B) shows a high level H.

Thus, by detecting the amount of reflected light, it is possible to identify the state of the surface of the recording sheet 45, that is, whether the surface is rough or smooth.

FIG. 4 shows another example of a sensor for optically detecting a rough surface and a smooth surface.

In the case of FIG. 4, the light receiving element 72 is arranged at a position deviated from the reflected light path, and a slit 74 is provided in front of the light receiving element.

FIG. 4A shows a case of a rough surface such as a paper or a back surface of a BPF. Highly directional light emitted from the light source 71 through the slit 73 is scattered on the surface of the recording sheet 45 so that the reflected light is uniform. Therefore, a considerable amount of light enters the light receiving element 72 disposed outside the reflected light path, though it is a fraction.

FIG. 4B shows the case of a smooth surface such as the surface of a BPF or an OHP sheet. Light having a high directivity emitted from the light source 71 through the slit 73 is reflected on the surface of the recording sheet 45. Since the reflected light also has a strong directivity in the direction of the constant reflection angle, almost no light enters the light receiving element 72 disposed outside the reflected light path.

FIG. 4C is a graph showing the output voltage of the light receiving element 72. Contrary to the case of FIG. 3, the rough surface shown in FIG. The low level L is obtained on the smooth surface of FIG.

Accordingly, also by the method of FIG. 4, it is possible to identify whether the surface of the recording sheet 45 is rough or smooth by detecting the amount of reflected light.

According to the recording sheet detection means 66 and 67 described above, it is possible to identify the type of the recording sheet 45, that is, which sheet such as paper, OHP sheet, or BPF is set.

For example, paper is rough if both sides are rough,
If both surfaces are smooth, it is an OHP sheet. If the surface is smooth and the back is rough, it can be determined to be BPF.

In the case where the type of the recording sheet 45 is determined only by the roughness of one side, for example, when discriminating between two types of paper and OHP, or when discriminating between the paper and the surface of the BPF, the recording sheet detection means 66, 67 Only one of them can be used.

According to the recording sheet detecting means 66 and 67, the front and back of the recording sheet 45 can be identified.

For example, when the recording sheet 45 to be used is a BPF, the difference between the amount of reflected light from the front surface and the back surface, that is, whether the amount of reflected light is a high level H or a low level L according to the detection method of FIG. 3 or FIG. Is detected, it can be determined whether the front and back sides are set correctly.

Further, the control system shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 detects the front and back of the supplied recording sheet 45, performs recording if the front and back are set correctly, and reverses the front and back. Depending on the type of recording sheet 45,
It is possible to implement a control program in which it is determined whether to disable recording or to enable recording if a user gives an instruction again.

By incorporating the control system as described above, the type or front and back of the recording sheet 45 can be automatically identified, and a malfunction at the time of recording can be eliminated.

Furthermore, depending on the recording (printing) mode such as normal image printing, mirror image printing, BPF type printing, etc., it is possible to divide into the case where recording (printing) is possible even if it is set upside down and the case where printing is absolutely impossible. According to the above control system, the sensors 66 and 67
Based on the detection signal from the printer, it is determined that printing is not normal but printing is possible.In that case, a message to that effect is displayed and printing can be controlled with the user's instruction again, so that printing can be performed. In addition to preventing malfunctions, it is possible to extend the range of selection of recording sheets to improve functions.

FIG. 5 shows a light source 71 and light receiving elements on both sides of the recording sheet 45.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a method of locating 72 and identifying the type of the recording sheet 45 based on the amount of transmitted light.

FIG. 5 (A) shows a case where the amount of transmitted light is opaque such as paper and the amount of transmitted light is small, and FIG. 5 (B) shows a case where the amount of transmitted light is transparent or translucent such as a BPF or OHP sheet and the like.

FIG. 5 (C) is a graph showing the level of the output voltage of the light receiving element. In the case of opaque like paper of FIG. 5 (A), the amount of transmitted light is small and the output voltage of the light receiving element 72 is low. In the case of the OHP sheet or the BPF of FIG. 5B, the transmitted light amount is large, and the output voltage of the light receiving element 72 becomes high level H.

Further, if the control system and the optical detecting means described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are used, the following recording apparatus can be configured.

That is, a normal image, a mirror image, a recording mode such as a BPF type is designated, the type and front / back of the supplied recording sheet 45 are detected, and if the recording sheet is a regular recording sheet for the designated recording mode, recording is performed. When an image can be formed even on an irregular recording sheet, a recording (printing) mode designation type recording apparatus is provided which is configured to issue a message and record when a user gives an instruction again. .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the recording apparatus of the recording sheet designation type, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the recording apparatus of the printing mode designation type.

In FIG. 6, when a recording command is issued, an initialization process for setting flags of the sensors 66 and 67 to 0 and stopping display and the like is performed in step 101, and in step 102, the presence or absence of the recording sheet 45 is determined, and recording is performed. If there is no sheet, no sheet is displayed.

If there is a recording sheet 45, the absence of sheet display is stopped in step 103, and in step 104, the surface smoothness of the recording sheet 45 is detected by the surface detection sensor (detection means) 66 by the reflected light amount.

If the sensor 66 detects that the surface is rough, step 105
Then, the smoothness of the back surface of the recording sheet 45 is detected by the amount of reflected light by the sensor 67 for back surface detection.

If the sensor 66 detects that the surface is rough, step 105
Then, the smoothness of the back surface of the recording sheet 45 is detected by the amount of reflected light by the sensor 67 for back surface detection.

If the sensor 67 determines that the back surface is rough, it can be determined that a rough recording sheet (paper) has been inserted on both the front and back surfaces, and the process proceeds to step 106 where the recording (printing) mode of the recording device is set to the BPF type. It is determined whether or not there is.

When the BPF recording mode is set, rough paper on both sides is not a regular recording sheet (BPF), so a sheet error display is issued in step 107, and a question display (message) is issued in step 108.

As the message at this time, for example, "select either resetting to the correct sheet or the correct print mode, or recording, since the image color is slightly changed but image formation is possible." indicate.

The user instructs again whether or not to record in step 109. If "not record", the question display is stopped in step 110 and the process returns to step 102.

If the instruction of step 109 is “record”, step 1
After proceeding to step 11 to stop displaying the question, in step 112, a recording process is performed in the BPF type recording (printing) mode.

If it is determined in step 106 that the mode is not the BPF type recording mode, the process proceeds to step 113 to determine whether or not the mirror image recording (printing) mode is set, and the mirror image printing mode is set instead of the normal image printing mode. Is determined,
After the error display is stopped in step 114, the recording process is performed in step 115 in a mirror image recording (printing) mode in which an image can be formed although it is not regular.

If it is determined in step 113 that the mirror image printing character mode has not been set, it is determined that the normal recording (printing) mode in which the remaining plain paper is normally set as a normal sheet is set, and in step 116, After the error display is stopped, in step 117, recording processing is performed on plain paper in the normal normal image print mode.

Conversely, if the sensor 67 determines in step 105 that the back surface is smooth, it means that the sheet is rough and the back surface is smooth, and the BPF is inserted face down (reversed). Therefore, it is impossible to form an image.Therefore, after setting the flag of the back sensor 67 in step 118, the process proceeds to step 119 to display a sheet error,
The process proceeds to step 110 described above without recording, stops displaying the question (message), and returns to step 102.

Further up, if it is determined in step 104 that the front surface is smooth, a flag of the front surface sensor 66 is set in step 120, and in step 121, the sensor 67 determines whether the back surface is smooth or rough.

When the sensor 67 determines that the recording sheet is rough, it can be determined that a recording sheet (BPF) having a smooth surface and a rough surface is inserted,
In step 122, it is determined whether the print mode is set to the BPF mode. If the print mode is set to the BPF mode, a regular recording sheet is set, and the process proceeds to step 111 described above. Question (message)
The display is stopped, and a recording process is performed in the BPF print mode in step 112.

If it is determined in step 122 that the mode is not the BPF print mode,
Since the BPF has been inserted by mistake, the process proceeds to step 123 to display a sheet error. In step 124, a question is displayed (message display). In step 125, the user again touches whether or not to record. Instruct by key operation.

If no recording is made, the process proceeds to step 110 described above, and the display of the question is merely stopped, the process returns to step 102, and the above operation is repeated.

If there is an instruction to record in step 125, the error question display is stopped in step 126, and the flow advances to step 127 to determine whether or not the OHP print mode is designated.

If the mirror image printing mode has been designated, the process proceeds to step 114 to stop the error display, and then returns to step 115.
In, the recording process is performed in a mirror image printing mode in which an image can be formed although it is not regular. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 127 that the mode is not the mirror image printing mode, the aforementioned step 11
After proceeding to step 6 and stopping the error display, in step 117, the remaining recording (printing) which is not legal but is capable of forming an image is performed.
The recording process is performed in a mode, that is, a normal image mode for plain paper.

Conversely, if it is determined in step 121 that the back surface is also smooth, the process proceeds to step 128, where a flag of the back sensor 67 is set, and in step 129, it is determined whether the print mode is the BPF type. .

Since the recording sheet in this case, which is smooth on both sides, is an OHP sheet, in the BPF type print mode, the OHP sheet is erroneously inserted, and a sheet error display is performed in step 130, and in step 131, Question (message)
After the display, the user instructs again at step 132 whether or not to execute recording in a mode that is not legal but allows image formation.

If there is an instruction to execute, go to step 111 to stop displaying the question (message), and then
Perform recording processing in the formula print mode.

On the other hand, if there is an instruction not to execute the recording in step 132, the process proceeds to step 110 and only stops the question display, returns to step 102, and repeats the above operations.

If it is determined in step 129 that the set print mode is not the BPF type, the flow advances to step 133 to determine whether the mirror image print mode is designated.

If the mirror image printing mode is designated, it means that a regular sheet (OHP sheet) is inserted as the recording sheet 45, and the process proceeds to step 114 to stop the error display. Make a record.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 133 that the mode is not the mirror image printing mode, the normal image printing mode of plain paper is generally specified in this case. In step 117, recording processing in the normal image printing mode is performed.

According to the operation procedure described above with reference to FIG. 6, the recording processing operation in the recording apparatus of the type that designates a recording (printing) mode such as a normal image printing mode, a mirror image printing mode, and a BPF type printing mode is controlled.

The present invention can be similarly applied to other types of recording apparatuses such as a thermal type and a wire dot type, in addition to the ink jet type recording apparatus.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, a normal image, a mirror image, a recording mode such as a BPF type is designated, and the type and front and back of the supplied recording sheet are detected.
If the recording sheet is valid for the designated recording mode, the recording is performed. If the image can be formed even if the recording sheet is irregular, a message is issued, and the recording is performed if the user gives an instruction again. With such a configuration, it is possible to eliminate a malfunction during a recording process in a recording apparatus capable of recording on a plurality of types of recording sheets in a plurality of recording modes. Is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a structure of a color ink jet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of optical detection means for detecting smoothness of a recording sheet, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of optical detection means for detecting smoothness of recording means. 5 and FIG. 5 are schematic diagrams of the light transmission amount detecting means of the recording sheet, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a recording mode designating type recording processing operation of the recording apparatus of FIG. 45 recording sheet, 48 carriage, 49 recording unit (head unit), 49Y, 49M, 49C, 49Bk recording head, 50 recording head control signal, 53 control circuit, 56
…… Image processing circuit, 66 …… Surface detection means (sensor),
67: Back surface detection means (sensor), 70: Operation panel (for specifying recording mode), 71: Light source, 72: Light receiving element.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor's bullet ▲ mound ▼ Toshimitsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A 1-127352 (JP, A) JP-A-62-268660 (JP, A) JP-A-62-268659 (JP, A) JP-A-58-107850 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording mode such as a normal image, a mirror image, and a BPF type is designated, the type and front / back of a supplied recording sheet are detected, and recording is performed if the recording sheet is a regular recording sheet for the designated recording mode. A recording device configured to output a message when an image can be formed even with an irregular recording sheet, and to record the image if a user gives an instruction again.