JP2952073B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus having key input means .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus mounted on an electronic typewriter for performing recording on a recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as recording paper or simply paper) such as paper, OHP sheet,
It has been proposed in the form of mounting a recording head by various recording methods. This recording head includes a wire dot type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, an ink jet type, and the like.

In particular, since the ink jet system directly ejects ink onto a recording sheet, it has attracted attention as a quiet recording system with low running cost. Generally, in a typewriter, processing for determining a printing layout such as setting of left and right margins and tabs is performed while moving a recording head with respect to actual recording paper and positioning the recording head at an arbitrary position.

However, if such processing takes a long time, the discharge port of the ink jet recording head is exposed to the outside air in a non-driving state during that time, so that the ink solvent evaporates from the discharge port and the inside of the discharge port is discharged. There is a possibility that the ink may be exposed to a thickening state.

[0005] In addition to the above-described problems that occur at the beginning of use of the typewriter, there are other problems that occur during actual recording as described below.

That is, in the case of a word processing mode in which batch printing of documents is performed, the recording head may be capped after a predetermined period of time when no new recording signal is input to the recording head after recording is completed. However, if the capping operation in the word processing mode is applied as it is to the type line mode in which the print mode is executed in units of characters or lines, there is a problem that the capping operation is repeated at an inappropriate timing.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by setting the throughput during recording (total processing time from key input to the end of recording).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which operability is improved such that an operator can execute recording without any inconvenience.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key input operation by an operator.
Inkjet at the optimal timing according to the skill of the product
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of protecting a recording head .

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by using an ink jet recording head for discharging ink, a key input means for outputting an input signal in response to a key input, Protection means for protecting the recording head; determination means for determining that a time during which the input signal is interrupted after a key input to the key input means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time set beforehand; Means for executing protection of the ink jet recording head by the protection means in accordance with the result of determination by the means; and adding a fixed time to an average key input time in a predetermined range obtained from a time required for key input to the key input means. And a control unit for setting the set time as a new predetermined time.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for storing an ink jet recording apparatus in which an operator performs ink jet recording.
Automatically injects without having to perform protective operations on the
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing a protective operation of a print recording head.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention uses an ink jet recording head for discharging ink to perform recording on a recording medium. Key input means with an output of an input signal in response thereto, and protection means for protecting the ink jet recording head,
After the key input to the key input means, the discriminating means for discriminating that the time during which the input signal is cut off is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, and the protection means according to the discrimination result by the discriminating means. Executing means for executing protection of the inkjet recording head, and control for setting a time obtained by adding a fixed time to an average key input time in a predetermined range obtained from a time required for key input to the key input means as a new predetermined time. Means. More preferably, the predetermined time is changed every predetermined number of key inputs. Also, more preferably,
The predetermined time is not less than 3 seconds and not more than 8 seconds. More preferably, the typewriter is provided with a line printing mode for printing a document on a line basis or a character printing mode for printing the document on a character basis. More preferably, a word processing mode for printing the originals collectively,
And a typewriter mode in which the original is printed for each line or each character. More preferably, when the word processing mode is selected, the protection of the ink jet recording head by the protection means according to the determination result of the determination means is not performed. More preferably, the ink jet recording head is provided with heat generating means for generating thermal energy for discharging ink. More preferably, the ink jet recording head is provided with heat generating means for generating thermal energy for discharging ink.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of the external structure of an electronic typewriter as an apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

Here, reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard unit,
Keys for inputting characters such as numbers, print command keys such as a return key, various control keys, and WP / T for switching and specifying a word processor mode and a typewriter mode to be described later.
A key group 2 such as a W switching key is arranged. When the keyboard unit 1 is not used, the keyboard unit 1 is turned around the hinge 3 so as to be folded as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 4 denotes a feed tray for placing a sheet-shaped recording medium on a printer section inside the apparatus and feeding the same. When not in use, the sheet tray is stored over the printer section as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 5 denotes a feed knob for manually setting and ejecting the recording medium to the recording position. The operator manually turns clockwise or counterclockwise to eject the recording medium in the ejection direction or the anti-ejection direction. Transport in the direction. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display for displaying a text or the like input by key operation or from a floppy disk,
Reference numeral 7 denotes a handle used when transporting the apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a printer unit according to this embodiment.

Here, reference numeral 9 denotes a head cartridge having an ink jet recording head, which is removably mounted on the carriage 11. The carriage 11 carries the head cartridge 9 and scans in the direction S in the drawing (reciprocates along the progress of the conveyance of the recording medium). Reference numeral 13 denotes a hook for attaching the head cartridge 9 to the carriage 11, and reference numeral 15 denotes a lever for operating the hook 13. The lever 15 is provided with a marker 17 for indicating a scale provided on a cover, which will be described later, so as to be able to read a print position, a set position, and the like by the recording head of the head cartridge. 19 is a head cartridge 9
Is a support plate for supporting an electrical connection portion (not shown) for. Reference numeral 21 denotes a flexible cable for connecting the electric connection unit and the main body control unit.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a guide shaft for guiding the carriage 11 in the S direction, and is inserted through a bearing 25 of the carriage 11. Reference numeral 27 denotes a timing belt to which the carriage 11 is fixed and which transmits power for moving the carriage 11 in the S direction, and pulleys 29 arranged on both sides of the apparatus.
A, 29B. A driving force is transmitted to one pulley 29B from a carriage motor 31 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a transport roller for regulating the recording surface of a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper) and transporting the recording medium during recording or the like. Reference numeral 37 denotes a paper pan for guiding the recording medium from the feed tray 4 to a recording position. Reference numeral 39 denotes a feed roller that is disposed in the middle of the recording medium conveyance path, presses the recording medium toward the conveyance roller 33, and conveys the recording medium. Reference numeral 34 denotes a platen that faces the ejection port forming surface of the head cartridge 9 and regulates the recording surface of the recording medium. Reference numeral 41 denotes a discharge roller that is disposed downstream of the recording position with respect to the recording medium transport direction and discharges the recording medium toward a discharge port (not shown). Reference numeral 42 denotes a spur provided corresponding to the discharge roller 41, which presses the roller 41 via the recording medium to generate a conveying force of the recording medium by the discharge roller 41. Reference numeral 43 denotes a feed roller 39, a holding plate 45, and a spur 42 when setting a recording medium or the like.
Release lever to release the bias of each of
The operator can operate.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a pressing plate for suppressing the floating of the recording medium in the vicinity of the recording position and ensuring the state of close contact with the transport roller 33. In this embodiment, an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink is employed as a recording head. Therefore, the distance between the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording medium is relatively small, and the distance must be strictly controlled to avoid contact between the recording medium and the head ejection port forming surface. Therefore, it is effective to press the recording medium against the transport roller 33 by the pressing plate 45. Reference numeral 47 denotes a scale provided on the presser plate 45, and reference numeral 49 denotes a marker provided on the carriage 11 corresponding to the scale, and the print position setting position of the recording head can also be read by these.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a cap formed of an elastic material such as rubber which faces the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head provided at the home position, and is supported so as to be able to contact / remove the recording head. The cap 51 is used for protection of the recording head at the time of non-recording or the like, and for ejection recovery processing of the recording head. Here, the ejection recovery processing is to forcibly eject ink from all ejection openings by driving an energy generating element provided inside the ink ejection openings and generating energy used for ink ejection. This is a process for removing the discharge failure factor.

A pump 53 generates a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink, and is used for sucking the ink received in the cap 51 during the ejection recovery process by the forcible discharge of the ink. Reference numeral 55 denotes a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by the pump 53, and reference numeral 57 denotes a tube that connects the pump 53 and the waste ink tank 55.

Reference numeral 59 denotes a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head. The blade 59 protrudes toward the recording head and is movably supported between a position for performing wiping in the process of moving the head and a retracted position that does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. Reference numeral 61 denotes a motor, and reference numeral 63 denotes a cam device for receiving driving power from the motor 61 to drive the pump 53 and move the cap 51 and the blade 59, respectively.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration example of control of an electronic typewriter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, a WP / TW switching key 81 for switching between a word processor mode and a typewriter mode is arranged on the keyboard unit 1. Here, word processing mode is
This is a mode for printing documents collectively, and the typewriter mode is a mode for printing in character units or line units.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a CPU in the form of a microcomputer, for example, which controls each unit in accordance with the processing procedure described later with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8. 101 is CPU1
The timer provided at 00 is used to measure the time during which there is no key input, and is used for controlling a printer, the description of which is omitted here.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a ROM which stores fixed data such as a character generator in addition to a program corresponding to the processing procedure executed by the CPU 100. 104 is RA
M, which has a work area for the CPU 100 in addition to an area for developing and managing data related to printing. 1
Reference numeral 06 denotes the ink jet printer described with reference to FIG.

Here, the main part of the embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of the printing procedure according to this embodiment, which is started after the printing operation is completed.

When this procedure is started, first, in step S1
Starts the timer 101. Next, in step S2, a key input is waited. If there is a key input, the timer 101 (started in step S1) is started again in step S3, and the key input is determined in step S4. If the input key is accompanied by a print command, the printing operation is performed in step S5, and the process returns to step S1. If the input key does not involve a printing operation, processing such as displaying the input key is performed in step S6, and the process returns to step S2.

In the processing so far, the timer 101 is only restarted, and the recording head is not capped.

However, for the first time when there is no key input in step S2, the CPU 100 reads the value of the timer started in step S1 or step S3 into the RAM 104 (step S7) and determines whether a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed. It is determined (step S8). Where 5
If the second has not elapsed, wait for a key input in step S2,
After 5 seconds have elapsed, the carriage 11 is moved to the capping position in step S9, the capping operation is performed in step S10, and the process returns to step S2. However, steps S9 and S10 have already been performed on the carriage 11
Is in the capping position and is skipped when capped.

The key input may be any key input as long as the CPU 100 can determine that the operator is using the apparatus. Therefore, any key of the key input mechanism is applied to this determination step.

This configuration is effective when the apparatus is stored. This is because, when there is no key input from any key for a predetermined period, the CPU 100 determines that the use of the apparatus has ended and capping is performed. This is particularly effective because the apparatus is always capped when the recording apparatus is stored.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the key input signal is interrupted for a certain period of time, the ink jet recording head is capped to protect it from the outside air. The recording head is not exposed to the outside air in a non-driving state, and the print quality is not deteriorated due to an increase in the viscosity of the ink inside the ejection port, and the ejection failure does not occur. When the operator is actually operating the apparatus, the predetermined time (5 seconds, preferably 3 seconds to 8 seconds of the predetermined time in the above embodiment) is normally used when the typewriter function is used. In this state, the average key input interval time is used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the carriage 11 from moving and being inadvertently capped during use of the apparatus, so that discomfort in operation can be fundamentally prevented, and reading and confirmation of the printing position can be performed.

Here, the moving state of the carriage 11 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, in the word processor mode carriage 11 allowed positions of the recording head cartridge 8 to the capping position X _1, starts the first movement towards the starting position X ₂ in the printing mode of the printing signal. Further, the carriage 11 is located at the capping position X1 in the typewriter mode, but starts moving toward the start position X2 by printing the first predetermined unit (word, line or page). The carriage 11 After this, after the completion of the printing of a predetermined unit, to stop the recording head cartridge 8 to return to the start position X _2, and waits with a document created by the operator's key input.

Here, the sequence control based on the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed for the key input by the operator, and the period determination is reset every time the key input by the operator is performed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view of the electronic typewriter of this embodiment as viewed from above. W ₁ is W ₂ indicates the insertable range of the recording medium indicates the maximum print width. X ₁ is ho -
This indicates the position of the home position and also serves as the position where capping is performed. X ₂ represents the position of the printable left,
X ₃ represents a return maximum position of the right edge. D is marker 17
3 shows the distance between the recording head and the ink ejection port of the recording head.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a scale corresponding to the above-described marker 17 for enabling reading of a print position, a set position, and the like by the recording head of the head cartridge 9.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording head is configured to be movable to the area of the right end portion X3 of the maximum recording width of the recording paper. Since this position is defined as the rightmost end of the return area of the head, the head does not move to the side area. Therefore, only the ink tank portion of the head cartridge exists in the side surface region, and the length in the width direction of the recording paper of the recording apparatus can be reduced.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the printing processing procedure according to the present embodiment, which is started after the printing operation is completed.

When this procedure is started, first, in step S1
In step 1, it is determined whether the mode is a word processor mode (hereinafter referred to as WP mode) or a typewriter mode (hereinafter referred to as TW mode). If the mode is the TW mode, the process proceeds to the next step S12,
In the case of the WP mode, this procedure is not started, and normal processing is performed (the description is omitted here). Next, step S1
After activating the timer 101 in step 2, the process waits for a key input in step S13. If there is a key input, after restarting the timer 101 (started in step 123) in step S14,
Proceed to step S15. In step S15, it is determined whether a line / line mode (hereinafter referred to as L / L mode) for performing printing for each line or a character / character mode (hereinafter referred to as C / C mode) for performing character-by-character printing. If the mode is the C / C mode, the next step S16 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S17 to perform printing. L / L
If it is the mode, in the next step S16, it is determined whether or not the input key is a key accompanied by printing, such as a return key. If no printing is accompanied, the input key is displayed (step S18). If the printing is accompanied by step S13, printing is performed in step S17 and then step S11
Return to

In the processing so far, the timer 101 is only restarted, and the recording head is not capped.

However, when there is no key input in step S13, step S12 or step S1
4 is read (step S19).
), It is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed (step S20). If 5 seconds have not elapsed, the process waits for a key input in step S5. If 5 seconds or more have elapsed, the carriage 11 is moved to the capping position in step S21, and the capping operation is performed in step S22. Return to However, steps S21 and S22 are skipped when the carriage 11 is already at the capping position and is capped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment in which the WP mode and the TW mode can be executed, not only the same effects as in the embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 can be achieved, but also the WP mode can be achieved. The present invention can provide a multifunction printer capable of improving the operability of the operator in the network mode and improving the throughput of the processing time from the key input to the end of recording as a whole.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the recording head is capped when there is no key input for a predetermined period (for example, 5 seconds).

On the other hand , FIG. 8 shows a key input by the operator.
Depending on the skill of the operator, indicating the actual <br/> embodiments with examples according to the present invention to vary the predetermined time period within a predetermined time (e.g., within 8 seconds 3 seconds). According to the present embodiment, key input is delayed.
Even in the case of an operator, the above-mentioned predetermined period is set to the key input interval of the operator in accordance with the skill level of the key input operation of the operator.
Can be set according to the inkjet recording device
As long as recording quality is not impaired,
Reducing the number of protection operations for inkjet recording heads
Can be.

When this procedure according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is started, first, at step S31, n, T
Initialize _t to 0, and also give T a standard default value of 5
Write (seconds).

[0048] After then starts the timer 101 in step S32, waits for a key input in step S33, in step S34 if there is key input, reads the value of the timer 101 of the key input time point T _n. Then the number of key input is determined whether the reached 100 times in step S35, the process proceeds to step S36 if not reached, the calculation of the sum of T _n and T _t. Next, after the value of n is advanced by 1 in step S37, the timer 101 (started in step S32) is set in step S38.
Is activated again, the key input in step S39 is determined. If the input key is accompanied by a print command, the printing operation is performed in step S40, and the process returns to step S32. If the input key does not involve a printing operation, the process returns to step S33 after performing processing such as displaying the input key in step S41.

In the processing up to this point, the CPU 100 counts how many times a key input has been made while
Time from activation to key input or timer 101
This means that the time from the restart to the key input is measured and the sum of the times is calculated, but the capping operation is not performed.

However, if there is no key input in step S33, the process proceeds to step S32 or step S3 for the first time.
8 to read the value of the timer started (Step S4
9) It is determined whether a predetermined time (here, T = 5 seconds written in step S31) has elapsed. (Step S
50), if 5 seconds have not elapsed, step S5
In step 1, the carriage 11 is moved to the capping position. In step S52, the capping operation is performed, and the process returns to step S33. However, in steps S51 and S52, the carriage 11 has already been moved to the capping position X _1.
Skip when capped in.

Next, the setting of the elapsed time T will be described.

Steps S31 to S described above are performed.
In 41, the CPU 100 measures the time until a key input while counting the number n of times the key is input, and calculates the sum thereof.

However, when the value of n has reached a certain number of determined key inputs (here, n = 100, but may be another integer), steps S35 to S35 are executed.
In step S42, the number of times of key input is reset, and in step S43, the average of key input times Ta is obtained by dividing the sum of the key input times for 100 times calculated in step S36 by 100.

Next, the routine proceeds to step S44, where Ta ≦ 2
(Seconds), the process proceeds to step S48, and T = 3 (seconds) is T.
Is written as the value of In step S45, 2 <
If Ta ≦ 7 (seconds), the process proceeds to step S47, where T = T
a + 1 (second) is written as the value of T. In addition, 7
If (seconds) <Ta, the process proceeds to step S46 and T = 8
(Seconds) is written as the value of T. Next, step S
Return to 33.

Thereafter, if there is no key input in step S33, the process proceeds to step S50. This step S50
In, since the value of T written in step S31 is rewritten to the value of T, if the value of T is equal to or more than the value of T, the capping operation is performed as described above.

That is, after the start of the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 100 sets T = 5 seconds written in step S31 up to 100 key inputs.
It is determined whether or not to perform the capping operation, and after 101 times, a time T corresponding to the key input time up to the previous 100 times.
(Seconds) to make the above determination. According to this embodiment, the value of T is rewritten to a new value every 100 key inputs.

Next, the operation of steps S36 to S38 will be described.

The waiting time T until the head starts capping is 3 seconds or less from the prevention of thickening of the ink inside the ejection port of the ink jet recording head or the user's convenience.
8 seconds is preferable (if it is too early, the capping operation starts at a short input time interval, which is troublesome. If it is too late, the printing quality may be degraded due to drying of the ink). For this reason, when an operator skilled in the operation of a typewriter performs key input quickly, for example, in the present embodiment, an operator whose input time for 100 key inputs is 2 seconds or less on average has a time of 3 seconds. Set. This is because if the capping operation is performed during the average key input time Ta, the number of times of capping increases unnecessarily. Therefore, in this embodiment, the average time +1 is given to the operator whose Ta is 2 seconds to 7 seconds.
Seconds, ie, 3 seconds, a person sets 4 seconds, and an operator whose Ta is 7 seconds sets 8 seconds.

For an operator whose Ta is 7 seconds or more, 8 seconds is set.

As described above, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the optimum ink jet recording is performed according to the operation ability of the operator.
The time until the head capping operation starts is set. Therefore, in the case of a skilled operator with fast key input, the unnecessary capping operation is suppressed to the minimum required number, and when there is no key input, the capping operation starts after a predetermined period, so that the performance can be sufficiently exhibited. ink
A jet recording device can be provided. In addition, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus having improved operability without impairing the ink jet recording quality even in the case of an operator who inputs keys slowly.

As a method of measuring a predetermined period after the key input, a method of measuring the number of clock pulses output by a timer in the CPU may be used, or a time signal output by a timer provided outside the CPU may be used. The predetermined period may be measured based on the predetermined period.

Further, the period after the key input may be a period between key inputs or a period required for a plurality of predetermined key inputs.

The present invention particularly provides an excellent effect in an ink jet recording head and a recording apparatus in which a flying liquid droplet is formed by utilizing thermal energy and recording is performed.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding one-to-one to this drive signal can be formed. It is. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region, is also included in the present invention.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, or absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge unit.

In addition, as described above, the serial type recording head is a replaceable print head which is mounted on the apparatus main body to enable electrical connection with the apparatus main body and supply of ink from the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, and may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or below and which softens at room temperature, or which is liquid, In general, in the ink jet method, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. What is necessary is just to be liquid.

In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink. Either ink may be used, or in any case, the ink may be liquefied by application of heat energy according to the recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or may already start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The use of an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time by thermal energy is also applicable to the present invention. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, a form provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a word processor or a computer may be adopted.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus with improved operability such that an operator can execute recording without feeling inconvenience while shortening the entire processing time from key input to recording end, and According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of executing protection of an ink jet recording head at an optimal timing according to a skill level of an operator's key input operation. Furthermore, the protection operation of the ink jet recording head according to the time required for key input by the operator in accordance with the skill level of the key input operation of the operator, that is, a predetermined operation obtained from the time required for key input to the key input means. The time obtained by adding a certain time to the average key input time of the range can be set as a new predetermined time, and operability is reduced while reducing the number of protection operations of the ink jet recording head within the range that does not impair the recording quality of the ink jet recording device Can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view when an electronic typewriter is used as an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the electronic typewriter as an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when the electronic typewriter is housed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a printer applicable to the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a control system of the electronic typewriter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing capping when there is no key input for a predetermined time;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of another embodiment in which the WP mode and the TW mode can be executed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a device configuration to which an embodiment according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of a procedure for performing capping when there is no key input for a predetermined time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard 6 Display 9 Head cartridge 11 Carriage 100 CPU 101 Timer 102 ROM 104 RAM 106 Printer

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/165 G06F 3/12

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium using an ink jet recording head for discharging ink, a key input means for outputting an input signal in response to a key input, and for protecting the ink jet recording head. Protection means, and determination means for determining that the time during which the input signal is interrupted after the key input to the key input means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time set in advance, and according to the determination result by the determination means Means for executing protection of the ink jet recording head by the protection means, and a time required for key input to the key input means.
The time obtained by adding a certain time to the average key input time in the predetermined range
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: control means for setting a new predetermined time . 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is changed every predetermined number of key inputs. Wherein said predetermined time is 3 seconds der 8 seconds or more
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that. 4. A line printing mode for printing an original line by line or
A character print mode that prints the original in character units
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an applicator.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to any of the preceding claims . 5. A word processing mode for printing a batch of originals.
And a type that prints the original in line units or character units
Writer mode is selectable.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . 6. When the word processing mode is selected,
Is determined by the protection means according to the determination result of the determination means.
Not protect the above inkjet recording head
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The ink jet recording method according to claim 7 , wherein
Have a cap that can contact and separate from the head
The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 8. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1 , wherein
Heat generating means for generating thermal energy for discharging
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein
An ink jet recording apparatus according.