JP3155667B2 - 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 a recording apparatus for forming a print or an image on a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recording apparatus having functions such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, or a recording apparatus used as an output device of a workstation of a composite electronic device including a computer and a word processor, paper or the like is used based on recording information. It is configured to print and print images on a recording material such as a plastic thin plate (hereinafter referred to as a recording sheet). In addition, such a recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and the like according to the recording method.
2. Description of the Related Art In a serial-type printing apparatus employing a serial scan method in which a main scan is performed in a direction intersecting with a conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording sheet, recording means (recording head) mounted on a carriage moving along the recording sheet. Recording (main scanning) is performed based on the recording data, and a predetermined amount of sheet feeding (pitch conveyance) is performed each time recording of one line is completed. Further, by repeating the operation of recording the next row (main scanning) on the recording sheet held in the stopped state again, the recording of the entire recording sheet is performed. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that performs recording only by moving a recording sheet in the transport direction,
The recording sheet is set at a predetermined recording position, and the recording head performs recording for one line at a time, then performs a predetermined amount of sheet feeding, and further performs recording for the next one line at a time. By repeating the operation to be performed, recording of the entire recording sheet is performed.

[0003] Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head toward a recording sheet. In addition, high-definition images can be recorded at high speed, recording can be performed on plain paper without requiring special processing, and running costs are low and the non-impact method reduces noise and reduces noise. It has the advantage that it is easy to record a color image using color inks. Among them,
A line-type apparatus using a line-type recording head having a large number of ejection ports arranged in the sheet width direction can further increase the recording speed.

[0004] In particular, an ink jet type recording head which discharges ink by using thermal energy has an etching,
Through semiconductor manufacturing processes such as evaporation and sputtering,
By forming the electrothermal transducers, electrodes, liquid path walls, top plate, etc., formed on the substrate, it is possible to easily manufacture those having a high-density liquid path and discharge port arrangement. Can be made more compact. On the other hand, there are various demands for the material of the recording material. In recent years, in addition to ordinary recording sheets such as paper and resin thin films (such as OHP), thin paper and processed paper (paper with a punched hole for filing). Or perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.).

FIG. 6 shows an example of this type of conventional ink jet recording apparatus. A recording head 101 is mounted on a carriage 102 and discharges ink toward a recording sheet S from an ink discharge port provided on an ink discharge surface 101A to perform recording.
A guide shaft 104 that guides the movement of the carriage 102 is a timing belt driven by the carriage motor 105 to move the carriage 102. In this embodiment, the recording sheet S is an automatic sheet feeder ASF (auto sheet feeder) 10.
6 and is fed one by one to a position of the sheet feed roller 107 by a feed roller (not shown). Thus, the recording sheet S, which is kept pressed against the sheet feed roller 107 by the pinch roller 108, is guided to the position facing the ink ejection port of the recording head 101 by the driving rotation of the sheet feed roller 107, where the carriage 1
02 is printed by ink ejection from the ink ejection port of the head 101 during the main scanning by 02, and the sheet is fed. After the recording of one page on the recording sheet S is completed, the sheet is ejected to the outside of the recording apparatus by the ejection roller 109. Is done.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a wiper which is provided outside the recording area and performs a wiping operation on the ink ejection surface 101A of the recording head 101. The ink ejection of the recording head 101 guided to this position by the carriage 102 is performed. Face 1
From 01A, unnecessary foreign substances such as paper dust and dust adhering thereto are wiped off. Reference numeral 111 denotes a cap unit which is involved in a recovery operation for preventing clogging by sucking ink from the ink ejection surface in a state where the ink ejection surface 101A is covered, and prevents evaporation of the ink by the cover.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the structure of the ink ejection portion of such a recording head 101. The ink which maintains a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm) between the recording sheet and the recording sheet 101 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of discharge ports 101B are formed at a predetermined pitch on the discharge surface 101A, and each of the liquid paths 1 communicating the common liquid chamber 101C and each of the discharge ports 101B.
An electrothermal converter (heat generating resistor or the like) 10 for generating energy for ink ejection along the wall surface of the device 01D.
1E is provided. In this example, the recording head 101 is mounted on the carriage such that the ejection ports 101B are arranged in a direction crossing the scanning direction of the carriage. Thus, the recording head 101 selectively drives the electrothermal transducer 101E based on the image signal or the ink ejection signal, and causes the ink in the liquid path 101D to boil.
Ink is ejected from the ejection port 101B by the pressure generated at that time.

[0008]

In recent years, there has been a strong demand for further downsizing, portability, and operability of such a recording apparatus. Separate the feeding section such as
There has been proposed a device in which only a recording unit is made easy to carry.

[0009] However, there is a problem in that it is excellent in function and it is difficult to realize both portability and operability. In particular, if portability of the recording unit is emphasized, it is necessary to reduce the size and weight of the recording unit. As a result, it is necessary to reduce the power consumption of the battery as much as possible, and the function must be reduced.

An object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above-mentioned problems, and to solve the problems, in particular, to reduce the size and weight of the recording unit, and to function independently as a portable recording device with only the recording unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which can exhibit a sufficient function as a stationary recording apparatus by being connected to a feeding section.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mounting means for mounting a recording head for performing recording on a recording sheet, and a transport for transporting the recording sheet. A recording unit comprising: means for supplying electric power for driving the recording head and the conveying means; a sheet insertion opening through which a recording sheet can be manually inserted; and automatically feeding the recording sheet to the recording section. A feeding unit including a feeding unit capable of supplying the power for driving the feeding unit and a power supply for driving the recording unit. Unit and a recording device that can be mounted and separated, a recording operation mode when the recording unit is used alone, and a recording operation mode when the recording unit and the feeding unit are mounted and used. Change the recording operation mode. Characterized in that it has a means.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the recording operation mode changing means changes a recording speed.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the recording operation mode changing means changes the recording density.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the power supply device is a battery having a higher voltage and a larger capacity than the battery.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the power supply device is a constant voltage supply device connected to a household AC power supply and controlled to a predetermined constant voltage by an AC-DC converter.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the battery is chargeable, and the battery can be charged by the power supply device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the recording head includes an ink jet recording head which performs recording by discharging ink onto a recording sheet.

[0018] The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the ink jet recording head is provided with an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for discharging ink.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the inkjet recording head, the ink is ejected from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. I do.

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

According to the present invention, the recording section can be used alone as a portable recording apparatus, and the feeding section is mounted on the recording section, so that the driving power is supplied to the recording section via the feeding section. And can be used as a stationary recording device capable of automatic feeding. Therefore, the recording operation is a low-power-consumption type when the recording unit is used alone, but can be a high-performance recording operation without worrying about the power consumption when the unit is combined and mounted. Moreover, since the mounting / separating operation is simple and easy, and particularly contributes to the reduction in size and weight of the recording unit, when it is not necessary to use the unit as a stationary type, the recording unit can be cut off and carried independently, making it convenient for portable use. Can be used for

[0027]

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

1 to 3 and 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a recording unit having a recording function by itself, FIG. 2 shows a feeding unit having an ASF function, an interface unit for transmitting and receiving recording signals from a host device, and the like. 1 shows an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which is an installation type by connecting the recording section and the feeding section.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a recording unit. The recording unit 100 includes a recording head 1 as recording means R for recording by discharging ink from an ink discharge port of an ink discharge surface 1A. Carriage 2, a guide shaft 3 of the carriage 2, a timing belt (not shown) for driving the carriage 2, a driving unit A including a motor for driving the same, a sheet feed roller 7 for guiding the recording sheet S to a recording position, and Pinch roller 8 and discharge roller 9
And driving means B including a motor for driving them. In addition, the recording unit 100 is configured such that most of the above-described members are arranged in the recording unit case 100A, and the recording unit R,
A control circuit C for controlling the driving means A and B and a chargeable recording unit battery D are provided. A recording sheet S manually inserted into a sheet insertion opening (not shown) can be recorded by driving each unit by a battery D of the recording sheet S or an external power supply as described later.

When the recording section 100 is used alone, recording is performed by directly connecting the recording section 100 to the host device 300. At this time, since the recording unit battery D cannot have a large capacity in consideration of the portability of the recording unit 100, the driving unit A of the carriage 2 and the driving unit B of the sheet feed roller 7 operate at low speed. The recording means R also performs a recording operation in a low-resolution print mode in which the number of recording dots per unit is reduced, thereby minimizing power consumption. The recording unit 100 itself has a word processing function and the like.
00 alone may perform recording in response to a recording signal from a word processor or the like.

By attaching the recording section 100 to a feeding section described later, recording can be performed on a recording sheet S automatically fed from the feeding section via a sheet insertion port.
The power in this case is supplied from the feeding unit as described later and can charge the above-described battery. Reference numeral 10 denotes a wiper for performing a wiping operation on the ink ejection surface 1A of the recording head 1, and reference numeral 11 denotes cap means.

Next, the feeding section 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The feeding unit 200 has an ASF function of holding the recording sheets S in a stacked form and feeding the recording sheets S one by one to the recording unit 100 shown in FIG. The feeding roller 21 is driven by a driving unit E including a motor (not shown), and the driving is performed by a feeding unit control circuit F.
Is controlled by Here, the recording material automatically fed is fanfold paper, and the feeding unit may have a function as a tractor feeder capable of continuously feeding fanfold paper. 22 is the feeding unit 2
When the feeding unit 200 is connected to the recording unit 100 as shown in FIG.
00 is a power supply device that can be used as a drive power source for the recording section 100 and can also be used to drive the battery D on the recording section 100 side. Reference numeral 23 denotes a recording unit mounting base on which the recording unit 100 is supported and fixed, and 24 denotes a power supply terminal to the recording unit 100. The control circuit F of the feeding unit 200 includes an interface unit (not shown) for receiving recording signals and the like sent from an external host device 300 such as a personal computer and transmitting these signals and the like to the recording unit. I have. Reference numeral 25 denotes a connector for signal transmission.

Here, the power supply device 22 will be described. In one embodiment of the present invention, the power supply device 22 may be a battery like the recording unit battery D. However, in this case, it is preferable that the battery has a higher voltage and a larger capacity than the recording unit battery D. Further, in another embodiment, a constant voltage supply device connected to a household AC power supply and controlled to a predetermined constant voltage higher than the recording unit battery D by an AC-DC converter may be used.

In the recording unit 100 and the feeding unit 200 configured as described above, as shown in FIG.
Is used as a stationary recording apparatus when attached to the feeding unit 200. In this case, power and signals are supplied to the recording unit 100 via the electrical connection unit (the power supply terminal 24 and the connector unit 25) of the feeding unit 200. Each unit is driven by the power supply from 200, and the built-in battery D is simultaneously charged. The signal connector unit 25 transfers signals from the host device 300 and also exchanges control signals and the like between the two devices.

When the recording section 100 is attached to the feeding section 200 as described above, this is detected by a mechanical switch S ₁ operated by a pin or the like protruding from the feeding section 200 and detected by the recording section control circuit. control mode switching means C ₀ that is set to C acts. The control mode switching means C ₀ switches the electronic switch S ₂ made of a semiconductor to apply a voltage of the power supply device 22 higher than the voltage of the recording unit battery D to the driven part including the recording means R and the driving means A and B. To operate. At the same time, the control reference clock used for controlling the host device 300, the feeding unit 200, and the recording unit 100 is switched so as to match the application of the high voltage. As a result, the driving units A and B of the recording unit 100 can be operated at high speed, and the recording unit R
It is possible to perform a recording operation in a high-resolution print mode in which the dot density per unit (recording density) is increased without concern for power consumption.

Therefore, if the feeding unit 200 is always connected to the host device and placed, the recording unit 100 is simply attached to the feeding unit, and the recording device with the ASF is attached without any other connection. And a user-friendly recording device can be provided.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. This example is similar to the above-described first embodiment in that the feeding unit 200
Has a reception buffer 30 instead of simply passing a recording signal from the host device to the recording unit 100, and is configured to send the recording signal to the recording unit 100 via the reception buffer 30. . Therefore, the recording speed of the recording unit is
Even when the input speed from the host device 300 is slower, the host device 300 does not need to wait.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a wireless receiving unit 40 is provided in the feeding unit 200,
The transmission unit 50 is attached to the host device 300 side to receive recording signals wirelessly.

Although not shown, as still another embodiment of the present invention, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.
When the recording unit 100 is attached to the feeding unit 200, the relay or semiconductor that simply switches the power of the recording unit 100 from the recording unit battery D to the power supply device 22 of the feeding unit 200 without charging the recording unit battery D is used. A switching means such as an electronic switch may be provided.
May be omitted). In this case, it goes without saying that the recording unit battery D may be charged by the aforementioned constant voltage supply device connected to the household AC power supply.

The feeding unit 200 described above is
Although it has been described that a single-sheet sheet is supplied, it is a matter of course that a continuous sheet may be supplied to the recording unit 100.

In the embodiment described above, an ink jet recording apparatus for monochromatic recording in which one recording head 1 is mounted on the carriage 2 has been described as an example. However, the present invention uses inks of different colors. Regardless of the number of recording heads, such as an inkjet recording device for color recording using a plurality of recording heads for recording, or an inkjet recording device for gradation recording using a plurality of recording heads for recording with the same color and different density inks It can be applied similarly and can achieve the same effect.

Further, the recording head 1 may be a cartridge type in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, or a recording head and an ink tank which are separated from each other and connected to each other by an ink supply tube.
Regardless of the configuration of the recording means and the ink tank, the same can be applied and the same effect can be achieved. Further, it goes without saying that there is no restriction due to the above-mentioned recording method.

The present invention can be applied to, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. This provides an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described, for example, in 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 the 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 the nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Then, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the film is boiled on the heat-acting surface of the recording means (recording head). As a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in one-to-one correspondence with the driving signal. It is effective.

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, US Pat.
Those described in 463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. In addition, U.S. Pat.
If the conditions described in the specification of JP-A No. 124 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, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 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. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, regardless of the form of the recording head, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the recording material that can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head. in addition,
Even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head is fixed to the device main body, or is replaced by being attached to the device main body so that it can be electrically connected to the device main body and supply ink from the device main body. The present invention is also effective when a print head of a free chip type or a print head of a cartridge type provided with an ink tank integrally with the print head itself is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as a configuration of the printing apparatus in the present invention, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. . To be specific, these can be pre-heated by using a capping means for the recording head, a cleaning means, a pressurizing or suctioning means, an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from the means and printing in order to perform stable printing.

In addition, 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 lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet ink In general, in the method, the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted 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,
Whether to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or use ink that solidifies in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink In any case, the thermal energy may be liquefied by application of the thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal, and the thermal energy may be discharged such as a liquid ink is ejected, or the thermal energy may be already solidified when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time by the application of an ink is used.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a configuration in which a liquid or solid material is held in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet and faces an electrothermal converter. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is not only one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. And the like.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It has become possible to provide a recording device that can be easily and freely recombined and used from a compact and lightweight recording device that can be used for portable use to a stationary type that has higher functionality and better operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a recording unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a feeding unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ink ejection unit of the recording head in a see-through manner.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording head 2 Carriage 7 Sheet feed roller 8 Pinch roller 9 Discharge roller 10 Wiper 11 Cap means 21 Feed roller 22 Power supply device 23 Recording part mounting stand 24 Power supply terminal 25 Connector part 30 Receive buffer 40 Reception part 50 Transmission part 100 Recording Unit 100A Recording Unit Case 200 Feeding Unit 300 Host Device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Kawakami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Junichi Asano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (56) References JP-A-3-106672 (JP, A) JP-A-5-124264 (JP, A) JP-A-5-112062 (JP, A) JP-A-4-319467 (JP, A) A) JP-A-5-42735 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 64-46859 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29/00 B41J 29/38 G06F 3 / 12

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A head mounting means for mounting a recording head for performing recording on a recording sheet, a conveying means for conveying the recording sheet, a battery for supplying electric power for driving the recording head and the conveying means, and a recording sheet. A recording unit having a sheet insertion slot through which a recording sheet can be manually inserted; a feeding unit capable of automatically feeding a recording sheet to the recording unit; and a power supply for driving the feeding unit. A feeding unit including a power supply device serving as a driving power source for the unit, and a recording device in which the recording unit and the feeding unit are attachable / separable, wherein the recording unit is used alone. And a recording operation mode changing unit that makes a recording operation mode different from a recording operation mode when the recording unit and the feeding unit are mounted and used. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording operation mode changing means changes a recording speed. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording operation mode changing means changes a recording density. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device has a higher voltage than the battery and has a larger capacity. 5. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device is a constant voltage supply device connected to a household AC power supply and controlled to a predetermined constant voltage by an AC-DC converter. The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the battery is rechargeable, and the battery can be charged by the power supply device. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink on a recording sheet. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink jet recording head includes an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy for discharging ink. 9. The ink jet recording head according to claim 8, wherein the ink jet recording head discharges the ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. Recording device.