JP3171922B2 - 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 for printing (recording) on a long recording medium such as a cloth continuously extending up to several tens of meters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet printing means is used.
Te, the recording medium of the elongated ink jet recording apparatus for printing example to the fabric is relatively new.

[0003] A recording apparatus for performing recording on this cloth is known as a printing apparatus. Conventional printing methods include: A) roller printing in which a pattern is cut into a roller and pressed against a cloth to produce a continuous pattern. B) The main method is screen printing, in which a plate is made on a screen type and the number of screen types is set to the number of colors and patterns to be overlaid.

[0004] The advantages and disadvantages of each of the conventional system and the ink jet printing system will not be described in detail here, but the ink jet printing system proposes a completely new design environment or a printing work site in consideration of environmental friendliness. It has been attracting much attention in many respects due to its innovation.

[0005]

By the way, the ink jet system is generally known for use in a recording apparatus such as a printer or a copying apparatus using paper or the like as a recording medium. When such an ink jet recording apparatus is applied to a textile printing apparatus in which a recording medium is replaced with a cloth, various new technical problems arise. For example, the cloth used for printing is
Natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, nylon, polyester,
There are various types such as synthetic fibers such as acrylic. For this reason, various properties related to printing are often different between these various cloths. Such a difference in characteristics is described in detail, for example, in "Dyeing" supervised by Kazuo Kondo published by Tokyo Electric University Press.

Hereinafter, such problems will be specifically described as follows.

1) The image density reproduced on the cloth even when the same amount of ink is ejected on the cloth differs depending on the cloth type.

2) It is considered that this is due to the elasticity of the cloth, but when printing is performed with the same cloth feed amount, the appearance of the connecting streaks generated between the scanning bands differs for each scan of the print head.

3) Since the ejection opening face of the recording head dislikes the fluff of the cloth, in the case of a fiber having a large fluff such as hair, it is necessary to increase the interval between the cloth surface and the ejection opening face. In this case, the influence of the bias in the ejection direction, which is one of the ejection characteristics of the recording head, becomes remarkable, and the appearance of the density unevenness changes.

[0010] 4) Since the printing apparatus is a production facility, it is larger than apparatuses such as printers and copiers, which are applications of the conventional ink jet system.

For example, the width of printing in one scan reaches nearly 2 m, and the amount of memory of a circuit system for this is extremely large. Also, the image memory for storing the original image data is enormous,
It can be several hundred MBytes. Copiers and the like have four ink colors, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In the case of a textile printing apparatus, these four colors are used as special colors.
It is necessary to add two or more colors to the color. In addition, in order to maintain such an apparatus, there are inevitable problems such as an increase in the technical level of maintenance personnel and an increase in maintenance time.

5) When a textile printing apparatus is configured, a host computer such as a workstation generates and manages image data for printing, and a configuration in which one host computer manages a plurality of textile printing apparatuses via a network is preferable. . In addition, it is desirable that the maintenance personnel obtain necessary information from an operation unit, which is an operation input / output unit of the textile printing apparatus, and issue necessary instructions.

6) The printing apparatus usually produces a cloth with a continuous output of 50 m or more. In such a case, for example, at the time when printing of 40 m is completed, if any abnormal printing is performed,
The cloth loses its commercial value and the 40m up to that point is wasted, resulting in a large loss.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems when the ink jet recording method is applied to the case of recording a long cloth, and its object is to be performed without depending on the type of the cloth. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of making a color of a color image reproduced on a cloth appropriate and reducing the appearance of connecting streaks.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided:
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by ejecting ink from the plurality of recording heads to a cloth using a plurality of recording heads corresponding to the ink colors; A moving unit, a conveying unit for conveying the cloth to a moving area of the plurality of recording heads by the moving unit, and a color conversion table for converting input image data into ink color data of the plurality of recording heads. An image processing unit that performs processing for converting the input image data into ink ejection data of the plurality of recording heads; and a color conversion table in the image processing unit according to a type of cloth conveyed by the conveyance unit. Control means for changing.

In another aspect, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by discharging ink onto a cloth using a recording head for discharging ink, a movement for moving the recording head during the recording. Means,
Transport means for transporting the cloth to a moving area of the recording head by the moving means, image processing means for performing processing for converting input image data into ink ejection data of the recording head, and the transport means Control means for changing the amount of conveyance by the conveying means in accordance with the elasticity of the cloth conveyed for recording.

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

According to the above arrangement, the color conversion table for converting the input image data into the ink color data of each of the plurality of recording heads corresponding to the ink colors is changed according to the type of the cloth carried by the carrying means. Therefore, a constant color reproduction can always be performed while suppressing a difference in color development depending on the type of cloth. Further, according to another aspect, since the transport amount is changed according to the elasticity of the cloth to be conveyed for recording, the difference in the elasticity according to the type of the cloth is eliminated, and the connecting stripe due to this difference is eliminated. Occurrence can be reduced.

[0020]

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

Before describing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a general configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus as a main part thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description, terms that are not used in the printing apparatus, such as “recording paper”, are used, but those that clearly correspond to elements of the printing apparatus are not particularly described.

In FIG. 1, a carriage 1 has recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d for ejecting four color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively, and a guide shaft 3 can move the carriage 1. Guide support. Belt 4, which is an endless belt,
A part thereof is connected to the carriage 1, and the carriage 1 is a recording medium such as paper on a guide shaft 3 via a belt 4 by a driving motor 5 which is a pulse motor driven by a motor driver 23. The recording paper 6 is driven to move along the recording surface.

The apparatus further includes a transport roller 7 for transporting the recording paper 6, guide rollers 8A and 8B for guiding the recording paper 6, and a recording paper transport motor 9.

Each of the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2
d has a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets toward the recording paper 6 and ink paths communicating with the ejection ports (both are not shown). Each ink path has a recording head 2a. , 2b, 2c, and 2d, ink is supplied from supply tanks 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d from ink tanks 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. Each ink path is provided with an electrothermal conversion element for generating thermal energy. In response to this, drive signals are transmitted from the respective head drivers 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d via flexible cables 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d. Is selectively supplied, ink is ejected.

Further, each of the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c,
2d includes head heaters 14a, 14b, 14
c, 14d (14b to 14d are not shown) and temperature detecting means 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d (15b to 15d are not shown) are provided.
b, 15c, a detection signal from 15d are are entered to a control circuit 16 having a CPU. The control circuit 16 controls the head heaters 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d (14b,
14c and 14d control heating in each of the recording heads 2a to 2d.

The capping unit 20 has a cap 20A which comes into contact with the ejection opening surfaces of the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d during non-printing. 2c,
2d moves to a position facing the capping unit 20. At this time, the capping unit 20 is driven forward by the cap driver 25, and the cap 20 is moved.
A is pressed against the discharge port surface to perform capping. Also,
The cap unit 20 includes a blade 20B and wipes the ejection opening surfaces of the recording heads 2a to 2d.

The clogging prevention means 31 includes the recording head 2
a, 2b, 2c, and 2d receive the discharged ink when performing the idle discharge operation. The empty discharge receiving unit 31
A liquid receiving member 32 is provided as a liquid receiving portion that faces the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d and absorbs ink ejected from the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and is disposed between the capping unit 20 and the recording start position. . The liquid receiving member 32
As a material of the material, a sponge-like porous member or a plastic sintered body is effective.

A water discharge solenoid valve 61 and an air pump driver 62 are connected to the capping unit 20, and a water discharge nozzle for cleaning and a water discharge nozzle provided in the capping unit 20 under the control of the control circuit 16. The air injection nozzle is driven.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the details of the recording heads 2a to 2d, as viewed from the opposite direction to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, each recording head is
A plurality of ejection openings 200a, 200b, 200c, and 200 are provided in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 6 (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-scanning direction).
d. In addition, the four recording heads 2a to 2
d is integrated by the head holder 19. FIG.
1 shows a state in which the carriage 1 is located near the blade 20B shown in FIG.
The surfaces 22a to 22d on which 00a to 200d are arranged come into contact with the blades 20B when they pass in front of the blades 20B, and the ink droplets, dust and the like adhering to the surfaces are wiped.

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the operation of the recording head in the recording apparatus shown in FIGS. The same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, the capping unit detection sensor 36 is connected to each of the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2
It is detected that c and 2d are at predetermined capping positions. The idle discharge position detection sensor 35 includes the recording heads 2a, 2
b, 2c and 2d detect the reference position of the idle discharge operation performed while moving in the scanning direction.

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described below.

First, during standby, the recording heads 2a, 2a
The carriages 1, 2 c, and 2 d are capped by the capping unit 20, and when a recording command is input to the control circuit 16, the carriage 1 is driven via the motor driver 23. The movement of the carriage 1 is detected by the idle discharge position detection sensor 35, and the idle discharge receiving unit 3
At 1, the idle discharge of the ink is performed for a predetermined time. Thereafter, when the movement of the carriage 1 is detected by the print start detection sensor 34, the print heads 2a, 2a,
Ink is selectively ejected from each of the ejection ports 200a to 200d of b, 2c, and 2d according to print data. As a result, an image based on the dot pattern is recorded on the recording width portion p of the recording paper 6 (see FIG. 1).

Thereafter, the recording heads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2
d is P1 from the recording start position by the drive motor 5 (FIG. 1).
When recording is performed by ink ejection onto the recording paper 6 after feeding by the number of pulses, the carriage 1 for P2 pulses is moved, and recording for one scan is completed. Thereafter, the carriage 1 reverses its moving direction and is driven in the direction of arrow E in the figure to return to the idle discharge position. With this movement, the recording paper 6 is moved to the recording width portion P.
Is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow F) by the width of .times. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 445 denotes a head cleaning mechanism using water, but detailed description thereof is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

The overall configuration of a textile printing apparatus using the above-described ink jet system for a printing section of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

Print image data is sent from the host computer 101 such as a workstation to the control board 102 in the textile printing apparatus via an interface (here, GPIB). The device for transmitting the image data does not need to be particularly limited, and may be transferred via a network, offline via an MT (magnet tape) or the like, and may take various forms. The control board 102 is the center of the printing apparatus and manages the entire apparatus.

That is, the control board 102
Receiving input of the key or the like with the operation unit 103,
An output for performing a predetermined display is performed. Also, cloth feeder 1
For example, a process of giving a cloth feeding instruction to the program 04 is performed. Cloth feeder 1
A detailed example of communication with the server 04 will be described with reference to FIG. Further, it controls driving of an actuator system such as a motor and a solenoid via the driver unit 105 and reading of the state of each device via a sensor or the like.

Since the description of various actuators and sensors is not directly related to the present invention, only representative functions will be described below.

The carriage motor 5 of FIG. 4 corresponding to the motor 5 shown in FIG. 1 differs from that of FIG. 1 in the following points. In FIG. 1, only four recording heads of four colors are used.
11, S12, S21, and S22 are mounted, and not only one recording head per color but also two recording heads per color may be used to speed up printing. Therefore, the weight and volume of the carriage are increased, and the carriage motor is also larger than the motor used in a normal printer or copying machine. In addition, to print continuously on cloth spanning several tens of meters,
During this time, a large amount of ink is consumed. In some cases, for example, it is possible to use ink equivalent to the maximum stored ink amount of a normal printer in one hour. Therefore, in the printing apparatus of this example, which is not shown in FIG. 1, an ink feed motor 106 for moving a large ink tank storing a large amount of ink together with the carriage is required. Further, the capping motors 25-1 and 25-2 in FIG. 4 correspond to the cap driver 25 shown in FIG. 1. In this example, two capping motors are used for each color, and two capping motors are used. Equipped with a motor. In addition, the position sensor S-1 detects information such as the position of the carriage and the presence or absence of a cloth. The head driving signal is transmitted from the flexible cable 13 and the neutral board 1 on the carriage.
The print data is sent to each print head via the lines 07-1 and 107-2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the control board 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a processing configuration of image data in the image data 02 together with a flow of the data.

First, the printing apparatus is operated by the host computer 1.
From 01, information such as image data to be printed and color pallet table data is received. The image data from the host computer 101 is transmitted to the GPIB interface 501, G
PIB controller 502, DMA controller 503
And stored in the image memory 505 via the FM memory controller 504. 124 MB of this memory 505
The memory size “yte” is obtained when the A1 size is configured by 8-bit palette data, and can be determined based on product specifications. When the transfer from the host computer ends and the specified processing ends,
The printing apparatus enters a printing standby state.

Upon receiving a print start signal from the CPU (not shown), reading of the image memory from the image memory 505 is started. Since the data transferred from the host computer 101 is a raster image, the data is converted into data for driving each recording head by a raster BJ conversion 506, and the converted data is converted into a pallet through an enlargement function 507. Enter 508. The signal 507 'output from the enlargement function 507 has the form of the data itself sent from the host computer 101, and is an 8-bit palette signal in this embodiment. The data is converted into color data by a palette conversion device 508 and a conversion table (SRAM) 509 at the next stage. In the case of this embodiment, the colors are classified into a total of six colors in which the special colors S1 and S2 are added to the four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Here, an example of conversion of the pallet table 509 is shown in FIG.

In the case of an 8-bit palette, there are 256 inputs from 0 to 255, and as can be understood from FIG. 8, the conversion is, for example, when 0 is input, light gray, and 1 is input. If the spot color is solid, the solid color of spot color 1 will be input. If 2 is input, the solid color of spot color 2 will be printed. If 3 is input, a mixed color of cyan and magenta will become blue-blue. Solid printing, if 5 is input, it becomes reddish with a mixed color of magenta and yellow, and if 6 is input, it becomes more reddish than 5, and 254 is input If it is done, it will be yellow solid printing, and if 255 is input, nothing will be hit.

As a specific circuit configuration, each RAM 509
, An input (pallet data) is added to this address, and the data at this address is used as a conversion value. When this conversion table is fixed, the table can be constituted by a ROM. The device 508 has a function of managing a RAM and an interface with a CPU.

The next stage of HS (head shading) conversion 510 also performs table conversion, and the recording heads 2a to 2d (C1, C2, M in FIG. 4) shown in FIG.
1, M2, Y1, Y2, K1 and K2) are corrected for print density variations (irregularities) corresponding to the respective ejection openings. For example, data processing is performed such that ejection ports with a small ejection ink amount and a low density of recording dots are converted to dark data, ejection ports with a high density are converted to light data, and medium ejection ports are flowed as they are. Reference numeral 511 denotes an SRAM for converting the HS table.

The next γ conversion is performed similarly by the γ conversion device 512.
And a conversion table RAM 513, and for each color,
A table conversion for gradation correction for increasing or decreasing the overall density is performed. When no conversion of density is performed, a linear table, that is, 0 output for 0 input, 100 for 0 input
100 outputs for inputs, 210 outputs for 210 inputs, 25
Conversion of 5 inputs to 255 outputs is performed.

The above color data conversion table 509, HS
If each of the conversion table 511 and the γ conversion table 513 is provided according to the type of cloth used for printing, optimal printing according to the type of cloth can be performed.

The next-stage binarization circuit 514 is a device having a pseudo-gray-scale function. The input to this is 8-bit gray-scale data, and the output is a 1-bit binarized pseudo-gray-scale data. Data. This pseudo gradation data is expressed in gradation by the number of dots formed per unit area (or unit pixel), and is stored in the connection memory 515 (SRAM).

At this stage, the binarized data C corresponding to each color
1, M1, Y1, K1, A1, and S2 are generated. The binarized signals of the respective colors pass through a similar circuit system in the following.
Only 1 will be described below.

In FIG. 6, the binarized data C1
Is an SMS generator 522 for performing normal image processing.
To enter. However, 517 of the binary PG controller constituting the pattern generator (PG) for test printing is used.
Since the selector 519 is provided to accept the output from the EPROM 518, the signal C1 is input to the SMS (sequential multi-scan) generator 522 in accordance with the switching of the selector 519.

Here, the pattern generator EPRO
M518 stores PG data, and the output timing is managed by the PG controller 517. Also,
In the case of cloth, a logo mark such as the brand of the manufacturer is often put on the end. The data for this is stored in the EPROM 52
The logo control 520 manages the position, length, and the like of the logo mark based on this data. That is, the data C1 is input to the SMS generator 522 after the logo data is added thereto.

As described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-74209 filed by the present applicant, the SMS generator 522 forms dots at the pixels corresponding to the data C1 by any of the ink discharge ports of the recording heads C1 and C2. Is performed. Thus, it is possible to prevent a decrease in print quality due to unevenness in ink ejection of each ejection port. In brief, when each print pixel on the cloth is formed by a plurality of dots, each of these dots is formed by discharging ink from different discharge ports in different scans of the print heads C1 and C2. The different discharge ports are used sequentially.
As described above, the SMS generator 522 divides the data to be printed into two, the memory controls 523 and 525, according to a predetermined procedure.

The link memory 524 is a data storage memory for correcting the physical position of the recording head interval. Image data distributed and input by the SMS generator 522 is temporarily stored in this memory, and is stored in the memory. It is read at the timing according to the target position. The link memory controls 523 and 525 perform data management of this reading. The data rearrangement 527 rearranges data according to each recording head.

As described above, the binarized cyan data C1
Are sent to the two print heads C1 and C2 via the relay board 107 after the above processing is performed in parallel according to the two print heads.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the communication specifications between the cloth feeder 104 and the control board 102 of the printing unit. The ready signal RDY of the cloth feeder 104 and the ready signal PRN-RDY of the printing unit are both "H". "Enables communication. When the print unit outputs a request signal REQ-SEND requesting that cloth as a recording medium be sent, the cloth feeder 104 outputs a signal ACK-SEND indicating that cloth is being sent. The signal CR-HP is a signal indicating that the recording head is at a predetermined position. When this signal is "H", it indicates that the cloth may be sent. The reason why such a configuration is adopted is that if the cloth is fed while the recording head is on the cloth, the recording head surface may be damaged.

The signal ERROR-DO indicates that some error has occurred in the cloth feeder 104.
The CPU of the printing unit monitors this signal at predetermined intervals. The signal PRN-ERROR is an error signal output from the printing unit, and the CPU of the cloth feeder 104 monitors this signal at predetermined intervals. The signal INKLESS is
The signal LNGTH-DO is a signal indicating that the ink in the printing unit is almost exhausted, and the signal LNGTH-DO is a signal indicating an adjustment value of the cloth feed amount. An example of three bits of this signal is shown in Table 1 below.

[0059]

[Table 1]

By changing this bit in accordance with the type of the cloth, the cloth feed amount can be finely adjusted. In this configuration, if necessary, if the number of bits is increased, the number of adjustment values can be increased to perform many adjustments. Signal WIDTH-D1
Is a signal indicating the cloth feed amount, and an example of this signal consisting of 2 bits is shown in Table 2 below.

[0061]

[Table 2]

Switching of the cloth feed amount is a measure against a large change such as a change in the printing method or a change in the recording head.

Various operations in the configuration of the printing apparatus described above will be described below.

As described above, the feed amount is adjusted according to the material of the cloth used for printing, such as surface, silk, wool, nylon, polyester, and acrylic, by sending a signal having the contents shown in Table 1 to the cloth feeder 104. This is done by: That is, the CPU of the textile printing apparatus sets each bit of the signal LNGTH-DO according to the contents of Table 1 by an operator input from the operation unit 103 (see FIG. 4) or an instruction from the host computer 101. The fine adjustment of the feed amount according to is possible. The fine-adjustment feed amount by the cloth type can be automatically stored by inputting the cloth type without having to input the fine-adjustment value of the feed amount from the operation unit every time by storing this in a nonvolatile memory or the like. The optimal fine adjustment value can also be set by the CPU. Further, the above-described color data conversion table 50
9HS conversion table 511 and γ conversion table 513
The setting according to the cloth type is also performed by an input through the operation unit 103 or an input from the computer 101.

A description will now be given of a mechanism for dividing blocks in the RAM check routine at the time of turning on the power of the circuit described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, and for displaying the number of errors generated for each block.

In the RAM check routine, the CPU
Writes predetermined data into all the RAMs shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and reads them to confirm that they are normal. In an apparatus having a huge memory in each section, such as an ink-jet type printing apparatus, it takes several tens of minutes even for a RAM check alone, and it is difficult for an operator to recognize the state of the apparatus at present. Therefore, in the first step of this routine, the first half of the image memory 505 is subjected to a write / read check while indicating that the first step is being checked, and in the second step, the second half of the image memory 505 is subjected to the second read. A write / read check is performed while displaying that the step is being checked. In the third step, a palette conversion SRAM 509 for each color is performed.
Is written and read while indicating that the check is being performed in the third step. In the fourth step, H of each color is checked.
By performing a write / read check on the S-conversion SRAM 511 while indicating that the fourth step is being checked, the check is similarly advanced for each step, and error information in each step is displayed together. The configuration is such that the operator can immediately know where to repair.

For example, if an error occurs occasionally at random in the third step, the operator will think that the RAM device itself should be replaced. For example, in the third step, all errors occur. In such a case, the operator may think of checking the mounting condition of the RAM device. Further, for example, if an error occurs at a certain interval in the third step, dust adheres to the address line of the RAM device. The operator will come up with a check for broken wires.

Although details of the operation unit 103 are not shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 103 includes a key switch or the like as data input means, and includes a liquid crystal display device or an LED as display means. In the case of a textile printing apparatus, when printing a long cloth, continuous printing may be performed for several hours or one day or more. Therefore,
What pattern is being printed, how many meters are printed,
The ability to always check these on the display, such as how many meters are to be printed and what is the set value of the cloth feed amount, improves the operability of the apparatus.

FIG. 9 mainly shows this display example. It is a schematic plan view.

In FIG. 9, a liquid crystal display device 901 has
A printed length 902, a remaining print length 903, a cloth feed amount 904, a registered image data name 906, and a cloth feed amount fine adjustment value 905 are displayed. Operation unit 1
03 is provided with a lamp 907 for displaying an error.

A stop button 908 and an emergency stop button 909 are provided on the operation unit 103. When the stop button 908 is pressed, if the recording head is scanning, the CPU terminates the operation. Stop, FIGS. 5 and 6
The memory address counters and the like in each block shown in (3) also keep the stopped state while maintaining the previous operation state, and wait for the next start start signal. In the case of a restart, the print patterns are continuously connected. This mode is effective for a temporary stop for maintenance or the like.

When the emergency stop button 909 is pressed, the CPU stops driving all actuators in anticipation of an accident or the like. In this case, even if it starts again,
The printed pattern is not continuous. However, the image memory 5
Since 05 is not erased, the printing operation can be started without re-transmitting the data, and printing is started again from the first portion of the print pattern.

The recording medium used in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention may be not only the cloth shown in the above embodiment but also paper or the like. Further, the cloth is not limited to those described above, and any of natural and synthetic cloths can be used, and any of a woven cloth and a nonwoven cloth may be used.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

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 is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. 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 a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
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, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body is attached to the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recording head discharge recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to the recording head having only one corresponding to a single color ink, it corresponds to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

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 may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself 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. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state where it is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. 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, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the color conversion table for converting the input image data into the ink color data of each of the plurality of recording heads corresponding to the ink colors is changed according to the type of the cloth conveyed by the conveying means, the color conversion table corresponding to the type of the cloth is changed. A constant color reproduction can be performed while suppressing the difference. Further, according to another aspect, since the transport amount is changed according to the elasticity of the cloth to be conveyed for recording, the difference in the elasticity according to the type of the cloth is eliminated, and the connecting stripe due to this difference is eliminated. Occurrence can be reduced.

As a result, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can make the color of the color image reproduced on the cloth appropriate and can reduce the appearance of the connecting streak without depending on the kind of the cloth. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus used in a recording section of a textile printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of a recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the device for explaining the operation of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a textile printing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside a control board shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside a control board shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of each signal for explaining communication between the control board and the cloth feeder shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a pallet conversion table shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view mainly showing a display unit of the operation unit shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

5 Head feed motor 25-1, 25-2 Capping motor 101 Host computer 102 Control board 103 Operation unit 104 Cloth feeder 105 Driver unit I / O 106 Ink feed motor 107-1, 107-2 Relay board 504 FM controller 505 Image Memory 506 Raster BJ conversion 507 Enlargement 508 Pallet conversion 509 Table RAM 510 HS conversion 511 Table RAM 512 γ conversion 513 Table RAM 514 Binarization circuit 515 Connection RAM 522 SMS generator 523, 525 Connection memory control 524, 526 Connection memory 527, 508 Data rearrangement C1, C2, M1, M2, Y1, Y2, K1, K2, S
11, S12, S21, S22 Recording head

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by using a plurality of recording heads corresponding to ink colors and ejecting ink from the plurality of recording heads to a cloth, wherein the plurality of recording heads are used in the recording. Moving means for moving the printhead; conveying means for conveying the cloth to a moving area of the plurality of recording heads by the moving means; and converting input image data into ink color data of the plurality of recording heads. An image processing unit that performs processing for converting the input image data into ink ejection data of the plurality of recording heads using a color conversion table; and the image processing unit according to a type of cloth conveyed by the conveyance unit. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: control means for changing a color conversion table in the above. 2. The image processing means further uses at least one of a head shading table and a gamma conversion table, and the control means further changes the head shading table or the gamma conversion table according to the type of the cloth. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further changes a transport amount of the cloth transported by the transport unit according to a type of the cloth. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus further comprises an operation unit for an operator, wherein data relating to the type of the cloth can be input by input means of the operation unit,
4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input data is held in a nonvolatile memory. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by discharging ink onto a cloth using a recording head for discharging ink, a moving unit for moving the recording head during the recording, Transport means for transporting the cloth to a moving area of the recording head by the moving means, image processing means for performing processing for converting input image data into ink ejection data of the recording head, and the transport means An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: control means for changing a transport amount by the transport means according to elasticity of a cloth transported for recording. 6. A processing parameter of the image processing means,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus includes at least one of parameters for gamma conversion or head shading. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein two recording heads are used for one color ink ejected by the recording head.