JP3466653B2 - 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.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The main factors that influence the quality of an image printed by an inkjet printing system are the amount of ink droplets ejected from a recording head and the landing position of ink droplets on a recording medium.

That is, when a predetermined amount of ink droplets are not ejected, the size of the dots formed on the recording medium may change and uneven density may occur in the recorded image. One of the causes of changing the amount of such ejected ink droplets is the ink refill speed.

When the ink is ejected from a certain ink ejection port and then the ink is ejected from the ejection port, it is necessary to supply the ink and return the ink to a predetermined position with respect to the ejection port. Such a return of ink to a predetermined position where normal ejection is possible, that is, refilling,
If the next ejection is not sufficiently performed, normal ink ejection cannot be obtained due to a shortage of the ejected ink amount during the ejection. Therefore, the refill frequency needs to be faster than the ejection frequency of the head.

On the other hand, if the landing position of the ejected ink drop is displaced, streaks or the like will occur in the recorded image, and the image quality will be degraded. Such a deviation of the landing position may occur due to the deflection of the ink ejection direction even when the above-described refill is not performed properly. However, the so-called serial method in which recording is performed while scanning the recording head is performed. In a recording device, this may occur due to this method. For example, in the case where printing is performed in both directions of print head scanning in the serial system, if the amount of deviation of the recording head relative to the forward recording during forward recording and forward recording changes, the forward recording and backward recording will change. The landing positions of the ejected ink droplets deviate from each other depending on time.

[0006]

By the way, the performance of the above-mentioned refill may change depending on the operating environment temperature of the apparatus, more specifically, the temperature of the ink itself.
In addition, in a recording head with an integrated ink tank, an ink holding member such as a sponge may be used to prevent the ink in the ink tank from leaking to the outside. Can also change significantly.

For example, when the temperature of the environment for use is low, the viscosity of the ink itself increases, which causes resistance to the ink flow when refilling the common liquid chamber or the ink path, and the refill frequency decreases. In order to prevent such a decrease in refill frequency, there is a configuration to locally heat the common liquid chamber and the vicinity of the ink passage by providing a heater in the vicinity of the element that generates the energy used for ejection. Even when the refill performance is improved and a proper amount of ink can be ejected, the ink viscosity in the ink tank remains high, so the flow resistance of the ink flowing in the ink tank does not change. As a result, there may occur a problem that the supply of ink from the ink tank to the ink path is not in time.

Further, when the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank decreases, the head pressure of the common liquid chamber and the ink passage relatively rises, and a sufficient pressure difference for ink supply cannot be secured, resulting in deterioration of refill performance. In some cases, the refill cannot follow the ejection frequency of the recording head.

Further, as for the deviation of the recording position due to the scanning of the recording head as described above, the driving load necessary for the movement of the recording head changes due to the change of the environmental temperature of the recording apparatus or the temperature of the recording apparatus itself. Or the output torque of a drive motor for moving the recording head (generally a stepping motor is used) is changed, or the size of the drive member is changed due to the temperature change. as a result,
The amount of deviation between the forward printing and the backward printing may change, and the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head may shift.

As described above, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the appropriate control depending on the temperature of each part of the apparatus and the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is not sufficiently performed, so that abnormal ink ejection or There was a case where the landing position was displaced and the quality of the recorded image was degraded.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to perform appropriate control in accordance with the temperature of each part of the recording apparatus and the ink remaining amount. Eliminate the deviation of ink amount and landing position,
An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device capable of preventing deterioration of the quality of a recorded image.

[0012]

Therefore, according to the present invention,
In an ink jet recording apparatus that uses a recording head for ejecting ink and ejects ink from the recording head to a recording medium to perform recording, as a state quantity indicating a degree of time required for ink refilling to the recording head, Previous
An ink tank that stores the ink supplied to the recording head.
Based on the detection means for detecting at least one of the ink temperature of the ink and the time during which the recording head is attached to the recording device, and the state quantity detected by the detection means,
A control unit that controls the ejection interval of the recording head in the recording operation to be longer than the time required for ink refilling.

In another aspect, in an ink jet recording apparatus that uses a recording head for ejecting ink and ejects the ink from the recording head to a recording medium for recording, the ink supplied to the recording head is stored. Made in
Detecting means for detecting the ink temperature and the discharge frequency at the certain area of the recording head of ink tank, said sensing hand
The ink temperature detected by the step is the discharge temperature detected by the detection means.
Out when the predetermined temperature defined in accordance with the frequency of the low temperature, the detection means in accordance with the ink temperature is detected, the ink temperature discharge interval of the recording head in the recording operation office
Head drive control means for controlling the ejection interval to be longer than the ejection interval when the temperature is constant .
In still another mode, in an ink jet recording apparatus that uses a recording head for ejecting ink and ejects the ink from the recording head onto a recording medium to perform recording, the ink stored in the ink supplied to the recording head is used. detecting means for detecting ink temperature and the ink remaining amount in the tank, and the discharge frequency in a certain area of the recording head, the ink temperature, wherein the detecting means is detected, the detection hand
When the predetermined temperature defined in accordance with the discharge frequency of stage detects <br/> low temperature, depending on the ink temperature to said detecting means detects
The ink temperature is the basic pulse width of the drive pulse of the heater that heats the ink in the ink tank for preliminary heat retention.
It is controlled to be longer than the pulse width at the above-mentioned predetermined temperature.
The detection means detects the controlled basic pulse width.
The drive pattern can be changed by changing it according to the remaining ink amount.
Ink heating control means for determining the pulse width of the loose.

[0014]

According to the above configuration, at least the ink temperature of the ink tank is detected as the state quantity indicating the time required for refilling in the print head, and the refill time in the recording operation is determined based on the detected state quantity. Since the ejection interval of the recording heads that are affected by the change and the drive time of the heater that heats the ink are controlled, for example, when the refill time indicated by the state amount becomes long, the ejection interval can be increased or the above
The width of the drive pulse of the heater that heats the
Ink is heated it is possible to over Getari the temperature Te. In particular, by performing the above control when the ink temperature is a low temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the influence of the control on the recording result can be minimized.

[0015]

[0016]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The head cartridge 1 is a head cartridge that integrally includes an inkjet recording head and an ink tank, and is detachably attached to the carriage 2. The carriage 2 carries this and scans in the S direction in the figure. The head cartridge 1 is attached to the carriage 2 by the hook 3.
The hook 3 is operated by the lever 4. The support plate 5 is provided on the carriage 2 and supports an electric connecting portion that connects the electric connecting portion when the head cartridge 1 is mounted. Flexible wiring cable 6
Is provided for connecting the electrical connection unit and the main body control unit. The guide shaft 7 guides the carriage 2 in the S direction, and is inserted into the bearing 8 of the carriage 2. A part of the timing belt 9 is the carriage 2
Pulleys 10 which are provided on both sides of the device and which are provided so as to transmit power for connecting to the
It is stretched over A and 10B. The driving force is transmitted from the carriage motor 11 to one pulley 10B via a transmission mechanism such as a gear.

The conveying roller 12 regulates the recording surface of a recording medium such as a recording sheet, conveys the recording surface at the time of recording, and is driven by the conveying motor 13. The paper pan 14 guides the recording medium to the recording position and the pinch roller 1
Reference numeral 5 is arranged in the middle of the feeding path of the recording medium and presses the recording medium toward the conveying roller 12. Platen 16
Controls the recording surface of the recording medium facing the ejection port of the head cartridge 1. The paper discharge roller 17 is arranged on the downstream side of the recording position in the conveying direction of the recording medium, and discharges the recording medium toward a paper discharge port (not shown). 17 is provided corresponding to 17 and presses the discharge roller 17 via the recording medium,
The conveyance force of the paper discharge roller 17 is generated. Reference numeral 19 is a release lever for releasing the bias of the pinch roller 15 and the spur 18 when setting the recording medium.

Both ends of the platen 16 are rotatably supported by the shafts of the paper discharge rollers 17, and are biased toward the front of the apparatus from the stop positions of the left and right plates 20 to the portion 12A where the transport rollers 12 are smaller than the outermost circumference. Correspondingly, a plurality of abutting portions 16A provided in contact with the inside of the paper pressing plate 21.

At the home position, the cap 22 faces the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording head. The cap 22 is used for protection of the recording head during non-recording, and for ejection recovery processing of the recording head.

The ejection recovery process is performed by causing the cap 22 to face the ejection port forming surface and driving an energy generating element provided inside the ink ejection port to generate energy used for ejecting ink. Ink is ejected from the ejection port, which causes bubbles, dust, or
A process (preliminary ejection) of removing an ejection failure factor such as ink that has thickened and is no longer suitable for recording, or separately ejects the ink from the ejection port with the ejection port formation surface covered with the cap 22. This is the process of removing the cause of ejection failure.

The cap 23 acts as a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink, and at the time of the discharge recovery process by the forced discharge and the discharge recovery process by the preliminary discharge, the cap 22 is provided.
It is a pump used for sucking the ink received in. Reference numeral 24 is a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by the pump 23. The waste ink tank 24 is connected to the pump 23 by 28 tubes.

The blade 25 is provided for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, and protrudes toward the recording head side to perform wiping in the course of carriage movement and a retracted position where the ejection port forming surface is not engaged. It is movably supported by. 26 is a motor, 27 is a motor 26
This is a cam device for driving the pump 23 and moving the cap 22 and the blade 25 by receiving power transmission from the pump.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the head cartridge.

In FIG. 2, the recording head is provided with 64 ejection ports 29. The common liquid chamber 30 temporarily stores the ink to be supplied to each ink path, and the chip tank 31 is a pipe that connects the ink tank portion and the common liquid chamber 30. Reference numeral 32 is a sponge provided in the ink tank, and is held by this so that the ink does not leak out. The filter 33 is provided at one end of the chip tank 31 and is energized to a thermal energy generating element (not shown) provided in the ink passage communicating with the ejection port 29 for preventing invasion of air bubbles, dust, etc. into the inside thereof. The ink is ejected from the ejection port 29 by the bubbles generated in the ink passage.

A temperature sensor 34 is provided in the ink tank and outputs a voltage according to a temperature change in the ink tank. The temperature sensor 34 is composed of a well-known thermistor, and is composed of a material that is isolated from or not corroded from the ink so that the temperature detection portion and the electrical contacts are not corroded by the ink held in the sponge 32 in the ink tank. It is provided so that the ink temperature in the ink tank can be detected. Temperature sensor 34
Is output to the MPU, which will be described later, through the electrical connection portion of the head cartridge 1 and the flexible wiring cable 6, and also through a predetermined signal amplification circuit and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

The cap position and the movement position of the carriage 2 can be known based on the detection by the recovery system home sensor 35 and the carriage home sensor 36. In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an MP that executes a control procedure such as a preset program to control each unit.
U and 1001 are ROMs storing programs corresponding to the control means, and 1002 is a RAM used as a work area when executing the control procedure.
Reference numeral 1003 is a timer that measures time for executing control.

Next, a method of driving the energy generating element for ejecting the recording head according to this embodiment described above will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the energization timing of the energy generating element in the first drive mode.

This energy generating element is, for example, an electrothermal converting element (hereinafter, also referred to as a heater), and 64 heaters provided corresponding to 64 discharge ports are not energized at the same time. That is, in order to suppress the maximum current to a low level, the current is energized every 8 times in 8 times. More specifically, the 64 discharge ports are divided into 8 blocks a to h, and the heater is selectively driven in accordance with the recording signal for 7 μs in sequence from the block a, and a period of 8 μs in which no electricity is supplied is provided between them. deep. The printing speed is, for example, 64 cps (characters per second), and the ejection frequency is 3072 HZ, that is, 48 dots × 64 cps, so the heat interval A of a dot during continuous ejection is approximately 326 μsec, or 1/3072 HZ. When performing continuous ejection, the refilling performed after the ejection must be completed, for example, within the driving cycle of 326 μsec. The heat interval A is MPU100.
It is configured to be variably set by an instruction from 0.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the energization timing of the heater for explaining the second drive mode of the present embodiment.

This drive mode is a shift drive method proposed by the applicant of the present application, and the method of dividing the eight blocks of the 64 ejection ports into even-numbered and odd-numbered ejections is as shown in the figure. A, c, e and g and b, which are blocks for each exit
d, f, and h are collectively and alternately heated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to record a dot matrix shifted by 1/720 inch every other ejection port.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which printing is performed according to this dot matrix, and the dot diameter is about 120 μm. In FIG. 5, “a”, “c”, “e”, and “g” are arranged in this order for 7 μs each, and a period of 8 μs in which no current is applied is provided between them, and 5
The ejection of this group is completed in 2 μsec. Similarly, the group of b, d, f, and h is also ejected in the same manner with the time B1 during which electricity is not applied. The heat interval B for all the dots can be made variable by the instruction of the MPU 1000, as in the mode shown in FIG. According to this driving method, as compared with the first driving mode in FIG. 4, the ink supply amount per unit time is small, the refilling by the reaction wave due to the ejection from other ejection ports is promoted, and the ink ejection is performed. Later refill time can be shortened.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the recording / printing process in the recording apparatus described above.

For example, when the recording apparatus is powered on and a recording command is issued (step S101), the recovery system motor 26 operates to set the recovery system unit to the recovery system home position and retract the cap 22. To the home position. After that, the cap 22 is again brought into contact with the ejection opening portion of the recording head to wait for a signal of recording data. A series of processes for starting recording (step S102)
When the recording data signal is input, the conveyance motor 13 is operated to start feeding, and the recording medium such as the fed paper is conveyed to a desired recording start position, and then the cap is set. After retracting 22 to separate it from the ejection opening portion of the recording head (step S103), the carriage 2 is set to the home position and predetermined preliminary ejection is performed (step S104), and the carrier is moved to a desired recording start position. Move (step S105). Next, the ink temperature sensor 34 provided in the recording head detects the ink temperature (step S106). The MPU 1000 refers to the drive method selection table shown in FIG. 9 according to the detected ink temperature (steps S107 and S10).
8, S109), the driving method is determined, and printing for one line is performed (step S110). As described above, the preliminary ejection is performed immediately before the recording is performed. Further, if the predetermined time T seconds has elapsed from the previous preliminary ejection even during the recording (step S112), the carriage 2 is It is moved to the home position again (step S114), and preliminary ejection is performed (step S115). At this time, if the signal of the recording data of the next row is input, the ink temperature is detected again and the recording operation is continued. When a recording end signal is input, the recovery system motor 26 operates to move the blade 25 forward to the recording head side and set it to a position where it can contact the ejection port of the recording head. Wipe operation is performed. Then carriage 2
Is set to a position where the cap 22 can come into contact with the cap 2
2 advances and is capped, and a series of recording operations ends (step S116).

Next, the drive method selection table for the printing operation shown in FIG. 9 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a table referred to by the MPU 1000 for determining the driving method according to the ink temperature indicated by the output signal from the temperature sensor 34, and the driving method for each ink temperature is shown. This table shows the non-shift drive which is the first drive mode shown in FIG. 4 or the shift drive which is the second drive mode shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to each ink temperature. The values of the heat intervals A or B of all the dots are shown. The table is configured to be appropriately referred to by a program which is stored in the ROM 1001 of the MPU 1000 and which instructs the MPU. When the reference instruction is given on the program, the driving method is set with reference to FIG. .

In this embodiment, the ink temperature is 23 ° C.
The case is set as the standard temperature. A ₀ is shown as the heat interval A that enables stable ink ejection when the ink temperature is the standard temperature, and this standard temperature is the temperature at which the recording apparatus is most used at this temperature. At this temperature, non-shift drive, which is the first drive mode that does not change the shape of the printed dot matrix, is set. When the detected ink temperature is equal to or higher than the standard temperature, the ink viscosity is relatively low, so that the refill performance is hardly deteriorated due to the increase in the viscosity, and therefore the standard temperature is set to the same value. In addition, the normal temperature range of 15 ℃
At a temperature of from 22 ° C. to 22 ° C., the ink viscosity becomes relatively high and the refill performance starts to deteriorate. Therefore, the heat interval of all the dots is set to the above-mentioned A ₀ so that the ink can be ejected more stably by the decrease in the refill performance.
It is set as A ₁ to A ₈ to longer values. A ₁ ~
The value of A ₈ is set so that the increase rate is about 10% compared to the heat interval A ₀ at the standard temperature in consideration of the normal temperature range, and the print dot matrix is changed. Is set to the first drive mode. Next, when the temperature is 14 ° C. or lower, the refill performance begins to show a marked decrease, and a longer refill time is required, so the second drive mode that can shorten the refill time so that the recording time does not decrease as a whole is provided. Is set. The driving method is set in the same manner even when the ink temperature is 9 ° C. or lower, but the heat interval B ₅ of all dots is compared with the heat interval A ₀ corresponding to the ink standard temperature because it does not cause the user to feel uncomfortable. The rate of increase is set to about 30%.

As described above, the driving method is optimally set according to the change of the refill characteristic according to the change of the ink temperature to prevent the image deterioration caused by the deterioration of the refill performance. it can.

Further, the increase rate of the heat interval of all dots is suppressed to about 10% in the temperature range of 15 ° C. or higher, which is relatively frequently used by the users of the recording apparatus, and the increase rate is 30% in the entire temperature range. Since it is suppressed to about%, there is also an effect that the user does not feel an uncomfortable feeling due to the decrease in the recording speed.

Furthermore, since the first drive mode is set in the temperature range of 23 ° C. or higher, which is the most frequently used frequency, the recording dot matrix does not change and the desired image can be faithfully obtained. .

In the drive method selection table shown in FIG. 9, the switching points of the drive modes and the heat interval values set according to the refill performance of the print head are optimized for the print head and the printing apparatus. Can be set freely.

Further, the ink temperature detecting means may be an indirect means for estimating the ink temperature instead of the above-mentioned direct means. For example, in an ink jet recording apparatus of a type in which electric energy is applied to an energy generating element of a recording head and the electric energy is converted into thermal energy to eject ink, the temperature in the recording apparatus, the amount of applied electric energy, The ink temperature may be estimated based on the time during which the electric energy is applied, the elapsed time from the time when the application is finished, or the like.

(Modification 1 of First Embodiment) In this embodiment,
A case where the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is used as a criterion for determining the driving method will be described.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a recording head in which the ink remaining amount detecting means 37 is provided in the chip tank 31.

The ink detecting means 37 is composed of a pressure sensor or the like, and detects the pressure which changes according to the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, and this detection signal is sent to the MPU 1 through the interface section 1004 of the control structure shown in FIG.
Input to 000. When the recording command is input, the process is performed as shown in FIG. 12, and the driving method is selected for each line, for example, according to the remaining ink amount. That is, the remaining ink amount is detected in step S206 shown in FIG.
At 7, the drive method is determined (determined) according to the remaining ink amount. At this time, a driving method selection table similar to the table shown in FIG. 9 is used, and here the reference parameter of the table is not the ink temperature but the remaining ink amount. And, as a whole, the heat interval becomes longer as the ink remaining amount decreases.

As described above, since the driving method can be selected according to the change in the remaining ink amount, the driving method can be selected according to the deterioration of the refill performance of the recording head caused by the decrease in the remaining ink amount. It is possible to prevent deterioration of the captured image.

Although the pressure sensor is used as the ink remaining amount detecting means in the above embodiment, the ink remaining amount may be detected by detecting the number of recording dots. In this case, in the configuration using the replaceable ink tank-integrated recording head, means for detecting whether or not the recording head is mounted in the recording device is provided, and the total number of recording dots from the unused state of the ink tank is accumulated. The remaining amount of ink may be detected by counting to. In addition, in the device configuration in which only the ink tank is replaced, the total number of recording dots after the ink tank is replaced is also counted, and when the recording head or the ink tank is removed, the number of recorded dots is counted. Can be reset, and the number of recording dots can be cumulatively counted from the time of remounting.
Further, as the remaining amount detecting means, in addition to this, when the member for holding the ink in the ink tank is formed of sponge or the like and the ink itself has conductivity, a pair of electrodes are arranged in the sponge. The conductivity between the electrodes may be measured to detect the remaining amount of ink.

(Modification 2 of the first embodiment) In this example, the case where the number of droplets ejected in a certain area, that is, the print duty is used as a criterion for determining the driving method will be described.

In the control configuration shown in FIG. 11, reference numeral 10
Reference numeral 05 denotes a unit for detecting the number of recorded dots, and this unit counts the number of dots related to recording in a certain area from the recording data. In the case of the present embodiment, for example, in the processing procedure shown in FIG. 12, in step S206, instead of detecting the remaining ink amount, the number of print dots for each line is counted and the print duty within one line is calculated. The calculated print duty is input to the MPU 1000 shown in FIG.
Immediately before the start of the next recording, the U1000 selects a driving method according to the recording duty as in steps S207, S208, and S209 shown in FIG. The driving method selection table at this time is the same as that shown in FIG. 9, and the print duty is used as the reference parameter instead of the ink temperature. The heat interval is set to be longer as the print duty is higher.

By adopting such a constitution that the driving method can be selected according to the change of the recording duty, the optimum driving method can be selected according to the deterioration of the refill performance of the recording head due to the high recording duty. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the image due to the deterioration of the performance.

(Modification 3 of the first embodiment) In this example, the case where the temperature sensor in the recording apparatus is used as the criterion for determining the driving method will be described.

In the control structure shown in FIG. 13, 39 is a temperature sensor in the recording apparatus, which is a known thermistor whose output voltage changes according to the detected temperature, and which is mounted in the recording apparatus shown in FIG. ing. Also, it is difficult to mount this temperature sensor near the recording head due to the mounting space, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor inside this device detects the temperature inside the recording device. Generally, the temperature of the recording head does not match the temperature of the recording head because it is relatively sensitive to temperature rise factors such as the internal power source. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as an example, as shown in FIG. 13, a measuring unit 1006 for measuring the time after the power of the recording apparatus is turned on is provided, and the temperature sensor 39 detects the temperature according to the measured time. The temperature is corrected.

This structure is shown in FIG. That is, with respect to the temperature Ts (1403 in the figure) detected by the recording device internal temperature sensor 39, a deviation amount from the internal device temperature according to the power-on time (1401) is set in advance as a correction coefficient P (1402). ), The print head temperature Th is calculated by adding the correction coefficient P to the temperature Ts (1404). Here, the correction coefficient P is determined by the mounting position of the temperature sensor, the heat capacity of the recording head itself, and the like. The calculated print head temperature Th is implemented by the output of the device temperature sensor 39 and the power-on time measuring means 1006 in the MPU 1000 and serves as a reference for determining the driving method in the same manner as described in the above embodiments.

By providing a driving method selection table using the calculated recording head temperature as a reference parameter in the same manner as in FIG. 9, the driving method can be determined according to the change in the refill performance which changes depending on the recording head temperature. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the result.

(Fourth Modification of First Embodiment) In this example, as the drive method determining means, the drive method is determined according to the mounting time from the time when the recording head or the ink tank is mounted to the recording apparatus. Will be explained.

The recording head (or ink tank) mounting time detecting means 40 of the control configuration shown in FIG.
A switch for detecting the presence / absence of the mounting is provided at the mounting portion of the recording head, the presence of the apparatus is detected by the switch operation according to the mounting, and the elapsed time from the detection can be measured and held. In addition, while the power supply for enabling the recording operation in the recording device is not turned on, a separate power supply (not shown) for measuring and holding is provided in order to enable measurement and holding of the elapsed time. It is composed of a known battery such as a battery.

When the cap 22 of the ejection recovery unit shown in FIG. 1 faces the recording head and covers the ink ejection port forming surface thereof, the inside thereof communicates with the atmosphere, whereby the atmospheric pressure due to a change in environmental temperature is caused. Change the discharge port 29
It is common to prevent receding of nearby ink meniscus. As described above, even in the capping state, since the inside communicates with the atmosphere, the ink is evaporated from the recording head and the like, and the increase in the ink viscosity is recognized. Therefore,
As the elapsed time increases, the refill performance deteriorates. In the present embodiment, the driving method selection table is set such that the driving method is set according to the elapsed time, and generally, the heat interval becomes longer as the elapsed time increases.

As described above, the drive method can be selected according to the elapsed time when the recording head (or the ink tank) is mounted, so that the refill performance is deteriorated due to the ink evaporation due to the elapsed time. Since the most suitable driving method can be selected, it is possible to prevent image deterioration due to deterioration of refill performance.

(Fifth Modification of First Embodiment) In this example, the various driving method determination criteria described above are used in various combinations.

In FIG. 15, the ink temperature sensor 34 and the print dot number detecting means 1005 are used as a drive method selection standard.
7 shows a drive method selection table in which the ink temperature and the print duty that are respectively detected by are combined.

In FIG. 15, the print duty ranges from 21 to 21.
When the ink temperature is 30% and the ink temperature is 23 ° C., the standard drive method is used, and the heat interval A is set to A ₀ in the first drive mode. As the recording duty decreases, the deterioration of the refill performance due to the recording duty also decreases. Therefore, the ink temperature is 2
When the printing duty is 11 to 20%, the ink temperature is set to 15 ° C. when the printing duty is 11 to 20%, and when it is 0 to 10%, the same value as the standard driving method at 3 ° C. is set to 10 ° C. When the print duty is 31 to 40%, which is higher than the above 21 to 30%, deterioration of the refill performance due to the print duty begins to appear, so that the ink temperature is 23 ° C.
However, the heat interval A is set to a value of A ₄ , which is longer than A ₀ .

(Modification 6 of the first embodiment) In this example, other examples of the various driving methods described so far will be described.

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 are schematic diagrams showing the recording results by the driving method which is further developed of the shift driving described above.

FIG. 16 shows, for example, the basic lattice spacing (1/36
In a 0) inch dot matrix, a grid of 1/3 of the basic grid interval, that is, (1/1080) inches is provided in the horizontal direction, and the dots in the vertical direction are shifted in the horizontal direction so that they are not aligned on the same line in the vertical direction. The recording results are shown for the case (hereinafter, referred to as 3-step shift). In addition, FIG.
In the case where a lattice of 1/4 of the basic lattice spacing, that is, (1/1440) inches is provided in the lateral direction and the dots in the vertical direction are respectively shifted in the lateral direction (hereinafter referred to as 4-step shift). The recording results are shown. In FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, dots by the driving method which has been generally practiced so far are shown by broken lines. Also, the dots on the same line in the vertical direction are
Generally, recording is performed by substantially simultaneous driving.

Focusing on the same lines L1 and L2 in the vertical direction in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, respectively, the ink droplets that are driven and ejected at substantially the same time in FIG. 3, which is 1/4 in FIG. Therefore, the amount of ink flowing toward each ejection port for refilling after being ejected by substantially the same driving may be small in the entire recording head, so that the refilling performance can be improved. It should be noted that FIG. 17 is different from the case of the three-stage shift drive shown in FIG.
In many cases, the effect of improving the refill performance is higher in the case of the four-stage shift driving shown in FIG.

It should be noted that these driving methods are combined with the conventional shift driving method described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, and the various driving method selection criteria described so far and the driving method determined by the combination thereof are used. Even if it comprises, the same effect is acquired.

FIG. 18 shows an example of the drive method selection table when the ink temperature is used as the drive method selection criterion.
In FIG. 18, the two-step shift is the shift method shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Further, since the multi-stage shift system is adopted, the heat interval is the same time interval in the entire ink temperature range.

As described above, by changing the driving intervals of the energy generating elements that generate the energy used for the ejection of each ejection port, the refill characteristics can be improved as a whole, and the recording can be performed by the temperature change or the like. Ink can be stably ejected even if the refill characteristic of the head changes.

In the above-described 3-stage and 4-stage shift driving method, the basic lattice spacing may be further subdivided into 1 / n spacing lattices, and n-stage shift driving may be performed. Further, in the above-mentioned example, the lattice intervals in the horizontal direction are set to be equal intervals, but the invention is not limited to this and may be set arbitrarily. Further, the value of the ink temperature that is the reference for switching the driving method is shown in FIG.
The present invention is not limited to the example shown in (1) and can be optimally set by a recording head or the like. Further, although the heat interval is set to be constant at A ₀ , this heat interval can also be arbitrarily set in consideration of the ejection characteristics.

(Modification 7 of the first embodiment) In this example, the driving method selection criterion is changed according to the physicochemical characteristics of the recording ink itself. That is, when a plurality of types of recording heads that can be mounted on the same recording apparatus are used and inks having different physicochemical characteristics are used for these plurality of types of recording heads (for example, different colors of inks are used). In the case), the driving method is set for each recording head corresponding to each ink. Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the ink can be mounted on the recording apparatus, the color of the ink used for each recording head is different, and the characteristics relating to the ink refill characteristics are different.

FIG. 19 shows an example of means for detecting the ink color of the recording head. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the electrical contact portion 46 of the recording head cartridge 1 mounted and driven in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

The electric contact portion 46 of the head cartridge 1 is electrically connected to the FPC 6 at the support plate 5 (see FIG. 1). More specifically, the electric contact 41 of the electric contact portion 46 and the electric contact (not shown) of the FPC 6 are joined, and the detection signal is input to the MPU 1000 via the FPC 6. 19 (a), (b), (c), and (d) show the electric contact portions 46 of the head cartridges 1 corresponding to the respective color inks, for example, FIG. 19 (a) is black. (Black), FIG. 19 (b) is red (R
ed), FIG. 19C is green, and FIG.
(D) shows an electrical contact portion corresponding to blue ink. In these figures, reference numerals 42, 43,
Reference numerals 44 and 45 are contacts for color detection. FIG. 19 (a)
And the contact points 42, 43, 44 are FPCs.
6 is connected to + 5V of the main body of the device through the pattern 45
Is connected to the GND of the apparatus body. This contact is schematically shown in a broken line in FIG. Note that these connections are omitted in FIGS. 19B, 19C and 19D.

The ink color of the mounted head cartridge 1 is discriminated as follows.

That is, the electrical contact portion 4 shown in FIG.
In the case of 6, the contacts 42, 43, 44 and 45 are the wiring 42.
It is electrically connected by A, 43A, 44A and 45A. As a result, the signal detected on the device body side is
0, 0, 0, 0 in order from the contact 42 (where 0 is GND
Indicates the level. ), And therefore the recording head with the black ink color is discriminated by the above detection signal. In the red recording head shown in FIG. 19B, since the wiring 42A is a cut pattern, the detection signals are 1, 0, 0, 0 in order from the contact 42 (where 1 indicates + 5V level). Similarly, in the following, similarly, the ink of FIG. 19C has a green recording head of 1, 1, 0, 0, and the ink of FIG. 19D has a blue recording head of 1, 1, 1, 0. Become.

In this way, the type (ink color in this embodiment) of the recording head mounted on the recording apparatus is set to MPU1.
It is possible to set a drive method selection table for each print head and drive the print head with a drive method suitable for each print head and ink. For example, when the black ink has a higher ink viscosity than the other inks and the ink temperature is used as the drive method determination reference,
Even if the detected temperature is the same as that of other inks, the black ink can be changed by setting the heat interval to be longer or the shift drive which is effective in improving the refill performance. A suitable driving method can be set.

In the above-described embodiment, the mono color in which one recording head is made to correspond to one ink color has been described, but when one recording head is composed of a plurality of ink colors, etc. The driving method selection table for each color may be selectively used according to designated data or the like. Further, even when using a permanent type recording head in which only the ink tank is replaced, the present example can be applied if the ink tank is provided with a configuration for recognizing the ink tank type.

In the above example, the case where the types of ink are different has been described. For example, when a plurality of print heads that can be mounted on the same printing apparatus have different refill characteristics (for example, ink flow in the print heads). The above configuration can also be applied to the case where the configuration of the passage or the liquid chamber is different and the refill characteristics are different). Also in this case, the recording head may be configured so that the recording head can be discriminated as shown in FIG.

Further, the detection timing of the driving method selection standard such as the detection of the ink temperature, the detection of the remaining amount of ink, the detection of the number of recording dots, etc. described above is not limited to the above-mentioned timing, but the detection may be performed, for example. By detecting at every predetermined time interval in one line, determining the driving method, and performing the recording operation,
The optimum execution time may be set for the recording processing procedure or the like.

In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, various driving method selection criteria are automatically detected and recognized.
The user of the recording device may be configured to be manually settable,
In this case, as the setting means, a configuration that can be set on the screen of the host (for example, personal computer, word processor) that transmits the print data to the printing apparatus is suitable.

Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the description has been made using the replaceable cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank and the recording head are integrated, but the present invention is also applicable to an ink jet recording apparatus using a permanent head. Can be applied. Further, the recording apparatus can be applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the recording medium. Further, although the recording head of the system in which the electric energy is converted into the thermal energy to eject the ink has been described, the invention can be applied to a recording device using a recording head other than this, for example, a piezo system.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the apparatus shown in FIG. The same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The different elements will be mainly described.

That is, on the carrier table 2A formed on the carriage 2, a heater (hereinafter referred to as a preliminary heat-retaining heater) 50 according to this example is arranged. In this embodiment, the heater 50 is a film heater.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the details of the carriage 2 in which the preliminary heat retaining heater 50 is arranged.

Here, the driving power of the preheater heater 50 is obtained from the FPC 6 via the connector 54 to which the conducting wire 52 is connected. Reference numeral 56 is a hole provided to prevent the conductive wire 52 from projecting to the recording head side beyond the carrier table surface 2A.

The preheater heater 50 preferably has a large contact area with the head cartridge 1 (removed in the figure), but it is not necessary to provide the heater 50 on the entire contact surface between the carriage 2 and the head cartridge 1. When possible, as shown in FIG. 21, it is preferable to provide the head cartridge so that it is concentrated near the ink ejection unit of the head cartridge when the head cartridge is mounted. Further, in the drawing, an example in which the preliminary heat-retaining heater 50 is arranged on the carrier table 2A is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be arranged on the support plate 5, for example. In this case, the amount of heat generated by the preliminary heat-retaining heater 50 can be appropriately transmitted to the entire ink by being dispersed in a wide area rather than locally by the base plate made of a material such as aluminum described later. .

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing details of the head cartridge shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 400 denotes a discharge port forming surface, on which 64 discharge ports are formed. 420
Is a top plate integrally provided with a discharge port forming surface, and has ink passages continuous to each discharge port and a common liquid chamber groove for temporarily storing ink to be supplied to the ink passages. 1
Reference numeral 600 is a pipe called a chip tank that connects the ink tank portion and the common liquid chamber. A sponge 900 is stored in the ink tank and holds ink. Reference numeral 700 is a filter for preventing bubbles, dust, and the like from entering the chip tank. A thermal energy generating element used for ejection is formed on the substrate 110 constituting the recording head, and when electricity is applied to the element, ink is ejected from the ejection port by bubbles generated in the ink path. Reference numeral 210 denotes a substrate that contacts the FPC 6 provided on the carriage 2 when the head cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage 2 and serves as an electrical contact between the recording head and the recording apparatus main body shown in FIG. Further, the substrate 210 is joined to the base plate 300 of the recording head formed of a material such as aluminum, and the electrical contact 34A of the temperature detecting means 34 arranged in the ink tank 9B through this joining.
It is electrically connected to. Here, since the electrical contact 34A is exposed to the outside of the ink tank through the hole 1700 provided in the casing of the ink tank, the hole 1700 is sealed with Si or the like after passing through the electrical contact 34A. .
The temperature detecting means 34 is a temperature sensor in this embodiment. This temperature sensor is a well-known thermistor showing an output voltage according to a temperature change, and is isolated from the ink so that the temperature detection unit and the electrical contacts are not corroded by the ink held in the sponge 900 in the ink tank. ,
Or it is made of a material that does not corrode. The output signal from the temperature sensor is input to the MPU 1000 via the FPC 6 through a predetermined signal amplification circuit due to the contact between the contact 34A and a predetermined contact on the substrate 210.

Further, 37 is a pressure detecting means provided in the chip tank 1600, and a pressure sensor is used here. The pressure sensor arranged on the inner wall surface of the chip tank is connected to the substrate 210 by a conductor (not shown), and
MPU via a predetermined signal amplification circuit via PC6
1000 is input.

FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 22. In the figure, 34 is the above-mentioned temperature sensor provided in the ink tank.

The control system of the recording apparatus having the above-described structure is the same as that shown in FIG. The cap position and the moving position of the carriage 2 can be known based on the detection of the recovery system home sensor 35 and the carriage home sensor 36.

The method of driving the energy generating element for ejecting the recording head according to this embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the recording processing procedure in the above recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power of the recording apparatus is turned on, the recovery system motor 26 operates to set the recovery system unit to the recovery system home position, retract the cap 22, and then set the cudgery 2 to the home position. After that, the cap 22 is again brought into contact with the nozzle portion of the recording head to wait for a signal of recording data. When a recording data signal is input (step S301), the conveyance motor 13 is operated to start feeding (step S303), and the fed recording medium such as paper is conveyed to a desired recording start position. To do. After that, the cap 22 is retracted (step S305), separated from the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, the carriage 2 is set to the home position, and then a predetermined amount of preliminary ejection is performed (step S307), and desired. The carriage 2 is moved to the recording start position (step S309). Next, the print direction mode is recognized by the print setting, and the type of the recording paper is recognized by the command such as the format setting or the reduction printing (step S311), and then the remaining ink amount detecting means arranged in the chip tank is detected. 37 outputs a pressure that changes according to the remaining amount of ink (step S313), the thermistor 34 detects the temperature (step S315), and these data are input to the MPU 1000 via the interface unit 1004 of FIG. To be done. Next, the number of print dots in the preceding line is counted (step S317).

Subsequently, the MPU 1000 refers to a table showing respective values of a sheet coefficient F, an ink remaining amount coefficient G, and a preliminary warming heater driving basic pulse width A, which will be described later, depending on the detected ink temperature and the number of print dots. The basic pulse width A is multiplied by the paper coefficient F and the remaining ink coefficient G to determine the drive pulse width to be executed, and the preliminary heat retention heater is driven for the time of the determined pulse width (step S31).
9), recording for one line is performed (step S321).

As described above, the drive pulse width of the preheater heater can be selected in accordance with the change in the remaining ink amount, so that, for example, the refill performance of the recording head caused by the decrease in the remaining ink amount or the like. When the temperature drops, the drive pulse width of the preliminary heat-retaining heater can be appropriately selected to raise the ink temperature and compensate for the decrease in the refill performance. As a result, it is possible to prevent image deterioration.

The preliminary ejection shown in step S307 is performed immediately before the printing is performed, but if a predetermined time K seconds has elapsed from the previous preliminary ejection even during the recording (step S325), the carriage 2 is again moved to the home position (step S329), and preliminary ejection is performed (step S331). At this time, if the signal of the print data of the next line is input, the carriage 2 is again moved to the print position, and the remaining ink amount is detected, the ink temperature is detected, and the number of print dots in the previous line is calculated. Then, the recording operation is continued. When the recording end signal is input,
The recovery system motor 26 operates to move the blade 25 forward to the recording head side and set it to a position where it can contact the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, and the wiping operation is performed. After that, the carriage 2 is set at a position where it can come into contact with the cap 22, the cap 22 moves forward, and capping is performed to end a series of recording operations (step S333).

Next, an example of the table of the paper factor F which changes depending on the printing direction mode and the type of recording paper shown in FIG. 25 will be described.

When calculating the ink discharge amount per unit time, if the calculation is performed based only on the number of print dots, the time required for line feed and the time required for page break cannot be taken into consideration, and the ink discharge amount required for the unit time Will be inaccurate. Therefore, in order to detect the print direction mode and the type of paper to be used for recording and to approximately convert the number of print dots as the ink ejection amount per unit time, this is multiplied by the coefficient F. In the table shown in FIG. 25, the size relationship of the paper factor F is F ₁ <F ₂ , F ₃ <F ₄ , ... And F
₁ <F ₃ <F ₅ <F ₇ ...

Next, the remaining ink amount coefficient G shown in FIG. 26 will be described.

This ink remaining amount coefficient G is also multiplied in consideration of the fact that the head pressure in the common liquid chamber decreases with a decrease in the ink remaining amount W in the ink tank, which causes deterioration of the refill performance. It is a correction coefficient, and is set to have a larger value as the remaining ink amount W decreases.

In FIG. 27, the MPU 1000 uses the preheater heater 50 based on the ink temperature indicated by the output signal from the temperature sensor 34 and the dot count for each print line.
7 is a table referred to in order to determine the drive basic pulse width A of FIG. This table shows the drive basic pulse width A which is determined only from the ink temperature and the number of print dots in one line before considering the print direction mode, the type of recording paper, and the remaining ink amount. . Further, this table is stored in the ROM 1001 of the MPU 1000 and is appropriately referred to by the procedure of the program. When a reference instruction is given on the program, referring to FIG. Is set. here,
The basic pulse width A is set to be larger as the temperature is lower, that is, the viscosity of the ink is higher, and is larger as the number of print dots is larger. Therefore, the magnitude relationship of the numerical values in the figure is A ₈ > A ₇ > A ₆ > A ₅ > A ₄ > A ₃ > A ₂ > A ₁ >
It is A ₀ . Further, the preliminary heat-retaining heater 50 needs to be driven only when the required refill performance cannot be obtained due to an increase in ink viscosity, so in the present embodiment, it is decided to drive only when the ink temperature is 19 ° C. or less. .

By multiplying the preliminary warming heater driving basic pulse width A set in this way by the paper factor F and the ink remaining amount coefficient G, the actual preliminary warming heater driving pulse width is determined, and the heater is driven. To be done.

As described above, the drive pulse width of the preheater heater is optimally determined according to the deterioration of the refill characteristic caused by the change of the ink temperature or the remaining amount of ink, thereby increasing the ink temperature. To reduce the viscosity. As a result, it is possible to prevent image deterioration that occurs due to the deterioration of the refill performance.

Further, conventionally, in a low temperature environment, the amount of ejected ink per dot was reduced and the print density was lowered with a decrease in the ink refill performance. However, according to this example, the preliminary heat retention heat is applied. By doing so, there is also an effect that the refill performance is improved and the problem is eliminated.

(Modification 1 of the Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the preheater heater is arranged on the carrier. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, for example. It may be provided in the head cartridge.

That is, in these two figures, the preliminary heat-retaining heater 50 is disposed on the chip tank, and the conducting wire 52 is used.
Maintains electrical connection with the substrate 210. Further, in this example, the chip tank 1600 is made of an aluminum alloy in order to efficiently transfer the heat from the heater. Further, the shape thereof is a horn shape, and the ink can be heated in the widest possible range.

(Modification 2 of the second embodiment) FIGS. 30 and 31
As shown in FIG. 5, the preheater heater 50 may be provided on the base plate 210.

In this case, since the base plate has a function of diffusing the concentrated heat source, even if the preliminary heat-retaining heater is not arranged over the entire area of the base plate as in this example, it appropriately warms a wide range of non-local ink. It is possible. 50A is a contact for maintaining electrical contact with the substrate 210.

The wall 1800 shown in FIG. 32 is for limiting the flow of ink as shown by the arrow A, and the ink flow is as much as possible to the base plate 30.
The ink is sent to the tip tank so that it is affected by heat from the base plate 300.

(Modification 3 of the Second Embodiment) FIG. 33 is a partial cross-sectional view of the head cartridge 1 when a preliminary heat retaining heater is provided on the inner wall surface of the ink tank.

In FIG. 33, reference numeral 50 is a preliminary heat retaining heater, and the electric contact 50A with the FPC 6 has the same structure as the electric contact 34A of the temperature detecting means shown in FIG.

The temperature detecting means does not necessarily have to be provided in the recording head, but may be provided on the carriage 2 as shown in FIG.

Further, the criteria for selecting the preheater heater drive pulse width are not limited to being used by the combination of various criteria as in the above embodiment, and various criteria may be combined. Also, independently, for example, only the ink temperature may be used as a reference for selecting the pulse width of the preliminary heat retaining heater.

Further, the increase / decrease in the amount of electric power applied to the preheating heater is not limited to the method of changing the pulse width by fixing the voltage value, and the applied voltage value may be changed.

In addition, in the recording processing procedure shown in FIG. 24, detection of ink temperature, detection of remaining ink amount,
The number of print dots was detected after the completion of one line, and then the drive pulse width was selected using the basic drive pulse width selection table or the like. The above detection was detected at predetermined time intervals T within one line, and the drive pulse was detected. The ink heating operation may be performed by determining the width. For example, according to the control procedure shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the number of ejected dots per unit time is directly obtained,
The actual drive pulse width can be obtained from the number of ejected dots per unit time and the temperature read by the temperature detecting means.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the pressure sensor is used as the ink remaining amount detecting means, but the recording dot number detecting means 1005 (see FIG. 11) may be used instead. In this case, a means for detecting the presence / absence of attachment of the recording head to the recording device is provided by coping with the exchangeable recording head, and the total number of printed dots from the unused state is cumulatively counted to determine the ink remaining amount. You may detect by open loop control, such as detecting quantity. Further, in an apparatus using a permanent type recording head of a type in which only the ink tank is replaced, the total number of print dots after the replacement of the ink tank may be counted.

Further, the ink temperature detection means is not necessarily controlled by the closed loop as in the present embodiment, such as by analogy with the number of print dots and the number of ejected ink drops from the type of recording medium. May be.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, an example using a replaceable recording head has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a permanent head. Further, it can be applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the recording medium. Further, the present invention can be applied to an inkjet recording device such as a piezo system that converts electric energy into mechanical deformation force to eject ink.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the apparatus shown in FIG. Here, only the part particularly related to the present embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 37, reference numeral 51 denotes a cap made of an elastic material such as rubber which faces the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head in the head cartridge 1 at the home position, and can be brought into contact with or separated from the recording head. It is supported. The cap 51 is used for preventing evaporation of ink moisture from the recording head during non-recording or for ejecting recovery processing of the recording head.

There are mainly two processing methods for the discharge recovery processing. One is to make the cap 51 face the discharge port forming surface,
A process of ejecting ink from an ejection port by driving an energy generating element in the ink path, thereby removing ejection failure factors such as bubbles and dust, or ink that has become thick and is no longer suitable for recording (preliminary ejection). The other one is a process of removing the cause of the ejection failure by forcibly ejecting the ink from the ejection port with the ejection port forming surface covered with the cap 51.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a pump that acts as a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink, and is used for a process for sucking the ink received by the cap 51 during the discharge recovery process by the forced discharge or the discharge recovery process by the preliminary discharge. Is. 55 is a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by the pump 53. The waste ink tank 55 is connected to the pump 53 by a tube 57.

Reference numeral 59 denotes a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, which is a position for protruding to the recording head side for wiping in the process of carrier movement and a retracted position for not engaging with the ejection port forming surface. It is movably supported by. Reference numeral 61 is a motor, and 63 is a cam device for receiving power transmitted from the motor 61 to drive the pump 53 and move the cap 51 and the blade 59.

FIG. 38 shows the cap 51,
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a recovery device including a pump 53, a blade 59, a motor 61, a cam device 63 and the like. here,
501 is an ink absorber disposed inside the cap 51,
503 is a holding member that holds the cap 51, and 505 is rotatably attached around a pin 507.
Is a cap lever for bringing the cap 51 into and out of contact with the ejection port forming surface of the head cartridge 1 by the force applied to the cap 51. Reference numeral 511 is a pin for engaging the end portion 509 of the cap lever 505 and restricting the rotation range of the cap lever 505. 513 is a cap lever 50
5 is a jig having a hole into which the pin 507 of 5 is fitted,
Support part 51 in which the cap lever 505 is provided in the pump 53
Used to mount 5. Reference numeral 516 is a fastening member for securing the attached state. Reference numeral 517 denotes an action portion that acts on the cap 51 with a force for bringing it into contact with the ejection port forming surface, and is engaged with substantially the center of the rear side portion of the cap 51. This acting portion has an inlet 517A for sucked ink, and ink passages are formed inside the cap lever 505, inside the pin 507, inside the jig 513, and inside the supporting portion 515, respectively. Then, when the pump 53 exerts a suction force, the ink is introduced into the pump 53 through these flow paths as indicated by an arrow in the figure.

Reference numeral 519 is a shaft projecting from the center of the end face of the pump 53, and 520 is a pump support plate for holding the shaft 519 and allowing the pump 53 itself to rotate. It is added to the cap lever 505 through the cap lever 505, and the cap 51 moves back and forth accordingly. Reference numeral 521 is an exhaust ink seal in which the ink flow path passing through the shaft 519 of the pump 53 is bent at a right angle, and 523 is the exhaust ink seal 5.
21 is an ejected ink cap that supports 21 and further forms an ink flow path to the ejected ink tube 57. Ink flow paths are formed inside the shaft 519, the jig 521, and the support member 523, and the ink sucked by the pump 53 passes through these flow paths as indicated by the arrow in the figure and is further discharged through the tube 57. It is introduced into the ink tank 55.

Reference numeral 525 is a piston of the pump 53, 527 is its shaft, 529 is packing, and 531 is a cap of the pump 53. 533 is attached to the piston shaft 527,
It is a pin that receives a force transmission for operating the piston 525.

Reference numeral 535 is a blade lever to which the blade 59 is attached. The blade lever 535 is rotatably supported around a shaft protruding from the end face of the pump 53, and the blade 59 is projected or retracted toward the recording head side in accordance with the rotation. . Reference numeral 537 is a spring that applies a turning force to the blade lever 535 in a direction in which the blade 59 is projected. Further, 539 is a spring that gives the pump 53 itself a habit of turning in a direction in which the cap 53 is directed to the recording head side.

Reference numeral 541 denotes a cam device 63 for rotating the motor 61.
Is a gear train that is transmitted to. The cam device 63 is a pump 53.
A cam 547 for engaging with and rotating the engaging portion 545 provided on the shaft, a cam 549 for engaging with a pin 533 provided on the piston shaft 527 of the pump 53 to operate the pump, and a blade. Engaging portion 551 provided on the lever 535
A cam 553 for engaging and rotating the cam device 63 and a cam 557 for engaging a switch 555 for detecting the home position of the cam device 63. The operation of these cams will be described later.

39 (a), (b) and (c) are a front view, a top view and a vertical sectional view, respectively, showing the detailed structure of the cap 51 and the like.

In the cap 51, the ink suction port 5
An opening 61 is formed in the lower part in the vertical direction, and an ink flow path 563 is formed toward the ink introduction port 517A provided in the action portion 517 of the cap lever 505. Further, the suction port 561 is not completely covered by the absorber 501.

As a result, even if the ink flows downward due to gravity, the ink is sucked through the suction port 561 provided below, so that the amount of ink remaining in the ink absorber 501 becomes extremely small, and therefore solidification occurs. It is possible to significantly delay the deterioration caused by the above and to extend the life of the ink absorber or the cap 51 to which the ink absorber is attached.

FIG. 40 is a cam chart in the above-mentioned recovery device, in which the horizontal axis indicates the rotation angle of the cam 549,
The states of the switch 555, the cap 51, the pump 53, and the blade 59 are shown.

FIG. 41 is a sectional view showing the position of the piston 525 in the pump 53 in each state of the recovery device.

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the head cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 37 in the scanning in the S direction.

FIG. 43 is a flow chart for explaining the ejection recovery processing operation of the recording head executed by the recovery system unit.

The function of the recovery system unit of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 40, 41, 42 and 43.

In FIG. 40, the state shown by is the cam 54.
The home position of No. 9 is the standby state of the recovery device during printing. Switch 555 is on, cap 51
Is separated from the ejection port forming surface of the recording head (hereinafter referred to as an open state), and the pump 53 is at the top dead center. Further, the blade 59 is retracted to an off state, that is, a position where it does not engage with the ejection port forming surface.

Next, the state indicated by is a capping state, and the head ejection port forming surface is covered and protected when the recording apparatus is not used. Switch 555 is off,
The cap 51 is joined (closed) to the head discharge port forming surface, the pump 53 is at the top dead center, and the blade is in the off state.

The state shown in is a state in which pumping is completed. The switch 555 is turned on, the cap 51 is closed, the valve of the pump 53 is fully opened, and the bottom dead center is not reached. Further, the blade 59 is in the off state.

In the state shown in (1), after the pumping is completed, the cap 51 is opened, and at the same time, the small air suction for taking in the ink filled in the cap 51 and the cap lever 505 into the pump 53 is completed. Is. The switch 555 is on, the cap 51 is about half open, the pump 53 is at bottom dead center, and the blade 59 is off.

Next, the state of will be described. This is a preparatory position for starting idle suction for discharging the ink filled in the pump 53 to the discharged ink tank side by pumping. The switch 55 is on, the cap 51 is open, and the pump 53 is slightly below the top dead center. Further, the blade 59 is in the off state. And are the stop positions when the open air suction and the hollow suction are performed, respectively. In both cases, the switch 55 is on, the cap 51 is open, and the blade 59 is off, but the pump 53
The state of is at the bottom dead center side in, but not completely lowered in.

The state shown in is a state when wiping is performed. The switch 55 is on, the cap 51 is open, and the pump is at top dead center. Then, the blade 59 is in the ON state, and the carriage 2 carrying the head cartridge 1 moves in this state, so that the wiping of the ejection port forming surface can be executed.

FIG. 41 (a) shows a state in which the piston 525 is at the bottom dead center in the pump. In the space inside the pump 53, the negative pressure generated in the space on the left side of the piston 525 causes the pump to function. Reference numeral 531 is a valve port that transmits the negative pressure to the cap 51. In the state shown in FIG. 41 (a), the piston 525 has passed over this valve opening and has advanced further to the right. Here, the piston 525
Is pressed from the left side by the piston shaft flange portion 527 and is in close contact, so that the generated negative pressure is transmitted to the cap 51 side without being transmitted to others. The ink on the right side of the piston shaft 525 is pushed out to the waste ink tank.

FIG. 41 (b) shows a state in which the piston 525 is at the top dead center. In this state, the piston 525 is on the left side of the valve opening 531 and the valve opening 531 is not closed. That is, in this state, the cap 51 is in communication with the atmosphere.

FIG. 41 (c) shows the state of the pump 53 at the time shown in FIG. At this time, the piston 525 has passed over the valve opening 531 and has advanced slightly to the right.

FIG. 41 (d) shows the state of the pump 53 at the time shown in FIG. 40. By reciprocating this state and the state of FIG. 41 (a) or FIG. To execute.

FIG. 41 (e) shows the state of the pump 53 when the hollow suction is completed. At this time, the piston 525 is stopped immediately after getting over the valve opening 531. Figure 41
When reaching the bottom dead center shown in FIG.
(B)) or when returning to the idle suction preparation position (FIG. 41 (d)), the valve opening 531 cannot be closed for a long time. In such a case, a slight gap is formed between the piston shaft flange 527a and the piston 525 so that positive pressure is not generated in the space on the left side, and the piston shaft flange 527a and the piston 525 are configured to communicate with the space on the right side of the piston 525. However, although a slight positive pressure is generated due to the resistance of the flow path and the like, a back flow is generated, but when the position shown in FIG. 41 (e) returns to FIG. 41 (a) or (d), the back flow is well prevented. Has been done.

The positional relationship of the head cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 42 is expressed with the position (capping position) where the head cartridge 1 is in front of the cap 51 in the ejection recovery system unit as a reference (0 step).

Here, the number of steps described in the figure represents the drive amount of the S-direction scanning drive pulse motor 11 (see FIG. 37). The amount of movement per step is (6/36
0) inch = (1/60) inch = 0.423 mm.

When performing the wiping operation, first, the head cartridge 1 is moved to a position where the blade 59 does not interfere with the carriage 2, that is, a blade-on position, and the blade in the ejection recovery unit is turned on. Wiping is then performed by moving the head cartridge 1 to the blade off position.

FIG. 43 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the ejection recovery process described with reference to FIGS.

This process is started from the capping state shown in FIG. 40 (S501). By moving from this state to the state, pumping is executed (S503), and in this state, the pump is stopped for 3 seconds so that ink suction is sufficiently performed (S505). In this state, the suction of small air is performed at the same time when the cap is opened (S507), and the ink is taken in the cap 51 and the cap lever 505. Next, empty suction is performed to discharge the ink filled in the pump 53. First, it moves to the empty suction preparation position shown above (S511) and reciprocates three times between the hollow suction stop positions shown there (S513 to S519). Next, the air suction from to is performed (S521), and the pump 53
The ink inside is sufficiently pushed out to the waste ink tank side.
After moving to the subsequent position and performing preliminary discharge (S52
5), the head cartridge is moved to the blade-on position, the blade is turned on at the position of (S527), and the head cartridge is moved to the blade-off position to execute wiping (S529). At the last position, the blade is turned off, the head cartridge is returned to the capping position (S531), and capping is performed (S533).

FIG. 44 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the recording / printing process in the ink jet recording apparatus described above.

First, when the recording apparatus is powered on, the recovery system motor 61 operates to set the recovery system unit to the recovery system home position, retract the cap 51, and then set the carriage 2 to the home position. After this, the cap 51
Is again brought into contact with the ejection port forming surface of the head cartridge to wait for a signal of recording data. When a signal of print data is input (S601), the carry motor 13 is operated to start feeding (S603), and the print medium such as the fed paper is carried to a desired print start position. After that, the cap 51 is retracted (S605) to be separated from the ejection port forming surface of the head cartridge, and then the carriage 2 is set at the home position, and then predetermined preliminary ejection is performed (S60).
7) The carriage is moved to the desired recording start position (S609), the timer t is reset to 0, and then counting is started (S611). Subsequently, printing is performed line by line until a page end signal is input (S613), and when the page ends, ink remaining amount detection means 37 such as a pressure sensor arranged in the chip tank is used to print the remaining ink. The pressure that changes according to the amount is output (S625), the average number of ejected dots per unit time is calculated by detecting the number of print dots from t = 0 (S627), and the temperature is detected by the thermistor 34. (S629), for example, when the configuration of FIG. 11 is used as the configuration of this example, the interface unit 1
It is input to the MPU 1000 via 004. From these detected values, a table showing respective values of the ink remaining amount coefficient G shown in FIGS. 45 and 46 and the basic execution interval C of the automatic ejection recovery process performed only during recording is referred to, and the basic execution interval C is set. The actual execution interval CL is determined by multiplying by the ink remaining amount coefficient G. And at this point, the timer t
If the value of is larger than the determined execution interval CL (S131), the ejection recovery process is performed (S1).
33), the timer t is reset to 0, and then recording is performed again. If the value of the timer t is smaller than CL, the page is not changed and the recording is performed again without executing the automatic ejection recovery process.

In the case of the present embodiment, the above preliminary ejection is performed immediately before the recording is performed as described above. However, even during recording, if a predetermined time K seconds has elapsed from the previous preliminary ejection (S
615), the carriage 2 is moved to the home position again (S619), and preliminary ejection is performed (S62).
1). At this time, if the signal of the recording data of the next row is input, the recording operation is continued again. When the recording end signal is input, the recovery system motor 61 operates and the blade 59
Is advanced to the recording head side, and the wiping operation is performed by setting it to a position where it can contact the ejection port forming surface of the recording head. After that, the carriage 2 is set to a position where it can come into contact with the cap 51, the cap 51 moves forward and caps, and a series of recording operations ends (S639).

Next, the ink remaining amount coefficient G shown in FIG. 45 will be described.

The ink remaining amount coefficient G is a correction coefficient which is multiplied in consideration that the head pressure in the common liquid chamber decreases as the ink amount W in the ink tank decreases and the refill performance deteriorates. Yes, it is set to a smaller value as the remaining ink amount W decreases.

FIG. 46 shows, for example, FIG. 28 or FIG.
11 shows a table referred to by the MPU 1000 shown in FIG. 11 for determining the basic execution interval C of the automatic ejection recovery process based on the ink temperature indicated by the output signal from the temperature sensor 34 and the dot count for each print line. .

This table shows the basic execution interval C which is determined only from the ink temperature and the average number of print dots per unit time before considering the ink remaining amount.
The table has a configuration that is stored in the ROM 1001 of the MPU 1000 and is appropriately referred to by a program that instructs the MPU. When the reference instruction is given on the program, the basic execution interval C is set with reference to FIG. It
Here, the basic execution interval C is set to be smaller as the temperature is low, that is, the viscosity of the ink is higher, and is smaller as the number of print dots is larger. Therefore, the relationship of the numerical values in the figure is C ₈ <C ₇ <C ₆ <C ₅ <C ₄ <C ₃ <C ₂
<C ₁ <C ₀ .

Further, since the automatic ejection recovery process only needs to be executed at a temperature below the temperature at which the ink viscosity increases and the refill performance begins to deteriorate, in this embodiment, only when the ink temperature is below 19 ° C. I decided to do it. This makes it possible to perform the process according to the present invention without performing the ejection recovery process more than necessary to reduce the throughput and without significantly increasing the capacity of the waste ink tank described above.

By multiplying the ink remaining amount coefficient G thus determined by the automatic ejection recovery process basic execution interval C, the interval CL to be actually executed is determined.

As described above, the execution interval of the automatic ejection recovery process is optimally set and executed in accordance with the deterioration of the refill characteristic caused by the change of the ink temperature or the remaining ink amount. By doing so, it is possible to prevent image deterioration that occurs due to the deterioration of the refill performance.

Although the pressure sensor is used as the ink remaining amount detecting means in the third embodiment, the print dot number detecting means may be used. In this case, the disposable head is provided with means for detecting whether or not the head is attached to the recording device, and cumulatively counts the total number of print dots from the unused state to detect the ink remaining amount. May be. Further, in the permanent type in which only the ink tank is replaced, the total number of printed dots after the replacement of the ink tank may be counted.

Although the procedure of the ejection recovery process is always constant, the processing method is changed depending on the temperature. For example, when the viscosity of the ink becomes extremely high at a low temperature, the ink temperature is below a certain temperature. In this case, the automatic ejection recovery process shown in FIG. 43 may be performed twice consecutively.

Further, in the recording processing procedure shown in FIG. 44, the execution interval of the ejection recovery processing is determined by the number of ejected dots per unit time, the remaining ink amount, and the ink temperature in the ink tank. 47. If you want to use a simple method, for example, in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 48, the execution interval may be uniquely determined depending on the type and size of the recording paper. In this case, the execution interval is set smaller when the printable area is wider. This is because the line feed or page break interval is taken into consideration, that is, the discharge amount per unit time is approximated to the actual value.

In addition, the temperature sensor provided in the ink cartridge or the recording device detects the amount of temperature rise during printing, the printing state is estimated from this amount of temperature rise, and the basic execution interval D is determined according to FIGS. 49 and 50. May be determined. That is, based on the relationship between the print duty and the temperature increase amount, the temperature difference from the temperature immediately before the start of printing is detected after a certain period of time after the start of printing, and the execution interval is determined according to the increase amount. Note that, in FIG. 49, the determined execution interval is constant until a series of printing is finished, but it does not always have to be based on this. For example, the basic execution interval is always referred to at a certain fixed time by referring to the temperature. You may change D.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a word processor having the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 52 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, which is shown in each of the above embodiments. It is a similar device. 52, only different parts will be described.

First, the entire apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 51, this apparatus has a keyboard 2001 for inputting information and a CRT for displaying input information.
And a disk driver 20 for mounting a floppy disk for storing input information
04, and further, input information is recorded on a recording medium 2005 such as paper.
A recording device 2003 for recording the data.

In this apparatus, when character information or the like is input by the keyboard 2001, the input information is displayed on the display section 2002. In order to output this information, the recording medium 2005 is set in the inkjet recording device 2003,
When the recording start key on the keyboard 2001 is pressed, the recording device is driven and information is recorded on the recording medium that has been set.

In FIG. 52, for example, a point different from FIG. 1 is that the temperature sensor 34 is arranged in the substantially central portion of the recording apparatus and detects the temperature of the apparatus.

FIG. 53 is an external perspective view of the head cartridge 1 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1415 denotes a carriage 2 (see FIG. 52) when the head cartridge 1 is mounted in the apparatus main body.
(See) a hook that is hooked by the hook 3 provided in the reference. As is apparent from the figure, the claw 1415 is arranged inside the entire extension of the recording head. A recording head unit 1411 is provided in front of the head cartridge 1,
Although not shown in this figure, a positioning abutting portion is provided in the vicinity thereof.

Reference numeral 1414 denotes a head opening portion in which a support plate which is erected on the carriage 2 when the cartridge is mounted and which supports the flexible substrate (electrical connection portion) is inserted. Reference numeral 1413 denotes a substrate integrally provided with the recording head unit 1411 and is connected to a heater board provided with an ejection heater (electrothermal conversion element). Board 1413
Also serves as a connector substrate for electrical connection with a flexible substrate for supplying electricity to the discharge heater.

Next, the drive timing of the recording head will be described.

In a so-called serial printer as shown in FIG. 52, a recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports in the vertical direction (in the direction of conveyance of a recording medium in the figure) is usually mounted on a carriage, and this carriage is used for the above conveyance. The direction is a direction in which ink is ejected from the recording head based on recording data while traveling in a direction perpendicular to the direction.

FIG. 54 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the recording result by this method. In the figure, white circles are the portions not recorded,
Black dots are recorded ink dots.

In FIG. 54, the dots in the vertical direction of the dot array are the dots of the ink ejected at the same timing, and the dots in the horizontal direction are the dots of the ink ejected at the different timing as the carriage travels. is there. Further, the timing at which the recording head is driven and ink is ejected while the carriage is running is synchronized with the driving of the carriage motor that is the drive source of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted.

55 and 56 are timing charts showing the drive timing of the recording head.

As described above, the print head is driven in synchronization with the drive timing of the carriage motor, which is the drive source of the carriage on which the print head is mounted.
As shown in FIG. 5, for example, recording from left to right as forward recording, when the carriage motor is excited at timings of 1A, 2A ...
The recorded image is the carrier motor excitation timing (1
A, 2A ... 7A) is used as a reference, and the data is recorded on the downstream side in the carrier movement direction, that is, at the right side positions (1a, 2a ... 7a) in the drawing. Further, when the motor excitation timing (1B, 2B ... 7B) is set to the same position as the forward recording in the backward recording with the opposite recording direction, the same recording is performed on the downstream side in the carriage movement direction. In this case, the data is recorded at the positions (1b, 2b ... 7b) on the left side of the drawing.

Therefore, if the ejection driving timing is synchronized with the driving timing of the carriage motor, the recording position will be shifted to the left or right with respect to the excitation position depending on the moving direction of the carriage. Further, in an actual printing apparatus, the amount of deviation may increase due to mechanical factors.

Usually, in an actual printing apparatus, the driving force of the carriage motor is often transmitted to the carriage via gears. In this case, since there is backlash between the gears, the moving direction of the carriage is reversed. Even if the drive of the carriage motor is reversely rotated, the gear does not transmit the driving force until the backlash disappears, and the carriage does not move during that time.

For example, if the backlash of the gear is equal to one pulse of the excitation of the carriage motor, the recording is completed by the excitation of timing 7A (see FIG. 55) at the time of the forward recording, and the positional error is generated at the time of the backward recording. Even if the excitation is started from the timing 1B, the carriage actually reaches the position corresponding to the timing 7A when the excitation is performed at the timing 2B due to the gear backlash, and the recording is performed at the timing 1B. A deviation of one pulse occurs. Further, in order to record the position of 7b, it is necessary to excite the motor until the timing of at least 8B to drive the carriage.

Further, the stepping motor generally used as the carriage motor has a delay TD (see FIG. 56) of a certain time from the excitation to the actual movement of the shaft of the motor to the excited position. Since the movement of the carriage is delayed by that amount, the recording position is displaced by the above time even if the excitation of the motor and the driving timing of the recording head are synchronized. This time delay TD is determined by the output torque of the motor, the load for driving the carriage, etc., and the output torque of the motor is determined by the rotation speed of the motor, that is, the recording speed, and also changes depending on the device temperature. Further, the load for driving the carriage changes depending on the temperature of the apparatus and changes with time. The deviation of the recording position based on the excitation position of the motor depending on the recording direction can be calculated from the moving speed of the carriage, that is, the recording speed, and the deviation T between the excitation of the motor and the actual position of the carrier T
D can be calculated by experimentally obtaining the torque of the motor and the drive load of the carriage.

As shown in FIG. 56, if there is a deviation TD between the excitation timing of the motor and the actual position of the carriage at the time of carriage forward recording, and there is a gear backlash corresponding to one pulse of the motor, At the time of the backward recording, the point where the recording position of 1a and the recording position of 7b are originally the same is close to the recording position of 3a. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the recording of 7b to the position of 7b 'in order to return to the original recording position (6b is 6
to b ', 5b to 5b' ... sequentially correct). Assuming that the correction amount is TH, TH changes depending on the recording speed, the temperature inside the apparatus, and the like, as described above.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 57, a table having recording speed and apparatus temperature as parameters is provided, and the correction amount TH under each condition is determined. Note that in FIG. 57, the motor 1 pulse is set to the correction amount TH = 2, and + indicates the direction in which recording is delayed on the return path (the direction corresponding to the left side in FIGS. 55 and 56).

Next, an actual control method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a recording command is received (step S90
1) Then, the recording speed is determined (step S902).
Then, the device temperature TX is detected by the temperature detection sensor 34 (step S903), and the recording position correction amount TH is determined based on this TX with reference to the table of FIG. 57 (step S904). After that, the conveyance motor is driven to convey the recording medium to the recording position (step S905), and the recording head is driven while moving the carriage to the right in FIG. 52 to perform forward recording (steps S906 and S90).
7). Next, it is determined whether or not there is data to be recorded (step S908), and if there is no data, recording is ended (step S91).
3), and if there is, the process proceeds to step S909 to drive the carry motor to carry the recording medium to the next recording position (step S909). After that, while the carriage is moving in the opposite direction to the above (step S910), the recording head is added by the correction amount TH and driven to perform the backward printing (step S911). Then, it is determined whether or not there is data to be recorded next (step S912). If there is data, the process returns to step S905 to repeat recording, and if there is no data, recording ends (step S913).

Next, a control configuration for driving and controlling the recording apparatus will be described.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram showing a control system.
This block diagram shows only the connection relationship of each block, and detailed control lines are omitted. The portion surrounded by the broken line is the CPU unit.

The CPU 2040 is a central processing unit, which reads programs and various data from a ROM 2041 and a floppy disk driver 2004, which will be described later, performs necessary calculations and judgments, and performs various controls.

The ROM 2041 stores various programs for operating the CPU 2040, character codes, various data necessary for recording such as a dot pattern (character generator; CG).

The RAM 2042 is a working area where the CPU 2040 temporarily stores instruction data and operation results, the keyboard 2001, and the external interface section 20.
44 or a buffer area for storing various data input from the floppy disk driver 2004, a text area for storing a document, and the like. The CPU unit is the recording head driver 204.
5, the motor driver 2046 and the detection unit 2047 are connected to the printer unit 2003.

The recording head driver 2045 is the CPU 2
By the control of 040, the above-mentioned printer unit 2003
The motor driver 2046 drives a carry motor, a carriage motor, etc. under the control of the CPU 2040.

The detection unit 2047 is the printer unit 200.
A temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature inside the recording device
4, or a carrier home position sensor that detects the position of the carrier, a paper sensor that detects the presence or absence of a recording medium, and the like, and the detection information is transmitted to the CPU 2040. Power supply 20
Reference numeral 48 controls the power supply V _H for the recording head, the power supply V _M for the transport motor, the carriage motor, etc., the power supply V _FDD for the floppy disk driver 2004, and the power supply V _CC for other logic circuits.

Further, the controller 2043 is the CPU 20.
The control of 40 controls the transfer of print data from the print head, changes the voltage / current of the driving power supply V _H , and performs various controls.

A keyboard 2001 for inputting various data required for recording and editing is connected to the CPU unit via a keyboard connector (KBC) 2040. Also, the CPU unit has a CRT connector (CRT
C) A display unit 2002 configured by a CRT for displaying data and various information input from the keyboard 2001 via the 2050 is connected. The display unit 20
The reference numeral 02 may have another structure such as a liquid crystal display instead of the CRT. Further, a floppy disk driver 2004 is connected to the CPU unit via a floppy disk driver connector (FDDC) 2051. A hard disk or an external RAM may be connected instead of the floppy disk. The CPU unit is an interface connector (IFC) 2052
RS232C2053 for controlling the recording device 2003 by an external control device and communicating with an external device via the
It is also possible to connect an interface such as the Centronics 2054 and the modem 2055.

In the fourth embodiment described above, the print head drive timing at the time of carriage return printing is corrected.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the drive timing may be corrected at the time of forward recording of the carriage,
Further, the correction may be performed during both the forward recording and the backward recording.

In the fourth embodiment, the correction amount for driving the recording head is set as an integral multiple of 1/2 pulse time of the carriage motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the carriage motor It may be set to any time irrelevant to the excitation timing.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, the recording apparatus having two kinds of recording speeds was described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same can be applied to a recording apparatus having a plurality of recording speeds. .

In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the correction amount is determined from the table based on the recording speed and the apparatus temperature. However, each time from the calculation formula using the apparatus internal temperature for each recording speed as a parameter. You can also ask for guidance.

Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the electrothermal conversion element is used and the ink is ejected by utilizing the thermal energy generated by the element, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it can be applied to a recording apparatus of a type in which a recording head is arranged in non-contact with a recording medium and ink is ejected for recording, such as a piezo jet method in which electric energy is converted into force to eject ink. .

In addition, the invention is not limited to the ink jet system and can be similarly applied to a wire dot system recording device, and also in a thermal transfer system recording device, for example, a forward recording head and a backward recording recording device. The present invention can be similarly applied by mounting the two recording heads on the carriage.

Further, although the recording head is integrated with the ink tank and is removable from the carriage, the invention is not limited to this, and the ink can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body can be removed. The present invention can also be applied to a replaceable chip type recording head that can be supplied, or a system in which the recording head is not replaceable and the ink tank for supplying ink is replaceable.

Further, regarding the type or number of recording heads mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. Alternatively, a plurality of them may be provided.

In addition, a method of winding the recording medium around the conveying roller and conveying the recording medium by the pressing force of the pinch roller and the guide has been described as the conveying direction of the recording medium, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to a horizontal conveyance method in which a recording medium is horizontally conveyed without being wound around a conveyance roller.

(Others) The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which 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 recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus or the ink jet from the main body of the apparatus is electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus by mounting the recording head. 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 integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the 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.

In addition, as a form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, other than the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0217]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, at least the ink temperature of the ink tank is detected as the state quantity indicating the time required for refilling in the recording head, Based on the detected state quantity, the ejection interval of the recording head and the drive time of the heater for heating the ink, which influence the refill time in the printing operation, are controlled. Therefore, for example, when the refill time indicated by the state quantity becomes long, Heater that lengthens the discharge interval or heats the above ink.
A longer pulse width of the drive pulse of the motor ink is heated it is possible to over Getari its temperature. In particular, by performing the above control when the ink temperature is a low temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the influence of the control on the recording result can be minimized.

[0218]

As a result, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the quality of the recording result.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a head cartridge that can be used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a system using the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a print timing of non-shift printing as a first drive mode according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the print timing of shift printing as the second drive mode according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a dot matrix for explaining shift printing in the second drive mode.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a dot matrix recordable by shift printing as the second drive mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure by the recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a drive method selection table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a head cartridge including an ink remaining amount detecting means according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a recording processing procedure performed by a recording apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a recording apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining a printhead temperature calculation process by the control configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a drive method selection table according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a dot matrix recordable by another example of the shift printing described above.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a dot matrix recordable by still another example of shift printing.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing still another example of the driving method selection table described above.

19A to 19D are schematic plan views showing an electrical joint portion of the recording head for explaining the configuration for recognizing the type of the recording head according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Is.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

21 is a perspective view showing a carriage provided in the apparatus shown in FIG. 20 and provided with a preliminary heat retaining heater.

22 is an exploded perspective view showing a head cartridge that can be used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a temperature sensor provided in the ink tank of the head cartridge.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing an ink remaining amount coefficient selection table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a paper coefficient selection table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing a preliminary warming heater drive basic pulse number selection table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view showing a head cartridge according to a modified example of the second embodiment.

29 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge shown in FIG. 28 as viewed from the side.

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view showing a head cartridge according to another modification of the second embodiment.

31 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge shown in FIG. 30 as viewed from the side.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a head cartridge according to another modification of the second embodiment, viewed from above.

FIG. 33 is a partial cross-sectional view of a head cartridge according to another modification of the second embodiment, viewed from above.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to another modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure according to still another modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing a drive basic pulse number selection table for the preliminary heat retaining heater used in the above processing procedure.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

38 is an exploded perspective view showing the ejection recovery processing device shown in FIG. 37. FIG.

39 (a), (b) and (c) are respectively a front view, a top view and a vertical sectional view showing the structure of the cap in the discharge recovery processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 40 is a cam chart relating to a pump operation in the discharge recovery processing apparatus.

41 (a) to 41 (e) are cross-sectional views showing respective states of the pump in the discharge recovery processing apparatus.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a wiping operation using a blade in the discharge recovery processing apparatus.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the operation of the discharge recovery processing apparatus.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a recording / printing processing procedure of the recording apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram showing a table of ink remaining amount coefficients used in the above processing procedure.

FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing a table of basic execution intervals C of automatic ejection recovery processing used in the above processing procedure.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure according to a modified example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 48 is a schematic diagram showing a table of basic execution intervals D used in the automatic ejection recovery process according to the modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure according to another modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram showing a table of basic execution intervals E used in the automatic ejection recovery process according to another modification.

FIG. 51 is an external perspective view showing a word processor equipped with the recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a recording apparatus used in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 53 is a perspective view showing a head cartridge used in the above apparatus.

FIG. 54 is a schematic diagram showing a dot matrix recordable by the above apparatus.

FIG. 55 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the drive timings of the conventional carriage motor and recording head.

FIG. 56 is a timing chart for explaining the relationship between the drive timings of the carriage motor and the recording head according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 57 is a schematic diagram showing a table of drive correction amounts of the recording head used in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing a driving procedure of the recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system used in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 head cartridge 2 carriage 2A carriage table 3 hooks 4 Operation lever 5 Support plate 6 FPC 7 Guide shaft 8 bearings 9 Timing belt 10 pulley 11 Carriage motor 12 Conveyor rollers 13 Conveyor motor 14 Paper bread 15 pinch roller 16 Platen 17 Paper ejection roller 18 spurs 19 Release lever 20 plates 21 Full surface of paper pan 22 Cap 23 pumps 24 Waste ink tank 25 blades 26 Recovery system motor 27 cams 28 tubes 29 Nozzle part 30 common liquid chamber 31 chip tank 32 sponge 33 filters 34 Ink temperature sensor 35 Recovery Home Sensor 36 Carriage Home Sensor 37 Ink remaining amount detection means 38 keyboard 39 Internal temperature sensor 40 Head mounting time detection means 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 electrical contacts 46 Electrical connection 50 Preheater heater 210 substrate 300 base plate 1000 MPU 1001 ROM 1002 RAM 1003 timer 1004 Interface part 1005 recording dot number detection means 1006 Power ON time measuring means 1800 Flow path limited plate

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tetsuya Ishikawa               3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo               Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Noriomi Oshima               3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo               Within Canon Inc.                (56) Reference JP-A-4-27557 (JP, A)                 JP-A-4-307258 (JP, A)                 JP-A-6-31921 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by using a recording head for ejecting ink and ejecting the ink from the recording head onto a recording medium, the amount of time required for refilling ink to the recording head is determined. As the state quantity shown, the ink supplied to the recording head is
Detection operation for detecting at least one of the ink temperature of the ink tank storing the ink and the time during which the recording head is mounted in the recording apparatus, and the recording operation based on the state quantity detected by the detection means. 2. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the ejection interval of the recording head to be longer than the time required for ink refill. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus that uses a recording head for ejecting ink and ejects the ink from the recording head onto a recording medium to perform recording, and is an ink jet printer that stores ink supplied to the recording head.
Detection means for detecting the ejection frequency at the constant region of the ink temperature and the printhead ink, ink temperature which the detecting means is detected, said detection means
Low temperature than the predetermined temperature defined in accordance with the discharge frequency of detection
At this time, depending on the ink temperature detected by the detection means ,
Ink temperature is set to the ejection interval of the recording head in the recording operation.
Is longer than the discharge interval when the temperature is at the predetermined temperature.
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: the head drive control unit, by comprising a that cormorants control. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording head for ejecting ink and ejects ink from the recording head to a recording medium for recording, and an ink tank storing ink supplied to the recording head. Detecting means for detecting the ink temperature and the remaining ink amount, and the ejection frequency in a certain area of the recording head, and the ink temperature detected by the detecting means,
Low temperature than the predetermined temperature defined in accordance with the discharge frequency of detection
At this time, depending on the ink temperature detected by the detection means,
The basic pulse width of the driving pulse of the heater that heats the ink in the ink tank for preliminarily keeping the ink temperature is
Controlled so that it is longer than the pulse width at the specified temperature
Then, the detecting means detects the controlled basic pulse width.
The drive pulse can be changed by changing it according to the remaining ink amount.
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink heating control unit that determines a pulse width of a scanning line. 4. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head uses the thermal energy to generate bubbles in the ink, and ejects the ink as the bubbles are generated. Inkjet recording device.