JP3937808B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An ink jet printer forms an image by ejecting ink droplets from ejection ports provided in a recording head and attaching them onto printing paper.
[0003]
A recording head is usually provided with a plurality of outlets, but if there is an outlet that is infrequently used among the plurality of outlets during the recording operation, the viscosity of the ink will increase due to moisture evaporation at that outlet. The discharge port is clogged. In order to avoid this phenomenon, a predetermined time interval or the usage rate of the ink ejection port is calculated when the recording operation is performed, and the ink receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as a preliminary ejection receiver) provided outside the scanning area of the recording head is calculated. On the other hand, by ejecting ink droplets for a predetermined number of dots, the state near the ejection port is kept constant. This operation is called preliminary discharge operation.
[0004]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional inkjet printer.
[0005]
In FIG. 7, 101 is a printing paper, 102 is a stack of printing paper fed one by one into the printer, and the recording paper is discharged toward the front of the drawing (in the direction of the arrow) as recording progresses. An automatic paper feed mechanism, 103 is a carriage, and 104 is an ink cartridge incorporating a recording head mounted so as to eject ink downward (in the direction of printing paper in the figure).
[0006]
The carriage 103 is mounted with an ink cartridge 104 and faces the printing paper and reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the printing paper. At this time, image formation is performed by discharging the ink stored in the ink cartridge 104 toward the printing paper.
[0007]
Reference numeral 105 denotes a carriage motor, and 106 denotes a drive belt. The carriage 103 is interlocked with the carriage motor 105 by the drive belt 106, and the carriage 103 reciprocates when the carriage motor 105 is driven forward and reverse. Reference numerals 107 and 108 denote guide shafts for mounting the carriage 103, and support the reciprocating movement of the carriage 103 on which the ink cartridge 104 is mounted.
[0008]
Reference numerals 109 and 110 denote preliminary ejection receptacles. During the preliminary ejection operation, the carriage 103 moves above either the preliminary ejection receptacle 109 or 110, and the recording head ejects ink droplets corresponding to a predetermined number of dots.
[0009]
As is apparent from FIG. 7, in the conventional ink jet printer, the preliminary discharge receiver is generally provided at one end or both ends of the scanning area of the recording head. When the preliminary discharge operation is performed, the recording end position is set. The recording head was moved from to the preliminary ejection receiver.
[0010]
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing control of a recording operation and a preliminary discharge operation in a conventional inkjet printer.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 8, when an image such as “A... A” is printed on the printing paper 101, the carriage 103 on which the recording head described in FIG. Scanning is performed in the range 301. A line 301 includes a recording area for forming an image by ejecting ink onto printing paper, and a and b, which are acceleration / deceleration areas. In order to form an image in the recording area, it is necessary to drive the carriage 103 at a constant speed. When the carriage 103 is stopped at a point 302 in the drawing, the carriage 103 moves at a constant speed from the point 303 in the area a. The carriage 103 is accelerated. In addition, the carriage 103 is decelerated in the region b in order to stop the carriage that has moved to the point 304 at a constant speed at the point 305.
[0012]
When recording is performed by moving the carriage 103 in the opposite direction from the point y to the point x, b is an acceleration region and a is a deceleration region. Accordingly, the carriage movement range corresponding to the recording operation for one scan is between the recording area + a area + b area.
[0013]
On the other hand, when the preliminary ejection operation is performed, the carriage 103 is moved onto the preliminary ejection receptacles 109 and 110 to eject ink. When preliminary ejection is performed by the preliminary ejection receiver 109, the carriage 103 is moved to a point 307 in the figure. An area d indicates a moving area from the carriage stop position to the preliminary discharge receiver 109. Further, when preliminary ejection is performed by the preliminary ejection receiver 110, the carriage 103 is moved to a point 306 in the figure. A region c indicates a moving region from the carriage stop position to the preliminary discharge receiver 110.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional example, when the width of the recording paper is narrower than the maximum width of the scanning area, the actual scanning area of the recording head becomes narrower according to the length of the width of the recording paper, and the preliminary ejection operation is performed. In addition, since the moving distance from the scanning region end to the preliminary ejection receiver becomes long, there is a problem that the recording execution time becomes long.
[0015]
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the control of the recording operation and the preliminary ejection operation in the conventional inkjet printer when the width of the printing paper is considerably narrower than the recording scanable area. As is clear from a comparison between FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the printing paper 400 is a printing paper whose width is considerably narrower than that of the recordable scan area shown in FIG.
[0016]
When an image such as “A... A” is printed on the printing paper 400, the scanning range of the carriage 103 on which the recording head described in FIG. 7 is mounted is a line from the point x ′ to the point y ′ in the figure. 401 is the range indicated. The line 401 is composed of a recording area for forming an image by ejecting ink onto the printing paper 400, and an a 'area and a b' area which are acceleration / deceleration areas. In order to form an image in this recording area, it is necessary to move the carriage 103 at a constant speed. When the carriage 103 is stopped at a point 402 in the figure, a ′ is used to move from the point 403 at a constant speed. The carriage 103 is accelerated in the area. Further, in order to stop the carriage 103 driven at a constant speed up to the point 404 at the point 405, the carriage 103 is decelerated in the b ′ region.
[0017]
When recording is performed by moving the carriage 103 in the opposite direction from the point y ′ to the point x ′, the b ′ region is an acceleration region and the a ′ region is a deceleration region. Accordingly, the carriage movement range corresponding to the recording operation for one scan is between the recording area + a ′ area + b ′ area.
[0018]
Also in this case, when the preliminary ejection operation is executed, the carriage 103 is moved onto the preliminary ejection receiver 109 or 110 to eject ink. When preliminary ejection is performed by the preliminary ejection receiver 109, the carriage is moved to a point 407 in the figure. A region d ′ indicates a moving region from the carriage stop position to the preliminary discharge receiver 109. Further, when preliminary ejection is performed by the preliminary ejection receiver 110, the carriage 103 is moved to a point 406 in the figure. A region c ′ indicates a moving region from the carriage stop position to the preliminary discharge receiver 110.
[0019]
Here, comparing FIG. 8 with FIG. 9, the width of the printing sheet is narrowed, so that the width of the recording area is also narrowed. However, the position of the preliminary ejection receiver 109 is not changed, so that the preliminary ejection operation is performed. Further, it can be seen that the distance of the area d ′ in FIG. 9 which is the moving area from the carriage stop position to the preliminary discharge receiver 109 is longer than the area d in FIG. For this reason, although the recording area is narrow, the carriage movement distance necessary for performing the preliminary ejection operation between the recording operations becomes long, and extra time is required for each preliminary ejection operation. , The time until the end of the recording operation becomes longer.
[0020]
The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of minimizing the influence on the recording by the preliminary discharge operation and maintaining a fast recording time.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0022]
That is, an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a recording head mounted on a carriage that reciprocally scans on the recording medium, between the forward scan and the backward scan of the carriage. Preliminary ejection control means for controlling the recording head to perform preliminary ejection, and a position at which the preliminary ejection by the preliminary ejection control means is performed at a predetermined distance from the edge of the recording medium in the scanning direction. And a preliminary discharge position designating unit that designates one of the second positions further away from the distance from the end of the recording medium, the preliminary ejection position designating unit comprising: When preliminary ejection is performed at one ink ejection frequency, the first position is designated, and when preliminary ejection is performed at a second ink ejection frequency higher than the first ink ejection frequency. Comprising an ink jet recording apparatus characterized by specifying the serial second position.
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0035]
In this specification, “record” means not only when forming significant information such as characters and figures but also whether it is manifested so that it can be perceived visually by humans, regardless of significance or insignificance. Regardless of the case, an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium, or the medium is processed.
[0036]
“Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.
[0037]
Furthermore, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of “recording (printing)” above. It represents a liquid that can be used for forming a pattern or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing an ink (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium).
[0038]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same components as those described in FIG. 7 of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Here, only elements characteristic of this embodiment will be described.
[0039]
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 109a and 110a denote preliminary discharge receptacles, the width of which is the same as that of the printable area, and the preliminary discharge receptacle opening is also opened in the lower part of the printing paper shown in FIG. In fact, the preliminary discharge receivers 109a and 110a are in communication with each other.
[0040]
Therefore, in the preliminary ejection operation (ejection operation for maintenance of the recording head that does not perform recording) in this embodiment, after the carriage 103 on which the recording head 104 is mounted passes the end of the printing paper 101, there is no printing paper 101. Ink droplets corresponding to a predetermined number of dots are ejected onto the partial preliminary ejection receptacles 109a and 110a.
[0041]
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the ink jet printer described with reference to FIG.
[0042]
In FIG. 2, the same components as those described in FIGS. 1 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing paper 101 is ejected by discharging ink stored in the ink cartridge 104 downward from a recording head 104 </ b> N attached to the lower part of the ink cartridge 104 mounted on the carriage 103. Then, image formation is performed. In FIG. 2, the carriage 103 reciprocates in front and back of the page, and the printing paper 101 moves in the direction of the arrow as recording progresses.
[0043]
Further, a paper sensor 111 is attached to the carriage 103 and moves to face the print paper 101 as the carriage 103 moves. While moving in this way, the paper sensor 111 determines the position where the print paper is present and the position where there is no print paper, and detects the point where the state changes from the paper present state to the paper absent state (or vice versa) as the end of the print paper. The paper sensor 111 is, for example, an optical sensor, and can detect the presence or absence of the printing paper by irradiating the printing paper with light and detecting the reflected light. In addition, this sensor may be an interactive sensor in which an irradiation unit and a light receiving unit are paired with a print sheet interposed therebetween.
[0044]
Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the ink jet printer. In the figure, showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is various data (supplied to the recording signal and the recording head 104N). This is a DRAM for storing recording data and the like. Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array (GA) that controls supply of recording data to the recording head 104N, and also performs data transfer control among the interface 1700, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703.
[0046]
Reference numeral 105 denotes a carriage motor for conveying the recording head 104N, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head 104N, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carriage motor 105, respectively.
[0047]
The operation of the control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head 104N is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform recording.
[0048]
The DRAM 1703 stores data indicating the coordinates of both ends in the carriage scanning direction of the printing paper detected by a paper sensor 111, which will be described later, and uses this data for carriage movement control accompanying preliminary ejection, which will be described later.
[0049]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing control of the recording operation and the preliminary ejection operation in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 when the width of the printing paper is considerably narrower than the recording scanable area. As shown in FIG. 4, the paper width of the printing paper 100 is considerably shorter than the maximum recordable scanning area (SMAX).
[0050]
When an image such as “A... A” is printed on the printing paper 100, the carriage 103 on which the recording head described with reference to FIGS. Recording is performed by reciprocating within the range of. A line 501 is composed of a recording area for forming an image by ejecting ink onto printing paper, and an a "area and a b" area which are acceleration / deceleration areas.
[0051]
Since it is necessary to move the carriage 103 at a constant speed in order to form an image in the recording area, in FIG. 4, for example, when the carriage 103 is stopped at a point 502, the carriage 103 is driven at a constant speed from the point 503. In addition, the carriage 103 is accelerated in the area “a”. In addition, the carriage 103 is decelerated in the area “b” in order to stop the carriage 103 that has moved to the point 504 at a constant speed at the point 504. On the other hand, when recording is performed by moving the carriage 103 from the point y ″ in the direction of the point x ″, the region b ″ becomes the acceleration region and the region a ″ becomes the deceleration region.
[0052]
Accordingly, the area between the recording area + area a "+ area b" is a carriage movement range corresponding to the recording operation for one scan.
[0053]
Further, when the preliminary ejection operation is executed, ink is ejected by moving the carriage 103 onto the preliminary ejection receptacle 109a (110a) having a width that covers the entire maximum scannable region.
[0054]
In FIG. 4, when preliminary ejection is performed at the right end of the printing paper 100, the carriage 103 is moved to a point 506. In this case, since the preliminary ejection receiver 109a (110a) extends over the entire scanning area of the carriage 103, the preliminary ejection operation can be performed anywhere as long as the ink ejection port of the recording head 104N is located outside the end of the printing paper. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the preliminary ejection operation at a position away from the printing paper to some extent so that the ink ejected during the preliminary ejection operation does not adhere to the printing paper. For this reason, the preliminary ejection operation is executed by moving the carriage 103 to the point 506. An area c ″ indicates a movement area from the carriage stop position (point 502) to the designated preliminary discharge position (point 506).
[0055]
In FIG. 4, when preliminary ejection is performed at the left end of the printing paper 100, the carriage 103 is moved to a point 507. In this case, as in the case of performing preliminary ejection at the right end of the printing paper, it is necessary to perform preliminary ejection operation at a position somewhat away from the printing paper, so the carriage is moved to a point 507. An area d ″ indicates a movement area from the carriage stop position (point 505) to the designated preliminary discharge position (point 507).
[0056]
Here, when comparing the movement area d ″ up to the position for performing preliminary ejection shown in FIG. 4 with the movement area d ′ up to the position for performing preliminary ejection shown in FIG. 9 of the conventional example, the movement area d ″. It can be seen that is shorter than the moving distance d ′. For this reason, the time required for carriage movement required when performing the preliminary ejection operation between the recording operations is shortened, and the time until the end of the recording operation can be further shortened.
[0057]
Next, control of the preliminary discharge operation using the preliminary discharge receiver having the width over the entire scanning area of the carriage 103 described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0058]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the coordinates of the left and right edges of the printing paper are detected in order to move the recording head to the preliminary ejection position using the paper sensor 111.
[0059]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control of the preliminary discharge operation.
[0060]
In this flowchart, a case is described in which recording is performed by ejecting ink onto the printing paper 101 while the recording head 104N moves in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, and then preliminary ejection is performed at the left end of the recording scan. Yes.
[0061]
First, in step S10, it is assumed that the carriage 103 on which the recording head 104N is mounted starts to move in the arrow direction from the position P1 in FIG. At this time, the paper sensor 111 does not detect the print paper 101.
[0062]
Next, in step S20, when the carriage 103 on which the recording head 104N is mounted moves to the left in the drawing and reaches the position P2, the paper sensor 111 detects the printing paper 101. At this time, since there is a change from a state where there is no paper, the position P2 is determined to be the right end of the printing paper 101. Thereafter, in step S30, the recording head 104N performs recording by discharging ink. During this time, the recording head further moves to the left in the figure, but the recording head 111 continues to detect the presence of the printing paper 101 by the paper sensor 111. This detection state continues until the carriage 103 on which the recording head 104N is mounted reaches the position P4 from the positions P2 to P3.
[0063]
In step S40, when the carriage 103 on which the recording head 104N is mounted reaches the position P4, the paper sensor 111 cannot detect the printing paper 101. At this time, since the state of the sensor changes from the state with the paper to the state without the paper, the position P4 is determined as the left end of the printing paper 101. The coordinates of the position P4 are stored in the DRAM 1703.
[0064]
The preliminary ejection operation is started from this point, and in order to prevent the preliminary ejection ink from splashing on the printing paper, in step S50, the carriage 103 carrying the recording head 104N is further moved to the left in the drawing to reach the position P5. Move. At the positions P4 to P5, the paper sensor 111 can no longer detect the paper because the print paper 101 is no longer under the sensor. The distance between the positions P4 to P5 corresponds to the moving area d ″ shown in FIG.
[0065]
In step S60, preliminary ejection is performed from the recording head 104N at the position P5.
[0066]
In the above description, the case where the recording head 104N moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 and performs the preliminary discharge after recording is described. However, the recording head moves in the opposite direction to perform recording. The same control is performed even when preliminary ejection is performed after this. In that case, the coordinates of the position P2 are stored in the DRAM 1703, and preliminary ejection is performed at a point (for example, the position P1) separated from the P2 by a predetermined distance.
[0067]
The coordinate system for specifying the position of the recording head is a one-dimensional coordinate system along the carriage movement direction, and has a predetermined position (for example, the home position of the carriage) as its origin.
[0068]
Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, based on the coordinates of the left and right edges of the printing paper detected by the paper sensor, the recording head is separated from the printing paper by a distance necessary for preliminary ejection from the detected coordinates, and preliminary ejection is performed. Even if the printing paper width or the printing paper position is changed, the preliminary ejection operation can be executed at the optimum position, and the carriage movement for the preliminary ejection operation can be minimized.
[0069]
Accordingly, the recording operation time can be minimized.
[0070]
Furthermore, by providing a print paper detection sensor on the carriage, the actual print paper width is detected, and the coordinate position is stored, so that the movement distance from the print paper edge to the preliminary ejection operation execution position can be accurately determined. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to control more accurately so that the scanning area of the recording head becomes the shortest.
[0071]
In the above-described example, the preliminary ejection position is set at a position away from the edge of the printing paper by a predetermined distance. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the preliminary ejection may be performed while scanning in a direction further away from the position away from the predetermined distance, and the preliminary ejection may be performed before and after switching the scanning direction of the recording head at a position further away from the position away from the predetermined distance. You can go. In such a case, the ink can be dispersed without being concentrated at a predetermined position of the ink receiving portion that receives the preliminary ejection.
[0072]
The specified predetermined distance may be changed according to the recording conditions. For example, since preliminary ejection with a high ejection frequency has a higher degree of scattering around the ink, a longer distance is specified from the edge of the printing paper than when the ejection frequency is relatively low. Also good.
[0073]
In the above-described embodiment, the preliminary discharge receiving portion has been described as an example having a width over the entire scanning region of the carriage, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, if several types of standard paper (for example, A3, A4, B4, B5 paper, etc.) are used as printing paper, these standard papers are used instead of the preliminary discharge receiver having the entire scanning area width. A configuration having a plurality of preliminary discharge receptacles corresponding to positions separated from the end by a predetermined distance may be used.
[0074]
In the above embodiments, the liquid droplets ejected from the recording head have been described as ink, and the liquid stored in the ink tank has been described as ink. However, the container is limited to ink. It is not something. For example, a treatment liquid discharged to the recording medium may be accommodated in the ink tank in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.
[0075]
The above embodiment includes means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) that generates thermal energy as energy used for performing ink discharge, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the ink is generated by the thermal energy. By using a system that causes a change in the state of recording, it is possible to achieve higher recording density and higher definition.
[0076]
As its typical configuration and principle, for example, those performed using the basic principle disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 are preferable. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, the thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head This is effective because film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the liquid, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is pulse-shaped, the bubble growth and contraction is performed immediately and appropriately, and thus it is possible to achieve the discharge of liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness.
[0077]
As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by employing the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface.
[0078]
As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (straight liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal transducer as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, the heat acting surface The configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which is disposed in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-123670, which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal transducer, or an opening that absorbs a pressure wave of thermal energy is discharged to a plurality of electrothermal transducers. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-138461 disclosing a configuration corresponding to each part may be adopted.
[0079]
Furthermore, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. Either a configuration or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used.
[0080]
In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus body by being attached to the apparatus body. A replaceable chip type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus main body may be used.
[0081]
In addition, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary means, and the like for the recording head to the configuration of the recording apparatus described above because the recording operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include a capping unit for the recording head, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or sucking unit, an electrothermal converter, a heating element different from this, or a preheating unit using a combination thereof. In addition, it is effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording in order to perform stable recording.
[0082]
Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrated or may be a combination of a plurality of colors. An apparatus having at least one of full colors can also be provided.
[0083]
In the embodiment described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid, but it may be an ink that is solidified at room temperature or lower, or an ink that is softened or liquefied at room temperature, Alternatively, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable discharge range by adjusting the temperature within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower. It is sufficient if the ink sometimes forms a liquid.
[0084]
In addition, it is solidified in a stand-by state in order to actively prevent temperature rise by heat energy as energy for changing the state of ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to prevent ink evaporation. Ink that is liquefied by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy according to the application of thermal energy according to the recording signal, the ink is liquefied and liquid ink is ejected, or when it reaches the recording medium, it already starts to solidify. The present invention can also be applied to the case of using ink having the property of liquefying for the first time. In such a case, the ink is held as a liquid or solid in a porous sheet recess or through-hole as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, It is good also as a form which opposes with respect to an electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-described inks is to execute the above-described film boiling method.
[0085]
In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a transmission / reception function are provided as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer or the like. It may take the form of a facsimile machine.
[0086]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even when applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.) You may apply.
[0087]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0088]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0089]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that preliminary ejection can be performed at a designated position regardless of the width of the recording medium.
[0090]
Thereby, for example, even when the width of the recording medium is narrower than the maximum width of the carriage scanning area, it is not necessary to perform preliminary ejection by moving the carriage to the end of the area as in the prior art. Preliminary discharge is performed by moving the carriage. As a result, the time required for carriage movement is minimized, and the recording execution time can be minimized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer which is a representative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the ink jet printer described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the ink jet printer.
4 is a schematic diagram showing control of a recording operation and a preliminary discharge operation in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 when the width of the printing paper is considerably narrower than the recording scanable region.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of detecting left and right edges of a printing paper by a paper sensor.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control of a preliminary discharge operation.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional inkjet printer.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating control of a recording operation and a preliminary discharge operation in a conventional inkjet printer.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating control of a recording operation and a preliminary discharge operation in a conventional ink jet printer when the width of the printing paper is considerably narrower than the recording scanable area.
[Explanation of symbols]
103 Carriage 104 Ink cartridge 104N Recording head 109a, 110a Preliminary ejection receiver 111 Paper sensor

Claims (1)

An inkjet recording apparatus that records on the recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head mounted on a carriage that reciprocally scans on the recording medium,
Preliminary ejection control means for controlling the recording head to perform preliminary ejection between forward scanning and backward scanning of the carriage;
Wherein the position for the preliminary discharge by the preliminary discharge control means between a first position spaced a predetermined distance from the end of the scanning direction of the recording medium, further than the distance from the end of the recording medium possess a preliminary discharge position designating means for designating any of the second position away,
The preliminary ejection position designating unit designates the first position when performing preliminary ejection at the first ink ejection frequency, and performs preliminary ejection at a second ink ejection frequency higher than the first ink ejection frequency. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the second position is designated when performing .

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