JP4314174B2 - Recording apparatus and recording medium conveyance control method in the apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an inkjet printer or a laser beam printer, and a recording medium conveyance control method in the apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printing apparatuses connected to a computer, such as an ink jet printer, have been required to have a higher printing speed as the computer system becomes faster. In addition, since a large amount of printable paper (recording medium) is required, it is also possible to increase the number of printable paper sheets by installing a paper feed cassette or the like in the recording apparatus. However, when such a paper feed cassette is used, the paper transport distance becomes longer and the paper feed time increases. As a factor for increasing the recording processing speed in the ink jet recording apparatus, it is desired to shorten the paper feeding time.

  In the conventional recording apparatus, the operation of the recording apparatus is started by analyzing the image data received from the host computer and sending a command to the mechanical control unit based on the analysis result. In this case, first, a sheet is picked up from the sheet cassette and a sheet feeding operation is started. Then, after confirming that the recording sheet has been conveyed to the recording position by this sheet feeding operation, a recording command is issued to the mechanical control unit to perform the recording operation. When recording for one line or one band is completed in this way, a paper feed command for a length corresponding to the recorded portion is sent to the control unit. By repeating such an operation, an image of the entire page is recorded. After the recording operation is finished, a paper discharge command is executed to discharge the recorded recording paper, and after the paper discharge operation is finished, the paper feeding operation for the next page is started.

However, in recent years, since the capacity of a paper feeding device including a paper feeding cassette has been increased, the transport distance from the start of the paper feeding operation until the paper is transported to a recordable position has become longer. . Therefore, the conventional paper feed control cannot obtain the effect of improving the throughput, and it is difficult to increase the recording speed (Patent Document 1).
See JP 2000-159392 A

  In order to save the time required for such paper feeding and increase the recording speed, a recording apparatus for feeding a recording paper for the next recording from a paper feeding cassette during a recording operation has been developed. In such a recording apparatus, the paper feeding operation and the paper feeding operation are performed by rotation driving by the same motor. Therefore, when there are a plurality of paper feeding means and the paper feeding means can be removed as an option, the paper feeding operation and the paper feeding operation may not be performed by the same motor.

  In addition, in a recording apparatus capable of stacking a large amount of paper such as a laser beam printer, a paper feeding operation is performed during a recording operation, but the paper feeding operation and the paper feeding operation are independent. The sheet feeding operation is a series of operations. This is because a large apparatus such as a laser beam printer can be configured to perform a paper feeding operation and a paper feeding operation independently. Therefore, in a small apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, it is costly. From the aspect, it is impossible to configure the paper feeding operation during the recording operation as a series of operations.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the feature of the present invention is that it is possible to reduce the cost by carrying out the conveyance process of the recording medium used for the recording of the next page in parallel with the conveyance of the recording medium of the current page. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of improving the recording speed and a recording medium conveyance control method in the apparatus.

A recording apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A recording apparatus for recording with the recording head by scanning the recording head with respect to the recording medium,
A medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium during recording, the first roller holding and conveying the recording medium while recording is performed by the recording head;
A medium supply having a second roller that picks up a recording medium from a storage section that stores a plurality of recording media, and a third roller that conveys the recording medium picked up by the second roller to a position that can be conveyed by the first roller. Sending means,
Determining means for determining whether image recording of the next page is necessary when recording an image on the recording medium of the current page;
When the determination unit determines that the next page image recording is necessary, the recording medium on which the next page image recording is performed in synchronization with the conveyance of the current page recording medium by the medium conveyance unit is the recording medium. An image of one scan of the recording head until the distance from the first roller reaches a predetermined position shorter than the length in the transport direction of the recording medium, upstream of the first roller with respect to the transport direction of the medium. An amount corresponding to the conveyance amount of the recording medium of the current page by the medium conveyance unit performed after recording, execution of control for conveying the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed by the medium feeding unit, Control means for executing control for conveying the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed from the predetermined position to the first roller by the medium feeding means when the image recording is completed;
It is characterized by having.

A recording medium conveyance control method according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is,
A recording medium transport control method in a recording apparatus for performing recording by the recording head by scanning the recording head with respect to the recording medium,
A medium conveying step of rotating and driving an LF roller that sandwiches and conveys a recording medium while recording is performed by the recording head, and conveys the recording medium being recorded;
A medium feeding step in which a recording medium is picked up by a pick- up roller from a storage section that stores a plurality of recording media, and is transported by a transport roller to a position that can be transported by the LF roller;
A determination step of determining whether image recording of the next page is necessary when recording an image on the recording medium of the current page;
When it is determined in the determination step that image recording of the next page is necessary, a recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording medium of the current page in the medium conveyance step After image recording of one scan of the recording head until the distance to the LF roller reaches a predetermined position shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the recording medium on the upstream side of the LF roller with respect to the medium conveyance direction. An amount corresponding to the conveyance amount of the recording medium of the current page in the medium conveyance step, execution of control for conveying the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed in the medium feeding step, and image recording of the current page When the process is completed, a control step of performing control for conveying the recording medium on which the image of the next page is recorded from the predetermined position to the LF roller in the medium feeding step;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, the recording speed can be improved at a low cost by carrying out the conveyance process of the recording medium used for the recording of the next page in parallel with the conveyance of the recording medium of the current page.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 3 are views for explaining a paper feeding unit of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the whole of the paper feeding unit 1, and FIG. 3 is an external perspective view, and FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the unit main body 2 with the cover 3 and the cover removed from FIG. The paper feeding unit 1 can be roughly divided into a unit main body 2 and a paper feeding cassette 3.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an entire cassette paper feeding unit. By placing an ink jet recording apparatus main body, which will be described later, on this paper feeding unit 1, paper (hereinafter, a recording sheet) is fed to the ink jet recording apparatus main body. Can be printed. 13 is a right decorative panel covering the unit main body 2, and 14 is a left decorative panel similarly covering the unit main body 2, both of which match the external shape of the ink jet recording apparatus main body to be described later. Yes. Reference numeral 15 denotes a right cover that covers the upper right part of the unit main body 2, and reference numeral 16 denotes a left cover that similarly covers the upper left part of the unit main body 2. Reference numeral 17 denotes a separation base, which encloses mechanical parts to be described later and defines a positioning surface of the paper feed cassette 3. Reference numeral 18 denotes an upper stay made of a metal plate, which plays a role as a structure that maintains the strength of the paper feeding unit 1. Reference numerals 19 and 20 denote a right hook and a left hook provided on the right cover 15 and the left cover 16, respectively. Reference numerals 21 and 22 denote positioning right and left pins protruding from the separation base 17, respectively, which are positioned when the ink jet recording apparatus main body is placed. Reference numerals 23 and 24 respectively denote a right movable hook and a left movable hook provided on the separation base 17, which are urged by a spring (not shown) at the position shown in the figure. Locked with the main body. Here, when a back button (not shown) is pressed, the movable hooks 23 and 24 are rotated against a spring (not shown) to be unlocked, and the paper feeding unit is lifted by lifting the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus. 1 and can be separated. Reference numeral 47 denotes a connector (female side) provided on the separation base 17, and when the ink jet recording apparatus main body is placed, it engages with a male side connector provided on the bottom surface of the recording apparatus main body to be electrically conductive. Then, a power supply signal from the recording apparatus side and a motor drive signal described later can be input.

  FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the paper feed cassette 3.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a cassette slot, on which recording sheets (not shown) of sizes from B5 size to A4 size and LTR size can be set. The recording sheet is abutted and set on the reference side wall 10 of the cassette pocket 4, and the side guide 5 and the end guide 6 are moved to abut against the recording sheet to position the recording sheet. The side guide 5 and the end guide 6 are fixed to the cassette pocket 4 by a ratchet 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pressure plate which can be rotated around a rotation center 11. A separation sheet 9 is fixed on the pressure plate 8 with a double-sided tape. This separation sheet 9 is made of cork, and plays a role of preventing frictional feeding to the recording sheet set at the bottom so that double feeding does not occur when the recording sheet is fed. The sheet feeding cassette 3 is inserted into a cassette sheet feeding unit main body 2 (FIG. 3) described later after recording sheets are stacked and set.

  FIG. 3 is an external view of the unit main body 2. For the sake of explanation, the right decorative panel 13, the left decorative panel 14, the right cover 15, and the left cover 16 are removed.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 25 denotes a base plate made of a metal plate, and the right cover 15, the left cover 16, and the separation base 17 are fixed to the base plate 25 with screws. A cassette pressing pin 26 presses the paper feed cassette 3 against a reference surface (not shown) of the right cover 15 with a compression spring 27. By being pressed by the pressing pin 26, the sheet feeding cassette 3 is positioned in the left-right direction with respect to the unit main body 2. Further, a concave portion into which a cassette pressing pin tip (not shown) enters is provided on the left side surface of the cassette pocket 4, and the paper feed cassette 3 is also positioned in the depth direction of the paper feed unit 1. Reference numeral 28 denotes an earth spring that comes into contact with a chassis portion of a recording apparatus to be described later for electrical grounding, and is fixed to the left cover 16 that is omitted in FIG. A pickup roller 29 is press-fitted into a part of the pickup roller shaft 33. Reference numeral 32 denotes a conveyance roller, which is formed by integrating two rubbers by baking on a metal shaft. Reference numeral 38 denotes a pinch roller which is pressed against the rubber part of the transport roller 32 by a spring shaft (not shown) at about 100 gf. Reference numeral 30 denotes a metal pressure plate press plate, which has a role of moving up and down in contact with the pressure plate 8 of FIG. A right chassis 48 is screwed to the base plate 25. Reference numeral 49 denotes a left chassis which is similarly screwed to the base plate 25. Reference numeral 50 denotes a drive motor cassette motor (stepping motor) that applies a rotational driving force to the pressure plate 8, the pickup roller 29, and the transport roller 32.

  Next, a schematic configuration when the ink jet recording apparatus main body is mounted on the paper feeding unit 1 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view when the ink jet recording apparatus 400 is placed on the paper feeding unit 1.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing only main components having a cross-sectional shape when the inkjet recording apparatus 400 is placed on the paper feed unit 1 and cut along the cut surface 401 in FIG. 4, and is common to the above-described drawings. Parts are indicated by the same symbols.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 502 denotes an LF roller, which is a roller for intermittently feeding a fed recording sheet. A pinch roller 503 is pressed against the LF roller 502 with a predetermined load. A plurality of pinch rollers 503 are provided in the main scanning direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5), and the recording sheet can be accurately fed by these pinch rollers 503. Reference numeral 504 denotes a PE sensor lever. When the leading edge or trailing edge of the recording sheet passes through the lever 504, the lever 504 swings. By detecting this oscillation at the upper end of the lever 504 using a transmission type optical sensor (PE sensor 510), the passage timing of the recording sheet can be detected. The state in FIG. 5 shows a state with a recording sheet. When the recording sheet is not on the conveyance path, the lever 504 is rotated approximately 90 degrees in the clockwise direction in FIG. 510 is shielded and the lever 504 is detected, and it is determined that there is no recording sheet. Reference numeral 509 denotes a cassette PE sensor, which detects whether a recording sheet has passed through the lower end of the cassette PE sensor 509 using a transmission type optical sensor (not shown). Thereby, it is possible to detect the passage timing of the recording sheet passing through the cassette PE sensor 509 and the presence or absence of the recording sheet. The interval between the conveyance roller 32 and the PE sensor lever 504 to the sheet detection position is approximately 150 mm.

  As described above, the recording sheet picked up by the pickup roller 29 is separated into only one sheet, and then conveyed by the clockwise rotation of the conveying roller 32, passing through the conveying path 505 in the inkjet recording apparatus 400. Be transported. At the time of recording, the sheet is sandwiched between the LF roller 502 and the pinch roller 503 and is intermittently fed. An image is recorded on the recording sheet by ejecting ink from an inkjet head (not shown) set on the carriage 506 that scans in the main scanning direction to the recording sheet that is intermittently fed in this way. The recording sheet thus recorded is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 507 and the spur 508, and is discharged out of the apparatus (right side in FIG. 5) by these rotations.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a CPU serving as a main control unit, which generates print data in this printing apparatus, drives a motor for printing control, print head ejection control, and analyzes commands transmitted from an external device such as a host computer. Input control of data input by an operation panel (not shown) or displayed on the operation panel is performed. The RAM 602 provides a work area for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 601 executes a program, and has a memory area for storing input image data and recording data. The ROM 603 stores programs executed by the CPU 601 and various data. Among these, there are various types of data that are used as initial values as they are and those that are expanded in the RAM 602 and processed by the CPU 601. The EEPROM 604 stores information on the ink jet recording apparatus. The information stored in the EEPROM 604 includes not only the setting state of the ink jet recording apparatus but also information indicating the number of printed sheets and the remaining amount of ink. The setting state of the ink jet recording apparatus includes function items such as automatic power ON / OFF and a drying mode, and stores such information.

  Reference numeral 605 denotes an I / F (interface) that receives image data from the host computer. The image data received from the host computer is read by the CPU 601 and developed as image data on the RAM 602. This I / F 605 is capable of bidirectional communication with a host computer by IEEE1284, IEEE1394, USB, wireless, or the like. The sensor unit 606 includes a plurality of sensors that detect environmental temperature, head temperature, presence / absence of recording sheet, and the like. A carriage (CR) motor 608 scans and drives a recording head (inkjet head) in the main scanning direction. A line feed (LF) motor 609 rotates the LF roller 502 by the rotation, and moves the recording sheet in the sub-scanning direction. The cassette motor 50 described above rotates the pickup roller 29 to pick up the uppermost recording sheet from the recording sheets stored in the paper feed cassette 3. The transport roller 32 is also rotationally driven by the cassette motor 50. A purge (PG) motor 611 is used to perform a recovery operation of the recording head. Reference numeral 606 denotes a motor driver for driving the above four motors, and each motor can be independently rotated. The recording head control unit 612 performs ejection control of the recording head in accordance with instructions from the CPU 601.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of a sheet feeding operation in a state where the ink jet recording apparatus 400 of the present invention and the cassette sheet feeding unit 1 are combined (FIG. 4). This processing is performed before feeding is started. It is executed when action is required. Note that a program for executing the processing shown in this flowchart is stored in the ROM 603 and executed under the control of the CPU 601.

  First, in step S1, the cassette motor 50 is rotated forward to pick up the recording sheet accommodated in the paper feeding cassette 3, and one recording sheet is taken out from the paper feeding cassette 3 and conveyed. At this time, the “next page feed start flag” (provided in the RAM 602) used for the process when there is a next page and the process when printing is stopped is cleared. In step S2, the PE sensor 510 determines whether the leading edge of the conveyed recording sheet has been detected. When the leading edge of the recording sheet is detected in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and the conveying roller 32 (cassette motor 50) is rotationally driven by a distance obtained by adding 10 mm to the distance from the PE sensor lever 504 to the LF roller 502. Then transport the recording sheet. At this time, since the rotation of the LF roller 502 is not started, the leading edge of the recording sheet thus conveyed hits the contact portion between the LF roller 502 and the pinch roller 503 to form a loop. Thereby, the parallelism of the leading edge of the recording sheet (parallelism with respect to the conveyance path 505) is ensured, and the oblique printing due to the skew of the recording sheet can be prevented.

  When the skew of the recording sheet is corrected in this way, the process proceeds to step S4, where the LF motor (DC motor) 609 starts normal rotation and rotation of the LF roller 502 is started. (This DC motor is controlled based on a signal from the encoder.) As a result, the recording sheet hitting the LF roller 502 is nipped by the LF roller 502 and the pinch roller 503 and begins to be conveyed. For this purpose, in synchronization with the rotation of the LF motor 609, the cassette motor 50 is rotated forward by conveying the recording sheet by 12 mm.

  In step S5, the rotation of the cassette motor 50 (the rotation of the conveying roller 32) is stopped, and the LF roller 502 is further rotated to convey the recording sheet to the cueing position. Thereafter, the rotation of the LF roller 502 is stopped, and at the same time, the cassette motor 50 (the conveyance roller 32 and the pickup roller 29) is reversely rotated (the conveyance roller 32 and the pickup roller 29 are rotated counterclockwise). Then, the pressure plate cam gear is rotated 40 degrees to return to the initial position and stop. In this state, since the conveyance roller 32 is separated from the pinch roller, a tensile resistance is not applied from the upstream side (conveyance roller 32) in the recording sheet conveyance direction to the intermittent feeding by the LF roller 502. Accuracy can be secured.

  On the other hand, when the leading edge of the recording sheet is not detected by the PE sensor 510 in step S2, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is checked whether or not the cassette motor 50 (conveying roller 32) has been rotationally driven by 300 mm. When the cassette motor 50 has not been driven for rotation by the amount of conveyance of the recording sheet by 300 mm, the process returns to step S2, and further the conveyance roller 32 is step-driven to determine whether the leading edge of the recording sheet has been detected by the PE sensor 510.

  In step S6, when the cassette motor 50 is rotationally driven to convey the recording sheet by 300 mm, the process proceeds to step S7. In this case, even if the cassette motor 50 is rotationally driven by a predetermined amount, the leading edge of the recording sheet does not reach the position of the PE sensor lever 504. In this case, the cassette motor 50 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction. Return the recording sheet and proceed to step S8. In step S8, it is determined whether this is the second trial. If not, the process proceeds to step S1, and normal rotation of the cassette motor 50 is started again.

  In step S8, in the case of the second time, the process proceeds to step S9, and the display unit of the operation unit provided in the ink jet recording apparatus 400 is displayed so that it can be recognized that there is “no recording sheet error”. This warning display may be displayed as a message, or a lamp such as an LED may be turned on, and further a warning may be given by a buzzer or the like.

  FIG. 8 shows that when a recording sheet of the current page is conveyed by a predetermined amount (predetermined step), it is necessary to record on the recording sheet of the next page (which is a recording sheet conveyed next to the current page) (continuous). The next page is recorded) using the flowchart in FIG. 8 and the recording sheet conveyance from the conveyance roller 32 to the LF roller 502 and the positional relationship diagram of each roller and each sensor shown in FIG. I will explain.

  FIG. 8 is a state in which the inkjet recording apparatus 400 of the present invention and the cassette paper feeding unit 1 are combined (FIG. 4), and when there is image data to be recorded on the next page during the recording operation of the recording sheet of the current page. In the flowchart showing the paper feed process, this process is executed at the start of rotational driving of the LF roller 502 in the printing operation for the current page. A program for executing the processing shown in this flowchart is stored in the ROM 603.

  First, in step S11, the LF motor 609 is driven to rotate forward to rotate the LF roller 502, and the recording sheet of the current page on which the recording operation is performed is equivalent to a predetermined step (for example, a recording width recorded on the recording sheet). Distance to drive).

  Next, in step 11a, the next page feed start flag is checked. If the next page feed start flag is turned on, steps S12, S13, and S14 are skipped and the process proceeds to S15. In step 11a, if the next page feed start flag is off, the process proceeds to step S12 to determine whether or not to feed the recording sheet for recording the next page, and feed the recording sheet for the next page. If YES in step S13, the process advances to step S13. If the next page is not fed, the process ends without performing the process of feeding a recording sheet for recording the next page. Note that as a material for determining whether or not to feed the recording sheet for the next page, for example, when the ink jet recording apparatus is in the power consumption mode, the recording sheet for the next page is not fed. In the mode in which the recording speed is prioritized over the image quality (recording speed priority), the recording sheet for the next page is fed. In addition to this, whether to start feeding the recording sheet for the next page is determined depending on whether it is in the silent mode or whether the recording mode requires feeding of the next page. The

  In step S13, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the recording sheet of the current page has passed the conveyance roller 32. If it has passed, the process proceeds to step S14. If not, the recording sheet for the next page is fed. The process ends without performing the process.

  This process is performed when feeding of a recording sheet for recording of the next page is started in a state where the trailing edge of the recording sheet of the current page does not pass through the conveying roller 32 (in contact with the conveying roller 32). This is to prevent so-called double feeding, in which the recording sheet of the page and the recording sheet of the next page are conveyed in an overlapping manner. This process also has an effect that the interval between the trailing edge of the recording sheet of the current page and the leading edge of the recording sheet of the next page is more than a certain distance.

In step S13, whether or not the trailing edge of the recording sheet of the current page has passed the conveyance roller 32 is determined by determining the conveyance amount (CurrentPaperNow) from the PE sensor lever 504 at the leading edge of the recording sheet of the current page, and the current page. From the current recording sheet length (CurrentPaperLength), the rear end position (CurrentPaperEndPostion) of the recording sheet from the PE sensor lever 504 of the current page is
(CurrentPaperEndPosition) = (CurrentPaperLength)-(CurrentPaperNow)
= (Recording sheet length of current page)-(Conveyance amount from PE sensor lever 504 at the front end of recording sheet of current page)
Is required. Here, when the trailing edge position (CurrentPaperEndPosition) of the recording sheet from the PE sensor lever 504 of the current page is smaller than 150 mm, it is determined that the trailing edge of the recording sheet of the current page has passed the conveyance roller 32. For this determination, for example, a counter (total pulse counter) that holds the total amount of drive (number of pulses) of the cassette motor 50 is provided in the RAM 602 shown in FIG. Judgment is made from the value of this counter. The value of this counter is updated each time the cassette motor 50 is operated.

  In step S14, the “next page feed start flag” in the RAM 602 is turned on to prepare for processing to be described later when printing is stopped. Next, in step S15, it is determined whether the leading edge of the recording sheet on the next page has passed the PE sensor lever 504 (whether the PE sensor is on) or not (when the recording sheet is present). Advances to step S17, and if not passed (no recording sheet), advances to step S16.

  In step S16, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is started each time the recording sheet of the current page being recorded is transported, so that the leading edge of the recording sheet of the next page is moved from the sensor position of the cassette PE sensor 509. It is judged from the value of the total pulse counter whether it is transported to a position 900 downstream in the 10 mm transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, when the sheet is conveyed to the position 900, this process is terminated. However, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, when the sheet has not been conveyed to the position 900, the process proceeds to step S18, and the cassette motor 50 is driven stepwise.

  The recording sheet is conveyed from the cassette to the position 900 by driving the cassette motor 50 once, for example, by driving the cassette motor 50 as many times as two times or three times. This is because the drive amount of the cassette motor 50 (transport amount of the transport roller) per one time is not a predetermined value but changes depending on the transport amount of the LF roller.

  That is, the progress of conveyance of the next page depends on the recording operation of the recording head with respect to the recording sheet of the current page. In other words, it corresponds to the progress of the current page conveyance executed after scanning of the recording head. If the current page conveyance amount is large, the next page conveyance amount also increases. If the current page conveyance amount is small, the next page conveyance amount is increased. The transport amount is also reduced. The carry amount of the current page depends on the image data recorded on the recording sheet of the current page, the recording mode (one-pass recording or multi-pass recording), and the like.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the leading edge of the recording sheet on the next page has been conveyed beyond 10 mm from the sensor position of the cassette PE sensor 509, the leading edge of the recording sheet on the next page is the conveyance target for the next page in FIG. The processing is terminated without assuming that the cassette motor is in the forward rotation.

  If it is determined in step S15 that the leading edge of the recording sheet on the next page has passed through the cassette PE sensor 509, the process proceeds to step S17, where the conveyance position of the recording sheet on the next page indicates that the recording sheet is moved to the PE sensor lever 504. It is judged from the value of the total pulse counter whether it is 10 mm in front (900 in FIG. 9: conveyance position of the recording sheet on the next page). . If the position 900 in FIG. 9 has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S18 to drive the cassette motor 50 stepwise. This drive amount is equivalent to the carry amount of the current page.

If the result in step S17 is affirmative, in the state of FIG. 9B, the leading edge of the sheet of the next page at the next page conveyance target position 900, which is 10 mm before the PE sensor lever 504 (upstream in the conveyance direction). Will be reached. Note that, when the amount of conveyance corresponding to the conveyance amount of the current page is performed based on the value of the total pulse counter, whether or not the leading edge of the next page passes through the position 900 (shifts downstream in the conveyance direction). A step for determining whether or not
Next page transport amount <Current page transport amount (Transport amount by transport roller <Transport amount by LF roller)
You may control so that it may become.

  The rotation amount of the cassette motor 50 driven in step S19 is a value obtained by multiplying the step amount obtained by rotating the LF motor 609 forward in step S11 by the gear ratio in the system that transmits the rotation of the motor to the rollers. . This gear ratio will be described later. This is because the configuration of the present embodiment aims to keep a certain distance or more between the trailing edge of the recording sheet of the current page and the leading edge of the recording sheet of the next page. This is because it is necessary to match the sheet conveyance amount on the next page. Note that the maximum value of the rotation amount of the cassette motor 50 in step S19 is an amount corresponding to the distance to the target position 900.

  Note that the target position 900 of the front end of the sheet on the next page is a standby position for starting the conveyance process described in steps S3 and S4 of FIG. Also, by stopping the leading edge of the next page at this position, the distance between the trailing edge of the current page and the leading edge of the next page can be maintained, and the trailing edge of the current page and the leading edge of the next page are prevented from overlapping. be able to. The distance between the target position 900 and the PE sensor lever 504 is determined by the amount of movement of the PE sensor lever 504, the difference between the recording sheet conveyance timing by the conveyance roller 32 and the recording sheet conveyance timing by the LF roller 502, and the like. However, it is not limited to 10 mm.

  After the leading edge of the sheet on the next page reaches the target position 900, for example, at the timing when the processing of the image data is completed and the data to be sent to the recording head is ready, the conveyance to the LF roller 502 is started, and the next page Is conveyed to the recording position of the recording head.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the LF roller 502 and the conveyance roller 32 are driven by different motors, and the sheet conveyance amounts corresponding to the respective motor drive amounts are different. 1 ”is obtained, and the forward rotation amount of the cassette motor 50 is obtained from the rotational drive amount of the LF motor 502 and the gear ratio.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process when the current page is being recorded or when the recording process is stopped after the current page has been recorded. This process is particularly effective when it is determined that there is recording data for the next page during printing of the recording sheet for the current page, and the user cancels printing while the recording sheet for the next page is being fed. This is the case when instructed.

  In step S21, it is checked whether or not the “next page feed start flag” set in step S14 of FIG. 8 is on. If the next page feed has already started, the process proceeds to step S22 to record a recording sheet. The forced paper discharge process is executed. In this case, the LF roller 502 and the conveying roller 32 are driven to rotate, and the recording sheet is discharged out of the apparatus. In the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, in order to reduce functions due to cost reduction or the like, when feeding of a recording sheet for the next page has already started, the recording sheet that has started feeding is returned. This is because it is impossible.

  In step S23, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the recording sheet on the next page has passed the PE sensor lever 504. If it has passed, the process ends normally. If not, the process proceeds to step S24, and the ink jet recording apparatus 400 is provided. Displays that a “recording sheet jam error” has occurred.

  Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) composed of a single device even if it is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). May be.

  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. (MPU) can also be achieved by 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 embodiments, 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. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  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. The case where the CPU of 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 is also included.

1 is an external perspective view of a paper feeding unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette of the paper feed unit of the present embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the paper feed unit of the present embodiment. It is an external view explaining the use condition which mounted the inkjet recording device which concerns on this Embodiment in the paper feed unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure at the time of cut | disconnecting in the cross section 401 in FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a paper feeding operation in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a case where a recording sheet on the next page is present in a paper feeding operation in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a roller and a sensor in a recording sheet conveyance path in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a paper discharge process when printing is interrupted in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Claims (6)

A recording apparatus for recording with the recording head by scanning the recording head with respect to the recording medium,
A medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium during recording, the first roller holding and conveying the recording medium while recording is performed by the recording head;
A medium supply having a second roller that picks up a recording medium from a storage section that stores a plurality of recording media, and a third roller that conveys the recording medium picked up by the second roller to a position that can be conveyed by the first roller. Sending means,
Determining means for determining whether image recording of the next page is necessary when recording an image on the recording medium of the current page;
When the determination unit determines that the next page image recording is necessary, the recording medium on which the next page image recording is performed in synchronization with the conveyance of the current page recording medium by the medium conveyance unit is the recording medium. An image of one scan of the recording head until the distance from the first roller reaches a predetermined position shorter than the length in the transport direction of the recording medium, upstream of the first roller with respect to the transport direction of the medium. An amount corresponding to the conveyance amount of the recording medium of the current page by the medium conveyance unit performed after recording, execution of control for conveying the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed by the medium feeding unit, Control means for executing control for conveying the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed from the predetermined position to the first roller by the medium feeding means when the image recording is completed;
A recording apparatus comprising: Is the medium conveying means includes a first motor for rotating said first roller and said medium feeding means includes a second motor for rotating said second roller and said third roller, said control means , Based on the ratio of the gears that transmit the rotations of the first and second motors in the medium conveying means and the medium feeding means to the first or third roller, the medium conveying means The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is controlled to convey the recording medium on which the image of the next page is recorded by the medium feeding unit by an amount corresponding to the conveyance amount of the recording medium.   The recording apparatus includes detection means for detecting the leading edge of the recording medium upstream of the predetermined position, and counting means for counting the conveyance amount of the recording medium by the medium feeding means. After detecting the leading edge of the recording medium on which the image of the next page is recorded, based on the count value of the counting means, the medium feeding means records the image of the next page from the detection position to the predetermined position. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is controlled so as to carry the recording medium. The recording apparatus, between the first roller and the predetermined position, a second detecting means for detecting the leading edge of the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed, the third by the second detecting means after detecting the leading edge of the Symbol recording medium conveyed by the rollers, the third roller is further driven to rotate, and the abutting operation of the distal end of the recording medium relative to said first roller rotation is stopped The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording apparatus is controlled to perform.   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the motor is a stepping motor, and the control unit feeds the recording medium according to the number of driving steps of the stepping motor. A recording medium transport control method in a recording apparatus for performing recording by the recording head by scanning the recording head with respect to the recording medium,
A medium conveying step of rotating and driving an LF roller that sandwiches and conveys a recording medium while recording is performed by the recording head, and conveys the recording medium being recorded;
A medium feeding step in which a recording medium is picked up by a pick- up roller from a storage section that stores a plurality of recording media, and is transported by a transport roller to a position that can be transported by the LF roller;
A determination step of determining whether image recording of the next page is necessary when recording an image on the recording medium of the current page;
When it is determined in the determination step that image recording of the next page is necessary, a recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording medium of the current page in the medium conveyance step After image recording of one scan of the recording head until the distance to the LF roller reaches a predetermined position shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the recording medium on the upstream side of the LF roller with respect to the medium conveyance direction. An amount corresponding to the conveyance amount of the recording medium of the current page in the medium conveyance step, execution of control for conveying the recording medium on which the image recording of the next page is performed in the medium feeding step, and image recording of the current page When the process is completed, a control step of performing control for conveying the recording medium on which the image of the next page is recorded from the predetermined position to the LF roller in the medium feeding step;
A recording medium conveyance control method comprising:

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