JP5712696B2 - Image recording apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and a program for recording an image on a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art A printer having a conveyance mechanism that conveys printing paper and a power supply unit that supplies different voltages to a print head is known. Since the power consumption of the transport mechanism greatly exceeds the power consumption of the print head, the voltage supplied to the print head may change depending on whether the transport mechanism is operating. In this case, for example, when the power supply unit is adjusted so that the voltage supplied to the print head becomes an optimum value when the transport mechanism is operating, the power is supplied to the print head when the transport mechanism is stopped. The voltage deviates from the optimum value, and the print head cannot properly perform a desired operation (such as a flushing operation in the inkjet head). In order to suppress such a change in voltage, a technique for stabilizing the voltage by providing a regulator circuit in the voltage output unit of the power supply unit is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-34025 A

  However, providing the regulator circuit leads to an increase in size and cost of the printer.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus and a program capable of causing a recording head to function regardless of the operation of a transport mechanism while suppressing an increase in size and cost of the recording apparatus.

The image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports a recording medium, a recording head that records an image on the recording medium transported to the transport mechanism, and supplies power to the transport mechanism and the recording head. A power supply unit adjusted so that a predetermined voltage is supplied to the recording head when the transport mechanism and the recording head are driven simultaneously; and a control means for controlling the recording head. The control means includes: a voltage value of a first voltage that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is driven; and the power supply unit that supplies the recording head when the transport mechanism is not driven. Voltage value storage means for storing the voltage value of the second voltage supplied to the printer, determination means for determining whether or not the transport mechanism is driven, and drive command storage means for storing a drive command for the recording head And drive signal generation means for generating a drive signal for driving the recording head from the drive command. When the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, the drive signal generation means determines the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. By increasing the drive signal, the drive signal is generated so that the operation time according to the drive command is increased as compared with the case where the transport mechanism is driven, and the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage. In this case, when the determination unit determines that the transport mechanism is not driven, the drive signal generation unit is configured to transfer the drive signal generation unit when the first voltage is lower than the second voltage. When the determination means determines that the mechanism is not driven, the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal is reduced, so that the transport mechanism is driven as compared with the previous case. As the operation time is reduced according to the drive command, to generate the drive signal.
The image recording apparatus of the present invention supplies a power to the transport mechanism that transports the recording medium, the recording head that records an image on the recording medium transported to the transport mechanism, and the transport mechanism and the recording head. And a power supply unit adjusted so that a predetermined voltage is supplied to the recording head when the transport mechanism and the recording head are driven simultaneously, and a control means for controlling the recording head. The recording head has an ejection port for ejecting liquid. The control means includes: a voltage value of a first voltage that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is driven; and the power supply unit that supplies the recording head when the transport mechanism is not driven. Voltage value storage means for storing the voltage value of the second voltage supplied to the printer, determination means for determining whether or not the transport mechanism is driven, and drive command storage means for storing a drive command for the recording head And drive signal generation means for generating a drive signal for driving the recording head from the drive command. The driving command when the transport mechanism is not driven is a flushing command for discharging liquid from the discharge port, or a vibration that causes the meniscus formed at the discharge port to vibrate without discharging liquid from the discharge port. When the first command is greater than the second voltage when the drive command when the transport mechanism is not driven is the discharge flushing command and the non-ejection flushing command, the drive signal generating means When the determination unit determines that the transport mechanism is not driven, the time width of the entire pulse included in the waveform of the drive signal is increased, compared to when the transport mechanism is driven. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time related to the drive command is increased, and the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage. When the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven, the drive signal generation means drives the transport mechanism by shortening the time width of the entire pulse included in the waveform of the drive signal. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time related to the drive command is reduced as compared with the case where the drive command is performed.

The program according to the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports a recording medium, a recording head that records an image on the recording medium transported to the transport mechanism, power to the transport mechanism and the recording head, and the transport mechanism. And the control relating to the image recording apparatus comprising: a power supply unit adjusted so that a predetermined voltage is supplied to the recording head when the recording head is driven simultaneously; and a control means for controlling the recording head It is a program that causes a computer to function as means. The control means includes: a voltage value of a first voltage that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is driven; and the power supply unit that supplies the recording head when the transport mechanism is not driven. Voltage value storage means for storing the voltage value of the second voltage supplied to the printer, determination means for determining whether or not the transport mechanism is driven, and drive command storage means for storing a drive command for the recording head And drive signal generation means for generating a drive signal for driving the recording head from the drive command. When the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, the drive signal generation means determines the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. By increasing the drive signal, the drive signal is generated so that the operation time according to the drive command is increased as compared with the case where the transport mechanism is driven, and the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage. In this case, when the determination unit determines that the transport mechanism is not driven, the drive signal generation unit drives the transport mechanism by reducing the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time related to the drive command is reduced compared to the case where the drive command is generated.

  According to the present invention, even if the voltage supplied to the recording head changes depending on whether or not the transport mechanism is driven, the drive signal in which at least one of the operation time and the operation efficiency is adjusted based on the stored contents of the voltage storage means. Therefore, the recording head can be functioned without providing a circuit for stabilizing the voltage supplied to the recording head. Thereby, an increase in the size and cost of the recording apparatus can be suppressed.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a voltage output from the same secondary winding associated with the transformer of the power supply unit is supplied to the transport mechanism and the recording head. According to this, the power supply unit can be reduced in size.

  Further, in the present invention, the recording head has an ejection port for ejecting liquid, and the driving command when the transport mechanism is not driven is a flushing command for ejecting liquid from the ejection port, Or it is preferable that it is a non-discharge flushing command which vibrates the meniscus formed in the said discharge port, without discharging a liquid from the said discharge port. According to this, even when the transport mechanism is stopped, the maintenance of the recording head can be performed appropriately.

Further, in the present invention, the drive signal generation means increases or decreases the operation time related to the drive command by increasing or decreasing the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal . Alternatively, the drive signal generation unit increases or decreases the operation time related to the drive command by increasing or decreasing the time width of the entire pulse included in the waveform of the drive signal. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the circuit configuration for changing the operating time according to the drive command.

  In addition, in the present invention, the power supply unit is configured such that the voltage supplied to the recording head is the withstand voltage of the control circuit of the recording head, regardless of whether the transport mechanism is driven or not. It is preferable to adjust so that it may become the following. According to this, it is possible to reliably prevent the control circuit of the recording head from being damaged.

  According to the present invention, even if the voltage supplied to the recording head changes depending on whether or not the transport mechanism is driven, the drive in which at least one of the operation time and the operation efficiency is adjusted based on the stored contents of the voltage value storage means. Since the signal is generated, the recording head can be functioned without providing a circuit for stabilizing the voltage supplied to the recording head. Thereby, an increase in the size and cost of the recording apparatus can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic side view of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the flow-path unit and actuator unit of the inkjet head contained in the printer of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a region III surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. It is a functional block diagram of the controller shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the voltage value memory | storage part shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the drive signal generation part shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a voltage adjustment unit illustrated in FIG. 5. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the voltage adjustment part shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 includes a conveyance mechanism 21, four inkjet heads 10 that respectively eject black, magenta, cyan, and yellow ink droplets onto a sheet P conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 21, and a controller. 1p. In the transport mechanism 21, the transport belt 8 rotates together with the belt rollers 6 and 7, so that the paper P placed on the transport belt 8 is transported so as to pass between the four heads 10 and the platen 9. The At this time, a desired image is printed on the paper P by ejecting ink droplets from each head 10 onto the paper P.

  Next, the configuration of the head 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, the pressure chamber 16 and the aperture 15 which are located below the actuator unit 17 and should be indicated by dotted lines are indicated by solid lines.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the head 10 includes a reservoir unit 11 and a channel unit 12 that are stacked one above the other, eight actuator units 17 that are fixed to the upper surface 12 x of the channel unit 12, and each actuator unit 17. It has FPC etc. which were joined. The reservoir unit 11 is formed with an ink flow path including a reservoir for temporarily storing ink supplied from a cartridge (not shown). In the flow path unit 12, an ink flow path is formed from the opening 12y on the upper surface 12x to each discharge port 14a on the lower surface (discharge surface 10a). The actuator unit 17 has a piezoelectric actuator for each discharge port 14a.

  Irregularities are formed on the lower surface of the reservoir unit 11. The convex portion is bonded to a region where the actuator unit 17 is not disposed on the upper surface 12x of the flow path unit 12 (a region surrounded by a two-dot chain line including the opening 12y illustrated in FIG. 2). The front end surface of the convex portion has an opening connected to the reservoir and facing each opening 12 y of the flow path unit 12. As a result, the reservoir and the individual ink flow path 14 communicate with each other through the openings. The recess faces the upper surface 12x of the flow path unit 12 and the surface of the actuator unit 17 via a slight gap.

  The flow path unit 12 is a laminated body formed by laminating and bonding nine rectangular metal plates 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, and 12i having substantially the same size. . The ink flow path of the flow path unit 12 includes a manifold flow path 13 having an opening 12y at one end, a sub-manifold flow path 13a branched from the manifold flow path 13 and a pressure chamber 16 from the outlet of the sub-manifold flow path 13a. An individual ink flow path 14 reaching the discharge port 14a is included. As shown in FIG. 4, the individual ink channel 14 is formed for each ejection port 14a, and includes an aperture 15 that functions as a diaphragm for adjusting channel resistance. In the adhesion region of each actuator unit 17 on the upper surface 12x, substantially rhombic openings that expose the pressure chambers 16 are arranged in a matrix. In the area facing the adhesion area of each actuator unit 17 on the lower surface (discharge surface 10a), the discharge ports 14a are arranged in a matrix with the same arrangement pattern as the pressure chambers 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the actuator units 17 each have a trapezoidal planar shape, and are arranged in two rows in a staggered pattern on the upper surface 12 x of the flow path unit 12. As shown in FIG. 3, each actuator unit 17 covers the openings of a number of pressure chambers 16 formed in the adhesion region of the actuator unit 17.

  The actuator unit 17 is a piezo actuator composed of three piezoelectric sheets made of a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic material having ferroelectricity. The uppermost piezoelectric sheet is sandwiched between a plurality of individual electrodes formed on the surface and a common electrode formed on the entire surface of the sheet. Each individual electrode faces the pressure chamber 16. When an electric field in the polarization direction is applied to the piezoelectric sheet by setting the individual electrode to a potential different from that of the common electrode, the electric field application portion of the piezoelectric sheet functions as a drive active portion that is distorted by the piezoelectric effect. Correspondingly, the portion sandwiched between the individual electrode and the pressure chamber 16 functions as an individual actuator. That is, the actuator unit 17 is a piezoelectric element in which a plurality of actuators corresponding to the number of pressure chambers 16 are built. The common electrode is equally grounded in the region corresponding to all the pressure chambers 16. On the other hand, as will be described later, a drive signal is supplied to the individual electrodes.

  Here, a driving method of the actuator unit 17 will be described. For example, if the polarization direction and the electric field application direction are the same, the drive active portion contracts in a direction (plane direction) orthogonal to the polarization direction. Here, the actuator unit 17 is a so-called unimorph type actuator in which a piezoelectric sheet sandwiched between an individual electrode and a common electrode is a layer including a drive active portion and two lower piezoelectric sheets are inactive layers. is there. When the electric field application part (driving active part) shrinks in the planar direction and a difference in distortion in the planar direction occurs between the inactive layer and the piezoelectric sheet, the entire piezoelectric sheet is deformed so as to protrude toward the pressure chamber 16 (unimorph deformation) ) As a result, pressure (discharge energy) is applied to the ink in the pressure chamber 16, and ink droplets are discharged from the discharge ports 14a.

  In the present embodiment, a predetermined potential is applied to the individual electrode in advance, and the individual electrode is once set to the ground potential every time an ejection request is made, and then the predetermined potential is applied to the individual electrode again at a predetermined timing. A driving signal is supplied (see FIG. 7). In this case, the piezoelectric sheet returns to the original state at the timing when the individual electrode becomes the ground potential, and the volume of the pressure chamber 16 increases as compared with the initial state (a state in which a voltage is applied in advance), and the sub-manifold channel 13a. Ink is sucked into the individual ink flow path 14. After that, at the timing when a predetermined potential is applied to the individual electrode again, the piezoelectric sheet is deformed so that the portion facing the active region protrudes toward the pressure chamber 16, and the pressure of the ink increases due to the decrease in the volume of the pressure chamber 16. Ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port 14a.

  Next, the controller 1p will be described. The controller 1p includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a program executed by the CPU and a non-volatile memory that stores data used for these programs in a rewritable manner, and a RAM (Random) that temporarily stores data during program execution Access Memory). Each functional unit constituting the controller 1p is constructed by cooperation of these hardware and a program in the nonvolatile memory. This program is stored in various recording media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a memory card, and is installed in the nonvolatile memory from these recording media. The control program recorded on the recording medium may be executable directly by the CPU, or may be executable only after being installed in the nonvolatile memory. Further, it may be encrypted or compressed. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the controller 1 p includes a power supply unit 41, a drive command receiving unit 42, a head control unit 43, and a transport mechanism control unit 44.

  The power supply unit 41 is a multi-output power supply device that outputs electric power of the voltage V1 and the voltage V2. The power supply unit 41 outputs the electric power of the voltage V1 and the voltage V2 from the same secondary winding concerning a transformer. The power of the voltage V1 is supplied to the transport mechanism 21, and the power of the voltage V2 is supplied to the head 10 via the voltage adjustment unit 55 of the controller 1p (see FIGS. 5 and 8). Here, since the power consumption of the transport mechanism 21 is much larger than the power consumption of the head 10, in the power supply unit 41 outputting the power of the voltage V1 and the voltage V2 from the same secondary winding, The voltage supplied to the head 10 when the transport mechanism 21 is driven (hereinafter referred to as the first voltage) is the voltage supplied to the head 10 when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven (hereinafter referred to as the second voltage). Get higher. Accordingly, the power supply unit 41 is adjusted so that the voltage V2 supplied to the head 10 becomes an optimum value during printing in which the transport mechanism 21 and the head 10 are driven simultaneously. Further, the power supply unit 41 is adjusted so that the voltage V <b> 2 is equal to or lower than the withstand voltage of the control circuit of the head 10 both when the transport mechanism 21 is driven and when it is not driven.

  The drive command receiving unit 42 receives a drive command from a client terminal (not shown). The drive command includes a print command for ejecting ink droplets from the ejection port 14a to the paper P conveyed to the conveyance mechanism 21, and flushing for ejecting ink droplets from the ejection port 14a in a state where the conveyance mechanism 21 is stopped. And a maintenance command including non-ejection flushing that vibrates the meniscus of ink formed at the ejection port 14a. A maintenance command may be generated from the print command.

  The head controller 43 controls the head 10 based on the drive command received by the drive command receiver 42. The transport mechanism control unit 44 controls the transport mechanism 21 based on the drive command received by the drive command receiving unit 42.

  The head controller 43 will be described in detail. The head control unit 43 includes a drive command storage unit 51, a voltage value storage unit 52, a transport mechanism drive determination unit 53, a drive signal generation unit 54, and a voltage adjustment unit 55. The drive command storage unit 51 stores the drive command received by the drive command receiving unit 42.

  The voltage value storage unit 52 supplies the voltage V1 that the power supply unit 41 supplies to the transport mechanism 21 during printing (when the transport mechanism 21 is driven) and during maintenance (when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven). The voltage value of the voltage V2 supplied to the head 10 is stored. That is, the voltage value storage unit 52 stores the voltage values of the first voltage and the second voltage supplied to the head 10. The voltage values of the first voltage and the second voltage are actually measured values measured in advance. As described above, the voltage V2 supplied to the head 10 varies depending on whether the transport mechanism 21 is driven. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, during printing in which the transport mechanism 21 and the head 10 are driven, the voltage V <b> 1 is 24 V and the voltage V <b> 2 is 35 V (first voltage). Is not driven and only the head 10 is driven, the voltage V1 is OFF and the voltage V2 is 33V (second voltage).

  Returning to FIG. 5, the transport mechanism drive determination unit 53 determines whether or not the transport mechanism 21 is driven.

  The drive signal generation unit 54 generates a drive signal for driving the head 10 based on the drive command stored in the drive command receiving unit 42. The generated drive signal is supplied to the head 10 via the voltage adjustment unit 55. The drive signal generation unit 54 generates a drive signal including an ejection waveform shown in FIG. 7A when ejecting ink droplets from the ejection port 14a according to the drive command, and vibrates the meniscus of the ejection port 14a according to the drive command. Then, a drive signal including the vibration waveform shown in FIG. 7B is generated. The ejection waveform includes a pulse that becomes the ground potential V0 from the High potential to the time t0 in one printing cycle. This pulse width is equal to the time during which the pressure wave propagates a distance AL (Acoustic Length) length from the outlet of the sub-manifold channel 13a to the discharge port 14a. The waveform shown in FIG. 7A is a waveform when a small ink droplet is ejected, and has one pulse. The waveform when ejecting medium ink droplets is configured by continuously arranging two pulses, and the waveform when ejecting large ink droplets is configured by sequentially arranging three pulses. In the vibration waveform, a pulse that changes from the High potential to the ground potential V0 for a time t1 is repeated for a time t2 at a predetermined cycle. This pulse width is preferably １ ／ or less of the time for the pressure wave to propagate through the AL length.

  Further, when the transport mechanism drive determination unit 53 determines that the transport mechanism 21 is not driven, the drive signal generation unit 54 relates to the drive command if the voltage value of the first voltage is greater than the voltage value of the second voltage. If the drive signal is generated so that the operation time increases from the initial value (the operation time when the transport mechanism 21 is driven), and the voltage value of the first voltage is smaller than the voltage value of the second voltage, the drive command is The drive signal is generated so that the operation time is smaller than the initial value.

  In the present embodiment, the voltage value V2 at the time of maintenance (second voltage 33V) when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven is the voltage value (first voltage) of the voltage V2 at the time of printing when the transport mechanism 21 is driven. 35V) (see FIG. 6), the drive signal is generated so that the operation time related to the drive command during maintenance is increased from the initial value. Specifically, the time t2 of the vibration waveform when performing non-ejection flushing is increased so that the number of pulses of the discharge waveform when performing flushing is increased, that is, the number of pulses related to the vibration waveform is increased. A drive signal is generated as follows. On the contrary, when the voltage value V2 at the time of maintenance when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven exceeds the voltage value V2 at the time of printing when the transport mechanism 21 is driven, the drive command at the time of maintenance is given. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time is smaller than the initial value. Specifically, the time t2 of the vibration waveform when performing non-ejection flushing is shortened so that the number of pulses of the discharge waveform when performing flushing is reduced, that is, the number of pulses related to the vibration waveform is decreased. A drive signal is generated as follows. The time t2 may be the same, and the number of pulses of the ejection waveform when flushing may be changed from the time t1.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the voltage adjustment unit 55 adjusts the voltage V <b> 2 output from the power supply unit 41 to the head 10 to an optimum voltage for driving the actuator unit 17 of the head 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the actuator units 17 have different operating characteristics due to variations in the fixed position with respect to the flow path unit 12 and manufacturing accuracy. Done every time. The voltage adjustment unit 55 includes eight voltage adjustment circuits 56 and voltage command units 57 corresponding to the actuator units 17 (unit 1 to unit 8) for each head 10.

  The voltage command unit 57 determines that the transport mechanism drive determining unit 53 determines that the transport mechanism 21 is being driven, and that the transport mechanism drive determining unit 53 determines that the transport mechanism 21 is not being driven. When non-ejection flushing is performed, for each unit 1 to unit 8, a predetermined voltage is determined as the command voltage so that each unit 1 to unit 8 is uniformly driven. In addition, the voltage command unit 57 can adjust the voltage by the voltage adjustment circuit 56 for units 1 to 8 when the transport mechanism drive determination unit 53 determines that the transport mechanism 21 is not driven and performs flushing during maintenance. The minimum value of the maximum voltage in the range is determined as the command voltage for all units 1 to 8. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined voltage is 21V to 28V so that the units 1 to 8 are driven uniformly. When the transport mechanism drive determination unit 53 determines that the transport mechanism 21 is not driven and performs flushing at the time of maintenance, the voltage command unit 57 receives the power from the power supply unit 41 because the transport mechanism 21 is not driven. When the output voltage drops from 35 V to 33 V, 26 V, which is the minimum value of the maximum voltage within the range in which the voltage by each voltage adjustment circuit 56 can be adjusted, is determined as the command voltage for all units 1 to unit 8.

  The voltage adjustment circuit 56 adjusts the output voltage from the power supply unit 41 to the command voltage determined by the voltage command unit 57 and amplifies the drive signal generated by the drive signal generation unit 54 to the command voltage to the corresponding actuator unit 17. Supply.

  As described above, according to the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, even if the voltage V <b> 2 supplied to the head 10 changes depending on whether or not the transport mechanism 21 is driven, the operation is performed based on the stored contents of the voltage value storage unit 52. Since the time-adjusted drive signal is generated, the head 10 can function without providing a circuit for stabilizing the voltage supplied to the head 10. Thereby, the enlargement of the printer 1 and the increase in cost can be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the voltage output from the same secondary winding concerning the transformer of the power supply unit 41 is supplied to the transport mechanism 21 and the head 10, the power supply unit 41 can be reduced in size.

  In addition, since the drive command when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven is a command related to flushing or non-ejection flushing, maintenance of the head 10 is performed even when the transport mechanism 21 is stopped. Can be done appropriately.

  Further, since the drive signal generation unit 54 adjusts the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal to change the operation time related to the drive command, a circuit configuration for changing the operation time related to the drive command is provided. It can be simplified.

  In addition, the power supply unit 41 is adjusted so that the voltage supplied to the head 10 is equal to or lower than the withstand voltage of the control circuit of the head 10 both when the transport mechanism 21 is driven and when it is not driven. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the control circuit of the head 10 from being damaged.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as long as they are described in the claims. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation time related to the drive command is changed by adjusting the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal. However, the pulse width, the generation timing of the pulse, and the like are selected or combined. By this, the structure which changes the operation efficiency which concerns on a drive command may be sufficient. As a specific example, (a) adjusting the intensity of ejection / non-ejection by the high time length of the pulse, (b) adjusting the timing by adjusting the interval length of the pulse, and adjusting the intensity of ejection / non-ejection, (C) A technique of adjusting the strength of ejection / non-ejection by performing software processing on the combination of the number of pulses, the pulse width, and the pulse timing can be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the power supply unit 41 in which the voltage output from the same secondary winding related to the transformer is supplied to the transport mechanism 21 and the head 10 has been described. The present invention can also be applied to other configurations in which the other output is affected by the level of one output from the power supply unit. In FIG. 5, V1 is applied to the transport mechanism 21 and V2 is applied to the inkjet head 10 via the voltage adjusting unit 55, but V2 is applied to the transport mechanism 21, and V1 passes through the voltage adjusting unit 55. It is good also as a structure applied to the inkjet head 10 via this. In that case, the magnitude relationship between V1 and V2 is opposite to that of the above-described embodiment.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the drive command when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven is a command related to flushing or non-ejection flushing, but when the transport mechanism 21 is not driven. The type of drive command does not matter. For example, a command for ejecting ink for forming an image in a state where the transport mechanism 21 is not driven may be used.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the drive signal generation unit 54 is configured to change the operation time related to the drive command by adjusting the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal. Any configuration may be employed as long as the operation time according to the drive command is changed by adjusting at least one of the pulse width and the pulse generation timing.

  The present invention may have a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid other than ink. It can also be applied to laser printers. Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer, and can be applied to other apparatuses that perform image recording, such as a facsimile machine and a copier.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 1p Controller 10 Inkjet head 17 Actuator unit 21 Conveyance mechanism 41 Power supply unit 42 Drive command receiving part 43 Head control part 44 Conveyance mechanism control part 51 Drive command memory | storage part 52 Voltage value memory | storage part 53 Conveyance mechanism drive judgment part 54 Drive signal Generation unit 55 Voltage adjustment unit 56 Voltage adjustment circuit 57 Voltage command unit

Claims (6)

A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium;
A recording head for recording an image on a recording medium conveyed to the conveyance mechanism;
A power supply unit adjusted to supply a predetermined voltage to the recording head when the conveying mechanism and the recording head are driven simultaneously, while supplying power to the conveying mechanism and the recording head;
Control means for controlling the recording head,
The control means includes
A voltage value of a first voltage that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is driven, and a second value that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is not driven. Voltage value storage means for storing the voltage value of the voltage;
Determination means for determining whether or not the transport mechanism is driven;
Drive command storage means for storing a drive command for the recording head;
Drive signal generating means for generating a drive signal for driving the recording head from the drive command;
When the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, the drive signal generation means determines the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. Generating the drive signal so that the operation time according to the drive command is increased compared to when the transport mechanism is driven,
When the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage, the drive signal generation unit determines that the first voltage is lower than the second voltage when the determination unit determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. If it is smaller, the drive signal generation means drives the transport mechanism by reducing the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time related to the drive command is reduced as compared with the case where the drive command is performed . The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 in which voltage output from the same secondary winding of the transformer of the power supply unit, characterized in that it is supplied to the conveying mechanism and the recording head. The recording head has a discharge port for discharging a liquid;
The driving command when the transport mechanism is not driven is a flushing command for discharging liquid from the discharge port, or a vibration that causes the meniscus formed at the discharge port to vibrate without discharging liquid from the discharge port. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image recording apparatus is a discharge flushing command. A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium;
A recording head for recording an image on a recording medium conveyed to the conveyance mechanism;
A power supply unit adjusted to supply a predetermined voltage to the recording head when the conveying mechanism and the recording head are driven simultaneously, while supplying power to the conveying mechanism and the recording head;
Control means for controlling the recording head,
The recording head has a discharge port for discharging a liquid;
The control means includes
A voltage value of a first voltage that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is driven, and a second value that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is not driven. Voltage value storage means for storing the voltage value of the voltage;
Determination means for determining whether or not the transport mechanism is driven;
Drive command storage means for storing a drive command for the recording head;
Drive signal generating means for generating a drive signal for driving the recording head from the drive command;
The driving command when the transport mechanism is not driven is a flushing command for discharging liquid from the discharge port, or a vibration that causes the meniscus formed at the discharge port to vibrate without discharging liquid from the discharge port. Discharge flushing command,
When the drive command when the transport mechanism is not driven is the non-ejection flushing command,
When the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, the drive signal generation means uses the entire pulse included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time according to the drive command is increased as compared with the case where the transport mechanism is driven by increasing the time width,
When the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage, the drive signal generation means uses the entire pulse included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. An image recording apparatus, wherein the drive signal is generated such that the operation time associated with the drive command is reduced by shortening the time width as compared with the case where the transport mechanism is driven. The power supply unit is adjusted so that the voltage supplied to the recording head is equal to or lower than the withstand voltage of the control circuit of the recording head, regardless of whether the transport mechanism is driven or not. it is an image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in. A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium, a recording head for recording an image on the recording medium transported to the transport mechanism, power is supplied to the transport mechanism and the recording head, and the transport mechanism and the recording head are simultaneously A computer is caused to function as the control means according to the image recording apparatus, comprising: a power supply unit adjusted so that a predetermined voltage is supplied to the recording head when driven; and a control means for controlling the recording head A program,
The control means includes
A voltage value of a first voltage that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is driven, and a second value that the power supply unit supplies to the recording head when the transport mechanism is not driven. Voltage value storage means for storing the voltage value of the voltage;
Determination means for determining whether or not the transport mechanism is driven;
Drive command storage means for storing a drive command for the recording head;
Drive signal generating means for generating a drive signal for driving the recording head from the drive command;
When the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, the drive signal generation means determines the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination means determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. Generating the drive signal so that the operation time according to the drive command is increased compared to when the transport mechanism is driven,
When the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage, the drive signal generation unit determines the number of pulses included in the waveform of the drive signal when the determination unit determines that the transport mechanism is not driven. The drive signal is generated so that the operation time related to the drive command is reduced by decreasing the transport mechanism as compared with the case where the transport mechanism is driven .

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