JP6753463B2 - Recording control method of an inkjet recording device and an inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device and a recording control method for an inkjet recording device.

Conventionally, there is an inkjet recording device that records an image or the like by ejecting ink from a nozzle and landing the ejected ink on a recording medium. The inkjet recording device can perform a recording operation on recording media of various thicknesses and materials.

In an inkjet recording device, ink is ejected while the recording head provided with a nozzle and the recording medium are relatively moved by a conveying means to land the ink on various parts of the surface of the recording medium. As a traction member for moving the recording head and a mounting member for mounting and moving the recording medium, belts made of various resins or the like are often used. In particular, ink is ejected from a fixed recording head using a recording head (line head) in which nozzles are arranged over the entire width of the recording medium in a width direction that intersects and is mainly orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium. On the other hand, in the inkjet recording device that conveys the recording medium in the conveying direction, the recording operation can be performed at high speed.

In such an inkjet recording device, when the recording head and the recording medium are moved relative to each other, the recording medium is not normally mounted on the mounting surface and comes into contact with the recording head or gets entangled with the recording head to record appropriately. There is a problem that the operation may not be performed or the recording head may be damaged. On the other hand, conventionally, there is a technique of detecting the mounted state of the recording medium to be conveyed and stopping the transfer of the recording medium when an abnormality such as lifting to the extent of contacting the recording head is detected (Patent Document 1). ). By starting the recording operation after the abnormality is resolved, it is possible to continue recording a normal image while ensuring the safety of the inkjet recording device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-126131

However, since the member forming the transport surface of the recording medium and the transport member for moving the transport surface in the transport means have some elasticity, the force corresponding to the sudden change in acceleration generated at the start of the movement is local. Elastic vibration is generated in the expansion and contraction direction by applying the target. As a result, there is a problem that local deviations occur in various parts of the transport surface with respect to the movement amount of the entire transport member, the position of the ink on the recording medium is deviated, and the quality of the recording operation is deteriorated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device and a recording control method for the inkjet recording device, which can maintain the quality of recording operation more stably.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is
A transport means for performing a transport operation in which a transport member on which a recording medium is placed is moved in a predetermined transport direction to transport the recording medium.
A recording means that performs a recording operation to apply ink to the conveyed recording medium,
After the transport operation by the transport means is started, the transport member is transported by a predetermined distance according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration generated in the transport member due to the change in acceleration of the transport member in the transport direction at the start of the transport operation. A control means for starting the recording operation at the timing when the recording operation is performed,
It is an inkjet recording apparatus characterized by the above.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1 in the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1.
It is characterized by including a storage means for storing the predetermined distance.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
It is equipped with a position acquisition means for acquiring the position information of the recorded recording medium to be conveyed.
The control means
When the recording operation on the recording medium by the recording means and the transfer operation of the recording medium by the transfer means are interrupted, the information related to the content interruption position of the recording target data related to the recording operation is acquired and the position is acquired. By means, the information related to the recording interruption position on the recording medium is acquired, and
When the recording operation and the transfer operation are restarted after the interruption, the recording is interrupted from the transfer restart position on the upstream side of the transfer direction by the predetermined distance from the recording position where the ink is applied to the recording medium by the recording means. The transport operation of the recording medium in the transport direction is started so that the position starts to move, and the recording operation on the recording medium is started from the content interruption position at the timing when the recording medium is transported by the predetermined distance. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3 in the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3.
When the recording operation and the transport operation are restarted after the interruption, the control means moves the recording interrupt position to the transport restart position by the transport means based on the acquired position information. It is characterized in that the transport operation of the recording medium in the transport direction is started.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4 in the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4.
The transport means is characterized in that the recording interruption position is moved to the transport restart position by moving the transport member on which the recording medium is placed in a direction opposite to the transport direction.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 3 in the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3.
The transfer restart position is set with respect to the recording position according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration in the transfer direction generated in the transfer member due to the acceleration change of the transfer member in the transfer direction at the start of the transfer operation. The predetermined distance is defined within the set reference distance range, and the predetermined distance is defined as the distance from the defined transfer restart position to the recording position.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 is in the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6.
When the recording operation and the transport operation are interrupted, the control means is characterized in that, after the recording operation is stopped, the transport means is made to perform an operation related to the suspension of the transport operation.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is in the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7.
The control means is characterized in that the transport speed of the recording medium is increased at a constant acceleration when the transport operation is restarted.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is in the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 8.
An operation receiving means for receiving a command operation related to the resumption of the recording operation and the transport operation is provided.
The control means is characterized in that, after the recording operation and the transport operation are stopped, when the command operation is accepted, the transport operation by the transport means and the recording operation by the recording means are restarted.

The invention according to claim 10 is the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
The transport member is an endless belt material bridged between a plurality of rotating members.
The transport means is characterized in that the transport member is moved by rotating one of the plurality of rotating members.

The invention according to claim 11 is the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
The predetermined distance is characterized in that it is shorter than the moving distance in the period of accelerating the transport member at the start of the transport operation.

The invention according to claim 12 is the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
The control means is characterized in that the ink ejection timing by the recording means during the period of accelerating or decelerating the transport member is adjusted according to the speed of the transport member.

The invention according to claim 13 is
A transport means that moves a transport member on which a recording medium is placed in a predetermined transport direction to transport the recording medium, and a recording means that performs a recording operation to apply ink to the transported recording medium. It is a recording control method of an inkjet recording apparatus provided with
After the transport operation by the transport means is started, the transport member is transported by a predetermined distance according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration generated in the transport member due to the change in acceleration of the transport member in the transport direction at the start of the transport operation. A control step that starts the recording operation at the timing when
It is characterized by including.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the quality of recording operation can be maintained more stably in the inkjet recording apparatus.

It is an overall perspective view which shows the inkjet recording apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the surface which faces the transport surface of a head unit. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of an inkjet recording apparatus. It is a figure explaining the moving state and moving operation of a recording medium at the time of resuming image recording. It is a figure explaining the moving state and moving operation of a recording medium at the time of resuming image recording. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the image recording control processing in an inkjet recording apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the interruption process called in the image recording control process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an inkjet recording device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The inkjet recording device 1 includes a transport unit 10 (transport means), an image recording unit 20 (recording means), a medium detection unit 30, a control unit 40 (control means), and the like.

The transport unit 10 includes a drive roller 11, a transport belt 12 (convey member, belt material), a driven roller 13, a transport motor 14, an encoder 15 (position acquisition means), a pressing roller 16, a peeling roller 17, and the like. Has. The endless transfer belt 12 is bridged between the drive roller 11 and the driven roller 13 (both are collectively a plurality of rotating members), and rotates orbits as the drive roller 11 rotates by the drive of the transfer motor 14. .. By using the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt 12 as a transport surface and relatively moving the image recording unit 20 in a predetermined transport direction, a transport operation of moving the recording medium P mounted on the transport surface in the transport direction is performed. Do. As the transport belt 12, a material that flexibly bends at the contact surface with the drive roller 11 and the driven roller 13 and reliably supports the recording medium P is used. For example, a resin belt such as rubber or a belt made of resin such as rubber is used. Examples include steel belts. Since the transport belt 12 has a material and / or a structure in which the recording medium P is adsorbed, the recording medium P can be more stably mounted on the transport belt 12. In this case, a configuration for peeling the recording medium P from the transport belt 12 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the image recording unit 20 may be further provided.
The driven roller 13 rotates as the transport belt 12 moves.
The recording medium P is not particularly limited, but here, a cloth or the like continuous in the transport direction is used, and a plurality of images recorded on the recording medium P at appropriate intervals are produced by a post-processing device (not shown). It is dried, rolled up or shaken off, and / or cut individually.

The transfer motor 14 rotates the drive roller 11 at a rotation speed according to a control signal from the control unit 40. The transfer motor 14 can also rotate the drive roller 11 in the direction opposite to the normal transfer direction. As a result, the transport belt 12 transports the recording medium P at a transport speed corresponding to the rotation speed of the drive roller 11.

Here, the encoder 15 is a rotary encoder, and measures the movement amount and position (transport position) of the transport surface and the recording medium P on the transport surface by detecting the rotation amount of the drive roller 11. In addition, the encoder 15 may measure the amount of rotation of the driven roller, or may directly measure the amount of movement of the transport belt 12. Alternatively, the encoder 15 may detect the amount of rotational movement of the transfer motor 14.

The pressing roller 16 presses the recording medium P supplied to the mounting surface of the transport belt 12 against the mounting surface to remove wrinkles and the like from the mounting surface.
The peeling roller 17 pulls the recording medium P, which has been transported while being attracted to the transport belt 12, with a predetermined pressure, thereby peeling the recording medium P from the transport surface and sending it to the post-processing apparatus.

The medium detection unit 30 detects the surface of the recording medium P before being mounted on the transport belt 12 and transported to a position facing the head unit 21, and detects a mounting abnormality such as floating of the recording medium or on the recording medium P. Detects dust. When an abnormality in the recording medium P is detected and the transport of the recording medium P is stopped, the medium detection unit 30 moves the recording medium P before the abnormality detection location reaches a position facing the head unit 21. It is preferable that the head unit 21 is provided on the upstream side by a distance that can stop the head unit 21. Alternatively, instead of or sufficiently providing a sufficient distance between the medium detection unit 30 and the head unit 21, the head unit 21 at an abnormal location of the recording medium P is located between the medium detection unit 30 and the head unit 21. A collision prevention mechanism may be provided.

The control unit 40 controls the operation of each unit of the inkjet recording device 1 in an integrated manner.

The image recording unit 20 performs a recording operation of recording (forming) an image by ejecting ink from a nozzle and landing (imparting) it on the upper surface of the recording medium P (the surface opposite to the side in contact with the transport surface). .. Here, the image recording unit 20 has a plurality of head units 21, and here, four head units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. From these head units 21, inks of different colors supplied from ink storage portions (not shown), for example, inks of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are ejected. Each of the head units 21 is provided with nozzles in the width direction in a plane parallel to the transport surface over the recordable width of the recording medium P having a predetermined size (the above-mentioned maximum width size), and ink can be ejected. There is.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a surface (nozzle surface) facing the transport surface of the head unit 21K.
Since the head units 21C, 21M, and 21Y also have the same configuration, description thereof will be omitted.

The head unit 21K has a plurality of discharge heads 211 (here, 16) in which nozzle openings are arranged at predetermined intervals (nozzle intervals), here, for example, 360 dpi (dot per inch) at intervals of about 141 μm on the bottom surface. Pieces) are provided. By forming a set of two discharge heads 211 and arranging the nozzle openings of each discharge head 211 alternately in the width direction, image recording with a total recording resolution of 720 dpi (nozzle interval of about 70.5 μm) can be recorded. It is possible. By further arranging the set of discharge heads 211 in a houndstooth pattern, a line head in which nozzle openings are arranged over the above-mentioned recordable width at uniform intervals in the width direction is formed. That is, the head unit 21K is fixed during the image recording operation, and ink is sequentially ejected to positions in different transport directions at predetermined intervals (convey direction intervals) according to the transport of the recording medium P, thereby performing a one-pass method. Record the image with. The distance between the transport directions, that is, the recording resolution in the transport direction is determined by the ejection frequency from the nozzle, the transport speed, and the like, but may be equal to or different from the above-mentioned 720 dpi.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the inkjet recording device 1 of the present embodiment.

The inkjet recording device 1 stores a control unit 40, a transfer motor 14 and an encoder 15 of the transfer unit 10, a head drive unit 22 of the image recording unit 20, a sensor 31 of the medium detection unit 30, a communication unit 50, and a storage unit. A unit 60 (storage means), an operation display unit 70, a bus 80, and the like are provided.

The control unit 40 performs a control operation that controls the entire operation of the inkjet recording device 1. The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41 (Central Processing Unit), a ROM 42 (Read Only Memory), a RAM 43 (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processes to execute various control-related processes. Control programs related to various controls are stored and stored in the ROM 42. As the ROM 42, a mask ROM or a readable / writable non-volatile memory is used.

The RAM 43 provides the CPU 41 with a working memory space and stores temporary data and various settings. As the RAM 43, various volatile memories such as SRAM and DRAM are used.

The transfer motor 14 rotates the drive roller 11 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 40 to orbit the transfer belt 12. The rotation speed of the transfer motor 14 may be changeable according to the image quality required for the recorded image and the like. Further, when the transport belt 12 is stopped or the movement is restarted, the moving speed of the transport belt 12 can be accelerated / decelerated according to a predetermined speed profile. Further, the transfer motor 14 can reverse the recording medium P in the direction opposite to the transfer direction. The speed of this back feed may be slower than the normal transport speed.
Further, the transport motor 14 may include a motor that rotates and moves the pressing roller 16 and the peeling roller 17.

The encoder 15 measures the transport speed and position of the recording medium P by detecting the amount of rotation of the drive roller 11 at predetermined time intervals. The measurement data of the encoder 15 is processed by the control unit 40 and fed back as a control signal to the adjustment of the operating speed of the transfer motor 14 and the ink ejection timing of each head unit 21 of the image recording unit 20. Further, when the image recording is interrupted in the middle, it is also used for acquiring the position of the recording medium P at the interrupted timing and adjusting to the set position when the image recording is restarted thereafter. Further, when the transfer motor 14 reverse-feeds the recording medium P, the encoder 15 can obtain it by subtracting the position of the recording medium P according to the reverse feed.

The head drive unit 22 outputs a drive signal for operating the ink discharge mechanism in the discharge head 211 of each head unit 21, and discharges ink from the opening of the nozzle to be operated at an appropriate timing. These drive signals are output in parallel to each head unit 21 (discharge head 211). Further, this drive signal is output in synchronization with an encoder (not shown) that measures the transport speed (position) of the recording medium P by the transport unit 10. As an ink ejection mechanism, for example, a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element provided along an ink flow path communicating with a nozzle to deform the piezoelectric element and apply pressure to the ink in the ink flow path in a predetermined pressure pattern. In addition, a piezo type that ejects ink, or a piezo type that generates heat by passing a current through a heating wire, heats the ink in the ink flow path, and vaporizes a part of it to cause a volume change and apply pressure to the ink to eject it. A thermal type or the like is used.

The sensor 31 detects floating of the recording medium P, dust on the recording medium P, and the like. The sensor 31 includes, for example, an exit portion that emits laser light in the width direction from the transport surface at a predetermined height, and a floating portion, dust, etc. by detecting the laser light on the opposite side of the transport surface in the width direction. A line sensor that includes a detection unit that detects the blockage of the laser light due to the laser beam, or a line sensor that captures the upper surface of the recording medium P to detect color unevenness on the surface of the recording medium P due to dust or shadows of floating portions is used. ..

The communication unit 50 acquires image data to be recorded and a print job from an external computer terminal, a print server, or the like, and outputs a status signal related to image recording.

The storage unit 60 stores the recording target image data (recording target data) acquired via the communication unit 50, the processing data thereof, and the like. Further, when the movement of the transport belt 12 of the transport unit 10 is started, the storage unit 60 provides vibration convergence information 61 such as a distance and a time required for the expansion / contraction vibration of the transport belt 12 generated with the start to converge. Remember. Further, the storage unit 60 may store other various execution programs related to image recording and adjustment inspection, and the CPU 41 reads them out when the execution program is executed and loads them into the RAM 43 for use. As the storage unit 60, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory may be used, or a RAM or the like may be used in combination.

The operation display unit 70 includes a display unit 71 that displays the user's input operation reception screen and status information, and an operation reception unit 72 (operation reception means) that receives the user's input operation and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 40. Has. Here, the operation display unit 70 has, for example, a liquid crystal screen provided with a touch sensor and a driver thereof. Alternatively, as the display unit 71, a display screen related to another display method such as an organic EL display may be used, or an LED lamp for status display or the like may be used in combination. Further, the operation receiving unit 72 may be provided with a push button switch, a rotation switch, or the like in place of or in addition to the touch panel.

The bus 80 is a transmission path for transmitting and receiving signals between the control unit 40 and other configurations.

Next, the image recording operation in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the moving state and moving operation of the recording medium when the image recording is resumed.
In the inkjet recording device 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, it is possible to continuously record a plurality of images on adjacent areas on the recording medium P continuous in the transport direction or on a plurality of recording media P. At this time, if an abnormality in the recording medium P is detected by the medium detection unit 30, the image recording operation is interrupted and the transport of the recording medium P is stopped.

On the other hand, after the interruption of this recording operation, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the image recording operation is restarted after the dust and wrinkles are removed, the conveyor motor 14 and the like are rotated in the reverse direction to slightly reverse the recording medium P. After being fed and moved upstream from the recording position x1 (positions x3 to x4 between timings t32 to t41), the transport is resumed in the normal transport direction (t42), and the image recording is interrupted. Image recording is restarted from the timing when (recording interruption position xp1) coincides with the landing position (recording position x1) of the ink ejected by the head unit 21.

In the inkjet recording device 1 using the line head, since the transfer speed is high, when the movement of the transfer belt 12 by the transfer unit 10 is quickly stopped or restarted, for example, the acceleration is stepped as shown here. When the movement of the transport belt 12 is stopped (decreased in speed) or restarted (increased in speed) at a constant acceleration by changing the shape, a large change in acceleration occurs at the position of the step (timing t42, t51). At this time, a force for following the change in the rotational speed of the drive roller 11 is locally applied to the contact portion between the transfer belt 12 and the drive roller 11. On the other hand, at the contact portion of the driven roller 13 with the transport belt 12, the rotation speed does not immediately change to the same as that of the drive roller 11 according to the inertia of the driven roller 13, so that the drive roller 11 of the conveyor belt 12 and the driven roller 13 do not change immediately. As shown by overlaying (thin solid line) with respect to the change in speed and position (thick solid line) when not affected by the acceleration change in p1, p2, v1, v2 of FIG. 4A. Expansion and contraction occurs according to the elastic force. It should be noted that this fine solid line is for schematically explanation, and the actual vibration frequency, amplitude, and attenuation rate (attenuation characteristic) differ depending on various conditions as described later.

At the timing t51 when the acceleration returns to zero, the rotational speed of the drive roller 11 is easily settled due to the rotational resistance of the driven roller 13, and the expansion and contraction vibration is quickly damped (p2, v2), while the movement of the transport belt 12 is performed. At the timing t42 immediately after the restart, the conveyor belt 12 extends with the start of the rotational operation of the drive roller 11, and it is difficult for the rotation of the driven roller 13 to follow the increase in the rotation speed of the drive roller 11 even after that, so that it is difficult for a while (here). Then, damping vibration (expansion / contraction vibration) occurs in the transport direction (until timing t13) (p1, v1). This damped vibration is a primary and / or higher-order vibration having both contacts with the driving roller 11 and the driven roller 13 as fixed ends. As a result, a deviation occurs between the transfer amount obtained by the encoder 15 and the local position on the transfer belt 12, and this deviation amount differs depending on the position on the transfer belt 12, so that the amplitude of the damped vibration is image quality. It becomes difficult to record the image in the correct position (landing the ink) while it is too large to be ignored in order to maintain the image.
The term "not negligible" here depends on the image quality accuracy required for the image, but generally means the image resolution in the transport direction, that is, a predetermined ratio (for example, 5% to 50) with respect to the transport direction interval. % Etc.) and so on. Depending on this setting or the like, it may be determined whether or not image recording may be performed in the period v2. In the case of image recording in the period v2, the distance d1 is smaller than the moving distance during the acceleration period (timing t42 to t51), that is, the acceleration is not zero when the image recording is restarted, and the transport speed is changing. In this case (during acceleration / deceleration), ink is ejected according to the measured value of the encoder 15 (rotation speed of the drive roller 11, that is, the speed of movement of the transport belt 12) so that the distance between the transport directions is constant. Adjust the timing one by one.

Damped vibration may occur due to the change in acceleration when the movement is temporarily stopped, but at the start of deceleration of the transport speed, the vibration of expansion and contraction tends to converge quickly as in the period v2, and this effect Even when considering the above, the image recording may be simply interrupted before the start of deceleration. Further, since the image recording is always interrupted before the end of deceleration of the transport speed, that is, the stop of the transport, it is not necessary to consider the influence on the recorded image.

In the inkjet recording device 1 of the present embodiment, the image recording is surely interrupted before and after the interruption of the image recording while preventing the image recording from being performed until the damping vibration related to the expansion and contraction of the conveyor belt 12 becomes sufficiently small. Adjust so that the position xp1 / recording restart position is aligned.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when an abnormality is found in the conveyed recording medium P and the recording operation and the transfer operation are interrupted during the image recording operation on the continuous recording medium P, first, the image recording on the recording medium P is performed. Is immediately stopped at the recording interruption position xp1 in the recording range indicated by the diagonal hatch on the recording medium P. Immediately after that, at the timing when the recording interruption position xp1 moves to the position x2 along the transfer direction, the operation of stopping the transfer operation of the recording medium P is started, and the transfer operation is performed with the recording interruption position xp1 reaching the position x3. Stop.

When the image recording operation is restarted, the recording medium P is once back-fed to a position where the recording interruption position xp1 overlaps with the transport restart position x4 along the transport direction. The transport restart position x4 is set upstream of the recording position x1 by a distance d1 (predetermined distance) in the transport direction. Then, from this state, the transport of the recording medium P in the transport direction is restarted, and when the recording interruption position xp1 reaches the recording position x1, from the image recording of the next row of the pixel rows formed as the recording interruption position xp1. It will be resumed. When a plurality of head units 21 are provided as in the inkjet recording device 1 of the present embodiment, or when there are a plurality of rows of nozzles on the nozzle surface of the head unit 21 in the transport direction, the recording operations are interrupted all at once. In that case, the position where image recording is restarted for each color and each nozzle row is also different.

As described above, the distance d1 set at this time is such that the amplitude of the damped vibration in the transport direction of the transport belt 12 can maintain the image quality as compared with the transport direction interval of the recording pixels by the head unit 21. A small value, that is, the distance required to attenuate to less than a predetermined percentage of the transport direction spacing. Therefore, this distance d1 is an amplitude attenuation rate (attenuation, which depends on the material of the transfer belt 12, the distance between the drive roller 11 and the driven roller 13, the speed change pattern of the drive roller 11 when the transfer operation is restarted, and the like. It will be determined according to the damping characteristics). Of these, the material of the transport belt 12 and the distance between the drive roller 11 and the driven roller 13 are fixed values in the inkjet recording device 1, and the speed change pattern of the drive roller 11 depends on the image recording mode and the like. Since a plurality of distances can be set, the distance d1 may be set according to the plurality of settings, or the maximum distance among them may be set as a single distance d1. Further, the distance d1 can be set to a distance obtained by adding a predetermined offset value to the above-mentioned shortest distance necessary for maintaining image quality, or a distance obtained by multiplying the shortest distance by a predetermined number. Further, in the distance d1 that can be set, a reference distance range dm with the minimum value as the distance d1 is set as an allowable deviation range.

When the image recording is restarted in consideration of the damping vibration generated at the timing t51 when the acceleration ends and the speed becomes constant (acceleration changes to zero), the transfer is restarted at the timing t41 until the timing t51. The transfer restart position x4 is set and the position x1a is recorded according to the movement distance d1a of the recording medium P during the sum of the acceleration duration and the duration of the period v2 (timing t51 to t52) in which the damping vibration occurs. It coincides with the position x1 or is on the upstream side thereof.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control unit 40 of the image recording control process in the inkjet recording device 1 of the present embodiment.
This image recording control process is started when a print job transmitted from an external server, a terminal device, or the like is received.

When the image recording control process is started, the control unit 40 (CPU 41) performs an initial operation (step S101). Examples of the initial operation include detecting the remaining amount of ink, confirming the setting of the recording medium, and confirming the operation of the transfer motor 14. The control unit 40 analyzes the acquired print job, performs various initial settings, and adjusts the acquired image data to be recorded as necessary (step S102).

The control unit 40 starts the operation of the transfer motor 14 and also starts the operation of the medium detection unit 30 (step S103). Then, the control unit 40 causes the image recording unit 20 to start the image recording operation (step S104). The control unit 40 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the detection of the recording medium P by the medium detection unit 30 (step S105), and if it is determined that there is an abnormality (“NO” in step S105), interrupts. The process is called and executed (step S108).

After the interruption process, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the image recording operation has been restarted (step S109), and if it is determined that the image recording operation has been restarted (“YES” in step S109), the process proceeds to step S105. return. If it is determined that the restart has not been performed (“NO” in step S109), the control unit 40 ends the image recording control process.

When it is determined in the determination process of step S105 that there is no abnormality in the detection of the recording medium P (“YES” in step S105), the control unit 40 has completed all image recording set in the print job. Whether or not it is determined (step S106). If it is determined that the process has not been completed (“NO” in step S106), the process of the control unit 40 returns to step S105.

When it is determined that all the set image recordings have been completed (“YES” in step S106), the control unit 40 performs various processes related to the end of image recording (step S107). The control unit 40 stops the transfer motor 14 and performs an operation of notifying that the image recording is completed. Further, the control unit 40 erases the settings related to the print job and the image data to be recorded stored in the storage unit 60. Then, the control unit 40 ends the image recording control process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the interruption process called in the image recording control process.

When the interruption process is called, the control unit 40 interrupts the image recording operation by the image recording unit 20, and the movement amount of the interruption position (recording interruption position xp1) measured by the encoder 15 from the recording position x1 and the recording target. The interruption position (content interruption position) in the image data (recording target data) of the above is stored (step S181). The control unit 40 stops the transfer motor 14 to interrupt the transfer (step S182). At this time, the control unit 40 appropriately maintains the suction state of the recording medium on the transport belt 12 and adjusts the operation of the peeling roller 17 so that the position of the portion where the image of the recording medium has been recorded does not shift. You may adjust it.

The control unit 40 obtains a rewinding reference amount according to the distance required for the expansion and contraction of the transport belt 12 at the time of resuming the transfer to converge with reference to the storage unit 60, and is before the recording position x1 by the rewinding reference amount. The distance between the recording interruption position xp1 and the transfer restart position x4 is calculated with the position (upstream side in the transfer direction) as the transfer restart position x4 (step S183).

The control unit 40 determines whether or not the image recording operation restart command has been acquired (step S184). This image recording operation restart command is acquired in response to a predetermined input operation (command operation) to the operation display unit 70 by the user. If it is determined that the image recording operation restart command has not been acquired (“NO” in step S184), the control unit 40 determines whether or not the image recording operation stop command has been acquired (step S185). This image recording operation stop command is acquired in response to a predetermined input operation to the operation display unit 70 by the user, similarly to the image recording restart command. If it is determined that the image recording operation stop command has not been acquired (“NO” in step S185), the process of the control unit 40 returns to step S184. When it is determined that the image recording operation stop command has been acquired (“YES” in step S185), the control unit 40 ends the interruption process and returns the process to the image recording control process.

When it is determined that the image recording operation restart command has been acquired (“YES” in step S184), the control unit 40 operates the transfer motor 14 until the recording interruption position xp1 reaches the transfer restart position x4. That is, the recording medium P is back-fed until the distance between the recording interruption position xp1 and the transport restart position x4 where the movement amount measured by the encoder 15 is calculated (step S186). At this time, if the recording interruption position xp1 is within the reference distance range dm on the upstream side of the transfer restart position x4, it is not necessary to strictly match the transfer restart position x4. If they do not match, the control unit 40 extends (adds) the distance d1 by the distance exceeding the transport restart position x4. The control unit 40 restarts the transfer motor 14 to restart the movement of the recording medium P in the transfer direction, and restarts the operation of the medium detection unit 30 (step S187). The control unit 40 restarts the image recording operation at the timing when the recording interruption position xp1 of the recording medium P reaches (overlaps) the recording position x1, that is, when the movement amount measured by the encoder 15 becomes the distance d1. The operation of the image recording unit 20 is controlled (step S188; control step). Then, the control unit 40 ends the interruption process and returns the process to the image recording control process.

As described above, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a transport unit 10 that performs a transport operation in which the transport belt 12 on which the recording medium P is placed is moved in a predetermined transport direction to transport the recording medium P. After the image recording unit 20 that performs the recording operation of applying ink to the transferred recording medium and the transfer unit 10 start the transfer operation, the acceleration changes in the transfer direction of the transfer belt 12 at the start of the transfer operation. A control unit 40 is provided, which starts a recording operation at a timing when the transfer of a predetermined distance d1 is performed according to the attenuation of the expansion / contraction vibration generated in the transfer belt 12.
In this way, the image recording operation is started after the expansion and contraction of the transfer belt 12 caused by the operation deviation between the drive roller 11 and the driven roller 13 at the start of the operation of the transfer belt 12 is sufficiently attenuated. It is possible to suppress deterioration of image quality due to the influence of local displacement due to expansion and contraction, and to maintain the quality of recording operation more stably.

Further, the inkjet recording device 1 includes a storage unit 60 that stores a predetermined distance d1 as vibration convergence information 61. Therefore, when the transport operation is started, the image recording operation may be started at the timing when the distance d1 is read and the transport operation is performed for the distance d1, so that the quality of the recording operation is maintained by a simple process. Can be done.

Further, the inkjet recording device 1 includes an encoder 15 for acquiring the position information of the conveyed recording medium P, and the control unit 40 performs a recording operation on the recording medium P by the image recording unit 20 and recording by the transfer unit 10. When the transport operation of the medium P is interrupted, the information related to the content interruption position of the recording target data related to the recording operation is acquired, and the information related to the recording interruption position xp1 on the recording medium P is acquired by using the encoder 15. When the recording operation and the transfer operation are restarted after the interruption of the recording operation and the transfer operation, the transfer on the upstream side of the distance d1 in the transfer direction from the recording position x1 in which the ink is applied to the recording medium P by the image recording unit 20. The transport operation of the recording medium P in the transport direction is started so that the recording interruption position xp1 on the recording medium P starts moving from the restart position x4, and recording on the recording medium P at the timing when the recording medium P is transported by the distance d1. The operation is started from the content interruption position.
In this way, when the image recording operation is interrupted in the middle and restarted from the same position, the expansion / contraction vibration of the transport belt 12 is already sufficiently attenuated at the timing when the recording interruption position xp1 coincides with the recording position x1. By starting the movement of the recording interruption position xp1 from the transport restart position x4 on the upstream side of the recording position x1, a more stable image with no deterioration in image quality before and after the recording interruption position xp1 is recorded on the recording medium P. Can be done.

Further, when the control unit 40 resumes the recording operation and the transport operation after the recording operation and the transport operation are interrupted, the control unit 40 is based on the position information acquired by the encoder 15 and the recording interrupt position xp1 is performed by the transport unit 10. Since the transfer operation of the recording medium P in the transfer direction is started after moving the image to the transfer restart position x4, a stable image can be easily recorded on the recording medium P without significantly increasing the user's labor.

Further, the transport unit 10 moves the recording interruption position xp1 to the transport restart position x4 by moving the transport belt 12 on which the recording medium P is placed in the direction opposite to the transport direction. In this way, by making the transport belt 12 of the transport unit 10 driveable in the direction opposite to the normal direction, it is possible to easily move the transport belt 12 to the transport restart position x4. In particular, since the positions of long continuous paper and cloth cannot be moved by rotating along the normal movement direction of the transport belt 12, the movement in the reverse direction of the drive is automatically performed instead of manually. By making it possible, it is possible to reduce the time and effort of the user.

Further, the transfer restart position x4 is set with respect to the recording position x1 according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration in the transfer direction generated in the transfer belt 12 due to the acceleration change in the transfer direction of the transfer belt 12 at the start of the transfer operation. It is defined within the set reference distance range, and the distance d1 is defined as the distance from the defined transfer restart position x4 to the recording position x1.
In this way, instead of determining the distance d1, the transport restart position x4 is set within an appropriate range, and the restart timing of the recording operation is determined according to the distance between the set transport restart position x4 and the recording position x1. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the transport belt 12 so that the transport restart position x4 and the recording interruption position xp1 are mechanically exactly matched, and the restart timing of the recording operation is controlled based on the signal related to the measurement of the encoder 15. It is possible to easily and accurately connect and record the image before interruption and the image after interruption on the recording medium P.

Further, when the recording operation and the transport operation are interrupted, the control unit 40 causes the transport unit 10 to perform an operation related to the suspension of the transport operation after stopping the recording operation. As described above, the expansion / contraction vibration accompanying the acceleration change at the time of deceleration related to the stop of the transport operation is smaller than the expansion / contraction vibration accompanying the acceleration change at the start of the acceleration related to the start of the transport operation, and the quality of the recorded image is large. Since it does not affect the image recording operation, the image recording operation may be continued during the expansion / contraction vibration, but the quality of the recorded image is maintained more stably by stopping the recording operation before the expansion / contraction vibration occurs. Can be done.

Further, the control unit 40 increases the transport speed of the recording medium P at a constant acceleration when the transport operation is restarted. That is, by changing the acceleration step by step, the above-mentioned expansion / contraction vibration tends to be larger than in the case where the acceleration is continuously changed, but in the above embodiment, the image recording operation is performed during the period when the expansion / contraction vibration is large. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the quality of the recorded image while starting the transport operation easily and promptly by such an acceleration change.

Further, the operation receiving unit 72 for receiving the command operation related to the resumption of the recording operation and the transport operation is provided, and the control unit 40 transports the image by the transport unit 10 when the command operation is received after the recording operation and the transport operation are stopped. The operation and the recording operation by the image recording unit 20 are restarted.
As described above, the interruption of the image recording operation and the transport operation is often performed due to a placement abnormality of the recording medium P or the like, and usually, such a placement abnormality is confirmed and dealt with by the user. The time required for coping becomes indefinite. Therefore, by enabling a series of operations related to the resumption of the recording operation and the transport operation by the input operation in this way, the image recording operation can be resumed easily and accurately at an appropriate timing to obtain a recorded image whose quality is maintained. It can be output.

Further, the transport belt 12 is an endless belt material bridged between a plurality of rotating members (driving roller 11 and driven roller 13), and the transport portion 10 is one of the plurality of rotating members. The transport belt 12 is moved by rotating the drive roller 11.
In this way, in a configuration in which a displacement is likely to occur between the drive roller 11 that rotates in response to the rotation control of the drive roller 11 and the driven roller 13 that rotates by transmitting this rotation operation via the transport belt 12. The present invention is more effective because expansion and contraction vibration of the transport belt 12 is likely to occur.

Further, the distance d1 is shorter than the moving distance in the period of accelerating the transport belt 12 at the start of the transport operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to postpone the start of the recording operation until the speed of the transport belt 12 becomes constant, and it is not necessary to set a long distance d1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of trouble occurring when the transport belt 12 is moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

Further, the control unit 40 adjusts the ink ejection timing by the head unit 21 of the image recording unit 20 during the period of accelerating and decelerating the transport belt 12 according to the speed of the transport belt 12. As a result, even while the speed of the transport belt 12 is changing as described above, the ink can be landed at an accurate position on the recording medium P, so that the image recording operation can be performed more efficiently. Can be made.

In addition, by controlling the recording of the inkjet recording device 1 by the above-mentioned recording control method, deterioration of image quality due to the influence of local displacement due to expansion and contraction of the conveying member is suppressed, and the quality of recording operation is maintained more stably. Can be done.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, control for achieving both alignment and maintenance of image quality when resuming image recording after interruption has been described, but when there is already a problem with the recorded image before interruption, etc. It is not always necessary to record an image following the recorded image before interruption, and a new image may be recorded again immediately after, for example, the interruption (end) position of the previous image (without connecting to the previous image). Further, when image recording is started by aligning with a recording medium that has already been recorded by another image forming apparatus or a recording medium that originally has a ground pattern, the operation at the start of image recording is the same. It is possible to achieve both accurate alignment and maintenance of image quality by controlling the image quality. In this case, if the recording medium P can be set at the transport start position one distance d1 before the image recording start position of the recording medium P, the transport unit 10 does not need to reverse-feed the recording medium P. For example, when the transfer start position (and the image recording start position) can be specified from the reference position of the recording medium P that can be detected on the upstream side in the transfer direction from the head unit 21, the transfer start position is simply transferred from the upstream side. After pausing at, the transport of the recording medium P may be started.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image recording is automatically interrupted based on the detection result of the sensor 31, but the person in charge of monitoring visually observes the recording medium to detect an abnormality and sends the operation reception unit 72. The image recording operation may be interrupted manually by the input operation of.

Further, in the above embodiment, after the image recording is interrupted, the user inputs a restart command to the operation reception unit 72 of the operation display unit 70 at the time of resumption, but the cause of the interruption is caused by the inkjet recording device 1. If it can be removed automatically, for example, if the pressing roller 16 that removes wrinkles can be automatically and appropriately operated, image recording may be restarted without requiring a user input operation. ..

Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 41 calculates the transport restart position, and the transport unit 10 reverse-feeds the recording medium P to move it to the transport restart position, but the user manually rotates the drive roller 11 to record. The medium P may be back-fed by an appropriate distance. In this case, since it is necessary for the user to always reverse the distance required to maintain the image quality, for example, a sign indicating the above-mentioned reference distance range dm is provided on the side or the facing position of the transport belt 12 and the recording medium. It is possible to send the image back so that the image recording interruption position on the P is within the range indicated by the sign. Further, the encoder 15 may manually measure the reverse feed amount, and the restart position of the image recording operation may be accurately determined according to the measured amount. In such a case, it is not necessary to store the numerical value in the storage unit 60 as the distance d1, but it is preferable to store the reference distance range dm.

Further, when the recording medium P is not a long cloth or continuous paper but a sheet of paper or the like, the transfer is resumed by moving the recording medium P a little less than one turn according to the circumferential direction of the transfer belt 12 instead of reverse feeding. It can be moved to a position.

Further, in the above embodiment, the transport belt 12 is rotated around by the driving roller 11 and the driven roller 13, but the number of rollers is not limited to two. Further, the transport path of the recording medium P may be bent in the middle by three or more rollers.
In addition, specific details such as the configuration, arrangement, control contents, and procedure shown in the above embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention can be used in an inkjet recording device and a recording control method for an inkjet recording device.

1 Inkjet recording device 10 Transport unit 11 Drive roller 12 Transport belt 13 Driven roller 14 Transport motor 15 Encoder 16 Pressing roller 17 Peeling roller 20 Image recording unit 21C, 21K, 21M, 21Y Head unit 211 Discharge head 22 Head drive unit 30 Media detection Unit 31 Sensor 40 Control unit 41 CPU
42 ROM
43 RAM
50 Communication unit 60 Storage unit 61 Vibration convergence information 70 Operation display unit 71 Display unit 72 Operation reception unit 80 Bus P Recording medium

Claims (13)

A transport means for performing a transport operation in which a transport member on which a recording medium is placed is moved in a predetermined transport direction to transport the recording medium.
A recording means that performs a recording operation to apply ink to the conveyed recording medium,
After the transport operation by the transport means is started, the transport member is transported by a predetermined distance according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration generated in the transport member due to the change in acceleration of the transport member in the transport direction at the start of the transport operation. A control means for starting the recording operation at the timing when the recording operation is performed,
An inkjet recording device characterized by comprising. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing the predetermined distance. It is equipped with a position acquisition means for acquiring the position information of the recorded recording medium to be conveyed.
The control means
When the recording operation on the recording medium by the recording means and the transfer operation of the recording medium by the transfer means are interrupted, the information related to the content interruption position of the recording target data related to the recording operation is acquired and the position is acquired. By means, the information related to the recording interruption position on the recording medium is acquired, and the information is obtained.
After the interruption, when the recording operation and the transfer operation are restarted, the recording is interrupted from the transfer restart position on the upstream side of the transfer direction by the predetermined distance from the recording position where the ink is applied to the recording medium by the recording means. The transport operation of the recording medium in the transport direction is started so that the position starts to move, and the recording operation on the recording medium is started from the content interruption position at the timing when the recording medium is transported by the predetermined distance. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the recording operation and the transport operation are restarted after the interruption, the control means moves the recording interrupt position to the transport restart position by the transport means based on the acquired position information. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation of transporting the recording medium in the transport direction is started. 4. The transfer means according to claim 4, wherein the transfer member on which the recording medium is placed is moved in a direction opposite to the transfer direction to move the recording interruption position to the transfer restart position. Inkjet recording device. The transfer restart position is set with respect to the recording position according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration in the transfer direction generated in the transfer member due to the acceleration change of the transfer member in the transfer direction at the start of the transfer operation. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined distance is defined within a set reference distance range, and the predetermined distance is defined as a distance from the predetermined transfer restart position to the recording position. The claim is characterized in that, in the case of interrupting the recording operation and the transport operation, the control means causes the transport means to perform an operation related to the suspension of the transport operation after stopping the recording operation. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 3 to 6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the control means increases the transport speed of the recording medium at a constant acceleration when the transport operation is restarted. An operation receiving means for receiving a command operation related to the resumption of the recording operation and the transport operation is provided.
3. The control means is characterized in that, after the recording operation and the transport operation are stopped, the transport operation by the transport means and the recording operation by the recording means are restarted when the command operation is accepted. 8. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 8. The transport member is an endless belt material bridged between a plurality of rotating members.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transport means moves the transport member by rotating one of the plurality of rotating members. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the predetermined distance is shorter than the moving distance in the period for accelerating the transport member at the start of the transport operation. The control means according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control means adjusts the ink ejection timing by the recording means during the period of accelerating and decelerating the transport member according to the speed of the transport member. Ink recording device. A transport means that moves a transport member on which a recording medium is placed in a predetermined transport direction to transport the recording medium, and a recording means that performs a recording operation to apply ink to the transported recording medium. It is a recording control method of an inkjet recording apparatus provided with
After the transport operation by the transport means is started, the transport member is transported by a predetermined distance according to the damping of the expansion / contraction vibration generated in the transport member due to the change in acceleration of the transport member in the transport direction at the start of the transport operation. A control step that starts the recording operation at the timing when
A recording control method for an inkjet recording apparatus, which comprises.

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