JPH02200446A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable recording operation in a new arranging mode to be automatically executed by a method wherein when the arranging mode of a recording head is varied, the new arranging mode of the recording head is automatically recognized. CONSTITUTION:An information generation means (a) generates identification information for detecting presence of a mounted head, and classification and arrangement of a mounted head color. Further, a printing data and a driving output control means (b) perform a high speed printing control, a data transfer control to a printing buffer, a command treating control, a Req control, and an error indication control according to the identification information supplied from the information generation means (a). Dot information outputted from the output means (b) is respectively supplied to a plurality of corresponding recording heads (c), and printing is performed with discharged recording liquid drop of one color or plurality of colors discharged from the head (c). Further, whether the head is mounted or not detected by applying very small current to connected driving head and by detecting a varying potential difference in connecting the head. Further, a mounted ink color is judged by detecting variation in a resistant value to be varied according to an ink dye color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet printer (inkjet recording device), and particularly to an inkjet recording device in which a plurality of inkjet recording heads can be mounted within the device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, an inkjet recording apparatus capable of mounting a plurality of inkjet recording heads within the apparatus has a configuration as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 90 denotes an inkjet recording head that performs recording on a recording medium by ejecting ink, 29 a carriage that carries the inkjet recording head 90 and scans in the main scanning direction, 7 a carriage motor that drives the carriage, and 8 generated by the carriage motor 7. 2 is a belt that transmits the driving force to the carriage 29; 2 is a conveyance roller 4 that conveys the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction; LP momo-l drives the conveyance roller 2; 1 is the recording medium;

A plurality of inkjet recording heads 90 are mounted, each holding ink to be ejected internally, or each ink is supplied from an ink tank installed elsewhere in the apparatus through a tube or the like. Each inkjet recording head 90 has a different hue, such as yellow, cyan, magenta, the three primary colors of subtractive color mixing, and black in addition, so that the maximum number of colors can be expressed with the minimum number of heads. It is composed of The mounting location of the inkjet recording head 90 on the carriage 7 for each hue is determined in advance, and the inkjet recording head 90 of a certain hue cannot be mounted in any other place on the carriage 29 to prevent incorrect insertion. Mechanisms etc. are provided.

When the inkjet recording apparatus is powered on, when a printing command is sent from an external device such as a host computer to the inkjet recording apparatus, the recording medium l is conveyed to a predetermined position by the conveyance roller 2, and the carriage 29 is driven by the carriage motor 7. The recording head 90 is scanned in the main scanning direction, and recording ink is ejected from the recording heads 90 having a plurality of different hues onto the recording medium 1 according to a print signal from an external device. The scanning speed at this time is determined depending on the ink droplet formation speed of the inkjet recording head 90.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, each head of the plurality of inkjet recording heads mounted has a color tone,
From its placement to the printing sequence,
The recording procedure for the device is fixed, and even if a user tries to freely arrange one inkjet recording device to apply it to various uses, it is impossible. For example, if a user owns an inkjet recording device that has four typical inkjet recording heads for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, and only prints black text, the user may Even if you want to print at high speed by supplying black to the colored heads, the recording procedure as a device is fixed to one, starting from the hue of the inkjet recording head and its arrangement, to the printing sequence. This is impossible, and the user is forced to live with it or purchase another high-speed recording device. In other words, the characteristics of recording devices are highly directional, and users with a wide variety of needs need to have a wide variety of recording devices, resulting in users being forced to spend a large amount of money. was.

An object of the present invention is to have a configuration that can accommodate changes in the arrangement of one or more printheads within an apparatus, that is, when the arrangement of the printheads is changed, a new printhead arrangement is automatically recognized. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can automatically perform a recording operation in the new arrangement mode.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a recording head installation section capable of installing a plurality of inkjet recording heads and movable relative to a recording material; a position detecting means for detecting the position where the recording head is installed in the part, a color tone detecting means for detecting the color tone of the ink of the installed recording head, and information detected by the position detecting means and the color tone detecting means. The apparatus is characterized by comprising means for processing recording information according to the information and applying signals necessary for recording to the installed recording head.

Note that inks with different tones refer to inks with different hues and inks with the same hue but different densities.

The apparatus of the present invention includes, for example, an inkjet recording head having an opening for recording by ejecting ink using thermal energy, an ink holder for supplying ink to the inkjet recording head, and an inkjet recording head for driving the inkjet recording head. In an inkjet recording device that can be equipped with one or more inkjet recording cartridges that are separable from the recording device main body, the inkjet recording cartridge or the recording medium is moved in the main scanning direction. A scanning means for scanning and recording on a recording medium, an ink color tone identification means for determining whether the inkjet recording cartridge is installed or the color tone of the recording ink of the inkjet recording cartridge, information from the identification means, and an external device. control means for controlling the operation of the scanning means and a signal for driving the recording head of the inkjet recording cartridge according to a printing command generated from or internally, and one or more inkjet cartridges mounted thereon. operation of the scanning means according to the combination of recording cartridges and the printing command;
and a signal for driving the recording head of the mounted inkjet recording cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of the present invention in which hue (hereinafter also simply referred to as color) discrimination is performed as tone discrimination will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a is information generating means;
Identification information for detecting the presence or absence of a mounting head, the color classification and arrangement of the mounting head is generated. b is a print data and drive system output control means, which performs high-speed printing control, data transfer control to the print buffer, command handling control, R
The dot information outputted from the output control means, which performs eq control and error display control, is supplied to each of the corresponding plurality of recording heads C, and is recorded by ejected recording droplets of one color or a plurality of colors ejected from the head C. Let's do it.

FIG. 2 shows, as a preferred example of the present invention, an example of the configuration of a so-called bubble jet (BJ) type color ink jet recording apparatus having an electrothermal converter as an ejection energy generating means.

In FIG. 2, a recording medium 1 such as a paper or a plastic sheet is supported by a conveyance roller 2.3 consisting of a pair of rollers arranged above and below a recording area, and conveyed by a conveyance roller 2 driven by a sheet feed motor 4. It is transported in the six directions indicated by the arrows. A guide shaft 5 is provided in front of and parallel to the transport roller 2.3. A carriage 6 is reciprocated along this guide shaft in the direction of arrow B by the output of a carriage motor 7 via a wire 8 .

A recording head unit 90, which is a BJ type inkjet head, is mounted on the carriage 6. This recording head unit 90 can be easily replaced with other color ink heads, and for color image recording printing, for example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bm) can be used in the scanning direction. In this embodiment, for example, four recording heads 9, that is, 9A are provided corresponding to each color of ink.

Consists of 9B, 9G, and 9D.

Also, in the monochrome high-speed printing mode, the head unit 9
0 can all be equipped with a single color, for example, BK. Similarly, different color ink heads can be mounted at any position, such as 2-color x 2 two-color printing.

A plurality of (
A recording section is provided in which ink ejection ports (for example, 32 or 128) are arranged in a vertical row.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal section of a portion of the ink ejection portion Q of the recording head 9 (same for all of the recording heads 9A to 9D).

In FIG. 3, a plurality of ink ejection ports 10 are formed at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction on the surface facing the recording medium 1, and an electrothermal transducer (heating resistor) of each ink ejection port 10 is formed based on recording information. etc.) 11 is driven (electrified and heated) to generate bubbles 11A in the ink, and the pressure at this time forms flying ink droplets 12, and records while adhering ink dots in a predetermined pattern to the recording medium 1. will be carried out.

Each recording head 9 is equipped with a circuit board of a drive circuit (driver) 29 for driving as described above.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the control circuit (CPU
), ROM, RAM, etc. attached thereto is formed on the control board 15, and this control unit receives command signals and data signals (recorded information) from the host device 14 such as a computer. Based on this, a drive voltage (heat voltage) for the electrothermal transducer is applied to each of the recording heads 9A to 9D via the heat driver 13 together with drive sources such as various motors.

An online/offline switching key 1 is provided on the operation panel 160 attached to the exterior case (not shown) of the recording device.
6A, line foot key 16B, form feed key 16C1, recording mode switching key 16D, and other key setting sections, as well as several alarm lamps 16E and power lamp 1.
A display section including a warning lamp such as 6F is provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the BJ type inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 4, a CPU 21 in the form of a microprocessor
is connected to a host device 14 such as a computer via an interface 22, and receives command signals (commands) and recorded information signals read from the host device 14 into the data memory 23, as well as a program memory 24 in the form of ROM and a program memory 24 in the form of RAM. The recording operation is controlled based on programs and data stored in the working memory 25 and the like.

The CPU 21 controls the output boat 26 and the motor driver 2.
The head control circuit 2 controls the carriage motor 7 (FIG. 2) and the sheet feed motor 4 (FIG. 2) via the head control circuit 7 based on the recorded information stored in the data memory 23.
The recording head 9 is controlled via the recording head 9 .

Reference numeral 30 in FIG. 4 is a sheet sensor that detects whether or not the recording medium 1 exists between the conveyance rollers 2 and 3 (FIG. 2), and sends the sheet to the CPU 21 via the input boat 31. A detection signal is transmitted.

Each operation key 16A to +6 on the operation panel 160 described above
The output from D (FIG. 2) is connected to C via input port 32.
The control signal is transmitted to the PU 21, and is also supplied to warning lamps such as the alarm lamp 16E and the power lamp 16F via the output boat 36.

Reference numeral 33 in FIG. 4 is a DIR switch provided on the bottom of the exterior of the device, and its output is transmitted to the CPU 21 via an input port 34.

In addition, in FIG. 3, a logic drive voltage VCC (
5V), various motor drive voltages VM (30V), reset voltage RESET, heat voltage (head voltage) VH (25V) for heating the dot forming elements (electrothermal converters 11) of each recording head 9, and recording head 9 protection backup voltage VDDH is output.

The heat voltage VH is applied to the recording head 9, and the backup voltage VDDH is applied to the head control circuit 29 and the recording head 9, respectively.

Also, an A/D converter 35 is connected via the CPU bus, and this A/D converter is used to apply a current to an electrode between two poles provided in the head ink and detect its resistance value. By doing so, the ink color classification and ink detection for each ink head are also used.

Further, the A/D converter 35 has a configuration that can determine whether or not a head is mounted. in particular,
By applying a minute current to the BJ head element and detecting its resistance value, it is detected whether or not a head is mounted at each head position.

The flowchart in FIG. 5 shows an example of the processing procedure of the CPU 21 in detecting the head ink color with respect to whether or not the head is mounted and the head mounting position according to the present invention. Note that this processing procedure is stored in advance in the program memory 24 shown in FIG.

In this example, the presence or absence of a head mounted is detected by applying a minute current to the connected drive head and detecting the potential difference that changes when the head is connected using the A/D 35. Panel 5W16
, or a method using SW information such as mechanical SW expansion (not shown) information that is output when the head is mounted, or a method using information generation means based on a setting command from the host 14 connected to the inkjet printer. can be used.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the installed ink color is determined by means of detecting a change in the resistance value that changes depending on the ink dye color.
W33 or panel 5W16 or mechanical S field information to be connected when mounting the head (not shown)
Similarly, a method using SW information such as the above or a method using information generating means based on a setting command from the host 14 connected to the inkjet printer can be similarly used.

First, the CPU 21 initializes the control unit when the power is turned on (step 5100), or when the Re5et signal is detected, or after an initialization command is generated such as an ON Line operation by the ON Line SW in the panel operation key monitored via the input port 32, and then the head is activated. Call the installed ink color determination subroutine.

FIG. 6(A) shows a head mounted color detection routine. S! (In step 111, A
/D converter select signal to 9A head ink. 51012 actually converts the input signal into an analog
Apply a conversion start signal to the digital signal. 510
In step S1013, it is determined whether or not the A/D sample is completed, and if it is not completed, the process loops in step S1013. 5l (sampling is completed at 113).

If the value obtained from the A/D 35 in step 51014 is, for example, 10HEX, it is determined that a black ink head is mounted at the 9A position by referring to the table value shown in FIG. can.

In this step, when the sample value is 808EX or more, it is determined that there is no ink. The CPU 21 stores this information in the RAM 25 in S1016. 5101', S101, and if there is no ink color, S120
In step 1, it is determined that there is no ink, so the routine enters the head presence/absence detection routine of step S101'. Head presence detection S l
The detailed flow of ot' is shown in FIG. 7, and it is detected by the same discrimination method as for the head mounted color in FIG. 6A. Returning to FIG. 5, in step 5102, the CPU 21 determines whether all the heads that can be installed in the device have been detected. Steps 8101 to 3102 are repeated four times to determine whether the ink color is loaded.

Next, the CPU 21 controls the host device 1 connected to this recording device.
4 and waits while monitoring the input of recording data via the interface 22 (step 5103).

Here, in this example, it is assumed that the setting of the color bit image with the host device 14 is executed according to the following specifications.

ESCr, DATA LENGTH, IMAGE
DATA Here, ESCr indicates a color pit image setting command.

In addition, DATA LENGT (old data length) is
This 2-byte parameter indicates the total number of bytes of image data in this command.

The first “n” bytes of IMAGE DATA are red (R), and the next n bytes are red (R).
“The bite is green (G), and then the last “n”
``Suppose that the bite is blue (B).

In step 5103, when recording data is input from the host device 14 connected to the printer according to this example,
In step 5IQ4, the CPU 21 stores the data in the reception buffer provided in the data memory 23. And C.P.
U21 determines whether reception of a specified amount (capacity of the reception buffer or one scan) of recording data from the host device 14 is complete (
Step 5105) until Step 8103~Sl
[Repeat procedure I5.

When the CPU 21 determines in step 5105 that reception has ended, the CPU 21 stores the data in the data memory 23 in step 5106.
The received data is subjected to color conversion as shown in FIG. 8, data processing according to the identification information, and then stored in a recording buffer provided at . Note that FIG. 9 shows a logic circuit that performs the color conversion shown in FIG. 8.

[Example] The information inputted from the information generating means in the above example will be described below as Example 1, which is an example of a 7-color printer in which the four printers from right to left are installed in the order of C, M, Y, and BK. explain. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the seven-color printer is ready for printing.

Example 1 From the host device 14, for example, "ESCr 08) 1 (
DATA LENGT)I), 00)1...(
RDATA), FF)I...(G DATA)
, 00)1...(B DATA)", the R storage area of the receiving RGB buffer is "0" G.
The storage area is "1", the B storage area is "O", and for a table like the one shown in Figure 8, R=O1G=1
, Y=1 for B=O, M=O1C=1% BK =
Get 0.

In this way, for example, input R = (OOH), G = (
CMYBK output C for FFH, B = (OOH)
= (FFH, M = (OOH), Y = (FF
H), B K = (OOH).

That is, data #1 of the receiving RGB buffer as shown in FIG. #2. ..., expanded data #1 to the recording YMCBK buffer as shown in the lower part of the same figure.
1. #12. #13. #14... is obtained. In addition,
At the time of development from the receiving RGB buffer to the recording YMCBK buffer, since the heads 9 of each color of MMCBK are mounted on the carriage 6 as shown in FIG. 2, there is a gap between each head. In order to correct the gap, CP
U21 stores data while inputting data of "00)1" in advance in correspondence to the interval portion when expanding to the recording MMCBK buffer.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the output head is C for input RGB.
Since the four colors MYB and the same color are not included, the motor excitation time, which will be described later, is set at 1 kpps, for example.

Embodiment 2 Next, the information inputted from the information generating means in the above-mentioned embodiment will be described below as Embodiment 2, based on an example of a monochrome (single black) printer in which all four printers from right to left are BK. explain. FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of what can be printed by a monochrome four-head printer.

From the host device 14, for example, “ESCr 08H (D
ATA LENGTH), 00B...(RDA
TA), 00)1...CG DATA), O
When "OH...(B DATA)" is transmitted, focusing only on the least significant bit of the 8 data bits, as in the first embodiment, Y=O for R=O1G=O, B=0.
, M=O1C=O1BK=1. Thus, for example, input R = (On) I), G = (00) 1), B
= Output C of CMY B K for (OOH) = (
00)1), M= (OOH), Y= (OOH),
Obtain Bx = (FFH). However, as mentioned above, C
, M, and Y are equipped with the Bx color, so "B" is written in the print buffer ◎B and also in [phase] BK and ■Bx.Also, as in the first embodiment, the carriage 6
Since four BK heads 90 are mounted on the head as shown in Fig. 2, there is a gap between each head. To correct the difference between them and for YMCB and RGB signals when printing, R=Y+M, G
=Y+C, B=C+M In other words, when printing four BK lines, data of "00)1" is input and stored in advance in correspondence with the interval where two colors can be overlapped, but where the colors cannot be overlapped.

In this embodiment, the output head is BKJ for input RGB.
Since it is a book, it contains four pieces of the same color. Therefore, the motor excitation time, which will be described later, is set to, for example, 4 kpps.

As described above, from the reception RGB buffer to the recording MMCB
After storing the print data in the K buffer, the CPU 21 starts printing control.

The flowchart in FIG. 13 shows an example of the recording processing procedure executed after the processing in FIG. 5. This example shows a case where the recording process is performed by reciprocating recording, assuming that the process of the second embodiment described above is performed so that there is no overlapping ink.

First, from the RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23,
After developing the data in the MCBK buffer, the CPU 21 starts recording in the forward direction (PT force direction in FIG. 2) (step S300).

In the next step 5301, the CPU 21 drives the carriage motor 7 in normal rotation from the output boat 26 via the driver 27 in order to move the carriage 6 in the PT force direction.

Next, in step S302, recording data is set in the head 9 by the control circuit 29. After the set,
In step 5303, a prescribed pulse is applied to the head 9. The pulse width at this time is defined by a timer t1 using hardware or software. After this timer times up, power supply to the head 9 is stopped (steps S304 and S305).

At the same time, in step 5305, the recording cycle counter provided in the working memory 25 is incremented by +1 for each energization.

Based on the recording cycle counter, it is determined in step 5306 whether recording is complete. In step 5306, if the recording cycle counter does not exceed the specified number of recording dots in one scan, step S301
The process returns to , and repeats the operations of steps 3301-3306.

If it is determined in step 5306 that the recording cycle counter has exceeded the specified number of recording dots, paper feeding is executed in step 5306-1, and the process advances to step S307 to clear the recording cycle counter.

Next, the CPU 21 starts post-recording (CR force direction recording in FIG. 2). In step 3308, the CPU 21
The carriage motor 7 is driven in reverse to move the carriage 6 in the CR force direction from the output boat 26 via the driver 27.Next, in step 5309, the control circuit 29 sets the recording data in the head 9 from the last position. .

After the setting, a predetermined pulse is applied to the head 9 in step 5310. The pulse width at this time is determined by the timer tl as described above, and after the time-up, the power supply to the head 8 is cut off (step S311.
S 312).

At the same time, in step 5312, the recording cycle counter is incremented by +1 for each energization.

Based on the recording cycle counter, it is determined in step 5313 whether recording is complete. If the recording cycle counter does not exceed the specified recording dot value in step 5313, the process returns to step 8308 and step 8
Repeat operations 308-5313.

If the recording cycle counter exceeds the specified recording dot value in step 5313, the reciprocating recording is completed.

Therefore, in order to prepare the next line of recording, the process advances to step 5315, where the paper feed motor 4 is driven via the output boat 26 and the driver 27 to feed the recording medium l by one line in the six directions shown in FIG. Clear the counter.

The flowchart in FIG. 14 shows another example of the recording processing procedure executed after the processing in FIG. The case where recording processing is performed is shown below.

First, the CPU 21 develops the data from the RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23 to the Y M CB K buffer, and then starts recording (S4001. During unidirectional recording, the CPU 21 executes the steps in the forward direction recording in FIG. 13 above). Step 54 similar to 8301-8306
Execute the procedure of 01-3406 and record. after that,
Step 3406-1), 540 to feed the paper by one line.
At step 7, a carriage return is executed. Thereafter, the recording of two lines is completed by performing similar operations in steps 8408 to S417.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a bubble jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of the recording head shown in FIG. 2. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control system of the recording device shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is an example of a control processing procedure when receiving data in the control system shown in FIG. 4; 6A, B, and C are flowcharts showing an example of the procedure for detecting the installed ink color. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for detecting the presence or absence of a head. In the embodiment of the present invention, Y, M from RGB data
, C, BK data; Figure 9 is a diagram showing a logic circuit that performs the color conversion shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a color inkjet recording device recording using the subtractive color mixing method. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the recording state when
An explanatory diagram showing an example of conversion from data to YM CB K data. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the recording state when n or more of the same color is mounted. Figure 13 is a diagram showing the recording process of the control system in Figure 4. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another example of the control processing procedure during the recording process of the control system in FIG. 4; l... Recording medium 4... Sheet feed motor 6... Carriage 7... Carriage motor 9... Recording head 10... Ink discharge port 11... Electrothermal transducer 12... Ink Droplet 14...Host device 16...Operation key 23...Data memory 25...Working memory 27...Driver circuit 30...Sheet sensor 33...Dip switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A recording head installation section in which a plurality of inkjet recording heads can be installed and that can move relative to the recording material, and a recording head is installed in the recording head installation section. a position detection means for detecting the position; a color tone detection means for detecting the color tone of the ink of the installed recording head; processing recorded information according to information detected by the position detection means and the color tone detection means; An inkjet recording apparatus comprising means for applying a signal necessary for recording to an installed recording head. 2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color tone detection means determines the color tone of the ink by detecting a resistance value of the ink that differs for each color tone. 3) A recording control mode is provided in which when a plurality of recording heads of the same hue are installed in the recording head installation section, the recording head can be moved relative to the recording material at a speed higher than that when a single recording head is installed. 3. The inkjet recording device according to 1 or 2. 4) The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording head discharges ink using thermal energy.