JPH03146351A - Color ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a recording with a high picture quality and high grade possible even when a recording medium is other than a designated paper by a method wherein an output control device which makes recording output being conducted while thinning out a recording information of the color for each color to be recorded, in response to a discrimination information by a device which generated the discrimination information which shows whether a recording medium is a designated one or not, is equipped. CONSTITUTION:As an information generating device which generates a discrimination information which shows whether a recording medium is a designated paper or not, a DIP switch 33 or an operation key 16 on a panel, etc., is used. When recording is performed to a recording medium other than a designated paper, by one each main scanning for respective inks, C, M, Y and Bk, recording by dot thinning out is performed, and further, concerning Bk, by a second scanning, recording which fills the thinned out part is performed, and as the result, thinning out is not conducted. characters such as letters, etc., are often formed by Bk, and therefore, there is fear that the grade is decreased when thinning out is conducted. By this method, such a problem does not generate, and in addition, images such as pictures, etc., which are often formed by C, M and Y can be recorded without bleeding.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device, and in particular, the present invention relates to an inkjet recording device, and in particular, the present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that uses a subtractive color mixing method to print yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y) and magenta (hereinafter referred to as M).
, cyan (hereinafter referred to as C), or black (hereinafter referred to as B).
The present invention relates to a color inkjet recording device that performs color recording using four colors including k). [Prior Art 1] As shown in FIG. 6(A), red (hereinafter referred to as R), green (hereinafter referred to as G), and blue (hereinafter referred to as B) are complementary colors to Y, M, and C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(B), in the case of a color recording apparatus, R is formed by overlapping Y and M. Similarly, G is formed by overlapping Y and C, and B is formed by overlapping C and M. Also, if you superimpose the three colors Y, M, and C, you get black, so in principle three primary colors are sufficient, but three
Black due to color mixing becomes muddy. For this reason, it is common to construct a color recording apparatus using black as an independent ink. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in an inkjet recording device, paper is used as a recording medium, and ink is absorbed into the paper to form a single figure, a symbol, etc., but the ink absorption capacity of paper is limited. There are also limits. When color inkjet recording devices overlap colors to form image information such as figures, characters, symbols, etc., recording is performed with one color ink and recording is performed with two colors of ink overlaid. The amount of ink on the recording paper will differ depending on the case. Therefore,
If the ink absorption capacity of the paper exceeds the ink absorption limit, the ink may smear, resulting in a significant loss of image quality. This problem generally tends to occur when a paper specified according to the specifications of the recording apparatus (designated paper) is not used as the recording medium. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a color inkjet recording apparatus that eliminates the above-mentioned problems and can provide high quality and high quality recording even when the recording medium is paper other than designated paper. [Means for Solving the Problems] To this end, the present invention provides a color inkjet recording device that records a multicolor image corresponding to input image information on a recording medium using subtractive color mixing method using a plurality of color inks.
means for generating identification information indicating whether or not the recording medium to be used is specified according to the specifications of the apparatus; and means for thinning out the recording information of each recorded color according to the identification information C; The apparatus is characterized by comprising an output control means for performing recording output. [Function] According to the present invention, when the recording medium is paper other than designated paper, thinning recording is performed, so the amount of ink recorded on the recording medium is reduced, and therefore bleeding is prevented. It is less likely to occur. [Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of the configuration of a so-called bubble jet (BJI) color ink jet recording apparatus having an electrothermal converter as the ejection energy generating means. A recording medium 1 such as paper or a plastic sheet is supported by conveyance rollers 2 and 3 consisting of a pair of rollers placed above and below a recording area, and is moved in the direction of arrow A by a wG feed roller 2 driven by a sheet feed motor 4. A guide shaft 5 is provided in front of and parallel to the m feed roller 2.3.A carriage 6 is moved along this guide shaft via a wire 8 by the output of a carriage motor 7. The carriage 6 is driven back and forth in the direction of arrow B. A recording head unit 90, which is a BJ type inkjet head, is mounted on the carriage 6. This recording head unit 90 is for creating a color image, and is driven in the scanning direction. Cyan (C), magenta (M
), yellow (Y), and black (BK).
, 98.9C, and 9D. The front surface of each recording head 9, that is, a predetermined distance from the recording medium 1 (for example, 0.8 m).
A recording section in which a plurality of (for example, 32 or 128) ink ejection ports are arranged in a vertical row is provided on a surface facing each other at a distance a+). FIG. 2 schematically shows a partial longitudinal section of the ink ejection portion of the recording head 9 (same for any of the recording heads 9^ to 9D). In FIG. 2, on the surface facing the recording medium 1, a plurality of ink discharge ports 10 are formed at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction, and an electrothermal transducer (heating resistor) of each ink discharge port 1O is formed based on recording information. etc.) 11 is driven (electrified and heated) to generate bubbles 11^ in the ink, and the pressure at this time forms flying IT4 ink droplets 12, and the ink dots are deposited in a predetermined pattern on the recording medium 1. Recording is performed while 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. 1, the control circuit (CPI) of the recording device
A control unit including I), 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 a 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. The operation panel lδ0 attached to the exterior case (not shown) of the recording device has an online/offline switching key 1.
In addition to key setting sections such as 6A, line feed key 16B, form feed key 16C, and recording mode switching key 16[1], a display section including several warning lamps such as an alarm lamp 16E and a power lamp 16F is provided. . FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the BJ type inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, 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 CPt 121 controls the carriage motor 7 (Fig. 1) and the sheet feed motor 4 (Fig. 1) via the output port 26 and the motor driver 27, and also controls the head based on the recording information stored in the data memory 23. The recording head 9 is controlled via a circuit 29. Reference numeral 30 in FIG. 3 is a sheet sensor that detects whether or not the recording medium 1 is present between the conveyance rollers 2 and 3 (FIG. 1),
A detection signal is transmitted to. Each operation key 16A to 16 on the operation panel 160 described above
0 (FIG. 1) 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 18F via the output port 36. Reference numeral 33 in FIG. 3 is a DIP 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 for operating the control logic circuit is supplied from the power supply circuit 28.
(5V), various motor drive voltage VM (30V),
A reset voltage RESET, a heat voltage (head voltage) Vl ((25 V) for heating each recording head 90 dot forming element (electrothermal converter 11), and a backup voltage VDDH for protecting the recording head 9 are output. Then, 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. FIG.
An example of the processing procedure of the PU 21 is shown, and this processing procedure is stored in advance in the program memory 24 of FIG. In this example, a DIP switch 3 is used as an information generating means for generating identification information indicating whether the recording medium 1 is designated paper or non-designated paper.
3, or the operation key 16 on the panel, or the detection switch (not shown) provided in the designated paper path, or the designated paper cassette insertion/insertion switch (not shown), or the designated paper loading switch in roll paper form (not shown). (not shown), etc., and processes are performed according to identification information from these switches. This identification information as to whether the paper is designated paper or not is designated paper when the detection switch is ON, for example. First, after initializing the control unit when the power is turned on (step 5ioo), the CPU 21 first detects identification information indicating the state of the switch via the input port 34 in the case of the DIP switch 33 (step 5101). next,
CPt121 is the host device 14 connected to this recording device.
The control command and the input of recording data are monitored and waited for through the interface 22 (step 5102). The CPU 21 performs steps 5102 to 5102 until it determines that the reception of the specified amount (capacity of the reception buffer or one scan) of recording data from the host device 14 is completed (step 5104).
Repeat step 5104. Next, when the Pt 121 determines in step 5104 that the reception is complete, in step 5105 the received data is subjected to color conversion and stored in the recording YMCBk buffer provided in the data memory 23 (RGB→YMCBk). As described above, from the reception RGB buffer to the recording YMCB
After storing the recording data in the k buffer, the CPt 121 executes the recording processing procedure shown in FIGS. 5(^) and (B). Here, first, data is expanded from the RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23 to the YMCBk buffer, and then the CPU
21 starts recording in the forward direction (PT force direction in Figure 1)
step 5300). 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 order to execute the thinning control according to this embodiment, the CPU
21 determines whether the current main scan is an odd number cycle or an even number cycle in the sub-scanning direction by referring to a recording cycle counter value to be described later (step 5302). If it is determined that it is an odd number cycle, control is performed in step 5303. At first, recording data of 0 color is set in the head 9 by the circuit 29 with the odd numbered dots masked. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 5302 that it is an even number cycle, then in step 5304 the control circuit 29 sets print data of the same 0 color in the head 9 with the even numbered dots masked. After the set, a prescribed pulse is applied to the head 9 in step 5305. The pulse width at this time can be defined by a timer tl using hardware or software. After this timer times up, power to the head 9 is stopped (steps 5306, 307).
. At the same time, in step 5307, 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 5308 whether recording is complete. In step 5308, if the recording cycle counter does not exceed the prescribed number of recording dots in one scan, the process returns to step 5301 and steps 5301 to 53
Repeat operation 08. If it is determined in step 5308 that the recording cycle counter exceeds the specified number of recording dots, step 5
The process advances to step 309, where the recording cycle counter is cleared, carriage return processing is executed, and one color printing is completed. In the next step 5310, it is determined whether the reverse staggered thinning control has been completed for all four colors, and if it has not been completed, step 5310 is performed.
In step 311, the operations of steps 5301 to 5310 are repeated in accordance with the recording order, for example, C→M→Y→Bk. If an affirmative determination is made in step 5310, FIG. 5(B)
Proceeding to the steps 5301 to 530, the CPt 121 performs control to reverse the mask pattern in each cycle to perform staggered printing for Bk color in this example.
8 is executed (steps 5312 to S31).
9) Then, the CPU 21 causes the recording of the four-color reverse staggered thinning pattern and the recording of the Bk color reverse staggered supplementary pattern, and then causes the paper to be fed by one line (step 5320).
, performs a carriage return in step 5321. In this example, when printing on a recording medium other than the designated paper, dot thinning (printing) is performed in one main scan for each of C, M, Y, and Bk inks, and 2 dots are thinned out for Bk. By recording to fill in the thinned out portions in the second main scan, thinning is not performed as a result.Generally, characters such as letters are often formed in 8, so if thinning is performed, the quality will be lowered. However, in this example, such a problem does not occur, and images, which are often formed in C, M, and Y, are recorded without blur.In addition, Bk is recorded once. Instead of being printed without thinning in the main scan of Incidentally, if the deterioration of the quality of Bk is not a problem, it is possible to leave the thinned-out state without recording Bk multiple times. In this case, step 53 described above may be performed.
After an affirmative determination is made in step 10, it is sufficient to immediately feed the paper and return.Furthermore, the procedure shown in FIG.
Alternatively, if it is possible to distinguish between character recording and image recording, the method shown in Figure 5 (8)
It is also possible to determine whether or not the procedure is activated. Furthermore, the same procedure as shown in FIG. 5(B) may be selectively performed for specific colors other than Bk. In addition, if the recording medium has appropriate absorbency, such as designated paper, recording can be performed in a known manner without thinning out. (Others) The present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in a bubble jet type recording head and recording apparatus among inkjet recording types. This is because such a system can achieve higher recording density and higher definition, and it is expected that the quality of absorption will depend on the recording pattern and the like. Regarding typical configurations and principles, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,796. , continuous type, but especially in the case of on-demand type, electrothermal converters are placed corresponding to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the liquid path. To,
Generating thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer and producing film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head by applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise above nucleate boiling. As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal, which is effective. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. When this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, the growth and contraction of the bubbles is carried out immediately and appropriately, making it possible to eject liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness. Those described in Japanese Patent Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Furthermore, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the invention regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed. The configuration of the recording head includes, in addition to the combination configuration of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the wafer is placed in a bending region. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1989-5 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part of a plurality of electrothermal converters.
No. 9-123870 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59/1989 which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion is made to correspond to an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy.
The effects of the present invention are also effective even if the structure is based on the publication No.-138461. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, fixing can be performed reliably and efficiently. Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium that can be recorded by a recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have either a configuration in which the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration in which a single recording head is formed integrally. In addition, even the serial type shown above can be installed on the main body of the device, allowing for electrical connection to the main body of the device and supply of ink from the main body of the device.Replaceable chip type recording heads. Alternatively, the present invention is also effective when using a cartridge type recording head that is integrally provided with the recording head itself. In addition, the color inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention may be used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a computer, or as a copying device combined with a reader or the like, or as a fax machine having a transmitting/receiving function. It may also be one that takes [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a color inkjet recording apparatus that can obtain high-quality and high-definition recording even when the recording medium is other than designated paper can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a bubble jet type inkjet recording apparatus suitable for applying the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the recording head of FIG. 1; and FIG. A block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control system of the illustrated recording apparatus, FIG. 344, FIGS. A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the subtractive color mixing method in the inkjet recording method. 6... Carriage, 7... Carriage motor, 9... Recording head, 11... Heater, 13... Head disturbance circuit, 14... Host device, 21... CPU. Figure 4 Figure 6 (A) Figure 6 (B)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a color inkjet recording device that records a multicolor image corresponding to input image information on a recording medium by using a subtractive color mixing method using inks of multiple colors, the recording medium used conforms to the specifications of the device. means for generating identification information indicating whether or not the color is specified according to the identification information; and output control means for thinning out the recorded information of each color for each color to be recorded and outputting it according to the identification information. A color inkjet recording device characterized by comprising: 2) The color inkjet recording according to claim 1, further comprising a second output control means for controlling a specific color among the plurality of colors so that an output image without the thinning is obtained. Device. 3) When the recording medium is not the designated one, the output control means performs control such that the thinned out recording output is performed for the plurality of colors of ink in each one scan, and 3. The color inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the 2-output control means performs control to perform printing output for the specific color so that the thinned out portion is filled in the second scan. 4) The color inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the specific color is black.