JPH0326548A - Image recorder and recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically conduct a color balance adjustment by a method wherein information in accordance with the recording density characteristics of a plurality of recording heads are prestored in memory means, the stored information are read, and a color balance of an image is controlled by a control means. CONSTITUTION:Density information indication parts 21a, 21b, 21c are mounted on recording heads 9Y, 9M, 9C. Values corresponding to the recording densities of the respective recording heads are stored in the ROMs as tables. Density information reading parts 23a, 23b, 23c as recording density reading means read the density information in the density information indication parts 21a, 21b, 21c and control the gains of color balance adjusting parts 25a, 25b, 25c. An applied energy control means consists of the color balance adjusting parts 25a, 25b, 25c and head drive circuits 16a, 16b, 16c. The gains of the color balance adjusting parts 25a, 25b, 25c are respectively lowered with the high recording densities of the recording beads in use 9Y, 9M, 9C, or raised with the low recording densities thereof. In this manner, a color balance is automatically controlled, and an image with a good color reproducibility can be obtained.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an image recording device.

[Prior Art] An image recording device, for example, an inkjet recording device, is a non-impact type recording device and has low noise.
It is characterized by the ease of recording color images by using multi-colored inks, and is rapidly becoming popular in recent years.

4 and 5 show a conventional image recording apparatus, for example, an inkjet recording apparatus.

In FIG. 4, 5 is a roll-shaped recording material. 1.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a conveyance roller, which is provided midway through the conveyance path of the recording material, and serves to keep the recording surface of the recording material flat. A feeding roller 3 feeds the recording material 5. 50 is a sub-scanning motor that intermittently drives the feeding roller 3 by the printing width. The recording material 5 is fed by the feed roller 3 in the direction of arrow f in the figure. 6
, 7 are guide rails, which are provided in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording material 5, and guide the carriage 8 in that direction. A recording head unit 9 is mounted on the carriage 8 and is composed of a yellow head 9Y, a magenta head 9M, and a cyan head 9C. Four color inks are supplied to the yellow head 9Y, magenta head 9M, and cyan head 9C from ink tanks (not shown). The recording head unit 9 is configured to scan in the P direction in the figure when the recording material 5 is stopped.

In FIG. 5, 9Y, 9M, and 9G indicate the same parts as in FIG. 4. l2 is a color processing unit which receives input signals 11a, llb, 1 indicating the image density of three colors: yellow, magenta, and cyan.
1c is subjected to a masking operation. Yellow signal (Y') 13a and magenta signal (M') after masking
) 13b, cyan signal ((:') 13c is yellow magenta, cyan human signal 11a, llb, l
When lc is Y, M, and C, it is expressed as in equation (1).

Reference numerals 14a, 14b, and 14c are color balance adjustment units that perform delicate color balance adjustment for each color. Yellow signal ('l') 15a and magenta signal (M') 15b output from color balance adjustment sections 14a, 14b, 14c
, cyan signal (C″) 15c is expressed as in equation (2).

Head drive circuits 16a, 16b, and 16c drive the heads 9Y, 9M, and 9G, respectively. The head drive circuits 16a, 16b, 16c output drive signals 17aJ7b, 17c having voltages or pulse widths corresponding to human input signals.

There are individual differences in the amount of ink ejected by printheads, and printheads that eject a large amount of ink will have high image density, while printheads that eject a small amount will have low image density.The color balance should therefore be determined by visually checking the actual image output by the printhead being used. However, it can be adjusted manually.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional image recording apparatuses, such as inkjet recording apparatuses, require manual adjustment of color balance while visually checking the actual image output by the recording head. This is labor-intensive, and even once the color balance has been adjusted, it is necessary to adjust the color balance every time the recording head is replaced due to clogging or the like, which is extremely troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus and a recording head that can solve the above problems and automatically adjust color balance.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an image recording apparatus that uses a plurality of recording heads with different formation colors, and in which each of the plurality of recording heads has a ? The present invention is characterized in that it has a storage means for storing information in advance according to the R degree characteristic, and a control means for reading out the information stored in the storage means and controlling the color balance of the image recorded by the recording head.

The present invention also provides a recording head used in an image recording apparatus having a control means for controlling the color balance of an image recorded by the recording head, in which information corresponding to recording density characteristics of the recording head is stored in advance. It is characterized by having a storage means.

[Function] In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, each recording tl? Information corresponding to the degree characteristics is stored in advance in the storage means, the information stored in the storage means is read out, and the color balance of the image recorded by the recording head is controlled by the control means.

Further, in the recording head according to the present invention, information corresponding to the recording density characteristics of the recording head is stored in advance in the storage means.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention. This is an example of an inkjet recording device.

In the figure, lla 11cj2, 13a 13c, 1
5a 15c, 16a 16cj7a 17c, 9Y, 9
M and 9G indicate the same parts as in FIG. 21a, 2lb,
Reference numeral 21c is a density information indicating section, and the recording head 9Y, 9M, 9
The recording heads 9Y, 9M, and 9G have values corresponding to the recording densities stored in the ROM as a table. Note that a value corresponding to the recorded image density of each recording head 9Y, 9M, 9fl: may be set as a resistance value in the variable resistor. Alternatively, it may be a changeover switch that can be changed over in several stages. 23a, 23b
, 23c is a density information reading section serving as a recording density reading means, which reads density information from the density information indicating sections 21a, 2lb, and 21c, and reads the density information from the color balance adjusting sections 25a. 25b, 25
This is to control the gains k, , k2, and k3 of c.

Color balance adjustment sections 25a, 25b, 25c and head driving circuit 16a. 16b and 16c constitute an impression processing energy control means.

22a, 22b, 22c are concentration information indicating sections 21a, 2l
b, 21c to the density information reading section 23a. 23b, 23c
This is the head density signal output to the head. 24a, 24b,
24c is a control signal output from the density information reading sections 23a, 23b, 23c to the color balance adjusting sections 25a, 25b, 25c.

In the inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment, the gains of the color balance adjustment sections 25a, 25b, and 25c are lowered when the recording density of the recording heads 9Y, 9M, and 9G used is high, and are raised when the recording density is low. Therefore, color balance is automatically controlled and images with good color reproduction can always be obtained.

Note that in this embodiment, the print image density of the print head is set to RO.
We have explained an example of recording on M, a variable resistor, and a changeover switch, but the shape of the recording head is partially changed to correspond to the recorded image density, and when the recording head is engaged with the device, it is possible to A signal is generated according to a certain recorded image density, and the generated signal is sent to the density information reading section 23a,
Read by 23b, 23c? You may try to take it.

Chief Tainandan FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in applied energy control means. That is, in the first embodiment, the color balance adjustment sections 25a, 25b, 25G and the head drive circuits 16a, 16b, 16c are configured, but in this embodiment, the color processing section 31, the color balance adjustment sections 14a, 14b are configured.
, 14c and head drive circuits 16a, 16b, 18c
It was constructed by The color processing unit 31, which is a component of the printing energy control means, calculates the masking processing coefficient, for example, the coefficient al l + of the masking equation shown in equation (1).
82■,a,3 are controlled as follows.

That is, when the recording density of the yellow head 9Y is high, the coefficient all is made small, and when it is low, the coefficient all is made large. Further, the coefficient 822 is made small when the recording density of the magenta head 9M is high, and made large when it is low. Further, the coefficient a3S is decreased when the recording density of the cyan head 9C is high, and is increased when it is low.

Since this is done, the effects of this embodiment are not different from those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the coefficient aII+822+''33 of the masking equation shown in equation (1) is controlled, but the effect is the same even if other coefficients are controlled.

Third embodiment FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention.

In comparison with the first embodiment, this embodiment differs in the impression processing energy control means. That is, in the first embodiment, the color balance adjusting sections 25a, 25b, 25G and the head drive circuits 16a, 16b, 16c were used, but in this embodiment, the head drive circuits 41a, 4lb, 41c are used.

The head 9 is driven by the head drive circuits 41a, 4lb, and 41c.
Y, 9M. The driving voltage applied to 9(: is lowered when the recording density of the recording heads 9a, 9b, and 9c used is high, and is raised when the recording density is low.

Since this is done, the effects of this embodiment are not different from those of the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment, an example was explained in which the driving voltage is applied to the heads 9Y, 9M, and 9G according to the recorded image density of the recording head, but the drive voltage has a predetermined pulse width depending on the recorded image density of the recording head. The pulse may also be applied to the heads 9Y, 9M, and 9G. In this case, the pulse width is narrowed when the print image density of the print head used is high, and widened when it is low.

Further, even if the number of pulses is controlled according to the recording density, the effect is not different from that of this embodiment in terms of quality.

In the first to third embodiments, an example was explained in which images are recorded using three color heads of yellow, magenta, and cyan, but by adding black to these colors, color recording is performed using four color recording heads. Even if image recording is performed, the effects are essentially the same. However, in this case,
When controlling the coefficients of the color processing unit 12, under color removal processing,
What is necessary is to control the coefficients of the inking process.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, an example of an inkjet recording device was explained, but instead of this device, it is also possible to use a recording head such as a thermal transfer recording device to perform image recording. You can achieve the purpose of the period.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, the density information indicating sections 21a, 2lb, 21c are connected to the recording heads 9Y, 9M,
Although an example has been described in which the ROM is integrated with the recording head 9C, for example, the ROM storing the recording density information may be separated from the recording head, and the ROM may be installed at the same time when the recording head is installed.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, there is an effect that color balance adjustment can be automatically performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image recording device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image recording device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an image recording device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the image recording device, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional example of the image recording device. 9Y, 9M, 9G... Recording head, l2... Color processing section, 16a, 16b, 18c... Head drive circuit, 2 1
a, 2l b, 2 1 c - i14 degree information instruction section, 23a, 23b, 23c - concentration information reading section,
25a, 25b, 25c... Color balance adjustment section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An image recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads forming colors different from each other, comprising a storage means for storing in advance information corresponding to recording density characteristics of each of the plurality of recording heads; An image recording apparatus comprising: a control means for reading information stored in a storage means and controlling color balance of an image recorded by the recording head. 2) A recording head used in an image recording apparatus having a control means for controlling the color balance of an image recorded by the recording head, the recording head having a storage means in which information corresponding to the recording density characteristics of the recording head is stored in advance. A recording head comprising: