JPH03267867A - Color facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent useless recovery operation and to keep a stable reception operation as a color facsimile equipment by providing a recovery processing means to recover the ink delivery state of plural color ink jet heads, a color discrimination means discriminating the print color at each block and a control means. CONSTITUTION:A color facsimile equipment provided with an ink jet recorder having plural different color ink heads 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y is provided with a recovery processing means 26 recovering the state of ink jet of the ink heads 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y and with a color discrimination means 113 monitoring a succeeding block print color (a prescribed number of lines is set as one block), and the ink heads 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y for recovery processing are selected in response to the signal of the color discrimination means 113 to apply the recovery processing of the ink heads 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y selected for each recording of one block. Thus, the recovery processing is implemented only the ink heads 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y of a print color of a succeeding block, the useless discharge of all colors is prevented so as to extend the service life of the ink cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color facsimile device equipped with an inkjet recording device.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, so-called bubble jet inkjet printers have been developed that record characters, images, etc. by ejecting ink from an ejection port toward a recording material using bubbles generated by thermal energy. In this printer, the size of the heating resistor (heater) installed in each ejection port is much smaller than the piezoelectric element used in conventional inkjet printers, making it possible to have multiple ejection ports at a high density. High-quality recorded images can be obtained, and features include high speed and low noise.

On the other hand, facsimile machines are required not only to simply transmit images at high speed, but also to receive higher quality images at high speed. The above-mentioned bubble jet type inkjet printer is considered to be one of the printers that can meet such demands, considering the above-mentioned characteristics.

By the way, in this type of inkjet printer, the ink ejection openings of the print head can become clogged due to ink that has become more sticky due to non-use of the print head, low humidity environment, or difference in printing frequency, or even due to adhesion of dust. This could sometimes occur. Therefore, an ejection recovery mechanism removes the thickened ink by pressurizing and discharging the thickened ink from inside the print head ejection ports, or by suctioning the ink through a cap that covers and protects the print head ejection ports. has been implemented.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In addition, in order to express full color with this type of inkjet printer, three colors of Y, M%C or Y, M, C,
It is configured to have separate recording heads for the four Bk colors.

In order to realize a color facsimile device that can receive color image signals using a color inkjet printer, it is necessary to make the recovery operation of the color inkjet head as efficient as possible, and to perform the recovery operation only when necessary without performing unnecessary recovery operations. The challenge is to control the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a color facsimile apparatus that can perform efficient recovery operations without performing wasteful recovery operations.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a recovery processing means for recovering the ink ejection state of a plurality of color inkjet heads, and a color determination method for determining the printing color of each block, with a predetermined amount of image data as one block. and a control means for controlling the recovery processing means in response to a signal from the color determination means.

〔Example〕

Configuration Example of Recording System (Printer) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a configuration example of an inkjet printer suitable as a recording system of a facsimile machine to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, 20 is a bubble jet type inkjet head (recording head), and IJC is a freely attachable inkjet cartridge that is integrated with the inkjet head 20 and has a tank IT that supplies ink to the inkjet head 20.

As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 2, the inkjet cartridge IJC in this example has a shape in which the tip of the inkjet head 20 slightly protrudes from the front surface of the ink tank IT. This inkjet head cartridge IJC is an inkjet recording device main body IJ which will be described later.
It is a disposable type that is fixed to a carriage placed on the RA and can be attached to and detached from the carriage.

The first ink tank IT (10) that stores ink to be supplied to the inkjet head IJH includes an ink absorber, a container into which the ink absorber is inserted, and a lid member (both not shown) that seals the same. ). This ink tank IT (10) is filled with ink, and the ink is sequentially supplied to the inkjet head side as the ink is ejected.

Inkjet cartridge I configured as above
JC is an inkjet recording device IJRA which will be explained below.
It is removably mounted on the carriage HC in a predetermined manner,
By inputting a predetermined recording signal, a desired recorded image is formed by controlling the relative movement of the carriage HC and the recording member.

In addition, cartridges of each color IJCBk (black), IJ
CC (cyan), IJCM (magenta) IJCY
(yellow) has a similar configuration. However, IJCBk has a larger ink tank in consideration of the high frequency of use of monochrome image reception.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an example of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA equipped with a mechanism for the above processing.

In this figure, 20Bk, 20C, 20M, and 20Y are the inkjet heads (recording heads) of each color of the inkjet head cartridge IJC, which is equipped with a nozzle group that ejects ink facing the recording surface of the recording paper fed onto the platen 24. head). A carriage HC 16 holds the recording head 20, is connected to a part of the drive belt 18 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 17, and slides on two guide shafts 19A and 19B arranged parallel to each other. By making this possible, the recording head 20 can be moved back and forth across the entire width of the recording paper.

Note that 22 in FIG. 1 is a control circuit for controlling the drive of the drive motor 17, and controls the amount of movement of the carriage HC in accordance with commands from the CPU10I. During printing, the carriage HC is moved in the direction of the arrow 40, and printing is performed in the order of the inkjet cartridges placed on the carriage HC, that is, in the order of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.

Further, since the cartridges of each color are arranged at a distance from each other in the moving direction, the timing of recording differs by a time corresponding to the distance. In order to record across the entire width of the paper, the carriage position at which the row recording starts is the position where the black inkjet head 20Bk faces the starting edge of the paper, and the carriage position at which the row recording ends is the yellow inkjet head 20Y. is the position relative to the end of the paper. That is, compared to the case of a single color, the carriage movement distance is increased by an extra distance due to the arrangement of 20Bk and 20Y.

A head recovery device 26 is disposed at one end of the movement path of the recording head 20, for example, at a position opposite to the home position. The head recovery device 26 is operated by the driving force of the motor 22 via the transmission mechanism 23, and the recording head 20 is capped.

In connection with the capping portion of the recording head 20 by the cap portion 26A of the head recovery device 26, ink is absorbed by an appropriate suction means (for example, a suction pump) provided in the head recovery device 26 or ink is transferred to the recording head 20. The ink is forcefully fed by an appropriate pressure means provided in the supply path, and the ink is forcibly discharged from the ejection port, thereby performing ejection recovery processing such as removing thickened ink within the ejection port. Furthermore, the recording head is protected by capping it at the end of recording.

The cap portion 26A is 26ABk corresponding to each color.

26AC, 26AM, and 26AY are arranged corresponding to the distances between the heads arranged on the carriage, and at the home position of the carriage, each head is moved to a position opposite to each cap. There is.

Reference numeral 113 denotes an ejection failure detection sensor, which includes a photoelectric conversion element array 113A such as a photo sensor that detects the presence or absence of ink ejected from the head 20 and attached dot by dot. As shown in , it is provided in parallel with the ejection port group of the BJ head 20 and has approximately the same length or a slightly longer length. This non-discharge detection sensor 11
3 is a BJ head 2 mounted on the carriage 16 (see Figure 3).
0, and its photoelectric conversion element array 113
BJ so that A does not come into contact with the blade (wiper) 31.
It is provided recessed from the ejection port of the head 20. The non-ejection detection sensor 113 includes a white illumination light source 113'.
It is configured to be able to detect the state of each color of ink recorded on the recording paper by its reflected light.

A blade 31 is disposed on the side surface of the head recovery device 26 and is made of silicone rubber and serves as a wiping member. The blade 31 is held in the form of a cantilever by a blade holding member 31A, and similarly to the head recovery device 26, it is operated by a motor 22 and a transmission mechanism 23, and can be engaged with the ejection surface of the recording head 20. As a result, at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the recording head 20,
Alternatively, after the ejection recovery process using the head recovery device 26, the blade 31 is projected into the moving path of the recording head 20 to wipe off dew, wetness, dust, etc. on the ejection surface of the head 20 as the head 20 moves. .

Example of Control System Configuration FIG. 1 shows an example of the circuit configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 101 is a main CPU (central processing unit) such as a microcomputer that controls the entire device for transmitting and receiving data through a bus 117;
02 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores the contents of various control procedures (programs) as shown in FIG. It is. 104 is a data transmission modem (MODEM); 105 is a network control unit (NCU) connected to MODEM 104; and connected to a public telephone line through NCU 104. 106 is a registration RAM, which is used to register data such as telephone numbers and abbreviations. 107 is an image RAM (D
RAM), 107Bk, 107C corresponding to each color.
, 107M, and 107Y.

Further, 60 is a hard disk, and the received image data is stored there.

Further, 61 is a used color determining means, and a hard disk 6
Of the image data stored in 0, the block to be recorded next (8 lines of image data) is monitored to determine the color to be used.

In other words, during recording, the recording process is performed while performing dry ejection at regular intervals as a recovery process to prevent clogging.
In this device, this is done every 8 lines when the vertical width of the inkjet nozzle shown in Figure 2 is 1 line, and 8 lines are treated as 1 block, and the image data of the next block is processed for each color. Monitor each time. In other words, when binary image data is represented by 1 (corresponding to inking) and O (also corresponding to not inking), 1 in a block.
This is done by creating 4-bit data assigned in the order of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow by setting the determination data to 1 if it exists, and sending it to the CPU 10I.

Specifically, the configuration of the used color determining means is as shown in FIG.

The Y, M, C, and Bk data control the output of the image clock by turning on and off the gates 66, respectively, and the gates 66Y, 66M, and 66
The binary image data given to C, 66Bk is 1 (stroke)
The image clock is output from the gate only when By counting the output with the counter 67, the number of pixels where the binary image data is 1 (strike) is counted, and the value is compared with the CPU setting value. If so, it is determined that the color is not used. Here, the CPU setting value is, for example, a value of about 10.

Further, the configuration of the user determination means is not limited to this configuration, but may be of other types, for example, if the received data is RlG, B, or Y.
Rather than given by SM, C, Bk, L −, a
When density and hue/saturation data such as %b are provided separately, the presence or absence of such data may be determined before the expansion circuit 128 expands the a and b data.

Further, 62 is a mode determining means, which determines the reception mode, monochrome reception or color reception. Reference numeral 63 denotes an image converting means, which converts the color image data into black and white image data by depicting the degree of shading thereof. 64 is a black print switch, which is operated when it is desired to forcibly print in black ink even when receiving color data.

108 is a color CCD (
It is a charge-coupled device (charge-coupled device) that converts a document image formed through an imaging lens such as a rod lens into an electrical signal.

A binarization circuit 109 binarizes the given color image data for each color component. Further, 114 is an operation unit having a keyboard and the like, and has a liquid crystal display (LCD) 115 and various keys 116 on the panel for operation thereof. Further, 117 is a DAM controller, and 107C, 107 is connected to the hard disk 6o and each image memory 1078.
Data transfer between M and 107Y is performed in response to a command from CPUl0I.

Further, 120 is a color image/monochrome image conversion circuit that converts the color image signal read and obtained by the color CCD 108 into black and white image data.
If the image data obtained by 108 is given by three color components of R, G, and E, for example, Y=0.6G+0
．． It is converted into Y data represented by 3R+0.1B, or only the G component is output. 122 is a binarization circuit that binarizes the output of the conversion circuit 120 by processing such as error diffusion method, dither method, average density preservation method, etc.;
4 is color lance adjustment, color masking processing, and VC for the color image data output from the color CD108.
A color image processing circuit performs processing such as R and converts it into four components of Y, M, C, and Bk; 128 is a compression circuit that compresses and expands the output of the color image processing circuit 124 or the data stored in the hard disk 6; It is an expansion processing circuit, for example 2
The value image data is compressed by processing such as run-length coding, predictive coding, and entropy coding, or it is expanded, which is the opposite of compression. 200K, 200C1200M.

Reference numeral 200Y denotes a drive circuit for driving a suction pump for performing a recovery operation of the Bk5C, M, and Y heads, and is provided for each ink color. Also, 201Bk.

20IC, 201M, and 201Y are pump motors for suction, respectively.

Recovery Processing There are two types of recovery processing for preventing ink clogging in the recording apparatus, and a relatively simple "dry ejection" and a full-scale "suction ejection" are used depending on the need.

Dry Ejection> The recording head 20 shown in FIG. 3 is moved to the position of the cap portion 26A via the drive motor 17, and the recording head 20 is
By applying a driving pulse in the same way to all of the heating elements of each ejection port, ink is forcedly ejected toward the cap portion 26A for all the ejection ports multiple times without the purpose of printing. Note that at this time, there is no need to cover (cap) the cap portion 26A with the recording head 20, and ejection is performed with the cap portion 26A and the recording head 20 separated, and the ink ejected onto the cap portion 26A is transferred to the recovery device 26. will be collected within.

Suction and discharge> As in the above-mentioned dry discharge, the recording head 20 is attached to the cap 26.
A, the motor 22 is driven to advance the recovery device 26, and cover the recording head 20 with the cap 26A.

A suction motor (not shown) in the head recovery device 26
The ink inside the ejection port is sucked. Even if nozzle clogging is not cleared due to dry ejection, it can be recovered by utilizing the suction force of the suction motor in the head recovery device 26.

Printing of non-discharge detection pattern FIG. 6 shows an example of a non-discharge detection pattern that is recorded when detecting non-discharge. The pattern in this figure is to move the carriage 16 to the right in the figure along the guides 19A, 19B, and sequentially select one of the ejection port groups of the BJ head 20 from the top.
The ink position as a result of ejecting ink from each ejection port toward the non-ejection detection unit 120 is indicated by hatching,
N represents the number of discharge ports (integer). Note that the ejection failure detection pattern is not limited to the type of this example. For example, it may be possible to eject from the same ejection port multiple times in succession, or to divide all ejection ports into groups and eject from each group at once. Ejection failure may be determined based on whether the average density among each group is uniform.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the ejection failure pattern is recorded directly on the recording paper, but if a part for ejection failure detection is provided separately from the recording paper, the ejection failure pattern can be recorded without contaminating the recording paper for image recording. Discharge check can be performed. In this example, in order to simplify the apparatus, recording paper is used, and a roll paper is used, and the portion used for ejection failure detection is cut off.

Example of control operation for non-ejection check Next, the control operation for non-ejection check in the embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. first,
The CPU 10I drives the recording head 20 via the drive motor 17.
is moved to the position of the cap portion 26A, and drive pulses are applied to all of the ejection ports of the recording head 20 to forcefully eject ink not intended for printing, that is, to perform idle ejection, for example, 10 times ( Step 5ll). Next, set the recording paper. Specifically, the motor is driven to wind up a roll of paper and turn it into a brand new paper (step 5).
12). Next, the BJ head 20 is moved to the ejection failure detection position via the drive motor 17 and the carriage 16 (step 513), and the count value n of the internal counter is set to 0 (step 514).

Next, it is determined whether the count value n has reached the final number N of all the ejection ports of the head 20 (step 515).
), if the determination is negative (NO), a drive pulse is applied to the nth ejection port (therefore, the 0th ejection port initially) to eject ink for one dot (step 516), and the value n of the internal counter is set to " After incrementing (adding) by “l” (
In step 517), the drive motor 17 is driven to move the BJ head 20 by one pitch. In step 518), the process returns to step S15, and the above-described process is repeated until n=N.

When ink is ejected from the last ejection port of the BJ head 20, an ejection failure detection pattern as shown in FIG. 6 is printed on the ejection failure detection surface of the ejection failure detection section 120. Note that FIG. 6 shows a case where there is no discharge failure at all discharge ports.

Then, in step 515, an affirmative determination is made that n=N (Y
ES), move the carriage to move the discharge failure detection sensor 113 to the discharge failure detection position, that is, the position where the discharge failure pattern is printed (step 520), and set the value n of the internal counter to 0 (step 520). 521).

Next, it is determined whether the value n of the internal counter has reached the value of the final number N of all the ejection ports of the head 20 (step 522), and if it has not yet reached the value, the non-ejection detection sensor 113 is activated. If it is determined that the nth line is read through the ink (step 523), and that all of the lines are mortar, that is, no ink ejection marks are detected (step 524),
Notify the main CPUl0I that ejection failure has been detected (
step 828). This notification may be performed by changing the value of a predetermined flag.

If it is determined in step S24 that the image is not completely white, the value n of the internal counter is incremented by "1" (step 525). Step 526) to move the non-ejection detection sensor 113 by one pitch, and then repeat step S22 described above.
Return to and repeat the above process.

If the loop of steps 322 to S26 is repeated and the value of the counter n reaches the predetermined value N in step S22, this means that there is no ejection failure at all the ejection ports and the ink is ejected normally. It is notified that ejection failure is not detected (non-detection) (step 527).

This notification may be performed by changing the value of a predetermined flag as described above.

The basic sequence of the ejection failure check has been explained above. By performing this operation for each color, recording preparations for color recording are completed.

<Overall Operation> Next, the overall control operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 to 22.

FIG. 11 shows the main routine, and FIGS. 12 to 22 each show the subroutines.

First, the control procedure of the main routine will be explained using FIG. The main CPU 10I is a 16Hz Ci multiplied signal call signal sent from the transmitting side via the NCU 105)
is detected (step 5ll-1), incoming call processing is performed (step 5ll-2), and the mode determination means 62 is used to determine the mode specification from the sending side.Step 5ll-
3) If the color mode is specified, the color reception mode is performed (step 511-4), and if the monochrome reception mode is specified, the black and white reception mode is performed (step 11-5). still,
This determination of mode designation is made based on data decoded by the modem 104, for example, based on the value of the decoded data.

Next, the color reception mode will be explained using FIG. 12, and the monochrome reception mode will be explained using FIG.

First, in the color reception mode, color hard disk reception is performed in which the received color image data is stored on the hard disk without being decompressed at step 128 (step 51).
2-1). The transmitted image data is stored in the hard disk 60.

Next, check whether the black print switch 64 is turned on (step 512-8). If it is turned on, check the remaining amount of Bk ink (S12-9) and the Bk ink non-discharge check (step 512-8).
Perform step S12-1), and if OK, turn on the black print switch.
A message is output in step 512-19), and then a color to black conversion printing operation, which will be described later, is performed (step 512-20). If the Bk ink non-discharge check is NG in step 512-11, a monochrome recovery operation (Si2- 15
), and either the idle ejection suction of the head ejecting black ink performs one or both, and the above-mentioned 312-1 described below
1 is repeated, and if the result is still NG, black and white error reception (S12-17), which will be described later, is performed. Further, if the result of step S12-8 is OFF, the following processing is performed.

First, check the remaining amount of ink in the IJC for each color of Yl and MSCSBk (Step 512-2). If all four colors are OK,
A non-discharge check is performed for each of the Y, M, C, and Bk color inks (step 512-3), and if even one color out of the four packages is out of ink, a color error reception (step 512), which will be described later, is performed.
-7). Next, the above Y and M.

Ejection failure check for each color of C and Bk (step 512-3)
If all four colors are OK according to the results of the above steps, a color printing operation is performed (step 512-5).
If there is a head with a nozzle that fails to eject ink for any color, check the number of times the recovery process has been performed (step 512-4), and if it is within the specified number of times, perform the color recovery process (step 512-6), and repeat the steps described above. Returning to 512-3, the above process is repeated. Also, if there is a head with a non-ejecting nozzle even if the number of recovery processes exceeds the specified number,
The color error reception in step 512-7 is performed.

Here, the color recovery processing step 512-6 includes Y
The purpose is to perform the above-described suction and discharge using the same heads for the four colors of SM and C5Bk.

Further, in the monochrome reception mode, monochrome hard disk reception is performed as shown in FIG. 13 (step 513-1), and the transmitted image data is stored in the node disk 60. Next, check the remaining amount of IJCBk ink (step 513-2), if OK, check for Bk ink discharge failure (step 513-3), and if the ink is out, receive black and white error (step 513-2), which will be described later. 51
Perform 3-7). If the result of the non-ejection check for the Bk head in step 513-3 is OK, black and white printing is performed (step 513-5), and if there is a non-ejecting nozzle, the number of recovery processes is checked and step 513-5 is performed. 313-4), if it is within the specified number of times,
A monochrome recovery process (step 513-6) is performed, and the process returns to step 513-3 to repeat the process. If a non-ejecting nozzle still exists even after the number of recovery processes exceeds the specified number, the above-mentioned step 513-7 black and white error reception is performed.

Here, the black and white recovery processing step 513-6 includes Bk
The above-mentioned suction/discharge is performed with respect to the head.

Alternatively, the Bk head may perform both dry ejection and suction.

Next, the color printing operation will be explained using FIG. 14, and the monochrome printing operation will be explained using FIG. 15.

First, the color printing operation will be explained. The data stored in the hard disk 60 is read out, and the compression/decompression processing circuit 128 decompresses the data, and the image data of each color of YlM, C, and Bk is read out in block units, that is, in units of 8 lines, and the Y, M, C1Bk image memory 107Y, 107M, 107C.

107Bk (step 514-1).

At this time, the color determining means 6 described using FIG.
1, it is determined which color among Y, M, C, and Bk will be used in the next block (step 514-2), and based on this, the above-mentioned idle ejection operation is performed only for the head of the ink to be used. (step 514-3).

Thereafter, while reading the image data from the image memory 107, color printing is performed line by line (step 514-).
4) A line feed is performed (step 514-5) and the above process is repeated until the number of remaining lines in the block reaches O, that is, the process for 8 lines is repeated (step 514-6).

Here, the moving distance of the herad carriage 16 in the direction of the arrow 40 in FIG. 3 when performing color printing for each - line will be explained.

As mentioned above, in order to record a color image over the entire width of the paper, - the carriage position at the start of color printing for each line is the position where the inkjet head 20Bk of the tool faces the starting edge of the paper; - The carriage position at the end of color printing for each line is the position where the yellow inkjet spatula F20Y faces the end of the paper. That is, the head carriage 16 reciprocates between the above-mentioned start position and end position, and performs a printing operation only when moving in the direction of arrow 40. CPU10I drives the drive motor 17 to move the head carriage 16.
gives commands to the control circuit to control the driving state.

When the number of remaining lines in the block reaches O, the number of remaining blocks is checked, and if it is not 0, the process returns to step 514-1 and repeats the process (step 514-7). When the number of remaining blocks is equal to 0, a color print termination operation to be described later is performed (step 514-8).

The time of black and white printing operation will be explained. The Bk image data stored in the hard disk 60 is read out in blocks as described above and stored in the image memory 107Bk (step 515-1). Next, the above-described idle ejection operation is performed for the Bk head (step 515-2).

Thereafter, each line is printed in black and white while reading the image data from the image memory 107Bk (step 515-).
3), performs a line feed (step 515-4), and repeats the above process until the number of remaining lines in the block becomes 0 (step 5
15-5).

Here, the moving distance of the herad carriage 16 in the direction of the arrow 40 in FIG. 3 when performing black and white printing for each line will be explained.

As mentioned above, in order to record a monochrome image over the entire width of the paper, the carriage position at the start of monochrome printing for each line is the position where the black inkjet head 20Bk is opposite to the starting edge of the paper, and The carriage position at the end of each black and white print is the black inkjet head 20.
Bk is the position relative to the end of the paper. That is, the head carriage 16 reciprocates between the above-mentioned start position and end position, and performs a printing operation only when moving in the direction of arrow 40.

CPUl0I determines that the number of remaining lines in the block becomes 0. This determination is made based on the amount of data read from the hard disk 60 and printed.

Check the number of remaining blocks, and if it is not 0, return to step 515-1 and repeat the process (step 5
15-6). Furthermore, when the number of remaining blocks is equal to 0, a black and white print termination operation, which will be described later, is performed. (Step 515-7
). The CPU 10I determines from the output of the decompression processing circuit 128 that the number of remaining blocks becomes 0.

Next, color error reception will be explained using FIG. 16, and monochrome error reception will be explained using FIG. 17.

As mentioned above, color error reception is Y, MSC.

This is the case when any one of the four Bk color IJCs is out of ink or there is a non-ejecting nozzle in any one of the four colors. Therefore, first, the IJC color (hereinafter referred to as trouble ink color) in which ink has run out or has not been ejected is checked (step 516-1), and subsequent operations are determined accordingly. That is, the trouble ink colors are Bk, Y, and M.

If there is at least one of the three colors in C, the trouble ink color and the message that cannot be printed are printed on the LC.
Display on D115 and end (step 516-2)
. This allows the user to recognize that the device has become unusable. Also, if the trouble ink color is at least one of the three colors Y, M, and C, and black is normal,
After displaying a message on the LCD 115 to the effect that the trouble ink color and the color image are to be converted to black and white and printed (step 516-3), a color to black conversion printing operation to be described later is performed (step 516-4).

If the troublesome ink is only Bk, a Bk ink abnormality is displayed on the LCD 115 (step 516-5).
), the above-mentioned color printing operation (S166)
I do.

Next, monochrome error reception will be explained using FIG. 17.

As described above, monochrome error reception occurs when IJCBk is out of ink or has a non-ejecting nozzle. However, the IJC of the three colors Y, M, and C has not been checked yet, so in order to find out whether this can be used as a substitute, first
A non-ejection check is performed for the IJC of the three colors XM and C (step 517-1), and subsequent operations are determined accordingly.

That is, if all three Y, M, and C heads have non-ejecting nozzles, a trouble message is displayed for all four colors of Y, M, C, and Bk on the LCD 115, and the process ends (step 517-2). . Also, all three heads of Y, M, and C are OK.
If so, after expressing the Bk ink abnormality and black in Y, M, and C and displaying a print message on the LCD 11S (step 517-3), the black → UY as described later is displayed.
An MC conversion print operation is performed (step 517-4).

If 1 or 2 of the Y, M, and C heads are OK, a Bk ink error and black are converted to one usable color and a print message is displayed on the LCD 115 (step 517-5). Afterwards, a black to color conversion printing operation, which will be described later, is performed (step 517-6). At this time, when two colors are available, the priority for determining one color to be used is in the order of M+C→Y.

Next, the above-mentioned color→non-conversion printing operation will be explained using FIG. 18, black→YMC conversion printing operation will be explained using FIG. 19, and black→use color conversion printing operation will be explained using FIG. 20.

Color → non-conversion printing operation will be explained. First, YSM stored in the hard disk 60.

The image data of each color of C and Bk is read out in blocks as described above, and decompressed by the circuit 128, and stored in the Y, MSC, and Bk image memory 107Y for each color.

107M, 107C, and 107Bk (step 518-1). Next, the previous image memory 107Y, 107M
, read out YSM and C color image data one pixel each from IOC, and use the former image conversion means 63 to convert Y, , ,
M.

Convert C color image data to black image data and store it in the image memory 107Bk (step 518-2)
.

Here, we will not specifically explain the means for converting color image data to black image data, but for example, YSM, C
It can be obtained by multiplying each by a predetermined coefficient and adding them. In short, it is sufficient if a color image can be converted into density image data by digital calculation.

The subsequent operations are all (same) as the above-mentioned monochrome printing operation after step 515-2 in FIG.

Next, the black→YMC conversion printing operation will be explained using FIG. 19. Read out the Bk image data stored in the earlier hard disk 6o in block units as described above,
Decompress and store in image memory 107Bk (step 51
9-1).

Next, the Bk image data is read from the image memory 107Bk, and the image memory 107Y, 107M, 107C
The data is transferred as is by the DMA controller 117 (step 519-2). At this time, when this inter-memory transfer work is completed, all data in the image memory 107Bk is cleared. Next, the above-described idle ejection operation is performed for the three color heads of Y, M, and C (step 519-3).
. The subsequent operations are the 14th color print operation described above.
All (same as step 514-4 and subsequent steps in the figure).

Next, the black to color conversion printing operation will be explained using FIG. 20. Reading out the Bk image data stored in the hard disk 60 in units of blocks,
Store in image memory 107Bk (step S20-1
).

Next, one color to be used is determined from among the available colors according to the conditions described above, and the Bk image data read out pixel by pixel from the image memory 107Bk is transferred to the image memory of that color (step 520 -2).

At this time, all data in the image memory 107Bk is cleared when this inter-memory transfer work is completed. Next, the above-described idle ejection operation is performed for the head of the color to be used (step 520-3). The subsequent operations are exactly the same as the above-described color printing operation after step 514-4 in FIG.

Next, the color print termination operation described above will be explained using FIG. 21, and the monochrome print termination operation will be explained using FIG. 22.

First, the color print ending operation will be explained. After printing one page, the above-mentioned ejection failure check is performed for Y, M, C, and Bk (step 52).
1-1) If the result is that all four colors are OK, it is considered that the printing was successful and the data on the hard disk 60 is erased (step 5212). Alternatively, when the next data is received, it is overwritten so that it becomes unreadable. Also, if even one color is NG, it may be that the printing is not done properly, and the hard disk 6o
A message indicating a possible image defect is displayed on the LCD 115 while leaving the data as is (step 52).
1-3).

In this case, even if the next data is received, if there is no free space in each memory 107Y-Bk or hard disk 60, printing will not be possible normally even if the received data is refused to be written to the memory. As for the image signal, the data on hard disk drive 0 is left unchanged.

The black-and-white print ending operation will be explained. After printing 1 page, perform the above-mentioned ejection failure check.
(step 522-1), and if the result is NG, it is assumed that the printing may not have been done properly, and the data on the hard disk 60 is left as is, and the message indicating the possibility of an image defect is sent. L
Display on the CD 115 (step 522-2). Also, if the result of the non-ejection check is OK, the disk 6
0 data is erased (step 522-3).

The processing of data written in such memory is the same as that described using FIG. 21.

The present invention is applicable not only to the above-mentioned serial printer (as shown in FIG. It can also be suitably applied to a facsimile machine equipped with the following.

In FIG. 8, 201A and 201B are a pair of rollers provided to nip and convey the recording medium R in the sub-scanning direction Vs indicated by the arrow. 202Bk, 202Y, 202M, and 202C are full multi-type recording heads that perform black, yellow, magenta, and cyan recording, with nozzles arranged over the entire width of the recording medium R, and in that order, the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction. It is arranged from.

Reference numeral 200 denotes a recovery system, which performs ink ejection recovery processing (referred to as ejection recovery processing) such as suction operation from each inkjet or empty ejection operation capping from the head. Instead, they face the recording heads 202B to 202C. However, in this example, in order to perform preheating at an appropriate timing, the number of activations of the discharge recovery process can be significantly reduced.

In particular, in this embodiment, the heads are arranged in order from the bottom of the figure.
Since the C, Y, M, and Bk heads are lined up in that order, during monochrome reception, the recovery system 200 first performs recovery operations for each of the Y, M, and C1Bk heads, and then only the Bk head receives paper. The other heads M, Y, and C are moved so as not to be exposed.

Therefore, since heads M, Y, and C remain capped, reliability is improved.

In addition, FIG. 9 shows the recording heads 202Bk to 202C in FIG.
One appearance is shown. In FIG. 9, 210 is an ink discharge port, 211 is an ink supply pipe, and 212 is a plurality of IC circuits (drive circuits) for driving electrothermal conversion elements.

Further, 213 and 214 are terminals for applying drive signals.

Even when the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine having such a full-line type printer, the same control procedure can be used.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the color ink head and the Bk ink head are mounted on the same carriage, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. The present invention can be similarly applied even when the device is placed on a carriage.

Further, the present invention can also be applied to a facsimile machine using a so-called piezo-type inkjet recording device, which uses a piezoelectric element as an ink ejection energy source, as a recording system.

(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.

As for typical configurations and principles thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to arrange the liquid (ink) in accordance with the sheet and liquid path that hold it. The electrothermal converter that is
By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise that exceeds the nuclear temperature rise, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy to cause film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head. This is effective because it can result in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) that correspond one-to-one to this drive signal. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to use this drive signal in a pulse form, since the growth and contraction of bubbles can be carried out immediately and appropriately, making it possible to eject liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness. This pulse-shaped drive signal is:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359, U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,26
Those described in Specification No. 2 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. 9-123670 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5 (1973) disclosing a configuration in which a discharge portion is made to correspond to an opening that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy.
The effects of the present invention are also effective even with a configuration based on Publication No. 9-138461. In other words, regardless of the form of the recording head, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus, to the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof; It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

In addition, regarding the type and number of recording heads installed, for example, in addition to one type that corresponds to single-color ink, there is also a plurality of recording heads that correspond to multiple inks with different recording colors and densities. It may be something that can be done.

In addition, in addition to being used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a computer, the inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment can also be used as a copying machine combined with a league machine, or even as a facsimile machine having transmitting and receiving functions. It may be something that you collect.

Although the explanation will be different, the communication control unit N in this embodiment
In the CU, if the receiver is an image communication device conforming to G3 facsimile, for example, an initial identification signal of a non-standard function,
For example, it is possible to transmit a transmission mode, such as a color mode or a monochrome mode, to a receiver using an NSF signal.
The transmission mode, for example, color mode or monochrome mode, may be transmitted to the receiver using the user-to-user signal shown in Layer 3 Specification 4.5.24.

According to the present embodiment described above, in a color facsimile apparatus having an inkjet recording device equipped with a plurality of color ink heads of different colors, a recovery processing means for restoring the state of the ink ejection ports of the ink heads, and a predetermined number of color ink heads of different colors are provided. A color judgment means for monitoring the print color of the next block with each row as one block is installed.The head is selected by performing recovery processing according to the signal from the color judgment means, and the selected head is recovered every time one block is recorded. By providing a control means for controlling the processing, the recovery processing is performed only on the print color head of the next block.

That is, in reality, during a printing operation for one page or a series of printing operations,
It is rare to always use all four colors of YSM, C, and Bk; for example, when there is a full-color photograph in a part of a black text manuscript, or when the colors to be used in certain parts such as graphs and diagrams are limited. It is thought that there are many cases.

Therefore, when this type of inkjet printer is used for color facsimile, each time a predetermined number of lines are printed, four recovery mechanisms for the four colors Y, M, C, and Bk are operated simultaneously to perform the recovery process. In this example, the recovery operation is also performed for heads of colors that are never used for printing within the predetermined number of lines mentioned above that are printed during the recovery process, and the ink is removed. However, according to the embodiment described above, the recovery process is performed only for the print color head of the next block, so that Y, M,
This has the effect of preventing unnecessary discharge of all C and Bk colors and extending the life of the ink cartridge.

[Other Examples]

In this embodiment, the print color of the next block is monitored only in the color mode, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other modes using multiple colors, such as Bk and M, are configured. Of course, even if there is a two-color mode to be used, the print color of the next block may be monitored.

Further, although the predetermined amount of image data is image data of several lines of needles in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, each line of one or less lines, or other amounts.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, unnecessary recovery operations can be prevented and stable reception operations can be performed as a color facsimile.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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 a bubble jet type inkjet cartridge to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the inkjet cartridge of FIG. 2. A perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a recording system of a facsimile machine mounted thereon to which the present invention can be applied; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the color determining means used in the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a non-discharge detection pattern that is printed when detecting non-discharge, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a full-line printer according to another embodiment; FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 8; FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the main routine of the control method of this embodiment; FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine color reception mode of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine color reception mode of FIG. 14 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine color print operation of FIG. 12, FIG. 15 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine monochrome print operation of FIG. 13, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine black and white print operation of FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine color error reception, FIG. 17 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine black and white error reception of FIG. 13, FIG. 18 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine color → black conversion printing operation of FIG. Figure 19 is the 17th
Figure 20 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine → black YMC conversion print operation in Figure 17, Figure 21 is a flowchart explaining the subroutine → black color conversion print operation in Figure 14, and Figure 21 is the subroutine color print end operation in Figure 14. A flowchart explaining the
3 is a flowchart illustrating the subroutine black-and-white print termination operation shown in the figure. 17.22... Drive motor 20Bk... Black ink head 20C... Cyan ink head 20M... Magenta ink head 20Y... Yellow ink head 26... Recovery device 26A... Cap section 60. ...Hard disk 61...Used color determining means 62...Mode determining means 63...Image converting means 64...Black print switch 101...CPU 104...Modem 105...NCU 113...・Turn 11111111-H 15th scolding 1st with non-ejection sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] a recovery processing means for restoring the ink ejection state of the inkjet head of a plurality of colors; a color determination means for determining the printing color for each block, with a predetermined amount of image data as one block; A color facsimile device comprising a control means for controlling a recovery processing means.