JPH04241975A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recorder capable of detecting abnormal travelling of a carriage by using an existing sensor equipped on the carriage originally. CONSTITUTION:When a carriage 102 is conveyed so as to move to the outside of a record medium 107 by rotating a carriage motor 105, it checked whether the record medium 107 is detected or not by a paper width sensor 114 for detecting the record medium 107 provided on the carriage 102. At this time, when the record medium 107 is detected, occurrence of abnormal travelling of the carriage 102 is determined.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that prints on a printing medium by scanning a carriage equipped with a printing head.

0002

[Prior Art] In a recording device that records on a recording medium by scanning a carriage equipped with a recording head, etc., in order to detect an abnormality in the running of the carriage due to the rotational drive of the carriage motor, a A sensor dedicated to drive abnormality detection (hereinafter referred to as an abnormality detection sensor) is provided. Then, the carriage is moved as the carriage motor rotates, and this sensor detects the passage of the carriage and turns the sensor signal on and off, causing abnormal carriage movement due to the carriage motor stepping out, etc. It detects whether or not it is.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, it is necessary to install a dedicated abnormality detection sensor to detect abnormality in carriage running, and only one such sensor is installed on the carriage running line. Even if it is installed, it is not possible to detect where the carriage abnormality occurs. In other words, for example, when detecting abnormalities in the drive of the carriage in both directions, there is a problem in that dedicated sensors must be provided at least at both ends of the section in which the carriage moves.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can detect abnormality in carriage running by using an existing sensor originally attached to the carriage.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A recording apparatus that mounts a recording head on a carriage and performs recording on a recording medium by scanning the carriage, the apparatus comprising: a conveyance means for conveying and driving the carriage; a detection means for detecting a medium; and a determination for determining that there is an abnormality in conveyance of the carriage when the recording medium is detected by the detection means when the carriage is conveyed by the conveyance means so as to move the carriage outside the recording medium. means.

[0006]

[Operation] In the above structure, when the carriage is driven to move outside the recording medium by the conveyance means that drives the carriage to convey, the detection means is provided on the carriage and moves with the carriage to detect the recording medium. When the recording medium is detected, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the conveyance of the carriage.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the recording section of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment. This recording head 100 is capable of recording at a recording density of 400 dpi, and each color has 128 heads in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Nozzles are arranged. This recording head 100 is a cartridge type inkjet head, and images, characters, etc. are recorded on recording paper by scanning the inkjet head back and forth in the direction of the arrow. This recording head 100 has cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (hereinafter, C, M, and black, respectively).
Cartridge 101 containing ink (abbreviated as Y, K)
As shown in the figure, four heads are arranged, and by driving the heads corresponding to these colors to perform overlapping recording, it is possible to record in color on the recording medium 107. These C
, M, Y, and K color cartridges 101 are removably mounted on a carriage 102. Here, the driving frequency F of the recording head 100 is 4 KHz.

103 is a shaft for supporting the carriage 102, 104 is a driving belt with one end fixed to the carriage 102, and a pulley 1 is attached to the rotating shaft of a carriage motor 105 composed of a stepping motor.
06a and the adjustable pulley 106b. As a result, when the carriage motor 105 is rotationally driven, the carriage 102 moves left and right along the shaft 103, and by driving the recording head 100 in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 102, recording is performed on the recording medium 107. .

Reference numeral 116 denotes a home position sensor, which detects when the carriage 102 is at the home position.
2 is detected and its output signal is turned on. 109 is a cap part, and carriage 1
02 is at the home position, the ejection ports of each nozzle of the recording head 100 are blocked to prevent them from drying out. 1
Reference numeral 10 indicates a motor home position, which is a reference position when the carriage 102 is at the home position. 111 is a motor start position, and when the paper feed signal is turned on, the carriage 102 is moved from the home position to this motor start position 111. 112 indicates the motor stop position;
This shows the position where the carriage 102 will no longer move to the right. 107 is a recording medium such as recording paper or an OHP sheet.

When the print signal is turned on, the carriage 102 is acceleratedly moved by a predetermined pulse amount from the motor start position 111 to a predetermined position before the recording start position, and when the accelerated movement is completed, it is moved at a constant speed by a predetermined pulse amount depending on the recording width. will be moved. An image is recorded on the recording medium 107 during this constant speed movement. When one line of image data has been recorded in this manner and the constant speed movement is completed, the carriage 102 is decelerated by a predetermined pulse and moved to the motor stop position 112. In this way, the above-described operation is repeated until there is no more recording data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the carriage 102 in FIG. 1 viewed from the recording direction. Portions common to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same numbers, and their explanation will be omitted. 113 is recording medium 1
A platen 114 is a photo sensor attached to the carriage 102 for guiding the recording medium 10.
The recording medium 107 is irradiated with light and the reflected light is detected.
It detects the presence or absence of the object, its width, etc. 115 is the recording medium 10
This is a paper presser to prevent 7 from lifting up.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inkjet printer of this embodiment. Portions common to those in the previous drawings are designated by the same numbers, and their explanation will be omitted.

In the figure, 301 is a control unit that controls the entire printer, 310 is a CPU such as a microprocessor, 311 is a ROM that stores control programs and various data for the CPU 310, and 312 is a CPU 310.
This RAM is used as a work area for temporary storage of various data. 302 is a head driver that drives the print head 100 according to print data from the control unit 301, and 303 and 304 are motor drivers that drive corresponding motors. 305 is a paper feed motor for conveying the recording medium 107. 30
6 is a sensor circuit whose details are shown in FIG.
A sensor signal detected by the controller is output to the control unit 301. The voltage signal from this sensor circuit 306 is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 313 and then sent to the CPU.
310.

FIG. 4 shows the sensor circuit 306 and paper width sensor 11.
4 is a diagram showing the relationship with 4.

In FIG. 4, the paper width sensor 114 is composed of a light emitting element 401 and a light receiving element 402, and light from the light emitting element 401 is reflected by the recording medium 107 and enters the light receiving element 402. This light-receiving element 402 has a photocurrent that changes depending on the amount of light input, and a minute current (approximately 200 μA) generated in this light-receiving element 402 is converted into a voltage signal by a volume 403. This voltage signal is impedance-converted by a transistor 404 and an emitter resistor 406, and is input to an A/D converter 313 of the control section 301. As a result, the control unit 301
The CPU 310 is capable of detecting the type and presence or absence of the recording medium 107 according to the value of digital data output from the A/D converter 313, and further performing width correction calculations.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams showing the relationship between the output voltage level of the paper width sensor circuit 306 and the traveling position of the carriage 102 (converted by the amount of drive of the carriage motor 105).

In these figures, the output voltage level V1
indicates the voltage level when the recording medium 107 is not detected, and output voltage level V2 indicates the voltage level when the recording medium 107 is detected. Figure 5 shows carriage 1
02 indicates the case where the vehicle is running normally according to the amount of drive, and the output voltage level of the sensor circuit 306 changes from V1 to V2 at the position where the recording medium 107 is present.

This state is illustrated in FIG. 8, which shows the relationship between the traveling position of the carriage 102 on which the recording head 100 is mounted and the recording medium 107.

FIG. 8A shows the carriage 102 at the motor home position 110, and FIG. 8B shows the carriage 102 at the motor start position 111. In addition, (C) shows that the paper width sensor 114 is
07 shows the state in which the left end is detected, and (D) shows the state in which the paper width sensor 114 detects the right end of the recording medium 107. Furthermore, (E) shows a state in which the carriage 102 has reached the motor stop position 112.

FIG. 6 shows a case where a traveling abnormality occurs when the carriage 102 is moved from the home position 110 toward the motor stop position. That is, the carriage 10
Even if the carriage motor 105 is rotated by a distance corresponding to the distance that the motor 2 reaches the motor stop position 112, the carriage 102 is actually still above the recording medium 107.
The output voltage level of sensor circuit 306 remains at V2. Similarly, in FIG. 7, the carriage 102 is at the motor stop position 1.
12 to the home position 110. Even if the carriage motor 105 is rotated enough to return the carriage 102 to the motor start position 111 or the motor home position 110, the carriage is actually 102 is still on the recording medium 107, so
The output voltage level of the sensor circuit 306 remains at V2.

If the carriage 102 runs abnormally due to the drive of the carriage motor 105 as described above, the recording start position of the recording head 100 may deviate, or the start position 111 and stop position 112 of the carriage 102 may deviate from the specified positions. , which will interfere with the recorded image. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to prevent this, the carriage motor 10 is operated based on the signal from the paper width sensor 114.
Examining the travel of the carriage 102 with respect to the drive amount of 5,
It is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the traveling of the carriage 102, and if there is a driving abnormality, an error is displayed.

FIGS. 9 to 15 are flowcharts showing the operation of the inkjet printer of this embodiment, and the control program that performs the control shown in these flowcharts is RO.
It is stored in M311.

First, the main processing will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

After power is turned on, the printer enters a standby state in step S1, and waits for a paper feed command (usually a print or copy command) in step S2. When a paper feeding command is input, the process proceeds to step S3, and a paper feeding operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, which will be described later, is performed. When this paper feeding operation is completed, the process advances from step S4 to step S5, and an empty scan operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, which will be described later, is performed. When this empty scan operation is completed, the process advances from step S6 to step S7, in which the paper width of the recording medium 107 is detected, and then in step S9, it is determined whether the recording medium 107 is recording paper or not.
It is determined whether it is a P sheet. Note that these paper width calculation processing and recording medium discrimination processing will be described later with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. 12 and 13.

In step S9, it is determined whether the recording medium is an OHP sheet. If the recording medium is not an OHP sheet but a recording paper, predetermined recording width data is selected based on the paper width data obtained in step S7 from among a plurality of recording width data preset according to the paper width. If the recording medium is an OHP sheet, a predetermined width is subtracted from the recording width data selected based on the paper width data obtained in step S7, and the recording width for the OHP sheet is set based on the subtraction result. Then, the process advances to step S11, and an actual recording operation is performed using the set recording width.

In the case of an OHP sheet, the fixing speed of the ink on the recording paper is slow. Therefore, in this embodiment, in the case of recording on an OHP sheet, the upper roller of the paper ejection roller pair is retracted so as not to come into contact with the OHP sheet using a mechanism (not shown), and the conveyance of the OHP sheet is carried out using a mechanism (not shown). It is configured to be transported by two transport rollers (not shown) that contact only each end. Therefore, when recording on OHP sheets, compared to recording paper. The recording section becomes narrower by a predetermined width corresponding to these two rollers.

This recording operation will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the recording process is thus completed, the process proceeds to step S13, where the recorded recording medium 107 is ejected from the apparatus, and the process returns to step S2 again to wait for the next print command.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, step S of FIG.
The paper feeding operation in step 3 will be explained. In step S21, the carriage 102 is moved from the home position 110 to the motor start position 111, and in step S22 it is determined whether this movement has been completed. This determination is made based on the number of driving steps of the carriage motor 105. Next, the process advances to step S23, and the paper feed roller starts rotating in order to pull out the recording medium 107 from the cassette containing the recording medium 107. When the recording medium is pulled out from the cassette in this way, the conveying roller is rotated in step S25 to convey the recording medium 107 to a predetermined position for recording, and in step S26 it is determined whether the conveying operation has been completed. If so, return to main processing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the idle scan operation in step S5. First, the process proceeds from step S31 to step S32, in which the carriage motor 105 is driven one unit at a time to move the carriage 102 forward in the direction of the motor stop position 112. One unit here corresponds to one excitation pattern of the carriage motor 105, and in this embodiment, this time is about 85 μM. After advancing one unit in this way,
Data obtained by digitally converting the sensor signal from the sensor circuit 306 is taken in and stored in the RAM 312. In step S34, the storage address is advanced and step S6
The end of the empty scan operation is determined.

When the empty scan in the forward direction is completed in step S31, the process advances to steps S35 and S36, and the motor home position 11 is moved from the motor stop position 112.
In order to move the carriage 102 in the 0 direction, backward movement processing is performed one unit at a time, and when this backward movement processing is completed, a flag indicating that the empty scan has been completed is turned on and the process returns to the main processing. In this manner, the carriage 102 is reciprocated between the motor home position 110 and the motor stop position 112 through the idle scan process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the paper width calculation process in step S7 in FIG. Then, in step S42, the average value of the reflected light intensity (digital data) from the recording medium 107 is read. In step S43, the arithmetic mean of the average values of these voltage levels is taken to calculate a threshold level. Next, the process proceeds to step S44, where the sensor data stored in step S33 (FIG. 11) is read out in the order of the storage addresses, and compared with this threshold level. If the sensor data is higher, the process proceeds to step S45, where the recording medium 107 is read out. It is determined that the paper width has been detected, and predetermined data is added to a counter that counts the paper width value. Note that the paper width is determined based on the final count value of this counter. On the other hand, step S4
If the data from the sensor 114 is lower than this threshold level in step S4, it is determined that the carriage 102 is still on the platen 113, and step S46 is repeated until the sensor data is completed.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 13,
The determination process for the recording medium 107 will be explained. First step S
In step S51, the average value and the maximum value of the light level reflected from the recording medium 107 (voltage value from the sensor circuit 306) are compared, and if this difference is greater than a predetermined value, the OHP is
It is determined that it is a sheet. On the other hand, if not, the process returns to the main routine and determines that the recording medium 107 is normal recording paper.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the recording operation of step S11 in the flowchart of FIG.

During the recording operation, in step S61, the carriage 102 moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG. be done. In step S62, it is assumed that the carriage 102 has moved to the motor stop position 112, and the driving of the carriage motor 105 is stopped. Then, in step S63, it is determined whether the transport drive of the carriage 102 by the carriage motor 105 is normal. The details will be described later with reference to FIG. 15.

If the transport drive of the carriage 102 is not abnormal, the process advances to step S64 to move the carriage 102 backward, and in step S65, assuming that the carriage 102 has reached the motor start position, the carriage motor 105 is
Stops rotational drive. Then, proceed to step S66,
Again, in the same manner as step S63, it is checked whether a carriage conveyance abnormality has occurred. Thereafter, similar operations are repeated in steps S67 to S72, and the carriage 1
When the conveyance abnormality No. 02 is detected, the process advances to step S73, an error is displayed, and the process returns to the main process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the conveyance abnormality processing of the carriage 102 such as steps S63 and S66.
In step S81, the output voltage value (
Based on the digital value), it is determined whether the recording medium 107 is present under the photosensor 114. Recording medium 10
7, the carriage 102 is supposed to be moving to an area where the recording medium 107 does not exist, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, but the carriage 102 is actually located above the recording medium 107. Therefore, it is assumed that there was an abnormality during movement of the carriage 102, and the process advances to step S83, where it is determined that there is a driving abnormality. Furthermore, if the recording medium 107 is not detected in step S82, it is assumed that no abnormality has occurred in the running of the carriage 102, and the process proceeds to step S84.

Note that in the above embodiment, the paper width sensor 114
Although the abnormality in running of the carriage 102 was detected only at the motor start position 111 and the motor stop position 112, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be detected anywhere as long as the output voltage level is V1 in FIG. good.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, during the recording operation, the carriage 102 reciprocates between the motor start position 111 and the motor stop position 112, and moves to the motor home position 110 when the recording operation is completed. That is, since the carriage 102 does not move to the motor home position 110 during the recording operation, the home position sensor 107 should not be turned on from the start to the end of the recording operation. Therefore, if the home position sensor 107 turns on during the recording operation, it is considered that an abnormality has occurred in the scanning of the carriage 102 in this case as well.

Further, in this embodiment, an inkjet method is explained in which ink droplets are ejected using thermal energy, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to wire dot printers, thermal printers, etc., for example. Of course, it may also be a printer.

[0041] According to the inkjet method as shown in this embodiment, it is possible to achieve high density and high definition recording. 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 the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, the ink is placed in correspondence with the sheet holding the liquid (ink) and the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer that corresponds to recorded information and that causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy and the recording head is heated. Film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface, resulting in 1
This is effective because bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. If this drive signal has a pulse shape,
Since the growth and contraction of bubbles is carried out immediately and appropriately, ejection of liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. No. 4,463,359 and US Pat. No. 4,345,262 are suitable. In addition, US Patent No. 431 of the invention regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface
If the conditions described in specification No. 3124 are adopted,
Even better recording can be performed.

[0042] In addition to the configuration of the recording head that is a combination of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459 disclose a structure in which a heat acting part is placed in a bending area.
The structure using the specification of No. 600 may also be used. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1986-59 discloses a configuration in which a slit common to a plurality of electrothermal transducers is used as a discharge part of the electrothermal transducers.
123670 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 123670, which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part.
A configuration based on Japanese Patent No. 138461 may be used. In other words, regardless of the form of the recording head, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.

[0043]Furthermore, a replaceable chip-type recording head that is attached to the apparatus main body enables electrical connection with the apparatus main body and ink supply from the apparatus main body, or a print head that is integrated into the print head itself. The present invention is also effective when using a cartridge type recording head installed in a cartridge.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. to the recording head provided as part of the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, since the recording operation can be further stabilized. Specifically, these include a capping means for the recording head, a cleaning means, a pressure or suction means, an electrothermal converter or another heating means, and a backup for ejection other than recording. Performing the ejection mode is also effective for stable recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to a single head that corresponds to a single color ink, there are also systems that correspond to a plurality of inks of different recording colors and densities. A plurality of them may be provided.

In addition, examples of inkjet recording devices to which the present invention can be applied include those used as image output terminals for information processing equipment such as computers, copying devices combined with readers, etc., and furthermore, transmission/reception functions. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a.

As described above, according to this embodiment, abnormality in carriage running can be detected using an existing paper width sensor or the like.

[0048]

Effects of the Invention: Abnormalities As described, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect abnormalities in carriage running by using the existing sensor originally attached to the carriage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing details of a recording section of a bubble jet printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view of the carriage in the recording section of the bubble jet printer of this embodiment, seen from the forward direction.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of a paper width sensor and its sensor circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the output voltage of the sensor circuit with respect to the amount of rotational drive of the carriage motor during normal operation.

[Figure 6]

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the output voltage of the sensor circuit with respect to the amount of rotational drive of the carriage motor in an abnormal state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between carriage movement and a recording medium in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control operations in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the paper feeding operation in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an empty scan operation in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing paper width calculation processing in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing recording medium discrimination processing in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing recording processing in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing carriage abnormality determination processing in the bubble jet printer of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Recording head 101 Ink cartridge 102 Carriage 105 Carriage motor 116 Home position sensor 110 Motor home position 111 Motor start position 112 Motor stop position 113 Platen 114 Paper width sensor 301 Control unit 306 Sensor circuit 310 CPU

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus in which a recording head is mounted on a carriage and the carriage is scanned to record on a recording medium, the recording device comprising: a conveyance means for conveying and driving the carriage;
a detection means provided on the carriage and configured to move together with the carriage to detect the recording medium; and a detection means configured to detect the recording medium by the detection means when the carriage is driven to move the carriage outside the recording medium by the conveyance means. 1. A recording apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines that there is an abnormality in conveyance of the carriage when the carriage is detected. 2. A recording apparatus in which a recording head is mounted on a carriage and the carriage is scanned to record on a recording medium, the recording device comprising: a conveyance means for conveying and driving the carriage;
a detection means for detecting that the carriage has reached a predetermined position; a recording means for recording on the recording medium by the conveyance means so that the carriage does not pass the predetermined position; A recording apparatus comprising: determination means for determining abnormality in conveyance of the carriage based on a detection signal from the detection means. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing head ejects ink droplets by driving an energy generating element according to printing data. 4. The energy generating element generates thermal energy, and the thermal energy causes a state change in the ink to cause the ink droplet to be ejected from the ejection port. Recording device as described.