JPH04355158A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a color mixture by separating received printing data by respective color components and moving paper to a printing start position in arbitrary timing at every color to perform printing by one page at every color. CONSTITUTION:When printing data is transmitted to an ink jet recording apparatus 1 from a data transmitting apparatus 2 through an interface cable 9, the data is supplied to a respective color component data separating processing part 6 through the data receiving part 5 of a controller part 3 and the printing data is separated by respective color components in the processing part 6. The printing start position of paper is determined and stored by a printing start position recording/detecting part 7 and the paper is printed by one page at every color component. In this case, the printing start position is detected by the printing start position recording/detecting part 7 and the paper is fed back to the printing start position from the present position by a back-feed processing part 8 and this procedure is repeated with respect to all of colors to perform printing.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention has a recording head equipped with a plurality of ejection ports and a receiving means for receiving print data, and the plurality of recording heads are arranged in accordance with the print data received by the receiving means. yellow, magenta, cyan,
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that performs color printing (also referred to as printing or recording) by ejecting multicolored ink such as black.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an inkjet recording device that performs color printing, there is a method for preventing color mixing when different colors are adjacent to each other due to the effects of ink characteristics, ink permeability of paper (recording medium), bleeding rate, etc. , The following techniques (a), (b), and (c) are known.

(a) A method in which the amount of ink ejected per time is reduced to prevent contact with adjacent unfixed dots, and print data is thinned out for each color component to perform printing in multiple times.

(b) Printing of a different color is started after sufficient time has elapsed for the ink to fix on the paper.

(c) Special paper (for example coated paper, etc.) that takes into account ink permeability and bleeding rate is used.

[0006]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when performing color printing on plain paper, the ink fixation time is required longer than on special paper in (c), so (b) and (
Even with the technique (b), color mixing could not be completely prevented. In addition, in these techniques, one line must be printed in multiple prints, which takes time and reduces the printing processing speed, which in turn causes a reduction in the overall throughput. Furthermore, if the amount of ink ejected is reduced in order to prevent color mixing as much as possible, the overall density of the printed image will be lowered, and the image quality will be degraded without being able to achieve the same vividness as with special paper. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can prevent color mixing in color printing without reducing print processing speed.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a recording head equipped with a plurality of ejection ports and a receiving means for receiving print data, and the present invention has a recording head having a plurality of ejection ports, and a receiving means for receiving print data. In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs color printing by ejecting multicolor ink from a plurality of ejection ports of the recording head according to print data, a separating means for separating the print data received by the receiving means into each color component; a determining means for determining a print start position on a recording medium; a detecting means for detecting the print start position determined by the determining means; and backfeeding the recording medium to the print start position detected by the detecting means at an arbitrary timing. and a backfeed means for printing one page by ejecting ink of a predetermined color from the ejection opening of the recording head according to the print data separated into each color component by the separating means, and printing detected by the detecting means. Printing means for printing one page in the same manner by ejecting ink of the next color from the ejection opening of the recording head after the backfeeding means backfeeds the recording medium to the starting position, and repeating this for all colors to print. It is characterized by comprising:

[0008]

[Operation] With the above configuration, one page of a predetermined color is printed using print data separated for each color component, and after backfeeding to the printing start position (Top of Form), one page of the next color is printed in the same way. By repeating this for all colors, it is possible to secure the printing time interval between colors that is required as the ink fixation time without reducing the printing processing speed, and color mixing is prevented. Since there is no need to reduce the amount of ink ejected, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality such as the tint becoming lighter.

[0009]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a controller section 3 and an engine section 4. The engine section 4 injects multicolor ink into the ejection ports 28 of the recording head 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), which will be described later, according to the print data separated into each color component by the color component data separation processing section 6, which will be described later. This is a printing means that performs printing by ejecting from the printer (see FIG. 3).

The data transfer device 2 consists of a host computer (not shown), etc., and the inkjet recording device 1
This is for sending print data to. The controller section 3 includes a data receiving section 5 which is a receiving means for receiving print data from the data transfer device 2;
a color component data separation processing unit 6, which is a separation means for separating the received print data into each color component; and a determination unit 6 for recording, detecting, and determining the print start position of the fed recording medium (paper). Consists of a print start position recording/detection section 7 which is a means and detection means, and a backfeed processing section 8 which is a backfeed means for backfeeding to the print start position detected by the print start position recording/detection section 7. has been done. Print start position recording/detection unit 7
is equipped with a RAM (not shown) for recording the print start position. The inkjet recording device 1 and the data transfer device 2 are physically connected by an interface cable 9.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the main structure of the engine section 4 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment, and FIG.
1 is a schematic perspective view showing the main structure of a recording head 10 provided in this inkjet recording apparatus 1. FIG.

The inkjet recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment has the following features:
It is capable of multicolor printing using a fully multi-type recording head 10, and four recording heads 10 corresponding to each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink are installed at once, and the transport described later is It is provided so as to face the belt 13. Each recording head 1
0, a large number of ejection ports 28 (Fig. 3
) are arranged in a row.

An endless conveyor belt 13 that attracts and conveys paper (recording medium) (not shown) by electrostatic force is attached rotatably in the direction of arrow A and the opposite direction by two rollers 16 and 18. ing. On the supply side on the right side of the figure, a supply roller 16 is grounded, and the roller 1
6, a charging roller 15 presses against the conveyor belt 13
is provided. The charging roller 15 is connected to the conveyor belt 13
It is made of a conductive material, and its negative electrode is connected to the positive electrode of the grounded high-voltage power supply 19 to apply a positive voltage.

The recording medium is sucked in from the outside by a pair of registration rollers 14, placed on the conveyor belt 13, conveyed in the direction of arrow A, printed by ink ejection from each recording head 10, and discharged onto the stocker 17. It is now possible to do so.

Next, the recording head 10 will be explained in more detail.

The recording head 10 includes a substrate 21 made of silicon or the like, a plurality of electrothermal transducers 22 built in for each of the above-mentioned ejection ports 28, and a controller section 3 (see FIG. 1) for each electrothermal transducer 22. ), a plurality of nozzle walls 29 that isolate the electrothermal transducers 22 from each other, and a top plate 24 provided to face the substrate 21 with the nozzle walls 29 interposed therebetween. have. In this recording head 10, the controller section 3 supplies electricity to the electrothermal transducer 22 via the wiring electrode 23, and heats the ink on the electrothermal transducer 22, using the energy of bubbles to generate ink droplets. Discharged from the discharge port 28,
It is something that makes you fly. The ink is supplied from an ink tank (not shown) to the common liquid chamber 27 via the supply pipe 25 and the connector 26, and is transferred to the nozzle (substrate 21,
The electrothermal converter 22 is supplied to the electrothermal converter 22 in each space surrounded by the nozzle wall 29 and the top plate 24.

Next, a control algorithm for separating print data for each color component and performing printing for each color component in this embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the data receiving section 5 receives print data to be printed from the data transfer device 2. The print data received by the data receiving section 5 is processed in step S
2, the color component data separation processing unit 6 separates the data by color component,
Proceeding to step S3, paper is fed. Next, in step S4, the print start position recording/detection section 7 determines the print start position of the fed paper and records this position in the RAM or the like.

[0020] Once the above preparations for printing have been completed,
Proceeding to step S5, the engine unit 4 records print data on the paper for each color component of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan. In this embodiment, only one color among black, yellow, magenta, and cyan is printed in one process, and this is repeated four times. You can process it in one process and divide it into two processes in total, or
Colors may be processed in one process and then divided into two processes in total.

[0021] When printing of one page of one color component is completed, the engine unit 4 determines whether printing of all color components has been completed in step S6, and the printing of all color components has been completed. If so, the process advances to step S9, where the paper is ejected and the process ends. If the printing for any of the color components has not been completed, the process advances to step S7, where the print start position recording/detection unit 7 detects the print start position printed at step S4, and the backfeed processing unit 8 detects the print start position printed at step S4. Backfeed is performed from the current paper position to the printing start position, and the process returns to step S5, where the engine section 5 performs the same process as above for the next color component to be printed.

As described above, if the predetermined color is black, for example, one page of only black is printed using the print data separated for each color component, and the printing start position (Top
By backfeeding the next color to 1 page in the same way, and repeating this for all colors, you can adjust the required ink fixing time without reducing the print processing speed. Since printing time intervals can be secured, color mixing is prevented.
Furthermore, since there is no need to reduce the amount of ink ejected, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality such as the tint becoming lighter.

The present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type of inkjet recording method proposed by Canon Inc. that uses thermal energy to eject ink.

For its typical configuration and principle, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129;
Preferably, this is done using the basic principles disclosed in US Pat. No. 740,796. This method can be applied to both so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but in particular, in the case of on-demand type, liquid (
At least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling is applied to an electrothermal transducer disposed corresponding to a sheet holding ink (ink) or a liquid path. This is effective because it generates thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer and causes film boiling on the heat-active surface of the recording head, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. be. Due to the growth and contraction of these bubbles, liquid (ink) flows through the ejection opening.
to form at least one drop. 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, so that ejection of liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. No. 4,463,359 and US Pat. No. 4,345,262 are suitable. Furthermore, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the invention regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

[0025] In addition to the configuration of the recording head that combines ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The present invention also includes configurations using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting part is arranged in a bending region. It is. In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a discharge opening that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1985 which discloses a configuration corresponding to the section.

Furthermore, a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus can be produced by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the length or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

In addition, 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 a cartridge type recording head is used.

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

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is explained as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and is softened or liquid at room temperature, or in the above-mentioned inkjet, the ink itself is Generally, the temperature is adjusted within the range of ℃ to 70℃ to keep the viscosity of the ink within the stable ejection range, so if the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied, good. In addition, the temperature increase due to thermal energy is actively prevented by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or
In order to prevent ink evaporation, ink that solidifies when left unused is used, and in any case, the ink is liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal and is ejected as liquid ink or reaches the recording medium. It is also applicable to the present invention to use inks that are liquefied only by thermal energy, such as those that already begin to solidify at this point. In such a case, the ink is JP-A-54-56
847 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, a form in which the porous sheet is held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes and faces the electrothermal converter. You can also use it as In the present invention, the most effective inks for each of the above-mentioned inks are:
This implements the film boiling method described above.

[0030]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, one page of a predetermined color is printed using print data separated by color component, and once printing for one page is completed, the print data can be moved up to the printing start position. Backfeed and print the next color in the same way,
By repeating this for all colors, it is possible to secure the printing time interval between colors that is required as the ink fixation time without reducing the printing processing speed, thereby preventing color mixing between different inks. It has the effect of being

[0031] Furthermore, since there is no need to reduce the amount of ink ejected, there is an effect of preventing deterioration of image quality such as the tint becoming lighter.

From the above effects, the present invention is particularly effective when performing color printing on plain paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the main structure of the engine section 4 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the main structure of the recording head 10 provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control algorithm in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Inkjet recording device 2 Data transfer device 3 Controller section 4 Engine part 5 Data receiving section 6 Data separation processing unit by color component 7 Printing start position recording/detection section 8 Backfeed processing section 9 Interface cable

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: A recording head equipped with a plurality of ejection ports;
An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a receiving means for receiving print data, and performing color printing by ejecting multicolored ink from a plurality of ejection ports of the recording head according to the print data received by the receiving means, Separating means for separating the print data received by the receiving means into each color component; and determining means for determining a printing start position on the recording medium;
a detection means for detecting the print start position determined by the determination means; a backfeed means for backfeeding the recording medium to the print start position detected by the detection means at an arbitrary timing; According to separately separated print data, ink of a predetermined color is ejected from the ejection opening of the recording head to print one page, and the backfeed means backs up the recording medium to the print start position detected by the detection means. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a printing means for ejecting ink of the next color from the ejection opening of the recording head after feeding and printing one page in the same manner, and repeating this for all colors. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a full-line type in which a plurality of nozzles are formed over the entire width of a maximum recording sheet. 3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy used to eject ink.