JPH05116290A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording apparatus capable of sufficiently and safely obtaining an initial temp. rise by easy control after a power supply is turned ON. CONSTITUTION:In a recording apparatus recording an image on a recording medium by heating, the circumferential temp. of a recording head 9a equipped with a heating element is detected by a tap. sensor 124 and the recording head is driven corresponding to an image signal by an emission heater 112 to generate heat to record an image. The driving data of a heat insulating heater 128 is stored corresponding to the circumferential temp. detected by the temp. sensor 124 and, during the predetermined time required until recording is started after the power supply of the apparatus is closed, the applied energy to the heat insulating heater 128 is adjusted corresponding to the drive data to perform pulse driving.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device, and more particularly to a recording device for recording an image on a recording medium by heating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent ink jet type recording apparatus,
In particular, manufacturing of the recording head has come to be carried out by a film forming technique or a microfabrication technique in a semiconductor device, and the recording device itself is being provided as a small-sized and inexpensive device. Further, in the manufacturing process of the recording head as described above, an ink jet electrothermal conversion element (heater) formed of a heating resistor, a transistor or a diode constituting a switching circuit for driving the heater, and the like,
Furthermore, it is possible to form the wiring between these elements on one silicon chip.

From the above technical background, there is provided a recording apparatus which controls the temperature of the recording head by forming a heat retaining heater on the same chip in addition to the ink ejecting heater.

On the other hand, since a small-sized ink jet recording head is being provided at a low price, a recording apparatus using a disposable recording head integrated with an ink tank is gradually being realized. A compact and inexpensive recording device that is used as a recording unit in, for example, a word processor, an electronic typewriter, a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like is being provided. It is a great advantage that such a recording apparatus, an apparatus using the recording apparatus as a recording unit, or the like can be provided with a small size or a simple structure and at a low price. From this point of view, it is desired that the structure for controlling the temperature of the recording head using the heater for heating and keeping heat is small and simple, and also inexpensive.

The following is conceivable as a configuration using the heater for heating and keeping heat. (1) A temperature detecting section is provided in the recording head, and this is used together with a heater for heating and heat retention, and a voltage is continuously applied to this heater to control the temperature of the recording head in a closed loop. (2) The temperature detection unit is located outside the recording head, and this is used together with a heater for heating and heat retention, and voltage is continuously applied to this heater for open loop control. (3) A temperature detection unit is located outside the recording head, and this is used together with a heater for heating and heat retention, and a pulsed voltage is applied to this heater to control the temperature of the recording head in an open loop.

In each of the above configurations, in the configuration (1), the driving system of the heater is complicated and expensive, and the temperature detecting unit directly measures the temperature of the recording head to detect a minute temperature change. A relatively high accuracy is required due to the use such as must. Further, the configuration (2) has a problem that the drive system of the heater is complicated and expensive similarly to the configuration (1).

On the other hand, the structure shown in (3) above has the advantages that the heater driving circuit is relatively simple and easy to control, and the heater for heating and heat insulation performed with this structure has the advantage. The following can be considered as a control example of drive (hereinafter referred to as subheat). Initial heating after power-on (initial heating) Preheating started by recording start command after waiting time (preheating) Line heating performed at each line recording Within waiting time after recording , A heating process (interval heat) performed during a predetermined time after the end of recording, and further, by heating the heat drive circuit periodically when the predetermined time is exceeded within the waiting time. By performing such heat control for heating and heat retention, in addition to the preheating of the recording head immediately before the recording process, by heating the recording head when the recording standby time exceeds a predetermined time, The temperature can be kept constant.

[0008]

As described above, it is conceivable to increase the temperature of the recording head by performing initial heating or preheating on the ink ejection portion of the recording head in a low temperature state when the power of the apparatus is turned on. .. However, in such initial heating and preheating, since one pulse is applied to heat the recording head, in order to apply sufficient heat to the recording head with this pulse,
A long pulse width signal must be applied. When a signal with such a long pulse width is applied, the temperature in the vicinity of the heating / warming heater part becomes extremely high locally, and an excessive thermal stress due to a large thermal gradient is applied to the heating element chip. Further, since such an initial heat is a sequence executed immediately after the power of the device is turned on, if a pulse for a long time is always applied for the initial heat, for example, the user intentionally turns on / off the power. When repeated, the temperature of the recording head rises abnormally, and when the temperature exceeds the limit temperature, the recording head may be damaged.

In order to avoid this problem, it is possible to lower the applied energy applied to the recording head during the initial heating and the preheating so that the recording head is not destroyed even if the above-mentioned operation is performed. However, there is a disadvantage that the temperature increase in the vicinity of the ejection portion of the recording head cannot be sufficiently obtained, which is the original purpose of the initial heating.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of sufficiently and safely obtaining an initial temperature rise after power-on with simple control.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, including a heating element for controlling the temperature of a recording head, a driving unit for driving the heating element to generate heat, and after powering on the apparatus and before starting recording. And controlling means for controlling the driving means so as to heat the heating element by reducing energy applied to the heating element when a predetermined condition is satisfied after that, by applying energy to the heating element. ..

[0012]

In the above configuration, after the power of the device is turned on,
Energy is applied to the heating element to generate heat before recording is started, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied thereafter, the applied energy is reduced to heat the heating element.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation of this embodiment will be briefly described. This embodiment has two types of duty heat control during sub heat. One is sub heat in the waiting time after recording,
Duty heat (hereinafter referred to as "L.H.L.") for applying energy low enough to maintain the temperature rise so that the temperature rise due to the heat storage of the ink discharge heater itself during recording does not decrease.
Duty heat). On the other hand, the duty heat (hereinafter, referred to as a duty heat that applies high energy so that the temperature of the ink ejection portion of the recording head in a low temperature state can be quickly raised, such as after power is turned on or before recording is started. H. Duty heat).

In such a duty heat, since a pulse signal is applied to the heating / heat retaining heater to drive the heater intermittently,
H. Even if high energy is applied in the duty heat, the temperature of the heater gradually rises, so that the thermal stress in the heating element becomes small. As a result, even if the power is turned on / off abnormally repeatedly as described above, high energy is not applied to the recording head, so that the above problems can be solved.

Such H.264 Since high energy is applied in the duty heat, the temperature of the recording head rises excessively when it is executed for a long time. Therefore, in order to prevent this, a limit value is set to the number of times of pulse driving, and when the number of times exceeds the limit value, the L.S. It was made to shift to duty heat. In addition, even after the recording is performed even once, the H.H. When the duty heating is executed, the temperature of the print head excessively rises. Therefore, in such a case, L.S. It was configured to shift to duty heat.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1A and 1B are external perspective views of an electronic typewriter which is an embodiment of an apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 1A shows a state when the electronic typewriter is used. FIG. 1B shows a state in which the keyboard portion 1 is folded and accommodated.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a keyboard unit,
Character input keys such as letters and numbers, and a key group 2 such as control keys and function keys are arranged. When not in use, the keyboard portion 1 can be folded as shown in FIG. 1B by rotating the hinge portion 3 around the hinge 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed tray for feeding a sheet-shaped recording medium (recording paper or the like) to the printer unit inside the apparatus. Similarly, when not in use, the tray is folded so as to cover the printer unit as shown in FIG. Will be stored. Reference numeral 5 is a feed knob for manually setting or ejecting a recording medium, 6 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying an input document, etc.
Is a handle used when the electronic typewriter of this embodiment is conveyed.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the printer section of the electronic printer of this embodiment. In FIG. 2, 9 is a head cartridge having an ink jet recording head described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, 11 is a carriage,
The head cartridge 9 is mounted and scanning is performed in the S direction in the figure. 13 is the head cartridge 9 and the carriage 1
Reference numeral 15 is a hook for attaching to 1, and 15 is an operating lever for operating the hook 13. Reference numeral 19 is a support plate that supports an electrical connection portion for the head cartridge 9. Reference numeral 21 is a flexible cable for connecting the electric connection portion and the main body control portion.

Reference numeral 23 is a guide shaft for guiding the carriage 11 in the S direction, and is inserted into a bearing 25 of the carriage 11. Reference numeral 27 is a timing belt to which the carriage 11 is fixed and which transmits power for moving the carriage 11 in the S direction, and pulleys 29 arranged on both sides of the apparatus.
It is stretched over A and 29B. Here, one pulley 2
A driving force is transmitted from the carriage motor 31 to 9B via a transmission mechanism such as a gear.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a conveyance roller for regulating the recording surface of a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper) and for conveying this at the time of recording or the like, which is rotationally driven by a conveyance motor 35. 37 is a paper feed tray 4 for recording media
A paper pan for guiding the recording medium from the side, 39 is a feed roller, which is arranged in the feeding path of the recording medium and presses the recording medium toward the conveying roller 33 to convey the recording medium. Reference numeral 34 denotes a platen, which faces the ejection port forming surface of the head cartridge 9 and regulates the recording surface of the recording medium. Reference numeral 41 denotes a paper discharge roller that is arranged on the downstream side of the recording position in the recording medium conveyance direction and discharges the recording medium toward a paper discharge port (not shown). 42 is the discharge roller 4
1 is a spur provided corresponding to No. 1 and pushes the roller 41 through the recording medium to generate the conveying force of the recording medium by the paper discharge roller 41. Reference numeral 43 denotes a release lever for releasing the urging force of the feed roller 39, the pressing plate 45, and the spur 42 when the recording medium is set.

Reference numeral 45 is a holding plate for suppressing the floating of the recording medium in the vicinity of the recording position and for ensuring a close contact with the conveying roller 33. In this example, an inkjet recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink is used as the recording head. Therefore, the distance between the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording medium is relatively small, and the distance must be strictly controlled to avoid contact between the recording medium and the ejection port forming surface. Therefore, it is effective to dispose the pressing plate 45. Reference numeral 47 is a scale provided on the pressing plate 45, and 49 is a marker provided on the carriage 11 in correspondence with the scale. The recording position and the set position of the recording head can also be read by these markers.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a cap made of an elastic material such as rubber which faces the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head at the home position, and is supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording head. The cap 51 is used for protection of the print head during non-printing, and for ejection recovery processing of the print head. The ejection recovery process is to eject the ink from all the ejection ports by driving the energy generating element provided inside the ink ejection port and used for ejecting the ink, whereby bubbles, dust, and further viscosity increase. And a process for removing the cause of ejection failure such as ink that is no longer suitable for recording (preliminary ejection), or a process for removing the cause of ejection failure by forcibly ejecting ink from the ejection port separately from this. ..

Reference numeral 53 denotes a pump that acts as a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink and also for sucking the ink received by the cap 51 during the discharge recovery process by the forced discharge and the discharge recovery process by the preliminary discharge. is there. 55 is a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by the pump 53, and 57 is a pump 53.
And a waste ink tank 55. 5
Reference numeral 9 denotes a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head. The blade 9 has a position for protruding to the recording head side for wiping in the course of head movement and a retracted position for not engaging with the ejection port forming surface. It is movably supported.
Reference numeral 61 is a motor (SM), and 63 is a cam device for receiving power transmitted from the motor 61 to drive the pump 53 and move the cap 51 and the blade 59, respectively.

Next, details of the above-described head cartridge 9 will be described.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the head cartridge 9 in which the ejection unit 9a and the ink tank 9b, which form the main body of the ink jet recording head, are integrally viewed from obliquely below.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 906e is a pawl which is hooked by a hook 13 provided on the carriage 11 when the head cartridge 9 is mounted. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the pawl 906e is arranged inside the entire extension of the recording head. In addition, a positioning abutting portion (not shown in the figure) is provided near the front ejection unit 9a of the head cartridge 9. Reference numeral 906f is a head opening into which a flexible board (electrical connection portion) provided upright on the carriage 11 and a support plate for supporting the rubber pad are inserted.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are exploded perspective views of the head cartridge 9 shown in FIG. 3, and are of a disposable type in which the ink containing portion 9b serving as the ink supply source is integrated as described above. is there.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 911 designates a number of electrothermal conversion elements (ejection heaters) corresponding to the number of ejection ports on the Si substrate, and a heater for heating and heat insulation, which is also composed of electrothermal conversion elements. Further, it is a heater board in which Au wires and the like for supplying electric power to these are formed by a film forming technique. 9
Reference numeral 21 is a wiring board for the heater board 911, and the corresponding wiring is connected by, for example, wire bonding. A top plate 940 is provided with a partition wall for limiting the ink flow path, a common liquid chamber, and the like, and is made of a resin material integrally having an orifice plate portion in this example.

Reference numeral 930 is, for example, a metal support, and 950 is a presser spring. The heater board 911 and the top plate 940 are sandwiched between the two, and the two are engaged with each other. Board 91
0 and the top plate 940 are fixed by pressure. Note that the support 930
The wiring board 921 may be provided by pasting or the like, and may have a positioning reference for the carriage 11 that scans the recording head. The support 930 also functions as a member that dissipates and cools the heat of the heater board 911 generated by driving.

Reference numeral 960 denotes a supply tank, which functions as a sub-tank that receives ink from the ink storage portion 9b serving as an ink supply source and guides the ink to a common liquid chamber formed by joining the heater board 911 and the top plate 940. .. 97
0 is a supply tank 960 near the ink supply port to the common liquid chamber
A filter disposed in the inner part, 980 is a supply tank 9
It is a cover member of 60.

Reference numeral 900 denotes an absorber for impregnating ink, which is arranged in the ink tank body 9b. 120
0 is a discharge unit 9a including the above-mentioned parts 911 to 980
Is a supply port for supplying ink to the absorber 900, and ink is impregnated into the absorber 900 by injecting ink from the supply port 1200 in the process before the unit is arranged in the portion 1010 of the ink tank body 9b. Can be made.

Reference numeral 1100 denotes a lid member for the cartridge body, 1
Reference numeral 400 is an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. Reference numeral 1400A denotes a liquid repellent material arranged inside the atmosphere communication port 1400, which prevents ink leakage from the atmosphere communication port 1400.

Ink tank 9b through the supply port 1200
When the ink filling into the ink is completed, the ejection unit 9a including the respective portions 911 to 980 is positioned and arranged in the portion 1010. The positioning or fixing at this time can be performed, for example, by fitting the projection 1012 provided in the ink tank body 9b and the hole 931 provided correspondingly in the support body 930, and as a result, as shown in FIG. The head cartridge 9 shown in B) is completed. Then, ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge 9 into the supply tank 960 through the supply port 1200, the hole 932 provided in the support 930, and the introduction port provided on the back surface side of the supply tank 960 in FIG. 4A. After passing through the inside, it flows into the common liquid chamber from the outlet through the appropriate supply pipe and the ink inlet 942 of the top plate 940. A packing made of, for example, silicone rubber or butyl rubber is provided in the connection portion for ink communication described above, and sealing is performed by this to secure an ink supply path.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the electronic typewriter according to this embodiment.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a microprocessor type CPU which forms a main control unit of the apparatus, and executes required processing based on data and control signals input from the keyboard 1. A ROM 104 stores a program corresponding to a recording control procedure executed by the CPU 100, a character generator (CG), and other fixed data. Reference numeral 106 denotes a RAM, which is a work area used as a register or the like, a line buffer for storing recording data for one line, a key buffer for storing key input data, an FDD buffer for storing read data from a floppy disk, and the like. The recording area according to this embodiment has a development area such as a recording counter and a standby counter for counting the recording standby time.

Reference numeral 108 denotes an interval control circuit, which receives a key input on the keyboard 1 at a predetermined interval, so that an external interrupt signal 505 of the key interval corresponding to the interval time is generated based on the interrupt signal 501 generated from the key timer 1A. Output to the CPU 100. Similarly, the LCD interrupt signal 502 for driving the display of the display (LCD) 6, the second timer interrupt signal 503 from the second timer for driving the carriage motor 31 and the discharge heater, the motor 61, and the carry motor 35. And a first timer interrupt signal 504 from a first timer that manages the driving of the heater heater 128.
Based on the above, the external interrupt signal 505 corresponding to each signal is output. 110 is a liquid crystal display (LC
D) A display controller for displaying data on the display 6 of the form. A general timer 506 is used, for example, to measure the elapsed time from the immediately preceding line recording described later.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a head controller, which has the above-mentioned second timer, and is a head driver 116 (a segment (Seg) driver 116A, a common (Com) for driving the ejection energy generating element group of the ejection unit (recording head) 9a). ) Driver 116B) and carriage motor (CM)
The control signal of the driver 31A is generated. 61A, 35A
And 128A are SM for driving the recovery system motor 61, the conveyance motor 35 and the heat retention heater 128, respectively.
A driver, an FM driver and a sub heat driver.

A recording dot buffer 120 stores, for example, one line of dot data used for recording, which is obtained by processing the data received for recording. 122 is a carriage position sensor that detects that the carriage 11 is at a predetermined position, 126 is a motor position sensor that detects the rotational position of the recovery system motor 61, and 124 is the recording head 9a.
It is a temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature of. Also, 132
Is a floppy disk drive, and 132A is a floppy disk drive controller.

Next, the sub-heat control executed in these systems will be described below.

The sub-heat control of the present embodiment includes (1) initial heating performed when the power is turned on, (2) preheating performed immediately after the power is turned on and immediately before the first recording, and (3) one-line recording. Line heat,
(4) Interval heat is performed in order to keep the temperature of the recording head 9a constant during a short pause between each line of recording, and (5) Interval heat is applied for a predetermined time during standby after the end of recording. Then, the L.O.D. is performed to keep the temperature of the recording head 9a. H.D. which is performed in order to quickly raise the temperature of the recording head 9a during duty heating and when recording is not executed after the power is turned on. There are five types of sub-heat control for duty heat.

A basic flow chart for explaining these sub-heat controls is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

This processing program is started by turning on the power of the electronic typewriter of the embodiment. First, in step S1, counters n and PT (print timer), timers T and PT for measuring elapsed time after driving the motor. Clear the count-up flag etc. to "0". Where n
H. It represents the number of applied pulses of duty heat, and PT represents the elapsed time from the start of the first recording after the power is turned on. That is, the value of PT is a parameter representing the state of heat storage of the ink discharge heater 112 itself,
The larger this value, the larger the heat storage of the recording head 9a. Next, proceeding to step S2, initial heating is executed. In executing this initial heating, a pulse having a predetermined time width and a predetermined voltage is applied in accordance with the sub-heat control data shown in FIG.

The sub-heat data shown in FIG. 8 will be described below.

The ambient temperature of the recording head is detected by the temperature sensor 124 arranged in the main body of the ink jet printer, and the sub-heat rank is set to five levels according to the temperature. That is, rank 0 is 14 ° C or lower, rank 1 is 14 to 16 ° C, rank 2 is 16 to 18 ° C,
Rank 3 is set to 18 to 21 ° C. and rank 4 is set to 21 ° C. or higher. The width of the pulse signal to be applied is set longer so that higher energy is applied as the ambient temperature of the recording head 9a is lower. There is. The voltage applied to the heater 128 for heat retention of the recording head 9a is
In each of the preheat, line heat, and interval heat, the voltage is 18V. This is because the motors and the power source for sub heat drive are shared.
This is because these subheats that are driven at the same time as these motors are driven have pulse times set so that appropriate energy is applied to the recording head when the voltage for driving various motors is 18V.

On the other hand, in the duty heat, 8V
And has a table for 18V. This is because in the ink jet recording section of this electronic typewriter, when a certain time (about 10 seconds in this embodiment) elapses after the driving of all the motors is stopped for the purpose of safety, the entire supply voltage is changed from 18V to 8V. This is because due to the configuration of lowering the value to 1, the opportunity to execute the duty heat can be both 18V or 8V when recording is paused.

When the temperature rank is 4 (21 ° C. or higher), the sub-heat sequence is executed, but the pulse time is actually “0”, and the heat retaining heater 128 is used.
Is not heated.

Next, returning to step S2 in FIG. 6, a signal having a pulse width corresponding to the ambient temperature of the recording head 9a is applied to the one-pulse heat-retaining heater 128 as described above, and the process is terminated.
Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not a recording (printing) command is input. If a print command is input, the process proceeds to step S4, and if not, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S4, if the supply voltage has dropped to 8V, the voltage is raised to 18V and then PT
It is determined whether (print timer value) is "0" and P
If T = 0, it means that the recording has not been performed, and therefore the process proceeds to step S5.
Perform preheat processing.

This preheating process is executed according to the ambient temperature of the recording head 9a based on the preheating data shown in FIG. Here, WT (waiting time), which is one of the factors that determines the applied pulse width during this preheating, will be described. Originally, this preheat gives a high energy value (a value of WT = 4 to 6 seconds in FIG. 8) in order to quickly raise the temperature of the ejection heater 112 immediately before recording, but for example, initial heat is applied. After that, if preheat (WT = 4 to 6 seconds) is applied without a pause, the applied energy becomes excessive. Similarly, after applying a duty heat described later, preheat (WT = 4 to 6) without pause.
Second), the energy applied to the recording head 9a becomes excessive. From this point of view, the time from the end of the application pulse of the initial heat or the duty heat is measured as WT, and the pulse width for preheating is determined by the value of WT at the moment when preheating is started. As a result, low energy is applied when the elapsed time from the immediately preceding application of the pulse signal to the ejection heater 112 is short, and high energy is applied when the elapsed time is long. Here, the maximum WT is 6 seconds because the OFF time of the duty heat described later is 6 seconds, and after 6 seconds, application of the next pulse is started.

In this way, after one pulse of preheating is executed in step S5, the process proceeds to step S6 and the carriage 1
1 is started, the ejection heater 112 is driven, and one line of recording is performed by ejecting ink. When the recording of one line is completed, the paper transport motor 35 is driven to
The recording paper is conveyed according to the recording width. At the same time, the value of T is set to "0". Next, in step S7, the PT count flag for starting the above-described PT count is turned on. Then go to step S8,
Perform interval heat.

This interval heat is, as shown in FIG. 8, the temperature rank and P detected by the temperature sensor 124.
It is determined by the value of T, and as described above, high energy is applied when the heat storage of the ink ejection heater 112 itself is small, and low energy is applied when it is large.

In this interval heat, after the recording is finished, a signal having a pulse width of a maximum of 10 seconds is applied during a pause until the next recording, and then the signal is turned off for 1 second to execute a pulse. repeat. When a recording command is input in the middle of this interval heat processing, the interval processing is interrupted and the next sequence is executed (the state where the operation proceeds to step S3 → S4 → S9 described later). On the other hand, 10
After the execution for a second, if the print resting state continues, the process shifts to the duty heat sequence of step S11 and subsequent steps described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that PT ≠ 0, since the recording has already been performed once after the power is turned on, the preheating is not executed and the process proceeds to step S9 to execute the line heating. This is one pulse immediately before the start of recording, and a pulse having a time width (see FIG. 8) according to the temperature rank and the value of PT as in the interval heat is used for the heater 1
28. Then, in step S10, one line is recorded as in step S6, and the value of T is set to "0".
Set to. And it progresses to step S8 and performs an interval heat. When the recording (printing) command is not input in step S3, the process proceeds to step S11, it is determined whether PT = 0 and n ≦ 180, and if so, the process proceeds to step S12 and the drive voltage of the discharge heater 112 is changed. Determine if it is 8V. When the voltage is 8 V, the process proceeds to step S13, and H.V. Execute duty heat. This is a state in which recording is not performed even once after the power is turned on, and H. The number of applied pulses of duty heat is 18
It is shown that the state is less than 0 ″, that is, the application of high energy is required, and that it is a safe state even if high energy is applied to the heat retention heater 128.

Here, the upper limit value of n is set to "180" because it is an experimental value like the time of the other subheat control data shown in FIG. 8, and is set at a place where the temperature does not rise excessively. I am doing it. Thus, only when V = 8V,
H. It is designed to execute duty heat,
As described above, the drive voltage of the entire ink jet recording unit is switched to 8V during the non-recording period. Since most of the duty heat execution states are the same 8V state during rest, the duty heat execution state is limited to 8V for the purpose of simplifying the control.

The duty heat is repeated until the next recording is started by heating for a time shown in FIG. 8 with a pulse width according to the temperature rank, turning off for 6 seconds and executing pulse heat again. Is becoming In this step S13, H.264. After applying the duty heat pulse, WT
Is cleared to "0", the value of n is incremented by 1 in step S14, and the cumulative number of applied pulses is integrated. Here, H. As described above, the limitation on the execution of the duty heat is due to the H.264 standard. Since high energy is applied during the duty heating, the temperature of the ejection heater 112 excessively rises when it is executed for a long time, which may lead to the destruction of the recording head 9a. Also,
As a means for detecting this limit, another timer may be used to measure the time to detect the limit.

On the other hand, step S11 or step S1
If the condition is not satisfied in 3, the high energy may be unnecessary or may cause an excessive rise in temperature. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S16, and L.P. Execute duty heat. Here, the current voltage value (18V / 8V) is determined, and the application time is determined from the data table shown in FIG. 8 according to the voltage value. still,
L. for 8V and 18V. The duty heat is set to apply the same level of energy.

Incidentally, these steps S13 and S
Wait time timer W after execution of 16 duty heat processing
The value of T is set to "0".

After executing the processing of step S14 or step S16, the process proceeds to step S15, and it is determined whether or not there is a next key input from the keyboard unit 1. When there is no key input or when there is no recording command, the above-mentioned is executed. In step S11, the duty heat routine (1 pulse is turned on and 6
Off for a second). On the other hand, if there is a key input in step S15 and the command is a recording command, the process proceeds from step S3 to S4 to execute the recording process described above.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the interrupt processing which is generated by the timer at every predetermined time. By this processing, the values of the print timer PT, the wait timer (WT) and the timer T for measuring the elapsed time after the motor is stopped are updated. To be done.

When an interrupt occurs, the process first proceeds to step S21, and it is checked whether or not the PT count-up flag is on. If it is on, the process proceeds to step S22, where the PT value is +
1 Next, in step S23, the value of WT is incremented by 1, and in step S24, the timer T that measures the elapsed time after the motor is stopped is incremented by 1. Next, the process proceeds to step S25, and it is checked whether or not the value of the timer T has reached 10 seconds. When the value reaches 10 seconds, the process proceeds to step S26 and the power supply controller 130 lowers the supply voltage from 18V to 8V.

Next, FIG. 9 shows the timing of energization of the recording head 9a (ejection heater 112), which is executed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

When the power is turned on at timing T1 in FIG. 9, one pulse is applied at timing T2 to execute initial heating (step S2 in FIG. 6). After that, when the recording process is not to be performed (step S11 in FIG. 6)
Hereafter), and in this case H.264 at timing T3. Duty heat is executed. This H. In the duty heat, there is an off time of 6 seconds between each one pulse heat and the next pulse heat, and this routine is repeated until the print command comes.

When a recording command is input in step S3 of FIG. 6, preheat is executed at timing T4 (step S5 of FIG. 6), and then one line is recorded at timing T5 (step S6). When recording of one line is completed in this way, interval heat is executed at timing T6 (step S8).

When the interval heat shown at the timing T6 is being executed, the paper transport motor 35 is rotationally driven to drive the paper feed between one line recording and the next one line recording ( (Not shown).

Next, when print commands are continuously input, line heat is executed at timing T7 (step S9), and the next one line is recorded at timing T8 (step S10). Then, at the timing T9, there is no next recording, and the interval heat is executed for 10 seconds. In this interval heat, there is an off time of 1 second between one pulse heat and the next pulse heat, and this routine is repeated. afterwards,
Further, when the recording command is not input, the L.D. Duty heat is repeated (step S
16). This shows the case where the process proceeds from step S3 to step S11 to step S16 in the flowchart of FIG. Similar to the duty heat, an off time of 6 seconds is provided between one pulse heat and the next pulse heat, and this routine is repeatedly executed.

It should be noted that in the above embodiment, the H.264 standard is used. The execution of the duty heat control is limited to V = 8V. However, L. Similar to duty heat, V = 1
Create a heat data table as shown in Fig. 8 that sets the same level energy value so that it can be executed even at 8V,
Even when the V = 18V state, the H.V. It can be configured to perform duty heating.

Further, in the embodiment, H.264. Although only one value is set as the limit value of the number of executions of the duty heat control, since the heating time of one pulse differs depending on the temperature rank detected by the temperature sensor 124,
If the limit value is executed the same number of times, H.264 will be generated according to the temperature rank.
A slight difference will occur in the execution time of the duty heat. In order to eliminate this difference, the limit value of the number of times is set differently according to the temperature rank, and the H.264 standard is set. It is possible to configure the execution time of the duty heat to be constant regardless of the temperature rank.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to this embodiment, high energy can be gradually applied to the recording head immediately after the power is turned on to perform preheating, so that the temperature can be raised safely and effectively. Obtainable. Further, it is possible to inexpensively supply an ink jet recording apparatus that has good ink ejection characteristics even in a low temperature state.

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in an ink jet type recording head and a recording apparatus for recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems. Regarding its typical configuration and principle, see, for example, US Pat. No. 47231.
What is carried out using the basic principle disclosed in the specification No. 29 and the specification No. 4740796 is preferable. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). A thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal converter by applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, to thereby generate a recording head. This is effective because film boiling is caused on the heat-acting surface and the bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. Liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is pulse formation, the growth and contraction of the bubbles are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having an excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

Suitable pulse-shaped drive signals are those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed. As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, the heat acting portion Alternatively, a configuration using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 or US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which the element is arranged in a bending region, may be used.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. It is also possible to adopt a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which the openings correspond to the ejection portions. Furthermore, as 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, the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. It may be configured either as a single recording head integrally formed.

In addition, by being mounted on the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.
Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing. In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or the above inkjet method. Since the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, the ink becomes liquid when a use recording signal is applied. Anything will do.

In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in a standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, whether ink is used, the ink is liquefied by application of thermal energy according to the recording signal and is ejected as a liquid ink, or the one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The use of an ink having a property of being liquefied only by heat energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5684.
No. 7 or JP-A No. 60-71260, a mode in which it faces the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or solid in the recess or through hole of the porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method. In addition,
As a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, other than those provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor or a computer as described above,
It may be in the form of a copying machine combined with a reader or the like, or a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the recording apparatus which can safely and sufficiently obtain the initial temperature rise after the power is turned on.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic typewriter according to an embodiment of the present invention during use and storage.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of a printer housed in the electronic typewriter shown in FIG.

3 is an external perspective view of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 2 as seen from diagonally below.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 3 and an external view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the electronic typewriter of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control process in the electronic typewriter of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing in the electronic typewriter according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a subheat control data table in the electronic typewriter of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing an execution example of sub-heat in the electronic typewriter of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Keyboard 6 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 9 Head Cartridge 9a Recording Head 11 Carriage 31 Carriage Motor 35 Paper Conveying Motor 100 CPU 104 ROM 106 RAM 108 Interval Control Circuit 110 Liquid Crystal Display 112 Discharge Heater 124 Temperature Sensor 128 Heat insulation heater 130 Power control

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: a heating element for controlling the temperature of a recording head; drive means for driving the heating element to generate heat; Control means for controlling the driving means so as to heat the heat generating element by applying energy to the heat generating element before it is heated, and then when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the energy applied to the heat generating element is reduced to heat the heat generating element. And a recording device comprising: 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit drives the heating element in a pulsed manner. 3. The control means comprises counting means for counting the number of times of pulse driving, and reduces the applied energy during the pulse driving when the number of times exceeds a predetermined value. 2. The recording device according to item 2. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means reduces the energy applied to the heating element after the start of recording. 5. A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the recording head is provided, and the control means drives the driving means in accordance with temperature information detected by the temperature detecting means. The recording apparatus according to 1. 6. The storage device stores a driving condition for driving the heating element according to the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting device, and the control device has the driving condition based on the driving condition. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording apparatus is driven. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink. 8. The recording head is a recording head that ejects ink by using thermal energy, and is an inkjet recording head that includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 7
The recording device described. 9. The recording head according to claim 8, wherein the thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter causes a state change in the ink, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port based on the state change. Recording device.