JPH0624009A - Ink jet color recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a monochrome gray scale image and a superior color image of two colors or more by recording with ink colors of high dot density of recording color information or of high brightness in the first recording process or in a plurality of recording processes. CONSTITUTION:In the first printing process, an auto-jet feeder 6005 and a pickup roller 6001 are provided. A neelde roller 6002 is set in parallel and brought into contact with a platen roller 5000, by which the carrying force for carrying a recording medium in the carrying direction is generated. The carrying force for delivering a paper is generated by a delivery spur gear 6003 between the same and a delivery roller 6004. The recording medium is reset on the auto-sheet feeder 6005 after printing is completed and the paper is delivered, and IJC is replaced by another one, and ink (A) for printing the first printing record adheres to the recording medium. Again, IJC is replaced, and then the printing record of the set recording medium is carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an epoch-making invention in which an ink jet color recording method using a single color ink jet recording and a single color ink jet recording apparatus can be used as a color recording apparatus. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to an apparatus that records ink of a colored liquid (hereinafter, simply referred to as ink) on a recording medium such as paper, cloth, and transparency film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Although a method of recording a liquid ink by adhering it to a recording medium for forming a color image is known before electrophotographic color recording, there are few products to be used, and the electrophotographic color is available in the market. Recording devices are the mainstream. Generally, a recording medium that supplies a recording medium to a recording apparatus and is ejected from the apparatus on which color images of a plurality of colors are formed is known as a color recording apparatus.

As the ink jet recording apparatus, a monochromatic ink jet recording apparatus capable of monochrome monochromatic recording and a color ink jet recording apparatus performing color recording have been provided in recent years. The former is inexpensive, while the latter is expensive. Therefore, the device also becomes large. In particular, the color inkjet recording device is a special recording medium (special coated paper).
However, even if sufficient recording was possible, there were cases where image quality was relatively deteriorated on a wide variety of recording media such as high-quality paper and transparency films.

On the other hand, there is a tendency for users who use a monochromatic ink jet recording apparatus to require color recording, although the frequency of request is low. As a result, there is a demand for a color ink jet recording apparatus that is small in size and low in cost and can be used more easily by users.

(Background Art) In the present invention, in a monochrome ink jet recording apparatus, there is no room to additionally mount a plurality of recording heads, and as a result, it is impossible to perform color recording of a plurality of colors. By developing common sense based on the concept of reversal, it was made paying attention to the advantages peculiar to inkjet.

That is, in the conventional color ink jet recording apparatus, in the recording area, inks of a plurality of colors are attached to the recording medium in a short time to prevent ink flow and ink bleeding at different color boundaries, and to obtain a high quality image. I am studying whether to form an image, but under the current circumstances, if the specific conditions are not met,
I can't get enough images. That is, when a plurality of colors of ink are attached, not only the ink but also the expansion and contraction of the recording medium and the occurrence of extra color mixture due to the overflow of the ink are observed. On the other hand, like a single-color inkjet recording device, when a recording medium is recorded in a single color and then ejected out of the device, the fixability of the image is relatively stable, and this recorded recording medium is supplied again from the paper feeding device. Then, for sequential recording, at the time of reaching the recording area, the image previously recorded is completely fixed, and the state of the recording medium also returns to the state before performing the ink recording previously recorded. It turned out.
Further, under this condition, when inks of different colors are printed on the image previously printed, the printing position of the preceding image is equal to the position of the preceding image to be printed on the printing medium before printing. The image formed by the ink color of
The image quality was high and the color development was excellent.

This process was the same even when the above process was performed using three types of ink and four types of ink.

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention solves the problems of ink bleeding peculiar to ink jet recording and the expansion and contraction of the recording medium, and uses a monochromatic ink jet recording apparatus to obtain a monochromatic grayscale image or at least two or more excellent colors. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet color recording method capable of forming a colored image.

In order to achieve the above object, a recording method according to the present invention comprises an ink recording means for ejecting ink to record on a recording medium, and a supply for supplying / conveying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means. An inkjet color recording method capable of forming a predetermined image on a recording medium by using an inkjet recording device provided with a conveying means, wherein recording information and the ink recording means are used to form a recording area by a supply / conveying means. A first recording step of performing recording on a supplied / conveyed recording medium and recording of the second to Nth recording steps (N is an integer of 2 or more) on the recording medium in a frame sequential manner by using the ink recording means. The first to Nth recording steps are performed so that recording is performed first from a color having a high dot density of recording color information or from an ink color having a high lightness. Characterized by so is performed.

A mounting portion for mounting and dismounting ink recording means for discharging ink to record on a recording medium,
A predetermined plurality of ink jet recording apparatuses are provided using a supply / conveying means for supplying / conveying a recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means, and an ejecting means for discharging the recording medium passing through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus. An inkjet color recording method capable of forming color images of different colors on the same recording medium by replacing ink recording means for ejecting different colors,
The first recording information for recording the first ink and the first ink recording means for ejecting the first ink mounted on the mounting portion are used to supply / convey to the recording area by the supplying / conveying means. The first ink recording is performed on the recorded recording medium,
A first recording step of ejecting to the outside of the apparatus by the ejecting means,
Second to Nth record information for recording the second to Nth ink (N is an integer of 2 or more) and second to Nth ink ejecting the second to Nth inks mounted on the mounting portion. When the ink recording unit is used, the second to Nth recording medium is supplied to the recording medium by the supplying / conveying unit.
A step of performing ink recording and sequentially performing second to Nth recording steps of discharging the ink to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging means, and performing the first to Nth recording steps with high dot density of recording color information. It is characterized in that the recording is performed first from the color, or the recording is performed from the ink color having high lightness.

[0011]

Embodiments of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 9 are preferred ink jet unit IJU, ink jet head IJH, ink tank IT, ink jet cartridge IJC, ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and carriage HC to which the present invention is applied or applied. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the two. The configuration of each part will be described below with reference to these drawings.

(I) General Description of Apparatus Main Unit FIG. 1 shows an ink jet recording apparatus I applied to the present invention.
It is an example of a general view of JRA. In the figure, the driving force transmission gear 501 is interlocked with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive motor 5013.
Lead screw 500 rotating through 1,5009
The carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of No. 5 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. The carriage HC is equipped with an ink jet cartridge IJC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate that holds the paper in the platen 500 in the carriage moving direction.
Press against 0. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photo couplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the existence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap to perform suction recovery of the recording head via the inside-cap opening 5023. 5017 is a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 019 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form.

Further, FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of a cleaner for cleaning the cleaning blade 5017. The function is to absorb or scrape large ink droplets attached to the cleaning blade 5017 to prevent reattachment to the inkjet head IJH. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink absorber 7000 provided on the carriage 5014 attempts to absorb the ink droplets adhering to the cleaning blade 5017. Although this absorber is provided on the carriage in this drawing, it may be fixed on the ink jet cartridge IJC to be dedicated, and may be disposable together with the IJC.

Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which is a cam 5020 that engages with the carriage.
And the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screen 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side area. Any desired operation can be applied to this example if desired operation is performed at the timing.

Ink jet cartridge IJ in this example
As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 3, C has a large ink storage ratio, and has a shape in which the tip of the ink jet unit IJU slightly projects from the front surface of the ink tank IT. The ink jet cartridge IJC is fixed and supported by a positioning means (described later) of a carriage HC (FIG. 1) mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and is attached to and detached from the carriage HC. It is a possible type.

(Ii) Description of Inkjet Unit IJU Inkjet Unit IJU is a system for recording by using an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to ink in response to an electric signal. It is a unit of.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 100 denotes an electrothermal converter (ejection heater) arranged in a plurality of rows on a Si substrate, and electric wiring such as Al for supplying electric power to the electrothermal converter, which is formed by a film forming technique. It is a heater board consisting of. Reference numeral 200 is a wiring board for the heater board 100.
It has a wiring corresponding to the wiring of 0 (for example, it is connected by wire bonding), and a pad 201 located at the end of this wiring and receiving an electric signal from the main body device.

Reference numeral 1300 denotes a grooved top plate provided with a partition wall and a common liquid chamber for dividing each of a plurality of ink flow paths, and an ink receiving port 1500 for receiving the ink supplied from the ink tank and introducing it into the common liquid chamber. And an orifice plate 400 having a plurality of discharge ports are integrally molded. Polysulfone is preferable as the integrally molded material,
Other molding resin materials may be used.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a support body made of, for example, a metal, which supports the back surface of the wiring board 200 on a plane, and serves as a bottom plate of the ink jet unit. Reference numeral 500 denotes a presser spring, which has an M-shape and presses the common liquid chamber at the center of the M-shape, and at the same time, the front portion 5
At 01, a part of the liquid passage is pressed by linear pressure. Heater board 10
0 and the top plate 1300 are pressed down, and the foot portion of the spring is the support member 300.
By engaging the back side of the support body 300 through the hole 3121 of the support body 300 and engaging them with each other in a sandwiched state, the pressing force of the pressing spring 500 and the front slant part 501 causes the heater board 100 to move. The top plate 1300 is pressure-bonded and fixed. In addition, the support 300 is the same as that of the ink tank IT.
Positioning ridges 1012 and positioning holes 31 that engage with the positioning and heat-fusion-holding ridges 1800 and 1801.
In addition to having 2,1900 and 2000, the device main body IJRA
2500 for positioning the carriage HC of the
2600 is provided on the back side. In addition, the support 300 also has a hole 320 that allows an ink supply pipe 2200 (described later) that allows the ink supply from the ink tank to pass therethrough. The wiring board 200 is attached to the support 300 by adhering it with an adhesive or the like. The recesses 2400 and 2400 of the support 300 are respectively the positioning protrusions 2
In the assembled ink jet cartridge IJC (Fig. 3), which is provided in the vicinity of 500, 2600, three sides of the ink jet cartridge IJC are set as extension points of a head end region formed by a plurality of parallel grooves 3000, 3001. Therefore, it is positioned so that unnecessary matters such as dust and ink do not reach the protrusions 2500 and 2600. This parallel groove 3000 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lid member 800 forms an outer wall of the ink jet cartridge IJC and a space for accommodating the ink jet unit IJU. In addition, the ink supply member 600 in which the parallel groove 3001 is formed includes the ink conduit 1600 that is continuous with the above-described ink supply pipe 2200.
00 side is formed as a fixed cantilever, and a sealing pin 602 for securing a capillarity between the fixed side of the ink conduit and the ink supply tube 2200 is inserted. Reference numeral 601 is a packing for sealing the ink tank IT and the supply pipe 2200, and 700 is a filter provided at the end of the supply pipe on the tank side.

Since the ink supply member 600 is molded, the ink supply member 600 is inexpensive, has high positional accuracy, and eliminates a decrease in accuracy in forming and manufacturing. In addition, the cantilevered conduit 1600 is used for mass production. The pressure contact state of 1600 to the ink receiving port 1500 can be stabilized. In this example, a complete communication state can be reliably obtained by pouring the sealing adhesive from the ink supply member side under this pressure contact state. The ink supply member 600
Is fixed to the support 300 by fixing the holes 19 of the support 300.
01, 1902, the back side pins (not shown) of the ink supply member 600 are inserted into the holes 1901, 1902 of the support 300.
This can be easily performed by projecting through the through-hole, and heat-sealing the portion projecting to the back surface side of the support 300. The slightly projected area of the heat-sealed back surface is accommodated in the recess (not shown) on the side wall of the ink jet unit IJU mounting surface of the ink tank IT, so that the positioning surface of the unit IJU can be accurately obtained. .

(Iii) Description of Ink Tank IT Structure In the ink tank, after inserting the cartridge main body 1000, the ink absorber 900 and the ink absorber 900 from the side opposite to the unit IJU mounting surface of the cartridge main body 1000, It is composed of a lid member 1100 for sealing this. Reference numeral 900 denotes an absorber for impregnating ink, which is arranged in the cartridge main body 1000.
Reference numeral 1200 is a unit I including the above parts 100 to 600.
The unit is a supply port for supplying ink to the JU, and the unit is a part 1 of the cartridge main body 1000.
It is also an injection port for impregnating the absorber 900 with ink by injecting the ink from the supply port 1200 in the step before arranging in 010.

In this embodiment, the ink can be supplied to the atmosphere communication port and the supply port. However, the rib 2300 in the main body 1000 and the lid member for favorably supplying the ink from the ink absorber. 1100 partial ribs 2500, 2
The air existing area in the tank formed by 400 and
The ink supply port 12 is continuously connected from the atmosphere communication port 1401 side.
Since the ink is formed over the farthest corner area from 00, it is important that the ink supply to the absorber is relatively good and uniform from the supply port 1200 side. This method is extremely effective in practice. The rib 1000 has four ribs parallel to the carriage movement direction on the rear surface of the main body 1000 of the ink tank to prevent the absorber from adhering to the rear surface.
In addition, the partial ribs 2400 and 2500 are the same as the rib 100.
It is provided on the inner surface of the lid member 1100 which is an extension corresponding to 0, but unlike the rib 1000, it is in a divided state and the air existence space is increased more than the former. The partial ribs 2500 and 2400 are used for the lid member 10.
00 is dispersed on less than half of the total area. These ribs made it possible to more stably stabilize the ink in the corner area farthest from the tank supply port 1200 of the ink absorber, and surely guide the ink to the supply port 1200 side by capillary force. Reference numeral 1401 denotes an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. Reference numeral 1400 denotes a liquid repellent material arranged inside the atmosphere communication port 1401.
This prevents ink from leaking from the atmosphere communication port 1401.

The above-described arrangement of ribs is particularly effective because the ink storage space of the ink tank IT has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has long sides on its side surfaces, but it is long in the carriage movement direction. In the case of having a side or a cube, the ribs may be provided on the entire lid member 1100 to stabilize the ink supply from the ink absorber 900.

The unit IJ of the ink tank IT is also used.
The configuration of the mounting surface of U is shown by FIG. Let L1 be a straight line that passes through substantially the center of the projection of the orifice plate 400 and is parallel to the mounting reference plane of the bottom surface of the tank IT or the surface of the carriage, and two positioning protrusions that engage with the holes 312 of the support 300. 1012 is on this straight line L1. The height of the protrusion 1012 is slightly lower than the thickness of the support 300, and the support 300 is positioned. In this drawing, on the extension of the straight line L1, there is located a pawl 2100 with which the 90 ° angle engaging surface 4002 of the carriage positioning hook 4001 is engaged, and the positioning action force on the carriage is the straight line L1. It is configured to operate in a plane region parallel to the reference plane including the above. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, these relationships are effective because the positioning accuracy of only the ink tank is equal to the positioning accuracy of the head ejection port.

Further, the projections 1800 and 1801 of the ink tank corresponding to the fixing holes 1900 and 2000 on the side surface of the ink tank of the support body 300 are longer than the above-mentioned protrusion 1012 and protrude through the support body 300. This is for fixing the support 300 to the side surface by heat-sealing the portion. When the straight line passing through the protrusion 1800 perpendicular to the above-mentioned line L1 is L3 and the straight line passing through the protrusion 1801 is L2, the center of the supply port 1200 is located on the straight line L3. This is a preferable configuration because it acts to stabilize the connection state with the supply pipe 2200, and the load on these connection states can be reduced even when dropped or impacted. Also, the straight lines L2 and L3 do not match, and the head IJH
Around the protrusion 1012 on the discharge port side of the protrusions 1800, 180
1 is present, it further produces the reinforcing effect of positioning the head IJH with respect to the tank. The curve indicated by L4 is the outer wall position when the ink supply member 600 is mounted. Since the projections 1800 and 1801 are along the curve L4, sufficient strength and positional accuracy are given to the weight of the head side structure of the head IJH. 2700
Is the brim of the tip of the ink tank IT, and the front plate 4 of the carriage
It is inserted into the 000 hole and is provided for an abnormal case where the displacement of the ink tank becomes extremely bad. 210
Reference numeral 1 is an engaging portion with a further positioning portion with the carriage HC.

The ink tank IT has a shape that surrounds the unit IJU except for the lower opening by covering the unit IJU with the lid 800 after the unit IJU is attached. Since the lower opening for doing is close to the Carriage HC,
A substantial four-way surrounding space is formed. Therefore, although the heat generated from the head IJH in the enclosed space is effective as a heat retaining space in this space, the temperature rises slightly for continuous long-term use. For this reason, in this example, a slit 1700 having a width smaller than this space is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge IJC in order to help the support body to radiate heat naturally to prevent the temperature from rising and to make the temperature distribution of the entire unit IJU uniform. It was possible to make the conversion independent of the environment.

When assembled as an ink jet cartridge IJC, the ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge to the inside of the supply tank 600 through the supply port 1200, the hole 320 provided in the support 300, and the introduction port provided on the back side of the supply tank 600. Is supplied to the ink, and after passing through the inside thereof, an appropriate supply pipe from the outlet and the ink inlet 150 of the top plate 400.
Through 0 into the common liquid chamber. A packing of, for example, silicon rubber or butyl rubber is arranged at the connection portion for ink communication in the above, and sealing is performed by this and an ink supply path is secured.

In this embodiment, the top plate 1300 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polypropylene, etc., which has excellent ink resistance, and is integrally formed in the mold together with the orifice plate portion 400. It is molded at the same time.

As described above, since the integrally molded component is the ink supply member 600, the top plate / orifice plate integrated, and the ink tank main body 1000, not only the assembly accuracy becomes high, but also it is extremely effective for improving the quality of mass production. Is. Moreover, since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional one, excellent desired characteristics can be surely exhibited.

(Iv) Description of Attachment of Ink Jet Cartridge IJC to Carriage HC In FIG. 6, reference numeral 5000 is a platen roller that guides the recording medium P upward from below the paper surface. Carriage HC is
A front plate 4000 (thickness: 2 mm) that moves along the platen roller 3000 and is located on the front platen side of the carriage on the front side of the ink jet cartridge IJC.
And the pad 20 of the wiring board 200 of the cartridge IJC.
Flexible sheet 4005 having a pad 2011 corresponding to No. 1 and each pad 2011 from the back side.
Rubber pad 4 for generating elastic force to press against
A support plate 4003 for an electric connection portion holding 006 and a positioning hook 4001 for fixing the ink jet cartridge IJC to a recording position are provided. The front plate 4000 has the positioning protrusion surface 410 on the positioning protrusions 2500 and 260 of the support member 300 of the cartridge.
There are two of them corresponding to 0, respectively, and they receive a vertical force toward the projecting surface 4010 after mounting the cartridge. For this reason,
The reinforcing ribs have a plurality of ribs (not shown) on the platen roller side of the front plate, which are oriented in the direction of the vertical force. This rib also forms a head protection protrusion that protrudes slightly (about 0.1 mm) toward the platen roller from the front position L5 when the cartridge RJC is mounted. The supporting plate 4003 for the electrical connection portion is the reinforcing rib 400.
4 are provided in the vertical direction, not in the direction of the ribs, and the ratio of lateral projection from the platen side toward the hook 4001 side is reduced. This also serves to incline the position when the cart ledge is attached as shown in the figure. or,
The supporting plate 4003 has a positioning surface 4008 on the platen side and a positioning surface 4007 on the hook side in order to stabilize the electrical contact state. A pad contact area is formed between these and a rubber pad with a pad corresponding to the pad 2011 is provided. The deformation amount of the sheet 4006 is uniquely defined. When these positioning surfaces are fixed at positions where the cartridge IJC can be recorded, they come into contact with the surface of the wiring board 300.
In this example, since the pads 201 of the wiring board 300 are distributed symmetrically with respect to the line L1 described above, the deformation amounts of the respective buttons of the rubber sheet 4006 are made uniform and the contact pressures of the pads 2011 and 201 are set. More stable. The distribution of the pad 201 in this example is two rows above and two rows below.

The hook 4001 has an elongated hole that engages with the fixed shaft 4009, and the platen roller 500 is rotated after rotating counterclockwise from the position shown in the figure using the moving space of the elongated hole.
By moving to the left along 0, the ink jet cartridge IJC is positioned with respect to the carriage HC. The hook 4001 may be moved by any means, but it is preferable that the hook 4001 can be moved by a lever or the like. In any case, when the hook 4001 rotates, the cartridge IJC moves to the platen roller side, and the positioning protrusion 2500,
2600 moves to a position where it can contact the positioning surface 4010 of the front plate, and the hook 4001 moves to the left by 90 °.
Hook surface 4002 of the cartridge 2100 of the cartridge IJC
While closely contacting the 90 ° surface of the pad, the cartridge IJC is turned in the horizontal plane around the contact area of the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010, and finally the contact between the pads 201 and 2011 starts. When the hook 4001 is held at a predetermined position, that is, a fixed position, the pads 201 and 2011 are in full contact with each other, the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 are in full contact with each other, and the 90-degree surface 4002 and the 90-degree surface of the claw are in contact with each other. The two-face contact and the face contact between the wiring board 300 and the positioning faces 4007 and 4008 are simultaneously formed to complete the holding of the cartridge IJC to the carriage.

(V) Description of Heater Board FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the heater board 100 of the head used in this embodiment. The temperature adjustment (sub) heater 8d for controlling the temperature of the head, the ejection portion array 8g in which the ejection (main) heater 8c for ejecting the ink is arranged, and the drive element 8h are positioned as shown in FIG. Because of this, they are formed on the same substrate. By arranging each element on the same substrate in this manner, the head temperature can be detected and controlled efficiently, and the head can be made compact and the manufacturing process can be simplified. The figure also shows the positional relationship of the cross section 8f of the outer peripheral wall of the top plate, which is divided into a region where the heater board is filled with ink and a region where it is not. The discharge heater 8d side of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate functions as a common liquid chamber. In addition, the liquid passage is formed by the groove portion formed on the discharge portion row 8g of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate.

(Vi) Description of Control Configuration Next, a control configuration for executing recording control of each unit of the above-described apparatus configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 10 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 11 is an MPU, 12
Is a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 11, and 13 is a dynamic RAM for storing various data (the above-mentioned recording signals and recording data supplied to the head). A gate array 14 controls the supply of print data to the print head 18, and also controls the transfer of data between the interface 10, the MPU 11, and the RAM 13. Reference numeral 20 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 18, and 19 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 15 is a head driver for driving the head, and 16 and 17 are motor drivers for driving the carry motor 19 and the carrier motor 20, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the details of each part of FIG. The gate array 14 has a data latch 141, a segment (SEG) shift register 142, a multiplexer (MPX) 143, a common (COM) timing generation circuit 144, and a decoder 145. Recording head 18
Has a diode matrix configuration, and a drive current flows through the ejection heaters (H1 to H64) where the common signal COM and the segment signal SEG match, and the ink is heated and ejected.

The decoder 145 decodes the timing generated by the common timing generation circuit 144 and selects any one of the common signals COM1 to COM8. The data latch 141 latches the recording data read from the RAM 13 in 8-bit units, and the multiplexer 143 stores the recording data in the segment shift register 1
According to 42, it outputs as segment signals SEG1-8. The output from the multiplexer 143 can be variously changed according to the contents of the shift register 142, such as 1 bit unit, 2 bit unit, or all 8 bits as described later.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 10, the recording signal is converted between the gate array 14 and the MPU 11 into recording data for printing. Then, the motor drivers 16 and 17 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 15 to perform printing.

Examples of the present invention will be shown below using such an apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the entire system of the present invention. As a configuration, the recording means 200, and preferably the type discriminating means 201 and the exchange detecting means 2 attached thereto.
02 and the like, and a blade 210 for performing head maintenance and the like at the home position for the IJC unit, a blade cleaner (first cleaner) 211 for cleaning the blade, and a stable recording state from the recording unit 200. Ink receiving member (second cleaner) 2 for receiving the ink ejected to maintain the
12. A cleaning unit 214 including an ink forced ejection means 213 forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles of the recording means 200, a recording means drive element 220 for giving a recording signal to the recording means 200, and its recording element drive means. A control unit 222 having a memory means 221 such as a line buffer memory for giving a print pattern to 220, and a printer driver 2 for correcting the print pattern from the host 230 in the control unit 222 into a form suitable for the control unit 222.
The host unit 232 is composed of 31 units.
Further, it has a recording medium conveying means 250 for recording an image on the recording medium 240 by the recording means 200, and preferably a registration adjusting means 251 for aligning the recording medium at that time. Thereby, even if the same recording medium is conveyed by the recording medium conveying means a plurality of times for printing and recording, the position for each recording time is prevented from shifting. Further, a paper discharge means 260 for discharging the recording medium after recording.
have. At this time, some methods have already been shown as the paper discharging means, but in general, a paper discharging spur 261 is generally used to discharge the recording medium after printing while holding the printing surface of the recording medium by the spur.

FIG. 11 shows an example sequence when the system of the present invention is implemented. The procedure for performing print recording a plurality of times using the same recording medium is shown. FIG. 11A
Shows the state where the first print recording is about to be performed. 6005 is an auto sheet feeder 6
001 is a pickup roller. Reference numeral 6002 denotes a needle roller, which is installed in pressure contact with the platen roller 5000 in parallel and generates a conveying force for feeding the recording medium in the conveying direction. Reference numeral 6003 denotes a paper ejection spur, which is also for generating a conveying force for paper ejection between the paper ejection roller 6004 and the paper ejection roller 6004. In FIG. 11B, the recording medium after the printing is once completed and the sheet is ejected is set again in the auto sheet feeder 6005, and the IJC is set.
Shows a state in which is replaced with another type. Therefore, it is shown that the ink (A) printed by the first print recording is attached on the recording medium. Figure 11
(C) shows a state in which the recording medium is set in order to exchange the IJC again and perform print recording.

Any known image processing may be used for the print pattern, and dot overlapping may or may not be used. In addition, I
It is also possible to provide density gradation and area gradation by combining with JC.

(Example 1) FIG. 12 shows an image recorded by this example. In the image of FIG. 13, a background having a high dot density is recorded in yellow (Y), and a character “Denso” is recorded in black (Bk).

FIG. 12A is an image in which a yellow (Y) background having a high dot density is recorded first, and a black (Bk) "Denma" character having a low dot density is subsequently recorded. 12 (b) is black (Bk) with low dot density
This is an image in which the character "Denso" was recorded first, and the background of yellow (Y) having a high dot density was recorded later.
In both recordings (a) and (b), the second image recording is performed after the previously recorded image is sufficiently fixed.

However, when printing is performed by the method of FIG. 12B, the character blurring is so severe that it cannot be distinguished.

Here, the composition of the ink used in the recording apparatus of the present invention is the same as the composition below for all colors.

Dye 2.5 weight percent Diethylene glycol 10.0 weight percent Glycerin 10.0 weight percent Ethyl alcohol 5.0 weight percent Water (distilled water) 72.5 weight percent

Recording was carried out by changing the recording order of each color using the ink of the above composition, but there is no correlation between the recording color order and bleeding, and in any combination of colors, the one with the higher dot density is recorded first. A good image was obtained.

The reason for this will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, (a) is an image having a low dot density, and (b) is an image having a high dot density. FIG.
In (a), the image (a) with a low dot density is recorded first,
When an image (b) with a high dot density is recorded later,
3B shows a case where the image (B) having a high dot density is recorded first and the image (A) having a low dot density is recorded later.

When recording is performed in the order shown in FIG. 13A, the image (a) is rewetted in the recording step of the image (b). At this time, since the dye used is water-soluble, the dye that has been stably fixed melts and oozes out in the direction of the arrow, and the shape of the image (a) is broken. On the other hand, when recording is performed in the order of FIG. 13B, similarly, the portion corresponding to the image (B) of the image (B) is the ink solvent in which the dye that has been previously recorded and stably fixed has been recorded later. Will cause oozing and bleeding,
Originally, since the image (a) is a portion where the color is formed by the mixed color of the image (a) and the image (b), the adverse effect due to the bleeding is extremely small. Therefore, if images are recorded in the order of the image color having the highest dot density, the effect of bleeding is small and a good image can be obtained.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the processing procedure according to the present invention carried out based on the above description. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which an image is recorded using four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk).

In step S100, the control unit is initialized, and in step S101, the control device and the input of recording data from the host device connected to the recording device are monitored while waiting through the interface. When it is determined that the print data is input from the host device in step S101, the input print data is stored in the reception buffer (step S102). The procedure of steps S101 to S103 is repeated until the specified amount (one page in this embodiment) of print data is received from the host device.

When it is determined in step S103 that the reception has been completed, in steps S104 to S107, the data in the buffer is counted for each color in order to determine the color having the high dot density of the recording color information. Further, in step S108, the number of each recording data is discriminated, and in the descending order of recording data, for example, if Bk <Y <M <C, C →
It is set so that image recording is performed in the order of M → Y → Bk. Then, the print data is output to the print head in this order.

Therefore, in the first recording step, cyan (C)
A color image is recorded, a magenta (M) color image is recorded in the second recording step, a yellow (Y) color image is recorded in the third recording step, and then black (B) is recorded in the fourth recording step.
The image of k) is recorded. In this embodiment, since recording is performed in the order of image color having a high dot density, a good image is obtained with less influence of bleeding.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 15 shows an image in which high and low dot densities are mixed. In this case, bleeding occurs even if the recording order is changed.

The red (R) ink is made by mixing magenta (M) and yellow (Y), and the blue (B) ink is made by mixing cyan (C) and magenta (M). Therefore, the portion causing the bleeding is cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).
Are mixed, and a gray or black (Bk) color is obtained by subtractive color mixing.

The inventors of the present invention produced images with the recording order changed, and it was observed that the red (R) image was recorded earlier with less bleeding. It is considered that this phenomenon is due to a visual effect, and is visually perceived as bleeding from the lower lightness to the higher lightness at the boundary between the color mixture reproduced color and the color having a large lightness difference. When the brightness of each color was measured, it was 35 for black (Bk), 55 for red (R), and 40 for blue (B). When blue (B) is recorded first, bleeding occurs in the area of, and the mixed color ink spreads to red (R), which has a large lightness difference from black (Bk), but when red (R) is recorded first, the area of Bleeding occurs and the mixed color ink spreads in black (Bk) and blue (B) with a small lightness difference.

Therefore, it can be noted that if the images are recorded in a recording order in which a color having a lightness close to that of the reproduced color due to the color mixture is always bleeding, the effect is the smallest. That is, it was thought that it is possible to make image bleeding less noticeable by recording in order of increasing brightness.

When the bleeding conspicuity was compared for each color combination, a good image could be obtained by recording in the order of higher lightness.

The luminosity of each color of the recording apparatus used in the present invention is 35 (general high-quality paper) for black (Bk), 86 for yellow (Y), 56 for magenta (M), 60 for cyan (C), and 60 for red ( R) is 55, green (G) is 53, and blue (B) is 40. Y → C → M →
It was R → G → B → Bk. The brightness value is CIE197.
6L * a * b * is a lightness (L *) value measured in a field of view of a C light source at 2 degrees in a color system. Therefore, Y → C → M → R →
Recording is preferably performed in the order of G → B → Bk.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the processing procedure according to the present invention carried out based on the above description. In step S200, the control unit is initialized, and in step S201, control commands from the host device connected to the printing apparatus and input of print data are monitored while waiting via the interface. When it is determined in step S201 that the print data is input from the host device, the input print data is stored in the reception buffer (step S202). The procedure of steps S201 to S203 is repeated until the specified amount (one page in this embodiment) of print data is received from the host device.

When the end of reception is determined in step S203, the color used for the recorded image is detected in step S204, the lightness of the used color is determined in step S205, and in step S206, the order of higher lightness, for example, the used color is B, G,
In the case of R and Bk, since the brightness is high in the order of Bk <B <G <R, it is set so that image recording is performed in the order of R → G → B → Bk. Then, the print data is output to the print head in this order.

Therefore, in the first recording step, red (R)
A color image is recorded, a green (G) color image is recorded in the second recording process, a blue (B) color image is recorded in the third recording process, and then black (Bk) is recorded in the fourth recording process.
Image is recorded. In this embodiment, since the recording is performed in the descending order of lightness, it is possible to make the image bleeding less noticeable.

The above order is not limited, and the lightness value of each color differs depending on the characteristics of the recording medium (eg pH value) and the characteristics of the ink, so any order other than the above may be used as long as it is suitable for the recording system. . Further, the recording order may be different depending on the recording medium.

Recording order control effective for a large or small recording area, an image in which foreground colors and background colors shown in the previous embodiment are mixed in each color, and an image in which high and low dot densities are mixed It is a means.

The recording control of the present invention including the above-described embodiments is optimal on software such as a printer driver operated by a host computer connected to the recording apparatus even if the optimum recording order is designated or executed inside the recording apparatus. A different recording order may be designated or executed.

Further, the recording medium is wound around a rotary drum and the recording of each color is performed in a frame-sequential manner while rotating the recording medium, or the recording medium is moved forward and backward in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the recording head to record each color. It can also be applied to a recording device for recording in a frame sequential manner.

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a system utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. This pulse-shaped drive signal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and No. 43.
Those as described in 45262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124, which is an invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface, are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution 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, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration that corresponds to the discharge portion.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the images are recorded in the order of image color having a high dot density or image color having a high lightness, it becomes possible to make image bleeding less noticeable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an ink jet recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a cleaning unit of the recording apparatus main body used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating in detail a part of an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining attachment of an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a heater board.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a drive control circuit of an inkjet recording head.

10 is a block diagram showing details of the control configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an image recorded by the recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating bleeding of an image recorded by the recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a recording processing procedure in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an image in which high and low dot densities are mixed.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a recording processing procedure in another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8C Ejection heater 11 MPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Gate array 18 Recording head 81 Ejection port 82 Common liquid chamber

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Kentaro Yano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Kiichiro Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Admiral Iwasaki, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Canon Inc. (72) Inventor, Hitoshi Nishikori, 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink recording means for ejecting ink to record on a recording medium and a supply / conveying means for supplying / conveying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means. An ink-jet color recording method capable of forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the recording information and the ink recording means are used to perform recording on the recording medium supplied / conveyed to the recording area by the supplying / conveying means. The recording step and the second to Nth recording media are recorded on the recording medium using the ink recording means.
A recording process (N is an integer of 2 or more) is repeatedly performed in a frame sequential manner, and the first to Nth recording processes are performed in order of the color having a high dot density of the recording color information. Inkjet color recording method characterized by being exposed. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink recording means for ejecting ink to record on a recording medium and a supply / conveying means for supplying / conveying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means. An ink-jet color recording method capable of forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the recording information and the ink recording means are used to perform recording on the recording medium supplied / conveyed to the recording area by the supplying / conveying means. The recording step and the second to Nth recording media are recorded on the recording medium using the ink recording means.
A recording process (N is an integer of 2 or more) is repeated in a frame-sequential manner, and the first to Nth recording processes are performed in order of ink color having high lightness. An inkjet color recording method characterized by the above. 3. A mounting portion for mounting and dismounting an ink recording means for ejecting ink to record on a recording medium, and a supply / conveying means for supplying / conveying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means. An ink jet recording apparatus having an ejecting unit for ejecting the recording medium that has passed through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus. A formable inkjet color recording method, comprising: using first recording information for recording a first ink and a first ink recording means for ejecting the first ink mounted on the mounting portion, The first ink recording is performed on the recording medium supplied / conveyed to the recording area by the supplying / conveying means,
A first recording step of discharging the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging means, second to Nth recording information for recording the second to Nth (N is an integer of 2 or more) ink, and the second recording information attached to the mounting portion. By using the second to Nth ink recording means for ejecting the second to Nth ink, the second to Nth recording medium is supplied to the recording area by the supply / conveying means.
A step of performing ink recording and sequentially performing second to Nth recording steps of discharging the ink to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging means, and performing the first to Nth recording steps with a high dot density of recording color information. An inkjet color recording method characterized in that recording is performed first by color. 4. A mounting portion for mounting and dismounting ink recording means for ejecting ink to record on a recording medium, and a supply / conveying means for supplying / conveying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means. An ink jet recording apparatus having an ejecting unit for ejecting the recording medium that has passed through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus. A formable inkjet color recording method, comprising: using first recording information for recording a first ink and a first ink recording means for ejecting the first ink mounted on the mounting portion, The first ink recording is performed on the recording medium supplied / conveyed to the recording area by the supplying / conveying means,
A first recording step of discharging the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging means, second to Nth recording information for recording the second to Nth (N is an integer of 2 or more) ink, and the second recording information attached to the mounting portion. By using the second to Nth ink recording means for ejecting the second to Nth ink, the second to Nth recording medium is supplied to the recording area by the supply / conveying means.
Repeating the second to Nth recording steps of performing ink recording and discharging the ink to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging means, wherein the first to the Nth recording steps are performed in order from the ink color having high lightness first. An inkjet color recording method, characterized in that recording is performed. 5. The ink recording means is a unit integrally provided with an ink tank storing ink and a recording head having an ink ejection port having a functional element for ejecting ink. 5. The inkjet color recording method according to any one of 4 to 4. 6. The recording head included in the ink recording means has a thermal energy generating means for causing a state change in the ink due to heat and ejecting the ink based on the state change to form flying droplets. The inkjet recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.