JPH06328724A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily enable the adjustment of the proper emitting characteristics of a recording head and to always stably enable high-grade image output at the time of the recording of an image of high image quality or a color image. CONSTITUTION:A test recording part 10 for forming a recording image on a test-recording member 11 by a recording head 3, image adjusting operation parts 19, 20 for adjusting the driving conditions such as the width of an applied pulse, temp. or applied voltage of the recording head 3 corresponding to the comparison result of the recording image visually confirmed from a window part with an image sample and an erasing means 17 for erasing the recording image on the test-recording member 11 are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise and uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there.

The mode of drive control of the print head in the above ink jet printing apparatus can be divided into, for example, the following three modes. The first is an open-loop system in which the drive of the print head is not changed. In this case, constant head drive is always performed even if the surrounding environment changes or the print head itself is replaced. . The second is a method in which the head drive mode is changed according to the recording head used, and in this case, the recording head is provided with information (for example, electrical resistance or ROM), and this information is recorded in the recording device. The whole is read, and the drive of the print head is controlled according to each print head. A third method is a method of changing the head drive according to the environmental temperature. For example, when the ambient temperature is low, the auxiliary heater is used to increase the head temperature or widen the head drive pulse width. When the ambient temperature is high, the head drive pulse width is narrowed, the head drive frequency is reduced, and the recording pause time is provided.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus has the following disadvantages. First, in the open-loop type inkjet recording apparatus, the cost of the recording apparatus can be suppressed, but the ink ejection amount varies due to individual differences of the recording heads. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a high quality image when the recording head is replaced. In order to compensate for such inconvenience, information is written in the recording head, and a switch or a variable resistor provided on the electric board for determining the driving of the recording head when the recording head is replaced is provided in the apparatus main body, These switches and variable resistors are set according to the recording head to be replaced. However, even in such a case, if the setting is incorrect, not only a good image cannot be obtained, but also the recording head may be destroyed.

Secondly, when the information provided to the recording head is read, the recording device automatically reads the head information,
The inconvenience in the first case is solved by determining the head driving condition according to the read information. However, in an ink jet recording apparatus that uses ink, the viscosity of the ink varies greatly depending on the temperature. Therefore, the ink viscosity changes depending on the ambient temperature, and the ink ejection amount also changes. When the ink ejection amount changes, the obtained image deteriorates. Due to such a mechanism, there is a disadvantage that a good quality image cannot be obtained depending on the ambient temperature.

Thirdly, when the head drive is controlled by the environmental temperature, the temperature in the head is detected by a thermocouple, a thermistor or the like to control the head, thereby eliminating the above-mentioned second inconvenience.
However, in order to obtain a higher quality image, there are the following problems. That is, the head drive frequency used in ink jet recording is very fast and 2KH _Z ~10KH _Z, also progressed densification in order to obtain a high image quality, the number of dots is increased to obtain the same image The load on the recording head is increasing. This causes deterioration of the head within the life of the head. Even if the deterioration of the head is not a problem for a low quality image, it becomes a big problem when a high quality image is required. Especially, when the color output is, the color mixing section (R, G,
B) is a combination of single colors (Y, M, C). For example, when the M (magenta) head deteriorates and the ink ejection amount decreases, the hues of R (red) and B (blue) shift,
There is an inconvenience that a high quality color image cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to always output a stable and high-quality image when recording a high-quality image or a color image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device capable of performing

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material, and a test recording section for recording on a recording material for test by the recording means. The above object is achieved by having a window portion for visually recognizing a recorded image on the test recording member from the outside and an image adjusting operation portion for the recording means.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 6, in addition to the above-mentioned constitutions, an image sample for comparison with an image recorded on a recording member for test is provided beside the window portion, and a plurality of constitutions are provided. When using the recording means, a configuration having an independent image adjusting operation section for each recording means, when using a plurality of recording means, a configuration in which an independent cleaning operation operating section is provided for each recording means, The test recording member is detachable from the recording device, or the test recording member has an endless structure, and has an image erasing means for erasing an image recorded on the test recording member. By so doing, the above object can be achieved more efficiently.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, partially broken away. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an apparatus main body of an inkjet recording apparatus,
2 is a recording material on which an image is recorded and is taken out of the recording apparatus, 3 is a recording head (recording means), 4 is a carriage which carries the recording head 3 and reciprocates along the recording material 2,
Reference numeral 5 is an electrical component, 6 is a recovery means for recovering the ejection failure of the recording head 3, and 7 is a guide rail for guiding and supporting the carriage 4 along the recording material 2 so as to be capable of reciprocating. The electric component section 5 is for controlling the recording head 3, various motors (not shown), various sensors (not shown), etc., and for processing various recording data or storing necessary various data. .

This embodiment shows the case of an ink jet recording apparatus for color recording, and the recording head 3 has four ink jet recording heads, that is, black (b),
It is composed of four recording heads 3b, 3Y, 3M, and 3C that record in colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). In the following description, the recording head 3b, 3Y, 3M, and 3C will be simply referred to as the recording head 3 when referring to all or any one of them. Then, while the carriage 4 is moved by a motor (not shown), the recording head 3 is driven based on the image data to record one line on the recording material 2, and then a paper feed motor (not shown) is used. After feeding the recording material 2 by a predetermined amount, the recording of the next line is performed, and by repeating these steps, the entire recording material 2 is recorded.

The recording head 3 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 3 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. It is a thing.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording head 3. In FIG.
A plurality of ejection openings 82 are formed at a predetermined pitch on the ejection opening surface 81 that faces the recording material 2 such as a sheet of paper or a plastic thin plate with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm).
And an electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor, etc.) 85 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of each liquid passage 84 that connects the common liquid chamber 83 and each ejection port 82. Has been done. In this embodiment, the recording head 3
Are mounted on the carriage 4 in such a positional relationship that the ejection ports 82 are arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 4. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 85 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 84 to film-boil, and the ink generated from the ejection port 82 is ejected by the pressure generated at that time. A recording head (recording means) 3 is configured.

In FIG. 1, the recovery means 6 has a cap (not shown) for sealing the ejection port 82 of each recording head 3 during non-recording, and the ejection port 82 through the cap.
A pump for sucking fixed ink, bubbles, and the like together with the ink, a cleaning unit for removing ink, dust, and the like adhering to the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 3 are provided. Such recovery means 6 is usually arranged at or near the home position of the carriage 4.

Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1, a recording head 3 is used as a test recording member (reference numeral 11 in FIG. 3) at a position adjacent to the recovery means 6 (right end portion of FIG. 1). A test recording unit 10 for recording is provided. The recording apparatus main body 1 is provided with a window portion (opening portion) 12 for visually recognizing an image recorded on the test recording member 11 from the outside and a lid member 13 for opening and closing the window portion 12. It is provided.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of the test recording unit 10 together with the recording head 3. In FIG. 3, the drive roller 1 fixed to the output shaft of the motor 14
An endless belt-shaped test recording member 11 is stretched around the five and three driven rollers 16, and the test recording member 11 is moved in the arrow A direction by rotating a motor 14. Is configured to let.
The portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line B on the test recording member 11 indicates a region which is visually recognized from the outside through the window portion (opening portion) 12 in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3, the recording member 1 for test is used.
No. 1 is stretched so as to run at a position with a predetermined gap (for example, 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm) from the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 3, and the test recording member 11 is stretched. At a desired position on the traveling path, a cleaning unit 17 is provided for wiping and removing foreign matter such as ink adhering to the surface (recording surface) of the recording member 11. Further, image erasing means for erasing the image recorded on the test recording member 11 is provided, and in the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning means 17 is used as the image erasing means. However, the image erasing means may be separately provided.

A knob 19 for adjusting the image density, a first recovery button 20, a second recovery button 21, and a reset button 22 are provided on the operation panel 18 arranged near the test recording member 11. Is provided. The knob 19 for adjusting the image density has four knobs corresponding to the recording heads 3b, 3Y, 3M, and 3C of black (b), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). It is composed of 19b, 19Y, 19M and 19C.
The first recovery button 20 and the second recovery button 21
Also corresponds to each recording head 3b, 3Y, 3M, 3C,
4 recovery buttons 20b, 20Y, 20 each
M, 20C and 21b, 21Y, 21M, 21C. The knobs 19b, 19Y, 19M and 19C for adjusting the image density constitute an image adjusting operation section for each recording means (recording head) 3 in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the pulse width applied to the recording head 3 and the recording density. When the applied pulse width is increased, the recording density increases, and when the pulse width is less than a certain value, ejection failure occurs. have. This relationship is
Even if an applied voltage is used instead of the applied pulse width, there are similar characteristics. Further, there is a similar relationship between the temperature of the recording head 3 and the recording density.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the recording cumulative duty of the recording head 3 and the recording density.
In general, as a characteristic of the print head 3, the print density tends to decrease as the print cumulative duty increases. That is, the recording density tends to decrease as the frequency of use of the recording head 3 increases. However, as indicated by the curves a, b, and c in FIG. 5, the decreasing tendency differs depending on the individual difference of the print heads.
Some of the recording densities hardly decrease as shown by the curve a, and some of the recording densities significantly decrease as the curve c.

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, that is, the test recording portion 10 for recording on the test recording member 11 by the recording means 3 and the recorded image on the test recording member 11 are visually recognized from the outside. Window section 12 for storing and image adjusting operation section 1 for the recording means 3.
And an ink jet recording device having In the illustrated embodiment, the test recording member 1
1. An image sample for comparison with the image recorded in No. 1 is provided beside the window portion 12, a plurality of recording means 3 is used and an independent image adjustment operation section 19 is provided for each recording means, test The recording member 11 for recording is detachable from the recording device, and the recording member 11 for testing is in the form of an endless belt, and the image is erased to erase the image recorded on the recording member 11 for testing. A configuration having means 17 is adopted.

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention having the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described by utilizing the characteristics of the recording head described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, when the lid member 13 of the window 12 is opened,
A predetermined pattern is recorded on the test recording member 11 by the recording head 3, and then the test recording member 11 is moved in the direction of arrow A by the motor 14 so that the recorded pattern (image) is displayed on the window. Stop when you come to part 12. Then, the user compares the image recorded on the test recording member 11 with the image sample.

6 to 8 are plan views of the image adjusting operation section for explaining various operation operations in the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 6 to 8,
An image sample 30 for comparison with an image recorded on the test recording member 11 is provided beside the window portion 12. As this image sample 30, black (b),
Image samples (color patches) 30b, 3b for each ink color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C)
0Y, 30M, and 30C are provided.

First, the operation when the recording density of magenta is different will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the image (test pattern) recorded on the test recording member 11
31 is visible through the window 12. Therefore, a magenta recorded image 31M having a different density and a magenta comparison sample (image sample = color patch) 30
Compare with M. When the magenta image 31M recorded on the test recording member 11 is light, the corresponding color knob (image adjustment operation unit) 19M is operated. This operation is performed by turning the adjusting knob 19M upward in the drawing. The reset button 22 is pressed to check whether the settings have been made correctly. Again, a predetermined pattern is recorded on the test recording member 11 by the recording head 3M, and the comparative sample 30M is compared with the recorded image 31M of the test recording member 11 visually observed from the window 12. If the recorded image 31M of the test recording member 11 is normal, the lid 13 is closed and the normal recording operation is started or restarted.

As described with reference to FIG. 5, the recording density changes depending on the cumulative duty of use of the recording head 3. Therefore, the recording density of the specific recording head 3M may decrease as described with reference to FIG. To deal with this,
Using the corresponding color adjustment knob 19M,
By using the characteristics of the recording head described in 1 above, the image density is changed by changing the temperature of the recording head, the applied pulse width, or the applied voltage, and the normal image density is adjusted.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an operation in the case where a lateral deviation (recording failure) occurs in the recorded image 31M of the yellow recording head 3Y will be described. In this case, by pressing the first recovery button 20Y of the corresponding color (yellow), the recovery means 6 is activated to perform the recovery operation. In general, the lateral deviation of the recorded image often occurs when dust or thickened ink adheres to the vicinity of the ejection port 82. Therefore, when the first recovery button 20 is pressed, in order to clean the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 3, an operation of wiping the ejection port surface 81 with water-absorbing foamed hydrophilic urethane or the like is performed. After performing the recovery operation (cleaning operation) including such a wiping operation, the reset button 22 is pressed and reconfirmation is performed in the same manner as described above. If the twist is not eliminated, the recovery operation is repeated. If the twist is eliminated, the lid 13 is closed and the recording operation is started or restarted.

Finally, with reference to FIG. 8, the operation in which the ejection failure (non-ejection) occurs in the cyan recording head 3C will be described. Cyan recorded image 3 visible through the window 12
The ejection failure (dot missing) as shown in FIG. 1C has occurred. In this case, by pressing the second recovery button 21C for the corresponding color (cyan), the cyan recording head 3
Clean C. When the ink is not ejected from the ejection port 82, in general, there are many cases where bubbles are present in the recording head or when the thickened ink is clogged in the ejection port 81. Therefore, when ejection failure occurs, a recovery operation is performed in which the pump of the cleaning unit (recovery unit) 6 sucks and removes the bubbles and the thickened ink.
After performing such a recovery operation, the reset button 22 is pressed and reconfirmation is performed according to the above-described case. When the ejection failure (non-ejection) is not eliminated, the above operation is repeated. However, when the ejection failure is confirmed to be eliminated, the lid 13 is closed and the recording operation is started or restarted.

The cleaning means 17 for the test recording member 11 has a structure in which the adhering ink is scraped off by a wiping blade made of a rubber-like elastic material or a structure in which the adhering ink is wiped off by rubbing a hydrophilic foam. As long as the ink can be removed from the test recording member 11, various structures can be used. As the recording member 11 for test, various sheet-like members can be used to which ink ejected from the recording head 3 can be attached and which can be easily removed by the cleaning unit 17. It is possible to use, for example, a sheet material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, and silicone rubber, or a sheet material obtained by subjecting the surface of the sheet material to various treatments.

Although a flexible sheet material is used as the test recording member 11 in the above embodiment, ink can be attached thereto and the cleaning means 1 can be used.
As long as it is a member having a surface capable of removing the adhered ink by 7, a member having another form such as a cylindrical rigid (hard) drum can be used as the test recording member 11. In addition, the test recording member 11
If a disposable member that is replaceable as is used, the cleaning means 17 can be omitted. As one form of the test recording member 11 that can be exchanged, for example, a winding system having a bobbin around which the recording member before use is wound and a bobbin for winding the recording member after use is used. Can be adopted.

According to the embodiment described above, the test recording unit 1 for recording a predetermined test pattern on the test recording member 11 as the second recording material by the recording head 3.
0 is provided so that the recorded image on the test recording member 11 can be visually recognized from the outside through the window portion 12, and the applied pulse width, the temperature, or the pulse width of the recording head 3 is changed according to the comparison result between the recorded image and the image sample 30. Since it is possible to adjust the driving conditions such as applied voltage and adjust the recorded image, high-quality images and high-quality color images can always be recorded stably, and deteriorated images are output. Since it is not performed, wasteful consumption of the recording material 2 can be eliminated, and further, by using the endless recording material for test 11 provided with the cleaning means, wasteful consumption of the recording material 11 can be eliminated. Inkjet recording apparatus can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the case of the serial recording system in which the recording means is moved in the main scanning direction has been described as an example. However, the present invention covers the entire width or a part of the recording material. The same can be applied to the case of the line recording method in which the line recording means is used to perform recording only in the sub-scan, and the same effect can be achieved. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case of color recording using a plurality of recording means for recording with different colors, but also gradation recording using a plurality of recording means for recording with the same color and different density, or recording with one recording means. The same effect can be applied to the single-color recording, and further, the recording in which these are combined, and the same effect can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, when a head cartridge in which the recording means and the ink tank are integrated is used, or when a replaceable or ink filling type (permanent type) ink cartridge is used, a separate recording means and ink tank are used. The same effects can be achieved even when the recording means and the ink tank are connected in any form, such as when connected by an ink supply tube or the like.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among others, thermal energy is used. Then, an excellent effect is brought about in an ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording means of a method of ejecting ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. So effective.

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. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 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 respective 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 structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the above is associated with the discharge portion. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, as described above, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. to the recording head provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converter or other heating element or preheating means by a combination thereof, and ejection different from recording are applied to the recording head. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for stable recording.

As described above, regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a 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 a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to a liquid sheet or a solid material held in the recesses or through holes 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 the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material,
A structure having a test recording section for recording on the recording material for test by the recording means, a window portion for visually recognizing a recorded image on the recording material for test from the outside, and an image adjusting operation section for the recording means. Therefore, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus that can always output a stable and high-quality image when recording a high-quality image or a color image.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 6, in addition to the above configuration, an image sample for comparison with the image recorded on the test recording member is provided beside the window, When using the recording means, a configuration having an independent image adjusting operation section for each recording means, a configuration in which an independent cleaning operation operation section is provided for each recording means when using a plurality of recording means, a test The recording material for recording is detachable from the recording device, or the recording material for testing has an endless structure and has an image erasing means for erasing the image recorded on the recording material for testing. Provided is an inkjet recording apparatus that can output a stable, high-quality image more efficiently at the time of recording a high-quality image or a color image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of a test recording unit in the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an applied pulse width of an inkjet recording unit and a recording density.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a print cumulative duty and a print density of the inkjet printing unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state of an image adjusting operation unit when the recording density of magenta is different in the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state of an image adjusting operation unit when a lateral deviation occurs in a yellow image in the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state of an image adjustment operation unit when a non-ejection occurs in a cyan recording unit in an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Recording Material 3 Recording Means (Recording Head) 4 Carriage 6 Recovery Means 7 Guide Rail 10 Test Recording Part 11 Test Recording Member 12 Window Part 13 Cover Member 14 Motor 15 Driving Roller 16 Driven Roller 17 Cleaning Means 18 Operation panel 19 Adjustment knob 20 First recovery button 21 Second recovery button 22 Reset button 30 Image sample 31 Recorded image 81 Discharge port surface 82 Discharge port 84 Liquid path 85 Electrothermal converter

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, and a test recording section for recording on a test recording member by the recording means, and a test recording member on the test recording member. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a window portion for visually recognizing a recorded image from the outside and an image adjusting operation portion for the recording means. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image sample for comparison with an image recorded on a recording member for test is provided beside the window. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of recording means, and an independent image adjusting operation section for each recording means. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of recording means, and an independent cleaning operation operating section is provided for each recording means. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test recording member is attachable to and detachable from the recording apparatus. 6. The recording material for test has an endless structure, and has an image erasing means for erasing an image recorded on the recording material for test.
Inkjet recording device. 7. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an inkjet recording means including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .