JPH06340063A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the wastefulness of recording paper and to always output a stable high-grade image by setting a recording head to the optimum driving condition before recording at the time of the recording of an image of high image quality or a color image. CONSTITUTION:An image pattern is recorded on a test member 8 to be recorded provided separately from recording paper 2 and the driving condition of a recording head 3 is controlled on the basis of the reading result of the recording state of the image pattern.

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 drive control mode of the recording head (recording means) in the ink jet recording 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 driving mode is changed according to the recording head to be used. In this case, the recording head is provided with information (for example, electrical resistance or ROM), and this information is recorded in the recording apparatus main body. 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 case of open loop drive control,
Although the cost of the recording apparatus can be suppressed, 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. But,
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. Particularly, in the case of a color output image, the color mixture part (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.

[0010]

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and the invention of claim 1 is
In an inkjet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a test recording section for recording on a recording material for test by the recording means, and recording on the recording material for test by the recording means. A reading unit that reads the recording state of the image and a drive control unit that controls the driving of the recording unit based on the read image information are recorded, and recording is performed according to the recording state of the image recorded on the test recording member. It is an object of the present invention to provide 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 by configuring the drive control of the means.

In addition to the above-mentioned structure, the invention according to claims 2 to 4 is such that a cleaning operation of the recording means is performed by the read image information, the recording member for test has an endless structure, and the reading is performed. The image recording means on the recording material for test after the image information is read by the recording means and before the recording is performed again by the recording means, or the recording material for test is a recording device. By providing a detachable structure with respect to the inkjet recording device, it is possible to more efficiently output an always stable and high-quality image when recording a high-quality image or a color image. .

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding portions. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied partially broken away. In FIG. 1, 1 is a main body of an ink jet recording apparatus, 2 is a recording material such as a sheet on which an image is recorded and is taken out of the recording apparatus, 3 is a recording head (recording means), and 4 is a recording head 3. A carriage that reciprocates along the recording material 2, 5 an electrical component, 6 a recovery means for recovering the ejection failure of the recording head 3, and 7 a carriage 4 that can reciprocate along the recording material 2. It is a guide rail for guiding and supporting. 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, yellow (Y),
It is composed of four recording heads 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3b for recording in magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (b) colors. 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.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a characteristic configuration of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 and 3, the recovery means 6 includes a cap (not shown) that seals the ejection port 82 of each recording head 3 at the time of non-recording, as well as fixed ink and bubbles from the ejection port 82 through the cap. For example, a pump for sucking the ink or the like, or a cleaning unit for removing ink, dust or the like adhering to the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 3 is 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 FIGS. 1 and 3, a test for recording an image on the recording material for test by the recording head 3 at a position adjacent to the recovery means 6 (the right end portion in FIG. 1). A recording unit 10 is provided. In the test recording unit 10, the recording head 3 records an image (test pattern) on the endless belt-shaped recording material for testing 8 mounted separately from the ordinary recording material 2. That is, when the recording head 3 comes to the position B in FIG. 3, the endless belt-shaped recording member 11 for test has a predetermined gap (for example, 0.5 mm to 2.0) from the ejection port surface 81 thereof. It is stretched so that it can run in the position where the millimeter is set.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, at a predetermined position of the traveling path (movement path) of the test recording member 8, a reading means for reading the recording state of the recorded image on the test recording member 8 is read. The light source 9 and the reading sensor 11 that configure the above are provided. Further, at another predetermined position of the moving path of the test recording member 8, cleaning means 12 for wiping and removing the ink (ink of the recording image) adhering to the surface of the recording member 8 is arranged. ing. The cleaning unit 12 also serves as an image erasing unit for erasing a recorded image on the test recording member 8.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, 13 is a motor for moving the test recording member 8 in the direction of arrow A along the guide roller 21, 14 is a control section in the electrical component section 5, and FIG.
Reference numeral 15 is a recording head drive table in the electrical component section 5, 16 is a history data storage section of each recording head 3, and 17 is a cumulative duty storage section of each recording head 3 in the electrical component section 5. The control unit 14 receives a rank transmission unit 18 for transmitting the rank of each recording head 3, a temperature information transmission unit 19 for transmitting the temperature information of each recording head 3, and a signal for driving each recording head 3. A drive signal transmission unit 20 for sending out is provided.

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, that is, the test recording section 10 for recording on the recording material for test 8 by the recording means 3, and the image recorded on the recording material for test 8 by the recording means 3. Recording means 9 and 11 for reading the recording state of the recording medium and drive control means 14 for controlling the drive of the recording means 3 based on the read image information, and recording of the image recorded on the recording material 8 for test. An inkjet recording device is configured to control the drive of the recording unit 3 according to the state.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the pulse width of the drive pulse applied to the recording head 3 and the recording density.
When the applied pulse width is increased, the recording density is increased, and when the pulse width is less than a certain pulse width, the ejection is not performed.
This relationship has the same characteristics even when the applied voltage is used instead of the applied pulse width. 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.

Next, setting of drive conditions for the recording head 3 in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described by utilizing the characteristics of the recording head described with reference to FIGS. . 1 and 3, the recording head 3 is at the test recording position (position B in FIG. 3).
When the recording head 3 is moved to, the recording head 3 records a predetermined pattern on the test recording member 8. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of this pattern in a state in which the pattern is recorded on the test recording member 8. In FIG. 6, an arrow A indicates the moving direction of the test recording member 8. As the pattern (image pattern of the test recording) of this embodiment, the density is 100%, 75% from front to back in the moving direction. 50% and 25
% Each image portion and a single-row ejection port check pattern are used.

When recording the above pattern on the test recording member 8, the control unit 14 controls the drive table 15, history data 16 and cumulative duty 17 of each recording head 3.
Further, the rank 18 and the temperature information 19 of each recording head 3 are called in, the driving condition of each recording head 3 is calculated, and each recording head 3 is driven based on the calculation result. Then, the pattern recorded on the test recording member 8 is read by the light source 8 and the reading sensor 9. The read data is sent to the control unit 14 and processed.

25% to 100 of the recorded pattern
When the recording density of the data read from the image portion of% is lower than the recording density preset on the apparatus main body side, FIG.
The applied pulse width is expanded by utilizing the characteristic shown in. Then, the data of the widened applied pulse width is written in the history data of each recording head 3. In order to obtain a higher quality image, the recording may be performed again on the test recording member 8 and the above process may be repeated. When a plurality of recording heads 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3b are used as in the present embodiment, the above-mentioned processing is performed for each recording head.
Further, in order to obtain a higher quality image, for example, a method of recording a pattern of a color mixing portion (blue, red, green, etc.) and finely adjusting the driving condition of each recording head 3 can be adopted.

After the pattern (recorded image) on the test recording member 8 is read, it is moved to the cleaning means 12 by the motor 13, and the cleaning means 12 adheres the ink (ink forming the pattern).
Wiped off and erased. The cleaning unit 12 has a structure in which the adhering ink on the test recording member 8 is scraped off by a wiping blade made of a rubber-like elastic material, or the adhering ink is wiped off by rubbing a hydrophilic foam. As long as the adhered ink (recorded image) can be removed from the test recording member 8 such as the one having the constitution, any constitution can be adopted. Further, as the material of the test recording member 8,
Ink ejected from the recording head 3 can be attached,
Moreover, any sheet material can be used as long as it can easily and surely remove the attached ink by the cleaning means 12. For example, a sheet material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, silicone rubber, or the surface of such sheet material. It is possible to use those subjected to various surface treatments.

On the other hand, if the single-row ejection port check pattern in FIG. 6 is read and there is a non-ejection ejection port 82, the recovery means 6 causes the ejection port 82 of the recording head 3 concerned.
By performing a recovery operation such as sucking ink from the recording head and cleaning the recording head, it is possible to prevent erroneous recording due to non-ejection. Further, in the case of a recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads 3, if the recovery operation (recovery process) is performed only for the recording head in which ejection failure has occurred, it is unnecessary for the recording head in which ejection failure has not occurred. It is possible to eliminate unnecessary recovery operation and wasteful consumption of ink, power and time.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the single-row ejection port check pattern in FIG. 6, and the dimension s in the figure is the line width formed by a single dot. The line width s shows the same relationship (trend) as the case of the recording density shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the relationship between the applied pulse width and the recording cumulative duty. When a higher quality image is required, the line width s of each ejection port 82 can be made uniform by reading the line width s and changing the pulse width applied to each ejection port 82. It becomes possible to record. Further, by reading the size of a single dot for each ejection port 82 instead of the line width s, and performing the same processing (control) operation as described above, the same operational effect can be obtained. Is.

As is clear from the above description, by using the ink jet recording apparatus according to the above embodiment, it is possible to obtain a high quality image and a high quality color image in a stable state at all times. In particular, it is possible to automatically correct the color balance. Further, since the deteriorated image is not output, it is possible to eliminate wasteful consumption of the recording material (recording paper etc.) 2 to be used. Furthermore, by using the endless test recording member 8 and cleaning it by the cleaning means 12, it is possible to eliminate the waste of the test recording member 8.

The test recording member 8 used in this embodiment is light-transmissive, and the reading sensor 11 is irradiated with transmitted light to read the image information. The recording member may be made of an opaque material, and image information may be read by applying reflected light to a reading sensor. When the recording density of each recording head 3 is low overall, for example, the temperature of the recording head 3 is raised by the heater for preheating to decrease the ink viscosity, thereby increasing the ink ejection amount, thereby increasing the recording density. It is also possible to increase. Further, instead of changing the applied pulse width, a similar effect can be obtained by applying a preliminary pulse or changing the applied voltage.

Although a flexible sheet material is used as the test recording member 8 in the above-described embodiment, any member that can adhere ink and has a surface on which the cleaning means 12 can remove the adhered ink is used. If
Other forms of members such as a cylindrical rigid drum can also be used as the test recording member. Further, when a replaceable disposable member is used as the test recording member, the cleaning means 12 can be omitted. As one form of the exchangeable test recording member, for example, a bobbin around which a recording member before use is wound and a bobbin around which a recording member after use is wound, as in a second embodiment described later. It is possible to adopt a winding system having a.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, partially broken away. Also in this embodiment, the test recording unit 10 is formed at a position adjacent to the recovery means 6. However, in the present embodiment, a cartridge 30 of a rewritable test recording member is used instead of the endless belt-shaped recording member 8 for testing, which is different from the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. point,
Pattern (image) on the light-transmitting test recording member 8
In place of the method of reading the transmitted light of the above with the reading sensor 11, a method of reading the reflected light from the pattern on the recording material for test by the reflection type optical sensor (reading sensor) 31 having a built-in light source, and The difference is that the cleaning means 12 for the test recording member 8 is omitted, and in other respects it has substantially the same configuration.

FIG. 9 is a plan sectional view showing the structure of the cartridge 30 accommodating the test recording member shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a side view taken along the line 10-10 in FIG.
The cartridge 30 is removably (replaceably) positioned and mounted on the test recording unit 10 (FIG. 8) of the inkjet recording apparatus. In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, 32 is a cartridge case, 33 is a tape-shaped test recording member, and 34 is a test recording member 3 before use.
3 is a supply bobbin wound around, 35 is a winding bobbin around which a used test recording member 33 is wound up, 36
Is a guide pin provided at a predetermined position (usually a plurality of positions) for forming a traveling path of the test recording member 33 moving from the supply bobbin 34 to the winding bobbin 35.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, an opening 37 for recording is formed on the front surface of the cartridge case 32 (the side facing the recording head 3), and the side surface of the case 32 (which has already been recorded). An opening 38 for reading is formed on the side on which the test recording member 33 runs. By rotating the winding bobbin 35, the test recording member 33 moves from the supply bobbin 34 along the illustrated path and is wound around the winding bobbin 35. At that time, a pattern (image) is recorded on the test recording member 33 by the recording head 3 in the recording opening 37, and then in the reading opening 38.
The pattern (image data) on the test recording member 33 is read by the reflective reading sensor 31.

Each recording head 3 in the second embodiment of FIG.
The configuration and operation for controlling the driving conditions of 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3b are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, according to the second embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 can be obtained. However, FIGS.
In comparison with the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second embodiment of No. 0 allows the test recording member to be replaced together with the cartridge 30, and it takes time to replace the cartridge 30, but Since it is not necessary to provide a cleaning unit, the structure of the recording apparatus can be simplified and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

The cartridge 30 of the test recording member 33 is detachably (replaceable) mounted to the main body of the apparatus. For example, the presence or absence (or amount) of the test recording member 33 of the supply bobbin 34. It is also possible to provide a detection means such as a micro switch for detecting the above, and to know the replacement time. The take-up bobbin 35 is driven to rotate, and the take-up bobbin 35 is provided with, for example, a rotational driving means such as a hole having a D-cut cross section and a gear.

In each of the embodiments described above, the operation according to the present invention of controlling the driving condition of the recording head based on the reading result of the image recorded on the recording material for test is the power supply of the recording apparatus. It is possible to always record a stable and good image by automatically performing it at a fixed time such as at the time of feeding. Further, a timer may be provided in the main body of the apparatus, the time of the previous operation may be stored, and the operation may be periodically performed by inputting a test recording command from the outside when a certain time has elapsed. . Further, it may be configured to automatically perform when a certain number of recordings or the number of recording dots is exceeded.

In the above embodiment, the case of the serial recording method 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 them, 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.

By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings 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 discharge 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 and number of recording heads 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 that 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 a form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus 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.

[0050]

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 test recording section for recording on the recording material for test by the recording means, a reading means for reading the recording state of the image recorded on the recording material for test by the recording means, and the recording means based on the read image information. And a drive control means for controlling the drive of the recording means, and the drive control of the recording means is performed according to the recording state of the image recorded on the test recording member. Provided is an inkjet recording apparatus which can always output a stable and high-quality image during recording.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 4, in addition to the above configuration, a configuration for performing a cleaning operation of the recording means by the read image information, and the test recording member has an endless structure, A configuration having image erasing means for erasing a recorded image on the test recording member after the image information is read by the reading means and before re-recording by the recording means, or the test recording member is Since it is detachably attached to the recording apparatus, an inkjet recording apparatus is provided which can output a stable and 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 a first 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.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a characteristic part of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG.

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.

6 is a schematic view illustrating an image pattern recorded on the test recording member in FIG. 1. FIG.

7 is a partially enlarged view of a single-row ejection port check pattern in the image pattern of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

9 is a plan cross-sectional view of a cartridge of a recording type test recording member of the winding type in FIG.

10 is a side view taken along the line 10-10 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Recording Material 3 Recording Means (Recording Head) 4 Carriage 6 Recovery Means 7 Guide Rail 8 Recorded Member for Testing 9 Light Source 10 Test Recording Section 11 Reading Sensor 12 Cleaning Means 13 Motor 14 Control Section 15 For Driving Recording Head Table 16 Historical data (storage) 17 Accumulated duty (storage) 18 Rank transmission unit 19 Temperature information transmission unit 20 Drive signal transmission unit 30 Cartridge of recording member for test 31 Reading sensor (reflection type) 33 Recording member for test 34 Supply bobbin 35 Take-up bobbin 37 Recording opening 38 Reading opening 81 Discharge port surface 82 Discharge port 84 Liquid path 85 Electrothermal converter

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Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, and a test recording section for recording on a recording material for test by the recording means, and the test recording area by the recording means. Recording of an image recorded on the test recording member, which has a reading unit for reading the recording state of the image recorded on the recording member and a drive control unit for controlling the drive of the recording unit based on the read image information. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that drive control of a recording means is performed according to a state. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning operation of the recording means is performed based on the read image information. 3. The test recording material has an endless structure, and the recorded image on the test recording material is erased after the image information is read by the reading means and before the recording is performed again by the recording means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image erasing unit for performing the above. 4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test recording member is detachable from the recording apparatus. 5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an inkjet recording unit including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used to eject ink. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, 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. .