JPH07125258A - Ink jet recorder and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable high quality recording to be carried out at a high speed by minimizing loss of time owing to preliminary discharge by a method wherein ink is preliminarily discharged to a preliminary discharge receiving position while a recording head is being transferred in a main scan direction with a carriage. CONSTITUTION:A carriage 6 on which recording heads 7, 8 are detachably mounted is provided on a recorder body 1. Then, the recording heads 7, 8 are drivn while the carriage 6 is being transferred in a main scan direction by driving a DC motor 2, the recording head 7 discharges a specific amount of ink to a preliminary discharge upper position 29, and the recording head 8 respectively discharges a specific amount of ink to a preliminary discharge receiving position 31. Loss of time owing to preliminary discharge can be minimized thereby. Further, by mounting a plurality of the recording heads and transferring a memory head during preliminary discharge, the number of preliminary discharge receiving positions can be reduced to one half, and high quality recording can be carried out at a high speed.

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 outputting information such as characters and images on a recording medium in an information processing system such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a word processor, a personal computer and the like. The present invention relates to an information processing system including a device as output means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium such as a HP sheet (hereinafter also simply referred to as recording paper) can be equipped with recording heads of various recording methods, for example, a wire dot method, a thermal method, a thermal transfer method, and an inkjet method. It has been proposed as a form.

However, among such recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording head for recording on recording paper by ejecting ink from ejection ports (nozzles) arranged on the recording element is used as low noise non-impact recording. The recording device provided (hereinafter also referred to as an inkjet recording device) is
Since a high-density and high-speed recording operation is possible, output means of an information processing system, for example, a printer as an output terminal such as a copying machine, a facsimile, an electronic typewriter, a word processor, a workstation, or a personal computer, a host computer, It is used and commercialized as a handy or portable printer provided in an optical disc device, a video device, and the like.
In this case, the inkjet recording apparatus has a configuration corresponding to the function, usage pattern, etc. peculiar to these apparatuses. Generally, an ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording unit (recording head), a carriage on which an ink tank is mounted, a conveying unit that conveys recording paper, and a control unit that controls these. Then, the recording head for ejecting ink droplets from the plurality of ejection ports is serially scanned in the direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction), while the recording paper is set to the recording width when not recording. The same amount is intermittently conveyed. This recording method is one in which ink is ejected onto a recording paper in accordance with a recording signal to perform recording, and the running cost is low, and it is widely used as a quiet recording method. Further, by using a recording head in which a large number of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged in a straight line in the sub-scanning direction, the recording head scans the recording paper once to perform recording with a width corresponding to the number of nozzles. It Therefore, it is possible to speed up the recording operation.

The recording element, that is, an energy generating means for generating energy for ejecting ink, uses an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or radiates electromagnetic waves such as a laser to generate heat. There is a method of discharging liquid droplets by the action of, or a method of heating the liquid by an electrothermal conversion element having a heating resistor.

Among them, the recording head of the type that discharges liquid by utilizing thermal energy (so-called valve jet type) can perform high resolution recording because the liquid discharge ports can be arranged at high density. It is possible. Among them, the recording head using the electrothermal converting element as the energy generating means is easy to be made compact, and has the advantages of the IC technology and the microfabrication technology, which have been remarkably improved in technology and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. This is advantageous because it can be used in two parts, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

Further, in the case of a color ink jet recording apparatus, a color image is formed by superimposing ink droplets ejected by recording heads of a plurality of colors. Generally, when performing color recording, yellow (Y),
There are required four types of recording heads and ink cartridges corresponding to the three primary colors of magenta (M) and cyan (C) or the four primary colors including black (B). Recently, an apparatus capable of forming an image in full color, which is equipped with such a recording head of 3 to 4 colors, has been put into practical use.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus can be configured so that large-format recording such as A1 can be performed relatively easily. That is, a plotter such as a printer for CAD output, for example, a recording device compatible with A1 version color recording for connecting a reader for reading an image and copying an original has been commercialized. On the other hand, various usages are required, and the demand for recording on transparencies that can be projected for presentations at conferences, lectures, etc. is increasing. In order to meet such demands, attempts have been made to develop and commercialize a recording apparatus capable of performing the best recording regardless of the type of the recording medium when the recording medium having different ink absorption characteristics is selected as needed. .

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus is in great demand in a wide range of industrial fields (for example, the apparel industry) as an excellent recording means, and at the same time, it is required to provide a higher quality image. As one of the basic measures for providing a high-quality image, there is stabilization of the ink ejection and the ink ejection amount, and as a means therefor, a conventional inkjet recording apparatus generally includes a head recovery device and a wiping device. ing.

First, the head recovery device will be described.

The head recovery device is arranged at one end of the movement path of the recording head, for example, at a position facing the home position. The head recovery device is operated by the driving force of the motor via the transmission mechanism, and the recording head is capped. In association with the capping of the recording head by the cap portion of the head recovery device, ink is absorbed (suction recovery) by an appropriate suction means (for example, a suction pump) provided in the head recovery device, and ink is ejected by this. Ejection recovery processing such as removing the thickened ink in the ejection port by forcibly ejecting from the outlet is performed. Further, the recording head is protected by capping at the end of recording. Such an ejection recovery process is performed when the power is turned on, when the recording head is replaced, or when the recording operation is not performed for a certain period of time.

Next, the wiping device will be described.

The wiping device is provided on the side surface of the head recovery device and has a blade as a wiping member made of silicon rubber. The blade is held by the blade holding member in the form of a cantilever, and similarly to the head recovery device, is operated by the motor and the transmission mechanism and can be engaged with the ejection surface of the recording head. As a result, the blade is projected into the moving path of the recording head at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the recording head or after the ejection recovery processing using the head recovery device, and the ejection surface of the head is accompanied by the movement operation of the head. Wipe off condensation, wetness, dust, etc.

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus is designed to stabilize ink ejection by the head recovery device and the wiping device.

Here, the preliminary discharge will be described in more detail.

First, the purpose and effect of preliminary ejection will be described. The inkjet recording device is
Image information such as characters is recorded by selectively ejecting ink droplets from the ink ejection port of the recording head onto the recording medium. However, since ink is a viscous liquid, it is affected by the environment in which the device is used. In particular, in a low temperature and low humidity environment, ink evaporation from the ink ejection port and increase in ink viscosity occur. As a result, it becomes difficult for the ink droplets to be ejected, and a lump of dried ink or highly viscous ink adheres to the ink ejection port and interferes with ink ejection. Furthermore, such troubles occur non-uniformly in a plurality of ink ejection ports. As a result, if the printing operation is performed while maintaining such a state, there is a very high possibility that a printing defect such as a missing character or a deviation will occur from the start of printing. Therefore, immediately before performing the recording operation, by ejecting a predetermined amount of ink to a predetermined location (in the recording apparatus) other than the recording medium, highly viscous ink or a dried lump near the ink ejection port is ejected. By removing the above, the viscosity of the ink ejected during the recording operation is kept constant, and the clogging of the ink ejection port is eliminated.

Next, how the preliminary ejection is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The recording head at a predetermined position is driven to start ejecting ink from the ink ejection port (preliminary ejection start, step 1201). The control section counts the number of ink ejections, and determines whether or not it has reached a predetermined number (N times) (step 1202). If the number has not reached N, the ink is further ejected. When the number of shots reaches N, the ink ejection is stopped (preliminary ejection completion, step 1203). At the same time, the carriage drive motor is turned on to start the printing operation (step 120).
4 and step 1025). The printing operation is as described above. When the predetermined printing is performed, the recording head stops at a predetermined position, the carriage drive motor is turned off, and the recording operation ends.

[0018]

However, in the preliminary ejection operation performed by the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus, the preliminary ejection can be executed only when the recording head is placed at a predetermined position. Before the recording is started, the time required to move the distance between the position where the preliminary ejection is performed and the position where the actual recording is started and the time required for the preliminary ejection are required. Therefore, requiring such a time runs counter to the user's demand for achieving high-speed and high-quality image recording. In particular, when a relatively large amount of ink is required to be ejected during preliminary ejection, the above-mentioned loss of time becomes enormous.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, to minimize the time loss due to preliminary ejection, and to achieve high-speed and high-quality recording, and an apparatus for the same. Is to provide an information processing system provided with as an output means.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording operation for recording input image information by ejecting ink onto a recording medium and, if necessary, recording to be performed. A carriage having at least one recording unit for performing a preliminary ejection operation for performing preliminary ejection of ink on a preliminary ejection receiving position set at a predetermined position other than the medium, and a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. In an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a control means for controlling the recording operation and the preliminary ejection operation, the preliminary ejection operation is performed by moving the recording means mounted on the carriage to the preliminary ejection receiving position while moving in the main scanning direction. It is characterized in that the preliminary discharge is performed. Preferably, the recording means is an ink jet recording head using an electrothermal converter that causes film boiling in the ink as a means for generating energy for ejecting the ink.

An information processing system according to the present invention is characterized by including such a recording device as an output means.

[0022]

When performing the preliminary ejection operation of preliminarily ejecting the ink onto the preliminary ejection receiving position set at a predetermined position other than the recording medium, by ejecting the ink while moving the recording head, Compared with the conventional method, it is possible to minimize the time loss due to preliminary ejection, and when multiple recording heads are installed, the number of preliminary ejection receiving positions can be reduced by moving the print head during preliminary ejection. It is possible to reduce the time by half, prevent the loss of the time and reduce the cost, and it is possible to achieve high-speed and high-quality recording.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A serial type ink jet recording apparatus having two detachable recording heads (disposable type) will be described below as an example of the recording apparatus according to the present invention.

<Embodiment 1> FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining a schematic structure of a recording apparatus. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the recording apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an arrow A in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view seen from the direction, FIG. 3 is a view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG.
3 is a view seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 1 is an apparatus main body. Recording heads 7 and 8 are removably mounted on a carriage 6 provided in the apparatus main body 1.

(Drive System) First, the drive source and constituent elements related thereto will be described.

Reference numeral 2 moves the carriage 6 in the main scanning direction, and a recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper).
Is a DC motor that serves as a drive source for carrying the sheet in the sub-scanning direction. A motor worm gear 12 is coaxially press-fitted and fixed to the shaft of the motor 2.

Reference numeral 3 is a screw wheel gear. The gear 3 is in mesh with the motor worm gear 12.

Reference numeral 4 is a paper feed wheel gear. The gear 4 is rotatably supported by a shaft provided in the main body 1, and includes a large diameter gear 4a and a small diameter gear 4b. The gear 4a is in mesh with the motor worm gear 12. On the other hand, the gear 4b rotates integrally with the gear portion 4a and is in mesh with the gear portion 27a at the left end of the paper feed intermediate gear 27. Gear portion 27b at the right end of the paper feed intermediate gear
Is a toothless gear, and is rotatably supported by a shaft attached to the main body 1 so as to rotate integrally with the gear 27a.

Reference numeral 10 is a feed roller. A gear portion 10a is provided at the left end portion of the roller 10, and is in mesh with the toothless gear 27b at a constant cycle. Further, the feed roller 10 is inserted into a hole provided in the apparatus main body 1 and is in a rotatable state. Further, an annular feed member 23 made of an elastic material (for example, a rubber material) is provided at the center of the feed roller 10, and pinch rollers 20 are provided at positions facing the feed member 23.

The pinch roller 20 is a pinch roller shaft 2.
1 is pivotally supported. The shaft 21 is rotatably and movably supported by the main body 1 (in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 4). The pinch roller 20 is pressed by the pinch roller shaft 21 toward the feed roller 10.

As a result, when the feed roller 10 rotates, the recording paper is conveyed by the cooperation of the pinch roller 20.

Reference numeral 5 is a bidirectional lead screw. The screw 5 is rotatably inserted into a hole formed in the apparatus body 1, and the gear 3 is coaxially fixed to one end of the screw 5 so that the screw 5 can rotate integrally. The bidirectional lead screw 5 has two screw groove-shaped screw grooves 5 that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other on its peripheral surface.
a and 5b are formed (see FIG. 1). These two
The two screw grooves 5a and 5b join together at both ends 5c and 5d of the bidirectional lead screw 5 and are continuous.

(Recording System) Next, the recording means and the components related thereto will be described.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, two recording means (recording heads) 7 and 8 are arranged in parallel on the carriage 6 along the main scanning direction (corresponding to the directions of arrows H and I). The recording heads 7 and 8 of this embodiment are recording heads of a system (so-called valve jet system) that ejects liquid by using thermal energy. A plurality of nozzles arranged at a predetermined density are formed in this recording head.
Each nozzle is provided with a heater (heating element) that generates discharge energy in a flow path communicating with the nozzle. The heater generates heat in response to the applied electric pulse, which causes film boiling in the ink, and the ink is ejected from the nozzle as the bubble (valve) grows due to the film boiling.

The carriage 6 reciprocates along the guide shaft 9 in the directions of arrows H and I shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a screw pin 18 is provided on the carriage 6 so as to project therefrom. The screw pin 18 has a screw groove 5 a formed on the peripheral surface of the bidirectional lead screw 5.
Or engage with 5b. Further, a substantially L-shaped protrusion 6a is provided at the rear end of the carriage 6. Therefore,
Not only is the guide shaft 9 reciprocatingly guided in the directions of arrows H and I, but also the projection 6a is engaged with the rail 1 formed at one end of the frame of the main body 1 (for example, the hatched portion in FIG. 3). By doing so, the reciprocating movement is guided and becomes stable.

As shown in FIG. 3, an insertion port 19 into which a recording sheet (not shown) is inserted and an ejection port 22 from which the recording sheet is ejected after recording are respectively formed in the upper part of the frame of the apparatus main body 1. . The platen 24 is detachably mounted on the frame near the discharge port 22. The recording paper inserted from the direction of the arrow IN (FIG. 4) has the input image information recorded on the platen 24, and then the arrow O from the discharge port 22.
It is discharged in the UT direction. The recording operation and its control will be described later.

The carriage 6 has two flexible circuit boards 26. These substrates 26 are for supplying image signals and electric power to the recording heads 7 and 8, respectively, and electrically connect the recording heads 7 and 8 and the carriage 6 via the two set levers 11. The flexible circuit board 26 is connected to a control circuit (not shown) of the apparatus body 1 via the circuit board 17.

Reference numeral 16 is a transmission type photodetector which functions as a home position detector (recording start position detector) provided in the lower portion of the carriage 6. The detector 16 has a concave shape and is connected to the control circuit of the apparatus body 1 via the circuit board 17. With the reciprocating movement of the carriage, ribs (convex portions) 1c, 1 formed and localized on the frame of the main body 1 in this concave opening portion.
d enters. When the convex portion is inserted into the concave portion, light transmission between the wall surfaces of the concave portion which are erected is cut off. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the carriage 6 is located at the home position depending on whether or not such interruption occurs.

(Recording Operation) The recording operation by the recording means having such a structure and the components related thereto will be described below.

When a drive signal is sent from the control circuit to the DC motor 2, the motor 2 is driven to rotate the shaft in a predetermined direction (direction of arrow G in FIG. 2). This rotation is transmitted to the bidirectional lead screw 5 via the transmission wheel gear 3. Rotation of this bidirectional lead screw 5 (arrow
Pin 1 engaged with the screw groove 5a along with (F direction)
8 slides along the axis of the bidirectional lead screw 5,
Move the carriage 6 in the direction of arrow H.

Further, the carriage 6 moves in the direction of the arrow H, and the screw pin 18 reaches the screw groove portion 5C. Upon passing this portion, the screw pin 18 engages with the screw groove 5b continuously connected to the screw groove 5a. As a result, the moving direction changes to the I direction. The carriage 6 moves in the arrow I direction by the rotation of the bidirectional lead screw 5, and the screw pin 18 eventually reaches the screw groove 5d. When the screw pin 18 passes through this part, the screw pin 18
It engages with the screw groove 5a continuously connected to b. As a result, the moving direction changes to the H direction again. The carriage 6 reciprocates in the I direction and the H direction by such a repeated operation.

The print start position is the rib 1C when moving in the I direction.
On the other hand, when moving in the H direction, it is on the rib 1d. When the carriage is located above the print start position, the home position detector 16 attached to the carriage detects the carriage and a recording start position detection signal is generated.

A disc-shaped encoder slit 12a is integrally formed at the root of the motor worm gear 12 and is inserted into the recess of the discharge signal detector 25.

(Conveyance of Recording Paper) Next, the conveyance of recording paper will be briefly described.

The recording paper is conveyed by a feed roller gear 10a which meshes with the toothless gear 27b which is rotated by the drive of the DC motor 2 and which intermittently rotates. That is, as the gear 10a rotates, the member 23 provided on the peripheral surface of the feed roller 10 coaxially coupled with the gear 10a rotates. As a result, the recording paper sandwiched by the member 23 and the transport roller 20 is transported.

(Recording Operation Control) The recording operation control of the recording apparatus having the above structure will be described.

First, the control unit provided in the apparatus main body 1 will be briefly described. The control unit is a controller that performs the main control of the entire apparatus, a CPU that executes an information processing procedure, for example, a CPU that has a working area in the above processing, and a ROM that stores a program corresponding to the above processing procedure. , A timer or the like that creates a necessary timing in the recording operation. A signal from such a control unit is sent to the circuits 17 and 26 via the interface unit and the driver. Further, a signal from the detector 16 or the like is sent to the CPU of the control unit through the reverse path.

FIG. 5 shows the CPU 50 of the control unit and the CP.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a relationship with a recording apparatus main body 56 (reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4) controlled by U.

The recording device main body 56 includes the ejection signal detector 25.
The ejection position detection signal output from the recording start signal detector 16 and the ejection start position detection signal output from the recording start signal detector 16
It can be sent to the PU 50.

The recording operation is started by applying the voltage supplied from the voltage unit 53 to the DC motor of the recording apparatus main body 56 (step 101). When the DC motor is driven, a discharge position detection signal is generated by the encoder slit disk 12a formed integrally with the motor worm gear 12. The generation of this signal is set to occur in a one-to-one correspondence with each dot row in the dot matrix. By the rotation of the motor worm gear 12, the carriage starts moving in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 2 (moving from the arrow C side of the apparatus body to the arrow B side). FIG. 6 shows a timing chart of the recording operation accompanying the movement in the H direction.

When the ejection start position detector 16 fixed to the carriage 6 passes through the rib 1d (see FIG. 1), an ejection start position signal is generated. The CPU 50 receives the ejection start position signal and simultaneously outputs the recording signal to the recording head 7 or 8 in synchronization with this signal. as a result,
Recording in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 2 is performed on the recording paper. In this embodiment, each recording head is in charge of printing only in one direction of the forward path or the backward path. That is, for example, in the case of the arrow H direction, the recording head 7 performs recording, while in the case of the arrow I direction, the recording head 8 performs recording.

When the recording in the H direction is completed, the recording paper is conveyed. The CPU 50 counts the number of pulses of the ejection-one detection signal, and stops energization of the motor 2 when the preset number of pulses is counted. At this time, the carriage 6 stops at the end portion on the side of the arrow B of the apparatus main body in FIG.

When the motor 2 is driven again in this state,
The carriage 6 starts moving from the end portion on the arrow B side to the end portion on the arrow C side (movement in the arrow I direction). FIG. 7 shows a timing chart of the recording operation accompanying the movement in the H direction.

When the ejection start position detector 16 fixed to the carriage 6 passes through the rib 1c (see FIG. 1), an ejection start position signal is generated. The CPU 50 receives the ejection start position signal and simultaneously outputs the recording signal to the recording head 7 or 8 in synchronization with this signal. as a result,
Recording in the direction of arrow I in FIG. 2 is performed on the recording paper.

When the recording in the I direction is completed, the recording paper is conveyed. The CPU 50 counts the number of pulses of the ejection-one detection signal, and stops energization of the motor 2 when the preset number of pulses is counted. At this time, the carriage 6 stops at the end portion on the side of the arrow C of the apparatus body of FIG.

It is necessary for the CPU 50 to determine in advance whether the carriage 6 is located at the arrow B side end portion in FIG. 1 or the arrow C side end portion. As a determination method, for example, when the apparatus main body 56 is powered on or when a specific key of the keyboard 51 is pressed, the DC motor 2 is driven, and subsequently the ejection start position detection signal is indicated by arrows H and I. Make it different in direction. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, ribs 1c and 1 are arranged so that signals (X and Y) having different pulse widths are generated.
Change the length of d. By doing so, for example, when the pulse width changes from X to Y, it can be determined that the movement is in the I direction, and when the pulse width changes from Y to X, the movement can be determined in the H direction.

Further, the difference between the pulse signals X and Y can be accurately determined by counting the number of pulses of the ejection position detection signal generated while the X and Y pulse signals are generated, even if the rotation speed of the motor 2 is different. It is possible to determine the moving direction and position of the carriage.

(Preliminary Ejection) Preliminary ejection and its control in the recording apparatus having the above structure will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the preliminary ejection receiving positions 28, 29, 30, 31 are set in the vicinity of both ends on the arrow B and C sides of the recording apparatus main body 1.

First, the DC motor 2 is driven and the movement of the carriage 6 is started. Here, the movement is in the I direction (step 801). Along with this movement, the recording head is driven to start ink ejection from the ink ejection port (preliminary ejection start, step 802). At this time, the print head 8 ejects a predetermined amount of ink to the preliminary ejection receiving position 31, and the print head 7 ejects a predetermined amount of ink to the preliminary ejection upper position 29. The control section counts the number of ink ejections, and determines whether or not it has reached a predetermined number (N).
03). If the number has not reached N, the ink is further ejected. When the number of shots reaches N, the ejection of ink is stopped (preliminary ejection ends, step 804). Then, the printing operation is started (step 805). On the other hand, when moving in the H direction, the print head 8 moves to the preliminary ejection receiving position 28,
The print head 7 ejects a predetermined amount of ink to the preliminary ejection upper position 30.

The recording operation is as described above. When the predetermined printing is performed, the recording head stops at the predetermined position and the recording operation ends.

<Embodiment 2> The recording apparatus of this embodiment (see FIG. 9)
Although the reference configuration has the same schematic configuration as the apparatus of the first embodiment, the preliminary discharge receiving positions are set at four locations in the first embodiment, whereas they are set at two locations in this embodiment. Therefore, the preliminary discharge control is also different from that of the first embodiment as follows (see FIG. 10). The above positions are designated by reference numerals 28 and 2 in FIG.
This is the position indicated by 9.

First, the DC motor 2 is driven to start the movement of the carriage 6 (step 101).

In the case of movement in the I direction, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 103. Along with this movement, the recording head is driven and ink ejection from the ink ejection port is started (preliminary ejection start, step 103). At this time, the print head 7 performs preliminary ejection to the preliminary ejection receiving position 29.
The control section counts the number of ink ejections, and determines whether or not the number of ink ejections reaches a predetermined number (M times) (step 104). If it has not reached M, the ink is further ejected. When the number M has been reached, the ejection of ink from the recording head 7 is stopped (preliminary ejection completion, step 10).
5). After that, when the carriage moves a prescribed amount in the I direction and the print head 8 reaches the preliminary ejection receiver 29, an ejection position detection signal Z pulse is generated (step 106). Preliminary ejection of the print head 8 is started by this signal (step 107). The control section counts the number of ink ejections, and determines whether or not it has reached a predetermined number (N) (step 108). If you have not reached N departures,
Further, ink is ejected. When the number of ejections reaches N, the ejection of ink from the recording head 7 is stopped (preliminary ejection end, step 109). Then, the printing operation is started (step 110).

On the other hand, in moving the carriage in the H direction, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 111. First, after the print head 8 performs preliminary discharge at the preliminary discharge receiving position 28 (steps 111 to 113), the carriage moves again and the print head 7 reaches the preliminary discharge upper position 28 (step 11).
3). Then, the recording head 7 performs a predetermined amount of preliminary ejection (steps 115 to 117), and then moves to the recording operation (step 110).

The recording operation is as described above. When the predetermined printing is performed, the recording head stops at the predetermined position and the recording operation ends.

<Embodiment 3> In the recording apparatus of Embodiments 1 and 2, the preliminary ejection of the two recording heads 7 and 8 is performed in the process of moving the recording head to only one of the forward path and the backward path. In the recording apparatus, the recording head is set so that only the recording head used when the carriage makes one scan, that is, only the pre-ejection of either 7 or 8 is performed.

Preliminary ejection in the recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition,
The preliminary ejection receiving position of the recording apparatus is the same as in the second embodiment.

First, the DC motor 2 is driven to start the movement of the carriage 6 (step 1101). Subsequently, the carriage movement direction is checked (step 1
102) In the case of movement in the I direction, it is checked whether the recording head for printing is the recording head 7 (step 1103). When the recording head in charge of printing is the recording head 8, first, in order to perform preliminary ejection of the recording head 8, the carriage moves again in the I direction until the ejection position detection pulse signal Z is detected (step 1104). When the recording head 8 reaches the preliminary ejection receiving position, the recording head 8 is driven to start ink ejection (preliminary ejection start, step 1105). The control section counts the number of ink ejections and determines whether or not the number of ink ejections reaches a predetermined number (N) (step 1106). If the number has not reached N, the ink is further ejected. When the number of ejections reaches N, the ejection of ink from the recording head 8 is stopped (preliminary ejection end, step 1107). After that, predetermined recording is performed by the recording head 8 (step 110).
8).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 1103 that the recording head in charge of printing is the recording head 7, the recording head 7 is driven to start ink ejection (preliminary ejection start, step 1109). Subsequently, the control section counts the number of ink ejections, and the predetermined number (M
(Step 111)
0). If it has not reached M, the ink is further ejected. When the number M has been reached, the ejection of ink from the recording head 7 is stopped (preliminary ejection ends, step 111).
1). After that, predetermined recording is performed by the recording head 7 (step 1108).

If it is determined in step 1102 that the carriage is moving in the H direction, then it is checked in step 1112 whether the recording head for printing is the recording head 8. When the recording head in charge of printing is the recording head 8, the recording head 8 is driven to start ink ejection (preliminary ejection start, step 1113). Subsequently, the control section counts the number of ink ejections, and judges whether or not the number of ink ejections reaches a predetermined number (N) (step 1114). If the number has not reached N, the ink is further ejected. When the number of ejections reaches N, the ejection of ink from the recording head 8 is stopped (preliminary ejection ends, step 1115). After that, predetermined recording is performed by the recording head 7 (step 1108).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1112 that the recording head in charge of printing is the recording head 7, then this recording head 7
In order to perform the preliminary ejection of, the carriage moves again in the I direction until the ejection position detection pulse signal Z is detected (step 1116). When the recording head 7 reaches the preliminary ejection receiving position, the recording head 7 is driven to start ink ejection (preliminary ejection start, step 1117). The control unit counts the number of ink ejections and determines whether or not the predetermined number of times (M times) has been reached (step 111).
8). If it has not reached M, the ink is further ejected. When the number M has been reached, the ejection of ink from the recording head 7 is stopped (preliminary ejection ends, step 111).
9). After that, predetermined recording is performed by the recording head 8 (step 1108).

<Embodiment 4> Embodiments 1 to 3 relate to a recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads.
This embodiment relates to a recording apparatus equipped with one recording head.

FIG. 12 is for explaining the schematic structure of the recording apparatus of this embodiment.

The recording head 34 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Similarly to the cases of Nos. 3 to 3, the recording head is of a system (so-called valve jet system) in which a liquid is ejected by utilizing thermal energy.

Reference numeral 35 is a step motor as a drive source, which is connected to a control circuit (not shown).

Reference numeral 36 is a motor gear, which is press-fitted and fixed to the motor shaft 35a of the step motor 35.

Reference numeral 39 is a (one direction) lead screw, which is provided with a gear portion 39a at its left end.
The paper feed transmission gear 39b is provided at the right end of the paper feed intermediate gear 4 in mesh with the motor gear 36.
It is in a meshed state with the paper feed clutch gear 46 via 4.

The end portion 45a of the clutch spring 45 is engaged with the groove portion 46a of the clutch gear 46, and the clutch spring 45 is wound around the end portion 48a of the feed roller 48. When the clutch gear 46 rotates in the direction of arrow J, the clutch spring 45 is loosened and power is transmitted.

On the other hand, when rotating in the K direction, the clutch spring 45 is closed and the feed roller 48 is given a rotational force in the K direction to carry out the carrying operation.

Reference numeral 47 is a carriage on which the print head 34 is mounted. The pin 42 provided so as to project from the carriage 47 is inserted into the groove 39C of the lead screw.

The carriage 47 and the print head 34 are
The motor 35 rotates in the forward and reverse directions to move in the directions H and I, and the recording operation is performed while moving in the direction I. Then, the motor rotates in the reverse direction so that the carriage 47 and the print head 34 move in the direction H. At the same time, the specified amount of paper is fed. After that, it stops at the prescribed position (home position) on the arrow C side (left end portion) in FIG.

The preliminary ejection operation is performed by the carriage 4 before the printing operation.
While the 7 and the print head 34 move in the I direction, a prescribed amount of ink is ejected to the preliminary ejection receiving portion 32.

(Others) In particular, the present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, especially in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a system that causes a change in the state of ink by thermal energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the 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 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.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 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 is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, 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 medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus or the electrical connection to the main body of the apparatus or the ink from the main body of the apparatus by being mounted on the main body of the apparatus The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, and a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. 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 it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. 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 of the present invention, other than 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 transmission / reception function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

And, without being limited to the above fields,
The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention may take a form used as an apparatus for printing a cloth made of cotton, silk, rayon, acetate, nylon, polyester fiber or the like and a mixed spinning cloth thereof.

[0094]

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus based on the present invention, the recording operation of recording the input image information by ejecting the ink onto the recording medium, and the predetermined operation other than the recording medium as required. A carriage for carrying at least one recording means for carrying out a preliminary ejection operation for performing preliminary ejection of ink on the preliminary ejection receiving position set at the position, and a conveying means for conveying the recording medium,
In an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a control unit for controlling a recording operation and a preliminary ejection operation, during the preliminary ejection, the recording unit performs preliminary ejection of ink to a preliminary ejection receiving position while moving in a main scanning direction by a carriage. Preferably, the recording means, as a means for generating energy for ejecting ink, uses an electrothermal converter that causes film boiling in the ink, so when performing the preliminary ejection, By ejecting ink while moving the recording head, it is possible to minimize the time loss due to preliminary ejection compared to the conventional method. Also, when multiple recording heads are installed, the print head can be ejected during preliminary ejection. It is possible to reduce the number of preliminary discharge receiving positions by half by moving the Sutodaun is possible, high-speed and high-quality recording is achievable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of an example (Example 1) of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining control of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the recording operation in the direction of arrow H in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the recording operation in the direction of arrow I in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a preliminary ejection operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of an example (Example 2) of an inkjet recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a preliminary ejection operation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a preliminary ejection operation in the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of an example (Example 4) of an inkjet recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a preliminary ejection operation in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Device main body 2 DC motor 5 Bidirectional lead screw 6 Carriage 7 Recording head 8 Recording head 28 Preliminary ejection receiving position 29 Preliminary ejection receiving position 30 Preliminary ejection receiving position 31 Preliminary ejection receiving position 32 Preliminary ejection receiving position

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording operation for recording input image information by ejecting ink on a recording medium and, if necessary, the ink on a preliminary ejection receiving position set at a predetermined position other than the recording medium. A carriage carrying at least one recording means for performing the preliminary ejection operation for performing the preliminary ejection, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium, and a control means for controlling the recording operation and the preliminary ejection operation. In the inkjet recording apparatus provided, in the preliminary ejection operation, the recording means mounted on the carriage performs preliminary ejection of the ink to the preliminary ejection receiving position while moving in the main scanning direction. Inkjet recording device. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means uses an electrothermal converter that causes film boiling in the ink as a means for generating energy for ejecting the ink. An inkjet recording apparatus, which is a head. 3. An information processing system comprising the recording device according to claim 1 or 2 as output means.