JPH08132681A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a recorder which can generate a synchronizing signal for recording based on either of the exciting clock of a conveying motor on the moving amount of a recording medium. CONSTITUTION: The device signal (PRCK) of a conveying motor for driving to convey a recording sheet or an (ENCCK) signal for detecting the moving amount of the sheet detected by an encoder is input, either of the signal (PRCK) or the signal (ENCCK) is selected by a select signal (ENCON), and a recording horizontal synchronizing signal (HSYNC) is generated. Image data is output to a recording head in synchronization with the synchronizing signal to record an image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium using a line type print head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer device using a line type head is known. As such a line printer,
A typical example is a thermal printer or a thermal transfer printer using a line type thermal head. When recording is performed using such a line type thermal head, the recording synchronization signal is created based on, for example, an excitation signal of a conveyance motor that conveys the recording paper. Alternatively, a sensor or the like for detecting the movement of the recording paper is provided,
A synchronization signal is created based on the output signal from the sensor.

[0003]

However, the conventional method of generating a synchronization signal has the following problems. (1) If a synchronization signal is created based on the excitation clock of the recording paper conveyance motor, the operation of the conveyance mechanism such as the conveyance roller and the conveyance belt does not correspond to the movement amount of the recording paper, and the printed image is Misalignment occurs. Particularly when printing on a recording medium such as a small label, the recording medium is placed on a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is conveyed and driven by the rotation of a conveyor motor for printing. At this time, if the coefficient of friction between the recording paper and the conveyor belt is small, slippage occurs between the recording paper and the belt, and as a result, the recording paper conveyance drive amount and the actual movement amount do not correspond, and the print The quality of the captured image is degraded. (2) On the other hand, when the synchronization signal is generated based on the clock signal from the encoder that comes into contact with the recording paper and detects the amount of movement of the recording paper, it is necessary to provide a margin for unevenness in the conveyance speed of the recording paper. There is a problem in that the speed cannot be increased beyond a predetermined value.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and provides a recording apparatus capable of generating a recording synchronization signal based on either an excitation clock of a conveying motor or a movement amount of a recording medium. The purpose is to do.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of selecting a reference signal for generating a synchronizing signal for recording according to the recording medium used or the recording speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of recording an image with high quality on any recording medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a recording apparatus for inputting print data from an external device and recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head, the conveying unit conveying the recording medium, and the movement amount of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit. Detecting means for detecting the above, a synchronizing signal generating means for generating a synchronizing signal for recording by selecting either the drive signal of the conveying means or the detection signal by the detecting means, and the synchronizing signal generating means for synchronizing with the synchronizing signal. A recording unit that outputs the image data to the recording head and records the image.

[0008]

With the above construction, the amount of movement of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means for conveying the recording medium is detected, and either the drive signal of the conveying means or the detection signal of the detecting means is selected for recording. To generate the sync signal. It operates so as to output image data to the recording head in synchronization with this synchronizing signal to record an image.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a color printer apparatus having a full line recording head according to an ink jet system which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a circuit of this printer device includes a formatter unit 1 for controlling communication with a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a host), expansion into a bitmap RAM, and the like.
10 and an engine unit 150 that controls various controls of the recording head, a conveyance motor, and various sensors.

This is because the formatter unit 110 has a circuit configuration corresponding to various applications (for example, a normal printer, a facsimile machine or a copying machine) in consideration of the difference in the interface with the host and the difference in the image processing method. This is because the engine section 150 aims at reducing the difference depending on the application and reducing the cost by standardizing it so that any application can be supported.

In the present embodiment, the functional division of the formatter unit 110 and the engine unit 150 is determined as follows. (1) Function of formatter unit-Interface with host-Analysis of command (command) sent from host-Bitmap RA of recording data based on the above command
Deployment to M ・ Control of operation panel ・ Control of control box (described later) ・ Interface with engine unit 150 ・ Option control: control of recording paper supply unit (option IN), control of recording paper discharge unit (option OUT) ( 2) Engine function-Interface with formatter unit 110-Control of ink supply system-Control of recording paper transport system-Control of data transfer to printhead-Control of heater energization to printhead-Temperature management-Clock function-Backup memory Functions-Recording paper width detection function To realize these functions, the following circuit configuration is required.

In FIG. 1, a formatter unit 110 includes a CPU-F111 for executing a control program, a ROM 112 for storing the control program, a system RAM 113 required for executing the program, an IFCNT 114 required for communication with the host, and a host. Bitmap RAM for recording the bit map data of the transmitted recording contents
115, a dedicated circuit GAF 116 that controls the bitmap RAM 115 and communicates with the engine unit 150, an emulation RO for analyzing print data from the host
M (E-ROM) 117, character generator (CG-ROM) 118 for converting character code data into bitmap data, memory card 119 used as an external storage device, IO port to interface with the above-mentioned optional function 120, an operation panel 1 including a user interface and keys for performing various operations and an LCD for displaying messages from the device
21.

Reference numeral 122 denotes a control box which serves as a user interface when performing stand-alone image recording using the image data stored in the memory card 119 without connecting the printer device to a host and performing various instruction operations. Is. Further, 123 and 124 are input / output interfaces (option (input) IN, option (output) OUT) of various additional devices which are optionally connected to the printer device.
In this embodiment, the option IN 123 is connected to a recording paper supply unit described later, and the option OUT 124 is connected to a recording paper discharge unit described later.

Next, the engine section 150 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the engine section 150 is composed of an engine circuit 160 whose main purpose is to convey recording paper and an engine circuit 180 whose main purpose is to control the drive of the recording head.

The engine section 150 is a ROM storing a control program and an R used as a work area for executing the ROM.
A CPU-E161 including an AM and a port (PORT) for inputting a sensor to be described later and an A / D converter for converting an analog input from the port into digital data, and executing a control program to perform various control processes. CP
RAM 16 used for program execution of U-E161
2. EEPR for recording unevenness correction data of recording head
An OM 163, a clock (RTC) 164, and a dedicated circuit GAE 165 for creating test record data and communicating with the formatter unit 110 are included. Further, 171 is a sensor that detects the position of the recording sheet, and 172 is a conveyance motor that conveys the recording sheet.

The engine circuit 180 is used for the recording head 1.
90 drive control, control of the motor 191 for moving the recording head and the cap (not shown) to cap the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head 190 when the recording operation is not performed, and position detection and recording of the cap. A dedicated circuit GAE181 for controlling the sensor 192 for detecting the position of the head is included.

FIG. 2 shows the printer device 10 described with reference to FIG.
It is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of 0. FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which a control box 122, a recording paper supply unit 130 that uses roll paper as recording paper, and a recording paper discharge unit 131 that includes a cutter that cuts the rolled paper after recording are incorporated in the printer device 100. Shows. In addition, the engine circuit 160, as shown in FIG.
It is divided into 160 (engine part 1) and 180 (engine part 2).

Further, 190Y is a full line recording head (Y head) for recording using yellow (Y) ink, and 190M is a full line recording head (M for recording using magenta (M) ink. Head), 190
C is a full line recording head (C head) for recording using cyan (C) ink, and 190K is black (K).
Is a full-line recording head (K head) that performs recording using the above ink, and is arranged along the conveyance direction of the recording paper.

Further, 171a is a recording paper supply unit 130.
A signal (TOF1) by detecting the leading edge of the recording paper from the black lines added at regular intervals to the roll paper supplied from
The sensor 171b detects the leading edge of the recording paper from the black line of the roll paper after the recording is finished, and outputs a signal (TOF
A sensor 173 for generating 2) is a conveyor belt, which is rotationally driven by the rotation of the conveyor motor 172, and the movement of the conveyor belt 173 conveys the recording paper (recording medium) placed on the belt 173. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the head arrangement in the print section of the ink jet printer of this embodiment.

The head 190 of this embodiment is a K-head (HEAD) for ejecting black ink, a C-head for ejecting cyan ink, an M-head for ejecting magenta ink, and a yellow color head. Y- that ejects ink
It is composed of four line heads.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recording paper is K-
It is conveyed from the head (190K) side and sequentially passes under the C-head (190C), M-head (190M) and Y-head (190Y). When passing under these heads, print data corresponding to the head portion of each color is transferred to the head, and the nozzle heater in the head is energized according to the print data, whereby ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzles and printing is performed. To be executed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of the line head of the ink jet printer apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, IC1 to IC each having 128 nozzles.
Have 11.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the IC (head substrate) of the ink jet head of this embodiment. IC1 to IC1
1 has the same configuration. In the following description, * indicates a row true signal that becomes true when the level is low.

In FIG. 5, VH is a heater (heating element) 5
01 power supply voltage, PGND is heater power supply GND, 5
Reference numeral 02 denotes a driving transistor for the heater 501. OD
D is a signal for instructing energization to the odd-numbered heater 501, E
VEN is a signal for instructing the even-numbered heaters 501 to be energized. Numeral 503 is a 3-8 decoder, and in this embodiment 128 heaters 501 are divided into 8 blocks (16
Nozzle / block) and block selection signal (BENB0
2), a block of the heater 501 for driving heat generation is selected. SUBH is a signal for sub heat,
PT * is a signal for heating a nozzle whose print data is “0”, and MHENB * is a heat pulse signal for energizing for actual printing. PHEAT1 * ~
4 * is a preheat pulse, which is selected by the selection logic 504 according to the selection data set in selection data latches 505 and 506 described later, and the heater 501 is preheated by the selected pulse signal.

Reference numeral 508 denotes a shift register, which is print data to be actually printed or a preheat pulse (PH
Selection data for selecting EAT1 * to 4 *) is input as serial data (SI) in synchronization with the clock SICK, and 128-bit data is held. The print data held in this manner is the data latch signal DLAT *.
Is latched in the data latch 507 by the latch signal LATA * and the selected data is latched by the latch signal LATA *.
5, the selection data latch 5 by the latch signal LATB *
Latched to 06. DIA is an input signal to the sensor 509, and DIK is an output signal from the sensor 509.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the heater arrangement of the ink jet head of this embodiment.

The total number of nozzles of the ink jet head of this embodiment is 128 × 11 = 1408 nozzles. However, in the manufacturing process of the head, there are cases where unusable regions are generated on the left and right, so assuming that these regions are, for example, 24 nozzles near the left and right ends, respectively, subtract "48" from the total number of nozzles. In addition, the total number of nozzles that can be used is 1360 nozzles.

As described above, in the color printer of this embodiment, there are heads for four colors of K, C, M, and Y, and the positions of the nozzles (dot positions to be printed) overlap between the heads of the respective colors. Need to be adjusted exactly. If this alignment is not correct, normal color rendering is impossible and high-quality color printing cannot be obtained. Such position adjustment is extremely minute (micron (μm) order) and cannot be mechanically performed. For this reason, a horizontal registration adjustment nozzle for aligning the heads of each color is provided,
The print position is adjusted between the heads of each color depending on which part of the adjustment nozzle is used for printing. Now, if the number of nozzles for horizontal registration adjustment is set to, for example, 16 nozzles, the number of nozzles that can be finally printed becomes "1344" nozzles.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a print sequence in the ink jet printer of this embodiment. In the figure, a in the signal name a-xxx is K,
The color signals of C, M, and Y are shown, and each color has these signal lines. Hereinafter, description will be given using similar signal names.

The print data is sent to the head as an SI signal in synchronization with the SICK (serial clock) signal, stored in the shift register 508, sent for one line, and then the DLAT * signal is made active.
It is temporarily stored in the data latch circuit 507 in C1-11. After that, ODD (odd nozzle selection signal), EVEN
(Even nozzle selection signal), BENB0 (block 0 selection signal), BENB1 (block 1 selection signal), BEN
Heater blocks to be heated are sequentially selected by B2 (block 2 selection signal) and a-PH1 * to 4 * and a-MH are selected.
1 * to 11 * are activated and the heater 50 of each IC
Energize 1. As a result, ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzle and printing is performed.

The print data of the next line is transferred when the heater of the current line is energized. Then, the DLAT * signal of the next line becomes the heater energization time and the data transfer time of the current line, whichever is later,
Must be active. If the DLAT * signal of the next line becomes active during the heater energization time of the current line, the print data after the DLAT * signal becomes active becomes the print data of the next line. I will end up.

Generally, when determining the printing speed, the basic performance of the head is mainly determined. Here, since the heater energization time is longer than the data transfer time, the DLAT * signal becomes active after the normal heater energization ends during printing.

In FIG. 7, 701 is the first and 17th.
The energization timings of the thirty-third, thirty-third, ..., 1393th heaters are shown. Since the data (DATA) is "0" in 701, only the heat pulse by the a-PT * signal is applied. Reference numeral 702 indicates the energization timing for the 2nd, 18th, 34th ... 1394th heaters. Since the data is "1" here, the preheat of the width T1 is performed.
After the rest time of T2, the main heat pulse of width T3 is applied. Further, 703 indicates the heat timing to the 3rd, 19th, 35th, ... 1395th heaters, and since the data is "0" similarly to 701, only the heat pulse by the a-PT * signal is applied. Has been done.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an EEPROM 401 for recording information on the nozzles of the head is mounted in the head. The contents stored in the ROM 401 are, for example, prepulse data, prepulse selection data,
These are temperature adjustment pulse data, head rank data, other ID data, and the like.

[The gate array (G
AE) 181] FIG. 8 shows the engine circuit 1 of this embodiment.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the gate array (GAE) 181 of 80.

This GAE 181 is an engine circuit 180.
The functions of the rotation control of the motors 191a to 191c, the control of the encoder 192b which operates in synchronization with the recording paper, the head control described above, the port control, and the like are required. 810
Is a system, 811 is a decoder, and 812 to 814 are motor drivers for rotationally driving the corresponding motors. Reference numeral 191a is a head motor for moving the head up and down for the recovery operation of the head 190, and 191b is a capping motor for moving a capping member for capping the head 190. Reference numeral 191c is a read motor. Reference numeral 192 denotes an encoder that comes into contact with a recording sheet, which is a recording medium, and generates a signal according to the movement of the recording sheet. The signal from the encoder 192b is input to the encoder control unit 815 and the ENCCK
A signal is created and output to the engine circuit 160. 1
Reference numeral 92a denotes another sensor, which includes, for example, a sensor that detects the vertical position of the head, the position of the capping member, etc. Input signals from these sensors are input through the IO port 817 and output to the actuator 818 and the like. A head control unit 816 controls data output to the heads of the respective colors and controls the drive of the heads. The operation of the head controller 816 will be mainly described below.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the head controller 816 of this embodiment.

The head controller 816 has a horizontal synchronizing circuit 90.
0, a vertical synchronization circuit 901, a transfer area circuit 902, a transfer data circuit 903, a heat area circuit 904, a heat signal circuit 905, and a sub heater control circuit 906. Hereinafter, each part will be described sequentially. (A) Horizontal Sync Circuit 900 The horizontal sync circuit 900 is a circuit that generates an HSYNC signal that serves as a reference signal for the inkjet printer of this embodiment. In this printer, a stepping motor is used as the carry motor 172.
With one clock of 72 drive clock, recording paper is 70.5
.mu.m (1 dot: 1/360 inch) is conveyed. The PRCK signal (engine circuit 16 which is this clock signal
The HSYNC signal is generated with reference to (input signal from 0).

However, since the friction coefficient between the recording paper and the conveying belt 173 is small and the rotation amount of the conveying motor 172 (moving amount of the conveying belt) and the moving distance of the recording paper may not match, contact with the recording paper may occur. The encoder 192b that can directly detect the movement amount is installed.
HSYNC by the clock output signal (ENCCK) output from the encoder control unit 815 by the signal from b.
It is able to generate signals.

The horizontal synchronizing signal (HSYNC) generating circuit will be described later with reference to FIG.

In this horizontal synchronizing circuit 900, the above-mentioned DLAT * signal is generated based on the HTEND * signal from the heat area circuit 904 which is the energization completion signal of the nozzle heater. Further, the HSTRG * signal input to the vertical synchronization circuit 901 is a trigger signal based on this HSYNC signal, and the PGTRG * signal output to the vertical synchronization circuit 901 and the transfer data circuit 903 is a trigger operation trigger signal. Is. (B) Vertical synchronization circuit 901 In this vertical synchronization circuit 901, print data request signals HK-TRG *, HC- for each color based on the HSYNC signal are used.
The TRG *, HM-TRG *, and HY-TRG * signals are generated. This HK-TRGF * signal is based on the TOF1 signal detected when the recording paper is conveyed, from the TOF1 sensor 171a (distance from the black head 190K-
1) The line portion is counted by the HSYNC signal and output. For example, if the distance from the TOF1 sensor 171a to the black head 190K is 10 mm (10 × 10
00 / 70.5-1) for 141 clocks of HSYN
The C signal is counted and the HK-TRG * signal is output.
That is, the print data of the black head 190K is output at the transfer timing. The HC-TRG * signal counts the line portion (the distance between the black head 190K and the cyan head 190C-1) by the HSYNC signal and outputs it. Similarly, the HM-TRG * signal is (cyan head 19
The distance between 0C and the magenta head 190M-1) line is counted and output by the HSYNC signal, and HY-TRG
* The signal is (magenta head 190M and yellow head 1
Distance from 90Y-1) Lines are counted by the HSYNC signal and output. By these operations, data can be transferred to each color head at a timing one line before the head position.

In the engine circuit 160, this HK-TR
The HK-ENB * signal is returned based on the G * signal. HK
The -ENB * signal counts the number of lines to be printed and corresponds to the page length. While this HK-ENB * signal is active, the HK-TRG * signal is HSYN.
The data is output in synchronization with the C signal, and the data is transferred line by line. Other colors of HC-ENB *, HM-E
The same applies to the NB * and HY-ENB * signals. (C) Transfer Area Circuit 902 The transfer area circuit 902 generates the HDATACK signal which is the data transfer clock signal for the engine circuit 160, the SCARE signal which generates the output timing of the SICK signal for the head 190, and the effective area of each color data. The SDAREA signal for generating the timing is generated. (D) Transfer Data Circuit 903 The transfer data circuit 903 has a Ha-ENB * signal and a Ha-ENB * signal.
Input data such as DATA and print data for each color (a-SI
Signal) and a clock signal (a-SICK) synchronized with it
Signal) to the head 190. (E) Heat Area Circuit 904 The heat area circuit 904 has a PHCK signal which serves as a reference signal for energizing the nozzle heater in a time division manner, and a PHCK signal.
Time division signals ODD, EVEN, BEN generated from signals
K-indicating the timing of signal generation of B0, BENB1, and BENB2, and the timing of energizing the nozzle heater of each color in time division
FAREA, C-FAREA, M-FAREA, Y-F
Generating AREA signal. (F) Heat signal circuit 905 The heat signal circuit 905 is necessary for performing double pulse printing, PHEAT1 * to PHEAT4 * and MH1.
It is a circuit that generates the signals * to MH11 * and the PT * signal that is a heat pulse for temperature control for each color. (G) Sub-heater control circuit 906 The head 190 is provided with a sub-heater for heating control of the head in addition to the nozzle heater, and is a circuit for controlling this.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a horizontal synchronizing signal (HSYNC) switching circuit in the horizontal synchronizing circuit 900.

As described above, the timing at which the movement of the recording sheet (70.5 μm) by the encoder 192b is detected and the rotation amount of the recording sheet conveying motor 172 must match. This is because the HSYNC signal generated from these signals is an important signal that determines the print timing, and it is necessary to output one pulse of the HSYNC signal when the recording paper moves by 70.5 μm. For example, when the conveyance motor 172 is a stepping motor and the recording paper moves by 70.5 μm with one clock of its excitation clock, the output pulse of the encoder 192b also similarly has one clock when the recording paper advances by 70.5 μm. Must output.

In FIG. 10, ENCCK is an output pulse signal of the encoder 192b input from the encoder control unit 815, and PRCK is a signal corresponding to the excitation clock of the carrying motor 172. The ENCON signal is a signal that is output when the CPU-E 161 sets a value in the GAE 181 of the engine circuit 180.
The PRCK signal, which is the excitation clock signal of the carry motor 172, is used to create the signal, or the encoder 19
It is determined whether to use the ENCCK signal output from 2b. Specifically, CPU-E161 is GAE18
If "0" (ENCON signal is low level) is set in the ENCON register of 1, the PRCK signal becomes "1" (EN
If the CON signal is set to the high level, the ENCCK signal is output as the HSYNC signal.

Thus, for example, when the coefficient of friction of the recording sheet with respect to the conveyor belt 173 is large and the recording sheet can be stably conveyed, the HSYNC signal is generated using the PRCK signal, and high quality printing is performed at the maximum speed. be able to. When the coefficient of friction between the recording paper and the conveyor bell is small, the printing speed is slightly reduced and the encoder 1
High quality printing can be performed by the HSYNC signal based on the ENCCK signal from 92b.

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, and the thermal energy The printing apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of ink has been described. According to such a method, the recording density is increased,
High definition can be achieved.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the liquid crystal is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding film boiling. Since the electrothermal converter is caused to generate heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. It is valid. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal in a pulse shape, because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) 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 respective specifications, The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat-acting surface is arranged in a bending region. In addition, for multiple electrothermal converters,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-63, which discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is associated with the discharge portion. A configuration based on Japanese Patent No. 138461 may be used.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recording medium width that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification provides the length. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, by being mounted on the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. . Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full-color mixed colors.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, or one that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or In the inkjet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It is sufficient that the ink is liquid.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent the ink from evaporating, an ink that solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat 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 such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. 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 recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further transmission / reception It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a function.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. The present invention can also be achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the embodiment, the structure in which the formatter section and the engine section are separated is shown, but the present invention can also perform the same operation with an integrated printer. (2) Although the engine section has been described as being divided into two blocks, the same operation is possible even if it is realized by one block. (3) A color printer using four heads has been described, but a printer having two or more heads can perform the same operation. (4) The constants shown in the embodiment, for example, the number of transfer data bits, the time of the horizontal synchronizing signal, and the like are examples, and the number is not limited thereto.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the friction coefficient of the recording sheet is large and the sheet can be stably conveyed, the clock (PRCK) signal for driving the conveying motor is used to obtain high quality at the maximum speed. You can print. Further, when the friction coefficient of the recording paper is small, the printing speed is slightly reduced and high quality printing can be performed based on the ENCCK signal from the encoder.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the transport mechanism and the recording sheet is constant once the recording sheet has been determined, so normally, the horizontal synchronizing signal is based on the excitation clock signal of the transport motor 172. (HSYNC) is generated and several test prints are made. After that, if there is a problem with the print quality, the H from the signal from the encoder 192b is used as a reference.
SYNC can be created and printing can be performed at low speed in synchronization with the signal.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the synchronizing signal for recording can be generated based on either the excitation clock of the conveying motor or the moving amount of the recording medium.

Further, according to the present invention, the reference signal for generating the synchronizing signal for recording can be selected according to the recording medium used or the recording speed.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that an image can be recorded with high quality on any recording medium.

[0068]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a color printer apparatus having a full-line recording head according to an inkjet method, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the printer device described in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a head arrangement of a print unit of the inkjet printer according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a line head for one color according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a head IC of the line head of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a nozzle heater of the line head of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a basic print sequence in the printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of GAE 181.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an engine control unit.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a horizontal synchronizing signal switching circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 Formatter part 113 System RAM 115 Bitmap RAM 116 GAF 150 Engine part 160,180 Engine circuit 165,181 GAE 163 EEPROM 171a, 171b TOF sensor 172 Conveying motor 190 Inkjet head 192b Encoder 815 Encoder control part

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical display location B41J 13/00 B41J 3/10 101 B (72) Inventor Hideaki Kishida 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki Canon Ap Inside Tex Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for inputting print data from an external device and recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head, comprising: a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium; and a recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying unit. Detecting means for detecting the amount of movement of the conveying means, a synchronizing signal generating means for generating a synchronizing signal for recording by selecting either the drive signal of the conveying means or the detection signal by the detecting means, and the synchronizing signal synchronizing with the synchronizing signal. And recording means for outputting image data to the recording head to record an image. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit has a stepping motor, and the drive signal is an excitation clock signal of the stepping motor. 3. The synchronizing signal generating means selects either the drive signal or the detection signal according to a signal set based on the type of the recording medium or the recording speed of the recording means. The recording device according to claim 1. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal is a signal output in synchronization with the conveyance of one line of the recording medium. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a color print line head including line heads for a plurality of colors. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet head that performs recording by ejecting ink. 7. The recording head is a recording head which ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 6. The recording device according to item 6. 8. The recording head is configured to cause a state change in ink due to thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter, and eject ink from an ejection port based on the state change. Claim 7
The recording device according to 1.