JPH08166726A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a device capable of always recording an excellent image by changing a recording condition coping with temperature and humidity at the time of starting record. CONSTITUTION: The image recorder is composed of a one chip microcomputer(CPU) 1 incorporating a ROM, an external device 2, a detecting means (scanner) 3 for scanning a cut sheet to detect a state, a main motor control part 4 for a main motor 5 driving each part to enable the record, a recording control part 6 for attaining the record on the cut sheet, based on data from the external device 2, etc. Then, the image recorder is provided with a sheet state detecting part reversibly changed in color with the temperature and/or humidity related to environment on a material to be recorded, a reading means reading a color change caused by it from the sheet state detecting part on the fed material to be recorded and a control means detecting the temperature and/or humidity from the read color change and executing control so as to change a condition related to the transfer and fixation of the image, in accordance with the detected temperature and/or humidity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus for transferring an image to a cut sheet which is a recording material and fixing the image by heat fixing to record the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a conventional image recording apparatus, the temperature inside the image recording apparatus is detected by a thermistor or the like provided in the image recording apparatus, and the transfer voltage or the fixing temperature is changed from the detected result. I am trying to get a proper image record.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the temperature is detected by the temperature detecting means provided in the image recording apparatus, the detection position and the cut sheet position which is the recording material are detected. There is a temperature difference between and, and further, because there is a temperature difference between the installation location of the image recording apparatus and the storage location of the cut sheet, immediately after setting the cut sheet in the image recording apparatus, the inside of the image recording apparatus, The temperature difference from the cut sheet is sometimes a dozen degrees. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately detect the true environmental temperature and humidity around the cut sheet just set by conventional temperature detection alone, and a good image can be obtained even if the transfer voltage or fixing temperature is changed. Sometimes you couldn't get it.

An object of the present invention is to pay attention to such a conventional problem, and in order to solve the problem, a recording condition is always improved by changing the recording condition in response to the temperature and humidity of the recording material at the start of recording. An object is to provide an image recording device capable of recording.

[0005]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an image recording apparatus in which an image is recorded on a fed recording material by transferring and fixing the image. Environmental temperature and / or on material
Alternatively, a sheet state detection unit that reversibly changes color depending on humidity is provided, and a reading unit that reads the color change from the sheet state detection unit on the recording material to be fed, and the temperature based on the read color change. And / or humidity, and control means for controlling so as to change the condition relating to the transfer or fixing of the image according to the detected temperature and / or humidity. .

[0006]

According to the present invention, the color change in the sheet state detecting portion provided on the recording material is read by the reading means, and the temperature and / or humidity of the recording material is detected by the color change, and the detection is performed. By changing the conditions relating to transfer or fixing by the control means in accordance with the temperature and / or humidity, it is possible to always obtain good image recording regardless of the temperature and humidity of the recording material.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail and specifically with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a control unit of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a one-chip microcomputer (CPU) with a built-in ROM, 2 is an external device such as a video controller or host computer, 3 is detection means (scanner) for scanning a cut sheet for state detection, and 4 is A main motor control unit for the main motor 5 that drives each unit for recording, 6 is a recording control unit for recording on a cut sheet based on data from the external device 2, and 7 is for fixing the recorded image. The fixing unit to be controlled, 8 is a cut sheet feeding detection sensor, 9 is a discharge detection sensor, 10 is a print start signal (PRNT) from the external device 2, and 11 is a vertical synchronization signal (recording) for the external device 2 related to recording. VSYNC) 12
Request signal (VSREQ), 13 is a power switch,
Reference numeral 14 is a motor drive signal (ON), 15 is a motor ready signal (RDY), 16 is a temperature control signal for instructing temperature control of the fixing unit 7, 17 is a signal notifying the temperature of the fixing unit 7, 1
A recording control signal 8 is sent to the recording control unit 6.

FIG. 2 shows a structural example of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. In this example, the latent image formed on the recording sheet (cut sheet) is visualized with toner,
An example of an electrophotographic image recording apparatus that thermally fixes this is shown. Here, 101 is a housing of the apparatus, 102 is a stack of cut sheets 103, and a feeding shaft is detachably attached to the housing 101, and 104 is a feeding roller, which is fed by the feeding roller 104. The cut sheet 103 is guided between the photosensitive drum 106 and the transfer roller 107 at a predetermined timing via the registration roller 105, and the image formed by the developing device 108 on the photosensitive drum 106 is transferred by pressing the transfer roller 107. To be done.

Reference numerals 109 and 110 designate a fixing roller and a pressure roller, 111 a discharge roller, and 112 a discharge roller 1.
Image-recorded cut sheet 10 discharged via 11
3 is a discharge tray for receiving 3. In addition, the feeding roller 10
The cut sheet 103 sent out by the sheet 4 is detected by the sheet feeding detection sensor 8 and the scanner 3 detects information relating to the temperature and / or the humidity on the cut sheet 103 as described later.
Furthermore, 113 is a thermistor that detects the temperature of the fixing roller 109, and the temperature of the fixing roller 109 is CP.
It is controlled via U1 as described later.

An interface cable 114 for exchanging signals as described above is provided between the CPU 1 and the external device 2.

Next, the control operation of the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when the power switch 13 is turned on,
The following initial processing is performed by the CPU 1 as the reset processing when the power is turned on.

That is, the RA built in the CPU 1
M is cleared, each port is initialized, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is raised toward a predetermined temperature (hereinafter, referred to as standby temperature. For example, 165 ° C.). Then, when the standby temperature is reached, the image recording apparatus is brought into a standby state (hereinafter referred to as a standby state) waiting for a request to start an image recording operation.

In this state, when the PRNT 10 which is a signal requesting the start of the image recording operation is received from the external device 2, the motor drive signal ON14 is sent to the main motor control section 4. In response to this, the main motor control unit 4 starts driving the main motor 5, and when the main motor 5 reaches a predetermined rotation speed, the motor ready signal RDY15 is returned to the CPU 1 via the main motor control unit 4. Be done.

Thereafter, the CPU 1 drives the feeding roller 104 to control the cut sheet 103 in the cassette 102 to be conveyed to the position of the registration roller 105.

Further, after the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is set to a print temperature (for example, 180 ° C.) which has been set in advance as a target temperature, the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is controlled so as to rise to the above print temperature. .

As described above, when the main motor 5 is started up and the feeding operation of the cut sheet 103 is completed, the CPU 1 sends the signal VSREQ11 to the external device 2.
To wait for the signal VSYNC12 from the external device 2.

Thus, when the signal VSYNC12 is sent, the registration roller 105 is driven by the motor 5 and the cut sheet 103 is driven by the registration roller 105.
To a transfer portion, a laser beam is emitted from a light source (not shown) by a signal VIDEO from the external device 2, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 106, and the latent image is visualized by the developing device 108. After that, the visible image is transferred onto the cut sheet 103 by the transfer roller 107.

The cut sheet 103 after transfer is conveyed between the fixing roller 109 and the pressure roller 110, where the visible image is fixed, and the discharge roller 111 discharges the recorded cut sheet 103 to the discharge tray. It is discharged onto 112.

When it is detected that the cut sheet 103 has passed the discharge detection sensor 9, the CPU 1 stops the main motor 5 and shifts to the standby state.
The surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is adjusted toward the standby temperature.

Next, the recording controller 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

The recording control section 6 is connected to the programmable rectangular wave output terminal of the CPU 1, and the recording control signal 18 is output via this terminal. The recording control signal 18 is output as a rectangular wave having a duty ratio B / A as shown in FIG. 3A, and the recording control unit 6 outputs the rectangular wave shown in FIG. ) Output the transfer voltage. That is, the transfer voltage of 1 kv is output when the duty ratio is 0%, and the transfer voltage of 4 kv is output when the duty ratio is 100%.

Next, the structure and operation of the fixing unit 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing unit 7 includes a fixing roller 109 and a pressure roller 110 that rotates while being in pressure contact with the fixing roller 109. The pressure roller 110 and the fixing roller 109 cooperate with each other. The cut sheet 103 is conveyed while being clamped.

A halogen heater 405, which is a heating means, is disposed in the fixing roller 109, and the CPU 1
By controlling the ON / OFF operation of the halogen heater 405, the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is controlled as follows.

That is, the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is detected by the temperature detecting means 403, and the temperature detecting means 403 and the thermistor 113 arranged in contact with the fixing roller 109 and the temperature In the temperature / voltage conversion unit 404, a fixed resistor is connected in series to the thermistor 113, and the divided voltage value is converted into a temperature signal 17 to convert the voltage into the A signal of the CPU 1.
Supply to / D terminal. Thus, the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is converted into the temperature signal 17 indicating the voltage corresponding to the temperature and supplied to the CPU 1.

FIG. 5A shows an example of the relationship between the resistance value and the temperature in the thermistor 113. The thermistor 113 having such characteristics and the temperature / voltage converter 404 using a fixed resistance of 1 kΩ are shown. In the temperature detecting means 403 consisting of, the relationship between the input value V _T to the A / D terminal of the CPU 1 and the detected temperature has a linear characteristic as shown in FIG. 5 (B).

Therefore, such a temperature signal 17 is converted into an A / D signal.
In the CPU 1 fetched from the terminal, the surface holding temperature of the fixing roller 109 indicated by the temperature signal 17 is compared with a predetermined target temperature, and when the surface holding temperature is lower than the predetermined target temperature, the power source 401 transfers to the halogen heater 405. The temperature control signal 16 for instructing the power supply of is generated and output from the OUT terminal. Further, when the surface holding temperature is higher than the predetermined target temperature, the temperature control signal 16 for instructing to stop the power supply from the power source 401 to the halogen heater 405 is generated, and O
Output from UT terminal. The temperature control signal 16 output from the CPU 1 is first supplied to the energization control unit 402. In the energization control unit 402, the temperature control signal 1 is supplied.
6, the power supply operation from the power supply 401 to the halogen heater 405 and the supply stop operation are performed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the control operation according to this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6A shows a cut sheet 103 on which a bar code is formed in order to detect the environmental state of the sheet. The bar code is formed at the center of the cut sheet 103 and includes a start code 601, a sheet state detection code 602, and a stop code 603. Therefore, in this example, the cut sheet 103 with such a bar code is set on the uppermost portion (first sheet) of the cassette 102. The start code 601 and the stop code 603 are provided for the purpose of preventing erroneous detection of the sheet state detection code due to stains on the cut sheet 103. If you don't have to worry about
Only the sheet state detection code 602 may be used.

Then, a paint (hereinafter referred to as a thermo ink) whose color is reversibly changed by heat (temperature) is applied to the ink detecting portion 604 of the sheet state detecting code 602. As the thermo ink used in this example,
When the temperature rises above a certain temperature (for example, 25 ° C), it changes from white to black before, and when the temperature drops below the certain temperature (for example, 25 ° C), it turns white. Use the one with the return characteristic.

Ink detector 60 for detecting the sheet state
No. 4 changes the color as described above according to the temperature change of the sheet. For example, the temperature of the cut sheet 103 is 25 ° C.
In the case of less than, there is no color change and the color is kept white as shown in FIG. When this is recognized as a pattern, 010
It becomes 10. The temperature of the cut sheet 103 is 25 ° C.
When the above is reached, the thermo ink applied to the ink detection unit 604 undergoes a color change and becomes black as shown in FIG. 6C. Then, when this pattern is recognized, 0111
It becomes 0.

Next, the procedure of the control operation before the start of the image recording operation will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power switch 13 is turned on, first,
The drive signal 14 is supplied to the main motor 5 in step S701, the detection of the ready signal 15 from the main motor 5 is waited in step S702, the feed roller 104 is driven in step S703, and the uppermost part having the barcode is displayed. The feeding of the first cut sheet 103 is started. Then, in step S704, the scanner 3 reads the barcode formed on the first cut sheet 103. When the scanner 3 reads the bar code on the cut sheet 103, the scanner 3 converts the bar code into an electric signal, and the converted electric signal is input to the input terminal of the CPU 1.
The pattern on the cut sheet 103 is read.

Thus, in step S705, the content of the sheet state detection code is determined from the read pattern,
If the seat state detection code is 0, step S706
Then, the target fixing temperature is set to, for example, 190 ° C. on the high side. If the sheet state detection code is 1, the flow advances to step S707 to set the target fixing temperature to, for example, 180 ° C. on the lower side.

That is, when the temperature of the cut sheet 103 is low (for example, less than 25 ° C.), the fixing target temperature is set high, and when the sheet temperature is high (for example, 25 ° C. or higher), the fixing target temperature is set low.

After the first cut sheet 103 having the bar code is discharged in step S708,
The driving of the feeding roller 104 by the main motor 5 is stopped to shift to the standby state, and in the subsequent image recording operation, the surface temperature of the fixing roller 109 is adjusted to the fixing target temperature set by the above procedure.

(Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, the paint whose color changes with temperature is applied on the sheet, but in the second embodiment, the paint whose color changes with humidity is used for cutting. A case where the humidity of the sheet 103 is detected will be described.

In this example, a paint (hereinafter referred to as a solvate ink) whose color changes reversibly with humidity is applied to the ink detecting portion 604 of the sheet state detecting code 602 shown in FIG. When this sorbate ink reaches a predetermined humidity (for example, 80%) or more, it changes from white to white before that, and the humidity decreases to fall below a predetermined humidity (for example, 80%). It has the property of returning to the original white color when it reaches. The coating position, the reading operation, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Then, according to the flow chart of FIG.
The control before the image recording operation according to the second embodiment will be described.

Here, the operation from step S701 to step S704 after the power switch 13 is turned on is the same as that in the first embodiment, but if it is determined in step S705 that the seat state detection code is 0, step S80.
In step 6, the transfer voltage is set to the higher one, 3 kv. If it is determined in step S705 that the sheet state detection code is 1, the transfer voltage is set to the lower one, 1 kv, in step S807. That is, when the humidity of the cut sheet 103 is high (for example, 80 or more), the above detection code 602 is 1
Therefore, the transfer voltage is lowered, and when the humidity is low (for example, less than 80%), the detection code becomes 0, so that the transfer voltage is raised normally or higher than usual. Since the subsequent steps are similar to those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 3) In the above embodiment, the reversible color change ink is applied on the cut sheet 103 as the recording material in order to obtain the temperature and the humidity separately as the information. The information on both the humidity and the humidity is obtained.

FIG. 9 shows the form of the bar code applied to this embodiment.

Here, on the cut sheet 103, the start code 601 and the stop code 603 described above are provided.
In addition, a sheet temperature detection code 901 and a sheet humidity detection code 902 are provided as elements constituting a bar code, and the sheet temperature detection code 901 is coated with thermo-ink on its ink detecting portion 903. The code 902 is coated with sorbate ink on the ink detection unit 904.

The conditions for changing the color of each of these inks are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 shows the operation procedure of the third embodiment. After the power switch 13 is turned on, step S7 is performed.
Since the operations from 01 to step S704 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. Then in step S1001
The contents of the seat temperature detection code 901 are determined in step S70, and if the seat temperature detection code 901 is 0, step S70 is performed.
If it is 1, the process proceeds to step S707. Then, in the next step S1002, the content of the sheet humidity detection code 902 is judged, and if the sheet humidity detection code is 0, the process proceeds to step S801. If the sheet humidity detection code is 1, the process proceeds to step S8.
Moving to 02, the transfer voltage is set as described above.
That is, step S706, step S607, step S801, step S802, and step S70.
The operation in No. 8 is the same as in the above-described first and second embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 4) In the embodiments described so far, the sheet state detection code is provided in the substantially central portion of the cut sheet 103, but in the present embodiment, the cut sheet 10 is used.
The bar code is formed on the end portion of the third recording area P outside the recording area P.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the bar code thus formed outside the recording area on the cut sheet 103. According to this example, since the barcodes 601 to 603 are provided outside the recording area of the cut sheet 103, the first cut sheet is not wasted as in the above-described embodiments. Cut sheet 1 with barcode
Ordinary recording is possible for 03 itself.

The structure of the bar code, the control operation at the time of recording and the procedure thereof are the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, the bar code for detecting the sheet state is provided on the first sheet of the cut sheet 103, but in the fifth embodiment, it is applied to all the cut sheets 103. By providing the bar code described in Example 4, regardless of the stacking order of the cut sheets 103 stacked in the cassette 102, the state is detected for all the cut sheets 103, so that a good image is always displayed. Obtainable.

In this embodiment as well, the configuration of the bar code on each sheet, the control operation and procedure at the time of recording such as the reading process and the change of the process condition are the same as those in the previous embodiments, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. Is omitted.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A sheet state detection unit that reversibly changes color depending on temperature and / or humidity related to the environment is provided on the recording material, and the color change is read from the sheet state detection unit on the fed recording material. And a control unit that detects the temperature and / or humidity from the read color change and controls so as to change the condition relating to the transfer or fixing of the image according to the detected temperature and / or humidity. Since it is equipped with, it is possible to accurately detect the state related to the environment such as temperature and humidity of the cut sheet that is the recording material,
It is possible to change the fixing temperature and transfer voltage according to the detection result. For example, the temperature of the cut sheet is low and the toner on the cut sheet is sufficiently fixed at the fixing temperature that is normally set during fixing. Even if the fixing failure occurs and the fixing failure occurs, it is possible to prevent the fixing failure by setting an appropriate fixing temperature.

Further, since the humidity of the cut sheet is high and the resistance of the cut sheet is lowered, the charge on the transfer roller is transferred to the photosensitive drum side at a normal transfer voltage during transfer, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum is transferred. Even when the toner constituting the toner does not sufficiently transfer to the cut sheet and a transfer failure occurs, it is possible to set an appropriate transfer voltage and prevent the transfer failure in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration for control according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a duty ratio of a recording control signal and characteristics of a recording control signal and a transfer voltage applied to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing shown by (A) and (B), respectively.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fixing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic curve diagram showing the relationship between the temperature and the resistance value of the thermistor according to the present invention and the relationship between the voltage generated at the A / D terminal of the control unit and the temperature as (A) and (B), respectively. is there.

6A and 6B are explanatory views showing a bar code of a cut sheet according to Example 1 of the invention in a state before recording (A), a case where no color change occurs (B), and a case where color change occurs (C). Is.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of control operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of control operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a form of a sheet state detecting barcode applied to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a bar code of a cut sheet according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 External Device 3 Scanner 4 Main Motor Control Section 5 Main Motor 6 Transfer Control Section 7 Fixing Section 8 Feed Detection Sensor 9 Ejection Detection Sensor 10 PRNT Signal 11 VSREQ Signal 12 VSYNC Signal 13 Power Switch 14 Motor ON Signal 15 Motor Ready Signal 16 Temperature control signal 17 Temperature signal 18 Recording control signal 101 Housing 102 Cassette 103 Cut sheet 104 Feed roller 105 Registration roller 106 Photosensitive drum 107 Transfer roller 108 Developing device 109 Fixing roller 110 Pressure roller 111 Ejection roller 112 Ejection tray 113 Thermistor 114 Interface cable 401 Power supply 402 Energization control unit 403 Temperature detection sensor 404 Temperature voltage conversion unit 405 Halogen heater 601 to 603 Bar code 604, 9 03,904 Sheet state (ink) detector

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Atsuo Mori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Kakiuchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kiya (72) Inventor Haruki Okuma 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus in which an image is recorded by transferring and fixing the image on a recording material that is fed, wherein a color is reversibly formed on the recording material due to temperature and / or humidity related to the environment. A changing sheet state detection unit is provided, and a reading unit that reads the color change from the sheet state detection unit on the fed recording material, and the temperature and / or humidity is detected from the read color change. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls to change a condition relating to the transfer or fixing of the image according to the detected temperature and / or humidity. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet state detection unit is formed by applying a paint that reversibly changes color depending on temperature and / or humidity. 3. The recording material is in the state of being laminated
It is a cut sheet that is fed sheet by sheet, and the reading unit reads the first sheet to be recorded of the cut sheets held in the stacked state at the start of the recording operation. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is characterized in that. 4. The recording material is laminated from
3. The cut sheets are fed sheet by sheet, and the reading means reads all the cut sheets fed during the recording operation.
The image recording device described in 1. 5. The conditions controlled by the control means are:
The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image forming apparatus has a fixing temperature and / or a transfer voltage.