JPH0880647A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To highly accurately execute the positional controlling of recording paper without being influenced by the angular error of a stepping motor or the like by a method wherein a controlling part for stopping the driving means of a conveying roller when the conveyance of medium to be recorded to recording start position is recognized by means of the information sent from a reflection type sensor is equipped. CONSTITUTION: This recording device is equipped with a conveying roller for conveying medium to be recorded to a recording start position and its driving means and further carriages 70, on each of which a recording head is installed and which reciprocated towards the sub-direction of the medium to be recorded and further equipped with a ring type member, which is pressed onto the rotating shaft of the conveying roller 10 and on the peripheral surface of which a positional detecting pattern is printed. A reflection type sensor 40, which is arranged opposite to the peripheral surface of the ring type member so as to detect the positional detecting pattern is provided. When the conveyance of the medium to be recorded to the recording start position is recognized by the information sent from the sensor 40, the driving means of the conveying roller 10 is stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device (hereinafter referred to as "carriage scanning recording device") such as a facsimile machine or a copying machine for recording while reciprocating a recording portion in a main scanning direction. Particularly, it relates to control of the recording start position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a recording position control method by a conventional carriage scanning type recording apparatus.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, a carriage scanning type recording apparatus includes a recording sheet conveying roller 310 for conveying a recording sheet 400 and a recording sheet idle roller 320.
A paper discharge roller 350 for discharging the recording paper 400, a paper discharge idle roller 360, and the recording paper conveying roller 3
A carriage 370 slidably supported in the width direction of the recording paper 400 (direction of arrow A in FIG. 8) by a guide rail 380 installed between the sheet discharging roller 350 and the discharge roller 350;
At least a carriage timing belt 390 and a carriage motor 395 for reciprocating the carriage 370 in a linear direction, and a recording paper discharge tray 385 on which discharged recording paper is placed are provided. Further, a Y (yellow) cartridge 370 filled with ink for performing color printing on the recording paper 400 is mounted on the carriage 370.
A, C (cyan) cartridge 370b, M (magenta) cartridge 370c, and K (black) cartridge 370d are mounted.

When printing is performed on the recording paper 400 with the above-described structure, the recording paper 400 is conveyed to a predetermined recording start position by the recording paper conveyance roller 310 and the recording paper idle roller 320, and printing is started from here.

The carriage timing belt 390 and the carriage motor 395 move the carriage 370 along the guide rail 380 in the main scanning direction (direction of arrow B in FIG. 8) to print on the recording paper 400. When the carriage 370 is returned to the position before scanning, the recording paper 400 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8) by the recording paper conveying roller 310 and the recording paper idle roller 320, and then again in the main scanning direction. When the carriage 370 is scanned on B, the recording paper 400
Is printed on.

When the above operation is repeated and printing of one sheet of the recording paper 400 is completed, the recording paper 400 is ejected onto the recording paper ejection tray 385 by the paper ejection roller 350 and the paper ejection idle roller 360, and one sheet is printed. Minute printing is completed.

The scanning of the carriage 370 and the recording paper 4
A stepping motor (not shown) is used as the transporting means of No. 00, and the control of the recording position is stopped when the specified value is reached while counting the number of steps of the stepping motor, and the scanning of the next line is performed while counting the number of steps. Has been done.

[0008]

However, in the recording position control in the above-described conventional recording apparatus, since the conveying distance and the stop position of the recording paper are controlled by the step number of the stepping motor, the step angle error of the stepping motor and the There is a problem in that an error such as backlash of the drive system causes an error in the transport distance and the stop position of the recording paper. Especially when the printing is in color, Y
Printing is performed with four colors (yellow), C (cyan), M (magenta), and K (black), but four colors of Y, C, M, and K are printed at the printing position of one pixel. It must be made. Therefore, if there is a slight deviation in the printing position, the colors of the pixels to be overlaid and printed will be different, and the printing quality will deteriorate.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-described conventional technique, and is not affected by errors such as a step angle error of a stepping motor and a backlash of a drive system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can control the position of recording paper with high accuracy.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a conveying roller for conveying a recording medium to a recording start position, a driving means for rotating the conveying roller, and a recording head. And a carriage reciprocating in the sub-direction of the recording medium,
A ring-shaped member fitted on the rotation shaft of the conveying roller and having a peripheral surface on which a position detection pattern is printed; and a reflective sensor arranged to face the peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member to detect the position detection pattern. And a control unit for stopping the driving means of the carrying roller when recognizing that the recording medium has been carried to the recording start position based on the information from the reflective sensor.

Further, when the control section recognizes from the information from the reflection type sensor that the recording medium has been conveyed to the vicinity of the recording start position, the conveyance roller is rotated so that the rotation angle becomes fine. It is characterized by controlling the driving means of the roller.

Further, the recording head is of a full color type in which a plurality of recording heads are arranged in the moving direction of the carriage.

Further, the recording head is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink.

Further, the recording head is characterized in that the ink is ejected from the ejection port by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

[0015]

In the present invention configured as described above, the recording medium is conveyed by the rotational force of the conveying roller by the driving means, and the carriage on which the recording head is mounted reciprocates in the sub direction of the recording medium. Printing is performed. At this time, regarding the conveyance of the recording medium to the recording start position,
The position detection pattern printed on the peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member fitted on the rotation axis of the conveyance roller is detected by the reflection type sensor, and the control unit uses the information to detect that the recording medium has been conveyed to the recording start position. When it is recognized, the conveyance of the recording paper is stopped by stopping the driving means of the conveyance roller.

Further, when the control section recognizes that the recording medium has been conveyed to the vicinity of the recording start position, the control section controls the driving means so that the rotation angle of the recording sheet conveyance roller becomes fine and slows down the rotation speed. The recording medium stops exactly at the recording start position.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a fixed original carriage scanning type color facsimile apparatus which is an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

First, an outline of the entire apparatus in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A document table glass 130 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 110 of the color facsimile apparatus as a recording apparatus.
Is provided, and a document pressure plate 120 for pressing the document is attached above the document table glass 130. Further, the operation unit 1 is provided on the front side on the same surface as the platen glass 130.
40 is installed, and a recording paper cassette 160 is provided on the lower front side. Further, a recording paper discharge tray 185 for loading recording paper (not shown) printed by the recording unit 150 on the apparatus main body 110 is installed on the left side surface, and a handset 180 is installed on the right side surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main constituent parts of an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording apparatus of this embodiment has a recording paper feed roller 1 for feeding the recording paper 100.
0 and the recording paper idle roller 20, the paper discharge roller 50 for discharging the recording paper 100 and the paper discharge idle roller 60, and the guide rail 80 installed between the recording paper conveyance roller 10 and the paper discharge roller 50. By recording paper 10
A carriage 70 slidably supported in the width direction of 0 (direction of arrow A in FIG. 2), a carriage timing belt 90 and a carriage motor 95 for reciprocating the carriage 70 in a linear direction, and a conveyed recording sheet. At least the recording paper discharge tray 85 on which the sheet is placed. In addition, a Y (yellow) cartridge 70a, a C (cyan) cartridge 70b, an M (magenta) cartridge 70c, and a K (black) cartridge 70d filled with ink for performing color printing on the recording paper 100 are mounted on the carriage 70. ing.

Further, a position detecting ring 30 which is a ring type member for detecting the position of the recording paper 100 is fitted on the recording paper conveying roller 10, and the position detecting ring 30 is inserted.
The reflection type sensor 40 is arranged so as to face the peripheral surface of the.

When printing is performed on the recording paper 100 with the recording apparatus configured as described above, the recording paper 100 is conveyed to the print start position by the recording paper conveying roller 10 and the recording paper idle roller 20 and printing is started.

When printing is started, the carriage 70, on which the cartridge is mounted, reciprocates in the main scanning direction B along the guide rail 80 by the carriage timing belt 90 and the carriage motor 95, and the recording paper 100.
Is printed on. When one reciprocating motion is completed, the recording paper conveyance roller 10 and the paper discharge roller 50 rotate to convey the recording paper 100 in the sub-scanning direction A by the number of print dots (hereinafter referred to as “one band”).

The above series of operations are repeated for the size of the recording paper 100, and when printing of one sheet of the recording paper 100 is completed, the recording paper 100 is ejected by the paper ejection roller 50 and the paper ejection idle roller 60. Discharged to 85,
The carriage 70 also returns to the standby state.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the structure near the position detecting ring provided in the recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a detection pattern printed on the peripheral surface of the position detection ring shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper conveying roller 10 is provided.
Of the recording paper conveyance motor 3 via the timing belt 45.
Driven by 5. Further, the feeding amount of the recording paper 100 is determined by the rotation angle of the recording paper carrying roller 10, but a position detecting ring 30 is fitted on the main shaft of the recording paper carrying roller 10, and together with the recording paper carrying roller 10. Rotate. Further, the detection pattern 30a shown in FIG. 4 is printed on the peripheral surface of the position detection ring 30, and the reflection type sensor 40 detects the pattern.

FIG. 5 shows an output waveform of the reflective sensor 40 with respect to the detection pattern 30a. Detection pattern 30
a has a pattern in which black and white shading is repeated at a pitch of width L, and this black and white shading is linear such that the γ (gamma) characteristic is 1 with respect to the reflective sensor 40 (see FIG. 3). It has a reflectance with. The pitch of the width L is set to correspond to the rotation angle at which the recording paper 100 (see FIG. 3) moves by one band. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the output waveform of the reflective sensor 40 (see FIG. 3) with respect to the detection pattern 30a becomes a triangular waveform with a pitch of 1, and one triangular waveform corresponds to one band of recording paper movement. To do.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a circuit for processing the output signal from the reflection type sensor 40 shown in FIG. Here, a signal processing block for color recording is shown.

Detection pattern 3 of the position detection ring 30
A signal obtained by detecting 0a (see FIG. 4) by the reflective sensor 40 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 220,
The position detection circuit 230 is entered and the position is judged from the level at the time of input. This position detection circuit 230 is the CPU 2 of the device.
It operates by receiving a start signal from 40 and returns a control signal for the position to the CPU 240. Based on this control signal, the CPU 240 controls the recording paper carrying motor 35 (see FIG. 2).

Next, the control operation of the recording start position will be described using a flowchart.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation of the recording start position in the embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

First, when the movement of one band of recording paper is started, the position detection circuit 230 is moved from the CPU 240 (see FIG. 6).
A start signal is sent to (see FIG. 6) and detection is started (step S1).

Then, the recording paper conveyance motor 35 (see FIG. 3) is rotated in the normal direction to convey the recording paper 100 (see FIG. 3) (step S2).

At this time, the recording paper 100 (see FIG. 3) is 1
The recording paper 100 (see FIG. 3) in step S2 is conveyed (step S3) until the position detection circuit 230 (see FIG. 6) determines that the state is m dots before the stop position for the band.

Recording paper 100 (see FIG. 3) in step S3
Is determined to be in a state before m dots, the position detection circuit 23
0 (see FIG. 6) sends a control signal to the CPU 240 (see FIG. 5), and the CPU 240 (see FIG. 6) changes the control method of the recording paper transport motor 35 (see FIG. 3) to reduce the step angle. Fine control (microstep control) is performed (step S4).

Then, the recording paper feed motor 35 is decelerated and rotates in the normal direction (step S5).

At this time, the recording paper 100 (see FIG. 3) in step S5 is conveyed until it is judged that the recording paper detection position coincides with the stop position for one band (step S).
6).

When it is determined in step S6 that the position coincides with the stop position, the recording paper conveyance motor 35 stops (step S7).

As described above, the recording paper 10 is accurately positioned at the stop position for one band by the microstep control and the deceleration control.
0 (see FIG. 3) can be stopped.

In the above-described embodiment, the ring-shaped member is attached to the conveying roller, and the detection pattern 30a (see FIG. 4) printed on the circumference of the ring-shaped member is provided with the reflective sensor 40 (see FIG. 3).
Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and even if a notch member on the disk is attached to the transport roller and the notch portion is detected by the transmissive sensor, recording is started accurately. Position control can be realized.

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in an ink jet type recording head and a recording apparatus which form flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740 are applicable.
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 is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , It is effective because it generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter and causes film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis. Is. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected.

As 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 of 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 a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge portion.

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, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. The present invention can exert the above-mentioned effects more effectively, although it may have a configuration that satisfies the above requirement or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, by being attached to 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. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection other than recording It is also effective to perform stable recording.

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. The present invention is also extremely effective for a device provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above,
Although the ink is described as a liquid, it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or the ink itself is 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower in the above-mentioned inkjet method. Since the temperature is generally adjusted within the range to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, the temperature rise due to the thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in a standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. The use of an ink having a property of being liquefied only by heat energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5684.
No. 7 or JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in the state of being held as a liquid or solid in the recess or through hole of the porous sheet. Also good. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as a form of the 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 word processor and a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, and It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0054]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the invention, a ring-shaped member having a position detecting pattern printed thereon for recognizing the moving state of the recording medium is fitted on the rotary shaft of the conveying roller, and the position detecting pattern is reflected. Type sensor,
When it is recognized that the recording medium has been conveyed to the recording start position based on the detected information, the driving roller drive unit is stopped, so that errors such as motor step angle error and drive system backlash can be eliminated. There is an effect that the recording start position can be controlled with high accuracy without being affected.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when it is recognized that the recording medium has been conveyed to the vicinity of the recording start position, the control for controlling the driving means for the conveying roller is controlled so that the rotation angle of the conveying roller becomes fine. Since the recording start position is controlled, the recording start position can be controlled with higher accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a fixed original carriage scanning type color facsimile apparatus which is an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main configuration part of an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a structure near a position detecting ring provided in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a detection pattern printed on a peripheral surface of a position detection ring.

FIG. 5 is an output waveform of a reflective sensor for a detection pattern.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a circuit that processes an output signal from a reflective sensor.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation of the recording start position in one embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional print position control method by a carriage scanning print apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Recording Paper Conveying Roller 20 Recording Paper Idle Roller 30 Position Detection Ring 30a Detection Pattern 35 Recording Paper Conveying Motor 40 Reflective Sensor 45 Timing Belt 50 Discharging Roller 60 Discharging Idle Roller 70 Carriage 70a Y (Yellow) Cartridge 70b C (Cyan) cartridge 70c M (magenta) cartridge 70d K (black) cartridge 80 Guide rails 85,185 Recording paper discharge tray 90 Carriage timing belt 95 Carriage motor 100 Recording paper 110 Color facsimile machine 120 Original pressure plate 130 Original platen glass 140 Operation unit 150 Recording unit 160 Recording paper cassette 180 Handset 220 A / D conversion circuit 230 Position detection circuit 240 CPU 250 Line memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A carrying roller for carrying a recording medium to a recording start position, a driving means for rotating the carrying roller, and a carriage on which a recording head is mounted and which reciprocates in a sub-direction of the recording medium. In a recording apparatus including: a ring-shaped member fitted on the rotation shaft of the transport roller, the peripheral surface of which is printed with a position detection pattern, and the peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member is disposed so as to face the position detection pattern. A reflection type sensor for detecting, and a control unit for stopping the driving means of the conveyance roller when recognizing that the recording medium is conveyed to the recording start position based on the information from the reflection type sensor. A recording device characterized by. 2. When the control section recognizes that the recording medium has been conveyed to near the recording start position based on the information from the reflection type sensor, the conveyance roller adjusts the rotation angle to be fine. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller driving unit is controlled. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is of a full-color type, and a plurality of the recording heads are arranged in a moving direction of the carriage. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects the ink from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Recording device.