JPH09220818A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of always obtaining recording easy to look regardless of the color of a recording medium by detecting the color of a receiving medium to perform color complementation by the color thereof and good in efficiency even at a time of reciprocal printing. SOLUTION: In the positional relation of a recording head moving a carriage 3 in the direction crossing the feed direction of a receiving medium 2 at a right angle and capable of performing recording of a color different from that detected by a color detector 15 detecting the data corresponding to the color of the receiving medium 2 mounted on the carriage 3, the detection position of the color detector 15 is set on the upstream side in the feed direction of the receiving medium 2 with respect to the recording position of the recording head 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for recording different colors on various recording materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, among various printers used as terminals of host devices such as microcomputers, for example, a color ink jet printer which drives a recording head to eject ink toward a recording medium for recording. In addition, the color of the ejected ink is determined by the host device regardless of the color of the recording medium such as recording paper. However, in this case, when the recording paper is different from the one of a predetermined color, it is impossible to record in a color that is easy to see. Therefore, there is a thing in which a color of a host device is designated, but this color designation requires an extremely troublesome operation. To solve this, a detection device for detecting the color of the recording head and the recording material is mounted on the carriage, and the color of the ink ejected from the recording head is changed according to the color detected by the color detection position. Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-69069 is proposed.

[0003]

However, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-69069, the recording position of the recording head and the color detection position of the detection device for detecting the color are the moving directions of the carriage on which they are mounted. It is only shifted to. Moreover, since only one color detection device is installed, it is effective for one-sided printing, but there is a problem in that it is extremely inefficient during bidirectional printing. Even if one line or several lines are read in advance, the carriage is first moved in a state where printing is not performed and the color detection device detects the required number of lines, and then the recording paper is returned and recording is performed by the recording head. There is a problem that it needs to be done and it is very inefficient.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a printer capable of efficiently reading the color of a recording material and always obtaining easy-to-read recording regardless of the color of the recording medium. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

To achieve this object, in a printer according to claim 1, a recording means capable of recording in different colors and a recording material on which an image can be formed are conveyed. To a printer having a conveying means for detecting the color, a detecting means for detecting information corresponding to the color of the recording material, and a control means for causing the recording means to record a color having a complementary color relationship with the information based on the information. In this case, the detection means is arranged upstream of the recording means in the conveying direction of the conveying means. Therefore, the color of the recording material can be detected prior to recording by the recording unit.

In the printer according to the second aspect of the invention, there are provided a recording means capable of recording in different colors, and a moving means for relatively moving the recording material on which an image can be formed and the recording means. A printer having: a detection unit that detects information corresponding to the color of the recording material; and a control unit that causes the recording unit to record a color having a complementary color relationship with the information based on the information. A detecting means is provided on a carriage that is mounted with the recording means and is movable over a recording width, in front of and behind the recording means with respect to the moving direction of the recording means. Therefore, no matter which direction the carriage is moving, the color of the recording material can be detected prior to recording by the recording means.

Further, in the printer according to the third aspect, the detecting means detects the color of the recording material and also the presence or absence of the recording material.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an inkjet printer according to this embodiment. The carriage 3 moves left and right along two guide rails 30 and 30 parallel to the platen 1. The recording paper 2 is conveyed by the platen 1 and other generally known means in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage. A recording head 4 as a recording unit is mounted on the carriage 3. Recording head 4
From the ink-on-demand type ink jet nozzles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for ejecting inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (B), and white (W), respectively. Become. Signal lines 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 for individually controlling the ejection timing of ink are connected to each nozzle. The ink ejected from each of the nozzles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 intersects on the recording paper 2 to produce an ink of a desired color by mixing the inks.

On the carriage 3, as shown in FIG. 6, a detection device 15 as a detection means for detecting the color of the recording paper 2 is located upstream of the recording position of the recording head 4 in the conveying direction of the recording paper 2. It is mounted on the side. This detection device is generally a well-known one, and the received reflected light from the recording paper 2 is above or below a predetermined threshold value for each color in the discrimination circuit built in the detection device 15. Is determined.

FIG. 2 shows a block circuit of this embodiment. In the comparison calculation unit 16, when the reflected light detected by the detection device 15 is not a normal white color or a light color below a predetermined density level, that is, when the determination circuit incorporated in the detection device 15 determines that it is colored, The nozzle drive unit 18 is instructed to print with a color that is a complementary color of the color determined by the determination circuit, ignoring the color designated by the host device 17. The nozzle drive unit 18 determines the type of nozzle to be driven based on the command instructed from the comparison calculation unit 16, and further selectively prints each color ink on the recording paper 2 by a print command sent from the host device 17. Discharge. Since the color detection position of the detection device 15 is on the upstream side of the recording position of the recording head 4 by one line or several lines in the conveying direction of the recording sheet 2, the ejection timing of the recording head 4 corresponds to this deviation in advance. It is adjusted to be delayed. Although the position detector of the carriage is not shown, a well-known technique is used.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. The color detection positions of the detection devices 115 and 215 are installed on both sides of the recording head 104 so as to be positioned before and after the recording position of the recording head 104 in the moving direction of the carriage 103 as shown in FIG. . Detection device 115
The color detection of the carriage 103 is effectively performed when the carriage 103 is moving to the left, and the color detection of the detection device 215 is performed by the carriage 1.
It works effectively when 03 is moving to the right.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment in which the detectors 15 and 215 also serve to detect the presence or absence of the recording paper 2. Normally, at the time of non-printing, as shown by the chain double-dashed line, it is located outside the width of the recording paper 2, and the recording heads 4 and 104 are in contact with the lid fixed to the frame so that the ink does not dry. When there is a signal to print without the recording paper 2,
First, the carriages 3 and 103 carry the detection devices 15 and 215 to the path of the recording paper 2 and stop. The leading edge of the recording paper 2 comes to that position, and the detection devices 15, 215
When is detected, printing is performed normally. But recording paper 2
If the time does not come to the predetermined timing due to the time or the number of signal pulses of the recording paper drive motor (not shown), no sound is printed and the warning is given by a well-known method such as sound or light (the display part is not shown). Emit.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the recording material other than the recording paper may be a cloth or an ink holding synthetic resin sheet.

[0015]

As is apparent from the above description, in the printer according to the first aspect, the color of the recording material is detected in order to determine the color to be recorded in consideration of the information regarding the color of the recording material. Since the detecting device is located on the upstream side of the recording means in the conveying direction of the recording material, a recorded image with high visibility can be efficiently obtained.

Further, in the printer according to the second aspect of the present invention, by installing the detecting means forward and backward with respect to the moving direction of the recording means, it is possible to efficiently obtain a highly visible recorded image even during reciprocal printing.

Further, in the printer according to the third aspect, the function can be improved at a low cost by using the detecting means also for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the inkjet printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an inkjet printer that is a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view for explaining a case where the detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is used also for detection of the presence or absence of a recording material.

FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory view for explaining a case where the detection device in the modified example of the present invention is also used for detection of the presence or absence of a recording material.

FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining the positional relationship between the recording head and the detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Platen 2 Recording Paper 3, 103 Carriage 4, 104 Recording Head 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Inkjet Nozzle 15, 115, 215 Detection Device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording means capable of recording in different colors, a conveying means for conveying a recording material on which an image can be formed, and a detecting means for detecting information corresponding to the color of the recording material. A printer having a control unit that causes the recording unit to record a color having a complementary color relationship with the information based on the information, wherein the detection unit is disposed upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction of the transport unit. A printer characterized by being provided. 2. A recording means capable of recording in different colors, and a moving means for relatively moving the recording material on which an image can be formed and the recording means, In a printer having detection means for detecting information corresponding to, and control means for causing the recording means to record a color having a complementary color relationship with the information based on the information,
A printer characterized in that detection means is provided on a carriage movably mounted with the recording means, in front of and behind the recording means with respect to a moving direction of the recording means. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the presence or absence of the recording material.