JPH09247322A - Recorder and facsimile equipment using the recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device which can perform recording operation irrelevantly to the opening/closure state of a device cover and accurately detect the remaining amount of ink without any influence of the opening/closure state of the cover on optical ink rest detection, and the facsimile equipment which uses the device. SOLUTION: A recording paper guide is provided between a photosensor 8 and the nozzle of a recording head 5, and ink is injected through the opening part of the recording paper guide to detect the remaining amount of ink. At this time, when a carriage 15 is moved away from its home position to the detection part of the photosensor 8, the opening part of the recording paper guide is covered with the lower part of the recording head 5 to cut off light entering from above. Then the remaining amount of ink is detected after the photosensor 8 is covered with the recording head 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus using the apparatus, and more particularly, a recording head for recording according to an ink jet method is used, and ink is replenished by replacing an ink cartridge or an ink tank. The present invention relates to a recording device and a facsimile device using the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus having a recording unit equipped with a recording head for recording according to an ink jet system as a recording unit, an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording head or a replacement united with the recording head. An optical sensor such as a photo interrupter is used to detect the remaining amount of ink in the available ink cartridge.

In the case of such an optical sensor, in order to prevent the incident external light from affecting the output of the sensor, for example, a sensor for detecting the open / closed state is provided on the apparatus cover, and the cover is closed. Only when it is detected that the received facsimile image data is recorded.

[0004]

However, in the above conventional example, when the apparatus cover is opened, the received facsimile image data is not recorded and the received image is stored in the image memory inside the apparatus. There was such a problem. For example, in the case of an apparatus that uses a replaceable ink cartridge integrated with a recording head, an opening / closing apparatus cover is indispensable in its configuration because the apparatus user replaces the ink cartridge. for that reason,
If the device user forgets to close the cover after replacing the ink cartridge and leaves the facsimile device, if the amount of received facsimile image data exceeds the storage capacity of the image memory, the receiving operation itself is not performed and the received information is Not available.

If the apparatus cover is accidentally opened during the recording operation, the sensor detects the state and stops the recording operation even though the recording operation is in progress. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and the recording operation can be performed regardless of the open / closed state of the apparatus cover, and the open / closed state of the cover also affects the optical ink remaining amount detection. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus using the recording apparatus, which can accurately detect the remaining ink amount without giving the ink.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following constitution. That is, a recording apparatus capable of replacing an ink tank for storing ink by opening an openable cover, the recording head ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank to perform recording, and the recording head The test means to eject ink to detect the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, and the detecting device to detect the remaining amount of ink so that external light does not enter the optical sensor. A light-shielding device that covers the optical sensor is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus using the recording apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With the above-described structure, the present invention is a recording apparatus capable of opening an openable cover and exchanging an ink tank for storing ink. When the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is detected using the optical sensor, the optical sensor operates to cover the optical sensor so that external light does not enter.

Then, after the optical sensor is covered, control is performed to detect the remaining ink amount. The device is configured so that the openable cover is provided above the ink tank and the recording head, and the optical sensor is provided below the ink ejection port of the recording head. By the way, a part of the light shielding means for covering the optical sensor is provided with an ink ejection port of the recording head
It is located between the ink detecting portion of the optical sensor and the light shielding means is provided with an opening so that the ink ejected downward from the recording head reaches the ink detecting portion of the optical sensor. To be done.

Here, a recording head may be used as a part of the light shielding means, and when the remaining ink amount is detected, the recording head is moved to above the opening of the light shielding means so as to cover the opening from above. May be. Here, the lower area of the recording head is at least larger than the area of the opening.
Alternatively, a carriage that carries a recording head and reciprocates may be used as a part of the light shielding means, and when detecting the remaining amount of ink, the carriage is moved to the upper part of the opening of the light shielding means, and the opening is opened from above. You may cover it. Here, the lower area of the carriage is at least larger than the area of the opening. The exterior of the device is used as a part of the light shielding means.

The optical sensor includes a light emitting means such as an infrared LED which emits light to a position where ink ejected from the ink ejection port of the recording head passes, and a phototransistor which receives the light. Such a light receiving means is included. Further, the above-mentioned recording head may be an ink jet recording head which ejects ink to perform recording, or is a recording head which ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy and generates thermal energy to be given to the ink. The heat energy converter may be provided.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus including a recording unit that performs recording by a recording head according to an inkjet method that is a typical embodiment of the present invention. A schematic configuration of the facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, A is a reading unit that optically reads a document, B is a recording unit that performs recording according to an inkjet method, and C is a recording medium such as recording paper P stacked in a paper feed cassette, which is separated and recorded one by one. This is a paper feeding unit that supplies the paper to the unit B.

First, the flow of the recording paper P will be described.
The conveyance path of the recording paper P is as shown by an arrow G. That is,
The recording paper P stacked in the paper feed cassette 1 of the paper feed unit C is picked up by the paper feed roller 2 and the retard roller 3 and sent to the recording unit B by the paper feed roller 2.
In the recording unit B, the recording head 5 ejects ink onto the recording paper P to perform recording, and the recording paper P is conveyed in accordance with the recording. When the recording is completed, the recording paper P is discharged and stacked on the discharge stacker 7 by the discharge roller 6.

Next, a specific structure of the paper feed section C will be described. In FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 1 for stacking and storing a plurality of recording papers P is provided with an intermediate plate 4 for stacking the recording papers P. The middle plate 4 is urged upward from the back surface by a middle plate spring 10 arranged to face the feeding roller 2. Also,
The intermediate plate 4 is structured so that it can be easily replenished when the recording paper P is reduced or lost by being pressed downward by a cam or the like in the standby state of paper feeding.

On the other hand, when the recording signal is detected and the paper feeding operation is started, the downward pressing of the intermediate plate 4 by the cam or the like is released,
The recording paper P is picked up by the paper feed roller 2.
The retard roller 3 is at a position facing the paper feed roller 2 and changes the position of the recording paper P in conjunction with the intermediate plate 4. When the paper feeding operation is performed, the recording sheet P, which is urged by the middle plate 4 and picked up by the paper feeding roller 2, is separated and fed by the J section in cooperation with the paper feeding roller 2. To send. The recording paper P that has been separated and fed is conveyed to the recording unit B while being pinched so as to be sufficiently wrapped around the feeding roller 2.

Further, the discharging mechanism of the recording paper P recorded in the recording section B will be described. The recording paper P ejected by the paper ejection roller 6 is ejected and stacked on the paper ejection stacker 7. The paper ejection stacker 7 is provided with a paper ejection auxiliary tray 9 having a hinge K as a center of rotation, and is rotated when the recording paper P to be used is long so that the paper ejection stacker is ejected in the recording paper ejection direction. It can be made longer. Further, the paper discharge stacker 7 has a structure that also serves as a cover of the paper feed cassette 1. A plurality of ribs (not shown) are provided on the paper discharge stacker 7 and the paper discharge auxiliary tray 9, and the recording paper P on which recording is performed slides on the plurality of ribs and is sequentially stacked.

Further, the flow of the image original S will be described. The document transport path is as shown by arrow F in FIG. FIG.
In, the image document S is stacked on the document stacking tray 41 with its image side facing down. The image document S stacked on the document stacking tray 41 has a slider 4 movable in the width direction thereof.
Positioning is performed by 2. When the image original S is stacked on the original stacking tray 41, the original is pressed by the preliminary conveying pressing piece 43 from above by the preliminary conveying spring 44, and is separated and preliminarily conveyed in cooperation with the separation roller 46.

Next, the pre-conveyed image original S is separated and conveyed one by one from the lower side by the cooperation of the separating piece 45 and the separating roller 46 pressed from above by the ADF spring 47. Further, the separation roller 46 also serves to convey the separated image original S to the reading position.
The image drawn on the image original S separated and conveyed to the reading position by the separation roller 46 in this manner is read by the photoelectric conversion sensor 48. The CS roller 49 is urged from above by the CS pressing spring 50 along the reading line of the photoelectric conversion sensor 48, and the separated and conveyed image original S is brought into close contact with the reading line. Further, the CS roller 49 not only determines the reading speed of the image original S in the sub-scanning direction (conveyance direction of the image original) but also serves to discharge the image original S that has been read. Finally, the discharged image original S is stored in the original discharge tray 5
1 is discharged and stacked. The document discharge tray 51 has a structure that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

Reference numeral 60 denotes an opening / closing cover for replacing the cartridge, which has a structure that can be opened and closed vertically. The user of the apparatus can easily replace the cartridge with the cartridge replacement opening / closing cover 60 open upward. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional perspective view showing the detailed structure of the recording unit B. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 5 is a cartridge-type recording head that has an ink tank built-in and can be replaced with a new one when the ink is exhausted.

In this embodiment, as the recording head 5,
Either a recording head dedicated to monochrome recording or a recording head capable of color recording can be appropriately replaced and used. The recording head for monochrome recording has a resolution of 3
60 DPI, which has a nozzle row in which 128 nozzles are arranged in one row, the electrothermal conversion elements provided in these nozzles generate film boiling in the ink, and the resulting pressure causes Ink is ejected from the ejection port. On the other hand, a recording head capable of color recording has a nozzle group that ejects black ink and three color inks (cyan,
The nozzle group for ejecting magenta and yellow) is divided, and the nozzle group for ejecting black ink is provided with 64 nozzles, while the nozzle group for ejecting color ink has 24 nozzles for each color ink. It has a nozzle. These nozzle groups are arranged in one row. Ink ejection is performed according to the same principle as that of a recording head dedicated to monochrome recording. A recording head capable of color recording is used for black ink and color ink.
It has three ink tanks, and the structure is such that each ink tank can be replaced independently.

Here, the principle of ink ejection from the recording head will be described. The recording head generally has a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid passage and an energy acting portion provided in a part of the liquid passage, and energy generation that generates a droplet forming energy to act on the liquid in the acting portion. And a section. The energy generating unit uses an electromechanical converter such as a piezo element, irradiates electromagnetic waves such as a laser, absorbs the liquid in the liquid to generate heat, and ejects and flies droplets by the action of the heat generation. There is a method of heating the liquid by an electrothermal converter to discharge the liquid. Among them, in a recording head using a method of ejecting a liquid by thermal energy, liquid ejection ports (orifices) for ejecting recording liquid droplets to form flying liquid droplets can be arranged at high density. Therefore, it is possible to record at high resolution.

Further, the recording head using the electrothermal converter as the energy generating portion can be easily miniaturized as a whole, and the IC technology and the micro technology which have been remarkably improved in the technological progress and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. Since the advantages of processing technology can be fully utilized and it is easy to make it long and flat (two-dimensional), it is easy to make multiple nozzles and high-density mounting, and mass production is possible. It is also possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

A recording head manufactured through a semiconductor manufacturing process using an electrothermal converter in the energy generating section as described above generally has a liquid passage corresponding to each ink ejection port, and each liquid passage has a liquid passage. An electrothermal converter is provided as a means for applying thermal energy to the liquid that fills the liquid and ejecting the liquid from the corresponding ink ejection port to form droplets for flight. The liquid is supplied from a common liquid chamber that is in communication with each other.

As a method of manufacturing the ink ejection section,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-253457, a solid layer for forming at least a liquid channel on a first substrate, and an active energy ray curable material used for forming at least a wall of the liquid channel. Layer and the second substrate are sequentially laminated, a mask is laminated on the second substrate, and active energy rays are irradiated from above the mask to form at least the liquid channel of the active energy ray-curable forest material layer. There is a method in which at least a liquid channel is formed by curing the wall as a constituent portion and further removing the uncured portion of the solid layer and the active energy ray curable material layer from between the two substrates.

Next, the structure of the recording section B will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the carriage 15 reciprocates in the direction (main scanning direction, arrow H direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub scanning direction, arrow G direction) of the recording paper P while holding the recording head 5 with high precision. . The carriage 15 is slidably held by the guide rod 16 and the abutting portion 15a. The reciprocating movement of the carriage 15 is
Performed by a pulley 17 and a timing belt 18 driven by a carriage motor 30 (not shown),
At this time, the recording signal and power supplied to the recording head 5 are
It is supplied from the electric circuit of the apparatus main body by a flexible cable 19. The recording head 5 and the flexible cable 19 are connected by press-contacting each other. The CPU (described later) can recognize which of the monochrome cartridge and the color cartridge is mounted by detecting the opening or connection of the specific contact between the recording head 5 and the flexible cable 19.

A cap 20 is provided at the home position of the carriage 15 of the recording section B and functions as an ink receiving means. The cap 20 moves up and down as needed,
At the time of ascending, it adheres closely to the recording head 5 to cover its nozzle portion and prevent evaporation of ink and adhesion of dust. Now, in this apparatus, in order to position the recording head 5 and the cap 20 so as to be relatively opposed to each other, the carriage home sensor 21 provided in the apparatus main body and the light shielding plate 15b provided in the carriage 15 are provided. It is used. A transmission type photo interrupter is used for the carriage home sensor 21, and when the carriage 15 moves to the standby position, the light emitted from a part of the carriage home sensor 21 is blocked by the light shielding plate 15b. Is used to detect that the recording head 5 and the cap 20 are relatively opposed to each other.

The recording paper P is fed upward from the lower side in the drawing,
The sheet is bent in the horizontal direction by the feeding roller 2 and the paper guide 22 and is conveyed in the arrow G direction (sub-scanning direction). Further, the recording paper bent and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the paper guide 22 passes between the nozzles of the recording head 5 and the recording paper guide 61, and is conveyed in the arrow G direction. The recording paper guide 61 is located so as to face the nozzles of the recording head 5, and is configured so that the conveyed recording paper is in a positional relationship parallel to the nozzle surface that ejects ink during recording. Now, the recording paper guide 61 is provided with an opening. The area of this opening is smaller than the area of the lower part of the recording head 5, and when the recording head 5 is located above it, the opening is completely covered. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a transmissive photointerrupter type photosensor 8 is located below the photosensor 8
The optical axis of is positioned below the opening of the recording paper guide 61. The ink ejected during the remaining ink amount detecting operation described later passes through the opening and crosses the detection range of the photo sensor.

The feeding roller 2 and the paper discharging roller 6 are respectively
The recording paper P is driven by a recording motor (not shown), and interlocks with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 15 with high accuracy as necessary.
Is transported in the sub-scanning direction. Further, in the sub-scanning direction, there is provided a spur 23 which is made of a material having high water repellency and which comes into contact with the recording paper P only at its blade-shaped circumferential portion. The spurs 23 are arranged at a plurality of positions facing the paper discharge roller 6 and are separated by a predetermined length in the main scanning direction by the bearing member 23a. The recording paper P is guided and conveyed without affecting the above.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photo sensor 8 is disposed between the cap 20 and the paper edge of the recording paper P so as to face the nozzle row 5c of the recording head 5, and is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 5. It is a transmissive photo interrupter that directly optically detects the formed ink droplet, and by detecting the ink ejection state, the ink-free state of the recording head 5 is determined from its output.

The photosensor 8 used here uses an infrared LED as a light emitting element, and a lens is integrally formed on the LED light emitting surface so that light can be projected approximately parallel to the light receiving element. A phototransistor is used for the light receiving element, and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element is 0.7 mm x
A 0.7 mm hole is formed on the optical axis, and the detection range is 0.7 m in the height direction in the entire area between the light receiving element and the light emitting element.
m in the width direction and 0.7 mm in the width direction. Further, the optical axis connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element is arranged in parallel with the nozzle row 5c of the recording head 5, and the distance between the light receiving element and the light receiving element is wider than that of the nozzle row 5c of the recording head 5, and the optical axis and the recording head. When the positions of the nozzle rows 5c of No. 5 match, the recording head 5
All the ink droplets ejected from the respective nozzles are configured to be able to pass through the detection range between the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
When the ink droplet passes through the detection range, the ink droplet blocks light from the light emitting side, reduces the amount of light to the light receiving side, and changes in the output of the phototransistor, which is a light receiving element, can be obtained.

The nozzle array of the recording head 5 and the photo sensor 8
Similarly to the positioning with the cap 20, the carriage home sensor 21 provided in the main body of the apparatus is used to position the and so as to be relatively opposed to each other. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the home position (H
A control program for converting the distance (R) moving from the position of the nozzle row 5c of the recording head 5 to the optical axis of the photo sensor 8 in P) to the number of steps of the motor for driving the carriage 15 and executing the recording operation in advance. Is set as a constant. In this way, by moving the carriage by a fixed amount after detecting the home position, it is possible to accurately position the ink column of the recording head 5 and the optical axis of the photo sensor 8 relatively opposite to each other. Then, the recording head 5 is moved to the vicinity of the photo sensor 8 before or after the recording operation of one page is started, and the ink ejection operation is performed so as to cross the optical axis from the infrared LED 81 which is a light emitting element as shown in FIG. Then, the remaining amount of ink is detected.
Here, the ejected ink crosses the optical axis, and the photo sensor 8
If the light reaching the phototransistor 82, which is the light receiving element, is blocked, it is determined that the ink is normally ejected. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 83 is a slit provided in the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 81 and the light receiving portion of the light receiving element 82 for narrowing down the detection range of the remaining ink amount.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 24 is a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, and the control unit 24 is C
It has a PU 25, a ROM 26 which stores control programs executed by the CPU 25 and various data, and a RAM 27 which is used as a work area when the CPU 25 executes various processes and which temporarily stores various data. are doing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the recording head 5 is connected to the control section 24 via the flexible cable 19, and the flexible cable 19 is connected from the control section 24 to the recording head 5.
The control signal line and the image signal line are included. Further, the output of the photo sensor 8 is digitized by the A / D conversion circuit 28 and can be analyzed by the CPU 25. The carriage motor 30 is a motor that can rotate according to the number of pulse steps by the motor drive circuit 32. Further, the control unit 24 controls the carriage motor 30 via the motor drive circuit 33, the transport motor 31 via the motor drive circuit 32, and the reading motor 52 via the motor drive circuit 53, and outputs from the carriage home sensor 21. You are typing.

Furthermore, the control unit 24 controls the reading sensor 4
8. A printer interface 54 for receiving recording commands and recording data from an external computer 56, an image data input device such as a line control circuit 55 for receiving received data from a public telephone line 57 are connected, and facsimile transmission / reception and copying are performed. , Can be operated as a printer of an external computer. That is, this apparatus can be operated as a facsimile machine (facsimile mode), a copying machine (copy mode), or a printer (printer mode).

Furthermore, the control unit 24 is connected to an operation panel 58 for the user of the apparatus to perform various operations and instructions. The operation panel 58 is provided with an LCD 59 for displaying a message. Next, recording control when the apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration is operating in the facsimile mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the recording control in the printer mode is omitted here for the sake of simplicity.

First, when the CPU 25 detects the occurrence of the recording operation in the recording operation waiting state in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2, and the cause of the recording operation is due to the copying operation by the user of the apparatus, or Checks whether it is due to reception of facsimile image data. If it is determined that the operation factor is a copy operation, the process proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation factor is reception of facsimile image data, the process proceeds to step S3.

Next, in step S3, the CPU 25 checks whether the mounted recording head is a recording head dedicated to monochrome recording or a recording head capable of color recording. If it is determined that the mounted recording head is a recording head dedicated to monochrome recording, the process proceeds to step S4, the recording paper P is picked up, and 128 nozzles of the recording head are used. Then, the image data for one page of the recording paper is recorded, and then the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if it is determined that the mounted printhead is a color printable printhead, the process proceeds to step S10, and the 64 nozzles for ejecting black ink of the printhead are used. Image data for one page of recording paper is recorded, and then the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the remaining ink amount is detected and the result is checked. This processing will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 7 showing the positional relationship among the recording head 5, the photo sensor 8, the carriage 15, and the recording paper guide 61. In FIG. 7, (a) shows the carriage 1.
5 is at the home position, and (b) shows when the carriage 15 moves from the home position by the distance R.

In step S4 or step S10, the received image for one page of recording paper is recorded, and then, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the carriage 15 carrying the recording head 5 is moved to the home position. Next, FIG.
In the state shown in (a), when the home position of the carriage 15 is detected by the carriage home sensor 21, the carriage 15 is moved by a distance R from the home position as shown in FIG. As described above, the area of the opening of the recording paper guide 61 is sufficiently smaller than the area of the lower portion of the recording head 5, and the carriage 1
When 5 is moved a distance R from the home position, FIG.
As shown in (b), this opening is completely covered by the recording head 5.

At this time, the peripheral portion (side surface portion or lower portion) of the photo sensor 8 is covered by the exterior of the facsimile apparatus, the upper portion is covered by the recording paper guide 61, and the opening portion of the recording paper guide 61 is covered by the recording head 61. And the outside light becomes the photo sensor 8
Can be prevented. In this way, with the surroundings of the photo sensor 8 being shielded from outside light, the control unit 24 turns on the power of the photo sensor 8 and starts the operation of detecting the remaining ink amount. In this embodiment, the carriage 15
Moves a distance R from his home position and then stops for a short time. This time is the time required until the output of the photo sensor 8 becomes stable after the photo sensor 8 is powered on. Next, the CPU 25 sets the recording head 5
The ink is controlled to be ejected from.

When the ink remains in the ink tank of the recording head 5, the ink is ejected from the nozzle row.
Ink is ejected from 128 nozzles in the case of a recording head dedicated to monochrome recording and 64 nozzles in the case of a recording head capable of color recording. The ejected ink passes through the opening of the recording paper guide 61 and passes through the photo sensor 8
Cross the optical axis of. At this time, the output of the photo sensor 8 (output from the light receiving element 82) changes. On the other hand, when the ink does not remain in the ink tank of the recording head 5, the ink is not ejected, and at that time, the photo sensor 8
Output (output from the light receiving element 82) does not change.

In the above ink discharge operation, in this embodiment, ink is continuously discharged several times per nozzle while moving the carriage 15 by a minute distance in the direction opposite to the home position. The output of the photo sensor 8 obtained during this period is C through the A / D conversion circuit 28.
It is sent to PU25. After the output from the photo sensor 8 is transmitted to the CPU 25 for a predetermined time in this way, the power supply to the photo sensor 8 is stopped.

During a series of operations from turning on the power to the photo sensor 8 to stopping the power supply, the photo sensor 8
The upper part of is covered with the recording head 5, and even if the cartridge replacement opening / closing cover 60 is open, external light does not enter the photo sensor 8 from above. After the power supply to the photo sensor 8 is stopped, the carriage 15 returns to the home position.

After the series of operations described above, the CPU 25 analyzes the output sent from the photo sensor 8 and determines whether or not ink remains. Here, if it is determined that the ink does not remain, the process proceeds to step S9, while if it is determined that the ink remains, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, it is checked whether or not there is print data corresponding to the next print page for which the print operation is to be continued. If it exists, the process returns to step S3. If it does not exist, the process returns to step S3. The process returns to step S1. Further, in step S9, the message "no ink remains" is displayed on the LCD 59 while holding the received image data in the memory, and the recording operation is ended. Then, the image data held in the memory when the ink tank is replaced is recorded.

Now, in the process, in step S7, the recording operation according to the copy operation is performed, and further, in step S8.
Then, it is checked whether there is a next page for which the copy operation should be continued. Here, if such a page exists, the process returns to step S7, but if such a page does not exist, the process returns to step S1. Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, when the ink is ejected from the recording head onto the optical axis of the photo sensor 8 and the remaining ink amount in the ink tank is detected, the recording head covers the upper portion of the photo sensor 8. Even when the replacement opening / closing cover 60 is open, it is possible to prevent outside light from entering the photo sensor 8. As a result, the photo sensor 8 is prevented from malfunctioning, and there is an advantage that it is not necessary to stop the recording of the received facsimile image data even when the cartridge replacement opening / closing cover is left open as in the conventional example. Further, it is not necessary to provide a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cartridge exchange opening / closing cover.

[0046]

[Other Embodiments] Here, a mode will be described in which a carriage is used instead of a recording head as a means for covering the photosensor from outside light during the remaining ink amount detecting operation. In addition,
The basic configuration of the facsimile apparatus used in this embodiment is the same as that used in the above-described embodiment, and in the following description, only the characteristic parts of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the shape of the carriage 15 and the state when the recording head 5 is mounted on the carriage 15. As shown in FIG. 8, a hole is formed in the lower portion of the carriage 15 for allowing ink ejected from the recording head 5 to pass therethrough. The lower part of the carriage has a shape that spreads in all directions, and this area is larger than the opening of the recording paper guide 61.

FIG. 9 shows a recording head 5, a photo sensor 8, a carriage 15, and a recording paper guide 6 according to this embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of 1. In FIG. 9, (a) shows when the carriage 15 is at the home position, and (b) shows
Indicates the time when the carriage 15 moves from the home position by the distance R. The procedure of the remaining ink amount detecting operation according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, one page of recording paper is recorded for the received facsimile image, and then the image shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the carriage 15 carrying the recording head 5 is moved to the home position, and after detecting the home position of the carriage 15, the carriage 15 is moved by a distance R from the home position. Now, Fig. 9
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the area of the opening of the recording paper guide 61 is sufficiently smaller than the area of the lower portion of the carriage 15, and the carriage 15 is moved a distance R from the home position. When opened, this opening is covered by the carriage 15 without any gap. At this time, the peripheral portion (side surface portion and lower portion) of the photo sensor 8 is covered by the exterior of the facsimile apparatus, the upper portion thereof is covered by the recording paper guide 60, and the opening portion thereof is covered by the carriage 15, so that external light is incident on the photo sensor 8. Prevents entry.

As described above, the power of the photo sensor 8 is turned on and the remaining ink amount is detected in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment with the surroundings of the photo sensor 8 shielded from the outside light. Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, when the ink is ejected from the recording head onto the optical axis of the photo sensor to detect the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, the recording head uses the photo sensor 8.
Since the upper part of the cartridge is covered, outside light can be prevented from entering the photo sensor 8 even if the cartridge exchange opening / closing cover 60 is opened. Thereby, also in this embodiment,
It is possible to prevent malfunction of the photo sensor 8 due to invasion of external light, and it is not necessary to stop the recording of the received facsimile image data as in the conventional example even when the opening / closing cover for replacing the cartridge is left open. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the open / close cover.

In this embodiment, the carriage 15
The example in which the lower portion of the carriage has a rectangular shape that spreads in all directions was used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and this shape allows the carriage 15 to have a distance R from the home position.
A polygonal shape or a circular shape may be used as long as the size is large enough to cover the opening of the recording paper guide 61 and hide the photosensor when moved. Also, in this example, the carriage 1
Although only the lower part of 5 has a widened shape, the recording paper guide 61 is provided so that the photo sensor 8 is not exposed to external light when the carriage moves a distance R from the home position.
For example, the entire carriage may have a shape larger than the opening so that the opening can be closed.

In the above embodiment, particularly in the ink jet recording system, a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink is provided, and High density and high definition recording can be achieved by using a method of causing a change in ink state by energy. For a representative configuration and principle, see, for example, US Pat.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in 723129 and 4740796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). Electrothermal transducers
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, thereby causing film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head. As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed, which is effective. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

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 a configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the ejection port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, a heat acting surface A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which a is bent, is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 5 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-123670 discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion.
A configuration based on JP-A-9-138461 may be adopted.

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, not only the recording head of the cartridge type in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above-described embodiment, but also the electrical connection with the main body of the apparatus by being attached to the main body of the apparatus. A replaceable chip-type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus body may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary means, etc. to the structure of the recording apparatus described above because the recording operation can be made more stable. If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressure or suction means,
There is an electrothermal converter, a heating element other than this, or a preheating means by a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, the ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. 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, the form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a computer, or in the form of a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like. It may be one. Further, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a recording apparatus capable of opening an openable cover to replace an ink tank for storing ink, ink is ejected from a recording head on a trial basis. , When detecting the ink discharge state by using the optical sensor and detecting the ink remaining amount in the ink tank, the optical sensor is covered so that external light does not enter the optical sensor. For example, the optical sensor is covered. later,
Since it is controlled to detect the remaining ink amount, external light does not affect the optical sensor even when the opening / closing cover for replacing the ink tank is open.
There is an effect that more accurate ink remaining amount detection can be performed.

As a result, even if the cover is still open, it is not necessary to stop the recording of the received facsimile image as in the conventional case, and a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cover is provided. Since it is not necessary, it can contribute to realization of a more reliable facsimile receiving operation and cost reduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus including a recording unit that performs recording by a recording head according to an inkjet system that is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a three-dimensional perspective view showing a detailed configuration of a recording unit B of the apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration around a photo sensor 8 of a recording unit B. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a photo sensor 8.

5 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing recording control when operating in a facsimile mode.

FIG. 7 is a recording head 5, a photo sensor 8, and a carriage 1.
5 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between recording paper guides 61. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a shape of a carriage 15 according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a positional relationship among a recording head 5, a photo sensor 8, a carriage 15, and a recording paper guide 61 according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A reading unit B recording unit C paper feeding unit 1 paper feeding cassette 5 recording head 8 photo sensor 15 carriage 20 cap 21 carriage home sensor 24 control unit 25 CPU 26 ROM 27 RAM 58 operation panel 59 LCD 60 cartridge opening / closing cover 61 recording Paper transport guide 81 Light emitting element (infrared LED) 82 Light receiving element (phototransistor) 83 Comparator 84 Pulse width counting unit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus capable of replacing an ink tank for storing ink by opening a releasable cover, the recording head ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank to perform recording. External light does not enter the optical sensor when the recording head detects the ink remaining amount in the ink tank by ejecting ink experimentally from the recording head and detecting the ink remaining amount in the ink tank. And a light shielding unit that covers the optical sensor. 2. The detection control means for controlling the detection means to operate to detect the remaining amount of ink after the optical sensor is covered by the light shielding means. Recording device. 3. The opening / closing cover is provided above the ink tank and the recording head, and the optical sensor is provided below an ink ejection port of the recording head. The recording device according to 2. 4. A part of the light shielding means is located between an ink ejection port of the recording head and an ink detection section of the optical sensor, and the light shielding means ejects downward from the recording head. The opening is provided so that the ink reaches the ink detecting portion of the optical sensor.
The recording device according to claim 1. 5. The recording head is used as a part of the light-shielding means, and when the remaining ink amount is detected by the detecting means, the recording head is moved to above the opening of the light-shielding means, and the opening is opened from above. 5. Covering is done.
The recording device according to claim 1. 6. The lower area of the recording head is at least larger than the area of the opening.
The recording device according to claim 1. 7. A carriage that carries the recording head and reciprocates, wherein the carriage is used as a part of the light-shielding means, and the carriage of the light-shielding means is used when the remaining amount of ink is detected by the detecting means. 5. The structure is moved to the upper part of the opening so as to cover the opening from the upper part.
The recording device according to claim 1. 8. The lower area of the carriage is at least larger than the area of the opening.
The recording device according to claim 1. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exterior of the apparatus is used as a part of the light shielding unit. 10. The optical sensor includes a light emitting unit that emits light to a position where ink ejected from an ink ejection port of the recording head passes, and a light receiving unit that receives the light. The recording apparatus according to claim 1. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the light emitting means includes an infrared LED. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the light receiving unit includes a phototransistor that generates an electric signal based on the received light. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink. 14. 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 2. The recording device according to item 1. 15. A facsimile apparatus using the recording apparatus according to claim 1.