JPH0957957A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce consumption of papers for blind discharging by switching a switch means which switches conveyance of recording papers between a discharging direction and re-conveying direction to the re-conveying side so as to house the recording papers which have been conveyed for blind discharging into a housing section for the papers to be sent for blind discharging again. SOLUTION: A record control section 711 outputs a predetermined number of pulse drive signals to the whole piezoelectric elements 36 at every printing of N sheets during printing operation so as to discharge papers by blind discharging. The blind discharging is performed 2Z times for one sheet of blind discharge paper by Z(>1) time for both the top face and the rear face. Next, a mechanism control section 7112 switches a paper switch guide through a drive circuit 40. At the time of printing of a printing data and of the blind discharging at 2Z time, the paper switch guide is switched to a discharge passage. On the other hand, at the time of blind discharge at 1-(2Z-1) time, the paper switch guide is switched to a blind discharge paper conveying passage. Accordingly, blind discharging is possible for a predetermined plurality of times for the recording papers, so that consumption of the recording papers can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus applied to a facsimile, a copying machine, a printer and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles of a recording head to print on a sheet has been put into practical use. In this inkjet recording apparatus, some of the nozzles do not perform any ejection operation during printing depending on the image to be printed, but since the ink in the nozzles is not ejected, the viscosity increases due to drying. However, in the worst case, it solidifies and ink ejection becomes impossible. Usually, in order to prevent such a situation, idle ejection is performed periodically during printing, in which ink droplets are ejected from all nozzles to the capping member. That is,
First, the printing operation is interrupted, and the capping member is moved to the recording head, or the recording head is moved to the capping member to perform idle ejection. However, since the recording head has to be reciprocally moved from the printing position to the capping position, the time required for performing idle ejection becomes long, and as a result, the number of printed sheets per unit time decreases.

Therefore, conventionally, in the state where the recording head is held at the printing position, the blank discharge is carried out on the sheet dedicated to the blank discharge carried by the recording material carrying means (JP-A-3-2).
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 95-6643), there is proposed one in which blank recording is performed on a recording material made of roll paper (JP-A-3-29566).
No. 3).

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the device described in Japanese Patent No. 664, one dedicated sheet is consumed by one blank discharge, and the consumption amount of the dedicated sheet increases.

Further, in the apparatus described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-295663, the recording material is an apparatus dedicated to roll paper, and it is difficult to apply cut paper as the recording material. Further, since it is possible to perform the blank discharge only on one side of the roll paper, the consumption amount of the recording material also increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which the amount of consumption of a blank sheet is reduced.

[0007]

According to the present invention, after printing is performed by ejecting ink toward a recording sheet fed to a printing position along a feeding path, the recording sheet is moved from the printing position. In an inkjet recording device that discharges
An empty discharge paper storage unit, which is provided so as to branch from the middle of the discharge path and is provided in the middle of the re-conveyance path connected to the feeding path, and the conveyance of the recording paper in the discharge path direction and the re-conveyance path direction. And a blanking control for feeding the recording paper stored in the blanking paper storage portion to the printing position along the feeding path and performing blanking ejection to eject ink from all nozzles. And a conveyance control means for switching the switching means to the side of the re-conveyance path to store the recording sheet that has been subjected to idle discharge in the idle discharge paper storage portion (claim 1).

According to this structure, the recording paper that has been subjected to the blank discharge for discharging the ink from all the nozzles is stored in the blank discharge paper storage portion with its transport switched to the re-transport path side. Then, the recording paper stored in the empty discharge paper storage unit is fed to the print position along the feeding path, and the blank discharge is performed. As a result, the blank discharge is performed a plurality of times on the recording paper, and the consumption of the recording paper due to the blank discharge is reduced.

Further, the re-conveyance path is for reversing the recording sheet and storing it in the empty ejection sheet storage section (claim 2).

According to this structure, the blank discharge is alternately performed on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper, and the consumption amount of the recording paper due to the blank discharge is further reduced.

Further, the idle discharge control means causes the same recording sheet to perform a predetermined number of idle discharges.
The transport control means switches the switching means to the discharge path side and discharges the recording paper when the same recording paper is discharged a plurality of times.

According to this structure, the recording paper which has been discharged a predetermined number of times less than the predetermined number of times is stored in the empty discharge sheet storage section with its conveyance switched to the re-conveyance path side. And
The recording paper on which the blank discharge is performed a predetermined number of times is switched to the discharge path side and discharged. As a result, the predetermined blank discharge is reliably performed on the same recording paper a plurality of times, and the consumption of the recording paper due to the blank discharge is reduced.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an ink containing portion for containing ink, and an ink remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of ink in the ink containing portion, the idle ejection control means. Is to print the detected remaining ink amount in the blank discharge (claim 4).

According to this structure, the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage portion is detected, the remaining ink amount detected in the idle ejection is printed, and the user is notified of the remaining ink amount. .

[0015]

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.
2 is a diagram showing a part of FIG.
1 shows a state in which 1 is raised and a state in which the sheet discharge switching guide 28 is switched to the sheet discharging side. This ink jet recording apparatus prints an image by ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle arranged in a recording head 31 onto a recording medium such as cut paper, and a paper feed cassette 11 and a blank ejection unit 12 are disposed below the ink jet recording apparatus. Has been done.

The paper feed cassette 11 is for accommodating, for example, A4 size recording paper for printing, and the blank discharge unit 12 is a blank discharge paper made of, for example, A4 size cut paper for blank discharge. And paper feed rollers 13 and 14 for feeding paper, respectively.

The paper transport path 21 has a guide for merging the paper feed paths of the paper feed cassette 11 and the empty discharge unit 12 and a guide for guiding the paper further downstream, and a pair of transport rollers 22 for transporting the fed paper. A pair of registration rollers 23 for performing secondary paper feeding is arranged.

The conveyor belt 2 is provided downstream of the paper conveying path 21.
4, the conveyor belt 24 has an endless shape and is stretched between a pair of conveyor rollers 25 and 26 to rotate one of the conveyor rollers 25 and 26.
It is designed to be rotated by (Fig. 1).

Paper feed cassette 11 or blank discharge unit 12
The sheet conveyed from is attracted to the conveyance belt 24 by an electrostatic force, an air suction force, or the like and conveyed. The transport rollers 25 and 26 are of a roller pair configuration and give a reliable transport force to the paper.

A paper transport path 27 is formed immediately downstream of the transport belt 24, and the paper transport path 27 is located at the downstream side.
Discharge path 271 and empty discharge paper transport path 27 that branch in the direction
2 is formed. The discharge path 271 guides the conveyed sheet toward the discharge roller pair 29, and the empty discharge sheet conveying path 272 guides the discharged sheet toward the empty discharge unit 12.

At the branch point of the paper transport path 27, the delivery destination of the paper transported from the transport belt 24 side is the discharge path 271.
Further, a sheet switching guide 28 for switching between the two directions of the empty discharge sheet conveying path 272 is provided. When the sheet is conveyed to the discharge path 271, the sheet switching guide 28 is switched as shown in FIG. 3 so that the sheet is discharged from the pair of discharge rollers 29 to the discharge tray 30 and the sheet is discharged to the empty discharge sheet conveying path 27.
When transporting to 2, switch as shown in FIG.
The paper is returned to the idle discharge unit 12.

Since the empty discharge paper conveyance path 272 guides the paper to the empty discharge unit 12 by reversing the front and back of the paper from the front end side of the empty discharge unit 12, it is alternately applied to the front surface and the back surface of the empty discharge paper. The blank discharge will be performed.

The recording head 31 is composed of head units 31Y, 31M, 31C and 31B arranged side by side in the paper transport direction, and ink tanks 32Y and 32 for storing yellow, magenta, cyan and black inks, respectively.
Ink is supplied from M, 32C and 32B through an ink supply tube (not shown).

Further, a large number of nozzles of each head unit are arrayed, for example, in the paper width direction by at least the paper width. Each of these nozzles communicates with a pressure chamber (not shown), and each pressure chamber communicates with an ink liquid chamber (not shown) in which ink is further stored.

The recording head 31 is supported by a not-shown lifting mechanism including a head lifting motor 42 (FIG. 1) so that it can be lifted and lowered.
The print position is set to be separated from the belt surface of No. 4 by a predetermined dimension of, for example, 1 mm, and the ink filled from the ink liquid chamber is ejected toward the paper from each nozzle by the pressurization of the pressure chamber. .

The ink tanks 32Y, 32M, 32
C and 32B are ink remaining amount detecting units 33Y and 33, respectively.
It is mounted on M, 33C and 33B. The ink remaining amount detection units 33Y, 33M, 33C, 33B are composed of, for example, pressure sensors, and are respectively provided in ink tanks 32Y, 32M,
The remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is detected by detecting the change in weight of 32C and 32B.

A capping member 34 is arranged at an appropriate place laterally of the recording head 31. Capping member 34
Is composed of cap portions 34Y, 34M, 34C, and 34B, and each of the head units 31Y of the recording head 31,
By capping the nozzle surfaces of 31M, 31C and 31B, the ink is prevented from drying and foreign matters, bubbles and the like are prevented from entering the nozzle.

The capping member 34 is the recording head 31.
Of the cap moving motor 4 after the nozzle surface of the cap has risen to a position at least higher than the upper surface of the capping member 34.
It is supported by a not shown moving mechanism including 3 (FIG. 1) and the like so as to be horizontally movable at least just below the recording head 31.

Then, the recording head 31 is lifted up and retracted from the printing position to the position shown in FIG. 3 by the head lifting motor 42, and the capping member 34 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. Stop just below
When the recording head 31 descends in this state, the nozzle surfaces of the head units 31Y, 31M, 31C, 31B are capped by the cap portions 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34B.

Further, the capping member 34 is connected to a waste ink tank 36 arranged at a proper place in the apparatus via a waste ink tube 35 provided with a pump (not shown). The above-mentioned pump eliminates the ejection failure of ink by generating suction force to restore the meniscus formed at the tip of the nozzle of the recording head 31 to a normal position or removing air bubbles and foreign matters in the nozzle together with ink. Is. The ink sucked by the pump is absorbed by the ink absorber inside the waste ink tank 36 via the waste ink tube 35.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the control arrangement of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
This recording device is composed of a recording head 31, a drive circuit 40, an operation unit 50, a display unit 60, a control unit 70, etc., and prints print data input from an external device such as a personal computer or an image reading device on a sheet. It is like this.

The recording head 31 includes a piezoelectric element 36 that pressurizes the pressurizing chamber and a drive circuit 3 that drives each piezoelectric element 36.
7 and 7.

The piezoelectric element 36 is made of, for example, PZT,
Each of the nozzles is disposed on one side wall of the pressurizing chamber corresponding to each nozzle, and a pair of electrodes are respectively disposed, and a voltage signal is applied between the electrodes to deform the pressurizing chamber. .

The drive circuit 37 is composed of a power source, various circuit elements, and the like, and applies a voltage signal between the electrodes of each piezoelectric element 36 to deform the piezoelectric element 36. Further, the drive circuit 37 is provided at a proper position in the recording head 31, has a latch portion, and temporarily latches input multi-valued print data of, for example, one line of paper, and converts it into parallel signals. It is what is output.

The blank discharge unit drive motor 44 drives the paper feed roller 14 to rotate, and the paper feed motor 45.
Is for rotating the paper feed roller 13. The transport system 46 drives the transport roller pair 22 and the registration roller pair 23 to rotate, and the paper discharge system 47 drives the discharge roller pair 29 to rotate. Each motor 41-
For example, pulse motors are used for the 45, the transport system 46, and the paper discharge system 47.

The drive circuit 40 is composed of a power source, a transistor, etc., and has motors 41 to 45, a transport system 46, and a paper discharge system 47.
And a drive current is supplied to the paper switching guide 28,
Driving and stopping are controlled by the control unit 70.

The operation unit 50 includes a start key for instructing a printing operation, a number setting key for setting the number of printed sheets, and the like. The display unit 60 includes an LED, an LCD, and the like, and displays the set number of prints, the size of the printed paper, and the like.

The control unit 70 comprises a CPU 71, a storage unit 72, an interface (I / F) unit 73, etc.
The operation of the entire device is controlled in synchronization with the internal clock of 71. The CPU 71 includes a recording control unit 711, a mechanism control unit 712, a display control unit 713, etc., and the recording control unit 711 and the mechanism control unit 712 are adapted to perform control operations in synchronization with each other.

The storage section 72 is a ROM for storing control programs and fixed data, and an R for temporarily storing data and the like.
AM. The I / F unit 73 receives a signal input from an external device. The I / F unit 73 receives print data from the recording control unit 711 and operation data such as paper size into the mechanism control unit 7.
12 is output.

The recording control unit 711 serially transmits the print data to be printed to the drive circuit 37 of the recording head 31, and outputs the parallel signal converted by the drive circuit 37 to the corresponding piezoelectric element 36 as a pulse drive signal. , And controls the ejection timing of ink droplets.

The recording control unit 711 calculates the remaining amount of ink in the ink tanks 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32B based on the detection signals from the remaining ink amount detecting units 33Y, 33M, 33C and 33B.

Further, during the printing operation, the recording control section 711 outputs a required number of pulse drive signals to all the piezoelectric elements 36, for example, every time N sheets are printed, and performs blank ejection on the blank ejection paper. It is something that can be made.

In this idle discharge, for example, from the one end side of the nozzle row, the required number of idle discharges are first performed from the odd-numbered nozzles, and then the required number of idle discharges are performed from the even-numbered nozzles. The ink dots ejected from are ejected at different positions so that they do not come into contact with each other on the paper. It is possible to detect the ejection failure nozzle by visually inspecting the blank ejection paper or by inspecting the blank ejection paper.

Further, the calculated remaining ink amount and the number of ink in each ink tank are printed. As a result, the user can be notified of the ink remaining amount and the number of sheets. The date and time may be printed by providing a clock in the device.

The blank discharge is performed 2Z times on one side of the blank discharge paper, Z (> 1) times on both the front and back sides. As a result, the amount of paper consumed can be reduced.

At this time, as will be described later, the blank discharge paper is divided into 1 / Z areas in the paper transport direction, and the pair of registration rollers are arranged so that each blank discharge is performed in this divided area. The timings of the conveyance of the blank ejection paper by 23 and the ejection of ink drops for the blank ejection are adjusted. Thus, the blank discharges do not overlap each other on the blank discharge paper, and the data printed by the blank discharge can be reliably read.

The mechanism controller 712 uses the drive circuit 40 to drive the motors 41 to 4 based on the input operation data.
4, driving pulses are supplied to the transport system 46 and the paper discharge system 47 to drive them.

The mechanism control unit 712 drives the paper feed motor 45 and the transport system 46 to feed the print paper from the paper feed cassette 11 when printing the print data, and the idle ejection unit when performing the idle ejection. The drive motor 44 and the transport system 46 are driven to feed the blank discharge paper from the blank discharge unit 12.

Further, the drive of the conveying system 46 is controlled in synchronization with the ink droplet ejection timing by the recording control unit 711 to control the rotation of the registration roller pair 23, and the recording control unit 711 controls the ink droplets for one line. The drive of the conveyor belt motor 41 is controlled according to the ejection time to control the rotation speed of the conveyor belt 24, that is, the paper conveyance speed.

Further, the mechanism control section 712 has a drive circuit 40.
The paper switching guide 28 is switched via the paper switching guide 28. When the print data is printed and the second Z blank ejection is performed, the paper switching guide 28 is moved to the discharge path 271 side as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, during the first to (2Z−1) th blank discharge, the paper switching guide 28 is switched to the blank discharge paper transport path 272 side as shown in FIG.

The display control unit 713 controls the display contents of the display unit 60. Further, when the remaining amount of ink becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined level, the display unit 60 may display a warning to that effect.

Next, an example of the procedure of the idle discharge operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a counter for the number of printed sheets is n, a counter for the number of blank discharges for the same blank discharge paper is k, an index for obtaining the start position for blank discharge is a, and the dimension of the blank discharge paper in the length direction is L ( mm)
And

When the printing operation is started, first, the recording head 31 is lifted to release the capping by the capping member 34, the capping member 34 is moved horizontally and retracted (step S1), and then the recording head 31
Goes down and stops at the printing position (step S2).

Next, the counter n is reset to 0 (step S3), paper is fed from the paper feeding cassette 11 (step S4), printing is performed by the recording head 31 (step S5), and the paper is ejected. (Step S6), it is determined whether or not the printing is completed depending on whether or not the print data to be printed remains (step S7).

When printing is completed (step S7)
If YES in step S10, the process proceeds to step S10, and if the printing is not completed (NO in step S7), the counter n is set to n = n + 1, the number of printed sheets is counted (step S8), and it is determined whether or not the counter n = N (step S8). S9). If n = N (YES in step S9), the process proceeds to step S10, and if n = N (N in step S9).
O), and returns to step S4.

If n = N, blank discharge paper is fed from the blank discharge unit 12 (step S10), and the counter k
Is set to k = k + 1, the number of idle discharges is counted, the index a = 1 is set (step S11), and then k ≦
It is determined whether or not it is 2a (step S12).

If k≤2a (step S1
If YES in step 2), the process proceeds to step S14. If k ≦ 2a (NO in step S12), the index a is set to a = a + 1 (step S13), and the process returns to step S12.

Next, (L / Z) × (a-
1) The blank discharge is performed from the position of mm (step S1)
4).

Next, it is judged whether k = 2Z (step S15), and if not k = 2Z (step S15).
If NO, the empty discharge sheet is conveyed to the empty discharge unit 12 (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.

On the other hand, if k = 2Z in step S15 (YES in step S15), the number of idle ejections for the idle ejection sheet is 2Z, which is the set number, so the counter k is reset to 0 (step S16). ), The empty ejection paper is ejected (step S17), and the process proceeds to step S19.

Then, it is judged whether or not the printing is completed (step S19), and if the printing is not completed (step S19).
If NO, the process returns to step S3, and if printing is completed (YES in step S19), the recording head 31 moves up and retracts from the printing position (step S20), and the capping member 34 moves directly below the recording head 31. After that, the recording head 31 descends to perform capping (step S2).
1), end.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a description will be given of the idle discharge start position changed by the index a in step S14. 5A and 5B are views for explaining the start position of the blank discharge performed on the blank discharge paper. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the front side of the blank discharge paper, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. is there. Note that k
= 0, Z = 3, and printing is not completed in steps S7 and S19, and idle discharge is continuously performed.

When N sheets have been printed, step S11
Then, k = 1 and k ≦ 2a in step S12. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S14, and since (a−1) = 0 from a = 1, blank discharge is performed from the front end of the blank discharge sheet to the region. Then, since k = 1 and 2Z = 6 in step S15, the process proceeds to step S18.

Next, when N sheets are printed, step S
Since k = 2 in 11 and k ≦ 2a in step S12, the process proceeds to step S14, and from a = 1, (a-1) = 0.
Therefore, the blank discharge is performed from the back end of the blank discharge paper to the area '. Then, in step S15, k = 2,2Z =
Since it is 6, the process proceeds to step S18.

When N sheets are printed, step S
Since k = 3 in 11 and k> 2a in step S12, the process proceeds to step S13 and a = 2, and step S
Since k ≦ 2a at 12, the process proceeds to step S14 and a =
Since (a-1) = 1 from 2, the blank discharge is performed in a region displaced by L / 3 from the front edge of the blank discharge paper. Then, since k = 3 and 2Z = 6 in step S15, the process proceeds to step S18.

Next, when N sheets are printed, step S
Since k = 4 at 11 and k> 2a at step S12, the process proceeds to step S13 and a = 2, and then step S
Since k ≦ 2a at 12, the process proceeds to step S14 and a =
Since (a-1) = 1 from 2, the blank discharge is performed in a region 'shifted by L / 3 from the back end of the blank discharge paper. Since k = 4 and 2Z = 6 in step S15, the process proceeds to step S18.

Next, when N sheets are printed, step S
Since k = 5 in 11 and k> 2a in step S12, the process proceeds to step S13 and a = 2, and step S
In step 12, k> 2a, so that the process proceeds to step S13 again, and a = 3, and in step S12, k ≦ 2a, so that the process proceeds to step S14. The blank discharge is performed in a region deviated by 2L / 3 from the front end of the. Then, in step S15, k
= 5,2Z = 6, the process proceeds to step S18.

Next, when N sheets are printed, step S
Since k = 6 at 11 and k> 2a at step S12, the process proceeds to step S13 and a = 2, and then step S
In step 12, k> 2a, so that the process proceeds to step S13 again, and a = 3, and in step S12, k ≦ 2a, so that the process proceeds to step S14. The blank discharge is performed in a region 'shifted by 2L / 3 from the tip on the back side of. Then, since k = 6 and 2Z = 6 in step S15, the process proceeds to step S16 and k =
It is reset to 0, and the blank discharge is performed on both sides of the blank discharge paper, so the blank discharge paper is discharged in step S17.

As described above, since the start position of the blank discharge is changed according to the number of blank discharges for the same blank discharge paper, each blank discharge can be performed without overlapping on the paper.

The empty discharge unit 12 may not store the empty discharge paper, and the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 11 may also be used as the empty discharge paper. In that case, before step S10 of feeding the blank discharge paper in FIG. 4, it is determined whether k = 0. If k = 0, paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 11 and k = 0. If not, the sheet sent to the blank discharge unit 12 may be fed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the empty discharge paper transport path 272 is drawn around to the paper feed end side of the tip of the empty discharge unit 12 to reverse the empty discharge paper and return it to the empty discharge unit 12. Instead of the empty discharge paper transport path 2
Even if 72 is returned to the blank ejection unit 12 from the rear end side without being drawn around to the sheet feeding end side of the blank ejection unit 12, blank ejection is performed a plurality of times on one side of the blank ejection sheet. The amount of paper consumed can be reduced as compared with the case where one sheet is consumed by one idle discharge.

Further, the empty discharge paper transport path 272 is returned to the empty discharge unit 12 from the rear end side without being routed to the paper feed end side of the empty discharge unit 12, and a switchback for reversing the paper midway. Even if a mechanism is provided to reverse the sheet after performing idle ejection on one side a plurality of times and perform idle ejection on the other side a plurality of times, the consumption amount of the sheet is the same as in the above embodiment. Can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the blank discharge is performed every N print sheets, but the invention is not limited to this, and the blank discharge may be performed every time a predetermined time elapses.

It is also possible that the blank discharge at power-on and at the end of printing is performed toward each cap portion, and only the blank discharge during printing is performed toward the blank discharge paper.

In addition, the remaining ink amount detectors 33Y, 33M,
Liquid level gauges for detecting the heights of the liquid levels in the ink tanks 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32B may be used instead of the pressure sensors for 33C and 33B.

[0076]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the conveyance of the recording sheet on which the blank ejection for ejecting the ink from all the nozzles has been performed is switched to the re-conveyance path side to the empty ejection sheet storage section. Since the recording paper stored in the empty discharge paper storage unit is fed to the print position along the feeding path to perform the idle discharge, it is possible to perform the idle discharge for the recording paper a plurality of times. It is possible to reduce the consumption of the recording paper due to the blank discharge.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the idle ejection is alternately performed on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper, the consumption amount of the recording paper due to the idle ejection can be further reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the conveyance of the recording sheet on which the blank discharge has been performed less than the predetermined number of times is switched to the re-conveyance path side and is stored in the blank discharge sheet storage section, and the predetermined number of times are stored. Since the conveyance of the recording paper on which the blank discharge has been performed is switched to the discharge path side and discharged, it is possible to reliably perform a predetermined plurality of blank discharges on the same recording paper, and the recording by the blank discharge is performed. It is possible to reduce the amount of paper consumption.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, the remaining ink amount in the ink containing portion is detected, and the remaining ink amount detected in the idle ejection is printed. Therefore, the idle ejection is used. It is possible to inform the person of the remaining amount of ink.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram showing a part of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an idle discharge operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a start position of idle discharge performed on the idle discharge paper, FIG. 5A is a plan view of a front side of the idle discharge paper,
(B) is BB sectional drawing of (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Paper Feed Cassette 12 Empty Ejection Unit (Empty Ejection Paper Storage) 21 Paper Conveying Path (Feeding Path) 27 Paper Conveying Path 271 Ejecting Path 272 Empty Discharging Paper Conveying Path (Reconveying Path) 28 Paper Switching Guide (Switching Means) 31 Recording Heads 31Y, 31M, 31C, 31B Head Units 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32B Ink Tanks 33Y, 33M, 33C, 33B Remaining Ink Detecting Parts 34 Capping Members 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34B Cap Parts 36 Piezoelectric Elements 37 Drive Circuit 41 Conveyance belt motor 70 Control unit 71 CPU 711 Recording control unit (idle discharge control means) 712 Mechanism control unit (idle discharge control means, conveyance control means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiji Hata 1-2-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting the recording paper from the printing position after performing printing by ejecting ink toward the recording paper fed to the printing position along a feeding path, An empty discharge paper storage unit, which is provided so as to branch from the middle of the discharge path and is provided in the middle of the re-conveyance path connected to the feeding path, and the conveyance of the recording paper in the discharge path direction and the re-conveyance path direction. And a blanking control for feeding the recording paper stored in the blanking paper storage portion to the printing position along the feeding path and performing blanking ejection to eject ink from all nozzles. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a means and a conveyance control means for switching the switching means to the re-conveyance path side so as to store the recording sheet for which the blank discharge has been performed in the blank discharge sheet storage section. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the re-conveyance path reverses the recording sheet and stores it in the empty ejection sheet storage section. 3. The idle discharge control means causes the same recording sheet to perform a predetermined number of idle discharges, and the conveyance control means causes the same recording sheet to perform the idle discharges a plurality of times. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ejection is performed, the switching means is switched to the ejection path side to eject the recording paper. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an ink storage unit for storing ink, and an ink remaining amount detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit. The ink jet recording apparatus is characterized in that the detected remaining ink amount is further printed in the blank discharge.