JPH10147030A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the simultaneous replacement and mounting of different types of printing head and thereby realize a variety of printing. SOLUTION: This image forming device is equipped with a first head carrier 12 which has a first head cartridge 13 mounted in freely replaceable fashion and transfers along a guide shaft 11, a second head carrier 38 which has a second head cartridge 44 mounted in freely replaceable fashion and transfers along the guide shaft 11, and a scanning element 78 which transfers along the guide shaft 11, gripping the two carriers 12, 38 (cartridges 13, 44) with a gripper 62.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which operates by mounting a plurality of image forming heads.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus has the following systems with respect to a mounting system of a print head.

(1) A method in which only one type of print head can be mounted, and only one type of print head is fixed and mounted.

For example, there is a fixed mounting of a black head or a fixed mounting of a color head.

(2) A method in which only one type of print head can be mounted, and only one type of print head is replaced and mounted.

For example, there is a replacement mounting of a black head or a replacement mounting of a color head.

(3) A system in which two types of print heads can be mounted, but two types of print heads cannot be mounted at the same time, so that each type of print head is manually replaced.

For example, there is a replacement mounting of a black head, a replacement mounting of a color head, or a replacement mounting of a black head and a color head.

(4) A method in which a plurality of types of print heads can be mounted, and a plurality of types of print heads are simultaneously fixed and mounted.

For example, there is a simultaneous fixed mounting of a black head and a color head, or a simultaneous fixed mounting of a black head and a plurality of color heads.

[0011]

However, the above conventional example has the following disadvantages.

In the method (1), only one type of print head can be mounted and fixed.

In the method (2), the print head can be replaced, but only one type of print head can be mounted.

In the method (3), two types of print heads can be mounted. However, since two types of print heads cannot be mounted at the same time, each type of print head must be replaced manually.

In the method (4), a plurality of types of print heads can be mounted simultaneously, but can be mounted only fixedly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of image forming heads can be mounted and an arbitrary type of image forming heads can be replaced and mounted.

Another object of the present invention is, for example, when two image forming heads of the same type are mounted, an even column of data is printed by a first head, and an odd column of data is printed by a second head. An object of the present invention is to increase the image forming capability of a head and increase the image forming speed by forming an image.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: first means for converting and mounting a first image forming head; A second means operatively mounted and exchangeable; and a third means operable with one or both of the first image forming head and the second image forming head mounted thereon. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the first and second means have first and second carriers for fixing the first and second image forming heads in a replaceable manner. The third means has disconnectable connection means for each of the first and second carriers, and the first and second carriers can be respectively held at predetermined positions by holding means. Features.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is based on claim 2
, The connection means has a connection elastic gripper that grips a part of each of the first and second carriers by using elasticity, and the holding means is configured to hold the respective one of the first and second carriers. A holding elastic gripper that grips the portion by using elasticity, wherein the connection elastic gripper and the holding elastic gripper are configured such that one of the grippers is released by releasing the other elasticity. 1
And one part of the second carrier is gripped by the one.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2.
In the above, the connection means has a connection gripper which grips each part of the first and second carriers using a solenoid, and the holding means holds the respective parts of the first and second carriers. It is characterized by having a holding gripper for gripping by using another solenoid.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 2
Wherein the connecting means has an electromagnet for attracting the first and second carriers by electromagnetic force, and the holding means has another electromagnet for attracting the first and second carriers by electromagnetic force. Features.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1.
, The first and second units have first and second stackers on which the first and second image forming heads are exchangeably mounted, respectively, and the third unit includes the first and second image forming heads. The image forming apparatus further includes a mounting unit that can transfer each of the first and second image forming heads to and from a stacker.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6.
Wherein the placement means has an electromagnet for attracting the first and second image forming heads by electromagnetic force.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 1.
In any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first, second, and third means can travel on the same travel path, and the third means is located between the first means and the second means. And

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided fourth means which operates by mounting a first image forming head and a second image forming head, and supplies even-numbered rows of image forming data to the first image forming head. Image forming data supply means for supplying odd-numbered rows of image forming data to the second image forming head.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the image forming data supply means of the ninth aspect is applied to the image forming apparatus of any of the first to eighth aspects.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing the first embodiment.

1 is a right side plate, and 2 is a left side plate. 3
Denotes a platen roller, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber. Reference numeral 4 denotes a platen roller shaft formed at the center of the platen roller, and its left and right ends are supported by the left side plate 2 and the right side plate 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper feed motor, which is supported by the right side plate 1 and rotates the platen roller shaft 4 via a gear train (not shown). A paper guide 6 is provided along the circumference of the platen roller 3. Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote pinch rollers, which are pressed against the surface of the platen roller 3 with a predetermined pressure by a spring (not shown). The recording paper 9 is an arrow 10
The paper is inserted from between the platen roller 3 and the paper guide 6 and pinched by the pinch rollers 7, 8 and the platen roller 3 to be fed in a U-shape. Reference numeral 11 denotes a guide shaft having a diameter of 10 mm, the end of which is supported by the left side plate 2 and the right side plate 1.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a first head carrier. The details of the first head carrier 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The first head cartridge 13 is mounted on the first head carrier 12. Reference numeral 24 denotes a cartridge hook, which serves to press the cartridge 13 against a contact 26 located in the carrier. When the button 27 is pressed, the locking portion 30 is disengaged from the square hole 29 received on the carrier, and the hook 24 rotates in the direction of 31 around the fulcrum 28. With the hook 24 open, the first head cartridge 1
The cartridge 3 is inserted into the carrier 12 from above, and when the hook 24 is closed, the cartridge 13 is pressed against the contact section 26 and fixed. The pins 99 and 100 that fit into positioning holes of an aluminum plate described later attached to the cartridge 13
2 protrudes. The cartridge 13 is positioned by abutting the root of the pin. A flexible cable 32 bends and follows with the movement of the carrier. The flexible cable 32 has the contact portion 26 formed at an end thereof, is routed inside the carrier, and supplies a discharge signal to the cartridge 13 from a substrate (not shown). The carrier 12 has fitting holes 33 and 34 for integrating with a scanner 78 described later.
And 35 and a grip portion 36. Reference numeral 37 denotes a hole through which the guide shaft 11 penetrates. The diameter of the hole 37 is set to 10.2 mm so that a friction load does not occur when the guide shaft 11 is integrated with the scanner 78. Reference numeral 79 denotes a first head carrier sensor shielding plate that blocks a light transmission type home position sensor 74 described later.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a second head carrier. This will be described with reference to FIG. Since the shape is similar to that of the first head carrier in FIG. 2, only the differences will be described. 39, 40 and 41 are fitting holes for a scanning element 78 described later. Mating hole 3
The positions of 9 and 40 are opposite to those of the first head carrier. 44 is a second head cartridge, and 80 is a second head carrier sensor shielding plate.

Next, the scanner 78 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the scanning elements are left and right bearings 68, 69.
Are fitted on the guide shaft 11. The upper guide 67 slides along the rail 70. A belt 65 is fixed to the belt stopper 64 of the scanner 78. The belt 65 is hung on a motor pulley 72, and the opposite side is hung on a tension pulley 73 urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction to stretch the belt. When the carrier motor 71 is driven,
The scanning element 78 can move in the main scanning direction. Reference numeral 66 denotes a sensor shielding plate, which controls the position of the scanner 78 by blocking the light transmission type home position sensor 74.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a resin gripper fixed on the scanning element 78, which grips the grip portions 36 and 43 on the first head carrier 12 and the second head carrier 38 with a forked nail. FIG. 4D shows the scanning element 7.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the first head carrier 12 and 8 are coupled to each other. The grip section 36 of the carrier 12 is
8 against the stopper 98. That is,
The cartridge 13 is provided with the positioning pins 9 for the carrier 12.
The carrier 12 is positioned by abutting the bases 9 and 100, and the carrier 12 abuts against the stopper 78 against the scanner 78. Thereby, when the scanning element 78 scans, it is possible to record at an accurate position on the paper 9. When the scanning element 78 grips the first head carrier, the fitting shafts 59, 61, 63 of the scanning element are fitted into the fitting holes 34, 33, 35 of the first head carrier 12, respectively.
The scanner and the first head carrier can be integrally scanned. When the second head carrier 38 and the scanner 78 are integrated, the grip portion 43 is gripped, and the fitting shafts 60, 61, 63 of the scanner are fitted into the fitting holes 40, 39, 41 of the first head carrier 38. And can be scanned similarly.

Reference numeral 75 denotes a resin first head gripper that restrains the first head carrier 12 at the position shown in FIG. 1, and reference numeral 76 denotes a second head gripper that restrains the second head carrier 38 at the position shown in FIG. is there. First head gripper 7
5 and the second head gripper 76 have a mirror image relationship and operate in the same manner, so only the first head will be described. FIG. 4 shows the grip portion 3 of the first head carrier 12.
FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a relationship among a gripper, a gripper, and a first head gripper. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the first head carrier 38 is restrained by the first head gripper 75. Since the forked claw of the first head gripper 75 is gripping the grip portion 36, it is displaced so as to open outward. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the scanning element 78 has approached the first head carrier 38, and the forked claws of the gripper 62 are about to enter the inside of the opened first head gripper 75. FIG. 4C shows a state in which the scanning element 78 is further approached. The gripper 62 grips and the first head gripper 75 is further expanded. When the scanning element 78 moves in the opposite direction in FIG. 4D, the first head carrier 38 enters a state in which the scanning is performed integrally with the scanning element 78. When the scanning element 78 moves to the right again from this point, the first head carrier 38 moves from the scanning element to the first head gripper 75 in the reverse of the above-described process (at this time, the gripper 62 is moved to the grip portion). Because we are holding 36,
It is open to the outside and the first head gripper 7
5 would invade). Thus, the delivery of the first head carrier 38 is performed each time the scanning element approaches the first head gripper. Reference numeral 77 denotes a cap for protecting the head 16 of the first head cartridge 13 from drying. A cap (not shown) is similarly provided for the second head cartridge. The cap 77 is brought into contact with the head surface by means of a cam or the like (not shown) when the first head carrier 38 is restrained by the first head gripper 75. The cap retracts when the restraint is released.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Before turning on the power, the scanning element 78 moves the left side 50 of the position where the shielding plate 66 shields the home position sensor 74.
mm, the first head carrier 12 and the second head carrier 38 are in the cap position, and each cartridge is capped. When the power is turned on (S
1) The scanner 78 moves to the right by 100 mm (S2). At this time, the number of times the shielding plate 66 blocks the home position sensor 74 is determined (S3).
5), a position 50 mm after blocking the sensor again (hereinafter referred to as
(S6). If the signal is interrupted twice in S3, it is determined that the first head carrier or the second head carrier is coupled to the scanner 78, and the process proceeds to S4, where ON / OFF timing is further determined. In the coupled state, the shielding plate 66 and the shielding plate 79 have an interval of 20 mm, and the shielding plate 66 and the shielding plate 80 have an interval of 6 mm. Therefore, it is possible to determine which is coupled to the scanner 78 based on the timing of shielding. When the first head carrier 12 is coupled, the shielding plate 66 moves to the first head cap position after passing the sensor (S
11), after the first head carrier 12 is restrained by the first head gripper 75, the scanner 78 is inverted (S5).
After blocking the sensor again, it stops at the initial position (S6).
When the second head carrier 38 is connected in S4, the scanning element 78 is inverted at a position 50 mm after the shielding plate 66 has passed the sensor (S9), and moves to the second head cap position (S10). After the second head carrier 38 is restrained by the second head gripper 73, it is turned over again (S5), moves to the initial position, and stops (S6). in this way,
If it is normal, only the scanner moves and stops at the initial position,
Even if the carrier is coupled to the scanner in the power-off state due to an unexpected situation, after the carrier is brought to the cap position, the scanner moves to the initial position and stops.

When a recording signal is input (S7), it is determined whether the recording signal is mainly a first head such as a text or a ruled line or a second head image signal (S8, S1).
2) In the former case, the scanning element 78 scans to the cap position of the first head carrier 12 and scans the first head carrier 1
2 (S16), and in the latter case, scan to the cap position of the second head carrier 38 and integrate with the second head carrier 38 (S13). At the same time, the cap is retracted from the cartridge used for recording (S17, S1).
4). In the printing using the first head carrier, printing is performed using 128 nozzles, and printing is performed for one scan (S
18) The paper 9 is fed by 128 nozzles, and the next scanning is performed. When the printing of one page is completed (S19), the sheet is discharged (S20). If the printing is continued (S24), the sheet is newly fed (S25). If the printing is completed, the first head carrier of the scanner comes to the cap position. (S26), the first head carrier 12 is restrained by the first head gripper 75, and the cap 77 comes into contact with the first head carrier 12 (S27).
8 scans to the power-off position and stops (S2).
8) The power is turned off (S29). The recording by the second head carrier is the same (S15, S21, S22), but in S22, the paper 9 for the nozzles of the second head is fed. For example, in the recording by the second head carrier 38, the area where the ratio of the second head image is large is superimposed while feeding the paper of the second head in the order of cyan, magenta and yellow by 24 nozzles. In the area of the first head image, 64 sheets of paper are fed using 64 first head nozzles.

The scanning element 78 and the carriers 12, 38 cannot be easily separated due to the resiliency of the forked claws of the head grippers 75, 73. However, since it is conceivable that the two may be separated from each other due to a situation such as touching by the user, the sensor 74 monitors whether the sensor is shielded twice at a predetermined timing during one scan. If shielding is performed only once, the scanner is determined to be separated from the carrier, and the scanner stops and enters a relief sequence. Immediately before the first head carrier 1
In the case of recording at 2, the scanning unit 78 is moved 350 mm to the right.
Move considerably. During the movement, the gripper 62 contacts the grip portion 36 of the first head carrier 12 and pushes and moves the first head carrier 12 as it is. Thereafter, the grip portion 36 contacts the forked claw of the first head gripper 75, and the grip portion 36 is gripped by the first head gripper 75. When the scanning element 78 further moves, the claw of the gripper 62 enters the inside of the claw of the first head gripper 75. The carrier motor 71 stops after losing synchronism for the surplus movement. Next, after the scanning element is inverted with the first head carrier 12 and passes through the sensor 74, it stops at the initial position. At the same time, the platen roller 3 rotates, discharges paper, feeds new paper, and prepares for recording again. In the case where the recording was performed by the second head carrier 38 immediately before, the scanning element was moved 350 mm to the left.
Moving. The subsequent process is the same as the above-described relief of the first head carrier. As described above, even when the scanner and the carrier are separated due to an unexpected situation, it is possible to automatically execute the relief sequence and execute recording.

As described above, a suitable carrier is selected and recorded according to the type of the recording signal. In the first embodiment, a head in which nozzles of different colors are arranged vertically is used as the second head cartridge. Therefore, the width is smaller than that of the system in which the nozzles are arranged side by side, and there is an effect that the entire apparatus can be made compact.

Although the carrier of the present invention has a cartridge mounted thereon, the carrier may not be present and the cartridge or the head itself may be transferred by a scanner. Further, in the first embodiment, a resin bifurcated nail is used as a means for coupling the carrier to the scanner and a means for restraining the carrier at the cap position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Also, coupling and decoupling means such as a method using the attractive force between the electromagnet and the metal are included as means for realizing the present invention.

Next, the circuit configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a control block of the printer shown in FIG. In the figure, a control unit 101 exchanges information and data with a host comparator (PC) 121 via an interface unit 104. In the present embodiment, the interface unit 104 supports bidirectional Centronics. The control unit 101 also includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102, a work area for the CPU 102, a RAM and a ROM 103 having storage areas for control procedures and the like as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, and 10, drive control of a print head, drawing processing, It includes a custom IC controller (for example, a gate array) 105 that supports a part of the motor control or the centro I / F control, a carriage motor driver 106, and a line feed motor driver 108 for paper feed. In the printer body,
Several mechanical components are included, for example, a carriage motor 107, a line feed motor 109, a paper detection sensor 110, a flexible cable 112, a recording head 114 included in the first head cartridge 13, a second head cartridge. Recording head 115 included in 44
And a carriage (carrier) terminal pad 113 for forming a contact point of the connection portion with the carriage. The printer body realizes printing by scanning the recording heads 114 and 115 with the carriage motor 107. Recording head 114, 1
Reference numeral 15 includes a driving unit and a heating element as in the related art.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 81 denotes a first head cartridge. This cartridge is mounted on the top of the cartridge stacker 85. A tapered portion 96 is formed below the first head cartridge 81 so as to be in contact with a scanner described later. The cartridge stacker 85 is provided with a magnet 90 which sucks an iron plate (not shown) provided on the surface of the first head cartridge 81. A guide 92 is provided on the cartridge stacker 85 so as to sandwich the cartridge, and positions the cartridge. There are ribs at both ends of the cartridge stacker 85, and the ribs are formed in the groove portions 8 formed in the side plate 87.
I'm stuck in 6. The cartridge stacker 85 can slide up and down along the groove 86. The cartridge stacker 85 is urged upward by urging means (not shown), and stops by abutting against a stopper 88 from which the side plate 87 projects. In addition, a tapered portion 95 with which a scanner described later contacts is formed.

A scanning element 82 is supported by the guide groove 11 and can be scanned in the guide axis direction by the belt 65. The scanning element 82 has a line-symmetric shape with the middle wall 93 as a boundary. Reference numeral 84 denotes a contact portion, and the contact exists on both surfaces of the inner wall 93. The contact of the contact portion 84 and the first head cartridge 8
The contact 89 provided on the side surface of the first side is at a corresponding position, and a recording signal is sent from the flexible cable 91 to the first head cartridge 81 when they come into contact with each other. 8
Reference numeral 3 denotes an electromagnetic magnet embedded in the middle wall, and an on / off signal of an electromagnetic force is transmitted through the flexible cable 91. When turned on, the iron plate 94 provided on the cartridge 81 can be attracted and fixed. At the same time, the contact portion 84 and the contact 89 make good electrical contact due to the suction pressure at this time. Reference numeral 97 denotes a tapered portion formed on the scanner 82 that comes into contact with the carper portion 95 of the cartridge stacker 85. As in the first embodiment, a second head cartridge (not shown) is mounted on a cartridge stacker (not shown) on the side opposite to the main scanning of the first head cartridge 81. Since the first head and the second head are the same in operation, only the case of the first head recording will be described below.

Next, the operation will be described. When the power is turned on, the scanner 82 moves to the initial position as in the first embodiment. When the recording signal is input, the scanner 82 moves toward the cartridge after determining whether the recording signal is the first head or the second head. The taper portion 97 of the scanner 82 and the taper portion 95 of the cartridge stacker 85
Contact, the stutter descends and the taper 97 of the scanner enters between the tapers 95 and 96. Then, the cartridge 81 moves to the upper part of the scanner 82. When the electromagnetic magnet 83 is turned on when the contacts 84 and 89 come into contact, the cartridge 81 is fixed on the scanning element 82. Since the attraction force of the electromagnetic magnet 83 is stronger than the attraction force of the magnet 90, when the scanner 82 separates in this state, the cartridge 81 moves together. After the scanning element 82 and the cartridge 81 are integrated in this manner, recording is started in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In addition, the circuit configuration is
The configuration is the same as that of FIG. 7 except that one flexible cable is connected to 2. In this embodiment, since only one flexible cable is required for the scanner 82, there is an effect that the apparatus is simplified.

(Third Embodiment) Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 201 denotes print data. The length of the print head nozzles can be printed at one time. Reference numeral 202 denotes print data of an even-numbered column. Reference numeral 203 denotes odd-numbered print data. In order to print the entire print data 201, the print data of the even-numbered rows 202 is sequentially printed by the first print head. The second print head sequentially prints the odd-numbered 203 print data. The amount of print data for both the first print head and the second print head is halved, enabling high-speed printing.

Next, the overall operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The circuit configuration is shown in FIG.
Is the same as

First, in S201, data from a PC is received. In S202, the received data is analyzed. In S203, it is determined whether the received data is print data. If the received data is print data in the determination in S203, the print data is expanded into printable data in S204. Then, in S205, a procedure for transferring the print data of the even-numbered columns to the first print head is performed. If it is determined in S203 that the received data is not print data, the corresponding process is performed in S207 according to the instruction. Then, the process returns to S201 to continue the processing.

Next, the operation of transferring data to the print head according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

This processing is based on the transfer procedure to the first print head and the transfer procedure to the second print head, and the position and data of the first print head and the second print head based on the position of the carriage (carrier). The data transfer to the first print head, the data transfer to the second print head, and the movement of the carriage in the main scanning direction are performed while taking the timing of printing.

First, in S211, it is determined whether or not there is transfer data to the first print head for printing at the current position of the carriage. If it is determined in S211 that there is data to be transferred to the first print head, the data is transferred to the first print head in S212. next,
In S213, it is determined whether or not there is data to be transferred to the second print head for printing at the current position of the carriage. If it is determined in step S213 that there is data to be transferred to the second print head, the data is transferred to the second print head in step S214. Thereafter, in S215, the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction. And S2
Returning to step 11, the processing is continued for the next carriage position. With the above processing, in the entire operation described with reference to FIG. 9, the printing processing can be performed without worrying about the printing timing based on the positional relationship between the first print head and the second print head.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a plurality of types of image forming heads can be mounted, and arbitrary types of image forming heads can be exchanged, mounted and operated at the same time, various printings can be realized by combining various image forming heads.

Further, by printing even rows of data with the first image forming head and printing odd rows of data with the second image forming head, the image forming capacity can be changed without changing the image forming head itself. To raise the image forming speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first head carrier.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second head carrier.

FIG. 4 is a grip portion 36 of the first head carrier 12;
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a relationship between the gripper 62 and a first head gripper 75.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a print data diagram showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of transferring data to a print head according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Platen Roller 9 Recording Paper 12 First Head Carrier 13 First Head Cartridge 38 Second Head Carrier 44 Second Head Cartridge 62 Gripper 75 First Head Gripper 76 Second Head Gripper 78 Scanner 101 Control Unit 102 Central processing unit (CPU) 103 RAM, ROM 104 Interface unit 105 Controller (GA) 106 VR motor driver 107 CR driver 108 LF motor driver 109 LF driver 110 Paper detection sensor 111 Switching block 112 Flexible cable 113 Carriage terminal pad 114 First Print head 115 second print head 201 print data 202 even-numbered row print data 203 odd-numbered row print data

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first means which operates by converting a first image forming head so as to be convertible, and a second means which operates by changingably mounting a second image forming head.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first unit and a third unit that operates by mounting one or both of the first image forming head and the second image forming head. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second means include first and second carriers for exchangeably fixing the first and second image forming heads, respectively, and the third means includes a first carrier and a second carrier. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a connecting means that can be disconnected from each of the first and second carriers, and wherein the first and second carriers can be respectively held at predetermined positions by holding means. 3. The connection means according to claim 2, wherein the connection means has a connection elastic gripper for gripping a part of each of the first and second carriers by utilizing elasticity, and wherein the holding means comprises the first and second carriers. And a holding elastic gripper that grips each of the portions of the second carrier by using elasticity, wherein one of the connection elastic gripper and the holding elastic gripper releases the other elasticity. The first and second grips which the other grips
An image forming apparatus, wherein one of the carriers grips each part of the carrier. 4. The connection means according to claim 2, wherein the connection means has a connection gripper for gripping a part of each of the first and second carriers by using a solenoid, and the holding means comprises the first and second carriers. An image forming apparatus comprising: a holding gripper for gripping each of the two carriers by using another solenoid. 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the connecting means has an electromagnet for attracting the first and second carriers by electromagnetic force, and the holding means attracts the first and second carriers by electromagnetic force. An image forming apparatus, comprising: another electromagnet. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second means include first and second stackers for respectively replacing the first and second image forming heads with each other, and the third means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting unit that can transfer each of the first and second image forming heads to and from the first and second stackers. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said placing means has an electromagnet for attracting said first and second image forming heads by electromagnetic force. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third means are capable of traveling on the same traveling path, and the third means is configured to be connected to the first means and the second means. An image forming apparatus, which is located between the image forming apparatuses. 9. A fourth means for mounting and operating a first image forming head and a second image forming head, and supplying an even number of rows of image forming data to the first image forming head, wherein the second image forming head is provided. And an image forming data supply unit for supplying odd-numbered rows of image forming data to the image forming apparatus. 10. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming data supply unit according to claim 9 is applied to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.