JPH10180998A - Method for driving recording head, its device, image forming method, and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the driving period value of a recording head by a simple and stable constitution by a method wherein selecting values for driving periods of time for the recording head, is stored in a plurality of storing means, and based on the stored selecting values, the recording head is driven by a corresponding specified driving time range. SOLUTION: A control circuit is constituted of an interface 1700 which inputs recording signals, a ROM 1702 to store control programs which an MPU 1701 and an MPU 1701 execute, a DRAM 1703 which stores recording data, etc., fed to a recording head, and a gate array 1704 which performs a supply control of the recording data to the recording head 1708, etc. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the recording signal is converted into recording data for printing, between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701. Then, motor drivers 1706, 1707 are driven, and at the same time, the recording head 1708 is driven conforming to the recording data which is fed to a head driver 1705, and a recording is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for driving a recording head, an image forming method and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for driving a recording head by an ink jet recording system, an image forming method and an apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of recording apparatuses used in printers, facsimile machines, etc., such as a thermal system, a wire dot system, and an ink jet system.

[0003] In particular, the ink jet recording method is an effective recording method because of its high recording speed, relatively low noise associated with recording, and easy colorization. In this system, various configurations have recently been proposed depending on the ejection system, and these have been put to practical use with improvements.

In this ink jet recording method, small droplets of a recording liquid called ink are discharged by various discharge methods,
The recording is performed by attaching the recording medium to a recording medium such as paper. There are various methods for ejecting ink. Among them, a method in which thermal energy is applied to a liquid to obtain a driving force for ejecting liquid droplets has recently attracted attention.

That is, in the recording method, the liquid subjected to the action of thermal energy causes a state change accompanied by a sharp increase in deposition, and the action force based on this state change causes the liquid to be discharged from the discharge port at the tip of the recording head. Discharge. Then, the ejected droplets adhere to the recording medium and recording is performed.

In particular, the above-described ink jet recording method is not only very effectively applied to the drop-on-demand recording method, but also can easily realize a recording head in which the recording head portion has a high-density multi-nozzle. ,
The feature is that high quality images can be obtained at high speed.

A recording head of an apparatus to which the above-described recording method is applied has a discharge port provided for discharging a liquid, and communicates with the discharge port so that heat energy for discharging a droplet is converted into a liquid. It has a liquid ejection section having an ink path having a heat acting section as a part that acts, and an energy generator as a means for generating thermal energy.

However, when there are a large number of ejection ports, even if the energy generators are energized for the same time, the ink ejected therefrom is not necessarily a fixed amount for each ejection port, but varies for each ejection port. And lower the image quality. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a different pulse width so that the variation is corrected for each bit.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the circuit. This circuit is B1
B128 to 128 are divided into eight blocks of 16 bits each from BLK1 to BLK8. MHE for inputting the main pulse
AT signal, HEAT1 with prepulse of four lengths
HEAT4 and three types of latch signals LAT
A, LATB, DLAT, data signal DATA, and clock DCLK.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a data selector, 22 denotes an A latch, 23 denotes a B latch, 24 denotes a data latch, and 25 denotes a shift register.

Next, the operation will be described.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart related to the operation of a signal that operates when the power is turned on. Also, FIG.
6 is a timing chart of an operation signal at the time of printing. FIG. 4 shows HEAT1 to HEAT4, M in FIG.
It is the figure which expanded the waveform of HEAT, and the power supply current.

Referring to FIG. 4, the current waveform is pre-pulse P
1 and a main pulse P2. The main pulse is MHE
The AT signal is applied as it is. On the other hand, the pre-pulse is one in which one of four signal pulses of HEAT1 to HEAT4 is selected. This selection is made by the data selector 21.

Here, when the combination <LATA, LATB> of the signal LATA and the signal LATB is <0, 0>, the signal HEAT1 is selected by the data selector 21. When <LATA, LATB> is <1, 0>, the signal HEAT2 is selected. Furthermore, <LAT
When A, LATB> is <0, 1>, the signal HEAT3 is selected. Furthermore, <LATA, LATB> is <1,
In the case of 1>, HEAT4 is selected.

As described above, one of four types of pre-pulse width is selected for each bit (heating resistor), and the pulse width is applied to each bit, thereby correcting the variation between bits. .

The data of the signals LATA and LATB are previously input as bit variation data into a memory provided on the head.
As shown in FIG. 2, the data of the heating resistors B1 to B128 are loaded as LATA and LATB, respectively. The respective latch data are stored in the A latch 22 and the B latch 23.

In this way, variations in the amount of ink ejected between nozzles when there are a large number of nozzles are corrected by changing the pulse width for each bit. Therefore, a plurality of latches for storing the latch data are required, and therefore, the signals LATA, LATB, the signal DLAT, and some latch signals are required.

[0018]

However, in the above conventional example, since the signals LATA, LATB, and DLAT are directly input, there are the following disadvantages.

That is, the number of input LATs is HEAT.
Is that the number of input LATs increases as the number of ranks increases.

The latch signal for giving the latch timing is
DLAT signal and HEA for latching image data
T is divided into two types, LATA and LATB, for selecting the rank of T.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the HEAT is divided into four ranks, so that selecting one of the ranks requires two selection signals LATA and LATB. If HEAT is divided into 8 ranks, 3
If HEAT is divided into 16 ranks, 4
There is a problem that as the number of types increases, the number of corresponding selection signals also increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and provides a recording head driving method, apparatus, image forming method, and apparatus capable of setting the driving period value of the recording head with a simple and inexpensive configuration. The purpose is to do.

[0023]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a method and an apparatus for driving a recording head, an image forming method and an apparatus thereof according to the present invention have the following arrangements. That is, based on the selection values stored in the first to n-th storage means, the storage step of storing the selection value for selecting the drive time width of the recording head in the first to n-th storage means is performed. A driving step of driving the recording head within a predetermined recording head driving time width.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage control means for storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of a recording head in first to n-th storage means, and a storage value in the first to n-th storage means. Drive means for driving the printhead in a corresponding predetermined printhead drive time width based on the selected value.

Further, another invention is a storage step of storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of the recording head in the first to n-th storage means, and the first step in accordance with predetermined image data.
And an image forming step of forming an image by driving the recording head within a predetermined driving time width of the recording head based on the selection value stored in the storage unit.

Another aspect of the present invention is a storage control unit for storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of a recording head in first to n-th storage units, and the first control unit stores the selected value in correspondence with predetermined image data. And an image forming means for forming an image by driving the recording head within a predetermined driving time width of the recording head based on the selection value stored in the storage means.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a main configuration of a driver section of a recording head according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, FIG.
The same parts as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a counter, and 27 denotes a decoder.
The LAT signal is input to the counter 26. The outputs Q0 and Q1 of the counter are input to the decoder 27.
Outputs A1, A2 and A3 of the decoder 27 are respectively AN
Input to the D gate circuits (100, 101, 102). The LAT signal is output from the AND gate circuit (100,
101, 102).

The AND gate circuits (100, 10
1 and 102) respectively, the LAT signal and the decoder 27
By taking AND logic operation with the outputs A1, A2 and A3 of the above, each signal of LATA, LATB and DLAT is generated. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
The signal operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power is turned on, the counter is automatically reset, and the output of the counter 27 is <Q1, Q0>
Becomes <0, 0>. In this state, the outputs <A1, A2, A3> of the decoder 27 are <0, 0, 0>. Therefore, the outputs <LATA, LATB, DLAT> of the AND gate circuits (100, 101, 102) are <0, 0, 0
>.

Next, when the first pulse signal serving as a trigger for counting up the counter 26 is input to the LAT signal, the counter 26 is counted up and <Q1, Q0> = <0, 1>. For this reason,
The outputs <A1, A2, A3> of the decoder 27 are <1, 0, 0
>. Therefore, the output LATA of the AND circuit 100
Becomes "1".

Next, when the second pulse signal serving as a trigger for counting up the counter 26 is input to the LAT signal, the counter 26 is further counted up and <Q1, Q0> = <1. , 0>. Therefore, the outputs <A1, A2, A3> of the decoder 27 are <0,
1, 0>. Therefore, the output L of the AND circuit 101
ATB becomes "1".

Next, when the third pulse signal serving as a trigger for counting up the counter 26 is input to the LAT signal, the counter 26 is further counted up and <Q1, Q0> = <1. , 1>. Therefore, the outputs <A1, A2, A3> of the decoder 27 are <0,
0, 1>. Therefore, the output D of the AND circuit 102 is
LAT becomes “1”.

Thereafter, the output of the 2-bit counter keeps the value <1,1> without counting up any more with the max value <1,1> regardless of the number of times of the LAT trigger. Therefore, the DLAT signal becomes active every time the LAT trigger signal comes thereafter.

The above LATA and LATB are used as data latch signals for bit correction performed when power is turned on.
The DLAT signal that continues to appear thereafter can be used for image data latching.

<Schematic Description of Printer Apparatus Main Body> FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA in which the driver of the recording head described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. 50
Reference numerals 07 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which confirm the presence of a carriage lever 5006 in this area, and
This is a home position detecting means for switching the rotation direction of the camera. A member 5016 supports a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head.
Is suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head via the opening 5023 in the cap. 50
Reference numeral 17 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member that allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction. The lever 5012 moves with the movement of the cam 5020 engaging with the carriage, and the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at the corresponding position by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If a desired operation is performed at a timing, any of the examples can be applied.

<Description of Control Structure> Next, a control structure for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a print signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is various data (the print signal and the print supplied to the print head). Data, etc.). Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array (GA) for controlling supply of print data to the print head 1708, and an interface 1
Also, data transfer between the MPU 7001, the MPU 1701, and the DRAM 1703 is controlled. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1708, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head, and 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the gate array 17
04 and the MPU 1701 converts the recording signal into recording data for printing. Then, the motor driver 17
06 and 1707 are driven, and the head driver 1
The print head is driven according to the print data sent to 705, and printing is performed.

The 128-bit heating resistors B1 to B128 in FIG. 5 constitute a part of the recording head 1708. The other circuit parts are the head driver 17
05 is a circuit constituting a part of the circuit. Alternatively, the entire circuit shown in FIG. 5 may be configured to be included in the recording head 1708.

It is apparent that the components of the present invention can be incorporated in the above-described control structure of the ink jet printer, and that the present invention can be applied to the above ink jet printer.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path in which Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. 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. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or 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.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a single recording head or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

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, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. 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, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying 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 to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided not only as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer but also integrally or separately, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, etc. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including one device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, several types of LAT signals can be generated by combining one input signal line, a counter, and a decoder.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of LATs used for the initial setting at power-on is LATA, LATA.
Although only two ATBs are required, if more LATs are required, the number of bits of the counter and the number of bits of the decoder can be increased. As a result, it is possible to further increase the number of ranks for ranking. However, even in this case, the number of input LAT signal lines remains at one and does not need to be increased. As a result, the number of pins of the input connector can be saved and the size of the device can be reduced, which is advantageous in cost.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, the drive period value of the recording head can be set with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

[0064]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional head driver.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart of a signal when a power supply rises.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart of a signal at the time of printing.

FIG. 4 shows signals HEAT1 to HEAT among printing signals.
4 is an enlarged view of the MHEAT current.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a head driver unit including a heating resistor for a recording head according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a LAT signal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a printer apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a control circuit for executing recording control of the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Data Selector 22 ALAT 23 BLAT 24 Data LAT 25 Shift Register 26 Counter 27 Decoder

Claims (16)

[Claims] A storage step of storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of the recording head in first to n-th storage units; and a storage unit for storing a selection value stored in the first to n-th storage units. And a driving step of driving the recording head in a corresponding predetermined driving time width of the recording head. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storing step sequentially stores the corresponding partial values of the selected values in chronological order in the order of the first to n-th storage units. Driving method of recording head. 3. The printhead driving method according to claim 1, wherein the printhead is an inkjet printhead that performs printing by discharging ink. 4. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink using thermal energy, and is an inkjet recording head including a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 1
3. The method for driving a recording head according to item 1. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein a state change is caused in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter, and the ink is ejected from an ejection port based on the state change. The driving method of the recording head according to the above. 6. A storage control means for storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of a recording head in first to n-th storage means, and based on the selection value stored in said first to n-th storage means. A driving unit for driving the recording head within a predetermined driving time width of the recording head. 7. The storage control unit according to claim 1, wherein
7. The recording head driving device according to claim 6, wherein the partial values corresponding to the selected values are sequentially stored in chronological order in the order of the storage means. 8. The printhead driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage control means selects the first to n-th storage means in order using a counter circuit. 9. The printhead driving device according to claim 6, wherein the counter circuit stops counting when the counting for the n times is completed. 10. The printhead driving device according to claim 6, wherein the printhead is an inkjet printhead that performs printing by discharging ink. 11. The recording head for ejecting ink using thermal energy, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head including a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 7. A recording head driving device according to item 6. 12. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein a state change is caused in the ink by thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter, and the ink is ejected from an ejection port based on the state change. The driving device for a recording head according to claim 6. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein n is 2. 14. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein n is 2. 15. A storing step of storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of a recording head in first to n-th storage means, and said first to n-th storage means corresponding to predetermined image data. An image forming step of driving the recording head with a predetermined driving time width of the recording head based on the selection value stored in the recording head to form an image. 16. A storage control means for storing a selection value for selecting a drive time width of a recording head in first to n-th storage means, and said first to n-th storage corresponding to predetermined image data. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that drives the recording head to form an image by driving the recording head in a predetermined drive time width based on a selection value stored in the unit.