JPH1044472A - Recorder and recording material container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a recorder using dark and light inks in which dark or light ink can be fed as required and the recording speed can be doubled when a dark ink is used as compared with the recording speed when a light ink is used. SOLUTION: In a set of pairs of dark and light nozzles, a row of light nozzles subsequent to a row of dark nozzles are arranged while being displaced in the subscanning direction. For dark colors of black K, cyan C, magenta M and yellow Y and light colors of black (k), cyan (c), magenta (m) and yellow (y) nozzles shown by circles are arranged on the order to K, k, C, c, M, m, Y, y in the main scanning direction and N nozzles are arranged for each row of K, k, C, c, M, m, Y, y in the subscanning direction. For a pair of dark and light nozzles, nozzle rows of k, c, m, y are arranged while being displaced from the nozzle rows of K, C, M, Y in the subscanning direction. Recording speed can be doubled by operating the nozzle for light ink as the nozzle for dark ink in such arrangement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ink droplet (dot).
Recording apparatus that forms an image by ejecting
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus capable of forming a multicolor image using light and light inks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some recording apparatuses are capable of outputting multicolor images. However, when outputting a multi-color image, it is difficult to express gradation using only dark ink. Therefore, a multi-color image in which gradation expression is pseudo-realized using inks of different densities for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is used. There is an apparatus capable of obtaining an image output (hereinafter, referred to as a recording apparatus using dark / light ink).

In a recording apparatus using dark and light inks, for example, K for dark black, C for cyan, M for magenta,
Y is yellow, k is light black, c is cyan,
When magenta is m and yellow is y, FIG.
As shown in the example of (b), the nozzles of the dark and light recording heads are arranged as a pair on the same line for each color in the main scanning direction, and a predetermined number of head nozzles are arranged in the sub-scanning direction. By obtaining a supply of ink of a corresponding color from an ink tank as shown (in this example, a cartridge type ink tank in which each color and each dark and light ink tank are integrally formed and detachably formed) via a supply unit, It is configured to compensate for the reduction of ink in the nozzle path due to ejection of ink droplets.

Here, when an image is a set of a bivalent dot matrix of a certain size, the tone value is simulated by associating the dot values in the dot matrix with dark ink or light ink. Therefore, in a printing apparatus using dark / light ink, a dot matrix (dark / light raster data table) corresponding to dark ink or light ink is obtained for the image data, and the image data shown in FIG. A carriage equipped with a recording head having such an arrangement is reciprocated in the main scanning direction to eject ink droplets from nozzles corresponding to a recording material such as recording paper, and a feed motor is driven to drive the recording material to a predetermined position. By moving by a distance, a multicolor image with gradation expression is output (recorded) on the recording material.

When a recording apparatus using such dark and light inks is used, for a certain color, ink of one density is often consumed earlier than ink of the other density. In such a case, the color component of the ink is no longer output on the recording material. Therefore, the system is configured to detect the remaining amount of the ink, and a warning is displayed immediately before the ink runs out. In some cases, the recording apparatus can be used by replenishing the lost color ink.

However, depending on the contents of the original, there is a case where high-quality image output is not required, or a case where it is desired to continue recording without replenishing or replacing light ink and to output an image quickly.

In response to such a request, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-5156 discloses a method in which a user uses a light ink of a certain color (density of the ink) while using an ink jet recording apparatus using dark / light ink. Lower ink, same hereafter)
There is disclosed a technique for switching to dark ink and recognizing that it is possible to print using dark ink (high-density ink, the same applies hereinafter) depending on the contents of the document, although the cut is recognized. ing.

Here, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication is a method for determining whether or not printing using light ink can be performed in an ink jet printing apparatus using dark / light ink, and a method using dark ink at the time of the determination. By providing control means for performing value recording, for example, when black light ink of two types of dark and light is exhausted, binary recording is performed using dark ink for at least the black. Even when light ink runs out during use of the printer, an image can be output without replenishing the ink.

[0009]

However, in the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, regardless of the contents of the manuscript,
The image output is started using the light ink, and the middle of the light ink of a certain color is detected on the way, and after the user recognizes this,
Switching to dark ink or replenishing the light ink depending on the contents of the document and the desire for early image output,
When an image is output after switching to dark ink, the overall impression received from the reproduced image is the influence of the ink being switched on the way (such as an unbalanced impression that only a certain color in the middle becomes darker). ) Cannot be avoided.

It has been empirically known that when an image is output using dark / light ink regardless of the contents of the original, the light ink is consumed more than the dark ink. In the ink cartridge type ink tank, which is configured as an integral type and is detachable, if only a certain color of light ink is consumed, the entire ink tank must be replaced, which is disadvantageous in terms of economy.

Here, when considering a document, it is necessary to use only one color of dark ink as in a normal document, or to output a high-quality multicolor image using dark and light ink as in a color photographic image. It is known that there are some documents that do not use dark and light ink even if they are color originals.

Therefore, it is possible for a user to determine in advance whether it is better to use dark / light ink or only dark ink for these documents. Therefore, only dark / light ink is required for documents requiring dark / light ink. A recording device using dark / light ink is used so that light ink can be used from the beginning until the image reproduction output of the document is completed, and for other documents, dark ink can be used from the beginning until the image reproduction output of the document is completed. With this configuration, there is no difference in the impression of the reproduced image due to switching from the light ink to the dark ink during the image output, and the dark / light ink is used only for the image requiring high image quality reproduction output. Since it uses a cartridge-type ink tank, it is possible to reduce the chance of replacing the cartridge due to the consumption of only the light ink, It is preferable to be expected which can recording speed is doubled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and to satisfy the above-mentioned demand. In a printing apparatus using dark / light ink, at least one pair of print heads is provided with dark / light ink or dark / light ink. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which is configured to be able to supply any desired one of the dark inks, and which makes the recording speed twice as high when using dark ink as when using dark / light ink.

It is another object of the present invention to apply the invention not only to a recording apparatus using dark and light inks but also to a recording apparatus using dry dye particles having different densities.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the arrangement of dark ink nozzles and light ink nozzles is arranged in a staggered manner. That is, the printing apparatus of the present invention includes a print head having an array of a plurality of nozzles, in which a dark color nozzle array and a light color nozzle array are displaced by a predetermined distance in the sub-scanning direction. .

Specifically, the recording apparatus of the present invention is provided corresponding to a recording material composed of a plurality of colors of ink, and at least one of the plurality of colors is provided corresponding to a recording material having a different density. A plurality of nozzles constituting a recording head group, wherein each of a pair of recording materials having different densities is provided with a plurality of nozzles. Nozzles that eject high-density recording material are arranged so that the nozzles that eject low-density recording material are displaced not in the same line in the main scanning direction but in the sub-scanning direction,
At the start of printing, a means for determining whether to use a recording material of the same color and a different density or a recording material of the same density, and when printing using a recording material of the same density, eject a recording material of a higher density. Recording control means for performing binary recording using a nozzle for ejecting a recording material having a low density as a nozzle for ejecting a recording material having the same density.
In the embodiment, it is desirable that the recording material having the same density is a recording material having a high density, but a recording material having a low density may be used.

The recording apparatus for supplying the recording material to the recording apparatus of the present invention can selectively use both the dark and light recording material storage containers in which the storage portions for the recording materials of the respective colors are formed. It is desirable that these recording material storage containers are detachably formed in the recording material supply section of the recording apparatus.

As an alternative to the recording material storage container, one of the recording materials of a plurality of colors is formed as an independent storage container so as to be detachably attached to a part of the recording material supply section, and the other plurality of colors are stored. As the recording material, it is possible to selectively use both the dark and light recording material storage containers in which the storage portions for the recording materials of the respective colors are formed. Each of the portions may be detachably formed.
Note that, in this case, a storage container may be formed in which the storage portions of the recording materials of both the storage material storage containers are integrally formed.

Further, as a preferred embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention, a high density black recording material is K, a cyan recording material is C, a magenta recording material is M, and a yellow recording material is Y. And the cyan recording material having a low density is c,
Assuming that the magenta recording material is m, a first recording material container that is detachably formed in the first portion of the recording material supply unit and accommodates K, and a second portion of the recording material supply unit When a second recording material container containing C, c, M, m, and Y is attached to the recording material supply unit, the device operates as a six-color recording device capable of performing six-color recording. A first recording material container and a third recording material container detachably formed on the second portion of the recording material supply unit and containing C, M, and Y, It can be configured to operate as a four-color recording device capable of performing four-color recording when attached.

In this case, furthermore, a first recording material storage container storing K or k and a second portion of the recording material supply section are detachably formed to store c, m, y or Y. When the fourth recording material storage container is attached to the recording material supply unit, it may be configured to operate as a four-color recording device capable of performing four-color recording.

[0021]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. A printing apparatus 100 receives control data and raster data (binary data) received from a host computer 200 in a receiving buffer. Memory 101
And the control data is sent to the system controller 102, and the raster data for each color is stored in the image buffer 108 provided for each color via the gate array 107.

The system controller 102 sends a control signal of the drive system among the control signals to the main scanning drive driver 103 or the sub-scanning driver 105 to send the carriage (C
R) drive the motor 102 and the paper feed motor 103,
The carriage reciprocates in the main scanning direction and conveys a recording material such as recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. In addition, the control unit sends the drawing system control data to the print head drive driver 109.

A print head drive driver 109 receives drawing control data and sequentially reads out raster data stored in an image buffer 108 to obtain dot values corresponding to a plurality of ink droplet ejection nozzles constituting a print head array 111. In accordance with (1 or 0), control is performed to eject or not eject ink droplets.

As shown in FIG. 1, the individual nozzles constituting the recording head array 111 are arranged as a pair of dark and light nozzles for each color in the main scanning direction, and each nozzle is arranged in the sub-scanning direction. .

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the arrangement of ink droplet ejection nozzles of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. As a characteristic arrangement of the present invention, a pair of dark and light nozzles is the same in the main scanning direction as in the prior art. Rather than being arranged on a line, a pair of dark and light nozzles is used to displace the light nozzle row located next to the dark nozzle row in the sub-scanning direction and position it in a kind of staggered arrangement. .

For example, in FIG. 1, when K represents dark black, C represents cyan, M represents magenta, and Y represents yellow, k represents light black, c represents cyan, m represents magenta, and y represents yellow. Are arranged in the order of K, k, C, c, M, m, Y, y in the main scanning direction, and K, k, C, c, M, m, in the sub-scanning direction. N nozzles are arranged for each row of Y and y, but k, c, c, M, m, Y and y, which are pairs of dark and light nozzles, are k, c, and k. m and y are displaced by a distance z in the sub-scanning direction with respect to K, C, M, and Y, respectively (note that z may be 0 <z ≦ Z / 2).

By disposing the light ink nozzles in the sub-scanning direction from the dark ink nozzles as described above, when the light ink nozzles are used as dark ink nozzles as described later, the printing speed can be reduced by two. Can be doubled. It is needless to say that the same effect can be obtained even if the dark ink nozzle is displaced from the light ink nozzle in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 2 shows a recording apparatus 10 using dark and light inks.
7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams of the type of the ink tank of No. 0, and FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a dark ink storage unit storing high density ink (K, C, M, Y) for each color and low density ink (k, c, m). , Y) is a fixed type tank (FIG. 9), which is an integrated ink tank in which the light ink containing sections containing
Or a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the ink supply unit. The fixed tank is suitable for a commercial recording apparatus that records a large amount of reproduced color images at high speed. (B) is a separate ink tank 23 for accommodating frequently used colors (black (K, k) in the figure),
It is a partially separated type ink tank in which the other ink storage portions 24 are integrated together and is suitable for handling as a cartridge type (see FIGS. 7 and 8). (C) shows a case where the accommodating portions are separated for each color, and each accommodating portion is formed in a cartridge type. In the case where the frequency of colors to be used is significantly different depending on the image, or especially when high-quality ink is used temporarily. It is suitable for, for example.

In addition, an ink supply port (not shown) is provided in each of the dark ink storage section and the light ink storage section in common to FIGS. Ink is supplied to corresponding nozzles of a recording head formed at a high density, which will be described later, via an ink supply unit having members.

In FIG. 2, dark ink (K), light ink (k), dark ink (C), light ink (c), dark ink (M), light ink (c), dark ink (Y), Although the dark ink and the light ink are configured as a pair for each color such as the light ink (y), the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a recording apparatus using a 6-color / 4-color switching ink described later (see FIG. 7)
As described above, black (K), which is frequently used, and yellow (Y), in which the distinction between a dark color and a light color is not noticeable when the reproduced image is viewed as a whole, can be made only a dark color. In other words, at least one of the colors may be configured as a pair of the dark ink and the light ink.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the ink tanks and the nozzle arrangement after switching from dark / light ink to dark ink.

In the present invention, a dark / light ink cartridge (FIG. 4 (a)) is used in a recording apparatus for recording a reproduced image using dark / light ink so that at least a pair of dark / light ink can be replaced with dark ink. ) And a dark ink cartridge (FIG. 4 (a) ') or a fixed tank for dark / light ink and a fixed ink tank for dark ink (FIG. 9). Is used to record the reproduced image. In the case of using a fixed tank, it is preferable that two fixed tanks are provided in the apparatus or outside the apparatus in advance for the dark / light recording mode and the dark recording mode.

In FIG. 4A, the dark / light cartridge 41 contains dark ink (K), light ink (k), dark ink (C), light ink (c), dark ink (M), and light ink (m ), Dark ink (Y), and light ink (y), and the print head array 111 has nozzles corresponding to the respective inks, as shown in FIG. When the value of the raster data of the image buffer 108 taken in by the print head drive driver 109 controlled by the system controller 102 is 1, ink droplets are ejected from the corresponding nozzle.

When the user replaces the dark / light cartridge, FIG.
When the dark ink cartridge 42 shown in FIG. 4A ′ is used, the configuration and arrangement of the recording head array 111 are fixed and thus are the same as those in FIG. The nozzles used as the ink nozzles (the second row of nozzles in the case of black, for example) will be used as the dark ink nozzles after the replacement of the cartridge, so that the nozzle row is as shown in FIG. To (K,
K, C, C, M, M, Y, Y), in which case the capacity of the inks K, C, M, Y in the cartridge is doubled.

The concentration of the ink is determined by the amount of the dye or pigment in the solution. When the concentration changes, the viscosity of the ink changes. It is desirable to match the viscosity and other fluid properties of the ink.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the comparison of the recording speed before and after switching from dark / light ink to dark ink.

In the case of a recording device having a recording density of 720 dpi (dot / inch), the distance between nozzles in the sub-scanning direction is 1/72.
Although it is desirable to set it to 0 inch, the distance between nozzles in the sub-scanning direction is not 1/720 inch in design.
As shown in FIG. 5A, it is set to 1/90 inch.

FIG. 5A shows an example of an arrangement of dark ink nozzles (shown by black circles in the figure) and light ink nozzles (shown by black triangles in the figure) in the sub-scanning direction of a printing apparatus using dark and light inks. And the distance between the nozzles for dark ink and light ink in the sub-scanning direction is 1/90 inch,
This is an example in which the light ink nozzles are arranged shifted by 1/180 inch in the sub-scanning direction (that is, arranged at a position corresponding to the middle of the upper and lower two dark ink nozzles).
5 (b) and (c).

FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the number of passes when only the dark ink nozzles are driven in the recording head having the arrangement of FIG. 5A, and one row is used in the first pass. After the end of the operation, the paper is fed by 1/720 inch, and the same applies to the second and subsequent operations. Since the distance between nozzles is 1/90, if this operation is repeated eight times, it becomes 1/720.
Recording will be performed every inch, 7 passes in 8 passes
20 dpi is recorded (number 1 in the figure).
To 8 indicate the order of the passes).

When only the light ink nozzle is driven, the recording is performed at 720 dpi in eight passes in the same manner as when only the dark ink nozzle is driven. Therefore, the dark ink nozzle or the light ink nozzle is used. Even when reproducing a multicolor image, recording at 720 dpi is performed in eight passes.

FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram of the number of passes when the recording head having the arrangement of FIG. 5A supplies dark ink to the light ink nozzle and uses it as the dark ink nozzle.
In the first pass, the operation is performed for a total of two lines, one line for the dark ink nozzle and one line for the light ink nozzle using the dark ink. After the operation, the paper is fed by 1/720 inch. The subsequent operation is the same. Nozzle distance is 1
Therefore, if this operation is repeated four times, recording is performed every 1/720 inch, and 72 passes in four passes.
0 dpi is recorded (numbers 1 to 5 in the figure).
4 indicates the order of the paths). Therefore, when printing using only the deep ink using the light ink nozzles as the dark ink nozzles is performed twice (8 passes / 4 passes = 2) as compared with the case where printing is performed using the dark / light inks. Recording speed.

In this example, for the sake of explanation, the case where the light ink nozzles are arranged shifted by 1/180 inch in the sub-scanning direction has been described.
It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the size is smaller than / 180 inches.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the basic configuration of the ink switching control in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

In step S1 of FIG. 6, the user selects whether to reproduce and record a high-quality image using dark and light inks or to reproduce and record only dark ink when reproducing and recording an original.

In the case of a fixed ink tank, the recording device 1
When a selection button or operation switch provided on an operation panel or the like (not shown) of 00 is operated to select an ink tank for dark / light ink or dark ink, the used ink tank information is transmitted from the recording apparatus 100 to the host. Computer 2
00 is sent to the printer driver.

On the other hand, when the ink tank is of a cartridge type, the user sets a desired cartridge in the ink supply section 112 which also serves as a cartridge accommodating section.
By operating a selection button or an operation switch provided on an operation panel 00 of the printer 100 to give information on which ink tank for dark / light ink or ink for dark ink is selected, the used ink tank information becomes To a printer driver (not shown) of the host computer 200.

As described in FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge for dark / light recording and the ink cartridge for dark recording are attached / detached, the ink supply unit 112 is configured to automatically detect the type of the attached / detached cartridge. In this case, information indicating that the detected cartridge is for dark / light ink or dark ink is transmitted to a printer driver (not shown) of the host computer 200 as used ink tank information.

In step S2, the host computer 20
The printer driver of 0 checks the used ink tank information received. If the information indicates that dark / light ink is to be used, the process proceeds to step S3, and if it indicates that only dark ink is used, the process proceeds to step S3. Move to S5.

In step S3, the dark / light ink table is selected by the color classification processing of the printer driver, and a control signal for recording with dark / light ink is selected as a paper feed control signal. In step S4, the table-processed data is rasterized and transmitted to the recording apparatus 100 together with a paper feed control signal.

In step S5, a dark ink table is selected in the color classification processing of the printer driver, and a control signal for recording with dark ink is selected as a paper feed control signal. In step S6, the table-processed data is converted into a raster, and the rasterized
Send to 0.

In step S7, the recording apparatus 100 performs the same recording processing operation as described with reference to FIG.

In the above description, the printer driver is provided on the host computer 200 side. However, the printer driver may be provided on the recording apparatus 100 side.

In this embodiment, the case of replacing the dark / light ink with the dark ink has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case of replacing the dark / light ink with the light ink is also applicable. The same applies.

That is, when the user uses the light ink cartridge 43 as shown in FIG. 12A 'instead of the dark / light cartridge, the configuration and arrangement of the recording head array 111 are fixed, so that 12 (b), but the nozzle used as the dark ink nozzle in FIG. 12 (b) (the first row of nozzles in the case of black) is used as the light ink nozzle after the cartridge is replaced. Therefore, the nozzle row is shown in FIG.
(K, k, c, c, m, m, y, y), the capacity of the inks k, c, m, y in the cartridge is doubled. It is described in FIG. 5 that the recording speed before and after switching from dark / light ink to light ink is twice as high as before and after switching from dark / light ink to dark ink. It is clear if the term "dark ink" is read as "light ink" and the term "light ink" is read as "dark ink", and the same applies to FIG. These can be similarly applied to the case of replacing the dark ink with the light ink.

[0055]

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a six-color ink-jet printer which is an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention. The six-color ink-jet printer uses only a dark color print from a six-color ink cartridge capable of dark / light print. Is replaceable with the four-color ink cartridge.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of the color configuration of a six-color ink cartridge used in this embodiment. The six-color ink cartridge is a black (K) cartridge that is frequently used in document recording and the like. 71 separately, and cyan (C,
c) and magenta (M, m), each of which is a dark / light pair, and two cartridge type ink tanks of a cartridge 72 in which a storage section of five colors in which yellow is one color (Y) is integrated. I have. Note that yellow is a dark color (Y)
The reason why only the color (Y) is used is that the lightness of the dark color (Y) is sufficiently high and the dots are not conspicuous even when dots are formed in the low density area, so that it is not necessary to use the light ink (y).

FIG. 7A ′ is a four-color ink cartridge. The four-color ink cartridge includes a black (K) cartridge 71 and a dark cyan (C)
It is composed of two cartridge type ink tanks of a cartridge 72 ′ in which the accommodating portions of three colors of dark magenta (M) and dark yellow (Y) are integrated.

FIG. 7B shows an arrangement of six color dark / light ink nozzles, and the recording head array 11 described in FIG.
The arrangement of the nozzles for dark and light ink is the same as
When printing in six colors, light black (b) and light yellow (y) are not used. That is, the print head drive driver performs black (b) and yellow (y) printing in six colors.
Is controlled so as not to use the nozzles of the row for use.

When the cartridge is switched to four dark colors, both the dark ink nozzle and the light ink nozzle eject dark ink as dark ink nozzles as shown in FIG. 7B '. In the case of four-color printing, as described in the description of FIGS. 5 and 6, printing is performed by the dark ink nozzles that are replaced with the dark ink nozzles and the light ink nozzles. Can print at twice the speed.

Thus, when a high-quality reproduced image such as a color photograph is desired, printing is performed using a six-color ink cartridge. In other cases, the cartridge 72 is replaced with a cartridge 72 'to replace the four-color ink cartridge. High-speed printing can be performed. Further, since the black (K) cartridge 71 is provided separately, even if black is consumed due to document printing or the like, it is not necessary to replace the entire cartridge, and only the cartridge 71 needs to be replaced.

Although black (K) is a separate cartridge in this embodiment, any one of cyan (C, c), magenta (M, m), and yellow (Y) or a combination thereof is used separately. The cartridges may be configured as independent cartridges. Also, instead of a replaceable cartridge type ink tank, a fixed type ink tank (K,
A configuration may be adopted in which a tank containing six color inks (C, c, M, m, Y) and a tank containing four color inks (K, C, M, Y) are provided.

Accordingly, printing can be performed at twice the speed as in the case of six-color printing.

In this embodiment, the six-color ink jet printer is configured so that it can be replaced with a six-color ink cartridge capable of printing dark and light and a four-color ink cartridge capable of printing only dark color. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The four-color ink cartridge for printing only may be replaceable. That is, from a six-color ink cartridge capable of dark / light printing, or a cartridge for light-color black (k) for only light-color printing and three colors of light cyan (c), light magenta (m), and light yellow (y) May be configured to be interchangeable with two light four-color cartridges in which the accommodating portions are integrated. In this case, the light black k may be set to black K and the light yellow y may be set to yellow Y.

When the cartridge is switched to four light colors, both the dark ink nozzle and the light ink nozzle eject light ink as light ink nozzles. Also in the case of light four-color printing, printing is performed by the light ink nozzle and light ink nozzle which have been replaced with the dark ink nozzle as described in the description of FIG. 5 and FIG. Printing can be performed at twice the speed.

In this embodiment, a printer is used as an example of a recording device. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a facsimile and other image output devices.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an example of the ink supply unit 80 of the six-color ink jet printer shown in FIG. 7. The ink supply unit 80 includes a cartridge 81 for a black cartridge and a cartridge 82 for another cartridge 72 or 72 ′. Divided. Reference numeral 83 denotes a protrusion-like introduction member that fits or is inserted into a supply port (not shown) of the black cartridge to introduce the ink in the cartridge to the ink supply unit 112 side. , C, M, m, Y)
The ink in the cartridge 72 is inserted into or inserted into a supply port (not shown) of the cartridge 72 for accommodating the color or the cartridge 72 ′ for accommodating the three color inks of (C, M, Y) to move the ink in the cartridge to the ink supply unit 112 side. It is a protruding introduction member to be introduced.

The cartridge 72 'is provided with supply ports for cyan C and magenta M at the same positions as those for cyan C and c and magenta M and m of the cartridge 72.

Switches 85 and 86 turn on when the cartridge 71 is inserted, and switch 86 when the cartridge 72 or 72 'is inserted.
Turns on.

In this case, the switch 86 is
It is desirable to configure the switch for switch 2 and the switch for cartridge 72 ′ (both not shown). With this configuration, the switch for the cartridge 72 is turned on / off in response to the attachment / detachment of the cartridge 72, and the switch for the cartridge 72 ′ is turned on / off in response to the attachment / detachment of the cartridge 72 ′. It is preferable that "use ink information" can be automatically input. In this case, instead of the switch 86, a contact for the cartridge 72 and a contact for the cartridge 72 'are provided on the accommodating portion 82 and the cartridges 72 and 72', respectively. 'May be configured to automatically detect the attachment / detachment and automatically transmit “used ink information”.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example of the fixed ink tank. In FIG. 9, the lid 91 of the fixing ink tank 90, the ink container main body 92 and the ink supply port 9 are shown.
3 is shown. The fixing ink tank 90 is provided inside or outside the recording apparatus 100, and the ink supply unit 112 and the ink supply port 93 are connected by an appropriate conduit such as a tube. The ink storage unit main body 92 is internally divided into ink storage units for storing inks of respective colors, and each of the ink storage units is provided with an inner lid or an ink injection member with a check valve to prevent the ink from being mixed. Is provided.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts added to FIG. 1 when the ink remaining amount detection method is added.

In the present invention, when the recording apparatus is configured to use an ink cartridge, if the frequency of replacement of the cartridge is high, the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge cannot be grasped by the recording apparatus (and the host computer). Even if the frequency is high, the recording apparatus may be configured such that the remaining amount of ink for each cartridge is stored in a non-volatile memory so that the remaining amount of ink can be grasped.

FIG. 10 shows the counting of the number of dots (S4
1) The remaining ink amounts of the dark / light ink cartridge and the dark ink cartridge are stored in a memory (not shown) (S42), and the remaining ink amount is compared with a predetermined value p (S4).
3) A warning is issued when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined value p (S
44), this is an example in which the ink remaining amount is reset to 100% after the ink cartridge is replaced (S45) (S46). In the figure, S4 and S6 are branch points from the flowchart of FIG. 6, and S7 is a return point.

FIG. 11 shows that the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is detected from the light transmittance using physical means, for example, optical means, or is detected based on the electric conductivity using electrical means (S
81), the remaining amount of ink is compared with a predetermined value P (S82), and a warning is issued when the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the predetermined value P (S83).
This is an example in which the process returns to step S1 after the replacement of the ink cartridge (S84). In the figure, S8 indicates a continuation point from the flowchart of FIG.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,
It goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, only a document requiring dark / light ink is used from the beginning until the image reproduction output of the document is completed.
For other originals, a recording device using dark and light inks is configured so that dark ink can be used from the beginning until the image reproduction output of the original is completed, so the light ink was switched to dark ink during image output. In addition, when using a cartridge type ink tank, only dark and light inks that require high image quality reproduction output are used. Even in the case of using the ink cartridge, it is possible to reduce the chance of replacing the cartridge due to the consumption of only the light ink.

Further, by forming the dark / light noise arrangement of the print head array in a staggered manner, the printing speed can be doubled when only the dark ink is used, as compared with the case where the dark / light ink is used.

Further, since the ink amount of the cartridge when only the deep ink is used can be larger than that of the dark / light ink cartridge, even if the recording speed is doubled, the frequency of replacing the cartridge does not increase.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement of ink droplet ejection nozzles of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an integrated type and a separated type ink tank.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between an ink tank and a nozzle arrangement after switching from dark / light ink to dark ink.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a comparison of recording speeds before and after switching to dark ink.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a basic configuration of an ink switching control method in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a six-color ink jet printer which is an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of an example of an ink supply unit of a six-color inkjet printer.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an example of a fixed ink tank.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart added to FIG. 1 when an ink remaining amount detection method is added.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart added to FIG. 1 when another ink remaining amount detection method is added.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between an ink tank and a nozzle array after switching from dark / light ink to light ink.

FIG. 13 is a conventional example of a nozzle arrangement of a recording apparatus using dark / light ink.

[Explanation of symbols]

41 Dark / Light Ink Cartridge (Dark / Light Recording Material Storage Container) 71 Dark Ink Cartridge (First Recording Material Storage Container) 72 Dark / Light Ink Cartridge (Second Recording Material Storage Container) 72 ′ Dark Ink Cartridge (No. No. 3 recording material container)) 80, 112 Ink supply unit (recording material supply unit) 81 Black ink cartridge storage unit (first part) 82 Other ink cartridge storage unit (second part) 85, 86 Switch REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 recording device 111 recording head array 113 ink tank 200 host computer

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A print head comprising an array of a plurality of nozzles, comprising: a set of dark color nozzle rows and light color nozzle rows provided alternately corresponding to a recording material made of a plurality of color inks. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing head in which the dark color nozzle row and the light color nozzle row are displaced by a predetermined distance in the sub-scanning direction. 2. A recording head group provided for a recording material composed of a plurality of color inks, and at least one of the plurality of colors is formed by a recording head group provided for recording materials having different densities. What is claimed is: 1. A recording apparatus which performs ejection to form a multicolor image, wherein a plurality of nozzles constituting the recording head group eject a high-density recording material for each set of a pair of recording materials having different densities. Are provided following the main scanning direction, and nozzles for ejecting a recording material having a low density are arranged so as to be displaced in the sub-scanning direction instead of on the same line in the main scanning direction. Means to determine whether to use a recording material with the same density or a recording material with the same density. A recording control means for performing binary recording using a nozzle for ejecting a recording material having the same density as a nozzle for ejecting a recording material having the same density. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording materials having the same density are high-density recording materials. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording materials having the same density are recording materials having a low density. 5. A recording material container detachably formed in a recording material supply section of a recording apparatus for supplying a recording material to each nozzle according to claim 2, wherein at least one color of a plurality of colors of the recording material is provided. For the dark and light recording material storage containers, which include the storage portions provided for the recording materials of different densities and the storage portions for the recording materials of the respective colors, and the same density recording for the recording materials of a plurality of colors A recording material storage container including a storage portion for storing only the recording material, and a recording material storage container in which the storage portions for the recording materials of the respective colors are formed, wherein the recording material supply portion is formed detachably, respectively. Containment container. 6. A recording material storage container detachably formed in a recording material supply section of a recording apparatus for supplying a recording material to each nozzle according to claim 2, wherein one of a plurality of colors of the recording material is provided. Is formed as an independent storage container so as to be detachably attached to a part of the recording material supply unit, and for at least one of the other plurality of recording materials, a storage unit provided corresponding to a recording material having a different density. A dark / light recording material storage container in which a storage portion for each color recording material is formed, and a storage portion for storing only recording materials having the same density for a plurality of color recording materials among the other plurality of recording materials. And a recording material storage container in which storage portions for recording materials of the respective colors are formed, and the recording material storage container is formed detachably on the other part of the recording material supply unit. . 7. The recording material container according to claim 5, wherein the recording materials having the same density are high-density recording materials. 8. The recording material container according to claim 5, wherein the recording materials having the same density are recording materials having a low density. 9. The recording material container according to claim 5, wherein the dark / light recording material container is formed integrally with the recording material receiving portions of the respective colors. And a storage container containing recording materials having the same density, wherein the storage portions for the recording materials of the respective colors are integrally formed. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
It has a recording material supply unit provided to supply a recording material to each nozzle. K is a high density black recording material, C is a cyan recording material, M is a magenta recording material, and yellow is a When the recording material of No. is Y, the recording material of low-density cyan is c, and the recording material of magenta is m, the first recording material supply portion is detachably formed and accommodates K. C, c, M, m, Y
When the second recording material storage container storing the recording material is attached to the recording material supply unit, the recording material supply unit operates as a six-color recording device capable of performing six-color recording, and the first recording material storage container and the recording material supply Part 2
And a third recording material storage container containing C, M, and Y detachably mounted on the recording material supply unit, and operates as a four-color recording device capable of performing four-color recording. A recording device, comprising: 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a first recording material storage container storing K or k; and a second part of the recording material supply unit, which is detachably formed.
When a fourth recording material storage container accommodating c, m, y, or Y is attached to the recording material supply unit, it operates as a four-color recording device capable of four-color recording. Recording device.