JPH11138913A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide means for realizing high quality high speed recording of a recorder through a relatively simple structure without increasing the size or the cost significantly in a recorder having a plurality of recording units, e.g. an ink jet printer. SOLUTION: A recorder having a unit for receiving a recording medium 106, e.g. a recording sheet, discharged from each recording unit comprises a plurality of recording units, a recording information input means, an exchangeable recording unit, a section 5 for exchanging operation, and a recording unit engaging means wherein the recording medium receiving unit comprises means for receiving a plurality of recording media discharged from respective recording units, and means for controlling each recording unit and recording medium receiving unit at the time of recording.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as a printer generally used for office equipment, and more particularly to a recording apparatus including a plurality of recording units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a known recording apparatus for recording desired information such as characters and images on a recording medium such as a sheet or a film, there is known a "printer". Also, in devices such as word processors and personal computers for creating and editing recorded information, the performance of the devices has been remarkably improved, and further, scanners, video captures, CDROs, and the like.
Information input devices such as M drives and digital cameras have been diversified.

[0003] Against the background of such information processing devices and information input devices, the use environment of recording devices such as printers is diversified, and in some cases, they are used as copiers. There is a demand for higher quality of recording results and higher speed of recording operation than before.

[0004] In particular, demands for faster information transmission in offices and the like that handle a large amount of information are increasing year by year. There is also a strong demand for a high-speed printing apparatus that plays a part of the above.

On the other hand, as is well known, a serial type in which a recording medium such as a sheet such as paper is conveyed and a recording head is mounted on an operating portion such as a carriage which reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Also, there is a line type device having a recording head having a length corresponding to the width of a recording medium. As a recording method, there are a wire dot method, a thermal method, a thermal transfer method, an ink jet method, an electrophotographic method, and the like.

Conventionally, as a method for speeding up printing in these printing apparatuses, for example, increasing the operating frequency of the printing head of the printing apparatus or, for example, in a printing head used for a serial type, It is common practice to increase the size of the recording medium, increase the recording width by one movement, increase the conveying speed of the recording medium on which recording is performed, and increase the operating speed of an operating unit such as a carriage. .

[0007]

However, the above-described method for speeding up the recording operation has the following problems.

That is, in the method of increasing the operating frequency of the recording head and the method of increasing the size of the recording head, the recording head has a complicated structure, and the power to be supplied to the recording head also increases. It is also necessary.

In order to increase the speed at which the recording medium is conveyed or the operating speed of the carriage or the like is increased, the performance and size of the driving means such as a motor are increased, and the power supplied to the driving means is increased. I have.

As a result, there is a problem that the recording apparatus is increased in size and significantly increased in cost, so that it is not easy to increase the speed of the recording apparatus. In addition, there is a problem that a user of the recording apparatus needs to purchase a new one when a high-speed recording apparatus is required, and the recording apparatus is not easy due to an increase in the size of the recording apparatus.

Further, a recording agent (material) in a liquid state is fixed on a recording medium as typified by an ink jet system to perform recording, and the recorded recording medium is accommodated in a predetermined recording medium accommodation means such as a tray. In a recording apparatus, the fixing performance of the recording agent becomes a barrier to speeding up the recording operation from the viewpoint of preventing the recording medium from being stained by the unfixed recording agent,
There is also a problem that there is a limit in increasing the speed of the recording operation.
A method of providing a fixing device such as a heater in the recording apparatus in order to increase the fixing speed of the recording material is also known, but the recording apparatus becomes complicated, large-sized, and significantly increased in cost. There is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a recording apparatus capable of achieving a high-speed recording operation with a relatively simple configuration.

[0013]

Therefore, in the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing a recording apparatus according to any one of the following (1) to (10).

(1) In a recording apparatus having a recording unit for performing desired recording on a recording medium such as a sheet, and a recording medium accommodating unit for accommodating the recording medium ejected from the recording unit, the recording unit includes: An input unit for inputting information regarding recording, a recording unit for performing recording on the recording medium, which is replaceably provided, an operation unit for replacing the recording unit, and an upper or lower side of the recording unit. Engaging means for engaging the recording unit of
The recording medium storage unit is more than the recording unit,
It has a plurality of recording accommodation means for accommodating the recording medium discharged at the time of recording, and includes a plurality of recording units, and a control means for controlling the plurality of recording units and the recording medium accommodation unit at the time of recording. Recording device.

(2) The input means of the recording unit is provided at a part which is not involved in the engagement of the recording means with another recording unit by the engaging means.
The recording device according to claim 1.

(3) The operation unit of the recording unit is provided at a portion of the operation unit which is not involved in engagement with another recording unit by the engagement means. Recording device.

(4) The recording means of the recording unit has a recording head or a recording material storage portion for storing a recording material consumed during recording, and the recording head or the recording material storage portion is replaceable. The recording device according to the above (1), wherein the recording device is configured.

(5) The control means of the recording device controls the recording operation of the plurality of recording units of the preceding recording device or the accommodating operation of the recording medium accommodating unit according to a desired number of recordings. The recording device according to the above (1).

(6) When the recording device has a plurality of the recording units and performs recording on a plurality of recording media, the control means of the recording device performs the recording on each recording medium by the plurality of recording units. The recording apparatus according to any one of (1) and (5), wherein the recording apparatus is assigned to each of the recording units and controls a recording operation by the recording unit.

(7) When the recording device has one recording unit and performs recording on a plurality of recording media, each control unit of the recording device discharges the recording medium discharged from the recording unit. (1), wherein the accommodation of the recording medium is allocated to each of the plurality of recording medium accommodation means, and the accommodation operation by the recording medium accommodation unit is controlled.
The recording device according to any one of (5).

(8) The control means of the recording apparatus controls the recording medium accommodating unit in accordance with a recording duty on the recording medium when performing recording on a plurality of recording media. The recording device according to 7).

(9) When recording is performed on a plurality of recording media, the control means of the recording apparatus stores desired recording information in accordance with the recording means mounted on one or more recording units. The recording apparatus according to any one of the above items (1), (5), and (6), wherein the recording apparatus is assigned to a recording unit and controls a recording operation by each of the recording units.

(10) When performing recording on a plurality of recording media, the control means of the recording apparatus assigns desired recording information to each of the recording units in accordance with the states of the plurality of recording units, and The recording apparatus according to any one of (1), (5), and (6), wherein the recording operation by the recording unit is controlled.

[0024]

According to the configuration of the present invention as described above, high-speed recording by a recording apparatus having a relatively simple configuration can be realized.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
A plurality of embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0026]

(Embodiment 1) First, a recording unit as a main part in Embodiment 1 will be described. In the first embodiment, a printer using an inkjet recording method as a recording unit will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the first embodiment showing a form of a recording unit of the ink jet recording system, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the recording unit shown in FIG.

Here, even if the recording unit is a single recording unit, it is connected to an electronic device such as a personal computer so that desired recording is possible. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. Recording medium 10 such as a sheet material
6 are stacked and held in a bundle state, and are automatically separated one by one one by one and supplied to a predetermined recording position.
A transport unit 2 that guides the sheet 106 delivered one by one to a desired recording position and guides the sheet 106 to the discharge port 605, a recording unit 3 that performs desired recording on the sheet 106 transported to the transport unit 2, and Input switch 40 as input means for directly inputting information on recording by recording information sent from electronic equipment such as a computer or by a user.
1 is provided.

A panel unit 4 for controlling a recording unit according to the information and a recording head 3 provided in the recording unit 3
For the exchange of the ink tank 302 which is exchangeably mounted on the recording head 301, the operation unit 5 mainly has an openable and closable cover for exposing the inside of the recording unit, and the case unit 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording section 3 includes a recording head 301 of recording means having nozzles and the like (not shown) for discharging ink, and a recording material (material) such as ink. ), An ink tank 302 as a recording agent storage unit that stores a recording agent is configured to be detachable from and replaceable with the recording head 301.

The illustrated print head 301 is dedicated to monochrome printing. A monochrome print head capable of high-speed monochrome printing is provided by, for example, providing a larger number of nozzles or the like for ejecting ink than a color printing head described later. A color recording head having yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink tanks and capable of performing color recording is prepared.

The recording head is exchangeably mounted on the carriage 303 according to its use. The recording unit 3 has a recording head 301 mounted thereon, and the recording head 3
A guide shaft 305 that guides the carriage 303 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2 by a carriage 303 having an exchange lever 304 for exchanging the print cartridge 01, a timing belt 306, and a carriage motor 308 (FIG. 2); A flexible cable 307 for supplying recording information and electric power to 301 is provided.

Next, another main part of the recording unit will be described. The automatic feeding unit 1 in FIG. 2 has one end supported by a sheet receiver 101 and a sliding shaft 103,
The other end is separated by the separation roller 105 by the spring force of the pressure contact spring 104.
And is set on the sheet receiver 101 by a separation roller 105 interlocked with a conveyance roller 201 via a gear train and drive switching means (not shown). The sheet 106 as a recording medium is sent out one by one from the sheet bundle 106.

A guide member 107 (FIG. 1) for guiding the sheet 106 in the width direction is provided in the automatic feeding section 1.
6, the other guide member is provided so as to be movable by a slide mechanism in the width direction of the sheet 107, and the other guide member 107 determines the recording position of the sheet 106 with respect to the recording unit. The pair of guide members 107 prevent skewing during sheet conveyance. The sheet receiver 101 is provided at a position where it does not hinder replenishment of the sheet 106 even when another recording unit described later is engaged.

The transport unit 2 includes a transport roller 201 for guiding the sheet 106 sent from the automatic feeding unit 1 by the separation roller 105 to a position facing a nozzle for ejecting ink of the recording head 301, and a pinch roller. 202, a gear train (not shown) that transmits driving force to the discharge roller 203 in conjunction with the conveyance roller 201, a spur 204 and a platen unit 205 supported via a coil spring (not shown), and the automatic feeding unit 1
And a paper sensor 710 (see FIG. 4 described later) that detects a recording start position of the sheet 106 fed from the printer and a feeding failure.

The platen unit 205 is configured to transport the sheet 10 conveyed by the conveying roller 201 and the pinch roller 202.
6 is guided to the paper discharge roller 203 and the spur 204, and the discharge roller 203 and the spur 204
As a result, the sheet 106 is discharged from the discharge unit 605 to the outside of the recording unit.

The case unit 6 of the recording unit has first engaging means 601 for engaging the upper surface of another recording unit having the same form at the lower part of the case, and another recording means having the same form at the upper part of the case. It has a second engaging means 602 for engaging with the lower surface of the unit. The first engaging means 601 is provided to be retractable with respect to the case part 6 and is accommodated inside the case part 6, and is provided on the engaging means 601 and fitted to the case part 6. By rotating around the shaft 601A, as shown by the broken line in FIG.
It protrudes from the case part 6.

The second engaging means 602 is constituted by a concave portion provided on the upper part of the case part 6, and is protruded from the case part 6 of another knit of the same form.
1.

The recording unit has a form in which a plurality of recording units are vertically stacked by the first / second engaging means 601/602 as shown in FIG. 6, an input switch 401 serving as the input means, an operation unit 5 for replacing the recording head 301 or the ink tank 302, a sheet receiver 101 (FIG. 2) for stacking and supporting sheets, and an interface described later with reference to FIG. When a plurality of recording units are engaged, an input operation by the input switch 401, an exchange operation of the recording head 301 or the like by the operation unit 5, a sheet supply operation to the sheet receiver 101, and an interface unit 703 In order to facilitate the connection operation using a cable or the like, the connection operation is provided on a surface that is not involved in engagement with another recording unit or at a position that does not hinder the operation.

In FIG. 2, the ink discharged from the recording head 301 by a predetermined discharge recovery process or the like is provided in the case portion 6 in order to maintain the ink discharge state of the other recording heads 301 in a state suitable for recording. , A power supply unit 604, and a discharge port 605 for the sheet 106.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control structure of the recording unit of the ink jet system described above. An MPU 701 controls the recording unit, and includes a timer 702 that manages time for control. An interface unit 703 connects the recording unit to a host computer or the like, and also connects the recording unit to another recording unit. Through the interface unit 703, the recording unit is connected to the host computer or the like by another unit. It is configured to be able to exchange information with the unit.

Reference numeral 704 denotes a ROM storing a control program of the MPU and the like. Reference numeral 705 denotes an R as a buffer for storing a work area and recording information when executing the control of the MPU 701.
AM. Reference numeral 706 denotes an EEPROM capable of retaining information even when the power of the recording apparatus is turned off. 707
Reference numeral 708 denotes an ejection heater driver that drives an ejection heater that ejects ink according to desired recording information and the like in the recording head.
A carriage motor driver that drives a carriage motor 308 driven via a pulley 06 or a pulley (not shown). 709 is a conveying roller 201, a separation roller 105,
Transport motor 206 for driving an ejection recovery processing unit (not shown)
Is a transport motor driver for driving the motor. Reference numeral 710 denotes a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the sheet 106 in the transport unit 2 (FIG. 2) and the leading and trailing ends of the sheet 106. In the first embodiment, the sensor 710 is located downstream of the separation roller 105 of the automatic feeding 1. It is provided on the side.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the entire recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. The recording apparatus according to the first embodiment includes:
As described above, the sheet storage unit 8 having one or more recording units such as a printer engaged with each other, and storing the sheet 106 that is a recording medium discharged from the recording unit, Control means 9 for independently controlling each recording unit and sheet storage unit
It is composed of

The recording apparatus in the illustrated example has three recording units, a recording unit A, a recording unit B, and a recording unit C. Note that the arrows shown in FIG. 5 indicate the flow of information and do not necessarily indicate physical connections. As shown in FIG. 6, the respective recording units of the recording apparatus are engaged by the respective engaging means 601 and 602.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the recording unit A, the recording unit B, the recording unit C, and the sheet storage unit 8 in the recording apparatus. The sheet storage unit 8 places a recording unit C located at the lowest position among the engaged recording units, and has a loading unit (not shown) that engages with the engagement unit 601 of the recording unit. And a sheet 106 discharged from each of the discharge ports 605A, 605B, and 605 of each recording unit fixedly provided in the chassis 802 and having the 801 according to the discharge port of each recording unit. Paper discharge trays 803, 804, 805 serving as sheet storage means
Is provided.

Here, the recording units A, B, and C and the sheet storage unit 8 are positioned by engagement portions (not shown) provided on the loading table 801. A discharge tray 806 is further provided near the discharge tray 805 provided in accordance with the discharge port 605C of the lowermost recording unit C. Each of the discharge trays 805 and 806 includes a discharge tray switching unit 809 including a solenoid 807 and a switching member 808 connected to the solenoid 807, and selectively stores the sheet 106 discharged from the recording unit C. The sheet discharged from the recording unit C is supplied to the control unit 9 of the recording apparatus as needed.
Is stored in the paper discharge tray 805 or the paper discharge tray 806 by the switching means. Here, the switching member 80
Numeral 8 guides the sheet 106 to the normal tray 805.

Each recording unit and sheet storage unit 8
And an electronic device such as a personal computer connected thereto is physically connected in series with a predetermined cable or the like via an interface unit 703 (FIG. 7). For example, first, an electronic device is connected to the recording unit A by the connection cable to the interface unit 703, then the recording unit A and the recording unit B are similarly connected by the interface unit 703, and are connected to the recording unit B and the recording unit C. , Recording unit C and sheet storage unit 8.

A control means 9 (FIG. 5) for controlling the entire recording apparatus cooperates with an MPU 701 provided in each recording unit of the recording apparatus based on recording information from an electronic device such as a personal computer shown in FIG. To control the recording operation, and a discharge tray switching unit 8 of the sheet storage unit 8.
09 (FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the control means 9 is provided in an electronic device connected to the recording device as a part of the recording device.

Next, an operation sequence according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8. First, a plurality of sheets of recording information, which is one sheet of an original created by an electronic device such as a personal computer, will be described. A case where recording is performed on a sheet, that is, so-called copy recording is performed will be described.

First, it is checked whether or not the desired number of recordings is plural (step S101), and in the case of plural recordings, the number of recording units provided in the recording device is checked (step S102). If it is determined in step S102 that the desired number of recordings is plural, the process proceeds to step S103. If the desired number of recordings is larger than the number of recording units provided, all the recordings provided in step S105 are performed. Select to record units.

Here, in step S101, when it is determined that the number of recordings is one and in step S102 that the recording apparatus is provided with one recording unit, and in step S103, the desired number of recordings is If the number is smaller than the number of recording units provided with
In step 4, a predetermined recording unit is selected.

In the case of this example, since three recording units are connected and a plurality of recordings are performed, the processing in step S104 is not performed. Thereafter, the number of recordings in each recording unit is set according to the desired number of recordings and the number of recording units for performing recording (step S106).

For example, when the number of recordings is ten and three recording units are provided as shown in FIG. 6, the number of recordings by recording unit A and recording unit B is three, and recording unit C Is set to four sheets. If the desired number of recordings is two and three recording units are provided, the recording unit A
And the recording unit B is set to one, and the recording unit C is not selected.

After setting the number of recordings to be performed by each recording unit in step S106, recording is performed almost simultaneously by the selected recording unit (S107). Thereafter, the number of recordings set in each recording unit and the number recorded in each recording unit are checked, and the recording operation is performed until the desired number of recordings is recorded in each recording unit (step S108, The sheet 10 recorded and discharged from each recording unit together with S109)
Reference numeral 6 denotes a sheet storage unit provided in the sheet storage unit 8 and stored in each sheet discharge tray.

So far, a case has been described in which so-called copy recording is performed, in which recording is performed on a plurality of sheets from recording information that constitutes a single document. Next, as shown in FIG. A case in which recording including a plurality of continuous pages is performed will be described. FIG. 1 shows the flow of the recording operation in this case.
0.

In the processing operation shown in FIG. 10, step S20 for checking whether or not the desired number of recordings is plural.
1. Step S202 of investigating the number of recording units provided in the recording apparatus, step S20 of comparing the number of recordings with the number of recording units provided in the recording apparatus
3. Step S for selecting a recording unit for performing recording
Steps 204 and S205 are the same as the processing in FIG. 8 described above.

Next, in the case of recording consisting of desired continuous pages, the recording pages to be recorded in each recording unit are allocated and set in accordance with the number of recording units selected for recording and the number of recording pages ( Step S206). Here, the setting of the recording pages in step S206 is performed in consideration of the engagement state of each recording unit that performs recording, and the page order of the recording result by the recording unit selected for recording matches the desired recording page order. Is set.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the desired recording result is 10 pages, which are divided into three recording units A, B,
When recording is performed in C, the recording unit A is set to perform recording of the first page, the second page, and the third page.
The recording unit B is set to record pages 4, 5, and 6, and the recording unit C is set to record pages 7, 8, and 10.

After setting the recording page by each recording unit,
In step S207, the recording information is transmitted to the recording unit and recording is performed. The recording operation is performed in each recording unit until the desired recording is completed.
Reference numeral 06 denotes each of the sheet discharge trays 803 to 806 serving as sheet storage means provided in the sheet storage unit 8 in FIG.
Are stored in the same manner as in the processing flow in FIG.

In the above description, as shown in FIG. 6, the recording units engaged with the recording unit are the same recording units. Is not particularly limited. Also,
The control unit 9 (FIG. 5) of the recording apparatus is provided inside the electronic device. However, the control unit 9 is not limited to the inside of the electronic device. For example, the control unit 9 may be provided inside the recording unit or independently.

The engaging means provided in each recording unit described so far is not limited to the form in the first embodiment, but only needs to be able to engage with another recording unit. Various forms are conceivable.
Another configuration example of the engagement means is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, 606 and 607 are provided as engaging means. A plurality of engaging members 606 are provided in a boss shape on the upper surface of the recording unit to engage with the lower surface of another recording unit. I have. Further, on the lower surface of the recording unit, each engaging portion 607a, 607 is formed in a concave shape.
b, 607c, and 607d are provided. Each of these engaging portions has the shape of another recording unit,
Presenting a concave so as to engage with the same engaging member as 6,
It is provided corresponding to the engagement member 606 of another recording unit.

Here, the engaging portion 607a serves as a reference for the engaging position with respect to the engagement with another recording unit, and the engaging portion 607b is formed in a long hole shape in order to ensure the engagement. I have. 607c and 607d are provided with a dimensional allowance with respect to the engaging members 606 to be engaged with each other. Here, the sheet receiver 101 has holes 10
8. An escape portion 109 is provided so that the sheet receiver can be closed toward the upper surface of the recording unit.

FIG. 1 shows still another example of the structure of the engaging means.
2 is shown. In FIG. 12, 60 is used as each engagement means.
8, 609 are provided. The engaging member 608 is located on the upper surface of the recording unit.
As in the case of the engaging member 601 shown in FIG. 2 described above, is provided in a retractable manner with respect to the case of the recording unit, and when engaged with another recording unit, as shown in FIG. Use it by raising it from the top of the recording unit.

When this engaging means is not necessary, it is folded down and accommodated in the upper surface of the recording unit. Here, the engagement means 608 is urged by a spring member (not shown) provided on the shaft portion and the shaft portion, for example, in a direction protruding about the shaft portion. Further, when the engaging means 608 is folded down and housed, it is locked and housed by the claw portion 608a. An engaging member 609 is provided on the lower surface of the recording unit, and the engaging member 608 is provided on the upper surface of another recording unit.
It is provided in a concave shape so as to engage with.

By configuring the recording apparatus as described above and performing a recording operation, high-speed recording can be easily performed when recording a plurality of sheets. In addition, since each recording unit is configured to be engaged and the recording operation can be performed by each recording unit alone, if necessary, only the recording unit alone is detached from the recording apparatus, and connected to an electronic device, and a general recording unit is connected. Since it can be used as a simple printer, there is an effect that it can cope with various use forms.

In the case where the engaging means is constructed so as to be able to protrude and be accommodated on the bottom surface of the recording unit, the engaging means can be accommodated if necessary when the recording unit is detached from the recording apparatus described so far. Or, it can be used by projecting, and when the engaging means is used by projecting, there is a space between the recording unit and the installation surface of the recording unit,
A recording medium such as a sheet, a spare recording head, a spare ink tank, and the like can be placed in this space, and there is also an effect that the space can be used effectively.

Further, since the recording unit is configured to engage with another recording unit on the upper side and the lower side of the recording unit, there is no significant increase in the installation area. Since the input switch for recording information, the sheet receiver, and the interface unit are provided at a portion that is not involved in engagement with another recording unit, there is an effect that operability is not impaired.

Further, in the case where recording is performed with continuous recording pages, the recording results are discharged in the order of the desired recording pages, so that there is an effect that the user of the recording apparatus is not confused. .

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment different from the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, in the storage unit 8 (FIG. 7) for the discharged sheets, a series of recording operations is performed without controlling the discharge tray switching unit 809. The control unit 9 also controls the switching unit 809 of the discharge tray. Here, as shown in FIG. 13, the recording unit provided in the recording apparatus is not a plurality but a single unit. A case in which recording is performed on one sheet, that is, so-called copy recording is performed will be described.

The flow of the recording operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to the operation sequence flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. First, it is checked whether or not the desired number of recordings is plural (step S301). If the number is plural, the number of recording units provided in the recording apparatus is checked (step S3).
02). If it is determined in step S302 that the recording apparatus has a plurality of recording units, the process proceeds to step S303. If the desired number of recordings is greater than the number of recording units provided, the process proceeds to step S306. Select to record the recording unit. In this embodiment, since the recording apparatus has one recording unit, the processing up to this point is not executed.

In the case of this example, since the number of recording units is one in step S302, the flow shifts to step S304. In step S304, a determination is made as to whether or not to switch each time the sheet discharge tray of the sheet storage unit discharges one sheet.

The switching is determined based on the size of the recording duty recorded on one sheet. That is, when the recording duty for recording is larger than the predetermined recording duty, it is determined that the discharge tray needs to be switched every time one sheet is recorded.

Here, if the recording duty is smaller than the predetermined value, the switching operation is not performed, and the switching flag is not set. If it is determined that switching is necessary, a switching flag is set in step S305. The switching flag is used for determining whether or not to perform switching in a process described below.

Next, a recording unit to be recorded is selected (step S307), and the number of output recordings of the selected recording unit is set (step S308). After that, the recording by the recording unit is started (step S309), and the number of recordings is checked (step S310). Here, the first sheet recorded by the recording unit is discharged to the discharge tray 805 (FIG. 13).

If the recording of the desired number of recordings has not been completed in step S311, the flow shifts to step S312 to check the aforementioned switching flag. If the switching flag is set as in the second embodiment, Then, the solenoid 807 is controlled so as to guide the sheet 106 to the sheet discharge tray 806, and the sheet discharge tray for accommodating the sheet 106 discharged next is switched (step S313).
Thereafter, when printing is performed again on the second sheet in step S309 and printing is performed again on the third sheet, after the switching flag is checked (step S312), the sheet is switched again to the sheet discharge tray 805 (step S313). ).

These operations are performed until the recording of the desired number of recordings is completed. When the recording is completed, the switching flag is reset (step S314), and the series of recording operations is completed.

Next, FIG. 15 schematically shows, as shown in FIG.
A case in which recording including a plurality of continuous pages is performed will be described. FIG. 16 shows a sequence flowchart of the recording operation in this case.

In the processing shown in FIG. 16, step S401 for checking whether or not the desired number of recordings is plural, step S402 for checking the number of recording units provided in the recording apparatus, the number of recordings, and Step S403 for comparing with the number of recording units
And step S4 regarding the discharge tray switching flag
Steps S04 and S405, and steps S406 and S407 for selecting a printing unit for printing are the same as the processing in the flowchart in FIG. 14 described above.

Next, in the case of recording consisting of desired continuous pages,
In order to perform recording, the recording order is set for each recording page to be recorded in the selected recording unit (step S40).
8). Here, the setting of the recording order for the recording pages in step S408 is such that the desired recording page order is maintained when the sheet 106 is discharged to the paper discharge trays 805 and 806 in FIG. .

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically illustrating the setting. For example, if the desired record consists of 1 to 10 consecutive pages, the recording order is 5th page, 10th page, 4th page, 9th page, 3rd page, 8th page, 2nd page The first page, the seventh page, the first page, and finally the sixth page are set.

After the recording pages corresponding to the recording order are set in this way, the first recording page in the recording unit,
Here, the recording of the fifth page is started (step S40).
9). When the first recording is completed, after the switching flag is checked (step S412), the discharge tray is switched (step S413), and the second recording page, here, the tenth page is recorded. By repeating the recording of the recording pages according to the recording order, the recording of the desired continuous recording pages is completed.

In the above description, the number of discharge trays to be switched by the discharge tray switching unit has been described as two. However, if the number of discharge trays is particularly plural, it is particularly limited to only two. Although the switching unit 809 has a configuration using the solenoid 808, the switching unit 809 is not particularly limited thereto.

As described above, since the recording operation is performed, the sheet is prevented from being stained by the unfixed ink, and since there is no need to wait for the fixing of the ink, a high-speed recording can be realized with a simple configuration. Further, in the case where recording is performed with continuous recording pages, the recording results are discharged in the order of the desired recording pages, so that there is an effect that the user of the recording apparatus is not confused.

Embodiment 3 Next, still another embodiment 3 will be described. In the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus includes a printing unit equipped with a monochrome printing head, and a printing unit equipped with a color printing head.
A case in which the third embodiment is applied to the case of performing printing including color printing will be described. FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of the operation sequence. Here, a case will be described in which printing is performed with a plurality of pages including color information.

First, the type of the recording head mounted on each recording unit provided in the recording apparatus is confirmed (step S501). It is checked whether or not there is a recording page containing color information (step S502). If there is a recording page containing color information, a recording page for performing monochrome recording and a recording page for performing color recording next are set. Is recognized (step S503).

A printing page for monochrome printing is set in the printing unit equipped with a monochrome printing head according to the type of printing head in the printing unit confirmed in step S501 (step S504), and a color printing head is mounted. A recording page for performing color recording is set in the recording unit (step S506).

If there is no recording page to be subjected to color recording in step S502, step S503 is not performed, and the recording page is set in the recording unit having the monochrome recording head confirmed in step S501. If only monochrome printing is to be performed, the setting is passed though the setting step S506 for the recording page for color printing. After the setting of the recording unit and the recording page for monochrome recording and color recording is completed, recording in each recording unit is performed (step S507). Thereafter, the number of recordings in each recording unit is checked (step S508), recording is repeated until the desired number of recordings is performed in each recording unit (step S509), and a series of recording operations ends.

By configuring a series of printing operations as described above, when a printing apparatus is configured to include a printing unit equipped with a monochrome printing head or a color printing head, a printing unit that performs monochrome printing can be used. Since the recording unit for performing color recording is set separately, there is an effect that efficient recording can be performed.

(Embodiment 4) Next, in addition to the operations described above, a process for checking an error state of a recording unit provided in a recording apparatus is performed, and a process for performing recording by a selected recording unit (for example, FIG. 1 of the first embodiment.
A configuration performed immediately before step S207 of step S207) can be easily considered.

Here, the error state refers to a state in which there is a trouble in recording, for example, when the ink of the recording head is no longer consumed, when there is no more sheet to be recorded, or when a trouble such as a jam occurs in the conveyance of the sheet. This is the case. In these cases, the recording unit in the error state is not instructed to perform the subsequent recording operation, and the recording unit in another non-error state is recorded.

When the recording operation is configured as described above,
In other words, even if the user of the recording device is not near the recording device or an electronic device connected to the recording device, a series of recordings can be automatically performed, and there is an effect that efficient recording can be performed.

As described above, various embodiments have been described.
In the above description, the recording unit provided in the recording apparatus has been described as the ink jet type, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this type.

[0094]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An effect that high-speed recording can be performed with a relatively simple configuration of the recording apparatus can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view of an inkjet recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a recording unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a recording unit of the recording unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a recording unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of engagement means of a plurality of recording units of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an operation sequence flowchart (part 1) of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a recording operation of a plurality of continuous pages according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an operation sequence flowchart in the case of FIG. 9 of the first embodiment (part 2);

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the engagement means of each recording unit.

FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment of the connecting means.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an operation sequence flowchart according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic explanatory view of a recording operation of a plurality of continuous pages according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an operation sequence flowchart in the case of FIG. 15 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an operation sequence flowchart according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic feeding part 2 Transport part 3 Recording part 4 Panel part 5 Operation part 6 Case part 7 Control part of a recording unit 8 Sheet accommodation unit 101 Sheet receiver 102 Thick plate 103 Axis 104 Spring 105 Separation roller 106 Sheet 107 Guide member 108 Hole Unit 109 escape unit 201 transport roller 202 pinch roller 203 discharge roller 204 spur 205 platen unit 206 transport motor 301 printhead 302 ink tank 303 carriage 304 exchange lever 305 guide shaft 306 timing belt 307 flexible cable 308 carriage motor 401 input switch 601, 602 Engaging member 603 Drain ink tank 604 Power supply unit 605 Drain port 606,607 Engaging member 608,609 of another configuration example Engaging member 701 MPU 7 of another configuration example 2 timer 703 interface unit 704 ROM 705 RAM 706 EEPROM 707 discharge heater driver 708 carriage motor driver 709 transport motor driver 710 paper sensor 801 mounting base 802 chassis 803,804,805,806 paper discharge tray 807 solenoid 808 switching member 809 switching section

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit for performing desired recording on a recording medium such as a sheet; and a recording medium accommodation unit for accommodating the recording medium ejected from the recording unit. Input means for inputting information about, recording means for performing recording on the recording medium, and exchangeably provided, an operation unit for exchanging the recording means, and another upper or lower side of the recording unit. Engaging means for engaging a recording unit, wherein the recording medium storage unit is
It has a plurality of recording accommodation means for accommodating the recording medium discharged at the time of recording, and includes a plurality of the recording units, and a control means for controlling the plurality of recording units and the recording medium accommodation unit at the time of recording. Recording device. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit of the recording unit is provided at a portion that is not involved in engagement of the recording unit with another recording unit. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit of the recording unit is provided at a portion of the operation unit that is not involved in engagement with another recording unit by the engagement unit. apparatus. 4. The recording means of the recording unit has a recording head or a recording material storage portion for storing a recording material consumed at the time of recording, and the recording head or the recording material storage portion is replaceable. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed. 5. The control device of the recording device controls a recording operation by a plurality of recording units included in a preceding recording device or a storing operation by the recording medium storing unit according to a desired number of recordings. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein 6. A control unit of the recording apparatus, wherein when the recording apparatus has a plurality of the recording units and performs recording on a plurality of recording media, recording on each recording medium is performed by the plurality of recording units. 2. The recording unit according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is assigned to each of the units to control a recording operation.
6. The recording device according to any one of 5. 7. The control means of the recording device, wherein when the recording device has one recording unit and performs recording on a plurality of recording media, each recording medium discharged from the recording unit is controlled. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein accommodation is allocated to each of the plurality of recording medium accommodation units, and accommodation operation by the recording medium accommodation unit is controlled. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit of the recording apparatus controls the recording medium housing unit according to a recording duty on the recording medium when performing recording on a plurality of recording media. The recording device according to claim 1. 9. When recording is performed on a plurality of recording media, the control unit of the recording apparatus stores desired recording information according to the recording unit attached to one or more recording units. 6. A recording unit according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit controls the recording operation.
7. The recording device according to any one of 6. 10. When recording is performed on a plurality of recording media, the control unit of the recording apparatus allocates desired recording information to each of the recording units according to the states of the plurality of recording units, and 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording operation by the unit is controlled.