JPH11192763A - Recording device and recording mode setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable easy and unerring entry of various set items in a recording device. SOLUTION: In an ink jet printer 1 with a replaceable scanner head for reading a paper, the scanner head 8 is caused to read a basic setting item, an emulation item, a printing control item or the like which is set and the change detalis of these image and the setting and the changing of an incorporated RAM are performed. The paper from which the scanner head 8 is caused to read data (controller setting sheet) to be used is a recorded sheet of such a format as mark sheet, bar code, dot array or color patch array. This controller setting sheet to be used is not only of such a type as to have data printed out of an ink jet printer but also of such a type as to have data already printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording mode setting method.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a recording head and a scanner head mounted simultaneously or selectively, and a recording mode setting method thereof.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventionally known recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, various switches provided inside and outside the apparatus main body for setting basic setting items, emulation items, print control items, and the like of the printer. , A user operates a dip switch or an operation panel. Further, in order to set these various items, control information is also input via a personal computer connected to an ink jet printer or the like.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus has the following problems.

(A) In order to allow the user to make the above-described various settings, the number of switches attached to the recording apparatus increases.

(B) The procedure for setting is difficult for the user.

(C) Since switches and panels attached to the recording apparatus must be added, the production cost is increased.

(D) When various settings must be made from a personal computer, setting is impossible even if only a recording device is prepared, so that there is an inconvenience that the user is inconvenient.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus and a recording mode setting method that enable various setting items for the recording apparatus to be easily and accurately input.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus in which a recording head and a scanner head are mounted simultaneously or selectively. A reading unit that reads the recorded printer control sheet using the scanner head; and a control unit that sets an operation mode of the recording apparatus based on information described in the printer control sheet. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the control means newly sets or changes a user setting item based on information described in the printer control sheet.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the control means inputs control items specified by a printer driver based on information described in the printer control sheet.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the control means stores a basic setting item, an emulation item, and a print control item of the recording apparatus on the basis of information described in the printer control sheet. Built-in R
Store in AM.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the scanner head has a detachable form in place of the recording head.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a dip switch mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus is further provided, and the control means includes a printer control sheet. The dip switch setting is controlled based on the information described in (1).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the printer control sheet is a sheet previously printed using the recording head.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in claim 1, the printer control sheet is a sheet that has been printed in advance by a printer other than the printer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh and eighth aspects, the printer control sheet is printed in a mark sheet format in which required items are filled.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh and eighth aspects, required items of the printer control paper are printed in advance in a barcode format. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh and eighth aspects, the printer control paper is preliminarily printed in a dot array format in required items. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh and eighth aspects, the printer control paper is printed in advance in a form in which required items are arranged with color patches.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the recording head is an ink jet head that performs recording by discharging ink.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the recording head is an ink jet head that discharges ink by using thermal energy and generates thermal energy to be applied to the ink. It has the element which does.

A recording mode setting method according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a recording mode setting method for a recording apparatus having a recording head and a scanner head mounted simultaneously or selectively. A reading step of reading by using the scanner head; and a control step of setting an operation mode of the printing apparatus based on information described on the printer control paper.

According to the invention of claim 16, in claim 15
In the control step, new setting or change of a user setting item is performed based on information described on the printer control sheet.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention,
In the control step, control items specified by a printer driver are input based on information described on the printer control paper.

According to the eighteenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect,
In the control step, basic setting items, emulation items, and printing control items of the recording apparatus are stored in a RAM built in the printer based on information described on the printer control paper.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the fifteenth aspect is provided.
In any one of the above items 18 to 18, the scanner head has a detachable form in place of the recording head.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention,
In any one of the items (19) to (19), when there is a dip switch mounted on the recording apparatus main body, the control means controls the setting of the dip switch based on information described on the printer control sheet.

According to the twenty-first aspect, in the fifteenth aspect,
In the above, the printer control sheet is a sheet printed in advance using the recording head.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the fifteenth aspect,
In the above, the printer control sheet is a sheet printed in advance by a printer other than the printer.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention,
In any one of the paragraphs 22 and 22, the printer control paper is printed in a mark sheet format in which required items are filled.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-first aspect,
In any one of paragraphs 22 and 22, the printer control paper is pre-printed with required items in a barcode format.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-first aspect,
In any one of paragraphs 22 and 22, the printer control paper is preprinted with required items in a dot array format.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-first aspect,
In any one of paragraphs 22 and 22, the printer control paper is printed in advance in a form in which required items are arranged in color patches.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect, in the fifteenth aspect,
27. In any one of Items 26 to 26, the recording head is an inkjet head that performs recording by discharging ink.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect, in the fifteenth aspect,
(27) In any one of (1) to (27), the recording head is an ink jet head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and has an element that generates thermal energy to be applied to the ink.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiments described in detail below,
An inkjet printer equipped with a replaceable scanner head for reading paper is cited, and the settings and changes of basic setting items, emulation items, print control items, etc. are read from the scanner head, and the internal RAM settings and
To make changes.

Further, a sheet to be read by the above-mentioned scanner head (hereinafter, referred to as a controller setting sheet)
For example, a recorded sheet in a mark sheet format, a bar code format, a dot array format, or a color patch array format is used. The controller setting sheet is not limited to a sheet printed out from the inkjet printer, but may be a sheet printed in advance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. It should be noted that only the portions relevant to the present embodiment are shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a printer main body, 2 is a power switch, 3 is a number-of-presses detection circuit for detecting how many times the power switch 2 is continuously pressed down, 4 is a printing mechanism, and 5 is a detailed description later. ROM (read-only memory) storing image information for printing out the controller setting sheet (see FIGS. 3 to 6) described below, 6 a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire printer, 6A a work memory, Reference numeral 7 denotes a detachable ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage (not shown) for discharging ink, 8 denotes a scanner head that can be mounted instead of the recording head, and 9 denotes a reading circuit.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of the ink jet printer, and the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a recording sheet, and reference numeral 30 denotes a controller setting sheet. Details of the controller setting sheet 30 are shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ink jet printer. FIG. 3A shows the output processing procedure of the controller setting sheet 30 by the recording head 7. FIG. 2B shows a procedure of processing for reading the controller setting sheet 30 by the scanner head 8.

Next, the operation of the ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the recording head 7 is mounted on a carriage (not shown), and when the power switch 2 is pressed once,
It will be in a state of operating as a normal printer (step S
1, Step S2, Step S3). Next, the power switch 2 is continuously turned N times (for example, three times: N = 2, 3, 4).
..) When pressed, the controller setting sheet 30 is automatically printed out according to the contents stored in the output read-only memory 5 (steps S1, S2, S4).

This controller setting sheet 30
As shown in FIG. 3, a list of controller settings to be set in the RAM 6A built in the control unit 6 of the ink jet printer is printed in a mark sheet format. The items to be set here include, for example, basic setting items of the printer which are conventionally set by the DIP switch, and emulation items supported by the printer.

The user uses a pencil or the like to mark (fill) the corresponding portion of the control setting sheet 30 shown in FIG.

Next, the recording head 7 is removed from the ink jet printer, and a scanner head 8 for reading paper is mounted. In this state, the controller setting sheet 30 is fed to the inkjet printer and read by the scanner head 8 (step S7). Thereby, the various setting items of the built-in RAM 6A are rewritten (step S8).

The controller setting sheet 3
It is also possible to perform a partial correction in the RAM by marking only a portion of the setting items described in 0 where a setting change is desired. That is, the necessary circles among the items shown in FIG. 3 may be painted with a pencil or the like, and then read by the scanner head 8.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 shows a controller setting sheet 40 in another format. This controller setting sheet 40 differs from that of FIG. 3 in that it is described in a barcode format.
Therefore, it is necessary to store barcode information in the output read-only memory 5 (FIG. 1). It is also possible to print this controller setting sheet 40 in advance by another printer.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 shows a controller setting sheet 50 in another format. This controller setting sheet 50 has dots (dots).
It differs from that of FIG. 4 in that it is described in the form of an array. Therefore, it is necessary to store the dot arrangement information in the output read-only memory 5 (FIG. 1). It is also possible to print this controller setting sheet 50 in advance by another printer.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 6 shows a controller setting sheet 60 in another format. In the figure, each color patch indicated by A1 to A6, B1 to B6, C1 to C6,... Has a predetermined unique color. That is, in the present embodiment, each setting item is specified by a combination of colors.

As described above, since the controller setting sheet 60 is described in the arrangement format of the color patches, it is different from those of FIGS. 3 to 5 so that the output read-only memory 5 (FIG. It is necessary to store patch arrangement information. It is also possible to print the controller setting sheet 60 in advance by another printer.

(Other Embodiments) In addition to basic setting items of an ink-jet printer, emulator items supported by a printer, and the like, control items (eg, printer driver settings) conventionally set from a computer. These control items can be printed on a controller setting sheet and read by the scanner head 8. Examples of items that can be set include paper size, print resolution, print mode,
There are dithering settings, media types, color print correction, etc.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention has a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body and the ink from the apparatus main body are attached to the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

It is preferable to add ejection recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, for example, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state where it is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also for a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, various setting items for the recording apparatus can be easily and definitely input.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an inkjet printer to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the ink jet printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a controller setting sheet (mark sheet format) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a controller setting sheet (barcode format) according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a controller setting sheet (dot array format) according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a controller setting sheet (color patch array format) according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the inkjet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Power switch 3 Pressing number detection circuit 4 Printing mechanism 5 Output ROM (read-only memory) 6 Control unit 6A RAM 7 Recording head 8 Scanner head

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A recording device having a recording head and a scanner head mounted thereon simultaneously or selectively, wherein a reading means for reading a printer control sheet recorded in advance by using the scanner head, and the printer control sheet. A control unit for setting an operation mode of the recording apparatus based on the information. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit newly sets or changes a user setting item based on information described on the printer control sheet. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit inputs control items specified by a printer driver based on information described on the printer control sheet. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the control means stores a basic setting item, an emulation item, and a print control item of the printing apparatus based on information described in the printer control sheet.
A recording device, wherein the recording device is stored in M. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner head has a detachable form in place of the recording head. 6. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a dip switch mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the information written on the printer control sheet. A recording apparatus for controlling the setting of the dip switch based on the information. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer control sheet is a sheet that is printed in advance using the recording head. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer control sheet is a sheet printed in advance by a printer other than the printer. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the printer control paper is printed in a mark sheet format in which required items are painted. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein required items of the printer control paper are printed in a barcode format in advance. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein required items of the printer control paper are printed in a dot array format in advance. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the printer control paper is printed in advance in a format in which required items are arranged with color patches. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet head that performs recording by discharging ink. 14. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and has an element that generates thermal energy to be applied to the ink. A recording device characterized by the above-mentioned. 15. A method for setting a recording mode of a recording apparatus in which a recording head and a scanner head are simultaneously or selectively mounted, the method comprising: reading a pre-recorded printer control sheet using the scanner head; And a control step of setting an operation mode of the printing apparatus based on information described on a printer control sheet. 16. The recording mode setting method according to claim 15, wherein the control step performs a new setting or change of a user setting item based on information described on the printer control sheet. 17. The recording mode setting method according to claim 15, wherein the control step includes inputting control items specified by a printer driver based on information described on the printer control sheet. 18. The recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control step includes: setting basic setting items of the recording apparatus based on information described on the printer control sheet.
A recording mode setting method characterized by storing emulation items and print control items in a RAM built in the printer. 19. The recording mode setting method according to claim 15, wherein the scanner head has a detachable form in place of the recording head. 20. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein when there is a dip switch attached to the main body of the recording apparatus, the control unit performs the processing based on information described on the printer control sheet. Controlling the setting of the DIP switch by using the recording mode setting method. 21. The recording mode setting method according to claim 15, wherein the printer control sheet is a sheet previously printed using the recording head. 22. The recording mode setting method according to claim 15, wherein the printer control paper is a paper previously printed by a printer other than the printer. 23. The recording mode setting method according to claim 21, wherein the printer control paper is printed in a mark sheet format in which required items are painted out. 24. The recording mode setting method according to claim 21, wherein required items of the printer control paper are printed in a barcode format in advance. 25. The recording mode setting method according to claim 21, wherein required items of the printer control paper are printed in a dot array format in advance. 26. A recording mode setting method according to claim 21, wherein the required items are printed in advance in a format in which color patches are arranged on the printer control paper. 27. The print mode setting method according to claim 15, wherein the print head is an ink jet head that performs printing by discharging ink. 28. The recording head according to claim 15, wherein the recording head is an inkjet head that discharges ink by using thermal energy, and has an element that generates thermal energy to be applied to the ink. A recording mode setting method characterized by the following.