JPH1123323A - Method and apparatus for judgment of suitability of detection by encoder slit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a method and an apparatus in which whether an encoder slit is contaminated or not is detected and in which the damage due to the collision of the encoder slit can be prevented by a method wherein, when the difference between an initial value and a detected value is outside a prescribed range, the reading operation of the encoder slit is judged to be improper. SOLUTION: A position in which a carriage 5 is brought into contact with the end part on the left side of a body frame 2 is used as a reference position, and an initial value 0 is set. Then, the carriage 5 is moved back and forth, a print head 7 performs a printing treatment, the carriage 5 is returned again to the reference position, and a counted value after the printing treatment is detected. At this time, when an encoder slit 18 is contaminated due to the adhesion of dust particles, an ink or the like, an encoder cannot detect the number of slits of the encoder slit 18 precisely. As a result, the counted value generates a deviation, and the initial value does not become 0. Consequently, when the difference between the initial value and a detected value is outside a prescribed range, the reading operation of the encoder slit 18 is judged to be improper. Thereby, when a stuck substance is cleaned, it is possible to prevent the carriages 5 from begin damaged when it exceeds the range of its back-and-forth operating range so as to collide with the body frame 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method for judging whether reading of an encoder slit for recognizing a position of a carriage reciprocally moved is performed properly, and an apparatus for implementing the method. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A carriage equipped with a print head, a scanner head and the like and performing a printing operation and a scanning operation by a reciprocating operation is provided with an encoder for recognizing a current position of the reciprocating carriage. Have been. On the other hand, an encoder slit in which a number of optically readable slits are distributed in the longitudinal direction is provided on the reciprocating path of the carriage so as to face the encoder. Then, according to the reciprocation of the carriage,
The encoder sequentially reads the slits on the encoder slit, generates an encoder signal having a pulse period corresponding to the interval between the slits and the number of pulses corresponding to the number of slits, and receives an up-down counter (こ の) as an input. (Includes software counter by CPU.)
However, the present position of the carriage is recognized by counting the encoder signal.

[0003]

However, during reciprocating operation of the carriage, dust or dirt adheres to the encoder slit, or ink adheres to the encoder slit due to reciprocating operation for printing. The slit on the slit may be dirty. In such a case, the encoder may skip the dirty slit, and the number of slits may not be accurately counted. Therefore, the CPU outputs a printing operation or a scanner operation without recognizing an appropriate position of the carriage, causing a shift in processing, or causing the carriage to operate beyond the reciprocating operation range, and the frame is momentarily urged. There is a danger that it will collide and be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem. It is determined whether or not reading of an encoder slit is performed properly, and the cause of a processing shift is determined. Detecting whether the encoder slit is dirty, or operating the carriage beyond the reciprocating operation range to prevent the frame from colliding and being damaged, and a method for determining whether or not the encoder slit is properly detected, and It is to provide an apparatus for performing the method.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an encoder slit for recognizing a position of a reciprocating carriage is properly read. A method of determining whether or not, in a state where the carriage is at a predetermined reference position, an initial value setting step of setting a preset value as an initial value, after the initial value setting step, A predetermined process operation is performed by the reciprocating operation of the carriage, and a detection step of detecting the count value of the encoder again at the reference position is compared with the initial value and the detection value detected in the detection step. A determination step of determining that reading of the encoder slit is not performed properly when the distance is outside a predetermined range. There.

According to such a method, for example, during the reciprocating operation of the carriage from the initial value setting step to the detecting step, dust or dirt adheres to the encoder slit or prints for printing. If the slits on the encoder slit become dirty due to reciprocation of ink, etc., the encoder skips the dirty slit, so the number of slits is not counted accurately, and the detected value and the initial value are not counted. And a deviation from the above occurs. Therefore, by comparing the initial value and the detected value, it can be easily determined whether the reading of the encoder slit is properly performed, that is, whether the encoder slit is dirty.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for judging whether or not reading of an encoder slit for recognizing a position of a carriage reciprocated is performed properly. In a state where is at least one of a plurality of predetermined reference positions, an initial value setting step of setting a preset value as an initial value, and after the initial value setting step, Performing a predetermined processing operation by reciprocating operation, a detection step of detecting the count value of the encoder at a reference position different from the reference position, comparing the initial value and the detection value detected in the detection step,
A determining step of determining that the reading of the encoder slit is not properly performed when the difference is out of a predetermined range.

According to such a method, even if dust or the like which happens to adhere to the encoder slit is mistaken as a regular encoder slit, it is possible to reliably detect the contamination of the encoder slit. In addition, the invention described in claim 3 is based on claim 1 or 2
Wherein the initial value setting step is performed before a predetermined processing operation by the carriage is performed. By setting an initial value before performing a predetermined processing operation, the initial value can be set in a state where dust, dirt, or ink does not adhere during the reciprocating operation of the carriage.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
In the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the detecting step and the determining step are performed every predetermined processing operation. By periodically performing the detection step and the determination step, it is possible to frequently check whether or not the encoder slit is properly read, that is, whether or not the encoder slit is dirty.

[0010] The invention described in claim 5 is the first invention.
In the invention described in any one of (1) to (4), the carriage is allowed to reciprocate between both side ends of the frame, and the position where the carriage is located at the side end of the frame is referred to as the reference position. It is characterized by that. When the position where the carriage is located at the side end of the frame is set as the reference position, the position where the carriage abuts on the side end of the frame can be set as the reference position, and this abutment position can be easily determined mechanically. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a reciprocating carriage; an encoder slit for recognizing a position of the carriage; and an encoder for reading the encoder slit. In a state where the carriage is at a predetermined reference position, initial value setting means for setting a preset value as an initial value, and after setting the initial value, perform a predetermined processing operation by reciprocating operation of the carriage. ,
Again at the reference position, the detection means for detecting the count value of the encoder, the initial value and the detection value detected by the detection means are compared, and when the difference is outside a predetermined range, the encoder Determining means for determining that the reading of the slit is not properly performed.

By providing such a determination means, for example, during the period from the initial value setting step to the detection step,
During the reciprocating operation of the carriage, if dust or dirt adheres to the encoder slit, or ink adheres due to reciprocating operation for printing, and the slit on the encoder slit becomes dirty, Since the encoder skips the dirty slit, the number of slits is not accurately counted, and a deviation between the detected value and the initial value occurs. Therefore, by comparing the initial value and the detected value, it can be easily determined whether the reading of the encoder slit is properly performed, that is, whether the encoder slit is dirty.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a reciprocating carriage; an encoder slit for recognizing a position of the carriage; and an encoder for reading the encoder slit. In a state where the carriage is at at least one reference position among a plurality of predetermined reference positions,
Initial value setting means for setting a preset value as an initial value, and after setting the initial value, perform a predetermined processing operation by a reciprocating operation of the carriage, and at a reference position different from the reference position, The detection means for detecting the count value, the initial value and the detection value detected by the detection means are compared, and when the difference is out of a predetermined range, reading of the encoder slit is performed properly. And a determination unit that determines that the data is not present.

By providing such a judging means, even if dust or the like which happens to adhere to the encoder slit is mistaken as a regular encoder slit, it is possible to reliably detect the dirt on the encoder slit. it can. The invention according to claim 8 is the same as the claim 6.
Or a print head for performing a printing operation by a reciprocating movement of the carriage is mounted on the carriage.
By mounting the print head on the carriage, good print processing can be performed.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 6.
In the invention described in Item 7, the scanner is characterized in that a scanner head for performing a scanner operation by reciprocating the carriage is mounted on the carriage. By mounting the scanner head on the carriage, good scanner processing can be performed.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printing apparatus to which a method for judging whether or not to detect an encoder slit according to the present invention is applied. This printing apparatus is configured as an inkjet printing apparatus 1 that ejects ink from a print head. In the inkjet printing apparatus 1, a main body frame 3 is disposed in a main body cover 2 indicated by a virtual line, and a platen 4, a carriage driving mechanism 6 for driving a carriage 5, and a An ink ejecting mechanism 9 for ejecting ink from the print head 7 toward the paper 8 is provided.

The platen 4 is rotatably supported at both ends by the main body frame 3, and a platen gear 10 is attached to a left end of the platen 4. Drive from a feed motor 35 (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to the platen gear 10 via a gear train (not shown), whereby the platen 4 is rotated so as to feed the sheet 8 in a predetermined direction.

The carriage 5 is supported by a guide rod 11 on a side closer to the platen 4 and is freely supported by a guide rail 12 on a side farther from the platen 4. The guide rod 11 is supported at both ends by the main body frame 3, and the guide rail 12 is connected to the main body frame 3.
Is part of.

The carriage 5 is fixed to a predetermined portion of an endless belt 13 on the lower surface thereof. The endless belt 13 extends in parallel with the guide rods 11 and the guide rails 12 so that the carriage 5 extends. It is bridged between pulleys 14 and 15 arranged at both ends. One pulley 15 is provided on a drive shaft of a carriage motor 16 composed of, for example, a stepping motor. When the carriage motor 16 is driven, the pulley 25 is rotated, and the carriage 5 is guided through the endless belt 13 to guide the carriage 5. It moves in a desired direction along the rod 11 and the guide rail 12.

Further, a print head 7 is mounted on the carriage 5. The print head 7 changes the volume of an ink chamber (not shown) for accommodating the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 17 with a piezoelectric element or the like, thereby ejecting the ink in the ink chamber from the nozzles toward the paper 8. The ink jet head is configured to perform printing by causing the ink jet head to perform printing. The ink applied to the print head 7 may be a liquid ink from the beginning, or may be a hot-melt type ink obtained by heating and melting solid ink pellets into a liquid ink.

An encoder slit 18 is provided along the reciprocating path of the carriage 5. As shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later,
Optically readable slits are formed, for example, at a density of 600 per inch and distributed in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the carriage 5 reads a slit on the encoder slit 18 and reads an encoder signal corresponding to the speed of the carriage 5, that is, a pulse cycle corresponding to the interval between the slits and the number of pulses corresponding to the number of slits. An encoder 20 (see FIG. 3) that emits an encoder signal is provided. This encoder 20 has, for example, a phase difference of ／ period between two light emitting elements and between two light receiving elements, and a phase difference between pulses output from the two light receiving elements. Moving direction of carriage 5 (forward direction and backward direction)
Is configured to be detected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the ink jet printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG.
The CPU 21 includes a bus 22 such as a data bus or an address bus.
Communication interface 24 for exchanging various data with an external electronic device 23 through the
, An operation panel 27 including an input switch 26, a driving circuit 28 for driving motors for printing, a printing head driving circuit 29 for driving the printing head 7, and an encoder 20. Are connected to various parts such as a timing pulse generation circuit 30 for generating various timings based on signals from the CPU, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a nonvolatile memory (RAM) 34, and a reference sensor 40 provided as needed.

The ROM 32 has a receiving control program for receiving image data and control data from the external electronic device 23, and a feed motor 35 based on the created recording data.
A control head program for driving and controlling the paper feed drive circuit 36, the carriage drive circuit 37 for the carriage motor 16, and the print head drive circuit 29 for the print head 7, a program for controlling display and input to the operation panel 27, and printing of image data. A printing control program for performing control, a program for determining whether or not to detect an encoder slit described later, and the like are recorded.

The RAM 33 stores external electronic equipment 2
A buffer for storing image data and control data received from the printer 3, various memories and buffers for performing print control, and a work as a temporary storage for executing a program for judging whether or not to detect an encoder slit. Area is set. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the drive control system of the carriage 5 in more detail in the control system shown in FIG. 4, the timing pulse generation circuit 30 is configured as a gate array including a print timing generation circuit 38 and an edge detection circuit 39. The edge detection circuit 39 detects an edge of the encoder signal output from the encoder 20, and generates a reference pulse at the detection timing. The print timing generation circuit 38 generates a print timing signal based on the reference pulse output from the edge detection circuit 39.

The CPU 21 includes a print timing generation circuit 3
8 receives the speed data (the count value of the pulse width of the encoder signal) output from the controller 8 and determines the moving speed of the carriage 15, and determines the pulse width of the drive signal to be supplied to the carriage drive circuit 37 for the carriage motor 16. Is performed. The CPU 30 receives the position control pulse (reference pulse) output from the edge detection circuit 39 as an input, and calculates the current position of the carriage 5 (up / down counting operation by software). Then, the carriage drive circuit 37 is sent from the CPU 21.
Is output data for moving the carriage 5 to a desired position at a desired speed.

A print timing signal as a timing pulse output from the print timing generation circuit 38 is input to the print head drive circuit 29. The print head drive circuit 29 generates a print head drive pulse that satisfies the pulse width and voltage conditions necessary to drive the print head 7 based on print data provided by the CPU 21 in accordance with the timing given by the print timing signal. The print head 7 receives the print head drive pulse and ejects ink onto the paper 8 at a desired timing.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the encoder slit 18 and the reference pulse. The reciprocating operation of the carriage 5 will be described in further detail with reference to FIG. First, when the use of the inkjet printing apparatus 1 is started, when the power is turned on, the carriage 5 is slowly moved to the left end of the main body frame 3 and abuts on the left end of the main body frame 3. The contact position is defined as a reference position (home position), and the count value for calculating the position of the carriage 5 in the CPU 21 is reset to 0 at this reference position. Next, when the print head 7 performs a predetermined print processing operation by reciprocating the carriage 5, as shown in FIG.
Move in the forward direction, the encoder 20 sequentially detects the edges of the slit formed on the encoder slit 18, and every time the edge of the slit is detected, the edge detection circuit 39 generates a reference pulse and the CPU 21 And the CPU 21 accumulates and counts this reference pulse. On the other hand, also when the carriage 5 moves in the backward direction, the encoder 20 sequentially detects the edges of the slit formed on the encoder slit 18, and the edge detection circuit 39 is activated every time the edge of the slit is detected. A reference pulse is generated and sent to the CPU 21. At this time, since the encoder 20 recognizes and detects the backward direction based on the phase difference between the pulses output from the two light receiving elements as described above, the CPU 21 subtracts the reference pulse in the backward direction. And count. Therefore, when the carriage 5 is again positioned at the reference position, the count value becomes the same value of 0 as the reset value. In this way,
The carriage 5 counts the number of edges of the slit formed on the encoder slit 18 so that
In the CPU 21, the current position is recognized.

Next, a method for judging the propriety of detection of the encoder slit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for determining whether or not to detect the encoder slit. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to this flowchart. In this method of determining whether or not the encoder slit is appropriate, first, in the initial value setting step, the carriage 5
Is set at a predetermined reference position, a preset value is set as an initial value. This initial value setting step may be performed after the end of the predetermined print processing operation and before the next print operation, but is preferably performed when the power supply for starting use is turned on. If the initial value is set before performing the print processing operation, the initial value can be set in a state where there is no dust, dirt, or ink adhered during the reciprocating operation of the carriage 5, and an appropriate initial value can be set. Can be set, and an accurate processing operation can be secured. As described above, the initial value is set by moving the carriage 5 to the left end of the main body frame 3 (S1).
The position in contact with the left end of the carriage 21 is defined as a reference position (home position). At this reference position, the count value for calculating the position of the carriage 5 in the CPU 21 is set to 0.
, That is, by setting 0 as an initial value (S2). The carriage 5 is the main body frame 3
Assuming that the position abutting on the side end of the carriage 5 is the reference position, the abutment position is such that the carriage motor 16 is driven for more than the time necessary for the carriage 5 to move to the reference position regardless of the position. Or move the carriage 5 slowly toward the reference position,
When the change in the encoder signal is no longer observed, it is recognized that the carriage 5 has reached the side end,
Alternatively, by providing a contact switch or the like at the left end of the main body frame 3, the detection can be easily performed. Therefore, the reference position can be set easily, accurately, and reliably, and the accuracy of the determination can be improved.

After the initial value setting step, a predetermined print processing operation of the print head 7 is performed by the reciprocating operation of the carriage 5 (S3), and thereafter, a detection step is started (S4). In this detection step, after the carriage 5 is again positioned at a position where it comes into contact with the left end of the main body frame 3 (S5), a count value after a predetermined printing processing operation is performed is detected (S6). .

The detected count value is determined if the encoder 20 accurately reads the number of slits (the number of edges) of the encoder slit 18 during the reciprocating operation of the carriage 5 between the initial value setting step and the detecting step. , The same value as the initial value, that is, 0. On the other hand, for example,
Encoder slit 18 adheres to dust and dirt,
Alternatively, in the case where the slit is dirty due to ink adhesion or the like, the encoder 20 may not be able to accurately detect the edge of the slit and may skip the dirty slit. In this case, if the reading is skipped in both the forward direction and the backward direction of the carriage 5, the count value is canceled, and the count value does not shift in the reciprocating operation. Does not adhere, and therefore, the count value is shifted in either the forward direction or the backward direction,
When the carriage 5 is again located at the reference position, the value does not become 0, which is the same as the initial value.

In the determining step, the initial value and the detected value are compared, and if the difference is out of the predetermined range, it is determined that the reading of the encoder slit 18 is not properly performed (S7). In this determination step, for example, a value at which the displacement of the carriage 5 is 2 mm is input as a predetermined value, and the absolute value of the value obtained by subtracting the detection value from the initial value is smaller than this input value. Makes the determination that the reading of the encoder slit 18 is performed properly, and continues the print processing operation. When the input value is larger than this input value, the reading of the encoder slit 18 is performed properly. It is determined that the encoder slit 18 is not present, and an alarm or the like is displayed on the display unit 25 to notify the user that the encoder slit 18 is dirty (S8).

In such a method for judging whether or not the encoder slit is properly detected, the initial value and the detected value are compared to determine whether or not the reading of the encoder slit 18 is easily performed properly, ie, whether the encoder slit 18 is properly read. It is possible to judge whether or not is dirty, so if the print output is shifted, it is possible to inform the user that the cause is dirt on the encoder slit, and the user cleans the encoder slit. For example, it is possible to take measures to immediately restore the normal state. Also, by notifying the user of the dirt on the encoder slit and always operating in a normal state, the carriage 5 operates beyond the reciprocating operation range due to an error in reading of the encoder. It is possible to prevent the collision with the main body frame 3 and damage in advance.

The detecting step and the judging step may be appropriately performed by an input from the input switch 26 by a user.
It is preferable that the printing operation is performed periodically, for example, every time printing is performed on 00 sheets, every set time, for example, every two hours, or every time the maintenance processing of the print head 7 is performed regularly. By periodically performing the detection step and the determination step, it is possible to frequently check whether or not the encoder slit 18 is properly read, that is, whether or not the encoder slit 18 is dirty. Normal operation can always be ensured.

Further, in the initial value setting step, when 0 is set as an initial value at the reference position, the distance between both side ends of the main body frame 3 is determined. Is determined, it is inevitably determined how much the right end becomes. (In FIG. 2, for example, the right end is 1
It is set to be 800. Therefore, in the detection step, not only is the count value detected at the reference position at the left end portion detected, but also the carriage 5 is slowly moved to abut on the right end portion of the main body frame 3 to make contact therewith. The count value detected at the reference position of the right end in addition to the determination at the reference position of the left end in the determination step, the count value detected at the reference position of the right end is also determined in advance in the determination step. It may be compared with the determined value of the right end to determine whether the difference is within a predetermined range. As described above, the count value is detected at both end portions of the main body frame 3 and is compared with the initial value and the predetermined value, respectively, so that the judgment can be made with higher accuracy than when the judgment is made only at the left end portion. , The carriage 5 can be operated more accurately. In the initial value setting step, 0 is set as an initial value at the reference position at the left end of the main body frame 3, and in the detection step, the count value of the encoder 20 is detected only at the reference position at the right end. Is also good. According to this method, even if the dirt on the encoder slit is a dirt that may be mistaken for a regular slit, the dirt can be reliably detected. Further, a position in contact with the right end of the main body frame 3 may be set as a reference position at which an initial value is set.

FIG. 6 shows the encoder slit 18 when the reference position is provided in the middle of the reciprocating operation of the carriage 5.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the reference pulse and the reference pulse. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the center position of the print area of the print head 7 (the area where “1000” is set as the count value of the encoder) is set as the reference position. That is, a reference sensor 40 for detecting that the carriage 5 has passed the center position of the print area is provided, and when the detection signal is output from the reference sensor 40, the count value of the encoder is set to "100".
It is set to "0", and thereafter, the up / down counting operation is performed based on the set value. As shown in FIG. 6, the reference position may be any position on the encoder slit 18 as long as it can be detected and determined by a sensor or the like, and its set value is arbitrary.

In the present embodiment, the ink jet printing apparatus 1 in which the print head 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 has been described as an example. In an image reading apparatus for reading by a scanner, the present invention can be similarly applied to a carriage on which a scanner head is mounted.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is easily determined whether or not the reading of the encoder slit is properly performed, that is, whether or not the encoder slit is dirty. So you can
If processing such as printing output is off, the user can be informed that the cause is dirt on the encoder slit, and the user can recover the normal state immediately by cleaning the encoder slit, etc. Can be dealt with. Also, by notifying the user of the dirt on the encoder slit and always operating in a normal state, the carriage operates beyond the reciprocating operation range due to an error in reading of the encoder, and the frame is moved. It is possible to prevent the vehicle from being damaged by colliding with the vehicle.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, even if dust attached to the encoder slit is mistaken as a normal encoder slit, Dirt on the encoder slit can be reliably detected. According to the third aspect of the present invention, during the reciprocating operation of the carriage,
With no dust, dirt, or ink adhesion, you can set the initial value, and you can set an appropriate initial value.
Appropriate processing operation can be ensured.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to frequently check whether or not the encoder slit is dirty, so that normal operation of the carriage can always be ensured. According to the invention described in claim 5,
Since the position where the carriage abuts on the side end of the frame can be used as the reference position, this abutment position can be easily determined mechanically or electrically. Therefore, the reference position can be set easily, accurately and reliably, and the accuracy of the determination can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether reading of the encoder slit is properly performed, that is, whether the encoder slit is dirty. If processing such as printing output is off, the user can be informed that the cause is dirt on the encoder slit, and the user can recover the normal state immediately by cleaning the encoder slit, etc. Can be dealt with. Also, by notifying the user of the dirt on the encoder slit and always operating in a normal state, the carriage operates beyond the reciprocating operation range due to an error in reading of the encoder, and the frame is moved. It is possible to prevent the vehicle from being damaged by colliding with the vehicle.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the sixth aspect, even when dust attached to the encoder slit is mistaken as a normal encoder slit, Dirt on the encoder slit can be reliably detected. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, by mounting the print head on the carriage, it is possible to perform good print processing, and it can be suitably used as a printing device such as a printer.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, by mounting a scanner head on a carriage, it is possible to perform good scanner processing, and it can be suitably used as an information processing apparatus such as an image scanner. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printing apparatus to which an encoder slit detection suitability determination method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an encoder slit and a reference pulse.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the ink jet printing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a drive control system of a carriage in the control system shown in FIG. 3 in further detail;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for determining whether or not to detect an encoder slit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an encoder slit and a reference pulse when a reference position is provided during a reciprocating operation of the carriage.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Body frame 5 Carriage 7 Print head 18 Encoder slit 20 Encoder

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for judging whether reading of an encoder slit for recognizing a position of a reciprocating carriage is performed properly or not, wherein the carriage is at a predetermined reference position. In the state, an initial value setting step of setting a preset value as an initial value, and after the initial value setting step, a predetermined processing operation is performed by a reciprocating operation of the carriage, and the count value of the encoder at the reference position again. And detecting the encoder slit is not performed properly when the difference between the initial value and the detection value detected in the detection step is outside a predetermined range. A determination step of determining whether or not to read the encoder slit. 2. A method for determining whether reading of an encoder slit for recognizing a position of a reciprocating carriage is performed properly, wherein the carriage is provided with a plurality of predetermined reference positions. An initial value setting step of setting a preset value as an initial value in a state in which at least one of the reference positions is set; and performing a predetermined processing operation by a reciprocating operation of the carriage after the initial value setting step. A detection step of detecting a count value of an encoder at a reference position different from the reference position, and comparing the initial value with the detection value detected in the detection step, and when the difference is outside a predetermined range. A determining step of determining that reading of the encoder slit is not properly performed. A method for judging whether or not a slit is read. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial value setting step is performed before a predetermined processing operation by the carriage is performed. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting step and said determining step are performed for each predetermined processing operation. 5. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is allowed to reciprocate between both side ends of the frame, and a position where the carriage is located at a side end of the frame is set as the reference position. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the readability of the encoder slit is determined. 6. An apparatus comprising: a reciprocating carriage; an encoder slit for recognizing a position of the carriage; and an encoder for reading the encoder slit, wherein the carriage is moved to a predetermined reference position. In a certain state, an initial value setting means for setting a preset value as an initial value, and after setting the initial value, perform a predetermined processing operation by a reciprocating operation of the carriage, and again at the reference position, Detecting means for detecting a count value; comparing the initial value with the detection value detected by the detecting means; when the difference is out of a predetermined range, reading of the encoder slit is performed properly. A determination unit that determines that the device has not been detected. 7. An apparatus comprising: a reciprocating carriage; an encoder slit for recognizing a position of the carriage; and an encoder for reading the encoder slit, wherein the carriage has a plurality of predetermined standards. Initial value setting means for setting a preset value as an initial value in a state where the reference position is at least one of the positions; and after setting the initial value, performing a predetermined processing operation by a reciprocating operation of the carriage. Performing, at a reference position different from the reference position, detection means for detecting the count value of the encoder, and comparing the initial value and the detection value detected by the detection means, and the difference is out of a predetermined range. At one time, determining means for determining that reading of the encoder slit is not performed properly. An apparatus, comprising: 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a print head for performing a printing operation by reciprocating the carriage is mounted on the carriage. 9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a scanner head for performing a scanner operation by reciprocating the carriage is mounted on the carriage.