JPH1158712A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print an image of high quality on a disk-like recording medium with high productivity by calculating a recording medium position on a support means from detection information of a recording medium size, and controlling a recording means based on recording medium position calculating information. SOLUTION: Serial type ink jet recording heads 5 are provided as recording means at a predetermined interval on a surface of a conveying belt 1. A CCD sensor 8 as a lengthy detecting means is arranged along a moving direction of a carriage C at an upstream position from the heads 5 in a conveying direction. A pair of parallel marking lines 9, 10 are executed at a distance decided with a size of a recording medium 11 as a reference along a lengthwise direction on a surface of the belt 1. A profile of the medium 11 is photographed by the sensor 8 and detected. The medium 11 is recorded by the heads 5 under the control based on X and Y direction information of placing position calculating information. Thus, a suitable image recording is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on the surface of a rigid recording medium such as a compact disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a recording medium such as a compact disk has rigidity and hardly any flexibility. Therefore, as a means for recording an image such as a label on the surface of such a rigid recording medium, a printing method such as screen printing or offset printing has been conventionally used.

[0003] However, in such a conventional printing method, it is necessary to prepare a screen plate or an offset plate for each color used in the original image to be printed. For this reason, as the number of original images increases, the number of screen plates and offset plates increases, and it is necessary to attach these multiple plates to a printing apparatus while performing fine alignment. Further, while the number of colors is limited due to the configuration of the printing apparatus, it is necessary to newly prepare ink of a color corresponding to the required color.

[0004] Therefore, a screen version or an offset version is required as an expense, and it takes days to produce.
In particular, the preparation process before starting printing is troublesome. For this reason, when printing a lot with a small number of prints, there is also a disadvantage that the printing cost per recording medium is relatively high.

[0005] Further, after the printing is completed, it takes time and effort to wash the ink and to treat the waste liquid, and special treatment facilities are required. In addition, since the size of the device increases in proportion to the number of plates to be used, an installation space for a large device is required, and when storing a printed plate for reprinting or the like, It also needed space for plate storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus capable of printing a high-quality image on a disk-shaped recording medium and printing with high productivity.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image recording apparatus for recording an image using a recording means for directly performing a recording operation on a recording surface of a recording medium. An apparatus, comprising: support means for supporting the recording medium; detection means for detecting a size of the recording medium on the support means; and a position of the recording medium on the support means from information detected by the detection means. And control means for controlling the recording means based on the calculation information.

Here, the supporting means may be conveying means for moving the recording medium in a plane, and the recording means may be arranged downstream of the detecting means in the conveying direction of the conveying means. Good.

[0009] The recording means may be movable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying means, and the recording means may be an ink jet recording means.

Here, the ink jet recording means may have a thermal energy generator for generating energy used for discharging the ink, and the thermal energy generator causes film boiling in the ink. It may be an electrothermal converter that generates heat energy to be applied.

[0011] The recording medium may be a disk, which may be a compact disk.

The control means may control a recording start position on the recording medium based on the calculation information, or may control a width of a recording area on the recording medium based on the calculation information. Good.

[0013] The detecting means may read display information on the recording medium, or may read an image formed on the recording medium.

In the present invention, the mounting position of the recording medium is detected by detecting the mounting position of the disk-shaped recording medium on the transporting means as the supporting means and controlling the position of the recording means in accordance with the detected information. Regardless, the recording position of the image on the recording medium can be determined, so that the image recording can be accurately performed at a predetermined position, and a plurality of image recordings can be performed stably and uniformly without variation. .
Therefore, even when the recording medium is placed, it is not necessary to place the recording medium accurately, a simple placing means may be used, and even if the recording position is slightly shifted, the recording medium may be placed over the recording medium and recorded. There is no inconvenience such as soiling the part.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

The image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is connected to a CPU serving as control means, which will be described later.
An image recording apparatus that transfers image recording data created in a PU to perform image recording may be mentioned. In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, for example, a recorded image is read like a copying machine, and then the image is recorded. Things shall be included. In addition, the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shows a basic type of conveying means and recording means having no means for automatically supplying and discharging a recording medium.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an endless transport belt. The transport belt 1 is stretched and held by a driving roller 2 and a driven roller 3 disposed inside the transport belt. The belt surface of the transport belt 1 constitutes support means for supporting a disk-shaped recording medium described later, and the entire transport belt 1 constitutes transport means for moving the recording medium linearly.

The driving roller 2 is roughly composed of a metal shaft portion and a rubber coating portion having a high friction coefficient provided on the surface thereof, and the driven roller 3 is entirely formed of metal. . The drive roller 2 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A by a drive motor 4 provided on the shaft thereof, and frictionally drives the transport belt 1. As the drive motor 4, for example, a type such as a stepping motor that can drive and follow the belt 1 stably is used. The driven roller 3 is held while being displaced by stretching means (not shown) in the direction in which the transport belt 1 is stretched, and is driven to rotate in synchronization with the movement of the transport belt 1. In the present embodiment, the transport belt 1 is formed of a relatively hard rubber material so that the transport belt 1 is driven integrally by the frictional force of the drive roller 2, and the expansion and contraction of the transport belt 1 due to the driving force is suppressed. doing. Therefore, as long as the expansion and contraction of the transport belt 1 due to the driving force can be suppressed, there is no problem even if the transport belt 1 is formed of another material such as a metal or a resin film.

On the surface of the conveyor belt 1, a so-called serial type ink jet recording head 5 as recording means is provided at regular intervals. The ink ejection surface of the inkjet recording head 5 and the surface of the recording medium placed on the surface of the conveyor belt 1 face each other, and the separation distance is set in advance. Although not shown, a plurality of nozzles constituting a part of the ink ejection surface of the inkjet recording head 5 are arranged with a predetermined length along the transport direction of the transport belt 1. The inkjet recording head 5 includes:
It is mounted on a carriage C slidably supported by a pair of parallel shafts 6 and 7 arranged along a direction of an arrow B perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying belt 1. The carriage C is driven by driving means (not shown) and can reciprocate between both ends of the parallel shafts 6 and 7.

Further, at a position upstream of the position of the ink jet recording head 5 in the transport direction, a charge coupled device (CCD) as a long detecting means along the moving direction of the carriage C on which the head 5 is mounted.
ice) A sensor 8 is provided. A pair of parallel marking lines 9 and 10 are provided on the surface of the conveyor belt 1 along its length. The distance between the marking lines 9 and 10 is determined based on the size of the recording medium placed on the surface of the conveyor belt 1. For example, if the recording medium 11 is a disk like a compact disk (hereinafter, referred to as a CD), the recording medium 11 is determined to match the diameter. The length of the CCD sensor 8 is set to a sufficient length to cover the space between the marking lines 9 and 10, and the position of the CCD sensor 8 is set to be substantially the center of the width of the conveyor belt 1 in the width direction. In this case, the operator can easily place the CD 11 as a recording medium using the marking lines 9 and 10 on the conveyor belt 1 as a guide, and even if the CCD sensor 8 is slightly deviated from the marking lines 9 and 10.
Can detect the displacement of the CD 11.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the CD 11 has a circular shape of, for example, 120 mm and is mounted on a compact disc player (not shown) of about 15 mm.
At the center thereof. Around the through hole 12H of the CD 11, there are a lead-in area 12RI in which a tune of recorded audio information or its address is recorded, a program information recording area 12RA in which audio information is recorded, and a lead-out area 12RO. Is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the lead-in area 12RI and the program information recording area 12RA are formed by a writing light beam modulated based on a reproduced audio signal to be recorded. Pit 1 to be formed
2pi includes a substrate portion 2B spirally arranged on one surface portion and a protective film 2F covering one surface portion of the substrate portion 2B.

For example, each pit 12pi in the substrate portion 2B made of a transparent polycarbonate resin has, for example, a width of 0.5 μm, a length of 0.9 to 3.3 μm, and a depth of 0.
1 μm. On the bottom of each pit 12pi,
A reflection film 12rf made of an aluminum alloy is provided.

In addition, the periphery of the through hole 12H is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), a bar code 2BC representing the content of image data to be printed on the label unit 2PA is formed.

Further, in the portion of the protective film 2F facing the lead-in area 12RI and the program information recording area 12RA of the substrate portion 2B, the contents of the music recorded in the program information recording area 12RA, the production company, etc.
Also, a label section 2PA that is printed with a graphic is provided.

Next, the CD 1 mounted on the conveyor belt 1
FIGS. 3A and 3B show the relationship between 1 and the CCD sensor 8.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The length of the CCD sensor 8 along the width direction of the conveyor belt 1 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is longer than the diameter of the CD 11, for example, set to about 140 mm. In this case, the CD 11 is
The outer shape of the CD 11 and the label portion 12PA can be photographed and detected by the CCD sensor 8 even when the CD 11 is not arranged between the upper marking lines 9 and 10 and is slightly offset in one direction. Also in this case, the position and outer shape of the CD 11 conveyed by the conveyor belt 1 can be photographed and detected.

The CC along the width direction of the conveyor belt 1
The length of the D sensor 8 is, as shown in FIG.
It may be shorter than the diameter of D11, for example, set to about 70 mm. In this case, a through hole 12H having a diameter of 15 mm
The bar code 12BC and a part of the label portion 12PA provided on the periphery thereof can be photographed by the CCD sensor 8. Thus, the position of the CD 11 conveyed by the conveyor belt 1 and the barcode 12BC can be photographed and detected.

Next, the recording operation in the present embodiment will be described. In order to facilitate the explanation of the operation, the CD
The calculation information of the mounting position of No. 11 will be described separately into X direction information which is information on the transport direction of the CD 11 and Y direction information which is information on a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

First, in order to start recording by the ink jet recording head 5, a signal for stopping the transport belt 1 is generated by timer means based on the Y direction information. CD11
Stops at the printing start position by the inkjet recording head 5 by the transport stop signal. Here, the ink jet recording head 5 starts the forward movement along the axes 6 and 7 to perform printing, and the printing start signal determines the printing start position based on the X direction information.
During the scanning such as forward movement or backward movement, printing is started when the position is reached. At this time, an image signal of a predetermined band width corresponding to the print width of the ink jet recording head 5 is sent from a CPU (not shown), and recording of a predetermined width is performed.

Next, after the ink jet recording head 5 completes the forward movement, the drive roller 2 is driven to rotate, conveys the CD 11 by the predetermined width, and performs similar recording when the ink jet recording head 5 moves backward. After that, the recording is intermittently performed by moving the CD 11 even after the ink jet recording head 5 completes the return movement.

When the above operation is repeated and the image recording on the CD 11 is completed, the driving roller 2 rotates in the reverse direction to move the CD 11 to a position upstream of the CCD sensor 8 and stop. At this position, the operator can take out the CD 11 on which image recording has been completed from the conveyor belt 1.

As described above, after the position of the CD 11 is detected by the CCD sensor 8, the CC
The positional relationship between the D sensor 8 and the recording position by the ink jet recording head 5 is such that the position of the CD 11 is detected by the CCD sensor 8 and then the recording start position, that is, a position at least apart from the radius of the CD 11.

Next, the functional operation of the CCD sensor 8 will be further described. When the CD 11 passes just below the CCD sensor 8 before image recording, the bar code 12BC representing the content of the printed data provided at the peripheral portion of the through hole 12H of the CD 11 is read, and the image recording is performed by a pre-programmed function. The data and the data from the barcode are collated, and it is determined whether or not the barcode indicating the data already created on the label unit 12PA of the CD 11 matches the image recording data in the computer to be recorded from now on. . If they match, the operation shifts to the image recording operation as described above. If they do not match, the transport to the inkjet recording head 5 is stopped, the CD 11 is moved to the take-out position of the CD 11 by the reverse transport operation, and a warning is issued to the operator that the image recording content is different.

In the configuration of the CCD sensor 8 described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, after the image is recorded, when the CD 11 moves to the take-out position by the reverse transport operation, the image is recorded on the label portion 12PA of the CD 11. The read image is read, and it is determined whether or not the image is recorded as the image data by the function of comparing the image recording data programmed in advance with the actually recorded image. If it is determined that there is an abnormality in the recorded image, it is stopped at the take-out position and at the same time, a warning is issued to the effect that the recorded image is abnormal.

(Embodiment 2) Next, another embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that among the constituent elements of the present embodiment, those that are common to the constituent elements of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, unlike the previous embodiment,
In order to increase the productivity of image recording, the conveyor belt 1
An automatic CD feeding unit 31 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium transport system, which is generally composed of a drive roller 2, a driven roller 3, a driven roller 3, and a drive motor 4, and automatically ejected on the downstream side in the transport direction. It is characterized in that the part 32 is provided.

The automatic CD feeding section 31 is provided with the conveyor belt 1
Conveyor 3 driven in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance
3 and an air chuck means 3 for holding the CD 11 mounted on the conveyor 33 at a predetermined position on the conveyor 33
4 and an arm 35 for transporting the air chuck means 34 to a predetermined mounting position of the transport belt 1. The air chuck means 34 is for sucking the vicinity of the inner diameter portion of the CD 11 which is a non-recorded image area and trying to grip the CD 11 itself.
No damage or the like is given to the label section 12PA of the eleventh label section.

The automatic ejecting section 32 is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying belt 1 and is connected to the automatic CD feeding section 31.
A conveyor 36 driven to be conveyed in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor 33, and an air chuck means 37 for gripping the CD 11 conveyed to the most downstream side of the conveyor belt 1
And an arm 38 for transporting the air chuck means 37 to a predetermined position on the conveyor 36.

It should be noted that a so-called full-line type ink jet recording head 40 is disposed on the transport belt 1 in the present embodiment, downstream of the CCD sensor 8 in the transport direction. The print nozzles of the ink jet recording head 40 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the CD 11, and the print nozzle width is set to be longer than the diameter of the CD 11.

The conveyor 36 of the automatic discharge section 32
Is provided with a stock unit 43 for removing the CD 11 in which an abnormality is detected.

Next, the recording operation in this embodiment will be described. Also in the present embodiment, in order to facilitate the description of the operation, the calculation information of the mounting position of the CD 11
The X direction information which is information about one transport direction and the Y direction information which is information about a direction orthogonal to the transport direction will be described separately.

First, the CD 11 for which data has been created by means such as a press is continuously conveyed to the upstream side of the conveyor belt 1 by the conveyor 33, and then the air chuck means 34
Is transferred from the conveyor 33 onto the conveyor belt 1 by the swing of the arm 35.

Next, the X-direction information and the Y-direction information are obtained by the CCD sensor 8 using the same algorithm as in the previous embodiment. The CD 11 is subsequently conveyed to the inkjet recording head 40, and printing of the full width of the CD 11 is started at a timing determined from the Y information. here,
The recording position of the CD 11 in the direction of the arrow X is determined based on the X direction information, and the nozzle corresponding to the recording position is selected from the printing width to determine the printing width. Accordingly, the print nozzle width of the ink jet recording head 40 is also set to a length that allows for some variation in the placement of the CD 11 on the transport belt 1, similarly to the CCD sensor 8.

In this embodiment, since the full-line type ink jet recording head 40 is used as described above, the ink jet recording head 4 is driven at a transport speed determined by the frequency at which the ink jet recording head 40 is driven.
When transported just below 0, image recording can be performed with the print nozzle width without stopping transport of the CD 11.

The CD 11 conveyed next at a certain time according to the Y-direction information is transferred to the conveyor 33.
The image can be transferred onto the conveyor belt 1 from above, and image recording can be continuously performed. Immediately after the image recording on the CD 11 is completed, the transport belt 1 is stopped.
Is reversed, and the CD 11 is passed again just below the CCD sensor 8 again, and the actually recorded image is compared and checked with the image recording data.

Next, the CD 11 is again conveyed to the automatic ejecting section 32 when an abnormality is detected or not detected in the recorded image. In the automatic discharge section 32, C
D11 is an air chuck means 37 supported by the arm 38
Is adsorbed. If there is no abnormality in the recorded image according to the information detected by the CCD sensor 8, the image is transferred on the conveyor 36 and sent to the next step. If an abnormality is detected in the recorded image based on the detection information from the CCD sensor 8, the CD 11 is not transferred onto the conveyor 36, but is transferred and mounted on the stock unit 43, and a warning is issued at the same time.

In this embodiment, the through holes 1 of the CD 11 are used.
The operation and function of detecting the barcode 12BC provided on the periphery of the 2H and comparing and checking the barcode with the image recording data are the same as described above.
The recording paper 11 is passed through the inkjet recording head 40 as it is by the transport belt 1 without performing image recording, and then discharged to the stock unit 43 by the automatic discharge unit 32. Thereafter, the same recording operation is repeatedly performed to continuously perform CD recording.
Image recording is performed on 11.

In the present embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus has been described as an example of the image recording means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and recording can be performed directly on a recording medium such as a thermal transfer recording apparatus. It can also be applied to devices.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, 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 of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
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, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection with the apparatus main body or ink from 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.

Further, it is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, 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.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to the recording head having only one corresponding to a single color ink, it corresponds to 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 limited to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By detecting the shape of the disc-shaped recording medium and controlling the recording means based on the information, the position of the disc-shaped recording medium can be detected and the recording position of the image can be determined. It is possible to perform proper image recording simply by placing the device at a position, and to accurately record an image even if there is a placement position error in an apparatus having means for automatically placing the image. Further, according to the present invention, the recorded image is compared with the recorded data to check for abnormalities, so that a stable recorded image can be obtained. Further, since the means for detecting the position also serves as the means for detecting an abnormality in the image, an inexpensive and simple device configuration can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a compact disk as a rigid recording medium to which an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied and recorded, and FIG. 2B is a plan view showing the compact disk shown in FIG. It is a top view which expands and shows the principal part of a disk, (C) is sectional drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the compact disk shown to (A).

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views showing the relationship between a sensor and a recording medium in the configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveying belt (supporting means, conveying means) 2 Driving roller (conveying means) 3 Follower roller (conveying means) 4 Motor (conveying means) 5 Ink jet recording head (recording means) 6, 7 axis 8 CCD sensor (detecting means) 9 , 10 marking line 11 CD (recording medium) 31 automatic CD feeding section 32, automatic discharge section 33, 36 conveyor 34, 37 air chuck means 35, 38 arm 40 ink jet recording head (recording means) 43 stock section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI B41J 3/04 101Z

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording an image using a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a recording surface of a recording medium, comprising: a support unit that supports the recording medium; Detection means for detecting the size of the recording medium; control means for calculating the position of the recording medium on the support means from information detected by the detection means, and controlling the recording means based on the calculation information; An image recording apparatus comprising: 2. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support means is a transport means for moving the recording medium in a plane. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein:
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image recording apparatus is disposed downstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction. 4. An image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said recording means is movable in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of said transport means. 5. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means is an ink jet recording means. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is in a disk shape. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said disk-shaped recording medium is a compact disk. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a recording start position on the recording medium based on the calculation information. 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a width of a recording area on the recording medium based on the calculation information. 10. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit reads display information on the recording medium. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means reads an image formed on said recording medium.
The image recording apparatus according to any one of the above items. 12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ink jet recording means has a thermal energy generator for generating energy used for discharging ink. 13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the thermal energy generator is an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink.