JPH1191087A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate substantially the possibility of the touching of a user to a recording head even when the user opens a front cover during recording and permit the continuation of recording successively when the user closes the front cover after calculating nothing. SOLUTION: An ink jet recording device is provided with an opening and closing detecting means 12 for a front cover and a time calculating means 14, operating a time necessary for the movement of a carriage to the position of a cap after opening the front cover. When it is impossible to move the carriage to the position of the cap within a period of time wherein the user can touch with the carriage, the carriage is moved to the position of the cap while alarming it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having a function such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like, or a recording device used as an output device such as a composite electronic device including a computer or a word processor or a workstation, is based on paper based on the recording information. It is configured to record an image (including characters, symbols, and the like) on a recording material such as a thin film or a plastic thin plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus that performs recording while performing main scanning in a direction intersecting with a recording material conveying direction (sub-scanning direction), an image is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) that moves along the recording material. After printing (main scanning), printing of one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch conveyance as sub-scanning) is performed, and then an image of the next line is printed on the stopped recording material again. By repeating the operation of (main scanning), recording is performed on the entire recording material. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that performs recording only in the sub-scanning direction of the recording material in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and recording is continuously performed for one line at a time. Perform a fixed amount of paper feed (pitch feed)
An image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact. High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, and can be recorded on plain paper without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise,
In addition, there is an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using various types of inks (for example, color inks).

[0005] In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for discharging ink by using thermal energy,
Through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., an electrothermal converter, an electrode,
By forming the liquid path wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micromachining technology, it is easy to make the recording means longer and more planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easier to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. .

There are various requirements for the material of the recording material. In recent years, developments have been made to meet these requirements, and paper (including thin paper and processed paper) which is a general recording material has been developed.
In addition to paper and resin thin plates (OHP, etc.), recording devices using cloth, leather, nonwoven fabric, metal, or the like as a recording material have come to be used.

In the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to remove a recording material (paper) when a paper jam occurs, or to replace the ink tank when the ink tank becomes empty. In addition, a configuration in which a front cover that can be opened and closed is provided is adopted. Since such a configuration is employed, a situation in which the user opens the front cover during recording may occur. In order to prevent the user from touching the moving recording head during recording, an ink jet recording apparatus having a function of detecting that the front cover is opened and stopping the recording head (carriage) has been proposed. .

On the other hand, in an ink jet recording apparatus, if the recording head is left for a long time without capping, the recording quality may be degraded due to thickening (fixation) of the ink near the ejection openings. Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a capping mechanism is provided at one end of the recording head in the scanning direction, and the recording head is moved to the cap position to perform capping when recording is not performed. Therefore, in the inkjet recording apparatus having the front cover, the recording head (carriage) is stopped upon detecting that the front cover is opened, and then the recording head is slowly moved to the cap position.

[0009]

However, in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, there is a possibility that the user touches the recording head which is moving, albeit slowly. Further, since the print head stops in the middle of the printing scan, even if the user opens the front cover and closes the front cover without doing anything, it is difficult to continue printing after that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such prior art, and an object of the present invention is to substantially eliminate a possibility that a user touches a recording head when a front cover is opened during recording. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording material, wherein the opening and closing detecting means for detecting opening and closing of a front cover, and a carriage are provided. Time calculating means for calculating a time required to move from a moving state when the front cover is opened to a cap position for protecting the recording means, and move the carriage to the cap position after opening the front cover. The above object is achieved by performing processing in accordance with the calculation time in the meantime.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, it is determined that it is impossible to move the carriage to the cap position within a time that the user can touch after opening the front cover. In this case, when the carriage is moved to the cap position while giving a warning by the warning means, or when the recording means is moving while moving in the opposite direction to the cap when the front cover is opened, the recording scan is performed. When the carriage is moved to the cap position while giving a warning by the warning means after the completion of the printing, even if it takes time to move the carriage to the cap position, the warning is issued after the recording scan is completed. It can be moved slowly to the cap position, so that the user can open the front cover and When closed and not used, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus makes it possible to directly record more.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, caps for protecting the recording means are provided at both ends in the carriage scanning direction in order to eliminate the possibility that the user touches the moving recording means. By providing the apparatus, furthermore, it is only necessary to cap with a cap in the direction of travel of the recording means, so that it is possible to eliminate the case where the apparatus must be stopped, and there is no possibility that the user will touch it. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of restarting the continuation of recording as it is.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a recording unit 1 is constituted by a head cartridge in which a recording head unit and an ink tank unit serving as an ink supply source are integrated. The recording unit 1 is not limited to a head cartridge, and may have a configuration in which a recording head (part) and an ink tank (part) are separated. In the present specification, the recording unit 1 is also referred to as a recording head 1.

The recording means 1 is fixed on a carriage 2 by a pressing member. The carriage 2 is guided and supported so as to reciprocate along a guide shaft 5.
Printing is performed by driving the print head 1 in accordance with print data in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 2. The ink ejected from the recording head 1 (its ejection port)
As a result, the recording medium reaches the recording material whose recording surface is regulated at a minute interval from the recording head, and forms an image.

The recording means (recording head) 1 is an ink jet recording means for discharging ink using thermal energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Further, the recording head 1 includes:
The recording is performed by discharging ink from the discharge ports by utilizing a pressure change generated by growth and shrinkage of bubbles caused by film boiling caused by the heat energy applied by the electrothermal transducer.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection section of the recording means (recording head) 1. FIG.
At a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.3 to
(Approximately 2.0 mm).
A plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch, and an electrothermal converter (not shown) for generating energy for ink discharge along the wall surface of each liquid path 54 communicating the common liquid chamber 53 and each discharge port 52. A heating resistor 55) is provided. The recording head 1 is mounted on the carriage 2 in a positional relationship such that the discharge ports 52 are arranged in a direction crossing the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 2. Thus, the corresponding electrothermal transducer 5 based on the image signal or the ejection signal
The recording means (recording head) 1 is configured to drive (energize) the ink 5 in the liquid path 54 to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to boil, and to discharge the ink from the discharge port 52 by the pressure generated at that time.

In FIG. 1, for a recording head 1,
An ejection signal corresponding to image data is supplied from an appropriate data supply source via the flexible cable 7 and an electrode coupled thereto. One or a plurality of recording heads 1 can be provided according to the type of ink to be used (ink color or the like). Reference numeral 4 denotes a gear connected to a pulse motor for scanning (moving) the carriage 2 along the guide shaft 5, reference numeral 3 denotes a wire for transmitting the driving force of the gear 4 to the carriage 2, and reference numeral 8 denotes recording. A cap for protecting the recording head by covering the ejection opening surface of the head 1 is provided. Reference numeral 9 denotes an openable / closable front cover.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a control system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a control unit (control unit) of the printing apparatus, 12 denotes an opening / closing detecting means for detecting the opening / closing of the front cover 9, and 13 denotes the printing head 1.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a movement status inspection unit for the (carriage 2), which is required for the carriage 2 (recording head 1) to move from the movement state when the front cover 9 is opened to the position of the cap 8 (hereinafter, referred to as a cap position). Time calculation means for calculating the time, 15 is a head movement control unit for controlling the movement of the recording head 1, and 16 is a warning means comprising a buzzer or the like.

Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, a process according to the time calculated by the time calculating means 14 is performed while the front cover 9 is opened and the carriage 2 is moved to the cap position. It is configured as follows. Specifically, when it is determined that it is impossible to move the carriage 2 to the cap position within a time that can be touched by the user after opening the front cover 9, the warning unit 16 gives a warning while the carriage 2 is moving. Is moved to the cap position, and when the recording means (recording head) 1 is recording while moving in the opposite direction to the cap 8 when the front cover 9 is opened, the warning means is provided after the recording scan is completed. It is configured to move the carriage 2 to the cap position while giving a warning at 16.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation when the front cover 9 of the ink jet recording apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 is opened. In FIG.
When the power is turned on in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2 to detect whether the front cover 9 is opened.
This detection means is turned on when the front cover 9 is opened and closed.
A mechanical switch that is turned off is generally used, but is not limited to this. When it is detected that the front cover 9 has been opened, the process proceeds to step S3 to detect whether or not recording is being performed. If the recording is not being performed, there is no need to perform any operation. However, since the front cover 9 is opened when the recording is not being performed, the recording head (head cartridge) 1 is not opened.
It may be determined that the replacement is for replacement of the recording head 1 and an operation of slowly moving the recording head 1 to a position where replacement is easy.

If the recording is being performed in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4 to calculate the time required for the carriage 2 (recording head 1) to move from the moving state when the front cover 9 is opened to the cap position. This step S4
In (2), the moving state of the recording head 1, that is, the time required to move from the moving direction, speed, position, etc. to the cap position is calculated. Next, proceeding to step S5, by comparing the calculation time obtained in step S4 with a prepared threshold value, it is determined whether or not the user can move to the cap position before touching. I do. Therefore, the time from when the front cover 9 is opened to when the user can touch the recording head 1 is usually selected as the threshold value. This time may be affected by the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus, particularly the configuration of the front cover 9 and the like.

In step S5, when the calculation time is smaller than the threshold value, that is, when the user
If it is possible to move to the cap position within a time shorter than the time until the user can touch, the process proceeds to step S6, and is immediately moved to the cap position. On the other hand, step S
In 5, when the calculation time is larger than the threshold value, that is, when the user cannot move to the cap position in a time shorter than the time before the user can touch the recording head 1,
Proceeding to step S7, the recording head 1 is stopped immediately, and then the recording head 1 is slowly moved to the cap position while issuing a warning. The warning means in this case is generally a buzzer, but is not limited to this. To proceed to step S7, if there is no possibility that the user touches the recording head 1 while moving to the position on the opposite side of the cap 8, that is, until the recording scan at that time is completed, the recording is performed. Step S after scanning is completed
7 may be performed.

The operation of the above embodiment will be supplementarily described. It takes some time from when the user opens the front cover 9 to when he puts his hand, but the time required for the recording head to move in the scanning direction during recording (one-way traveling time)
Are insignificant and mostly less than one second. Therefore, even after detecting that the front cover 9 is opened, if the recording head 1 is moved to the cap position by accelerating while recording or without recording as it is,
There is no possibility of being touched by the user.

The recording head 1 reciprocates in the scanning direction during recording. If it is detected that the front cover 9 has been opened while the recording head 1 is moving in the direction of the cap 8, the recording head 1 is left as it is (preferably at a higher speed).
If moved to the cap position, there is no possibility of being touched by the user.

On the other hand, if it is detected that the front cover 9 has been opened while the recording head 1 is moving away from the cap, the head is decelerated and stopped, and then moves toward the cap 8. It is necessary to start accelerating (turning direction). Therefore, the user may not be able to move to the cap position between opening the front cover 9 and putting his / her hand.

If it is determined that it takes longer than the time required for the user to open the front cover 9 and put his hand in moving the recording head 1 to the cap position, the recording head 1 is stopped as usual, or Then, after the printing scan at that time is completed, the printing is slowly moved to the cap position. At this time, the user is alerted by using some kind of warning means (for example, a buzzer) so that the user does not touch the recording head 1.

According to the embodiment described above, the possibility that the user touches the recording head 1 when the front cover 9 is opened during recording can be substantially eliminated. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording the continuation as it is when closed without any trouble is provided.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the present embodiment, caps 8 are provided at both ends of the printing apparatus, that is, at both ends in the moving (scanning) direction of the carriage 2, and this is different from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in this respect. The configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 5, portions corresponding to the respective portions in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, since the position of the cap is one, when it is detected that the front cover 9 is opened while moving in the direction away from the cap 8, as described above, the speed is reduced, stopped, and stopped. Then, acceleration in the cap direction is required, and it takes time to move to the cap position. According to the embodiment of FIG. 5, such inconvenience can be solved.

That is, according to the embodiment of FIG.
Since the same effects as in the embodiment of FIG. 4 are obtained, caps 8 are provided at both ends of the print head scanning area.
Even when the user opens the front cover 9 during recording, there is no need to return the recording head 1 to the cap position. Therefore, the recording scan is continued as it is, and the cap on the side where the recording scan has been completed is completed. 8, the recording head 1 can be protected (capping), so that it is not necessary to stop the recording head 1 in the middle of one recording scan, and to continue recording after closing the front cover 9. Also becomes possible.

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording with one kind of ink using one recording means, a color recording apparatus using a plurality of recording means for recording with inks of different colors, or recording with the same color and different density. The present invention can be similarly applied to a gradation recording apparatus using a plurality of recording means, and a recording apparatus in which these are combined, and can achieve the same effect.

Further, the present invention has a structure using a replaceable head cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated, and a recording head and an ink tank which are separated from each other and connected between them by an ink supply tube or the like. The present invention can be similarly applied to any arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, such as the constitution, and the same effect can be obtained.

In the case of an ink jet recording apparatus, the present invention can be applied to, for example, an apparatus using a recording means using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. The present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means of a discharge type. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink from the recording means to the recording material, the opening and closing of the front cover is detected. Detecting means, and time calculating means for calculating a time required for the carriage to move from a moving state when the front cover is opened to a cap position for protecting the recording means, and the carriage after opening the front cover. Since the processing according to the calculation time is performed while moving the print head to the cap position, the possibility that the user touches the print head when the front cover is opened during printing can be substantially eliminated. An apparatus is provided.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, it is impossible to move the carriage to the cap position within a time that the user can touch after opening the front cover. If it is determined that the carriage is moved to the cap position while giving a warning by the warning means, or if the recording means is moving while moving in the opposite direction to the cap when the front cover is opened, the corresponding Since the carriage is moved to the cap position while giving a warning by the warning means after the recording scan is completed, in addition to the above-described effects, even when it takes time to move to the cap position, the recording scan is terminated. Can be slowly moved to the cap position while issuing a warning, which allows the user to If you close do nothing to open the, the effect is obtained that it becomes possible to directly recorded more.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, in order to eliminate the possibility that the user touches the moving recording means, both ends of the carriage in the scanning direction are provided with protective means for protecting the recording means. Since the cap device is provided, it is sufficient to perform capping with the cap in the direction of travel of the recording means, so that it is possible to eliminate the case of having to stop and eliminate the possibility of the user touching the recording device. Continuation can be resumed as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a structure of an ink ejection unit of a recording unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation when a front cover is opened in an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording means (recording head) 2 Carriage 3 Wire 4 Gear 5 Guide shaft 6 Platen 7 Flexible cable 8 Cap 9 Front cover 11 Control part 12 Front cover open / close detection means 13 Recording head movement state inspection part 14 Time calculation means 15 Recording head movement Control unit 16 Warning means 51 Discharge port surface 52 Discharge port 53 Common liquid chamber 55 Electrothermal converter

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, wherein opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of a front cover, and recording from a moving state when the carriage opens the front cover. Time calculating means for calculating a time required to move to the cap position for protecting the means, and performs a process according to the calculated time while moving the carriage to the cap position after opening the front cover. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 2. When it is determined that it is impossible to move the carriage to the cap position within a time that can be touched by the user after opening the front cover, the carriage is moved to the cap position while giving a warning by a warning unit. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed. 3. When the recording means is performing recording while moving in the opposite direction to the cap when the front cover is opened, the carriage is moved to the cap position while issuing a warning by the warning means after the recording scan is completed. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein caps for protecting the recording means are provided at both ends in the carriage scanning direction so as to eliminate the possibility that the user touches the moving recording means. Recording device. 5. The ink jet recording means according to claim 1, wherein said recording means is an ink jet recording means having an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording means discharges the ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. .