JPS58179653A - Recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a recording system capable of making its recording heads carry out recording operation at the time of not only its outward but also inward movement when multicolor recording is carried out by a system wherein the outward and inward recording heads are arranged symmetrically so that they can be selectively driven. CONSTITUTION:Outwardly moving heads 7M, 7C, 7BK and inwardly moving heads 8M, 8C, 8BK are arranged symmetrically to the point in terms of the color of discharging ink. While a carriage 6 is moving in the direction shown by an arrow R, or at the time of outward recording, the outwardly moving heads 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7BK only are driven for recording purposes. While the carriage 6 is moving in the direction shown by an arrow L, or at the time of inward recording, the inwardly moving heads 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8BK only are driven for the purposes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multicolor image recording method, and in particular to a reciprocating scanning method in which a carriage on which a plurality of recording heads of different recording colors are mounted is moved back and forth, and images are recorded even during the backward movement. Recording method l
Regarding IIIi′A improvement.

The above-mentioned reciprocating scanning printing method can be considered as an effective means for improving the printing speed of printing apparatuses such as inkjet printers and thermal transfer printers.

This recording method not only improves the recording speed, but also has the advantage that the carriage speed is the same both in the forward and backward directions, which prevents vibrations when the carriage returns, and that the speed control of the carriage drive motor is simplified. This is considered to be the case. However, if the above-mentioned printing method is applied to a conventional device that prints in parallel with print heads with different print colors in the main scanning direction, that is, in the direction in which the carriage reciprocates, the ink will increase as the scanning direction is reversed. Recording is performed in which the order of the columns is reversed. For example,
), when recording in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (hereinafter referred to as Y, M, C, and BK, respectively) during forward movement, the seventh
As shown in figure (b), BK, C, M,
There is a problem in that recording is performed in the order of Y, and as a result, the recorded color, which should originally be the same, becomes different in color tone during the forward movement and during the backward movement. That is, as shown in Figure 1 (Hata), if ink is layered on the recording paper l during the forward movement with the songs Y, M, and C, then during the backward movement, as shown in Figure 1 (b), C,
Since the inks overlap in the order of M and Y, C will be emphasized on the forward pass and Y will be emphasized on the return pass, resulting in a color tone difference in the sub-scanning direction (paper feeding direction), making it very difficult to see.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and to improve self-confidence by arranging the forward recording head and the backward recording head symmetrically and selectively driving them so that the coloring order is the same in both directions. The objective is to provide a recording method.

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

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a multi-nozzle inkjet color printer according to the present invention, where / is H self-recording paper, λ is a paper feed roller that feeds the recording paper / in the arrow Y direction (sub-scanning direction), and 3 is A paper feeder that drives the paper feeder roller,
Ruth motors, da and 5 are paper guide rollers forming the recording plane.

6 is a carriage on which seven multi-nozzle inkjet heads 7Y to ffBK, which will be described later, are mounted, and a carriage feed nozzle motor 10 is connected via a timing belt.
, and moves back and forth in the directions of arrows R and L (main scanning direction) along the guide rail //. / and /3 are carriage position sensors at the left end and right end, which generate a predetermined detection signal when the carriage 6 comes to the left end or right end home position. /Hiro is each head?
Ink supply pipe that supplies ink for each Y-&BK,
/gY, /j-M.

isc and /jBK are ink tanks for Y, M, C, and BK colors, respectively, and communicate with the heads Y to fBK via the vibe/shi. /6 is each head 7Y~fBK
This is a flexible printed wiring board that supplies drive pulses to each nozzle within the flexible printed wiring board.

? Y, 7M, 7C and 7BK are yellow respectively.
Multi-nozzle inkjet head for magenta, cyan and black, as well as tM, IC and tB
K is also a multi-nozzle inkjet head for magenta, cyan, and black, respectively.

Each of these heads has an interval of t/Im.
) Tsuchi) 121 arranged in a straight line in the direction of the arrow Y
The nozzle has four nozzles, and each color of ink is ejected toward the recording paper by drive pulses supplied through each flexible printed wiring board. This ink is ejected by, for example, a bubble jet method in which a heating element is embedded in a nozzle and the ink l^ is ejected using pulp (bubbles) generated by heat generated by a pressure pulse.

Each head is shown in the direction of the arrow from the right side of the drawing.
BK, EC, fM, '7Y, ? M...? C and 7BK are arranged side by side along the main scanning direction. In other words, the forward-moving head is centered around the yellow head 7Y, which is a reciprocating common head? M, 7C, and 7BK and backward movement recording heads KM, tc, and A'BK are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to ink color. When the carriage 6 moves forward in the direction of arrow R, the reciprocating common head 7Y indicated by diagonal lines on the left side of FIG. M
, 7C and 7BK, and in synchronization with the switching of the scanning direction of the carriage base, the driving of the forward head and the backward head described above is switched, and during the backward movement when the carriage 6 moves in the direction of the arrow, the first A color image is recorded on the recording paper l by driving only the reciprocating common head 7Y indicated by diagonal lines on the right side of the figure V and the reciprocating heads tM, tc and tBK.

In this way, the forward movement head and the backward movement head are provided separately,
Both heads are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the ink color, and both heads are switched in accordance with the switching of the scanning direction in reciprocating scanning, so the coloring order is the same during reciprocating, and the coloring order is the same during reciprocating. Disturbances in color tone due to differences in color can be prevented.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the main part configuration of the control circuit of the color printer shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 shows the page memories (both edge memories) for each color shown in FIG. 5, 3/Y, 3/M, 3/C, and 7
/BK address assignment is an example. Here, for example, AI
(Using recording paper the size of the I version in portrait orientation, both vertically and horizontally are t-drama)
Assuming that the page is to be recorded at a density of /Im, the address assignment of the page memory shown in Figure 6 is /410 dots/10H in the horizontal direction, as shown in the figure.
If seven addresses (column addresses) are assigned to the dots, the allocation will be from C/ to C/410, resulting in 174 dots/λ? in the vertical direction. ? If seven addresses (line addresses) are assigned to the /2t dots as shown in (6) corresponding to the number of nozzles in the recording head for 11, the assignments will be from l/ to mθ. Note that the line address is displayed at the top and the column address is displayed at the bottom. Also, on the J line, the total number of Yusho
Since these are dots, the remaining 76 dots/21 Im are left as appropriate margins at the top and bottom of the recording paper.

Next, the control circuit of FIG. S will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.

Here, 3 Y, ? , 2M, 32C and 7.
2BK color page memory JAY, ,3/C,,3
This is a column address pointer for specifying the column addresses of /M and 37BK, and here θO
A ring counter that counts from θ/ to /410 is used. 33 is a line address pointer for simultaneously specifying the line address of each memory. , 7ff , 7
44M, 3+C, and J+BK are head drivers, and each page memory, j/'Y, , 3 no C,, 7/
According to the dot signals read from M and 37BK, each recording head 7Y, ? M.? C, 78, tM.

tC and ffBK inkjet nozzles each weighing 7.2 g are driven. 3 On the left is carriage feed pulse motor 1
36 is a paper feed motor driver that drives the paper feed pulse motor 3, and 37 is a microprocessor (control computer) that controls each of the above-mentioned blocks. Also, 3
g is a head switching signal, which is sent from the microprocessor 37 to the head driver J4'M.

31I-c and JIBK, and performs drive head selection switching.

Next, the recording process of the recording method of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. First, the carriage 6 is moved leftward and stopped at a position where the left end position sensor/2 issues a detection signal (left side home position). At this time, the central recording head 7Y is at the leftmost end of the recording range as shown on the left side of FIG. 7, and this position corresponds to column address C00O/.

Column address pointer 3.2Y, J, 2M,
J, 2C and 32BK respectively 00θ/, /A
Oθ, 7 is preset to 20 and /lid θ, and the line address pointer 3.2 is preset to O/. The remaining head drivers except driver 3'lY? +M,
JIIC and jFBK ic inhibit signals are supplied to stop their operations. Historically, the head switching signal 3g is sent from the microprocessor 37 to the head driver in response to the signal from the position sensor/2. FM, ,,? Supplying +C and 7FBK, recording head gM, I exclusively for backward movement
Only the lines to C and gBK are disconnected.

In this state, each page memo IJ...? /Y,
, 3/M.

When the bladder output signal 39 is supplied to J/C and 3/BK,
Valley page memories 3/Y, 3/M, 3/C, and 7/BK at respective addresses 710/COOθ/,
lO/C/6gθ, 730/CabθO and lθ/
Either dot data is read from C/32θ, or since the operations of all but the head driver Jff are stopped, only the recording head 7Y is driven, and yellow dots corresponding to the dot data are recorded on the recording paper l. Then,
Column address pointer j, 2Y, 3:1M,
32C and JOBK in the forward direction, and supplies the drive 1 signal to the carriage feed motor driver 3j, rotates the carriage drive pulse motor /θ by /pulse, and moves the carriage 6 7 pitches in the direction of arrow R. , that is, by 1/, lIm, and here again each page memory, 7/Y, , 7/M, , 7/C and (9) JIBK [blasder ejection signal 3? and recording head Y.
is driven to record a yellow dot on the recording paper according to the dot data at address 1olCo02 of the page memo IJJ/Y.

While repeating these operations, move the carriage t in the direction of arrow R and take a page memo! Cooto from column address Cθ00/ of line address lO/ of J 3/Y
The dot data up to i is recorded. As a result, recording paper/Nioma Portrait/All! A yellow dot is recorded in the width. Next, the prohibition signal to the head driver 3M is released, and each page memo IJ, 3/Y, 3/M.

, 3/C and 37BK, the recording head 7Y has a page memory, ? /Y address 10/
The dot data of COg/ is supplied, and the dot data of address lO/COθl of the page memory J/M is supplied to the recording head 7M. As a result, magenta M ink is stacked and printed on yellow ink Y on the recording paper, as shown in FIG. 1(a).

Next, column address pointer 3.2Y, ', 7
．． 2M, J, 2C(10) and? , 2BK in the forward direction, moves the carriage 4 by 7 pitches in the R direction, supplies the read signal 3 to each page memory again, and prints the recording head 7.
By driving Y and 7M, a yellow dot corresponding to the dot data at address lθ/Cθg2 of page memory 3/Y and a magenta dot corresponding to the dot data at address 1oicθO of page memory 3/M are printed on the recording paper. Record above. While repeating these operations, move the carriage in the direction of arrow R, and after recording dot data up to column address C/40 of line address lθ/ of page memory 3/Y, transfer data to head driver 3D C. The prohibition signal is canceled and the signal 3? is sequentially output to each page memory 3rd Y to 3/BK When , the dot data at address 10/COθ/ of page memory 3/C is supplied to the recording head 7C. Furthermore, when the dot data up to the column address C cog O of line address 10/ of page memory J/Y is recorded, if the prohibition signal to the head driver 39BK is canceled, all prohibition signals are canceled. Recording head? Y, 7M, 7C and? BK is all driven.

Immediately after moving the carriage 6 in the direction of the arrow R while repeating the above-mentioned operations and recording the dot data of the column address CIAto of the line address lθ/ of the page memo IJ and 3/Y, the head driver JA of the Yep-
A prohibition signal is supplied to Y to stop its operation. In this way, each page memory 3/M.

,? At the timing of recording the dot data of column address CI4 and Q of /C and J/BK, a prohibition signal is supplied to the corresponding head drivers 3'1M, 3daC and 3daBK, and their operations are sequentially stopped, Column address Cθθ0/Gara C of line address 10/ of each page memory
Record dot data up to 1410.

As a result, yellow p-dots, magenta dots, cyan dots, and black dots are overprinted in the order of A111 width in the vertical direction on the recording paper (see FIG. 2(a)). Next, the carriage 6 is moved to the left and returned, and when the right end position sensor 3 detects the right end position of the carriage 6, a predetermined drive pulse is supplied to the paper feed driver 36 and the paper feed pulse motor is activated. 3 to move the recording sheet /6 degrees in the direction of arrow Y as shown in FIG. 3 or Y.

However, the center recording head 7Y has column address Cl4.
The position of the carriage 6 when recording 10 dot data is the right end start position of the backward movement stroke of the carriage 6,
This is assumed to be detected by the right end position upper sensor /3.

Next, set the 3 column address pointers Y, J, M, J,
2C and 3BK respectively /Atθ, 0010.
0/40 and Oλqo, and the line address pointer 33 is preset to O-. driver 34
(A prohibition signal is supplied to the remaining head drivers JAM, J4ZC, and JOBK except for Y to stop their operation.Furthermore, in response to the signal from the position sensor/3, the head switching signal 3g is sent from the microprocessor 3. driver 31
1M, 34IC and ? 4ZBK and a forward-only recording head 7M, ? Cut only the lines to C and 7BK, and connect the backward movement recording heads IN, fc, and fB.
Connect the same wire of K.

In this state, each page memory, 77Y, 3-position M, ,
When the read signal 39 is supplied to 7/C and 3/BK, the address 1102c/410.1101cOOtO, 102 of each page memory 3/Y, 3/M, 3/C and 3/BK is read out.
Dot data is read from cOI40 and locoCθ2'IO, but since all head drivers except 7ff are stopped, only recording head Y is driven.
The yellow dot corresponding to the dot data is printed on the recording paper l.
recorded above. Next, set 3 column address pointers Y
.

3.2M, 3C and ? , 2BK In synchronization with advancing the contents of K in the opposite direction, the carriage 6 is moved in the direction of the arrow to perform a recording operation.

In this way, each column address pointer 3, 3 C and ? , 2BK changes to /41θ, the inhibit signal to the corresponding head drivers JAM, JIC and 3daBK is released in sequence, and all of the recording heads 7Y, IN, tc and fBK that should be driven during the backward movement are driven. I do. At that time, each recording head Y, fM, tc and f
Is the arrangement order of the BK colors based on the recording head during forward movement in relation to the direction of carriage number movement? Y, 7M, RiC Oyohi 7BK
Since the colors are similar to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, they will be printed in an overlapping manner in the order in which these colors are arranged. In other words, since yellow dots, magenta dots, cyan dots, and black dots are overprinted in the order of yellow dots, magenta dots, cyan dots, and black dots on the recording paper during reciprocating movement, there is no change in color tone due to the amount of reciprocating scanning, and the image is extremely faithful to the original image. image quality.

The subsequent backward recording operation uses the column address pointer, ),
2Y, 3M, 3λC, and 3uBK are moved in the opposite direction and the carriage base is moved in the direction of the arrow in synchronization with the same operation as in the forward movement, except that the corresponding page memory is Each head driver 3
The inhibit signal is sequentially supplied to DA Y, 3 GA, 34 tC, and 31 IBK, and the line address lj of each page memory is
Dot data up to column address C/61;θ color cθ0θ/ is recorded. Next, move the carriage 6 in the right direction R so that the left end position upper sensor /λ is the carriage 6
When the left end position is detected, the paper feed pulse motor 3 is rotated to move the recording paper /1N11 in the direction of arrow Y, and the next forward recording operation is started. The above reciprocating recording operation is repeated to complete recording up to line address 12θ.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the configuration of a multi-nozzle inkjet color printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows an example of a control circuit for the color printer shown in FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, a reciprocating recording head is not used, but recording heads Y and 7M are used.

7C and 7BK are used as heads exclusively for forward motion, and recording heads Y, fM, lfc and ZBK are used exclusively for backward motion. In addition, each head is moved to a forward movement centering on the seventh head, that is, the yellow head 7Y and the yellow head 7Y, which are the leading heads when recording 1IllII images.
)” ?M, 7C, 7BK and backward movement recording navel) ff
M, fc.

ffBK and ffBK are arranged so as to be point symmetrical with respect to their ejected ink colors.

During forward recording when the carriage 6 moves in the direction of arrow R, the forward moving head shown by diagonal lines on the left side of FIG. 7? Y,
7M, 7C,? During backward recording in which only BK is driven and recorded and the carriage 6 moves in the direction of the arrow, the backward moving heads gY, za M, jc, shown by diagonal lines on the right side of FIG. 9, are used.
Recording is performed by driving only tBK.

Therefore, in the control circuit of this example, as shown in FIG. 3, there are two central recording heads, 7Y and ffY, driven by the head driver 341Y, and the head switching signal 3g is also supplied to this head driver 7+Y. Ru. The rest of the configuration is almost the same as that of FIG. 3 and the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Therefore, the coloring order is exactly the same during reciprocating motion, and no difference in color tone occurs due to the difference in reciprocating motion.

As explained above, according to the recording method of the present invention, when the recording operation is performed not only when the recording head moves forward but also when it moves backward, there is no difference in color tone due to the difference between the forward and backward paths, and good image quality is achieved. can be obtained.

In particular, when conventional devices perform back-and-forth recording, a slight difference in color tone occurs in the main scanning direction, resulting in mottling, making it unusable for practical use.However, with the recording method of the present invention, such inconveniences can be completely eliminated. Therefore, even in multicolor recording, the recording operation can be performed not only when the recording head moves forward (/7) but also when it moves backward, thereby improving the recording speed of color images.

In addition, as a result of making such reciprocating recording possible, there is no need for the carriage to return at high speed as in the conventional one-way recording method, the structure of the carriage feed motor driver is simplified, and the carriage can be returned at high speed. The recoil of the casing that occurs when moving is also eliminated.

Regarding sub-scanning, in the embodiment of the present invention, the recording paper was moved in the Y direction, but it is also possible to fix the recording paper and move the carriage in the opposite direction of the arrow Y, like in an X-Y plotter. You can also do it. Furthermore, the target recording device is not limited to the inkjet printer as in the embodiment, but is of course suitable for thermal transfer printers and the like.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are state diagrams showing an example of the recording process by a conventional recording apparatus during forward recording and backward recording, respectively, and FIGS. 2(&) and (b) ) shows recording examples corresponding to Fig. 1 (-) and (b), respectively (7).
g) FIG. 3 is an F+ view showing one example of the printer according to the present invention, FIG. D is a state diagram showing the recording process by the printer of FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printer control circuit; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing seven examples of address assignment of the page memory in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the printer according to the present invention. , FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control circuit of the printer shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 is based on the printer shown in FIG. i [! FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing the recording process. /...recording paper, c...paper feed roller,
3... Paper feed n pulse motor, Da, S... Paper guide roller, 6... Carriage, 7Y, ? M, riC, 7BK, ffY, tM,
fc, fBK...Inkjet head, D...Timing belt, /θ...Carriage feeding pulse motor, '//...
'Guide rail, 12...Left end carriage position sensor, /3...Right end carriage position sensor, /Hiro...Ink supply pipe, /! fY, 13M, BC, /j-BK... ink tank, /6... flexible printed wiring board 1. 3/Y, J/M, 3/C,,37BK...Page memory, 31Y,...? λli4.3.2C, J-BK
...Column address pointer (ring counter), 33...Line address pointer 1. 341Y, JtM, 3gC, 311BK...head driver, 35...carriage feed motor driver, 36...paper feed motor driver, 37...microprocessor, 3g...head switching signal, 3q°゛°Continuous signals. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd.] ↓ Pot wire wire

Claims (1)

[Claims] The forward-moving recording head and the backward-moving recording head are arranged symmetrically in the scanning direction so that the coloring order during recording is the same,
Each of the recording heads is reciprocated in the scanning direction, and during the forward movement, the previous generation forward movement recording head is selectively driven to perform a recording operation, and during the backward movement, the previous generation backward movement recording head is selectively driven. A recording method characterized by causing a recording operation to be performed.