JPS5968255A - Deflection controlled ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to reduce the space around a platen side end while sufficiently taking the approach run distance of a carriage, by performing the adjustment of a deflection amount with respect to each ink jet nozzle while moving the carriage out of a recording scanning range. CONSTITUTION:The position of a carriage 22 for supporting an ink jet head 94 is successively determined at a position where the injected ink from an ink jet nozzle is directed to the charge detecting region of a charge detecting electrode 24 from the ink jet nozzle positioned at the outermost side of a recording range to perform the adjustment of a deflection amount. Thereafter, the adjustment of the deflection amount with respect to the nozzle of each ink jet head 9 is performed while the carriage 22 is moved to a direction out of a recording scanning range so as to oppose the next outermost ink jet head 93 to the change detecting electrode. As the result, because the carriage is positioned at the endmost part after the adjustment of the deflection amount is finished, an approach run distance can be sufficiently taken and the space around the side end of a platen 44 can be reduced to a necessary min.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention jets vibrated ink from a nozzle, selectively charges the jetted ink at a position where it separates into ink particles using a charging electrode, and deflects the charged ink particles using a deflection electrode. Infusiella 1 to at least collide with the recording paper
~Relating to a recording device.

This type of in-jet recording includes a binary deflection control method, a multi-value deflection control method, and a combination of these methods. The recording ink particles are charged (or have a high level of charge) and the non-recording ink particles are uncharged (or have a low level or opposite polarity charge), and the recording ink particles are greatly deflected by a deflection electric field and collide with the recording paper, and the non-recording ink particles are left in the gutter. Capture. Or, conversely, non-recording ink particles are largely deflected and captured by the gutter. In this case, one nozzle is responsible for recording one pixel.

In the second party, one nozzle is responsible for recording three or more pixels (for example, 8 dots/llll11, 5 mm width, 40 dots), and the recording ink particles are charged to three or more levels (for example, 40 level), Deflect into 3 or more (for example 40) orbits.

In the third party, charging is carried out in the same manner as in the second party, but the recording charged ink particles are deflected by a deflection electric field in the Y-axis direction to remove the gutter, and then a deflection electric field in the X-axis direction is used to change the charge level. to perform recording with a positional difference in the X-axis direction on the recording paper.

However, the upper limit of the ink droplet formation frequency (the number of ink droplets generated per second) in this type of inkjet recording is about 100 to 150 KHz, and even in the most efficient recording, the frequency of ink droplets generated per second is 100 to 150 x 1000 KHz.
You can only record to Dotu 1. In other words, the recording speed is limited by the ink droplet formation frequency. Therefore, by arranging multiple nozzles in the scanning direction of the carriage on which the ink jetting head is mounted, that is, in the scanning direction of the ink jetting head, the ink droplets jetted from each nozzle are arranged in a pixel skip manner or in the scanning direction. It has been proposed to divide the recording into parts and record one line (one line parallel to the scanning direction) or one row (one scan having a width of several pixels in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction).

On the other hand, in color printing, a plurality of ink ejecting heads are arranged on a carriage, each head is supplied with a different color ink, and each head performs printing in each color mode.

In any case, even if there are multiple ink ejecting nozzles and the amount of deflection of the ink ejected from each nozzle is set to a predetermined value when the device is shipped from the factory to prevent dots from misaligning,
When the nozzle shape, ink pressure, ink temperature, ink physical properties (particularly viscosity), etc. change, the mass, flight speed, amount of charge, etc. of ink particles change, and these vary from nozzle to nozzle, and the amount of deflection varies from nozzle to nozzle. This causes dot misalignment.

Therefore, in a multi-nozzle or multi-head carriage scanning type deflection control inkjet recording device,
In order to prevent the printing dots from shifting, the applicant placed a set of charge detection electrodes in a position outside the printing recording range by carriage scanning, and the applicant installed a set of charge detection electrodes in a position outside the print recording range by carriage scanning, and set a plurality of ink ejection nozzles so that the ejected ink is charged. The structure is such that deflection detection and deflection amount adjustment are performed by sequentially positioning the detection electrode toward the detection area (Japanese Patent Application No. 56-210743). According to this, since the amount of deflection is detected and adjusted for all nozzles using one set of charge detection electrodes, the amount of deflection of ink particles for all nozzles becomes substantially the same, and recording by different nozzles is consistent, resulting in image quality. Records with high values are recorded.

In this way, the deflection amount of the ink ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles is adjusted using the same charge detection electrode,
When performing color recording, simultaneous skip recording, or simultaneous division recording after that while scanning the carriage for recording, a plurality of ink jet nozzles are lined up in the scanning direction of the carriage and fixed on the carriage. Since the charge detection electrode is disposed at a position outside the recording scanning range of the carriage, the space around the charge detection electrode must be made relatively large. charge detection electrode.

When placed close to the home position end of the platen that winds the recording paper, when the carriage is placed at the home position, the ink ejection nozzle that is the outermost part of the recording range faces the charge detection electrode, and the charge detection and deflection of the ink particles is performed. When adjusting the amount, the ink ejecting nozzle closest to the recording range has already entered the recording range. In this case, it is necessary to drive the carriage outside the recording range again and then start the recording scan. 6 Even if it is not within the recording range as described above, the approach distance cannot be taken when starting the subsequent recording scan. .

An object of the present invention is to reduce as much as possible the space around the charge detection electrode arranged at the end of the platen on the home position side that winds recording paper, and to provide a sufficient run-up distance for the carriage. shall be.

In order to achieve this objective, in the present invention, the ink ejecting nozzles located farthest from the recording range are
The carriage that supports the ink jet head is positioned so that the ink jetted by the ink jets toward the charge detection area of the charge detection electrode, and the amount of deflection is adjusted. When this is completed, the next ink jet nozzle on the outside jets the ink. Each ink jet is ejected while moving the carriage in a direction out of the recording scanning range, such as by positioning the carriage supporting the ink jet head to a position where the ink is directed toward the charge detection area of the charge detection electrode and adjusting the deflection amount. The configuration is such that the amount of deflection of the nozzle is adjusted.

According to this, when the deflection amount adjustment for the last ink ejecting nozzle (the one located closest to the print scanning range) is completed, the carriage will be at the farthest position from the print scanning range. The position of the charge detection electrode may be determined so that when the carriage starts recording scanning from this position, the carriage has a constant recording scanning speed at the starting end of the recording scanning range. As a result, the space around the side edge of the platen can be minimized most effectively.

As the charge detection electrode, one plate-shaped conductor, two or three plate-shaped conductors, or a printed electrode having two or more sections can be used.

The amount of deflection is generally determined by charging voltage, deflection voltage, and ink pressure.

It can be adjusted by excitation voltage, ink temperature, etc., but when using a multi-nozzle type ink jet head in which two or more ink jet nozzles communicate with one ink chamber, charging voltage or deflection voltage (each nozzle Although the amount of deflection can be adjusted using a mode in which one set of deflection electrodes is assigned to each other, it is preferable to adjust using a charging voltage because fine adjustment is possible. When adjusting by charging voltage, a set of deflection electrodes can be common to a plurality of nozzles.

In the case of a multi-head type inkjet recording device in which nozzles are formed in separate ink chambers, the amount of deflection can be adjusted by adjusting the charging voltage, deflection voltage, ink pressure, excitation voltage, ink temperature, etc. However, adjusting the deflection amount with the charging voltage while keeping the deflection voltage, ink pressure, excitation voltage, and ink temperature constant is a method that stabilizes the ink particle diameter, provides fast control response, stable control, and allows fine adjustment. ,preferable.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of a carriage section according to an embodiment of the present invention. Four ink jet heads 91 on the carriage 22
~94, four charging electrodes 151-154, - set of deflection electrodes 13t*132, and four gutters 211-214 are mounted. When the carriage 22 is placed at the home position as shown in the figure, the charge detection electrode 24 is positioned to receive ink particles ejected from the head 91 and charged by the electrode 151. The gutter 23 supporting the electrode 24 is connected to the support frame 41 with a link,
Although the gutter 23 is lifted upward by the tension coil spring 42, the tip of the adjustment screw 43 restricts the upward movement of the gutter 23. The vertical position of the electrode 24 is adjusted by the adjustment screw 43. 44 is a platen around which the recording paper is wound; 451 and 452 are guide bars; the carriage 22 is reciprocated by a servo motor along the guide bars 451 and 452 via a wire 46;

A slit plate 47 is fixed to the tail end of the carriage 22, with the slits in the plate 47 facing each other with the slit in between.
A light emitting diode 481 and a phototransistor 48□, which constitute the home position sensor 48, are placed facing each other.

FIG. 2 shows an ink supply system for the heads 91-94.

In this example, one ink is black, while the other inks are cyan, magenta, and yellow, so that color printing can be performed.

Figure 3 shows the configuration of the electrical system. In this example, since charging control for four heads is complicated, four printing control devices 5 are used.
21 to 524 respectively perform ink ejection control two-phase search, deflection amount adjustment, and recording charge control for each of the heads 91 to 94. Carriage 22
The printer control unit 50 performs positioning control of the scanning drive 9, distribution of recording information, notification of the charge detection signal Pok, and on/off control of the deflection voltage power supply circuit 28.

The printing control devices 521 to 524 have the same configuration.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the printing control device 521. In this embodiment, the microprocessor, ROM, RRM, input/output port, clock pulse oscillator 08C1, frequency divider, amplifier, and external counter are used.

A printing control unit 351 is constituted by an interface, etc. including necessary items such as A/D and D/A converters, and upon receiving commands and recorded information from the printer control unit 50, the printing control unit 351 performs ink jetting start and stop, ink press hole two-phase search, deflection amount setting, and recording control (charging voltage code distribution).

In the case of full-color printing, the printer control unit 50 instructs all printing control devices 521 to 524 to prepare for printing.

unit 351 (and other printing control units 522
The same goes for the printing control units 352 to 354 of 524). When the recording preparation is instructed, the printing control units 352 to 354 first drive the pump 381, then energize the solenoid of the solenoid valve 401 to open it, set a timer, and set the timer when the time is over. Then head 91
The ink pressure applied to the pump 381 is detected, and if it is not a predetermined pressure, the energization level of the pump 381 is changed to bring the ink pressure to the set pressure. Also, during this time, the unit 351 changes the clock pulse CKI to the frequency divider 3 from the time when the recording preparation command is received.
11 and phase setting circuit 321. The frequency divider 311 divides the clock pulse CKI into 1/8 and applies the frequency to the excitation voltage generator 301. Excitation voltage generator 3
01 generates a sine wave excitation voltage whose one period is synchronized with one period of the frequency divided pulse, and the pressurized ink in the head 9 is supplied with CK
With the addition of vibration with one cycle being eight cycles of 1, the ink ejected from the nozzle is near the inner center of the charging electrode 151.
The ink particles are regularly separated into ink particles at a rate of one in every eight periods of CKI. This ink excitation is then continued until there is an instruction to stop ink ejection.

When the ink pressure reaches the set pressure, it notifies the printer control unit that recording preparation is complete.

In the case of full-color recording, when all units are ready to record, the printer control unit 50 moves the carriage 22 to a position where the head 94 faces the charge detection electrode 24, and then controls the unit (35) of the printing control device 524.
a) Instruct phase search and deflection amount adjustment. When the unit notifies the end of the deflection amount adjustment, the printer control unit 50 controls the carriage 22 and the head 9.
3 is at a position facing the charge detection electrode 24, the unit (35a) of the printing control device 523 is instructed to perform phase search and deflection amount adjustment. When the unit notifies the end of the deflection amount adjustment, the printer control unit 5
0 is the carriage 22, and the head 9° is the charge detection electrode 24.
Then, the unit (352) of the printing control device 522 is instructed to perform phase search and deflection amount adjustment. When the unit notifies the end of the deflection amount adjustment, the printer control unit 50 controls the carriage 22.
After the head 91 is in a position facing the charge detection electrode 24, the unit (351) of the printing control device 521 is instructed to perform phase search and deflection amount adjustment. When the unit notifies the end of the deflection amount adjustment, the carriage 22 is at the home position shown in FIG. 1 and all ink ejection nozzles are ready for recording, so the printer control unit 50 Carriage 22
The recording scan starts, and the printing control devices 521 to 52
Recording information for each color is given to each of the colors.

The configuration of the charge detection circuit 27 is shown in FIG. Between the core wire of the shielded wire 25 that connects the charge detection electrode 24 and the charge detection circuit 27 and the ground, there is a connection between the core wire of the shielded wire 25 that connects the charge detection electrode 24 and the charge detection circuit 27, and the instability of charge detection due to fluctuations in the insulation resistance Rg between the electrode 24 and the ground due to ink stains on the inner wall of the gutter 23. To prevent this, a voltage conversion resistor R having a resistance smaller than Rg (approximately 100Ω) is connected. This circuit 27 includes a high input impedance field effect transistor FET, an operational amplifier OP1, a bypass filter HP F, and an integrator circuit IG for DC smoothing.
R and a comparator COM, and normally produces a high level H output, but when positively charged ink particles collide with the charge detection electrode 24, a low level L output is produced.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the phase setting circuit 321. Clock pulse CKI is applied to counter Co1 of phase setting circuit 321. The counter COI is a cyclic counter that outputs an O count code at the next 9 when it counts up to 8, and while CKI arrives, 0, 1, 2, .・・・
...8,0°1.2. ...8,0,1,2.
...and click 1 - Continue the movement. counter C
The output code of O1 is applied to decoder DEI. Therefore, the decoder DEL sequentially transfers the high level H output to the output terminals 0 to 7 every time the clock pulse CKI arrives at the counter COI. As a result, the decoder DE
From each of the output terminals O to 7 of L, the phases are shifted from each other by the period T1 of CKI, and at a rate of one ink droplet for each ink droplet generated, 178 of the ink droplet generation period T8,
In other words, a phase search pulse with a pulse width of T1 is output. These eight sets of phase search pulses are applied to each of the AND gates 0 to 8 of the first group, and are applied to each of the OR gates 0 to 8 of the OR gate group OG1.
It is applied to two of 8 each. ORGATE GROUP OG1
The output of each OR gate is the AND gate A of the second group.
It is applied to each of 0 to 8 of G2. As will be described later, during phase search, the AND gate AG of the second group
2 are all turned off (gates open), and one of the AND gates 0 to 7 of the first group A and G1 is selectively turned on (gate open), and a specific phase search pulse Pp (decoder DEI One of the outputs 0 to 7) is applied to the divider FDI and the AND gates ANI and AN2 via the output OR gate (OR1), and is applied to the charged voltage generation circuit 321 through the OR gate OR2. Which AND gate AG1 of the first group is turned on is determined by the output of the decoder DE2. The count code of the counter Co2 is given to the decoder DE2, and the count code of the counter Co2 is given to the decoder DE2.
The clearing and count-up of 2 are performed by the printing control unit 3.
51 controls. In the phase search, unit 351
First, the search signal Pd is set to low level L, and the counter CO2
Clear. As a result, the output terminal 0 of the decoder DE2 becomes a high level H, the AND gate 0 of the first group AGI is turned on, and the decoder DEI
A phase search pulse at output terminal 0 of is output.

Since the search signal Pd is set, the AND gate AN
2 is off (gate open), ORI outputs 24 phase search pulses, the output of frequency divider FD1 is H, AND gate outputs 24 phase search pulses, and the next 2
While the four phase search pulses are being output, the divider FD
When the output of I is L, the AND gate ANI blocks the phase search pulse.

As a result, the pulse at the output terminal 0 of the decoder DEI is applied to the charging voltage generation circuit 291 through the OR gate ORI, the AND gate ANI, and the OR gate (OR)-OR2 during 24T8, and it is cut off during the next 24T8.
The phase search pulse Pp is repeatedly turned on and off in a cycle of T days. Note that in the charging voltage generation circuit 291, a standard gain and a standard charging voltage are set, so that a charging voltage synchronized with the phase search pulse Pp is applied to the electrode 151. When the ink particles are properly charged with this charging voltage, a potential oscillation with a period of 48T8 is applied to the charge detection circuit 27, and the integration circuit is charged up for a predetermined time (10 m
After 5ec), the output Pok of the comparator COM becomes L. When there is no charge, there is no potential oscillation, so Po
k remains H.

The printing control unit 351 checks the output Pok of the circuit 27 10m5ec after clearing the counter CO2, and if it is not at L, which indicates charging, the printing control unit 351 clears the counter CO2.
Give one pulse to. This time, output terminal 1 of decoder DE2
becomes H, 0 of the first group of AND gates AGI turns off, 1 turns on, and the second set of phase search pulses (DE
The output pulse of the output terminal 1 of I is applied to the AND gate ANI and the frequency divider FDI through the OR gate ○R1. In other words, it is assumed that the search pulse pp is delayed by T1 from the previously output one. Then, the printing control unit 351 similarly looks at the output Pok of the charge detection circuit 27, and similarly applies pulses to the counter CO2 until the output Pok of the circuit 27 reaches L, which indicates "charge", and then pulses the counter CO2 until the output Pok of the circuit 27 becomes L, which indicates "charged". let Pok=L representing “charge” from circuit 27
When , the unit 351 does not apply a pulse to the counter CO2, that is, assumes that the optimal charging phase has been determined,
This time, the ON command signal H is applied to all AND gates O to 7 of the second group of AND gates AG2. As a result, if the count value of the counter CO2 is 3, the output terminal 2 of the decoder DE2 is at H level.

AND gate 2 of 1st group AGI and 2nd group A
Both the AND gates 2 of G2 are turned on, and the third set of phase search pulses is output from the AND gate 2 of AGI.
Two outputs of the OR gate OG1, that is, the second set and the fourth set of phase search pulses are applied to the OR gate OR1 from the AND gate 2 of C3. In other words, the phase search pulse
Once the set is determined, the phase search pulses of the second and fourth sets on both sides are added to the third set as the printing charge pulse (
The ORI) pulse, that is, a pulse centered on the search setting pulse and having a pulse width three times that of the search setting pulse, is output from the ORI as a printing charge pulse. The reason why the pulse width of the phase search pulse is narrowed and the pulse width of the imprinted charge pulse is widened in this way is to accurately detect the charge phase by phase search and to ensure the imprinted charge.

After the phase search is completed, the search signal Pd to the phase setting circuit 321 is set to H, so the circuit 321 continuously outputs the impression charge pulse Cp with a T8 period and a pulse width three times that of PP. . When adjusting the deflection amount (Pd=H), the deflection adjustment signal Dgc to the charging voltage generation circuit 291 is set to L, the AND gate AN4 is turned off, the AN3 is turned on, and the output of the frequency divider FD2 is used for 24T8. When AN3 is turned off and 24 application charge pulses Cp are continuously applied to the AND gate group ANC through the OR gate OR3, the next 24Ts (24 pulses) cut off this and apply the phase search pulse P.
A pulse pattern similar to that of P is formed. In this deflection amount adjustment setting, the gain code Gcc given to the D/A converter DA2 is changed as the charge voltage code of 5cc = the highest step of recording charge, the conductivity of the transistor Tr is changed, and the gain of the operational amplifier OP2 is changed. The charging voltage is changed.

Settings of control signals for phase search, deflection amount adjustment, and printing recording are shown in Table 1 below.

FIG. 8 shows the deflection amount adjustment setting operation of the printing control unit 351. The deflection amount adjustment setting by the unit 351 will be explained with reference to FIG. Note that the charging voltage generation circuit 291
Note that in the configuration, when the value indicated by the gain code Gcc is large, the conductivity of the transistor Tr is high.<The gain of OF2 is low and the charging voltage is low, and when the value indicated by the gain code Gcc is small, the opposite is true. .

When the printing control unit 351 finishes the above-mentioned phase search, it sets the control signal Dgc to the charging voltage generation circuit 291 to a low level L that instructs the adjustment of the deflection amount.

As a result, in the circuit 291, the AND gate AN4 is closed (gate off) and AN3 is opened (gate on), and the AND gate AN3 outputs 24 applied charge pulses Cp to the OR gate OR3 during 24T8, and the next 24T8
During this period, a pulse CP is generated with a CP distribution pattern of one period 48T8 at a low level L. AND GATE GROUP AN
C becomes conductive in this Cp distribution pattern and applies charging voltage code Scc to D/A converter DA1. Unit 35 continues to print 5cc = highest level of printing charge code (
A charging voltage code (for deflecting ink particles to the maximum deflection position in printing) is set to the output port to the ANG-1-GROUP ANG. Further, Gcc=standard gain code (approximately the center value of the adjustment range) is sent to the output port to the D/A converter DA2. The unit 351 then sets a timer (program counter) with a 10m5ec time limit and waits for it to time out.

With the above settings, 24 ink particles are charged in succession,
The next 24 consecutive cells become a pattern with one cycle of 48T8, which is uncharged.

When the 10m5ec timer times out, the printing control unit 351 outputs the output Pok(
This is provided via the printer control unit 50)
If it is a low level L (the ink droplet collides with the electrode 24), the output gain code is lowered by Go (for example, aO=S), and if it is a high level H (the ink droplet has missed the upper end of the electrode 24). If it is (flying), the output gain code is increased by Go. That is, the charged ink particles are connected to the electrode 24.
Gain when the charged ink particles collide with the electrode 24
If the charged ink particles have not collided with the electrode 24, move the upper end of the electrode by G in the direction of collision. Move only. Then, set the 10m5ec timer again in the same way and wait for 10m5ec to elapse.

When the time has elapsed, the output Pok of the charge detection circuit 27
If Pok is above, change the output gain code to 1/
Lower it by 2Go (for example 4), and if Pok=H, raise the output gain code by 1/2Go, and
Set the Qmsec timer. When the 10m5ec timer times out, set Pok= above and lower the output gain code by 1/4Go (for example, 2), then Pok
If =H, increase by 1/4Go and 10IIlsec
Set the timer. When the time is over, P
If ok = above, lower the output gain code by 1/4 Go L/, and set the 10m5ec timer. Po
Repeat this until k=above. As a result of the above, Pok=H (the charged ink particles are off the upper end of the electrode 24) at some point in time. If this happens, increase the output gain code by the minimum unit (for example, 1), set a 10m5ec timer, and when the time is over, refer to Pok and P
If ok=H, the output gain code is increased by the minimum unit and the 10m5ec timer is set. In this way, Pok=up at some point in time. When Pok=up, the output gain code at that time has a value that causes charged ink particles to collide with the upper edge of the electrode 24.

The printing control unit 351 controls the printing charge voltage generator 29 when Pok=up with the above deflection amount adjustment setting.
The control signal Dgc to 1 is set to H, and AND gate AN3 is closed (gate off) and AN4 is opened (gate on).
The printer control unit 50 is notified of the completion of the deflection amount setting.

In the state of Dgc=H, if both signals are H during the pulse width (H level) of the pulse Cp, the output H of AN4 is applied to the AND gate group ANC through the OR gate OR1, so that the charging voltage code Sec is applied.

It is applied only when the image signal is H in synchronization with Cp.

When printing starts, the printing control unit 351 sets the code Sec associated with the printing position (deflection position) of each ink droplet to A.
Apply to NG.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned deflection amount adjustment setting, while increasing the output gain code by the minimum unit, the output gain code reaches the maximum value without Pok=up.

Assuming that the ink particles are uncharged, the process returns to the phase search.

Exactly the same control operations as the phase search operation, deflection amount adjustment setting operation, and recording charge control operation of the printing control unit 351 of the printing control device 521 described above are performed in each printing operation of the other printing control devices 522 to 524. The control unit does this. That is, each printing control unit of the printing control devices 521 to 524 starts excitation ejection of ink when receiving a recording preparation instruction from the printer control unit 50, sets the ink pressure to a set pressure, and then controls the printer control unit 50. When the printer control unit 50 notifies the printer that recording preparation is complete and the printer control unit 50 instructs the printer to set the deflection amount, it starts the phase search and the deflection amount adjustment setting.
When this is completed, the printer control unit is notified that the deflection amount setting has been completed.

Next, the control operation of the printer control unit 50 is shown in FIGS.
This will be explained with reference to FIG. 9c. FIG. 9a is a flowchart showing an outline of the control operation of the printer control unit 500, and FIGS. 9b and 9c are flowcharts showing some details of the control operation.

Referring first to FIG. 9a. The printer control unit 50 is also a computer system centered on a microprocessor (microcomputer).

When the unit 50 is powered on, it initializes its own input/output ports, registers, etc., and controls the control device 5.
The units 21 to 524 (351 to 354) are instructed to prepare for recording.

In response to this, each unit (351 to 354) starts jetting ink and adjusts the ink pressure. If there is an abnormality, it is notified to the printer control unit 5o. The ink pressure is set to a predetermined pressure, and if everything is normal, the printing control device 52
Units 1 to 524 (351 to 354) each notify the printer control device 50 of completion of recording preparation. The printer control unit 50 reads the status of the platen paper feeding system and the status of the printing control devices 521 to 524, and sets an alarm if there is an abnormality. If there is no abnormality, all printing control devices 521 to 524 unit 1-(351 to 354
), the printer control unit 5 receives the completion of recording preparation.
0 moves to reading the operation board and waits for a predetermined key input.

If the key manually instructs black recording (recording using only the ink jet head 91), the black recording set subroutine will similarly instruct cyan recording, magenta recording, or yellow recording, respectively. Record Sera 1-. Jump to the magenta record set or yellow record set subroutine. When the key input is to instruct full color recording, the process jumps to the full color recording set subroutine.

When returning from these subroutines, it is checked whether or not there is a start instruction, and when the start instruction arrives for the first time, a start flag is set, and the printing control devices 521 to 52
Look at the ladies in Unit 4 (351-354). If the black recording instruction is set and the black recording ready flag is already set in the black recording subroutine, recording control is entered. When a cyan recording instruction is issued, a cyan recording ready flag is referred to, when a magenta recording instruction is issued, a magenta recording ready flag is referred to, when a yellow recording instruction is issued, a yellow recording ready flag is referred to, and when a full color recording is instructed, a full color recording ready flag is referred to.

FIG. 9b shows the black record set subroutine. In this case, when entering this routine for the first time, a black flag is set, and the units (351 to 354) of the printing control devices 521 to 524 are instructed to standby (non-charging), and the carriage 22 is positioned at the home position. do. As described above, in the home position, the nozzle of the head 91 faces the charge detection electrode 24. In positioning the home position, the unit 5o first moves the carriage 22 by a predetermined amount in the forward scanning direction (to the right in FIG. The light reception of the transistor 482) is monitored, and when the light is blocked, it counts up 1 and decelerates the motor, and when the light is received and then the light is blocked again, it counts up 2.
It counts up and decelerates the motor further, and when the light is received and then the light is blocked, it counts up 3 and decelerates the motor further, and when the light is received and then the light is blocked again, it counts up 4. The motor is set to the lowest speed and stopped when light is received. This causes the carriage 22 to stop as shown in FIG. When this positioning is performed, the unit 50 instructs the control device 521 (control unit 351) to set the deflection amount (phase search and deflection amount adjustment setting), clears the black record ready flag, returns to the main routine, and returns to the black record ready flag. Returning to the set subroutine, this time the black flag is set, so the controller 521
Check whether the recorder is ready (deflection amount setting completed), and if it is not, leave it alone; if it is, set the black record ready flag, turn on the record ready indicator, and return to the main flow. . Note that, as described above, when the control device 521 is instructed to set the deflection amount, it executes the phase search and the deflection amount adjustment setting, and when these are completed, it notifies the printer control unit of ready (deflection amount setting complete). .

The printer control unit 50 then waits for Star 1 to instructions. When the start is instructed, the printer control unit 1-
50 sets the star l-flag, and since the black flag is set and is ready, the process proceeds to black recording control.

The subroutines for the cyan record set, magenta record set, and yellow record set are similar to the subroutine for the black record set, but in these, the carriage 22 is once positioned at the home position as described above, and then the carriage is adjusted to the nozzle interval. Equivalent ΔD, 2Δ
The difference is that the rotary encoder pulse is driven in the forward direction (rightward in FIG. 1) while moving the rotary encoder pulse to Run 1 by 3ΔD and 3ΔD.

The full color record set subroutine is shown in Figure 9c. In full-color printing, all colors of ink are used for printing, so the subroutines for the black, cyan, magenta, and yellow print sets described above are sequentially executed in reverse order.

That is, when full color is instructed, first the yellow record set subroutine (setting the carriage 22 at a position where the head 94 faces the electrode 24, instructing the control device 524 to set the deflection amount, and waiting for the completion) is executed. However, when the control device 524 notifies the end of the deflection amount setting,
Next, the subroutines of the magenta recording cera 1 to 1 (setting the carriage 22 at a position where the head 93 faces the electrode 24, instructing the control device 523 to set the deflection amount, and waiting for its completion) are executed, and the control device 523 When the completion of the deflection amount setting is notified, the next subroutine for cyan recording setting (setting the carriage 22 at a position where the head 92 faces the electrode 24, instructing the control device 522 to set the deflection amount, and waiting for the completion) is executed, and when the control device 522 notifies the completion of the deflection amount setting, the next subroutine for black recording set (deflection amount setting to the control device 521, in which the carriage 22 is set at a position where the head 91 faces the electrode 24) is executed. (setting instructions and waiting for their completion). When the control device 521 notifies the completion of the deflection amount setting, the full color recording ready flag is set to 1~ and waits for a start instruction.

With the full color ready flag set in this manner, the carriage 22 has returned to the home position shown in FIG.

This home position is where the charge detection electrode 2
The ink jet head (91) facing 4 is connected to the platen 44.
It is determined that the carriage 22 reaches a constant recording speed while the carriage 22 is being driven for recording scanning to the left end of the upper recording area. When performing monochrome recording (black recording only, cyan recording only, magenta recording only, and yellow recording only), the deflection amount setting is performed with the ink jet heads 91, 92+93, and 94 placed at their home positions, and then the setting ends. Then, the recording run starts at that point, but during full color recording, the ink jet head 9
1 is placed at the home position, the deflection amount setting for all heads is completed, and then the recording run is started.

When the deflection amount is set starting from the head 91 closest to the recording range, by the time the deflection amount setting is completed for the head 94 furthest from the recording range, the head 91 closest to the recording range has already entered the recording range or is in the run-up. Since it is so close to the recording range that it is impossible to keep the distance, please move the carriage 22 once.
Either drive the charge detection electrode 4 to the left and then start recording, or move the charge detection electrode 4 all the way to the left to take up a much longer space on the left. However, according to the method of the present invention described above, the electrode 24 is placed at a position from which a run-up distance can be taken (
home position), as shown in Figure 1.
It is sufficient to provide a space to the left of the electrode 24 for the entry of the carriage 22. Once you have finished setting the deflection amount, you can immediately start recording.

The space outside the left end of the platen 44 is exceptionally large (long).
do not have to.

Although the above-mentioned embodiment performs full-color recording, the present invention can be similarly implemented in Infusiera 1 to recording apparatuses that perform two-color recording, single-color skip recording, or divisional recording. Further, the present invention can be implemented in the same manner in an ink ejecting head in which a plurality of nozzles communicate with one ink chamber.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing the main parts of the mechanical structure of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system showing the ink supply system of the ink jet head mounted on the carriage 22. It is a diagram. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electrical system that controls the mechanical structure, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing control device 521 shown in FIG. 2. 5 is an electric circuit diagram showing the configuration of the charge detection circuit 27 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the phase setting circuit shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charging voltage generation circuit 291 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows flowchart 1 showing the deflection amount adjustment setting control operation of the control unit 351 of the printing control device 521, and step 9a.
9 is a flowchart showing an overview of the printer control operation of the printer control unit 50, and FIGS. 9b and 9c are flowcharts showing some details of the printer control operation of the printer control unit 50. 91-94; Ink jet head 131tl32: Deflection electrodes 151-154: Charging electrodes 211-214 Nigator 22: Carriage 24:
Charge detection electrodes 361 to 364: Ink tank 44 Ni platen 4511452 Ni guide par 46: Wire
47: Slit plate 481; Light emitting diode 482; Phototransistor 50: Printer control unit (carriage positioning means) 521-524; Printing control device (deflection amount adjustment means) 9th
b prong 〒9c prong

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Pressurized ink is supplied to an ink ejection head, and the pressurized ink is subjected to regular vibrations in the in-ejection head and ejected from a nozzle of the head, and the point at which the ink ejected from the nozzle separates into particles. In a deflection control inkjet recording device that charges ink particles by applying a charging voltage to a charging electrode and deflects the charged ink particles with a deflection electric field; a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged in the scanning drive direction of an ink ejection head; A plurality of charging electrodes arranged at positions to form a charge on the ink ejected from the ink ejection nozzles; One or one set of charge detection electrodes arranged at a position outside the recording range; From the recording range Sequentially from the ink ejection nozzle located at the farthest position, positioning a carriage supporting the ink ejection head to a position where the ink ejected by the ink ejection nozzle is directed toward the charge detection area of the charge detection electrode, and instructing the adjustment of the deflection claw; When this is completed, a carriage positioning means for positioning the carriage supporting the ink ejection head to a position where the ink ejected by the next ink ejection nozzle is directed toward the charge detection area of the charge detection electrode and instructing the deflection amount adjustment; Deflection claw adjustment means for detecting the deflection of ink particles ejected from the ink jet nozzle facing the charge detection area of the charge detection electrode in response to a claw adjustment instruction, and setting the deflection amount to a predetermined value. A deflection control infusiera 1 to recording device characterized by: