JPS62290568A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable reliable adjustment to be conducted in a short time, by a method wherein a lateral deviation of each head is detected by a sensor detecting a recording dot of the each line head to change a recording start position in the head automatically and store it in a non-volatile recording element. CONSTITUTION:With start of a main procedure for adjusting a horizontal registration, the value N for counting the number of the recording element from the left end of a line head is set to 1, whereby one dot is recorded in the recording element Nth on the line head. Thereafter, a recording paper 1 is run a predetermined distance, and the value N is advanced +1 by +1 until a sensor for a color corresponding to the line head can detect the recorded dot. With the detection of the recorded dot, the recording element Nth on the line head is regarded as disposed on the left end of a recording area A, and the recorded dot is stored in an area on a corresponding non-volatile RAM. Such an adjustment processing procedure conducted for each of the line heads 2-5 enables a position of the left-end dot to be detected on the recording area A of each line head.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording device, and more specifically, a recording head having a plurality of recording elements aligned in the width direction of a recording medium prints a character 0 figure line by line. The present invention relates to a recording device that forms images such as nine images.

[Prior Art] Conventional recording devices of this type include a recording head (so-called full-line type) in which recording elements such as inkjet nozzles are aligned over the entire width of a recording medium such as recording paper.
Some printers have a plurality of line heads (hereinafter referred to as line heads) corresponding to each color in the running direction of the recording paper to enable multicolor recording.

Conventionally, in such a printing apparatus, since one pixel is constituted by a plurality of printing elements corresponding to each color, it is necessary to align each line head in the horizontal direction (width direction). As means for this alignment, there is a method in which the recording position of effective data in a recording line is changed dot by dot using an electrical method.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in such conventional recording devices,
Setting the amount of adjustment between each line head was done by a human while referring to the recording results, so when there were a large number of line heads, or when a large number of recording elements were arranged to further increase the resolution. In such cases, the adjustment time becomes longer and a switch for setting is required, resulting in an increase in labor costs for the adjustment and an increase in the cost of installing the switch.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention aims to solve these problems and to provide a recording device that can easily and reliably adjust the recording position of a line head at a low cost. In addition, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a recording head 100 formed by arranging a group of recording elements in the width direction of the recording medium P has a recording head 100 arranged in a direction corresponding to the edge of the recording area (A) on the recording medium. A driving means 120 for driving a recording element provided in the recording head 100 , a conveying means 130 for relatively moving the recording head 100 and the recording medium P, and a sensor 11 provided therein.
Based on the output of 0, the recording element is driven by the driving means 120 until recording by the recording element located at a position on the recording head 100 corresponding to the end of the recording area (A) is detected, and then moved by the conveying means 130. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a control means 140 for performing control, and a storage means 150 for recording position information of the detected recording element on the recording head.

[Function] That is, according to the present invention, the process of selecting the recording element group in the range on the recording head lOO corresponding to the recording range A-e is facilitated, and even when a plurality of recording heads 100 are provided, they can be easily selected. The position adjustment can be performed reliably and easily.

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

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a block diagram showing an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention, and an explanatory diagram for explaining the arrangement of line heads and the like in the embodiment shown in the second figure, respectively.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording paper as a recording medium on which image data such as characters and figures is formed, and a paper running motor 1
9 in the paper running direction f shown by the arrow in FIG.
transported to. 2.3.4 and 5 are line heads provided corresponding to, for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and are used to print the recording paper l perpendicular to the paper running direction f.
It has a plurality of recording elements in the width direction (horizontal direction).

In this example, it is assumed that each of the line heads 2 to 5 has recording elements wider than the effective recording area A on the recording paper 1. Sensors 6 to 9 are arranged in accordance with the detection level of dots formed on the recording paper 1 by the line heads 2 to 5, and for example, a light source ( light emitting section) and light detecting section (
It can be a reflective optical sensor consisting of a light receiving section).

In addition, in FIG. 2, lO is MPtl as the main control unit of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, which determines the adjustment values of line heads 2 to 5 according to the processing procedure described later in FIG. Control the recording process based on the value. 11 is a nonvolatile RAM powered up by a battery, for example, and has areas 12 to 15 for storing adjustment values corresponding to line heads 2 to 5, respectively. 16 includes the adjustment processing procedure shown in the fourth figure, as well as the MP
This is a ROM that stores control procedures and the like executed by Ul0.

17 is a recording start position determining circuit, which determines the line head adjustment value set by MPU10 based on the contents stored in nAMll, that is, the left end position in the third diagram in the recording range A of the line head, and moves it to that position. This is a circuit for driving from a certain printing element to the printing element at the right end for printing. Further, 18 is an OR gate, which guides recording data from MPU10 or external host device 50 to a decision circuit.

That is, in the recording apparatus according to this embodiment, each of the line heads 2 to 5 covers areas 12 to 1, respectively, during recording.
Since a predetermined number of recording elements are driven from the recording element at the position set by MPLIIO by the recording start position determining circuit 17 based on the adjustment value stored in 5, image formation without deviation is performed in the recording range A. Become.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the adjustment processing procedure according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

First, when this procedure is started to adjust the horizontal registration according to the command input from a switch, etc.
In step S1, the value N for counting the number of recording elements from the left end of the line head is set to "1", and in step S3, 1 is assigned to the Nth recording element of the line head via the recording start position determining circuit 17. Record the dots. Next, in step s5, the paper running motor 19 is operated to make the recording paper l run a predetermined distance.

Next, in step S7, it is determined whether the sensor of the color corresponding to that line head has been able to record and detect a dot. If a negative determination is made here, the N value is incremented by +1 through the process of step S11, and the processes of steps S3 and S5 are repeated until a positive determination is made in step S7. If a recorded dot is detected in step s7, the process proceeds to step Sll, and the next N value is used as the adjustment value, that is, when the Nth recording element of the line head is at the left end on the recording area A. , and is stored in the corresponding area on the nonvolatile RAM.

By performing this adjustment procedure for each of the line heads 2 to 5, it becomes possible to detect the position of the left end dot on the recording area A of each line head.

With these location information expanded to old l to R, MPI
The IIO provides start position information to the print start position determining circuit 17, and corrects the horizontal positional deviation of each line head by shifting the effective image forming area on the line head within the upper recording element group arrangement range. becomes possible. In addition, by storing position information in the nonvolatile memory 11 backed up by a battery instead of using setting means such as a switch, it becomes easy to change the adjustment value.
Moreover, even if the power of the device is turned off, the adjustment position information can remain, and the information can be retained until readjustment is performed.

As described above, according to this example, each line head is equipped with a sensor that detects each recording dot, and the sensor detects the horizontal displacement of each head, and automatically determines the memorization start position in the head. Since the difference is changed and stored in a non-volatile memory element, reliable adjustment can be made in a short time, and costs can be reduced by reducing the number of adjustment steps.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various configurations. For example, in the embodiment, a recording device is described which is equipped with a four-tree line head corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and a four-tree sensor is provided corresponding to each color. Of course, any desired number of optical sensors can be provided depending on the color selected depending on the recording mode, and the number of optical sensors also depends on the reflection density. It is not necessary to correspond.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can easily and reliably adjust the printing position of a line head at a low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the recording device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the recording device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example of arrangement of the line head and optical sensor in the embodiment shown in FIG. The explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the recording position adjustment processing procedure according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 1...Recording paper, 2-5...Line head, 6-9...Sensor, lO...MPtl. 11...Nonvolatile RAM, 12-15...Line head adjustment value storage area, 16...RO
M. 17... Recording start position determining circuit, 19... Paper running motor. Figure 1 ψ r-gノ IJI Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A recording head comprising a group of recording elements arranged in the width direction of a recording medium, a sensor disposed corresponding to an edge of a recording area on the recording medium, and a sensor disposed on the recording head. a driving means for driving a recording element, a conveyance means for relatively moving the recording head and the recording medium, and a recording element located at a position on the recording head corresponding to the edge of the recording area based on the output of the sensor. a control means for driving the recording element by the driving means until recording by the element is detected, and then controlling the transporting means to perform the movement; and position information of the detected recording element on the recording head. A recording device comprising a storage means for recording. 2) A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the recording heads are provided. 3) A recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the storage means is constituted by a non-volatile RAM.