JPH08118611A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In an ink jet recording apparatus in which a common drive unit drives a recovery system for recovering the ink ejection conditions of a recording medium and a recording head, the recording medium is accompanied by the execution of the recovery process. Prevents troubles caused by movement of. [Configuration] It is important that a recording medium is set in the device.
If it is detected by the E sensor 3P, before the recovery process is performed, the recovery process is performed after the recording medium is conveyed in the reverse direction by a predetermined distance according to the maximum distance of the movement of the recording medium that occurs during the recovery process. To do. After the recovery process is completed, the recording medium is conveyed by the predetermined distance to return the recording medium to the original position. Also, during the recording operation, all the recording data of the next line is "0".
Whether or not all are "0", the recovery process is executed in the next line.

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 in which a conveying means for conveying a recording medium and a recovering means for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of a recording head are driven by the same drive source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an operating section (hereinafter referred to as a carrier) equipped with a recording head that reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium such as paper or OHP sheet (hereinafter referred to as recording sheet). A so-called serial type recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a serial printer) having a) has been proposed in a form in which recording heads of various recording systems are mounted. The recording head used in this serial printer includes a wire dot system, a thermal system, a thermal transfer system, and an inkjet system.

Among these recording apparatuses, in the ink jet type, mainly a drive source for driving a carrier and conveyance of recording paper (hereinafter referred to as Paper F
drive source for driving (eed = PF), a drive source for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the print head (hereinafter referred to as recovery processing), and a drive source for ejecting ink from the print head. Owns, drives them as needed, and keeps records.

However, in recent years, the conveyance system and the recovery system of the ink jet recording apparatus are driven, and even if the conveyance system and the recovery system are not driven at the same time, a sufficient recording quality output can be obtained, resulting in cost reduction and small size. There are various types of devices that are driven by the same motor from the viewpoints of space saving and space saving.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 01-82962 discloses a recording apparatus in which a driving motor of a pump for sucking and discharging ink in a head also serves as a paper feeding motor.

[0006]

However, when the above-mentioned transport system and recovery system are driven by the same drive source, the following problems may occur. For example, when the recovery process is performed while the recording paper is set in the recording device, the same drive source is used, so that the recording paper is conveyed according to the recovery process and the setting position of the recording paper is changed. There is a problem in that the recording sheet changes or the recording sheet comes off the recording apparatus, resulting in a state of "no recording sheet". Further, if the recovery process is performed in the middle of recording, there is a problem that "a recorded image is misaligned."

Conventionally, in order to prevent the above problems from occurring, for example, one direction of the rotational movement of the motor is transmitted to the transport system and the other direction is transmitted to the recovery system, or recovery is performed when the recording paper is set in the recording apparatus. It has a control configuration that "does not perform", "does not perform", or "performs recovery process after ejecting recording paper".

However, in recent years, when the recording paper is ejected or when the set state of the recording paper is released, it is necessary to convey the recording paper in two opposite directions, "to improve the recording quality", or " Recording paper is set for reasons such as `` protection of the recording head '',
For example, it is necessary to perform a recovery process for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head even during recording.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing recording without trouble even if a recording head recovery process is performed with a recording medium set and the recording medium moves accordingly. It is in.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which the set state of the recording medium is not canceled even if the recovery process is performed with the recording medium set.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing highly accurate recording without degrading the recording quality even if a recovery process is performed during the recording operation.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is an ink jet which records an image on a recording medium using a recording head which ejects an ink droplet from an ejection port according to recording data. In the recording apparatus, a recovery processing unit that performs a recovery process for recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head, a transport unit that transports a recording medium, and a common drive unit that drives the recovery processing unit and the transport unit. If the recording medium is detected by the detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a recording medium at a predetermined position, and before the recovery processing is executed, the recovery processing is being performed along with the drive of the recovery processing means. First movement of the recording medium by a predetermined distance according to the movement of the recording medium
And a control means for controlling the carrying means so as to carry the paper in advance in a second direction opposite to the above direction.

A second aspect of the invention is an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium using a recording head for ejecting ink droplets from an ejection port according to recording data.
Recovery processing means for performing recovery processing for recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head, conveying means for conveying a recording medium, common driving means for driving the recovery processing means and the conveying means, and recording data A detection means for detecting a blank area in the recording medium conveyance direction based on the detection means; and a control means for controlling the recovery processing means to execute the recovery processing in the blank area detected by the detection means. And

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the recording medium is detected at the predetermined position, the recovery process is performed after the recording medium is conveyed in the reverse direction by a predetermined distance according to the movement of the recording medium which occurs during the recovery process. Run.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a blank area in the recording medium conveyance direction is detected, and recovery processing is executed in this blank area.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a document creation processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a word processor) which is an example of an apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

Here, 1 is a keyboard as an input means for inputting information such as sentences. Reference numeral 2 is a display device as a display means for displaying information such as input text, which is rotatably held in the main body of the device and is not used (for example, during transportation,
It is configured to be folded so as to overlap the keyboard 1 (when stored). Reference numeral 3 is a recording device for recording information such as sentences on a recording paper. In this embodiment, the recording device 3 is an ink jet recording device for recording by ejecting ink. Reference numeral 4 denotes an insertion port for the recording sheet 5, and the recording apparatus 3 pulls the recording sheet 5 to a predetermined position (hereinafter, this state is referred to as a recording sheet setting state), and when recording is started, the recording apparatus 3 moves in a direction A in the drawing. It is configured to perform recording while conveying the recording sheet.

FIG. 2 shows the word processor B shown in FIG.
It is sectional drawing from the direction.

An ink cartridge 3a is composed of a recording head portion for ejecting ink droplets according to recording information and an ink tank portion for accumulating ink, each of which is separable and runs out of ink. In that case, it is possible to replace only the ink tank portion. Further, the recording head portion includes a fine liquid ejection port (orifice, hereinafter referred to as ejection port), a liquid path (hereinafter referred to as nozzle), an energy acting portion provided in a part of the nozzle, and an acting portion. It is provided with a plurality of energy generating means or the like for generating a droplet forming energy which acts on a certain liquid.

As an energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, electromagnetic waves such as a laser are radiated to generate heat, and droplets are ejected by the action of the heat generation. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, a recording method using an energy generating means that heats a liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor, and ejects the liquid. Among them, a recording head used in an inkjet recording method that ejects liquid by thermal energy has a high resolution because ejection ports for ejecting recording liquid droplets and forming ejection liquid droplets can be arranged at high density. It is possible to keep a record. Among them, the recording head using the electrothermal converter as the energy generating means can be easily made compact, and has the advantages of the IC technology and the microfabrication technology, which have been remarkably improved in the technology and the reliability in the recent semiconductor field. It is advantageous because it can be used for various purposes, high-density mounting is easy, and manufacturing cost is low.

The ink cartridge 3a is a carrier 3
It is mounted on b and scans (reciprocates) along the guide shaft 3c in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction A of the recording paper 5 (perpendicular to the paper surface). At this time, ink is ejected from the recording head portion to record on the recording paper 5. Further, the transport system of the recording paper 5 in the recording device 3 has a transport roller 3d and a pinch roller 3e which is in pressure contact with the discharge roller 3f, and a spur 3g which is in pressure contact with the discharge roller 3f. Further, a conveyance guide 3h for guiding the conveyance of the recording paper 5 is provided between the rollers. Incidentally, reference numeral 6 in the figure denotes a discharge port for the recording paper 5. Further, the conveying speed on the side of the discharging roller 3f is set to be higher than the conveying speed on the side of the conveying roller 3d, so that the recording sheet 5 does not loosen at the recording position facing the recording head portion. Tension is applied to the recording paper 5 between the rollers. 3i is a recording paper sensor (hereinafter referred to as Paper E
nd sensor = referred to as PE sensor), and the presence or absence of the recording paper 5 is detected. Reference numeral 7 denotes a floppy disk drive as a storage device, which is built in a word processor, and which inserts a floppy disk (not shown) as a removable recording medium to write information such as a document and read the information. is there. Reference numeral 8 denotes a control board, which controls each part of the word processor, and controls, for example, information processing of sentences and the like and control of a recording device.
In addition, the ink ejection port of the recording head portion is capped by the cap 3P during non-recording to prevent drying. Further, the cap 3P is connected to a pump (not shown), and the ink discharged into the cap 3P is sucked at the timing described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the control configuration of the word processor.

Here, 8a is a CPU that controls the entire word processor, and a timer section 8b manages the time for execution of control. Word processor is ROM8c or F
It is controlled by a control program and various data stored in an external storage device such as the DD 7 and a hard disk drive (not shown). Reference numeral 8d is a RAM used as a work area or a buffer area for storing input data from the input means such as the keyboard 1 when executing control. 8e is an electrically readable and writable ROM (for example, EE
In PROM), the recorded data is retained even when the power of the apparatus is turned off, and the accumulated number of recordings executed by the recording apparatus 3 and the like are stored. At the time of recording, the carrier motor 3j, which is the drive source of the carrier 3b,
The transport motor 3k, which is the transport drive source for the recording paper 5, and the ink cartridge 3a (actually, the energy generating means in the ink cartridge 3a) are drivers 8f and 8f.
The recording operation is performed by being driven by g and 8h. The transport motor 3k also drives a recovery system (not shown) that performs recovery processing for maintaining and recovering the ejection state of the ink ejected from the ink cartridge 3a by switching the driving force transmission gear (not shown) (details). Will be described later). Also P
The position of the carrier 3b, the presence / absence of the recording paper 5, and the like are recognized based on the detection of various sensors 3l such as the E sensor 3i.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the detection circuit of the PE sensor 3i.

The PE sensor 3i is a transmissive photosensor and is composed of a light emitting portion (for example, a light emitting diode 3m), a light receiving portion (for example, a light receiving transistor 3n) and a lever 3o. The anode terminal of the light emitting diode 3m is connected via a resistor R1. VCC (= 5V) and cathode terminal are ground (G
ND) (all are connected on the control board 8. The same applies to the light receiving transistor 3n thereafter). On the other hand, the collector terminal of the light receiving transistor 3n is connected to the VCC and the input terminal IP of the CPU 8a via the resistor R2, and the emitter terminal is connected to the GND line.

In FIG. 2, when the recording sheet 5 is present at a predetermined position of the recording device 3, the lever 3o is pushed up. As a result, since there is no obstacle blocking the light emitting diode 3m and the light receiving transistor 3n, the light amount of the output of the light emitting diode 3m is converted into the base current of the light receiving transistor 3n, and the C line in the figure becomes the level "L". On the other hand, when the recording medium 5 is not present, as shown in FIG. 4, the lever 3o becomes an obstacle between the light emitting diode 3m and the light receiving transistor 3n, so that the light amount of the output of the light emitting diode 3m is prevented from reaching the light receiving transistor 3n. Receiving transistor 3
Since the base current of n becomes 0, the C line in the figure becomes level "H". The CPU 8a sets the level of the input terminal IP to 2
The presence or absence of recording paper is recognized by detecting the value (H, L).

Next, the recovery process will be described.

FIG. 5 is an example of an operation sequence of recovery processing (hereinafter also referred to as cleaning) in the ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the rotation angle of the pump gear corresponding to FIG.

The recovery system is a cap 3P formed of an elastic material such as rubber facing the ejection port forming surface of the ink cartridge 3a, a pump for exerting a suction force to suck the ink received by the cap, and a suction by the pump. The ink tank for storing the unsuitable ink for recording, the wiper for cleaning the ejection surface of the recording head, and the pump, the cap and the wiper for receiving the driving force transmitted. It is composed of a cam device or the like, and its operation can be roughly classified into three operations of a capping operation, a wiping operation, and a pumping operation.

The capping operation is an operation of automatically capping the ink cartridge 3a with a cap at a reference position (capping sensor OFF position in FIG. 6, hereinafter referred to as home position), and drying ink and dust in the nozzle. , To prevent the adhesion of paper powder and the like. This operation is executed when the power of the word processor is turned off and after a predetermined time elapses in the cap open state (state where no capping is performed).

The wiping operation means that the ink cartridge 3a is supported by a wiper which is movably supported at a position where it projects toward the ink cartridge 3a side and wipes during the movement of the carrier 3b and a retracted position where it does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. Wipe off dust, paper dust, etc. from the nozzle's discharge port. Predetermine during word processor power OFF, before cap open state, cap closed state (capping state), before every page printing, immediately after pumping operation, during recording. It is executed when the number of recording dots or the recording time is exceeded.

The pumping operation is performed by causing the cap to face the ejection port forming surface and driving the energy generating element provided at the ejection port and used for ejecting ink.
A process of ejecting ink from nozzles to remove ejection failure factors such as air bubbles, dust, or ink that has become thicker and is no longer suitable for recording (preliminary ejection), or the ejection port formation surface is covered with a cap separately. In this state, it is an operation of recovering a printing defect in which the cause of the ejection failure is removed by forcibly ejecting the ink from the ejection port.

As shown in FIG. 5, the recovery system in the capping state with the cap 3P at the normal home position is
The piston operates to execute the pumping operation (step (1)), and the stopped state is maintained for 3 seconds so that the ink is sufficiently sucked in that state (step (2)). Then, the cap is opened, and 100 preliminary ejections are performed for all nozzles (step (3)). Next, empty suction for discharging the ink filled in the pump is performed four times (step (4)). Subsequently, the ink cartridge 3a is moved to the wiper ON position to execute wiping (step (5)). Finally, wiper cleaning is performed (step (6)), the ink cartridge 3a is returned to the capping position, and capping is performed (step (7)). For the above cleaning operation, the timer 8b on the control board 8 and the EEP
"Auto cleaning" which is managed by the ROM 8e and is carried out at regular time intervals, "Manual cleaning" which is carried out by the user giving input to the keyboard 1 or switches at any time, and the ink cartridge 3a.
Alternatively, there are “replacement cleaning” that is performed when the ink tank part is replaced, “dot count cleaning” that is performed after a predetermined number of dots have been ejected, and the operation sequence, the number of times of suction, and the number of times of wiping are slightly different depending on each cleaning. However, in this embodiment, all the cleaning operations are performed according to the operation procedure shown in FIG.

The above-mentioned "empty suction" is a suction operation that does not suck ink, which is performed to prevent the ink in the cap from coming into contact with the ejection port and to prevent the backflow of the ink from the cap side when starting the ink suction. , Before capping, or when the number of recording dots exceeds a predetermined number.

By the way, in recent years, as for the drive of the transport system and the recovery system of the ink jet recording apparatus, as described above, there are various types of apparatuses which are driven by the same motor (transport motor 3k).

The configuration is composed of a driving force transmission gear for transmitting the driving force of the motor to each system, a conveyance system driving gear for driving each system, and a recovery system driving gear. In normal times or when driving the transport system,
Since the transport system drive gear and the drive force transmission gear mesh with each other, and the drive force transmission gear does not mesh with the recovery system drive gear, the drive force is not transmitted to the recovery system, and the motor drive force is the drive system transmission gear. It is transmitted only to the rollers of the transport system through the drive system. On the other hand, when the recovery system is driven, carrier 3
By b, the driving force transmission gear also meshes with the recovery system driving gear, so that the driving force is also transmitted to the recovery system gear and the recovery system is driven. However, in this case, since the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the rollers of the transport system through the transport system drive gear,
The state where the recording paper 5 is set in the recording device 3, that is, C
When the PU 8a recognizes the IP terminal as "L" (hereinafter, this is called a state in which the PE sensor 3i is ON, the opposite is P).
The E sensor 3i is referred to as an OFF state), and the recovery system is driven, and at the same time, the recording paper is also conveyed.

The control sequence of the present invention in the word processor equipped with the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIG. For the following description, the rotation angle of the pump gear and the recording paper 5 in FIG.
When the pump gear rotates 1 ° counterclockwise, the recording paper 5 moves in the A ′ direction at 1/360 inch (≈0.070).
6 mm), and the recording paper 5 is conveyed 1/360 inch in the A direction when rotated rightward by 1 °.

When the cleaning operation according to the procedure shown in FIG. 5 is automatically or arbitrarily executed while the recording paper 5 is set in the word processor, that is, the PE sensor 3i is ON (step 11). (Step 12), in steps (1) to (6) of FIG. 5, the pump gear moves from the position B to the position I (325.2).
Since it moves by −45) °, the maximum (325.2-45) * 0.0706 = 19.7821 is reached during the cleaning operation.
2 mm (= α) The recording sheet moves in the A ′ direction.

Even if the recording paper 5 is moved in the A'direction by α, the recording paper 5 is prevented from turning off the PE sensor 3i.
In advance in the A direction by α (step 1
3). After that, the driving force transmission gear is engaged with the recovery system driving gear (step 14), and the cleaning operation shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is executed (step 15). After the cleaning operation is completed, the engagement between the driving force transmitting gear and the recovery system driving gear is released (step 16), the recording sheet 5 is conveyed by α in the A ′ direction and returned to the set position in step 11 (step 17). If recording execution is selected thereafter (step 18), recording is executed (step 19).

By taking the control sequence as described above, even if the cleaning operation is executed with the recording paper set in the ink jet recording apparatus having the transport system and the recovery system driven by the same drive source. In that process, it is possible to prevent the PE sensor 3i from changing from ON to OFF and becoming the “no recording paper” state.

In the present embodiment, the so-called "recording sheet" in which one end of the recording sheet 5 is 10 mm in the A direction from the PE sensor 3i in the recording apparatus 3 shown in FIG. It is effective when it exists at the “cue position”.

The "recording paper cueing position" is a set position of a recording device having an "auto loading" function which is a control structure for detecting the recording paper 5 and automatically pulling it into the recording device 3, or a manual position or the like. The position where you are instructed to set one edge of the paper.

Other Examples In addition to the above examples, the following embodiments can be adopted.

(1) In the above embodiment, the amount by which the recording sheet 5 is moved in the A'direction by the cleaning operation (=
Only α) is controlled in advance by transporting in the A direction, but the amount transported in the A direction in advance is larger than the maximum movement in the A ′ direction by the cleaning operation (= β, α ≦ β). It may be set to.

On the other hand, for example, when one end of the recording paper 5 is located 20 mm in the A direction from the PE sensor 3i, the PE sensor 3i should be turned off even if the cleaning operation is performed and the recording paper 5 moves. There is no. Therefore, it is possible to adopt a control configuration in which the carry amount is changed depending on the set position of the recording paper 5 with respect to the recording device 3.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the constitution of an ink jet recording apparatus which can carry out the control, and FIG. 9 shows a flowchart showing the control sequence.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the recording apparatus having the configuration of FIG.
A second PE sensor 3g is provided between the E sensor 3i and the transport roller 3d. When the recording paper 5 is located at the above-mentioned "recording paper cue position", the PE sensor 3i is turned on, and the second sensor
The E sensor 3g is in the OFF state. The PE sensor 3i and the second PE sensor 3g are both in the ON state when the one end of the recording paper 5 is located at a position of α or more in the A direction relative to the PE sensor 3i.

If both the sensors are ON (step 20), the recording paper 5 does not turn off the PE sensor 3i even if the cleaning operation is performed, and therefore the cleaning operation is performed as it is (step 2).
1). On the other hand, PE sensor 3i is ON, second PE sensor 3g
When is OFF, there is a possibility that the PE sensor 3i will be turned OFF during the cleaning operation, so the same control as the control sequence in FIG. 7 is performed. Even with such a control configuration, the object of the present invention has been reached.

Even when the second PE sensor 3g does not exist, the CPU 8a recognizes the number of rotations of the carry motor 3k or the rotation of the gear, and one end of the recording paper 5 is located at a position 15 mm in the A direction from the PE sensor 3i. If it is recognized that the conveyance amount of the recording paper in FIG.
It is also possible to perform control such that the conveyance amount is changed at the set position of the recording paper 5 with respect to the recording device 3 as in 15).

(2) In the cleaning operation (FIG. 6) in the above-described embodiment, before and after the cleaning operation, the setting position of the recording sheet 5 with respect to the recording device 3 does not have any error factors such as rattling of gears. Should not change. This is because, for example, if the pump gear is rotated rightward by 45 °, the position of the pump gear is finally returned to the initial position by rotating the pump gear leftward by 45 °.

However, for example, after rotating the pump gear 45 ° to the right, it is further rotated to the right (360-45).
If the control configuration is such that the position of the pump gear is rotated to return to the initial position by rotation, the recording paper 5 set in the recording device 3 at that time is 360 * 0.0706 = 25.416 mm (= γ after completion of the cleaning operation). ) It will move in the A'direction.

Therefore, in this case, after the recording paper 5 is previously conveyed by γ in the direction A (step 13 in FIG. 7).
If the cleaning operation (corresponding to step 15 in FIG. 7) is performed and then only “0” is conveyed in the A ′ direction (corresponding to step 17 in FIG. 7), the recording sheet for the recording device 3 before the cleaning operation is recorded. It is possible to return to the set position of 5.

As described above, it is possible to adopt a control configuration in which the carry amount of the recording paper 5 before and after the cleaning operation is set to different values.

(3) When the recording paper 5 is set in the recording device 3, the recording paper 5 is set at a position previously conveyed in the A direction by an amount corresponding to step 13 in FIG. It may be configured to perform. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a control sequence in the control configuration.
0 is shown. The recording device 3 is assumed to have the configuration shown in FIG.

When the recording paper 5 is set in the recording device 3 (PE sensor 3i is ON, second PE sensor 3g is OFF).
Position, step 22), PE sensor 3i is ON, second
The PE sensor 3g is also in the ON position (= one end of the recording paper 5 is 20 mm in the A direction from the PE sensor 3i,
The recording sheet is conveyed to this position (hereinafter referred to as the recording sheet setting position) (step 23). This operation can be achieved by automatically pulling in the recording paper when the PE sensor 3i is ON and the second PE sensor 3g is OFF, or by allowing the user to set the recording paper. When the cleaning operation is performed here, it is executed only by switching the gear. At this time, the recording paper 5 does not move to the position where the PE sensor 3i is turned off even if the cleaning operation is performed, so that there is no problem. When recording is started (step 24), the recording medium is conveyed in the A ′ direction to the “recording paper cue position” (step 2).
5) Recording is performed (step 26). Here, it is desirable that the “recording paper cue position” is a position above the upper end of the recordable range owned by the recording apparatus.

(4) It is possible to apply the above-mentioned embodiment even during recording.

When the cleaning operation is performed during the recording, the phenomenon that the PE sensor 3i is turned off is rare, and the major problem is that the recording image is displaced before and after the cleaning operation due to the movement of the recording paper. Is. The cause of this is due to factors such as rattling of gears, but since the recording quality of the recording apparatus has been remarkably improved in recent years, it becomes a serious problem. On the other hand, however, in the inkjet recording apparatus, the cleaning operation is indispensable for improving the recording quality for the purpose of maintaining and recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a recorded image. In the figure, one cell in the vertical direction has a width of about 9 mm as a recording amount recorded when the carrier 3b reciprocates for one scan.
If the recording medium moves in the 1 mmA direction before and after the cleaning operation, a gap (white stripe) is formed in the moving direction of the recording medium paper 5, and if it moves in the 1 mmA 'direction, the recording dots overlap and the quality deteriorates. Becomes

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a control structure may be adopted in which a deviation may occur, that is, a blank (blank area) in the recording paper conveyance direction is detected and a cleaning operation is performed there.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a control sequence which solves the above problems and enables the cleaning operation during recording. Generally, recording is performed through the following process. One line of print data (D line in FIG. 11) is set in the print buffer, the carrier 3b is moved once between the print areas, and the print head is driven based on the print data stored in the print buffer during that time. To record. During this period, the print data of the next line is set in the print buffer. After that, the required amount of recording paper is conveyed. By repeating this, an image of one page of recording paper is recorded.

Therefore, it is judged whether or not there is the recording data of the next line (step 27), and if not (lines F to G), it is judged whether or not the cleaning operation is necessary (step 28). If necessary, a cleaning operation is performed (step 29), and then the recording of this line is performed (step 3).
0). If it is determined in step 27 that there is recording data (D to E, H to I lines), recording is performed as it is (step 30). When there is no print data, it means that the print data of all the one line is null (0) data.

With this control structure, even if the cleaning operation is performed at the time of recording, the cleaning operation is performed corresponding to the blank area on the recording sheet, so that the recording quality is prevented from being disturbed. Will be possible.
It is also possible to adopt a control configuration in which the cleaning operation is not performed or prohibited until the absence of 1-line recording data is detected by similar control.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus having the conveyance system and the recovery system having the same drive source, even if the cleaning operation is executed with the recording paper set, the PE sensor is turned off and the "recording" is performed. No paper "
It becomes possible to prevent the situation.

Further, even if the cleaning operation is performed during recording, it is possible to perform highly accurate recording without degrading the recording quality.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the ink jet type apparatus which forms flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy and performs recording among the ink jet recording methods has been described as an example.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129, US Pat.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in the '740796 specification is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and a recording head is produced. This is effective because film boiling is caused on the heat-acting surface and the bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet.
It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat. No. 4,463,359 and US Pat. No. 43452 are used.
Those as described in US Pat. No. 62 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 may be used.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which the opening corresponds to the ejection portion, may be adopted.

In addition, by being mounted on the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. to the recording head because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or the above-mentioned liquid. In the inkjet method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form.

In addition, the temperature rise due to the thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in the standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. It is also possible to use an ink that has the property of being liquefied only by heat energy. In such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a word processor or a computer, in the form of a facsimile, and may be combined with a reader or the like. It may be in the form of a copying machine.

Further, the ink droplet is not limited to be ejected by using thermal energy, and the ink droplet may be ejected by using a piezo element or the like.

[0078]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the recording medium is detected at the predetermined position, the recording medium is moved in the reverse direction by the predetermined distance according to the movement of the recording medium which occurs during the recovery process. Since the recovery process is executed after transporting, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from becoming a non-detection state even if the recording medium moves along with the recovery process, and to prevent troubles such as the absence of a recording medium. it can.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the blank area in the recording medium conveyance direction is detected and the recovery processing is executed in this blank area, the recovery processing is performed during the recording operation and the position of the recording medium is displaced. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of white stripes or overlapping of recording dots, and the recording quality is not deteriorated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a word processor which is an example of a device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the word processor shown in FIG. 1 taken in the direction B.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration of a word processor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a detection circuit of a PE sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a cleaning operation sequence in the inkjet recording apparatus.

6 is a schematic diagram showing a rotation angle of a pump gear corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a dot configuration diagram illustrating an example of a recorded image.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 keyboard 2 indicator 3 recording device 4 insertion port 5 recording paper 6 ejection port 7 floppy disk drive 8 control board

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication location B41J 2/185 11/42 M 23/02 A B41J 3/04 102 R

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium using a recording head which ejects ink droplets from an ejection port according to recording data, in a recovery process for recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head. Recovery processing means for carrying out the recording medium, conveying means for conveying the recording medium, common driving means for driving the recovery processing means and the conveying means, detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium at a predetermined position, and the detection means When the recording medium is detected by, the recording medium is moved by a predetermined distance according to the movement of the recording medium that occurs during the recovery processing due to the drive of the recovery processing means before the recovery processing is executed. Ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls the transport unit to transport in advance in a second direction that is opposite to the generated first direction. . 2. The control means controls the transport means to transport the recording medium in the first direction by a distance corresponding to the predetermined distance after the recovery processing is completed. The inkjet recording device described. 3. The control means controls the transport means to transport the recording medium in the first direction by the predetermined distance after the recovery processing and before the recording operation is started. The inkjet recording device according to item 1. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a conveying distance of the recording medium after the recovery processing is different from the predetermined distance. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is equal to or more than a maximum movement distance of the recording medium during the recovery process. 6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects an ink droplet from the ejection port by causing a state change in the ink by using thermal energy. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium using a recording head which ejects ink droplets from an ejection port according to recording data, in a recovery process for recovering the ink ejection state of the recording head. Recovery processing means for carrying out the recording medium, conveying means for conveying the recording medium, common driving means for driving the recovery processing means and the conveying means, and detection means for detecting a blank area in the recording medium conveying direction based on the recording data. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control the recovery processing unit to execute the recovery process in the blank area detected by the detection unit. 8. The apparatus records an image of one line by scanning the recording head in a direction different from a recording medium conveyance direction, and the detection means indicates that all the recording data of the next line is non-recording. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the blank area is detected according to whether or not it is data. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording head ejects an ink droplet from the ejection port by causing a state change in the ink by using thermal energy.