JP3244920B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a plurality of recording modes having different recording densities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a cartridge type ink jet recording apparatus in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated is known as an ink jet recording apparatus. or,
The ink jet recording device has multiple printing modes,
Among these printing modes, there is a mode for performing processing for thinning out black dot data from the printing data. By setting the printing mode user for the ink jet recording apparatus, the consumption of ink is suppressed, and the running cost is reduced. Can be reduced.

[0003] Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, when the ink in the cartridge is exhausted, a predetermined image, for example, a black mark is printed on a recording paper to notify the user and prompt the user to replace the cartridge. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ink jet recording apparatus having means for detecting the presence or absence of ink by optically detecting black and white with a photo sensor or the like.

[0004]

However, when a predetermined mark indicating the presence or absence of ink is printed in the thinned-out printing mode, black is erroneously detected as white depending on the performance of the photosensor because the density of the mark is reduced. There was a problem of doing it.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of accurately detecting a predetermined image such as a mark regardless of a set recording mode.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording material based on image data using an ink jet head for discharging ink. In the apparatus, a first recording mode in which an image is recorded on a recording material at a predetermined recording density based on image data, and a recording density lower than in the first recording mode by thinning out dots recorded based on the image data Selecting means for selecting a recording mode from a second recording mode for recording an image on a recording material in
According to the recording mode selected by the selecting means, while recording an image on the recording material based on the image data, and after recording a predetermined amount of the image on the recording material, a predetermined position on the recording material at a predetermined position Recording control means for recording a mark image, detection means for detecting the predetermined mark image, and processing means for performing a predetermined process based on the detection result of the detection means, the recording control means, The predetermined mark image is recorded in accordance with the first recording mode irrespective of the recording mode selected by the selection means.

Thus, even if the recording mode is selected so as to perform recording in the second recording mode based on image data, the predetermined mark image to be detected by the detecting means is kept in the second recording mode. Recording is performed in accordance with the first recording mode in which an image having a higher density than the recording mode can be recorded.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a facsimile control unit constituted by a microprocessor or the like, which comprises a CPU (central processing unit) 104, a ROM (read only memory) 103, a RAM (random access memory) 102, and the like. It controls the whole image input / output and communication processing. The ROM 103 stores a control program, and the RAM 102 is used as a work area of the CPU 104, and also stores a buffer of image data, various settings of the facsimile apparatus set by a user, and the like.

The image input / output is performed by the reading unit 100, the recording unit 11
1 is performed. That is, the reading of the document image data is performed by the reading unit 100 including a CCD (Charge Storage Element) sensor, a document transport system, and the like. The received image data and the image data read by the reading unit 100 at the time of copying are printed on recording paper by a recording unit 111 including an ink jet printer.

A connection with a communication line such as a telephone line and data input / output are performed by a modem 105 and an NCU (network control unit) 10.
6 is performed. The NCU 106 is connected to a telephone and a telephone for manual control. Facsimile control unit 101
Is connected to a photo sensor 206 to be described later, and determines the presence or absence of ink based on the footer mark detection output of the photo sensor 206 as described later.

The recording section 111 comprises an ink jet head / recording paper conveying means, control means and the like. The control means is CP
U114, a ROM 113 for storing a control program of the CPU and a character generator, and a RAM 112 used as a work area, a command buffer, and a print buffer of the CPU.

A switch for switching data to be input to the recording unit 111, which is switched under the control of the facsimile control unit 101. When switching to the a side, the received data of the facsimile is sent to the recording unit and printed. When switching to the b side, print data from the external information processing device connected to the connector 115 is sent to the recording unit and printed. Further, the switch is switched to the b side, and at the same time, the switch c is connected. Thus, the command from the connector 115 is input to the switch 110 and at the same time, the facsimile control unit 10
1, the facsimile control unit 101 operates the connector 115 when the switch 110 is switched to the b side.
Can detect that a command has been sent to the recording unit.

That is, the recording unit 111 has two operation modes. One is a mode for recording a received image or a copy image of a facsimile (hereinafter, referred to as a facsimile mode).
The other is a mode for recording data from an external information processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a printer mode).

A fax operation unit 108 is provided on the operation panel 107.
And a recording unit operation unit 109 are provided. The facsimile operation unit 108 includes a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number, various function keys, an operation mode key for switching an operation mode between a facsimile mode and a printer mode, and a display device used for displaying a telephone number and time. Have been. The recording unit operation unit 109 has a display for displaying the current operation mode and print mode.

The recording section 111 used in the present embodiment uses an ink jet recording apparatus as described above, and the recording head is an ink jet recording head, has 64 nozzles, and has an electrothermal conversion element provided in the nozzles. The ink is ejected from the ejection port at the tip of the nozzle by the pressure of film boiling generated in the ink due to heat generation. The recording head is integrated with the ink tank, and is of a cartridge type that can be replaced with a new one for each head when the ink runs out.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the main part of the recording unit. FIG.
The recording paper 201 is conveyed in the direction of arrow 2A, and the paper is fed to the printing position by the paper feed roller 202 and the roller 204 for holding down the paper. Cartridge 205
The recording head 207 performs reciprocating movement in the vertical direction with respect to the paper surface to perform printing in the main scanning direction, and at the same time, printing in a width of 64 nozzles in the sub-scanning direction.
Each time the main scanning is completed, the paper feed roller 201 and the paper discharge roller 203
Is driven by a drive system (not shown), and conveys the recording paper 201 in the sub-scanning direction with a high precision at a distance corresponding to the recording width. By repeating this main scanning and paper feeding, image recording for one page is recorded. 206 is a reflection type photo sensor,
After the image recording for one page, the presence or absence of a predetermined pattern (black mark) printed on the rear end of the recording paper is optically detected. In accordance with the detection result of the photo sensor 206, it is possible to determine whether the recording head 206 has run out of ink or a recording paper jam based on the output of a black mark or the white output of the recording paper. The photo sensor used in this embodiment is a red light emitting element for the light emitting element and a photo transistor for the light receiving element, which can determine whether the range of 3 mm in diameter is white or black.

FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship of the photosensor 206 with respect to the recording, and shows a footer mark 208 for detecting the remaining amount of ink 208 and its recording position. Here, the photosensor 206 and the mark 208 are arranged so as to be aligned. These are also the recording head 207
Is arranged at the left end of the recordable range for the recording paper 201. Further, the footer mark recording position is set so that the recording paper 201 is recorded at a position where a white background of recording paper of a predetermined length always remains at the rear end.

Accordingly, when the facsimile control unit 101 detects white after the photosensor 206 detects black, the footer mark is normally recorded and it is determined that ink is present.

Next, the printing mode of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4A shows a standard print mode for printing black dot data without fluttering. (B) is a thinning-out printing mode in which black dot data in a certain block is thinned out at regular intervals and printed to thereby suppress the ink ejection amount. As described above, the determination of the presence or absence of ink is a small object that is optically detected by the photo sensor. Therefore, when printing is performed in the thinned-out printing mode shown in FIG. There is a possibility that a case where white, that is, there is no ink, may be erroneously determined. In order to eliminate such erroneous judgments, it is necessary to print a footer mark in a high-density printing mode shown in (A) only for a mark for detecting the presence or absence of ink (hereinafter referred to as a footer mark). Occurs. However, the recording apparatus frequently prints data having a considerably high black ratio. If the user can print only in the standard print mode as shown in (A), the ink consumption will increase accordingly, and the cartridge must be replaced immediately. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the standard print mode according to the needs of the user,
The thinning-out printing mode can be arbitrarily selected, and the footer mark is printed in the standard mode regardless of whether the standard mode or the thinning-out mode is selected. As a result, data having a high black ratio is printed in a thinning-out printing mode such as B, and footer marks are printed in a printing mode such as (A), thereby saving ink consumption. .

Of course, in controlling the printing operation of the recording apparatus, the printing mode can be arbitrarily selected by the user using the keys on the operation panel 107. The standard mode and the thinning mode can be selected in either the facsimile mode or the printer mode. Can also be set individually. Also, the user can determine whether or not ink is present or not by selecting the operation panel 1 similarly.
07 can be arbitrarily set by key operation.
For example, if it is determined in the facsimile mode that there is no ink in the facsimile mode, there is a possibility that the ink has run out during the printing of the page, so the received data after the page is stored in the memory and used. When the user replaces the cartridge with a new one, the received data can be printed again. Further, not only as a recording device of the facsimile apparatus shown in the present embodiment but also as a recording device of an external information processing device, a display for notifying the user of the absence of ink is performed on the operation panel 107. It is possible to perform control such as turning on a warning LED.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart at the time of printing in which the CPU 114 of the recording unit performs a fixed line. According to the print mode set by the user in advance, the mode shifts to each mode in S401. In this embodiment, a standard print mode STD (standard print), which is a standard print quality, is used as a print mode.
Thinned-out print mode EC that suppresses ink ejection from STD
Two printing modes, N (economy printing), are provided. In S402 and S403, a print mode is set in the CPU 114 of the recording apparatus. In S404, data is printed according to each print mode. In S405, printing is performed in the set print mode until the end of the data. or,
If the user has set to detect the presence or absence of ink, the flag F1 is set in advance. InkRemain is S
ET is done. Here, when printing of all data for one page is completed, the flag F1 is set in S406. It is determined whether or not InkRemain has been set, and the flag F1 is set. In
If kRemain is RESET, the process ends as it is, but the flag F1 is set. If InkRemain has been set, the current print mode is confirmed in S407. If the current print mode is STD, a footer mark is printed in S409, and all printing operations are completed. On the other hand, if the current print mode is ECN in S407, the print mode is set to STD for the recording device again in S408, and
To print the footer mark in the print mode STD, and terminate all the printing operations. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the footer mark is printed after the printing of the print data.However, the footer mark may be actually printed anywhere on the recording paper. The mode may be set and the footer mark may be printed.

As in the above embodiment, in an ink jet type recording apparatus having a plurality of printing modes which can be used as a recording apparatus for a facsimile apparatus or a recording apparatus for an external information processing apparatus, the printing mode can be selected according to the needs of the user. If necessary, the ink consumption can be reduced and the running cost of the user can be reduced.When printing a mark for determining the presence or absence of ink in any print mode, use the standard print mode. By printing, it is possible to eliminate erroneous determination of the presence or absence of ink.

A typical configuration and principle of an ink jet recording system for forming and recording flying droplets by using thermal energy described in the above embodiment are described in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129, 4740796
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification. 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 the liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal that gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding each boiling point in accordance with recording information to the electrothermal transducer, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and heat of the recording head is generated. This is effective because a boiling film is generated on the working surface, and as a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal one-to-one can be formed. The liquid (ink) is discharged from the discharge opening by the growth and shrinkage of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. still,
US Patent No. 4 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface
If the conditions described in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 313124 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting surface is arranged in a bending region.
No. 4,591,600 may be used.

In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge unit, may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. This may be either a configuration that satisfies the requirements or a configuration as a single recording head that is integrally formed.

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

It is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. To be more specific, by performing capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal converter or a heating element or a preliminary ejection mode separately from the printhead, stable printing can be performed. It is effective for.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens at room temperature, or which is liquid, In the ink jet recording method, it is general to control the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. It is sufficient if the ink is in a liquid state.

In addition, the temperature rise due to heat energy is positively prevented by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink. Either ink may be used, or in any case, the ink may be liquefied by application of heat energy according to the recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or may already start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. Alternatively, the ink may be liquefied for the first time by thermal energy. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a state in which it is held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. Alternatively, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. The most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

The present invention can be applied not only to the ink jet system using thermal energy but also to an ink jet system using a piezo element or the like.

In this embodiment, the facsimile apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a copier equipped with a printer or reader connected to a host.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when a second recording mode having a lower recording density than the first recording mode is selected and an image is recorded, recording is performed after a predetermined amount of image has been recorded. The predetermined mark image to be detected, which is recorded on the material, is recorded in the first recording mode,
It is possible to prevent erroneous detection of a predetermined mark image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of a recording unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a footer mark and a photo sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing examples of marking in a standard printing mode and a thinning printing mode.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart for printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 reading unit 101 facsimile control unit 102 RAM 103 ROM 104 CPU 105 modem 106 network control unit 107 operation panel 108 facsimile operation unit 109 recording unit operation unit 110 switch 111 recording unit 112 RAM 113 ROM 114 114 CPU 115 connector 201 recording paper 202 paper feed Roller 203 Discharge roller 204 Roller 205 Cartridge 206 Photosensor 207 Recording head

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet head for discharging ink
To record an image on a recording material based on the image data.
That the image recording apparatus, an image on the recording material at a predetermined recording density on the basis of the image data
A first recording mode for recording an image, and recording based on image data.
By thinning out the dots to be recorded,
Recording mode for recording an image on a recording material at a low recording density
And a selecting unit for selecting a recording mode from the mode, and an image according to the recording mode selected by the selecting unit.
Recording images on recording materials based on data
After recording a predetermined amount of image on the recording material ,
Recording control means for recording a predetermined mark image at a predetermined position , detection means for detecting the predetermined mark image, and processing means for performing predetermined processing based on a detection result of the detection means, recording control means, an image recording apparatus and recording regardless, the predetermined mark image according to the first recording mode in the recording mode selected by said selection means. 2. The first recording mode is based on image data.
In the second recording mode, the dots recorded based on the image data are recorded without thinning out the dots to be recorded.
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode is a mode in which data is skipped at predetermined intervals and recorded. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a receiving unit that receives image data sent from a transmitting side, wherein the image data received by the receiving unit is recorded in the first recording mode or the second recording mode. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The recording control means according to claim 1, wherein
After recording the image on the recording material of one page,
Recording the predetermined mark image on the rear end portion
The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
Recording device. 5. The predetermined mark image has a predetermined pattern.
In a recording the image to be, the recording control means, the predetermined mark image, the Symbol
This is the position of the rear end of the recording material.
5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein recording is performed at a position where a white background remains . Wherein said detecting means includes a light emitting portion for emitting light, a light receiving unit for outputting a signal corresponding to the amount of light received, the predetermined mark image on the recording material by the light emitting portion is serial
The reflected light when illuminating the recorded position
Received by the light receiving unit, an image recording apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a determination means for determining the presence or absence of ink in response to a signal from the light receiving portion. 7. An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said processing means has a display means for performing a predetermined display in accordance with an output of said judging means. Wherein said recording means, an image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for discharging the ink by causing a state change in ink using thermal energy.