JP4867507B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a recording apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink droplets toward the recording medium while moving an ink jet head mounted on a carriage at a predetermined interval along the recording medium Is widely known.

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a drive circuit to which a drive data signal (print data signal), a drive waveform signal, and various control signals are input from the main body circuit on the apparatus main body side is provided on the carriage side. Therefore, an ink jet head having a plurality of channels of ink ejecting nozzles (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) is known.

  In such a recording apparatus, for each recording material, a plurality of driving waveforms for ejecting a plurality of types of ink droplets are prepared for gradation recording, and a signal for inputting a driving waveform signal to the driving circuit. The number of lines was increasing.

  Thus, when the number of signal lines increases, it is disadvantageous in terms of cost and maintenance. When a flexible flat cable is used to transmit signals from the main circuit on the main unit side to the drive circuit on the carriage side, the width of the flexible cable becomes wider, the clearance becomes complicated, and the driving load on the carriage increases. Become.

Therefore, various attempts have been made to reduce the number of signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals from the main circuit to the drive circuit. For example, data necessary for generating a drive waveform such as a pulse width is previously stored in the recording head. It has been proposed to serially transmit to a mounted waveform generation circuit, and to output a drive waveform from the waveform generation circuit at the start of recording based on the data (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-158643 A (paragraphs 0053 to 0056 and FIG. 4)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, although the number of signal lines for inputting a drive waveform signal from the main body main circuit to the drive circuit is reduced, an additional waveform generation circuit is required, and each type of drive waveform is required. Must be provided with a waveform generating circuit, and the weight of the recording head is also increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a recording apparatus capable of reducing the number of signal lines used for transmitting drive waveform signals and drive signals without using a waveform generation circuit. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of recording heads having a plurality of actuators for performing dot recording, a driving circuit for outputting a driving pulse to the plurality of actuators of each recording head, and a plurality of the driving circuits. with the type of drive waveform signals, said each actuator and a body main circuit for transmitting a driving signal including the selected data, before asked dynamic circuit, said selection data from the plurality of types of drive waveform signals And a recording device that outputs a drive waveform signal selected by the selection device, and uses a specific recording head among the plurality of recording heads to perform recording. To select whether to record in the first recording mode or the second recording mode in which recording is performed using another recording head other than the specific recording head That has a mode switching means, said selection means, common to select the drive waveform signal for any one of the other recording head except the drive waveform signal and said particular recording head for the particular printhead A second selection of the second recording mode having a selection unit on the output side of the common selection unit as a driving waveform signal for the specific recording head in the first recording mode. output selecting means for outputting a drive waveform signal for any one of the other recording head except the specific recording head is provided we are at the time of, further any other recording head except the specific recording head the output side of the selector for one other than the recording head, that the output selecting means only outputs a drive waveform signal when said second recording mode are provided And butterflies. Here, the “mode switching means” is a switch provided on the apparatus main body (for example, an operation panel) for mechanically or electrically switching, or the control means determines whether the first recording mode is based on the drive data. This includes a case where the recording mode is switched after being determined.

According to this configuration, the selection unit includes the common selection unit that selects the drive waveform signal for the specific print head and the drive waveform signal for any of the other print heads excluding the specific print head. This is advantageous in reducing the number of signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals to these recording heads. Further, the selected drive waveform signal is output to the output side of the selection unit as the drive waveform signal for the specific recording head in the first recording mode, and the specific recording head in the second recording mode. Since output selecting means for outputting as a drive waveform signal for any of the other recording heads is provided, the selected drive waveform signal is used for the other recording heads except for the specific recording head in the first recording mode. There is no risk of malfunction such as output as a drive waveform signal for one of the recording heads or output as a drive waveform signal for the specific recording head in the second recording mode.
In addition, an output selection unit that outputs a drive waveform signal only in the second recording mode is provided on the output side of the selection unit for any recording head other than one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head. Therefore, there is no possibility that a drive waveform signal is erroneously output to the recording head other than any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head in the first recording mode.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of recording heads having a plurality of actuators for performing dot recording, a driving circuit for outputting a driving pulse to the plurality of actuators of each recording head, and a plurality of the driving circuits. A main body main circuit that transmits a drive signal of a type and a drive signal including selection data for each of the actuators, and the drive circuit is based on the selection data from the plurality of types of drive waveform signals. And a recording device that outputs a drive waveform signal selected by the selection device, and performs recording using a specific recording head among the plurality of recording heads. Select whether to record in one recording mode or in a second recording mode in which recording is performed using another recording head other than the specific recording head A mode switching unit that selects a driving waveform signal for the specific recording head and a driving waveform signal for any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head. A second selection of the second recording mode having a selection unit on the output side of the common selection unit as a driving waveform signal for the specific recording head in the first recording mode. In this case, output selecting means for outputting as a drive waveform signal for any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head is provided, and the main body main circuit is in the first recording mode. It has a signal control part which prohibits output of the drive waveform signal about the other recording head to the drive circuit.
In this way, the signal control unit of the main body main circuit prohibits the output of the drive waveform signal for the other recording head to the drive circuit in the first recording mode. In the first recording mode, there is no possibility that other recording heads will operate erroneously.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect , a signal line for transmitting a plurality of types of driving waveform signals from the main body main circuit to the selection unit is a driving waveform signal for the specific recording head. And transmission of a drive waveform signal for any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head.

  According to this configuration, the signal line for transmitting a plurality of types of drive waveform signals from the main body main circuit to the selection unit is not limited to transmission of drive waveform signals for the specific recording head and other than the specific recording head. Since it is shared for transmission of the drive waveform signal for any one of the recording heads, the number of signal lines is reduced by the number of shared signal lines compared to the case where no signal lines are shared.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the recording color of the specific recording head is black.

  In this way, the present invention can be applied when the first recording mode is the monochrome mode and the second recording mode is the color mode.

A fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the selection data is for selecting the drive waveform signal by a combination of a plurality of bits of the drive signal, The selection data excluding selection data used for selection of the drive waveform signal is used as a mode selection signal for selecting a first recording mode and a second recording mode.

According to the invention of claim 5 , the mode selection signal used for selecting whether the selection data excluding the selection data used for selecting the drive waveform signal is the first recording mode or the second recording mode. Therefore, the mode selection signal can be transmitted without increasing the number of signal lines.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the recording head and the drive circuit are mounted on a carriage movable along a recording medium, and the main body main circuit is The drive waveform signal is provided in the apparatus main body that accommodates the carriage, and the drive waveform signal is transmitted to the drive circuit via a flexible cable provided between the apparatus main body and the carriage.

According to the invention of claim 6 , the number of signal lines for the drive waveform signal transmitted through the flexible cable can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the ink in which the actuator of the recording head contains ink based on the driving pulse having the selected driving waveform. Ink droplets are ejected by increasing or decreasing the volume of the chamber.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to finely control the drive for each actuator, and the amount of ejected ink droplets can be easily controlled.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the selection unit includes a common selection unit that selects a drive waveform signal for a specific print head and a drive waveform signal for any of the other print heads excluding the specific print head. Therefore, the signal line for transmitting the drive waveform signal can be shared, and the number of the signal lines can be reduced. Further, on the output side of the selection unit, any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head is used as a drive waveform signal for the specific recording head in the first recording mode, and in the second recording mode. Since there is provided an output selecting means for outputting as a drive waveform signal, there is no risk of malfunction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has a well-known inkjet type in which a recording head is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates along a recording medium, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head toward the recording medium. Recording device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a control device that controls an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a control device (of an ink jet recording apparatus) includes a CPU 11 that performs processing of a drive data signal (print data signal) and controls operation of the recording apparatus, and a ROM 12 that stores a program executed by the CPU 11. A main body circuit including a RAM 13 for temporarily storing data when the CPU 11 processes data, a gate array 14 which is a gate circuit LSI, and the like is provided. The CPU 11 includes an operation panel 15 for a user (user) to instruct printing, a motor drive circuit 16 for driving a carriage motor M1 (a motor for reciprocating a carriage (not shown)), and a paper feed motor. A motor drive circuit 17 for driving M2 (a motor for feeding a recording sheet as a recording medium in a predetermined direction), a paper sensor 18 for detecting the leading edge of the recording sheet, and a carriage on which the recording head 1 is mounted (see FIG. An origin sensor 19 for detecting the origin position (not shown) is connected.

  The recording head 1 is driven by a head driver 21. The head driver 21 is mounted on the carriage together with the recording head 1. The head driver 21 and the gate array 14 are connected via a flexible flat cable 22 (harness cable) so as to follow the movement of the carriage, and the head driver 21 is controlled by the gate array 14.

  Although not specifically illustrated, the recording head 1 individually increases or decreases the volume of each ink chamber that accommodates a plurality of inks by driving an actuator including a piezoelectric element, an electrostrictive element, and the like. It is to be jetted. An electrode for driving the actuator is provided for each nozzle, and the electrode is connected to the head driver 21. The head driver 21 functions as a drive circuit that generates a drive pulse having a drive waveform suitable for the recording head 1 based on the control of the gate array 14 and applies the drive pulse to each electrode. An encoder sensor 20 that detects the position of the carriage 2 is connected to the gate array 14.

  The CPU 11 is connected to the ROM 12, RAM 13, and gate array 14 via an address bus 23 and a data bus 24. The CPU 11 generates a print timing signal and a reset signal according to a program stored in advance in the ROM 12 and transmits each signal to the gate array 14. Drive waveform signals FIRE Bk 01 to 06, FIRE C 01 to 06, FIRE M 01 to 06, and FIRE Y 01 to 06, which will be described later, are stored in advance in the ROM 13 or together with drive data signals from the host computer 26 via the interface 27. The data is transmitted and stored in the RAM 12 or the image memory 25, and is output to the gate array 14 during the recording operation.

  The gate array 14 temporarily stores image data transmitted from the host computer 26 (personal computer), which is an external device, via the interface 27 in the image memory 25. Further, the gate array 14 generates a data reception interrupt signal based on the drive data signal transmitted from the host computer 26 via the interface 27 and transmits the signal to the CPU 11.

  The CPU 11 determines a first recording mode (monochrome mode) in which the recording is performed by using a specific recording head for the recording agent black by judging the image data in the image memory 25 according to the program in the ROM 13 or the gate array 14. , The recording material other than black (cyan, magenta, yellow) is determined to be recorded in the second recording mode (color mode) in which recording is performed using the recording head, and the result is determined as a mode signal. (Mode switching means). The host computer 26 can output a monochrome recording or color recording signal to the recording apparatus, and the CPU 11 or the gate array 14 can determine a recording mode and output a mode selection signal based on the signal.

  The gate array 14 generates a clock signal CLK and a strobe signal STB according to the print timing signal and the control signal from the encoder sensor 20, and based on the image data temporarily stored in the image memory 25, Drive data signals SIN_0, SIN_2, and SIN_3 for forming the image data on the recording paper are transmitted to the head driver 21 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK. Further, the gate array 14 outputs a drive waveform signal FIRE Bk 01 to 06, FIRE C 01 to 06, FIRE M 01 to 06, FIRE Y 01 to 06 as a clock signal in accordance with the print timing signal and the control signal from the encoder sensor. The data is transmitted to the head driver 21 in synchronization with CLK. A mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is also transmitted from the gate array 14 to the head driver 21. Each signal is transmitted from the gate array 14 to the head driver 21 through a flexible flat cable 22 that connects the head driver 21 and the gate array 14.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the head driver 21 has a common drive circuit unit 21Bk / C for black and cyan recording materials, and drive circuit units 21M and 21Y for magenta and yellow recording materials. .

  The drive circuit units 21Bk / C, 21M, and 21Y are shift registers 41Bk / C, 41M, which are serial-parallel converters for serial-parallel conversion of the drive data signals SIN_0 to 2 into drive signals corresponding to the actuators. 41Y, D flip-flops 42Bk / C, 42M, and 42Y, multiplexers 43Bk / C, 43M, and 43Y, and output selection circuit sections 44Bk / C, 44M, and 44Y are provided in this order. The drive circuit unit 21Bk / C has drive buffers 45Bk and 45C, and the drive circuit units 21M and 21Y have drive buffers 45M and 45Y, respectively. Drive buffers 45Bk and 45C selectively receive signals from output selection circuit unit 45Bk / C. That is, neither the drive buffer 45Bk nor 45C receives the drive signal.

  For example, when the recording head 1 is a 94-channel multi-nozzle head in which 94 ink chambers are provided for each recording material, the shift registers 41Bk / C, 41M, and 41Y each have (94 + 1) bit length × drive. Configured to the number of bits of the data signal. Drive data signals SIN_0 to SIN_2 that are serially transmitted from the gate array 14 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK are sequentially input to the shift register 41Bk / C. The 3 bits S Bk / C 94_0 to 2 at the end of the shift register 41Bk / C are output terminals to the shift register 41M, and the 3 bits SM 94_0 to 2 at the end of the shift register 41M are output terminals to the shift register 41Y. . For this reason, the drive data signals SIN_0 to SIN_2 are converted into signals parallel to the shift registers 41Bk / C, 41M and 41Y, and the drive data signals S Bk / C _ * _ 0 to 2, S M _ * _ 0 to 2, S Y _ * _ 0 to 2 ("*" represents any number from 00 to 93, and so on). As described above, each of the drive data signals S Bk / C _ * _ 0 to 2, S M _ * _ 0 to 2 and S Y _ * _ 0 to 2 is composed of these 3-bit selection signals, and the combination of the bits is non- A drive waveform signal including printing is selected.

  The D flip-flops 42Bk / C, 42M, and 42Y latch the parallel drive data signals in accordance with the rising edge (of the pulse) of the strobe signal STB transmitted from the gate array 14.

  Multiplexers (selection means) 43Bk / C, 43M, and 43Y provided for each channel are respectively 3-bit selection signals SELBk / C _ * _ 0 to 2, output from the D flip-flops 42Bk / C, 42M, and 42Y. Based on SELM _ * _ 0-2, SELY _ * _ 0-2, select one of six drive waveform signals FIRE Bk 01-06, FIRE C01-06, FIRE M01-06, FIRE Y_01-06 Output to the drive buffers 45Bk, 45C, 45M, 45Y.

  For example, when six types of drive waveform signals having different numbers of pulses are prepared for each recording material, these six types of drive waveform signals are always repeatedly output to the multiplexers 43Bk / C, 43M, and 43Y at a constant cycle. Has been. The drive data signal includes 3-bit selection signals SELBk / C _ * _ 0 to 2, SELM _ * _ 0 to 2, SELY _ * _ 2, and the multiplexers 43Bk / C, 43M, and 43Y according to the input of the selection signals. , 43Bk select one of the drive waveform signals (including non-printing). Specifically, the case of the recording material black will be described. When the selection signals SELBk _ * _ 0, SELBk _ * _ 1, and SELBk _ * _ 2 are 0, 0, 0, non-printing is performed, and when 0, 1, 0, the driving waveform signal FIRE 7 gradations including non-printing for each nozzle, such as selecting Bk 01, driving waveform signal FIRE Bk 02 for 0, 0, 1 and driving waveform signal FIRE Bk 03 for 1, 0, 0 Can be obtained.

  The output selection circuit 44Bk / C is connected to the first AND circuit 46C connected to the recording head drive buffer 45C for the recording material cyan and the recording head drive buffer 45Bk for recording black for each nozzle unit. A second AND circuit 46Bk is included. Then, the drive waveform signal B Bk / C * from the multiplexer 43Bk / C is input to the first and second AND circuits 46C and 46Bk as one of the input signals. The mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is input as it is to the first AND circuit 46C as another input signal, while the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is input to the second AND circuit 46Bk as an inversion circuit. Inverted at 47 and input. Then, when the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is in the “1” level state, the drive waveform signal B Bk / C * is supplied as a signal BC * to the drive buffer 45C corresponding to the recording head for cyan by the first AND circuit 46C. When the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is in a low level state, the second AND circuit 46Bk sends the signal B Bk * to the drive buffer 45Bk corresponding to the black recording head.

  The output selection circuit units 44M and 44Y have third and fourth AND circuits 46M and 46Y, respectively, for each nozzle unit, and drive waveform signals BM * and BY from the multiplexers 43M and 43Y are provided to the AND circuits 46M and 46Y. * And the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR are input, and the drive waveform signals BM * and BY * are transmitted to the drive buffers 45M and 45Y when the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is in the “1” level state.

  The drive buffers 45Bk, 45C, 45M, and 45Y receive the drive waveform signals B Bk *, BC *, BM *, and BY * output from the output selection circuit units 44Bk / C, 44M, and 44Y, respectively, and the recording heads 1 is output to the electrodes of the ink chambers of the recording head 1 as drive pulses OUT Bk *, OUT C *, OUT M *, and OUT Y * having a voltage suitable for the driving of 1.

  Multiplexer 43Bk / C has drive waveform signal FIRE Bk 01-06 or drive waveform signal FIREC 01-06, and multiplexers 43M, 43Y have drive waveform signals FIRE M 01-06, FIRE Y 01-06, respectively, in the recording mode. It is input according to.

  There are six signal lines to which the drive waveform signal FIRE Bk 01-06 or FIRE C01-06 is input to the multiplexer 43Bk / C, and the signal line 51Bk / C in the portion from the gate array 14 to the multiplexer 43Bk / C is common. It can be used properly according to the recording mode.

  That is, the gate array 14 selects a drive waveform signal to be output to the multiplexer 43Bk / C through the common signal line 51Bk / C depending on whether the recording mode is the first recording mode or the second recording mode.

  In the first recording mode, the gate array 14 supplies driving waveform signals FIRE C 01 to 06 to the multiplexers 43Bk / C, 43M, and 43Y corresponding to recording materials other than black (cyan, magenta, yellow). While the outputs of FIRE M 00-06 and FIRE Y 01-06 are prohibited, the output of the drive signals FIRE Bk 01-06 for the multiplexer 43Bk / C corresponding to black is prohibited in the second recording mode. (Signal control unit).

  That is, in the second recording mode, the signal line 51Bk / C is used as a signal line for transmitting the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk 01 to 06 for the specific recording head (recording material black Bk) in the first recording mode. These are used as signal lines for transmitting drive waveform signals FIRE C 01 to 06 for the other recording heads.

  Therefore, in the first recording mode (monochrome mode), as shown in FIG. 4, the driving data signals SIN_0 to SIN_2 are shifted from the gate array 14 including only the driving data signal for the recording head of recording material black. The output is output to the register 41Bk / C, the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk01 to 06 are output to the multiplexer 43Bk / C, and the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is set to “0” and output to the output selection circuit unit 44Bk / C. Therefore, one of the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk01 to 06 is selected for each channel of the black recording head by the multiplexer 43Bk / C based on the drive data signals S Bk_ * _0 to 2 developed in parallel, and the drive waveform signal is selected. The data is output to the drive buffer 45Bk through the output selection circuit 44Bk / C, and the black recording head is driven to perform monochrome printing. In addition, since the drive data signals SIN_0 to SIN_2 are not included in the cyan, magenta, and yellow recording heads by the signal control unit, the shift register 41Bk / C receives the driving data signal SC *. The shift registers 41M and 42Y do not output the drive data signals SM * and SY *. Therefore, the drive waveform is not selected by the multiplexers 43M and 43Y.

  On the other hand, in the second recording mode (color mode), as shown in FIG. 5, the driving data signals SIN_0 to SIN_2 from the gate array 14 are only the driving data signals for the recording heads of cyan, magenta, and yellow. Are output to the shift registers 41Bk / C, 41M, 41Y, and the drive waveform signals FIRE C 01-06, FIRE M 01-06, FIRE Y 01-06 are output to the multiplexers 43Bk / C, 43M, 43Y, Further, the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR is set to “1” and is output to the output selection circuit units 44Bk / C, 44M, and 44Y. Accordingly, the cyan, magenta, and yellow recording heads of the multiplexers 43Bk / C, 43M, and 43Y based on the drive data signals S C_ * _0 to 2, S M_ * _0 to 2 and S Y_ * _0 to 2 developed in parallel. One of the drive waveform signals FIRE C 01-06, FIRE M 01-06, FIRE Y 01-06 is selected for each channel, and the drive waveform signal passes through the output selection circuit units 44Bk / C, 44M, and 44Y, and the drive buffer 45Bk. , 45M, 45Y, and the cyan, magenta, and yellow recording heads are driven to perform color printing. In this case, the black color during color printing is expressed as a mixed color of the recording materials cyan, magenta, and yellow. Therefore, since the drive data for black is not transmitted, the data transmission amount of the drive data is smaller than when the drive data for the recording heads of all recording materials is transmitted.

  In each mode, each drive waveform signal FIRE Bk / C 01-06, FIRE M 01-06, FIRE Y 01-06, respectively, indicates the volume of ink droplets ejected with different number of drive pulses and different pulse widths. It is possible to record gradation.

  As long as the recording condition does not change, the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk 01 to 06, FIRE M 01 to 06, FIRE Y 01 to 06, and FIRE C 01 to 06 are repeatedly read by the gate array 14 at a constant period, and the gate array 14 is repeatedly output to the head driver 21 as drive waveform signals FIRE Bk / C 01 to 06, FIRE M 01 to 06, and FIRE Y 01 to 06.

  In the above embodiment, the drive waveform signals FIRE Bk 01 to 06, FIRE C 01 to 06, FIRE M 01 to 06, and FIRE Y 01 to 06 are driven as recording periods. The period of the strobe signal STB input to the D flip-flops 42C, 42M, 42Y, and 42Bk may be any as long as it matches the recording period.

  The recording apparatus according to the embodiment performs color recording, and drive waveform signals for each ink color are set according to the characteristics of the ink (recording material), and all the drive waveform signals are transmitted.

  Note that the mode switching means can be configured as an external switch that mechanically or electrically selects whether the recording mode is the first recording mode or the second recording mode. In that case, the external switch can be provided, for example, on the operation panel of the apparatus main body.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected regarding the same structure as embodiment mentioned above, or a similar structure, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the drive waveform signal is selected by a combination of a plurality of bits of the drive data signal, and the combination of bits excluding the combination used for selection of the drive waveform signal is the first combination. It can be used as a mode selection signal for selecting the recording mode and the second recording mode.
That is, with respect to seven types of drive waveforms including non-injection, the three-bit drive data signals SIN_0 to SIN_2 to select them can be combined in eight types, so that one type of combination remains. . That is, for mode switching, a 3-bit combination (1, 1, 1) that is not used for selecting a drive waveform can be used. In another embodiment described here, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a 9-bit combination (1,1,1) including a 3-bit combination (1,1,1) that is not used for selection of the drive waveform is shown. *, *, 1,1,1,1,1,0) are used. Here, * indicates that either 0 or 1 may be used.

  The operation during mode switching will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As described above, the CPU 11 or the gate array 14 determines which of the first recording mode (monochrome mode) and the second recording mode (color mode) is used for recording. Then, using the result as a mode signal, a combination of 9 bits of the drive data signal SIN. In the case of the first recording mode (monochrome mode), (0, *, *, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0) In the case of the second recording mode (color mode), (1, *, *, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0) is output. A 10-bit shift register 61 to which the drive data signal SIN is serially input is provided in the preceding stage of the shift register 41Bk / C. The 10-bit shift register 61 has a mode selection signal generation circuit for generating a mode selection signal SEL_COLOR. 62 is connected. The 10-bit shift register 61 includes 10 D flip-flops 61a to 61j for 10 bits. The mode selection signal generating circuit 62 includes a 5-input fifth AND circuit 62a, D flip-flops 62b and 62c, and a 2-input sixth AND circuit 62d. The outputs of the 5-bit D flip-flops 61a to 61e of the 10-bit shift register 61 are configured to be input to the fifth AND circuit 62a, and the 9-bit D flip-flop of the 10-bit shift register 61 is configured. The remaining 4-bit D flip-flops 61f, 61g, 61h, 61j excluding the loop 61i are in an open state with their outputs unconnected. That is, when the drive data signal SIN in which the 5-bit D flip-flops 61 a to 61 e of the 10-bit shift register 61 are continuously in “1” level five times is input, the output of the fifth AND circuit 62 a is “ 1 "level, and the input of the D flip-flop 62b is applied. At the timing when the clock signal CLK is added to the other input of the D flip-flop 62b, the D flip-flop 62b outputs a gate signal and applies it to the input of the AND circuit 62d. In the sixth AND circuit 62d, the input of the D flip-flop 62c is applied at the timing when the drive data signal SIN applied to the other input becomes “1” level in a state where the gate signal is applied. . When the signal from the D flip-flop 61i is applied to the other input of the D flip-flop 62c, the D flip-flop 62c sends the mode selection signal SEL_COLOR to the AND circuits 46Bk, 46C, 46M, and 46Y constituting the output selection circuit. Applied to one of the inputs directly or through an inverting circuit. The reason why the 9-bit combination is used is that increasing the number of bits is advantageous for preventing malfunction due to noise or the like. After transmitting these 9 bits, the gate array 14 transmits a drive data signal SIN having a content to be ejected from the recording head. The drive data signal SIN is serially output from the final stage of the shift register 61 to the shift register 41Bk / C, and thereafter operates in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

  FIG. 8 shows a timing chart when the printing operation in the monochrome mode is switched to the color mode. The SIN signal outputs a drive data signal for the recording head of recording material black at a timing of 1 to 282 of the clock (94 bits × 3). Then, the 9-bit signal is output for switching to the color mode (clocks 284 to 292). Then, at the timing when the SIN signal outputs “1”, the mode select signal is switched and output, and the operation shifts to an environment where the color mode can be operated.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the form mentioned above, In the range which does not exceed the main point of the invention, it is possible to implement with various forms as shown below.
For example, as a recording head other than the above-described specific recording head, it is needless to say that a recording head for magenta or yellow can be used in addition to a recording head for cyan. At that time, different drive waveform signals may be transmitted in each recording mode to the recording heads for two recording materials sharing the signal line. However, if the ink characteristics are similar, the drive waveform signal Can also be shared.

  Also, the recording heads that eject black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are integrally formed on a common member, or the recording heads that eject these inks are independent of each other. The present invention can be applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to a recording apparatus using an impact recording head, a thermal recording head, or the like.

  In addition to gradation control of recording density (printing density), history control, that is, in an impact type recording head, a driving waveform is selected depending on the presence or absence of driving data before and after considering vibration remaining in the impact element, or thermal type The recording head can also be applied to select a driving waveform in accordance with the presence or absence of previous and subsequent driving data in consideration of heat remaining in the heating element.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a control device that controls an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a head driver. It is a block diagram which expands and shows the drive circuit about cyan among head drivers. FIG. 10 is a timing chart in the case of a first recording mode. FIG. 6 is a timing chart for the second recording mode. It is a figure similar to FIG. 2 about another embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit which generate | occur | produces a mode selection signal. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a drive data signal and a drive waveform signal.

Explanation of symbols

1 Recording head 11 CPU
14 Gate array 21 Head driver 21Bk / C, 21M, 21Y Drive circuit section 22 Flexible flat cable 33 Multiplexer 41Bk / C, 41M, 41Y Shift register 42Bk / C, 42M, 42Y D flip-flop 43Bk / C, 43M, 43Y Multiplexer 44Bk / C, 44M, 44Y Output selection circuit 45Bk, 45C, 45M, 45Y Drive buffer 46C First AND circuit 46Bk Second AND circuit

Claims (7)

A plurality of recording heads having a plurality of actuators for performing dot recording; a driving circuit for outputting a driving pulse to the plurality of actuators of each recording head; a plurality of types of driving waveform signals for the driving circuit; wherein for each actuator, and a body main circuit for transmitting a driving signal including the selected data, before asked dynamic circuit, the plurality of types of predetermined driving waveform based on the selected data from the drive waveform signal In a recording apparatus having a selection means for selecting a signal and outputting a drive waveform signal selected by the selection means,
In any of a first recording mode for recording using a specific recording head among the plurality of recording heads and a second recording mode for recording using a recording head other than the specific recording head Having mode switching means for selecting whether to record,
The selection unit includes a common selection unit that selects a driving waveform signal for the specific recording head and a driving waveform signal for any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head,
On the output side of the common selection unit, the selected drive waveform signal is used as the drive waveform signal for the specific recording head in the first recording mode, and the specific recording in the second recording mode. output selecting means for outputting a drive waveform signal for any one of the other recording head except the head is provided, et al is,
Furthermore, output selecting means for outputting a drive waveform signal only in the second recording mode is provided on the output side of the selection unit for the recording heads other than any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head. A recording apparatus characterized by being provided . A plurality of recording heads having a plurality of actuators for performing dot recording; a driving circuit for outputting a driving pulse to the plurality of actuators of each recording head; A main body circuit that transmits a drive signal including selection data for each actuator, and the drive circuit outputs a predetermined drive waveform signal based on the selection data from the plurality of types of drive waveform signals. In a recording apparatus that has a selection means for selecting and outputs a drive waveform signal selected by the selection means,
In any of a first recording mode for recording using a specific recording head among the plurality of recording heads and a second recording mode for recording using a recording head other than the specific recording head Having mode switching means for selecting whether to record,
The selection unit includes a common selection unit that selects a driving waveform signal for the specific recording head and a driving waveform signal for any one of the other recording heads excluding the specific recording head,
On the output side of the common selection unit, the selected drive waveform signal is used as the drive waveform signal for the specific recording head in the first recording mode, and the specific recording in the second recording mode. Output selection means for outputting as a drive waveform signal for any one of the other recording heads excluding the head is provided,
The main body main circuit includes a signal control unit that prohibits output of the drive waveform signal for the other recording head to the drive circuit in the first recording mode. apparatus. The signal line for transmitting a plurality of types of drive waveform signal from the main main circuit to the selecting unit, any other recording head except for transmission to the particular recording head of the drive waveform signal for the particular recording head 1 recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shared transmission of the drive waveform signal for One. The specific recording head, recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the recording color is black. The selection data is to select the drive waveform signal by a combination of a plurality of bits of the drive signal,
It said selection data except selecting data to be used for selection of the drive waveform signal, claim 1-4, characterized by using as a mode selection signal for selecting the first recording mode and second recording mode the recording apparatus according to one. The recording head and the driving circuit are mounted on a carriage that can move along a recording medium, the main body main circuit is provided in an apparatus main body that houses the carriage, and the driving waveform signal includes the apparatus main body, a carriage, the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which via a flexible cable which is provided, characterized in that it is transmitted to the drive circuit during. The actuator of the recording head ejects ink droplets by increasing / decreasing the volume of an ink chamber containing ink based on a driving pulse in the selected driving waveform. the recording apparatus according to any one of 6.

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