JP2002200741A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer in which ink can be prevented from being transferred even if next recording medium is laid on a printed recording medium. SOLUTION: The printer 5, 5a, 5b comprises a head 35 for ejecting ink to a recording medium 27, means 10 for carrying the recording medium 27 relatively to the head 35, means 63 storing parameters concerning to the drying time of ink corresponding to each of a plurality of types of recording medium 27, and means 67, 73 and 77 for controlling the driving interval of the head 35 and the carrying means 10 such that dots formed on the recording medium 27 dry up before dots are formed on next recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a dot is formed next by overlaying a dot-formed surface of a recording medium on which dots made of ink are formed by landing ink. The present invention relates to a printer provided with a holding tray for holding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers have been widely used in homes due to the development of electronic devices such as computers. Generally, at home, a printer adopting a so-called ink jet system which can perform color printing and is inexpensive is often used. This ink jet printer (hereinafter, referred to as an ink jet printer) discharges ink onto recording paper as a recording medium and forms dots of ink on the recording paper, thereby recording characters and images formed of dots. Can be printed on media. In general, an ink jet printer is characterized by high image quality and downsizing.

[0003] Conventional ink jet printers
Since the time for printing on one sheet of recording paper was long, the ink on the already printed recording paper was dry during the printing of the next recording sheet. For this reason, the ink of the recording paper that has already been printed does not appear on the next recording paper that overlaps on the paper discharge tray.

However, in recent years, the range in which a plurality of inks can be ejected at the same time has been widened with the increase in the number of nozzles of the head, and the printing time of one sheet of recording paper has become shorter. I have. For this reason,
In this ink jet printer, the next recording paper may be overlaid on the recording paper that has been printed and the ink has not dried. In this case, the next recording paper has a problem that not only the ink of the recording paper that has been printed and the ink is not dried is reflected and stained, but also the printed recording paper becomes dirty. Further, the printed recording paper and the next recording paper may be stuck due to the adhesive force of the ink that has not been dried.

[0005]

In order to prevent such a situation, an ink jet printer uses the next recording paper for a predetermined time so that the printed recording paper and the next recording paper do not come into contact with each other in the paper discharge tray. It is also conceivable to provide a paper floating mechanism for floating the printed recording paper. However, providing such a paper floating mechanism in an ink jet printer not only complicates the structure, but also
There was a problem that manufacturing cost was required. In addition to this, in the conventional inkjet printer, it is conceivable to provide a drying device for drying the ink formed on the recording paper, but similarly, in addition to the structural complexity, the manufacturing cost is increased and the consumption is increased. There was a problem that electric power became large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a printer capable of preventing ink from being reflected even when a next recording medium is superimposed on a printed recording medium.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising the steps of: forming a dot on a recording medium on which a dot made of ink is formed by landing ink; A printing tray provided with a holding tray for holding the next recording medium on which the recording medium is formed, wherein the head ejects the ink to the recording medium and the recording medium is relatively moved with respect to the head. Transport means for transporting a recording medium; storage means for storing parameters relating to the drying time of the ink corresponding to each of a plurality of types of the recording medium; and storing the parameters corresponding to the type of the recording medium. Between the formation of the dots on the recording medium and the formation of the dots on the next recording medium, the formation of the dots on the recording medium As to, by the printer, characterized by a control means for controlling the driving distance of the head and the transporting means is achieved. According to the configuration of the first aspect, the control unit acquires the parameter relating to the drying time of the ink corresponding to the type of the recording medium from the storage unit. Next, the control unit is configured to dry the dots formed on the recording medium between the time when the dots are formed on the recording medium and the time when the dots are formed on the next recording medium,
The drive interval of the head and the transport unit is controlled in consideration of the ink drying time based on the parameter. Therefore, the printer can prevent the ink from being reflected even when the next recording medium is superimposed on the printed recording medium.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the parameter relates to a drying time of the ink corresponding to not only a plurality of types of the recording medium but also a plurality of types of the ink. It is characterized by information. According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, based on the parameter, the control means can dry not only the types of the plurality of recording media but also the types of the plurality of inks. In consideration of time, it is possible to control the drive interval of the head and the transporting means so that the ink of the dot of the recording medium on which the dot has been formed previously does not appear on the next recording medium.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, dot detection means for detecting the density of the plurality of dots landed on the recording medium is provided.
According to the configuration of claim 3, in addition to the function of claim 1, the dot detecting means detects the density of a plurality of dots formed on the recording medium. In general, a dot having a high density requires a drying time. Then, the control unit specifies the dot requiring the longest drying time by detecting the dot with the highest density based on the density detected by the dot detection unit. Therefore, the control means considers the drying time of the ink constituting the dot that requires the longest drying time, and controls the head and the head so that the ink of the dot of the recording medium on which the dot has been formed earlier does not appear on the next recording medium. It is possible to control the drive interval of the transport means.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the third aspect, the head is configured to discharge the dots of a plurality of colors, respectively. According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, in addition to the function of the third aspect, the dot detection unit forms the dot before considering the drying time of the ink requiring the longest drying time among the dots of the plurality of colors. The drive interval between the head and the conveying means can be controlled so that the ink of the dot on the recording medium does not appear on the next recording medium.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, a drying detecting means for detecting whether or not the dots landed on the recording medium are dry is provided. According to the configuration of the fifth aspect, in addition to the function of the first aspect, the dryness detecting unit detects whether or not the dots of the recording medium on which the dots are formed are dry. The control means drives and controls the drive interval between the head and the transport means until it is detected that the dots formed on the recording medium are dry. A dot is formed on a recording medium.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the parameter relating to the drying time of the ink can be added or rewritten. Claim 6
According to the configuration of the first aspect, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the control unit considers the drying time of the ink formed on the recording medium based on the added or rewritten parameters, and controls the dot on which the dot was previously formed. The drive interval of the head and the transporting means can be controlled so that the dot ink of the recording medium does not appear on the next recording medium.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the main body including the transport unit, the holding tray, the storage unit, and the control unit is detachable from the main body, and the ink is provided. An information recording medium for recording a parameter relating to the drying time of the cartridge, and a cartridge on which the head is mounted, wherein the main body includes a parameter relating to a drying time of the ink from the information recording medium mounted on the mounted cartridge. An acquisition means for acquiring the information is provided. According to the configuration of claim 7, in addition to the function of claim 1, when the cartridge is mounted on the main body, the obtaining means provided on the main body obtains the parameters stored in the information recording medium provided on the cartridge. be able to. Therefore, the control means considers the drying time of the ink based on this parameter, and controls the driving of the head and the transporting means so that the ink of the dot of the recording medium on which the dot has been previously formed does not appear on the next recording medium. The interval can be controlled.

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a printer 5 to which a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. The printer 5 has a function of printing on a recording sheet by ejecting ink to a recording sheet as a recording medium by, for example, an inkjet method to form dots made of the ink on the recording sheet. The printer 5 has a detachable head assembly 7 on which a head for discharging the ink is mounted.
(Cartridge). It goes without saying that the head assembly 7 may be fixed instead of being detachable.

The printer 5 is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 29 having a notch in a part thereof, and a head assembly attachment / detachment opening 31 for attaching / detaching the head assembly 7 is provided on an upper surface of the housing 29. I have. At the front of the housing 29, a paper feeding tray attaching / detaching opening 8a for attaching / detaching the paper feeding tray 8 for accommodating the recording paper 27, and a recording paper outlet 25 at the notch in the housing 29 are provided. .

The notch constitutes a discharge tray 20 (holding tray) for holding the recording paper discharged from the discharge port 25. The recording paper 27 is discharged onto the discharge tray 20 such that the dot formation surface, which is the surface of the recording paper 27 on which dots are formed by ink droplets, faces upward.
Will be retained. That is, the paper discharge tray 20 holds the next recording paper so as to overlap the dot formation surface side of the recording paper 27 that has been printed before.

The sensor 2 is located near the discharge port 25.
2 are provided. The sensor 22 has a function of detecting whether or not the recording paper 27 is present in the paper discharge tray 20, for example.

A display unit 102 and an operation unit 101 are provided in a housing 29 of the printer 5. When a predetermined operator operates the operation unit 101, the printer 5 corresponding to the operation is operated. The reaction is displayed on the display unit 102. FIGS. 5 to 8 show display examples of the display unit 102.
The screens shown in FIG. This screen will be described in detail later in the description of the operation method.

Further, a cable 15 as a power supply line or a signal line is provided on the rear surface of the housing 29. Printer 5
Is connected to an electronic device such as a computer by the cable 15 and has a function of printing based on electronic data such as an image from the electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a transparent perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the printer 5 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a transparent perspective view showing an example of a state in which the head assembly 7 is removed from the printer 5 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 5 is provided with a holder 33 for detachably holding the head assembly 7 when the head assembly 7 is mounted. When the head assembly 7 is detached from the holder 33, it becomes as shown in FIG. When the head assembly 7 is mounted on the holder 33 as shown in FIG. 2, the holder 33 holds the head assembly 7 such that the ejection head 35 (head) provided on the head assembly 7 faces downward.

The discharge head 35 facing downward faces the recording paper 27 fed and conveyed from the paper feed tray 8 by the printer mechanism 10 as a conveying means while maintaining a slight gap. The ejection head 35 ejects ink to the recording paper 27 in FIG. 2 to form dots made of ink on the recording paper 27 under the control of the printer control unit 77 in FIG. Print characters and images on Here, the printer mechanism unit 10 indicates the entire mechanical part of the printer 5, for example, a paper feed unit that feeds the recording paper 27 from the paper feed tray 8, a paper feeder having a roller that feeds the recording paper, and the like. 2 shows a copy unit, a discharge unit for discharging printed recording paper, and other mechanisms required for the operation of the printer 5.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the printer 5 of FIG. The printer 5 has a RAM (R
and access Memory) 61, RO
M (Read Only Memory) 63 (storage medium), CPU (Central Processing)
(Unit) 67 (control means), head driving section 73 (control means), head assembly 7, display section 102, operation section 101, sensor 22, head detection section 75, printer control section 77 (control means), printer mechanism section 10. And an interface 65.

The RAM 61 is a writable and readable information storage medium, and is a work area of the CPU 67. RO
M63 is a rewritable and readable information storage medium, which stores, for example, parameters relating to the drying time of the ink corresponding to the type of recording paper as a recording medium. This parameter is provided to the CPU 67, and indicates a predetermined default value unless otherwise specified. Further, the ROM 63 stores a standard interval time Ts, which will be described later, and a print time (print time) at which printing was performed most recently. The print time is updated each time printing is performed.

The CPU 67 has a RAM 61, a ROM 63,
It is connected to the head driving unit 73, the head detection unit 75, the printer control unit 77, the sensor 22 (dot detection unit), and the interface 65, and controls these. The CPU 67 also controls the printer mechanism 10, the head detector 75, and the head driver 73 via the head driver 73.
The driving of the head assembly 7 is controlled via the.

A feature of the embodiment of the present invention is that the CPU 9 determines the driving interval of the head assembly 7 and the printer mechanism 10 in consideration of the drying time of the ink corresponding to the type of the recording paper based on the above parameters. (A standard interval time Ts, which will be described later).

The head driving section 73 controls the operation of the head assembly 7 under the control of the CPU 67. The printer control unit 77 controls the operation of the printer mechanism unit 10 under the control of the CPU 67. The printer control unit 77 drives and controls a paper feed unit (not shown) of the printer mechanism unit 10.

The interface 65 is connected to, for example, a printer cable of the Centronics standard, or is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) via a network.
or) An interface for communicating data such as an image to be printed, for example, by connecting a cable.

The printer 5 is configured as described above. Next, an example of the operation of the printer 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 are diagrams each showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 102 in FIG. 9 and FIG.
11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing a printing process by the printer 5, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of setting the standard interval time Ts in FIG. In step ST1 of FIG. 9, a predetermined user operates an electronic device such as a computer connected to the printer 5 of FIG. 1 by a cable 15, and selects an image to be printed. Thus, the electronic device sends the image data to the printer 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer 5 acquires this image data via the interface 65 and stores it in, for example, the RAM 61.

Next, in step ST2, the CPU 67 of the printer 5 determines whether or not to print the image based on the image data under the default conditions. Specifically, the display unit 102 of FIG.
The screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. The user can select a condition to be set on this screen by operating the operation unit 101 in FIG. If printing is performed under the default conditions in step ST2 of FIG. 9, the process proceeds to step ST9 described below. If printing is not performed under the default conditions, the process proceeds to the next step ST3.

In step ST3, it is determined whether or not the type of the recording paper 27 can be kept at the default condition. If the type of the recording paper 27 can be left as the default, the process proceeds to step ST4. In step ST4, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 102 in FIG.

In this step ST4, in order to specify the recording paper 27 to be printed from now on, the recording paper corresponding to the type of the recording paper 27 from the "standard PPC paper" or the like displayed on the screen of FIG. Select the type. When the type of the recording paper 27 is specified, the CPU 67 of FIG.
Of the parameters stored in the OM 63, this recording paper 2
The parameters relating to the drying time of the ink corresponding to the seven types are acquired.

On the other hand, if the type of the recording paper 27 can be kept at the default condition in step ST3, the process proceeds to step ST3.
Go to 5. Steps ST5 and ST6 described below.
Steps ST7 and ST8 are processes that may be performed as needed, and one or both of them may not be performed. In the following description, as an example, it is assumed that the processing of both steps ST5 and ST6 and steps ST7 and ST8 are performed.

In step ST5, it is determined whether the print mode for printing the image data is a default condition. If the default condition is acceptable, the process proceeds to step ST7. If the default condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step ST6. Proceeding to step ST6,
The screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 15 of FIG.
In step ST6, in order to specify a print mode for printing an image based on image data, a print mode is selected from “high image quality mode” and the like. When the print mode is specified, the CPU 67 in FIG. 4 operates in this print mode.

In step ST7, it is determined whether or not the ink type can be used as a standard. If the ink type can be used as a standard, the process proceeds to step ST9. If not, the process proceeds to step ST8. Proceeding to step ST8,
A screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 102 in FIG.

In step ST8, in order to specify the type of ink, a type corresponding to the type of ink used is selected from "standard ink" displayed on the screen of FIG. When the type of ink is specified, the CPU 67 of FIG. 4 obtains a parameter related to the drying time of the ink corresponding to this type of ink from the parameters stored in the ROM 63. That is, in the ROM 63,
In addition to the recording paper 27, a parameter relating to the drying time of the ink may be stored corresponding to the type of the ink.

In step ST9 of FIG. 9, the user of the printer 5 specifies the number of prints of the same image, and in step ST10, the printer 5 starts printing. In step ST11 of FIG. 10, the sensor 22 of FIG. 1 determines whether or not the recording paper 27 exists in the discharge tray 20, and if the recording paper 27 does not exist, the process proceeds to step ST13.
If recording paper 27 is present, standard interval time Ts
Set. Here, the standard interval time Ts is
This refers to the temporal printing interval between recording papers that are continuously printed, that is, the temporal interval between the formation of dots on one recording paper 27 and the formation of dots on the next recording paper. I have. Therefore, this standard interval time Ts is the same as that in FIG.
3 shows a drive interval between the ejection head 35 and the printer mechanism 10.

Hereinafter, the calculation of the standard interval time Ts will be described with reference to FIG. CPU of FIG.
67 always manages the latest print time, and in step ST12b, the CPU 67 obtains the latest print time. Next, in step ST12c, the CPU 67
Obtains the drying time Td of the ink formed on the recording paper 27 printed most recently. Then, in step ST12d, a print time Tn required for printing on the recording paper 27 to be printed next is acquired.

Next, in step ST12e, for example, FIG.
The standard interval time Ts stored in advance in the ROM 63 is obtained. Next, in step ST12f, if the above-described print time Tn + standard interval time Ts is shorter than the print time Tn, the process proceeds to step ST13, and if longer, the process proceeds to step ST12g.

In step ST12g, an interval addition time Ti is calculated. Here, the interval addition time Ti refers to adjusting the standard interval time Ts so that the next recording paper does not overlap the dot formation surface of the previous recording paper before the ink of the previous recording paper dries. Therefore, the time added to the standard interval time Ts. The interval addition time Ti calculated in this manner is
It is added to the standard interval time Ts. That is, the standard interval time Ts' is
s' = standard interval time Ts + interval additional time Ti is set to be established.

Then, in step ST13 of FIG.
The CPU 67 shown in FIG.
, The printer control unit 77 is controlled to drive the printer mechanism unit 10, and the head drive unit 73 is controlled to drive and control the head assembly 7. Thus, the printer 5 shown in FIG. 1 can print the previous recording sheet 27 even if the next recording sheet is superimposed on the dot forming surface side of the recording sheet 27 in a state where the recording sheet 27 printed previously remains in the discharge tray 20. Since the ink on the recording paper 27 that has been dried is dry, it does not appear on the next recording paper.

Then, in step ST14, C in FIG.
The PU 67 stores the latest print time in the ROM 63 or the like. Next, in step ST15, the printer 5 inquires of the user whether or not to further print on another recording sheet. If printing is to be performed again, the process returns to step ST11, and if not to perform printing again, the process ends (step ST1).
6).

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, after the dots formed on the recording paper 27 printed most recently are dried, the next recording paper is placed on the dot forming surface side of the recording paper 27. Are superimposed on the discharge tray 20, so that the ink of the recording paper that has been printed earlier does not appear on the next recording paper.

Second Embodiment FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of a method for setting the standard interval time Ts in FIG. Printer 5a to which a printer as a second embodiment of the present invention is applied
1 to 8 have the same configuration as that of the printer 5 according to the first embodiment, the same configuration will be described using the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. Since the procedure in the second embodiment is almost the same as the procedure shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 in the first embodiment, the same steps are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. It will be explained mainly. In the following description, “density” refers to the degree of partial shading in an image or the like when a character or image is expressed by a combination of dots formed on the recording paper 27.

The procedure in the printer 5a according to the second embodiment is the same as that in the step S in FIG.
The difference is that step ST12a exists before T12b. In this step ST12a, the density of the dots formed on the recording paper 27 which has already been printed is detected by the sensor 22 for each dot. And FIG.
CPU 67 detects the dot of the highest density (highest density portion) detected by this sensor 22 and performs printing processing on the next recording paper in the same manner as in the first embodiment, taking into account the drying time of this ink. . In addition, the CPU 67 controls the sensor 22
In addition to using the detected highest density dot in the dot unit as a reference, the total ink amount of the region (the highest density portion) where the total ink amount of the plurality of dots belonging to the region into which the recording paper 27 is divided into a plurality is determined. The drying time of the ink may be considered as a reference.

Further, even when dots are formed on the recording paper 27 with, for example, a plurality of colors of ink, the printer 5a may similarly detect the density of those dots for each dot. That is, the ejection head 35 of FIG.
By discharging a plurality of colors of ink onto the recording paper 27,
A configuration in which dots made of a plurality of colors of ink are formed on the recording paper 27 and color characters and images can be printed may be employed. In this case, the sensor 22 in FIG. 1 detects the density of each of the detected dots for each color, and
The PU 67 grasps the dot of the highest density among the dots of each color based on the detected dot density of each color. The reason why the dot having the highest density among the dots formed on the recording paper 27 is detected is that such a dot takes the longest drying time.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be exerted, and in addition, the dots in the paper discharge tray 20 are surely dried. Even if the next recording paper is superimposed and held on the dot forming surface of the recording paper 27, the reflection of ink can be prevented. In addition, even when dots are formed on the recording paper 27 with a plurality of colors of ink, the reflection of ink between the recording papers can be similarly prevented.

Third Embodiment A printer 5b to which a printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention is applied has the same configuration as the printer 5 according to the first embodiment in FIGS. Will be described using the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. Further, the procedure in the third embodiment is almost the same as the procedure shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 in the first embodiment, and therefore, the same steps are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The description will focus on the differences.

FIG. 13 is a transparent perspective view showing a configuration example of a printer 5b as a third embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a transparent perspective view showing an example of a state in which a head assembly 7 is removed from a third printer 5b. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the printer 5b of FIG. In the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, the parameters relating to the ink drying time are stored in the ROM 63 of FIG. 2, but the printer 5b can externally obtain the parameters stored in the ROM 63. Specifically, the printer 5b has the following configuration.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the printer 5b, the head assembly 7 is detachable from the housing 29. As shown in FIG. 14, the head assembly 7 is provided with a detection unit 53, and the head assembly 7 is provided with a storage medium 39. The storage medium 39 stores parameters related to the drying time of the ink, and the detection unit 53 can read the parameters stored in the storage medium 39. The detection unit 53 is provided as a part of the head detection unit 75 in FIG. 15, for example.

When the head assembly 7 is mounted on the holder 33 from the state shown in FIG. 14 to the state shown in FIG. 13, the storage medium 39 provided on the head assembly 7 faces the detecting section 53. The head detection unit 75 in FIG.
When detecting that the head assembly 7 is mounted on the holder 33 as shown in FIG. 13, the detecting unit 53 is driven.
The detection unit 53 can read and acquire the above parameters from the storage medium 39 provided in the head assembly 7. Then, the CPU 67 in FIG. 15 adds the acquired new parameter to the parameter already stored in the ROM 63 or rewrites the
To memorize. In this way, the printer 5b can form dots on the next recording sheet based on the parameters stored in the ROM 63, taking into account the drying time for the dots, and perform printing processing.

[0052] Modification of the Third Embodiment Next, a configuration example of a storage medium 39 provided in the head assembly 7 shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 (A)-
FIGS. 16C and 17A to 17C are perspective views each showing a configuration example of the storage medium 39 provided in the head assembly 7. Here, the detection unit 53 of FIG.
Has a function of reading information such as the parameters stored in the storage medium 39 according to the type of the storage medium 39.

As shown in FIG.
May store predetermined information using a one-dimensional barcode, or may store the above parameters using a two-dimensional dot code as shown in FIG. Here, the two-dimensional dot code is an identifier in which dots arranged in a scattered manner on a plane indicate the above parameters. By doing so, the storage medium 39 is stored in FIG.
More information can be retained than when the barcode shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16C, the storage medium 39 may store the parameters so as to represent the above parameters by a partial color change of the color material. In this way, the storage medium 39 can have more information by giving various color changes to the color material.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17A, the storage medium 39 may store the above-mentioned parameters by encoding using electrical contacts. That is, the storage medium 39
For example, when a plurality of electrodes are exposed and a conductive portion in the electrodes is selected by the detection unit 53 in FIG. 3, information of a plurality of bits is obtained, and this is used as the predetermined information.

As shown in FIG. 17B, the storage medium 39 stores an IC (Integrated Circuit).
t) The above parameters of the chip may be stored. This IC chip has predetermined terminals, and FIG.
Has a function of directly communicating with a terminal provided in the detection unit 53 for data communication of information. In this way, the storage medium 39 can hold a large amount of information.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17C, the storage medium 39 may store the above parameters using a non-contact IC chip. That is, the non-contact IC chip has a predetermined antenna and has a function of performing data communication with the detection unit 53 in FIG. 3 in a non-contact manner. In this case, since the detection unit 53 does not contact the storage medium 39, the printer 5 prevents a failure due to damage,
Reliability can be improved. The storage medium 3 shown in FIG.
9 may be stored so that the above parameters are represented by magnetic signals or optical signals. The storage medium 39 may be capable of changing the contents of the stored parameters. In this case, the storage medium 39 is
For example, a parameter relating to the drying time of the ink according to the type of the ink stored in the head assembly 7 can be stored.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, substantially the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be exhibited, and in addition, a parameter relating to the ink drying time is stored in advance. Head assembly 7
Is attached to the housing 29, the printer 5b acquires the parameters, and based on the parameters, the recording paper 2
The next recording paper can be printed while taking into account the drying time of the ink for each 7th grade or the like.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the printers 5, 5a, and 5b in the above embodiment are connected to a network, and it goes without saying that the parameters may be obtained via the network. Each configuration of the above embodiment can be partially omitted or arbitrarily combined so as to be different from the above.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a printer capable of preventing ink from being reflected even when a next recording medium is superimposed on a printed recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a printer to which a printer according to a first embodiment of the invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a transparent perspective view showing a configuration example of the printer in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a transparent perspective view showing an example of a state in which a head assembly is removed from the printer of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing a printing process by a printer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing a printing process by a printer.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of setting a standard interval time in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of the method of setting the standard interval time in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a transparent perspective view showing a configuration example of a printer as a third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a transparent perspective view showing an example of a state in which a head assembly is removed from the printer of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a storage medium provided in a head assembly.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a storage medium provided in a head assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

5, 5a, 5b printer, 7 head assembly (cartridge), 10 printer mechanism (transporting means), 20 discharge tray (tray), 22
Sensor (dot detecting means), 27: recording paper (recording medium), 35: ejection head (head), 39:
Storage medium, 63 ... ROM (storage means), 67 ...
CPU (control means), 73: head drive section (control means), 77: printer control section (control means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A holding tray for holding the next recording medium on which dots have been formed is provided on the dot forming surface side of the recording medium on which dots made of the ink are formed by landing ink. A head for ejecting the ink to the recording medium, a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium relative to the head, and a plurality of types of the recording medium. A storage unit for storing a parameter relating to the drying time of the ink corresponding thereto, the parameter corresponding to the type of the recording medium being obtained from the storage unit, forming the dot on the recording medium, By the time the dots are formed on the recording medium, the intervals between the driving of the head and the transport unit are adjusted so that the dots formed on the recording medium are dried. Printer, characterized in that it comprises a control means for controlling. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is information on a drying time of the ink corresponding to not only a plurality of types of the recording medium but also a plurality of types of the ink. The printer described. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a dot detection unit that detects a density of the plurality of dots that land on the recording medium. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the head is configured to discharge the dots of a plurality of colors, respectively. 5. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a drying detection unit that detects whether the dots landed on the recording medium are dry. 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the parameter relating to the drying time of the ink can be added or rewritten. 7. A main body including the transport unit, the holding tray, the storage unit, and the control unit, and an information recording medium that is detachable from the main body and records a parameter relating to a drying time of the ink. A medium and a cartridge on which the head is mounted, wherein the main body is provided with an obtaining unit for obtaining a parameter relating to a drying time of the ink from the information recording medium mounted on the mounted cartridge. The printer according to claim 1, wherein: