JP4655681B2 - 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 It has been known.

  Such an ink jet recording apparatus includes a drive circuit to which a recording data signal (print data signal) and various control signals are input from the main body main circuit, and the drive circuit has a plurality of channels of ink ejection nozzles. There is an ink jet head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) that is driven (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in the conventional recording head as described above, a recording waveform signal is input to a driving circuit to drive the head, but a plurality of recording waveforms for ejecting a plurality of types of ink droplets for gradation recording. In some cases, it is necessary to change the recording waveform in units of blocks or rows of a certain nozzle in order to prepare the power supply, suppress the power peak, and avoid crosstalk. Further, in the case of color printing, there are demands that the characteristics differ depending on the ink, and it is desired to use a recording waveform that is optimal for the characteristics. In these cases, the number of types of recording waveforms increases. As the number of types of recording waveforms increases, the number of signal lines for inputting to the drive circuit increases accordingly.

  When the number of signal lines increases in this way, especially when a flexible flat cable is used to transmit a signal from the apparatus main body to the drive circuit, the width of the flexible flat cable becomes wide, and the drawing becomes complicated. However, it is also disadvantageous in terms of cost and maintenance.

Therefore, the technique described in Patent Document 1 proposes to reduce the number of signal lines for inputting the recording waveform signal from the apparatus main body side to the driving circuit by mounting the waveform generation circuit on the recording head. Yes. That is, data necessary for generating a recording waveform such as a pulse width is serially transmitted in advance to a waveform generation circuit mounted on the recording head, and the recording waveform is output from the waveform generation circuit at the start of recording based on the data. It is.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-158643 (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 recording waveform from the apparatus main body side to the drive circuit is reduced, an additional waveform generation circuit is required, and each type of recording waveform is required. A waveform generation circuit must be provided, and the weight of the recording head also increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and without having to mount a waveform generation circuit on a recording head, the number of signal lines less than the number of types of recording waveforms can be recorded from the apparatus main body side to the drive circuit. Provided is a recording apparatus capable of transmitting a data signal.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head having a plurality of actuators for performing dot recording, a driving circuit for outputting a driving pulse to the plurality of actuators of the recording head, and a recording waveform data signal for the driving circuit. And a main body circuit for transmitting a drive signal including selection data for each actuator, wherein the drive circuit generates a plurality of types of recording waveform signals based on the recording waveform data signal, In a recording apparatus for selecting a predetermined recording waveform signal based on the selection data from among various types of recording waveform signals, and outputting the recording waveform signal selected by the selection means, the recording head and The drive circuit is mounted on a carriage that is movable along a recording medium, and the main body main circuit is a device that accommodates the carriage. Provided in the main body, the drive signal and the recorded waveform data signals, which are transmitted to the driving circuit via a flexible cable that is provided between the apparatus body and the carriage, said drive circuit, a serial-parallel conversion circuit for generating the plurality of types of recording waveform signal the recording waveform data signal serially transmitted from the main body main circuit to parallel conversion, the selection from among the plurality of types of recording waveform signal The selection unit selects a predetermined recording waveform signal based on data.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, first, the recording waveform data signal is serially transmitted from the main body main circuit to the drive circuit. In the drive circuit, the recording waveform data signal is converted into a plurality of types of recording waveform signals by a serial-parallel conversion circuit. A predetermined recording waveform signal is selected and output from the plurality of types of recording waveform signals converted in parallel by the selection means based on selection data included in the drive signal (recording data signal). Then, a driving pulse having a selected recording waveform is output from the driving circuit to each actuator of the recording head, and dot recording (printing) is performed. And the number of signal lines for the recording waveform data signal transmitted through the flexible cable can be reduced.

  Therefore, since the recording waveform data signal is serially transmitted and converted in parallel to generate a plurality of types of recording waveform signals, the number of types of recording waveforms can be reduced without mounting a waveform generation circuit on the recording head as in the prior art. With the number of lines, it is possible to transmit recording waveform data signals for a plurality of types of recording waveform signals from the main circuit to the driving circuit, and a plurality of types of recording waveforms with a driving signal including selection data It is possible to select a recording waveform signal for each actuator from the signal.

  Therefore, for example, when multiple types of recording waveforms are prepared for gradation recording, or when it is necessary to change the recording waveforms depending on the ink characteristics in the case of color printing, the number of recording waveforms increases. Is particularly effective.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the serial-parallel conversion circuit sequentially captures the recording waveform data signal in time series based on a clock signal transmitted from the main body main circuit. The parallel conversion is performed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the serially transmitted recording waveform data signal is sequentially taken in time series by the serial-parallel conversion circuit based on the clock signal transmitted from the main body main circuit. Parallel conversion is performed to generate a plurality of parallel recording waveform signals.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the second aspect, each state of the recording waveform data signal that is serially transmitted corresponding to each clock pulse in the clock signal, It is converted into a parallel signal corresponding to the number of types of recording waveform signals, and is output as a plurality of parallel recording waveform signals based on the latch signal output from the main body main circuit. Here, “corresponding to each clock pulse in the clock signal” includes not only the case corresponding to the rising edge of the clock pulse of the clock signal but also the case corresponding to the falling edge of the clock pulse.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the serial-parallel conversion circuit converts the recording waveform data signal serially transmitted corresponding to each clock pulse (for example, the timing of the rising edge of each clock pulse) in the clock signal. Each state (“1” level state or “0” level state) is sequentially taken in time series and converted into a parallel signal corresponding to the number of types of the recording waveform signal. Based on the latch signal output from the main body main circuit, a plurality of parallel recording waveform signals are output.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the third aspect, the latch signal is output at a predetermined period across a group of a predetermined number of clock pulses, and each state of the converted parallel signal is as follows: It is changed based on each state of the recording waveform data signal serially transmitted corresponding to a group of clock pulses.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the latch signal is repeatedly output at a predetermined period with a predetermined number of clock pulses interposed therebetween, and the parallel plural types of recording waveform signals are output based on the latch signal. . In addition, each state of the converted parallel signal is changed based on each state of the recording waveform data signal that is serially transmitted corresponding to a group of a predetermined number of clock pulses. Each time, the output plural kinds of parallel recording waveform signals are changed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, each of the recording waveform signals includes one or a plurality of drive pulses, and the serially transmitted recording waveform data signal is a drive of each recording waveform signal The pulse state is serially included for each group of the clock pulses.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the recording waveform data signal transmitted serially includes the state of the drive pulse of each recording waveform signal serially for each group of the clock pulses, the serial-parallel A conversion circuit performs parallel conversion based on the clock signal, and a recording waveform signal including one or a plurality of drive pulses is output as a plurality of parallel recording waveform signals.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the serial-parallel conversion circuit repeatedly outputs the recording waveform signal at a constant period. .

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the recording waveform signal is repeatedly output at a constant cycle, the selection of the predetermined recording waveform signal based on the selection data included in the drive signal (recording data signal) is smoothly performed. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the actuator of the recording head is an ink chamber that stores ink based on the drive pulse having the selected recording waveform. It is characterized by ejecting ink droplets by increasing or decreasing the volume.

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.

  With the above configuration, the present invention serially transmits a recording waveform data signal from the main body main circuit to the drive circuit, and the selection means in the drive circuit is converted by the serial-parallel conversion circuit of the drive circuit. Since a predetermined recording waveform signal is selected from a plurality of types of recording waveform signals based on selection data included in the drive signal, the type of recording waveform can be selected without mounting a waveform generation circuit on the recording head. The recording waveform data signal can be transmitted to the drive circuit with a smaller number of signal lines.

  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 ink jet 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. Is.

  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 recording 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 as a drive circuit. 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), 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 generates drive pulses having a recording waveform suitable for the recording head 1 based on the control of the gate array 14 and applies them 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. A recording waveform data signal for generating a recording waveform signal, which will be described later, is stored in the ROM 13 in advance, or transmitted together with the recording data signal from the host computer 26 via the interface 27 and stored in the RAM 12 or the image memory 25. It 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 recording data signal transmitted from the host computer 26 via the interface 27 and transmits the signal to the CPU 11. The gate array 14 generates a clock signal CLK1 and a latch signal LAT1 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, A drive signal SIN0-2 for forming the image data on the recording paper is transmitted to the head driver 21 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK1. The gate array 14 generates a clock signal CLK2 and a latch signal LAT2 having a period different from that of the clock signal CLK1 and the latch signal LAT1 according to the print timing signal and the control signal from the encoder sensor 20, and the recording waveform. The data signal DATA is transmitted to the head driver 21 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK2. 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 first serial-parallel converter 31 and a first latch circuit 32 for serial-parallel conversion of the drive signal SINO-2 into a signal corresponding to each actuator. , A selector 33, a driver 34, a second serial-parallel converter 35 for converting the recording waveform data signal into a plurality of types of recording waveform signals, and a second latch circuit 36.

  When the recording head 1 is, for example, a 64-channel multi-nozzle head provided with 64 ink chambers, the first serial-parallel conversion circuit 31 is composed of a 64-bit length shift register. The serial-parallel conversion circuit 31 receives a drive signal serially transmitted from the gate array 14 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK1. The first serial-parallel conversion circuit 31 performs serial-parallel conversion of the drive signal by converting the drive signal into a parallel signal according to the rising edge of the clock pulse of the clock signal, and selects the selection signal for each channel. Set s0, s1, and s2. Each drive signal is composed of a 3-bit selection signal (selection data), and a recording waveform signal including non-printing is selected by a combination of the bits.

  The latch circuit 32 latches each parallel data signal in accordance with the rising edge (of the pulse) of the latch signal LAT1 transmitted from the gate array 14.

  On the other hand, the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 is composed of a 6-bit length shift register corresponding to the number of types of recording waveforms. The serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 receives the recording waveform data signal DATA serially transmitted from the gate array 14 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK2, and records waveform data based on the rising edge of the clock pulse of the clock signal CLK2. The parallel conversion of the recording waveform data signal is performed by converting the signal into six types of recording waveform signals FIRE 01-06. Then, the second latch circuit 36 latches the six types of recording waveform signals FIRE 01-06 (parallel signals) in accordance with the rising edge (of the pulse) of the latch signal LAT2 transmitted from the gate array 14.

  Each of the 64 selectors 33 provided for each channel has a plurality of types of parallel outputs from the second latch circuit 36 based on parallel drive signals (including selection data) output from the latch circuit 32. One of the recording waveform signals FIRE 01-06 is selected and output to the driver 34.

  For example, when six types of recording waveform signals having different numbers of pulses are prepared, these plural types of recording waveform signals are always output repeatedly at a constant period. Each of the selectors 33 includes three selection signals s0, s1, and s2, and selects one of the recording waveform signals (including non-printing) according to the input of the selection signal. Specifically, when each selection signal s0, s1, s2 is 0, 0, 0, non-printing is performed, 0, 1, 0 is the recording waveform signal FIRE 01, 0, 0, 1 is the recording waveform signal FIRE 02, In 1, 0, 0, the recording waveform signal FIRE 03 is selected, so that it is possible to obtain seven gradations including non-printing for each nozzle.

  Each driver 34 generates a driving pulse having a voltage suitable for the recording head 1 based on the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 output from the selector 33, and outputs the driving pulse having the selected recording waveform to the recording head 1. Output to the electrodes of each ink chamber.

  If the recording head 1 is not 64 channels, the bit length of the first serial-parallel conversion circuit 31 and the number of selectors 33 and drivers 34 should be the same as the number of channels of the recording head 1. Can be applied as well. If the number of types of recording waveform signals is not six, the same can be applied if the bit length of the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 is made the same as the number of types of recording waveform signals. .

  Next, the processing timing of each signal in the head driver 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 showing a timing chart of various signals transmitted to the head driver 21.

  The drive signal is read from the image memory 25 by the gate array 14, serially transmitted to the head driver 21 via the flexible flat cable 22, developed in parallel by the first serial-parallel conversion circuit 31, and from the latch circuit 32. The data is output to each selector 33 as 3-bit selection data. Each selector 33 selects one of a plurality of types of recording waveform signals input by parallel transmission from the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 based on the selection data, and a plurality of ejection nozzles of the recording head 1. A recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 for each ink ejection (not shown) is output to the driver 34.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording waveform data signal DATA output from the gate array 14 indicates each state from the beginning of the six types of recording waveform signals FIRE 01-06, and each of the six clocks of the clock signal CLK2. Include serially corresponding to the pulse. In addition, the recording waveform data signal DATA corresponds to each clock pulse sequentially sandwiched between adjacent latch signals LAT2 so that the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 includes one or more driving pulses. Each state of FIRE 01-06 is included as a group (1-6), respectively.

  Accordingly, the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 first takes in the first group of recording waveform data signals DATA between timings T0 and T1 sequentially in time series based on the rising edge of the clock pulse of the clock signal CLK2. Parallel conversion into multiple types of recording waveform signals. When the latch signal LAT2 rises at timing T1, the latch circuit 36 uses each bit of the recording waveform data signal DATA developed in the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 as the first bit of the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06. Latch as.

  For example, in FIG. 3, since the recording waveform data signal is at the “1” level at the rising edge of the clock pulse 06 in the first group, the recording waveform signal FIRE 06 is set to the “1” level. Since the recording waveform data signal is at the “1” level at the rising edge, the recording waveform signal FIRE 05 is also set to the “1” level. Similarly, the recording waveform signal FIRE 04 is set to “0” level, the recording waveform signal FIRE 03 is set to “1” level, the recording waveform signal FIRE 02 is set to “0” level, and the recording waveform signal FIRE 01 is set to “1” level. .

  Similarly, when the recording waveform data signal DATA of the second group is developed in the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 and latched in the latch circuit 36 by the latch signal LAT2 at the timing T2, the recording set as described above is performed. Each voltage level of the waveform signal FIRE 01-06 is switched according to the contents of the second group of recorded waveform data signals DATA. For example, since the recording waveform data signal DATA is at the “0” level at the rising edge of the clock pulse 06, the recording waveform signal FIRE06 is switched to the “0” level at the timing T2.

  Further, at timings T3, T4, and T5, the respective voltage levels of the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 are switched according to the contents of the recording waveform data signals DATA of the third group, the fourth group, the fifth group, and the sixth group. . As a result, the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 is formed as a recording waveform including one or a plurality of drive pulses, and is input to each selector 33.

  The plurality of recording waveform signals FIRE 01-06 input to each selector 33 are selected based on the drive signal output from the first latch circuit 32, that is, the contents of the selection data s0-0 to 2, and the driver Through step 34, a drive pulse having the selected recording waveform is output to the electrode of each ink chamber of the recording head 1 and ejected. Thereby, based on the contents of the selection data sO-0 to 2, ink droplets corresponding to the number of drive pulses or the pulse width included in the recording waveform signal are ejected, and gradation recording is performed.

  As long as the recording conditions do not change, the recording waveform data signal DATA for generating the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 is repeatedly read out by the gate array 14 in the period from timing T0 to T6, and the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35, repeatedly output from the second latch circuit 36 as the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06.

  The recording apparatus of the embodiment is driven with the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 as the recording cycle (the length including the portion where the sixth group of waveform data is not present in the length from T1 to T6). The period of the latch signal LAT1 input to the first latch circuit 32 only needs to be adapted to the recording period.

  In a color recording inkjet recording apparatus, recording waveform signals for each ink color recording head are set according to the ink characteristics, and recording waveform data signals for all recording heads are serially transmitted to each recording head. A plurality of recording waveform signals are developed in parallel for each head. In this case, the second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 and the second latch circuit 36 have the number of bits of the number of recording waveform signals × the number of recording heads. Alternatively, a second serial-parallel conversion circuit 35 and a second latch circuit 36 are provided for each recording head, and the recording waveform data signal is serially transmitted from the gate array 14 for each recording head. You can also.

  Further, the recording waveform data signal DATA may be appropriately rewritten and transmitted from the host computer 26 and stored in the RAM 12 or the image memory 25 so that the recording waveform signal FIRE 01-06 is changed according to the recording conditions. it can. For example, when a large number of image data jetted almost simultaneously is transmitted from the host computer 26, in order to avoid a power peak or a crosstalk, a large number of drive pulses are set not to overlap with the image data. The recording waveform data signal DATA is transmitted.

  Furthermore, the recording waveform data signal DATA output from the gate array 14 can be corrected according to environmental conditions such as temperature.

  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, considering the vibration remaining in the impact element, a recording waveform is selected depending on the presence or absence of preceding and subsequent recording data, or a thermal type The recording head can also be applied to select a recording waveform depending on the presence or absence of preceding and subsequent recording 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 timing chart figure of operation of the head driver concerning the above-mentioned embodiment (Drawing 2).

Explanation of symbols

1 Recording head 11 CPU
14 Gate array 21 Head driver (drive circuit)
22 Flexible flat cable 33 Selector (selection means)
35 Second serial-parallel conversion circuit

Claims (7)

A recording head having a plurality of actuators that perform dot recording, a driving circuit that outputs a driving pulse to the plurality of actuators of the recording head, a recording waveform data signal for each of the driving circuits, and each of the actuators A main body circuit that transmits a drive signal including selection data, and the drive circuit generates a plurality of types of recording waveform signals based on the recording waveform data signal, and includes a plurality of types of recording waveform signals. In a recording apparatus that has a selection means for selecting a predetermined recording waveform signal based on the selection data, and outputs the recording waveform signal selected by the selection means,
The recording head and the drive circuit are mounted on a carriage movable along a recording medium,
The main body main circuit is provided in an apparatus main body that accommodates the carriage, and the drive signal and the recording waveform data signal are transmitted to the drive circuit via a flexible cable provided between the apparatus main body and the carriage. Is to be transmitted,
The drive circuit includes a serial-parallel conversion circuit for generating a recording waveform signal of the plurality of types of the recording waveform data signal serially transmitted from the main body main circuit to parallel conversion, recording waveform signals of the plurality of types A recording apparatus characterized in that the selection means selects a predetermined recording waveform signal based on the selection data.   2. The serial-parallel conversion circuit, which sequentially captures the recording waveform data signal in a time series based on a clock signal transmitted from the main body main circuit and performs parallel conversion. Recording device.   The serial-parallel conversion circuit converts each state of the recording waveform data signal serially transmitted corresponding to each clock pulse in the clock signal into a parallel signal corresponding to the number of types of the recording waveform signal, 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording apparatus outputs a plurality of parallel recording waveform signals based on a latch signal output from the main circuit of the main body. The latch signal is output at a predetermined cycle across a group of a fixed number of clock pulses,
4. The recording according to claim 3, wherein each state of the converted parallel signal is changed based on each state of the recording waveform data signal serially transmitted corresponding to a group of next clock pulses. apparatus.   Each recording waveform signal includes one or a plurality of driving pulses, and the serially transmitted recording waveform data signal includes the state of the driving pulse of each recording waveform signal serially for each group of the clock pulses. The recording apparatus according to claim 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the serial-parallel conversion circuit repeatedly outputs the recording waveform signal at a constant period. 2. The recording head actuator ejects ink droplets by increasing or decreasing the volume of an ink chamber containing ink based on a driving pulse having the selected recording waveform. The recording apparatus according to any one of to 6 .

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