JPH08323970A - Ink-jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an ink-jet recorder which is equipped with a data count which can really effectively count high speed driving data and can effectively conduct the temperature control and recovery action of a recording head, the detection of a residual amount of ink, etc. CONSTITUTION: A data count selects counters 406, 407, 409, 410 which count driving data of each heater transferred by signal lines SD1, SD2, J-K flip-flops 405, 408 which count transfer clock signals SCK1, SCK2, and the counters 406, 407, 409, 410 by the count values of the J-K flip-flops 405, 408 and counts driving data of each block (partly group of blocks) of discharge opening.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording having a recovery means for recovering the function of the ink ejection port by ejecting ink from a recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports toward a recording medium for recording. The present invention relates to an apparatus, and more particularly, to an inkjet recording apparatus having a data counting unit that counts drive data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, counting the number of drive data with respect to ejection of a recording head is performed by using a recovery means for clogging the ejection port of the recording head and removing bubbles in the recording head. This technique is indispensable for determining the timing, for controlling the temperature rise of the print head, and for detecting the ink remaining amount of the ink tank that supplies ink to the print head.

For example, USP4791435, USP4
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 910528, there is one that counts the number of drive data for ejection of a print head to perform temperature control and ejection control. In addition, Japanese Patent Publication 05-19467
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. JP-A-2003-154, there is a method in which the number of drive data for ejection of the recording head is counted and the remaining amount of the ink tank is detected.

By the way, in recent years, the number of ejection ports of the recording head has been increased from 64 to 128, and the ejection frequency is 5K.
There is a tendency for the frequency to increase from 10 Hz to 10 kHz, and the resolution is also increased from 300 dpi (dot per inch, 300 dots form a character in 1 inch, which is a number indicating the pixel density) to 600 dpi. Is progressing.

Also, a so-called multi-droplet technique, in which a high-definition / high-resolution recording head with a small ejection amount is used to eject a plurality of ink droplets per pixel to form an image, is about to be put into practical use. Therefore, the data transfer rate to the recording head is increasing. Therefore, in the serial transfer method in which all recording data is transferred by one signal line, there is a time hindrance in the printing operation, and the parallel transfer method in which the recording data is transferred by using a plurality of signal lines is becoming essential. is there.

Under such circumstances, in order to count the number of drive data for the ejection of the recording head, it is required to operate at a high speed while ensuring a certain degree of counting accuracy.

By the way, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 03-31352, there is a method of counting the number of drive data for ejection of the recording head at the expense of accuracy, but in terms of accuracy, temperature control and prediction are performed. It cannot be used for.

[0008]

However, for example, in the case of parallel transfer of data to a print head, in order to count the number of data to be transferred, a counter is provided for each signal line to which the data is transferred, and It is necessary to add the data of each counter at high speed. In the current electrical technology, it is possible to easily realize the number of counters by increasing the number of implementations, but it is necessary to introduce a special technology to add the data of multiple nozzles at the above-mentioned ejection frequency at high speed. Not only that, it will lead to a significant increase in costs. Further, even if it is a monochrome inkjet recording apparatus, not to mention its high speed, a color inkjet recording apparatus equipped with four recording heads requires high speed and electric circuit. The scale will be very large.

As described above, in the temperature control of the print head, the recovery operation, the remaining ink amount detection, etc., it is possible to count the number of drive data for the ejection of the print head at a high speed while ensuring a certain counting accuracy. It was impossible.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is provided with a data counting means capable of actually and effectively counting high-speed drive data to the recording head, and controlling the temperature of the recording head. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can effectively perform a recovery operation, an ink remaining amount detection, and the like.

[0011]

Therefore, in the recording apparatus according to the present invention, ink is ejected from a recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports toward a recording medium to perform recording, and the function of the ink ejection ports is achieved. An ink jet recording apparatus having a recovery unit for recovering the recording head, a scanning unit for scanning the recording head, a driving unit for ejecting ink to the recording head by drive data based on image recording data, and a plurality of ejection ports. A transfer unit that transfers the drive data assigned to each of the plurality of ejection ports in synchronization with the transfer clock to the drive unit by the same signal line; and a data that counts the drive data assigned to each of the plurality of ejection ports.
The data counting means includes a plurality of counter means for counting drive data, a transfer clock counting means for counting the transfer clock, and a plurality of counters according to a count value of the transfer clock counting means. And a counter selecting unit that selects any one of the units, and counts by the counter unit selected by the counter selecting unit for each drive data for a plurality of discharge ports. It is an attempt to achieve the purpose.

[0012] Further, in accordance with the count value of the drive data, the function of the ink ejection port is restored by the recovery means, or the count value of the drive data is corresponded. By controlling the driving means to eject ink from the ink ejection port, or in addition to any of the above constitutions,
It is an object of the present invention to achieve the above object by a configuration including an ink remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink supplied to the recording head in correspondence with the count value of the drive data. .

[0013]

If the means for counting the number of drive data with respect to the ejection of the recording head having the above-mentioned structure can count at a high speed with a certain degree of accuracy, and the burden on the hardware can be reduced.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the recording heads 1 respectively eject yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) inks.
Y, 1M, 1C and 1K are provided with 256 ejection openings arranged in two rows in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 2 (hereinafter referred to as the sub-scanning direction) at intervals of 1/300 inch, and correspond to each ejection opening. The ink path communicating with the heater is provided with a heater for generating thermal energy used for ejection. The heater generates heat in response to an electric pulse applied according to drive data, and causes film boiling in the ink. Along with the generation of bubbles due to the film boiling, ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port. In this example, the driving frequency of the heater, that is, the ejection frequency is 10 KHz.

The carriage 4 carries the recording head 1 and two guide shafts 5 slidably engaged with a part thereof.
Move while being guided by A and 5B. The carriage 4 is moved by, for example, attaching a wire 6 stretched by a pulley to a part of the carriage 4 and moving the wire 6 by rotation of a motor via the pulley. The ink supplied to the recording heads 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is stored in each ink cartridge (not shown) in the carriage 4. Then, this ink is supplied to the recording head through an ink supply path (not shown). Flexible cables 7C, 7M, 7Y, 7K
Are connected to the recording heads 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively, so that the driving circuit (head driver) provided in a part of them is driven by a drive signal or control based on the print data from the control board of the apparatus. You can send a signal.

The paper feed roller 3 extends in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the guide shafts 5A and 5B, rotates in response to the drive of the paper feed motor, and conveys the recording paper 2 as a recording medium. A similar paper feed roller is provided below the paper feed roller, rotates in accordance with the conveyance of the recording paper 2, and regulates the recording surface of the recording paper 2 flat between the paper feed rollers. In the above configuration, the recording heads 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K perform recording by ejecting ink to the recording surface of the recording paper 2, that is, the portion facing the ejection port, as the carriage 4 moves.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one recording head in the embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the ejection port direction, and the recording head is scanned in the direction of arrow A to perform printing.

Numerals 1001 to 1256 are the ejection openings of the recording head, and the recording head is composed of two rows consisting of an odd numbered row and an even numbered row of each ejection opening number.
There is a distance of / 300inch. In addition, the interval between the ejection openings in each row is 1/300 inch, and the ejection openings in both rows are arranged in a staggered pattern. That is, it has a resolution of 1/600 inch in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the recording head.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control arrangement of the embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

The main controller 100 is composed of a CPU, etc., and temporarily stores character codes, image data, etc. sent from the host computer 200 in the memory 100M.
To be stored. The main controller 100 is the memory 100
Character code and image data etc. stored in M correspond to each scan of each color recording head and drive data RAM
It stores in 110M via the driver controller 110. The driver controller 110 responds to the control signal from the main controller 100 by driving the drive data RAM 11
The drive data stored in 0M is read out with reference to the ejection port number and the scan number, supplied to the head driver 114, and the drive timing thereof is controlled.

In the above configuration, the main controller 100 controls ink ejection by the recording head 1, rotation of the carriage motor 102 and rotation of the paper feed motor 104 via the driver controller 110, the motor driver 104D and the motor driver 102D, respectively. . As a result, characters, images, etc. corresponding to the image data are recorded on the recording paper 2.

An example of a characteristic configuration according to the present invention provided in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus will be described below.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows the configuration of each ejection port drive data transfer and heating of the print head shown in FIG. 2 and the configuration of the main controller 100 and the driver controller 110 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram for one color shown (there is no difference for each color recording head), and the number of ejections to each ejection port of each recording head can be counted.

In FIG. 4, H1 to H256 correspond to the discharge ports of FIG. 2 and are heaters for generating thermal energy. tr1 to tr256 are heaters H1 to H
A transistor corresponding to 256 for driving each heater. Reference numerals 401 and 402 are both 128-bit latches for latching the drive data of each heater by the signals LT1 and LT2. Further, both 403 and 404 are 128-bit shift registers, which are synchronized with the transfer clock signals of SCK1 and SCK2, respectively, and are respectively SD1 and S.
The drive data of each heater is transferred by the signal line of D2.

Reference numerals 405 and 408 denote transfer clocks S, respectively.
It is a JK flip-flop that plays the role of a counter that counts CK1 and SCK2. The positive logic output Q and the negative logic output NQ of the transfer clock signals SCK1 and SCK2 each perform a toggle operation. Also, 40
Reference numerals 6 and 407, 409 and 410 are counters for counting the drive data to be transferred, and SD1 and SD2 are input to their clock terminals, respectively.
Counting is performed when SD1 and SD2 change from "L" to "H". Further, the outputs Q of the JK flip-flops 405 and 408 are the counters 40, respectively.
The output NQ of the JK flip-flops 405 and 408 is counted by the count enable terminals of
Input to the enable terminal.

In FIG. 4, in synchronization with the clocks of SCK1 and SCK2, the data corresponding to each heater from the signal lines of SD1 and SD2 are the data from heater H255 to heater H1 and from heater H256 to heater H2, respectively. Is transferred. That is, SCK
128 clocks are sent for each of 1 and SCK2. Next, when 128 pieces of data are transferred and SCK1 and SCK2 are stopped, signals of LT1 and LT2 are output, and the transferred data are latched by 128-bit latches 401 and 402, respectively. That is, the data corresponding to each heater is 128 bi
It is held in the latches 401 and 402 of t. Next, the signals of ENB1 and ENB2 are output to 1
A signal corresponding to the data held in the 28-bit latch is supplied to each transistor tr, and each heater is heated based on the data, whereby ink is ejected from each ejection port.

At the same time that the respective ENB1 and ENB2 are supplied and ejected, the data relating to the next ejection is transferred to the 128-bit shift registers 403 and 404 in synchronization with the clocks of SCK1 and SCK2, respectively. . Thereafter, the ejection sequence is similarly repeated to form an image on the recording paper.

Since ENB1 and ENB2 are one signal line, the heaters H1 to H255 and H2 to H256 are heated at the same time. However, by using a plurality of signal lines, discharge is performed by each heater. It is also possible to shift the timing of.

By the way, the JK flip-flop 40
In No. 5, the output Q is “L” and the output NQ is “H” in the initial state, and the output Q is “H”, “L”, “H”, “L”, ... For each pulse of the transfer clock SCK1. NQ performs a toggle operation such as "L""H""L""H" ....
Since the output Q and the output NQ are connected to the count enable terminals of the counters 406 and 407, respectively, which count data, if the output Q of the 405 is “L” and the output NQ is “H”, the counter 406 is used. Does not count even if SD1 changes from "L" to "H" at the count enable terminal. On the contrary, if the count enable signal of the counter 407 becomes "H" and SD1 changes from "L" to "H", counting is performed. Next, when SCK1 comes to one pulse, the output Q of the JK flip-flop 405 is “H” and the output NQ is “L”, which is the reverse of the previous state and the count enable terminal of the counter 406 is “H”. Four
The count enable terminal of 07 becomes "L". Therefore, when SD1 changes from “L” to “H”, only the counter 406 counts.

As described above, only one of the counters 406 and 407 can count for each pulse of the transfer clock SCK1. Therefore, according to the above example, the counter 407 counts the data of the ejection ports corresponding to the heaters of H1, H5, H9, H13 ... Of the odd numbers H1 to H255, and 407 counts H3, H3.
7, H11 ... The data of the discharge port corresponding to the heater is counted.

Also, the JK flip-flop 408,
The operations of the counters 409 and 410 are similar to the above, and the counter 409 is the H of the even numbers H2 to H256.
2, H6, H10, H14 ... The data of the discharge ports corresponding to the heaters are counted, and 407 is H4, H8, H.
12 ... Counts the data of the ejection port corresponding to the heater.

As can be easily guessed from the above description,
In this embodiment, the counters 406, 407, 409,
410 operates at a frequency equal to or lower than 1/2 of the transfer clocks SCK1 and SCK2, and the maximum count number thereof may be 1/4 of the data number of all ejection ports. In this embodiment, since the data of all the ejection ports are counted, there is no problem in terms of accuracy, and the maximum number of counts of the counter is 1 / of the total number of bits.
Since it is 4, the high speed is excellent and the load on the hardware is reduced.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the transfer clocks SCK1 and SCK2 are counted by a 1-bit counter (J-).
K flip-flops 405, 408)
It switched between two counters (406 and 407, 409 and 410).

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, SCK1,
SCK2 is a 2-bit counter 505, 508
, SD1 is counted by selecting any one of the four counters 511, 512, 513, 514 according to the count value of the counter 505, and the four counters 515, 516, 5 are counted according to the count value of the counter 508.
SD2 is counted by any one of the counters 17, 518.

The selector 520 shown in FIG.
Depending on the count value of 05, 511, 512, 513, 5
Only the count enable terminal of any one of the counters 14 is set to "H", and SD1 is counted.
Further, the selector 521 sets the count enable terminal of any one of the counters 515, 516, 517, and 518 to “H” according to the count value of the counter 508, and causes SD2 to count.

In this embodiment, counters 511, 512, 513, 514 and 51 for counting drive data.
5, 516, 517, and 518 are transfer clocks SCK1,
It operates at a frequency not more than ¼ of SCK2, and the maximum count number is also ⅛ of the data number of all ejection ports. Therefore,
There is no problem in terms of accuracy because it counts data from all outlets, and since the maximum number of counts of the counter is 1/8 of the total number of bits, it is superior in terms of high speed and also burdens hardware. It gets smaller.

(Third Embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, the data of all the ejection ports are counted, but characters and
Most of the data of 300 dpi is used in the image forming application, and if only the data of the even-numbered ejection ports is counted in this recording head,
It is clear that twice the total number of ejections is the total number of ejections, and even if an image of 600 dpi in which characters and the like are smoothed is printed, the count error is insignificant.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to count the number of ejections of the print head at high speed and with a certain degree of accuracy with realizable hardware, and it is possible to effectively perform the temperature control of the print head, the recovery operation, the remaining ink amount detection, and the like. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a recording head included in the inkjet recording apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each ejection port drive data transfer and heating of the recording head of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each ejection port drive data transfer and heating of a recording head according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Head 2 Recording Paper 4 Carriage 6 Wire 7 Flexible Cable 405, 408 JK Flip Flop 406, 407, 409, 410 Counter SD1, SD2 Signal Lines for Transferring Drive Data SCK1, SCK2 Transfer Clock Signal

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording apparatus having a recovery means for recovering the function of the ink ejection port by ejecting ink from a recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports toward a recording medium to perform recording. Scanning means for scanning the recording head, driving means for ejecting ink to the recording head by drive data based on image recording data, and drive data assigned to each of a plurality of ejection ports in synchronization with a transfer clock. The transfer means transfers to the drive means by the same signal line, and the data count means counts the drive data assigned to each of the plurality of ejection ports. The data count means counts the drive data. A plurality of counter means, a transfer clock counting means for counting the transfer clock, and a transfer clock .Counter selecting means configured to select one of the plurality of counter means according to the count value of the counting means, and count by the counter means selected by the counter selecting means for each drive data for a plurality of discharge ports An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by: 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery means restores the function of the ink ejection port in correspondence with the count value of the drive data. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is controlled according to the count value of the drive data to eject ink from an ink ejection port. 4. The ink remaining amount detection for detecting the remaining amount of ink to be supplied to the recording head in accordance with the count value of the drive data, in addition to the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising means.