JP2001162785A - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To detect the temperature inside a print head with high accuracy with a cheaper configuration. SOLUTION: In a printing apparatus for performing printing by a printing head 101 for performing printing on a printing medium using thermal energy, a first temperature inside the printing head is controlled by a diode 10.
2 and the second temperature around the recording head is detected by a sensor 107 using a thermistor. The central processing unit 106 obtains a correction value of the first temperature from the first temperature and the second temperature, stores the correction value in the storage unit 111, and, based on the stored correction value, determines the first temperature. Is corrected to determine the temperature inside the recording head, and the driving of the recording head is controlled according to the determined temperature inside the recording head.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus and a recording method having a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium using thermal energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As information output devices in word processors, personal computers, facsimile machines, etc., printers for recording desired information such as characters and images on sheet-like recording media such as paper and film are widely used. I have.

[0003] Conventionally known printers can be broadly classified into two types depending on the recording method. One is LB
P (laser beam printer)
This is a page printer that employs a method of recording pixel by pixel. Other types of printers use a recording head in which recording elements are arranged in a paper feeding direction (a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction), and the recording head records a plurality of pixels simultaneously or in several blocks. This is a serial printer that uses the system.

[0004] The recording head of such a serial printer is generally an ink jet system using a piezo element,
It is composed of an ink jet system utilizing thermal expansion of ink, a thermal transfer system, a thermal system, a dot impact system, a daisy wheel system, and the like. Further, in a serial printer, in an ink jet system utilizing thermal expansion of ink, a thermal transfer system, and a thermal system, a recording operation is performed using thermal energy.

FIG. 2 shows a recording mechanism of the ink jet system with respect to a cross section of a nozzle as a recording element.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, reference numeral 201 denotes a nozzle provided in the print head, 202 denotes ink, 203 denotes a heater for heating the ink, 204 denotes a sheet as a print medium, and 205 denotes a bubble generated by heating the ink 202 by the heater 203. And 206, the ejected ink droplets, and 207, the ink that has landed and adhered on the paper 204.

Next, the recording operation will be described in order with reference to FIG. First, each nozzle 201 is filled with ink 202 as shown in FIG. In this state, when a pulse-like voltage is applied to the heater 203 from a recording head drive circuit (not shown), the heater 2 is turned on as shown in FIG.
The ink 202 in contact with 03 is locally rapidly heated and vaporized, and bubbles 205 are generated. At this time, the heater 203
The ink in the vicinity of the nozzle ejection surface located further ahead is
The ink 5 is pushed forward by the expanding energy, and is ejected out of the recording head 201 as an ink droplet 206.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1C, the ejected ink droplets 206 land and adhere on the paper 204 to record characters or images.

[0008] At this time, if the size (capacity) of the ejected ink droplets 206 is not uniform, density unevenness or the like occurs in the recorded matter, which leads to a decrease in recording quality and image quality. Therefore,
In order to perform high-quality printing, it is desirable that the size of the ink droplet 206 is always uniform.

However, the ejected ink droplets 206
Is greatly affected by the viscosity of the ink, and the viscosity varies depending on the temperature of the ink. For this reason, the temperature of the ink is conventionally detected, and the pulse width of the pulsed voltage to be applied is varied to control the ejection energy, whereby the ink droplet 2 is controlled.
06 is kept uniform.

As the ink temperature detecting means conventionally used, a thermistor or a diode is generally disposed in an ink liquid chamber (not shown) inside a recording head, and a characteristic change amount due to these temperatures is detected.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the characteristics of the diode used as the above-described temperature detecting means. The horizontal axis represents the ambient temperature T (° C.) of the diode, and the vertical axis represents the case where a constant forward current flows through the diode. Represents the forward voltage Vf (V). However, the characteristics of the diode used in the description of the conventional example are as follows.

Vf = 1.15V ± 50mV (If = 20
0 μA, T = 25 ° C.) Temperature change ΔVf = −4.5 mV / ° C. (If = 200 μ
A) In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes “forward voltage vs. ambient temperature characteristics” when a forward constant current of 200 μA is applied to a diode used for temperature detection. This shows that the forward voltage Vf decreases as the temperature increases, and that the diode forward voltage Vf at 25 ° C. is 1.15 V.

Further, in FIG.
The forward voltage variation when a constant forward current of A flows indicates the “forward voltage vs. ambient temperature characteristic” of a diode having a characteristic higher by 20 mV than a standard product (a diode having the characteristic of 301). .

Similarly, in FIG.
The forward voltage variation when a constant forward current of A flows is 2 compared to the standard product (diode having the characteristic of 301).
It shows the “forward voltage versus ambient temperature characteristic” of a diode having a characteristic lower by 0 mV.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional circuit for detecting the ink temperature using a diode having the characteristics shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 101 denotes a main body of an ink jet type recording head (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording head). Usually, a plurality of nozzles for performing an ink discharging operation as shown in FIG. The nozzle array is provided with a plurality of nozzle arrays.

Reference numeral 102 denotes an ink temperature detecting means using the diode described above, and is usually arranged at least one in an ink chamber (not shown).

Reference numeral 103 denotes a constant current circuit for supplying a constant forward current to the diode 102. 104 is a differential amplifier for amplifying the forward voltage of the diode 102.

Reference numeral 401 denotes a central processing unit for controlling a mechanism (not shown) and controlling the driving of the recording head 101 necessary for performing a recording operation as a printer.

Reference numeral 402 denotes an input terminal for A / D conversion (analog / digital conversion), which is connected to an A / D converter (not shown) built in the central processing unit 401 and converts a voltage value input thereto. It is for converting into a digital value and taking it in.

Reference numeral 404 denotes correction data 404 for correcting variations of the diode 102 as illustrated in FIG.
A means for giving A to the central processing unit 401, which measures the characteristics of the diode 102 of the recording head 101 which is usually mounted in advance, classifies it into several ranks, and gives this rank number.

As a specific method of providing the correction data 404A, for example, for a fixed type head that cannot be replaced, it is performed by using a jig or a tool or a panel switch of a printer (not shown) in an assembling process in a factory. For the head of the system, a storage element such as a ROM or some identification means is added to the head itself, and the correction data is read by the central processing unit 401 when the head is mounted on the printer.

Next, the operation of the conventional circuit shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

When the power is turned on by the power switch while the recording head 101 is mounted on the printer body,
If = 2 is applied to the diode 102 by the constant current circuit 103.
A constant current of 00 μA is supplied. Diode 1 at this time
02 is forwarded by the differential amplifier 104 to 5.
After the voltage is amplified three times, the A / D of the central processing unit 401
The data is input to an input terminal 402, converted into a digital value, taken into the central processing unit 401, and converted into temperature information inside the central processing unit 401.

At this time, the correction data 404A is given to the central processing unit 401 separately from the above operation. When converting the forward voltage Vf inside the central processing unit 401 into temperature data, the correction data 404A is used. 404A is considered.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the voltage input to the central processing unit 401 from the A / D input terminal 402 and the temperature. As shown, this voltage is
2 changes in accordance with the forward voltage.

In the drawing, reference numeral 501 denotes the case of the diode having the standard characteristics described above, and reference numeral 502 denotes 200 μA
The characteristic curve of a diode having a forward voltage variation of 20 mV higher than that of a standard product when a forward constant current is applied. Similarly, 503 indicates a forward voltage variation when a forward constant current of 200 μA is applied. 2 for standard products
4 shows a characteristic curve of a diode having a characteristic lower by 0 mV. In the drawing, reference numeral 504 denotes a so-called temperature characteristic change region in which the forward voltage of the diode used in the conventional example changes due to a change in ink temperature.

[0028]

However, as can be seen from the temperature characteristic change region of the diode indicated by 504 in FIG. 5, the effective data region is only 96% of + 5V.
It is only 7 mV, and the dynamic range of the temperature characteristic change region 504 is small. For this reason, in order to perform temperature detection with high accuracy, it is necessary to use an A / D converter having sufficiently fine resolution. For example, if a conventional example uses a 1024-bit A / D converter in the 3.64 V range, 1024 bits are used.
Among the steps, 271 steps correspond to the temperature characteristic change region.

Further, in order to correct the variation in the characteristics of the diode 102, it is necessary to classify as described above. For this reason, there is a possibility that the accuracy is deteriorated due to the error at the time of ranking, and correction data for measuring the dispersion is separately provided.

For the above reasons, in the conventional method, it is necessary to use a high-precision component (such as a chip resistor) for determining the reference voltage of the operational amplifier in order to perform accurate temperature detection.

In addition, the accuracy of the measurement of the temperature characteristics in the manufacturing process and the like is required, so that the manufacturing cost is increased.

This causes a problem particularly in a recording apparatus in which the recording head can be replaced, because the cost of the recording head, which is a consumable, is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of detecting the temperature inside a recording head with high accuracy with a less expensive configuration. I do.

[0034]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording apparatus having a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium using thermal energy,
First temperature detecting means for detecting a first temperature inside the recording head, and second temperature detecting means surrounding the recording head inside the apparatus.
Second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the first temperature, correction means for obtaining a correction value of the first temperature from the first temperature and the second temperature, storage means for storing the correction value, Temperature calculating means for correcting the first temperature based on the correction value stored in the storage means to obtain a temperature inside the recording head; and a temperature inside the recording head obtained by the temperature calculating means. And control means for controlling the driving of the recording head according to

A recording method according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a recording method in which recording is performed by a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium using thermal energy, wherein the first temperature inside the recording head is set to a first temperature. A first temperature detecting step of detecting a second temperature around the recording head.
A temperature detection step, a correction step of obtaining a correction value of the first temperature from the first temperature and the second temperature, a storage step of storing the correction value in storage means, A temperature calculating step of correcting the first temperature based on the stored correction value to obtain a temperature inside the recording head, and according to the temperature inside the recording head obtained by the temperature calculating step, A control step of controlling the driving of the recording head.

That is, in a recording apparatus that performs recording by a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium using thermal energy, a first temperature inside the recording head and a second temperature around the recording head are detected. A correction value of the first temperature is determined from the first temperature and the second temperature, the correction value is stored in the storage unit, and the first temperature is corrected based on the stored correction value to thereby correct the first temperature. And the driving of the recording head is controlled in accordance with the determined temperature inside the recording head.

In this way, if an element having high detection accuracy is used as a means for detecting the second temperature around the recording head, the means for detecting the first temperature inside the recording head can be used as a means for detecting the first temperature inside the recording head. Even when an element such as a diode having a variation is used, the temperature inside the recording head can be obtained with high accuracy.

Accordingly, uneven printing and uneven density due to a change in temperature inside the print head can be reduced, and high-quality printing can be performed. In addition, the adjustment work in the manufacturing process can be omitted, and in a recording apparatus in which the recording head is detachable, correction can be easily performed according to the temperature characteristics of each recording head when the recording head is replaced.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment described below, a serial printer using an ink jet recording system will be described as an example.

In this specification, the term “record” (also referred to as “print”) refers to not only the case where significant information such as characters and figures is formed, but also whether the information is significant or insignificant. Regardless of whether or not the image has been exposed so as to be perceivable, a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or a medium is processed is also referred to.

Here, the “recording medium” is not limited to paper used in a general recording apparatus, but is widely used for cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood,
A material that can accept ink, such as leather, is also referred to.

Further, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted broadly as in the definition of “recording (printing)”, and by being applied on a recording medium, It refers to a liquid that can be used for forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing ink (for example, solidifying or insolubilizing a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a main configuration of an ink jet printer as one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes an ink jet head (recording head) including a nozzle group for discharging ink while facing a recording surface of a recording sheet as a recording medium sent on a platen 124. Reference numeral 116 denotes a carriage for holding the recording head 16, which is connected to a part of a driving belt 118 for transmitting the driving force of a driving motor 117, and is slidable with two guide shafts 119A and 119B disposed in parallel with each other. By doing so, the recording head 16 can reciprocate over the entire width of the recording paper. During this reciprocation, the recording head 16 records an image corresponding to the image data on the recording paper. The recording paper is conveyed by a predetermined amount each time one main scan is completed.
Sub-scanning is performed.

Reference numeral 126 denotes a head recovery device, which is provided at one end of the moving path of the recording head 16, for example, at a position facing the home position. The head recovery device 126 is operated by the driving force of the motor 122 via the transmission mechanism 123, and the recording head 16 is capped. In connection with the capping portion of the head recovery device 126 to the recording head 16 by the cap portion 126A, ink absorption (suction recovery) is performed by an appropriate suction means (for example, a suction pump) provided in the head recovery device 126, As a result, an ejection recovery process such as removing the thickened ink in the ejection port by forcibly discharging the ink from the ejection port is performed. Also, by performing capping at the end of recording or the like, the recording head is protected. Such an ejection recovery process is performed when the power is turned on, when the print head is replaced, or when the printing operation is not performed for a certain period of time or the like.

Reference numeral 131 denotes a blade disposed on a side surface of the head recovery device 126 and formed of silicon rubber as a wiping member. The blade 131 is held in a cantilever form by a blade holding member 131A, and like the head recovery device 126, a motor 122 and a transmission mechanism 123 are provided.
And the engagement with the ejection surface of the recording head 16 becomes possible.

Thus, at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the recording head 16 or the head recovery device 1
After the ejection recovery process using the recording head 26, the blade 131 is protruded into the movement path of the recording head 16, and the dew condensation, wetness, dust, and the like on the ejection surface of the recording head 16 are wiped off as the recording head 16 moves.

Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the ink jet printer of FIG. In the figure showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is an MPU 170
ROM for storing a control program to be executed by PC 1, 170
Reference numeral 3 denotes a DRAM for storing various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). 1704
Is a gate array (GA) for controlling supply of print data to the print head H, and also controls data transfer between the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the RAM 1703.

These interfaces 1700, MPU
1701, ROM 1702, RAM 1703, and gate array 1704 constitute central processing unit 106.

Reference numeral 117 denotes a drive motor for transporting the recording head 16, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head 16, and 1706 and 1707 denote transport motors 17 respectively.
09, a motor driver for driving the drive motor 117.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the gate array 1
The recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the 704 and the MPU 1701. And the motor driver 1
The print heads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the print head 16 is driven in accordance with print data sent to the head driver 1705.
Is driven, and recording is performed.

Here, the control program executed by the MPU 1701 is stored in the ROM 1702.
An erasable / writable storage medium such as an EEPROM may be further added so that the host computer connected to the inkjet printer can change the control program.

As described above, the ink tank and the recording head 16 may be integrally formed to constitute a replaceable ink cartridge recording head C. However, these ink tanks and the recording head 16 are separated. Make it possible,
When the ink runs out, only the ink tank may be replaced.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing the structure of an ink cartridge recording head C in which the ink tank and the head can be separated. The ink cartridge recording head C is
As shown in FIG. 10, at the position of the boundary line K, the ink tank I
T and the recording head 16 can be separated. When the ink cartridge recording head C is mounted on the carriage 116, an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage 116 is provided. Head 1
6 is driven to eject ink.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink ejection port array. The ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink.

Hereinafter, the temperature detection circuit according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the temperature detection circuit according to the present embodiment. In the drawing, reference numerals 101, 102, 103, and 104 denote a recording head, a diode for temperature detection, a constant current circuit, and a differential amplifier having a gain 5.3 times, respectively, as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a central processing unit, and 107 denotes a temperature sensor in the apparatus. In this embodiment, a thermistor is used. Generally, a thermistor has higher temperature detection accuracy than a diode sensor.

Reference numerals 109 and 110 denote input terminals for A / D conversion (analog / digital conversion), which are connected to an A / D converter (not shown) built in the central processing unit 106 and input thereto. The voltage value is converted into a digital value and taken in.

Reference numeral 111 denotes storage means for storing a correction value corresponding to the result of comparing the converted digital values.

The operation of the temperature detecting circuit according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

The recording head 10 is attached to a printer body (not shown).
When the power is turned on by a power switch (not shown) in a state where 1 is mounted, a constant current If of 200 μA is supplied from the constant current circuit 103 to the diode 102. At this time, the forward voltage Vf of the diode 102 is amplified 5.3 times by the next-stage differential amplifier 104 and then input to the A / D conversion input terminal 109 of the central processing unit 106.

At this time, a voltage corresponding to the temperature in the apparatus which is considered to be equal to the recording head temperature from the temperature sensor 107 in the apparatus is input to the A / D conversion input terminal 110 of the central processing unit 106. The temperature is converted into a temperature inside the central processing unit 106.

Next, FIG. 6 and Tables 1 to 3 described later.
A specific method for correcting the variation in the forward voltage Vf of the diode 102 by the circuit of FIG.
A specific procedure for converting a voltage value input to the A / D conversion input terminal 109 into a head temperature will be described.

First, the forward voltage V of the diode 102
A method of correcting the variation in f will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a power supply (not shown in FIG. 1) is turned on to the printer, the central processing unit 106 operates the temperature sensor 10 in the apparatus.
7 to measure the temperature inside the printer (step S
1).

Next, the central processing unit 106 detects an AD conversion value of the voltage value of the head temperature sensor (step S).
2).

Thereafter, the central processing unit 106 determines the internal temperature of the apparatus and the AD of the head temperature sensor based on Table 1 below.
A temperature rank value is determined from the value (step S3). That is, based on the recognition that the AD value of the head temperature sensor indicates the same temperature as the temperature in the apparatus previously read, this AD value is used as a value indicating the variation of the forward voltage Vf of the diode 102, and the temperature rank is set. Used to determine

[0070]

[Table 1]

A specific numerical example is as follows.
When the temperature is 5 ° C., the AD value of the head temperature sensor is 326.
If so, the temperature rank is 5. Table 1
Shows only the median value of the AD values. In this case, if the AD value is in the range of 324 to 328, the temperature rank is 5.

A head temperature correction value (offset sum) is determined from the obtained temperature rank value based on Table 2 below (step S4).

[0073]

[Table 2]

Then, the temperature correction value is stored in the storage unit 111.
(Step S5). In the case of the above specific numerical example, since the rank value was 5, the temperature correction value was 25.

After the correction value is stored as described above, the correction is performed by adding the obtained head temperature correction value to the AD value of the voltage value input to the A / D conversion input terminal 109, and Convert to temperature according to Table 3 below. This allows
An accurate temperature of the recording head 101 can be detected. In the case of the above specific numerical example, a temperature corresponding to a value obtained by adding 25 to the AD value is output as a temperature to be obtained.

[0076]

[Table 3]

With the above processing, the correction is completed and, at the same time, the removal of the temperature change-independent region in the forward voltage Vf of the diode is also completed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a description will be given of the removal of the temperature change-independent region in the forward voltage Vf of the diode. In the figure, reference numerals 501, 502, and 503 are the same as the conventional characteristic curves described with reference to FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the areas originally intended to be detected are the characteristic curves 501 and 50.
A region which does not depend on a temperature change, including only the gradient portion due to the temperature of 2,503 and other than that, including the variation of the forward voltage Vf, is unnecessary at the time of temperature detection.

Therefore, it is only necessary to subtract a constant value corresponding to this region. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 501 in FIG. 7 denotes a characteristic curve after removal, and reference numeral 701 denotes a variation from 0 ° C. to 50 ° C.

This subtraction processing is performed by the central processing unit 106, and the subtraction value is a correction value stored in the storage means 111.

Table 3 is obtained by rewriting the characteristic curve 501 of this figure into a table. As described above, in the present embodiment, by storing the correction value, the temperature change-independent region can be removed at the same time.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The following effects are obtained.

Since it is possible to correct variations in the characteristics of the temperature detecting elements of the recording head and to efficiently extract only the temperature change characteristics particularly effective as the temperature detecting elements, highly accurate temperature detection is possible. .

Therefore, it is possible to realize a printer capable of forming high-quality images without recording unevenness / density unevenness.

In addition, by using the temperature sensor and the head temperature sensor in the apparatus, the adjustment work in the manufacturing process can be eliminated. It is possible to easily cope with the situation, such as automatic correction according to the characteristics of the temperature sensor of each recording head.

[Other Embodiments] In the embodiments described above, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be easily applied to printers that use thermal energy, such as a thermal transfer method and a heat-sensitive method, which are described in the conventional examples, regardless of the method.

In the above embodiment, the temperature detecting means of the head is constituted by a diode. However, as described in the conventional example, the present invention is applicable to a device such as a thermistor which changes its characteristics depending on temperature. It is possible to do.

The present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in an ink jet recording system. The present invention provides an excellent effect in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which a change in the state of ink is caused by energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head. Cause
As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal one-to-one can be formed, which is effective.

The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in 463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. In addition, U.S. Pat.
If the conditions described in the specification of JP-A No. 124 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body is mounted on the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

It is preferable that the recording apparatus of the present invention be provided with a means after the discharge of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

Further, as for the type and number of the recording heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to the recording head having only one corresponding to a single color ink, it corresponds to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to the printing mode of only mainstream colors such as accumulated colors, and may be either a single integrated printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full-color recording or full-color recording.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent ink from evaporating, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the ink liquefies by the application according to the recording signal of the thermal energy,
The present invention is also applicable to the case where ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time by the application of thermal energy, such as one in which liquid ink is ejected, one in which solidification is already started upon reaching a recording medium, and the like. In such a case, the ink is held in a state of being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. Alternatively, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also for a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowchart (shown in FIG. 6).

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention, if an element having high detection accuracy is used as a means for detecting the second temperature around the recording head, the first temperature inside the recording head can be improved.
Even when an element such as a diode having variation between solids is used as a means for detecting the temperature of the recording head, the temperature inside the recording head can be obtained with high accuracy.

Accordingly, uneven printing and uneven density due to a change in temperature inside the print head can be reduced, and high-quality printing can be performed. In addition, the adjustment work in the manufacturing process can be omitted, and in a recording apparatus in which the recording head is detachable, correction can be easily performed according to the temperature characteristics of each recording head when the recording head is replaced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a temperature detection circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of ink ejection by an inkjet method.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a forward voltage of a diode and a temperature.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional temperature detection circuit.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between an input voltage of an AD converter and a temperature.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a change range of an input voltage of the AD converter.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printer in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an ink cartridge of the printer in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 recording head 102 head temperature sensor 103 constant current circuit 104 amplifying circuit 106 central processing unit 107 temperature sensor 109, 111 A / D conversion input terminal 110 storage means

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus having a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium using thermal energy, wherein: a first temperature detecting unit that detects a first temperature inside the recording head; A second temperature detecting means for detecting a second temperature around the recording head; a correcting means for obtaining a correction value of the first temperature from the first temperature and the second temperature; A storage unit for storing a value, a temperature calculation unit for correcting the first temperature based on the correction value stored in the storage unit to obtain a temperature inside the recording head, A control unit for controlling the driving of the recording head in accordance with the temperature inside the recording head. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second temperature detecting means has higher detection accuracy than said first temperature detecting means. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction unit obtains, as the correction value, a value that approximates the first temperature to the second temperature. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is a nonvolatile memory. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that discharges ink, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. The recording device according to claim 1. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first temperature detecting means is formed on a semiconductor substrate together with said thermal energy converter. 7. A recording method for performing recording by a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium using thermal energy, comprising: a first temperature detecting step of detecting a first temperature inside the recording head; A second temperature detecting step of detecting a second temperature around the recording head; a correcting step of obtaining a correction value of the first temperature from the first temperature and the second temperature; A storage step of storing in a storage unit; a temperature calculation step of correcting the first temperature based on the correction value stored in the storage unit to obtain a temperature inside the print head; and a temperature calculation step. A control step of controlling the driving of the recording head according to the determined temperature inside the recording head. 8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein in the second temperature detecting step, the temperature is detected with higher accuracy than in the first temperature detecting step. 9. The recording method according to claim 8, wherein in the correction step, a value that approximates the first temperature to the second temperature is obtained as the correction value.