JP2002113852A - Ink jet recording head, image recorder comprising it and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To achieve both high-speed recording at high resolution required for character recording and the like and rich color tone recording required for color image recording and the like. SOLUTION: A nozzle row group includes N high-resolution nozzle row groups in which the positions where the nozzle openings 17 are pierced are shifted by 1 / N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) pitch in the nozzle row direction, respectively.
It is composed of a plurality of regular nozzle row groups in which the positions of the nozzle openings 17 in the nozzle row direction are aligned.

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 head having a plurality of nozzle rows and capable of setting ink to be ejected for each nozzle row, and an image recording apparatus provided with the ink jet recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The prior art will be described with reference to an ink jet printer as a typical image recording apparatus. This type of printer is generally provided with a multicolor recording head capable of ejecting inks of different colors, and a head scanning mechanism for moving the recording head in the main scanning direction. As the above-described recording head, for example, there is a recording head in which a nozzle row constituted by a plurality of nozzle openings formed at a constant nozzle pitch is arranged in six rows. This recording head is configured to eject ink by setting an ink color for each nozzle row, and ejects black ink, cyan ink, light cyan ink, magenta ink, light magenta ink, and yellow ink from each nozzle row, respectively. In this printer, a color image is recorded by using each of these colors, or a character such as a character or a symbol is recorded (that is, a document is printed) mainly by using black ink.

[0003]

By the way, this type of printer is required to record a color image in a richer color tone and to record the character at a high resolution (for example, sharp edges). It has been demanded. However, in the above-mentioned conventional recording head, the ink color is determined for each nozzle row, and the positions of the nozzle openings in the nozzle row direction are aligned in each nozzle row. In order to record characters with a higher resolution than the nozzle pitch, the number of main scans must be increased. Therefore, recording a character at a high resolution causes a problem that the recording speed is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to achieve high-resolution single-color high-speed recording required for character recording and the like and color image recording and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet type recording head capable of achieving both color rich recording, an image recording apparatus using the same, and an ink cartridge.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-mentioned object, and the invention as defined in claim 1 comprises a plurality of nozzle openings formed at a constant nozzle pitch. A plurality of nozzle rows are arranged side by side to form a nozzle row group, and in an ink jet type recording head configured to discharge by setting the type of ink for each nozzle row, the nozzle row group is provided with a nozzle opening And N rows of high-resolution nozzle rows in which the drilling positions are shifted by 1 / N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) pitches in the nozzle row direction, and a plurality of rows in which the drilling positions of the nozzle openings in the nozzle row direction are aligned. And an ordinary nozzle array group.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ink jet recording head according to the first aspect, wherein the high resolution nozzle row group and the normal nozzle row group are arranged side by side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups, and a normal nozzle row group is arranged between the nozzle groups. 2. The ink jet recording head according to item 1.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the nozzle rows constituting the normal nozzle row group are disposed between the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group. This is an ink jet recording head.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the high-resolution nozzle row group is constituted by four nozzle rows, and the normal nozzle row is constituted by three nozzle rows. Item 6. An ink jet recording head according to any one of Items 4.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording head according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head, and an ink cartridge. An ink jet type recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge holder section to which a cartridge is attached / detached; and a head scanning mechanism for moving a recording head in a main scanning direction, wherein the type of ink stored and the type of ink stored are stored in the ink cartridge. Type information indicating the correspondence relationship with the nozzle row to which ink is supplied is added, and the type information is read by the ink cartridge detection means as the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, and is read by the ink cartridge detection means. Updates information on the type of ink ejected by each nozzle row based on the type information. By being configured to an image recording apparatus characterized.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the ink cartridge includes a type information storage element storing the type information, and the ink cartridge detecting means reads the type information stored in the type information storage element. An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

According to another aspect of the present invention, the type information storage element stores recording mode setting information indicating a recording mode corresponding to the ink cartridge, and stores the recording mode setting information read by the ink cartridge detecting means. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a recording mode setting unit that sets a recording mode based on the recording mode.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the high resolution nozzle row group is provided. Is an ink cartridge configured to supply the same type of ink to each of the nozzle rows configuring the above, and to supply different types of ink to the respective nozzle rows configuring the normal nozzle row group.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the high resolution nozzle row group is provided. And an ink cartridge configured to supply different types of ink to the respective nozzle rows constituting the normal nozzle row group.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head according to the first or second aspect, and supplying the ink to the high resolution nozzle array group. A first cartridge storing ink and a second cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the normal nozzle row group, wherein the first cartridge is a first single-color cartridge storing single-color ink and a first-color cartridge storing multiple colors of ink; A second multi-color cartridge, wherein the second cartridge stores ink to be used irrespective of the recording mode, and exchanges the first single-color cartridge and the first multi-color cartridge according to the recording mode. An ink cartridge characterized by the following.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording head according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a cartridge holder provided with information reading means, and a recovery unit for performing a cleaning operation of the recording head. An ink cartridge that is used in an ink jet recording apparatus that includes a function and a cleaning control unit that performs a cleaning control of a recording head, the ink cartridge being detachably attached to the cartridge holder unit, and stores an operation sequence of the cleaning control. An ink cartridge is provided with a cleaning control information storage element in which stored contents can be read by a cleaning control unit via an information reading unit when the cartridge is mounted on a cartridge holder.

In another preferred construction, the operation sequence is such that the nozzle surface of the recording head is sealed until the ink in the recording head is replaced with the ink of the newly installed ink cartridge. The ink cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising a step of forcibly sucking the ink according to (1).

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer 1 which is a typical ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer 1). FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer 1.

The illustrated printer 1 has a carriage 3 on which a recording head 2 is mounted, a head scanning mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction, and a recording paper 4 which is a kind of recording medium in a paper feeding direction. (Sub-scanning direction). The head scanning mechanism is
A guide member 6 erected in the left-right direction of the housing 5,
A pulse motor 7, a drive pulley 8 connected to a rotation shaft of the pulse motor 7 and driven to rotate by the pulse motor 7, a free pulley 9, and a bridge between the drive pulley 8 and the free pulley 9. , A timing belt 10 connected to the carriage 3, and a printer controller 11 for controlling the rotation of the pulse motor 7.
The paper feed mechanism includes a paper feed motor 12 and the paper feed motor 1.
The paper feed roller 13 is rotated by the paper feed roller 13 and the printer controller 11, and sequentially feeds the recording paper 4 in conjunction with the recording operation.

A home position is set in an end area within the moving range of the carriage 3 and outside the printing area. In this home position, a capping mechanism 15 for capping and sealing the nozzle surface of the recording head 2 (the surface of the nozzle plate 14 shown in FIG. 3).
Are arranged. The capping mechanism 15 has a substantially tray-shaped cap member 16 whose upper part is opened. Then, the cap member 16 is sealed in the sealed state of the nozzle surface.
The nozzle opening 17 formed in the nozzle plate 14 faces the recessed part.

The above-mentioned carriage 3 has a base plate portion 20, and the recording head 2 is attached to the lower surface of the base plate portion 20 from below. And this base plate part 2
A side wall is erected from the edge of 0, and a cartridge holder portion 21 is constituted by the base plate portion 20 and the side wall. The cartridge holder portion 21 is a portion that detachably holds an ink cartridge 22 that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 2.

In this embodiment, a contact terminal 23 is attached to the cartridge holder 21. The contact terminal 23 is connected to a contact RO provided on the ink cartridge 22.
M24 (a type of information storage element, corresponding to a type information storage element) is an information reading means for electrically reading various information, for example, information on stored ink,
This is one type of ink cartridge detection means. That is, when the ink cartridge 22 is mounted on the cartridge holder section 21, the contact ROM 24 and the contact terminal 23 conduct, and
The information stored in the contact ROM 24 can be read by the control unit 25 of the printer controller 11 through the contact terminal 23. Then, the contact ROM of the present embodiment
Reference numeral 24 denotes a rewritable storage element such as an EEPROM. The information stored in the contact ROM 24 will be described later.

Next, the recording head 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 2 has a box-shaped case 31 having an accommodation space 30 formed therein, a vibrator unit 32 fixed in the accommodation space, and a front end surface of the case 31. The flow path unit 33 is configured. The vibrator unit 32 connects the comb-shaped piezoelectric vibrator 34 to the fixed plate 3.
5, the tip of the free end of the piezoelectric vibrator 34 is joined to the surface of the diaphragm (the island 37) opposite to the pressure chamber 36. Channel unit 3
Reference numeral 3 denotes a nozzle plate 14 in which a plurality of nozzle openings 17 are formed in a row, a flow path forming substrate 41 in which a pressure chamber 36 and a common ink chamber 40 are formed, and a pressure chamber 36 and a common ink chamber 4.
The nozzle plate 14 is disposed on one surface side of the flow path forming substrate 41, and the vibration plate 42 is disposed on the other surface opposite to the nozzle plate 14. It is configured by arranging and joining on the side.

An ink supply port 43 communicates between the pressure chamber 36 and the corresponding common ink chamber 40. Therefore, in the flow path unit 33, a plurality of individual ink flow paths from the common ink chamber 40 to the nozzle opening 17 via the pressure chamber 36 are formed corresponding to the nozzle opening 17.
The common ink chambers 40 are provided in a plurality (seven in the present embodiment) corresponding to the nozzle rows, and each nozzle opening 17 constituting one nozzle row has the same common ink chamber 40.
Is communicated to. Therefore, the type of ink to be ejected can be set for each nozzle row.

In the recording head 2 having the above structure, when the free end of the piezoelectric vibrator 34 is extended in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator,
The island 37 joined to the tip of the piezoelectric vibrator 34 is pushed toward the nozzle plate 14. As a result, the periphery of the island portion of the diaphragm 42 is deformed and the pressure chamber 36 contracts,
The ink inside is pressurized. When the expanded piezoelectric vibrator 34 is contracted, the diaphragm 42 returns and deforms due to elasticity, the pressure chamber 36 expands, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 36 is reduced. As described above, the ink pressure in the pressure chamber 36 can be controlled by controlling the expansion / contraction state of the piezoelectric vibrator 34. Therefore, in the recording head 2, by controlling the ink pressure in the pressure chamber 36, Discharge ink droplets.

When recording images, characters, and the like on the recording paper 4, the printer controller 11 ejects ink droplets from the nozzle openings 17 while moving the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction. The paper feed roller 13 is rotated to move the recording paper 4 in the paper feed direction.

Next, the nozzle openings 17 provided in the nozzle plate 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle plate 14 has a plurality of nozzle openings 17 arranged in a row at a constant nozzle pitch on the side of the sub-scanning direction. In the present embodiment, the nozzle openings 17 are provided at a pitch of 180 dpi, and the rows of the nozzle openings 17, that is, the nozzle rows, are arranged in the main scanning direction side in a state of seven lines.

A nozzle row group is constituted by these seven nozzle rows, and of the four nozzle rows among them, the positions at which the nozzle openings 17 are formed are shifted in the nozzle row direction by 1/4 pitch. The remaining three rows are configured as normal nozzle row groups in which the positions where the nozzle openings 17 are formed in the nozzle row direction are aligned. That is, in this embodiment, the high-resolution nozzle row group and the normal nozzle row group are arranged side by side.

In the configuration of FIG. 4, the first nozzle row from the left is the first high-resolution nozzle row 51, the second nozzle row is the second high-resolution nozzle row 52, and the third nozzle row is the third. The nozzle row is a third high-resolution nozzle row 53, and the fourth nozzle row is a fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54. With reference to the first high-resolution nozzle row 51, the second high-resolution nozzle row 52 is shifted in the nozzle row direction by １ ／ pitch, and the third high-resolution nozzle row 53 is は (2/4). And (4) the fourth high resolution nozzle row 54 is shifted in the nozzle row direction by 3/4 pitch.

The fifth nozzle row from the left is referred to as a first normal nozzle row 55, the sixth nozzle row is referred to as a second normal nozzle row 56, and the seventh nozzle row is referred to as a third normal nozzle row. The nozzle row 57 is used. In this embodiment, the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54 and each normal nozzle row 5
Nozzle openings 1 in the nozzle row direction of 5, 56, 57
7 are aligned, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the drilling position of the nozzle opening 17 of each normal nozzle row is
It may or may not be aligned with the other high resolution nozzle rows 51, 52, 53.

The type of ink ejected from each of the nozzle rows 51 to 57 is set in relation to the recording mode. For example, in a high-speed recording mode suitable for recording characters such as characters and symbols, the high-speed recording cartridge 22 shown in FIG.
A is used. This high-speed recording cartridge 22A
Supplies the same type of ink to the first high-resolution nozzle row 51 to the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54 forming the high-resolution nozzle row group, and supplies the first normal nozzle row 55 to the first normal nozzle row 55 forming the normal nozzle row group. Different types of ink are supplied to the three normal nozzle rows 57, respectively. For example, high-resolution nozzle rows 51 to
The black ink is supplied to the nozzles 54 and the normal nozzle rows 55 to 55 are supplied.
57 are supplied with cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow ink, respectively. Accordingly, black ink is ejected from the first to fourth high-resolution nozzle rows 51 to 54 belonging to the high-resolution nozzle row group. Also,
The first normal nozzle row 55 belonging to the normal nozzle row group discharges cyan ink, the second normal nozzle row 56 discharges magenta ink, and the third normal nozzle row 57 discharges yellow ink.

On the other hand, in a high-resolution color recording mode of a photograph class (hereinafter, referred to as a photo recording mode), FIG.
The photo recording cartridge 22B shown in FIG.
The photo recording cartridge 22 </ b> B supplies different types of ink to the first high-resolution nozzle row 51 to the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54 and the first normal nozzle row 55 to the third normal nozzle row 57. Accordingly, different types of ink are ejected from the nozzle rows 51 to 57. For example, black ink is ejected from the first high resolution nozzle row 51, cyan ink is ejected from the second high resolution nozzle row 52, light cyan ink is ejected from the third high resolution nozzle row 53, and the fourth high resolution nozzle row 53 is ejected. Magenta ink is ejected from the resolution nozzle row 54, light magenta ink is ejected from the first normal nozzle row 55,
The normal nozzle row 56 discharges yellow ink, and the third normal nozzle row 57 discharges dark yellow ink.

[0033] The above-described structure is realized by a high-resolution high-speed recording of a single color required when recording a character,
This is in order to achieve both rich color tone recording required when recording a color image. That is, in the high-speed printing mode, black ink is ejected from each of the first high-resolution nozzle row 51 to the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54, so that printing at 720 dpi which is four times the nozzle pitch is performed once. It can be done by main scanning. Therefore, high-resolution printing that requires four main scans can be performed by one main scan using only one nozzle row, and printing can be speeded up accordingly. As a result, characters such as characters and symbols can be recorded at high resolution at high speed. Furthermore, three regular nozzle rows 55, 56, 57
, Cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink can be respectively ejected, so that the inks of four colors minimum required for color recording can be ejected. Therefore, high-resolution printing using black ink and color printing can be performed simultaneously.

On the other hand, in the photo recording mode, different colors of ink are ejected from each of the high resolution nozzle rows 51 to 54 and each of the normal nozzle rows 55 to 57, so that the number of inks that can be ejected is up to seven. Up to
Images with rich tones can be recorded. as a result,
Even with one recording head 2, it is possible to achieve both high-speed recording at a high resolution required for character recording and rich color tone recording required for color image recording.

In the present embodiment, the setting of the recording mode is performed based on the information stored in the contact ROM 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the contact terminals 23 provided on the cartridge holder 21 are connected to the printer controller 11.
When the ink cartridge 22 (22A, 22B) is mounted on the cartridge holder unit 21 and the contact ROM 24 and the contact terminal 23 conduct, the control unit 25 communicates through the contact terminal 23. Contact R
Read the information stored in OM24. Then, the control unit 25 sets a recording mode based on the read information.

Hereinafter, the contact RO of the ink cartridge 22 will be described.
The information stored in M24 will be described. This contact R
The OM 24 includes, for example, storage mode setting information indicating a recording mode to be set by the printer 1, type information indicating the type of the stored ink and the relationship between the stored ink and the nozzle row to which the ink is supplied, Information on the number of ejections for each type is stored.

For example, the high-speed recording cartridge 2
The 2A contact ROM 24 stores “high-speed recording mode” information as recording mode setting information. Further, as the type information indicating the correspondence relationship with the nozzle row to which the stored ink is supplied, black ink is stored in the first ink chamber to the fourth ink chamber, and the first high-resolution nozzle row 51 to the fourth The fact that the ink is supplied to the high resolution nozzle row 54, the fact that the cyan ink is stored in the fifth ink chamber and is supplied to the first normal nozzle row 55, and that the magenta ink is stored in the sixth ink chamber and the second normal nozzle row The information that the ink is supplied to the third nozzle row 57 and that the yellow ink is stored in the seventh ink chamber and stored in the third normal nozzle row 57 is stored. In addition, information on the number of times of ink ejection is also stored. The information on the number of times of ejection may be the number of times of ejection for the high-speed recording cartridge 22A, or the number of times of ejection for each of the first to seventh ink chambers.

The contact ROM 24 of the photo recording cartridge 22B stores "photo recording mode" information as recording mode setting information. The type information indicating the correspondence relationship with the nozzle row to which the stored ink is supplied includes the fact that black ink is stored in the first ink chamber and supplied to the first high-resolution nozzle row 51,
Informing that cyan ink is stored in the ink chamber and supplied to the second high-resolution nozzle row 52, that light cyan ink is stored in the third ink chamber and supplied to the third high-resolution nozzle row 53, and that the fourth ink chamber is stored That the magenta ink is stored and supplied to the fourth high resolution nozzle row 54, that the light magenta ink is stored and supplied to the first normal nozzle row 55 in the fifth ink chamber, and that the yellow ink is stored in the sixth ink chamber. The fact that the ink is stored and supplied to the second normal nozzle row 56,
Information that dark yellow ink is stored in the ink chamber and supplied to the third normal nozzle row 57 is stored.
In addition, information on the number of times of ink ejection is also stored. The information on the number of times of ejection may be the number of times of ejection as the photo recording cartridge 22B, or the first to seventh ink chambers.
The number of ejections for each ink chamber may be used.

When the ink cartridge 22 is mounted on the cartridge holder 21, the control unit 25 of the printer controller 11 functions as a recording mode setting means, and sets a recording mode based on the information stored in the contact ROM 24. . That is, the control unit 25 sets the high-speed recording mode when the high-speed recording cartridge 22A is mounted, and sets the photo-recording mode when the photo-recording cartridge 22B is mounted. Further, the control unit 25 updates information on the type of ink ejected by each nozzle row based on the type information.

Here, if the ink cartridge is replaced with a different type of ink cartridge, the control unit 25 functions as a replacement control unit (a type of cleaning control unit) and executes cleaning control for cleaning the recording head 2. I do.

In the cleaning control, the control unit 25 first operates the capping mechanism 15 (recovery mechanism) to perform an ink suction operation for forcibly sucking the ink in the recording head 2. In the ink suction operation, in the first step, the pulse motor 7 is operated to move the recording head 2 to a position directly above the capping mechanism 15, that is, to a home position. The capping mechanism 15 moves upward with the movement of the recording head 2 to the home position, and the nozzle surface of the recording head 2 moves
Sealed by. When the capping mechanism 15 has sealed the nozzle plate 14, the control unit 25 proceeds to the next step, and operates the suction pump communicating with the concave portion of the cap member 16 to remove ink from the recording head 2 for a predetermined time. Force suction. In this suction operation, the control unit 25 sets the execution time of the ink suction operation long enough so that the ink in the recording head 2 can be replaced with the ink in the newly mounted ink cartridge 22. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent color mixing of ink due to replacement with the ink cartridge 22 of a different type.

Here, a control program for causing the control unit 25 to function as the replacement control means, in other words, the sequence of the cleaning control is performed by the printer controller 1.
1 can be stored in an arbitrary storage element such as a ROM. In this embodiment, the control program is stored in the contact ROM 24. Therefore, the contact ROM 24 also functions as a cleaning control information storage element.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording mode of the printer 1 is automatically set by replacing and using the ink cartridge 22 according to the intended use, and printing in this recording mode can be performed. Further, when the ink cartridge 22 is replaced with a different type of ink cartridge, the ink in the recording head 2 is automatically replaced, so that color mixing of the ink can be reliably prevented.

The high-speed recording cartridge 22
A and the photo recording cartridge 22B are each formed by dividing a single box-shaped case into a plurality of (seven) ink chambers, but are not limited to this configuration.

For example, the ink cartridge 22 includes a first cartridge storing ink to be supplied to each of the high resolution nozzle rows 51 to 54, and a second cartridge storing ink to be supplied to each of the normal nozzle rows 55 to 57. And
Further, a first cartridge storing a single color ink and a first cartridge storing a plurality of color inks.
A multicolor cartridge may be used. More specifically, as shown in FIG.
C stores black ink in each of the four ink chambers, and the first multicolor cartridge 22D stores black ink, light cyan ink, light magenta ink, and dark yellow ink in each of the four ink chambers individually. On the other hand, the second cartridge 22E has ink used regardless of the recording mode, for example, cyan ink,
Magenta ink and yellow ink are stored individually. The cartridge ROMs 22C, 22D, and 22E are provided with the above-mentioned contact ROM 24 in the same manner, and the cartridge holder unit 21 is provided with corresponding contact terminals 23.

With this configuration, the recording mode of the printer 1 is switched only by replacing and using the first single-color cartridge 22C and the first multi-color cartridge 22D.
The high-speed recording mode is set corresponding to the monochromatic cartridge 22C, and the photo recording mode is set corresponding to the photo recording cartridge 22B. Further, the second cartridge 22E is commonly used regardless of the recording mode. For this reason, a user who frequently prints the document only needs to replace only the first single-color cartridge 22C with a new cartridge when the black ink runs out. Therefore, it is economical to prevent a problem that the cartridge needs to be replaced because the black ink has run out despite the remaining chromatic ink other than the black ink.

By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the arrangement of each nozzle row is changed will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment in which the arrangement of the nozzle rows constituting the high-resolution nozzle row group is changed. The difference from the above-described first embodiment is that the positions of the second high-resolution nozzle row 52 and the third high-resolution nozzle row 53 located at the left end in the figure are exchanged, and the second high-resolution nozzle row 52 is positioned right next to the first high-resolution nozzle row 51. This is in that three high-resolution nozzle rows 53 are arranged. In other words, a high-resolution nozzle row in which the position where the nozzle opening 17 is formed is shifted in the half-pitch nozzle row direction is arranged next to the highest-resolution nozzle row located at the end.

The recording head 2 of this embodiment has
Using the ink cartridge 22 shown in FIG. 8, printing in three types of printing modes is enabled. That is, the high-speed recording mode uses the high-speed recording cartridge 22A, and the photo-recording mode uses the photo-recording cartridge 22B. Since these cartridges have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in the present embodiment, recording is performed in the second photo recording mode using the second photo recording cartridge 22F. This second photo recording cartridge 22
F separately stores black ink, cyan ink, light cyan ink, magenta ink, light magenta ink, and yellow ink. And the first
The black ink is supplied to the high-resolution nozzle row 51 and the third high-resolution nozzle row 53 disposed on the right of the nozzle row 51, and the second high-resolution nozzle row 52 is supplied with cyan ink. Light cyan ink is supplied to the resolution nozzle row 54, magenta ink is supplied to the first normal nozzle row 55, light magenta ink is supplied to the second normal nozzle row 56, and yellow is supplied to the third normal nozzle row 57. Ink is supplied.

In the second photo recording mode, the first
Since black ink is ejected from the high resolution nozzle row 51 and the third high resolution nozzle row 53, the nozzle pitch of 2
Recording at 360 dpi, which is double the resolution, can be performed in one main scan. Therefore, high-resolution printing that requires two main scans can be performed by one main scan using only one nozzle row, and printing can be speeded up accordingly. As a result, characters such as characters and symbols can be recorded at high resolution at high speed.
Further, from the other five nozzle arrays, cyan ink, light cyan ink, magenta ink, light magenta ink, and yellow ink can be ejected, so that a total of six colors of ink suitable for photo recording are ejected. be able to. Therefore, high-resolution printing using black ink and photo printing can be performed simultaneously.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment in which the arrangement of the nozzle rows constituting the high-resolution nozzle row group is changed. The difference from the above-described second embodiment is that the set of the second high-resolution nozzle row 52 and the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54 is changed to the normal nozzle row group 55 to
57, the second high-resolution nozzle row 52 and the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54 are arranged at the right end of the nozzle row group. In other words, the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group are defined as a first nozzle group including a first high resolution nozzle row 51 and a third high resolution nozzle row 53, a second high resolution nozzle row 52, and a fourth high resolution nozzle row. This is a configuration in which a nozzle group is divided into a second nozzle group including a nozzle row 54, and a normal nozzle row group is arranged between these nozzle groups.

The recording head 2 of this embodiment has
Using the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 10, printing in three types of printing modes is enabled. That is, the ink cartridge includes a first cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the high-resolution nozzle row, and a second cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the normal nozzle row. And a first multi-color cartridge storing a plurality of color inks.

More specifically, the second cartridge 2
2E has a configuration in which cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink used independently of the recording mode are individually stored. In addition, the first monochrome cartridge 22C '
Black ink is stored in each of the two ink chambers. The first multi-color cartridge includes a dark cartridge 22G in which black ink is individually stored in one of two ink chambers and dark yellow ink in the other, and light cyan ink is separately stored in one of the two ink chambers and light magenta ink is in the other. Light cartridge 2 stored in
Two types of 2H are prepared.

In the present embodiment, printing is performed in a plurality of printing modes by using these ink cartridges 22C ', 22E, 22G, and 22H in combination. That is, in the high-speed recording mode, the first monochrome cartridge 22C 'is mounted on the cartridge holder 21 in correspondence with the first nozzle group (51, 53), and the second monochrome cartridge 22C' is associated with the normal nozzle row group (55-57). The cartridge 22E is mounted, and the first monochrome cartridge 22C 'is mounted in correspondence with the second nozzle group (52, 54).
Further, in the photo recording mode, the dark cartridge 22G is mounted corresponding to the first nozzle group, the second cartridge 22E is mounted corresponding to the normal nozzle row group, and the light cartridge 22 is mounted corresponding to the second nozzle group. 22H is attached. Further, in the second photo recording mode, the first single-color cartridge 22C 'is mounted corresponding to the first nozzle group, the second cartridge 22E is mounted corresponding to the normal nozzle row group, and the second nozzle group is mounted. To mount the light system cartridge 22H.

In this configuration, in the high-speed printing mode, the normal nozzle row is arranged between the first nozzle group (51, 53) and the second nozzle group (52, 54). When recording is performed by using the above, it is possible to secure the time for the ink to penetrate into the recording paper 4. For example, consider a case in which ink droplets are ejected from the first nozzle group and then ejected toward the same position in the main scanning direction by the second nozzle group after the ink droplets are ejected from the first nozzle group. After landing on the recording paper 4, after passing through the normal nozzle row,
Ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle group land. As a result, the ink droplets that landed first penetrate into the recording paper 4 and land in the later ink droplets, thereby preventing a problem that the dots are excessively spread.

FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment in which the arrangement of the nozzle rows constituting the high-resolution nozzle row group is changed. The difference from the above-described embodiments is that the nozzle rows that constitute the normal nozzle row group are arranged between the nozzle rows belonging to the high-resolution nozzle row group. In other words, the first
A first normal nozzle row 55 is disposed on the right of the high resolution nozzle row 51, and a second high resolution nozzle row 52 is disposed on the right of the first normal nozzle row 55. Below, toward the right side of the figure,
The second normal nozzle row 56, the third high resolution nozzle row 53, the third normal nozzle row 57, and the fourth high resolution nozzle row 54
Place. In other words, the configuration is such that high-resolution nozzle rows and normal nozzle row groups are alternately arranged.

The recording head 2 of this embodiment performs recording in two types of recording modes using the ink cartridge 22 shown in FIG. For example, the ink cartridge 22 is
A high-speed recording cartridge 22J for a high-speed recording mode;
Photo recording cartridge 22K for photo recording mode
And

Then, the high-speed recording cartridge 22J
Are provided with seven ink chambers, and include a first ink chamber corresponding to the first high-resolution nozzle row 51, a third ink chamber corresponding to the second high-resolution nozzle row 52, and a third high-resolution nozzle row 53. Black ink is stored in the corresponding fifth ink chamber and the seventh ink chamber corresponding to the fourth high-resolution nozzle row 54, respectively. The second ink chamber corresponding to the first normal nozzle row 55 stores cyan ink,
The fourth ink chamber corresponding to the normal nozzle stores magenta ink, and the sixth ink chamber corresponding to the third normal nozzle row 57 stores yellow ink.

The photo recording cartridge 22K also has
Black ink is stored in the first ink chamber corresponding to the first high resolution nozzle row 51, and cyan ink is stored in the second ink chamber corresponding to the first normal nozzle row 55. The light-cyan ink is stored in the third ink chamber corresponding to the second high-resolution nozzle row 52, the magenta ink is stored in the fourth ink chamber corresponding to the second normal nozzle, and the third high-resolution nozzle row is stored. The light magenta ink is stored in the fifth ink chamber corresponding to 53, the yellow ink is stored in the sixth ink chamber corresponding to the third normal nozzle row 57, and the seventh ink chamber is stored in the fifth ink chamber corresponding to the fourth high resolution nozzle row 54. Dark yellow ink is stored in the ink chamber.

In this configuration, since the nozzle rows constituting the normal nozzle row group are arranged between the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group, only the black ink is ejected in the high-speed recording mode. In this case, it is possible to secure the time for the ink to penetrate into the recording paper 4.
For example, considering the case where ink is ejected from each of the high resolution nozzle rows 51, 52, 53, and 54 and ink droplets are landed at the same position in the main scanning direction, ink ejected from one high resolution nozzle row is considered. After the droplet lands on the recording paper 4,
After the passage time of one normal nozzle row, ink droplets ejected from the next high-resolution nozzle row land. As a result, the ink droplets that landed first penetrate into the recording paper 4 and land in the later ink droplets, thereby preventing a problem that the dots are excessively spread.

The embodiment described above is an example in all respects, and various modifications can be made based on the description in the claims. For example, in each of the above embodiments,
Although the number of high-resolution nozzle rows is four, the number of rows is not limited thereto, and may be two or more. In addition, the normal nozzle row group is also 3
It is sufficient that the number is not limited to two or more.

The ink ejected from the recording head 2 may be a dye-based ink using a dye as a coloring material or a pigment-based ink using a pigment as a coloring material. Further, a nozzle row for discharging the dye-based ink and a nozzle row for discharging the pigment-based ink may be mixed.

In each of the above embodiments, the recording mode setting information and the type information are recorded in the contact ROM 24 provided in the ink cartridge 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information may be recorded in a barcode, or information may be recorded using other electric or mechanical means. In this case, an ink cartridge detection unit such as a sensor is selected corresponding to the information recording unit.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited. In other words, the nozzle row group is a group of N high-resolution nozzle rows in which the perforated positions of the nozzle openings are shifted in the nozzle row direction by 1 / N pitch, respectively, and a plurality of nozzle rows in which the perforated positions of the nozzle openings in the nozzle row direction are aligned. Since it is composed of a group of normal nozzle rows, the same ink is ejected from each nozzle row belonging to the group of high-resolution nozzle rows, so that high-resolution printing that requires N main scans with only one nozzle row can be performed. High-speed, single-color, high-resolution recording can be performed with one main scan. On the other hand, by discharging ink of different colors from each of the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group and each of the nozzle rows belonging to the normal nozzle row group, it is possible to increase the number of colors of the ink that can be ejected, and the color tone is increased. Rich images can be recorded. As a result, even with a single recording head, it is possible to achieve both high-resolution, single-color, high-speed recording and rich-color recording.

The nozzle rows belonging to the high-resolution nozzle row group are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups, and the normal nozzle row groups are arranged between the nozzle groups. In the meantime, when the nozzle rows that constitute the normal nozzle row group are arranged, when printing is performed using the high-resolution nozzle rows, it is possible to secure the ink penetration time into the printing medium, and the dots are reduced. The problem of excessive spreading can be prevented.

When the high resolution nozzle row group is composed of four nozzle rows and the normal nozzle row is composed of three nozzle rows, the same ink is applied from each nozzle row belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group. By discharging the ink, printing can be performed at a resolution four times that of the printing by one nozzle row, and furthermore, four colors of ink necessary for color printing can be discharged at the minimum together with the normal nozzle row. Therefore, high-resolution printing with a single color and color printing can be performed simultaneously. On the other hand, when recording a color image, a maximum of 7
Color ink can be ejected.

Further, the ink cartridge is provided with type information indicating the correspondence between the type of the stored ink and the nozzle row to which the stored ink is supplied, and accompanying the mounting of the ink cartridge to the cartridge holder portion. If the type information is read by the ink cartridge detecting means and the information on the type of ink ejected from each nozzle row is updated based on the type information read by the ink cartridge detecting means, the ink cartridge is replaced. Accordingly, information on the type of ink ejected from each nozzle group is automatically updated. Therefore, the recording operation suitable for the intended use can be easily performed by replacing the ink cartridge. For example, by replacing the ink cartridge, recording in the high-speed recording mode or the photo recording mode can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of an ink jet printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a recording head.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a nozzle row in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a nozzle row according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a nozzle row according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a nozzle row according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet printer 2 Recording head 3 Carriage 4 Recording paper 5 Housing 6 Guide member 7 Pulse motor 8 Driving pulley 9 Idle pulley 10 Timing belt 11 Printer controller 12 Paper feed motor 13 Paper feed roller 14 Nozzle plate 15 Capping mechanism 16 Cap member 17 Nozzle opening 20 Bale plate part 21 Cartridge holder part 22 Ink cartridge 23 Contact terminal 24 Contact ROM 25 Control part 30 Housing space 31 Case 32 Vibrator unit 33 Flow path unit 34 Piezoelectric vibrator 35 Fixing plate 36 Pressure chamber 37 Island part 40 Common ink chamber 41 Flow path forming substrate 42 Vibration plate 43 Ink supply port 51 First high resolution nozzle row 52 Second high resolution nozzle row 53 Third high resolution nozzle row 54 Fourth high resolution nozzle row 5 first normal nozzle array 56 second usual nozzle array 57 third normal nozzle array

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle row group is formed by arranging a plurality of nozzle rows formed of a plurality of nozzle openings formed at a constant nozzle pitch side by side, and setting a type of ink for each nozzle row to discharge. In the ink jet type recording head configured to cause the nozzle row group, N rows of high-resolution nozzles in which the positions of the nozzle openings are shifted by 1 / N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) pitch in the nozzle row direction. Columns and
An ink jet recording head comprising a plurality of normal nozzle row groups in which the positions of the nozzle openings in the nozzle row direction are aligned. 2. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the high resolution nozzle row group and the normal nozzle row group are arranged side by side. 3. The ink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups, and a normal nozzle row group is arranged between the nozzle groups. head. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein nozzle rows forming a normal nozzle row group are arranged between the nozzle rows belonging to the high resolution nozzle row group. 5. The high-resolution nozzle row group is composed of four nozzle rows, and the normal nozzle row is composed of three nozzle rows. Inkjet recording head. 6. An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head, and a cartridge holder to which the ink cartridge is attached and detached. And a head scanning mechanism for moving the recording head in the main scanning direction, wherein the ink cartridge is provided with a type of stored ink and a nozzle array to which the stored ink is supplied. The type information indicating the correspondence relationship with the ink cartridge is attached, and the type information is read by the ink cartridge detecting means when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, and each nozzle is read based on the type information read by the ink cartridge detecting means. It is configured to update the information of the type of ink ejected by the row. An image recording apparatus characterized by the following. 7. The ink cartridge includes a type information storage element storing the type information, and the ink cartridge detecting unit reads the type information stored in the type information storage element. 6
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 8. A recording mode setting information indicating a recording mode corresponding to the ink cartridge is stored in the type information storage element, and the recording mode is set based on the recording mode setting information read by the ink cartridge detecting means. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a recording mode setting unit. 9. An ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the inkjet recording head according to claim 1, wherein each of the nozzle rows constituting the high resolution nozzle row group is provided. Are ink cartridges configured to supply the same type of ink and to supply different types of ink to the respective nozzle rows constituting the normal nozzle row group. 10. An ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the high resolution nozzle row group and the normal nozzle row group are formed. An ink cartridge configured to supply different types of ink to the respective nozzle rows. 11. An ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first cartridge stores ink to be supplied to the high resolution nozzle row group. And a second cartridge storing the ink to be supplied to the normal nozzle row group. The first cartridge is a first cartridge storing the monochromatic ink.
The cartridge comprises a single-color cartridge and a first multi-color cartridge storing inks of a plurality of colors. The second cartridge stores ink used regardless of the recording mode. An ink cartridge characterized by being used interchangeably with a multicolor cartridge. 12. A recording head according to claim 1, a cartridge holder provided with information reading means, a recovery function for performing a cleaning operation of the recording head, and cleaning of the recording head. An ink cartridge that is used in an ink jet recording apparatus having a cleaning control unit that performs control, and is detachably attached to the cartridge holder unit, wherein an operation sequence of the cleaning control is stored, and An ink cartridge, comprising a cleaning control information storage element that allows storage contents to be read by a cleaning control unit via an information reading unit as the cartridge is mounted. 13. The operation sequence according to claim 1, wherein the ink is forcibly sucked by the recovery mechanism with the nozzle surface of the recording head sealed until the ink in the recording head is replaced with the ink of the newly installed ink cartridge. The ink cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: