JP2010208021A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

In an apparatus having both image recording and image reading functions, it is possible to reduce the size and prevent deterioration of a reading unit.
The sheet P is bent by adjusting the rotational speeds of the roller pairs 71 and 72 of the sheet transport unit, and the sheet P can be read (position where it contacts the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50) and the position where the reading can be performed. The retreat position (position separated from the CIS 50) having a larger distance from the CIS 50 can be selectively taken.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium, and more particularly to a recording apparatus that includes a reading unit that reads an image recorded on a recording medium.

  An apparatus having both functions of recording an image on a recording medium and reading an image recorded on the medium by providing a reading unit in the recording apparatus is known (see Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, a recording head (printer head 40) and a reading unit (scanner CCD module 30) are arranged in parallel along a recording medium conveyance path, for example, a recording medium conveyance path and a reading unit to the recording head. Compared with the case where the recording medium conveyance path to the recording medium is provided separately, the apparatus can be downsized.

JP 2006-16201 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, when a reading unit having a relatively short focal length is used, the recording medium and the reading unit may come into contact with each other when the recording medium is conveyed along the conveyance path. Therefore, such a contact may cause a problem that the reading unit is worn and deteriorated. Further, when a contact-type reading unit such as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) is used, the unit and the recording medium are brought into contact with each other at the time of reading. However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, even when only reading is performed without reading. The recording medium and the reading unit come into contact with each other. Therefore, the above-described problem of deterioration of the reading unit becomes significant.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of realizing downsizing and preventing deterioration of a reading unit in an apparatus having both image recording and image reading functions.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium, and a path from a supply position of the recording medium to a discharge position of the recording medium through a recording position by the recording head. A recording unit that conveys the recording medium; a reading unit that reads an image recorded on the recording medium that is conveyed along the path by the conveying unit; and a recording medium that is in a reading position by the reading unit. At least one of the recording medium and the reading unit so that the unit can selectively take a readable position where the image can be read and a retracted position where the distance from the reading unit is larger than the readable position. There is provided a recording apparatus comprising position changing means for changing the position.

  According to the above configuration, the reading unit reads an image recorded on the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path by the conveyance unit, that is, the conveyance path of the recording medium to the recording head and the reading unit. Since the recording medium conveyance path is common, the apparatus can be downsized as compared with the case where these conveyance paths are provided individually. Further, the position changing means can arrange the recording medium at the readable position at the time of reading, and can arrange the recording medium at the retracted position at the time of recording to avoid contact between the recording medium and the reading unit. Thereby, deterioration of the reading unit can be prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to continuously record and read an image on a recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit.

  The conveyance unit includes a plurality of conveyance members that are separated from each other along the path and are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the path from the reading position and that are driven while being in contact with a recording medium. When the changing unit moves the recording medium from the retracted position to the readable position, the recording medium is bent in the direction approaching the reading unit between the conveying members by adjusting the driving of the plurality of conveying members. You can do it. When the position changing unit changes the position of the reading unit, it is necessary to provide a dedicated mechanism for moving the reading unit. It is also conceivable that the position change means changes the position of the recording medium by pressing a dedicated member against the recording medium while the reading unit is fixed at a fixed position. It is necessary to provide a member and a mechanism for moving the member. On the other hand, in the above configuration, since the position changing unit changes the position of the recording medium using the transport member included in the transport unit, there is no need to provide a dedicated member or mechanism. Therefore, the complexity of the device configuration and the increase in manufacturing cost are suppressed, and the size of the device can be more reliably realized.

  The plurality of transport members are disposed on the upstream side of the path with respect to the reading position, and above the first transport member on the downstream side of the path with respect to the vertical direction. And a second transport member disposed at a position closer to the reading unit than the first transport member in the horizontal direction. In this case, there is an advantage that the recording medium is easily bent in the direction approaching the reading unit between the first transport member and the second transport member due to gravity.

  It is preferable that the reading unit is disposed on the downstream side of the path from the recording head. In this case, the image recorded by the recording head can be quickly read, and the quality of recording by the recording head can be confirmed.

  Test recording means for controlling driving of the recording head so as to perform test recording on a recording medium based on test recording data different from normal recording data, and an image of the test recording formed on the recording medium by the control of the test recording means Test result reading means for controlling the driving of the reading means so as to read the image, and adjusting means for adjusting the drive of the recording head based on the test result obtained by the control of the test result reading means. . Thus, by adjusting the drive of the recording head based on the result of the test recording, the recording quality can be maintained satisfactorily.

  The readable position may be a position where the recording medium comes into contact with the reading unit. In the case of a contact type reading unit such as CIS, it is smaller than a non-contact type reading unit such as a CCD, so that the entire apparatus can be further reduced in size, is inexpensive, and does not require warm-up time. There are advantages such as a short rise time and reduced power consumption.

  It is preferable that the recording medium storage unit disposed at the supply position and the recording medium storage unit disposed at the discharge position are common during recording by the recording head and reading by the reading unit. When the supply position and the discharge position are provided with a pair of recording medium accommodating sections corresponding to the functions of image recording and image reading, and the recording medium accommodating sections used for recording and reading are different, it is possible to switch the conveyance path. Such work and control are required. On the other hand, in the above configuration, route switching work or the like is unnecessary, and recording and / or reading can be performed quickly.

1 is a side sectional view of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the printer of FIG. 1. 3A and 3B are partially enlarged views showing a portion III surrounded by a one-point difference line in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A shows a state at the time of normal recording, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printer control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 3 in the second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a state during normal recording and (b) shows a state during recording quality confirmation. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printer control method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a third embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a state during normal recording and (b) shows a state during recording quality confirmation.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of the ink jet printer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 of this embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 1a. The internal space of the housing 1a is divided into spaces A, B, and C in order from the top. In the space A, four ink jet heads 10 that eject inks of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, and each part of the printer 1 A controller 100 for controlling the operation of the above, a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 50 for reading an image recorded on the paper P, and the like are arranged. Each of the spaces B and C is a space in which a paper supply unit 1b and an ink tank unit 1c that can be attached to and detached from the housing 1a along the main scanning direction are arranged. An upper part of the top plate of the housing 1a is a discharge position of the paper P, and a paper discharge portion 131 that accommodates the paper discharged from the opening 130 is formed at the discharge position.

  The ink tank unit 1 c includes four main tanks 121 that store the respective color inks corresponding to the four heads 10. Each main tank 121 is connected to the corresponding head 10 via a tube or the like (not shown). The paper feed unit 1 b includes a paper feed tray 123 that can store a plurality of sheets of paper P, and a paper feed roller 125 attached to the paper feed tray 123. The paper P in the paper feed tray 123 is sent out in order from the uppermost one by the paper feed roller 125, guided by the guides 127 a and 127 b, and sent to the belt transport mechanism 122 while being sandwiched by the feed roller pair 126. .

  The belt conveyance mechanism 122 contacts two belt rollers 6, 7, an endless conveyance belt 8 wound so as to be bridged between both rollers 6, 7, and an inner peripheral surface of a lower loop of the conveyance belt 8. In addition, a tension roller 9 that applies tension to the transport belt 8 by being biased downward, and a support frame 11 that rotatably supports the rollers 6, 7, and 9 are provided. When the belt roller 7 as a driving roller rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 under the control of the controller 100, the conveying belt 8 travels, and the belt roller 6 as a driven roller also rotates clockwise in FIG.

  The upper loop of the conveyor belt 8 is arranged so that the belt surface extends in parallel with the lower surface of the four heads 10 while being separated from the lower surface of the four heads 10 (a surface on which a large number of ejection ports for discharging ink are formed) by a predetermined distance. Is supported by Each of the four heads 10 is long in the main scanning direction, is juxtaposed along the sub scanning direction, and is supported by the housing 1 a via the frame 3.

  A weakly adhesive silicon layer is formed on the surface of the conveyor belt 8. The paper P sent to the belt conveyance mechanism 122 is pressed against the surface of the conveyance belt 8 by the pressing roller 4 and then held on the surface by the adhesive force on the surface of the conveyance belt 8, while being supplemented along the black arrow. It is conveyed in the scanning direction.

  When the paper P is transported while being placed on the transport belt 8 and passes immediately below the four heads 10 (that is, the “recording position” facing the ejection openings formed on the lower surface of the heads 10), each head A color image is formed on the paper P by sequentially ejecting ink of each color from the ten ejection openings toward the paper P. The paper P is peeled off from the surface of the transport belt 8 by the peeling plate 5 and transported upward while being sequentially sandwiched by the upstream roller pair 71 and the downstream roller pair 72 while being guided by the pair of guides 61 and one guide 62. Then, the paper is discharged from the opening 130 formed in the upper portion of the housing 1a to the paper discharge unit 131.

  In the printer 1, the paper P as a recording medium passes along a path from the paper feed tray 123 arranged in the space B as a supply position to the paper discharge unit 131 via the lower part of the head 10. 125, a feed roller pair 126, a belt transport mechanism 122, and roller pairs 71 and 72).

  Of the guides 127 a, 127 b, 61, 62 provided for guiding the paper P conveyed along the path, the paper other than the guide 62 is recorded on the surface (the head 10 is recorded). The guide 62 is composed of a single plate facing the back surface of the paper P. The guide 62 is composed of a pair of plates facing each surface so as to be sandwiched from both sides. The sizes of the plates constituting these guides are set so that the maximum width of paper P that can be processed by the printer 1 can be guided.

  The guide 62 extends in the vertical direction from the lower end to the center, and is curved toward the opening 130 from the center to the upper end. In the inner region of the curve, the CIS 50 is disposed at a position facing the guide surface while being separated from the guide surface of the guide 62 (the left surface in FIG. 1) by a predetermined distance.

  The CIS 50 is a so-called contact-type reading unit that reads the image recorded on the surface of the paper P by bringing the surface of the paper P into contact with the reading surface 50a made of glass. The CIS 50 is fixed at a fixed position in the printer 1, and is arranged in an inclined state so that the reading surface 50 a faces the curved portion of the guide 62 (upwardly diagonally to the right in FIG. 1).

  The roller pair 72 disposed between the upper end of the guide 62 and the opening 130 is disposed at a position higher in the vertical direction than the roller pair 71 in the vicinity of the lower end of the guide 62 and closer to the CIS 50 in the horizontal direction. Yes. The roller pairs 71 and 72 have a rotation axis along the direction orthogonal to FIG. 1 like the other rollers 125 or the roller pair 126 included in the transport unit. The paper P is transported by being pinched from both sides and rotating while being in contact with the paper P. Each of the pair of rollers 71, 72, and 126 rotates as one of the paired rollers as a driving roller under the control of the controller 100, and the other rotates as a driven roller while contacting one of the rollers. Rotate with it.

  Next, a method for controlling the printer 1 executed by the controller 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The controller 100 receives a normal recording command or a test recording command from, for example, a PC (personal computer) connected to the printer 1 via the interface of the printer 1.

  When the normal recording command is received, the controller 100 performs control related to normal recording without performing image reading by the CIS 50. That is, the controller 100 transports the paper P from the paper feed tray 123 to a recording position below the head 10, and an image based on the normal recording data included in the normal recording command is formed on the paper P by driving the head 10. Each unit of the printer 1 is controlled so that the paper P after recording is conveyed from the recording position to the paper discharge unit 131.

  During normal recording, the controller 100 performs control so that the roller pairs 71 and 72 rotate at the same speed. The recording paper P is transported upward along the guide 62 while being sandwiched between the upstream roller pair 71 after the leading end reaches the upstream roller pair 71. When the leading edge reaches the downstream roller pair 72, the sheet P is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3A along the guide 62 while being sandwiched between the roller pairs 71 and 72 rotating at the same speed. Are sequentially discharged to the paper discharge unit 131. The conveyance path of the paper P at this time is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  Since the rotational speeds of the roller pairs 71 and 72 are equal when being conveyed while being held between the roller pairs 71 and 72 in this way, the portion of the paper P between the roller pairs 71 and 72 is shown in FIG. As shown to a), it follows the curve shape of the guide 62, hardly bending outside (the right side in Fig.3 (a)) or inside (the left side in Fig.3 (a)) rather than the guide 62. FIG. Further, even when the leading edge of the paper P is positioned between the pair of rollers 71 and 72, the paper P extends along the two-dot chain line in FIG. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the CIS 50 is not in contact with the paper P conveyed along the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3A during normal recording, and is separated from the paper P.

  On the other hand, when the test recording command is received, the controller 100 performs a recording quality confirmation process shown in FIG.

  First, the controller 100 controls each part of the printer 1 so as to perform recording based on test recording data included in the test recording command (S10). That is, the controller 100 transports the test recording paper P from the paper feed tray 123 to a recording position below the head 10, and an image based on the test recording data is formed on the paper P by driving the head 10. Each section of the printer 1 is controlled so that the sheet P passes through the guide 61 from the recording position and is conveyed along the guide 62 while being sandwiched by the roller pair 71.

  Note that the test recording data is data different from the normal recording data, and may be, for example, data configured so that ink is ejected from all ejection ports of all the heads 10, and an image related to the test recording. The width and length of can be arbitrarily set.

  The process of S10 may be performed in parallel with the processes after S11. That is, even during the processing after S11, the head 10 and the like may be driven based on the test recording data to perform test recording.

  Next, the controller 100 determines that the leading edge of the paper P is a downstream roller pair based on, for example, a detection signal from a paper sensor (not shown) disposed near the roller pair 72, a change in the rotational load of the roller pair 72, and the like. It is determined whether or not 72 has been reached (S11). When the leading edge of the paper P has not reached the downstream roller pair 72 (S11: NO), the controller 100 repeats the process of S11. The sheet P is conveyed along the same path as that in the normal recording shown in FIG. 3A until the leading edge reaches the downstream roller pair 72.

  When the leading edge of the sheet P reaches the downstream roller pair 72 (S11: YES), the controller 100 sets the rotation speed so that the rotation speed of the downstream roller pair 72 is smaller than that of the upstream roller pair 71. Then, the driving of both roller pairs 71 and 72 is controlled (S12). Thus, after the leading edge of the paper P reaches the roller pair 72 and is conveyed while being sandwiched between the roller pairs 71 and 72, due to the difference in rotational speed between the roller pairs 71 and 72 and the influence of gravity. The portion between the roller pairs 71 and 72 is gradually bent downward in the vertical direction.

  Next, the controller 100 determines whether or not the surface of the paper P is in contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 as shown in FIG. 3B based on a signal from the CIS 50, for example (S13). When the surface of the paper P is not in contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 (S13: NO), the controller 100 repeats the process of S13.

  When the surface of the paper P comes into contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 (S13: YES), the controller 100 controls the driving of both roller pairs 71 and 72 so that the rotational speeds of both roller pairs 71 and 72 are equal ( S14). Further, the controller 100 controls the drive of the CIS 50 so as to read the image (test result) recorded on the paper P (S15).

  As a result, the sheet P is rotated at a constant speed 71 with the portion between the roller pairs 71 and 72 bent downward as shown in FIG. 3B and in contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50. , 72 and being conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The CIS 50 reads the image (test result) recorded on the paper P transported in this way, and transfers the read data to the controller 100.

  Next, the controller 100 determines whether or not drive adjustment of the head 10 is necessary based on the data (test result) transferred from the CIS 50 (S16). For example, when an ink drop blur is recognized in an image related to a test result, the size or amount of ink droplets discharged from some or all of the discharge openings corresponding to the spot where the blur is recognized is reduced. Thus, it is determined that the drive adjustment of the head 10 (in this case, the drive adjustment of the actuator of the head 10 and the like) is necessary. Further, for example, when non-ejection or ejection failure is recognized in the image related to the test result, it is determined that the drive adjustment of the head 10 by maintenance such as so-called flushing is necessary.

  When it is determined that the drive adjustment of the head 10 is necessary (S16: YES), the controller 100 performs the drive adjustment of the actuator as described above (in the case of a piezoelectric actuator, increase / decrease of the drive voltage, etc.) and maintenance of the head 10. Drive adjustment is performed (S17).

  When the controller 100 determines that the drive adjustment of the head 10 is not necessary (S16: NO), or after performing the drive adjustment in S17, the subroutine related to the recording quality confirmation process is ended. The paper P on which the test recording and the image reading are performed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 131.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CIS 50 reads an image recorded on the paper P conveyed along the path from the paper feed tray 123 to the paper discharge unit 131 via the lower part of the head 10. Arranged to be possible. In other words, the conveyance path of the paper P to the head 10 and the conveyance path of the paper P to the CIS 50 are common. Therefore, the apparatus can be downsized as compared with the case where these transport paths are provided individually.

  Further, the sheet P at the reading position by the CIS 50 (position facing the reading surface 50a) is a readable position where the image can be read by the CIS 50 (focused position. In this embodiment, FIG. And a retracted position (a position separated from the CIS 50 shown in FIG. 3A in this embodiment) that is larger in distance from the CIS 50 than the readable position. As can be taken, the controller 100 controls the position of the paper P to change. In this way, the controller 100 places the paper P in the readable position at the time of reading, while placing the paper P in the retracted position at the time of recording, thereby avoiding contact between the paper P and the CIS 50, thereby degrading the CIS 50. Can be prevented.

  Further, it is possible to continuously record and read an image on the paper P conveyed along the path from the paper feed tray 123 to the paper discharge unit 131.

  A pair of rollers 71 and 72 included in the transport unit are separated from each other along a path from the paper feed tray 123 to the paper discharge unit 131 via the lower part of the head 10, and upstream and downstream of the path from the reading position. Respectively. The controller 100 adjusts the driving of the roller pairs 71 and 72 when moving the paper P from the retracted position (see FIG. 3A) to the readable position (see FIG. 3B) (FIG. 3). 2), the sheet P is bent in a direction approaching the CIS 50 between the pair of rollers 71 and 72. When the controller 100 changes the position of the CIS 50 as in the second embodiment described later, it is necessary to provide a dedicated mechanism for moving the CIS 50. In addition, the controller 100 changes the position of the paper P by pressing a dedicated member (for example, a paper pressing member 80 according to a third embodiment described later) against the paper P while the CIS 50 is fixed at a fixed position. In this case as well, it is necessary to provide a dedicated member and a mechanism for moving the member. On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the controller 100 changes the position of the paper P using the roller pairs 71 and 72 included in the transport unit, so there is no need to provide a dedicated member or mechanism. Therefore, the complexity of the device configuration and the increase in manufacturing cost are suppressed, and the size of the device can be more reliably realized.

  The roller pair 71 is arranged on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance path from the reading position by the CIS 50 (position facing the reading surface 50a). Further, the roller pair 72 is disposed on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance path from the reading position, above the roller pair 71 and at a position closer to the CIS 50 than the roller pair 71 in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the paper P is easily bent in a direction approaching the CIS 50 between the roller pairs 71 and 72 due to gravity.

  The CIS 50 is disposed downstream of the head 10 in the paper transport path. Therefore, the image recorded by the head 10 can be quickly read, and the quality of recording by the head 10 can be confirmed (see FIG. 2).

  The controller 100 adjusts the driving of the head 10 based on the test recording result (see S15, S16, and S17 in FIG. 2). Thereby, it is possible to maintain good recording quality.

  In the case of a contact-type reading unit such as CIS50, compared to a non-contact type reading unit such as a CCD, the entire apparatus can be further reduced in size, is inexpensive, and does not require warm-up time. Therefore, there are advantages such as a short rise time and a reduction in power consumption.

  The paper feed tray 123 arranged in the space B as the supply position and the paper discharge unit 131 arranged on the top plate of the housing 1a as the discharge position are used for recording by the head 10 and reading by the CIS 50. It is common. That is, the paper P, which is a recording medium, is sent out from the paper feed tray 123 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 131 both during image recording by the head 10 and image reading by the CIS 50. For example, a pair of recording medium storage units corresponding to each function of image recording and image reading at the supply position and the discharge position (one for each function, a total of two paper feed trays and / or a total of two paper discharge units) If the recording medium storage unit used is different between recording and reading, work and control related to switching of the conveyance path is required. On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment, route switching work or the like is unnecessary, and recording and / or reading can be performed quickly.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the same components or steps as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals or step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the inkjet printer according to the second embodiment, the CIS 50 is not always fixed at a fixed position in the printer 1, but can be moved in the horizontal direction as the solenoid 90 is driven, and the reading surface 50a. Is different from the first embodiment in that the controller 100 is arranged along the vertical direction and that the controller 100 does not provide a difference in the rotation speed of the roller pairs 71 and 72 during the recording quality confirmation process (see FIG. 5). ).

  The CIS 50 according to the second embodiment has a back surface (surface opposite to the reading surface 50a) in contact with the tip of the movable portion 90a of the solenoid 90, except when recording quality confirmation processing is performed (for example, normal recording) 5), the sheet P is not in contact with the sheet P conveyed along the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A outside the conveyance path of the sheet P. (Position separated from). In the CIS 50 according to the second embodiment, as will be described in detail later, when the recording quality confirmation process is performed, the solenoid 90 is driven and the movable portion 90a extends to the right in the drawing, so that FIG. It moves to the right from the retracted position shown in a) and is arranged at the advanced position shown in FIG. 5B (that is, the position along the surface of the paper P conveyed along the same path as in normal recording).

  That is, in the first embodiment, the position of the CIS 50 is the same in the normal recording and the recording quality confirmation process, and the transport path of the paper P in the vicinity of the reading position (position facing the reading surface 50a) by the CIS 50 is different. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the transport path of the paper P in the vicinity of the reading position by the CIS 50 is the same, and the position of the CIS 50 is different.

  The ink jet printer according to the second embodiment further includes another guide 63 that faces the guide 62 with the paper conveyance path interposed therebetween. The guide 63 is made of the same plate as the guide 62, but an opening for accommodating the CIS 50 disposed at the forward position is formed in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction.

  In the printer according to the second embodiment, when receiving a test recording command, the controller 100 performs a recording quality confirmation process shown in FIG. 4 instead of FIG.

  First, the controller 100 drives the solenoid 90 to extend the movable portion 90a, thereby moving the CIS 50 from the retracted position in FIG. 5A to the advanced position in FIG. 5B (S21). Thereafter, the controller 100 performs a test recording process (S10) similar to that of the first embodiment while the CIS 50 is held at the forward position, and whether or not the surface of the paper P is in contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50. Is determined (S13).

  When the surface of the paper P comes into contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 (S13: YES), the controller 100 controls the driving of the CIS 50 so as to read an image (test result) recorded on the paper P (S15). . Then, the controller 100 performs the process (S16, S17) related to the drive adjustment similar to that in the first embodiment, and then drives the solenoid 90 to retract the movable portion 90a, thereby changing the CIS 50 in FIG. It moves from the advance position to the retract position in FIG. 5A (S22).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the paper P at the reading position (position facing the reading surface 50a) by the CIS 50 can be read by the CIS 50 at a readable position (in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (b) and a retreat position where the distance from the CIS 50 is larger than the readable position (a position separated from the CIS 50 shown in FIG. 5 (a)). Is controlled by the controller 100 so that the position of the CIS 50 is changed. As described above, the controller 100 arranges the paper P in the readable position at the time of reading, and arranges the paper P in the retracted position at the time of recording to avoid the contact between the paper P and the CIS 50 in the first embodiment. Similarly to the above, the deterioration of the CIS 50 can be prevented.

  In addition, the CIS 50 is arranged so as to be able to read an image recorded on the paper P conveyed along a path from the paper feed tray 123 through the lower part of the head 10 to the paper discharge unit 131. The point that the controller 100 adjusts the driving of the head 10 based on the result of the test recording, the point that the CIS 50 that is a contact type reading unit is used, The point that the paper feed tray 123 and the paper discharge unit 131 are common at the time of image recording and at the time of image reading is the same as in the first embodiment, and the same effects can be obtained by the above-described configurations.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the same components or steps as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals or step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the CIS 50 is always fixed at a fixed position in the printer 1 as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the reading surface 50a is in the vertical direction at the fixed position. It is arranged along. As shown in FIG. 7, the printer according to the third embodiment further includes a sheet pressing member 80 that can move in the horizontal direction as the solenoid 90 is driven.

  The paper pressing member 80 is a cylindrical member having a rotation axis perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 7, and the back portion (the portion opposite to the side facing the reading surface 50 a of the CIS 50) is at the tip of the movable portion 90 a of the solenoid 90. In a contact state, the printer body is rotatably supported and is disposed so as to face the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50. The sheet pressing member 80 is opposite to the CIS 50 with respect to the retracted position shown in FIG. 7A (that is, the sheet conveyance path during normal recording) except when the recording quality confirmation process is performed (for example, during normal recording). 7 is a position sandwiching the conveyance path of the paper P during normal recording with the CIS 50, and does not contact the paper P conveyed along the two-dot chain line in FIG. When the recording quality confirmation process is performed, the solenoid 90 is driven and the movable portion 90a extends to the left in the figure, so that the left side from the retracted position shown in FIG. 7b and disposed at the forward position shown in FIG. 7B (that is, the position facing the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 with a distance corresponding to the thickness of the paper P in the transport path of the paper P during normal recording). Is done.

  That is, in the third embodiment, the position of the CIS 50 is the same and the rotational speeds of both the roller pairs 71 and 72 are the same during normal recording and during recording quality confirmation processing. The conveyance path of the paper P in the vicinity of the reading position by the CIS 50 is changed.

  Further, the ink jet printer according to the third embodiment has a pair of guides 162 and 163 provided with openings near the center for accommodating the sheet pressing member 80 arranged at the forward movement position instead of the guide 62. The guides 162 and 163 are both plate-shaped, and are arranged so as to sandwich the paper P from both the front and back sides.

  In the printer according to the third embodiment, when receiving a test recording command, the controller 100 performs a recording quality confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 instead of FIG.

  First, the controller 100 drives the solenoid 90 to extend the movable portion 90a, thereby moving the sheet pressing member 80 from the retracted position in FIG. 7A to the advanced position in FIG. 7B (S31). ). After that, the controller 100 performs a test recording process (S10) similar to that of the first embodiment with the sheet pressing member 80 held at the forward position, and the surface of the sheet P comes into contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50. It is determined whether or not (S13).

  When the surface of the paper P comes into contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 (S13: YES), the controller 100 controls the driving of the CIS 50 so as to read an image (test result) recorded on the paper P (S15). . Then, the controller 100 performs the same process (S16, S17) related to drive adjustment as in the first embodiment, and then drives the solenoid 90 to retract the movable part 90a, thereby moving the sheet pressing member 80 in FIG. It moves from the forward position of b) to the backward position of FIG. 7A (S32).

  The paper P that has entered between the guides 162 and 163 comes into contact between the reading surface 50 a of the CIS 50 and the paper pressing member 80 along the outer peripheral surface of the paper pressing member 80 after the leading end contacts the paper pressing member 80. It is guided to the space and is transported along a path indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As described above, the sheet pressing member 80 makes the conveyance path of the sheet P during the recording quality confirmation process different from that during normal recording. Therefore, it is preferable that the size (diameter, length, etc.) and shape of the sheet pressing member 80 are set so that the conveyance path of the sheet P can be varied as described above. The paper pressing member 80 of the present embodiment has a larger diameter than the roller pairs 71 and 72, and after the leading end abuts on the paper pressing member 80, the paper P deviates to the right, for example, FIG. Instead, it is guided to the space between the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 and the sheet pressing member 80.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the sheet P at the reading position (position facing the reading surface 50a) by the CIS 50 can be read by the CIS 50 at a readable position (in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 (b) and a retreat position where the distance from the CIS 50 is larger than the readable position (a position separated from the CIS 50 shown in FIG. 7 (a)). Is controlled by the controller 100 so that the position of the CIS 50 is changed. As described above, the controller 100 arranges the paper P in the readable position at the time of reading, and arranges the paper P in the retracted position at the time of recording to avoid the contact between the paper P and the CIS 50 in the first embodiment. Similarly to the above, the deterioration of the CIS 50 can be prevented.

  In addition, the CIS 50 is arranged so as to be able to read an image recorded on the paper P conveyed along a path from the paper feed tray 123 through the lower part of the head 10 to the paper discharge unit 131. The point that the controller 100 adjusts the driving of the head 10 based on the result of the test recording, the point that the CIS 50 that is a contact type reading unit is used, The point that the paper feed tray 123 and the paper discharge unit 131 are common at the time of image recording and at the time of image reading is the same as in the first embodiment, and the same effects can be obtained by the above-described configurations.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims. is there.

  For example, as long as the reading unit can read an image recorded on a recording medium conveyed along a path through a recording position by the head, different paper feed trays are used for recording by the head and for reading by the reading unit. And / or a paper discharge unit may be used.

  The reading unit has a relatively short focal length other than a contact type such as CIS50 (which reads an image in contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium), and has a slight gap on the image recording surface. Also included are those that read an image in a close state (in this case, the readable position is a position where the paper P is close to the reading surface 50a). Even if the recording medium is not in contact with the recording medium, if the focal length is relatively short, the recording medium and the reading unit can come into contact with each other when the recording medium is conveyed. Therefore, the application of the present invention prevents the reading unit from being deteriorated. Is obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the test recording is performed based on a test recording command transmitted from an external device such as a PC to the controller 100. In addition, the test recording is performed at a predetermined timing (for example, when the printer 1 is turned on). It may be performed when the number of sheets reaches a predetermined number, or when a predetermined time elapses after the power is turned on.

  Further, the test recording, the test result reading, and the adjustment process based on the result are not essential requirements of the present invention, and these processes may be omitted.

  The reading unit may read an image related to normal recording (that is, an image formed by the head 10 based on the normal recording command) in addition to an image related to test recording, or has already been recorded. This recording may be read by conveying the recording medium from the supply position.

  The reading unit is not limited to be arranged on the downstream side of the paper conveyance path from the head, and may be arranged on the upstream side of the paper conveyance path from the head. Further, the reading unit is not limited to be arranged adjacent to the head, and as long as the image recorded on the recording medium conveyed along the path through the recording position by the head can be read, the reading unit It may be arranged at any position.

  The configuration of the transport unit that transports the recording medium can be variously changed. For example, in the first embodiment, a pair of rollers 71 and 72 as conveying members can bend the recording medium in a direction approaching the reading unit due to gravity, and the upstream side of the conveying path and the reading unit, respectively. Although it arrange | positions in the downstream and the position which is different regarding the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, arrangement | positioning of these members can be changed variously. Further, the conveying member is not limited to a roller-like member such as the roller pair 71 and 72, and may be a slide mechanism or the like, for example. Further, the guides 62; 162, 163; 63, etc. may not be provided, and the roller pair 71, 72 may not be curved so as to surround the CIS 50 inward as shown in FIG.

  The adjustment of the driving of the conveying member performed to bend the recording medium in the direction approaching the reading unit between the conveying members is not limited to the adjustment of the driving speed (rotational speed) as in the first embodiment, but the driving direction. Including adjustment of (rotation direction).

  In the second and third embodiments, the solenoid 90 is used as means for moving the CIS 50 and the sheet pressing member 80, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any moving means may be used.

  In the first embodiment, as the position changing means for changing the position of the recording medium so that the recording medium at the reading position by the reading unit can selectively take the readable position and the retracted position, the roller pair 71 of the transport unit, However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the recording medium may be changed by various other members and processes.

  The number of recording heads included in the recording apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to four, and may be one or more.

  The recording head included in the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be either a line type or a serial type. Further, the recording head may eject liquid other than ink, and as long as recording is performed on the recording medium, it may be thermal, dot impact, laser system, or the like other than the liquid ejection system.

  The recording apparatus according to the present invention may be a facsimile, a copier, or the like other than a printer.

1 Inkjet printer (recording device)
10 Inkjet head (recording head)
71 Upstream roller pair (conveyance unit, conveyance member)
72 Downstream roller pair (conveyance unit, conveyance member)
80 Paper holding member (position changing means)
90 Solenoid (position changing means)
100 controller (position changing means)
122 Belt transport mechanism (transport unit)
123 Paper feed tray (recording medium container)
125 Paper feed roller (conveyance unit)
126 Feed roller pair (conveyance unit)
131 Paper discharge unit (recording medium storage unit)
P paper (recording medium)

Claims (7)

A recording head for recording an image on a recording medium;
A transport unit for transporting the recording medium along a path from the recording medium supply position to the recording medium discharge position via the recording position by the recording head;
A reading unit that reads an image recorded on a recording medium transported along the path by the transport unit;
The recording medium at the reading position by the reading unit can selectively take a readable position where the reading unit can read an image and a retreat position where the distance from the reading unit is larger than the readable position. And a position changing means for changing the position of at least one of the recording medium and the reading unit. The transport unit includes a plurality of transport members that are spaced apart from each other along the path and are disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the path from the reading position and are driven in contact with a recording medium,
When the position changing means moves the recording medium from the retracted position to the readable position, the recording medium is moved closer to the reading unit between the conveying members by adjusting the driving of the conveying members. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is bent.   The plurality of transport members are disposed on the upstream side of the path with respect to the reading position, and above the first transport member on the downstream side of the path with respect to the vertical direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a second transport member disposed at a position closer to the reading unit than the first transport member in the horizontal direction.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is disposed on a downstream side of the path from the recording head. Test recording means for controlling the drive of the recording head to perform test recording on a recording medium based on test recording data different from normal recording data;
A test result reading means for controlling the driving of the reading means so as to read an image of the test record formed on the recording medium by the control of the test recording means;
The recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an adjusting unit that adjusts driving of the recording head based on a test result obtained by controlling the test result reading unit.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the readable position is a position where a recording medium comes into contact with the reading unit.   The recording medium container disposed at the supply position and the recording medium container disposed at the discharge position are common for recording by the recording head and reading by the reading unit. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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