JP2014040051A - Inkjet recording apparatus and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce the running cost of a recording apparatus while preventing deterioration in image quality.
Storage means for storing a plurality of tables each including a plurality of driving conditions for driving a plurality of heaters, and selection for selecting a table to be referred to when performing recording from the plurality of tables A setting means for referring to the selected table and selecting and setting a driving condition to be used when recording from a plurality of driving conditions of the table based on an environment for recording; Measuring means for measuring the number of times of driving of the plurality of heaters driven according to the set driving condition for each corresponding driving condition, and cumulatively adding the measured number of driving times with weighting corresponding to each driving condition. The calculation means and the selection means are controlled so as to select a table to be referred to when recording, from a plurality of tables according to the result of cumulative addition, and recorded on the recording medium. Comprising a recording control means for completing the.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and a control method thereof.

  Image recording is performed by, for example, a recording apparatus including a recording head having a plurality of nozzles that each ejects ink with the pressure of bubbles generated by foaming ink according to thermal energy. This thermal energy is obtained, for example, by driving a heater that generates heat when energized.

  Manufacturing variations such as heaters and nozzles and characteristic variations due to non-uniform temperature distribution change the amount of ink ejected, which can lead to a decrease in image quality due to darkness or unevenness of density in a recorded image. In order to prevent the deterioration of the image quality due to this characteristic variation, a technique for controlling individual drive signals as exemplified in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be used.

JP-A-5-31905 JP-A-4-2013347

  By the way, by repeatedly energizing and driving the heater, the heater can be physically consumed. For example, the generation and disappearance (cavitation) of bubbles generated by driving the heater can reduce the thickness of the protective film of the heater provided between the heater and the ink flow path. In spite of this situation, if the heater is driven by supplying the same drive energy as before the film thickness is reduced, excessive energy is supplied to the heater, and the density of the recorded image is reduced. This will cause shading, spots, etc., and reduce image quality. Furthermore, there is a case where the heater breaks down and the replacement of the recording head is forced.

  The present invention has been made in recognition of the above problems by the inventor, and an object thereof is to provide an advantageous technique for reducing the running cost of a recording apparatus while preventing a decrease in image quality. And

  One aspect of the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and the ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a plurality of heaters for ejecting ink, and scans the recording head while driving the plurality of heaters. An inkjet recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, the storage unit storing a plurality of tables each including a plurality of driving conditions for driving the plurality of heaters, and the plurality of the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit A selection unit that selects a table to be referred to when recording is performed from among the tables, and a table selected by the selection unit is used to perform recording from a plurality of driving conditions of the table. Setting means for selecting and setting the driving conditions to be set based on the environment for performing the recording, and the setting means Measuring means for measuring the number of times of driving of the plurality of heaters driven according to the driving condition for each corresponding driving condition, and weighting the number of times of driving measured by the measuring means according to each of the driving conditions A calculation means for cumulative addition and the selection means control to select a table to be referred to when recording from the plurality of tables according to the result of the cumulative addition, and record to the recording medium. And a recording control means for completing the process.

  According to the present invention, since the heater can be driven under appropriate driving conditions, it is possible to reduce the running cost of the recording apparatus while preventing deterioration in image quality.

2 is a diagram illustrating a part of a configuration example of a recording apparatus I. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a control system of the recording apparatus I. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pulse shape of a recording drive signal. The figure explaining the example which the film thickness of the protective film of a heater is reducing. The figure explaining the maximum drive frequency of a heater. The figure explaining the example of the flowchart of 1st Embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the weighting coefficient used in 1st Embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the table used by 1st Embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the flowchart of 2nd Embodiment. The figure explaining the structural example of the discharge detection means of 2nd Embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the flowchart of 3rd Embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the flowchart of 3rd Embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the flowchart of 3rd Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording method will be described as an example. The recording apparatus may be, for example, a single function printer having only a recording function, or may be a multi-function printer having a plurality of functions such as a recording function, a FAX function, and a scanner function. Further, for example, a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a color filter, an electronic device, an optical device, a minute structure, and the like by a predetermined recording method may be used.

  In the following description, “recording” is not limited to the case where significant information such as characters and figures is formed, and it does not matter whether it is significant. Further, it also represents a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, a structure, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or a medium is processed regardless of whether or not it is manifested so that a human can perceive it visually.

  “Recording medium” represents not only paper used in general recording apparatuses but also cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, resin, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. .

  Further, “ink” should be interpreted widely as in the definition of “recording”. Therefore, by being applied on the recording medium, it can be used for forming an image, pattern, pattern, etc., processing the recording medium, or processing the ink (for example, coagulation or insolubilization of the colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium). Represents a liquid that can be provided.

(Configuration example of recording device)
FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example for explaining a recording portion of a color-compatible inkjet recording apparatus I (hereinafter simply referred to as “recording apparatus”). The ink tanks 211 to 214 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “ink tank 21”) each include, for example, four colors of ink (recording agent). The ink tanks 211 to 214 can be attached to and detached from the corresponding recording heads 201 to 204 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “recording head 20”). Each ink tank 21 supplies, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) inks to the corresponding recording head 20, respectively.

  FIG. 1B illustrates the internal structure of each recording head 20. Each recording head 20 has, for example, a plurality of nozzles 301 (ejection ports) for ejecting ink and a heater 302 (electrothermal conversion element) corresponding thereto on a substrate 305 made of silicon. Each nozzle 301 is connected to an ink supply path 303, and ink supplied from the ink tank 21 is supplied to each nozzle 301 through the ink supply path 303. In each recording head 20, for example, 128 nozzles 301 are provided in a row at intervals of 75 dpi. The nozzles 301 can be arranged in a staggered manner along the ink supply path 303 with the ink supply path 303 interposed therebetween, for example.

FIG. 1C is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of the cut line AA ′ with respect to the heater 302. For example, on the heat storage layer 311 (thickness 2 [mu] m) made of SiO _2, for example, an interlayer insulating film 312 made of SiN or SiO ₂ (thickness 1.4 [mu] m) is formed. A TaSiN layer 313 (thickness: 0.018 μm) that generates heat when energized is disposed thereon, and an Al layer 314 (thickness: 0.2 μm) is connected as the electrode wiring. Thereby, the heater 302 is formed. A first protective film 316 (thickness 0.3 μm) made of an insulating material such as SiN or SiO ₂ is formed thereon. Furthermore, a second protective film 317 (thickness 0.23 μm) made of a metal material such as Ta having cavitation resistance is formed thereon.

  Each of the recording heads 20 is driven by energizing each heater 302, and the ink is foamed by the thermal energy generated thereby, and the ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzle 301 by the pressure of the bubbles generated thereby. Generation and disappearance (cavitation) of bubbles generated by repeatedly driving the heater 302 can reduce the film thickness of the protective films 316 and 317 of the heater 302 as illustrated in FIG. The recording head 20 and the ink tank 21 are mounted on a carriage 106, and the carriage 106 can reciprocate along the direction. In the recording operation mode, recording on the recording medium 107 is performed by driving the plurality of heaters 302 while moving the carriage 106 along the X direction, that is, while scanning the recording head 20 along the X direction. Do. Thereafter, the conveyance roller 104 and the auxiliary roller 103 are rotated to convey the recording medium 107 in the Y direction, and the next scanning and recording are performed. The recording apparatus I repeats this scanning and recording and the conveyance of the recording medium 107 to complete recording of an image or the like. Note that the recording in one scan may be performed by one of the reciprocating movements along the X direction by the recording head 20 or may be performed by both. On the other hand, in the non-recording operation mode (such as the recovery operation mode of the recording head 20), the carriage 106 stands by at the home position position h, for example.

(Control system configuration example)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the recording apparatus I. For example, recording data and information related thereto are input as input signals from the host PC 1200 to the recording control unit 500 via the interface 400. The recording control unit 500 includes an MPU 401, a ROM 402, a DRAM 403, and a gate array 404. The gate array 404 inputs and outputs various signals for recording on the recording medium 107 by the recording head 20 between the interface 400, the MPU 401, and the RAM 403. For example, the MPU 401 performs signal processing according to a control program stored in the ROM 402, and controls various drivers in order to perform a recording operation. Information regarding recording is temporarily stored in the DRAM 403. The DRAM 403 includes a print buffer for storing binarized recording data (binary data) corresponding to each color described above. These binary data are output to each of the recording heads 20 via the corresponding head driver 409, whereby each recording head 20 drives each heater 302. The carriage motor 406 reciprocates the carriage 106 by driving the motor driver 407. The transport motor 405 rotates the transport roller 104 by driving the motor driver 408 and transports the recording medium 107. The head unit 501 corresponds to the carriage 106 and includes each of the recording heads 20, a head driver 409, and a head type signal generation circuit 410. The head type signal generation circuit 410 recognizes the type and number of recording heads 20 and outputs a signal corresponding to the type and number to the MPU 401.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3A schematically shows the pulse shape of the drive signal used in this embodiment for each type of the drive signal. The shaded area represents the time during which the heater 302 is energized, that is, the time during which thermal energy is applied to the ink inside the nozzle 301. Here, a case where recording is performed by a double pulse driving method in which a drive signal includes a pre-pulse (pulse width P1) for preheating ink and a main pulse (pulse width P3) for foaming ink is illustrated. The drive signal used in the double pulse drive system includes a signal of P1 = 0 like the pulse A. In the pulses B to D, a period P2 indicates an interval time between the pre-pulse and the main pulse. With this interval time, the thermal energy generated by the pre-heating of the pre-pulse propagates to the ink in the vicinity thereof, and the ink can be appropriately ejected from the nozzle 301 by the main pulse applied next.

  FIG. 3B is a table showing the values of P1 to P3 for the pulses A to D, respectively. For example, in the case of pulse B, a pre-pulse of P1 = 0.100 μsec is applied, and after an interval time of P2 = 0.500 μsec has elapsed, a main pulse of P3 = 0.524 μsec is applied. Each pulse is a pulse D, a pulse C, a pulse B, and a pulse A in descending order of the ink discharge amount when driven at the same temperature.

  It is known that the ejection amount of ink ejected from the recording head varies depending on the temperature of the recording head. Specifically, when the ink temperature is low, the foam volume is small and the discharge amount is also small. On the other hand, when the ink temperature is high, the foam volume increases and the discharge amount also increases. If the ink discharge amount changes, the dot diameter when the ink lands on the recording medium also changes, resulting in a change in color tone or occurrence of density unevenness. For this reason, control is performed to obtain a constant discharge amount regardless of the temperature of the recording head. For example, when the temperature of the recording head (or ink) is low, the pulse D is set as a drive signal, and when the temperature is high, the pulse A is set. Such control is called PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control, and the amount of drive energy (drive condition) supplied to the heater is determined according to the temperature of the print head. Here, the pulses A to D are provided so that the pulse widths of the drive signals are different from each other, but may be provided so that the drive voltages are different from each other. In this way, recording is performed by selecting one drive condition from a plurality of types of drive conditions (also referred to as parameters). Specifically, a set corresponding to the temperature of the recording head is selected from a set of parameters of pulses A to D (here, P1 to P3) (four sets of pulses A to D). This PWM control may be performed by providing a temperature sensor as temperature detection means and detecting the temperature of the recording head (or ink). For example, in the case of recording with a low image duty and recording with a high image duty. It may be made distinct from the case. When using a temperature sensor, for example, it may be installed in the casing of the recording apparatus I, each recording head 20, or the like.

  By the way, as described above, the heater 302 is repeatedly driven to reduce the thickness of the protective films 316 and 317 formed on the surface of the heater 302 (so-called film reduction occurs). 302 can be destroyed. For example, FIGS. 4A to 4C show how the protective films 316 and 317 decrease when the heater 302 is repeatedly driven using the pulse B. FIG. Similarly, FIGS. 4D to 4F show how the protective films 316 and 317 decrease when the heater 302 is repeatedly driven using the pulse D. FIG. 4A and 4D show an initial state, that is, a state before the protective films 316 and 317 are reduced. 4B and 4E show how the protective films 316 and 317 gradually decrease as a result of repeatedly driving the heater 302. When the pulse D having a driving energy amount larger than that of the pulse B is used, the protective films 316 and 317 are reduced with respect to the case where the pulse B is used. FIGS. 4C and 4F show a state in which the protective films 316 and 317 are reduced as a result of further repeatedly driving the heater 302. Here, when the heater 302 is driven using the same driving energy as that before the film thickness is reduced in a state where the protective films 316 and 317 are reduced, excessive thermal energy can be supplied to the ink. As a result, the quality of the image can be reduced, such as the density of the recorded image or spots.

FIG. 5 is a graph plotting the number of times of driving (maximum number of times of driving) until the heater 302 is destroyed when the heater 302 is repeatedly driven using the pulses A to D as driving signals. For example, when the pulse B is used, the heater 302 is destroyed after being driven about 2.6 × 10 ⁹ times. Therefore, in order to prevent deterioration in image quality and prevent the heater from being destroyed at an early stage, it is necessary to perform control so as to supply optimum driving energy in consideration of the state of the protective film.

  Hereinafter, the control method of the recording apparatus I will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording apparatus I drives the heaters 302 described above according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

  In step 101 (hereinafter simply referred to as “S101”, the same applies to other symbols), the number of times each heater 302 has been driven is determined for each type of drive signal, that is, for each of pulses A to D. measure. For example, when the heater 302 is driven 10 times, when the drive signal used is 5 pulses A, 4 pulses B, 1 pulse C, and 0 pulses D, Information is retained or stored separately. This measurement can be performed in the gate array 404 when recording data is transferred from the gate array 404 to the head driver 409, for example. For example, “1” is set when the heater 302 is driven, and “0” is set when the heater 302 is not driven. The head driver 409 may be configured to notify the gate array 404 of the type of drive signal (which of pulses A to D is used).

  Here, the information regarding the measurement is stored in, for example, a storage unit that can be built in the recording apparatus I, but the storage unit may be built in the recording head 20 itself. The storage means includes a volatile memory such as DRAM or SRAM and a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM. For example, the recording apparatus I uses a volatile memory during its operation, stores it in the non-volatile memory before shutdown, reads the aforementioned information from the non-volatile memory after startup, and uses the volatile memory again. A configuration may be adopted. The same applies to storage means for storing information relating to each operation described below.

  In S102, cumulative addition is performed by weighted addition corresponding to the type of drive signal used each time each heater 302 is driven, and the total value T is calculated. FIG. 7 shows the weighting coefficients for the pulses A to D. For example, if the drive signal used is 5 pulses A, 4 pulses B, 1 pulse C, and 0 pulses D, T = 5 × 1 + 4 × 0.76 + 1 × 0.83 + 0 × 1.25 = 8.87. This weighting exemplifies the case where the coefficient is determined by the ratio of the maximum number of driving times of each of the pulses A to D shown in FIG. 5, but is not limited to this embodiment, and is determined from, for example, the thickness of the protective films 316 and 317. May be. Further, since the degree of progress of the reduction of the film thickness of the protective films 316 and 317 varies depending on the type of ink, an appropriate value may be determined according to the physical properties of the ink. The result of the calculation performed in this way is stored in the storage means described above.

In S103, a parameter of the drive signal is determined with reference to a table corresponding to the total value T. FIG. 8 shows a table for determining the parameters of the drive signal for each total value T. For example, when pulse B is used in the case of T = 1 × 10 ⁸ , the parameters are determined as P1 = 0.100 μsec, P2 = 0.500 μsec, and P3 = 0.502 μsec. Information on the parameters of the table for each sum T is stored in the storage means described above. Then, necessary information may be read from the storage means in accordance with the result of the above-described calculation, and the parameters of the table to be referred to may be changed. This method is not limited to the present embodiment, and the table itself may be changed to a table to be referred to and stored in the DRAM 403, or the address to be accessed in the storage means may be changed. In S104, the drive signal determined as described above is set and this sequence is terminated, and then a recording operation is performed using the drive signal based on the new parameter.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of heaters 302 are driven using the drive signal corresponding to the state of the protective film of the recording head 20. As a result, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image recorded by the recording apparatus I from being deteriorated and to appropriately use the recording head 20 for a long period of time, thereby improving the cost performance of the recording apparatus I. Here, the case where each of P1 to P3 is set as the parameter of the drive signal is illustrated, but at least one of P1 to P3 may be set as the parameter. The parameter may be configured to be set for each nozzle 301, or may be configured to calculate the average of the above weighted addition results for all the nozzles 301 and set for each print head 20. .

(Second Embodiment)
A control method of the recording apparatus I according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording apparatus I can appropriately drive the heater 302 by using a drive signal corresponding to the state of the protective film protecting the heater 302 by the method described below. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for selecting a parameter for the drive signal in this embodiment and setting a drive signal suitable for driving the heater 302. Here, a case where the pulse width P3 of the main pulse is determined will be described by taking the double pulse driving method described in the first embodiment as an example.

S201 and S202 are the same as S101 and S102 (see FIG. 6). In S203, the total value T and the reference value Rp are compared. Information on the reference value Rp is set in advance and is stored in the storage means described above. The reference value Rp may be set to a value that is assumed to require the drive signal parameter to be set again depending on the state of the protective films 316 and 317. In this embodiment, Rf = 5 × 10 ⁸ is used as an example, but this value can be changed as appropriate according to specifications such as ink physical properties (viscosity, etc.), printhead configuration, and the like. If T is greater than Rp, S204 through S206 are performed. On the other hand, when T is equal to or less than Rp, S204 to S206 are not performed and this sequence is terminated.

In S204, _Pth is measured and the drive signal parameters are determined. Here, _Pth is a pulse width of a threshold value that becomes a boundary between ink ejection / non-ejection under a predetermined condition in which a power supply voltage or the like is fixed. Specifically, in the case of double-pulse driving method, the pulse width P3 of the main pulse the ink is ejected in P _th or more, not discharged is less than P _th. Here, an appropriate parameter is determined or selected for the drive signal based on the measured _Pth . In S205, it is set so that a drive signal according to the result of S204 is output. Therefore, a plurality of heaters 302 can be driven using a drive signal corresponding to the status of the heaters 302. Next, in S206, the total value T is reset, and T = 0. Thereby, when the total value T becomes larger than the reference value Rp again, a drive signal suitable for driving the heater 302 can be set again.

Here, S204 will be described in detail below. Recording apparatus I further includes a discharge detection means for performing measurements of the P _th. FIG. 10 shows a system configuration example of the discharge detection means. The illumination 1002 emits light in a direction parallel to the recording medium through the space between the nozzle surface of the recording head 20 and the recording medium. Control of turning on / off the illumination 1002 can be performed by the illumination driving unit 1007 in response to a control signal from the control unit 1010. Light from the illumination 1002 is condensed at one point via the condenser lens 1003, passes through the slit 1004, and becomes a planar light beam that intersects the ink ejection direction. Further, the light beam reaches the photoelectric sensor 1006 disposed to face the image sensor 1005 via the imaging lens 1005. The slits 1004 are provided in parallel to the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows of the recording head 20, whereby the light from the illumination 1002 becomes a planar light beam. The photoelectric sensor 1006 is provided, for example, so that the ink ejected from each of the nozzles corresponding to the heaters 302 passes through the planar light beam, and when the light amount decreases and when it does not decrease. Detect the signal ratio. The ejection presence / absence measuring unit 1009 detects whether ink has been ejected according to a signal from the photoelectric sensor 1006.

The pulse width setting unit 1011 changes the pulse width of the drive signal and outputs the drive signal to the recording head 20. The pulse width can be changed in response to a control signal from the control unit 1010. For example, the pulse width setting unit 1011 first outputs a drive signal having a pulse width sufficient for ejecting ink, and gradually reduces the pulse width until the detection result of the ejection presence / absence measuring unit 1009 changes. Output the signal repeatedly. In this way, the ejection detection means can determine whether or not ink has been ejected from the heater driven on a trial basis, and can measure _Pth based on the result. Against the measured P _th, the value obtained by adding a predetermined margin P3 Tosureba well, in this way, the parameters of the drive signals is determined and updated as a new parameter. This margin may be determined based on, for example, E _op / E _th (≡r). For example, the margin may be determined so that r = 1.15. Here, E _op indicates the input energy, the pulse width of the drive signal (here, the total width of P1 and P3) is P _op , the applied voltage is V _op, and the resistance value of the heater 302 is R In addition, E _op = P _op × V _op ² / R. E _th represents the minimum value (critical energy) of energy at which ink can be ejected, and can be expressed as E _th = P _th × V _op ² / R.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the plurality of heaters 302 can be appropriately driven using the drive signal corresponding to the state of the heater 302. Here, the total value T is reset in S206, and the above-described sequence is performed every time the total value T becomes larger than the reference value Rp. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a plurality of reference values (for example, Rp ₁ , Rp ₂ ,..., Rp _n ) are prepared in advance without resetting the total value T, and each time T becomes larger than these, the above-described values are prepared. You may take the structure by which a sequence is made. In the above, the present embodiment has been described with the recording environment such as the temperature condition fixed. However, when the recording environment changes, the above-described sequence is executed while correcting the data according to the change. It can be changed as appropriate.

(Third embodiment)
A control method of the recording apparatus I according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording apparatus I according to the third embodiment further has a function of notifying the user of information regarding the replacement timing of the recording head 20 based on the result of the weighted addition described above. For example, according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 11, the recording apparatus I can notify the user that the recording head 20 should be replaced. S301 and S302 are the same as S101 and S102 (see FIG. 6). Next, in S303, the total value T is compared with the reference value Rf. If T is greater than Rf, the process proceeds to S304. In S304, notification that the recording head 20 should be replaced is made. This notification may be displayed, for example, on an information panel provided in the recording apparatus I, may be displayed using the user interface of the host PC 1200, or may be made by a known display means. Thereafter, the recording apparatus I ends the recording operation if, for example, recording is in progress. On the other hand, when T is equal to or less than Rf, the recording operation can be continued.

The information on the reference value Rf is set in advance and can be stored in the storage means described above. The reference value Rf may be set to a value assumed that the film thicknesses of the protective films 316 and 317 are reduced to such an extent that the heater 302 can be electrically destroyed. In this embodiment, for example, Rf = 5 × 10 ⁸

  Further, for example, according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12, the recording apparatus I can notify the user that it is almost time to replace the recording head 20. Since S401 and S402 are the same as S301 and 302, description thereof will be omitted. In S403, the total value T is compared with the value of the reference value Rf × 0.8, the same processing as S303 is performed, and S404 can be performed in the same manner as S304. According to this sequence, the user can prepare for replacement of the recording head 20 at an appropriate timing.

For example, according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 13, the recording apparatus I can notify the user of the remaining number of times that the recording head 20 can be driven. Since S501 and S502 are the same as S301 and 302, description thereof is omitted. In S503, the ratio of the total value T to the reference value Rf is calculated. For example, when the total value T = 1 × 10 ⁸ , Rf = 5 × 10 ⁸ , which is 20%, and the recording head 20 can be used continuously. In S504, the recording apparatus I can make the above-mentioned remaining amount notification.

  Although the three embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be appropriately changed according to the purpose, state, application, function, and other specifications. Can be done. For example, by configuring the information to be held or stored in each of the above operations in a memory belonging to the recording head 20 itself, even if it is replaced with a used recording head 20, measurement is performed with reference to the past history. It is also possible to resume the process. In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case of an ink jet recording apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a thermal transfer recording apparatus such as a melt type or a sublimation type.

Claims (11)

An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a recording head having a plurality of heaters for ejecting ink, and performing recording on a recording medium by scanning the recording head while driving the plurality of heaters,
Storage means for storing a plurality of tables each including a plurality of driving conditions for driving the plurality of heaters;
Selecting means for selecting a table to be referred to when recording from among the plurality of tables stored in the storage means;
A setting that refers to the table selected by the selection means, and selects and sets a driving condition to be used when recording from a plurality of driving conditions of the table based on the environment when performing the recording Means,
Measuring means for measuring the number of times of driving of the plurality of heaters driven according to the driving condition set by the setting means for each corresponding driving condition;
An arithmetic means for cumulatively adding the number of times of driving measured by the measuring means by performing weighting according to each of the driving conditions;
Recording control means for controlling the selection means to select a table to be referred to when recording, from the plurality of tables according to the result of the cumulative addition, and for completing the recording on the recording medium; Comprising
An ink jet recording apparatus. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a recording head having a plurality of heaters for ejecting ink, and performing recording on a recording medium by scanning the recording head while driving the plurality of heaters,
Storage means for storing a table including a plurality of driving conditions for driving the plurality of heaters;
With reference to the table stored in the storage means, based on the environment at the time of recording, a driving condition to be used when performing the recording is selected and set from a plurality of driving conditions of the table Setting means;
Measuring means for measuring the number of times of driving of the plurality of heaters driven according to the driving condition set by the setting means for each corresponding driving condition;
An arithmetic means for cumulatively adding the number of times of driving measured by the measuring means by performing weighting according to each of the driving conditions;
When the result of the cumulative addition reaches a predetermined reference value, based on the result of driving the plurality of heaters on a trial basis, an update unit that updates a driving condition to be used when recording,
Recording means for controlling the update means to perform the update according to the result of the cumulative addition and completing recording on the recording medium,
An ink jet recording apparatus. The update means drives the plurality of heaters on a trial basis by gradually changing the drive condition to determine whether ink is ejected from the plurality of heaters, and performs the update based on the result. ,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2. Further comprising a detecting means for detecting the temperature of the recording head,
The environment when performing the recording includes the temperature of the recording head,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided. The selection means selects a driving condition based on an image duty;
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus. The plurality of types of driving conditions are different from each other in the pulse width or driving voltage of the driving signal.
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus. Each of the plurality of heaters has a protective film formed on the surface thereof.
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus. Further comprising notification means for notifying a user of information relating to the replacement timing of the recording head based on the result of the cumulative addition by the calculating means;
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus. A control method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording head having a plurality of heaters for ejecting ink; and scanning the recording head while driving the plurality of heaters to perform recording on a recording medium,
A step of reading out and selecting a table to be referred to when recording, from a storage unit storing a plurality of tables each including a plurality of driving conditions for driving the plurality of heaters;
A step of referring to the selected table and selecting and setting a driving condition to be used when recording from a plurality of driving conditions of the table based on an environment when the recording is performed;
Measuring the number of times of driving the plurality of heaters driven according to the set driving condition for each corresponding driving condition;
A step of accumulating the measured number of times of driving by performing weighting according to each of driving conditions;
Controlling to select a table to be referred to when performing recording from the plurality of tables according to the result of the cumulative addition, and completing the recording on the recording medium. Control method for inkjet recording apparatus. The selecting step is performed based on the temperature of the recording head.
The method of controlling an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9. A control method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording head having a plurality of heaters for ejecting ink; and scanning the recording head while driving the plurality of heaters to perform recording on a recording medium,
The drive to be used when performing the recording from among the plurality of driving conditions of the table based on the environment for performing the recording with reference to a table including a plurality of driving conditions for driving the plurality of heaters Selecting and setting conditions,
Measuring the number of times of driving the plurality of heaters driven according to the set driving condition for each corresponding driving condition;
A step of accumulating the measured number of times of driving by performing weighting according to each of driving conditions;
When the result of the cumulative addition reaches a predetermined reference value, control is performed so as to update the driving condition to be used when recording based on the result of the test driving of the plurality of heaters. And a step of completing recording on the recording medium. A control method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:

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