JPH06311326A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To increase the number of prints when the ink level is low. A recording apparatus such as a facsimile that records received data using an inkjet recording head 21 includes a plurality of automatic paper feeders 10a and 10b capable of feeding recording papers of a plurality of sizes. Then, the remaining ink amount detection unit 113 detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 26 that supplies ink to the recording head before starting reception. When the remaining amount of ink is less than or equal to the predetermined amount, the main control unit 101 transmits the minimum size of the recording papers stored in the automatic paper feeding devices 10a and 10b to the other side by DIS. On the transmitting side, in response to this DIS, data reduction is performed so as to fit this minimum size, and data transmission is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording material by using a recording head for ejecting ink droplets by utilizing energy generated by an ejection energy generating element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus such as a facsimile capable of mounting recording sheets of a plurality of sizes, the maximum standard width which can be recorded on the recording sheet having the maximum width among the recording sheets in the preceding procedure at the time of reception An actual record is made to the (transmitter) and the actual record is recorded on the above-mentioned recording sheet with the above-mentioned declared width.

In recent years, there has been proposed a facsimile having an ink jet type recording section for recording an image by ejecting ink droplets according to image data. In a facsimile having such an ink jet type recording unit, when recording is performed with the maximum width recording size, when the ink remaining amount decreases, the number of recording sheets becomes small and the ink runs out.

Further, one of the features of the ink jet type facsimile apparatus is that it is inexpensive, and in many cases, it does not have a large capacity memory for storing received data. Therefore, even if a memory is provided and proxy reception is possible, the memory will be full soon.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of increasing the number of recorded sheets as much as possible when the ink remaining amount decreases.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following constitution.
That is, according to the present invention, in a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording material using a recording head that ejects ink droplets by using energy generated from an ejection energy generating element, a plurality of paper feeding means for feeding the recording material. And a control means for selecting one of the plurality of paper feeding means, and the selection means includes an ink output from the signal output means. According to a signal indicating that the remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a sheet feeding unit capable of feeding a recording material of a small size is selected from the plurality of sheet feeding units.

As a result, when the remaining amount of ink is reduced to a predetermined amount or less, a recording material of a small size is selected for recording,
Increase the number of prints when the ink level is low.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 21 is a recording head that ejects ink droplets by using energy generated from an ejection energy generating element that is driven according to image data, and 22 is a carriage for mounting the recording head 21 for main scanning.
Denoted at 23 is a conveying roller for regulating the recording surface of a recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper) and for conveying the recording medium during recording. In this embodiment, the recording head 21 is provided with a plurality of ejection openings arranged in the recording medium conveyance direction and a plurality of heating elements provided corresponding to each ejection opening, and the heat energy generated from the heating elements is provided. By causing film boiling in the ink, an ink droplet is ejected from the ejection port. In this embodiment, the head has 64 nozzles with a resolution of 360 dpi. Reference numerals 24a and 24b are spur rollers for driving the discharge roller 55 to discharge the recording medium, and 25 is a cleaner for removing ink attached to the spur rollers 24a and 24b. Reference numeral 26 is an ink tank that stores ink drops to be supplied to the recording head 21.

In the ink tank 26, as shown in FIG. 2, an electrode 51 is provided at a certain distance to detect the remaining amount of ink.
52 is provided, and a predetermined voltage is applied at a predetermined timing for detecting the remaining amount of ink. If the remaining amount of ink is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, electricity is supplied, but if the amount of ink is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, electricity is cut off. As a result, a signal indicating that the remaining amount of ink has become less than or equal to the predetermined amount is output.

Further, 15a and 15b are automatic paper feeders 10.
Paper feed rollers 16 for conveying the recording mediums stacked on a and 10b into the ink jet recording apparatus 50 are provided in the automatic paper feeder 10a, and the leading ends of the recording mediums conveyed by the paper feeding rollers 15a and 15b are provided. It is a registration roller for aligning and preventing a paper feed failure such as a paper jam.

The automatic paper feeders 10a and 10b are provided with paper width detection sensors at a plurality of predetermined positions for detecting the size of the set recording paper.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram in which a plurality of sensors are arranged for a specified paper size. In FIG. 3, the sensor 61 corresponds to the B5 size and the sensor 62 corresponds to the A4 size.
However, the sensor 63 corresponds to the B4 size and the sensor 64 corresponds to the A3 size.

Therefore, if all the sensors 61 to 64 have not detected the recording paper, it is determined that there is no paper, and only the sensor 61 detects the recording paper and the other sensors 62 to 64 do not detect the recording paper. Judging the size as B5, the sensor 61,
When 62 detects the recording paper and the sensors 63 and 64 do not detect the recording paper, the paper size is determined to be A4, the sensors 61 to 63 detect the recording paper, and the sensor 64 does not detect the recording paper. In this case, the paper size is determined to be B4, and when all the sensors 61 to 64 detect the recording paper, the paper size is determined to be A3. A reflective sensor can be used as the sensor.

When the processing such as the decoding of the received data, the resolution conversion, the horizontal / vertical conversion of the data, etc. is completed and the data for one main scan is prepared, the recording paper is fed from the automatic paper feeding device 10a or 10b and recorded. Transported to the position. Here the automatic paper feeder 1
The selection of 0a and 10b is made based on the procedure signal from the transmission side, and the one that stores the recording paper of the size corresponding to the transmission original size is selected. When the chart paper reaches the recording position,
The carriage 22 starts moving in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), and an image corresponding to the received data is recorded during this movement. When the main scanning is completed, the restoring carriage 22 returns to the home position in the next main scanning, and the recording paper is conveyed by the distance corresponding to the recording width (sub scanning).

When the data for the next main scan is complete, the main scan is performed again. In this way, when the main scanning is performed a predetermined number of times and the recording for one page is completed, the recorded recording paper is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 14. If there is subsequently received data, the next recording paper is fed from the automatic paper feeder 10a or 10b, and the recording process is performed in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system of FIG.
In the figure, 101 is a main control unit for controlling the operation of the present device, which is mainly composed of a well-known one-chip microcomputer and controls the entire device for transmitting and receiving data. Reference numeral 102 is an RO storing the control means as shown in FIG.
A storage unit that includes an input image memory that stores received image data and that is used as a work area for programs in M, RAM, and ROM. Reference numeral 103 denotes an operation display unit including an LED indicating the state of the device, a display unit such as an LCD, and operation keys for setting various modes. A reading control unit 104 controls a reading device such as a CCD for reading image data from a document and a conveyance unit for conveying the document for reading. Reference numeral 105 denotes a communication control unit composed of a modem or the like and a line 107 via the NCU 106.
Connected with. Line 10 when receiving a fax
7, the image data is input via the NCU 106 and the communication control unit 105, and is stored in the input image memory 102.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a recording control section including a one-chip micro computer and the like, and the carriage motor 10
9, paper feed motor 110 and recording head 111
(Corresponding to 21 in FIG. 1) is controlled. The carriage motor 109 is a stepping motor, and moves the carriage 22 carrying the recording head 21 in the main scanning direction. The paper feed motor 110 is also a stepping motor, and conveys the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction after the main scanning is completed. The recording head 111 has several tens to several hundreds of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (resolution 360d in this embodiment).
pi has 64 nozzles), and information for one page is recorded on the recording paper by a plurality of main scans. Reference numeral 112 denotes a block image memory, in which the data stored in the input image memory by the main control unit 101 is transferred in the form of raw data (data that is not encoded), and a main image matching the number of nozzles of the recording head 111 is displayed. It is accumulated as belt-shaped data for scanning. From the block image memory 112, the recording control unit 10
By the control of 8, the belt-shaped data is transferred to the recording head 111 for each row in the main scanning direction and recording is performed.

Reference numeral 113 is an ink remaining amount detecting section including electrodes 51 and 52 provided in the ink tank 26, and 11
Reference numerals 4 and 115 denote recording paper size and detection units provided in the automatic paper feeders 10a and 10b, respectively.

The remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 26 is determined by the main controller 10.
Monitored at 1. The remaining ink level in the ink tank 26 is detected by the remaining ink level detection unit 113 between pages when reception is open and during continuous recording after the start of reception. A signal indicating that the remaining amount of ink has decreased and is below a predetermined amount is the main control unit 1.
01 is input to the main control unit 101, the size detection unit 1
Based on the outputs from 14 and 115, an automatic paper feeder that accommodates a small size recording sheet is selected, the recording sheet is fed, and the received data is recorded.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation according to the present invention. First, in step S1, the receiver detects the ink remaining amount in the ink tank 26 by the ink remaining amount detecting unit 113 in response to automatic reception by a normal incoming call or reception start by pressing a key on the operation unit of the operator himself. To do. Then, in step S2, determination of the remaining amount of ink is performed, and if the remaining amount of ink is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, then in step S4, among the recording paper sizes set in the own device according to the procedure of T30 of CCITT standard as usual.
The size of the maximum width is declared to the transmitting side by the digital identification signal (DIS) of the binary procedure signal, and the normal receiving operation is performed.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination of the remaining amount of ink is less than the predetermined amount in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and the smallest width of the recording paper sizes set in the machine is DIS.
Declaration to the sending side by, and the normal receiving operation is performed.
By this operation, the other party (transmitter) will send the transmitted document to the minimum size if the remaining amount of ink is below a predetermined level even if it is the same as the maximum size of the recording paper set in the receiver. The data will be reduced according to the recording paper and sent.

Also, during multi-page reception, the above-mentioned control is performed between pages.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, in the facsimile having the ink jet type recording apparatus, if the ink remaining amount is detected, the ink remaining amount becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined level without adding a special circuit. When the remaining amount of the recording paper has reached the minimum, it is possible to receive and record data with the smallest size recording paper, and as a result the amount of ink used per recording paper is reduced, and the remaining amount of ink is less than the specified amount. It is possible to increase the number of records after recording.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example in which the DIS recording paper size declaration is changed according to the remaining ink amount and the size is reduced to the transmitter side has been described. However, the DIS declaration is not changed, and printing is performed. The size may be reduced on the own device (receiver) side. In this case, since the transmitter side is not reduced in the reception memory, the reduction is not performed when the user notices the decrease in the remaining amount and replenishes the ink.

In the above embodiment, the case where the sheet feeding device has two stages has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and may have three or more stages.

The present invention can be applied to various ink jet recording methods, for example, a facsimile apparatus using a so-called piezo type ink jet recording apparatus using a piezoelectric element as an ink ejection energy source in a recording system, but particularly, According to the recording head and the recording apparatus of the type in which thermal ink is used to change the state of the ink and the ink is ejected from the ejection port based on the change of the state, high density recording and high definition recording can be achieved.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Cause
As a result, it is possible to form bubbles in the liquid (ink) that correspond one-to-one to this drive signal, which is effective. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, further excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to the ejection portion, may be adopted. That is, it is possible to reliably and efficiently perform recording regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. As such a recording head, either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. in addition,
Even if the serial type as in the above example is attached to the main body of the device, it can be electrically connected to the main body of the device and ink can be supplied from the main body of the replaceable chip type recording head, or recording The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided integrally with the head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a preliminary auxiliary means for the recording head, which is provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. For example, it is also effective to provide stable recording by providing a preheating means by an electrothermal converter, a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of pieces may be provided.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the remaining ink amount becomes equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the operation of reducing the recording paper size to the minimum width and receiving the recording paper is added to the same amount of ink. The number of sheets to be received can be increased, an ink shortage error can be delayed, and the storage means can be effectively used even in an apparatus capable of storing received data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an ink remaining amount detection mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration for recording paper size detection.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure performed by a main control unit 101.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a, 10b Automatic paper feeding device 21 Recording head 22 Carriage 23 Feed roller 26 Ink tank 101 Main control unit 105 Communication control unit 106 NCU 108 Recording control unit 113 Ink remaining amount detection unit 114, 115 Size detection unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 2/05 5/30 Z 8703-2C 13/00 29/38 Z 9113-2C 9012-2C B41J 3/04 103 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording material using a recording head for ejecting ink droplets by using energy generated from an ejection energy generating element, wherein a plurality of paper feeding means for feeding the recording material. A signal output means for outputting a signal according to the remaining amount of ink, and a control means for selecting one of the plurality of paper feeding means. A recording apparatus, wherein a paper feeding unit capable of feeding a small-sized recording material is selected from the plurality of paper feeding units according to a signal indicating that the remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects a sheet feeding unit capable of feeding a recording material having a minimum width according to the main scanning direction of the recording head. 3. A communication means for communicating procedure signals and image data with the other party is provided, and the control means, when the ink remaining amount exceeds the predetermined amount, to the other party at the time of reception. If the maximum size of the recording materials that can be fed by the plurality of paper feeding means is declared by a specific procedure signal, and the remaining ink amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the recording that can be fed by the plurality of paper feeding means is performed. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a minimum size of the material is declared by the specific procedure signal. 4. The recording head ejects an ink droplet from an ejection port by causing a state change in ink by using thermal energy generated from the ejection energy generating element. The recording device according to any one of 1.