The specific embodiment
Hereinafter put up with according to first embodiment of each liquid discharging device using it of the present invention and method and with reference to the accompanying drawings to describe the present invention in detail.
With reference to figure 3, this figure schematically illustrates with the structure chart form and ink-jet printer according to first embodiment of the invention comes mark withreference number 1usually.Printer 1 is used for spraying on by the record-paper P that carries according to preset direction ink etc. to form figure and character.Printer is known as line printer, and wherein, nozzle is arranged in parallel to each other laterally striding across paper P direction, laterally strides across paper, just along the straight line of arrow W direction among Fig. 3.
Printer 1 shown in Figure 3 is with the ejection of drop form and throw ink to the record-paper P as the object of carrying with predetermined direction, according to character data and the graph data that message handler such as PC etc. provides, figure and character that the record ink dot forms on paper P.
Printer 1 comprises the ink jet printhead cartridge (hereinafter being called " head cartridge (head cartridge) ") 2 thatsprays ink 4, and the printermain body 3 ofhead cartridge 2 is installed in theinside.In printer 1, the displacement ofhead cartridge 2 is convenient in the design of printer main body 3.Head cartridge 2 is consumptive materials, is easy to carry out in printermain body 3 detachable installation.
At first explanation removably is installed in thehead cartridge 2 in the printer main body 3.Head cartridge 2 is known as the line printer head cartridge, and it has a plurality ofink nozzle 52a, and the horizontal spanned record paper of arrow W direction P roughly presses arranged in a straight line among Fig. 3 along pressing usually.
Head cartridge 2 comprisescartridge body 12, and it receives theink tank 11 that ink i is housed as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4.Ink tank 11y removably is installed incartridge body 12,11m, 11c and 11k, it is equipped with yellow ink respectively, cyan, magenta ink and black ink are to carry out colour print.
Fourink tank 11y, 11m, 11c and 11k are with molded cuboid container that forms such as synthetic resin, and the ink i of these colors is housed.These fourink tank 11y, 11m, the inwall of 11c and 11k, i contacts with ink, and its degree of roughness is lower than outer surface, is beneficial to remove when cleaning inwall fine foreign matters such as dust.These fourcuboid ink tank 11y, 11m, 11c and 11k are elongated the length oncartridge body 12 long limits, with the more ink of splendid attire.These fourink tank 11y, 11m, 11c and 11k arrange in parallel to each other along the minor face of cartridge body 12.Should be noted that following explanation is that 11m, 11c and 11k carry out on the basis that the record-paper throughput direction is installed successively at these fourink tank 11y of hypothesis.
At these fourink tank 11y, 11m, among 11c and the 11k, the black ink consumption maximum ofink tank 11k splendid attire is designed to than other threeink tank 11y, and 11m and 11c have bigger capacity and thickness.Should be noted that any hereinafter suitable place theseink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c and 11k are collectively referred to asink tank 11.
As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, theink tank 11 that ink i is housed comprises thatink container 21 is with splendid attire ink i,liquid feeder 22 is to be fed tocartridge body 12 byink container 21, outer connectingport 23 be connected with theink container 21 of outside andair inlet pipe 24 to enterink container 21 by connectinghole 23 guiding extraneous airs.
Ink container 21 has the space that contains ink i, and the profile setting ofcorresponding ink tank 11 is to load ink i as much as possible.
In addition,ink container 21 bottoms are designed atink feeder 22 places that are positioned near the center minimum, wherein ink i is brought together entersink feeder 22.
Ink feeder 22 is nozzles, supplies ink i tocartridge body 12 by theink tank 11 that is connected withink container 21, and is throwed down byink container 21 bottomcenter.Ink feeder 22 increases at its end direction inside diameter, so that it can be installed on the connectingportion 35 ofcartridge body 12 reposefully, this connectingportion 35 describes in detail hereinafter.
As shown in Figure 5, outer connectingport 23 is formed at the center of top place of ink container 21.This outer connectingport 23 is sealed by ventilative seal (not shown).Like this,ink tank 11 can stop ink to infiltrate into the outside by outer connectingport 23 when externally air enters via outer connectingport 23, and stops dust etc. to enterink container 21.
Air inlet pipe 24 is extended downward in theink tank 11 by outer connecting port 23.Like this, inink tank 11, when ink i was fed tocartridge body 12 byink feeder 22, the air ofcorresponding ink container 21 ink inside reductions enteredink container 21 by outer connectingport 23 viaair inlet pipe 24.
In addition, in the middle ofair inlet pipe 24,inkwell 25 is arranged, be used for temporarily taking in ink i and flow out from outer connectingport 23 suddenly to stop the ink i that has oppositely flowed out by inkcontainer 21.Inkwell 25 is limited by the space that has diamond-shaped cross-section, and its long-diagonal is seen parallel with the long limit ofink container 21 from the front.The drift angle ofinkwell 25 is connected with outer connectingport 23 byair inlet pipe 24, and its base angle is connected withink container 21 by air inlet pipe 24.Like this, inink tank 11,inkwell 25 can be stored in by the ink i thatair inlet pipe 24 oppositely flows out, avoiding leaking into the outside, andink container 21 can be back to by outer connectingport 23 byink container 21.
As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, above-mentionedink tank 11 comprises in conjunction with step (engagementstep) 26 and locking protrusion (locking projection) 27, both one work that fixedlyink tank 11 is to the container receiving slit 31 ofcartridge body 12, and this container receiving slit 31 describes in detail hereinafter.
Form at 11 1 vertical ends of ink tank in conjunction with step 26.It comprises horizontal component 26a and sloping portion 26b, and horizontal component 26a extends from this end profile, and is parallel with the upper surface ofink tank 11 and than its low one-level, sloping portion 26b from this horizontal component 26a towards the extension of tilting of the upper surface ofink tank 11.
Lockingprotrusion 27 forms fromink tank 11 another vertically terminal lateral projections.It comprises horizontal component 27a that the upper surface withink tank 11 extends in parallel and below horizontal component 27a towards the sloping portion 27b of this laterally inclined extension.
On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the container receiving slit 31 ofcartridge body 12 receivesink tank 11y, 11m, 11c and the 11k that above-mentioned color inks respectively is housed.
Container receiving slit 31 is concave surfaces that form incartridge body 12, and its horizontal spanned record paper P also roughly forms cube, enough degree of depth is arranged to receiveink tank 11y, 11m, 11c and 11k fromcartridge body 12 tops.Container receiving slit 31 is separated in its bottom by dividing wall 31a, giving theink tank 11y that is arranged side by side alongcartridge body 12 minor faces respectively, and 11m, 11c and 11k distribute concrete space.
Because theink tank 11k thickness of dress black ink surpassesother ink tanks 11y, 11m and 11c, be the interval between the dividing wall 31a ofink tank 11k qualification installing space, its predetermined width is than being 31 li other eachink tank 11y of container receiving slit, and the interval between the dividing wall 31a of 11m and 11c qualification installing space is wide.
Container receiving slit 31 hasfixator 32, pin rod (latch lever) 33 andleaf spring 34, and the three cooperates each other, andink tank 11 is firmly held in ink base (ink mount) 31.
Fig. 5 illustrates that clearly fixator 32 is from 31 1 vertically terminal horizontal component 26a that vertically overhang predetermined width and keep forming atink tank 11 in conjunction withstep 26 of container receiving slit.
Pin rod 33 is elasticity movable parts, and is protruding upward by the bottom at container receiving slit 31 another vertical ends.Its free end is movable in elasticity on the direction of container receiving slit 31 sides.Form lockhole 33a onpin rod 33 free end portions, 27 interlocks are with it protruded in the locking of ink tank 11.Be separated 31 li of the separated container receiving slits of wall 31a institute,ink tank 11y, 11m, thepin rod 33 of 11c and 11k is installed side by side along the minor face ofcartridge body 12.
Leaf spring 34 is positioned at the bottom of container receiving slit 31, applies upward pressure to theink tank 11 that is installed in 31 li of container receivingslits.Leaf spring 34 is along vertical installation of container receiving slit 31.One end of eachleaf spring 34 all is installed in container receiving slit 31 bottoms, and the intermediate portion is bent upwards.Be separated wall 31a the bottom of separated container receiving slit 31,ink tank 11y, 11m, theleaf spring 34 of 11c and 11k is installed side by side along the minor face ofcartridge body 12.
Forink tank 11 being installed to 31 li of container receiving slits, its end that has in conjunction withstep 26 at first tilts to insert container receiving slit 31, to be put in conjunction with the horizontal component 26a ofstep 26 then below thefixator 32 of container receiving slit 31, like this, the other end that has lockingprotrusion 27 is inserted into container receiving slit 31, rotates with Fig. 5 arrow A direction simultaneously.At this moment, the locking ofink tank 11 protrudes 27 in its sloping portion 27b place andpin rod 33 adjacency, so that move thispin rod 33 towards the side elastic ofcontainer receiving slit 31.
Enter container receiving slit 31 in case receiveink tank 11, as shown in Figure 6, the lock hole 33a interlock of lockingprotrusion 27 and pin rod 33.At this moment,pin rod 33 is installed in the side of theink tank 11 of 31 li of container receiving slits in its free end extruding, and theleaf spring 34 that the is installed in container receiving slit 31 bottoms bottom ofsqueezeout ink container 11 upwards, like this, in conjunction with the horizontal component 26a ofstep 26 just withfixator 32 interlocks of container receiving slit 31, and 27 the sloping portion 27b and the lock hole 33a interlock ofpin rod 33 are protruded in locking.Like this,ink tank 11 can be fixed on 31 li of the container receiving slits ofcartridge body 12 steadily.
On the other hand, forink tank 11 is taken off fromcontainer receiving slit 31, the free end ofpin rod 33 is removed from the side elastic of ink tank 11.Like this, lockingprotrude 27 horizontal component 27a just with the lock hole 33a disengaging of pin rod 33.At this moment,leaf spring 34 is by shown in Figure 3, and along the make progress bottom ofsqueezeout ink container 11 of arrow A direction among Fig. 5,ink tank 11 just can take out fromcontainer receiving slit 31.
As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, thecartridge body 12 that receivesink tank 11 comprises above-mentioned connectingportion 35, and it is connected with theink feeder 22 ofink tank 11;Ink dispenser 36 is from theink tank 11 dispensing ink i that are connected with connectingportion 35; Withjet head 37, spray the ink i thatink dispenser 36 is supplied or provided and delivered.
Connectingportion 35 is the nozzles that are positioned at container receiving slit 31 bottom center.Be engaged to above-mentionedink feeder 22 in connectingportion 35 free ends, connectingportion 35 is connected with theink feeder 22 of ink tank 11.When theink feeder 22 ofink tank 11 is connected to connectingportion 35, is positioned at connectingportion 35 free-ended opening/dowel pin (not shown) and opens ink feeder 22.In addition,seal 38 is housed also on the connectingportion 35, as O type circle, to prevent that ink i is from seepage between connectingportion 35 and theink feeder 22.
Notice that the free end of connectingportion 35 also can be designed to serve as out/dowel pin.More particularly, the free end of connectingportion 35 can be designed to put in theink feeder 22 to open the latter.In addition, the free end of connectingportion 35 can be tapered, reducing towards its diameter of end direction, so that steadily be installed intoink feeder 22.
In the bottom center that is separated the separated container receiving slit 31 of wall 31a, connectink tank 11y, 11m, the connectingportion 35 of 11c and 11k is arranged side by side along the minor face ofcartridge body 12.
Ink dispenser 36 is band valve mechanisms, and its valve (not shown) is opened under the suction function that ink i is produced by thenozzle 52a (described below) ejection of jet head 37.Like this, ink i is supplied tojet head 37 by theink container 21 of ink tank 11.When ink i was supplied to pressure injet head 37 and thejet head 37 and is returned back to normal level by theink container 21 ofink tank 11, valve closing stopped by the ink i supply tojet head 37 of theink container 21 ofink tank 11.
Each ink i is during by thenozzle 52a (described below) ejection ofjet head 37, andink dispenser 36 all repeats the ink i that provides and delivers.On the other hand, inink tank 11, when each ink i is provided and delivered by above-mentionedink dispenser 36, ink i in theink container 21 is fed toink dispenser 36, at this moment, the amount of ink i in theink container 21 reduces, and therefore, the air of the reduction of corresponding ink i is introducedink container 21 from outer connectingport 23 via wireway 24.Like this, ink i can suitably be supplied toink dispenser 36, and the pressure in theink container 21 keeps balance.
Notice that eachink dispenser 36 connects each color ink container respectively below connectingportion 35.
Jet head 37 comprisesink jet face 41,ink ports 42,ink channel 43 and hydrojet head-shield 44.Be formed withnozzle 52a on theink jet face 41 and spray ink i, elaborate hereinafter with the drop form;Ink ports 42 is aboveink jet face 41, byink dispenser 36 supply ink i; The ink i ofink channel 43direct ink ports 42 supplies is to each nozzle; Hydrojet head-shield 44 protection ink jet faces 41.
A plurality ofnozzle 52a are arranged on theink jet face 41, and laterally spanned record paper P also roughly is in line and is arranged side byside.Ink ports 42 is positioned at the center of top place ofink channel 43, is connected with ink dispenser36.Ink channel 43 laterally strides across paper P, near being in line, is eachnozzle 52a supply ink i.
From Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 as can be seen, hydrojet head-shield 44 is the lids that are used for protecting ink jet face 41.During printing, hydrojet head-shield 44 is removed from ink jet face 41.Hydrojet head-shield 44 comprises pair of meshing projection 44a and clearer 44b.Mesh bulge 44a forms at hydrojet head-shield 44 relative two ends along arrow W direction among Fig. 4, extends along opening/close direction; Clearer 44b is positioned at hydrojet head-shield 44 lengthwise positions, removes unnecessary ink i from ink jet face 41.Hydrojet head-shield 44 is in its mesh bulge 44a place and the pair of meshing groove 41a interlock that forms near the direction perpendicular to Fig. 4 arrow W, therefore, hydrojet head-shield 44 can be onink tank 11 short side directions along this to mesh groove 41a, just on direction, open and close near arrow W in perpendicular to Fig. 4.When hydrojet head-shield 44 opened or closed, clearer 44b contactink jet face 41 rotated removing unnecessary ink i, thus cleaning ink jet face 41.Clearer 44b is by strong hygroscopic material, and as adhesive-bonded fabric, Woven textiles etc. form.In addition, when not printing, hydrojet head-shield 44 is closedink jet face 41 and is become dry because of thenozzle 52a place onblack plane 41 exposes to the open air to avoid ink i.
Thejet head 37 of said structure also comprises a plurality ofink guns 45, and is paired with thenozzle 52a of predeterminednumber.Ink gun 45 is arranged by alternative form.More specifically,ink gun 45 horizontal spanned record paper P are staggered, andink channel 43 is betweenjet head 45 andnozzle 52a.
As shown in Figure 8,ink gun 45 comprises the circuit board 51 as base, thenozzle plate 52 that wherein has a plurality ofnozzle 52a to form, it between circuit board 51 and nozzle plate thethin layer 53 that eachnozzle 52a limits a zone, for supply theinkwell 54 of the ink i pressurization that comes andresistance heater 55 is supplied to inkwell 54 with heating ink i byink channel 43.
Circuit board 51 is control circuits, by the logic IC (integrated circuit) that is installed in above the semiconductor wafers etc., formation such as driver transistor.It forms the top ofinkwell 54 simultaneously.
Be formed withnozzle 52a above thenozzle plate 52, its diameter is reducing on the direction ofink jet face 41, at the side ofink jet face 41 diameter is 20 μ m, and with circuit board 51 relative displays, and nozzlethin layer 53 is positioned in the middle of it and form the side ofinkwell 54.
Thin layer 53 is photocuring dry film photoresistance (dry film resist).It forms around eachnozzle 52a, but reserves the part that is connected with ink channel 43.In addition,thin layer 53 is got involved between circuit board 51 and thenozzle plate 52 and is formed the side ofinkwell 54.
Inkwell 54 is by foregoing circuit plate 51, andnozzle plate 52 andthin layer 53 surround, and for each nozzle 53a forms pressor areas, the ink i that is supplied byink channel 43 pressurizes in this district.
Resistance heater 55 is given on the circuit board 51, facesinkwell 54, is electrically connected to control circuit above the circuit board 51 etc.Resistance heater 55 generates heat with the ink i in theheated ink pond 54 under the control of control circuit etc.
Inink gun 45, the control circuit above the circuit board 51 is selected aresistance heater 55 and is provided pulse current to this selectedresistance heater 55, is about the electric current of 1 to 3 microsecond in the time of for example.Like this,ink gun 45 is heated byresistance heater 55rapidly.In ink gun 45, shown in Fig. 9 A, in theinkwell 54 ofresistance heater 55, producing bubble b.54 li of inkwells inink gun 45, shown in Fig. 9 B, bubble b can expand to exert pressure to ink i, and pressurized like this ink i sprays fromnozzle 52a with the drop form.After ink droplet sprayed in the above described manner, ink i was supplied to inkwell 54 via ink channel 43.Like this,ink gun 45 is returned to ejection ink state before.
The formation ofink gun 45 is finished by formthin layer 53 above circuit board 51 first type surfaces, utilizes shape that photolithography makesthin layer 53 corresponding to inkwell 54, then on thethin layer 53 that forms like this lamination to formnozzle plate 52.
In addition, above-mentionedink gun 45 adopts electric heating transducing technology, is heated to spray byresistance heater 55 at this technology ink inside i.Butink gun 45 is not limited to use this technology, also can adopt motor machine transducing technology, at this technology ink inside i with the drop form by the motor machine inverting element, as piezoelectric element etc., spray with motor machine.
Note,jet head 37 be positioned at above-mentioned ink dispenser of allkinds 36 below.In the bottom ofcartridge body 12, connectink tank 11y, 11m, eachink jet face 41 of thejet head 37 of 11c and 11k is arranged side by side along the minor face ofcartridge body 12, forms continuousink jet face 41.
Thehead cartridge 2 of said structure also comprises except above-mentioned parts: detect the ink surplus detector (not shown) and thedifference ink tank 11y ofink container 21 ink inside i surpluses, 11m, the ink tank difference device (not shown) of 11c and 11k.
Hereinafter will illustrate and describe the printermain body 3 that saidstructure head cartridge 2 wherein is installed.
As shown in Figure 3, printermain body 3 comprisesshell 61, and it is made up oflast shell 61a andlower casing 61b, enters printermain body 3 to prevent dust etc.
As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11, go upshell 61a opposite flank in the printermain body 3 and also have a pair ofaxle 62, rotate in the framework (not shown) inlower casing 61b, can open and close aboutlower casing 61b in the front portion ofshell 61 with the front portion that allowsshell 61a.
In addition, shell 61 advances/exit slot 63 its anterior formation, and as shown in Figure 3, record-paper P goes out charging and output thus.Thecarton 64 that record-paper P is housed inserts/exit slot 63 after, can send into record-paper P.Paper P is sent on the supporting plate (lid tray) 65, and supportingplate 65 closes and passes into/first half ofcarton 64 peristomes ofexit slot 63.
Onlast shell 61ajet head receiver 66 is arranged, it receives above-mentioned head cartridge 2.Head cartridge 2 is packed into behind thisjet head receiver 66, the print position that theink jet face 41 ofhead cartridge 2 can be inlower casing 61b, and this describes in detail hereinafter.Should be noted that as shown in Figure 4, handle 67 is housed on the head cartridge 2.Like this,head cartridge 2 is in displacement the time can pack at an easy ratejet head receiver 66 and therefrom dismounting.
In addition,last shell 61a also is equipped with and covers 61c, as shown in Figure 3, covers jet head receiver 66.That is to say thatlid 61c can open also fromjet head receiver 66 can be closed tojet head receiver 66 places.Whenlid 61c closedjet head receiver 66, it formed the upper surface of thecontiguous shell 61a of going up.Simultaneously, even when 66 li of jet head receivers are equipped withhead cartridge 2,lid 61c also can close.
In addition, the operatingkey 68 ofdisplay board 69 and various operations also is housed, will introduces in detail hereinafter in upper surface front portion at theshell 61a of record-paper P input andoutput.Display board 69 shows print state etc.
In addition, headcartridge supporting arrangement 70 also is housed, with ahead cartridge 2 that is housed in thejet head receiver 66 and can therefrom removes at the upper surface of shell 61a.More specifically, headcartridge supporting arrangement 70 can be by being contained in the projection 70a and the lockhole 70b interlock that forms injet head receiver 66 top edge on pressurizing member such as the spring (not shown) on thehead cartridge 2, aboutlast shell 61a location, supporting is fixing printinghead print cartridge 2 also, makes the outside end face 2a adjacency of plane of reference 3a (top) with thehead cartridge 2 of formation on thejet head receiver 66 of printer main body 3.Like this, theink jet face 41 ofcartridge body 12 can be relative with record-paper P master and parallel, keeps predeterminable range simultaneously.Record-paper P by give/sheet delivery 72 is delivered to print position, this device describes in detail hereinafter.
As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11, printermain body 3 also comprises hydrojet head-shield operating means 71, send/sheet delivery 72 chartspeed discrimination unit 73 and temperature sensor 74.Hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 is used to open and close the hydrojet head-shield of installing on theink jet face 41 athead cartridge 2 44 whenhead cartridge 2 is packedjet head receiver 66 into; Give/sheet delivery 72 is fed throughjet head 37 with record-paper P or ejected by the latter along preset direction; Chartspeed discrimination unit 73 judges whether the transporting velocity of paper P changes;Temperature sensor 74 detects the temperature around thejet head 37 when ink i sprays.
Hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 comprises drive unit, the hydrojet head-shield 44 of this drive unitoperation head cartridge 2, explanation hereinafter.That is to say that in order to print, drive unit removes hydrojet head-shield 44 so thatink gun 45 is exposed to record-paper P above ink jet face 41.After printing was finished, drive unit moved hydrojet head-shield 44 and coversink jet face 41, to protectink gun 45 and to prevent that ink i from becoming dry.
As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11, give/sheet delivery 72 is along preset direction feeding recordable paper P, and this paper P is fed throughhead cartridge 2 places, and will finish the paper P output of printing by head cartridge 2.More specifically, give/sheet delivery 72 comprises paper-advance unit 81,conveyer 82 and sheet delivery 83.Paper-advance unit 81 is sent paper P into printermain body 3;Conveyer 82 carries the paper P that is sent into by paper-advance unit 81 to print position; The paper P thatsheet delivery 83 is carriedconveyer 82 sends.
For record-paper P is fed throughconveyer 82 bycarton 64, paper-advance unit 81 comprisesintake roller 91 and a pair of paper-sheets rolling wheel 92a and92b.Intake roller 91 is fed throughconveyer 82 with the record-paper P in thecarton 64; The paper P that paper-sheets rolling wheel 92a and 92b send intointake roller 91 delivers to conveyer 82 one by one.These elements are driven by the drive unit (not shown) oflower casing 61b inside,press arrow B 1 among Figure 11 simultaneously, and B2 and B3 direction are rotated.
Intake roller 91 is positioned at record-paper P top, exposes to the open air at the tail end opening part ofcarton 64, can contact with paper P in its outer surface, and paper P is upwards boosted by the paper apparatus (not shown) that upwards pushes away that is contained in 64 li of cartons.
Paper-sheets rolling wheel 92a and 92b are positioned at the position nearintake roller 91 afterbodys in pairs, rotate in the same way when holding the record-paper P that is sent into byintake roller 91 each other under the arm.Like this, even intake roller 9 is made mistakes, as, send into two pieces of paper P simultaneously, one (92a) among paper-sheets rolling wheel 92a and the 92b also can transport a piece of paper P toconveyer 82, and another paper-sheets rolling wheel (92b) can return to other a piece of paper P thecarton 64 of printermain body 3 front portions, like this, has only a piece of paper P can be sent to the rear portion of printermain body 3.
Conveyer 82 is delivered tosheet delivery 83 with record-paper P by intake roller 81.It comprises that slewingrollers 93 turn to paper P andintake roller 94, and it will deliver to print position by the paper P that slewingrollers 93 turn to.
Slewing rollers 93 are positioned at the rear side of printermain body 3, are driven by the drive unit (not shown) among thelower casing 61b, rotate along arrow C direction among Figure 11.In addition, at the rear side of slewingrollers 93 one group of compression roller 95a is arranged, 95b and 95c will be expressed to the outer surface of slewingrollers 93 through the record-paper P that turns to, and also have the motion of arc first limitingplate 96 restriction paper P at slewingrollers 93 outer surface opposite positions.
Between slewingrollers 93 and this are to paper-sheets rolling wheel 92a and 92b,first guide plate 97 is arranged, leader record paper P motion in the side of lower casing 61b.In addition, between slewingrollers 93 andintake roller 94, in the side oflast shell 61a, second guidedplate 98 that guiding paper P arranged is with relative with second guidedplate 98 and limit plane second limitingplate 99 of paper P motion.
Intake roller 94 is positioned at the upstream position ofjet head 37 on record-paper P throughput direction,, be positioned at a side of slewingrollers 93 and with respect to thelower casing 61b place of the paper P that will be transferred that is.Whenintake roller 94 is carried paper P, rotate, and wait to print another relative first type surface of first type surface with paper P and contact around own axle.
The side ofshell 61a hascompression roller 100 onintake roller 94, and is relative withintake roller 94, and record-paper P is squeezed to intake roller 94.Like this, paper P is bycompression roller 100 extruding and contact withintake roller 94, is moderately held under the arm byintake roller 94 outer surfaces, and suitably is delivered to the relative print position of ink jet face 41.Should be noted thatcompression roller 100 can rotate around the axle of oneself when paper P is transferred.
As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11,sheet delivery 83 comprisesexit roller 101, its record-paper P that will be finishes printing byjet head 37 towards advance/exit slot 63 carries, and also comprises thespur gear 102 relative withexit roller 101.
Exit roller 101 is positioned at the downstream position ofjet head 37 at record-paper P throughput direction, that is, be positioned at into/side ofexit slot 63 and being positioned at respect to paper Plower casing 61b one side that will be transferred.Whenexit roller 101 is carried paper P, rotate, and wait to print another relative first type surface of first type surface with paper P and contact around own axle.
Spur gear 102 is relative withexit roller 101, be positioned atshell 61a one side, contact the ink of having printed with not transfer printing as far as possible with record-paper P type list millet cake, and by carry betweenspur gear 102 and theexit roller 101 paper P to advance/supportingplate 65 onexit slot 63 next doors on.Should be noted thatspur gear 102 can rotate around the axle of oneself when paper P is transferred.
As shown in figure 12, in the sending of said structure/sheet delivery 72,intake roller 94 andexit roller 101, by modes such as endless belt traction belt wheel (not shown), be connected respectively topulse motor 103a and 103b, therefore, drive by thispulse motor 103a and 103brespectively.Intake roller 94 andexit roller 101 rotate around separately axle along arrow D direction, the record-paper P that will be carries by slewingrollers 93 towards advance/exit slot 63 carries.
Theseintake rollers 94 rotate with different speed respectively with exit roller 101.The rotating speed of each roller is by the FREQUENCY CONTROL of the pulse current that is supplied to each pulse motor 103a and 103b.More specifically,intake roller 94 rotates the record-paper P that has been transferred along arrow E direction among Figure 12 to carry with a speed, andexit roller 101 is sent printing paper P with higher speed rotation.
Like this, giving/sheet delivery 72 in, when printing on just being transported to the paper P of print position, record-paper P can keep tensioned state on throughput direction, without any lax.This print position is relative with theink jet face 41 of jet head 37.Therefore, giving/sheet delivery 72 in because the paper P that sends to print position avoids becoming lax or crooked, keep constant distance so might be sprayed between the first type surface of theink jet face 41 ofliquid head 37 and paper P always.The frequency that should be noted that the pulse current that is supplied to eachpulse motor 103a and 103b is by controls such ascontrollers 129, and thiscontroller 129 describes in detail hereinafter.
Platen pallet (platenpallet) 104 is arranged betweenintake roller 94 andexit roller 101, make the record-paper P that is transported to print position face theink jet face 41 of jet head37.Platen pallet 104 also plays the effect of guide plate, from the front end ofintake roller 94 guiding paper P to exit roller 101.After should be noted that paper P is loaded into print position,platen pallet 104 is positioned at the position parallel with theink jet face 41 ofjet head 37, with it relatively and a default gap arranged.
In addition, the lifting device (not shown) is arranged, preparing vertically to move above-mentionedintake roller 94,exit roller 101,platen pallet 104 etc. between transfer position and rest position at lower casing 61b.As shown in figure 11, preparing transfer position, record-paper P can be transferred on these elements; It is low that rest position is prepared transfer position than this, and as shown in figure 10, whenprinter 1 did not move, these elements were sent to this position.
As shown in figure 12, in the sending of said structure/sheet delivery 72, owing on throughput direction, keep tensioned state at the record-paper P of print position, when the tail end of the paper P that carries along arrow E direction among Figure 12 breaks away from holding under the arm a little ofintake roller 94, that is, and whenintake roller 94 is held the point of paper P under the arm, the load that rotatingratio exit roller 101low intake rollers 94 apply along the throughput direction rightabout, that is, along with Figure 12 in the arrow E rightabout apply the load of paper feeding P, will no longer act on paper P.Like this, paper P will only be carried faster than theexit roller 101 ofintake roller 94 by rotating speed, and therefore, the transporting velocity of paper P accelerates in print procedure.
Also having chartspeed discrimination unit 73 in the printermain body 3, the transporting velocity of its detection record paper P and judging send/and whethersheet delivery 72 changed the transporting velocity of paper P, and in other words, whether the transporting velocity of paper has accelerated.
As shown in figure 12, chartspeed discrimination unit 73 comprises papertail end sensor 111, it detects the tail end of the record-paper P that just is being transferred along the arrow E direction,encoder 112, it detects the rotation ofintake roller 94, also comprisecontroller 129, it comprises CPU (central processing unit) etc., and these will describe in detail hereinafter.
Papertail end sensor 111 is positioned atintake roller 94 upstreams on the paper throughput direction, more specifically, between second limitingplate 99 andintake roller 94, before paper P passes fromintake roller 94 and 100 of compression rollers, detect the tail end of the paper P that will be transported to print position, and detected paper tail end is detected data delivercontroller 129.
Encoder 112 detects the rotation situation ofintake rollers 94, and will arriveoffer controller 129 with the corresponding rotation data ofintake roller 94 rotating speeds.
Above-mentioned chartspeed discrimination unit 73 comprises that also wherein prestoring speed distinguishes memory ofdata 128 etc., and this chartspeed discrimination unit 73 will describe in detail hereinafter.Speed is distinguished the distance of the preparation of data based on distance and 94 unit interval of intake roller feeding recordable paper P between papertail end sensor 111 and theintake roller 94, after being detected by papertail end sensor 111 with the tail end that is presented at record-paper P, the tail end of paper P arrives and leaves immediately and hold under the arm a little before the therefore paper transporting velocity change, howmany intake rollers 94 should rotate.Like this, in chartspeed discrimination unit 73, the tail end of papertail end sensor 111 test paper P also detects data with the paper tail end and submits tocontroller 129, thereforecontroller 129 can detect data at the paper tail end, the speed that prestores is distinguished on data and the basis from the detected rotation data ofencoder 112, determines that paper P has broken away from holding under the arm a little ofintake roller 94 and just with conveying at a high speed.
In above-mentioned example, chartspeed discrimination unit 73 utilizes papertail end sensor 111 andencoder 112 to judge whether the paper transporting velocity changes, and still, the present invention is not limited to this method.As a possibility, the load that imposes onintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 when feeding recordable paper P can directly detect, and changes if find load, can determine that transporting velocity changes.Equally, the load that is imposed on the paper P under the tensioned state byintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 can directly or indirectly detect, and changes if find load, can determine that transporting velocity changes.
Temperature sensor 74 detects the environment temperature nearjet head 37 whenjet head 37 ejection ink i, be digitized into information signal, and submit tocontroller 129 as environmental data.As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11,temperature sensor 74 is positioned at the downstream ofjet head 37 on throughput direction, more specifically, nearink jet face 41, extends along the side ofjet head 37.
Incontroller 129, prestore conveying data in thememory 128 about record-paper P unit interval fed distance.This fed distance depends on environment temperature andchanges.Controller 129 describes indetail hereinafter.Controller 129 is committed on the environmental data basis of thiscontroller 129 in transporting velocity data andtemperature sensor 74, the fed distance of paper P unit interval when regulation is printed, that is, and transporting velocity at each temperature.Should be noted that becauseintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 hold the type of pincers under the arm according to paper P, variations such as thickness,memory 128 is many group transporting velocity data for dissimilar paper P stores.
Note, although the differentiation to the transporting velocity of paper P has been described by way of example, this differentiation is to finish on the environmental data basis that draws bytemperature sensor 74detection jet head 37 environment temperatures, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, for example, paper transporting velocity data based on the variations such as humidity of record-paper P can be stored in thememory 128, determine on the environmental data basis that the transporting velocity of paper P can obtain in the humidity around the detection jet head such as humidity sensor 37.Perhaps, the paper transporting velocity data that change based on the temperature of record-paper P and/or humidity can be stored in this memory, and the transporting velocity of paper P can be in detections jet head such as temperature/humidity sensor 37 humidity and temperature and determining on the environmental data basis that obtains on every side.
Referring to Figure 13, the control circuit 121 of its exemplary illustration control saidstructure printer 1 printing.Control circuit 121 is described as follows.
Control circuit 121 comprisesprinter controller 122,inkjet controller 123,alarm unit 124, I/O terminal 125, ROM (read-only storage) 126, RAM (random access memory) 127,memory 128 and controller 129.The operation of the hydrojet head-shield device for opening 71 ofprinter controller 122 control printermain bodies 3 and sending/sheet delivery 72;Inkjet controller 123 controls are supplied to the electric current of theink gun 45 of each chromatic ink i;Alarm unit 124 gives the alarm with regard to the surplus of each chromatic ink i; I/O terminal 125 is from the external equipment input signal and output signal to external equipment; ROM126 storing control program etc.; RAM127 is used for storing the control program that once reads from ROM126, and when needing, this control program reads from this RAM127;Memory 128 stores the ink-jet control data, sprays the time of ink i with thetype control nozzle 52a that is used for corresponding used record-paper P;Controller 129 other each parts of control.
Printer driver 122 drives the drive motor (not shown) that is contained in hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 according to the control signal thatcontroller 129 provides, and opens and closes (operation) hydrojet head-shield 44 with control hydrojet head-shield operating means 71.In addition, the control signal thatprinter driver 122 also provides according tocontroller 129 andpulse motor 103a and 103b drives to be contained in and send/the drive motor (not shown) ofsheet delivery 72, with control give/paper P thatsheet delivery 72 is sent into record-paper P by thecarton 64 of printermain body 3 and will be finished printing from advance/exit slot 63 sends to supportingplate 65.
Inkjet controller 123 is circuit, comprises switch element, resistive element, control circuit etc.The switch element on/off is connected with the circuit of external power source, and this external power source provides pulse current to theresistance heater 55 that is contained in theink gun 45; Resistive element is regulated and is provided to the pulse current ofresistance heater 55; Control circuit optionally opens and closes switch element.The control signal thatinkjet controller 123 is sent according tocontroller 129 is regulated the pulse current of theresistance heater 55 that offers 45 li of ink guns, with the time ofnozzle 52a ejection ink i in thecontrol ink gun 45.
Alarm unit 124 is a kind of display unit, as LCD (LCD), and with the demonstration print conditions, print state, residual ink amount, etc.Perhaps,alarm unit 124 can be an instantaneous speech power, as loudspeaker etc.In this case,alarm unit 124 utilizes the voice output printing conditions, finishes print state, residual ink amount, etc.Andalarm unit 124 can also be the combination of this display unit and instantaneous speech power.In addition, warning can be finished by the monitor or the loudspeaker ofmessage handler 130.
I/O terminal 125 with above-mentioned information, as above-mentioned print state, is finished print state by interface, residual ink amount, etc., be sent to external message handler 130.In addition, I/O terminal 125 also provides control information byexternal message handler 130, is used for output such as printing conditions, finishes print state and ink remaining amount, treats information such as print data.External message handler 130 can be an electronic installation, as PC, and PDA (personal digital assistant), etc.
Connect I/O terminal 125 and arriveexternal message handler 130 etc., can use serial line interface, parallel interface etc., more specifically, it defers to USB (USB), RS (proposed standard) 232C, standards such as IEEE (IEEE) 1394.In addition, I/O terminal 125 also can be designed to carry out data communication by cable or wireless form and message handler 130.Should be noted that available radio communication standard comprises IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 11g, etc.
Between I/O terminal 125 andmessage handler 130, can insert network such as internet.In this case, I/O terminal 125 is attached to network, as LAN (LAN), and ISDN (ISDN), xDSL (digital subscriber line), FTHP (Fiber to the home), CATV (CATV), BS (satellite broadcasting) etc.Data communication can be chosen wantonly under the agreement in various protocols such as TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/gateway protocol) and finish.
ROM126 can be a memory, and EP-ROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) for example stores the program of 129 control operations of controller.Program stored is loaded on the RAM127 under the control ofcontroller 129 among the ROM126.
RAM127 stores the program that reads from ROM126 undercontroller 129 controls, the paper tail end that offerscontroller 129 by the papertail end sensor 111 and theencoder 112 ofspeed discrimination unit 73 detects data and rotates and detect data, and the environmental data that is offeredcontroller 129 bytemperature sensor 74.
Memory 128 can be as ROM, EP-ROM or RAM.Its speed that stores above-mentioned all kinds record-paper P is distinguished data, carries data etc.Except above-mentioned data,memory 128 also stores the ink-jet control data of all kinds record-paper P.
The ink-jet control data is the routine data thatinkjet controller 123 is used, in order to controlink gun 45 to regulate the ink-jet time, its objective is, if the displacement of ink i launching position on throughput direction causes any color registration imbalance, be corrected in paper throughput direction rightabout on the imbalance of this color registration, so that the same, be increased in the transporting velocity of the paper P that improves in the print procedure with conventional ink jet printers.
Above content will elaborate with reference to figure 14A to Figure 14 C hereinafter.Should be noted that in Figure 14 A to Figure 14 C the yellow that projects in the ink i color of record-paper P is labeled as " y ", carmetta is labeled as " m ", and cyan is labeled as " c ", and density bullet is " k ".
In order on record-paper P, to print, nozzle 52a on the ink jet face 41, with the throughput direction of pressing record-paper P shown in Figure 14 A, i.e. the direction of arrow E among Figure 14 A, the ink tank 11y that on ink jet face 41, is arranged in order, 11m, 11c is corresponding with 11k, with yellow, and carmetta, cyan, ejection of the order of black and the ink i that throws these colors go up default ink launching position M1 to paper P.If because for example the tail end of paper P breaks away from the transporting velocity change that holding under the arm of intake roller 94 a little causes paper P in print procedure, as shown in Figure 14B, because jet head 37 is sprayed ink i from each nozzle 52a in advance between the time, the ink launching position can upstream be shifted by default ink launching position M1 on paper P throughput direction.That is, the color registration imbalance takes place.The ink-jet control data that is stored in memory 128 is in order to allow inkjet controller 123 controls from the time that each nozzle 52a sprays ink, to correct the color registration imbalance.That is to say that shown in Figure 14 C, control makes the ink i except that black ink i project the position much at one with position M2 from the time that each the nozzle 52a except that the nozzle 52a of black ink i sprays ink.Position M2 is displacement upstream on paper P throughput direction, and black ink i also will be projected onto this position.More specifically, other inks i except that black ink i sprayed before black ink i, controlled the increasing before with respect to paper P transporting velocity of its injecting time postpones to some extent, makes black ink i other inks i in addition be projected onto black ink i with the position M2 that is projected onto.
And the launching position of the ink i when measuring by normal ink launching position M1 that the paper transporting velocity increases to print procedure of paper P front end different distance place between displacement, i.e. displacement between ink launching position M1 and the M2, its result is shown in Figure 15.Should be noted that the displacement of " y " expression yellow ink i launching position among Figure 15, the displacement of " m " expression magenta ink i launching position, the displacement of " c " expression cyan i launching position, the displacement of " k " expression black ink i launching position.
From measurement result shown in Figure 15 as can be seen, when printing proceeds to apart from the about 250mm of record-paper P front end place, transporting velocity begins to change, and the color registration imbalance begins to take place, and is positioned at the misregistration maximum of the black ink i that thenozzle 52a of downstream position ejects on paper P throughput direction.As shown in figure 15, with other ink i of time injection except that black ink i that postpones to some extent before increasing with respect to paper P transporting velocity, make misregistration and the black ink i of black ink i other inks i in addition almost suitable, ink sprays control data and corrects the color registration imbalance by this method.
After the color registration imbalance that takes place because of the transporting velocity variation is repaired, with other inks i beyond the black ink i that sprays time delay the color registration imbalance can take place.So the ink-jet control data is used to make the 123 control ink-jet times of ink injection controller, each chromatic ink is sprayed from correspondingnozzle 52a with the time that postpones to some extent before changing with respect to transporting velocity.
Usually, inprinter 1, if temperature and humidity on every side is higher, therefore above-mentionedintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 are elongated with the endless drive loop that pulsemotor 103a and 103b link respectively, pitch increases.Like this, endless drive loop tension force reduces, and the feed pitch that is wound with each pulley teeth of theintake roller 94 of this endless drive loop andexit roller 101 reduces, and the transporting velocity of record-paper P reduces, and therefore produces less color registration imbalance.That is to say that when temperature and humidity was high, it is little that the displacement of different colours ink i launching position changes caused color registration imbalance than transporting velocity under the normal temperature.
On the other hand, when temperature and humidity is low, the corresponding shortening of the length of endless drive loop, therefore pitch reduces.Like this, endless drive loop tension force increases, and it is big that the feed pitch of each pulley teeth ofintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 becomes, and the transporting velocity of record-paper P improves, and causes bigger color registration imbalance.That is to say that when temperature and humidity was low, it is big that the displacement of different colours ink i launching position changes caused color registration imbalance than transporting velocity under the normal temperature.
Therefore, in order to correct the color registration imbalance according to the ink-jet control data, the environmental data basis adjusted ink-jet control data thatcontroller 129 obtains attemperature sensor 74, make nozzle at other inks i that sprays according to the time of ink-jet control data control except that black ink i, to throw black ink i other inks i in addition to position M2 that black ink i will project.
Memory 128 stores the ink-jet control data that is used with the control ink ejection operation by inkjet controller 123.In addition, because the pincers ofintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 are held the type according to paper P under the arm, variation such as thickness so that transporting velocity are to change in various degree, promptly, because the color registration imbalance degree difference of dissimilar paper P,memory 128 also store the multiple ink-jet control data that promising dissimilar record-paper P prepares.
Controller 129 can be CPU, and it treats print data and the ink i surplus data that provided byhead cartridge 2 according to what provide at input/output end port 125, the miscellaneous part of control printer 1.Controller 129 reads according to the control signal that is provided etc. to control the handling procedure of each parts from ROM126, this program is stored into RAM127, and handle each parts of programme-control according to each.
That is to say,controller 129 is according to the handling procedure control hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 that is stored in ROM126, opening and closing hydrojet head-shield 44, and control advances/sheet delivery 72, exports on the supportingplate 65 in the/exit slot 63 with the paper P that sends into record-paper P fromcarton 64 and will finish printing.In addition, before transporting velocity increased,controller 129 was according to the environmental data and the transporting velocity DataControl inkjet controller 123 that is pre-stored in 128 li of memories ofhygrosensor 74, suitably to spray ink i at Preset Time.After transporting velocity increased in print procedure,controller 129 carried out the printing of achromatization misregistration according to environmental data and the ink-jet control datacontrol inkjet controller 123 that is pre-stored in 128 li of memories on paper P.
Notice that although handling procedure is the ROM126 that is stored in the control circuit 121 of said structure, the present invention is not limited to data are stored among the ROM126, deal with data also can be stored in other any recording mediums, as CD, and disk, magneto-optic disk, IC-card etc.In this case, control circuit 121 directly is connected with the driver that drives this recording medium or connects viamessage handler 130, to read handling procedure from this recording medium.
In addition, although in the above-described embodiments, speed is distinguished data, the transporting velocity data, a plurality of ink-jet control datas etc. are to be stored in thememory 128, if its storage capacity is enough to store these data, these data can also be stored in as, among RAM127 and/or the ROM126.
With reference now to the flowchart text saidstructure printer 1 among Figure 16 and Figure 17, printing.Should be noted that the handling procedure control that will be stored in by the CPU (not shown) basis of 129 li of controllers among storage device such as the ROM126 etc. of finishing of printing.
In order to useprinter 1 to print, the user is thecontrol button 68 on the printer operationmain body 3 at first, and perhaps the print command that will defer to by input/output end port 125input printers 1 fromexternal message handler 130 is to controller 129.At this moment, will use a printing paper P, and also be provided tocontroller 129, so that be the type of setting of printing paper P about the information signal of this paper P type.
Then,controller 129 judges at step S1 whether theink tank 11 of default color is installed in the correct position of 31 li of container receiving slits, and whetherhead cartridge 2 is installed in the correct position in thejet head receiver 66 of printer main body 3.After theink tank 11 of determining default color correctly is installed in thejet head receiver 66 that 31 li of container receiving slits andhead cartridge 2 also be installed in printermain body 3,controller 129 beginning execution in step S2.On the contrary, ifink tank 11 correctly is not installed in 31 li of container receiving slits and/orhead cartridge 2 correctly is not installed in thejet head receiver 66 of printermain body 3,controller 129 beginning execution in step S4, the non-print operation continues.
At step S2,controller 129 judges whetherink tank 11 ink inside i are less than default amount or do not have ink i.If determining does not have ink i in theink tank 11,controller 129 gives thealarm alarm unit 124, and beginning execution in step S4, and this step non-print operation continues.Otherwise, ifink tank 11 ink inside i promptly, wherein have the ink i of q.s more than default amount,controller 129 beginning execution in step S3, this step allows printing to continue.
In the printer of allowprinting 1, at step S11 shown in flow chart among Figure 17,controller 129control printer drivers 122 drive hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 and advance/sheet delivery 72, with feeding recordable paper P to the position that can print.More specifically, after printing began,controller 129 drove hydrojet head-shield operating means 71, and with the rest position of mobile hydrojet head-shield 44 to as shown in figure 11printer 1 front portion, theink jet face 41 of this hydrojet head-shield 44 is in closed condition.In addition,controller 129 drives the lifting device (not shown) with theintake roller 94 that moves up from rest position,exit roller 101 andplaten pallet 104 be to preparing transfer position as shown in figure 11, andpulse motor 103a and 103b are brought into operation, and presses arrow E direction feeding recordable paper P among Figure 11.At this moment, at step S12,temperature sensor 74 detects near the temperature thejet head 37, and it is offeredcontroller 129 as environmental data.
Next, at step S13,controller 129 is byinkjet controller 123, the environmental data that provides according totemperature sensor 74 and being pre-stored in thememory 128, transporting velocity data forcontrol ink gun 45 this type paper P of setting when printing beginning,control ink gun 45, with the ejection of suitable time and projection ink i to by advance/sheet delivery 72 be transported to print position and the paper P that tightening on the throughput direction byintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 on, thereby according to treating print data via what I/O terminal 125 provided fromexternal message handler 130, as character, graph data, etc., character and figure formed by ink dot, that is, on paper P, print.
Then, at step S14, the papertail end sensor 111 of chartspeed discrimination unit 73 detects the tail end of the record-paper P that is being printed, if the paper tail end is detected, just detecting data as the paper tail end provides tocontroller 129 from chart speed discrimination unit 73.At step S13, print and to carry out continuously, be detected up to the tail end of paper P.If the tail end of paper P is detected,controller 129 detects data according to the paper tail end that papertail end sensor 111 provides, and rotary speed data that encoder 112 provides and the speed that is pre-stored in thememory 128 are distinguished data, determine that the transporting velocity of paper P increases.Then,controller 129 beginning execution in step S15 correct the color registration imbalance.
Next, at step S15, if detect the tail end of record-paper P, and chartspeed discrimination unit 73 determines that the transporting velocity of record-paper P increases,controller 129 is byinkjet controller 123, according totemperature sensor 74 environmental data that provides and the ink-jet control data that is pre-stored in this type paper P that in thememory 128, when printing beginning, is provided with,control ink gun 45, with other inks i beyond the time ejection black ink i that postpones to some extent before the relative transporting velocity increase, thereby correct the launching position of ink i, take place to avoid the color registration imbalance.
After the launching position of correcting ink, at step S16,controller 129 is controlledinkjet controller 123 according to the ink-jet control data, and the ink-jet time before changing with the paper transporting velocity sprays each chromatic ink successively, the data that printing needs to print finish to print until last character or figure then.
Next, at step S17,controller 129 controls are advanced/sheet delivery 72, and the record-paper P that will study carefully into printing is delivered on the supportingplate 65 byexit roller 101, and withdraws from printing.
Then, atprinter 1, step S11 repeats to the printing of S17, and 11 ink inside i use up up to ink tank, does not have record-paper P residue in thecarton 64 or provides the order that stops to print via input/output end port 125 bycontrol button 68 or byexternal message handler 130.
In the printer of printing in the above describedmanner 1, if the tail end of the record-paper P that is printing is detected by the papertail end sensor 111 of chartspeed discrimination unit 73, and the transporting velocity of definite paper P increases, and can correct with the ink-jet control data that is pre-stored in this type paper P in thememory 128 according to the environmental data oftemperature sensor 74 owing to transporting velocity changes the color registration imbalance that causes.
That is to say, atprinter 1, if record-paper P transporting velocity in print procedure increases, by the time of other inks i beyond thenozzle 52a ejection black ink i that on throughput direction, is in downstream position, increased in the past delay to some extent with respect to paper P transporting velocity, to the position that black ink i will be projected onto, therefore correct the color registration imbalance that causes when the paper transporting velocity increases with other inks i beyond the projection black ink i.
Therefore, at thisprinter 1, the ink-jet time is according to the type of record-paper P, environment temperatures etc. are controlled, thereby avoid it to cause the color registration imbalance when paper transporting velocity changes in print procedure, therefore, even the paper transporting velocity changes, also can finish letter quality printing in print procedure.
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention of will explaining.Should be noted that among second embodiment and will represent with the reference number identical, no longer elaborate with explaining of first embodiment with the first embodiment components identical.
As Figure 18 and shown in Figure 19, the second embodiment of the present invention also comprises inklaunching position detector 75, detects the launching position of ink i on test pattern.This test pattern was being printed before printing formation preset characters and figure.
Inklaunching position detector 75 is positioned at the downstream position ofexit roller 101 on throughput direction.It comprises reflective optical sensor, and charge-coupled device (CCD) imageing sensor etc. are to detect the launching position of ink i on default test pattern.Should default test pattern before print preset character and the figure by projection ink i to the record-paper P to print.Inklaunching position detector 75 detects the displacement that transporting velocities change the ink i launching position that may cause, detected carry digit is changed into information signal, and this signal is provided to controller 129 (also can referring to Figure 20) as ink launching position data.
As shown in figure 21, inklaunching position detector 75 detects the launching position of ink i on test pattern.This test pattern for example, laterally strides across paper P by the ink i with ink-jet time of predetermined interval projection different colours, with the record-paper P of the paper same type of print preset character and figure on form.Inklaunching position detector 75 detects the launching position of ink i on the test pattern, check that paper P transporting velocity changes, be speed increase back ink launching position with transporting velocity the distance between the normal launching position M1 of ink when constant, and will provide tocontroller 129 with the corresponding ink launching position of the used paper P type of detection control data.Should be noted that in Figure 21 the yellow that projects in the ink i color of record-paper P is labeled as " y ", carmetta is labeled as " m ", and cyan is labeled as " c ", and density bullet is " k ".
Next with reference to Figure 22control circuit 131 is described, its control is according to theprinter 1 of secondembodiment.Control circuit 131 is corresponding with the control circuit 121 among first embodiment that has above illustrated.
Above-mentionedcontrol circuit 131 comprises the hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 of printermain body 3, drive/printer driver 122 ofsheet delivery 72,inkjet controller 123,alarm unit 124, I/O terminal 125, ROM (read-only storage) 126, RAM (random access memory) 127,controller 129 and memory 128.Inkjet controller 123 is controlled the electric current of theink gun 45 that offers each chromatic ink i etc.;Alarm unit 124 gives the alarm with regard to the surplus of each chromatic ink i; I/O terminal 125 is from the external equipment input signal and output signal to external equipment; ROM126 storing control program etc.; RAM127 is used for storing the control program that once reads from this ROM126, and when needing, this control program reads from this RAM127; Other each parts ofcontroller 129control printers 1, and be that various types of record-paper P generate the ink-jet control data, be used for controlling the time of ink i fromnozzle 52a ejection according to the ink launching position control data of inklaunching position detector 75 and the type of corresponding used paper P; The ink-jet control data thatmemory 128store controllers 129 are generated.
Printer driver 122,inkjet controller 123, the class of operation ofalarm unit 124 grades is similar to counter element among above-mentioned first embodiment, does not therefore elaborate.
As shown in figure 18, inklaunching position detector 75 is positioned at the downstream position ofexit roller 101 on throughput direction.It comprises reflective optical sensor, and charge-coupled device (CCD) imageing sensor etc. are to detect the launching position of ink i on default test pattern.Should default test pattern by print with before forming preset characters and figure by projection ink i to the record-paper P to print.This inklaunching position detector 75 detects the displacement that transporting velocity changes the ink i launching position that may cause, detected carry digit is changed into information signal, and this signal is provided tocontroller 129 as ink launchingposition data.Controller 129 will describe in detail hereinafter.
As shown in figure 21, inklaunching position detector 75 detects the launching position of ink i on test pattern.This test pattern for example, laterally strides across paper P by the ink i with ink-jet time of predetermined interval projection different colours, forms on it on record-paper P of paper same type of preset characters and figure to form.Inklaunching position detector 75 detects the launching position of ink i on the test pattern, check that paper P transporting velocity changes, be that speed increases the distance between the normal launching position M1 of back ink launching position and transporting velocity ink when constant, and provide and the corresponding ink launching position of the paper P type control data that is used to detect tocontroller 129.
With reference to Figure 22, thecontrol circuit 131 of its explanation control saidstructure printer 1printing.Control circuit 131 explanation hereinafter.
Above-mentionedcontrol circuit 131 comprises the hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 of above-mentioned printermain body 3, drive/printer driver 122 ofsheet delivery 72,inkjet controller 123,alarm unit 124, I/O terminal 125, ROM (read-only storage) 126, RAM (random access memory) 127,controller 129 and memory 128.Inkjet controller 123 is controlled the electric current of theink gun 45 that offers each chromatic ink i etc.;Alarm unit 124 gives the alarm with regard to the surplus of each chromatic ink i; I/O terminal 125 is from the external equipment input signal and output signal to external equipment; ROM126 storing control program etc.; RAM127 is used for storing the control program that once reads from this ROM126, and when needing, this control program reads from this RAM127; Other each parts ofcontroller 129control printers 1, and be that various types of record-paper P generate the ink-jet control data, be used for controlling the time of ink i fromnozzle 52a ejection according to the ink launching position control data of inklaunching position detector 75 and the type of corresponding used paper P; The ink-jet control data thatmemory 128store controllers 129 are generated.
In addition,controller 129 is in corresponding paper P type and be used for the basis of the ink launching position data of inklaunching position detector 75 detecting operations, for various types of record-paper P generate the ink-jet control datas and store the data in the memory 128.This ink-jet control data is used to regulate the ink-jet time, to be corrected in the color registration imbalance that can cause because of the displacement of ink launching position on the direction opposite with the paper throughput direction in the conventional printer.The displacement of this ink launching position is that the recruitment by the paper P transporting velocity of speedup in the printprocedure causes.Memory 128 describes in detail hereinafter.Then, when transporting velocity increased in the print procedure,controller 129 was according to the environmental data of temperature sensor and the ink-jet control data of used type paper P, andcontrol inkjet controller 123 is to carry out the printing of achromatization misregistration on this paper P.
Hereinafter with reference Figure 23 A to 23C specifies the ink-jet control data.Should be noted that in Figure 23 A to 23C project each chromatic ink i of record-paper P, yellow is labeled as " y ", carmetta is labeled as " m ", and cyan is labeled as " c ", and density bullet is " k ".
When on record-paper P, printing, shown in Figure 23 A, yellow ink i, magenta ink i, cyan i and black ink i are from each nozzle 52a ejection and press yellow, carmetta, the order of cyan and black projects default ink launching position M1 respectively.Nozzle 52a is positioned on the ink jet face 41 and on paper P throughput direction, i.e. the direction of arrow E among Figure 23 A, and successively corresponding to ink tank 11y, 11m, 11c and 11k.In print procedure, when for example the tail end of paper P breaks away from holding under the arm of intake roller 94, if the transporting velocity of paper P changes, because shown in Figure 23 B, jet head 37 is by spraying each chromatic ink i successively from each nozzle 52a between the pre-time, so each chromatic ink i of projection can upstream be shifted from default ink launching position M1, thereby cause the color registration imbalance on the direction that paper P carries.The ink-jet control data that controller 129 is generated on the basis of the ink launching position data of the type paper P that is provided by ink launching position detector 75 is provided to inkjet controller 123, make this inkjet controller 123 correct the time that each nozzle 52a sprays ink i, to correct the color registration imbalance according to paper P type.That is to say, shown in Figure 23 C, according to the ink-jet control data, be the time of used type paper P control other each nozzle 52a ejection ink i except that the nozzle 52a of black ink i, make launching position displacement upstream on paper P throughput direction of other each chromatic ink i that remove black ink i, basic identical with the ink launching position M2 of black ink i.More specifically, other inks i except that black ink i sprayed before black ink i, the ink-jet time that its injecting time is controlled before increasing with respect to paper P transporting velocity postpones to some extent, makes other inks i beyond the black ink i be projected onto black ink i with the position M2 that is projected onto.
And the launching position of the ink i when measuring by normal ink launching position M1 that the paper transporting velocity increases to print procedure of paper P front end different distance place between displacement, i.e. displacement between ink launching position M1 and the M2, its result is shown in Figure 24.Should be noted that the displacement of " y " expression yellow ink i launching position among Figure 24, the displacement of " m " expression magenta ink i launching position, the displacement of " c " expression cyan i launching position, the displacement of " k " expression black ink i launching position.
From measurement result shown in Figure 24 as can be seen, when printing proceeds to apart from the about 250mm of record-paper P front end place, transporting velocity begins to change, and the color registration imbalance begins to take place, and is positioned at the misregistration maximum of the black ink i that thenozzle 52a of downstream position ejects on paper P throughput direction.As shown in figure 24, the time that postponed to some extent before increasing with respect to paper P transporting velocity is sprayed other inks i except that black ink i, make the misregistration of black ink i other inks i in addition that is throwed almost suitable with the black ink i that is throwed, ink sprays control data and is used to correct the color registration imbalance by this method.
After changing the color registration imbalance takes place because of transporting velocity and being repaired as stated above, the injecting time that makes other inks i beyond the black ink i can cause color registration to be lacked of proper care than the delay of black ink i.For avoiding this color registration imbalance, the ink-jet control data is used to controlink injection controller 123, and the ink-jet time before each chromatic ink i changes with transporting velocity is sprayed from eachnozzle 52a successively.
Notice that temperature will exert an influence to record-paper P, as hereinafter illustrated, the type of paper P is undoubtedly depended in this influence.Usually, when temperature was high, the traction belt wheel of paper P and advancing/sheet delivery 72 can elongate basically, like this, in the print procedure variation of transporting velocity little, cause little color registration imbalance.Otherwise when temperature was hanged down, paper P and traction belt wheel elongated hardly, and therefore, transporting velocity changes greatly in the print procedure, causes big color registration imbalance.
More specifically, when temperature and humidity is high, therefore above-mentionedintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 are elongated with the endless drive loop that pulsemotor 103a and 103b link respectively, cause the endless drive loop pitch to increase.Like this, endless drive loop tension force reduces, and the feed pitch that is wound with each pulley teeth of theintake roller 94 of this endless drive loop andexit roller 101 respectively reduces, and the transporting velocity of record-paper P reduces, and therefore produces less color registration imbalance.That is to say that when temperature and humidity was high, it is little that the displacement between the launching position of a kind of color ink i and the launching position of another kind of color ink i changes caused color registration imbalance than transporting velocity under the normal temperature.
On the other hand, when temperature and humidity is low, the corresponding shortening of the length of endless drive loop, therefore pitch reduces.Like this, endless drive loop tension force increases, and it is big that the feed pitch of each pulley teeth ofintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 becomes, and the transporting velocity of record-paper P improves, and causes bigger color registration imbalance.That is to say that when temperature and humidity was low, it is big that the displacement each other of different colours ink i launching position changes caused color registration imbalance than transporting velocity under the normal temperature.
Therefore, during according to ink-jet control datacontrol inkjet controller 123,controller 129 also obtains environmental data attemperature sensor 74 places, and makesinkjet controller 123 according to this environmental data and ink-jet control data controlink gun 45.
Memory 128 can be, for example, ROM, EP-ROM, RAM etc. store the above-mentioned speed control data of all kinds record-paper P, transporting velocity data etc.In addition, except above-mentioned data, it is the ink-jet control data that all kinds record-paper P generates according to the ink launching position data of all kinds record-paper P thatmemory 128 also stores by controller 129.Ink launching position data are detected by inklaunching position detector 75.
In thecontrol circuit 131 of said structure, sinceintake roller 94 andexit roller 101 hold the type of pincers under the arm because of record-paper P, differences such as thickness and changing, and transporting velocity intensity of variation difference, that is to say that the color registration imbalance is different because of paper P type, so,controller 129 generates the ink-jet control data for all kinds record-paper P that just is being printed, and these data are stored in the memory 128.Should be noted that incontrol circuit 131,, also store the ink-jet control data of common paper P type in thememory 128, andinkjet controller 123 is controlled on the ink-jet control data basis that prestores except the ink-jet control data thatcontroller 129 generates.Like this, when printing on common type record-paper P, inklaunching position detector 75 needn't read anytest pattern 5 for generating the ink-jet control data, also can guarantee not have the letter quality printing of color registration imbalance.
Althoughcontrol circuit 131 as above-mentioned design store handling procedure in ROM126, the medium that stores this handling procedure is not limited to ROM126, can also be, for example stores the CD of handling procedure, disk, magneto-optic disk, IC-card etc.In this case,control circuit 131 is designed to directly be connected with the driver that drives this recording medium or connect viamessage handler 130, to read handling procedure from this recording medium.
Incontrol circuit 131,memory 128 also is designed to store speed and distinguishes data, transporting velocity data, ink-jet control data etc.If RAM127 and ROM126 have the enough storage capacitys that store these data, these data can be stored in these memories.
The printing of the flowchart text saidstructure printer 1 among hereinafter with reference Figure 25.Should be noted that the handling procedure control that will be stored in by the CPU (not shown) basis of 129 li of controllers among storage device such as the ROM126 etc. of finishing of printing.
In order to useprinter 1 to print, the user is thecontrol button 68 on the printer operationmain body 3 at first, and perhaps the print command that will defer to by input/output end port 125input printers 1 fromexternal message handler 130 is to controller 129.At this moment, the information signal about one type of printing paper P that will use also is provided tocontroller 129, so that be the type of setting of printing paper P.
After being provided above-mentioned print command,controller 129 judges at step S1 whether theink tank 11 of each default color is installed in the correct position of 31 li of container receiving slits, and whetherhead cartridge 2 is installed in the correct position in thejet head receiver 66 of printer main body 3.After theink tank 11 of determining each default color correctly is installed in thejet head receiver 66 that 31 li of container receiving slits andhead cartridge 2 also be installed in printermain body 3,controller 129 beginning execution in step S2.On the contrary, ifcontroller 129 judges thatink tanks 11 correctly are not installed in 31 li of container receiving slits and/orhead cartridge 2 correctly is not installed in thejet head receiver 66 of printermain body 3,controller 129 beginning execution in step S4, the non-print operation continues.
At step S2,controller 129 judges whetherink tank 11 ink inside i are less than default amount or do not have ink i.If determining does not have ink i in theink tank 11,controller 129 gives thealarm alarm unit 124, and beginning execution in step S14, and this step non-print operation continues.
Otherwise, at step S2, ifcontroller 129 judges thatink tank 11 ink inside i more than default amount, that is, wherein have the ink i of q.s,controller 129 beginning execution in step S3, this step allows printing to continue.
Next instep 3,controller 129 judges whether the ink-jet control data that is usually used in printing class record paper P is stored in the memory 128.Ifcontroller 129 determines that soon the ink-jet control data of the paper P of use is stored in thememory 128,controller 129 operating procedure S8 allowprinter 1 by printing formation character, image etc.Otherwise ifcontroller 129 determines that the ink-jet control data of paper P is not stored in thememory 128,controller 129 operating procedure S4 allowprinter 1 printing test pattern, and are the paper P generation ink-jet control data of printing test pattern.
Next instep 4,controller 129control printer drivers 122 are to drive hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 and to advance/sheet delivery 72, and controlprinter 1 printing test pattern, so that be transported to generation ink-jet control data on the locational record-paper P that can print.More specifically, after the operation beginning of printing test pattern, as shown in figure 19, the hydrojet head-shield 44 thatcontroller 129 control hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 cut out withmovable spray surface 41 is to the rest position ofprinter 1 front portion.As shown in figure 19,controller 129 is also controlled the lifting device (not shown) withintake roller 94,exit roller 101 andplaten pallet 104 be by moving to the preparation transfer position on the rest position, and drivingpulse motor 103a and 103b carry paper P with arrow E direction among Figure 17.Then, controller 29control inkjet controller 123 printing test pattern on the paper P that is transported to position,ink jet face 41 opposite.
Next at step S5,controller 129 control inklaunching position detectors 75, to read the test pattern on the record-paper P that sends by print position byexit roller 101, detect the launching position of each chromatic ink i, and detected ink launching position is offeredcontroller 129 as ink launching position data.
Then at step S6,controller 129 is on the basis of the ink launching position data that inklaunching position detector 75 provides, and generation ink-jet control data also is stored in the memory 128.The ink-jet control data is used for correcting the color registration imbalance that takes place when the print procedure transporting velocity improves.The ink-jet control data that is stored in thememory 128 is to store as the new ink-jet control data of the type record-paper P, provides when print command provides, and is used for printing on the paper P of same kind.Then,controller 129control alarm units 124 give the alarm, and prompting has obtained to be about to the ink-jet control data of the paper P that is used to print.
Next at step S7, thecontrol button 68 on user's printer operationmain body 3 provides the order of printable character and figure tocontroller 129, and perhaps ordering byexternal message handler 130 provides via input/output port 125.
Next at step S8, controller 129 control printer drivers 122 to be to drive hydrojet head-shield operating means 71 and to advance/sheet delivery 72, and like this, this advances/and sheet delivery 72 feeding recordable paper P are to the position that can print.Controller 129 is also controlled inkjet controller 123 and is being transported to printable character and figure on the paper P of this print position with beginning.At this moment, at step S9, controller 129 control temperature sensors 74 are exported with near the temperature the detection jet head 37 and as environmental data.Controller 129 just in this way obtains environmental data.More specifically, controller 129 environmental data that temperature sensor 74 provides and be pre-stored in the memory 128 and the basis of the transporting velocity data of the paper P type that is provided with when printing beginning on, control inkjet controller 123 so that ink gun 45 sprays and throws ink to paper P, and in the need print data that provides by input/output end port 125 by external message handler 130 etc., as character and graph data, the basis on, on paper P, form character and figure by ink droplet.Paper P by advance/sheet delivery 72 is delivered to print position and keeps tensioned states by intake roller 94 and exit roller 101.It should be noted that, be not stored in the memory 128 if print the transporting velocity data of the paper P type that test pattern is arranged on it, controller 129 is when printing this test pattern, according to paper tail end sensor 111, the data that encoder 112 grades provide generate the transporting velocity data.
Next at step S10, the papertail end sensor 111 ofcontroller 129 controlrate discrimination unit 73 is with the tail end of record-paper P in the continuous detecting printing.After papertail end sensor 111 detected this tail end,speed discrimination unit 73 detected data with it as the paper tail end and provides to controller 129.Controller 129control printers 1 carry out being detected until paper P tail end as the continuous printing among the step S8.When papertail end sensor 111 detects the tail end of paper P,controller 129 detects data at the paper tail end of papertail end sensor 111, the rotation data ofencoder 112 is distinguished on the basis of data with the speed that is pre-stored inmemory 128, whether the transporting velocity of judging paper P changes, and carry out step S11, correct the color registration imbalance.
More specifically, the speed discrimination unit detects the tail end of paper P andcontroller 129 when determining that transporting velocities have changed, thecontroller 129 that has arrived step S11 is byinkjet controller 123, at the environmental data of temperature sensor be pre-stored on the ink ejection data basis of this paper P type in thememory 128,control ink gun 45, with time ejection other each the chromatic ink i except black ink i that postpone to some extent before increasing with respect to velocity variations, thereby avoid the color registration imbalance with the launching position of correcting ink i.
After the imbalance of step S12 correction color registration is finished,controller 129 with the time before the velocity variations, sprays of all kinds according to ink-jet control datacontrol inkjet controller 123 once more according to the order of sequence, the data that printing needs to print finish to print until last character or figure then.
Next at step S13,controller 129 controls are advanced/sheet delivery 72, carry the record-paper P that finishes printing to supportingplate 65 byexit roller 101, withdraw from printing then.
Then, atprinter 1, step S1 repeats to the printing of S14, and 11 ink inside i use up up to ink tank, does not have record-paper P residue in thecarton 64 or provides the order that stops to print via input/output end port 125 bycontrol button 68 or byexternal message handler 130.
In the printer of printing in the above describedmanner 1, the papertail end sensor 111 of chartspeed discrimination unit 73 detects the tail end of the record-paper P that is printing.If chartspeed discrimination unit 73 determines that the transporting velocity of paper P increases, owing to the color registration imbalance that the transporting velocity variation causes can be according to the environmental data oftemperature sensor 74, the ink-jet control data thatcontroller 129 generates according to the ink launching position data of papertail end detector 75, or the ink-jet control data that is pre-stored in this type paper P in thememory 128 is corrected.
That is to say, atprinter 1, if record-paper P transporting velocity in print procedure increases, by the time of other inks i beyond thenozzle 52a ejection black ink i that on throughput direction, is in downstream position, comprise environmental data according to the ink-jet control data, postpone to some extent before increasing with respect to paper P transporting velocity, with other inks i beyond the projection black ink i to the position that black ink i will be projected onto, thereby correct the color registration imbalance that causes when the paper transporting velocity changes.
Therefore, at thisprinter 1, even the paper transporting velocity changes in print procedure, also can consider the type of record-paper P when ejection and projection ink, environment temperature etc., therefore, stop it to cause the color registration imbalance when paper transporting velocity changes in print procedure, thereby finish letter quality printing.
Although the application of the present invention in printer has been described by way of example, the present invention is not limited to present embodiment, but can be widely used in other any liquid discharging device using its.For example, the present invention can be applicable to facsimile machine, duplicator, the DNA chip ejector equipment of atomizing of liquids and DNA chip hybrid thing (as the equipment among the disclosed Japanese patent application 2002-34560), ejection includes the liquid discharging device using it of the liquid of conductive particle with formation wiring diagram on printed circuit board (PCB), etc.
In addition, above also for example understandink gun 45, thisjet head 45 utilizesresistance heater 55 heating with ejection ink i.But the present invention is not limited to this ink gun, also can be applicable to have the liquid discharging device using it of a plurality of pressurizing members, its ink discharge device by provide to each pressurizing member can not energy or provide identical energy with different time, thereby can control inkjet direction.
And the foregoing description uses the electromechanical transducing system, and wherein, 55 heating of resistance heater of ink droplet i are sprayed by nozzle 52a.But the present invention is not limited to this system, and in its adoptable electromechanical transducing system, ink droplet can spray in electromechanical mode with transducer electrical component such as piezoelectric element etc.
And, also for example understand the present invention with regard to line printer 1.But the present invention is not limited to this printer, also can be applicable to the serial type liquid discharging device using it, and for example, ink gun wherein can move with the vertical substantially direction of record-paper P moving direction.
Be that example describes the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail also above with regard to some preferred embodiments.But those of ordinary skills should be clear, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiment, can also revise in various manners, adopts different structures, or implement with other various forms, and do not depart from the scope and spirit of the present invention.Scope of the present invention and essence are set forth by claims and are limited.