JP2774049B2 - Ink jet recording device and information processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means moving along a recording material, and particularly relates to yellow (yellow), magenta (magenta) and cyan. (blue-green) of the three primary colors or these three primary perform color recording by mixing subtractive color four colors including black (black), a color ink jet recording apparatus and the comprises a recording unit of the film boiling phenomenon utilizing recording system Information processing with the device as output means
Related to the device .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording operation by a color ink jet recording apparatus utilizes a subtractive color mixing method for expressing multiple colors. That is, all colors are obtained by mixing the three primary colors in various ratios. For example, when yellow (Y) and magenta (M) are mixed, red (R) is obtained. When yellow (Y) and cyan (C) are mixed, green (G) is obtained.
Further, when magenta (M) and cyan (C) are mixed, blue (B) is obtained. Various colors can be obtained based on such three primary colors. That is, different colors can be obtained by further mixing the colors obtained by the three primary colors. Color printing is performed using such a subtractive color mixing method.

Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus such as a word processor and an information processing apparatus for controlling the same,
Test printing is generally performed in order to check the completion of a text, figure, table or the like even during creation, and to check for conversion errors. This is based on the fact that it is sufficient to understand characters and the like, regardless of the print quality, and various techniques have been devised such as increasing the printing speed by thinning printing or low density printing, and suppressing ink consumption.

[0004] In a color ink jet recording apparatus as well, it is important to suppress the amount of ink used by trial printing in order to use the ink cartridge without waste.

It is also important that when only the ink of the color desired to be used is almost or almost exhausted, printing can be performed by changing the designation of the ink of the remaining color.

[0006]

However, in the above conventional example, yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) are used.
Or yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C)
And the amount of ink used for each color of black (K) ink varies, so that the remaining amount of ink differs for each color. When ink of one color runs out, ink of another color remains despite ink remaining Had to be replaced.

[0007] Further, when the ink of the color desired to be used is almost or almost exhausted, the user must change the color designation, and it is inconvenient to start printing immediately.

An object of the present invention is to change the color of the ink to be used according to the remaining amount of the ink at the time of the test printing before the actual printing, thereby reducing the loss for each color of the ink and extending the life of the ink cartridge. A recording device is provided.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is capable of recording by selecting either a normal recording mode or a trial recording mode, and is capable of recording on a recording material. It has a plurality of ink ejection ports for recording image information and uses a recording head that ejects a plurality of colors of ink, and a plurality of ink tanks that contain a plurality of colors of ink to supply ink to the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by using a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in an ink tank, and when performing recording in a test recording mode, based on a detection result of the detecting means, the inter-color ink Means for changing an ink tank to be used so that recording is performed using ink having the maximum remaining amount of ink when the difference between the remaining amounts is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. . Further, preferably, there is provided means for changing a color table used when recording image information based on the remaining amount of ink detected by the detecting means, and more preferably, a connection which can be connected to an external information processing device. Means for transmitting the detection result by the detection means to the information processing apparatus via the connection means, thereby causing the information processing apparatus to process the detection result, and for controlling the ink tank sent from the information processing apparatus based on the processed detection result. Means for inputting a predetermined command regarding the change to the ink tank changing means. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, preferably, the recording head has, as an element for generating energy used for discharging the ink, an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of the ink. It is characterized by the following. Further, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a connection unit for connecting to the ink jet recording apparatus having such a configuration, a processing unit for processing the detection result, and a predetermined method for changing the ink tank based on the processed detection result. And a means for transmitting the instruction to the recording device, preferably selected from a copier, a facsimile, a printer, a word processor, a workstation, a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk device, and a video device. Device.

[0010]

The detecting means detects the remaining amount of the ink in the ink tank, and based on the detection result, the ink tank to be used is arbitrarily changed by the changing means, and thereafter, the recording head records the image information.

[0011]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a recording head unit 2 mounted on the apparatus shown in FIG. This ink jet recording apparatus 1
A cartridge type recording means (recording head unit) 2 in which the recording head unit 3 and the ink tank unit 4 are integrated is used.

The recording head unit 2 includes an ink jet head for a color image, and is provided corresponding to each color ink of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). It has four types of recording heads (black head, cyan head, magenta head, and yellow head). These recording heads are arranged in parallel along the printing direction. The recording head of this embodiment discharges ink using bubbles (film boiling phenomenon) generated by thermal energy using an electrothermal transducer as an ink discharge energy generating means.

The recording head unit 2 includes paper,
Each head is mounted on the carriage 5 so that each head is oriented toward the recording material side such as a plastic sheet. The surface of each recording head that faces the recording surface P ′ on the recording material at a predetermined interval (for example, 8 mm) is provided on the surface of each recording head.
A plurality (for example, 48 or 64) of ink ejection ports are formed. These ink ejection ports are arranged in tandem in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the guide shaft 3.

The recording heads constituting the recording head unit 3 are arranged at predetermined intervals and have a plurality of ink discharge ports each having an opening directed toward a recording surface of a recording material, and a recording head for storing ink liquid. And a plurality of electrothermal converters (for example, heating resistance elements) for heating the ink liquid, and a substrate for supporting these.

A pulse voltage is applied to each electrothermal converter independently. When one pulse is applied to heat the electrothermal transducer, the ink liquid near the electrothermal transducer evaporates due to the film boiling phenomenon to form one large bubble. The ink liquid is ejected from the ink ejection port by the pressure caused by the generation of the bubble, and a single flying ink droplet is formed. Therefore,
By repeatedly applying the applied pulse to the electrothermal transducer, the formation of the flying ink droplet B 'from the ink discharge port can be repeated.

The carriage 5 is interlocked with a carriage motor 6 via a power transmission means (belt), and can reciprocate on the guide shaft 8 in the direction of arrow B by the rotation of the motor 6.

The ink tank unit 4 and the carriage 5 are electrically connected so that a control signal of the ink to be ejected and information on the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank unit 4 are transmitted to an information processing apparatus described later. Has become. The remaining amount of ink is detected for each of the Y, M, C, and K inks and transmitted as individual ink remaining amount information.

On the other hand, the surface of the recording material on which recording is to be performed is supported by transport rollers 9 and a platen 10. These holding means are provided in parallel with the guide shaft 3 and spaced apart in the horizontal direction.

Further, the surface on which the recording material is recorded is movable in the direction of arrow A.

Therefore, the recording head unit mounted on the carriage can reciprocate in the width direction (arrow B direction) of the recording material recording surface while facing in a parallel relationship with the recording material recording surface. The information sent from the host computer is recorded on the recording surface in conjunction with the operation. In this way, recording is performed on the recording material held on the platen 10, and every time recording for one line is performed, the recording material is conveyed by a predetermined pitch (paper feed), and the next one line is recorded again. The recording operation is repeated to form an image on the entire area of the recording material.

FIG. 3 shows a Japanese word processor which is an example of an information processing apparatus connected to the ink jet recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The Japanese word processor denoted by reference numeral 101 in the figure (hereinafter referred to as "word processor")
A liquid crystal display device 102 (hereinafter referred to as an “LCD”), which is a display device on which text, graphics, etc. edited and printed by the word processor 101 are displayed; And a keyboard input device 10 to which instructions for inputting and editing text and the like are given.
3 (hereinafter referred to as “KB”). Also, the floppy disk drive 10 mounted on the end face of the word processor 101
Reference numeral 4 (hereinafter referred to as “FDD”) is a drive device for a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as “FD”) (not shown), which stores texts and figures created by the word processor 101,
This is a type of external storage device that can read information from the FD. Word processor 101 and inkjet recording device 1
(Hereinafter, referred to as “printer”) is connected by an electrical signal to an interface cable 105 (hereinafter, referred to as “cable”), which transmits commands and print data issued from the word processor to the printer, and transmits the data to the printer. The status information is transmitted to the word processor.

FIG. 4 shows a display portion LCD1 of the word processor 101.
02 only. Displayed are "print" 106 and "test print" 107. When each is selected by the keyboard input device 103, the word processor 101 determines the print mode. When “print” 106 is selected, the word processor 101 prints the printer 1 so that the colors as specified in the text / graphics are printed.
Control. On the other hand, when the “test print” 107 is selected, the word processor 101 controls the printer 1 to perform thinned-out printing. "Print" 106 and "Test print" 10
7 is selected by the user operating the KB 103.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. Each state is as follows. The start 201 is where the LCD 102 screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. The print mode has not yet been selected by the user.
202 is a determination as to whether “print” 106 has been selected, and 203 is a determination as to whether “test print” 107 has been selected. Reference numeral 204 denotes an ink remaining amount detection unit.
The remaining amount of each ink of CK is digitized and set in registers 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K, respectively. In 205, the remaining ink amounts 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are set. At 205, the quantified ink remaining amounts 1Y and 1M
AYM, the absolute value of the difference between 1Y and 1C is AYC, and the absolute value of the difference between 1Y and 1K is AYM.
Each is set as YK. 206 is a step of determining whether or not there is a difference in reduction between the inks of each color;
For example, the values IY, IM, IC, and IK of the respective color ink amounts
Takes a value of 0 to 100, and A is set to 5. If the difference between the remaining ink amounts is larger than 5, the process proceeds to 207. A value greater than 5 means that the difference between the remaining amounts of ink is so large that it cannot be ignored, and that the remaining amount of ink is partially reduced. Therefore, in order to prevent the loss, the test printing is performed by switching the ink to the ink having the largest remaining amount 207 is a step of selecting the ink having the largest remaining amount of the ink,
Simply compare IY, IM, IC and IK and select the largest one. At 208, the print data is converted so as to use the ink having the largest remaining amount of ink. In step 209, thinning-out printing for test printing is performed.
Proceed to the end of The standard print 210 performs color printing in accordance with the designation of a sentence / graphic by the user without performing any special processing.

In step 202, it is determined whether the user has selected “print” 106. If the user has selected “print” 106, the process proceeds to standard printing 210. In the standard printing 210, printing is performed without performing any special ink conversion processing in accordance with the specification of the color specified for the printed text / graphic, and the process proceeds to the end of 211 to end the processing. If “print” 106 is not selected in step 202, the process proceeds to step 203. At 203, it is determined whether or not the user has selected the "test print" 107. If the user has not selected the "test print" 107, the control is returned to before 202 and the user waits until the user selects the "test print" 107. If “test printing” 107 is selected in step 203, the process proceeds to step 204. 204
The remaining amount of ink is detected, and the process proceeds to 205. When the differences AYM, AYC and AYK of the remaining ink amounts are obtained at 205,
Proceed to decision 206. The constant A used in 206 is a criterion for determining whether or not the difference in the remaining amount of ink can be ignored. 2
If it is determined at 06 that AYM, AYC, and AYK are all smaller than the constant A, control is transferred to 209 thinning printing. Here, since no special processing is performed, the thinned-out printing is performed with the color specified for the printed text / graphics as it is.

If NO is determined in 206, the process proceeds to 207, where the ink color remaining most in YMCK is set, and control is transferred to 208. In step 208, the print data is reprocessed based on the information set in step 207, and the print data is converted so that the ink with the largest remaining amount of ink is used preferentially. At 209, thinned-out printing is performed by the data converted at 208.

Since the test printing is performed to check the character size, layout, erroneous characters, erroneous conversion, etc., it is often unnecessary to obtain a clear and accurate output result as in the case of finishing printing. By utilizing this fact, by correcting the variation in the remaining amount of ink at the time of test printing, it is possible to eliminate the waste due to one-sided use of the ink cartridge and to extend the relative life of the cartridge. .

[0027] <Second Embodiment> This embodiment is a device configuration of the first embodiment the same way, the configuration of the recording head unit is as follows.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the recording head unit 2 used in the second embodiment according to the present invention. The ink tank unit 4 is composed of two parts that can be detached separately, a K ink tank 301 and a YMC ink tank 302.
It consists of. The K ink tank 301 holds black (K) ink inside, and the YMC ink tank 302 is internally divided into three parts, each of which contains yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks. Is filled. Individual ejection ports for each of YMCK are integrated in the recording head unit 2, and ink is ejected from the recording head unit 2 by applying an electric signal.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing based on this embodiment. Each state is as follows. Start 401 is the LC shown in FIG.
The D102 screen has just been displayed. The print mode has not been selected by the user. 402 is a judgment as to whether the “print” 106 has been selected.
Is a determination as to whether the “test print” 107 has been selected. Reference numeral 404 denotes ink remaining amount detection, and the remaining amounts of the respective inks of YMC are numerically converted into registers 1Y, 1M, 1
Set to C. At 405, the absolute value of the difference between the quantified ink remaining amounts 1Y and 1M is set as AYM, and the absolute value of the difference between 1Y and 1C is set as AYC. At 406, it is determined whether or not AYM and AYC are smaller than a constant A. In 407, 1M, 1Y,
By determining the largest one among 1C, the one with the largest remaining amount of ink is set. In step 408, the print data is converted so as to use the ink having the largest remaining amount of ink. At 409, thinning-out printing for test printing is performed, and when the process is completed, the process proceeds to the end of 411. The standard printing 410 performs color printing in accordance with designation of a sentence / graphic by the user without performing any special processing.

At 402, it is determined whether or not the user has selected "print" 106. If the user has selected "print" 106, the process proceeds to 410 for standard printing. In the standard printing 410, printing is performed without performing special ink conversion processing according to the specification of the color specified in the text / graphic by the user, and the process proceeds to the end of 411 to end the processing. If “print” 106 is not selected in 402, the process proceeds to 403. At 403, it is determined whether or not the user has selected the "test print" 107. If the user has not selected the "test print" 107, the control is returned to the step before 402 and the user waits for the selection. “Test print” 10 in 403
When 7 is selected, the process proceeds to 404. At 404, the remaining ink amount is detected, and the process proceeds to 405. Step 406 is a step of determining whether or not there is a difference in the reduction between the respective color inks.
The constant A used here is a criterion for determining whether or not the difference between the remaining amounts of ink can be ignored. For example, when the values IY, IM, and IC of the respective color ink amounts take values from 0 to 100, and A is 5, if the difference between the remaining ink amounts is larger than 5, the process proceeds to 407; That is, A at 406
If it is determined that YM and AYC are all smaller than the constant A, the control shifts to 409 thinning printing. Here, since no special processing is performed, the thinned-out printing is performed with the color specified for the printed text / graphics as it is.

When NO is determined in 406, the process proceeds to 407. Step 407 is a step of selecting the one having the largest remaining ink amount, and simply comparing IY, IM, and IC and selecting the largest one. Here, the most remaining ink color among the Y, M, and C inks is set, and the control is shifted to 408. In step 408, the print data is reprocessed based on the information set in step 407, and the print data is converted so that the ink having the largest remaining amount of ink is preferentially used. At 409, thinning printing is performed based on the data converted at 408.

The test printing is performed to check the character size, layout, erroneous characters, erroneous conversion, and the like, and thus often does not require a clean and accurate output result as in the case of finishing printing. By utilizing this fact, by correcting the variation in the remaining amount of ink at the time of test printing, it is possible to eliminate the waste due to one-sided use of the ink cartridge and to extend the relative life of the cartridge. . Also, when printing a general text, there is a difference in consumption between the black ink and the inks of other colors. Therefore, the ink remaining amount data of the K ink tank 301 is not used, and the ink amount of the YMC ink tank 302 is not used. By using only the remaining amount data, the effect that the YMC ink tank can be used effectively can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment> In the first and second embodiments, the ink tank portion and the recording head portion are directly connected and mounted on a carriage for use. However, the recording head portion and the ink tank portion are not used at all. It is needless to say that the present invention is effective even with a separately mounted inkjet recording apparatus.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the first and second embodiments, a printer-separated type Japanese word processor has been described as an information processing apparatus for controlling an ink jet recording apparatus. It is effective even with a Japanese word processor. Also, there is no need to be limited to Japanese word processors, but ordinary copiers, facsimile machines, printers, workstations, personal computers, host computers,
It goes without saying that the present invention is also effective for a device selected from an optical disk device and a video device.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angle liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed 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 on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection to the apparatus main body or ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, for example, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state where it is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also for a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0044]

As described above, in an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from recording means moving along a recording material, at least two or more types of ink supplied to the recording means are used. Means for holding ink in an inseparable ink tank, means for detecting the remaining amount of each ink, means for transmitting detected ink remaining amount information, and means for changing the type of ink to be used based on the remaining ink amount information By using the ink determined based on the ink remaining amount information at the time of test printing, it is possible to prevent the loss of ink without wasting the low remaining ink at the time of test printing, Can extend the relative lifespan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a recording head provided in the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection between a Japanese word processor to which the present invention is applied and an ink jet recording apparatus.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a liquid crystal display image of the Japanese word processor shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a recording operation control in the first embodiment based on the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a recording head used in a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a recording operation control in a second embodiment based on the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink jet recording apparatus 2 Recording means (recording head unit) 3 Recording head part (recording head) 4 Ink tank part (ink tank) 5 Carriage 6 Drive motor (carriage motor) 7 Power transmission means 8 Guide shaft 9 Conveyance roller 10 Platen 101 Japanese word processor 102 Liquid crystal display device 103 Input device 104 Floppy disk drive 105 Interface cable 106 “Print” selection 107 “Test print” selection 301 K (black) ink tank portion 302 YMC (yellow, magenta, cyan) ink tank portion

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of ink discharge ports for recording image information on a recording material; a plurality of ink discharge ports for recording image information on a recording material; An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording head that discharges ink and a plurality of ink tanks that store a plurality of colors of ink to supply ink to the recording head, comprising: an ink remaining amount in the ink tank. Detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink when the recording is performed in the test recording mode, based on the detection result of the detecting means, when the difference between the remaining amounts of the respective color inks is a predetermined amount or more, Means for changing an ink tank to be used so as to perform recording using the maximum ink. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing a color table used at the time of recording the image information based on the remaining amount of ink detected by said detecting means. Ink jet recording device. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connection means is connectable to an external information processing apparatus, and said detection result by said detection means is sent to said information processing apparatus via said connection means. Means for causing the information processing apparatus to process the detection result, and inputting a predetermined command regarding change of the ink tank sent from the information processing apparatus to the ink tank changing means based on the processed detection result; An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head comprises:
An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: an element that generates energy used for discharging the ink, an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink. 5. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of ink ejection ports for recording image information on a recording material, wherein the recording can be performed by selecting one of a normal recording mode and a test recording mode; A recording head for discharging a plurality of colors of ink, a plurality of ink tanks containing a plurality of colors of ink for supplying ink to the recording head, a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, and When printing is performed in the test printing mode, printing is performed using the ink having the largest remaining ink amount based on the detection result of the detection unit, when the difference between the remaining amounts of the respective color inks is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. Means for connecting to an ink jet recording apparatus provided with means for changing an ink tank to be used, processing the detection result, and based on the processed detection result The information processing apparatus characterized by means for sending a predetermined instruction about the changes of the ink tank to the recording apparatus is provided. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus is a copier, a facsimile, a printer, a word processor,
An information processing apparatus, which is an apparatus selected from a workstation, a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk device, and a video device.