JP6700829B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording device that performs heat fixing. In particular, the present invention relates to a configuration for optimizing a heat treatment for heat fixing depending on the type of recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Some recording apparatuses that form an image by applying a coloring material to a recording medium fix the image by heating the recording medium. In such a heat treatment, the larger the amount of heat applied to the recording medium, the more the evaporation of the solvent contained in the coloring material, the melting of the resin, and the film formation are promoted, and the image tends to be fixed in a short time and reliably. ..

  However, the molecular structure of the recording medium changes depending on the heating temperature, which may lead to deformation of the recording medium or discoloration of the recorded image. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the heating amount so as to obtain suitable fixing without causing deformation or discoloration, but such a suitable heating amount depends on the material of the recording medium. Furthermore, even with the same material, the heat capacity also changes depending on the thickness and size of the recording medium. Therefore, in a recording apparatus that performs thermal fixing, it is required to optimize the heat treatment according to the recording medium used, that is, to set the optimum heating temperature and heating time for each recording medium.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which parameters such as a fixing temperature, which are associated with a plurality of types of recording media, are stored in advance, and a user can input and set parameters for a custom paper type. It is disclosed.

JP, 2003-270872, A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, the user has to set an appropriate parameter for the custom paper type to be handled, that is, an appropriate fixing temperature. Therefore, when attempting to record on an unknown recording medium, the trial and error of the user may be repeated, and the output of defective products and the productivity may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of suitably controlling the heat treatment during recording even when recording on an unknown recording medium.

Therefore, the present invention is an information processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus that records a image by fixing a color material on a recording medium by performing a heat treatment, and a predetermined heat treatment is performed on the recording medium by the heat treatment means. Based on the result of the application, an acquisition unit that acquires information on a heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes, and a temperature lower than the heat change temperature corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition unit are recorded. A storage unit that stores as fixing temperature information for the heating process associated with the medium, the acquisition unit detects a distance between both ends of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heating process. Thus, the information is obtained .

  According to the present invention, even when an unregistered recording medium is attached, the optimum temperature for the fixing process is accurately set in association with the recording medium, and the fixing process during the recording operation is appropriately controlled. can do.

(A) And (b) is a figure which shows the printer part of a recording device. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the structural example of control of a recording device. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the sensor used in a 1st embodiment. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the storage state of a recording mode parameter. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a registration sequence in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the correspondence of the thickness and weight of a recording medium. It is a flow chart for explaining thermal analysis processing in a 1st embodiment. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the sensor used by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flow chart for explaining thermal analysis processing in a 2nd embodiment.

(First embodiment)
1A and 1B are views showing the printer unit 100 of the recording apparatus 102 that can be used in this embodiment. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view. The recording medium S wound around the paper feed unit 23 is transported inside the device as the rollers of the paper feed unit 23 and the inside of the device rotate, and is wound around the take-up roller 24. A recording head 7 that applies a color material to the recording medium S according to the recording data, a platen 2 that supports the recording medium S that is being recorded by the recording head 7, and a recording medium S that is being recorded or has been heated in the middle of the conveyance path. The heaters 25 and 27 which operate are provided. The details will be described below.

  The recording medium S as continuous paper separated from the paper supply unit 23 is sandwiched by a roller pair of a conveyance roller 11 and a pinch roller 16, and is sent onto a platen 2 which is a flat plate arranged on the housing 1. .. After a predetermined image is recorded on the recording medium S by the recording head 7 on the platen 2, the recording medium S is nipped by the roller pair of the discharge roller 32 and the driven roller 31, and the conveying direction of the recording medium S is largely changed by the turn roller 33. It is collected by the winding roller 24. The drive source of the transport roller 11 and the paper discharge roller 32 is a transport motor (not shown), and the drive source of the take-up roller 24 is a take-up motor 29.

  The platen 2 is provided with hole-shaped suction ports 34 in places, and each of the suction ports 34 communicates with a duct. During the recording operation, a negative pressure is generated inside the duct 4 by the rotation of the suction fan 36 provided adjacent to the inside of the duct 4. For this reason, the back surface of the recording medium S on the platen 2 is sucked in the −Z direction through the plurality of suction ports 34, and the smoothness is maintained. In the present embodiment, the platen 2 is assumed to be formed of a material whose brightness is sufficiently lower than that of the recording medium S being conveyed.

  An inkjet recording head 7 faces the recording medium S on the platen 2, and a carriage 6 on which the recording head 7 is mounted can reciprocate in the ±X directions along a guide shaft 5. Such reciprocal movement of the carriage 6 is realized by the rotational force of the carriage motor 8 transmitting the belt 9. During the movement in the X direction, the recording head 7 ejects ink according to the image data, so that an image for one band is recorded on the recording medium S. When the recording scan for one band is completed, the plurality of rollers described above rotate at substantially the same time, and convey the recording medium S in the Y direction by a distance corresponding to one band. By alternately repeating the print scan by the print head 7 and the transport operation of the print medium S as described above, an image is formed on the print medium S step by step. As a method for ejecting ink from the recording head 7, various methods such as a thermal jet method using a heating element and a piezo method using a piezoelectric element can be adopted. The ink used in this embodiment contains a pigment and a resin in the solvent.

  A sensor 204 for measuring the state of the recording medium in thermal analysis is attached to the end portion of the carriage 6 in the -X direction. Although details of the sensor 204 will be described later, the sensor 204 is basically an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

  A first heater 25 and a first heater cover 26 that covers the first heater 25 are provided above the recording head 7 in the +Z direction at the position of the recording medium S during recording. Further, at a position adjacent to the first heater 25 and the first heater cover 26 in the +Y direction, a second heater 27 for heating the recording medium S after recording is completed and a second heater 27 for covering the second heater 27 are provided. A heater cover 28 is provided. The first heater cover 26 and the second heater cover 28 have a function of efficiently irradiating the surface of the recording medium S with the heat generated by the first heater 25 and the second heater 27, and protect the respective heaters. Play a role. The recording medium S is heated by the first heater 25 during the recording by the recording head 7, and is heated by the second heater 27 after the recording is completed.

  The first heater 25 uniformly heats the recording medium S immediately before recording, during recording, and immediately after recording to evaporate the water contained in the ink applied to the recording medium S and increase its viscosity. In the heating process of the first heater 25, it is not necessary to completely fix the ink, and the fluidity of the ink may be lowered to some extent. In the present embodiment, the heat generation temperature of the first heater is set so that the recording medium S rises to about 50°C. As the first heater 25, various kinds of heaters such as a warm air heater, an infrared heater, and a heat conduction type heater that contacts a recording medium can be used, but an infrared heater is particularly preferable.

  The second heater 27 arranged on the downstream side of the first heater in the transport direction heats the recording medium S after the heat treatment by the first heater at a temperature higher than that of the first heater. To fix the ink completely. That is, the water content of the ink applied to the recording medium S is further evaporated, and the contained resin is melted to form a film.

  The heat generation temperatures of the first heater 25 and the second heater 27 used in the present embodiment can be adjusted in multiple stages. In the thermal analysis described later, the heat generation temperature of the first heater 25 is switched stepwise to determine the fixing temperature suitable for the target recording medium. During the actual recording operation, the heat generation temperature of the second heater 27 is adjusted based on the fixing temperature set for each recording medium.

  2A and 2B are diagrams showing an example of the control configuration of the recording apparatus 102 in the present embodiment. FIG. 2A shows a form in which a host device 101 is connected to the printer unit 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. In this case, the characteristic processing of the present invention described below is realized mainly by the host apparatus 101 controlling various mechanisms provided in the printer unit 100.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows a form in which the image providing device 114 connected to the outside provides image data to the recording device 102 having a computer function. In this case, the characteristic processing of this embodiment is mainly executed by the controller 115 provided in the recording device 102. A form in which a digital camera, a USB memory, or the like is connected to the recording device 102 having a computer function corresponds to this. This embodiment can be applied to any of the forms shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Hereinafter, each mechanism will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The CPU 104 provided in the host device 101 controls the entire recording device 102 while using the work memory 105 according to the program stored in the storage device 106. The storage device 106 stores an OS, programs to be executed in this embodiment, various parameters, and various application software. A program for performing the characteristic processing of the present invention and various parameters associated with each recording medium described later are also stored in the storage device 106. The storage device 106 may be a memory represented by a hard disk or a flash ROM.

  The operation unit 103 serving as a user interface includes input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and display devices such as a display. The user can input necessary parameters and commands through the operation unit 103, and can also obtain information about the recording device 102 through the display device. The data input/output device 107 inputs image data to be recorded by the recording device 102, and outputs parameters generated by the host device 101.

  In the printer unit 100, the recording configuration including the recording head 7 and its driver described in FIG. Be done. Further, the heat treatment configuration including the first and second heaters and their drivers is included in the fixing unit 111. The control unit 112 controls each mechanism of the printer unit 100 under the instruction of the CPU 104. The data transfer unit 108 receives the print job generated by the host device 101 and transfers it to the control unit 112. In addition to the image data, the print job includes a recording mode parameter that specifies a recording method when recording the image data. Further, the recording mode parameters include image processing parameters necessary for performing image processing on the image data and mechanical parameters necessary for recording operation. The mechanical parameters include, for example, a parameter for designating the speed of the carriage 6, a transport parameter for designating the transport speed of the recording medium S, and a fixing process parameter.

  The control unit 112 analyzes such a print job and transfers the image data to the image processing unit 109 together with the image processing parameters. The image processing unit 109 performs predetermined image processing on the image data according to the received image processing parameters, and generates recording data that can be recorded by the recording unit 110. During the recording operation, the control unit 112 ejects ink from the recording head 7 according to the recording data generated by the image processing unit 109, and controls the mechanical operation of various mechanisms according to the mechanical parameters.

  The measuring unit 113 includes the sensor 204 described in FIG. 1 and its driver. The measuring unit 113 can detect the presence or absence and the width of the recording medium S while moving the carriage 6 to adjust the position of the sensor 204. The detection result is transmitted to the host device 101 via the data transfer unit 108.

  In the case of the configuration of FIG. 2B, each block has the same function as that of FIG. However, in the case of FIG. 2B, the functions of the host device 101 shown in FIG. 2A are included in the recording device 102, and the controller 115 performs processing of the entire device. The data input/output device 107 is a portable storage device typified by a CD or MO or a data communication device typified by a LAN card. The data input/output device 107 is used as an interface when receiving a print command or a command for adding a new recording medium from the image providing device 114 connected to the outside. For example, when the data to be recorded can be acquired from the CD, MO, or LAN card attached to the data input/output device 107, and the user can input a print command or a command to add a new recording medium from the UI 116, an image is displayed. The providing device 114 is not an essential component. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment can take any of the forms shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining the configuration and function of the sensor 204 in this embodiment. FIG. 3A is a structural conceptual diagram of the sensor 204. The sensor 204 is an optical sensor including an LED 301 as a light emitting element and a photodiode 302 (hereinafter referred to as PD302) as a light receiving element, and the PD 302 receives light emitted by the LED 301 and reflected by the recording medium S. There is. Such a sensor 204 is controlled by the control unit 112, and the acquired result is transmitted to the host device 101. Although a pair of the LED 301 and the PD 302 is shown here, the sensor 204 of the present embodiment is provided with three LEDs having different emission colors and PDs that receive the reflected light of each, and can also perform color measurement of an object. It is like this.

  Reference is made to FIG. The sensor 204 is attached to the side end of the carriage 6 and can detect the state of the recording medium S in the area where the carriage 6 moves in the X direction. The control unit 112 transmits the acquired detection result to the host device 101, and the CPU 104 of the host device 101 performs various determination processes based on the result. For example, as described above, the platen 2 of this embodiment is made of a material having a sufficiently low brightness as compared with the recording medium S. Therefore, the amount of light received by the PD 302 greatly differs between the position where the recording medium S exists and the position where the recording medium S does not exist. Therefore, the CPU 104 can determine the presence or absence of the recording medium S in the detection area of the measuring unit 113 and the width of the recording medium in the X direction.

  Hereinafter, the recording medium registration sequence executed by the CPU 104 will be described in detail. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a storage state of recording mode parameters associated with each recording medium in the storage device 106. The recording mode parameters are composed of image processing parameters and mechanical parameters. The image processing parameter is a parameter that the image processing unit 109 refers to when executing a predetermined image processing, and specifically, a lookup table (or a parameter that specifies an appropriate lookup table) or a quantization process It includes the coefficients used at that time. Even when recording is performed using the same color material (ink), the color reproducibility varies depending on the type of recording medium, and thus the image processing parameters are prepared according to the type of recording medium. On the other hand, the mechanical parameters include a conveyance parameter that sets the conveyance speed (that is, the driving force of the conveyance motor 3) and the position of the recording head 7 in the height direction (Z direction) during the recording operation, and the heating temperature of the heater in the fixing unit 111. And the fixing operation control parameter for setting the heating time. These mechanical parameters are also preferably adjusted appropriately according to the recording medium. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, a storage area is prepared for both the image processing parameter and the mechanical parameter in association with the type of recording medium.

  It should be noted that a plurality of image processing parameters and mechanical parameters may be prepared in association with required quality such as high image quality mode and high speed mode. In such a case, the CPU 104 extracts the image processing parameter and the mechanical parameter to be used from the respective memory areas based on the designated quality and provides them as the above-mentioned recording mode parameter. On the other hand, when generating a new recording medium parameter for an unknown recording medium, the CPU 104 creates a new storage area (recording medium E) for the unknown recording medium, as shown in FIG. 4B. Secure.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the registration sequence executed by the CPU 104. This process is started when the user mounts a recording medium to be newly registered in the recording device and inputs a new registration command from the operation unit 103.

When this process is started, the CPU 104 first acquires information on a similar recording medium from the registered recording media as temporary information and temporarily registers it in step S51. Such temporary information may be acquired by the user selecting one similar from the pull-down menu in which registered recording media are listed. At this time, by displaying the correspondence between the thickness and weight of the recording medium as shown in FIG. 6 by the help function or the like, it can be used as a guide when the user selects the recording medium. For example, when the thickness of the recording medium to be newly registered is 200 μm, the user may temporarily register the recording medium C having a thickness of 205 μm, which is the closest to the thickness. If the weight of the newly registered recording medium is 200 g/m ² , the user may temporarily register the recording medium B having the closest weight of 230 g/m ² . When such temporary information is acquired, the CPU 104 secures an area (recording medium E) for a recording medium to be newly registered in the storage device 106, as shown in FIG. 4B. Then, the obtained temporary registration information (image processing parameter and mechanical parameter) is duplicated and stored therein.

  In step S52, the CPU 104 executes thermal analysis processing. Then, the fixing operation control parameter for the “recording medium E” is generated and stored in the area for the “recording medium E”. The fixing operation control parameter includes heat quantity information required for fixing the recording medium S, a fixing temperature control parameter that determines the heat generation temperature of the heater, and a fixing time control parameter that determines the heating time by the heater. In the present embodiment including the serial type printer unit 100, the waiting time between print scans by the print head 7 is set as a fixing time control parameter. In step S52, the fixing temperature control parameter corresponding to the recording medium E is first obtained by the thermal analysis process, and then the fixing temperature control parameter is calculated based on the set fixing temperature control parameter and the temporarily registered heat quantity information.

  Here, the fixing temperature control parameter will be briefly described. In the process of manufacturing a polymer film as a recording medium, generally, a process called stretching called stretching is performed. At that time, when the molecules of the film are aligned in a certain direction, characteristic crystallization called oriented crystallization occurs, and a unique structure called a fiber structure is formed. Such a fiber structure has a low entropy at normal temperature, but when the temperature exceeds the glass transition point, the entropy increases and amorphous molecules can move. As a result, shrinkage due to entropy elasticity (rubber elasticity) occurs, which causes deformation and rigidity change of the film. In the thermal analysis of the present embodiment, by utilizing the temperature dependence of such a fiber structure, the glass transition point of each recording medium is grasped, and at the time of the actual recording operation, it is high enough not to exceed the glass transition point. To enable efficient fixing processing by heating at temperature.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the thermal analysis process executed by the CPU 104 in this embodiment. In the thermal analysis process of the present embodiment, only the first heater 25 is used, and the appropriate heating temperature, that is, the appropriate fixing temperature control parameter P is set while gradually changing the fixing temperature control parameter.

  When this processing is started, the CPU 104 first sets the fixing temperature control parameter P to 0 in step S100. In the present embodiment, the fixing temperature control parameter P can be set in the range of -1 to 10, and when the fixing temperature control parameter P=0, the first heater is not driven. Then, in step S101, the recording medium S to be newly registered, which is already mounted in the paper feeding unit 23, is fed to a position where the sensor 204 can measure it.

  In step S102, the CPU 104 measures the width in the X direction of the recording medium S supplied by using the sensor 204 while moving the carriage 6 in the X direction, and temporarily stores the measured value W as an initial measurement value W. At this time, the initial measurement value W may be an amount that allows the change to be confirmed in the process of performing the heat treatment thereafter, and may not necessarily be the distance between both ends of the recording medium S. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, two markers 205 that are separated in the X direction can be recorded by the recording head 7 and this distance can be used as the initial measurement value W. Such a method is effective when the recording medium S is a transparent film.

  In step S103, the first heater is adjusted to 50° C. while maintaining the fixing temperature control parameter P=0. This temperature is the temperature at which the first heater 25 is driven regardless of the type of recording medium during the actual recording operation.

  In step S104, the CPU 104 again measures the width in the X direction (or the distance of the marker 205) of the recording medium S that has been heated in step S103 using the sensor 204 while moving the carriage 6 in the X direction, It is stored as the measured value W′ after heating. If the previous measured value W'is already stored, this is updated.

  In step S105, the CPU 104 compares the difference D between the measured value W′ after heating acquired in step S104 and the initial measured value W measured in step S102 with a predetermined threshold T, and the difference D is equal to or greater than the threshold T. Determine if there is. When the difference D is equal to or larger than the threshold value T, it is determined that the size of the recording medium has changed before and after the heat treatment in step S103, that is, the molecular structure of the recording medium S has changed, and the process jumps to step S110. On the other hand, when the difference D is smaller than the threshold value T, it is determined that the molecular structure of the recording medium S has not been changed by the heat treatment, that is, has not reached the glass transition point, and the thermal analysis in the heat treatment at a higher temperature is performed. To step S106.

  In step S106, P is incremented by 1. In the present embodiment, the fixing temperature control parameter P can take a value of -1 to 10 as described above, and when P=1, the first heater is adjusted to 60°C. The value of 60° C. is the minimum temperature at which the resin contained in the coloring material (ink) used in this embodiment can be melted. Then, in the range of P=1 to 10, as the fixing temperature control parameter P increases by 1, the heat generation temperature of the heater is set to +10° C. higher. That is, the heat generation temperature of the heater can be adjusted within the range of 60°C to 150°C.

  In step S107, the CPU 104 heats the first heater according to the currently set fixing temperature control parameter P. In the following step S108, the CPU 104 measures the width in the X direction (or the distance of the marker 205) of the recording medium S heat-treated in step S107 again by using the sensor 204 while moving the carriage 6 in the X direction, and heats the recording medium S. The post measurement value W'is updated.

  In step S109, the CPU 104 determines in advance whether the fixing temperature control parameter P reaches the maximum value 10 or the difference D between the measured value W′ after heating acquired in step S108 and the initial measured value W measured in step S102. It is determined whether the threshold value is equal to or more than the threshold value T. When the fixing temperature control parameter P has not reached the maximum value 10 and the difference D is smaller than the threshold value T, the molecular structure of the recording medium S has not changed by the heat treatment, that is, has not reached the glass transition point, It is judged that the thermal analysis in the heat treatment at the higher temperature is necessary, and the process returns to step S106.

  On the other hand, when the fixing temperature control parameter P has reached the maximum value 10 or the difference D is equal to or larger than the threshold value T, it is determined that the thermal analysis in the heating process at a higher temperature is not necessary, and the process proceeds to step S110. If it is determined in step S105 that the difference D is equal to or larger than the threshold value T, the process jumps to step S110. In step S110, the fixing temperature control parameter P is decremented by 1 from the current value, and the value is set as the fixing temperature control parameter for the "recording medium E".

  In step S111, the fixing time control parameter is calculated based on the fixing temperature control parameter set in step S110 and the heat quantity information provisionally registered for the "recording medium E". Specifically, the temporarily registered heat quantity information (temperature×time) is divided by the temperature corresponding to the set fixing temperature control parameter to obtain the heating time. Then, based on the obtained heating time, the waiting time between print scans by the print head 7 is calculated, and this is set as a fixing time control parameter for the "print medium E". The heat quantity information used in the above division is provisionally registered in S51 of FIG. 5, but the information is obtained from a registered recording medium having a similar recording medium thickness and weight, and the heat capacity Can be treated as if there is no big difference. However, when the fixing temperature control parameter P=-1, the fixing time control parameter is set so that the waiting time becomes zero. This is the end of the process.

  The method for calculating the fixing time control parameter is not limited to this method. The fixing time control parameter may be stored in advance in a state of being associated with the fixing temperature control parameter on a one-to-one basis, or may be calculated based on a detection result different from the above. The method of controlling the fixing time does not have to use the waiting time between recording scans. For example, the fixing time, that is, the irradiation time of the second heater can also be adjusted by adjusting the scanning speed of the carriage 6 during the recording operation. In any case, the fixing time control parameter may be set based on the fixing time information when performing the fixing process on the target recording medium.

  According to the above flow chart, for example, when the fixing temperature control parameter is P=3 (heating temperature 80° C.) and it is determined in step S109 that the difference D exceeds the threshold T, the glass transition of the target recording medium is performed. It can be estimated that the point lies between 71°C and 80°C. Then, in step S110, the fixing temperature control parameter is set to P=3-1=2 (heat temperature 70° C.). That is, the fixing temperature control parameter is set to the highest temperature in the range not exceeding the glass transition point. Then, during the actual recording operation, the recording operation is performed with the first heater 25 adjusted to 50° C. and the second heater 27 adjusted to 70° C.

  When it is determined in step S109 that the difference D exceeds the threshold T when the fixing temperature control parameter is P=1 (heat generation temperature 60° C.), the fixing temperature control parameter is set to P=1−1=0. It That is, during the actual recording operation, the first heater 25 is adjusted to 50° C., but the second heater 27 is not driven, and the recording operation is performed. In this case, although the temperature is lower than the minimum temperature (60° C.) required for melting the coloring material resin, evaporation of the solvent can be promoted even at 50° C. Therefore, the normal range is set in this embodiment.

  Further, according to the above flowchart, when it is determined in step S105 that the difference D is equal to or more than the threshold value T, the molecular structure of the recording medium S is the minimum temperature (50° C.) for increasing the viscosity of the coloring material. Means that has been transformed. In this case, in step S110, the fixing temperature control parameter is set to P=-1 which means that the fixing temperature cannot be set, that is, an error.

  Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned flowchart, even when the glass transition point of the target recording medium is sufficiently high and the initial measured value W is maintained even when the heating temperature of the heater is 150° C., the fixing temperature control is performed. The parameter is set so that 10 or more is not set. That is, while the device can set the heat generation temperature up to 150°C, the maximum value of the heat generation temperature is suppressed to 140°C in the registration sequence.

  Returning to FIG. When the fixing operation control parameter is set in step S52, the CPU 104 proceeds to step S53 and determines whether the fixing operation control parameter P set in step S52 is included in the normal range (0 to 9). If it is included in the normal range, the process proceeds to step S54. When it is not included in the normal range, that is, when P=−1, a predetermined error process is performed in step S57, and this process ends. Specifically, the user is notified via the display device of the operation unit 103 that the fixing process for the "recording medium E" cannot be performed, and the memory area for the "recording medium E" secured in step S51. Open up. However, even for a recording medium that cannot be applied to the fixing process involving heating, the image can be dried to the extent that there is no problem in handling by providing another means for promoting drying such as a blowing means. In some cases. In such a case, the user may be notified that the recording operation is to be performed or the memory area may be stored without driving both the first heater and the second heater.

  In subsequent step S54, CPU 104 generates transport parameters for "recording medium E". Specifically, a predetermined test pattern for conveyance adjustment is recorded using the temporarily registered mechanical parameter, and the fixing process is performed using the fixing operation control parameter of the "recording medium E" set in S52. Then, by detecting the image after fixing using the measuring unit 113, an appropriate transport parameter is acquired, and this is stored as the transport parameter for the “recording medium E”. The above-described pattern recording and reading method for the transport operation, and the parameter calculation method based on the read result are known techniques, and are not a feature of the present invention. Therefore, detailed description will be given here. Omit it.

  In step S55, the CPU 104 generates image processing parameters for the "recording medium E". Specifically, a predetermined test pattern composed of a plurality of color patches is printed while performing the carrying operation according to the carrying parameters set in step S54. Then, the fixing process is performed using the fixing operation control parameter of the "recording medium E" set in step S52. After that, the measuring unit 113 is used to measure the colors of the plurality of color patches after fixing, generate appropriate image processing parameters, and store them as the image processing parameters for the “recording medium E”.

  The main image processing executed by the image processing unit 109 includes color matching processing, color separation processing, and quantization processing. In the registration sequence of this embodiment, only the parameters for the color matching processing are included in the registration sequence. Shall be generated. Then, for the other parameters, the temporarily registered information is set as it is. When recording a color patch, the image processing unit 109 does not perform color matching processing on the image data for the color patch. Then, regarding the color conversion processing and the quantization processing, image processing is performed using the temporarily registered image processing parameters, and ejection data for the recording head 7 is generated.

  Here, the color matching process will be briefly described. The color matching process is a process for associating the color space set by the host device 101 with the color space that the recording device 102 can represent on the recording medium S. The color signal received from the host device 101 is composed of a combination of R (red) data, G (green) data, and B (blue) data. In the color matching processing, this is a RGB signal composed of another combination. Convert to. Since the color space that the recording device 102 can express on the recording medium S changes depending on the type of the recording medium, it is desirable that the color matching process also be a conversion process suitable for the recording medium. In step S55, the conversion table for the "recording medium E" is generated based on the colorimetric measurement result of the color patch, and this is stored as the image processing parameter for the "recording medium E". The method of generating the color matching parameter from the colorimetric data is a known technique and is not a feature of the present invention, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. In step S56, the various parameters newly generated in the above steps are formally registered in the "recording medium E" area of the storage device as the unique parameters of the "recording medium E". At this time, regarding the fixing temperature control parameter, it is also effective to store the fixing temperature information (70° C.) corresponding to the parameter value (P=2) in association with the recording medium E in addition to the parameter value (P=2). With this configuration, when the registration sequence is executed next time, the recording medium type and the corresponding fixing temperature can be displayed in the pull-down menu, and the user can use it as a guideline for temporary registration. This completes the registration sequence of this embodiment.

  In the above description, the color patch recorded by the recording head 7 is read by the measuring unit 113, but the side color of each patch may be measured by using a separately prepared spectral reflectance measuring device. At this time, the spectral reflectance measuring device may be independent of the recording device, and in this case, the CPU 104 acquires the result of color measurement by the spectral reflectance measuring device via the data input/output device 107. In addition, many pieces of software for generating color matching parameters are already on the market, and the CPU 104 may be configured to acquire the generated color matching parameters from the outside.

  Further, in the above description, the form in which the parameter for only the color matching process among the color matching process, the color separation process, and the quantization process is generated has been described, but, of course, such a form does not limit the present invention. .. In the registration sequence, parameters for color separation processing and quantization processing may be generated for each recording medium.

  When performing the recording operation on the recording medium E after executing the registration sequence described above, the CPU 104 performs the recording operation according to the image processing parameter and the mechanical parameter which are officially registered in step S56 and stored in association with the recording medium E. To do. Specifically, the image data is subjected to color matching processing based on the image processing parameters generated in step S55, and print data subjected to predetermined color conversion processing and quantization processing is generated. Then, the generated recording data is recorded on the recording head 7 while the recording medium is being conveyed in accordance with the conveyance parameters registered in step S54. During the recording operation, the heat generation temperature of the first heater 25 is set to 50° C., and the heat generation temperature of the second heater 27 is set to the fixing temperature control parameter P registered in step S52. Further, a waiting time is set between the printing scans during the printing operation based on the fixing time control parameter set in step S56.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, even when an unregistered recording medium is attached to the paper feeding unit 23, the optimum temperature for the fixing process can be set in association with the recording medium. As a result, it is possible to perform the recording operation on the unregistered recording medium while appropriately controlling the heating process during recording.

(Second embodiment)
It is known that the fiber structure formed during the manufacturing process of the recording medium has optical anisotropy. Birefringence can be observed in a structure having optical anisotropy, and when the structure is altered by heating above the glass transition point, the birefringence also changes. In the present embodiment, thermal analysis is performed on an unknown recording medium by utilizing such a change in birefringence.

  Also in this embodiment, the recording device 102 described in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used. Further, the registration sequence can be executed according to the flowchart described in FIG. However, in the present embodiment, a transmissive sensor 402 capable of detecting a change in birefringence of a recording medium is used instead of the reflective optical sensor 204 as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the registration sequence can be applied only to a transparent film recording medium.

  FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are views for explaining the configuration and operation of the transmissive sensor 402 used in this embodiment. FIG. 8A is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of the transmissive sensor 402. The transmissive sensor 402 of this embodiment also includes an LED 501 as a light emitting element and a photodiode 502 (PD 502) as a light receiving element, as in the first embodiment. However, the PD 502 of the present embodiment receives not the light reflected by the recording medium but the light emitted by the LED 501 and transmitted through the recording medium S and the slit 505 of the platen 2. A linear polarization element A 503 is arranged between the LED 501 and the recording medium S, and a linear polarization element B 504 is arranged between the PD and the platen 2 so that the polarization directions thereof are orthogonal to each other.

  The light emitted from the LED 501 and linearly polarized by the linear polarization element A 503 passes through the recording medium S, then passes through the slit 505, further passes through the linear polarization element B 504, and is received by the PD 502. When the recording medium S does not exist on the platen 2, the amount of light detected by the PD 502 after passing through the linear polarization element A 503 and the linear polarization element B 504 whose polarization directions are orthogonal to each other becomes almost zero. However, when the recording medium S having optical anisotropy is arranged on the platen 2, the phase of light passing through the recording medium S changes according to the birefringence of the recording medium S and is detected by the PD 502. Become so. That is, the CPU 104 can recognize the birefringence index of the recording medium and its change based on the detection value obtained from the PD 502.

  Although it has been described above that the polarization directions of the linear polarization element A 503 and the linear polarization element B 504 are orthogonal to each other, in the present embodiment, if a change in the birefringence index in the same recording medium S, that is, a relative value is detected. As good, such a configuration is not mandatory. Since the birefringence varies depending on the wavelength of the light source, it is desirable that the wavelength range of the light source is as narrow as possible in view of the configuration for observing the amount of change in the birefringence. In the present embodiment, the wavelength range is limited by using a monochromatic LED as a light source, but light in a wide wavelength range using a xenon lamp or the like as a light source may be limited by using an optical filter.

  Since the transmissive sensor 402 used in this embodiment detects a change in birefringence rather than a change in width of the recording medium, it is not necessary to record a marker for width detection as in the first embodiment. It is not necessary to move the transmissive sensor 402 together with the carriage 6. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the transmissive sensor 402 can be arranged at a position displaced from the recording head 7 in the +Y direction, and both the first heater 25 and the second heater 27 are heated. Can be used for analysis.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the thermal analysis processing executed by the CPU 104 in this embodiment. Also in the thermal analysis process of the present embodiment, the appropriate heating temperature, that is, the appropriate fixing temperature control parameter P is set while gradually changing the fixing temperature control parameter. Only points different from the flowchart of FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment will be described. In step S<b>201, the CPU 104 feeds and conveys the recording medium S to be newly registered, which is already mounted in the paper feeding unit 23, to a position where the transmissive sensor 402 can measure. In the following step S202, the birefringence index n of the recording medium S is measured using the transmissive sensor 402 and is temporarily stored as the initial measurement value W.

  Further, in step S204, the CPU 104 again measures the birefringence index n of the recording medium S that has been heated to 50° C. in step S203 using the transmissive sensor 402, and stores it as the measured value W′ after heating. In step S208, the CPU 104 again measures the birefringence index n of the recording medium S after the heating process according to the fixing temperature control parameter P in step S207 by using the transmissive sensor 402 and heats it. The post measurement value W'is updated. Other steps are the same as the flowchart of FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment described above, even when an unregistered recording medium made of a transparent film is attached to the paper feeding unit 23, the optimum temperature for the fixing process is set in association with the recording medium. be able to. As a result, it is possible to perform the recording operation on the unregistered recording medium while appropriately controlling the heating process during recording.

  Although the above embodiments have been described on the premise of a recording medium whose molecular structure changes before and after the glass transition point, the thermal analysis of the present invention is not limited to such a recording medium. A recording medium such as a recording medium containing a protein such as gelatin, which has a thermal change temperature such that the material changes by heating, can be suitably used in the present invention.

  Further, in the above description, a new memory area is prepared every time an unregistered recording medium is mounted, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. Only one memory area for the unknown recording medium is prepared, and the information corresponding to the recording medium is stored in the memory area only while the unregistered recording medium is mounted and the recording operation is performed on the recording medium. It is also possible to adopt a form that is secured in.

  Further, the correspondence relationship between the fixing temperature parameter P and the heat generation temperature range (60° C. to 150° C.) of the heater described in the above embodiment is an example, and the number of stages of heat generation temperature and the like are appropriately adjusted according to the state of the recording apparatus. Preferably. Further, the object indicated by the fixing temperature parameter P may not be the heat generation temperature of the heater but may be a physical quantity such as a voltage value applied to the heater.

7 recording head
102 recording device
104 CPU
106 storage device
112 control unit
113 Measuring unit
S recording medium

Claims (20)

An information processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus, which records a image by fixing a color material on a recording medium by applying heat treatment,
Based on the result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means, an acquisition means for acquiring information about the heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes,
The temperature lower than the heat-change temperature corresponding to the acquired information by the acquisition unit, and a storage means for storing as the fixing temperature information for said heating process associated with the recording medium, wherein the acquisition unit An information processing apparatus , wherein the information is obtained by detecting a distance between both ends of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment .   The acquisition unit acquires the information by detecting a change in size of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment using a reflective optical sensor. 1. The information processing device according to 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the recording medium is a polymer film having a fiber structure, and the acquisition unit acquires a glass transition point as the information. The acquisition means, after the result of detecting the state of the recording medium before performing the predetermined heat treatment, and the predetermined heat treatment by stepwise changing the heating temperature by the heat treatment means. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the information is acquired based on a result of detecting a state of the recording medium. Further comprising a notification means for notifying the user of information,
When the information obtained by the obtaining means indicates a change in the molecular structure of the recording medium when the heating temperature by the heat treating means is set to a predetermined minimum temperature, the notifying means is provided with the recording means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing apparatus notifies the user of information indicating that the fixing process cannot be performed on the medium. When the information obtained by the obtaining means indicates a change in the molecular structure of the recording medium when the heating temperature is set to a predetermined minimum temperature by the heat treatment means, the storage means stores the recorded information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the fixing temperature information for the medium is not stored. When the information obtained by the obtaining means indicates a change in the molecular structure of the recording medium when the heating temperature is set to a predetermined minimum temperature by the heat treatment means, the storage means stores the recorded information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein information indicating that a heating process for fixing is not performed is stored as the fixing temperature information for the medium. The storage unit, the obtained based time for fixing corresponding to the recording medium to the fixing temperature information, to further claims 1, characterized in that stored as fixing time information for the recording medium 7 The information processing apparatus according to any one of 1. It said storage means includes a plurality of types of recording medium, according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that in association with each said fixing temperature information corresponding to each of the plurality several recording medium, the 8 Information processing equipment. Said storage means includes a recording medium that is not stored, the information of any one of claims 1, characterized in that newly stored in association with the fixing temperature information corresponding to the recording medium, the 9 Processing equipment. The colorant information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a pigment and a resin in a solvent. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the image recording apparatus includes a recording head for applying the color material to a recording medium. An information processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus, which records a image by fixing a color material on a recording medium by applying heat treatment,
Based on the result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means, an acquisition means for acquiring information about the heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes,
A storage unit that stores a temperature lower than a heat change temperature corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition unit as fixing temperature information for the heating process that is associated with the recording medium.
The information processing device is characterized in that the acquisition unit acquires the information by detecting a distance between a plurality of markers recorded on the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment. apparatus. An information processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus, which records a image by fixing a color material on a recording medium by applying heat treatment,
Based on the result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means, an acquisition means for acquiring information about the heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes,
A storage unit that stores a temperature lower than a heat change temperature corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition unit as fixing temperature information for the heating process that is associated with the recording medium.
The acquisition means, the change in the birefringence of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment, by using a transmission type optical sensor, to acquire the information. A characteristic information processing device. The transmissive optical sensor is disposed between a light emitting element, a light receiving element that receives light emitted by the light emitting element and transmitted through a recording medium to be detected, and the light emitting element and the recording medium to be detected. 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a first linear polarization element, and a second linear polarization element arranged between the light receiving element and the recording medium to be detected. An information processing method for an image recording apparatus, wherein a color material is fixed on a recording medium by applying heat treatment to record an image,
An acquisition step of acquiring information on a heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes, based on the result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means,
The temperature lower than the heat-change temperature corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition step, have a storage step of storing as the fixing temperature information for said heating process associated with the recording medium, the obtaining step An information processing method , wherein the information is obtained by detecting a distance between both ends of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment . An information processing method for an image recording apparatus, wherein a color material is fixed on a recording medium by applying heat treatment to record an image,
An acquisition step of acquiring information on a heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes, based on the result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means,
A storage step of storing a temperature lower than a heat change temperature corresponding to the information acquired in the acquisition step, as fixing temperature information for the heating process associated with the recording medium;
In the acquisition step, the information is acquired by detecting a distance between a plurality of markers recorded on the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment. Processing method. An information processing method for an image recording apparatus, wherein a color material is fixed on a recording medium by applying heat treatment to record an image,
An acquisition step of acquiring information on a heat change temperature at which the molecular structure of the recording medium changes, based on the result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means,
A storage step of storing a temperature lower than the heat-change temperature corresponding to the information acquired by the pre-Symbol acquisition step, as the fixing temperature information for said heating process associated with the recording medium
And acquiring the information by detecting a change in birefringence of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment using a transmissive optical sensor. An information processing method characterized by: An information processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus, which records a image by fixing a color material on a recording medium by applying heat treatment,
  An acquisition unit that acquires information about a heat change temperature at which the size of the recording medium changes, based on a result of performing a predetermined heating process on the recording medium by the heat processing unit,
  A storage unit that stores a temperature lower than a heat change temperature corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition unit as fixing temperature information for the heating process that is associated with the recording medium.
  An information processing apparatus, comprising: the acquisition unit acquiring the information by detecting a distance between both ends of the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment. An information processing method for an image recording apparatus, wherein a color material is fixed on a recording medium by applying heat treatment to record an image,
An acquisition step of acquiring information regarding a heat change temperature at which the size of the recording medium changes, based on a result of performing a predetermined heat treatment on the recording medium by the heat treatment means,
A storage step of storing a temperature lower than a heat change temperature corresponding to the information acquired in the acquisition step as fixing temperature information for the heating process associated with the recording medium;
In the acquisition step, the information is acquired by detecting a distance between a plurality of markers recorded on the recording medium before and after performing the predetermined heat treatment. Processing method.

Images