JP6949558B2 - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording device and a recording method.

A recording device for recording an image using a recording head having a recording element substrate provided with a plurality of recording elements for generating heat energy for ejecting ink is known. In such a recording device, when the temperature in the vicinity of the recording element is low, the amount of ink ejected is too small, so that the density of the recorded image may decrease. On the other hand, by providing a heating element for heating the ink on the recording element substrate in addition to the recording element and driving the heating element at the time of recording, it is possible to suppress the above-mentioned decrease in concentration due to the temperature decrease. Are known.

Here, when recording is performed on a certain recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as a preceding recording medium) and then recording is performed on a recording medium different from the preceding recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as a succeeding recording medium), recording on the succeeding recording medium is performed. Immediately after starting the above-mentioned decrease in concentration may occur. This decrease in density can occur when the width of the succeeding recording medium is longer than the width of the preceding recording medium. Generally, during recording on the preceding recording medium, the above-mentioned heating element is driven only on the recording element substrate used for recording on the preceding recording medium in order to suppress an unnecessary increase in power consumption. Therefore, when recording is started on the subsequent recording medium, the temperature of the recording element substrate that has not been used for recording on the preceding recording medium may be low. Therefore, there is a possibility that the above-mentioned density decrease may occur in recording by the recording element provided on these recording element substrates.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses that after recording on the preceding recording medium is completed, a short pulse drive or preliminary ejection is performed on a recording element that has not been used for recording on the preceding recording medium. According to the same document, it is possible to prevent the temperature of those recording elements from becoming low when recording on the subsequent recording medium, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in density during recording on the subsequent recording medium.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-072079

However, depending on the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ink of the recording element substrate that has not been used for recording on the preceding recording medium after the recording on the preceding recording medium is completed and before the recording on the succeeding recording medium is started is used. It takes time to heat. For this reason, it is not used when recording the preceding recording medium, but when there is a recording element substrate used when recording the succeeding recording medium, for example, when the width of the succeeding recording medium is longer than the width of the preceding recording medium, etc. There is a risk that the throughput will be low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and reduces the throughput even when there is a recording element substrate that is not used when recording the preceding recording medium and is used when recording the subsequent recording medium. The purpose of the recording is to suppress a decrease in density during recording on a subsequent recording medium.

Therefore, the present invention is a recording device that records on a plurality of recording media including at least a first recording medium and a second recording medium, and uses a ejection port and energy for ejecting ink from the ejection port. A plurality of recording element substrates including a first recording element substrate and a second recording element substrate each including a recording element array in which the recording elements to be generated are arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in the predetermined direction. While moving the provided recording head and at least one of the recording head and the recording medium in an intersecting direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording head is located at a position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates. It corresponds to a recording control means that controls a recording operation so as to drive a recording element of a recording element substrate, and a recording medium that is recording among the plurality of recording element substrates while performing a recording operation by the recording control means. It has a heating control means for controlling the heating operation so as to heat the ink of the recording element substrate at the position to the extent that the ink is not ejected, and during recording on the first recording medium, the first recording element substrate is provided. Corresponds to the first recording medium, and the second recording element substrate does not correspond to the first recording medium, and during recording on the second recording medium, the first recording element substrate And the second recording element substrate correspond to the second recording medium, and when recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the second recording medium, the heating control means. Is characterized in that the ink of the second recording element substrate is heated during recording on the first recording medium.

According to the recording apparatus according to the present invention, even if there is a recording element substrate that is not used when recording the preceding recording medium and is used when recording the subsequent recording medium, the subsequent recording medium does not reduce the throughput. It is possible to perform recording in which the decrease in concentration at the time of recording is suppressed.

It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the recording apparatus in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the recording head and a heater board in an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the recording control system in embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional relationship between a recording medium and a heater board. It is a flowchart which shows the heat retention control in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the correspondence relationship between the temperature difference and SH rank in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the correspondence | correspondence of SH rank and drive information in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the state at the time of recording on a plurality of recording media in an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the determination process of the non-use HB heating control in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the non-use HB heating control in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the non-use HB heating control in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the non-use HB heating control in embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the correspondence relationship between the temperature difference and SH rank in an embodiment.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an inkjet recording device (hereinafter, also referred to as a recording device) in the present embodiment.

The recording medium P supplied from the supply unit 101 is conveyed (moved) at a predetermined speed in the + X direction (transportation direction, crossing direction) while being sandwiched between the transfer roller pairs 103 and 104, and is discharged from the discharge unit 102. .. Recording heads 105 to 108 are arranged side by side along the transport direction between the transport roller pair 103 on the upstream side and the transport roller pair 104 on the downstream side, and ink is ejected in the Z direction according to the recording data. The recording heads 105, 106, 107, and 108 eject cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, respectively. Further, each ink is supplied to the recording heads 105 to 109 via a tube (not shown). Further, an end detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the end of the recording medium P in the X direction is provided on the upstream side of the recording head 105 in the X direction.

In the present embodiment, the recording medium P may be continuous paper held in a roll shape by the supply unit 101, or cut paper previously cut to a standard size. In the case of continuous paper, after the recording operation by the recording heads 105 to 108 is completed, the paper is cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 109, and the paper is sorted into paper discharge trays by size by the discharge unit 102. As will be described later, the recording device in the present embodiment can use a plurality of size recording media having different widths in the Y direction as the recording medium P.

(Recording head)
FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the cyan ink recording head 105 used in the present embodiment. In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, only the recording head 105 of the recording heads 105 to 108 will be described, but the recording heads 106 to 108 other than the recording head 105 also have the same configuration as the recording head 105.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in the present embodiment, the recording head 105 is provided with six heater boards (recording element boards) HB0 to HB5. The heater boards are arranged side by side along the Y direction (predetermined direction) so that the ends of the heater boards in the Y direction partially overlap each other. By using a recording head in which six heater boards HB0 to HB5 are arranged in the Y direction in this way, a recording medium having a long width in the Y direction can be used as in the case of using one long recording head. It is possible to record the entire area.

FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the heater board HB0 among the heater boards HB0 to HB5. Although the heater board HB0 will be described here, the other heater boards HB1 to HB5 have the same configuration.

As can be seen from FIG. 2B, the heater board HB0 is provided with a discharge port row 22, a subheater (heating element) 23, and a temperature sensor (detection element) 24.

In the discharge port row 22, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging cyan ink are arranged side by side in the Y direction. A recording element (not shown) is arranged inside each of the discharge ports forming the discharge port row 22. This recording element is driven by applying a drive pulse to generate thermal energy, thereby foaming ink and being used to perform ejection operations from each ejection port. In the following description, a row composed of recording elements inside each of the discharge ports constituting the discharge port row 22 is also referred to as a recording element row.

Further, the sub-heater 23 is a member for heating the ink in the vicinity of the recording element in the heater board HB0 to the extent that the ink is not ejected. Further, the temperature sensor 24 is a member for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the recording element in the heater board HB0. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the ink temperature is set to a desired temperature by driving the subheater 23 with different driving intensities based on the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 24 during and before recording.

Although the embodiment in which one sub-heater 23 and one temperature sensor 24 are provided in the heater board HB0 is described here, a plurality of sub-heaters 23 and the temperature sensor 24 may be provided in the heater board HB0. ..

(Recording control system)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording control system in the recording device of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording device includes an encoder sensor 301, a DRAM 302, a ROM 303, a controller (ASIC) 304, and a recording head 105 to 108.

The controller 304 is provided with a recording data generation unit 305, a CPU 306, a discharge timing generation unit 307, a temperature value storage memory 308, a sub-heater table storage memory 314, and a data transfer unit 310-313.

The CPU 306 reads and executes a program stored in the ROM 303 to control the operation of the entire recording device such as driving a driver such as each motor. Further, the ROM 303 stores fixed data necessary for various operations of the recording device in addition to various control programs executed by the CPU 306. For example, it stores a program used to execute recording control in a recording device.

The DRAM 302 is necessary for the CPU 306 to execute a program, is used as a work area of the CPU 306, is used as a temporary storage area for various received data, and stores various setting data. Although only one DRAM 302 is shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of DRAMs may be mounted, and both DRAMs and SRAMs may be mounted in addition to the plurality of memories having different access speeds. You can do it.

The recording data generation unit 305 receives image data from a host (PC) outside the recording device. Then, the recording data generation unit 305 performs color conversion processing, quantization processing, and the like on the image data to generate recording data used for ejecting ink from each of the recording heads 105 to 108, and stores the recording data in the DRAM 302.

The discharge timing generation unit 307 receives position information indicating the relative positions of the recording heads 105 to 108 and the recording medium P detected by the encoder sensor 301. Then, based on the position information, discharge timing information indicating the timing of discharge from each of the recording heads 105 to 108 is generated.

The four data transfer units 310 to 313 read the recorded data stored in the DRAM 302 in accordance with the discharge timing generated by the discharge timing generation unit 307. Further, the sub-heater drive information for each of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 of each of the recording heads 105 to 108 stored in the temperature value storage memory is generated based on the temperature information. Then, each of the data transfer units 310 to 313 transfers these recorded data and sub-heater drive information to each of the recording heads 105 to 108.

The recording heads 105 to 108 drive each recording element using the transferred recording data to discharge ink, and record the temperature detected by the temperature sensors of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 in the recording heads 105 to 108. Output to the heating control unit inside. Then, the heating control unit 309 stores the newly detected temperature information regarding the temperature in the temperature value storage memory 308, and updates the temperature information. The updated temperature information is used at the next generation timing of the sub-heater drive information.

(Type of recording medium and heater board used)
As described above, the recording device in the present embodiment can record on a plurality of sizes of recording media having different widths in the Y direction. The positional relationship between the heater board in the recording head and the recording medium when recording on these recording media will be described.

FIG. 4A shows the positional relationship between the heater board and the recording medium when recording on an A4 size recording medium. Further, FIG. 4B shows the positional relationship between the heater board and the recording medium when recording on an A3 size recording medium. Of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 shown in FIG. 4, the parts painted in black indicate the heater boards used for the recording operation, and the parts shown in white indicate the heater boards not used for the recording operation. ing.

In the present embodiment, when recording on an A3 size recording medium, the recording medium is conveyed in a positional relationship in which all of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 correspond to the recording medium. Therefore, for the A3 size recording medium, the recording operation is performed by all of the heater boards HB0 to HB5.

On the other hand, when recording on an A4 size recording medium, the heater boards HB1 to HB4 correspond to the recording medium, but the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are conveyed in a positional relationship so as not to correspond to the recording medium. .. This is because the width of the A4 size recording medium in the Y direction is smaller than that of the A3 size recording medium, so that recording can be performed in the entire Y direction of the recording medium without using all of the heater boards HB0 to HB5. Is. In view of this point, in the present embodiment, the recording operation is performed using only the heater boards HB1 to 4 without using the heater boards HB0 and HB5 for the A4 size recording medium.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, when recording is performed on each of the A3 size recording medium and the A4 size recording medium, each recording medium is conveyed so that the central portion of each recording medium in the Y direction coincides. do. In the following description, the system for transporting in this way is also referred to as a central transport system.

(Insulation control)
The heat retention control (sub-heater heating control) executed in the present embodiment will be described in detail. Here, the heat retention control in the present embodiment means that the temperature in the vicinity of the recording element affects the ink ejection of the recording element substrate used for recording on the recording medium during the recording operation on a certain recording medium. By driving the sub-heater, the ink in the vicinity of the recording element is heated to keep the ink warm. In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, only the recording head 105 of the recording heads 105 to 108 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of heat retention control executed by the heating control unit 309 according to the control program in the present embodiment.

First, in step S1, the heat retention target temperature for performing the heat retention control is acquired. The heat retention target temperature is set to a temperature at which the concentration does not decrease when the recording operation is performed from the recording head, and is 40 ° C. in the present embodiment.

Next, in step S2, the temperature detected from the temperature sensors 24 provided on each of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 in the recording head 105 is acquired. As described above, this detected temperature is stored in the temperature value storage memory 308.

Next, in step S3, the difference (temperature difference) ΔT1 between the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 detected in step S2 and the heat retention target temperature acquired in step S1 is calculated. Specifically, the temperature difference ΔT1 in each heater board HB0 to HB5 is calculated by subtracting the detected temperature of each heater board HB0 to HB5 from the heat retention target temperature.

Next, in step S4, the sub-heater table storage memory 314 is referred to, and a sub-heater rank (hereinafter, also referred to as SH rank) indicating the driving strength of the sub-heater is selected according to the value of the temperature difference ΔT1. This SH rank is selected for each of the sub-heaters 23 of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 based on the temperature difference ΔT1 in each of the heater boards HB0 to HB5. That is, since six sub-heaters are provided in the recording head 105, six SH ranks are individually selected. Here, the temperature difference ΔT1 and the SH rank are associated with each other so that the larger the temperature difference ΔT1 is, the stronger the sub-heater drive intensity is. This is because the lower the detection temperature is than the heat retention target temperature, the larger the driving energy required to be given to the sub-heater before reaching the heat retention target temperature.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table that defines the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank in the present embodiment. At the time of heat retention control, the SH rank is determined by substituting the temperature difference ΔT1 between the detected temperature and the heat retention target temperature into ΔT shown in FIG. The SH rank indicates that the larger the value, the stronger the sub-heater drive strength. For example, when the temperature difference ΔT is less than 0, the detected temperature is higher than the heat retention target temperature, so “0”, which is the minimum SH rank, is selected. Here, as will be described later, the SH rank “0” corresponds to the fact that the sub-heater is not driven at all. Further, for example, when the temperature difference ΔT is as large as 5.0 or more, the detected temperature is significantly lower than the heat retention target temperature, so the maximum SH rank of “31” is selected. Here, as will be described later, the SH rank "31" corresponds to driving the sub-heater almost all the time.

Then, in step S5, each sub-heater 23 of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 is driven based on the SH rank determined in step S4. At this time, the sub-heater table storage memory 314 is referred to, and the sub-heater drive information is output according to the SH rank.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a table that defines the correspondence between the SH rank and the sub-heater drive information in the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, among the 32 timings in which the sub-heater drive information can be input in each SH rank, a signal of “1” indicating the drive of the sub-heater and a signal of “0” indicating the non-drive of the sub-heater are shown. It shows how many times each is entered. It should be noted that the bheater is driven with the same drive strength regardless of which timing of the 32 times the signal of "1" indicating the drive of the sub-heater is input.

For example, when the SH rank is "0", looking at the top row of FIG. 8, a signal of "0" indicating non-drive of the sub-heater is defined at each of the sub-heater drive timings "0" to "31". You can see that there is. Therefore, when the SH rank is "0", the sub-heater is not driven once out of 32 timings.

Further, when the SH rank is "31", looking at the bottom line of FIG. 8, the signal of "1" indicating the drive of the sub-heater at the sub-heater drive timings "0" to "30" is displayed at the timing "31". It can be seen that the signal of "0" indicating that the sub-heater is not driven is defined. Therefore, when the SH rank is "31", the sub-heater is driven only 31 times out of 32 timings.

As described above, based on the correspondence relationship shown in FIG. 7, the larger the SH rank, the larger the number of times the sub-heater is driven, that is, the stronger the driving strength.

(Non-use HB heating control)
Here, if recording is performed on a recording medium having a short width in the Y direction and then recording is performed on a recording medium having a long width in the Y direction, the following problems may occur. For the sake of simplicity in the following description, an A4 size recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as an A4 recording medium) is a recording medium having a short width in the Y direction, and an A3 size recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as an A3 recording medium) is a recording medium in the Y direction. Describe as a recording medium with a long width.

When recording on the A4 recording medium and then continuously recording on the A3 recording medium, the temperature of the heater board that is not used at the time of recording on the A4 recording medium becomes low, and they are recorded on the A3 recording medium. There is a risk that the concentration will drop in the recording from the heater board.

On the other hand, if the heater board not used for recording on the A4 recording medium is heated by a sub-heater or the like after the recording on the A4 recording medium is completed, the concentration decrease at the time of recording on the A3 recording medium can be suppressed. can. However, when recording on the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium continuously, there is a possibility that the heating by the subheater may not be in time from the end of recording on the A4 recording medium to the start of recording on the A3 recording medium. .. Even in this case, after the recording on the A4 recording medium is completed, if the series of recording operations is temporarily stopped and then the heater board not used for recording on the A4 recording medium is heated, the A3 recording medium is used. Although it is possible to suppress the temperature drop at the start of recording to, it leads to a drop in throughput.

Further, if the above-mentioned heat retention control is executed for the heater board that is not used at the time of recording on the A4 recording medium, it is possible to suppress the temperature drop of the heater board when the recording on the A3 recording medium is started thereafter. However, in this case, since the heater board that is not used during recording on the A4 recording medium is always kept warm, the driving power is unnecessarily consumed.

In view of the above points, in the present embodiment, the heater board that is not used for recording on the A4 recording medium during recording on the A4 recording medium is not initially heated, but heating is started at a certain timing. As a result, the temperature drop at the start of recording on the A3 recording medium is suppressed while suppressing the decrease in throughput and unnecessary power consumption.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a recording process when recording on an A4 recording medium in the present embodiment and then continuously recording on an A3 recording medium. Of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 shown in FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c), the parts painted in black indicate the heater boards that execute the above-mentioned heat retention control. Further, the part shown in white indicates the heater board in which the sub-heater is not driven. Further, the part painted in gray indicates the heater board that executes the heating control described later.

FIG. 8A shows a state when recording is performed on the A4 recording medium which is the preceding recording medium. As described above, when recording on the A4 recording medium, the heater boards HB1 to HB4 are used for the recording operation, so that the heat retention control is performed. On the other hand, regarding the heater boards HB0 and HB5, the sub-heater is not driven at this stage.

FIG. 8B shows a state in which recording on the A4 recording medium, which is the preceding recording medium, proceeds after FIG. 8A, and the rear end portion of the A4 recording medium in the X direction is detected by the end detection sensor 25. Shown. In the present embodiment, when recording is performed in the order of the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium, the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are heated from the timing when the rear end portion in the X direction shown in FIG. 8B is detected. , Non-use HB heating control is performed. The unused HB heating control for the heater boards HB0 and HB5 will be described later.

FIG. 8C shows a state when recording on the A3 recording medium, which is the subsequent recording medium, is started after FIG. 8B. As described above, since all of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 are used for the recording operation at the time of recording on the A3 recording medium, the above-mentioned heat retention control is performed for all of HB0 to HB5.

As shown in FIG. 8B, in the present embodiment, when recording is continuously performed in the order of the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium, it is used for recording on the A4 recording medium during recording on the A4 recording medium. For non-heater boards HB0, HB5, non-use HB heating control is performed.

FIG. 9 is a control flowchart for determining whether or not to execute the non-use HB heating control in the present embodiment. This determination control is executed by the heating control unit 309 according to the control program. The determination control shown in FIG. 9 is executed during recording on the preceding recording medium when a job for continuously recording on the two recording media is input.

First, during recording on the preceding recording medium (preceding paper), the width of the succeeding recording medium (successor paper) in the Y direction is acquired in step S11. Here, the width of the subsequent recording medium in the Y direction may be detected by a width detection sensor provided in the recording device, or may be stored in the recording device in advance.

Next, in step S12, the width of the preceding recording medium acquired in advance in the Y direction is compared with the width of the succeeding recording medium acquired in step S11 in the Y direction.

Here, when it is determined in step S12 that the width of the preceding recording medium in the Y direction is longer, the determination control is terminated without performing the unused HB heating control. Especially in the central transport system, if the preceding recording medium has a longer width in the Y direction than the succeeding recording medium, it is not used when recording on the preceding recording medium, and there is no heater board used when recording on the succeeding recording medium. .. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform non-use HB heating control because a heater board that becomes low in temperature does not occur during recording on the subsequent recording medium.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the width of the subsequent recording medium in the Y direction is longer, the process proceeds to step S13 to select a heater board that executes unused HB heating control. Here, a heater board that is not used when recording on the preceding recording medium and is used when recording on the subsequent recording medium is selected. For example, when recording is performed in the order of the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium as shown in FIG. 8, the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are selected in step S13.

Next, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the rear end portion of the preceding recording medium in the X direction is detected by the end portion detection sensor 25. Here, the determination process in step S14 is repeated at predetermined time intervals until the rear end portion of the preceding recording medium is detected.

Then, when the rear end portion of the preceding recording medium is detected, the process proceeds to step S15, and the unused HB heating control is executed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of non-use HB heating control executed by the heating control unit 309 according to the control program in the present embodiment. Here, for the sake of simplicity, a case where recording is performed in the order of the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium will be described as shown in FIG. Therefore, the unused HBs are the heater boards HB0 and HB5.

When the unused HB heating control is started in step S15 of FIG. 9, the process first proceeds to step S21, and the heating target temperature is set. In the present embodiment, the heating target temperature is 40 ° C., which is the same as the heat retention target temperature used in the heat retention control.

Next, the process proceeds to step S22, and the temperature detected from the temperature sensors 24 of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, is acquired.

Next, the process proceeds to step S23, and the difference (temperature difference) ΔT2 between the detected temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, is calculated from the heating target temperature.

Next, the process proceeds to step S24, and the SH rank is determined from the temperature difference ΔT2 calculated in step S23 based on the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank shown in FIG. Here, at the time of non-use HB heating control in the present embodiment, the SH rank is determined by substituting the temperature difference ΔT2 between the detected temperature and the heating target temperature into ΔT shown in FIG.

Next, the process proceeds to step S25, and based on the correspondence between the SH rank and the sub-heater drive information shown in FIG. 7, the sub-heater drive information is output as many times as the SH rank determined in step S24, and each sub-heater is driven. conduct.

When the non-use HB heating control is executed as described above, the lower the detection temperature of the non-use HB heater boards HB0 and HB5, the higher the SH rank, that is, the drive strength of the sub-heater can be strengthened. By performing such unused HB heating control on the heater boards HB0 and HB5 which are unused HBs during recording on the preceding recording medium, the heater at the start of recording on the subsequent recording medium without reducing the throughput. It is possible to suppress the temperature drop of the boards HB0 and HB5.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, a mode is described in which the heating target temperature when the non-use HB heating control is performed is set to the same temperature as the heat retention target temperature when the heat retention control is performed.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the heating target temperature is switched according to the detection temperature, the heating target temperature is set higher than the heat retention target temperature in the first stage, and the same temperature as the heat retention target temperature is set in the later stage. do.

The description of the same part as that of the first embodiment described above will be omitted.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of non-use HB heating control executed by the heating control unit 309 according to the control program in the present embodiment. Here, for the sake of simplicity, a case where recording is performed in the order of the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium will be described as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, when the unused HB heating control in step S15 of FIG. 9 is started, the first heating target temperature is first set in step S31. Here, in the non-use HB heating control in the first embodiment, the heating target temperature was 40 ° C., which is the same as the heat retention target temperature, but in the present embodiment, the first heating target temperature is higher than the heat retention target temperature, which is 50. Set to ° C. The reason for this will be described later.

Steps S32 to S35 are substantially the same as steps S22 to S25 of FIG. 10 in the first embodiment. Specifically, the detected temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 which are unused HBs are acquired (S33), the detected temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are subtracted from the first heating target temperature of 50 ° C., and the temperature difference ΔT3 is obtained. Calculate (S34). Then, the SH rank corresponding to the temperature difference ΔT3 is determined using the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank shown in FIG. 6 (S35), and the SH rank is determined using the correspondence between the SH rank and the sub-heater drive information shown in FIG. The sub-heater drive information is output as many times as the number of times according to the SH rank, and the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are driven (S35).

Here, since the unused HB heating control is started after the recording on the A4 recording medium continues, the temperature of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are the unused HBs, has not been driven for a while and the recording element and the subheater have not been driven. Is extremely low, and there is a risk that the temperature will be as low as the ambient temperature. Therefore, if the sub-heater is driven with the same driving strength as during the heat retention control performed to maintain the high temperature in a state where the temperature has already reached a relatively high temperature, it takes a long time to reach the desired temperature during the non-use HB heating control. Will be hung.

In view of this point, in the present embodiment, during the non-use HB heating control, the first heating target temperature is set higher than the heat retention target temperature immediately after the start. When the first heating target temperature is raised, the temperature difference ΔT3 becomes large even if the detected temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, do not change. Therefore, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the SH rank increases, and the driving strength of the sub-heater also increases accordingly. As a result, even if the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, are extremely low in temperature, the subheater can heat the heater boards with a strong driving strength, so that the time required to raise the temperature can be shortened.

After step S35, the process proceeds to step 36, and it is determined whether or not the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, are higher than the first determination temperature. In this embodiment, the first determination temperature is set to 37 ° C. Here, the first determination temperature is for determining whether or not the temperature of the unused HB has reached a temperature at which heating by the sub-heater with a strong driving strength, which was performed in steps S31 to S35, does not have to be performed. The temperature of. In other words, the first determination temperature is set to a temperature at which the time required for the temperature to become sufficient is not so extended even if the heating is switched to the sub-heater at the normal driving strength. If heating is performed with a strong driving strength even after the first determination temperature is exceeded, the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, become higher than the desired temperatures, and the heater boards HB0 and HB5 There is a risk that the discharge amount will be excessive or damage will occur.

When it is determined in step S36 that the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, are equal to or lower than the first determination temperature, the process returns to step S32, and the same process as described above is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are higher than the first determination temperature, the process proceeds to step S37.

In step S37, a second heating target temperature is newly set in place of the first heating target temperature. Here, the second heating target temperature is the same as the heat retention target temperature, and is set to 40 ° C.

Steps S38 to S41 are the same as steps S32 to S35 except that the first heating target temperature is replaced by the second heating target temperature. Specifically, the detected temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 which are unused HBs are acquired (S38), the detected temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are subtracted from the second heating target temperature of 40 ° C., and the temperature difference ΔT4 is obtained. Calculate (S39). Then, the SH rank corresponding to the temperature difference ΔT4 is determined using the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank shown in FIG. 6 (S40), and the SH rank is determined using the correspondence between the SH rank and the sub-heater drive information shown in FIG. The sub-heater drive information is output as many times as the number of times according to the SH rank, and the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are driven (S41).

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the second heating target temperature (40 ° C.) is lower than the first heating target temperature (50 ° C.), the temperature difference ΔT4 is relatively small, and the driving strength of the subheater is relatively small. Becomes relatively weak. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive discharge amount and occurrence of damage in the heater boards HB0 and HB5 which are unused HBs. Further, since the driving strength of the sub-heater is weakened after the heater boards HB0 and HB5 become high temperature (at least the first determination temperature = 37 ° C. or higher) to some extent, the time is not significantly extended in order to raise the temperature.

Then, in step S42, it is determined whether or not the recording on the preceding recording medium is completed. If it is determined that the process has not been completed, the process returns to step S38, and the same process as described above is repeated at predetermined time intervals. On the other hand, when it is determined that the process is completed, the unused HB heating control is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, immediately after starting the non-use HB heating control, the temperature higher than the heat retention target temperature is set as the heating target temperature, and when it becomes higher than the first determination temperature, it is the same as the heat retention target temperature. Let the temperature be the heating target temperature. As a result, when the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, are relatively low in temperature, the driving strength is increased in order to shorten the heating time, and after the temperature becomes high to some extent, the discharge amount becomes excessive or damage occurs. The driving strength can be weakened in order to suppress the above.

(Third Embodiment)
In the second embodiment described above, a mode is described in which the heating target temperature is always switched in the middle when the non-use HB heating control is executed.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, if the temperature of the unused HB is high to some extent at the timing of starting the unused HB heating control, the heating target temperature is not switched and the same temperature as the heat retention target temperature is set as the heating target temperature from the beginning. The form is described.

The description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments described above will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of non-use HB heating control executed by the heating control unit 309 according to the control program in the present embodiment. Here, for the sake of simplicity, a case where recording is performed in the order of the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium will be described as shown in FIG.

As can be seen from FIG. 12, of steps S50 to S62 in this embodiment, steps S51 to S62 are the same as steps S31 to S42 in the second embodiment.

However, in the present embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, when the unused HB heating control is started, the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are the unused HBs at the start in step S50, are first set to the second temperature. It is determined whether or not the temperature is higher than the determination temperature of. The second determination temperature is set to 35 ° C. in this embodiment. Here, the second determination temperature is for determining whether or not sufficient heating can be performed without spending so much time on heating without driving the sub-heater with the strong drive strength in steps S51 to S56. The temperature. When the unused HB temperature is lower than the second determination temperature in step S50, the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, are low, so that the process proceeds to step S51, and steps S51 to S56 are performed. The sub-heater is driven by using the first heating target temperature higher than the heat retention target temperature. On the other hand, when the unused HB temperature is higher than the second determination temperature in step S51, the temperatures of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are high to some extent, so that the sub-heater with strong drive strength in steps S51 to S56 The drive is skipped and the process proceeds to step S57. Then, the sub-heater is driven using the second heating target temperature which is the same as the heat retention target temperature in steps S57 to S62.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to drive the sub-heater with a strong drive strength immediately after the start of the non-use HB heating control, and only the sub-heater drive with a weak drive strength is sufficient. , Skip sub-heater drive with strong drive strength. This makes it possible to further shorten the heating time of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, when a recording device capable of recording on recording media of different sizes is used, recording is first performed on a recording medium having a short width in the Y direction, and then recording having a long width in the Y direction. Although the mode in which the non-use HB heating control is performed on the heater board that is not used at the time of recording on the recording medium having a short width in the Y direction when recording on the medium is described, it is also possible to carry out by other modes. Similar control can be performed if a system in which some heater boards are not used continuously to some extent until a certain timing and some of the heater boards are also used after that timing. For example, even when recording is continuously performed on the A3 recording medium, there is an image (first image) on the recording medium in which ink is ejected only from HB1 to HB4 of the heater boards HB0 to HB5. Area (image area) After recording for a while, when recording an image (second image) in which ink is ejected from all of the heater boards HB0 to HB5 in another area (image area) on the recording medium, the first As long as the system does not drive the sub-heaters of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 in order to reduce power consumption during image recording, the same configuration as in each embodiment can be adopted. Specifically, if the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are unused HBs, are subjected to the unused HB] heating control described in each embodiment during the recording of the first image, the second is performed while suppressing the decrease in throughput. It is possible to suppress the temperature drop of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 at the start of recording the image.

Further, in each embodiment, a mode in which the sub-heaters of the heater boards HB0 and HB5, which are non-used HBs, are driven to heat the heat during the non-used HB heating control is described, but the recording elements of the heater boards HB0 and HB5 are short. The heating may be performed by applying a pulse and driving the recording element to the extent that the ink is not ejected.

Further, although each embodiment describes the mode in which the unused HB heating control is performed from the timing when the end detection sensor 25 detects the rear end of the preceding recording medium, other embodiments can also be used. For example, the unused HB heating control may be performed from the timing when the end detection sensor 25 detects the tip of the subsequent recording medium. Further, it is not always necessary to use the end detection sensor 25, and even if the timing for starting the unused HB heating control is set in advance from the recording job for the preceding recording medium and the succeeding recording medium, the transport speed of each recording medium, and the like. good.

Further, as can be seen from FIGS. 2, 4, and 8, in the present embodiment, the heater boards HB0, HB2, and HB4 are arranged so as to be slightly shifted to the downstream side in the X direction as compared with the heater boards HB1, HB3, and HB5. The head is used. Therefore, when recording continuously with the A4 recording medium and the A3 recording medium, the heater boards HB0, HB2, and HB4 record on the A3 recording medium, which is the subsequent recording medium, as compared with the heater boards HB1, HB3, and HB5. It is done at a slightly earlier timing. In view of this point, in the heater board HB0 in which recording on the subsequent recording medium is started at an earlier timing than in the heater board HB5 in which recording on the subsequent recording medium is started at a later timing, the unused HB heating control is performed first. You may start.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, in order to increase the driving strength of the sub-heater immediately after the start of the non-use HB heating control, the first heating target temperature (50 ° C.), which is higher than the heat retention target temperature, is first set. Next, the embodiment in which the second heating target temperature (40 ° C.), which is the same temperature as the heat retention target temperature, is set has been described, but other embodiments can also be implemented. For example, a form may be used in which two types of tables are used in which the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank is defined. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table in which the correspondence between the applicable temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank is determined. In FIG. 13, in each temperature range, the SH rank is set to be higher than that in FIG. 6, that is, the driving strength is set to be stronger. Therefore, without changing the heating target temperature, the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT shown in FIG. 13 and the SH rank is used first, and then shown in FIG. 6 (after the unused HB temperature exceeds the first determination temperature). The form may be such that the correspondence between the temperature difference ΔT and the SH rank is used.

Further, in each embodiment, when recording is performed on the A4 recording medium and then recording is performed on the A3 recording medium, non-use HB heating control is performed on the heater boards HB0 and HB5 which are unused HBs. When recording continuously, when recording continuously on an A4 recording medium, when recording on an A3 recording medium and then recording on an A4 recording medium, etc., when starting recording on a subsequent recording medium, etc. Since there is no heater board that is not used at the time of recording on the preceding recording medium, the unused HB heating control is not executed.

Further, in each embodiment, an A3 recording medium is used as an example of a recording medium having a long width in the Y direction, and an A4 recording medium is used as an example of a recording medium having a short width in the Y direction. Needless to say, each embodiment can be applied.

11 Recording element 23 Sub-heater 105-108 Recording head HB0 to HB5 Heater board (recording element board)

Claims (12)

A recording device that records on a plurality of recording media including at least a first recording medium and a second recording medium.
A first recording element substrate and a second recording element substrate each comprising a discharge port and a recording element sequence in which recording elements for generating energy for discharging ink from the discharge port are arranged in a predetermined direction. A recording head provided with a plurality of recording element substrates including the above so as to be arranged in the predetermined direction, and
While moving at least one of the recording head and the recording medium in an intersecting direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording element of the recording element substrate at a position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates. A recording control means that controls the recording operation so as to drive,
While performing the recording operation by the recording control means, the heating operation is controlled so as to heat the ink of the recording element substrate at the position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates to the extent that the ink is not ejected. With heating control means,
During recording on the first recording medium, the first recording element substrate corresponds to the first recording medium, and the second recording element substrate does not correspond to the first recording medium.
During recording on the second recording medium, both the first recording element substrate and the second recording element substrate correspond to the second recording medium.
When recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the second recording medium, the heat control means of the second recording element substrate during recording on the first recording medium. A recording device characterized by heating ink. The plurality of recording element substrates are further provided with heating elements for heating the ink of each recording element substrate.
The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the heating control means heats ink on each recording element substrate by driving the heating element. Each of the plurality of recording element substrates is further provided with a detection element for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the recording element.
The heat control means is based on the difference between the temperature detected by the detection element of the first recording element substrate and the first target temperature during recording on the first recording medium. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein the heating element of the recording element substrate is driven. The heating control means increases the driving power as the temperature detected by the detection element of the first recording element substrate is smaller than the first target temperature during recording on the first recording medium. The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the heating element of the first recording element substrate is driven. When recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the second recording medium, the heating control means may perform (i-1) the second during recording on the first recording medium. When the temperature detected by the detection element of the recording element substrate is lower than the first determination temperature, the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate and the first target temperature higher than the first target temperature. Based on the difference from the target temperature of 2, the heating element of the second recording element substrate is driven, and (i-2) the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate is the first temperature. When the temperature is higher than the determination temperature of, the heating element of the second recording element substrate is based on the difference between the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate and the first target temperature. The recording device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the recording device is driven. When recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the second recording medium, the heating control means (i) timing at which the heating element of the second recording element substrate is started to be driven. When the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate is lower than the second determination temperature, (i-1) the second recording element substrate during recording with respect to the first recording medium. When the temperature detected by the detection element of is lower than the first determination temperature, it is based on the difference between the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate and the second target temperature. The heating element of the second recording element substrate is driven, and (i-2) when the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate is higher than the first determination temperature, the second Based on the difference between the temperature detected by the detection element of the recording element substrate and the first target temperature, the heating element of the second recording element substrate is driven, and (ii) the first. When the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate is higher than the second determination temperature at the timing of starting the driving of the heating element of the recording element substrate of 2, the recording with respect to the first recording medium is performed. The second recording is based on the difference between the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate and the first target temperature without using the first determination temperature. The recording device according to claim 5, wherein the heating element of the element substrate is driven. The heat control means is based on the difference between the temperature detected by the detection element of the second recording element substrate and the first target temperature during recording on the second recording medium. 2. The recording device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the heating element of the recording element substrate of 2 is driven. It further has a sensor for detecting the end of the recording medium in the crossing direction.
When recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the second recording medium, the end of the heating control means is detected by the sensor during recording on the first recording medium. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein heating of the ink of the second recording element substrate is started based on the timing. The plurality of recording media further include a third recording medium, and the plurality of recording media further include a third recording medium.
During recording on the third recording medium, the second recording element substrate does not correspond to the third recording medium.
When recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the third recording medium, the heat control means of the second recording element substrate during recording on the first recording medium. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the ink is not heated. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second recording medium has a width in a predetermined direction longer than that of the first recording medium. A recording device that records on a recording medium.
A first recording element substrate and a second recording element substrate each comprising a discharge port and a recording element sequence in which recording elements for generating energy for discharging ink from the discharge port are arranged in a predetermined direction. A recording head provided with a plurality of recording element substrates including the above so as to be arranged in the predetermined direction, and
While moving at least one of the recording head and the recording medium in an intersecting direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording element of the recording element substrate at a position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates. A recording control means that controls the recording operation so as to drive,
While performing the recording operation by the recording control means, the heating operation is controlled so as to heat the ink of the recording element substrate at the position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates to the extent that the ink is not ejected. With heating control means,
During recording with respect to the first image region of the recording medium, the first recording element substrate corresponds to the first image region, and the second recording element substrate corresponds to the first image region. Without
During recording for a second image region in which recording is performed next to the first image region on the recording medium, both the first recording element substrate and the second recording element substrate are in the second image region. Corresponds to the image area
When recording is performed in the first image region and then recording is performed in the second image region, the heating control means of the second recording element substrate during recording for the first image region. A recording device characterized by heating ink. A recording device that records on a plurality of recording media including at least a first recording medium and a second recording medium.
A first recording element substrate and a second recording element substrate each comprising a discharge port and a recording element sequence in which recording elements for generating energy for discharging ink from the discharge port are arranged in a predetermined direction. It is a recording method that records on a plurality of recording media including at least a first recording medium and a second recording medium by using a recording head provided so that a plurality of recording element substrates including the above are arranged in the predetermined direction. hand,
While moving at least one of the recording head and the recording medium in an intersecting direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording element of the recording element substrate at a position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates is moved. A recording control process that controls the recording operation so that it is driven,
While performing the recording operation in the recording control step, the heating operation is controlled so as to heat the ink of the recording element substrate at the position corresponding to the recording medium being recorded among the plurality of recording element substrates to the extent that the ink is not ejected. Has a heating control process and
During recording on the first recording medium, the first recording element substrate corresponds to the first recording medium, and the second recording element substrate does not correspond to the first recording medium.
During recording on the second recording medium, both the first recording element substrate and the second recording element substrate correspond to the second recording medium.
When recording is performed on the first recording medium and then recording is performed on the second recording medium, in the heating control step, during recording on the first recording medium, the second recording element substrate A recording method characterized by heating ink.

Images