JPH08281927A - Recording head, recording apparatus using the recording head, and recording method using the recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Even when the recording head can be removed from the recording apparatus main body, the life of each recording head can be specified.
(EN) Provided is a recording head capable of knowing an appropriate time to replace the recording head. The recording head itself is provided with a storage unit (EEPROM 4) capable of storing information on print history, and information on the print history is written into the storage unit each time a predetermined amount of recording is performed in the recording apparatus, and the recording apparatus records the information. The print history can be managed for each recording head by referring to the contents of the storage means of the head.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a replaceable recording head, a recording apparatus using the recording head, and a recording method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A well-known conventional recording apparatus is equipped with, for example, a recording head, and is arranged in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as recording sheet) such as a paper or an OHP sheet. A line having a so-called serial type recording device having a movable part (hereinafter referred to as a carrier or a carriage) equipped with a reciprocating recording head, and a recording head having a length corresponding to the width of a recording sheet. There are types of recording devices. In these recording devices, recording heads of various recording systems are used, and as the system, generally, a wire dot system, a thermal system,
A thermal transfer system, an inkjet system, an electrophotographic system, etc. are widely known.

Further, an electronic apparatus having a recording device which is electrically connected to these recording devices by an interface cable or the like and which gives an instruction for editing and creating information to be recorded by the recording device and recording to the recording device is also widely known. ing.

Among these various recording apparatuses, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with an ink tank for supplying ink as a recording material and a recording head for ejecting the ink supplied from the ink tank onto a recording medium. In general, the ink tank is configured to be replaced with a new ink tank when the ink is used up.

In recent years, a recording apparatus using a disposable type recording head cartridge in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head and the recording head is exchanged is known. Further, there is also a configuration in which the ink tank is detachably attached to the recording head. Further, in a recording apparatus capable of color printing, a recording apparatus that performs recording while exchanging recording heads of different types (for example, black and color) can realize optimal recording according to information to be recorded with a compact configuration. Therefore, it is becoming popular.

There is also a system for informing the user of the amount of consumption of the recording material consumed by recording such as ink in the recording apparatus and the amount of ink retained in the ink tank. In addition, there is a method in which, when a recording material supply unit such as a recording head or an ink tank is replaced, an operation for ensuring a good recording state such as recovery of ink discharge is performed prior to recording.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, if it becomes difficult to continue recording during recording, the recording medium such as paper or sheet that has been interrupted during recording becomes useless, and therefore, before recording is stopped. It is advisable to stop the recording and recover it so that it can be resumed. The causes that make recording difficult during recording are:
The remaining amount of the recording material such as ink decreases, the life of the recording head, and the like. Regarding the decrease in the remaining amount of the recording material mentioned as the former, the remaining amount of the recording material is sequentially measured, and a warning is given when the remaining amount has decreased to a predetermined amount, and the user is prompted to replenish and fill the recording material. It is preferable. Regarding the life of the recording head mentioned as the latter, the life until recording cannot be performed is predicted or measured experimentally, and the amount of recording that can be performed until the recording head in use becomes unusable (for example, the number of times of driving or Based on the recording length, etc.), it is possible to avoid a situation in which it becomes difficult to continue recording during recording.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus, it is known that the recording head and the ink tank are integrally formed. In such an arrangement,
By making the life of the recording head longer than the amount of ink that can be recorded in the ink tank, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the recording head becomes difficult to use due to its life during recording. In such a configuration, the ink tank can be one means for specifying the print history of the recording heads that are integrally configured. However, in the configuration in which the ink tank and the print head are separable and can be independently replaced, the ink tank is replaced several times or more while the print head is being used without problems, There is a high possibility that the recording head will become unusable due to its life in the middle of. In such a configuration, it is difficult to specify the life of the recording head by the ink tank.

Further, when the recording head is replaced and used, it is difficult to specify the print history of the recording head removed when the recording head is replaced. In addition, there is a problem that the life of the recording head cannot be specified.

When a problem occurs in the recorded image,
There is a method of exchanging the recording head and the ink tank and performing plural kinds of printing depending on the combination to identify the cause of the malfunction. In particular, since a plurality of recording heads and ink tanks corresponding to the recording heads are provided like a recording apparatus capable of color recording, the work for identifying the cause requires complicated operation and time. In such a case, it is particularly difficult to manage the life of the recording head.

In recent years, attention has been paid to recording on various recording media, and not only standard cut sheets that have been normally used but also continuous long sheets using long continuous sheets such as roll sheets. Recording of images, characters, etc. has also started to take place, and recording formats have become diverse. In such recording on long continuous paper such as roll paper,
The fact that the recording cannot be continued during the recording due to the life of the recording head causes a particularly large waste of the recording medium as compared with the recording on the cut sheet. Therefore, the technique of managing the life of the recording head is a particularly important factor.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even if the recording head is removed from the recording apparatus main body by replacement, the print history of the recording head can be managed and the recording head can be managed. (EN) Provided are a recording head capable of specifying the life from each printing history and simplifying the replacement time, a recording apparatus and a recording method using the recording head.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, in a recording head which is replaceably mounted in a recording apparatus, holds a recording element for recording on a recording medium and predetermined information. It is characterized by having a holding means and a means for transmitting the information to the recording device.

According to the present invention, in a recording apparatus in which a recording head having recording means for recording on a recording medium is replaceably mounted, a history information generating means for generating information on a history of recording by the recording head. Holding means for holding the information on the history generated by the history information generating means, and history information reading means for reading the information on the history from the holding means provided on the recording head. It is characterized by having.

The present invention also provides a recording method in a recording apparatus, wherein a recording head having recording means for recording on a recording medium and storage means capable of storing predetermined information is replaceably mounted. A signal generating step of generating an electric signal when a predetermined amount of recording is performed, and an information updating step of updating the information stored in the storage means based on the electric signal generated by the signal generating step. It is characterized by having.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the outer appearance of the main part of an ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a printed circuit board, 2 is an aluminum radiator plate, 3 is a heater board including a heating element and a drive circuit, 4 is a voltage non-volatile memory (EEPROM) for recording print history information, and 5 in the figure is It is a contact electrode that is a joint portion with the main body of the recording apparatus. The inkjet recording head shown in FIG. 1 is formed with a plurality of ejection port arrays, and FIG. 9 shows a line-shaped ejection port group 9 thereof.

In the main body of the recording apparatus on which the ink jet recording head is mounted, the print history, for example, the number of print dots, the number of print pages, etc. are counted and the contents are stored. After that, a specific electric signal is sent to the recording head via the contact electrode 5 every time the count number of the printing history reaches a predetermined number, and the EEPRO provided in the inkjet recording head.
Write to M.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a circuit on the printed circuit board shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the driving timing in the circuit configuration shown in FIG. Here, the inside of the frame shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 2 shows the circuit configuration of the heater board 3 in FIG.

The heater board 3 is composed of a plurality of heating elements 7 and driving circuits corresponding to the heating elements 7. This heating element 7 is driven by so-called time-division driving in which each heating element is divided into groups as shown in FIG. 3 and sequentially driven between the groups, and the drive energy supply control is performed on the segment (seg) side. It is realized by controlling the pulse width.

Reference numeral 4 in FIG. 2 is an example of the EEPROM shown in FIG. 1, and stores information relating to the print history relating to the present invention. This information is output to the main body apparatus side by serial communication in response to a request signal (address signal) DI from the main body apparatus side.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the exchange of signals between the ink jet recording head and the recording apparatus main body. In particular, FIG. 4 shows the timing of signals when reading information stored in the EEPROM 4 (read mode). 8 bits (b
Information DO regarding the print history in units of (it) is output from the serial out terminal SO shown in FIG.

Further, FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing when writing the information tail concerning the print history to the ink jet recording head. FIG. 5 shows the EEPROM 4
When writing information about print history to (write mode)
As in the case of reading shown in FIG. 4, which shows the timing of the signal of
The above information (DI) is EEPRO in units of bits.
Write to M4.

In this way, it becomes possible to leave information regarding the printing history on the EEPROM of the ink jet recording head from the main body side, and even if the recording head is detached from the main body, the ink is stored in the EEPROM which is the storage means in the ink jet recording head. Since the information necessary to specify the life of the recording head is stored, when the inkjet recording head is mounted again on the external device or the recording device, the printing history and the usage status of the mounted inkjet recording head are specified. be able to.

Furthermore, when the ink jet recording head is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus, the main body device reads out the print history information from the ink jet recording head, and based on this information, the optimum applied energy is applied to the ink jet recording head. By performing print control such as head temperature adjustment, it is possible to maintain the best image quality from beginning to end until the head reaches the end of its life.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the outer appearance of the main part of an ink jet recording head according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The difference between the ink jet recording head shown in FIG. 6 in the present embodiment and the ink jet recording head in the first embodiment is that the heater board does not use the EEPROM as a storage means for writing information relating to the print history. It has a function as a storage means.

In FIG. 6, 61 is a printed circuit board and 62
Is a heat sink of aluminum, 63 is a heater board consisting of a heating element and a drive circuit, and 65 is a contact electrode which is a joint with the main body of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a circuit on the printed circuit board shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the driving timing in the circuit configuration shown in FIG. Here, the inside of the frame shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 7 shows the circuit configuration of the heater board 63 of FIG.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 78 designates a heating element provided in addition to the heating element 77. At least one element 78 corresponding to this heating element is provided on the heater board.
It is sufficient if there are individual pieces.

In this embodiment, the storage of the information regarding the print history is performed by reading the change in the physical property of the element 78. The change in the physical quantity to the element 78 is realized by controlling the pulse width T of the COM (N + 1) th common terminal (N + 1) th and the segment. For example,
As the element 78 corresponding to the heating element, one having a small breaking energy is used, or the segment applied energy is set to the element 7.
The wire breakage may be applied depending on whether the voltage is applied as a value larger than the wire breakage destruction value of No. 8, and the information regarding the print history may be associated with the wire breakage state of the element.

The generation of information relating to the print history in the main body of the recording apparatus equipped with the ink jet recording head is the first.
The same method as in the embodiment can be used. As in the first embodiment, the number of print dots, the number of print pages, and the like are counted, and a specific electric signal is sent to the element 78 of the recording head every time the count value reaches a predetermined number to write information regarding history. To do.

In this way, the recording history information can be stored on the heater board of the ink jet recording head from the recording apparatus main body side, and even if the ink jet recording head is removed from the main body, the recording history information can be stored in the recording head. It is possible to leave it, and it is possible to specify the printing history and the usage status of the ink jet recording head when it is mounted on the external device or the recording device main body again.

Further, as in the first embodiment, when the ink jet recording head is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus, the main body device reads out the print history information from the ink jet recording head, and the ink jet recording head is read based on this information. It is possible to maintain the best image quality until the head reaches the end of its life by performing printing control such as applying the optimum applied energy and adjusting the head temperature.

Further, in this embodiment, it is difficult to increase the amount of information that can be stored as compared with the first embodiment, but it is not necessary to mount an expensive EEPROM on the ink jet recording head, and the element 78 is used. Like the other heat generating elements, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the recording head by manufacturing it during manufacturing of the recording head.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the above-described second embodiment, the life of the ink jet recording head is specified by arranging an element conforming to the heating element on the heater board and using the state of the element as the information regarding the printing history.

In the present embodiment, the life of the ink jet recording head is specified by providing the printed circuit board of the ink jet recording head with a function for storing information regarding print history, not on the heater board.

The structure of this embodiment is such that a specific pattern is wired on a printed circuit board, the change in the physical property thereof is used as information relating to the printing history, and the life of the ink jet recording head is specified by reading the physical change. To do.

As the specific pattern wired on the printed circuit board, for example, a resistance wire or the like which is disconnected by application of a predetermined amount of electric energy can be used. The wiring pattern can be broken by applying the energy required for breaking this pattern, and the broken state can be detected to correspond to the print history information. As a concrete method,
A plurality of wiring patterns may be provided, and one wiring pattern may be disconnected each time a predetermined amount of printing is performed.
This predetermined amount of printing can be performed by counting the number of print dots and the number of print pages in the print history in the recording apparatus main body as described in the first embodiment. By applying an electrical signal to update the print history, print history information will be stored.

In this way, the information corresponding to the print history can be stored on the printed circuit board of the ink jet recording head from the recording apparatus main body side, and printing can be performed on the recording head even if the ink jet recording head is removed from the main body. It is possible to leave information regarding the history, and it is possible to specify the printing history and the usage status of the inkjet recording head when the inkjet recording head is attached to the external device or the recording device main body again.

Further, as in the first embodiment, when the ink jet recording head is attached to the main body of the recording apparatus, the main body device reads out the print history information from the ink jet recording head, and the ink jet recording head is read based on this information. It is possible to maintain the best image quality until the head reaches the end of its life by performing printing control such as applying the optimum applied energy and adjusting the head temperature.

Further, in the present embodiment, in order to increase the amount of information that can be stored as compared with the first embodiment, it is necessary to increase the number of wiring patterns, and it is important that the density of the wiring patterns is high. Expensive EEP for recording head
It is not necessary to mount a ROM, and by incorporating the element 78 in the manufacturing of the recording head like other heating elements, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the recording head.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is particularly effective in a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by forming flying liquid properties by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems. Will bring about.

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

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

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

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

As for the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, two or more recording heads may be provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to adjust the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change from the solid state of the ink to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying heat energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function It may be a form or the like.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the print head is removed from the printing apparatus body, the print history itself is stored in the print head, so the print history can be managed for each print head, and the life of the print head can be specified to replace the print head. Know the right time to do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an external appearance of a main part of an inkjet recording head applicable to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of the inkjet recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the timing of input signals of the circuit shown in FIG.

4 is a timing chart showing timings in a read mode of the EEPROM 4 shown in FIG.

5 is a timing chart showing the timing of the EEPROM 4 shown in FIG. 2 in a write mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an outer appearance of a main part of an inkjet recording head applicable to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part on the printed circuit board shown in FIG.

8 is a timing chart showing the timing of input signals to the circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing in detail the ejection port portion of the inkjet recording head.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printed Circuit Board 2 Aluminum Heat Sink 3 Heater Board 4 EEPROM 5 Contact Electrode 6 Diode 7 Heating Element 9 Discharge Port

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A recording head which is replaceably mounted on a recording device, a recording element for recording on a recording medium, a holding means for holding predetermined information, and a means for transmitting the information to the recording device. And a recording head having: 2. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit is a memory unit that stores the predetermined information. 3. The recording element is a heating element that generates heat energy in response to the application of an electric signal, and the holding means is a predetermined pattern provided on the recording means of the recording head, like the heating element. 2. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a heating element. 4. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is a wiring pattern which is provided on a substrate of the recording head and can be disconnected by application of an electric signal. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an ink jet head that ejects ink to perform recording on a recording medium. 6. The recording element is a heating element that generates thermal energy in response to the application of an electric signal, and the thermal energy causes the ink to change state due to heat,
The recording head according to claim 5, wherein the ink is ejected by the pressure generated by the state change. 7. A recording apparatus in which a recording head having recording means for recording on a recording medium is replaceably mounted, and history information generating means for generating information on a history of recording by the recording head, and the recording head. And a history information reading unit for reading the history information from the holding unit provided in the recording head. Recording device. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the history information generating means generates information regarding the history based on a recording amount of a recording head mounted on the recording apparatus. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the holding unit is a memory unit that stores the predetermined information. 10. The recording element is a heating element that generates thermal energy in response to the application of an electric signal, and the holding means is a predetermined pattern provided in the recording means of a recording head, like the heating element. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording element is a heating element. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the holding unit is a wiring pattern which is provided on the substrate of the recording head and can be disconnected by application of an electric signal. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording head is an ink jet head that discharges ink to perform recording on a recording medium. 13. The recording element is a heating element that generates thermal energy in response to the application of an electric signal. The thermal energy causes the ink to undergo a state change due to heat, and the pressure generated by the state change causes the ink to be ejected. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the recording apparatus ejects the ink. 14. A recording method in a recording apparatus in which a recording head having recording means for recording on a recording medium and storage means capable of storing predetermined information is replaceably mounted, and a predetermined amount of the recording head is used. A signal generating step of generating an electric signal when recording is performed, and an information updating step of updating the information stored in the storage means based on the electric signal generated by the signal generating step. And the recording method. 15. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein the holding unit holds information regarding a history of recording by the recording head, and reads out the predetermined information held by the holding unit. A recording method comprising steps.