JP2009113913A - Image recording device, and lifting mechanism control method and program by the same device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device capable of performing a lifting mechanism control to prevent excessive load from applying to lifting motor and lifting wire by controlling driving capability of the lifting motor when butting a lifting base against a butting member, its lifting mechanism control method and program. <P>SOLUTION: A lifting control part 20 decides whether or not a butting processing is continuously successful by a prescribed number of times. When the butting processing is successful, the butting torque value set in a lifting driving part 9 is lowered. When the processing is not successful, the butting torque value set in the lifting driving part 9 is raised, and the butting processing is performed again. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for a rope-suspended image recording apparatus having an elevating mechanism that is moved up and down by winding a rope, and in particular, an elevating mechanism at the time of operation in which a conveyance mechanism of the image recording apparatus is brought into contact with a recording position. It relates to control technology.

As the image recording apparatus, a line suspension type, for example, ink jet type full line type image recording apparatus having an elevating mechanism is known.
In this image recording apparatus, a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ink ejection are formed in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to a conveyance direction (sub scanning direction) in which a recording medium is conveyed is in the sub scanning direction. Are arranged for each ink color. In such an image recording apparatus (color printer), a recording medium for performing a recording process is disposed opposite to a plurality of ink nozzles in a recording head, and ink of each color is ejected from the ink nozzles to the recording medium, thereby allowing characters and images to be printed. It is recorded.

  In these image recording apparatuses, a lifting platform (hereinafter referred to as a lifting platform) equipped with a transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium by a belt is suspended by a wire which is an example of a rope, and a pulley connected to the wire is provided. The transport mechanism main body is moved up and down by winding with a motor. When the recording process is not being performed, the transport mechanism is lowered, but during the recording process, the transport mechanism is raised so that the recording medium is transported to the vicinity of the recording head.

Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet conveying device of a rope suspension type lifting mechanism and a lifting method in an image forming apparatus.
In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a lifting wire 53 is connected to the lifting tray 52, and the lifting tray 52 is wound by a lifting motor (not shown). As a result, the elevating tray 52 rises.

  The sheet surface sensor 54 detects an upper limit position of the lifting tray 52. When the sheet surface sensor 54 detects the recording medium 51 loaded on the lifting tray 52, a lifting control unit (not shown) The elevator tray 52 is stopped by stopping the motor. This stop position is the upper limit position.

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for suppressing an ascending operation when the ascending operation of the elevating tray 52 runs away. In Patent Document 1, an abutting member 55 is provided further above the upper limit position, and when the ascending / descending tray 52 moves up, the ascending / descending tray 52 is abutted against the abutting member 55 to stop the ascending operation.
JP-A-8-133495

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the lifting wire 53 is extended due to secular change or the like, the lifting tray 52 may be inclined. In the technique of Patent Document 1, the lifting tray 52 is raised, and the lifting tray 52 is stopped at the position where the recording medium 51 is detected by the sheet surface sensor 54. However, with this lifting method, the tilt of the lifting tray 52 cannot be eliminated. . Therefore, the recording medium 51 cannot be correctly conveyed.

  Further, in the above-described ascending operation suppression method, for example, the abutting members are arranged at the four corners of the top frame 56, and the lifting tray 52 is abutted against the abutting members at the four corners by the abutting operation, thereby eliminating the inclination of the elevating tray 52. The elevating tray 52 can be corrected horizontally. However, in this method, since it must be pushed up with a strong force to keep it horizontal, an excessive load is applied to the elevating motor and the elevating wire 53 by the abutting operation. This will cause 53 to stretch or break.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and when the lifting platform is abutted against the abutting member, by controlling the driving ability of the lifting motor, an excessive load is applied to the lifting motor and the lifting wire. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of controlling the lifting mechanism such that it cannot be applied, a lifting mechanism control method for the apparatus, and a program.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an image recording apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image recording unit having a recording head for performing recording processing by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and a recording medium. A conveying mechanism for conveying, and an elevating mechanism for moving the conveying mechanism between a recording position when the image recording unit performs a recording process and at least one retracted position by winding a rope of the elevating drive unit, In the image recording apparatus, the lift drive unit is provided with a lift information generating unit that generates a winding amount of the wire when the lift drive unit winds the wire, and the lift drive unit includes a transport mechanism. Control for changing the abutting torque value set in the abutting unit for performing the abutting process to the image recording unit and stopping the conveyance mechanism at the recording position and the raising / lowering driving unit at the time of abutting Elevating control unit And wherein the Rukoto.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lifting mechanism control method using an image recording apparatus, wherein an image recording unit having a recording head for performing recording processing by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and a recording medium are mounted. A conveying mechanism for conveying, and an elevating mechanism for moving the conveying mechanism between a recording position when the image recording unit performs a recording process and at least one retracted position by winding a rope of the elevating drive unit, A lifting mechanism control method by an image recording apparatus having an elevation drive unit that determines whether or not the abutting process of the transport mechanism to the image recording unit has succeeded a predetermined number of times, and the determination result is successful When the abutting torque value set in (2) is lowered and the determination result is not successful, the abutting torque value set in the elevating drive unit is increased and the abutting process is performed again.

  Further, a program which is one of still another aspect of the present invention includes an image recording unit having a recording head for performing recording processing by discharging ink to a recording medium, a transport mechanism for mounting and transporting the recording medium, Elevating and lowering by an image recording apparatus having an elevating mechanism that moves the conveying mechanism between a recording position when the image recording unit performs a recording process and at least one retracted position by winding the rope of the elevating drive unit A program for causing the arithmetic processing unit of the image recording apparatus to control the mechanism, and determining whether or not the abutting process of the transport mechanism to the image recording unit has succeeded a predetermined number of times; When the determination result is successful, the process of lowering the abutting torque value set in the lifting drive unit, and when the determination result is not successful, the abutting torque value set in the lifting drive unit is increased. Sudden Characterized in that to perform a process of re-performing the hit processing, the arithmetic processing unit.

  According to the present invention, when the lifting platform is abutted against the abutting member, it is possible to control the lifting mechanism so as not to apply an excessive load to the lifting motor and the lifting wire by controlling the driving ability of the lifting motor. An image recording apparatus, a lifting mechanism control method for the apparatus, and a program can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conceptual configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conceptual configuration of the feeding unit 2, the transport mechanism 3, the lifting mechanism 6, the image recording unit 13, and the collecting unit 17 in the entire image recording apparatus.

Hereinafter, in the description of the present embodiment, the conveyance direction of the recording medium is defined as the sub-scanning direction, and the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction is defined as the main scanning direction.
First, the recording process of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The image recording apparatus 1 includes a control unit 18 that controls the entire apparatus, a feeding unit 2 that feeds and transports a recording medium, a transport mechanism 3 that transports a recording medium transferred from the feeding unit 2, and a transport mechanism 3. Elevating mechanism 6 that moves up and down to an image recording position and a retracted position, an image recording unit 13 that records an image on a recording medium, and an abutting unit 10 that is used in the abutting process for abutting the conveying mechanism 3 and the image recording unit 13 And a display unit 16 for notifying abnormality and a recovery unit 17 for discharging and storing the recording medium on which the image is recorded.

Each component of the image recording apparatus 1 described above will be described.
The control unit 18 stores an arithmetic processing unit such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) that controls a control function and an arithmetic function, and a control program and recording data for causing the MPU to perform control processing of the image recording apparatus 1, for example, non-volatile The memory unit 19 is configured to include a memory.

The control unit 18 stores a program for realizing the function of the elevation control unit 20 according to the present embodiment in the storage unit 19 as a part of the control program.
The elevation control unit 20 is not realized by the software method as described above, but may be realized by a hardware method by combining a signal processing circuit controlled by the MPU of the control unit 18 with a logic circuit. Good.

  The feeding unit 2 contacts the feeding tray 2a containing the recording medium 31 and the uppermost recording medium 31 accommodated in the feeding tray 2a to take out one sheet at a time, and delivers it to the transport mechanism 3 side. It is comprised by the drive part 2b.

The feeding tray 2a is configured by a so-called feeding cassette or the like. The feeding drive unit 2b is constituted by a feeding roller, for example.
The feeding medium detection unit 2c includes, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection sensor, or a capacitive sensor, and detects, for example, the leading end of the recording medium 31 in the main scanning direction of the recording medium 31. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport mechanism 3 is provided with a transport surface facing the ink discharge ports of the plurality of recording heads 15. In the frame of the transport mechanism 3, a drive roller 32, a driven roller 33, and a transport drive unit 4 that rotates the drive roller 32 are disposed apart from each other in the sub-scanning direction. Is installed rotatably. Further, in the frame of the transport mechanism 3, a transport information generation unit 5, an abutted member 13 spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction, at least one suction fan (not shown), and a recording position holding member (not shown) are provided. .

  The conveyance information generation unit 5 is provided upstream of the recording head 15 in the conveyance direction and below the conveyance belt 34, detects the moving state of the conveyance belt 34, and generates conveyance information such as conveyance timing. It consists of an encoder or the like.

  A suction fan (not shown) generates a negative pressure to adsorb the recording medium 31 onto the conveying belt 34 and convey it. When the transport mechanism 3 is raised, a recording position holding member (not shown) is coupled with a recording position holding member (not shown) of the image recording apparatus, and the transport mechanism 3 is held at the recording position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the elevating mechanism 6 includes an elevating platform 35 on which the transport mechanism 3 is mounted, a take-up roller 36, a motor and its driver, and the take-up roller 36 is controlled based on a control signal from the elevating control unit 20. Elevating drive unit 9 to be driven, elevating driven roller 37 disposed above and below the four corners of the elevating platform 35 and the feeding side, the rope 38 suspended on the elevating driven roller 37, and the elevating information attached to the shaft of the take-up roller 36 The generating unit 8 and the retracted position detecting unit 7 that detects that the lifting platform 35 has reached the movable retracted position are configured.

  The retreat position detection unit 7 includes, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection sensor, and the like, and notifies the control unit 18 that the lift 35 has reached the retreat position as edge change information.

The lift information generation unit 8 is configured by an encoder or the like, and notifies the control unit 18 of the lift information generated by the rotation of the winding roller 36.
The cord 38 suspends the transport mechanism 3 and the elevator platform 35 below it through an elevation driven roller 37. One end is a winding roller 36, and the other cord end 38a is not shown in the image recording. It is connected to the frame of the device and is composed of, for example, a wire.

  The abutting unit 10 includes an abutting member 11 and an abutted member 12 used when abutting the image recording unit 13 and the transport mechanism 3 in order to raise the transport mechanism 3 to the recording position during the recording process. The position where the conveying mechanism 3 is raised and the abutting member 11 and the abutted member 12 are engaged is set as a position where the conveying mechanism 3 reaches the recording position. In the present specification, an operation process in which the transport mechanism 3 is raised and the abutting member 11 and the abutted member 12 are engaged to stop the transport mechanism 3 at the recording position is referred to as an abutting or butting process. Yes.

  The image recording unit 13 includes a recording head 15 in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are linearly arranged in a length exceeding the maximum recording medium width based on the design, and the nozzles can be individually controlled to be ejected by a drive signal, and The recording head drive unit 14 outputs a drive signal for individually driving each nozzle of the recording head 15 to the recording head 15 based on a control signal based on the recording data from the control unit 18. Further, the image recording unit 13 includes an abutting member 11 that comes into contact with the abutting member 12 of the transport mechanism 3 in order to maintain a constant distance from the transport mechanism 3 during the recording process.

The display unit 16 is a so-called operation panel, and the user sets various parameters via the display unit 16, and the image recording apparatus 1 displays information such as an error to the user.
The collection unit 17 is a discharge drive unit 17b that discharges the storage medium 31 that has been transported by the transport mechanism 3 and on which image recording has been performed by the image recording unit 13, and a discharge medium detection unit that detects an end of the discharged recording medium 31. 17c and a storage tray 17a for storing the discharged recording medium 31.

  The storage tray 17a is constituted by a so-called collection tray or the like. The discharge driving unit 17b is configured by, for example, a discharge roller. The ejected medium detection unit 17c is configured by, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection sensor, or a capacitive sensor, and detects, for example, the rear end of the recording medium 31 in the main scanning direction of the recording medium 31. To do. Of course, if necessary, the ejected medium detection unit 17c may detect the leading end of the recording medium 31.

The control unit 18 controls the feeding unit 2, the transport mechanism 3, the lifting mechanism 6, the image recording unit 13, the display unit 16, the collection unit 17, the storage unit 19, and the lifting control unit 20 by control signals.
The storage unit 19 is a memory that stores the drive conditions of the lift drive unit 9 determined by the lift control unit 20, and includes a nonvolatile memory of the control unit 18. The storage unit 19 also includes information necessary for controlling the elevation drive unit 9, for example, a torque value currently set for a driver of the elevation control unit 9, which will be described later, an abutting operation continuous success counter value, and a retry execution counter. The value etc. are also memorized.

  The elevating control unit 20 controls the elevating mechanism 6, determines whether or not the elevating mechanism 6 has successfully moved up to the recording position in a state where the transport mechanism 3 is loaded, and changes the driving condition of the elevating drive unit 9. There is something to do.

  The host device 21 is connected as an external device of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment via, for example, a LAN. The host apparatus 21 corresponds to a user computer that causes the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment to perform recording processing, and notifies the image recording apparatus 1 of job information as information related to recording processing.

  In this job information, recording data used when performing recording processing on the recording medium 31, margin value designation information in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 31 when performing recording processing on the recording medium 31, and recording processing are performed. The designation information of the number of recording media 31 at the time is included.

Next, a recording medium conveyance operation and a recording process by the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
When the job information is notified from the host device 21, the control unit 18 starts the abutting member 11 and the abutting member 12 from a retracted position where the elevation driving unit 9 performs processing such as removing the paper jam of the elevation mechanism 6. Is instructed to be raised to the abutting position (recording position) that fits. The elevating control unit 20 drives the elevating drive unit 9 of the elevating mechanism 6 and winds the rope 38 by the take-up roller 36.

  The lifting mechanism 6 and the transport mechanism 3 loaded on the lifting mechanism 6 are wound with the rope 38, whereby the abutting member 11 of the image recording unit 13 and the abutted member 12 disposed in the transport mechanism 3. Ascends to the position where it touches (recording position). After reaching the recording position, the transport mechanism 3 is held by coupling a recording position holding member (not shown) and a recording position holding member (not shown) of the image recording apparatus. A method for determining whether or not the elevating mechanism 6 and the transport mechanism 3 loaded on the elevating mechanism 6 have been correctly raised and abutted at the recording position will be described later.

  Next, the control unit 18 starts driving the transport belt 34 by rotating the drive roller 32 of the transport mechanism 3. Further, the feeding unit 2 picks up the recording medium 31 one by one from the feeding tray 2a by the feeding driving unit 2b, and transfers it to the transport mechanism 3 side.

  Thereafter, when the recording medium 31 is conveyed along the conveyance path, the edge of the leading end of the recording medium 31 is detected by the feeding medium detection unit 2 c on the downstream side of the feeding unit 2. Note that an edge signal notifying that an edge has been detected is transmitted to the control unit 18, and the control unit 18 performs control processing as a trigger signal for generating recording processing timing based on the edge signal.

Further, the recording medium 31 is conveyed downstream, and is adsorbed onto the conveyance belt 34 of the conveyance mechanism 3 by a suction fan (not shown).
By the way, the encoder pulse signal generated by the conveyance information generation unit 5 is also used as a synchronization signal when an image is recorded by the recording head 15. The control unit 18 stores the timing at which ink ejection starts from the nozzles as the number of pulses. When the number of pulses matches the count value of the encoder pulses generated from the conveyance information generation unit 5, the control unit 18 Ink is ejected from the nozzle toward the recording medium 31 adsorbed by the nozzle.

  The control unit 18 outputs, to the image recording unit 13, recording data for each line when performing recording processing based on image recording information stored in advance in a recording data memory (not shown) of the image recording apparatus 1. The recording head drive unit 15 controls the recording head 15 to record the recording data for each line output from the control unit 18. In this way, the recording medium 31 that has been subjected to the recording process is delivered to the collection unit 17 provided on the downstream side of the transport mechanism 3.

  Further, the recording medium 31 is sandwiched by the discharge driving unit 17b and conveyed downstream. Then, the trailing edge of the recording medium 31 is detected by the discharge medium detection unit 17c and then stored in the storage tray 17a.

  In addition, when the recording process for the recording medium 31 is completed and the recording process is not continuously requested, the lifting control unit 20 drives the lifting drive unit 9 of the lifting mechanism 6 to lower the lifting mechanism 6 to the retracted position. By sending out the rope 38 wound around the take-up roller 36, the elevating mechanism 6 and the transport mechanism 3 stacked on the elevating mechanism 6 are lowered until the retracted position detecting unit 7 detects them.

Next, a lifting mechanism control method using the lifting mechanism 6, the storage unit 19, and the lifting control unit 20 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The elevation control unit 20 can obtain the elevation information by the elevation information generation unit 8 when raising and lowering the elevation mechanism 6. For example, if the lifting / lowering control unit 20 needs 1000 pulses by the lifting / lowering information generating unit 8 to move the lifting / lowering mechanism 6 from the retracted position detecting unit 7 to the recording position, the lifting / lowering mechanism 6 has a margin for the rising distance of the lifting / lowering mechanism 6. For this purpose, the elevating drive unit 9 is instructed to drive 1100 pulses, for example, 100 pulses added to the required number of pulses.

  Further, the lift control unit 20 sets a drive torque value for the driver of the lift drive unit 9. The drive torque value set for the driver of the elevating drive unit 9 may be the maximum torque value of the elevating drive unit 9 when the elevating mechanism 6 is lowered, but when the elevating mechanism 6 is raised, it is arranged in the image recording unit 13. Since the abutting member 12 is abutted against the abutting member 11, it is desirable to abut with a load as small as possible. Therefore, when raising the elevating mechanism 6, the drive torque value (hereinafter referred to as abutting torque value) set in the elevating drive unit 9 is a value obtained by multiplying the maximum torque value by n (n = 0.01 to 1.00). It becomes. The elevating control unit 20 stores the abutting torque value in the storage unit 19 and changes the abutting torque value according to a change in the load state of the machine. Note that the initial value of the abutting torque value may be, for example, the maximum torque value of the elevating drive unit 9 or a value that can be reliably abutted by design.

  The elevating drive unit 9 starts driving the motor under the driving conditions set in the driver, and winds the rope 38 by the winding roller 36. The elevation information generation unit 8 notifies the control unit 18 of the elevation information while the winding roller 36 is winding the rope 38. The elevating control unit 20 can calculate the moving distance of the elevating mechanism 6 by integrating the numerical values of the elevating information. The lift mechanism 6 loaded on the transport mechanism 3 and the transport mechanism 3 cannot be lifted further when the abutting member 11 of the image recording unit 13 and the abutted member 12 of the transport mechanism 3 come into contact with each other. The elevation information generated by the generation unit 8 does not change.

  At this time, the elevation control unit 20 determines that the position is a recording position if the number of ascending pulses Pu accumulated until the elevation information stops changing is, for example, 900 pulses or more, and determines the number of consecutive successful abutting operations. Is incremented by 1, and the counter operation success count counter value is stored in the storage unit 19.

  However, when the abutting torque is insufficient, the elevating drive unit 9 is generated by the elevating information generating unit 8 because the elevating mechanism 6 cannot be raised and stopped until the abutted member 12 and the abutting member 11 come into contact with each other. Ascending / descending information will not change. In consideration of that, when the number of rising pulses Pu is less than 900 pulses, the lifting control unit 20 determines that the abutting operation is defective due to insufficient abutting torque, and clears the abutting operation continuous success count counter value to 0, The abutting operation continuous success number counter value is stored in the storage unit 19.

  Thereafter, the lifting control unit 20 lowers the lifting mechanism 6 until the retracted position detection unit 7 detects it, increases the abutting torque value by a predetermined value, stores the abutting torque value in the storage unit 19, and again strikes. Perform a guessing operation. The subsequent operation is as described above, but the lifting control unit 20 abnormally moves up and down when the butting operation failure is repeated a predetermined number of times in spite of increasing the butting torque value by a predetermined value. As a result, the abutting operation is interrupted, and an abnormality is notified by the display unit 16.

  In addition, since the raising / lowering control part 20 is raising the raising / lowering mechanism 6, when the raising pulse number Pu reaches 1100 pulses set at the time of the drive of a motor, abnormality of the raising / lowering information generation part 8 etc. can be considered. The abutting operation is interrupted, and the display unit 16 notifies the abnormality.

  On the other hand, when the abutting operation is successful, the ascending / descending control unit 20 is considered that the abutting torque value at that time is an appropriate value or excessive. Therefore, when the abutting operation continuous success number counter becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the elevating control unit 20 decreases the abutting torque value by a predetermined value and clears the abutting operation continuous success number counter to 0. The abutting torque value and the abutting operation continuous success number counter value are stored in the storage unit 19.

  Thereby, in the next abutting operation, the driving torque value of the elevating drive unit 9 is smaller than that of the previous time, so that an excessive load on the elevating drive unit 9 and the rope 38 during the abutting operation can be reduced.

  Thereafter, the control unit 18 is coupled to a recording position holding member of the conveyance mechanism 6 (not shown) and a recording position holding member of the image recording apparatus (not shown), and holds the conveyance mechanism 3 at the recording position. And the raising / lowering control part 20 stops the drive of the raising / lowering drive part 9. FIG.

Next, a lifting mechanism control method by the lifting control unit 20 of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operation processing in the lifting mechanism control method and program according to the present embodiment. The operation process of FIG. 6 is realized by the arithmetic processing unit of the control unit 18 executing a control program corresponding to the elevation control unit 20.

  First, when job information for instructing image recording is issued from the host apparatus 21 to the image recording apparatus 1, the control unit 18 instructs the ascending / descending control unit 20 to perform an ascending (butting) operation. The controller 18 first clears the butting operation retry execution counter value in step S1.

Next, the control part 18 sets a drive condition to the driver of the raising / lowering drive part 9 in step S2, and makes the raising / lowering drive part 9 start abutting operation | movement.
Next, the control part 18 determines whether the raising / lowering information of the raising / lowering information generation part 8 stopped changing in step S3. And when the raising / lowering information of the raising / lowering information production | generation part 8 is changing (step S3, NO), the control part 18 transfers a process again to step 3, and waits until raising / lowering information stops changing.

  Next, the control part 18 stops the raising / lowering drive part 9 in step S4, when the raising / lowering information of the raising / lowering information generation part 8 stops changing in step S3 (step S3, YES).

  In the operation process of the control unit 18, in the operations from step S2 to S4, the setting of the torque value is changed to a value larger than the abutting drive torque value set for the driver of the elevating drive unit 9, and step S2 is performed. A process of returning the abutting drive torque value set in the driver of the lifting / lowering drive unit 9 immediately before stopping the abutting operation in step S4 may be performed.

  Next, in step S5, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the abutting operation is successful depending on whether or not the accumulated number of rising pulses Pu is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Then, if the accumulated number of rising pulses Pu is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and the abutting operation is successful (step S5, YES), the control unit 18 proceeds to step S6. If the accumulated number of rising pulses Pu is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value and the abutting operation is not successful (step S5, NO), the process proceeds to step S10.

  Next, in step S6, the control unit 18 increments the counter operation success count counter value by +1. Next, in step S7, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the counter operation success count counter value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. And the control part 18 will complete | finish this process, if the butting operation continuous success number counter value does not satisfy a predetermined value (step S7, NO).

  Further, if the butt operation success count counter value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value in step S7 (step S7, YES), the control unit 18 is set to the driver of the current raising / lowering drive unit 9 in step S8. The abutting torque value is read from the storage unit 19, and the value is lowered by a predetermined value, reset to the driver, and stored in the storage unit 19. In step S9, the control unit 18 clears the butt operation success count counter value to 0, stores it in the storage unit 19, and ends this process.

  On the other hand, in step S10, the control unit 18 clears the counter operation success count counter value. In step S11, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the abutting torque value currently set for the driver of the lift drive unit 9 is already the upper limit value. As a result, if the control unit 18 is the upper limit value (step S11, YES), the abutting torque value cannot be increased any more, and thus the process ends after notifying the user of an error from the display unit 16.

  If the control unit 18 determines in step S11 that the abutting torque value currently set for the driver of the lifting / lowering drive unit 9 is not the upper limit value (step S11, NO), a retry is executed in step S13. It is determined whether the number counter value is equal to or less than a predetermined value. As a result, if the control unit 18 determines that the value is not equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S13, NO), the display unit 16 notifies the user of an error, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 18 determines in step S13 that the retry execution counter value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (step S13, YES), the control unit 18 is currently set to the driver of the lift drive unit 9 in step S14. The applied torque value is read from the storage unit 19, and the value is increased by a predetermined value, set as a driver, and stored in the storage unit 19.

Next, in step S15, the control unit 18 increments the retry execution counter value by +1, and shifts the processing to the butting operation in step S2.
By performing the processing as described above, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment sets a torque value to be set in the elevating drive unit 9 so that an excessive load is not applied to the rope 38 and the motor of the elevating drive unit 9. It can control to become an appropriate value.

  In step S7, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the counter operation success count counter value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. It is good also as a structure changed according to the magnitude | size of the abutting torque value set to the driver of the part 9. FIG.

  For example, when the set abutting torque value is small in step S7, the control unit 18 increases the predetermined value as shown in FIG. 4, and conversely, a large value is set for the abutting torque value. In this case, the predetermined value is decreased.

  In the example of FIG. 4, when the abutting torque value is as small as 0.01T to 0.10T (T is the maximum torque value), the predetermined value (the abutting torque switching number) is increased to 50 times, and the abutting torque value is When the value increases from 0.31T to 1.00T, the predetermined value (the number of times of abutting torque switching) is reduced to 10 times.

  As a result, the control unit 18 can reduce the number of times that the abutting operation is performed in a state where the abutting torque value is large, and further, can quickly approach the abutting torque value appropriate for the abutting operation. An excessive load on the motor of the elevating drive unit 9 and the rope 38 due to the operation can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the conveying mechanism is abutted against the abutting member, the driving torque value of the ascending / descending drive unit 9 is controlled, so that the elevation driving unit and the rope are excessive. The lifting mechanism can be controlled so that no load is applied.

  In the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the transport mechanism 3 is configured to move up and down between the two positions of the recording position and the retracted position. However, a plurality of retracted positions are provided, and the transport mechanism 3 includes the recording position and the retracted position. It is good also as a structure which goes up and down between the retreat positions. At that time, a configuration may be adopted in which a retracted position detection unit is provided at each retracted position.

  In addition, the present embodiment may be configured in various forms by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the present embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from the overall configuration shown in the present embodiment, or new components may be combined by appropriately combining components over different embodiments.

  Further, the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration described above, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the necessity in the implementation stage.

It is a block diagram which shows the conceptual structure with which the image recording device of this embodiment is provided. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of each component except the control system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the operation | movement process in the raising / lowering mechanism control method and program which concern on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the abutting torque value and the number of times of driving torque switching in the case of changing the number of times of driving torque switching according to the magnitude of the abutting torque value. 10 is a diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 2 Feeding part 2a Feeding tray 2b Feeding drive part 2c Feeding medium detection part 3 Conveyance mechanism 4 Conveyance drive part 5 Conveyance information generation part 6 Lifting mechanism 7 Retraction position detection part 8 Lifting information generation part 9 Lifting Drive part 10 Abutting part 11 Abutting member 12 Abutted member 13 Image recording part 14 Recording head driving part 15 Recording head 16 Display part 17 Collecting part 17a Storage tray 17b Ejection driving part 17c Ejection medium detection part 18 Control part 19 Storage Unit 20 Elevation Control Unit 21 Host Device 31 Recording Medium 32 Drive Roller 33 Driven Roller 34 Conveyor Belt 35 Lifting Platform 36 Take-up Roller 37 Lifting Follower Roller 38 Cable 38a Cable Edge 51 Recording Medium 52 Lifting Tray 53 Lifting Wire 54 Sheet Surface sensor 55 Abutting member 56 Top frame

Claims (13)

An image recording unit having a recording head for performing recording processing by discharging ink onto a recording medium, a transporting mechanism for mounting and transporting the recording medium, and when the image recording unit performs the recording processing on the transporting mechanism In an image recording apparatus having an elevating mechanism that is moved between the recording position and at least one retracted position by winding the rope of the elevating drive unit,
An elevation information generating unit that is provided in the elevation drive unit and generates a winding amount of the rope when the elevation drive unit winds the rope;
An abutting portion for causing the conveying mechanism to abut against the image recording unit and stopping the conveying mechanism at the recording position by the elevating drive unit;
An elevating control unit that performs control to change the abutting torque value set in the elevating drive unit at the time of the abutting process to an appropriate value;
An image recording apparatus comprising: A control unit;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores the elevation control unit as a program executed by an arithmetic processing device of the control unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit includes a storage unit that stores at least a driving condition for controlling the elevation driving unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a number of retracted position detection units corresponding to the retracted position.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member that holds a position of the transport mechanism after the abutting mechanism is abutted. An image recording unit having a recording head for discharging ink onto a recording medium to perform a recording process, a transport mechanism for mounting and transporting the recording medium, and the image recording unit performing the recording process on the transport mechanism An elevating mechanism control method by an image recording apparatus having an elevating mechanism that is moved between the recording position and at least one retracted position by winding the rope of the elevating drive unit,
Determining whether or not the abutting process of the transport mechanism to the image recording unit has succeeded a predetermined number of times,
If the determination result is successful, lower the abutting torque value set in the lifting drive unit,
If the determination result is not successful, increase the abutting torque value set in the lifting drive unit and perform the abutting process again.
A lifting mechanism control method characterized by the above.   The lifting mechanism control method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined number of times is decreased as the abutting torque value increases, and the predetermined number of times is increased as the abutting torque value decreases.   When the drive of the lift drive unit is started, the lift drive unit is driven with a torque larger than the abutting torque value, and the lift drive unit is set immediately before the transport mechanism reaches the recording position. The raising / lowering mechanism control method according to claim 6, wherein the driving torque is returned to the abutting torque value.   The lifting mechanism control method according to claim 6, wherein the transport mechanism is held by a holding member that holds a position of the transport mechanism after the abutting process, and driving of the lifting drive unit is stopped. An image recording unit having a recording head for performing recording processing by discharging ink onto a recording medium, a transporting mechanism for mounting and transporting the recording medium, and when the image recording unit performs the recording processing on the transporting mechanism Control of the lifting mechanism by the image recording apparatus having a lifting mechanism that is moved by winding the rope of the lifting drive unit between the recording position and at least one retracted position. A program for causing a processing device to execute,
A process of determining whether or not the abutting process of the transport mechanism to the image recording unit has succeeded a predetermined number of times;
When the result of the determination is successful, a process of reducing the butting torque value set in the lifting drive unit;
When the result of the determination is not successful, a process of increasing the abutting torque value set in the elevating drive unit and causing the abutting process to be performed again;
To the arithmetic processing unit.   The arithmetic processing unit is configured to perform processing for decreasing the predetermined number of times as the abutting torque value increases and processing for increasing the predetermined number of times as the abutting torque decreases. The program according to claim 10.   When the drive of the lift drive unit is started, the process of driving the lift drive unit with a torque larger than the abutting torque value and the lift drive unit are set immediately before the transport mechanism reaches the recording position. The program according to claim 10, further comprising: causing the arithmetic processing unit to perform a process of returning the driving torque being performed to the abutting torque value.   The arithmetic processing unit is configured to perform a process of holding the transport mechanism with a holding member that holds a position of the transport mechanism after the abutting process and a process of stopping driving of the elevating drive unit. The program according to claim 10.

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