JP3192456B2 - Image recording device and information setting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording material using detachable recording means, and an information setting apparatus for setting predetermined information in the image recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an ink jet type recording apparatus for recording an image using a detachable cartridge type ink jet recording head.

In such an ink-jet recording apparatus, uniform ink can be uniformly ejected from each nozzle due to limitations on processing accuracy of a plurality of nozzles constituting an ink discharge section, variations in a semiconductor sensor for detecting a temperature of an ink heater, and the like. It is difficult to obtain a discharge. Therefore, in a cartridge type ink jet head, a memory (R) storing correction value data (head shading data) for correcting a temperature sensor correction value for each cartridge and an ejection characteristic for each nozzle.
OM) is provided in the cartridge, and the printing apparatus reads out these data from the head and reflects the data in the ejection control prior to printing.

[0004]

However, even with a head that has performed such ejection correction, the ink itself is affected by the ambient temperature, humidity, air pressure, and the like. The above-mentioned drawback had arisen. As a solution to this problem, it is conceivable to provide sensors for temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure and the like in the apparatus. However, it is difficult to employ a low-cost apparatus in that the cost of the recording apparatus is increased.

Further, in the case where the recording apparatus requires various settings from the user, for example, in the case of a color copying machine in which it is necessary to set the recording density, the color balance, the number of recordings, and the recording size, the user can select the user's preference. Means for avoiding the complexity of setting every time is required. When the same device is used by a plurality of users, it is particularly desirable that each user can easily set his / her favorite settings in the device.

In some cases, it is necessary to update or change the control program of the apparatus. For example, when it is necessary to change the ejection control algorithm in accordance with the change of the ink component, the control program of the normal device is stored in the ROM
Therefore, changing the control program necessitates replacement of the program ROM of the apparatus.
Since the program ROM is mounted in the housing of the apparatus, the exchange requires a great deal of trouble. Further, in the cartridge type ink jet head, since the user can freely exchange the cartridge, the exchange of the program ROM is impractical each time, and an alternative control program changing means is required.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of easily setting and changing control parameters and the like with a simple configuration.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus in which recording means for recording an image on a recording material is detachable, wherein predetermined information for setting in the recording means or the apparatus is stored. Mounting means for selectively mounting information setting means; reading means for reading the predetermined information from the information setting means mounted on the mounting means; and the predetermined information read by the reading means And storage means for storing Also, the present invention is an information setting device for setting predetermined information to an image recording apparatus having a mounting means for mounting a recording means for recording an image on a recording material, wherein the storage means stores the predetermined information. The information setting means is mounted on the mounting means on which the recording means is mounted in place of the recording means, the information setting means is connected to the image recording apparatus main body, and the predetermined information stored in the storage means is stored in the storage means. Connector means for transmitting to the image recording apparatus main body. As a result, predetermined information is set in the image recording apparatus main body by mounting the information setting device on the mounting device instead of the recording device.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a control section of a recording apparatus of an ink jet type according to an embodiment of the present invention and a cartridge type ink jet head. 1 in the figure is C
It is a PU and controls each unit of the apparatus according to a program stored in a program ROM 2 in which a control program is stored. Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM for calculation, data storage, and program storage, the contents of which are held by a backup battery 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes an ink jet head cartridge, which includes a ROM in which a head ID and various data described later are stored in the cartridge. FIG. 8 shows the appearance of the ink jet head cartridge. 8 is an ink discharge heater section,
By generating a bubble in the nozzle 11 by a discharge pulse from the head drive circuit 9, the ink tank 1
A state change is caused in the ink supplied from 3 and the ink droplets 12 are ejected accordingly. Also, 10
Denotes an operation unit provided with a key group for inputting various parameters and the like, and various displays.

In this embodiment, by turning on the power while the ink jet head cartridge 5 is mounted, R
Various data indicating the characteristics of the head are read from the OM 6 and used for various corrections.

When the power is turned on with the dummy head cartridge 50 as shown in FIG. 9 mounted in place of the ink jet head cartridge 5, environmental data and recording mode setting data are read from the ROM 60 via the head connector 70. , A subroutine change program and the like are read. The dummy head cartridge 50 has the same external shape as the ink jet head cartridge 5, but has only a ROM without a recording ink tank and an ink ejection mechanism.

A head ID is stored in the ROM of each cartridge for identifying the ink jet head cartridge and the dummy head cartridge.

Next, recognition of the head ID will be described.
FIG. 2 is a list of head types represented by the head ID. 256 types of head IDs from 0 to 255 can be set. In this embodiment, 0 indicates a normal ink jet head cartridge, and 1 and all subsequent portions are allotted to dummy head cartridges. That is, IDs are also assigned to the dummy head cartridges according to the contents of the memory of the cartridges.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mapping of a memory usually provided in both an ink jet head and a dummy head. According to the figure, the ID is stored at the lowest address of the memory.

FIG. 4 shows the memory mapping of the normal ink jet head cartridge whose ID is "0".

In the memory of the normal ink jet head cartridge having an ID of "0", in addition to the ID, a correction value of a temperature sensor and head shading data for correcting a discharge amount of an ink discharge nozzle are stored. The correction value of the temperature sensor is used for adjusting the temperature of the heater that heats the ink, and the head shading data is used as a correction value for equalizing the ejection amount of each nozzle.

After the power is turned on, the recording apparatus reads the ID of the head address of the memory in the head and recognizes that the head is a normal ink jet head. Further, the contents of the memory in the head are read out as necessary according to the ID and memory map correspondence table (not shown) stored in advance in the program ROM of the control device, and the work RA in the control device is read.
It is stored at a predetermined address of M3. In the case of a normal head having an ID of "0", 1 byte is used as a sensor correction amount and 128 bytes is used as head shading data in a RAM.
3 above. The recording device reads the head shading data and stores it in the work RAM 3 every time the power is turned on.

FIG. 5 shows the memory mapping of the environmental data setting dummy head cartridge having the ID of "1". I
In the memory of the head cartridge in which D is “1”, in addition to the ID, data representing the temperature range, the humidity range, and the atmospheric pressure of the environment in which the recording apparatus itself is used are stored. The ink used in the ink jet head, the ink heater, the nozzle diameter, and the like vary in the discharge amount depending on the temperature, humidity, and pressure used. Therefore, these conditions are set in the printing apparatus, and the control is changed so that proper ejection can be performed in any use environment.

The use environment of the apparatus needs to be set by the user irrespective of the head or the recording apparatus. Therefore, a dummy head cartridge having dedicated setting data is used instead of an ordinary ink head. The recording device has this ID “1”.
After recognizing the environment setting data head, data representing the temperature range, the humidity range, and the atmospheric pressure of the environment is read out from the memory in the cartridge and stored at a predetermined address of the work RAM 3. Since the contents of the work RAM 3 are backed up by the battery 4, the data representing the temperature range, the humidity range, and the atmospheric pressure of the environment in the work RAM 3 are maintained until another environment setting data head is mounted on the apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows the mapping of the memory in the mode setting dummy head cartridge having the ID of "2". I
In the memory of the head whose D is "2", various setting values for recording are stored in addition to the ID, and the contents set by the operation unit of the recording apparatus are stored. In other words, the user can set the desired settings in the memory in the mode setting dummy head cartridge and mount it on the recording device, thereby saving the trouble of setting with the operation unit 10. Prior to recording, if data set by the mode setting dummy head cartridge exists on the work RMA3, the recording apparatus ignores or invalidates the setting of the operation unit 10 and performs recording according to the data. When the user wants to make settings using the operation unit, the setting data by the mode setting dummy head cartridge can be invalidated by a reset key (not shown) on the operation unit 10.

FIG. 7 shows the memory mapping of the dummy head cartridge for changing the subroutine whose ID is "3".
In the memory of the dummy head cartridge having the ID “3”, in addition to the ID, a substitute program for a part of the subroutine of the control program stored in the program ROM 2 in the recording apparatus and the total number of bytes of the program are stored. It is. When a dummy head cartridge with an ID of “3” is mounted on the recording apparatus, an area for the total number of bytes is secured on the work RAM 3 and the ROM in the cartridge is stored.
Is stored in the area. Further, at the time of the recording operation, the control is not performed in accordance with the replacement program stored in the program ROM 2 but in accordance with the replacement program.

As described above, the recording apparatus reads data from the memory in the cartridge and reflects the data on the control in accordance with the various cartridges.

FIG. 10 shows an operation flow of the recording apparatus after the power is turned on. After the power is turned on, the registers of the CPU 1 and a part of the work RAM 3 are initialized (step S1).
The ID of the ROM in the cartridge is read. ID
The data in the memory in the cartridge is stored in the work RAM 3 in accordance with the format determined in advance according to the above (step S2). Thereafter, a recording operation according to the user's request is performed (step S3). Here, if the cartridge mounted on the recording apparatus is not a normal ink jet head cartridge with an ID of "0", the recording operation cannot be performed, so that the recording operation is not started.

As described above, by accessing the memory in the dummy head cartridge from the head interface for accessing the memory in the ink jet head cartridge, the control method of the printing apparatus, various settings, and program change can be easily performed.

In this embodiment, among the ink jet recording systems, a system in which ink is ejected by using bubbles generated by thermal energy has been described.
The invention is not limited to this, and a piezo method may be used.

The typical configuration and principle of the method of ejecting ink droplets using thermal energy in this embodiment are disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. It is preferable to use a basic principle. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the liquid (ink). Applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, thereby generating heat energy in the electrothermal transducer, and thereby forming a recording head. This is effective because a film in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the driving signal can be formed one by one by causing film boiling on the heat acting surface. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed.
When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, 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 is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently regardless of the form of the recording head.

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

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are, for example, different from those provided with only one corresponding to a single color ink and those corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, by mounting information setting means storing predetermined information in place of the recording means, the predetermined information is read into the image recording apparatus. Various settings can be made easily and easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between a recording head and a control unit of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence between an ID of a head cartridge and a type of the head cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing mapping of a memory in a head cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing mapping of a memory in the ink jet head cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing mapping of memories in a dummy head cartridge for setting environment data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating mapping of a memory in a mode setting dummy head cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing mapping of a memory in a subroutine change dummy head cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a sketch drawing of an ink jet head cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a sketch drawing of a dummy head cartridge.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Program ROM 3 Work RAM 5 Inkjet head cartridge 6 ROM 50 Dummy head cartridge 60 ROM

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus in which recording means for recording an image on a recording material is detachable, wherein said recording means or information setting means storing predetermined information to be set in said apparatus is selectively mounted. Mounting means; reading means for reading the predetermined information from the information setting means mounted on the mounting means; and storage means for storing the predetermined information read by the reading means. An image recording apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reading means reads said predetermined information in response to power-on of said apparatus. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means and said information setting means have the same shape. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is information on an environment in which the apparatus is used. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is information indicating a recording mode. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is a control program for the apparatus. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit records an image by discharging ink from a discharge port using energy generated from a discharge energy generating element. 8. The ejection energy generating element generates thermal energy, causes a state change in the ink by the thermal energy, and discharges the ink from an ejection port based on the state change to form a flying droplet. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image recording apparatus is formed. 9. An information setting device for setting predetermined information to an image recording apparatus having a mounting means for mounting a recording means for recording an image on a recording material, wherein the storage means stores the predetermined information. When the recording means to the mounting means said recording means is mounted
A connector means for connecting to the image recording apparatus main body by mounting the information setting apparatus in place thereof and transmitting the predetermined information stored in the storage means to the image recording apparatus main body. Characteristic information setting device. 10. The information setting device according to claim 9, wherein said information setting device has the same shape as said recording means. 11. The information setting device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined information is information relating to an environment in which the image recording device is used. 12. The information setting device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined information is information indicating a recording mode. 13. The information setting device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined information is a control program of the image recording device.