JPH01264871A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove a mulfunction at a time of recording process and besides, to achieve extension of an adoption width of a recording sheet or a recording mode by a method wherein a class and a front surface or a rear surface of a recording sheet are judged, recording is performed in the case of a formal recording sheet to an established recording mode, and recording is performed by repeated indication in the case where an image can be formed irrespective of an informal recording sheet. CONSTITUTION:Sensors 66, 67 detecting a quantity of reflected light from a front surface and a rear surface of a recording sheet with a light source 71 irradiating light on the recording sheet 45 and a light receiving element 72 arranged at a specific position, are arranged at required positions on a path of the recording sheet 45. Detection signals 66A, 67A are transmitted to a control circuit 53, and a class of and a front or rear surface of the recording sheet 45 are detected based on values of quantities of reflected light of the front and rear surface or a difference between both. Further, by building in a control program so that recording is performed in the case of a formal recording sheet to an specified recording mode, and in the case where an image can be formed irrespective of an informal recording sheet, a message is outputted and recording is performed by repeated indication by a user, a mulfunction at a time of recording is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording device such as a printer or a facsimile, and particularly to a recording device that can record on various recording sheets in a plurality of recording modes.

[Conventional technology]

The recording sheets (recording media) used in recording devices such as printers and facsimiles are classified into paper, OHP (overhead projector) sheets, BPF (bank print film), etc., depending on the image quality and purpose of use. There is.

There are various types of paper with different thicknesses, ink absorption properties, etc.

The above-mentioned OHP sheet has a structure in which a recording (printing) surface is formed by coating the surface of a plastic sheet such as a polyester sheet, and is usually a transparent sheet.

Further, the above-mentioned BPF generally has a structure in which a base layer and an ink transport layer are bonded to both sides of an ink retaining layer with an ink retaining layer sandwiched therebetween, and the base layer is formed of a transparent plastic sheet.

Various recording (printing) modes are adopted depending on the type of recording sheet as described above, and these include, in addition to the normal normal image recording (printing) mode, a pattern in which the normal image is horizontally reversed. There is a mirror image recording (printing) mode in which the image is formed, and a BPF recording (printing) mode in which recording (printing) is performed from the back side.

Incidentally, some recent recording apparatuses (particularly color image recording apparatuses, etc.) are of a multi-functional type that can record in the various recording (printing) modes described above using the various recording sheets described above.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the conventional multifunctional recording device mentioned above,
There were the following problems.

The feeding of various recording sheets to the recording section was sometimes automatically detected or sorted, but in general, they could also be visually identified, and real sheets that were fed manually were automatically detected or sorted, and real sheets that were fed manually were automatically detected or sorted. This was done by driving and feeding a paper device.

For this reason, even if the recording sheet is supplied with the front and back sides reversed, recording (printing) continues as is, resulting in poor printing or malfunction.

In addition, there is normal image printing for paper, normal image printing for oHP sheets, BPF printing from the back side for BPF (back print film), and one for certain types of sheets. Since only the (regular) printing mode was set, it was impossible or extremely difficult to print in a special mode such as mirror image on various recording sheets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a control means that can solve the problems of the prior art described above, prevent operational errors, and expand the functionality of a recording apparatus that has a recording (printing) function in multiple modes.

[Means to achieve the purpose]

The present invention specifies a recording mode such as normal image, mirror image, BPF type, etc., detects the type of the supplied recording sheet and the front and back sides, and performs recording if it is a regular recording sheet for the specified recording mode. If it is possible to form an image even on an irregular recording sheet, a recording device configured to issue a message and record if the user gives another instruction,
This aims to achieve the above objectives.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a color inkjet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, a recording sheet 45 pulled out from a continuous roll sheet 40 is conveyed by the rotational frictional force of a feed roller 43 via guide rollers 41 and 42, and is discharged in the direction of an arrow 44. .

A recording section including a recording head unit 49 is arranged in front of the recording sheet 45 between the upper and lower guide rollers 42, 41.

The recording section is provided with a guide shaft 46 installed parallel to guide rollers 42 and 41, and a head unit 49 for color printing is positioned on a carriage 48 that reciprocates left and right along the guide shaft 46. It is installed.

The head unit 49 consists of four recording heads: a head 49Y with yellow ink, a head 49M with magenta, a head 49C with cyan, and a head 49Bk with black.Each head has an ink tank. Each color ink is supplied from

By moving the carriage 48, each recording head can perform recording scanning on the recording sheet 45.

The recording head 45 is intermittently fed (line fed) by the height (height) of each recording head 49, but while the recording sheet 45 is stopped in the feeding direction, the head 49 is scanned in the direction of arrow P. Ink droplets are ejected according to the image signal.

The carriage 48 is a carriage motor (pulse motor) 5
1 through a timing belt 47,
The feed roller 43 is rotationally driven by a sheet feed motor 52.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a control circuit 53 that controls carriage operation outputs a reader control signal 55 to the reader portion 54, an image processing control signal 57 to the image control circuit 56, Recording head 49Y for each color
, 49M, 49C.

A recording head control signal 50 is sent to 49Bk, and a carriage motor control signal 59 is sent to a carriage motor driver 58 that drives the carriage motor 51.
A sheet feed motor control signal 62 is output to a sheet feed motor driver 61 that drives the sheet feed motor 52.

Image information r for each ink color from the reader part 54
YJ, rMJ, and rcJ are input to the image processing circuit 56, where they are image-processed and then converted into image signals Y, M for each color.
, C, and Bk to the control circuit 53, and the control circuit 53 controls the recording head 49Y of each color based on this image signal.
, 49M, 49C149Bk ink ejection control signal 50
Output.

Furthermore, a sensor 6 is provided at a desired position on the path of the recording sheet 45 for detecting the state of the front and back surfaces of the recording sheet.
6.67 are arranged, and detection signals 66A and 67A from these sensors are transmitted to the control circuit 53.

The sensors 66 and 67 use a light source that irradiates light onto the recording sheet 45 and a light receiving element that detects the amount of light, and the light receiving element placed at a predetermined position detects the amount of reflected light from the front and back surfaces of the recording sheet. , one that can detect the type of recording sheet 45 or the front and back sides based on the value of the amount of reflected light on the front and back sides or the difference therebetween is used.

In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the printing device can be used to specify printing modes such as plain paper printing, OHP sheet printing, BPF printing, orthogonal image printing or mirror image printing, and control the signals. An operation panel 70 for feeding into the circuit 53 is provided.

As the recording sheet 45, paper, OHP sheet, BPF can be used.
There are several types, and the conditions of their front and back sides are as follows.

That is, in the case of paper, both the front and back surfaces are rough, and even if highly directional light is irradiated, the reflected light becomes scattered light on both the front and back surfaces, and the directivity disappears.

In the case of an OHP sheet, both the front and back surfaces have glossy and smooth surfaces, and when irradiated with highly directional light, the reflected light from both the front and back surfaces becomes highly directional light.

In the case of BPF, the front surface is smooth and glossy, but the back surface is rough, so when irradiating highly directional light, the reflected light on the front surface becomes a highly directional ray, but on the back surface it is scattered. It becomes light and its directionality disappears.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a sensor that optically detects rough and smooth surfaces.

Figure 3 (A) shows the case of a rough surface such as paper, and the light source 7
The highly directional light irradiated from 1 through the slit 73 is scattered on the surface of the recording sheet 45, and the amount of reflected light entering the light receiving element 72 arranged on the reflected light path is a fraction of the irradiated light. decrease to the level.

FIG. 3(B) shows the case of a smooth surface such as the surface of a BPF, and the highly directional light emitted from the light source 71 through the slit 73 is reflected on the surface of the recording sheet 45, and is placed on the reflected optical path. The amount of reflected light entering the light-receiving element 72 is maintained at a high level without decreasing much compared to the irradiated light.

FIG. 3(C) is a graph showing the output voltage of the light receiving element 72, where (A> in FIG. 3 indicates a low level L, and FIG. 3(B) indicates a high level H.

In this way, by detecting the amount of reflected light, it is possible to identify the condition of the surface of the recording sheet 45, that is, whether it is rough or smooth.

FIG. 4 shows another example of a sensor that optically detects rough and smooth surfaces.

In the case of FIG. 4, the light-receiving element 72 is placed at a position away from the reflected optical path, and a slit 74 is provided in front of the light-receiving element.

(A) in FIG. 4 shows the case of a rough surface such as paper or the back side of a BPF, and the highly directional light emitted from the light source 71 through the slit 73 is scattered on the surface of the recording sheet 45, and the reflected light is evenly distributed. Therefore, a considerable amount of light enters the light-receiving element 72 located outside the reflection optical path, although it is a fraction of the amount of light.

(B) in FIG. 4 shows the case of a smooth surface such as the surface of a BPF or an OHP sheet.
The highly directional light irradiated through the recording sheet 45
Since the reflected light also has strong directivity in the direction of a constant reflection angle, the light receiving element 7 placed outside the reflected optical path
Almost no light enters 2.

FIG. 4(C) is a graph showing the output voltage of the light receiving element 72, and contrary to the case of FIG. 3, the rough surface of FIG. 4(A) has a high level H; The smooth surface of (B) has a low level L.

Therefore, also by the method shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to determine whether the surface of the recording sheet 45 is rough or smooth by detecting the amount of reflected light.

According to the above recording sheet detection means 66 and 67, the type of recording sheet 45, that is, paper, OHP sheet, BP
It is possible to identify which sheet, such as F, is set.

For example, if both the front and back sides are rough, it can be determined that it is paper, if both the front and back sides are smooth, it is an OHP sheet, and if the front side is smooth and the back side is rough, it can be determined that it is BPF.

Note that when the type of recording sheet 45 is determined only by the roughness of one side, such as when distinguishing two types of paper and OHP, or when distinguishing between paper and the surface of BPF, the recording sheet detection means 66 and 67 You can get by with just one of them.

Further, according to the recording sheet detection means 66 and 67, it is also possible to identify the front and back sides of the recording sheet 45.

For example, if the recording sheet 45 used is a BPF, the difference in the amount of reflected light from the front and back surfaces, that is, whether the amount of reflected light is at a high level H or a low level is determined by the detection method shown in FIG. 3 or 4. By detecting this, it is possible to identify whether the front and back sides are correctly set.

Furthermore, a control system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 detects the front and back sides of the supplied recording sheet 45, and if the front and back sides are set correctly, recording is performed, and the front and back sides are set in reverse. In this case, it is possible to implement a control program in which it is determined, depending on the type of the recording sheet 45, whether to disable recording or to enable recording if given another instruction from the user.

By incorporating the control system as described above, it is possible to automatically identify the type of recording sheet 45 or the front and back sides of the recording sheet 45, and it has become possible to eliminate malfunctions during recording.

Furthermore, recording (printing) modes such as normal image printing, mirror image printing, and BPF type printing can be used to record (print) even if the front side is set upside down.
According to the above control system, the sensor 66.6
Based on the detection signal from 7, it is possible to determine if printing is possible although it is not legal, and in that case, it displays a message to that effect and waits for another instruction from the user to enable printing. In addition to preventing malfunctions during operation, it is possible to improve functionality by expanding the range of recording sheets that can be adopted.

In FIG. 5, a light source 71 and a light receiving element 72 are arranged on both sides of a recording sheet 45, and the recording sheet 45 is
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a method for identifying types of No. 5.

(A) in FIG. 5 shows a case in which the amount of transmitted light is small due to an opaque material such as paper, and (B) in FIG. 5 shows a case in which the amount of transmitted light is large in a transparent or translucent material such as a BPF or OHP sheet.

FIG. 5 (C) is a graph showing the level of the output voltage of the light receiving element. When the paper is opaque like the paper shown in FIG. 5 (A), the amount of transmitted light is small and the output voltage of the light receiving element 72 is at a low level. In the case of the OHP sheet or BPV shown in FIG. 5(B), the amount of transmitted light is large, and the output voltage of the light receiving element 72 becomes a high level H.

Furthermore, by using the control system and optical detection means described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the following recording apparatus can be constructed.

That is, a recording mode such as normal image, mirror image, or BPF type is specified, the type and front and back of the supplied recording sheet 45 are detected, and if the recording sheet is normal for the designated recording mode, recording is performed. A recording device with a recording (printing) mode designation is provided, which is configured to issue a message if it is possible to form an image even on an irregular recording sheet, and to record if there is another instruction from the user. be done.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the above-mentioned recording sheet+-i type recording apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the above-mentioned printing mode specification type recording apparatus.

In FIG. 6, when there is a recording command, an initialization process is performed in which the flags of each sensor 66 and 67 are set to O in step 101 and each display is stopped, and in step 102, the presence or absence of the recording sheet 45 is determined, and the If there is no sheet, the sheet will be hidden.

If there is a recording sheet 45, the sheet non-display is stopped in step 103, and in step 104, a surface detection sensor (detection means) 66 detects the smoothness of the surface of the recording sheet 45 based on the amount of reflected light.

If the sensor 66 detects that the surface is rough, step 10
5, the recording sheet 4 is detected by the sensor 67 for detecting the back side.
The smoothness of the back surface of No. 5 is detected by the amount of reflected light.

If the sensor 66 detects that the surface is rough, step 10
5, the recording sheet 4 is detected by the sensor 67 for detecting the back side.
The smoothness of the back surface of No. 5 is detected by the amount of reflected light.

If the sensor 67 determines that the back side is rough, it can be determined that a recording sheet (paper) that is rough on both the front and back sides is inserted, and the process proceeds to step 106, where the recording (printing) mode of the recording device is set to BPF type. Determine whether or not the

If the BPF type recording mode is set, since paper with rough edges on both sides is not a regular recording sheet (BPF), a sheet error display is displayed in step 107, and a question display (message) is displayed in step 10.

At this time, the message may be, for example, ``Please select either the correct sheet or the correct print mode, or the image color may change slightly but the image can be formed and should be recorded.'' indicate.

The user issues another instruction as to whether or not to record in step 109, and if the answer is "not to record", the question display is stopped in step 110 and the process returns to step 102 described above.

If the instruction in step 109 is "record", the process advances to step 111 to stop displaying the question, and then in step 112 a recording process is performed in the BPF type recording (printing) mode.

If it is determined in step 106 that it is not the BPF type recording mode, the process proceeds to step 113 where mirror image recording (printing) is performed.
If it is determined that the mirror image printing mode is set instead of the normal image printing mode, the error display is stopped in step 114, and then in step 115 the image is displayed even though it is not normal. Recording processing is performed in a mirror image recording (printing) mode that allows printing.

If it is determined in step 113 that the mirror image printing mode is not set, it is determined that the normal recording (printing) mode is set, in which the remaining plain paper is used as the regular sheet, and in step 116 After stopping the error display, in step 117, recording processing is performed in the normal normal image printing mode on plain paper.

If the back surface is determined to be smooth by the sensor 67 in step 105, this means that the sheet has a rough surface and a smooth back surface, and the BPF is inserted face down (with the front and back reversed). Therefore, image formation is impossible, and after setting a flag on the back sensor 67 in step 118, the process proceeds to step 119 to display a sheet error, and the process proceeds to step 110 described above without recording. Stop the question display (message) and proceed to step 102
Return to

Further, if it is determined in step 104 that the front surface is smooth, a flag is set on the front surface sensor 66 in step 120, and in step 121, the sensor 67 determines whether the back surface is smooth or rough.

If the sensor 67 determines that the sheet is rough, it can be determined that a recording sheet (BPF) with a smooth front surface and a rough back surface is inserted, and in step 122 it is determined whether the printing mode is set to the BPF type mode or not. If it is determined that the BPF mode is set, it means that a regular recording sheet has been sent, and the process proceeds to step 111 described above and asks the question (
(message) display is stopped, and recording processing is performed in the BPF print mode in step 112.

If it is determined in step 122 that it is not the BPF printing mode, it means that BPF has been inserted by mistake, and the process proceeds to step 123 where a sheet error is displayed and step 1
Display the question (message display) at step 24, and step 12
In step 5, the user instructs whether or not to record by operating the touch key again.

If not to record, proceed to step 110 described above and simply stop displaying the question, then return to step 102 and repeat the above operation.

When there is an instruction to record in step 125, error question display is stopped in step 126, and step 12
Proceeding to step 7, it is determined whether the OHP print mode is specified.

If mirror image printing mode is specified, proceed to step 114 described above to stop error display, and then proceed to step 1.
In step 15, recording processing is performed in mirror image printing mode, which is not regular but allows image formation. On the other hand, step 12
If it is determined in step 7 that the mirror image printing mode is not in use, the process proceeds to step 116 described above to stop the error display, and then in step 117 the remaining recording (printing) mode, which is not regular but allows image formation, is selected, that is, for plain paper. Perform recording processing in normal image mode.

If it is determined in step 121 that the back side is also smooth, the process proceeds to step 128 where the flag of the back side sensor 67 is set, and then in step 129 the printing mode is changed to BPF.
Determine whether it is an expression.

The recording sheet in this case, which is smooth on both the front and back, is an OHP sheet, so if it is in BPF printing mode, it may be accidentally omitted.
The HP sheet has been inserted, and step 130
After displaying a sheet error in step 131 and displaying a question (message) in step 131, the user instructs again in step 132 whether or not to execute recording in an unauthorized but image forming mode.

If there is an instruction to execute, the process advances to step 111 to stop displaying the question (message), and then, in step 112, recording processing is performed in the BPF print mode.

On the other hand, if there is an instruction not to perform recording in step 132, the process advances to step 110, where the question display is simply stopped, and then the process returns to step 102, where the above-mentioned operations are repeated.

In step 129 described above, the set print mode is set to BPF.
If it is determined that it is not a formula, the process advances to step 133 and it is determined whether mirror image printing mode is specified.

If the mirror image printing mode is specified, it means that a regular sheet (OHP sheet) has been inserted as the recording sheet 45, and after proceeding to step 114 and stopping the error display, the mirror image printing mode is set in step 115. Record with .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 133 that the mirror image printing mode is not selected, then the normal image printing mode for plain paper is generally specified in this case, so the process proceeds to step 116 described above, and after stopping the error display, In step 117, recording processing is performed in the normal image printing mode.

The operation procedure described above with reference to FIG. 6 controls the recording processing operation in a type of recording apparatus that specifies a recording (printing) mode such as normal image printing mode, mirror image printing mode, BPF type printing mode, etc.

Note that the present invention applies to inkjet recording devices as well as
It is also applicable to recording apparatuses of other types such as thermal type and wire dot type.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, the recording apparatus of the present invention specifies a recording mode such as normal image, mirror image, BPF type, etc., detects the type and front and back sides of the supplied recording sheet, and performs the specified recording. It is configured to record if it is a regular recording sheet for the mode, and if it is possible to form an image even if it is an irregular recording sheet, it will issue a message, and if the user gives another instruction, it will record. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate malfunctions during recording processing in a recording device that can record on multiple types of recording sheets in multiple recording modes, and furthermore, a recording device that can expand the range of selection of recording sheets or recording modes and expand its functions. is obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a color inkjet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a schematic diagram of the optical detection means for detecting the smoothness of the recording sheet; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the optical detection means for the smoothness of the recording means. 5 is a schematic diagram of a means for detecting the amount of light transmitted through a recording sheet, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a recording mode designated type recording processing operation of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. 45----Recording sheet, 48----------
Carriage, 49------ Recording section (head unit), 49Y, 49M, 49G, 498k.-
・−・・−・Recording head, 50−・・−1−−−
--- Recording head control signal, 53 --- --- Control circuit, 56 --- Image processing circuit, 66--
-------Detection means (sensor) on one surface, 67-
−・−・・Detection means (sensor) on the back side, 70・・−・
・−・−Operation panel (for specifying recording mode), 71−・−
. . . light source, 72 . . . -- light receiving element. Figure 1 et al. 1 (A) (B) (C) Procedural amendment (method) August 1, 1988 1, Indication of case 1988 Patent Patent No. 95067
Item 2. Name of the invention Recording device 3. Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Name
(100) Canon Co., Ltd. Representative Ryuzo Kaku 4, Agent 101 Address 3-3-9-5 Kanda Kajicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
, Date of amendment order (all sending dates) July 26, 1988 6. Drawing subject to amendment 7. Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Specify a recording mode such as normal image, mirror image, or BPF type, detect the type of recording sheet supplied and the front and back sides, and perform recording if it is a regular recording sheet for the specified recording mode. The recording device is configured to output a message if image formation is possible even on a regular recording sheet, and to record if the user gives another instruction.