JPH11235814A - Portable image forming device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to realize an image recording to an arbitrary place of an arbitrary recording medium at a low cost with a small-sized and simple structure by a method wherein an image recording part is equipped with a detachably attaching ink supplying and restoring means and, at the forming of an image, the image recording part is used separated from the link supplying means. SOLUTION: When a user wants to image-output to a recording object, which is not a standardized paper, first of all, a handy printer 3 is connected to a main device 1 which a first cable 6a. At this connection, by the controlling means of the main device, its internal processing circuit is changed over so as to match its image outputting method with the output form of the handy printer 3. Next, the controlling means issues a restoring pumping direction so as to drive a restoring unit 5. After, that, an image information wanting to be outputted is brought in a storing means by depressing and image storing button 1b. Then, a recording unit 4 is separated from the restoring unit 5 and set at the arbitrary position of a printing object in order to execute a recording action to the predetermined position with this recording unit 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable image forming apparatus capable of printing an image or a character at an arbitrary position on an arbitrary recording medium such as a book or a printed matter, without being limited to a fixed printing paper. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to record image information such as images and characters, it is necessary to pass a recording medium through an image recording apparatus. Therefore, a standard recording sheet suitable for the image recording apparatus is required. Generally, a recording medium of about A6 to A3 is stored in a dedicated or several kinds of cassettes, trays, or the like, and an image is formed by using this. I was recording.

For example, as a conventional image recording method, there is a method of transferring by heat or impact while reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium using an ink ribbon,
An electrophotographic system in which an electrostatic latent image formed on a charged drum is developed with toner and then electrically transferred to a recording medium, an inkjet system in which an image is formed by discharging ink droplets from a plurality of arranged nozzles, and the like There is.

In any of these, it is necessary to convey a recording medium on which an image is to be recorded inside the apparatus, and a sheet cut into a fixed form or a long roll paper configured to be cut after recording an image is used. It had to be attached to the device.

[0005]

However, in the above-described configuration, there is a problem that the symmetry in which an image can be recorded is extremely limited. For example, even if it is desired to add an image record at an arbitrary position to a bound book such as a book or a binding material, since these cannot be set in the image forming apparatus, the image is recorded. It is impossible.

Even if the recording medium is a sheet having a shape suitable for the image forming apparatus (excluding a material that cannot fix the ink for image recording), the recording medium on which the image has been once recorded is further removed. You may want to add an image. At this time, if the recording medium is a fixed sheet separated one by one and the sheet end is flat without bending or habit, an additional image is recorded again by the image forming apparatus. Is also possible.

However, in such a case, it is necessary to create data in consideration of output position information of image information to be added to the entire sheet. In addition, if an attempt is made to add an image when there is only one master, work such as test printing occurs because it cannot be failed, and therefore wasteful recording media is consumed, which is preferable in terms of time and resources. It is hard to say.

[0008] To overcome these problems, a handy image forming apparatus has been devised in which a user installs an image at an arbitrary position and records an image. For example, an apparatus proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-67032 is a bottom-recording handy printer that performs image recording by bringing a bottom surface into contact with a recording medium, and an inkjet recording head is provided on the bottom surface and the recording head is recorded. A spacing mechanism for moving along the surface of the medium is provided, and a control unit for creating or receiving recording information and controlling the recording head and the spacing mechanism based on the recording information is provided.

According to this, if the surface is relatively flat, recording can be performed without being restricted by the movement or fixing of the medium, and the selection range of the recording medium on which an image can be formed can be expanded. It is a very effective one.

[0010] By using such an apparatus, when recording on a part of a bound printed matter such as a book, the user can easily determine the portion to be recorded while viewing the target printed matter, and print. It is very convenient. At this time, since the recording medium is generally plain paper, an ink jet recording method capable of recording high-quality images on plain paper is simple and most suitable.

However, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-67032, an ink supply recovery system for removing ink clogging and supplying ink in an ink jet recording unit, despite using an ink jet recording apparatus. There is no representation of the mechanism. When the apparatus is actually configured, it is not practical because ink exchange of the ink jet recording head cannot be performed without the ink supply recovery system.

On the other hand, when an ink jet recording apparatus is actually configured, if this ink supply recovery system is configured, the positional relationship between the recording surface, the recording head, and the ink supply recovery system cannot be configured. That is, the ink supply recovery system sucks ink from the recording head or blows the ejection surface with a wiper called a blade, but in the configuration of a bottom recording type handy printer that performs printing by contacting the bottom surface on the recording medium. However, if this ink supply recovery mechanism is provided, it is difficult to keep the size of the apparatus small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes use of the easy printing capability of an ink jet recording system for printing on plain paper, so that an image can be recorded on an arbitrary portion of an arbitrary recording medium in a small and simple manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable image forming apparatus which has a configuration and is inexpensive.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a portable image forming apparatus and a typical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are image recording means for recording an image using an ink jet recording method. And an image recording section for exposing the image recording means to the outside and setting the image recording section on a recording medium to record an image, wherein an ink supply recovery detachably attached to the image recording section. Means for integrally storing the ink supply means in the image recording section during storage, and separate use of the ink supply means and the image recording section during image formation. It is characterized by comprising.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a portable image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image recording unit mounted on a main device. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording unit of the portable image forming apparatus, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of ink supply / recovery means of the portable image forming device, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control of a main device, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus.

[Overall Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a main apparatus 1 as an image forming apparatus and a portable image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a handy printer 3) connected thereto. And each of the image recording means adopts an ink jet recording method. All controls related to image output are provided in the main apparatus, and a portable image forming apparatus is connected as necessary, and an image is recorded at an arbitrary position on a recording medium.

The main device 1 is a so-called video printer which mainly records an image signal input from an image input device, and prints out a digital input from a video camera or a digital still camera. In the present embodiment, the video camera 2 is connected to the video input terminal 1d.

The handy printer 3 comprises a recording unit 4 as an image recording section and a recovery unit 5 as ink supply / recovery means. The recording unit 4 and the recovery unit 5 are detachably configured. The recovery unit 5 is connected to the main device 1 by a first cable 6a, and the recovery unit 5 and the recording unit 4 are connected by a second cable 6b. Each of these will be described below.

[Main Device] As shown in FIG. 2, the main device 1 is provided with control means 10 for controlling various devices of the main device 1 and the handy printer 3. The control means 10 also performs processing of image information sent to the image recording means 11 of the main device 1 and processing of image information sent to the handy printer 3.
Can be recognized whether or not is connected.

A video camera 2 is connected to a video input terminal 1 d of the main unit 1, and is connected to control means 10. The control means 10 is connected to a memory means 13 for temporarily storing image information obtained from the video camera 2, and a print button 1a, an image storage button 1b, and a power switch 1c for the user to provide support. .

The image recording means 11 is controlled via a recording control section 12, and can record an image. In the image recording means 11 shown in FIG. 3, a carriage 111 is slidably supported by a guide rod 117, and a pin (not shown) is engaged with a spiral groove 116a of a lead screw 116. The driving force of the driving motor 112 is transmitted to the lead screw 116 via the driving force transmission gears 113, 114, and 115, and the lead screw 116 rotates forward and reverse. Thus, the carriage 111 reciprocates along the guide rod 117 in the directions of arrows a and b.

An ink cartridge 118 is mounted on the carriage 111, and is installed opposite to a platen roller 120. The platen roller 120 conveys the recording medium P by rotation, and further, the recording medium P
The platen roller 120 presses the carriage 111 in the moving direction of the carriage 111. Then, the carriage 111 moves while the ink cartridge 118 ejects ink, and the platen roller 120 intermittently conveys the recording medium P in synchronism therewith, whereby an image is recorded.

At one end of the operating range of the carriage 111, a photocoupler 122 is disposed.
By detecting the presence of the lever 119, it is possible to recognize that the carriage 111 is at the home position.

At the home position, a cap member 123 for capping the front surface of the recording head 118a of the ink cartridge 118 is provided. This cap member
The inside of 123 is sucked by the suction means 124, so that the suction of the recording head 118a can be recovered. Also suction means
Lever 12 for starting suction recovery is provided on surface 124a of 124.
5 is in contact. The lever 125 moves with the movement of the cam 126 engaged with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor 112 is transmitted by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

In the home position, the recording head
A cleaning blade 127 for wiping 118a is provided. The cleaning blade 127 is a main body support plate 129
It is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction by a moving member 128 supported by. The cleaning blade 127 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and a known cleaning method can be applied to the present invention.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery operations are configured so that when the carriage 111 is positioned at the home position, predetermined processing is performed at each corresponding position by the action of the lead screw 116. A predetermined operation may be performed according to timing.

[Portable Image Forming Apparatus] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a handy printer 3 as a portable image forming apparatus includes a recording unit 4 and a recovery unit 5. First, the recording unit 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Recording Unit] The recording unit 4 is integrally connected to the recovery unit 5 in a normal unused state. The recording unit 4 is supplied with a recording signal, a control signal, and power from the main device 1 via the first cable 6a, the recovery unit 5, and the second cable 6b.

A carriage 40a for mounting the ink cartridge 40 is connected to a lead screw 41 by a pin (not shown).
a, the driving force of the transverse feed motor 42 is transmitted via the gear 42b, and the motor 42 is driven to rotate. Accordingly, the rotation of the lead screw 41 allows the ink cartridge 40 to move in the lateral direction. One ends of the lateral feed motor 42 and the lead screw 41 are held by a metal 43, and the other end of the lead screw 41 is movably supported by a guide plate 45.

The metal 43 is mounted on a holder 44, which is connected to a vertical lead screw 46 by a pin (not shown). The driving force of the vertical feed motor 47 is transmitted to the lead screw 46 via pinion gears 47a and 47b.
Moves vertically. Along with this, the lead screw 41 and the ink cartridge 40 held by the holder 44 also move in the vertical direction.

With the above configuration, the ink cartridge 40 can move vertically and horizontally, and can move to an arbitrary position within the plane of the movable range. When recording an image, first, the ink is ejected while rotating the ink cartridge 40 in the horizontal direction by rotating the lead screw 41, and an image for one line is recorded.

When the image recording for one line is completed, the lead screw 41 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the ink cartridge 40 to the original position in the horizontal direction, and the lead screw 46 is rotated to move one line in the vertical direction. Then, the image for the next one line is recorded, and the image is further moved one line in the vertical direction. By repeating this, an image can be recorded on a plane. The recording medium P is conveyed in the image recording means 11 of the main apparatus 1, but the recording unit 4 can record a planar image by moving the ink cartridge 40 in the vertical direction as described above.

In this embodiment, a one-way recording operation is used to minimize the error in the writing position of each line. However, the recording of the next line is performed on the return path. A configuration is also possible, and in this case, the time required for recording can be reduced.

[Recovery Unit for Ink Supply] Next, the recovery unit 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The recovery unit 5 includes a circuit 50 having a disconnection detection unit 51 for detecting that the recording unit 4 is connected, and an ink supply recovery unit 52 for recovering the ink supply of the ink cartridge 40. The separation detecting means 51 is specifically configured by providing a detection switch such as a photo sensor.

The circuit 50 is connected to the main unit 1 by the first cable 6a, and receives a recording signal and power from the main unit 1. The recording signal and the power are further supplied to the recording unit 4 through the second cable 6b.

The recovery unit 5 includes an ink supply recovery unit.
52 are provided. The ink supply recovery unit 52 is a main device 1
The ink supply recovery operation of the ink cartridge 40 of the recording unit 4 is performed by a signal transmitted from the control means 10 of the first embodiment. The ink supply recovery unit 52 includes a cap 53 for sucking ink from the recording head of the ink cartridge 40.
, An ink tube 55 connected to the cap 53, a supply recovery motor 56 for making the inside of the ink tube a negative pressure, and an ink absorber 57 connected to the ink tube 55.

The recording unit 4 and the recovery unit 5 are integrally connected to the cap 53, and when the ink cartridge 40 is at a predetermined position, the cap 53 is pressed against the recording head of the ink cartridge 40. When the supply recovery motor 56 is driven to rotate in this state, the roller 56a of the supply recovery motor 56 rotates while pressing against the ink tube 55 so as to crush it. Then, the ink tube 55 is in a state where a negative pressure is generated, and the ink in the ink cartridge 40 is sucked. The unnecessary ink sucked is sent to the ink absorber 57 for processing.

Thus, the ink stuck in the nozzles of the ink cartridge 40 and the air bubbles in the nozzles can be sucked out, and ink ejection failure can be prevented.
Also, it has a role of supplying ink to the inside of the nozzle when the ink cartridge 40 is replaced.

A blade 54 is provided adjacent to the cap 53. After the ink supply recovery operation by the ink supply recovery unit 52, the ink cartridge is slightly moved and the blade 54 wipes off the ejection surface of the recording head of the ink cartridge 40, thereby preventing unnecessary ink from remaining.

[Operation of Main Apparatus] In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the operation of the main apparatus 1 relating to image recording will be described first. Power switch 1 of main device 1
When c is input (S1), the control means 10 determines whether three days (72 hours) or more have elapsed since the power was last turned off (S2). If three or more days have elapsed, the control unit 10 issues an instruction to the recording control unit 12, drives the image recording unit 11, and performs recovery pumping (S3).

Here, the recovery pumping is to make the recording more effective in an ink jet recording system described later, and the recording head is cleaned by means of a suction pump or the like before recording on the recording medium. Things. As a guide for this cleaning, in the present embodiment, this is performed at the time of power input when there is an unused period for three days.

When the user records an image using the main apparatus 1, the user inputs the output of the video camera 2 to the video input terminal 1d of the main apparatus 1 and inputs an image signal (S).
4). Next, the user presses the image storage button 1b of the main device 1 to load the image information into the memory means 13 (S5).

When the user presses the print button 1a assuming that the captured image information is the content to be recorded (S6), the control means 10 controls the image information such as the YC (luminance / color difference) signal or the RGB signal stored in the memory means 13. After performing a series of image processing such as color conversion processing (YMCK processing), gamma correction processing, level adjustment and edge adjustment, hue and saturation correction, and pixel interpolation processing suitable for the output size, The image recording means 11 which handles the binarized information performs binarization processing such as error diffusion or dither processing which is essential for performing a recording operation, and converts it into a recording signal (S7).

The image recording means 11 is driven by the recording control unit 12 in accordance with the recording signal, and an image is output on a predetermined recording medium P (S8). When the output operation is completed, the control means 10
Ejects the recording medium P and sets the next recording medium P (S9). The above operation is repeated as a normal printing operation.

[Operation of Portable Image Forming Apparatus] Next, a case in which the user desires to output an image to a recording object that is not a fixed sheet such as a book or a bound printed matter will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the handy printer 3 is connected to the main device 1 by the first cable 6a. At this time, the connection detecting means 14 of the main device 1
When the connection of the handy printer 3 is detected, the control means 10 of the main device 1 switches the internal processing circuit (software program) so as to match the image output method to the output form of the handy printer 3.

When the power is supplied to the recovery unit 5 by connecting the first cable 6 a to the main unit 1, the recording unit 4 is separated by the disconnection detecting means 51 into the recovery unit 5.
It is monitored whether or not it has been disconnected (H2).
When the recording unit 4 is connected to the recovery unit 5, the control means 10 issues a recovery pumping instruction,
The ink supply recovery unit 52 of the recovery unit 5 of the handy printer 3 is driven (H3).

On the other hand, if the recording unit 4 is disconnected from the recovery unit 5, the control means 10 stops the recovery operation, issues a warning by voice or light from the indicator (H5), and records to the user. Prompt to connect unit 4 to recovery unit 5.

After that, the user presses the image storage button 1b and loads the image information to be stored in the memory means 13 in the same manner as the image recording by the main device 1 (H6). If the captured image information is the content to be recorded, the recording unit 4 is separated from the recovery unit 5, placed at an arbitrary position on the print target, and the print button 4a placed on the side of the recording unit 4 is pressed (H7). . Then, a recording start signal for the handy printer is generated and sent to the control means 10 through the second cable 6b and the first cable 6a.

The control means 10 controls the Y stored in the memory means 13
A series of image processing such as color conversion processing (YMCK processing), gamma correction processing, level adjustment and edge adjustment, hue and saturation correction, and the like are performed on image information such as C (luminance and color difference) signals or RGB signals. After performing pixel interpolation processing that matches the output size, the inkjet recording unit that handles the binarization information adds binarization processing such as error diffusion and dither processing that is essential for performing the printing operation, and adds the binarization processing to the recording signal. Convert and send (H8).

Here, since the recording unit 4 of the handy printer 3 is designed to be output by a simple and miniaturized ink jet unit, a recording signal necessary for actual image recording is stored in the image recording means 11 of the main unit 1. Is different from For example, the main device 1 may be a multi-valued ink jet recording device having a plurality of dark and light inks for each color, but the handheld printer 3 of the present embodiment, which has been downsized, has a C
This is the case where only MYK four-color inks are used.

In this case, since the number of colors required for output of the print signal is different, the processing calculation method and the arrangement of the data of the print signal are different from the processing of the multi-valued data when using the dark and light ink. In addition, the output size of the handy printer 3 is limited due to its miniaturization, and if the same processing as that for normal image recording is performed, the print often becomes unsightly. In the present embodiment, the recording information for the handy printer 3 when the handy printer 3 is connected is controlled so that edge enhancement processing of an image is not performed.

Based on the transmitted recording information, the recording unit 4 of the handy printer 3 performs a recording operation at a predetermined position (H9). When the image recording operation is completed, a warning such as a sound or light for notifying the end is issued (H10) to inform the user that the recording unit 4 may be released, and
Prompts the recovery unit 5 to return the recording unit 4 (H
10).

[Inkjet Recording System] Here, the inkjet recording system used in the present embodiment will be described. The present invention particularly includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection in an ink jet recording system, and the state of the ink is changed by the thermal energy. This leads to an excellent effect in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type that causes the above.

As for the representative structure and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796.

In the case of the on-demand type, particularly, this method uses nucleate boiling corresponding to recorded information on an electrothermal transducer disposed on a sheet holding a liquid (ink) or a liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal that gives a rapid rise in temperature exceeding the maximum, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing the film to boil on the heat-acting surface of the recording head. This is effective because air bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed.
By the growth and contraction of the bubble, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet.

When the driving signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, and the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.
US Pat. No. 4,446,335 describes this pulse-shaped drive signal.
Those described in Japanese Patent No. 9 and No. 4345262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface described above are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, heat is applied. A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which the action portion is arranged in a bending area, is also included in the present invention.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal transducer for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, or a pressure wave of thermal energy is applied. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening to be absorbed corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording device section, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the requirements or a configuration as a single recording head that is integrally formed may be used, but by adopting these configurations, the present invention can be more effectively exerted.

In addition, the recording head of the exchangeable chip tank, which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body, or integrated with the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided in a fixed manner is used. It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead provided as a configuration of the printing apparatus of the present invention, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized.

If these are concretely raised, the recording head is provided with a clipping means, a cleaning means, a pressurizing or suctioning means, an electrothermal transducer or a heating element other than the above or a combination thereof. It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from the heating means and the recording in order to perform stable recording.

Further, the recording mode of the recording device section is not limited to recording only the mainstream color such as black, but may be an integral recording head or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. It is extremely effective that the apparatus is provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

[0063]

As described above, the portable image forming apparatus according to the present invention has ink supply recovery means,
Further, since the ink supply recovery unit is configured to be used separately from the ink supply recovery unit, the recording surface of the image recording unit can be brought into contact with the recording medium even when the ink jet recording apparatus is used as the image recording unit. Accordingly, it is possible to record an image at an arbitrary position on an arbitrary recording medium that cannot pass through the inside of the image recording apparatus, and it is possible to provide a small and easy portable image forming apparatus.

When the image recording unit and the ink supply recovery unit of the portable image forming apparatus are separated from each other, the ink supply recovery operation is stopped and a warning is issued to the user. This has the effect that the supply recovery operation can be prevented.

Further, since the power supply of the image forming apparatus is performed through the ink supply recovery section, a dedicated power supply is not required, and the apparatus can be made inexpensive and small.

Similarly, by processing the image to be recorded in the main unit and transmitting the processed image through the ink supply / recovery unit, there is no need to provide the image processing circuit. It can be small.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the case where an image is recorded by image recording means in the image forming apparatus and the case where image information is transmitted to the portable image forming apparatus are different. By controlling the processing to be changed, image processing can be performed on the same image information according to the recording unit and output size, so that the user can obtain an optimal image output without being aware of anything. Has an effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an entire configuration of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image recording unit mounted on a main device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording unit of the portable image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink supply recovery unit of the portable image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control of a main device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the portable image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P ... recording medium 1 ... main unit 1a ... print button 1b ... image storage button 1c ... power switch 1d ... video input terminal 2 ... video camera 3 ... handy printer 4 ... recording unit 4a ... print button 5 ... recovery unit 6a ... first Cable 6b… Second cable 10… Control means 11… Image recording means 12… Recording control unit 13… Memory means 14… Connection detecting means 40… Ink cartridge 41… Lead screw 42… Transverse motor 43… Metal 44… Holder 45… Guide plate 46… Lead screw 47… Vertical feed motor 50… Circuit 51… Disconnection detecting means 52… Ink supply recovery unit 53… Cap 54… Blade 55… Ink tube 56… Supply recovery motor 57… Ink absorber 111… Carriage 112… Driving motor 113 ... Driving force transmission gear 114 ... Driving force transmission gear 115 ... Driving force transmission gear 116 ... Lead screw 116a ... spiral groove 117 ... guide rod 118 ... ink cartridge 118 a ... recording head 119 ... lever 120 ... platen roller 121 ... plate 122 ... photocoupler 123 ... cap member 124 ... suction means 125 ... lever 126 ... cam 127 ... cleaning Blade 128… Moving member 129… Body support plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI B41J 29/46

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image recording unit for recording an image by using an ink jet recording system, wherein the image recording unit is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside and is disposed on a recording medium to record an image. And an ink supply recovery unit detachably attached to the image recording unit, wherein the ink supply unit is provided integrally with the image recording unit when stored, and A portable image forming apparatus, wherein the ink supply unit and the image recording unit are used separately during formation. 2. An ink supply recovery unit comprising: a disconnection detecting unit that detects that the image recording unit is connected;
Warning means for warning a user, wherein the ink supply recovery operation is stopped and a warning is issued by the warning means when the image recording unit is not connected when performing the ink recovery operation. The portable image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink supply / recovery section is connected to a main device having an image processing section for processing an image signal, and the image recording section receives a converted image information recording signal and a converted signal via the ink supply / recovery section. 3. The portable image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control signal is supplied. 4. The ink supply recovery section is connected to a main device having an image processing section for processing an image signal, and the image recording section is supplied with power from the main unit via the ink supply recovery section. 4. The portable image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The main apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: the image processing unit; and an image recording unit, wherein the portable image forming apparatus supplies an image signal, a control signal, or a power to the portable image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus configured to supply the image. 6. The image processing section according to claim 1, wherein, even when the input image information is the same, the image processing section outputs the image information to the image recording section of the main apparatus and outputs the image information to the image recording section of the portable image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising control means for changing the image processing between the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus.