INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RECORDING HEAD TEMPERATURE

Abstract

An ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording using a recording head for ejecting ink, the ink jet recording apparatus includes heating means for heating the recording head; detecting means for detecting a temperature of the recording head; setting means for setting a target temperature of the recording head, control means for controlling the target temperature of the recording head at or above a target temperature; wherein the control means controls the temperature by heating control for heating the recording head and by diffusing control for diffusing the heat supplied by the heating control.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the ink jet recording apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the recording head in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the recording heat temperature control sequence to be carried out before the start of a recording operation, in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the first temperature control stage in the recording head temperature control sequence in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the second temperature control stage in the recording head temperature control sequence in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b) are tables for setting the target value for the recording head temperature, and the target value for the length of time the recording head temperature is maintained at a preset level, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of an ink jet recording head and the ink jetting performance of the ink jet recording head.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the first temperature control stage in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the second temperature control stage in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a table for setting the target values for the recording head temperature, in the third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording using a recording head for ejecting ink, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising: heating means for heating said recording head;detecting means for detecting a temperature of said recording head;setting means for setting a target temperature of said recording head,control means for controlling the target temperature of said recording head at or above a target temperature;wherein said control means controls the temperature by heating control for heating said recording head and by diffusing control for diffusing the heat supplied by the heating control.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets time during which the diffusing control is to continue.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means heats said recording head during the diffusing control.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heating control heats said recording head at a level which is different from the target temperature and the diffusing control heats said recording head at the target temperature.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the diffusing control controls the temperature of said recording head at the target temperature for a predetermined period of time.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature or humidity, wherein said setting means sets the target temperature on the basis of the temperature or humidity detected by said detecting means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets different target temperatures for the heating control and for the diffusing control.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets the target temperatures on the basis of a recording condition under which the recording is effected.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said apparatus effects the recording on a recording material, and the recording condition includes a width of the recording material.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording condition includes a recording duty of said recording head.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording condition includes a kind of the recording material.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means heats said recording head using a heating element for ejecting the ink.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means heats the recording head using a heating element provided in addition to a heating element for ejecting the ink.

14. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said heating means heats the recording head using a heating element provided in addition to a heating element for ejecting the ink.

15. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means provides different driving pulses for the heating control and for the diffusing control.

16. An ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording using a recording head for ejecting ink, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising: heating means for heating said recording head;detecting means for detecting a temperature of said recording head; andcontrol means for effecting different temperature controls to provide a predetermined temperature of said recording head prior to start of the recording operation.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said control means effects a temperature control based on a temperature of said recording head detected by said detecting means and on time required for diffusing the heat supplied by said heating means.

18. A temperature control method for a recording head for effecting recording by ejecting ink, comprising: a heating step of heating said recording head;a detection step of detecting a temperature of said recording head;a setting step of setting a target temperature of said recording head; anda control step of controlling a temperature of said recording head at or above a target temperature,wherein said control step controls the temperature by heating control for heating said recording head and by diffusing control for diffusing the heat supplied by the heating control.

19. A temperature control method for a recording head for effecting recording by ejecting ink, comprising: a heating step of heating said recording head;a detection step of detecting a temperature of said recording head;control means for effecting different temperature controls to provide a predetermined temperature of said recording head prior to start of the recording operation; andcontrol means for effecting different temperature controls to provide a predetermined temperature of said recording head prior to start of the recording operation.