Home position sensing device and method

Abstract: A printer is disclosed including an improved home position sensor. A carriage (12), in which a recording head is mounted, is movable along a predetermined path relative to a shaft (14). A pair of sensing ribs (18a, 18b), separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage (12), project from the recording head. A home sensor (20) is provided adjacent the home position to detect the proximity of either sensing rib (18a, 18b). Control means are provided for moving the carriage along the path, to sense the home position. Because two sensing ribs (18a, 18b) are used, high speed home sensing operations are possible.

Description: The present invention relates recording apparatus including a device for sensing the home position of the recording head. In general, devices necessitating position control have to set a reference position and perform control operations by moving a required distance from the reference position. Examples of such devices are dot-matrix or ink-jet printers and plotters. More particularly, printers which implement printing operations while a recording head moves in a horizontal direction establish a reference position to allow exact printing operations. A similiar printer is disclosed in JP-A- 59 178277. For example, the recording head in an ink jet printer is mounted on a carriage which is driven by a carriage motor. When the power in the printer is on, a controller disposes the recording head at a preset initial position to perform an initial operation. Typically, the preset initial position is called a home position, which becomes a reference position when the control method is executed for carriage movement. Fig. 1 shows a configuration of a carriage mechanism in a representative ink jet printer. Here, a carriage 12 is movable along a horizontal shaft 14 which is fixed in a frame 10. The carriage 12 on which an ink cartridge 16 is mounted is driven by a carriage motor (not shown) and moves horizontally along the shaft 14. In ink jet printers, typically the ink cartridge 16 has an interchangeable integral ink receptacle with a recording head. Thus, in accordance with the movement of the carriage 12, the ink cartridge 16 moves horizontally along with the carriage 12 such that printing operations can be achieved. At one end of the path of movement of the carriage 12, a home sensor 20 is provided, for example as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, and on a corner of the bottom surface of the carriage 12, a protruding sensing rib 18 is provided to correspond with the home sensor 20. The sensing rib 18 is rectangular in shape and extends downward from the bottom surface of the carriage 12. Figs. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the relation between the sensing rib 18 and the home sensor 20, wherein Fig. 2A shows the sensing rib 18 separated from the home sensor 20, and Fig. 2B shows the sensing rib 18 passing between through a light emitting portion 22 and a light receiving portion 24 of the home sensor 20. Here, the home sensor 20 uses an optical sensor comprising the light emitting portion 22 and the light receiving portion 24. Alternatively, a contact sensor may be used, instead of the optical sensor. In general, the home sensor is positioned on the leftmost or rightmost portion of the path of movement of the carriage 12. When the carriage 12 moves leftward or rightwards, when the sensing rib 18 is separated from the home sensor 20 as shown in Fig. 2A, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 22 reaches the light receiving portion 24. On the other hand, when the sensing rib 18 passes between the light emitting portion 22 and the light receiving portion 24 in the home sensor 20, the optical path is cut off by the sensing rib 18. It is assumed in the following description that the home sensor 20 is turned "off" when the light emitted from the light emitting portion 22 reaches the light receiving portion 24, and turned "on" when the optical path between the light emitting portion 22 and the light receiving portion 24 is cut off by the sensing rib 18. Therefore, the home sensor 20 is turned "on" or "off" in dependence upon the position of the carriage 12. The printer controller or control unit checks the sensing state of the home sensor 20 to determine whether or not the carriage 12 is currently placed in the home position. Upon initial operation, the controller determines that the carriage 12 is in the home position, in the case that the home sensor 20 is turned "on", and proceeds to perform the initial operation. On the other hand, the controller determines that the carriage 12 is not in the home position, in the case that the home sensor 20 is turned "off". In this case, since the carriage 12 must be in a position displaced away from the home position, unless the printer is out of order, the controller allows the carriage 12 to move in the direction of the home position and continually checks the sensing state of the home sensor 20. Thus, as the carriage 12 reaches the home position, the home sensor 20 is turned "on" by the sensing rib 18, so that the controller can proceed to perform the initial operation. During the above process, the carriage 12 moves at a lower speed than the usual printing speed. Thus, a great deal of noise can be generated by the carriage motor, as compared with that generated by high speed motion, and power consumption is increased owing to consumption of an overcurrent by the motor due to the low speed control. In the case where the carriage is close to the home position, the amount of time required for sensing the home position is short, and this does not cause any serious problems. However, in the case where the carriage is a long way from the home position, the amount of time spent in sensing the home position is proportionately longer. This results in increased noise and power consumption. In addition, when an exhausted ink cartridge is interchanged with a new one in the ink jet printer, the user may accidentally operate the printer without mounting the new ink cartridge. In this case, the problem arises that the corresponding unit in the printer performs a recording operation in spite of the non-installation of the ink cartridge. To solve this problem, an additional detecting pin is provided in the printer to detect whether or not ink exists in the ink cartridge or a recording head is presented. Therefore, in order to detect whether or not the recording head is mounted, the additional detecting pin is required. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved home position sensing device and method which is capable of reducing the amount of time spent in sensing the home position. To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising: a reference member; a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to the reference member; a home position sensing device comprising: a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the reference member adjacent the home position; and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the reference member adjacent the home position; the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means to provide a home position sensing signal; and control means for moving the carriage along the path in accordance with the home position sensing signal, thereby to sense a home position. Preferably, the first and second sensing means are so positioned that one of the first sensing means functions as a reference sensing means and is in the proximity of the second sensing means when the carriage is in the home position. The control means may also be adapted to detect whether the recording head is mounted from the home position sensing means. Preferably, the control means is adapted, when one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and, if the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by the predetermined first distance in the direction of the home position. Preferably, the control means is adapted, when one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and, if the other of the first sensing means is not in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. Preferably, the control means is adapted, when neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and, if one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by the predetermined second distance in the direction opposite to the home position and to move the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the first sensing means. Preferably, the control means is adapted, when neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and, if still neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage at a relatively high speed in the direction of the home position, and, if one of the first sensing means is then in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage in the direction of the home position until the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the first sensing means. Preferably, the control means is adapted, if the movement of said carriage in the direction of the home position is completed without the first sensing means being in the proximity of the second sensing means, to determine that said recording head is not mounted. The present invention also provides a method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (b) if so, moving the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (c) if so, moving the carriage by the predetermined first distance in the direction of the home position. The present invention further provides a method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (b) if so, moving the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (d) if not, moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. The present invention further provides a method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (e) if not, moving the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (f) if so, moving the carriage by the predetermined second distance in the direction opposite to the home position, then moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the first sensing means. The present invention also provides a method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (e) if not, moving the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (g) if not, moving the carriage at a relatively high speed in the direction of the home position and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (h) if so, moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the first sensing means. Preferably, the method further comprises: (i) if in step (g), neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means and the movement of the carriage in the direction of the home position is completed, determining that the recording head is not mounted. Preferably, the first sensing means comprises two spaced sensing ribs protruding from the carriage, preferably from the recording head, and the second sensing means comprises an optical sensor for sensing the ribs. The predetermined first distance may be substantially equal to the distance between the first sensing means and the predetermined second distance may be substantially equal to twice the distance between the first sensing means. A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a configuration of a carriage mechanism in a representative ink jet printer; Figs. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the relationship between the sensing rib and the home sensor in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the sensing rib and the home sensor constructed according to the principles of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a representative ink jet printer circuit; Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the control operation for sensing a home position according to the present invention; Figs. 6A to 9D are views showing operational states of the sensing ribs and home sensor according to the present invention. Referring now to Fig. 3, two sensing ribs 18a and 18b, instead of a single sensing rib 18 as shown in Fig. 1 in the conventional art, are separated by a fixed interval from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage 12 and protrude from the carriage 12. In the present invention, the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b are disposed, for example, at both corners of the carriage 12. The number of home sensors 20 is one, as in the conventional art, although it will be appreciated that an analogous structure could include one sensing rib and two home sensors spaced from one another by a fixed distance. A single home sensor 20 is provided at one end of the path of movement of the carriage 12 to correspond to the sensing ribs 18a and 18b. After the carriage 12 moves such that one of the sensing ribs 18a and 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, the carriage 12 further moves and then the reference sensing rib 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, thus sensing the home position. For the sake of convenient explanation, an embodiment in which the sensing ribs 18a and 18b and home sensor 20 are applied to sense the home position will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In a representative ink jet printer, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 400 performs a program stored in a read only memory (ROM) 404 and controls all parts of the printer through an input/output interface 402. Into the ROM 404, the execution program of the CPU 400 and all kinds of initial data are stored, and into a random access memory (RAM) 406, data according to the operation of the CPU 400 are temporarily stored. The input/output interface circuit 402 interfaces signals between the CPU 400 and input/output devices, that is, a sensor circuit 408, an operational panel 410, motor drivers 412 and 416 and a head driver 420. The sensor circuit 408 comprises a home sensor and various sensors for sensing the operational state of each device of the printer, the paper feed and delivery condition, the amount of ink, etc. The sensing state of each sensor is provided to the CPU 400 through the input/output interface circuit 402. The operational panel 410 comprises a plurality of keys for entering all kinds of commands and a display device for displaying various states under the control of the CPU 400. The motor driver 412 serves to drive a carriage delivery motor 414 under the control of the CPU 400. The carriage delivery motor 414 enables the carriage 12 to move in the horizontal direction. The motor driver 416 serves to drive a paper delivery motor 418 under the control of the CPU 400. The paper delivery motor 418 enables a printable material such as paper to be delivered. The head driver 420 drives a recording head 422 provided with the ink cartridge 16 under the control of the CPU 400 and records an image onto the printable material. The recording head 422 has a plurality of nozzles and is driven by the head driver 420 to disperse the ink through the nozzles, thus recording the image onto the printable material. Referring now to Fig. 5, when power in the printer is turned "on", the CPU 400 checks at step 500 the sensing state of the home sensor 20 supplied from the sensor circuit 408. At this time, the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b are in one of four states as shown in Figs. 6A through 9D according to the position of the carriage 12 before the power of printer is turned "on". Figs. 6A and 7A show examples where one of the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20. In Fig. 6A, the sensing rib 18b is sensed, but in Fig. 7A, the sensing rib 18a is sensed. Figs. 8A and 9A show examples where neither of the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20. In Fig. 8A, the home sensor 20 is disposed between the sensing ribs 18a and 18b, and in Fig. 9A, both of the sensing ribs 18a and 18b are distant from the home sensor 20. Of course, in Figs. 6A through 9D, the position of the sensing ribs 18a and 18b associated with the home sensor 20 may correspond to vertical movement, but the sensing state of the home sensor 20 is the same as the above. Only one of the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b is sensed as a reference sensing rib by the home sensor 20, in the case where the carriage 12 is in the home position, as shown in Figs. 6A through 9D. In the following description, it is assumed that the sensing rib 18b is set as the reference sensing rib. Further, it is assumed that when one of the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, that is, cuts off the optical path between the light emitting portion 22 and light receiving portion 24 of the home sensor 20, the state in which the home sensor is turned "on" is termed "a home sensing state". When the home sensing state is achieved at step 500, as shown in Figs. 6A and 7A, the CPU 400 drives the carriage motor 414 through the motor driver 412 at step 502 and moves the carriage 12 at a low speed by a predetermined first distance "X" in the direction opposite to the home position, and, at step 504, then checks whether or not the home sensing state is achieved. At this time, if the previous home sensing state corresponds to that of Fig. 6A, the home sensing state is achieved as shown in Fig. 6B. In contrast, if the previous home sensing state corresponds to that of Fig. 7A, the home sensing state is not achieved as shown in Fig. 7B. The first distance "X" is equal to the distance between the median planes of the two sensing ribs 18a and 18b. However, the first distance "X" may be different without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the case where the home sensing state is achieved at step 504, the CPU 400 drives the carriage motor 414 through the motor driver 412 and at step 506 moves the carriage 12 at a low speed by the first distance "X" in the direction of the home position. Since the relationship between the sensing rib 18a and 18b and the home sensor 20 is changed from the state of Fig. 6B to the state of Fig. 6C, the reference sensing rib 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, that is, the home sensing state is achieved. Thereafter the CPU 400 terminates the home position sensing operation and typically performs an initial operation. On the other hand, in the case where the home sensing state is not achieved at the step 504, the CPU 400 drives the carriage motor 414 through the motor driver 412 and at step 524 moves the carriage 12 at a low speed in the direction of the home position. The CPU 400 sequentially twice checks twice whether the home sensing state is achieved at step 526. Since the relationship between the sensing rib 18a and 18b and the home sensor 20 changes in the order of the states of Fig. 7B, Fig. 7C and Fig. 7D, the reference sensing rib 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, that is, the home sensing state is achieved. Thereafter the CPU 400 terminates the home position sensing operation and typically performs the initial operation. Therefore, in the case where one of the sensing ribs 18a and 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, as shown in Figs. 6A and 7A, the carriage 12 sequentially moves at a low speed in the direction opposite to the home position and in the direction of the home position within the first distance "X", thus to make the reference sensing rib 18b sensed by the home sensor 20. In the meanwhile, in the case where it is determined that the home sensing state is not achieved in step 500, as shown in Figs. 8A and 9A, the CPU 400 at steps 508 to 512 drives the carriage motor 414 through the motor driver 412 and moves the carriage 12 at a low speed by a predetermined second distance "2X" in the direction of the home position, and then checks whether or not the home sensing state is "on". At this time, if the previous home sensing state corresponds to that of Fig. 8A, the home sensing state is achieved as shown in Fig. 8B before the carriage 12 moves by the second distance "2X". In contrast, if the previous home sensing state corresponds to that of Fig. 9A, the home sensing state is not achieved as shown in Fig. 9B after the carriage 12 completes the movement by the second distance "2X". The second distance "2X" is twice the first distance "X". However, in the same manner as the first distance "X", the second "2X" may be different without departing from the scope of the present invention. In steps 508 to 512, when the home sensing state is achieved before the carriage 12 completes the movement by the second distance "2X", the CPU 400 drives the carriage motor 414 through the motor driver 412 and at step 522 moves the carriage 12 at a low speed by the second distance "2X" in the direction opposite to the home position. Then, the CPU 400 checks twice whether the home sensing state is achieved, while moving the carriage 12 at a low speed in the direction of the home position. Since the relationship between the sensing rib 18a and 18b and the home sensor 20 changes in the order of the states of Fig. 8C, Fig. 8D and Fig. 8E, the reference sensing rib 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, that is, the home sensing state is achieved. Thereafter, the CPU 400 terminates the home position sensing operation and typically performs the initial operation. Therefore, in the case where no sensing ribs 18a and 18b are sensed by the home sensor 20, as shown in Fig. 8A, the carriage 12 moves at a low speed in the direction of the home position within the second distance "2X". Thus, when the sensing rib 18b is sensed, the carriage 12 moves at a low speed by the second distance "2X" in the direction opposite to the home position, thus to make the reference sensing rib 18b sensed by the home sensor 20. On the other hand, at the steps 508 to 512 when the home sensing state is not achieved after the carriage 12 completes the movement by the second distance "2X", as shown in Fig. 9B, the CPU 400 drives the carriage motor 414 through the motor driver 412 and at step 514 moves the carriage 12 at a high speed in the direction of the home position and checks at step 516 whether the home sensing state is achieved. When the state of Fig. 9B is changed to that of Fig. 9C, that is, the home sensing state is achieved, the CPU 400 at step 520 checks whether the home sensing state is achieved, while moving the carriage 12 at a low speed in the direction of the home position at step 518. Since the relationship between the sensing rib 18a and 18b and the home sensor 20 changes in the order of the states of Fig. 9B, Fig. 9C and Fig. 9D, the reference sensing rib 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, that is, the home sensing state is achieved. Thereafter, the CPU 400 terminates the home position sensing operation and typically performs the initial operation. Therefore, in the case where no sensing ribs 18a and 18b are sensed by the home sensor 20, as shown in Fig. 9A, the carriage 12 moves at a low speed in the direction of the home position up to the second distance "2X". Thus, when the sensing rib 18a is not sensed, the CPU 400 moves the carriage 12 at a high speed in the direction of the home position until the sensing rib 18a is sensed. Then, the CPU 400 moves at a low speed the carriage 12 in the direction of the home position, thus to make the reference sensing rib 18b sensed by the home sensor 20. The low speed movement as described in the above means a carriage speed which is lower than the usual printing speed, and the high speed movement means a carriage speed which is higher than the usual printing speed. Accordingly, in the conventional art, the carriage 12 moves at the low speed irrespective of the previous state of the position of carriage 12, to sense the home position, but in the present invention, the carriage 12 moves at the low speed only during very short intervals in accordance with the position of carriage 12, thus reducing the amount of time required to sense the home position. As a result, the time consumption taken from the time of power "on" to the initial operation can be reduced. In addition, the amount of noise and power consumption caused because of the movement of the carriage can be reduced. As previously noted, the sensing ribs 18a and 18b can be placed in the recording head 422, instead of the carriage 12 of the ink jet printer, so that the recording head 422 can be operated to cooperate with the home sensor 20. In this case, when the recording head 422 is not mounted in the carriage 12, the carriage 12 moves but the sensing ribs 18a and 18b are not sensed by the home sensor 20. Therefore, if the carriage 12 moves the full distance possible but no sensing rib 18 and 18b is sensed by the home sensor 20, the CPU 400 determines that the recording head 422 is not mounted. That is, if the home sensor 20 is not turned "on" even when the carriage 12 completely moves in the direction of the home position at the steps 514 to 516, the CPU 400 determines that the recording head 422 is not mounted. Accordingly, the sensing ribs 18a and 18b are used in sensing the home position as well as in detecting whether the recording head 422 is mounted in the printer, without attaching an additional detecting means to the recording head 422. As set forth above, the present invention provides a home sensing device and method which is capable of shortening the amount of time consumed for sensing the home position and reducing noise caused by the moving carriage. The use of two sensing ribs allows the high speed operation, without the disadvantages which would in the case of only one rib be associated with possible overshoot in high speed operation. Furthermore, the present invention provides a home position sensing device and method which is capable of reducing the amount of power consumption exhausted while moving the carriage to sense the home position and detecting whether the recording head is mounted in the printer, without attaching an additional detecting means to the recording head.

Claims: A recording apparatus comprising: a reference member; a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to the reference member; a home position sensing device comprising: a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the reference member adjacent the home position; and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the reference member adjacent the home position; the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means to provide a home position sensing signal; and control means for moving the carriage along the path in accordance with the home position sensing signal, thereby to sense a home position. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first and second sensing means are so positioned that one of the first sensing means functions as a reference sensing means and is in the proximity of the second sensing means when the carriage is in the home position. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the control means is adapted to detect whether the recording head is mounted from the home position sensing means. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control means is adapted, when one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and, if the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by the predetermined first distance in the direction of the home position. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control means is adapted, when one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and, if the other of the first sensing means is not in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control means is adapted, when neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and, if one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by the predetermined second distance in the direction opposite to the home position and to move the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control means is adapted, when neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and, if still neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage at a relatively high speed in the direction of the home position, and, if one of the first sensing means is then in the proximity of the second sensing means, to move the carriage in the direction of the home position until the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control means is adapted, if the movement of said carriage in the direction of the home position is completed without the first sensing means being in the proximity of the second sensing means, to determine that said recording head is not mounted. A method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (b) if so, moving the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (c) if so, moving the carriage by the predetermined first distance in the direction of the home position. A method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (b) if so, moving the carriage by a predetermined first distance in the direction opposite to the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (d) if not, moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. A method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (e) if not, moving the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (f) if so, moving the carriage by the predetermined second distance in the direction opposite to the home position, then moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. A method according to any one of claims 9-10, further comprising: (e) if in step (a), neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, moving the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (f) if so, moving the carriage by the predetermined second distance in the direction opposite to the home position, then moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the later of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. A method of sensing a home position in a recording apparatus comprising a carriage, in which a recording head is mounted, movable along a predetermined path with respect to a support and a home position sensing device including a pair of first sensing means, separated from each other along the direction of motion of the carriage, and provided on either of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position and a second sensing means provided on the other of the carriage or the support adjacent the home position, the home position sensing device being sensitive to the proximity of the second sensing means with each of the first sensing means, the method comprising the steps of: (a) checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (e) if not, moving the carriage by a predetermined second distance in the direction of the home position, and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; (g) if not, moving the carriage at a relatively high speed in the direction of the home position and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (h) if so, moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12, further comprising: (g) if in step (e), neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means, moving the carriage at a relatively high speed in the direction of the home position and checking from the home position sensing means whether one of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means; and (h) if so, moving the carriage in the direction of the home position until the other of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, further comprising: (i) if in step (g), neither of the first sensing means is in the proximity of the second sensing means and the movement of the carriage in the direction of the home position is completed, determining that the recording head is not mounted. Apparatus according to any of preceding claims 1 to 8, in which the first sensing means comprises two spaced sensing ribs protruding from the carriage. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which the ribs protrude from the recording head. Apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17, in which the second sensing means comprises an optical sensor for sensing the ribs. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 or 5, in which the predetermined first distance is substantially equal to the distance between the first sensing means. The apparatus as defined in any one of claims 6 or 7 and, in which the predetermined second distance is substantially equal to twice the distance between the first sensing means. A method according to any of claims 9 tol5 in which the first sensing means comprises two spaced sensing ribs protruding from the carriage. A method according to claim 21 in which the ribs protrude from the recording head. A method accoding to claim 21 or 22, in which the second sensing means comprises an optical sensor for sensing the ribs. A method according to any of claims 9 or 10 in which the predetermined first distance is substantially equal to the distance between the first sensing means. The method as defined in any of claims 11-14, in which the predetermined second distance is substantially equal to twice the distance between the first sensing means.

Inventors: CHOO JONG-YANG, CHOO, JONG-YANG
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B41J19
IPC codes: G01D5, B41J19, B41J29