Patent Publication Number: US-6663209-B2

Title: Printing apparatus and method of controlling power supply thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a printing apparatus and to a method of controlling the power supply thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a printing apparatus for performing printing on a printing medium by a printhead having a plurality of printing elements, and to a method of controlling the power supply of this recording apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Printers for printing desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-like print medium such as paper or film are available as the information output devices of word processors, personal computers and facsimile machines, by way of example. 
     Various techniques are known for application to printing methods employed by printers. Ink-jet technology has become the focus of attention in recent years because of its ability to print on a print medium such as paper without contacting the medium, the facility with which it lends itself to color printing and the quiet with which a serial printing method is employed most widely as the ink-jet printing method because of the advantages of lower cost and smaller size. The serial printing method employs a mounted printhead for discharging ink in accordance with desired print information. Printing is carried out while the printhead is scanned back and forth at right angles to the direction in which the print medium such as paper is fed. 
     The widespread use of personal computers and digital cameras has become pronounced in recent years. In addition, in response to user demand, applications that make it possible to print photographs also have come into greater use with the proliferation of digital cameras and the like. 
     Improvements in the processing capability and processing capacity of image input devices such as digital cameras have been accompanied by the desire for better image quality and higher definition also in printers used as image output devices. In response to such need, many high-quality printers capable of producing a high-definition output equivalent to that obtained with photographic paper have been proposed. 
     Though ink-jet printers having the features mentioned above are being used widely as printers that provide an output of high image quality at low running cost. More recently, there has been a greater tendency toward raising the density and number of nozzles that serve as the printing elements in order to obtain a print output of higher definition while printing speed is maintained. 
     An ink-jet printer is usually provided with discharge-pressure generating sources such as heaters or piezoelectric elements in one-to-one correspondence with the discharge nozzles. If nozzle density is raised and the number of nozzles increased. Therefore, there is an increase in the load on the driving power supply that supplies power to the discharge-pressure generating sources such as heaters or piezoelectric elements. 
     If the load on the driving power supply increases, a problem which arises is a fluctuation in ink discharge performance caused by a drop in driving voltage. In particular, if a difference develops in ink discharge quantity and ink impact position precision in a case where there is a change in the number of nozzles driven simultaneously by print data, as when only one dot is printed and when a plurality of dots are printed simultaneously, this is reflected directly in the printed result as disturbance of the output image. This problem is not limited to ink-jet printers and arises also in other types of printers that have large numbers of printing elements. 
     A variation in driving voltage due to the number of nozzles driven simultaneously is influenced not only by the capacity of the power supply but also by the resistance of the wiring from the power supply to the discharge-pressure generating sources and by the common impedance. Accordingly, there has been proposed a printing apparatus in which the printhead and power-supply unit are provided on a carriage, which is scanned back and forth in the main-scan direction, for the purpose of suppressing a change in driving voltage by placing the power supply in close proximity to the discharge-pressure generating sources to shorten the wiring. With such an arrangement, however, the carriage is accelerated and decelerated repeatedly whenever it is scanned, as a result of which the load upon such components as the carriage driving motor increases. This raises the cost of the overall apparatus. Further, since the weight of the carriage per se is increased, problems such as vibration during printing arise. 
     One conceivable method of avoiding these problems is to refrain from providing the power-supply unit on the carriage and increase greatly the thickness of the wiring in order to lower wiring resistance. However, the larger the number of nozzles, the larger the surface area needed for routing of wiring on the circuit board, the larger the thickness required for the cables and the larger the size required for the connectors. This makes it difficult to lower the cost and reduce the size of the overall apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, as well as a method of controlling the power supply thereof, adapted so as to perform printing stably, even when the number of printing elements driven simultaneously changes, without enlarging the power supply and without reducing wiring resistance. 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a printing apparatus for performing printing on a print medium by a printhead having a plurality of printing elements, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of driving voltage sources of voltages that differ from one another; counting means for counting the number of printing elements that are to be driven simultaneously; and power supply selection means for selecting a driving voltage source to be connected to the printhead from among the plurality of driving voltage sources in accordance with the value of the count obtained from the counting means. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a method of controlling a power supply of a printing apparatus having a plurality of driving voltage sources of voltages that differ from one another, wherein the printing apparatus performs printing on a print medium by a printhead having a plurality of printing elements, the method comprising: a counting step of counting the number of printing elements that are to be driven simultaneously; and power supply selection step of selecting a driving voltage source to be connected to the printhead from among the plurality of driving voltage sources in accordance with the value of the count obtained at the counting step. 
     Thus, according to the present invention, the driving voltage source supplied to the printhead is selected in accordance with the number of printing elements to be driven at the same time, the selection being from among a plurality of driving voltage sources of different voltages. 
     This arrangement is such that if the number of printing elements driven simultaneously is large, for example, a driving voltage source for delivering a high voltage is connected to the printhead, thereby making it possible to drive each of the printing elements in a stable manner. A stable printing result is obtained, even when the number of printing elements driven simultaneously changes, without enlarging the power supply or reducing wiring resistance. 
     It is preferred that the plurality of driving voltage sources are branched from the same stabilized power supply circuit. 
     It should be noted that if the driving voltage sources, counting means and power supply selection means are provided on a carriage in a serial-scanning-type printing apparatus equipped with the carriage for holding a printhead and scanning the printhead in a direction that intersects the direction in which a print medium is transported, a fluctuation in the driving voltage is suppressed. 
     Further, it is preferred that the power supply selection means include classifying means for classifying count values into a plurality of categories. 
     The power supply selection means may be adapted in such a manner that one driving voltage source is connected to the printhead in accordance with the driving capability of each driving voltage source, or in such a manner that a plurality of driving voltage sources are connected to the printhead in accordance with the driving capability of each driving voltage source. 
     Furthermore, if it is so arranged that the power supply selection means does not connect a driving voltage source to the printhead when the value of the count from the counting means is zero, power consumption can be greatly reduced. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a first embodiment of a power supply controller; 
     FIG. 2 is a table illustrating the correspondence between a power supply selection signal SL and driving power HP output from a power supply selection circuit; 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by a heat-data generator shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the structure of part of a multiple power supply circuit and power supply selection circuit shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a second embodiment of a power supply controller; 
     FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing the general structure of an ink-jet printer, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a control circuit for controlling the ink-jet printer; and 
     FIG. 8 is an external perspective view illustrating the structure of an ink cartridge. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an ink-jet printer IJRA as a typical embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, a carriage HC engages with a spiral groove  5004  of a lead screw  5005 , which rotates via driving force transmission gears  5009  to  5011  upon forward/reverse rotation of a driving motor  5013 . The carriage HC has a pin (not shown), and is reciprocally scanned in the directions of arrows a and b in FIG.  6 . An integrated ink-jet cartridge IJC which incorporates a printhead IJH and an ink tank IT is mounted on the carriage HC. 
     Reference numeral  5002  denotes a sheet pressing plate, which presses a paper sheet against a platen  5000 , ranging from one end to the other end of the scanning path of the carriage. Reference numerals  5007  and  5008  denote photocouplers which serve as a home position detector for recognizing the presence of a lever  5006  of the carriage in a corresponding region, and used for switching, e.g., the rotating direction of the motor  5013 . 
     Reference numeral  5016  denotes a member for supporting a cap member  5022 , which caps the front surface of the printhead IJH; and  5015 , a suction device for sucking ink residue through the interior of the cap member. The suction device  5015  performs suction recovery of the printhead via an opening  5023  of the cap member  5015 . Reference numeral  5017  denotes a cleaning blade;  5019 , a member which allows the blade to be movable in the back-and-forth direction of the blade. These members are supported on a main unit support plate  5018 . The shape of the blade is not limited to this, but a known cleaning blade can be used in this embodiment. 
     Reference numeral  5021  denotes a lever for initiating a suction operation in the suction recovery operation. The lever  5021  moves upon movement of a cam  5020 , which engages with the carriage, and receives a driving force from the driving motor via a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching. 
     The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery operations are performed at their corresponding positions upon operation of the lead screw  5005  when the carriage reaches the home-position side region. However, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement as long as desired operations are performed at known timings. 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a control circuit of the ink-jet printer. Referring to FIG. 7 showing the control circuit, reference numeral  1700  denotes an interface for inputting a printing signal from an external unit such as a host computer;  1701 , an MPU;  1702 , a ROM for storing a control program (including character fonts if necessary) executed by the MPU  1701 ; and  1703 , a DRAM for storing various data (the printing signal, printing data supplied to the printhead, and the like). Reference numeral  1704  denotes a gate array (G.A.) for performing supply control of printing data to the printhead IJH. The gate array  1704  also performs data transfer control interface  1700 , the MPU  1701 , and the RAM  1703 . Reference numeral  1710  denotes a carrier motor for transferring the printhead IJH in the main scanning direction; and  1709 , a transfer motor for transferring a printing sheet. Reference numeral  1705  denotes a head driver for driving a head; and  1706  and  1707 , motor drivers for driving the transfer motor  1709  and the carrier motor  1710 . 
     The operation of the above control arrangement will be described below. When a printing signal is input to the interface  1700 , the printing signal is converted into printing data for a printing operation between the gate array  1704  and the MPU  1701 . The motor drivers  1706  and  1707  are driven, and the printhead is driven in accordance with the printing data supplied to the head driver  1705 , thus performing the printing operation. 
     Though the control program executed by the MPU  1701  is stored in the ROM  1702 , an arrangement can be adopted in which a writable storage medium such as an EEPROM is additionally provided so that the control program can be altered from a host computer connected to the ink-jet printer IJRA. 
     Note that the ink tank IT and the printhead IJH are integrally formed to construct an exchangeable ink cartridge IJC, however, the ink tank IT and the printhead IJH may be separately formed such that when ink is exhausted, only the ink tank IT can be exchanged for new ink tank. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ink cartridge IJC where the ink tank and the head can be separated. As shown in FIG. 8 in the ink cartridge ITC, the ink tank IT and the printhead IJH can be separated along a line K. The ink cartridge IJC has an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side when it is mounted on the carriage HC. By the electric signal, the printhead IJH is driven as above, Note that in FIG. 8, numeral  500  denotes an ink-discharge orifice array. Further, the ink tank IT has a fiber or porous ink absorbing body. The ink is held by the ink absorbing body. 
     Control of a driving power supply in an ink-jet printer according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described. 
     First Embodiment 
     FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of components for controlling a driving power supply mounted in an ink-jet printer according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an input data processor  1  expands compressed print data DI, which has been transmitted from a host device (not shown), and outputs a print code sequence CD. A heat-data generator  2 , which has a dot counter DC, generates and outputs heat data HDT, which corresponds to each heater, every heat cycle based upon the print code sequence CD, and simultaneously counts the number of dots discharged at the same time and output a power supply selection signal SL (1:0). 
     An ink-jet printhead IJH has a plurality of nozzle groups each of which consists of 96 nozzles, and a plurality of groups of heater rows corresponding to the nozzle groups, and performs heating/discharge one group at a time in accordance with the heat data HDT that enters every heat cycle. Heater driving power HP is input to the printhead IJH. A multiple power supply circuit  4  possesses three output voltage stages for outputting three different voltages, namely P 1  (9V), P 2  (10V) and P 3  (11V). The input to the multiple power supply circuit  4  may be a commercial AC power source or a DC power source such as a battery. A power supply selector  5  selects and outputs the heater driving power HP for the printhead from these three voltages in accordance with the selection signal SL [1:0]. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates correspondence between combinations of the power supply selection signals SL output from the heat-data generator  2  and the heater driving power HP output from the power supply selector  5  in accordance with the power supply selection signals SL. As shown in FIG. 2, the multiple power supply circuit  4  delivers four different outputs, namely zero, 9V (P 1 ), 10V (P 2 ) and 11V (P 3 ) depending upon corresponding ones of the four combinations of the power supply selection signal SL. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of part of the multiple power supply circuit  4  and the structure of the power supply selector  5 . In order to simplify the circuitry, FIG. 4 shows an arrangement for obtaining voltage outputs of multiple types using the forward voltages of diodes. 
     The circuitry corresponding to the multiple power supply circuit  4  receives direct current of 11V, which has been stabilized by an ordinary method, as the input thereto and generates three different voltages, namely P 3  obtained by outputting the input directly, P 2  obtained by dropping the input voltage using two diodes D 1  and D 2 , and P 1  obtained by dropping the input voltage further using two diodes D 3  and D 4 . Three capacitors C 1 , C 2  and C 3  are provided for corresponding ones of the three voltages. 
     The circuitry corresponding to the power supply selector  5  is provided with power transistors SW 1  to SW 3  for outputting the voltages P 3  to P 1 , respectively, and a controller CTRL for obtaining the output voltage HP by turning on the transistors SW 1  to SW 3  selectively in accordance with the SL (1:0) input. 
     Next, the processing executed by the heat-data generator  2  of this embodiment will be described in accordance with the flowchart of FIG.  3 . 
     First, the heat data of the present heat cycle is expanded and the number of dots to be discharged are counted (step S 1 ). Control branches at step S 2  for the purpose of deciding an output in accordance with the number of dots counted. More specifically, if the number of dots is zero, “00” is output as SL to turn the power supply output OFF (step S 3 ). If the number of dots is 1 to 32, “01” is output as SL to adopt 9V as HP (step S 4 ). If the number of dots is 33 to 64, “10” is output as SL to adopt 10V as HP (step S 5 ). If the number of dots is 65 to 96, “11” is output as SL to adopt 11V as HP (step S 6 ). 
     If output of power supply selection signal SL has ended, it is determined whether the next heat cycle has arrived (step S 7 ). If the next heat cycle has arrived (“YES” at step S 7 ), then control returns to step S 1  and processing is repeated from this step onward. If the heat data is not the next cycle of heat data (“NO” at step S 7 ) and it is determined at step S 8  that printing has ended, then processing is exited. 
     In accordance with this embodiment, as set forth above, the appropriate heater power supplies (i.e., a combination thereof) are selected in dependence upon the number of heaters energized simultaneously, thereby making it possible to realize an ink-jet printer having a stable discharge characteristic despite a large number of nozzles. 
     Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a power supply controller mounted in an ink-jet printer according to the present invention. Here a multiple power supply/power supply selector  7 , which corresponds to the portion shown in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment, is disposed on a carriage together with the printhead IJH. 
     According to this embodiment, the counting of the number of dots is performed by a counter within the printhead IJH based upon data sent from a heat-data generator  2 ′. A power supply circuit 6 per se, which object such as a transformer for supplying stabilized power of 11V, is not mounted on the carriage. As a result, the carriage is not subjected to a very heavy load and the distance between the power outlet and the heaters is reduced to lower the wiring resistance without increasing the size and 5 raising the cost of the apparatus. 
     In the first and second embodiments, a case in which only one of the transistors SW 1  to SW 3  is turned ON in accordance with the signal SL is described. However, an arrangement may be adopted in which a plurality of the transistors SW are turned on simultaneously for applications in which a larger power-supply capacity is required. 
     In the above embodiments, droplets discharged from the printhead are ink droplets, and a liquid stored in the ink tank is ink. However, the liquid to be stored in the ink tank is not limited to ink. For example, a treatment solution to be discharged onto a printing medium so as to improve the fixing property or water resistance of a printed image or its image quality may be stored in the ink tank. 
     Each of the embodiments described above has exemplified a printer, which comprises means (e.g., an electrothermal transducer, laser beam generator, and the like) for generating heat energy as energy utilized upon execution of ink discharge, and causes a change in state of an ink by the heat energy, among the ink-jet printers. According to this ink-jet printer and printing method, a high-density, high-precision printing operation can be attained. 
     As the typical arrangement and principle of the ink-jet printing system, one practiced by use of the basic principle disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 is preferable. The above system is applicable to either one of so-called an on-demand type and a continuous type. Particularly, in the case of the on-demand type, the system is effective because, by applying at least one driving signal, which corresponds to printing information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, to each of electrothermal transducers arranged in correspondence with a sheet or liquid channels holding a liquid (ink), heat energy is generated by the electrothermal transducer to effect film boiling on the heat acting surface of the printhead, and consequently, a bubble can be formed in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with the driving signal. By discharging the liquid (ink) through a discharge opening by growth and shrinkage of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. If the driving signal is applied as a pulse signal, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble can be attained instantly and adequately to achieve discharge of the liquid (ink) with the particularly high response characteristics. 
     As the pulse driving signal, signals disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Note that further excellent printing can be performed by using the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention which relates to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface. 
     As an arrangement of the printhead, in addition to the arrangement as a combination of discharge nozzles, liquid channels, and electrothermal transducers (linear liquid channels or right angle liquid channels) as disclosed in the above specifications, the arrangement using U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600, which disclose the arrangement having a heat acting portion arranged in a flexed region is also included in the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be effectively applied to an arrangement based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-123670 which discloses the arrangement using a slot common to a plurality of electrothermal transducers as a discharge portion of the electrothermal transducers, or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-138461 which discloses the arrangement having an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of heat energy in correspondence with a discharge portion. 
     Furthermore, as a full line type printhead having a length corresponding to the width of a maximum printing medium which can be printed by the printer, either the arrangement which satisfies the full-line length by combining a plurality of printheads as disclosed in the above specification or the arrangement as a single printhead obtained by forming printheads integrally can be used. 
     In addition, not only an exchangeable chip type printhead, as described in the above embodiment, which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main unit and can receive an ink from the apparatus main unit upon being mounted on the apparatus main unit but also a cartridge type printhead in which an ink tank is integrally arranged on the printhead itself can be applicable to the present invention. 
     It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as an arrangement of the printer of the present invention since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Examples of such means include, for the printhead, capping means, cleaning means, pressurization or suction means, and preliminary heating means using electrothermal transducers, another heating element, or a combination thereof. It is also effective for stable printing to provide a preliminary discharge mode which performs discharge independently of printing. 
     Furthermore, as a printing mode of the printer, not only a printing mode using only a primary color such as black or the like, but also at least one of a multi-color mode using a plurality of different colors or a full-color mode achieved by color mixing can be implemented in the printer either by using an integrated printhead or by combining a plurality of printheads. 
     Moreover, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, it is assumed that the ink is a liquid. Alternatively, the present invention may employ an ink which is solid at room temperature or less and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink which liquefies upon application of a use printing signal, since it is a general practice to perform temperature control of the ink itself within a range from 30° C. to 70° C. in the ink-jet system, so that the ink viscosity can fall within a stable discharge range. 
     In addition, in order to prevent a temperature rise caused by heat energy by positively utilizing it as energy for causing a change in state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which is solid in a non-use state and liquefies upon heating may be used. In any case, an ink which liquefies upon application of heat energy according to a printing signal and is discharged in a liquid state, an ink which begins to solidify when it reaches a printing medium, or the like, is applicable to the present invention. In this case, an ink may be situated opposite electrothermal transducers while being held in a liquid or solid state in recess portions of a porous sheet or through holes, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-56847 or 60-71260. In the present invention, the above-mentioned film boiling system is most effective for the above-mentioned inks. 
     The present invention can be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices (e.g., host computer, interface, reader, printer) or to an apparatus comprising a single device (e.g., copying machine, facsimile machine). 
     Further, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by providing a storage medium storing program codes for performing the aforesaid processes to a computer system or apparatus (e.g., a personal computer), reading the program codes, by a CPU or MPU of the computer system or apparatus, from the storage medium, then executing the program. 
     In this case, the program codes read from the storage medium realize the functions according to the embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program codes constitutes the invention. 
     Further, the storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile type memory card, and ROM can be used for providing the program codes. 
     Furthermore, besides aforesaid functions according to the above embodiments are realized by executing the program codes which are read by a computer, the present invention includes a case where an OS (operating system) or the like working on the computer performs a part or entire processes in accordance with designations of the program codes and realizes functions according to the above embodiments. 
     Furthermore, the present invention also includes a case where, after the program codes read from the storage medium are written in a function expansion card which is inserted into the computer or in a memory provided in a function expansion unit which is connected to the computer, CPU or the like contained in the function expansion card or unit performs a part or entire process in accordance with designations of the program codes and realizes functions of the above embodiments. 
     If the present invention is realized as a storage medium, program codes corresponding to the above mentioned flowchart (FIG. 3) are to be stored in the storage medium. 
     As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.