Recording device and method for controlling the same

Abstract

To prevent productivity from deteriorating even when performing recording on various media.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: transportation means for transporting a recording medium toward recording means for recording an image; and a carriage for supporting the recording means. The recording device changes a height of the carriage in parallel with transportation of the recording medium by the transportation means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, inkjet printers have been able to accommodate recording on a variety of media by adjusting the height of the recording head. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which, when printing on thick envelopes, the carriage carrying the recording head is raised to increase the distance between the media and the recording head, thereby preventing the media and the recording head from rubbing against each other. In addition, when recording on glossy paper, which requires high printing accuracy, the height of the carriage carrying the recording head is lowered to reduce the distance between the media and the recording head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-52870 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the movement of the carriage up and down takes time, there is a risk of productivity decreasing when recording on various media that requires changing the height of the carriage.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a recording apparatus that does not reduce productivity even when recording on various media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the recording device of the present invention comprises a transport means for transporting a recording medium toward a recording means for recording an image, and a carriage for supporting the recording means, and is characterized in that the height of the carriage is changed in parallel with the transport of the recording medium by the transport means. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a recording apparatus is provided that does not reduce productivity even when recording on various media. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a conveying path according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a printer unit according to a first embodiment, viewed from the rear side of the recording apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the software configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a recording control flow of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart showing a feeding operation of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart showing a discharging operation of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 6 is a flowchart showing a carriage height switching operation according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conveying path according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a feeding operation of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a discharging operation of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12]10 is a flowchart showing a carriage height switching operation according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] 5A to 5C are conceptual diagrams showing a transition when changing the height of a carriage according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following embodiment does not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the present embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. Furthermore, the relative arrangements, shapes, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only those. In each figure, arrows A, B, C, and D indicate the horizontal direction, and arrows E and F indicate the vertical direction (gravity direction).

[0010] Incidentally, "recording" includes not only the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also the formation of images, patterns, designs, etc. on a recording medium, whether meaningful or insignificant, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether it is manifested in a way that can be perceived by humans visually. In addition, although paper is assumed as the "recording medium" in this embodiment, it may also be cloth, plastic, film, etc.

[0011] In addition, "ink" (sometimes called "liquid") should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of "recording" above. Therefore, it refers to a liquid that can be applied to a recording medium to form an image, design, pattern, etc., to process the recording medium, or to treat the ink (for example, to solidify or insolubilize the coloring material in the ink applied to the recording medium).

[0012] First Embodiment 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a recording device 1 according to this embodiment. The recording device 1 has a CPU 3 in a control unit 2 that loads a control program recorded in a ROM 5 into a RAM 4 and reads it out when necessary to perform various types of control such as power-on control and recording control.

[0013] The RAM 4 is the main memory of the CPU 3, and is used as a work area and a temporary storage area for expanding various programs stored in the ROM 5. The ROM 5 stores image data, various programs, and various setting information. In the embodiment of the present invention, the ROM 5 is assumed to be a flash storage or the like, but it may be an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk.

[0014] In the recording device 1, one CPU 3 executes each process shown in the flowchart described later using one memory (RAM 4), but other configurations are also possible. For example, each process shown in the flowchart described later can be executed by using multiple CPUs, multiple RAMs, ROMs, and storages in cooperation with each other. Also, some of the processes can be executed using hardware circuits.

[0015] An engine interface (hereinafter, engine I / F) 7 connects the printer unit 12 and the control unit 2 via a bus line 6. Image data to be recorded by the printer unit 12 is transferred from the control unit 2 via the engine I / F 7, and is recorded on a recording medium such as paper by the printer unit 12.

[0016] The operation unit I / F 8 connects the operation unit 13 and the control unit 2 via the bus line 6. The operation unit 13 is equipped with a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, operation keys, and the like, and functions as a reception unit that receives instructions from a user.

[0017] The USB I / F 9 and network I / F 10 control communication with a host computer 14 connected to the recording device 1. The power supply board 11 transforms the power supplied from a power source 15 via a power cable 18 and supplies the power to the recording device 1. The power supply board 11 may also be equipped with a storage battery that can store power. This concludes the description of the hardware configuration of the recording device 1.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the conveying path of the recording apparatus 1. In Fig. 2, the left side is the front side (front face side) of the recording apparatus 1, and the right side is the rear side of the recording apparatus 1. That is, directions A and B are left and right directions when the recording apparatus 1 is viewed from the front, direction C corresponds to the direction toward the front face of the recording apparatus 1, and direction D corresponds to the direction toward the rear face of the recording apparatus 1. Direction E is the vertical upward direction, and direction F is the vertical downward direction (gravity direction).

[0019] Recording apparatus 1 includes, as recording medium transport means, feed rollers 301 and 302, transport rollers 303 and 304, and print rollers 305 and 306. Recording apparatus 1 further includes, as discharge means, discharge rollers 307 and 308, and reversing rollers 309 and 310 as reversing means for reversing the recording medium.

[0020] The recording device 1 also includes a recording head 361 as a recording means for ejecting liquid to perform recording, and a carriage 360 ​​that moves in the A and B directions (predetermined directions) while carrying and supporting the recording head 361. The recording device 1 of this embodiment uses an inkjet recording head 361. Here, the A direction is the direction toward the back of the paper, and the B direction is the direction toward the front of the paper, opposite to the A direction. The carriage 360 ​​is movably supported on a rail 630 (see FIG. 3) that extends in the A direction (B direction). The carriage 360 ​​ejects ink as a liquid from the recording head 361 while moving in the A direction and the B direction, thereby recording an image on the recording medium. Note that the recording means of the present invention is not limited to this, and a line head provided with an ejection port that ejects liquid over a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium can also be adopted.

[0021] A platen 362 is provided at a recording position facing the recording head 361 to support the back surface of the recording medium on which recording is performed by the recording head 361. The recording apparatus 1 also includes a switching member 312 that switches the distance between the platen 362 and an ejection surface of the recording head 361 on which ejection ports for ejecting liquid are provided.

[0022] The recording device 1 includes a first cassette 340 and a second cassette 341 as storage units capable of storing recording media. In the recording device 1, the second cassette 341 is provided below the first cassette. The first cassette 340 and the second cassette 341 are configured to be insertable and removable from the recording device 1 so that a user can set a recording medium therein. The recording device 1 also includes an ejection tray 334 that supports the recording medium on which recording has been performed by the recording head 361.

[0023] Furthermore, the recording apparatus 1 includes, as driving sources (driving means), a feed motor 351 that drives feed rollers 301 and 302, a transport motor 350 that drives transport rollers 303 and 304, and a print motor 352 that drives print rollers 305 and 306. The recording apparatus 1 also includes a discharge motor 353 that drives discharge rollers 307 and 308, a carriage motor 354 that drives carriage 360, and a reversing motor 355 that drives reversing rollers 309 and 310. The recording apparatus 1 also includes a switching motor 356 that drives a switching member 312. The recording apparatus 1 also includes detection sensors 320, 321, 322, and 323 that can detect the ends of the recording medium.

[0024] When the recording device 1 receives a recording command via the host computer 14 or the operation unit 13, the CPU 3 rotates the feed motor 351 in the forward direction to drive the feed roller 301, thereby feeding the recording media loaded in the first cassette 340 one by one. When feeding from the second cassette 341, the CPU rotates the feed motor 351 in the reverse direction to drive the feed roller 302, thereby feeding the recording media loaded in the second cassette 341 one by one. In this embodiment, the feed rollers 301 and 302 are driven by the same feed motor 351, but each roller may be provided with a different motor as a drive source.

[0025] The fed recording medium is transported by transport rollers 304 driven by a transport motor 350 along a transport path 330 indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 2 toward print rollers 305. In this embodiment, a detection sensor 320 is provided downstream of transport rollers 304 in the transport direction, and is capable of detecting that the leading edge of the recording medium has passed transport rollers 304. CPU 3 manages the position of the recording medium within recording device 1 based on the detection result.

[0026] Next, CPU 3 rotates print motor 352 in the forward direction to drive print rollers 305 and 306 and transport the recording medium in the transport direction (here, the direction of arrow D). Then, when the recording medium is transported to the recording position, print motor 352 is stopped to stop transport of the recording medium by print rollers 305 and 306. CPU 3 then drives carriage motor 354 to move carriage 360, while ejecting ink from recording head 361, which serves as recording means mounted on carriage 360, to record an image. In this way, by repeating the intermittent transport of the recording medium by a predetermined amount and the ejection of ink by recording head 361 accompanying the movement of carriage 360, recording of an image is completed based on the received recording command.

[0027] The CPU 3 drives the discharge motor 353 in parallel with the recording operation by the recording head 361, thereby driving the discharge rollers 307 and 308. After the recording operation by the recording head 361 is completed, the recording medium is discharged to the discharge tray 334 by the discharge rollers 307 and 308. In this embodiment, a detection sensor 321 is provided downstream of the discharge roller 307, and is capable of detecting that the rear end of the recording medium has passed the discharge roller 307. Based on the detection result, the CPU 3 controls the driving speed of the discharge motor 353 when discharging the recording medium, thereby improving the discharge alignment of the recording medium.

[0028] Furthermore, when performing double-sided recording, in which recording is performed on both the first and second sides of the recording medium, the CPU 3 detects the leading edge of the recording medium after recording on the first side has been completed using the detection sensor 321, and then drives the conveying path switching flapper 311. By this drive, the conveying path switching flapper 311 closes the conveying path to the discharge tray 334, and guides the recording medium to the reversing path 332.

[0029] The CPU 3 detects the leading edge of the recording medium by the detection sensor 322, and then detects that the guidance of the recording medium to the reversing path 332 has been completed, and then drives the conveying path switching flapper 311 to again open the conveying path to the discharge tray 334. The CPU 3 also rotates the reversing motor 355 in the forward direction to rotate the reversing roller 309 in the forward direction, thereby conveying the recording medium from the discharge roller 307 in the direction of the reversing roller 309.

[0030] After detecting the rear end of the recording medium with the detection sensor 322, the CPU 3 stops the reversing motor 355. Then, the CPU 3 drives the reversing motor 355 in the reverse direction to reverse the reversing rollers 309 and 310, and pulls the recording medium from the reversing path 332 to the second surface path 333. After detecting the leading edge of the recording medium with the detection sensor 323, the CPU 3 rotates the transport motor 350 in the forward direction to transport the recording medium toward the recording position (platen 362) so that the second surface of the recording medium faces the ejection surface of the recording head 361. Thereafter, the CPU 3 completes the recording on the second surface by the same control as that for the recording on the first surface, and discharges the recording medium to the discharge tray 334.

[0031] Furthermore, when the recording apparatus 1 changes the distance between the ejection surface of the recording head 361 and the platen 362 depending on the type of recording medium, it does so by driving the switching motor 356 to cause the switching member 312 to protrude into the movement path of the carriage 360. Detailed control of the switching will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of the printer unit 12 related to recording, as viewed from the rear side of the recording device 1. The recording device 1 includes a rail 630, a belt 633, and an encoder 634 as a configuration for moving the carriage 360. The rail 630 extends in the A direction (B direction) and movably supports the carriage 360. The CPU 3 drives the carriage motor 354 to drive the belt 633 and move the carriage 360 ​​in the A direction or B direction. The CPU 3 can calculate the position of the carriage 360 ​​by reading the encoder 634. The recording device 1 further includes a cap unit 639 that caps the ejection surface of the recording head 361, and an abutting member 641 that is provided on the carriage 360 ​​and can abut against the switching member 312.

[0033] As described above, the recording device 1 changes the distance between the ejection surface of the recording head 361 and the platen 362 depending on the type of recording medium. For example, when recording on photo paper, the carriage 360 ​​is moved (lowered) in the direction F to reduce the distance between the ejection surface of the recording head 361 and the platen 362 in order to improve ejection accuracy. On the other hand, when recording on thick paper such as an envelope, the carriage 360 ​​is moved (upward) in the direction E to prevent the ejection surface of the recording head 361 from rubbing against the recording medium.

[0034] Furthermore, to prevent the ejection ports of the recording head 361 from drying out and causing ejection defects, the CPU 3 moves the carriage 360 ​​to a position where the recording head 361 faces the cap unit 639 after the completion of recording. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the cap unit 639 is moved (raised) in the E direction, and the ejection surface of the recording head 361 is capped by the cap unit 639.

[0035] Here, if the carriage 360 ​​is set at a position higher than a predetermined position, the ejection surface of the recording head 361 cannot be capped even if the cap unit 639 rises in the E direction. Therefore, before capping with the cap unit 639, it is necessary to change the position of the carriage 360 ​​in the vertical direction to a predetermined position.

[0036] In order to change the position (height) of the carriage 360, the CPU 3 drives the switching motor 356 to project the switching member 312 into the movement path of the carriage 360. Thereafter, the CPU 3 drives the carriage motor 354, and the abutment member 641 provided on the carriage 360 ​​abuts against the switching member 312, thereby lifting the carriage 360 ​​in the E direction.

[0037] The lifted carriage 360 ​​is fixed in the height direction by engaging with the rail 630. In this way, the position of the carriage 360 ​​in the height direction is changed according to the amount by which the abutment member 641 is pressed against the switching member 312 by driving the carriage 360. Then, when the abutment member 641 continues to abut against the switching member 312, the carriage 360 ​​eventually comes off the rail 630 and is fixed in the height direction at the lowest position.

[0038] 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the transition of changing the height of the carriage 360. As shown in FIG. 13, in this embodiment, the height of the carriage 360 ​​can be changed in three stages. By the contact of the contact member 641 with the switching member 312, the height of the carriage 360 ​​is changed in the following order: lowest position (narrow) → middle position (standard) → highest position (wide) → lowest position (narrow). Even if the recording device 1 is in an unknown state in which the height of the carriage 360 ​​cannot be recognized, the height of the carriage 360 ​​can be changed to the lowest position (narrow) by continuing the contact of the contact member 641 with the switching member 312.

[0039] The lowest position (narrow) is a height that corresponds to printing on photo paper, and the middle position (standard) corresponds to printing on plain paper or to the position capped by the cap unit 639. The highest position (wide) is a height that corresponds to printing on thick paper such as envelopes.

[0040] Next, the software configuration of the recording device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a software configuration diagram of a control program for controlling each hard module expanded in the RAM 4 in this embodiment.

[0041] The control program is roughly divided into three blocks: an application layer 410 that manages applications, a middleware layer 420 for controlling devices via various I / Fs, and an operating system 430 that manages overall control. The role of each will be explained below.

[0042] The operating system 430 provides basic functions for executing a control program in the control unit 2. The middleware layer 420 is made up of a group of software that controls the I / F with the recording device 1 (printer) and each physical device. In this embodiment, a printer control module 421 exists as a module that controls the engine I / F 7. Similarly, a power supply module 422 exists as a module that controls the power supply board 11.

[0043] The controller 422 is also made up of an IF control module 423 that controls the USB I / F 9 and network I / F 10, which are devices used for communication with the host computer 14, a UI control module 424 that controls the operation unit I / F 8, and the like.

[0044] The application layer 410 realizes functions such as the recording operation executed by the recording device 1 by operating each device via each middleware. For example, when the UI control module 424 detects that the user has instructed recording via the operation unit 13 and the operation unit I / F 8, the application layer 410 is notified of this. In response to this, the application layer 410 executes a job management application 411 for recording. The job management application 411 executes the recording operation by the printer unit 12 using a printer control module 421 in the middleware layer 420.

[0045] 5 is a recording control flow assuming that recording jobs are continuously input from the host computer 14. In step 701, the job management application 411 controls the IF control module 423 to receive the recording job. In step 702, the job management application 411 checks whether the next job was received in step 701.

[0046] If there is a next job, the process waits until it becomes possible to feed the recording medium corresponding to the recording job received in step 701 (step 703). Specifically, the process waits until the trailing end of the recording medium corresponding to the final page of the job currently being recorded passes the detection sensor 320. When the trailing end of the recording medium passes the detection sensor 320, it becomes possible to feed the next recording medium. In this way, by detecting the trailing end of the recording medium with the detection sensor 320, it is possible to manage the length of the recording medium set in the first cassette 340 with high precision. In addition, by detecting the leading end of the next recording medium with the detection sensor 320, it becomes possible to manage the position of the recording medium in the recording device 1.

[0047] When the feeding of the recording medium becomes possible, in step 705, a flow for starting feeding of the recording medium is executed in order to print the job received in step 701. When feeding is completed and the printing operation by the print head 361 is started, the process returns to the next job receiving process in step 701 again.

[0048] If it is determined in step 702 that there is no next job, it is determined whether the currently running job has finished printing (step 704). If printing is still in progress, the process returns to step 701 to receive the next job again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 704 that the current job has finished printing, the process executes a flow of post-discharge operations (step 706).

[0049] Fig. 6 is a control flow relating to the start of feeding of a recording medium corresponding to the next job executed in step 705 in Fig. 5. First, the job management application 411 checks the settings of the next job received by the IF control module 423 (step 711).

[0050] Then, job management application 411 controls printer control module 421 to feed a recording medium from a cassette that contains a recording medium corresponding to the settings of the next job, and transport (feed) the recording medium to just before print roller 305 (step 712). For example, when a recording medium corresponding to the job settings is set in first cassette 340, feed motor 351 is driven to rotate feed roller 301 in the forward direction to feed one sheet of recording medium. Then, transport motor 350 is rotated in the forward direction to rotate transport roller 304 in the forward direction to transport the recording medium to just before print roller 305, and transport motor 350 is stopped.

[0051] After the leading edge of the recording medium is detected by the detection sensor 320, the feed motor 351 is stopped. This is because the recording medium is transported by the transport motor 350, so the recording medium can be transported without driving the feed motor 351. In particular, when feeding a short recording medium, if the feed motor 351 continues to be driven, the next recording medium will be fed from the cassette, so it is necessary to stop the feed motor 351.

[0052] While a recording medium is being fed, the preceding recording medium is either being recorded on or being discharged after recording is completed. In this embodiment, when the preceding recording medium is being recorded on, the conveyance of the preceding recording medium may be temporarily stopped due to intermittent conveyance for the recording operation. At this time, if the conveyance of the subsequently fed recording medium continues, the leading edge of the fed recording medium will collide with the trailing edge of the recording medium being recorded on. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a certain distance between the trailing edge of the preceding recording medium and the leading edge of the fed recording medium.

[0053] In this embodiment, if the distance between the rear end of the preceding recording medium and the front end of the succeeding recording medium becomes shorter than a certain distance, the transport motor 350 is stopped. On the other hand, if the distance between the rear end of the preceding recording medium and the front end of the succeeding recording medium becomes longer than a certain distance, the transport motor 350 is driven again. After continuing to feed the recording medium in this manner until it reaches the print roller 305, the process waits for the completion of recording on the preceding recording medium (step 713).

[0054] Next, the job settings confirmed in step 711 are compared with the settings of the job currently being recorded to determine whether the height of the carriage 360 ​​needs to be changed (step 714). An example of when a change is necessary is when, after recording on photo paper with the carriage height at the lowest position, envelope printing is specified for the next job. If it is determined that a change is necessary in this way, the height of the carriage 360 ​​is changed to match the settings of the next job (step 715). Note that the change in carriage height here is performed in parallel with the ejection of the preceding recording medium and the feeding of the following recording medium. Details of the change control in step 715 will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.

[0055] After the switching in step 715, or if it is determined in step 714 that switching is not necessary, a skew correction operation is performed to suppress skew of the recording medium (step 718). Specifically, the transport motor 350 is rotated in the forward direction, the transport roller 304 is driven to advance the recording medium, and the leading edge of the recording medium is abutted against the stopped print roller 305, thereby correcting the skew of the recording medium. Thereafter, the recording head 361 records the next job on the recording medium (step 719).

[0056] Fig. 7 is a control flow of the discharge operation in step 706 in Fig. 5. This flow is executed when the currently recording job is completed in step 704 in Fig. 5. In step 751, discharge of the recording medium is started. Specifically, print motor 352 is driven in the forward direction to rotate print rollers 305 and 306 in the forward direction. In addition, discharge motor 353 is driven in the forward direction to rotate discharge rollers 307 and 308 in the forward direction. As a result, the recording medium is finally discharged to discharge tray 334.

[0057] While starting this ejection operation, it is confirmed whether the current carriage height is a position (standard setting) that can be capped by the cap unit 639 (step 752). If the paper spacing setting is not standard, the height of the carriage 360 ​​is switched to the standard setting by the above-mentioned contact member 312 and the contact member 641 being brought into contact (step 753). Here, the switching operation of step 753 is performed in parallel with the ejection operation of the recording medium started in step 751. Then, it is awaited that the preceding recording medium is ejected onto the ejection tray 334 and the ejection operation is completed (step 754). After the ejection operation is completed, the cap close is performed to cap the recording head 361 (step 755).

[0058] Fig. 8 shows a control flow for switching the height of the carriage. This control is executed in step 715 in Fig. 6 and step 753 in Fig. 7. First, the carriage motor 354 is driven to move the carriage 360 ​​in direction A (or direction B) to a switching position where the height can be switched (step 801). In this way, in this embodiment, the height of the carriage 360 ​​can be switched at a predetermined position (switching position) on the movement path of the carriage 360.

[0059] Next, the switching motor 356 for switching the carriage height is driven to protrude the switching member 312 (802). Thereafter, the carriage 360 ​​is driven to abut the abutting member 641 against the protruding switching member 312, thereby switching the carriage height to the desired height (step 803). As described above, the carriage height can be adjusted according to the amount of abutment. Finally, the switching motor 356 is driven to retract the switching member 312 to its original retracted position (step 804).

[0060] As described above, when there is a next job to be recorded and the carriage height needs to be changed, the carriage height is switched in parallel with the feeding and discharging operations of the recording medium. Also, when there is no next job to be recorded and the carriage height needs to be changed for capping, the carriage height is switched in parallel with the discharging operation of the recording medium on which recording has been completed. This makes it possible to improve throughput and productivity until recording on the recording medium is completed.

[0061] In this embodiment, when there is a next job to be recorded and the carriage height needs to be changed, both the feeding operation and the discharging operation of the recording medium are performed in parallel with the carriage height switching, but the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the same effect of improving throughput and productivity can be obtained even if the operation is performed in parallel with either the feeding operation or the discharging operation of the recording medium.

[0062] <Second embodiment> In the first embodiment, a configuration was described in which the carriage height was switched using a dedicated switching motor 356. In the second embodiment, a form was described in which the carriage height was switched using a print motor 352. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the recording device 1 and the control flow shown in FIG. 5 are the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the conveying path of the recording device 1 in the second embodiment. The configuration shown uses reverse drive of the print motor 352 as the drive source for protruding the switching member 312. In the first embodiment, a dedicated switching motor 356 was required, but in this embodiment, the number of motors is reduced, so that it is possible to reduce the cost of the recording device 1 and the size of the device.

[0064] 12 is a control flow for switching the carriage height in the second embodiment. First, the carriage motor 354 is driven to move the carriage 360 ​​in the A direction (or B direction) to the switching position (step 821). Then, the print motor 352 is driven in the reverse direction to protrude the switching member 312 (step 822). After that, the carriage 360 ​​is driven to abut the abutting member 641 against the protruding switching member 312, thereby switching the carriage height to the target height (step 823). Finally, the print motor 352 is driven in the forward direction to retract the switching member 312 to its original retracted position (step 824).

[0065] Fig. 10 is a control flow relating to the start of feeding of a recording medium corresponding to the next job executed in step 705 of Fig. 5. First, the job management application 411 checks the settings of the next job received by the IF control module 423 (step 731). Then, in preparation for printing the next job, the job management application 411 controls the printer control module 421 to feed a recording medium from a cassette that has a recording medium corresponding to the settings of the next job, and transports (feeds) it to just before the print roller 305 (step 732). Therefore, after feeding the recording medium to just before the print roller 305, the process waits for the completion of recording on the preceding recording medium (step 733).

[0066] Next, the job settings confirmed in step 731 are compared with the job settings currently being recorded, and it is determined whether the height of carriage 360 ​​needs to be changed (step 734). If it is determined that the change is necessary, the process waits until the rear end of the preceding recording medium passes print roller 306 controlled by print motor 352 in order to perform the change (step 735).

[0067] For example, the waiting time is set based on the amount of rotation of transport roller 304 and print rollers 305 and 306 after the leading edge of the recording medium is detected by detection sensor 320. The reason for waiting for the trailing edge of the recording medium to pass print roller 306 is to prevent the recording medium that has already been recorded from being pulled in by print roller 306 when print motor 352 is rotated in the reverse direction during switching.

[0068] Next, the height of the carriage 360 ​​is switched for recording of the next job in step 736. Here, the preceding recording medium is discharged to the discharge tray 334 by rotating the discharge motor 353 in the forward direction while the height of the carriage 360 ​​is being switched.

[0069] After the switching in step 736, or if it is determined in step 734 that switching is not necessary, a skew correction operation is performed to suppress skew of the recording medium (step 737). After that, the recording head 361 records the next job on the recording medium (step 738).

[0070] Fig. 11 is a flow diagram showing the discharge operation of the second embodiment in step 706 in Fig. 5. This flow is executed when the currently recording job is completed in step 704 in Fig. 5. Discharge begins in order to discharge the recording medium on which recording has been completed (step 771). Specifically, the discharge motor 353 is rotated forward, which causes the discharge rollers 307 and 308 to rotate forward, and the recording medium is finally discharged onto the discharge tray 334.

[0071] In parallel with this discharge operation, it is confirmed whether the current carriage height is a position where it can be capped by the cap unit 639 (standard setting) (step 772). If it is not a position where it can be capped (standard setting), it waits until the rear end of the preceding recording medium passes the print roller 306 controlled by the print motor 352 (step 773). Then, after the rear end of the preceding recording medium passes the print roller 306, the height of the carriage 360 ​​is switched to the standard setting by the contact between the switching member 312 and the contact member 641 described above (step 774). Then, it waits until the preceding recording medium is discharged to the discharge tray 334 and the discharge operation is completed (step 775). After the discharge operation is completed, the cap close is performed to cap the recording head 361 (step 776).

[0072] By the above-mentioned control, even in a configuration in which the drive source for changing the height of the carriage 360 ​​is shared with the drive source used for transporting the recording medium, it is possible to perform the height change and at least one of the feeding operation and the discharging operation of the recording medium in parallel. This makes it possible to improve the throughput and productivity of the recording operation in the configuration of the second embodiment as well.

[0073] The common drive source is not limited to print motor 352, and other motors can be used instead. Even in this case, the height of carriage 360 ​​is not switched when the recording medium is being transported using the substituted motor, and the height of carriage 360 ​​is switched when the recording medium is not being transported.

[0074] <Other embodiments> The present invention can also be realized by providing a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having a computer in the system or device read and execute the program. The computer has one or more processors or circuits, and may include multiple separate computers or a network of multiple separate processors or circuits to read and execute computer-executable instructions.

[0075] The processor or circuitry may include a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gateway (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a data flow processor (DFP), or a neural processing unit (NPU).

[0076] The storage medium may also be referred to as a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The storage medium may include one or more hard disks (HD), random access memories (RAM), read-only memories (ROM), and storage devices of a distributed computing system. The storage medium may also include optical disks (e.g., compact disks (CD), digital versatile disks (DVD), or Blu-ray disks (BD, registered trademark)), flash memory devices, and memory cards. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 Recording device 301, 302 Feeding roller (conveying means) 360 Carriage 361 Recording head (recording means)

Claims

1. a conveying means for conveying the recording medium toward a recording means for recording an image; a carriage supporting the recording means, A recording apparatus characterized in that the height of the carriage is changed in parallel with at least a part of the recording medium conveying operation by the conveying means.

2. an ejection means for ejecting the recording medium on which recording by the recording means for recording an image has been completed; a carriage supporting the recording means, A recording apparatus characterized in that the height of the carriage is changed in parallel with at least a part of the recording medium ejection operation by the ejection means.

3. a conveying means for conveying a recording medium toward the recording means; 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveying means conveys a recording medium on which the recording means will record next to the recording medium in parallel with at least a part of the discharge operation of the discharge means.

4. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carriage moves in a predetermined direction.

5. a driving means for driving the conveying means, 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the carriage is changed by the driving means.

6. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the height of the carriage is changed after the trailing edge of the recording medium on which the recording means has completed recording has passed the conveying means driven by the driving means.

7. a storage unit for storing a recording medium; a feeding means for feeding the recording medium from the storage portion toward the conveying means, 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when the height of the carriage is changed, the feeding means feeds the recording medium up to a position just before the transporting means.

8. a driving means for driving the conveying means; 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second driving means for changing the height of the carriage.

9. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for receiving a recording job.

10. A method for controlling a recording device having a carriage that supports a recording means for recording an image, comprising: a conveying step of conveying the recording medium toward the recording means; and a changing step of changing the height of the carriage in parallel with at least a part of the transporting step.

11. A method for controlling a recording device having a carriage that supports a recording means for recording an image, comprising: a discharging step of discharging the recording medium on which recording by the recording means has been completed; and a changing step of changing the height of the carriage in parallel with at least a part of the ejection step.

Images