JP6579833B2 - Liquid ejection apparatus and method for maintaining heat of liquid ejection head - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a heat retention control method for a liquid ejection head.

  A configuration using a heating resistance element (heater) is known as an ejection energy generating element that generates ejection energy when ejecting ink from an ejection port of an ink jet recording head as a liquid ejection head. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of heating all the heaters to such an extent that ink is not discharged from the discharge port before the start of recording.

JP-A-11-192727

  In a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head, a recording method is known in which the range of ejection openings used according to recording conditions is changed. For example, when the method of Patent Document 1 is applied to a recording method in which the number of discharge ports to be used is gradually increased, all heaters are heated regardless of the use timing of each discharge port. For this reason, the ink coloring material may aggregate due to heating near the discharge port corresponding to the heater having a relatively long heating time until ink is discharged, and the discharge port may be clogged. In this case, non-ejection in which no ink is ejected from the ejection port, a change in ejection direction, or the like occurs, and the ejection state of the ink from the ejection port changes from a desired state, which may degrade image quality.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. And the purpose is to maintain the discharge state of the liquid from the discharge port in a desired state in the liquid discharge apparatus using the liquid discharge head having the heating resistance element.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of heating resistance elements that generate thermal energy and a plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heating resistance elements. and a discharge port array, and a liquid discharge head having the controls the driving of the heating elements so as not to eject the liquid from the discharge port, and the holding control for heating the temperature of the liquid ejection head to a predetermined target temperature And the heat retention control means includes a discharge port used for the discharge operation and a discharge port used for the discharge operation before the discharge operation using only the discharge ports included in a partial region of the discharge port array . Control is performed so as to heat the liquid discharge head by driving a heating resistor element corresponding to a discharge port that is not used in the surrounding discharge operation, and not to drive other heating resistor elements .

  According to the above configuration, before the ejection operation using only the ejection ports included in a partial region of the ejection port array, by controlling the driving of the heating resistor element corresponding to the ejection port used for the ejection operation, The discharge state of the liquid from the discharge port can be maintained in a desired state.

It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of an inkjet recording device. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows a recording head. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a recording apparatus. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the example of a drive pulse. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which sets a heat retention area | region. (A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating a recording mode. It is a figure for demonstrating the movement of the heat | fever in the board | substrate for recording heads. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a heat retention control process. (A)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating heat retention control. (A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating the heat retention control of 2nd Embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “recording apparatus”) 1 as a liquid ejection apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 1 includes a roller pair 2, a guide shaft 3, a carriage 4, and a recording head (liquid ejection head) 5. The roller pair 2 includes a conveyance roller and a pinch roller, and conveys the sheet S in the y direction by rotating while sandwiching the sheet S between the roller pair. The guide shaft 3 guides the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the x direction. A recording head 5 is detachably mounted on the carriage 4. On the surface of the recording head 5 facing the sheet S, an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports are arranged is provided. Ink is applied to the sheet S by ejecting ink onto the sheet S from the ejection port in the z direction. The recording apparatus 1 is provided with a platen (not shown), and the sheet S is supported by the platen so that the interval between the recording head 5 and the sheet S is a predetermined interval.

  In the recording apparatus 1, in order to recover the ejection performance of the ejection ports, the recording head 5 is caused to perform preliminary ejection for ejecting ink from the ejection ports that is not related to image recording. The preliminary ejection is performed at the home position of the carriage 4 on one end side (reference side) outside the width (length in the x direction) of the sheet S or the back position of the carriage 4 on the other end side (non-reference side). This is executed when the carriage 4 is positioned. In the home position and the back position, an ink receiver for receiving ink preliminarily ejected from the ejection port of the recording head 5 is provided.

  Further, the recording apparatus 1 is provided with a supply means (not shown) for supplying the sheet S toward the roller pair 2 and a discharge means (not shown) for discharging the sheet S after image recording to the outside of the recording apparatus 1. Yes.

  When an instruction to start image recording is input to the recording apparatus 1, the sheet S is supplied to the roller pair 2 by the supply unit. An image is recorded on the sheet S by repeating the conveyance of the sheet S by the roller pair 2 and the ejection of ink from the ejection port of the recording head 5 as the carriage 4 moves in the x direction. Here, an image is recorded using an ejection port corresponding to a recording mode to be described later with reference to FIG. Although an example in which a roller is used as the transport mechanism for transporting a sheet has been described here, a belt that transports a sheet in close contact with the belt by static electricity or the like may be used as the transport mechanism.

  2A is a perspective view showing the recording head 5, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line AA 'shown in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, a recording head substrate 41 is disposed in the recording head 5. Here, two recording head substrates 41 are arranged for one recording head 5. Each recording head substrate 41 is provided with a plurality of ejection port arrays. The recording head 5 is provided with a supply unit 23. Ink is supplied from the ink tank (not shown) containing ink to the recording head substrate 41 via the supply unit 23. Here, eight supply units 23 are provided, and ink is supplied to each supply unit. Here, eight inks of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), red (R), and blue (B) are used. Shall. Here, the case of using eight colors of ink has been described, but the number of ink colors that can be used is not limited to eight, and may be four or twelve. In addition, liquids other than ink, for example, various processing liquids can also be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the recording head substrate 41 is provided with a thermal oxide layer 11 and a heat storage layer 12 on a base 10. The base 10 is a silicon member provided with a driving element such as a transistor. The thermal oxidation layer 11 and the heat storage layer 12 are made of an insulating material. A heating resistance layer 13 is provided on the heat storage layer 12. The heating resistance layer 13 is made of a material that generates heat when energized. A pair of electrodes 14 made of a current-carrying material is provided on the heating resistance layer 13.

  As a material constituting the heat generating resistance layer 13, a material having a relatively high melting point such as tantalum silicon nitride (TaSiN) or tungsten silicon nitride (WSiN) is used. As a material of the pair of electrodes 14, a material having a lower resistance than a material of the heating resistance layer such as aluminum, copper, silver, or the like and having conductivity is used.

  By energizing between the pair of electrodes 14, a portion located between the pair of electrodes 14 in the heating resistor layer 13 generates heat, and this portion becomes a heater (heating resistor element) 15. The heating resistance layer 13 and the pair of electrodes 14 are covered with an insulating layer 16 made of an insulating material, and a protective layer 17 is further provided thereon as an anti-cavitation layer.

  A discharge port 201 provided in the flow path forming member 18 is located at a position facing the heater 15. FIG. 2B illustrates only a part of the cross section, but an element array including a plurality of heaters 15 is provided at a position corresponding to the ejection port array. The flow path forming member 18 also constitutes a wall 19 a of the flow path 19. The recording head substrate 41 is provided with a supply port 20 penetrating the base 10, and the ink supplied from the supply unit 23 is sent to the flow path 19 through the supply port 20, and the heat generated by the heater 15. The film is discharged from the discharge port 201 by causing film boiling by energy.

  2C and 2D are schematic views showing the configuration of the recording head substrate 41. FIG. 2C shows the configuration of the recording head substrate 41 in this embodiment, and FIG. 2D shows another example of the configuration of the recording head substrate 41. 2C and 2D, only one recording head substrate 41 is shown, but the other recording head substrate has the same configuration. The ejection port array corresponding to one ink color is composed of two ejection port arrays arranged at an interval of 600 dpi, and the ejection port corresponding to one ink color is composed of 1024 ejection ports. In one discharge port array, the discharge ports are arranged at an interval of 1200 dpi. The plurality of discharge ports are arranged in the y direction to form one discharge port array.

  As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the print head substrate 41 is provided with a temperature detection sensor (detection unit) 202 for detecting the temperature. When a substrate having a relatively large area is used, it is desirable that a plurality of temperature detection sensors 202 be arranged at predetermined intervals in order to accurately detect the temperature of the substrate. Here, an example in which nine temperature detection sensors are arranged is shown.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2D, the sub-heater 203 is also provided on the recording head substrate 41. When the printhead substrate 41 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2D is used, the heat retention state of the printhead substrate 41 may be controlled using both the heater 15 and the sub-heater 203. Further, the heat retention state of the recording head substrate 41 may be controlled using only the sub-heater 203. The sub-heater is made of, for example, polysilicon, aluminum or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the recording apparatus 1. The recording apparatus 1 includes an interface (I / F) 303, a control unit 304, an image data conversion unit 305, a storage unit 306, a recording control unit 307, an ejection performance recovery control unit 308, a conveyance control unit 309, a carriage control unit 310, and A head controller 311 is included. The control unit 304 controls the entire recording apparatus 1.

  The recording device 1 is connected to the host device 301 via the I / F 303. The host device 301 is a device serving as an image data supply source, and image data input from the host device 301 to the recording device 1 via the I / F 303 is received by the image data conversion unit 305. The image data conversion unit 305 converts the image data input from the host device 301 into print data corresponding to the printing apparatus 1 that indicates ink ejection or non-ejection. The image data conversion unit 305 stores the recording data in the storage unit 306. The image data conversion unit 305 reads the recording data from the storage unit 306 as necessary, and sends this to the recording control unit 307.

  The recording control unit 307 determines a recording mode based on the recording data and determines an ejection port used for recording. The recording control unit 307 controls the ejection performance recovery control unit 308, the conveyance control unit 309, the carriage control unit 310, and the head control unit 311. A conveyance control unit 309 controls rotation driving of the conveyance roller. The carriage control unit 310 controls the movement of the carriage 4. The head controller 311 controls ink ejection from the ejection port of the recording head 5 and the temperature of the recording head substrate 41. The discharge performance recovery control unit 308 controls a recovery operation such as a preliminary discharge operation for recovering the discharge performance of the recording head 5.

  FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining examples of drive pulses for driving the heater 15. 4A and 4B show pulses applied to the heater 15 when ink is ejected from the ejection ports, and FIG. 4C shows the pulse applied to the heater 15 when the print head substrate 41 is kept warm. Each pulse is shown.

  FIG. 4A shows an example in which a pre-pulse P1 having a pulse width in which ink is not foamed and a main pulse P2 having a pulse width in which ink is foamed are combined. FIG. 4B shows an example in which only the main pulse P2 is applied. By applying a driving pulse as shown in FIG. 4A or 4B to the heater 15, ink is ejected from the ejection port. FIG. 4C shows an example in which a pulse P3 having a pulse width at which ink does not foam is applied a plurality of times. By applying a drive pulse as shown in FIG. 4C to the heater 15, the recording head substrate 41 is kept warm.

  Here, only the driving pulse of the heater 15 is shown, but when the sub-heater 203 is used as shown in FIG. 2D, the heat retention state of the print head substrate 41 is controlled using the sub-heater 203 as described above. May be.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for setting the heat insulation region. FIG. 6A is a table showing the relationship between the recording mode and the heat retention area, and FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram for explaining the heat retention area and the use area. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the movement of heat in the recording head substrate 41. In FIGS. 7, 9A to 9D, and FIG. 10A, the recording head 5 is not shown in the state where the recording head 5 is seen through from the upper side in the z direction, and one recording head is used. Only the substrate 41 is shown.

  When image data is transmitted from the host apparatus 301 to the recording apparatus 1 by the user's operation, the control unit 304 starts the heat insulation area setting process shown in FIG. The control unit 304 reads the image data input from the host device 301 (S501), acquires information regarding the recording mode from the header information attached to the image data (S502), and transmits this to the recording control unit 307. To do. The recording control unit 307 determines the recording mode based on the information related to the recording mode, sets a heat retaining area corresponding to the recording mode with reference to the table shown in FIG. 6A (S503), and ends the process. .

  When a region including only the discharge port used for the first scan is set as a heat retaining region, as shown in FIG. 7, the region is kept warm and is not kept warm yet to a relatively low temperature region. Heat may be transmitted and the temperature of the discharge outlet used may become uneven. Therefore, here, a region including the discharge ports to be used and the discharge ports around the discharge ports is defined as a heat retaining region. Here, a region including the discharge port used for the first scan is referred to as a heat retaining region 1, and a region including the discharge port used for the next scan is referred to as a heat retaining region 2.

  FIG. 6A shows a multi-pass recording mode in which an image for a unit area is completed by a plurality of scans as an example of the recording mode. The recording modes shown in FIG. 6A are classified according to how many scans the image recording on the unit area is completed. As an example in which the entire area of the ejection port array is used, a recording mode 1 in which an image is completed by two scans (2 passes), a 4-pass printing mode 2, an 8-pass printing mode 3, and a 16-pass printing There is mode 5. As an example of limiting the use area of the ejection port array, there is a 10-pass printing mode 4. The ejection port width used in each recording mode must be an integral multiple of the length of one sub-scan (recording medium feed amount). The number of discharge ports is an integral multiple of the number of time divisions, but is not divisible by the number of passes, and therefore, the discharge ports to be used are limited among the discharge ports constituting the discharge port array.

  FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of the print head substrate 41 for explaining the heat retaining area and the use area in the print mode 2 in which the image is completed by four scans (4 passes) with respect to the unit area. . As shown in FIG. 6B, in the recording mode 2, ink is ejected from the ejection ports belonging to the use area 1 in the first recording scan (ejection operation), and the use area 1 is obtained in the second recording scan. Ink is ejected from the ejection ports belonging to the use area 2 including As described above, from the first print scan to the fourth print scan, the number of ejection ports to be used increases as the number of print scans increases.

  In the case of the recording mode 2, the region including the use region 1 is set as the heat retaining region 1, and among the discharge ports included in the use region 2, there is a region including the discharge port newly used in the second recording scan. It is set in the heat insulation area 2. More specifically, in the case of the recording mode 1, the region including the discharge ports No. 1 to No. 256 used in the first recording scan becomes the use region 1, and the region including the discharge ports of No. 1 to No. 320 is kept warm. Region 1 is set. The area including the discharge ports No. 1 to No. 512 used in the second printing scan is the use area 2. A region including the discharge ports No. 257 to No. 512 and the discharge ports No. 513 to No. 576 that are newly used in the second printing scan is set as the heat retaining region 2.

  In the case shown in FIG. 6B, a region having a length corresponding to the use region 1 (length in the y direction) is a unit region. In this case, after the ink is ejected from the ejection port included in the use area 1 to the unit area 1, the sheet S is conveyed downstream in the y direction by the length of the unit area. After conveyance, ink is ejected from the ejection ports (No. 257 to No. 512) among the ejection ports included in the usage region 2 to the unit region 1. At this time, among the discharge ports included in the use region 2, the discharge ports belonging to the use region 1 (discharge ports No. 1 to No. 256) are used for applying ink to the unit region 2 on the upstream side in the y direction from the unit region 1. .

  In the case shown in FIG. 6 (a), a region including a discharge port assigned a number next to the maximum number assigned to a discharge port included in a certain use region to a predetermined number of discharge ports is set as a next heat retaining region. Yes. That is, an area adjacent to a certain use area is set as the next heat insulation area. However, in order to prevent temperature fluctuation in the vicinity of the ejection port included in the use area during the printing scan (during the ejection operation), it is more preferable to set the area slightly away from the use area as the next heat retaining area.

  As another recording mode, there is a recording mode corresponding to a higher image quality. In a recording apparatus using an ink such as pigment ink, an ink having a relatively low transmittance (low lightness: for example C) on an upper layer of ink having a relatively high ink transmittance (high lightness: for example LC, LM). , M) is fixed, the color development characteristics may deteriorate. For this reason, when pigment ink or the like is used, the ejection port array arranged in the sub-scanning direction, which is the conveyance direction of the recording medium, is divided into a plurality of parts such as two. At this time, ink having a low transmittance is recorded using an ejection port positioned upstream in the transport direction of the recording head so that the ink having a low transmittance is fixed on the recording medium first, and ink having a higher transmittance than this is disposed downstream in the transport direction. Record using the corresponding outlet. In this way, by selecting the ejection port to be used according to the type of ink, the ink belonging to the low lightness group is fixed first, and after that, the ink belonging to the high lightness group is fixed to the recording medium. Can do.

  In accordance with such a recording mode, the area of the ejection outlet to be used is changed as appropriate. Moreover, it may be changed for each page of the recording medium. Here, in any recording mode, the temperature of the recording head substrate 41 is maintained by applying a driving pulse that does not cause ink to be ejected to the corresponding heater at the timing immediately before use or the timing immediately before the use of the peripheral ejection ports. Control is performed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the heat insulation control process executed using the result of the heat insulation region setting process shown in FIG. Here, an example is shown in which the heat retention control is performed every time the carriage moves in the x direction (that is, every one printing scan). In FIG. 8, n is a natural number, and n indicates the number of scans and the number assigned to each area.

  When the heat insulation area is set through the process described with reference to FIG. 5, the control unit 304 starts the process illustrated in FIG. 8. The control unit 304 acquires a control condition (S801). The control conditions include information on the set heat retention area, information on the target temperature for keeping the print head substrate 41 warm, information on the pulse width of the drive signal to the heater, and the like. Immediately after the start of processing is the first scan, n = 1 is set (S802).

  The control unit 304 acquires the detection result of the temperature detection sensor 202 and determines whether or not the temperature of the heat retention region n is equal to or higher than the target temperature (S803). When the temperature is not equal to or higher than the target temperature (NO in S803), the control unit 304 starts the heat retention control by controlling the head control unit 311 via the recording control unit 307 (S804). The voltage supplied to the heater during the heat retention control is a voltage having a pulse width that does not cause the ink to foam. By applying a voltage pulse having a pulse width that does not cause ink to foam to all the heaters 15 belonging to the heat retaining region n, the heat retaining control of the recording head substrate 41 is performed. At this time, no voltage is applied to the heater 15 that does not belong to the heat retaining region n.

  The controller 304 determines whether or not the temperature of the heat retaining region n has reached the target temperature at a predetermined timing after the heat retaining control is started (S805). If the target temperature has not been reached (NO in S805), the determination is repeated until the target temperature is reached. When the temperature of heat retention area n has reached the target temperature (YES in S805), the heat retention control is terminated (S806). When it is determined in S803 that the temperature of the heat retaining region n is equal to or higher than the target temperature (YES in S803) or when the heat retaining control is finished (S806), the discharge performance recovery control unit 308 performs preliminary as necessary. Discharge is executed (S807). Thereafter, the nth print scan is started under the control of the print control unit 307 (S808). In the recording scan, the heater 15 corresponding to the ejection port for ejecting ink is driven according to the recording data, and ink is ejected from the ejection port to the recording medium.

  When the n-th print scan starts, the control unit 304 determines whether there is print data to be printed in the next scan (S809). If not (NO in S809), the process ends. If present (YES in S809), the control unit 304 acquires the detection result of the temperature detection sensor 202, and determines whether or not the temperature of the next heat retention region n + 1 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (S810). If the temperature of the heat retaining area n + 1 is not equal to or higher than the target temperature (NO in S810), the heat retaining control of the heat retaining area n + 1 is performed during the nth printing scan (S811), and the heat retaining area n + 1 is warmed with the end of the nth printing scan. The control is terminated (S812). If the temperature is equal to or higher than the target temperature (YES in S810), the heat retention control is not performed until the nth print scan is completed.

  When the temperature of the heat retention area n + 1 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (YES in S810), when the nth print scan ends, or when the nth print scan and the heat retention of the heat retention area n + 1 are completed (S812). Insulation control from the insulation regions 1 to n + 1 is started (S813). Even if the discharge port is included in the use area, it may not be used depending on the contents of the recording data, or it may be used less frequently than other discharge ports included in the use area. In some cases, the temperature may drop during the use recording scan. In addition, when the recording scan time is relatively short, the temperature in the heat retaining region may not reach the target temperature only by the heat retaining control during the recording scan. Therefore, here, before the start of the next recording scan, the area including the ejection ports used for the previous recording scan, the ejection port newly used in the next recording scan, and the ejection port adjacent to the ejection port. The temperature control is performed until the temperature of the region including the temperature reaches the target temperature.

  The controller 304 determines whether or not the temperature of the heat retaining regions 1 to n + 1 has reached the target temperature at a predetermined timing after the heat retaining control is started (S814). If the target temperature has not been reached (NO in S814), the determination is repeated until the target temperature is reached. When the target temperature is reached (YES in S814), the counter is set to n = n + 1 and incremented by 1 (S815). Thereafter, the processing from S807 to S815 is repeated until the end of recording, or until the temperature of the recording head substrate 41 is stabilized from the start of recording.

  FIGS. 9A to 9D are diagrams for explaining the heat retention control. Prior to the start of recording, the heater 15 corresponding to the heat retaining region 1 is controlled so that the temperature of the heat retaining region 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, the heater 15 corresponding to the heat retention region 2 is controlled so that the temperature of the heat retention region 2 becomes the target temperature during the first recording scan by the ejection ports included in the use region 1. Is done. At this time, if the temperature is kept up to the area close to the ejection port used in the first printing scan, temperature unevenness may occur. Therefore, here, the area slightly separated from the use area 1 is set as the heat insulation area 2. After the end of the first print scan and before the start of the second print scan, the heat retaining area 1 and the heat retaining area 2 are kept warm as shown in FIG. During the second printing scan, the heater 15 corresponding to the heat retaining region 3 is controlled so that the temperature of the heat retaining region 3 shown in FIG.

  When gradually increasing the number of discharge ports used for each scan, if the heater corresponding to the discharge port that has a relatively large number of scans (long standby time) is used for printing, The ink coloring material may agglomerate in the vicinity. In this case, there may be a situation where a lump of ink color material adheres to the vicinity of the ejection port and the ejection direction of the ink changes, or the ejection port is clogged and the ink is not ejected from the ejection port. Specifically, when the heater corresponding to the discharge port on the downstream side in the y direction shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D is heated from the timing when the time used for recording is not approaching, the discharge port is clogged. There are things. Also, in the recording mode that does not use some of the discharge ports, even when all the heaters are heated during the heat retention control, the non-use discharge ports are clogged, etc. In some cases, the image quality deteriorates when the nozzle is switched to the use discharge port.

  On the other hand, here, the area including the discharge ports approaching the time of use and the surrounding discharge ports is used as a heat retaining region, and the recording head is kept warm by a corresponding heater, thereby clogging the discharge ports and the like. Can be prevented. Specifically, by applying a voltage only to the heaters belonging to the heat retention region set according to the recording mode, it is possible to perform heat retention control of the print head without heating the ink in the flow path of other regions. it can. That is, it is possible to prevent the solvent of the ink in the flow path from being volatilized more than necessary, and to prevent clogging of the discharge ports. Therefore, the ink ejection state from the ejection port can be maintained in a desired state, that is, a state where ink can be ejected from the ejection port, and there is no change in the ejection direction or a state in which the change is small.

  As a result, the image quality can be maintained without performing recovery operation such as preliminary ejection in order to eliminate clogging of the ejection port, or even if the number of times is relatively small, thereby suppressing ink consumption. Can do.

  In addition, the power consumption can be suppressed and the temperature rise of the members can be suppressed as compared with the case where the voltage is applied to all the heaters and kept warm regardless of the use timing. Further, the time until the start of recording can be shortened as compared with the configuration in which recording is started after the voltage is applied to all the heaters and the temperature of the recording head substrate becomes uniform.

  Note that the present invention can also be applied to a recording mode using pigment ink and a treatment liquid composed of a resin component or the like used to improve image fastness on the surface of the recording medium after the pigment ink is fixed. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
Here, the amount of energy supplied to the heater 15 at the time of heat insulation is changed according to the position of the heat insulation area. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing the heat retaining region and the use region, and FIG. 10B is supplied to the heater 15 corresponding to the position BB ′ of the heat retaining region 2 shown in FIG. 10A. It is a graph which shows energy amount.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, during the first recording scan, in the heat retaining region 2 adjacent to the use region 1, the temperature of the portion adjacent to the use region 1 is relatively high, and the temperature increases as the distance from the use region 1 increases. Tend to be low. Therefore, here, as shown in FIG. 10B, the amount of energy supplied to the heater 15 corresponding to the portion adjacent to the use region 1 is less than the portion far from the use region 1 in the heat retaining region 2. As a result, the heat retaining region 2 can be efficiently warmed.

  FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an energy amount assuming that the heater 15 is driven by time-division driving. Note that the method is not particularly limited as long as the amount of energy supplied to the corresponding heater 15 is reduced from the position B to the position B ′.

  Further, for example, when the number of used discharge ports in the use region 1 is relatively small, the portion between the heat retention region 2 adjacent to the use region 1 and a portion farther from the use region 1 than the adjacent portion. In some cases, the temperature difference is relatively small. In this case, the difference between the amount of energy supplied to the heater 15 in the adjacent portion and the amount of energy supplied to the heater 15 in the distant portion is reduced, so that the adjacent areas are adjacent to the case where the number of used discharge ports in the use region 1 is relatively large. The amount of energy supplied to the heater 15 of the part is increased. Thereby, the temperature nonuniformity in a heat retention area | region can be suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the method for keeping the temperature of the heat retaining area (next heat retaining area) including the discharge port newly used in the next recording scan during a certain recording scan has been described. The temperature of the heat retaining region may be controlled. In this case, even if a region including only the discharge port newly used in the next recording scan is set as the next heat retaining region, a region including the discharge port adjacent thereto is set as the next heat retaining region. It is possible to prevent a temperature drop in a region including an ejection port that is newly used for recording scanning. However, even in this case, the first heat-retaining region is a region including the discharge port used in the first recording scan and also including a discharge port near the discharge port. A temperature drop near the boundary can be prevented.

1 Recording device (liquid ejection device)
5 Recording head (liquid ejection head)
15 Heater (heating resistance element)
201 Discharge port 304 Control unit (heat retention control means)

Claims (10)

A liquid ejection head having a plurality of heating resistance elements that generate thermal energy, and an ejection port array configured by a plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heating resistance elements;
Heat retention control means for controlling the drive of the heating resistance element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and heating the temperature of the liquid discharge head to a predetermined target temperature;
With
The heat retention control unit is configured to perform the discharge operation used for the discharge operation and the discharge operation around the discharge port before the discharge operation using only the discharge ports included in a partial region of the discharge port array. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a heating resistance element corresponding to an ejection port that is not used is driven to heat the liquid ejection head and the other heating resistance elements are not driven . Heat retaining control means, during the discharge operation, according to claim 1, characterized in that for controlling the driving of the heat generating resistive elements corresponding to discharge ports to be newly used in the next ejection operation of the ejection operation Liquid ejection device. 3. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the heat retaining control unit also controls driving of a heating resistor element corresponding to an ejection port around the ejection port newly used in the next ejection operation. . A liquid ejection head having a plurality of heating resistance elements that generate thermal energy, and an ejection port array configured by a plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heating resistance elements;
Heat retention control means for controlling the drive of the heating resistor element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and maintaining the temperature of the liquid discharge head at a predetermined temperature;
With
The heat retention control means controls the driving of the heating resistor element corresponding to the discharge port used for the discharge operation before the discharge operation using only the discharge port included in a partial region of the discharge port array , After the end of the first discharge operation and before the start of the next second discharge operation, the discharge ports used in the first discharge operation and the discharge ports newly used in the second discharge operation A liquid ejection apparatus that controls driving of a heating resistor element corresponding to the above . A liquid ejection head having a plurality of heating resistance elements that generate thermal energy, and an ejection port array configured by a plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heating resistance elements;
Heat retention control means for controlling the drive of the heating resistor element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and maintaining the temperature of the liquid discharge head at a predetermined temperature;
With
The heat retention control means controls the driving of the heating resistor element corresponding to the discharge port used for the discharge operation before the discharge operation using only the discharge port included in a partial region of the discharge port array , During the discharge operation, the discharge ports newly used in the discharge operation next to the discharge operation and the heating resistance elements corresponding to the discharge ports around the discharge ports newly used in the next discharge operation The discharge port used for the discharge operation rather than the adjacent discharge port than the amount of energy supplied to the heating resistance element corresponding to the discharge port adjacent to the discharge port used for controlling the drive and the discharge operation A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by increasing the amount of energy supplied to a heating resistor element corresponding to a discharge port located far from the discharge port . A liquid ejection head having a plurality of heating resistance elements that generate thermal energy, and an ejection port array configured by a plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heating resistance elements;
Heat retention control means for controlling the drive of the heating resistor element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and maintaining the temperature of the liquid discharge head at a predetermined temperature;
With
The heat retention control means controls the driving of the heating resistor element corresponding to the discharge port used for the discharge operation before the discharge operation using only the discharge port included in a partial region of the discharge port array , A liquid ejection apparatus that controls driving of a heating resistor element corresponding to an ejection port disposed at a position away from an ejection port used for the ejection operation during the ejection operation . A liquid ejection head having a plurality of heating resistance elements that generate thermal energy, and an ejection port array configured by a plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heating resistance elements;
Heat retention control means for controlling the drive of the heating resistor element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and maintaining the temperature of the liquid discharge head at a predetermined temperature;
When the application of liquid to a unit region is completed by a plurality of discharge operations of the liquid discharge head, a plurality of discharge port arrays are divided for each number of discharge ports used in one discharge operation for the unit region. Setting means for setting a plurality of heat-retaining areas corresponding to the areas;
With
The heat retention control means corresponds to the discharge ports used for the discharge operation and set a plurality of heat retention regions before the discharge operation using only the discharge ports included in a partial region of the discharge port array. A liquid discharge apparatus that controls driving of a corresponding heating resistor element for each of the above . The liquid discharge head has a detection unit for detecting the temperature of the liquid discharge head,
The heat retention control means controls the driving of the heating resistor element based on the detection result from the detection unit.
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is a liquid ejecting apparatus. A heat retention control method for a liquid discharge head, comprising: a plurality of heat generating resistive elements that generate thermal energy; and a discharge port array configured by a plurality of discharge ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heat generating resistive elements. And
Including a heat retention control step of controlling the driving of the heating resistance element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and heating the temperature of the liquid discharge head to a predetermined target temperature,
In the heat retention control step, before the discharge operation using only the discharge ports included in a partial region of the discharge port array, the discharge ports used for the discharge operation and the discharge operation around the discharge ports heating resistance element by driving performs heating of the liquid discharge head, heat retention control method of the liquid discharge head and controlling so as not to drive the other heat generating resistive elements corresponding to the non ejection port used . A heat retention control method for a liquid discharge head, comprising: a plurality of heat generating resistive elements that generate thermal energy; and a discharge port array configured by a plurality of discharge ports provided corresponding to the plurality of heat generating resistive elements. And
Including a heat retention control step of controlling the driving of the heating resistance element to such an extent that liquid is not discharged from the discharge port, and maintaining the temperature of the liquid discharge head at a predetermined temperature;
Wherein in the heat retaining control step, before the discharge operation using only the discharge port included in a partial area of the discharge port array, controls the driving of the heat generating resistive elements corresponding to discharge ports for use in the ejection operation The discharge port used for the first discharge operation and the discharge port newly used in the second discharge operation after the end of the first discharge operation and before the start of the next second discharge operation. A method for controlling the temperature of a liquid discharge head, wherein the driving of the heating resistor element corresponding to the outlet is controlled.