JP2002086829A - Scanner, recorder, image reader and imager with recording mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize uniform scanning in any of a first half path and a second half path in whichever direction a scanning route is set, and discriminate a set direction of the scanning route without using any sensor. SOLUTION: A scanner which is provided with a carriage b8 capable of reciprocating along the scanning route while holding a head having a predetermined function, and driving means b4 and b5 for moving the carriage b8 along the first half path and the second half path of the scanning route includes a scanning direction-discriminating means b11 for discriminating the set direction of the scanning route and a route means b11 for changing a scanning drive state of the carriage on the basis of the discriminated result of the scanning direction-discriminating means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanning device used for a portable recording device and the like, and a recording device provided with the same.
Regarding an image reading device and an imaging device with a recording mechanism,
A camera unit that captures an optical image and converts it into an electric image signal, and a printing unit that records the electric image signal output from the camera unit on a predetermined recording medium using a predetermined recording unit are integrally formed. The present invention relates to a scanning device suitable for a camera with a printer provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional scanning apparatus of a serial scan type provided in an ink jet recording apparatus or an image reading apparatus, a head such as a recording head or a scanner head reciprocates (reciprocally scans) in a linear direction. With this, recording on a recording medium or reading of an image is performed. Such a scanning device is configured on the premise that the reciprocating path of the carriage is held substantially horizontally while a recording device or an image reading device using the scanning device is mounted on a predetermined mounting table.

However, in recent years, there has been a growing demand for portability of recording devices or scanners. For example, at present, so-called digital cameras, which are capable of immediately reproducing an image captured by an optical system on a screen and storing the image data in a storage medium, are rapidly spreading.
It is considered that this digital camera also has a recording function.

[0004]

However, when a recording device such as a digital camera that requires frequent movement is integrated with a recording device, the installation direction is an important issue for the recording device. That is, there is no problem if the installation direction of the printing apparatus is always horizontal as in the conventional stationary type, but in a printing apparatus that requires portability, the moving path of the carriage is limited. It is not always horizontal, and may be installed diagonally or vertically. In this case, the carriage
The gravitational force acting on the carriage in the forward path and the return path acts in the direction of increasing the driving force required for scanning and in the direction of reducing the driving force. For this reason, if the driving of both scans is controlled by the same control value, a difference occurs in the moving speed of the carriage, and there is a possibility that the image quality is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a scanning apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of realizing uniform scanning on both the forward path and the return path regardless of the direction of the scanning path. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading device and an imaging device with a recording mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to provide a scanning device, a recording device, an image reading device, and an imaging device with a recording mechanism that can determine a setting direction of a scanning path without using any sensor.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a carriage capable of reciprocating along a scanning path while holding a head having a predetermined function, and moving the carriage along an outward path and a return path of the scanning path. A scanning device comprising: a driving unit; a scanning direction determining unit configured to determine a setting direction of the scanning path; a control unit configured to change a scanning drive state of the carriage based on a determination result of the scanning direction determining unit; It is characterized by having.

Further, the present invention is a recording apparatus characterized in that a recording head is mounted as a head mounted on the scanning apparatus.

Further, the present invention is an image reading apparatus characterized in that a scanner for reading an image is mounted as a head mounted on the scanning apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention is an imaging device with a recording mechanism, comprising a recording device and an imaging mechanism.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this specification, "print" (sometimes referred to as "recording") refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures, but also to the perception of humans irrespective of significance or insignificance. Regardless of whether or not it is evident, it refers to a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a print medium, or a case where the print medium is processed.

[0011] The term "print medium" means not only paper used in general printing apparatuses but also inks such as cloth, plastic films, metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. In the following, it is also referred to as “paper” or simply “paper”.

In this specification, a "camera" refers to a device or device that optically captures an image and converts an optical image into an electric signal, and is also referred to as an "imaging unit" in the following description.

[0013] Further, "ink" (sometimes referred to as "liquid") is to be interpreted widely as in the definition of "print" described above. , A pattern, etc., processing of a print medium, or ink processing (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a coloring material in ink applied to the print medium).

One form of the head in which the present invention is effectively used is a form in which film boiling occurs in a liquid using thermal energy generated by an electrothermal transducer to form bubbles.

[Basic Configuration] First, the basic configuration of the device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The device described in this example is an imaging unit (hereinafter, referred to as an imaging unit) that optically captures an image and converts the image into an electric signal.
It is configured as an information processing device including an image recording unit (hereinafter, also referred to as a “printer unit”) that records an image based on an electric signal obtained by capturing an image. . Hereinafter, the information processing apparatus described in this example will be described as a “camera with a built-in printer”.

In the apparatus body A001, the camera section A
A printer unit (recording device unit) B100 is integrated with the back side of the unit 100. The printer unit B100 records an image using ink and a print medium supplied from the media pack C100. In this configuration, the device body A
As is clear from FIG. 5 when the exterior is removed from the outer side of FIG. 5, the media pack C100 is inserted into the right side of the apparatus main body A001 in the figure, and the printer unit B100 is inserted into the left side of the apparatus main body A001 in the figure. Is arranged. When recording is performed by the printer unit B100, the camera unit A1
The position of the apparatus main body A001 can be set so that the liquid crystal display unit A105 described later at 00 is located above and the lens A101 is located below. In this printing position, a printing head B120 described later in the printer unit B100 is used.
Is in a posture of discharging ink downward. The recording posture may be the same posture as the posture in the shooting state by the camera unit A100, and is not limited to the above-described recording posture. From the viewpoint of the stability of the printing operation, the printing position in which the ink is ejected downward is preferable.

In the following, the mechanical basic configuration of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described by dividing it into A “camera unit”, B “media pack”, and C “printer unit”. Will be described as D “signal processing system”.

A "Camera Unit" The camera unit A100 basically constitutes a general digital camera, and includes a printer unit B10 described later.
The digital camera with a built-in printer as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 1 to 3, A101 is a lens, A102 is a finder, A1
02a is a finder window, A103 is a flash, A10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a release button, and A105 denotes a liquid crystal display unit (external display unit). As will be described later, the camera unit A100
Processing of data captured using CD, Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory card (CF card) A107
It stores images in the printer unit, displays the images, and exchanges various data with the printer unit B100. A discharge unit A109 discharges a print medium C104 on which an image has been recorded when the photographed image is recorded on a print medium C104 described below. A108 shown in FIG. 5 is a battery as a power source for the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100.

B "Media Pack" The media pack C100 is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body A001. In the case of the present embodiment, the medium pack C100 is inserted from the insertion portion A002 (see FIG. 3) of the apparatus main body A001 to thereby obtain the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. The insertion portion A002 is closed as shown in FIG. 3 when the media pack C100 is not mounted, and is opened when the media pack C100 is mounted. FIG. 5 shows the media pack C100.
Shows a state in which the exterior has been removed from the apparatus main body A001 to which is attached. Pack body C101 of media pack C100
As shown in FIG. 4, a shutter C102 is provided so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow D. Shutter C102
When the media pack C100 is not mounted on the apparatus main body A001, it slides to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
When it is attached to the position 1, it slides to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

An ink pack C is provided in the pack body C101.
103 and a print medium C104 are accommodated. FIG.
In the ink pack C103, the print medium C1
04. In the case of this example, ink pack C
Three 103s are provided so as to individually accommodate Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) inks, and about 20 print media C104 are accommodated in an overlapping manner. Those inks and print medium C104
Means that the best combination for image recording was selected,
They are housed in the same media pack C100. Therefore, various media packs C100 (for example, media packs for ultra-high image quality, normal image quality, seals (split seals), etc.) having different combinations of ink and print medium are prepared, and the images to be recorded are prepared. These media packs C100 are selectively loaded into the apparatus main assembly A0 in accordance with the type and use of the print medium on which the image is formed.
By mounting the ink cartridge on the print medium 01, an image suitable for the purpose can be reliably recorded using the optimal combination of ink and print medium. Further, the media pack C100 is provided with an EEPROM (identification IC) to be described later, and the EEPROM stores identification data such as ink contained in the media pack and the type and remaining amount of the print medium.

When the media pack C100 is mounted on the apparatus main assembly A001, the ink pack C103 has Y,
Through three joints C105 corresponding to the M and C inks, respectively, it is connected to an ink supply system of the apparatus main body A001 described later. On the other hand, the print medium C104
Are separated one by one by a separation mechanism (not shown), and are then sent out in the direction of arrow C by a feed roller C110 (see FIG. 9) described later. The driving force of the paper feed roller C110 is supplied from a transport motor M002 (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, provided on the apparatus main assembly A001 side, via a connecting portion C110a.

The pack body C101 is provided with a wiper C106 for wiping a recording head of a printer unit, which will be described later, and an ink absorber C107 for absorbing waste ink discharged from the printer unit. ing. The recording head in the printer section reciprocates in the main scanning direction indicated by arrow A as described later. When the media pack C100 is detached from the apparatus main body A001, the shutter C102 slides to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, and the joint C105, the wiper C106,
And protect the ink absorber C107 and the like.

C "Printer Unit" The printer unit B100 of this embodiment is of a serial type using an ink jet recording head. This printer section B1
00 will be described separately for C-1 "print operation unit", C-2 "print medium transport system", and C-3 "ink supply system".

C-1 "Print Operation Unit" FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire printer unit B100, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer unit B100 with a part thereof removed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the leading end of the media pack C100 mounted on the apparatus main body A001 is located at a fixed position inside the main body of the printer section B100. The print medium C104 sent out from the media pack C100 in the direction of arrow C is transmitted to
While being sandwiched between the F roller B101 and the LF pinch roller B102, the sheet is conveyed on the platen B103 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow B. A carriage B104 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A along the guide shaft B105 and the lead screw B106.

On the carriage B104, as shown in FIG.
A bearing B107 for the guide shaft B105 and a bearing B108 for the lead screw B106 are provided. At a fixed position of the carriage B104, as shown in FIG. 7, a screw pin B109 protruding inside the bearing B108 is attached by a spring B110. Then, the tip of the screw pin B109 fits into the spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lead screw B106, so that the rotation of the lead screw B106 is converted into the reciprocating movement of the carriage B104.

The carriage B104 has Y, M,
Ink jet recording head B1 capable of discharging C ink
20 and a sub-tank (not shown) for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head B120. The recording head B120 is formed with a plurality of ink ejection ports B121 (see FIG. 8) arranged in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction of the arrow A (in this example, orthogonal to the main scanning direction). The ink discharge port B121 forms a nozzle capable of discharging ink supplied from the sub tank. As a means for generating energy for ejecting ink, an electrothermal converter provided for each nozzle can be used. The electrothermal transducer generates bubbles in the ink in the nozzles by being driven to generate heat, and discharges ink droplets from the ink discharge port B121 by the bubbling energy.

The sub-tank has a smaller capacity than the ink pack C103 stored in the media pack C100, and has a size that stores at least an amount of ink necessary for recording an image of one print medium C104.
In the sub-tank, an ink supply portion and a negative pressure introduction portion are formed in the ink storage portions for each of the Y, M, and C inks, and these ink supply portions are individually provided to the corresponding three hollow needles B122. The negative pressure introduction sections are connected to a common supply air port B123. In such a sub-tank, as described later,
When the carriage B104 moves to the home position as shown in FIG. 6, ink is supplied from the ink pack C103 of the media pack C100.

In the carriage B104 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 24 denotes a needle cover. When the needle B122 and the joint C105 are not connected to each other, the needle cover 122 is moved to a position for protecting the needle B122 by the force of the spring as shown in FIG. When connecting, the needle B122 is pushed upward in the figure against the force of the spring to release the protection of the needle B122. The moving position of the carriage B104 is the carriage B1.
04 encoder sensor B131 and printer unit B1
00 linear scale B132 on the main body side (see FIG. 6)
And is detected by. The movement of the carriage B104 to the home position indicates that the carriage B10 has moved.
The HP (home position) flag B133 on the fourth side and the HP sensor B134 (FIG.
See).

In FIG. 7, at both ends of the guide shaft B105, support shafts (not shown) are provided at positions eccentric from the center axis. The position of the carriage 104 is adjusted by rotating and adjusting the guide shaft B105 about its support shaft, so that the recording head B120 and the platen B
The distance between the print medium 103 and the print medium C 104 (also referred to as “paper distance”) is adjusted. The lead screw B106 is driven to rotate by a carriage motor M001 via a screw gear B141, an idler gear B142, and a motor gear B143. Also,
B150 is a flexible cable for electrically connecting a control system described below and the recording head B120.

The recording head B120 includes a carriage B10
By ejecting ink from the ink ejection port B121 in accordance with the image signal while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A together with 4, the image for one line is recorded on the print medium on the platen B103. By repeating such a recording operation for one line by the recording head B120 and a conveyance operation of a predetermined amount of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction of an arrow B by a print medium conveyance system described later, images are sequentially printed on the print medium. Record

C-2 "Print Medium Transport System" FIG. 9 is a perspective view of components of the print medium transport system in the printer section B100. In FIG. 9, B201
Denotes a pair of discharge rollers, and one of the upper discharge rollers B201 in the figure includes a discharge roller gear B202 and a relay gear B2.
03, and is driven by the transport motor M002.
Similarly, the above-described LF roller B101 is connected to the transport motor M via the LF roller gear B204 and the relay gear B203.
002. The discharge roller B201 and the LF roller B101 convey the print medium C104 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow B by the driving force of the conveyance motor M002 at the time of normal rotation.

On the other hand, when the transport motor M002 rotates in the reverse direction, the switching slider B211 and the switching cam B2
The pressure plate head B 213 and a lock mechanism (not shown) are driven through the drive unit 12, and a driving force is transmitted to the paper feed roller C 110 on the side of the media pack C 100. That is,
The pressure plate head B 213 is driven by the driving force of the transport motor M002 during the reverse rotation, passes through the window C102A of the shutter C102 of the media pack C100 (see FIG. 4), and print media C integrated in the media pack C100.
104 is pressed downward in FIG. As a result, the print medium C104 at the lowermost position in FIG.
The sheet 100 is pressed on the sheet feeding roller C110 in the sheet 100. A lock mechanism (not shown) locks the media pack C100 with respect to the apparatus main body A001 by the driving force of the transport motor M002 at the time of reverse rotation, and
0 removal is prohibited. Media pack C10
The zero-side paper feed roller C110 carries out one print medium C104 at the lowermost position in FIG. 4 in the direction of arrow C by transmitting the driving force at the time of reverse rotation of the transport motor M002.

As described above, when the transport motor M002 rotates in the reverse direction, only one print medium C104 is taken out from the media pack C100 in the direction of the arrow C. Thereafter, when the transport motor M002 rotates forward, the print medium C104 is rotated. Is transported in the direction of arrow B.

C-3 "Ink Supply System" FIG. 10 is a perspective view of components of the ink supply system in the printer section B100, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the media pack C100 is mounted on the components of the ink supply system. It is a top view.

The joint C105 of the media pack C100 mounted on the printer unit B100 is connected to the needle B12 on the carriage B104 that has moved to the home position.
2 (see FIG. 8). The main body of the printer unit B100 is provided with a joint fork B301 (see FIG. 10) located below the joint C105, and the joint fork B301 is connected to the joint C1.
By moving 05 upward, the joint C105 is connected to the needle B122. This forms an ink supply path between the ink pack C103 on the media pack C100 side and the ink supply unit of the sub tank on the carriage B104 side. A carriage B10 moved to the home position is provided on the main body of the printer unit B100.
A supply joint B302 is provided below the fourth supply air port B123 (see FIG. 8). This supply joint B302 is provided via a supply tube B303.
It is connected to a pump cylinder B304 of a pump as a negative pressure source. The supply joint B302 is connected to the supply air port B123 on the carriage B104 side by being moved up by the joint lifter B305. Thus, a negative pressure introducing path is formed between the negative pressure introducing portion of the sub tank on the side of the carriage B104 and the pump cylinder B304. The joint lifter B305 moves the joint fork B301 up and down together with the supply joint B302 by the driving force of the joint motor M003.

The negative pressure introducing portion of the sub tank is provided with a gas-liquid separating member (not shown) that allows the passage of air and prevents the passage of ink. The gas-liquid separation member allows the air in the sub-tank to be sucked through the negative pressure introduction passage, thereby supplying ink from the media pack C100 to the sub-tank. When the ink in the sub-tank reaches the gas-liquid separation member, when the ink is sufficiently replenished, the gas-liquid separation member stops the passage of the ink, so that the ink supply is automatically stopped. The gas-liquid separation member is provided in an ink supply unit in an ink storage portion for each ink in the sub tank, and automatically stops replenishing ink for each of those ink storage portions.

The main body of the printer unit B100 is provided with a suction cap B310 capable of capping the recording head B120 (see FIG. 8) on the carriage B104 moved to the home position. The suction cap B310 has a suction tube B311 inside.
, A negative pressure is introduced from the pump cylinder B304 through the ink discharge port B1 of the recording head B120.
The ink can be sucked and discharged (suction recovery processing) from the ink cartridge 21. The recording head B120 also removes ink that does not contribute to image recording, if necessary, with a suction cap B3.
10 (preliminary discharge processing). Suction cap B
The ink in the ink cartridge C107 in the media pack C110 flows from the pump cylinder B304 through the waste liquid tube B312 and the waste liquid joint B313.
Is discharged.

The pump cylinder B304 constitutes a pump unit B315 together with a pump motor M004 for reciprocating the pump cylinder B304. Pump motor M004 is
It also functions as a drive source for moving the wiper lifter B316 (see FIG. 10) up and down. Wiper lifter B31
No. 6 moves the wiper C106 to a position where the recording head B120 can be wiped by moving the wiper C106 of the media pack C100 mounted on the printer unit B100 upward.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, B321
Is a pump HP sensor for detecting that the operating position of the pump constituted by the pump cylinder B 304 is at the home position. A joint HP sensor B322 detects that the ink supply path and the negative pressure introduction path described above have been formed. B323 is a chassis that forms the main body of the printer unit B100.

D "Signal Processing System" FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100.

In the camera section A100, 101 is a CCD as an image sensor, 102 is a microphone for voice input, 103 is an ASIC for performing hardware processing, 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a first memory for temporarily storing image data and the like;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a CF card (“CF card A1
07), an LCD (corresponding to the “liquid crystal display unit A105”) for displaying a captured image or a reproduced image, and 120
Is a first CPU for controlling the camera unit A100.

In the printer section B100, 210 is
An interface 201 between the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100, an image processing unit 201 (2 for binarizing an image)
202, a second memory used for performing image processing; 203, a band memory control unit;
4 is a band memory, 205 is a mask memory, 206 is a head controller, and 207 is a printhead (“printhead B12
0), 208 is an encoder (corresponding to “encoder sensor B131”), 209 is an encoder counter, 2
Reference numeral 20 denotes a second CPU for controlling the printer unit B100;
1 is a motor driver, 222 is a motor (“motor M00
1, M002, M003, M004 ") 223
Is a sensor ("HP sensors B134, B321, B322").
224, an EEPROM built in the media pack C100, 230, an audio encoder unit, 25
0 is a power supply unit ("Battery A108") for supplying power to the entire apparatus.
).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the camera unit A100. In the shooting mode, the lens 107
The image captured by the CCD 101 through the
Signal processing (CCD signal processing) by C103
It is converted into a V luminance two-color difference signal. Further, the image data is resized to a predetermined resolution, JPEG-compressed, and recorded on the CF card 105. The voice is input from the microphone 102 and stored in the CF card 105 via the ASIC 103. Regarding the recording of the sound, it can be stored at the same time as the shooting or as a post-recording after the shooting. In the playback mode, the JPE
The G image is read out, JPEG-decompressed by the ASIC 103, and further resized to the display resolution.
06 is displayed.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the printer section B100.

The image reproduced on the camera unit A100 side, that is, the image read from the CF card 105, is JPEG-decompressed by the ASIC 103 and resized to a resolution suitable for the printing resolution as shown in FIG. Then, the resized image data (YUV) is sent to the printer unit B100 via the interface unit 210. As shown in FIG. 14, the printer unit B100 performs image processing on the image data sent from the camera unit A100 using the image processing unit 201, converts the image data into RGB signals, performs input γ correction according to the characteristics of the camera, and looks Color correction and color conversion using an up table (LUT), and conversion into a binary signal for printing. At the time of the binarization process, the second memory 202 is used as an error memory in order to perform an error diffusion (ED) process. In the case of this example, the binarization processing unit in the image processing unit 201 performs an error diffusion process, but other processes such as a binarization process using a dither pattern may be performed. The binarized print data is temporarily stored in the band memory 204 by the band memory control unit 203. An encoder pulse from the encoder 208 is input to the encoder counter 209 of the printer unit B100 every time the carriage B104 on which the recording head 207 and the encoder 208 are mounted moves a predetermined distance. Then, in synchronization with the encoder pulse, print data is read from the band memory 204 and the mask memory 205, and based on the print data, the head control unit 206 controls the print head 207 to perform printing.

The band memory control in FIG. 14 will be described as follows.

The plurality of nozzles in the recording head 207 are formed in rows so as to have a density of, for example, 1200 dpi. When the carriage is scanned once in order to print an image using such a recording head 207, the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (hereinafter, also referred to as “vertical (Y direction)”) is equal to the number of nozzles in the main scanning direction (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical (Y direction)”). , "Horizontal (X direction)
In this case, it is necessary to create print data for the print area (print data for one scan) in advance.
After the recording data is created by the image processing unit 201,
Band memory 204 by band memory control unit 203
Is stored once. After one scan of print data is stored in the band memory 204, the carriage is scanned in the main scanning direction. At this time, encoder pulses input from the encoder 208 are counted by the encoder counter 209, print data is read from the band memory 204 according to the encoder pulses, and ink droplets are ejected from the print head 207 based on the image data. You. When the bidirectional printing method of printing an image (forward printing and backward printing) at the time of forward scan and backward scan of the print head 207 is adopted, image data is transferred from the band memory 204 according to the scan direction of the print head 207. Is read. For example, at the time of forward pass recording, the address of the image data read from the band memory 204 is sequentially incremented, and at the time of backward pass recording, the address of the image data read from the band memory 204 is sequentially decremented.

Actually, when the image data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing unit 201 is written into the band memory 204 and one band of image data is prepared, the scanning of the recording head 207 is performed. Becomes possible. Then, the recording head 207 is scanned, image data is read from the band memory 204, and the recording head 207 records an image based on the image data. During the recording operation, image data to be recorded next is created in the image processing unit 201,
The image data is written to an area of the band memory 204 corresponding to the recording position.

As described above, the band memory control is based on the recording data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing unit 201.
Is written in the band memory 204 and the operation of reading out the print data (C, M, Y) to be sent to the head control unit 206 in accordance with the scanning operation of the carriage is performed while switching.

The mask memory control in FIG. 14 will be described as follows.

This mask memory control is required when the multi-pass printing method is adopted. In the case of the multi-pass printing method, a print image for one row having a width corresponding to the length of the nozzle row of the print head 207 is printed by dividing the print head 207 into a plurality of scans. That is, the transport amount of the print medium that is transported intermittently in the sub-scanning direction is set to 1 / N of the length of the nozzle row. For example, when N = 2, one row of the recorded image is scanned twice. (N-pass printing), and when N = 4, a print image for one line is printed in four scans (4-pass printing). Similarly, when N = 8, 8-pass printing is performed, and when N = 16, 16-pass printing is performed. Therefore, the recording image for one line is recorded by the recording head 207.
Is completed by multiple scans.

Actually, the mask memory 205 stores mask data for allocating the image data to the plurality of scans of the print head 207, and stores the logical product (AND) data of the mask data and the image data. Then, the recording head 207 ejects ink to record an image.

In FIG. 14, the CF card 105
Are sent to the printer unit B100 via the interface 210 by the ASIC 102 in the same manner as the image data. Printer section B100
Is encoded (encoded) by the audio encoder 230 and recorded as code data in an image to be printed. When it is not necessary to add audio data to a print image, or when printing an image without audio data, naturally, coded audio data is not printed and only the image is printed.

In the present embodiment, the description has been given of a camera with a built-in printer in which the camera section A100 and the printer section B100 are integrated. However, the camera unit A100
And the printer unit B100 can be separated into separate devices, and the same configuration can be realized in a configuration in which they are connected by the interface 210, and the same function can be realized.

[Characteristic Configuration] Hereinafter, embodiments of the characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a scanning speed control system of the scanning device of the present invention. In the figure, b1 is a speed command section, in which a predetermined acceleration command curve in which the target speed increases according to the elapsed time is set. b2
Is a speed error calculator, which calculates a difference between the current target speed and the scanning speed of the carriage. b3 is PID
This is an operation unit (adjustment unit), and here, a voltage to be applied to the motor (DC motor) b5 is calculated every moment by a PID operation described later. A motor drive circuit b4 constitutes a drive unit together with the motor b5. In this case, the voltage to be applied is a PWM (Pulse Width Modulati).
on).

Further, a current (operation amount) determined by the input voltage and the required number of rotations of the motor is supplied to the motor b5, and a rotation force corresponding to the current value is generated. Then, the rotating force generated here rotates the lead screw b7 via the gear train b6, and the rotating force of the lead screw is converted into a linear reciprocating motion.
The carriage b8 is reciprocally scanned. Note that a power transmission unit is configured by the gear train b6 and the lead screw b7.

The scanning position of the carriage b8 is detected by the encoder b9, and the speed conversion unit b10 measures the time interval of the position signal of the encoder b9 and converts it into a speed. Measure the time interval of the position signal of b9 and convert it to speed,
It is connected to the original speed error part b2 to form a closed loop.

B11 is the PID which is the adjusting unit
In order to control the adjustment signal output from the operation unit b3, the gains Gp and G of the operation units in the PID operation unit b3 are controlled.
a control circuit (control means) for controlling i, Gd, and G, which is constituted by a CPU or the like, and which controls a difference between an operation amount from the drive circuit to the motor in a constant speed area in each of a forward path and a return path of the carriage. And a determination unit that determines whether the difference between the operation amounts obtained by the difference calculation unit exceeds a certain value.

In this embodiment, a known linear encoder having a scale disposed along the scanning path of the carriage b9 is used as an encoder, and the encoder b9 and the speed conversion unit b10 use a speed signal. An output unit is configured.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a PID calculation unit in the scanning speed control system of the present embodiment.

The passed speed error values are respectively calculated by a proportional operation section d1 (Proportional section) and an integral operation section d.
2 (Integral Section), differential operation part d3 (Differential
Through a portion called Section), each operation of proportionality, integration, and differentiation is performed. The sum of the results is obtained by an adder d4, and then amplified and output.

More specifically, the proportional operation unit d1 multiplies the speed error by the gain Gp, the integral operation unit d2 integrates the speed error, the integrated value is multiplied by the gain Gi, and the differential operation unit d3
Then, the speed error is differentiated, and the differentiated value is multiplied by a gain Gd. Then, the values output from the arithmetic units d1, d2, and d3 are summed by the addition unit d4 and multiplied by the gain G, and output to the motor driver as a voltage value to be applied to the motor.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the attitude of the ink jet recording apparatus provided with the scanning device of the present embodiment at the time of recording. In the figure, (a) shows the attitude of scanning in the vertical direction, (b) shows the attitude of scanning in the horizontal direction, and the arrow in each figure shows the scanning direction of the carriage.

FIG. 18 shows a state in which the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is installed in a state shown in FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a speed change when the carriage b8 performs horizontal scanning. In the figure, the vertical axis is the carriage scanning speed, and the horizontal axis is the elapsed time, showing the speed command value and the actual carriage scanning speed. In this case, since the gravity acts substantially uniformly in the reciprocation of the carriage b8, each gain of the PID calculation unit is adjusted to be optimal, and it can be seen that the carriage scanning speed follows the speed command value well. .

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the speed fluctuation when the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is installed in the state shown in FIG. 17B and scans upward in the vertical direction. The vertical axis and the horizontal axis indicate the carriage scanning speed and the passage of time, respectively, as in FIG. In this case, each gain of the PID calculation unit b3 is set to the same value as in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the ability to follow the speed command value decreases, and the amount of overshoot after reaching the target speed increases. This is because the influence of gravity on the forward path and the return path on the carriage is different.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing speed fluctuations in the case where the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment scans in the upward direction in the vertical direction. However, this figure shows a case where the respective gains in the PID calculation unit b3 are readjusted in accordance with the upward scanning in the vertical direction. As shown in the figure, the ability to follow the speed command value is not so much improved, but the overshoot is surely suppressed and improved.

As described above, when the attitude of the recording apparatus to be controlled changes greatly and gravity acts in different directions, the optimum gain values of the PID calculation unit b3 become different values.

FIG. 21 shows the PW applied from the motor drive circuit b4 to the motor b5 when switching from acceleration control to constant speed control in the horizontal scanning posture shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a change in duty of a motor drive signal (operating amount) that has been subjected to M. As shown in the figure, it can be seen that the motor drive signal is output at the maximum duty in the acceleration region, and converges to a duty value such that a torque matching the load torque generated during carriage movement is obtained in the constant speed region. In the case of the scanning in the horizontal direction, there is no large difference in the load torque between the forward path and the backward path, so that the motor drive signal has substantially the same profile in both the forward path and, for example, the backward path.

FIG. 22 shows the PW applied from the motor drive circuit b4 to the motor b5 when switching from acceleration control to constant speed control in the vertical scanning posture shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a change in duty of a motor drive signal that has been subjected to M. As illustrated, the load torque is different between the upward scan (for example, the forward scan) and the downward scan (for example, the backward scan), so that the downward scan has a smaller torque than the upward scan. Is obtained.
In addition, the duty value that converges in the constant speed region also has a different value (downward scanning has a smaller duty value than upward scanning). In this case, assuming that the printing apparatus is a bidirectional printing apparatus that performs a printing operation in both the forward scan and the backward scan, a difference occurs in the formed image between the forward scan and the backward scan, and the image quality is significantly reduced. Problem arises.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, control according to the scanning direction of the carriage b8 is performed by the control means b11 shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing this control operation.
Here, the control operation in the case where the carriage b8 in the printing apparatus is scanned horizontally and the control operation in the case where the carriage b8 is scanned vertically are shown.

In FIG. 7, when a print start command is input in step S1, a test reciprocating scan of the entire scanning range is performed in step S2.

Next, in step S3, when the acceleration is completed during the test scanning and the vehicle enters the constant speed region, the respective duty values of the PWM motor drive signals in the forward scan and the backward scan are compared with each other. And find the difference. Here, it is determined whether or not the difference between the respective duty values is greater than a predetermined value set in advance (step S4). If the difference is determined to be less than or equal to the predetermined value, the scanning path of the carriage is moved horizontally. Is determined (step S5), and the gain values Gp, Gi, Gd, and G in the respective calculation units of the PID calculation unit b3 are set to the same value in the forward path and the return path of scanning ( Step s6). As a result, as described above, FIG.
As shown in (2), substantially the same motor drive signal is supplied to the motor b5 in both reciprocating scans, a stable printing operation is performed, and a good image is obtained.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the difference between the respective duty values is larger than the predetermined value, it is determined that the scan is a straight scan in which the scanning path of the carriage b8 is straight. (Step S7), the gain values Gp, Gi, Gd, and G in the respective calculation units of the PID calculation unit b3 are set to different values for the forward scan and the return scan (Step S7).
8). That is, when one of the reciprocating routes is downward scanning, the gain values Gp, Gi, Gd, and G are decreased, and when the scanning is upward scanning, the gain values Gp, Gi, Gd, and G are increased. And the duty value of the motor drive signal finally input to the motor b5 is set to have the same profile. As a result, the same recording operation is performed in any of the reciprocating paths, and good image quality can be obtained.

(Other Embodiments) By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may have other configurations.

That is, (1) In the above embodiment, the determination of the horizontal scanning / vertical scanning is performed once after the print start command, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. It is also possible to make the above determination at other timings and times. For example, it is possible to simplify the control by making the determination only when the power of the camera with a built-in recording device is turned on, and conversely, to always make the determination for each scan during recording, It is also possible to cope with the case where the attitude of the recording apparatus changes. (2) In the above embodiment, the case where the speed profile in the acceleration region is optimized by adjusting the gain of each operation unit and the like has been described as an example. The gain of each operation unit may be adjusted in order to realize the configuration. (3) In the above embodiment, the determination of the installation direction of the scanning path of the carriage (determination of horizontal scanning / vertical scanning) is performed by calculating the difference between the duty of the PWM-driven motor drive signal for the forward path and the return path. However, a tilt switch or the like for detecting the tilt of the device can be used for the determination. (4) In the above embodiment, the case where the carriage is driven by a closed loop control using a DC motor and a linear encoder has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the closed loop control. For example, in open loop control using a stepping motor, it is also possible to switch between an acceleration table and a deceleration table based on the determination that the scanning direction is horizontal / vertical.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, the driving force on the carriage is controlled not only when the scanning path direction of the carriage is horizontal but also when the scanning path is set in a direction other than the horizontal direction. The forward scan and the backward scan can always be kept in the same operation state. For this reason, when the scanning device of the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus, the same printing operation can be performed on the forward path and the return path, and good image quality can be obtained as a whole.

Further, according to the reading apparatus in which the scanner is mounted on the scanning apparatus according to the present invention, the same reading scan can be performed in the forward path and the backward path, so that appropriate image data can be obtained.

For example, according to the present invention, an optimum control value can be set for each of the scanning in the case where the carriage scans in the vertical direction and the case in which the carriage scans in the horizontal direction. Can be improved. Further, if the scanning direction of the carriage is determined based on the operation amount of the driving unit, the installation direction of the scanning device can be determined without providing a sensor, and the apparatus cost can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a built-in printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a media pack that can be mounted on the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship of main components inside the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer shown in FIG. 6 with a part removed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carriage in the printer unit of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of components of a print medium transport system in the printer unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of components of an ink supply system in the printer unit of FIG.

11 is a plan view when a media pack is mounted on a component of the ink supply system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a camera unit and a printer unit in the camera of FIG. 1;

13 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the camera unit in FIG.

14 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the printer unit of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a scanning speed control system of the scanning device of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a scanning speed control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a PID operation unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a posture at the time of printing of an inkjet printing apparatus including a scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a change in speed when the carriage performs horizontal scanning when the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in a horizontal state.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a change in speed when the carriage performs vertical scanning when the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in a vertical state.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating speed fluctuations when the ink jet printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention scans in the upward direction in the vertical direction.

21 is a diagram showing the duty ratio of the PWM motor drive signal (operation amount) given to the motor from the motor drive circuit when switching from acceleration control to constant speed control in the horizontal scanning posture shown in FIG. 18; It is a figure showing a change.

FIG. 22 shows a change in duty of a PWM motor drive signal given to the motor from the motor drive circuit when switching from acceleration control to constant speed control in the vertical scanning posture shown in FIG. 20; FIG.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of a control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

A001 Main unit A002 Insertion section A100 Camera section A101 Lens A102 Viewfinder A102a Viewfinder window A103 Strobe A104 Release button A105 Liquid crystal display section (external display section) A107 Compact flash memory card (CF card) A108 Battery A109 Ejection section B100 Printer section (recording device) Part) B101 LF roller B102 LF pinch roller B103 Platen B104 Carriage B105 Guide shaft B106 Lead screw B107 Bearing B108 Bearing B109 Screw pin B110 Spring B120 Recording head B121 Ink ejection port B122 Needle B123 Supply air port B124 Needle cover needle 132 B133 HP flag 134 HP sensor B141 Screw gear B142 Idler gear B143 Motor gear B150 Flexible cable B201 Discharge roller B202 Discharge roller gear B203 Relay gear B204 LF roller gear B211 Switching slider B212 Switching cam B213 Pressure plate head B301 Joint fork B302 Supply joint B304 Pump tube Lifter B310 Suction cap B311 Suction tube B312 Waste liquid tube B313 Waste liquid joint B315 Pump unit B316 Wiper lifter B321 Pump HP sensor B322 Joint HP sensor B323 Chassis C100 Media pack C101 Pack body C102 Shutter C102A Window C 103 Ink pack C104 Print medium C105 Joint C106 Wiper C107 Ink absorber C110 Feeding roller C110a Connecting part M001 Carriage motor M002 Transport motor M003 Joint motor M004 Pump motor 101 CCD 102 Microphone 103 ASIC 104 First memory 105 CF card (CF card) A107 ”) 106 LCD (corresponding to“ Liquid crystal display unit A105 ”) 107 Lens 120 First CPU 201 Image processing unit 202 Second memory 203 Band memory control unit 204 Band memory 205 Mask memory 206 Head control unit 207 Recording head (“ 208 Encoder (equivalent to “encoder sensor B131”) 209 Encoder counter 210 Centers face 220 a 2-CPU 221 motor driver 222 a motor ( "motor M001, M002, M00
223 sensor (“HP sensor B134, B321, B
322 ") 224 EEPROM 230 Audio encoder section 250 Power supply section (corresponding to" battery A108 ") b1 Speed command section b2 Speed error section b3 PID calculation section b4 Motor drive circuit b5 Motor b6 Gear train b7 Lead screw b8 Carriage b9 Encoder b10 Speed conversion part b11 Control means d1 Proportional operation part d2 Integral operation part d3 Differential operation part d4 Addition operation part Gp, Gi, Gd, G gain

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06T 1/00 430 H04N 1/04 105 5C022 G10L 13/00 5/225 F 5C052 H04N 1/04 105 5/76 E 5C072 1/10 B41J 3/04 101Z 5D045 1/107 G10L 3/00 M 5/225 H04N 1/10 5/76 F term (reference) 2C056 EA04 EA24 EB11 EB29 EB36 EC11 EC31 FA03 FA11 HA28 HA29 HA38 HA52 HA58 2C480 CA01 CA16 CA33 CA34 CB02 EA02 EA23 2H054 AA01 2H104 AA19 5B047 AA30 BA10 BB02 CA08 CB06 CB15 5C022 AA13 AC42 AC74 AC78 AC80 5C052 AA17 CC11 DD02 EE08 FA02 FA03 FB01 FB08 FC06 FE01 FE07 MA01 MB04 MA04 5D045 AA20

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A scanning system comprising: a carriage capable of reciprocating along a scanning path while holding a head having a predetermined function; and a driving unit for moving the carriage along a forward path and a return path of the scanning path. An apparatus, comprising: a scanning direction determining unit that determines a setting direction of the scanning path; and a control unit that changes a scanning drive state of a carriage based on a determination result of the scanning direction determining unit. Scanning device. 2. The driving unit includes a motor and a driving circuit that drives the motor. The scanning direction determining unit transmits the driving signal from the driving circuit to the motor in a constant speed area on each of a forward path and a return path of the carriage. 2. A difference calculation unit for calculating a difference between the operation amounts, and a determination unit for determining whether or not the difference between the operation amounts obtained by the difference calculation unit exceeds a predetermined value. A scanning device according to claim 1. 3. The driving means comprises: a DC motor;
3. The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the scanning device is configured by a closed loop for feeding back the output of the C motor. 4. The closed loop includes an adjustment unit that sends an adjustment signal that adjusts an operation amount output from a drive circuit based on an error between an actual rotation speed of the motor and a target rotation speed. 4. The scanning device according to claim 3, wherein 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts a gain in the adjustment unit based on a difference in an operation amount from the drive circuit to the motor in each of a constant speed region on a forward path and a return path on a carriage. Item 5. The scanning device according to Item 4. 6. A closed loop comprising: a power transmission unit for converting a rotational force of a motor into a driving force for a carriage; a carriage; a speed signal output unit for outputting a speed signal indicating a scanning speed of the carriage; A speed error calculator for calculating an error between the signal output from the controller and a signal representing the target speed of the motor;
6. A PID calculation unit as the adjustment unit for performing ID calculation, and a drive circuit for outputting a predetermined operation amount in accordance with an adjustment signal output from the PID calculation unit. A scanning device according to claim 1. 7. A printing apparatus comprising a printing head mounted on the scanning apparatus according to claim 1. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said recording head is an ink jet recording head. 9. The recording head according to claim 8, wherein bubbles are generated in the ink by thermal energy, and the ink is ejected by the generated energy of the bubbles.
The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. An image reading apparatus, comprising: a scanner for reading an image as a head mounted on the scanning apparatus according to claim 1. 11. An imaging device with a recording mechanism, comprising: the recording device according to claim 7; and an imaging mechanism.