JP3572980B2 - Serial printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a serial printer that performs printing by mounting an ink cartridge (including an ink ribbon cartridge) on a main body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, the type of ink used in a serial printer such as an ink jet printer or an impact printer is determined, and therefore, an ink cartridge having an ink having characteristics (unusable) different from those usable in the serial printer is used. If printing is performed by mistakenly attaching the printer to the printer body, printing failure or damage to the print head may occur. For example, in the case of an ink-jet printer, a difference in viscosity of the ink causes a printing failure or a failure due to a clogged nozzle of the print head. Increases, and significantly reduces the life of the print head.
As a solution to this problem, there is a conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-310007. The first storage unit (storage element) provided in the ink cartridge and storing identification data indicating the type of the ink cartridge, and the comparison data stored in the main body and compared with the identification data are stored. The second storage unit is provided with a control unit that compares the identification data and the comparison data and determines whether the two data match. With the ink cartridge mounted in the main body, the control unit reads the identification data from the first storage unit, reads the comparison data from the second storage unit, and compares the two data. At this time, if it is determined that both data match, a printing operation is performed.
[0003]
In short, in the case of the prior art, the identification data indicating the type of ink is stored in the storage element mounted on the ink cartridge, and is compared with the comparison data provided in the main body. Prompt.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the related art, identification data indicating the type of ink is stored in a storage element mounted on the ink cartridge, and is compared with comparison data provided in the main body. If the identification data does not match, the user is prompted to replace the ink cartridge. In other words, since the printing is not performed, there is the following problem.
[0005]
First, with respect to a storage element mounted on an ink cartridge, data in the storage element is destroyed due to static electricity or the like, and for example, all data is changed to 00 [H], FF [H], or another form. Sometimes. Further, an oxide film may be present between the main body of the printer and the storage element of the ink cartridge, which may cause a poor electrical contact. In such a case, even though the ink cartridge itself is not broken, it cannot be used.
[0006]
In the case of an ink cartridge without a storage element, it cannot be used at all.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to perform printing with the printer in a case where the ink cartridge cannot be recognized as a proper ink cartridge to be set in the main body or in a case where the user subjectively considers it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can switch to safe driving conditions (general-purpose driving conditions).
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 of the present application is directed to a serial printer that performs printing by attaching an ink cartridge to a main body, and an optimal driving condition storage unit that stores an optimal driving condition for an appropriate ink cartridge; General-purpose driving condition storing means for storing general-purpose driving conditions capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than the proper ink cartridge, and switching means for switching between the optimum driving condition storing means and the general-purpose driving condition storing means Are provided.
[0009]
Here, the optimal driving condition for the appropriate ink cartridge is selected in advance in order to exhibit the best print quality with the appropriate ink cartridge, such as a color correction table, an applied voltage for ejection, and a paper transport time. It indicates the condition (set value) that has been set.
[0010]
In addition, the form of the `` switching means '' for switching between the optimal driving condition storage means and the general-purpose driving condition storage means includes a case in which a determination unit described later is provided to perform the operation automatically, and a case in which the operation is manually performed by a manual switch. Is included.
[0011]
According to the present invention, whether the ink cartridge is recognized as a proper ink cartridge to be set in the main body, or whether the user wants to switch the ink cartridge subjectively, the safe driving conditions that can be printed by the printer. (General-purpose driving conditions) to perform printing.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a serial printer in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a main body and printing is performed, the optimum driving condition storing means for storing an optimum driving condition for the proper ink cartridge, and a device other than the proper ink cartridge. A general-purpose driving condition storage unit for storing general-purpose driving conditions capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge; a storage element mounted on the ink cartridge and storing a plurality of types of ink information relating to ink; A setting range storage unit that stores normal setting range data for comparison with respect to ink information of the storage element; a reading unit that reads ink information from the storage element; Compare two or more or all the information of interest with the normal setting range data, When the information is within the normal setting range, the determination unit causes printing to be performed using the optimum driving condition, and when the information of interest is out of the normal setting range, the printing unit performs printing using the general-purpose driving condition. Are provided.
[0013]
This is because if the storage element is mounted on the ink cartridge and the ink information stored in the storage element is out of the normal setting range, the data stored in the storage element is destroyed by static electricity or some other cause. It is determined that there is a print condition, and printing is performed by switching to driving conditions (general-purpose driving conditions) that are safe to print with the printer. Since this is automatically determined, it is possible to prevent a trouble such as clogging of a nozzle of a print head due to a difference in ink viscosity.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the second aspect, the ink information includes information of an ink type and a dye as essential technical information, and the determination unit determines the essential technical information. The present invention is characterized in that a determination process is performed by focusing on technical information and the driving conditions are switched.
[0015]
Here, the essential technical information is essentially necessary information for determining whether to switch between the optimal driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, and includes information on the type of ink (ink type) and the colorant (color information). .
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the second aspect, the ink information is essential technical information required for the determination processing in the determination unit and is not necessarily required for the determination processing. , And the determination unit performs a determination process by focusing on all the ink information including the essential technical information and the additional information, and switches the driving conditions.
[0017]
According to the present invention, when determining whether or not the ink information is within the normal setting range and determining whether to switch between the optimal driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, the essential technical information is used. In addition to this, it is determined whether or not the additional information is within the normal setting range, and the result is added to improve the accuracy of determining whether or not the ink information is truly destroyed. Can be. For example, if data is replaced in the essential technical information for some reason within the normal setting range, apparently no data corruption has occurred, but in fact, the true data in the ink cartridge is not true. This means that the data has been replaced with data that does not match the ink information. This is substantially data destruction, and printing under optimum driving conditions based on the data results in printing under driving conditions that do not match true ink, which is likely to cause printing trouble. Therefore, in such a case, it is desirable to execute printing under the general-purpose driving condition.
[0018]
According to the present invention, by adding the additional information and increasing the information to be determined, the probability that data destruction can be found is increased. For example, data is replaced with the essential technical information within the normal setting range as described above. When the data portion (item) is generated, the data portion (item) has no apparent data destruction. However, if there is such a cause that the data exchange occurs, the data destruction occurs even in the additional information. In order to increase the probability, if data destruction is found in the additional information part, it is presumed that data has actually been destructed in the essential technical information part based on this destruction, and the safety-side general-purpose driving conditions Printing can be executed by switching. Thereby, the occurrence of printing trouble can be reduced with high accuracy.
[0019]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the ink information is provided with an index for each piece of essential technical information. Features. This specifies one of the prerequisite technologies for comparing one or more or all of the focused information of the read ink information with the normal setting range data.
[0020]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, a data format of ink information stored in the storage element is fixed, and the plurality of types of ink information are stored in advance. In which the arrangement order of the information is determined.
[0021]
This also specifies one of the prerequisite technologies for comparing one or more or all of the focused information of the read ink information with the normal setting range data. As described above, by determining the format of the ink information to be handled, it is not necessary to add an index to each piece of essential technical information as described above, and a very simple configuration can be achieved.
[0022]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a value does not fall within the normal setting range among all pieces of attention information for which the determination is performed. The ratio of the degree of attention information is obtained, and according to the degree of the ratio, the general-purpose driving condition that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge is divided into multiple stages and printing is performed. It is characterized by performing. This makes it possible to print with as good a quality as possible even under printing under general driving conditions.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The serial printer has a printer main body 1 and an ink cartridge 2 mounted on the printer main body. In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 2 is provided with a readable and writable storage element 3. The storage element 3 stores a plurality of types of ink information relating to ink in a fixed data format. Have been. As described above, since the storage element 3 is capable of writing the recording information, even if the ink cartridge is removed from the printer main body in the middle, and then re-installed, for example, the state at the time of the removal (for example, the ink cartridge) may be used. Remaining, etc.) can be recorded, and the degree of freedom in how to use it can be increased. Note that the storage element may be read-only.
[0024]
The printer main body 1 has a CPU 4 as a control unit for regulating the overall operation of the serial printer. The CPU 4 is provided with a memory 5 for storing a control program and data, and a printing drive for controlling a printing operation. A control unit 6 and an interface circuit unit 7 for receiving print data from a higher-level device (not shown) are connected. Although not shown, a print head, a spacing motor for a spacing operation of a carriage, and a line feed motor for a sheet conveyance operation are connected to the printing drive control unit 6.
[0025]
The CPU 4 has an optimum driving condition storing means 8 storing the optimum driving conditions for the proper ink cartridge which is promised to be used in the printer main body, and prints safely to ink cartridges other than the proper ink cartridge. A general-purpose driving condition storage unit 9 that stores general-purpose driving conditions that can be executed is connected.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the former optimal driving condition storage unit 8 includes a color correction table storage unit 81, a head driving condition storage unit 82 that determines a set value of an applied voltage for ejection, and a drying time. And a paper feed time storage unit 83 that determines the paper transport time. Normally, based on the information from the optimum drive condition storage means 8, the print drive control unit 6 is selected via the mode selection unit 10 to the optimum quality mode, and prints print data in the optimum quality mode. It has become. The optimum driving conditions in the optimum quality mode are set in advance for each printer.
[0027]
The latter general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 is a general-purpose driving condition that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge. In this embodiment, strong ejection is performed even when the viscosity of the ink is high. The applied voltage for ejection is increased so as to be possible, that is, the head drive condition storage unit 92 in which the ejection pressure is increased, and the paper transport time is set longer so that sufficient drying time can be obtained even with ink that is difficult to dry. And a paper feed time storage unit 93.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, by operating the manual switch 11 belonging to the mode selection unit 10, the input to the print drive control unit 6 is manually changed according to the optimum drive condition from the optimum drive condition storage unit 8. It is configured to be able to forcibly switch from the quality mode to the general-purpose quality mode based on the general-purpose driving condition from the general-purpose driving condition storage unit 9. When the mode is switched to the general-purpose quality mode, the print drive control unit 6 is selected to the general-purpose quality mode based on the information from the general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 and prints print data in the general-purpose quality mode.
[0029]
Further, the CPU 4 stores setting range storage means 12 for storing normal setting range data for comparison, which is a range of values in which the ink information of the storage element 3 should be in a normal state, and the storage information stored in the storage element 3. A data reading unit 13 that serially reads ink information, and compares one or more or all or all of the focused information among the read ink information with the normal setting range data, and determines that the focused information is within the normal setting range. In some cases, printing is performed using the optimal driving conditions from the optimal driving condition storage means 8. If the information of interest is out of the normal setting range, the general-purpose driving conditions from the general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 are used. And a determination unit 14 for performing printing by using the determination unit 14. As a matter of course, the function may be provided to the determination unit 14 so that the mode is automatically switched by the determination unit 14 without providing the manual switch 11.
[0030]
In the case of the present embodiment, the data format of a plurality of types of ink information related to ink stored in the storage element 3 of the ink cartridge 2 is fixed, and when the information of the storage element 3 is read, a series of information is read. The contents are checked from the beginning. If a value that cannot be detected is detected at that time, it is determined that the storage contents of the storage element 3 have been destroyed, and the printer body is driven in a preset general-purpose quality mode. I do. That is, the data arrangement order and the number of allocated bytes are fixed, and the data value of the ink information is checked at the time of reading on the device side, thereby detecting that the data content of the ink information is destroyed.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows a table of normal setting range data stored in the setting range storage unit 12. The items of this data table are the same as a plurality of types of information (ink information) on the ink stored in the storage element 3. The first eight items in the first half are essential technical information considered to be necessary information for determining whether to switch between the optimum driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, and the four items ninth to twelfth. Is additional information that is not necessarily required for the determination process. The number in parentheses indicates the number of bits used to represent the content of each information.
[0032]
The essential technical information is, here, year of manufacture (4 bits), month of manufacture (4 bits), date of manufacture (8 bits); year of installation (4 bits), month of installation (4 bits), day of installation (8 bits), Ink type (4 bits) and dye (color information) (8 bits). The “ink type” indicates a type such as a quick-drying ink, a low-bleed ink, a high light-fast ink, and a pigment ink. Since physical properties such as viscosity and specific gravity are different from each other, the same amount of droplets is ejected. Therefore, head drive control appropriate for the type is required. In addition, since there is a difference in the drying time after printing depending on the ink, the printing surface is rubbed and stain is generated unless an appropriate paper feeding speed is used.
[0033]
The “dye” indicates a color configuration such as monochromatic black, three colors of YMC (yellow, magenta, and cyan), monochrome multiple gradations, six colors of light YMC, and six colors of orange-green. The optimal color correction table is selected in accordance with. At this time, if an incorrect color correction table is used, good image quality cannot be obtained. For the reasons described above, “ink type” and “dye” are particularly important elements in essential technical information.
[0034]
The reason for considering the date of manufacture and the date of installation as essential technical information is that due to the date of manufacture etc., the viscosity of ink due to aging (decrease in degassing degree, deposition of thermal foreign matter, and other deterioration) This is because it is necessary to perform correction and drive appropriately in consideration of such a situation.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the ink type is 4 bits assuming more than ten types, the dye is 8 bits in consideration of the degree of freedom of setting, the year is 4 bits as the last digit, and the month and day are 4 bits each. Bits and 8 bits are allocated, but there is no problem even if each bit number itself uses another value.
[0036]
As the additional information, in the present embodiment, data (8 bits) indicating a cartridge type such as a destination and an internal capacity of the cartridge, information (8 bits) indicating an optimal ink sequence mode, an ink remaining amount (142 bits), There is information (4 bits) indicating the production line.
[0037]
In FIG. 2, the determination unit 14 sequentially compares the ink information (M types) serially read from the storage element 3 by the data reading unit 13 with the normal setting range data by the filter of the format (S1 to S1 in FIG. 2). S3). That is, it is checked from the N = 1st ink information, and if the ink information is within the normal setting range stored in the setting range storage means 12, the process goes out of steps S4 and S6 and is increased to N = N + 1. Then, the process returns to step S3, and the next second ink information is similarly checked. By repeating this procedure, if all of the compared ink information (M types) is within the normal setting range stored in the setting range storage unit 12, the contents of the storage element 3 are not destroyed. When N = M in step S6, the fact is output to the mode selection unit 10 and printing is performed using the optimal driving conditions from the optimal driving condition storage unit 8 (S7 in FIG. 2). ).
[0038]
However, in the check of step S4 in FIG. 2, if any one of all the ink information (M types) is found out of the normal setting range, the storage content of the storage element 3 is changed due to static electricity or the like. It is determined that it has been destroyed, and printing is performed using the above-described general-purpose driving conditions (S5 in FIG. 2). However, printing can also be performed using the above-described general-purpose driving conditions only when the data of specific information of interest, for example, the type of ink and the item of color information is out of the normal setting range.
[0039]
A specific description will be given based on FIG. The upper part of FIG. 4 shows a case where the ink information is “normal”. It is assumed that the ink is manufactured on April 1, 1997, attached on July 15, 1998, and has ink type data No. 10, color type data No. 3B. At this time, the content of the format of the ink information is a machine language expressed by 1 and 0 as shown in the figure.
[0040]
The lower side of FIG. 4 shows an “abnormal” state in which this code has changed to another shape due to static electricity. In other words, the contents of the first 4 bits (expressed in 1997) of the portion representing the production on April 1, 1997 have been changed from "7" to "F". Further, the content of the manufacturing date represented by the third and fourth 4 bits has also changed from the original "01" to "00". In addition, the ink type data No. 10 and the color classification data No. The data at the place where 3B should occur is changed from "10" and "3B" to "11" and "3F". The normal setting ranges for these are “0 to 9” for the production year and “01 to 31” for the production date. Regarding the type of ink, “11” in addition to “10” in “0 to F” falls within the setting range, and the color information also includes “3F” in addition to “3B” in “00 to FF”. Is also within the setting range.
[0041]
First, the CPU reads the ink information of the cartridge and checks whether the ink information is within the normal setting range for the first item (manufacturing year). The manufacturing year has changed from the original "7" to "F", and this "F" has exceeded "0-9" which is the range from the lower limit to the upper limit of the normal setting range. The judgment of the unit 14 is “out of range”. Therefore, it is determined that the storage content of the storage element 3 has been destroyed by static electricity or the like, and printing is performed using the above-described general-purpose driving conditions.
[0042]
Although there is no problem when the above determination control is performed, for example, in FIG. 4, when the data of the manufacturing year and the manufacturing date are within the set range, the data of the ink type and the color information shown in FIG. Even if there is such a change, no change in the data (also data destruction) can be detected. Even in such a case, if the additional information (No. 9 to No. 12) shown in the table of FIG. 4 is present, these additional information portions are affected by the cause of the broken (replaced) ink type and color information. It is quite possible that the data is out of the setting range. Rather, it is more natural to be broken like that. From a different point of view, it can be said that the probability that only the ink type and color information are exchanged and destroyed even though the cause of the data destruction is present and other information is not destroyed at all is extremely small. From this, it is possible to estimate that there is the above-mentioned data destruction that is apparently undetectable in the ink type and color information on the basis of the destruction of the additional information. Can be performed.
[0043]
Alternatively, the drive in the general-purpose mode may be performed only after the check of all the ink information is completed, and the following control may be performed in which the checks are performed one after another. That is, the manufacturing month is checked following the manufacturing year. Although the production month is normal, the production date “00” is out of the range of “01 to 31”, and thus the judgment of the judgment unit 14 is “out of range”. The data of the ink type “11” is apparently within the setting range, and the data of the color information “3F” is also apparently within the setting range. "Normal". Thus, the determination unit 14 sequentially compares the ink information read serially from the storage element 3 with the normal setting range data.
[0044]
Then, a ratio of the amount of ink information whose value does not fall within the normal setting range among all the determined ink information (M types) is determined, and according to the ratio, a value other than the proper ink cartridge is determined. It is also possible to perform printing by dividing the general-purpose driving conditions that can safely perform printing on the ink cartridge into multiple stages.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the ink information of the storage element is destroyed and it cannot be recognized that the ink cartridge is a proper ink cartridge which is scheduled to be set in the main body, or when the storage element is mounted. In the case of an ink cartridge that is not used, or when the user subjectively determines that it is necessary, printing can be performed by switching to the general-purpose driving condition that is a driving condition on the safe side that can be printed by the printer. . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of printing troubles such as head clogging.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a determination processing flow of a determination unit of the serial printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data table of a normal setting range stored in a setting range storage unit of the serial printer according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format having normal ink information and a format containing abnormal ink information of the serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Ink cartridge 3 Storage element 4 CPU as a control part
6 Print drive control unit 7 Interface circuit unit 8 Optimal drive condition storage unit 9 General-purpose drive condition storage unit 10 Mode selection unit 12 Setting range storage unit 13 Reading unit 14 Determination unit 81 Color correction table storage unit 82 Head drive condition storage unit 83 Paper Feed time storage unit 92 Head drive condition storage unit 93 Paper feed time storage unit

Claims (7)

A serial printer that performs printing by attaching an ink cartridge to the main body,
Optimal driving condition storage means for storing optimal driving conditions for the appropriate ink cartridge;
General-purpose driving condition storage means for storing general-purpose driving conditions that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge,
A serial printer, comprising: switching means for switching between the optimum driving condition storage means and the general-purpose driving condition storage means as printing conditions. A serial printer that performs printing by attaching an ink cartridge to the main body,
Optimal driving condition storage means for storing optimal driving conditions for the appropriate ink cartridge;
General-purpose driving condition storage means for storing general-purpose driving conditions that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge,
A storage element mounted on the ink cartridge and storing a plurality of types of ink information related to ink;
A setting range storage means provided in the main body and storing normal setting range data for comparison with respect to the ink information of the storage element;
A reading unit that reads ink information from the storage element;
Of the read ink information, one or more or all or all of the focused information of interest are compared with the normal setting range data, and if the focused information is within the normal setting range, printing is performed using the optimal driving condition. A determination unit that performs printing using the general-purpose driving condition when the information of interest is outside the normal setting range;
A serial printer, comprising: 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ink information includes ink type and dye information as essential technical information, and the determination unit performs a determination process by focusing on the essential technical information and switches driving conditions. Characteristic serial printer. The ink information according to claim 2, wherein the ink information includes essential technical information necessary for the determination processing in the determination unit and additional information that is not necessarily required for the determination processing. A serial printer which performs a determination process by focusing on all ink information including additional information and switches driving conditions. 5. The serial printer according to claim 2, wherein the ink information is provided with an index for each piece of essential technical information. 5. The serial printer according to claim 2, wherein a data format of the ink information stored in the storage element is fixed, and an arrangement order of the plurality of types of information related to ink is determined in advance. The method according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a target information whose value does not fall within the normal setting range among all the target information for which the determination is performed is determined, and the ratio is determined according to the ratio. And printing is performed by dividing the general-purpose driving conditions into multiple stages.

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