JPH07156407A - High speed printing of current supply type ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve high speed printing by reducing the processing quantity of a CPU by reducing the transmission quantity of printing data at the time of high speed printing. CONSTITUTION:A printing means A wherein odd number-th row nozzles 12 and even number-th row nozzles 13 are respectively arranged in a zigzag pattern as respective one rows is mounted on a carriage part 1 reciprocally and cyclically moved in matching relation to, a printing cycle and first and second drive means 17, 19 driving nozzles on the basis of printing data are connected to the printing means A. Printing data of odd number-th nozzles and the printing data of even number-th nozzles are simultaneously transmitted to the first and second drive means 17, 19 at every printing cycle at the time of usual printing through printing data transmission means 14, 15, 16, 17 and only the printing data of the odd number-th nozzles and the printing data of the even number-th nozzles are alternately transmitted to the first and second drive means 17, 19 at every printing cycle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention applies a current to a conductive ink, the conductive ink is boiled by the current, and a bubble generated at the time of the boiling causes a conductive ink droplet to fly to print on a recording medium. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method for an electrically conductive inkjet printer, and more particularly to a high speed printing method for an electrically conductive inkjet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of a printing method for an electric ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of an energization type ink jet printer using the conventional method.

In FIG. 7, the carriage unit 1 has a plurality of ink jet nozzles for boiling conductive ink with an electric current and flying the conductive ink droplets for printing.
For example, forty-eight inkjet nozzles are arranged in a line in a printing unit B, a receiving unit 10 for receiving print data from the outside (see FIG. 8), and the receiving unit 10.
A driving belt 11 that drives the nozzles of the printing unit B (see FIG. 8) based on the print data from the printer is mounted on the carriage 4, guided by the carriage shaft 2, and moved by the motor 3. Thus, the reciprocating cycle moves in the X direction according to the printing cycle. The recording paper (not shown) faces the ejection surface of the printing unit B in parallel, and
Moves upward or downward in the Z direction. The print position in the width direction of the recording paper is covered by the reciprocating movement of the carriage unit 1 in the X direction, and the print position in the length direction of the recording paper is covered by the movement of the recording paper in the Z direction. Printing means B
When each of the inkjet nozzles reaches the printing position, the driving unit 11 drives each inkjet nozzle of the printing unit B based on the print data received by the receiving unit 10, and each inkjet nozzle of the printing unit B ejects a conductive ink. Then, the conductive ink is printed on the recording paper.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control mechanism of a conventional example of an electric ink jet printer.

In FIG. 8, the carriage unit 1 has the printing means B, the receiving means 10 and the driving means 11 as described above. The CPU 6 controls the entire energization type inkjet printer. The ROM 7 stores control data for the CPU 6 to control the entire energization type inkjet printer. The RAM 8 stores print data transmitted from an external print data source (not shown). The transmitting means 9 serially transmits the print data stored in the RAM 8 to the receiving means 10.

The operation of the above conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the case of normal printing, the above-mentioned 48 ink jet nozzles are used for each printing cycle to print at a normal speed. The operation is as follows. 8 and 9, the CPU 6 moves the carriage unit 1 in a reciprocating cycle based on the control data stored in the ROM 7. When each ink jet nozzle of the printing unit B of the carriage unit 1 reaches the printing position by this movement and the movement of the recording paper (not shown) in the Z direction, the reciprocating cycle movement is performed as shown in the timing chart of FIG. RA from an external print data source according to the print cycle
Assuming that the print data stored in M8 has, for example, 48 nozzles in the print unit B, 8-bit, 6-byte print data is transferred to the transmission unit 9. In this case, each bit corresponds to one nozzle, and when the print data of the bit corresponding to each nozzle is "1", it is ejected, and when it is "0", it is not ejected. Controlled. The transmitting unit 9 transmits the transferred print data to the receiving unit 10, and the driving unit 11 drives each inkjet nozzle of the printing unit B in accordance with the print data transmitted to the receiving unit 10, and the printing unit B. Each of the inkjet nozzles ejects ink based on the print data, and the ink is printed on a recording paper (not shown).

In the case of high-speed printing, the odd-numbered nozzles of the above-mentioned 48 ink-jet nozzles are used for each printing cycle.
Printing is performed at high speed by alternately using four or 24 even-numbered nozzles. In this case, the print data is processed as follows. The 6-byte print data externally input to the RAM 8 includes support for both odd-numbered and even-numbered inkjet nozzles, so the first 6
Converts byte data to print data that only odd-numbered inkjet nozzles support and even-numbered inkjet nozzles do not, and converts the second 6-byte data to even-numbered inkjet nozzles and odd-numbered inkjet nozzles. Converts to print data that does not respond. These conversions are sequentially repeated for the entire print data.

FIG. 10 shows an example of these conversions.

In FIG. 10, 8 stored in the RAM 8
The bit 6-byte print data stores "FF" in which both odd-numbered and even-numbered inkjet nozzles respond, but the first 6-byte data is "AA", that is, By ANDing with “10101010”, only odd-numbered ink jet nozzles correspond to the even-numbered ink jet nozzles, and not even print data is converted. The second 6-byte data is changed to "55",
That is, the data is ANDed with "01010101" to convert the print data into print data that corresponds only to the even-numbered inkjet nozzles and does not correspond to the odd-numbered inkjet nozzles. These conversions are repeated for the third, fourth, ...

FIG. 11 is a timing chart of a high speed printing operation. The CPU 6 moves the carriage unit 1 in a reciprocating cycle in accordance with the printing cycle of high-speed printing based on the control data stored in the ROM 7. In accordance with this printing cycle, the first 6-byte print data, which is ANDed with the above-mentioned “AA” and corresponds only to the odd-numbered ink jet nozzles and does not correspond to the even-numbered ink jet nozzles, is sent from the RAM 8 to the transmission means 9. Transferred. Transmission means 9
Transmits this print data to the receiving means 10, and the driving means 1
1 drives the ink jet nozzles based on this print data, but since it is the print data which is ANDed with "AA" and only the odd numbered ink jet nozzles correspond, only the odd numbered ink jet nozzles are driven. When the next printing cycle comes, the second 6-byte print data that is ANDed with the above-mentioned “55” and corresponds only to the even-numbered ink jet nozzles and does not correspond to the odd-numbered ink jet nozzles is sent from the RAM 8 to the transmission means 9 Transferred to. The transmitting means 9 transmits this print data to the receiving means 10, and the driving means 11 drives the ink jet nozzle based on this print data, but is ANDed with "55" to print data corresponding only to the even-numbered ink jet nozzles. Therefore, only even-numbered inkjet nozzles are driven.

Although the above is repeated in sequence, since the number of driven ink jet nozzles is halved and used alternately, the print cycle can be shortened and high speed printing can be performed without changing the drive cycle of each ink jet nozzle.

[0014]

However, in the configuration of the conventional example described above, the amount of print data transmitted in one cycle at the time of high-speed printing is the same as in the case of normal printing, and therefore, the high-speed printing of 1 When the ratio of the data transmission time in the cycle becomes large and the printing cycle of high-speed printing is further shortened to increase the speed, there is a problem that the data transmission time is limited.

The CPU 6 and the RAM 8 AND the print data with "AA" to convert it into print data in which only odd-numbered ink jet nozzles react, or "55" and A.
Since a process such as converting to print data in which only the even-numbered inkjet nozzles respond to ND will be added,
This also limits the shortening of the printing cycle, and there is a problem in that even with high-speed printing in which the number of inkjet nozzles used is halved, the speed does not double but remains 1.5 times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and provide a high-speed printing method for an energization type ink jet printer capable of reducing the amount of print data transmitted by high-speed printing and increasing the speed.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the high-speed printing method of the current-carrying type ink jet printer of the present invention is to print the printing means by boiling and flying the conductive ink with an instantaneous current. A plurality of ink-jet nozzles, each of which has an odd-numbered nozzle and an even-numbered nozzle, are arranged in parallel in one row and arranged in a staggered manner, and the printing means is provided on a carriage unit that moves back and forth in accordance with a printing cycle. The driving means for driving the nozzles of the printing means based on the printing data is connected to the printing means, and the printing data transmitting means connects the printing data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the even-numbered nozzles in accordance with the printing cycle. The print data is separately collected and transmitted to the driving means, and at the time of normal printing, the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the even number are printed at each printing cycle. Th a set of the nozzles of the print data is transmitted, at the time of high-speed printing, characterized in that to transmit only the print data of the print data or the even numbered nozzles of the odd-numbered nozzles alternately for each printing cycle.

[0018]

In the high-speed printing method of the energization type ink jet printer of the present invention, the print data transmission means collectively transmits the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the print data of the even-numbered nozzles to the drive means, so that the printing is performed. Even in the case of transmitting one set of the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the print data of the even-numbered nozzles during normal printing using all of the inkjet nozzles in each cycle, the odd-numbered inkjet nozzles and the even-numbered inkjet nozzles are also transmitted. Even when the print data of the odd-numbered and even-numbered inkjet nozzles are alternately transmitted during high-speed printing that is divided into and used alternately, there is no increase in the processing time of the CPU, print data transmission means, etc. At the time of printing, the amount of print data transmitted is halved, so that the speed can be almost doubled.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an energization type ink jet printer using the high speed printing method of the energization type ink jet printer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, the carriage unit 1 is equipped with a printing unit A, and the printing unit A has an odd number of nozzles of a plurality of ink jet nozzles for boiling and flying conductive ink with an instantaneous current for printing. Twelve 24 nozzles and 24 even-numbered nozzles 13 are arranged in one row each,
Moreover, the odd-numbered nozzles and the even-numbered nozzles are arranged in a staggered manner. The distance between the odd-numbered nozzles 12 and the even-numbered nozzles 13 should be separated by an integral multiple of the nozzle-to-nozzle distance between these nozzles, when the odd-numbered nozzles 12 and the even-numbered nozzles 13 are used at the same time. It is desirable to print on the same line without unevenness. For example,
If the resolution of the odd-numbered columns is 150 DPI (about 170 μ1 m), it is desirable that the interval between the odd-numbered column nozzles 12 and the even-numbered nozzles 13 be 150 DPI (about 170 μ1 m).

The carriage unit 1 further includes a first receiving unit 16 for receiving print data of the odd-numbered nozzles 12, and a first receiving unit 16.
First drive unit 1 for driving the odd-numbered nozzles 12 based on the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles 12 received by the receiving unit 16.
7, second receiving means 18 for receiving the print data of the even-row nozzles 13, and second driving means 19 for driving the even-row nozzles 13 based on the print data of the even-row nozzles 13 received by the second receiving means 18. And are installed.

The CPU 6 controls the entire energizing ink jet printer, and the ROM 7 stores control data for the CPU 6 to control. The RAM 8 stores print data coming from the outside. The first transmission means 14 is a RAM
The print data for the odd-numbered nozzles 12 stored in
The data is serially transmitted to the receiving means 16. The second transmitting unit 15 serially transmits the print data for the even-row nozzles 13 stored in the RAM 8 to the second receiving unit 18.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an ink jet nozzle in the printing means A. Each inkjet nozzle
Electrodes 20, 21, nozzle opening 22, and ink tank 23
And the conductive ink 24 in the ink tank 23. The drive means 17 (19) applies an instantaneous current between the electrodes 20 and 21 based on the print data. This energization causes the conductive ink between the electrodes 20 and 21 to boil,
The boiling pressure causes the conductive ink to fly from the nozzle port 22. In the printing means A, 24 nozzle ports 22 of the above-mentioned inkjet nozzles of an odd number and 24 nozzles of an even number are arranged in a line and arranged in a staggered manner.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main part of this embodiment.
The carriage unit 1 has 48 ink-jet nozzles that boil the conductive ink with an electric current and fly the conductive ink droplets for printing to print 24 odd-numbered nozzles and 24 even-numbered inkjet nozzles in one row. The printing means A arranged side by side and arranged in a staggered manner, the first receiving means 16 and the second receiving means 16 for receiving the print data from the outside from the first transmitting means 14 and the second transmitting means 15 Receiving means 18
(See FIG. 1), first driving means 17 and second driving means 19 (see FIG. 1) for driving the nozzles of the printing means A based on the print data from the first and second receiving means 16 and 18. A moving belt 5 which is mounted on a carriage 4 with a built-in motor, is guided by the carriage shaft 2, and is driven by a motor 3.
Thus, the reciprocating cycle moves in the X direction according to the printing cycle. A recording sheet (not shown) opposes the ejection surface of the printing unit A in parallel and moves upward or downward in the Z direction.
The print position in the width direction of the recording paper is covered by the reciprocating movement of the carriage unit 1 in the X direction, and the print position in the length direction of the recording paper is covered by the movement of the recording paper in the Z direction. When the inkjet nozzles of the printing unit A reach the printing position, the first and second driving units 17 and 19 cause the inkjet nozzles of the printing unit A to print based on the print data received by the first and second receiving units 16 and 18. Is driven, each ink jet nozzle of the printing unit A ejects the conductive ink, and the conductive ink is printed on the recording paper.

FIG. 5 shows print data used in this embodiment. The print data is input to the RAM 8 from an external print data source. The number of nozzles of the printing unit A of this embodiment is 4
Since there are eight, the print data of this embodiment is 8-bit, 6-byte print data for 48 nozzles, but as shown in FIG. 5, the previous 3 bytes of 6 bytes are only odd-numbered nozzles. Is the print data that responds, and the subsequent 3 bytes are the print data that only the even-numbered nozzles respond, and separate the odd-numbered and even-numbered nozzles.

These print data are stored in the RAM 8. As shown in FIG. 1, the print data for the odd-numbered nozzles is the first transmitting means 14, the first receiving means 16, and the first driving means 1.
7, the print data for even-numbered nozzles is serially transmitted and used by the second transmitting unit 15, the second receiving unit 18, and the second driving unit 19. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to convert the print data at the time of switching between the normal printing and the high speed printing, which is performed in the conventional example.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the case of normal printing, printing is carried out at a normal speed by using all of the above 48 ink jet nozzles in each printing cycle. The operation is as follows. Figure 1,
In FIG. 4, the CPU 6 moves the carriage unit 1 in a reciprocating cycle in accordance with the printing cycle based on the control data stored in the ROM 7. When each ink jet nozzle of the printing unit A of the carriage unit 1 reaches the printing position by the reciprocating cycle movement and the movement of the recording paper (not shown) in the Z direction, the reciprocating movement is performed as shown in the timing chart of FIG. The RAM 8 stores the odd-numbered nozzle print data and the even-numbered nozzle print data, which are stored in the RAM 8 from an external print data source, in accordance with the printing cycle due to the cyclic movement.
4 and the second transmitting means 15 continuously, and the first transmitting means 14 and the second transmitting means 15 transfer the print data for the odd-numbered nozzles and the print data for the even-numbered nozzles transferred from the RAM 8. The data and the serial data are simultaneously transmitted to the first receiving means 16 and the second receiving means 18, respectively. According to the above, the first driving means 17 and the second driving means 19 respectively print the odd-numbered nozzle print data and the even-numbered nozzle print data received by the first receiving means 16 and the second receiving means 18, respectively. The data is used to drive the odd-numbered nozzles and the even-numbered nozzles to eject ink, so that printing can be performed using all 48 inkjet nozzles in each printing cycle.

In the case of high-speed printing, the odd-numbered nozzles of the above-mentioned 48 ink-jet nozzles are used for each printing cycle.
Printing is performed at high speed by alternately using four or 24 even-numbered nozzles. The operation is as follows. In this embodiment, the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the print data of the even-numbered nozzles are separately collected, and at the time of normal printing, the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the print data of the even-numbered nozzles for each print cycle. Is transmitted at the same time, and at the time of high-speed printing, only the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles or the print data of the even-numbered nozzles are alternately transmitted in each printing cycle, so switching between normal printing and high-speed printing, which is performed in the conventional example, is performed. No need to convert print data at the time.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of the high speed printing operation of this embodiment. The CPU 6 moves the carriage unit 1 in a reciprocating cycle in accordance with the printing cycle of high-speed printing based on the control data stored in the ROM 7. In accordance with this print cycle, the three bytes before the first print data, that is, the print data for the odd-numbered nozzles of the first byte, the second byte, and the third byte are transferred from the RAM 8 to the first transmitting means 14. . The first transmitter 14 serially transmits the odd-numbered nozzle print data to the first receiver 16,
The drive unit 17 drives the odd-numbered inkjet nozzles based on the print data for the odd-numbered nozzles.

When the next print cycle comes, the print data for the even numbered nozzles of the 3rd byte after the next print data, that is, the 4th byte, the 5th byte, and the 6th byte are transferred from RAM 8 to second transmission means 15. Transferred to. The second transmitting unit 15 serially transmits the even-numbered nozzle print data to the second receiving unit 18, and the second driving unit 19 drives the even-numbered ink jet nozzle based on the even-numbered nozzle print data.

As described above, in the printing cycle of high-speed printing using the odd-numbered ink jet nozzles, the first transmission means 14, the first reception means 16 and the first drive means 17 operate, and the even-numbered ink jet nozzles. In the printing cycle of high-speed printing using, the second transmitting means 15 and the second receiving means 1
8 and the second drive means 19 are operated,
Since this is repeated, the number of inkjet nozzles driven in each printing cycle of high-speed printing is halved, and the printing cycle can be shortened and high-speed printing can be performed without changing the driving cycle of each inkjet nozzle. Since the conversion of print data at the time of switching between normal printing and high-speed printing, which is performed in the conventional example, is unnecessary, it is possible to achieve high-speed printing by reducing the processing of the CPU as compared with the conventional example.

[0033]

The high-speed printing method of the energization type ink jet printer of the present invention has an effect that the amount of print data transmitted at the time of high-speed printing can be reduced and the transmission time of the print data can be shortened to increase the speed.

Further, the high-speed printing method of the energization type ink jet printer of the present invention does not require conversion of print data at the time of switching between normal printing and high-speed printing.
The PU processing is reduced, and high-speed printing can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control mechanism of an embodiment of an electric ink jet printer using a method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an inkjet nozzle used in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of an electric ink jet printer using the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation during normal printing of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of print data according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation during high-speed printing according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of an energization type inkjet printer using a conventional method.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control mechanism of a current-carrying type inkjet printer using a conventional method.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an operation during normal printing in the method of the related art.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of print data and a conversion thereof according to a conventional method.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an operation during high-speed printing in the conventional method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A printing unit 1 carriage unit 2 carriage shaft 3 motor 4 carriage 5 moving belt 6 CPU 7 ROM 8 RAM 12 odd number nozzle 13 even number nozzle 14 first transmitting unit 15 second transmitting unit 16 first receiving unit 17 first driving unit 18 Second Receiving Means 19 Second Driving Means 20, 21 Electrodes 22 Nozzle Ports 23 Ink Tank 24 Conductive Ink

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akihiro Yamashita 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An odd-numbered nozzle and an even-numbered nozzle of a reciprocal number of inkjet nozzles that print on a printing means by boiling / flying a conductive ink with an instantaneous current and arrange them in parallel, and stagger. The print means is mounted on a carriage part that moves back and forth in accordance with the print cycle, and a drive means for driving a nozzle of the print means based on print data is connected to the print means. In the print data transmission means, the print data of the odd-numbered nozzles and the print data of the even-numbered nozzles are separately collected according to the print cycle and transmitted to the drive means, and at the time of normal printing, at each print cycle. 1 between the print data of the odd-numbered nozzle and the print data of the even-numbered nozzle
A high-speed printing method for a current-carrying inkjet printer, characterized in that a set is transmitted, and at the time of high-speed printing, only print data of odd-numbered nozzles or print data of even-numbered nozzles are alternately transmitted in each printing cycle.