JPH10329337A - Printing recording device and printing recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate waste of ink in an ink jet printing recording device having ink tanks for a plurality of colors, and a printing method. SOLUTION: When run out even of a single color of ink is detected at an integral ink tank 24 for a plurality of colors by means of a residual quantity of ink detector 21, the colors of yet available inks are displayed on the screen of a host computer and a user determines an alternative color. Subsequently, a driver 20 performs a conversion into a print data using the alternative color and transfers a print data to the printer for the purpose of printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ejection type print recording apparatus, and more particularly to a print recording apparatus and a print recording method that eliminate waste of ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink-jet type printing apparatus capable of printing with inks of a plurality of colors at a time, a plurality of ink tanks are mounted for each color ink tank or formed as an integral ink tank. Or these two ink tanks are mounted simultaneously.

Further, the ink tank cannot supply ink, and when the ink runs out, it is necessary to replace the entire ink tank.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional print recording apparatus and print recording method,
In a multi-color integrated ink tank that integrates multiple color ink tanks, if one color of ink runs out of ink, printing can be performed unless the entire ink tank is replaced, even if the other color ink still remains. There was a problem that it was not possible and wasted resources.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a print recording apparatus and a print recording method that can use ink without waste.

[0006]

A print recording apparatus and a print recording method according to the present invention are configured as follows.

(1) In an ink discharge type print recording apparatus, an ink tank of a plurality of colors and ink remaining amount detecting means are provided. Control means for forming an image with an alternative color by using the ink of another ink tank when detecting is detected.

(2) In the print recording device of (1), print data is transferred from the information processing device via a bidirectional interface.

(3) In the print recording device of (1) or (2), the determination of the substitute color is performed based on information specified by the user.

(4) In the printing apparatus of (1) or (2), the control means automatically determines the alternative color.

(5) In the ink discharge type print recording method, when the remaining ink amount detecting means detects that the ink in an arbitrary ink tank has run out, an image is formed by using the ink of another ink tank with a substitute color. Was formed.

(6) In the print recording method of (5), the print data is transferred from the information processing device via the bidirectional interface.

(7) In the print recording method of (5) or (6), the alternative color is determined based on information specified by the user.

(8) In the print recording method of (5) or (6), the control means automatically determines the alternative color.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a print recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The printer shown in FIG. 1 is an ink ejection type print recording apparatus, and includes a multi-color integrated ink tank 24 in which a plurality of color ink tanks are integrated, and an ink remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 24. An apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a residual detection apparatus) 21 is provided. The printer is connected to a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a host) through a bidirectional interface, and can transmit information such as the remaining ink amount to the driver 20.

The driver 20 has a well-known color in the ink tank 24. In this embodiment, it is a three-color integrated type of yellow, magenta and cyan. The residual detection device 21 returns the remaining amount of each ink as a numerical value, and the CPU 25 calculates the ink dischargeable amount from the numerical value. When the user issues a print command to the host, the driver 20 converts print (image) data into data that can be handled by the printer, and sends the data to the printer via the bidirectional interface 26. Then, the printer separates the received data into yellow, magenta, and cyan colors, develops the data in the RAM 22, and starts printing. There is a dedicated ejection port 23 for each ink, and ink is supplied from the ink tank 24 to each ejection port 23 and ejects according to print data.

In the above-described printing / recording apparatus, the residual detecting device 21 includes a remaining ink detecting means for detecting when the ink in the ink tank has run out of even one color, and a CPU 25.
Each of the control means constitutes a control unit for forming an image with an alternative color by using the ink of another ink tank when it is detected by the residual detection device 21 that the ink in the ink tank has run out even in one color.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the first embodiment. The above operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, before sending print data to the printer, the driver 20 calculates the ink consumption that will be used in consideration of the print mode and the like (step S10).
1). Then, it is compared with the remaining ink amount detected by the residual detection device 21 (step S102), and it is checked whether or not each color is insufficient (step S103).

As a result, if it is determined that the data is sufficient, the print data is transferred to the printer as it is, and printing is started (step S104). When it is determined that the print data is insufficient, the print data is converted again into print data using the substitute color and printing is started. For example, when it is determined that cyan is insufficient, the driver 24 inquires of the user whether or not to perform color replacement (step S105). If it is not replaced, the printing is stopped. When printing is to be resumed after replacement, the driver 20 displays the color information (magenta, yellow) still usable as options for the user on the screen of the host. The user selects an alternative color from these two colors. After determining the substitute color, the driver 20 converts the print data into print data using the substitute color (no cyan information at this time) (step S10).
6) Transfer to the printer and restart printing (step S)
104).

At this time, it is specified whether all pages to be printed are replaced with alternative colors or only one page. By doing so, the lack of cyan is not reported to the screen one by one. Other colors (magenta, yellow)
Is determined to be insufficient, the driver 20 re-requests the user whether or not to use the substitute color, performs data conversion again, and resumes printing. When it is determined that all the colors are not present, the printing is stopped, and the user cannot print unless the ink tank 24 is replaced.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a print recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The printer shown in FIG. 1 is an ink discharge type print recording device, and includes an ink tank 24 integrated with a plurality of colors and an ink remaining amount detecting device (hereinafter, referred to as a residual detection device) for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 24. 31, a display device (display panel) 35 for displaying printer information to the user, and an input device 36 for receiving an input from the user.

The colors in the ink tank 34 of the printer are well known. In this embodiment, three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are used.
It is a color integrated type. The residual detection device 31 returns the amount of each ink as a numerical value, and the CPU 37 calculates the dischargeable amount from the numerical value.

The printer receives the print data, analyzes it, separates the data into yellow, magenta, and cyan colors, develops the data in the RAM 32, and starts printing. There is a dedicated ejection port 33 for each ink, and ink is supplied from the ink tank 34 to each ejection port 33, and ejects according to print data.

In the printing and recording apparatus having the above-described configuration, the remaining detecting means 31 detects the remaining amount of the ink in the ink tank when any one of the inks is exhausted.
1. The CPU 37 constitutes control means for forming an image with an alternative color by using ink from another ink tank when the residual detection means 31 detects that the ink in the ink tank has run out of even one color. .

Next, the above operation will be described in detail. Note that the basic operation is the same as that of the flowchart of FIG. 2 except that the selection of the substitute color is performed on the printer side. First, after receiving the print data, the printer calculates the ink consumption that will be used in consideration of the print mode and the like. Then, it is compared with the remaining amount of ink detected by the residual detection device 31 to check whether each color is insufficient.

As a result, if it is determined that it is sufficient, the printer starts printing. If it is determined that the print data is insufficient, the print data using the substitute color is converted again and printing is started. For example, when determining that cyan is insufficient, the printer inquires of the display device 35 whether or not to perform color replacement. If it is not replaced, the printing is stopped. If replacement is attempted to resume printing, the printer displays the color information (magenta, yellow) still available on the display device 35 as an option for the user. The user selects an alternative color from the two colors using the input device 36. For example, when the substitute color is set to magenta, cyan data is converted into magenta data in the printer and printing is resumed.

At this time, it is specified whether all pages to be printed are replaced with alternative colors or only one page. By doing so, the lack of cyan will not be reported on the screen one by one. If it is determined that another color (magenta, yellow) is insufficient, the printer requests the user again whether or not the alternative color can be used, converts the data again, and resumes printing. When it is determined that there is no color, printing is stopped,
If the user does not replace the ink tank 34, printing cannot be performed.

Third Embodiment In the first and second embodiments, the colors that can be selected by the user are, for example, two colors of magenta and yellow when cyan becomes insufficient. Instead of adding a mixed color with magenta and yellow (the mixing ratio is equivalent) to the choices,
You can expand from three colors to three colors. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing selectable alternative colors according to the third embodiment.

Although the usable colors are two in the first and second embodiments, when the number of colors is increased to three or more as shown in FIG. 4, all conceivable mixed colors can be created to expand the selection range (three colors). In this case, the selection color is increased from two colors to seven colors), and it is also possible to create an alternative color closer to the missing color.

Also, instead of displaying all the options,
The driver 20 or the printer automatically generates only one alternative color (equivalent ratio) in consideration of the remaining ink amount and the like, and the user responds whether to use the alternative color presented by the driver 20 or the printer. By doing so, the user only needs to input yes / no to the driver 20 or the printer, and the operation is simplified.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the third embodiment, all the color mixing ratios are equivalent. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an alternative color in which the mixing ratio is changed according to the fourth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the user sets the mixing ratio (density) of each color.
Can be freely changed and a subtle color arrangement can be performed, and a flexible alternative color can be selected by changing the mixing ratio depending on the amount of remaining ink.

Further, instead of the user determining the alternative color by operating the driver 20 or the printer, the driver 20 or the printer automatically generates only one alternative color (non-equivalent ratio) in consideration of the remaining amount of ink and the like. Then, the user responds as to whether to use the alternative color presented by the driver 20 or the printer. By doing so, the user only needs to input yes / no to the driver 20 or the printer, and the operation is simplified.

As described above, in this embodiment, the remaining amount of ink is monitored by the ink remaining amount detecting means, and when it is determined that the color is insufficient, the input / output means displays the insufficient color or uses the alternative color. By exchanging information with the user on whether to use the alternative color and which alternative color to use, and continuing printing with the alternative color, all the ink can be used without waste.

In the present embodiment, a residual detection device for determining the remaining amount of ink is used. However, instead of the residual detection device, a non-discharge detection device (discharged due to lack of ink when it should be discharged). It is also possible to carry out with a device that detects the absence.

This non-discharge detection device performs non-discharge detection immediately before starting printing, and when it is determined that there is non-discharge, asks the user to use a substitute color and then determines a substitute color in the same manner as in the above embodiment. Then, the data is converted and printing is resumed.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an ink ejection type recording apparatus, a plurality of color ink tanks and an ink remaining amount detecting means are provided, and when the ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the ink in any of the ink tanks is depleted, the other Control means for forming an image with an alternative color using the ink of the ink tank of the present invention, so that even if one color of ink runs out of ink, printing can be performed with the alternative color by using another ink, There is an effect that it can be used without waste.

Further, even if the ink of a certain color in the middle of printing runs out of ink, printing is performed using the substitute color, whereby the data can be printed to the end without replacing the ink tank. There is.

Further, in the ink ejection type printing recording method, when the remaining ink amount detecting means detects that the ink in an arbitrary ink tank has run out, an image is formed by using the ink of another ink tank with a substitute color. Since the ink is formed, even if ink of a certain color runs out of ink, it is possible to perform printing with another color by using another ink, and there is an effect that the ink can be used without waste.

Further, even if the ink of a certain color in the course of printing runs out of ink, printing is performed using the substitute color, so that the data can be completely printed without replacing the ink tank. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a print recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a print recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing selectable alternative colors according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an alternative color in which the mixture ratio is changed according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Ink Remaining Detector (Ink Remaining Detector) 24 Ink Tank 25 CPU (Controlling Unit) 31 Ink Remaining Detector (Ink Remaining Detector) 34 Ink Tank 37 CPU

Claims (8)

[Claims] In an ink discharge type printing recording apparatus,
A plurality of ink tanks, and an ink remaining amount detecting unit, and when the ink remaining amount detecting unit detects that the ink in any of the ink tanks has run out, the ink in the other ink tank is used. A print recording device comprising a control unit for forming an image using an alternative color. 2. The print recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein print data is transferred from the information processing apparatus via a bidirectional interface. 3. The print recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternative color is determined based on information specified by a user. 4. The print recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines the substitute color automatically. 5. In an ink ejection type print recording method,
A print recording method, wherein when an ink remaining amount detecting unit detects that an ink in an arbitrary ink tank has run out, an image is formed by an alternative color using ink in another ink tank. 6. The print recording method according to claim 5, wherein the print data is transferred from the information processing device via a bidirectional interface. 7. The print recording method according to claim 5, wherein the determination of the substitute color is performed based on information specified by a user. 8. The print recording method according to claim 5, wherein the control means automatically determines the substitute color.