JP2000079691A - Recorder and method for controlling it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of circuits for reading recorded data developed in a memory by managing a dispersion-drive table for deciding order of the data to be transferred to a recording head, and developing the input recorded data to a line buffer based on a content of the table. SOLUTION: A recorded data processing circuit has a date rearranging unit 1-5, and a data storage unit 1-6. Recorded data is transmitted from a personal computer via a data bus 1-1, developed in the unit 1-6 via an address 1-2, and CAS of a line buffer 1-6a in the unit 1-6 is designated via a signal line 1-3. The data is developed in the buffer 1-6a based on an address output from an address generator 1-5a and the CAS. In this case, a dispersion-drive table is used so as not to bring about a band unevenness or the like, and the data is transferred to a recording head via the bus 1-4 based on the table.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for driving a printing head to perform printing based on input printing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer, when recording data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer, the transmitted recording data is written into a memory called a line buffer, and when one line is written, the data is written. The recording data is read, and recording is performed by the recording head based on the recording data. Further, in this printing, in order to prevent a specific pattern from appearing on the printing medium, when performing a dispersion driving for dispersing and printing the printing dots, the transmitted printing data is written into a line buffer, and After writing data for the lines, the recording data is read out based on a preset dispersion driving table (currently every 32 dots), and recording is performed by the recording head based on the recording data. .

[0003]

However, in the conventional printing apparatus, when performing the distributed driving, one selector for reading the print data requires one selector for one bit of the print data. That is, in order to perform the distributed driving, a large number of circuits (the number of gates) for accessing the memory are required.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a recording apparatus capable of reducing the number of circuits for reading recording data developed in a memory.

[0005]

The recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, a recording apparatus that drives a recording head and performs recording based on input recording data, wherein the managing unit manages a distributed driving table that determines an order of recording data to be transferred to the recording head; Developing means for expanding the input recording data into a line buffer based on the contents of the driving table.

Preferably, the developing means includes address generating means for generating an address for determining a developing position of the input recording data in the line buffer.

Preferably, the line buffer is composed of 32 bits vertically by 8 bits horizontally and 8 lines in the vertical direction.
When the address is managed in bit units in the horizontal direction, the address generation means is composed of a 4-bit first counter, a 2-bit second counter, and a selector. Bits are connected to the selector, the least significant bit corresponding to the second bit of the generated address, the bit following the least significant bit corresponds to the third bit of the generated address, and the lower bit of the second counter. Corresponds to the first bit of the generated address,
The upper bits correspond to the fourth bit of the generated address,
The selector switches the output each time the first counter is incremented by one.

Preferably, the management means includes data reading means for reading the print data stored in the line buffer and transferring the read data to the print head.

Preferably, the data reading means includes four 8-input / 1-output selectors connected in parallel;
It is composed of an 8-bit latch that latches the output from each selector.

Preferably, the recording head is an ink jet recording head which performs recording by discharging ink.

Preferably, the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink.

Preferably, the recording head is a thermal transfer type recording head.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the outline of the configuration of an ink jet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a helical groove 500 of a lead screw 5005 which rotates through driving force transmission gears 5009 to 5011 in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of a driving motor 5013.
The carriage HC engaged with the carriage 4 has a pin (not shown), and is supported by the guide rail 5003 and reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b (main scanning direction). Further, the recording paper P is transported in a direction C (sub-scanning direction) which is a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction according to the recording operation. On the carriage HC, an integrated type ink jet cartridge IJC containing a recording head IJH and an ink tank IT is mounted. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the recording paper P against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage HC. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detectors for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage HC in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013.

Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head IJH.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a suction device that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head IJH through the opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member which allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Also, 5021
Is a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage HC, and the movement of the driving force from the drive motor 5013 is controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching. You.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage HC comes to the area on the home position side. If a desired operation is performed at the timing described above, any of the embodiments can be applied.

Next, a control configuration for executing recording control of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the ink jet printer IJRA.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1700 denotes an interface for inputting recording data transmitted from, for example, a personal computer, 1701 denotes an MPU, and 1702 denotes an MPU 1701.
ROM for storing a control program to be executed by the CPU 1703
Is a DRAM for storing various data (such as the recording data and control data). 1704 denotes a recording head 170
8 is a processing circuit that controls the supply of print data to the interface 8, the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, the RAM
Data transfer control between 1703 is also performed. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1708;
Reference numeral 9 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. 1705, a head driver for driving the recording head 1708;
Reference numerals 6 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When recording data enters the interface 1700, the processing circuit 17
04 executes the control described later based on the control of the MPU 1701. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707
Is driven, and the recording head 1708 is driven in accordance with the recording data sent to the head driver 1705.
A record is made.

Next, the detailed configuration of the processing circuit 1704 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the processing circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the processing circuit 1704 of this embodiment comprises a data rearranging section 1-5 and a data storage section 1-6. In the data rearranging section 1-5,
A data bus 1-1 for receiving recording data transmitted from a personal computer, an address bus 1-2 for expanding recording data in a data storage unit 1-6, and a line in the data storage unit 1-6 The CAS (Co) of the buffer 1-6a
A signal line 1-3 for designating a lumber address strobe is connected. Then, based on the address and CAS output from the built-in address generation circuit 1-5a, the recording data transmitted from the personal computer is developed in the line buffer 1-6a of the data storage unit 1-6. The details of the address generation circuit 1-5a will be described later.

The data storage section 1-6 is connected to a data bus 1-4 for transmitting print data developed in the line buffer 1-6a to the print head IJH. The transfer of the recording data is performed based on the reading of the data reading circuit 1-6b. The details of the data read circuit 1-6b will be described later.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of recording elements (number of nozzles) of the recording head IJH of the ink jet printer IJRA is, for example, 256. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording data transmitted from the personal computer has the 0th recording data (D0 to D7) and the 1st recording data (D8 to D1) in units of 8 bits.
5), and 32 sets (D0 to D7,
D8 to D15,..., D247 to D255) are 256 bits of print data, that is, the data amount for one scan of the print head IJH.

When printing is performed by the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, a dispersion driving table as shown in FIG. 5 is used in order to prevent a specific pattern or band unevenness from occurring. And, in particular, in the present invention, the line buffer 6-1
In order to simplify a circuit for accessing a and reduce the number of gates, the following operation is performed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of print data developed in the line buffer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The example shown in FIG. 6 shows a case where the recording data transmitted from the personal computer in the order shown in FIG. 4 is written in the line buffer 1-6a.

First, the 0th recording data (D0 to D7)
Writes the address 0 to the address CAS0. The first recording data (D8 to D15) is CAS0 at address 2
At the address of the second recording data (D16 to D2
In 3), the address 4 is written to the address of CAS0. Similarly, the recording data is written to the line buffer 1-6a while rearranging the recording data transmitted from the personal computer. When all the print data for one scan of the print head IJH is written to the line buffer 1-6a, the print head IJH is scanned based on the dispersion driving table shown in FIG.
The recording data is transferred to JH.

First, referring to DATA1 of BLE0 in FIG. 5, (0, 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 19)
2,224), and referring to DATA2 of BLE0, (1,33,65,97,129,161,193,2)
25). Here, according to the configuration of the recording data expanded in the line buffer 1-6a shown in FIG. 6, the first recording data of CAS0 at address 0 is 0,
At address 0, the first recording data of CAS1 is 32, at address 0, the first recording data of CAS2 is 64, at address 0, the first recording data of CAS3 is 96, and at address 1, the first recording data of CAS0 is 64. 128, the first print data of CAS1 at address 1 is 160, the first print data of CAS2 at address 1 is 192, and the first print data of CAS3 at address 1 is 224.

At address 0, the second recording data of CAS0 is 1; at address 0, the second recording data of CAS1 is 33; at address 0, the second recording data of CAS2 is 65; at address 0, 2 of CAS3. The 97th recording data is 97, the second recording data of CAS0 at address 1 is 129, the second recording data of CAS1 at address 1 is 161, the second recording data of CAS2 at address 1 is 193, and CAS3 at address 1 is CAS3. Is 225 for the second recording data.

That is, DATA1 and DA of BLE0 in FIG.
TA2 is the CA at address 0 and address 1 in FIG.
Switching (S) allows access (reading). Similarly, BLE2, BLE3, ..., BLE15 DATA1
By switching between the adjacent address and CAS corresponding to and, the print data to be transferred to the print head IJH can be accessed.

Next, the details of the address generating circuit 1-5a for switching (when writing) the address and CAS to the line buffer 1-6a will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing details of the address generation circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The address generated for the line buffer 1-6a is determined by using the counters 5-1 and 5-2 having the configuration shown in FIG.
An address at the time of writing the recording data to 6a is generated. For example, when the value of the counter 5-1 is 0000 and the value of the counter 5-2 is 00, A3 = 0, A2 = 0, A1
= 0, A3 = 0, and the address is 000 in binary notation.
0, that is, address 0 is generated. Next, when counting up by one, the value of the counter 5-1 becomes 0001 and the value of the counter 5-2 becomes 00, and A3 = 0, A2 = 0, A1
= 1, A0 = 0, and the address is 001 in binary notation
0, that is, address 2 is generated. Similarly, every time one counts up, the address becomes 0, 2, 4, 6,.
1, 3, 5, and 7 occur in this order.

Further, by connecting two outputs of the counter 5-1 to the selector 5-3, the switching of the CAS can be realized. That is, terminal A = 0, terminal B = 0
, CAS0 is selected, terminal A = 0, terminal B = 1, CAS1 is selected, terminal A = 1, terminal B = 0,
When CAS2 is selected and terminal A = 1 and terminal B = 1, CA
Select in S3.

Thus, the line buffer 1-6a
, And the recording data transmitted from the personal computer is expanded in the line buffer 1-6a in the configuration shown in FIG.

Next, the detailed configuration of the data read circuit 1-6b will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing details of the data read circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, data read circuit 1-6
b uses four selectors 6-1 to 6-4 having eight inputs and one output for selecting one bit from an eight-bit data bus, and selects a bit (recorded data) adapted to distributed driving by a drive distribution table 6-6. ) Is selected from the line buffer 1-6a. The selected bit (print data) is latched by an 8-bit latch 6-5, and is sequentially transferred to the print head IJH.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when performing the distributed driving based on the distributed driving table, all the recorded data have the selector for reading the recorded data from the line buffer 1-6a. This eliminates the necessity, so that a circuit for accessing the line buffer 1-6a can be simplified, and the number of gates can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, an ink jet print having an ink jet recording head has been described as an example of a printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
The present invention can be applied to a printer having a recording head of another recording method, such as a thermal transfer printer having a recording head of a thermal transfer method.

Although the number of recording elements of the recording head is 256, the present invention is not limited to this.

As described above, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH may be integrally formed to constitute a replaceable ink cartridge IJC. However, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH may be separated. It may be configured so that only the ink tank IT can be replaced when the ink runs out.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing the structure of an ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the head can be separated. As shown in FIG. 9, the ink cartridge IJC holds the ink tank IT and the recording head I at the position of the boundary line K.
JH can be separated. When the ink cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC, the ink cartridge IJC is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side. Is driven to eject ink.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink ejection port array. The ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and that the liquid stored in the ink tank is ink. It is not limited. For example, an ink tank may contain a processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type.
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the above-described embodiment, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided not only as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer but also integrally or separately, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a transmission / reception apparatus It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a recording apparatus capable of reducing the number of circuits for reading recording data developed in a memory.

[0061]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an outline of a configuration of an ink jet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the inkjet printer IJRA.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a processing circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of recording data transmitted according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a distributed driving table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of recording data developed in a line buffer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating details of an address generation circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing details of a data read circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a head are separable.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 Data bus 1-2 Address bus 1-3 Signal line 1-4 Data bus 1-5 Data rearrangement section 1-5a Address generation circuit 1-6 Data storage section 1-6a Line buffer 1-6b Data read circuit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for driving a recording head to perform recording based on input recording data, comprising: a management unit that manages a distributed driving table that determines an order of recording data to be transferred to the recording head. And a developing means for developing the input recording data into a line buffer based on the contents of the distributed driving table. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developing means includes address generating means for generating an address for determining a developing position of said input recording data in said line buffer. . 3. When the line buffer is composed of 32 bits vertically and 8 bits horizontally, and the address is managed in units of 8 bits in the vertical direction and in units of 1 bit in the horizontal direction, the address generating means is a 4-bit unit. A first counter, a 2-bit second counter, and a selector; the upper two bits of the first counter are connected to the selector; the least significant bit corresponds to the second bit of the generated address; The next bit of the lower bit corresponds to the third bit of the generated address, and the lower bit of the second counter is 1 of the generated address.
The upper bits correspond to the 4th bit of the address to be generated.
2. The selector according to claim 1, wherein the selector switches the output every time the first counter is incremented by one.
The recording device according to claim 1. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the management unit includes a data reading unit that reads the print data stored in the line buffer and transfers the read data to the print head. 5. The data reading means according to claim 4, wherein said data reading means comprises four 8-input / 1-output selectors connected in parallel and an 8-bit latch for latching an output from each selector. Recording device. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 7. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 2. The recording device according to Item 1. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a thermal transfer type recording head.