JP2000233510A - Serial printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable printing even in the case the ink cartridge is not appropriate, by switching a driving condition to a general driving condition, which is a safety side driving condition printable by a printer. SOLUTION: An optimum driving condition memory means 3 with respect to an appropriate ink cartridge 2, a general driving condition memory means capable of executing printing safely with an ink cartridge other than the appropriate ink cartridge, a memory element 3 mounted on the ink cartridge 2, storing a plurality of kinds of ink information stored, and a judging part 14 for comparing all the ink information read out of the memory element 3 with normal setting range data for executing print using the optimum driving condition in the case it is in the normal setting range, or executing print using the general driving condition in the case it is ink information outside the normal setting range are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a serial printer for performing printing by mounting an ink cartridge (including an ink ribbon cartridge) on a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related 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, inks having different characteristics (unusable) from those usable in the serial printer. When an ink cartridge having the above is mounted by mistake in the printer main body and printing is performed, printing failure or damage to the print head is caused. For example, in the case of an ink-jet printer, a difference in viscosity of the ink causes a printing defect or a failure due to a clogged nozzle of the print head. Increases, which significantly reduces the life of the printhead. In order to solve this problem, there is a conventional one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-310007. This is a first storage unit (storage element) provided in the ink cartridge and storing identification data indicating the type of the ink cartridge, and stores comparison data provided in the main body and compared with the identification data. A second storage unit and a control unit that compares the identification data and the comparison data and determines whether the two data match each other are provided. With the ink cartridge attached to 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.

In short, in the case of the prior art, a storage element mounted on an ink cartridge stores identification data indicating the type of ink and compares it with comparison data provided in the main body. Prompt for replacement.

[0004]

However, in the case of the prior art, when the identification data indicating the type of ink is stored in the storage element mounted on the ink cartridge and compared with the comparison data provided in the main body, when the identification data does not match. Has a configuration that prompts the user to replace the ink cartridge, that is, “does not print”, and thus has the following problem.

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 00 [H].
Or FF [H] or some other form. 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.

In the case of an ink cartridge having no storage element, it cannot be used at all.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when the printer cannot be recognized as a proper ink cartridge to be set in the main body, or when the user subjectively considers it, the printer is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can be switched to a printable safe drive condition (general-purpose drive condition).

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a serial printer in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a main body to perform printing by storing an optimum driving condition for an appropriate ink cartridge. Optimized driving condition storage means, general-purpose driving condition storage means for storing general-purpose driving conditions capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than an appropriate ink cartridge, A switching means for switching between the driving condition storage means and the driving condition storage means is provided.

Here, the optimum driving conditions for the appropriate ink cartridge are defined in terms of the color correction table, the applied voltage for ejection, the transport time of paper feed, and the like, so that the best print quality can be achieved with the appropriate ink cartridge. Indicates a condition (set value) that is selected and determined in advance.

The "switching means" for switching between the optimum driving condition storage means and the general-purpose driving condition storage means may be provided either automatically by providing a determination unit which will be described later, or manually by a manual switch. Is included.

According to the present invention, whether the ink cartridge is to be set in the main body and cannot be recognized as an appropriate ink cartridge, or if the user wants to switch the ink cartridge subjectively, it is possible to print with the printer. Printing can be performed by switching to a suitable driving condition (general-purpose driving condition).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a serial printer for performing printing by mounting an ink cartridge on a main body, wherein an optimum driving condition storing means for storing an optimum driving condition for an appropriate ink cartridge; General-purpose driving condition storage means for storing general-purpose driving conditions capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than the cartridge, and 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 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 for reading the ink information from the storage element; Compare one or more or all of the information of interest with the normal setting range data , In which case focus information is within the normal set range to perform the printing using the optimum drive condition, and if interest information is normal set range above,
And a determination unit for performing printing using the general-purpose driving conditions.

This is because, when a storage element is mounted on an 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 may be damaged by static electricity or some other cause. It is determined that the printer has been destroyed, and printing is performed by switching to driving conditions (general-purpose driving conditions) that are safe for printing by the printer. Since this is automatically determined, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a trouble such as clogging of a nozzle of a print head due to a difference in ink viscosity.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the second aspect, the ink information includes ink type and dye information as essential technical information, The driving process is switched by performing a determination process by focusing on the essential technical information.

Here, the essential technical information is essentially necessary information for determining whether to switch between the optimum driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, and includes information on the type of ink (ink type) and pigment (color information). Contains information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the second aspect, the ink information includes essential technical information necessary for the determination process in the determination unit and the essential information for the determination process. Is composed of additional information that is not necessarily required, 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. It is.

According to the present invention, when determining whether or not the ink information is within the normal setting range, and determining whether or not to switch between the optimal driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, the above-described essence is used. In addition to the technical information, it is determined whether or not the additional information is within the normal setting range, and by taking the result into account, the accuracy of the determination as to whether or not the ink information is truly destroyed is improved. Can be improved. For example, when data is replaced in the essential technical information for some reason within the normal setting range, apparently no data corruption has occurred. This means that the data has been replaced with data that does not match the ink information. This is substantially data destruction, and executing printing under the 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.

According to the present invention, the probability that a data destruction can be found is increased by increasing the information to be judged by adding additional information. For example, the essential technical information can be stored within the normal setting range as described above. When data replacement occurs, it is apparent that no data corruption has occurred in the data portion (item). However, if there is such a cause that the data replacement occurs, the additional information may cause the data to be replaced. Since the probability of destruction increases, 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, Printing can be executed by switching to driving conditions. Thereby, the occurrence of printing trouble can be reduced with high accuracy.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to any of the second to fourth aspects, an index is added to the ink information for each piece of essential technical information. It is characterized by being. This is one or two of the read ink information
This specifies one of the prerequisite technologies for comparing the above or all pieces of target information with the normal setting range data.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the data format of the ink information stored in the storage element is fixed, and the data format relating to the ink is previously determined. The arrangement order of the plurality of types of information is determined.

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. By determining the format of the ink information to be handled in this way, 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.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the value falls within the normal setting range among all the noted information of interest. The ratio of the degree of the information of interest that has not been obtained is determined, and the general-purpose driving conditions that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge are divided into multiple stages according to the ratio. And printing is performed. This makes it possible to print with as good a quality as possible even under printing under general driving conditions.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below 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 main body. In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 2 is provided with a readable and writable storage element 3, and 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 removal (for example, the ink cartridge) may be used. Remaining amount, 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.

The printer body 1 has a CPU 4 as a control unit for regulating the whole operation of the serial printer. The CPU 4 is provided with a memory 5 for storing a control program and data, and controls a printing operation. A print drive 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.

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 a general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 which stores general-purpose driving conditions capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than the proper ink cartridge.

In the present embodiment, the former optimum driving condition storage means 8 includes a color correction table storage section 81 and a head driving condition storage section 82 which sets a set value of an applied voltage for ejection.
And a paper feed time storage unit 83 that determines the paper transport time to change the drying time. Normally, based on the information from the optimum driving condition storage unit 8, the printing drive control unit 6 is selected to the optimum quality mode via the mode selection unit 10, and prints the 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.

In the present embodiment, the latter general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 is used as a general-purpose driving condition that can safely perform printing on an ink cartridge other than an appropriate ink cartridge. The applied voltage for the ejection is increased so that the ink can be properly ejected, that is, the head drive condition storage unit 92 in which the ejection pressure is increased, and the paper transport time is set so that a sufficient drying time can be obtained even with the ink that is difficult to dry. And a long paper feed time storage unit 93.

In this embodiment, the input to the print drive control unit 6 is manually performed by operating the manual switch 11 belonging to the mode selection unit 10 so that the optimal drive It is configured to be able to forcibly switch from the optimum quality mode based on the condition to the general-purpose quality mode based on the general-purpose driving condition from the general-purpose driving condition storage unit 9. If you switch to generic quality mode,
Based on the information from the general-purpose drive condition storage means 9, the print drive control unit 6 is selected to the general-purpose quality mode, and prints print data in the general-purpose quality mode.

Further, the CPU 4 stores a setting range storage means 1 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.
2, a data reading unit 13 for serially reading the ink information stored in the storage element 3, and comparing one or more or all or all of the noted information of the read ink information with the normal setting range data. If the information of interest is within the normal setting range, the printing is performed using the optimal driving conditions from the optimal driving condition storage means 8,
When the target information is out of the normal setting range, the image processing apparatus includes a determination unit 14 for performing printing using the general-purpose driving conditions from the general-purpose driving condition storage unit 9. 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.

In the case of the present embodiment, a plurality of types of ink information relating to the ink stored in the storage element 3 of the ink cartridge 2 have a fixed data format, and when the information of the storage element 3 is read, Is checked from the beginning of the information, and if a value that cannot be found at that time is detected, it is determined that the storage content of the storage element 3 has been destroyed. Drive the body. 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.

FIG. 3 shows a table of the normal setting range data stored in the setting range storage means 12. The items of this data table are the same as a plurality of types of information (ink information) on ink stored in the storage element 3. The first eight items from the first to eighth items are essential technical information considered to be necessary information for making a determination to switch between the optimal driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition.
The first four items are 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.

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). Bit), ink type (4 bits), dye (color information)
(8 bits). The “ink type” indicates a type such as quick-drying ink, low-bleed ink, high light-fast ink, and pigment ink, and ejects the same amount of liquid droplets because they have different physical properties such as viscosity and specific gravity. For this purpose, head drive control suitable 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.

"Dye" is a single black color, YMC (yellow,
It shows the color configuration such as three colors of magenta, cyan), monochrome multi-tone, six colors of light YMC, and six colors of orange-green, and an optimal color correction table is selected according to each color configuration. . 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.

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, deterioration of the ink over time (reduction of the degree of deaeration, deposition of thermal foreign matter, other deterioration) This causes the viscosity to increase or the color to change), so that it is necessary to perform correction based on the assumption and drive appropriately.

In the present embodiment, four bits are assumed as ink types and ten and several types are assumed, eight bits are used as a pigment in consideration of the degree of freedom of setting, four bits are used as the last digit of the year, and month and day are used. Assigned 4 bits and 8 bits, respectively, but there is no problem even if each bit number itself uses another value.

As the additional information, in this 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, and an ink remaining amount (142) Bit) and information (4 bits) indicating the production line.

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 above format (FIG. 2). S1 to S
3). That is, check from N = 1st ink information,
If the ink information falls within the normal setting range stored in the setting range storage unit 12, the process proceeds to step S4.
Through S6, the value is increased to N = N + 1, and the process returns to Step S3 to check the next second ink information in the same manner. This procedure is repeated, and if all 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 in the normal state. And N is determined in step S6.
= M, 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).

However, if it is found in step S4 of FIG. 2 that one of all the ink information (M types) is out of the normal setting range, the storage content of the storage element 3 is changed. It is determined that the printing has been destroyed by static electricity or the like, and printing is performed using the above-described general-purpose driving conditions (S5 in FIG. 2). However, printing can be performed using the above-mentioned general-purpose driving conditions only when the data of specific information of interest, for example, the item of the type of ink and the color information is out of the normal setting range.

A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. The upper part of FIG. 4 shows a case where the ink information is “normal”. The assumption is made on April 1, 1997, July 15, 1998.
Date attached, ink type data No. 10. Color type data N
o. 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.

The lower side of FIG. 4 shows an "abnormal" state in which this code has changed to another form due to static electricity. That is, 19
The contents of the first 4 bits (expressed in 1997) of the portion indicating the production on April 1, 1997 have been changed from "7" to "F". In addition, the third and fourth
The content of the production date represented by the fourth bit is also the original “0”.
It has changed from “1” to “00”. In addition, the ink type data No. 10 and the color classification data No. The data of the place where 3B should occur is the original “10” and “3”.
B "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” also 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.

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 production 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.

Although there is no problem when the above judgment 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 are added to the data of FIG. However, even if there is a change as shown in (1), no change in the data (also data destruction) can be detected. Even in such a case, the additional information (Nos. 9 to 12) shown in the table of FIG.
No.), it is quite possible that these additional information portions are out of the setting range due to the influence of the cause of the broken (replaced) ink type and color information.
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 replaced 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 the above-mentioned data destruction has been apparently undetectable in the ink type and color information based on the destruction of the additional information. Can be performed.

Alternatively, the driving 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. This production month is normal,
Since the manufacturing date “00” is out of the range of “01 to 31”, the determination of the determination unit 14 is “out of range”. Also, the data “11” of the ink type is apparently within the set range, and the data “3F” of the color information is also apparently within the set range. "Normal". In this way, the determination unit 14 sequentially compares the ink information read serially from the storage element 3 with the normal setting range data.

Then, the 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 an appropriate value is determined in accordance with the ratio. It is also possible to perform printing by dividing the general-purpose driving conditions that can safely perform printing on an ink cartridge other than the ink cartridge into multiple stages.

[0045]

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 one to be set in the main body, In the case of an ink cartridge without a storage element, or when the user determines that it is necessary subjectively, the printing is switched to the general-purpose driving condition, which is a driving condition on the safe side that can be printed by the printer. It can be performed. Therefore, the occurrence of printing troubles such as clogging of the head can be reduced.

[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 one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Ink cartridge 3 Storage element 4 CPU as control part 6 Print drive control part 7 Interface circuit part 8 Optimal drive condition storage means 9 General-purpose drive condition storage means 10 Mode selection part 12 Setting range storage means 13 Reading part 14 Judgment 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)

[Claims] 1. A serial printer for performing printing by mounting an ink cartridge on a main body, comprising: an optimal driving condition storing means for storing 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, and switching means for switching between the optimal driving condition storing means and the general-purpose driving condition storing means as printing conditions. Characteristic serial printer. 2. A serial printer which carries out printing by mounting an ink cartridge on a main body, comprising: an optimum driving condition storing means for storing an optimum driving condition for an appropriate ink cartridge; A general-purpose driving condition storing means for storing general-purpose driving conditions capable of safely performing printing, 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 a storage element; a reading unit that reads ink information from the storage element;
The above or all of the information of interest is compared with the normal setting range data, and when the information of interest is within the normal setting range, printing is performed using the optimum driving condition, and the information of interest is out of the normal setting range. And a determining unit for performing printing using the general-purpose driving condition. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ink information is:
A serial printer comprising information of ink type and dye as essential technical information, wherein the determination unit performs a determination process by focusing on the essential technical information and switches driving conditions. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ink information is:
Consisting of essential technical information required for the determination process in the determination unit and additional information that is not necessarily required for the determination process,
A serial printer, wherein the determination unit performs a determination process by focusing on all ink information including the essential technical information and the 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. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data format of the ink information stored in the storage element is fixed, and the arrangement order of the plurality of types of information related to ink is determined in advance. Serial printer. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the amount of the attention information whose value does not fall within the normal setting range among all the attention information for which the determination is made is obtained. A serial printer, wherein printing is performed by dividing the general-purpose driving condition into multiple stages according to the degree of the ratio.