JP2001191552A - Image data-supplying apparatus, printing apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently print with avoiding wasteful printing and waste of a printing agent and a printing medium in a printing system which includes a printing apparatus for executing the printing by applying the printing agent to the printing medium and an image data-supplying apparatus for supplying image data to make the printing apparatus print. SOLUTION: Means (123 and 313) for detecting a quantity of the remaining printing agent and means (301 and 307) for informing data (L2) indicating the detected quantity to the image data-supplying apparatus are set to this printing apparatus (2). Moreover, means (S3) for obtaining a necessary quantity of the printing agent to be consumed to print the image data before the image data is supplied and means (S5) for judging from the quantity of the printing agent to be consumed and the informed quantity of the remaining printing agent whether the image data can be printed or not are set to this image data- supplying apparatus (1).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data supply device, a printing device for printing print data output from the device, and a printing system including the same, and more particularly to a printing agent applied to a printing medium by the printing device. It is suitable to be applied to a device having a means for detecting the remaining amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a printing medium, for example, an ink jet printer for performing printing by discharging ink onto the printing medium, and a laser for performing printing by attaching toner to the printing medium. In a printer or the like, means for detecting the remaining amount of the printing agent by various methods is provided.

For example, in an ink-jet printer, a pair of electrodes are arranged opposite to an ink tank for storing ink, and the remaining amount is detected according to a change in capacitance between the electrodes due to a decrease in the ink level. A pair of electrodes arranged in an ink tank or an ink supply system to the print head, and the remaining amount of ink is determined according to the presence or absence of conduction between the electrodes. In any case, a warning is issued when the remaining amount of ink is less than a predetermined amount, or the printing operation is temporarily disabled.

[0004]

However, in a conventional printing apparatus, for example, an ink jet printing apparatus, a situation in which the remaining amount of ink is exhausted during the printing operation (out of ink) is taken into consideration and the remaining amount of ink is taken into consideration. Considering the case where the capacity of the detection means is not enough or errors, etc.,
In many cases, the warning and the point at which printing is disabled are set uniformly long before the time at which printing is disabled.

Therefore, in a configuration using a cartridge-type ink tank, the user may immediately replace the ink tank in response to a warning even though unused ink is still stored. Economy. If you ignore the warning and continue printing,
You must always work while worrying about running out of ink. In addition, if the printing becomes impossible due to the fact that the ink has actually run out, not only will the printing medium that had been printing up to that point be wasted, but the printing must be performed again, so that It will be wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate waste of ink and print media, and to enable efficient printing.

[0007]

For this purpose, the present invention provides an image data supply apparatus for receiving data indicating the remaining amount of a printing agent from a printing apparatus which performs printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium. Means for supplying image data for causing the printing apparatus to perform printing, means for determining the consumption of the printing agent required to print the image data, prior to supplying the image data, Means for determining whether or not the image data can be printed based on the consumed amount and the remaining amount.

Here, when it is determined by the determination means that printing is not possible, the fact is notified and the image data is not supplied.

[0009] Further, if the determination means determines that printing is not possible, the image data can be edited so as to enable printing by changing the consumption of the printing agent.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium based on image data supplied from an image data supply device, wherein the remaining amount of the printing agent is detected. And means for notifying the image data supply device of data indicating the detected remaining amount.

[0011] A print system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising an image data supply device of any one of the above-described forms and a printing device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a printing medium, and an image data supplying apparatus for supplying image data for causing the printing apparatus to perform printing. And a means for detecting the remaining amount of the printing agent, means for determining the amount of the printing agent required to print the image data, and the consumption amount and the remaining amount. And means for determining whether or not the image data can be printed.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is a printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium based on image data supplied from an image data supply device, wherein the remaining printing agent remains. Means for detecting the amount, means for determining the consumption of the printing agent required to print the image data, means for determining whether or not the image data can be printed from the consumption and the remaining amount, It is characterized by having.

In these embodiments, when the determination means determines that printing is not possible, the image data is edited so as to enable printing by changing the consumption of the printing agent. Can be.

In the above, the printing apparatus may use a print head that performs printing by discharging the ink as the printing agent onto the print medium, wherein the print head discharges the ink. The heat generating element may generate heat energy that causes film boiling of the ink as energy used for the heating.

Further, the present invention provides an image output apparatus for supplying image data for causing a printing apparatus to perform printing, by applying a printing agent to a printing medium to perform printing from the printing apparatus that performs printing. Prior to the supply of the image data, the amount of the printing agent required to print the image data is obtained, and the amount of the printing agent required for printing the image data is obtained. The present invention resides in a storage medium storing a control program for executing a process of determining whether or not the control program is available.

In this specification, "print"
(Sometimes referred to as "records") refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures,
It also refers to the case where images, patterns, patterns, etc. are widely formed on a print medium, or whether the medium is processed, irrespective of whether or not it has been exposed so that humans can perceive it visually. I do.

Here, the term "print medium" refers not only to paper used in a general printing apparatus but also broadly, a cloth, a plastic film, a metal plate and the like that can accept ink.

Further, "ink" is to be interpreted broadly as in the definition of "print" described above, and is formed on a print medium to form an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc., or to process the print medium. Liquid that can be provided to

[0020]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In general, a printing apparatus 2 and a host apparatus 1 which serves as a supply source of image data to the printing apparatus 2 and performs required control during a printing operation. It is composed of

In this embodiment, the host device 1
It is assumed that a digital camera having the following units is used. That is, reference numeral 11 denotes an imaging device such as a CCD, which inputs image data from a subject. Reference numeral 12 denotes a buffer memory for temporarily storing data input from the CCD 11, and reference numeral 13 denotes a RAM having an area such as a work area for processing image data developed in the buffer memory 12.
It is.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a CPU for controlling each unit of the apparatus in accordance with a processing procedure described later with reference to FIG. 6, and a series of programs for performing the control is stored in the ROM 14. Reference numeral 17 denotes a display device of the digital camera, which has a function of displaying image data stored in the buffer memory 12 and displaying a message to the user such as printability obtained by processing described later. Reference numeral 16 denotes an input device having various switches and the like for receiving inputs for user operations and editing. Reference numeral 19 denotes an input / output interface connected to the printing apparatus 2 for exchanging image data L1, ink remaining amount information L2, and the like with the printing apparatus 2. Reference numeral 15 denotes an internal system bus in the digital camera for connecting the above components, and includes an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration example of the printing apparatus 2.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 104 denotes a fixed lever for detachably mounting a head unit having a plurality of ejection ports arranged therein and having a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink droplets from each ejection port on the carriage 103; The head unit is stored in this lever. In the case of the present embodiment, the head unit integrally has four color ink recording heads of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). For example, recording paper 1 as a print medium
Dots are formed on the reference numeral 10 so that a color image or the like can be printed.

Although FIG. 2 shows an apparatus for performing full-color printing by ejecting four color inks of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, the number and form of ink colors or print heads are not limited to this. Of course not.

The carriage 103 is moved in the directions of arrows a and b along the guide shaft 105 by transmitting the driving force of the carriage driving motor 113 via the motor pulley 112, the driven pulley 111, and the timing belt 107. It is provided so that it can move. On the other hand, the recording paper 110 as a print medium is transported by two pairs of transport rollers 106, 107 and 108, 109 provided on the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction. The recording paper 110 has its back surface supported by a platen (not shown) so as to form a flat recording surface at a position facing the discharge port of the print head. As described above, the scanning of the recording paper of the print head by the movement of the carriage 103 and the conveyance of the recording paper by the conveyance roller form an image or the like sequentially in a predetermined area of the recording paper.

The image data and the like for printing are transmitted from an electric circuit constituting a control section of the printer body to a drive circuit of a print head via a flexible cable (not shown).

A recovery unit 120 is provided at the home position when the print head moves. The recovery unit 120 includes four caps 121 arranged corresponding to the ejection port arrays of the print heads of the respective ink colors.
And a pump unit (not shown) connected to each cap by a tube or the like. The cap 121 is capable of moving up and down in accordance with the movement of the carriage 103 when the carriage 103 approaches, and a surface (hereinafter, referred to as a discharge port) of the corresponding print head when the print head is at the home position. (Also referred to as a discharge port surface) so as to cover the discharge port (capping). This capping prevents thickening or sticking due to evaporation of the ink in the ejection openings, thereby preventing ejection failures from occurring. In addition, when the ink tank is replaced or a print head discharge failure occurs, the pump unit is operated under the above-described capping state to make the inside of the cap a negative pressure, and the discharge port is suctioned by the negative pressure. Then, a suction recovery process is performed in which the ink is sucked from the ink and new ink is guided. Further, the recovery unit 120
Is provided between the cap 121 and the print area with a wiper blade 122 for wiping ink droplets or the like adhered to the discharge port surface of the print head and cleaning the discharge port surface.

The cap 121 and the wiper blade 122
A photo interrupter 123 is provided between the two.
The photointerrupter 123 is used to irradiate the bottom surface of the ink tank 102 on the carriage 103 with light and receive the reflected light to measure the light reflectance of the ink tank, as described later. In other words, the carriage 103 is moved so that the ink tanks of the respective colors face the photointerrupter, so that the light reflectance of each ink tank can be measured.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, each print head integrally has a discharge section for discharging ink of a certain color, and an ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to the corresponding discharge section, and is formed in the form of a cartridge. It is removably mounted on the carriage 103. Then, when the ink runs out, a new ink tank can be exchanged for each color.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the print head. As shown in FIG. 3, an ejection port 14 for ejecting ink as droplets is
2 are arranged. The ink tank 1 is provided in the ejection port 142
Ink is supplied from 02 through the supply port 144, the supply pipe 145, the common liquid chamber 143 of the discharge section, and the liquid path 147. The ink supplied to the discharge port 142 is heated by, for example, a heating element (heater) disposed in the liquid path 147, and becomes a minute droplet from the discharge port 142 by bubbles generated by the film boiling of the ink accompanying the heating. Is discharged.

The ink tank 102 has the above-described supply port 14.
In addition to the above, an air communication port 156 for performing gas-liquid exchange accompanying ink consumption is provided, and an ink absorber 157 made of polyurethane or the like is housed inside. Pressure is generated to achieve stable ejection of ink droplets.

The print head 312 and the ink tank 102 are mounted on the carriage 103 as described above.
The main scanning is performed along shafts 159 and 160 slidably engaged with the carriage. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, L is located at a predetermined position of the carriage 103 in the scanning direction.
A reflection type photo interrupter 123 in which the ED element and the light receiving element are integrated is provided, and a hole 15 formed in the carriage 103 at the predetermined position in the main scanning process.
2, light can be applied to the bottom surface of the absorber 157 of the ink tank 102. This photo interrupter 1
23 LEDs are black commonly used in color printers,
Each of the four color inks of cyan, magenta and yellow emits infrared light having transparency, and the light receiving element is also an LED.
Have sufficient sensitivity to the wavelength of the reflected infrared light emitted. Here, by providing the photo interrupter 123 separately from the carriage 103, a power supply line or a signal line for the photo interrupter between the carriage and the inkjet printing apparatus main body becomes unnecessary.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams schematically showing a state in which the photointerrupter 123 irradiates the lower surface of the ink tank 102 with light. As shown in FIG. 7A, when there is sufficient ink in the ink tank 102, the gap between the wall surface of the ink tank 102 and the absorber 7 is filled with ink, and as shown in FIG. When there is no or low ink in the ink tank 102, air has entered the gap between the wall of the ink tank 102 and the absorber 7. As a result, the reflectance of the light emitted from the photointerrupter 123 is higher in the state of FIG. 4B than in the state of FIG. For example, if the material of the ink tank 102 and the absorber 7 is plastic, the refractive index thereof is about 1.5, and the refractive index of the ink is about 1.4,
The reflectance in the state of FIG. 4B is about 40 times the reflectance in the state of FIG. 4A, and the presence or absence of the ink can be detected based on this difference.

Incidentally, actually, the photo interrupter 1
The area where the light 23 is irradiated is not a dot but has a certain size, and the output of the photointerrupter 123 changes continuously because it is detected that the ink gradually runs out in that area.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the printing apparatus 2 described above.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 301 denotes a system controller for controlling the entire printing apparatus 2, and includes a microprocessor, a storage element (ROM) storing a control program, and a microprocessor. A storage element (RAM) used for performing processing is provided.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a driver for driving a motor 304 for moving the carriage 103. Similarly, reference numeral 303 denotes a motor 305 for conveying a print medium.
This is a driver for driving. That is, the motors 304 and 305 operate by receiving information such as the speed and the moving distance from the corresponding driver.

Reference numeral 307 denotes a transmission / reception buffer for temporarily storing data L1 and L2 exchanged with the host device 1, and stores data until data is read by the system controller. Reference numeral 308 denotes a frame memory for expanding data to be printed into image data, and stores image data to be expanded based on data read from the reception buffer 307 by the system controller 301. This frame memory 30
Reference numeral 8 denotes a memory size necessary for printing, and in this embodiment, can store image data for one print medium. However, it goes without saying that the application of the present invention is not limited to the size of the frame memory. Reference numeral 309 denotes a memory for storing print data for one line by scanning of the print head, and has a storage capacity corresponding to the number of discharge ports of the print head.

Reference numeral 310 denotes a print control unit that controls the driving of the ejection unit in accordance with a command from the system controller 301, and controls, for example, the ejection frequency and the number of ejections of the ejection unit. Reference numeral 311 denotes a driver that drives each of the ejection units 312Bk, 312C, 312M, and 312Y to perform ink ejection under the control of the print control unit 310.

A detection unit 313 obtains the output from the photointerrupter 123 described above with reference to FIG. 1 and converts the output into a digital value corresponding to the output value.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a series of processing procedures in the system including the host device 1 and the printing device 2 described above.

First, in step S1, in the host device 1 in the form of a digital camera, the imaging device 11 inputs image data from a subject. Next, in step S2, the image data (generally RGB data) stored in the buffer memory 12 is converted into data (generally YMCK data) printable by the printing apparatus 2. And
In step S3, the amount of each ink required to print the converted data is calculated. It should be noted that this can be performed simultaneously in the process of performing the process of step S2.

In step S4, the system controller 301, the transmission / reception buffer 307, and the host-side input / output interface 1
9 and the like, the ink remaining amount data L2 is input.

Here, the timing for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the printing apparatus 2 is determined by the photo interrupter 123 as needed when each recording head reaches the above-described predetermined position in the main scanning process for a printing operation or the like. The detection may be performed by transmitting and receiving light, or the detection may be performed at the end of a predetermined event involving ink consumption such as a printing process or a recovery process. In these cases,
The printing apparatus 2 notifies the host apparatus 1 of the ink remaining amount data L2 for each detection operation.
It can be stored in a predetermined area of M13.

Alternatively, prior to the host apparatus 1 instructing the actual printing operation, the host apparatus 1 makes an inquiry to the printing apparatus 2, and the printing apparatus 2 executes the detecting operation according to the inquiry, and notifies the host apparatus 1 of the result. You can also.

Then, in step S5, step S
The required amount of ink calculated in step 3 is compared with the remaining amount of ink obtained in step S4, and it is determined whether or not the data to be printed can be printed. If printing is possible, in step S6, the fact that printing is possible is displayed on the display device 17, the procedure is terminated, and the process proceeds to the next processing of the system. That is, the process waits for an input of a print start instruction by the operator corresponding to the display,
The print data is transferred in accordance with the input, and the printing apparatus 2 actually executes a print operation.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that printing is not possible, the fact is displayed on the display device 17 in step S7, and it is confirmed in step S8 whether or not editing is to be performed. Editing here means the color of the image,
By changing the brightness etc., the ink consumption is changed,
This is to confirm again the possibility of printing. For example,
In the case where only a certain amount of ink is scarce, an editing process for substituting another color or an editing process for the image itself can be performed, thereby making a printable state.
The confirmation for the editing process can be accompanied by a predetermined display for asking the operator whether or not the editing is possible. Then, if there is no need to edit, or if the remaining amount of ink is insufficient even after editing, this procedure is terminated. In this case, a display process or the like that prompts the operator to refill the ink (replace the ink tank) can be performed as a subsequent process. When editing, step S
After performing the editing process in step 9, the process returns to step S3, and the subsequent processes are executed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the digital camera determines whether or not printing is possible before the print data is transferred to the printing apparatus, so that useless printing and transfer operations can be avoided. .

In the above embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not printing is possible when printing an image on one sheet of recording paper, and how many sheets are printed when printing on a plurality of recording sheets. It is also possible to determine and indicate whether the combination is possible, and which combination can be printed when a plurality of images are printed.

In the above example, a digital camera is used as the host device 1. However, the present invention is applicable to any device that can output print data to the printing device 2, such as a personal computer or a workstation. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the input device 16 and the display device 17 are provided in the digital camera. However, the devices are combinedly used, such as using a television as a display device or a remote controller as an input device. It is also possible.

In addition, in the above example, print data is generated on the host device (digital camera) side.
It is also possible for the printing apparatus to receive the RGB data, calculate the ink consumption, and determine whether or not printing is possible.

In addition, in the above example, a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of ink using the photo interrupter 123 has been described.
It goes without saying that the configuration using the reflection type or transmission type optical sensor as in the above example is not limited to the above-described configuration. In addition to those using such light, a pair of electrodes are arranged opposite to an ink tank that stores ink, and the remaining amount is detected according to a change in capacitance between the electrodes due to a decrease in ink liquid level. Alternatively, a pair of electrodes may be arranged in an ink supply system to an ink tank or a print head, and the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink may be detected according to the presence or absence of conduction between the electrodes. Furthermore, even if not necessarily using a detection system by hardware like these, for example, from the initial use of the ink tank, the number of discharge operations and the discharge amount, the ink amount consumed by recovery is managed as data, The remaining amount may be detected by calculation or the like.

(Others) The printing apparatus used in the above embodiment is not limited to an ink jet printing apparatus using ink as long as it performs a printing operation by applying a printing agent to a printing medium. It can be effectively applied to any printing apparatus regardless of the method, such as a thermal transfer printer using a ribbon, a dot impact printer, and an electrophotographic printer such as a laser beam printer using toner.

However, when an ink jet recording type printing apparatus is used, a means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam or the like) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ink ejection is provided. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which a change in the state of ink is caused by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, 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 is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. 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 a 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, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body and the ink from the apparatus main body when attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing a different discharging from the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided for only one ink corresponding to a single color ink, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself 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. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the 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, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, a form may be adopted in which the liquid sheet or the solid substance is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. 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, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

Further, the present invention provides a plurality of devices (for example,
Host computer, interface device, reader,
Printer, etc.)
The present invention may be applied to an apparatus including one device (for example, a copying machine or a facsimile machine).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an image data supply device, and to provide the computer or the computer of the system or the image data supply device with the medium. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
Etc. can be used.

The computer executes the readout program code to realize not only the functions of the above-described embodiment, but also realizes that the OS running on the computer is actually executed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since it is possible to determine whether or not printing is possible prior to the printing operation, useless printing can be avoided, and efficient printing can be performed without wasting ink or a printing medium. Further, when the determination is made on the host device side, it is possible to avoid useless data transfer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration example of a printing apparatus used in the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a print head in the printing apparatus in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the principle of detecting the remaining amount of ink by the printing apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the printing apparatus in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a series of processing procedures in the system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 host device (digital camera) 2 printing device 11 imaging device (CCD) 12 buffer memory 13 RAM 14 ROM 16 input device 17 display device 18 CPU 19 input / output interface 102 ink tank 123 photo interrupter 307 transmission / reception buffer 312 ejection unit 313 detection unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA29 EB20 EB29 EB52 EB58 EC72 EC79 FA03 2C061 AQ05 AQ06 AR01 AS11 AS13 HK11 HV14 HV44 HV50 5B021 AA01 CC07 NN16

Claims (16)

[Claims] A means for receiving data indicating a remaining amount of the printing agent from a printing apparatus which performs printing by applying a printing agent to a printing medium; and an image data for causing the printing apparatus to perform printing. Means for supplying; means for determining the consumption of the printing agent required to print the image data prior to the supply of the image data; and whether or not the image data can be printed based on the consumption and the remaining amount. An image data supply device, comprising: means for determining 2. The image data according to claim 1, wherein when the determination means determines that printing is not possible, the fact is notified and the image data is not supplied. Feeding device. 3. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that edits the image data so as to enable printing by changing a consumption amount of the printing agent when the determining unit determines that printing is not possible. The image data supply device according to claim 1. 4. A printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium based on image data supplied from an image data supply device, comprising: means for detecting the remaining amount of the printing agent; Means for informing the image data supply device of data indicating the detected remaining amount. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a print head that performs printing by discharging ink as the printing agent onto the print medium is used. 6. The print according to claim 5, wherein the print head has a heating element that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling of the ink as energy used for discharging the ink. apparatus. 7. An image data supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a printing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, and
A printing system comprising: 8. A printing system comprising: a printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium; and an image data supply apparatus for supplying image data for causing the printing apparatus to perform printing. Means for detecting the remaining amount of the printing agent; means for determining the amount of consumption of the printing agent necessary for printing the image data; and whether or not the image data can be printed based on the amount of consumption and the remaining amount. And a means for judging. 9. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that edits the image data so as to enable printing by changing the consumption of the printing agent when the determining unit determines that printing is not possible. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein 10. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus uses a print head that performs printing by discharging ink as the printing agent onto the print medium. 11. The print according to claim 10, wherein the print head includes a heating element that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink as energy used for discharging the ink. system. 12. A printing apparatus for performing printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium based on image data supplied from an image data supply device, a unit for detecting a remaining amount of the printing agent, Means for determining the amount of consumption of the printing agent required to print the image data, and means for determining whether or not the image data can be printed based on the amount of consumption and the remaining amount. Printing equipment. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that edits the image data so as to enable printing by changing a consumption amount of the printing agent when the determining unit determines that printing is not possible. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein 14. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a print head that performs printing by discharging ink as the printing agent onto the print medium is used. 15. The print according to claim 14, wherein the print head has a heating element that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink as energy used for discharging the ink. apparatus. 16. An image output device for supplying image data for causing a printing device to perform printing, and data indicating the remaining amount of the printing agent from a printing device that performs printing by applying a printing agent to a print medium. Prior to the supply of the image data,
A storage for storing a control program for determining a consumption amount of the printing agent necessary for printing the image data and executing a process of determining whether or not the image data can be printed based on the consumption amount and the remaining amount. Medium.