JP2002036517A - Ink-jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the printing time by executing the reciprocal direction printing (printing for one pass each at the time of moving in the forward direction and moving in the reverse direction) while scattering a water resistance reinforcing agent. SOLUTION: A water resistance reinforcing agent nozzle group 15 with a double length in the sub scanning direction is provided on the forward movement side of a printing head 10 of color ink nozzle groups of each color 11-14 (side with the printing head 10 moving in the forward direction). In the case the printing head 10 is moved in the forward direction, a water resistance reinforcing agent is scattered by the nozzle group in a printing area of the nozzle groups 11-14 for one pass and the next pass and the printing operation is executed by the nozzle groups 11-14 for each color. In the case of movement in the reverse direction, the printing operation is executed in the printing area for the next pass by the nozzle groups 11-14 without scattering the water resistance reinforcing agent by the nozzle group 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer for spraying a water-resistant reinforcing agent on printing paper to prevent ink from bleeding on the printing paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when plain paper is used in an ink jet printer, a clear printed image cannot be obtained because ink bleeds into the paper. In order to obtain a clear print image, a special printing paper that can suppress ink bleeding has been used. However, special printing paper is
It was more expensive than plain paper.

Therefore, as a method of obtaining a clear image even when using plain paper, there has been proposed a method of spraying a water-resistant reinforcing agent on printing paper to prevent ink from bleeding into printing paper. The print head is provided with a nozzle for spraying the ink and a nozzle for spraying the water-resistant reinforcing agent.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional print head. As shown in FIG. 11, the print head 30 includes:
K (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C
Nozzle group 1 that sprays ink of each color (cyan)
1, 12, 13 and 14 are provided. further,
In the figure of K (black), a nozzle group 31 for spraying the water-resistant reinforcing agent is provided on the left side.

When printing is performed, printing for one pass is performed by reciprocating the print head 30 in the main scanning direction. First, the nozzle group 31 sprays the water resistant enhancer on the printing paper during the forward movement, and then the nozzle groups 11 to 14 spray the respective color inks on the printing paper during the reverse movement.

[0006]

However, in the conventional ink jet printer which sprays the above-mentioned water resistant enhancer, the printing head is reciprocated in the main scanning direction to perform printing for one pass. There was a problem that it took time.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to perform so-called bidirectional printing (printing for one pass at each time of moving in the forward direction and at the time of moving in the reverse direction) while spraying the water-resistant reinforcing agent. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer capable of shortening the time. In this specification, one pass means main scanning in the forward direction or the reverse direction of the print head, and a print area for one pass is formed by a print head scanned in the forward direction or the reverse direction. A print area for several lines.

[0008]

An ink jet printer according to the present invention includes a print head reciprocating in a main scanning direction and a first head provided on the print head for spraying ink for printing for one pass. And a nozzle group provided on the outward movement side of the first nozzle group of the print head;
A second nozzle group for spraying a waterproofing enhancer on a print area for a pass and a next pass, wherein when the print head moves forward, the second nozzle group prints for one pass and the next pass. The first group of nozzles performs printing for the one pass while spraying a water resistant enhancer on the area, and when the print head moves back, the first nozzle group performs printing for the next pass. It is characterized by the following.

An ink jet printer according to the present invention includes a print head reciprocating in a main scanning direction, and a first nozzle group provided on the print head for spraying ink for performing one-pass printing. A second nozzle group provided on the forward side of the first nozzle group of the print head and capable of spraying a water-resistant reinforcing agent on a print area for the first pass and the next pass. In the case of printing, the second group of nozzles sprays a water-resistant reinforcing agent on the first and second pass printing areas, and performs the first pass printing with the first nozzle group. In printing, the second nozzle group sprays a water-resistant reinforcing agent on the printing area of the next pass, and the first nozzle group prints the current pass.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print head of an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the print head shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the operation of the print head when moving in the forward direction.
FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an operation when the print head moves in the reverse direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the print head 10 includes:
K (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C
Nozzle group 1 that sprays ink of each color (cyan)
1, 12, 13 and 14 are provided at equal intervals in the main scanning direction. Each of the nozzle groups 11 to 14 performs one pass of printing when the print head 10 moves in the forward and reverse directions for main scanning.

Further, the nozzle group 1 of C color of the print head 10
4, the nozzle group 1 for spraying the water-resistant reinforcing agent is on the right side.
5 are provided. The nozzle group 15 includes the nozzle group 11,
It is provided on the forward movement side of the print head 10 (the side on which the print head 10 moves in the forward direction) rather than 12, 13, and 14. The length of the nozzle group 15 in the sub-scanning direction is twice the length of the nozzle groups 11, 12, 13, and 14, and the water resistant enhancer is sprayed on the print area for one pass and the next pass of the nozzle groups 11 to 14. be able to. However, the nozzles of the nozzle groups 11 to 15 are similarly regularly arranged and have the same nozzle diameter.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the print head 10
Moves in the forward direction, the nozzle groups 11 to
Nozzle group 1 in the print area for one pass and the next pass
5 to spray the water-resistant reinforcing agent and the nozzle group 11
The printing of each color is performed by.

When the print head 10 moves in the reverse direction, as shown in FIG.
The nozzle groups 11 to 11 were not sprayed with the water-resistant reinforcing agent according to No. 5.
14, printing is performed on the print area for the next pass. Thereby, so-called bidirectional printing, in which printing for one pass is performed when the print head 10 moves in the forward direction and in the reverse direction, respectively, can be performed.

Generally, aqueous inks are used in ink jet printers. The water resistance enhancer has a fast drying property, and changes a water-based ink into a water-resistant ink. The water resistance enhancer is sprayed on the printing paper before printing is performed. When the inks of the respective colors are sprayed by the nozzle groups 11 to 14, the water-resistant reinforcing agent and the ink sprayed at the same position are mixed and immediately dried and stabilized. This allows
Bleeding of ink on plain paper is prevented.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink jet printer includes a print data processing unit 21, a print data storage unit 22, a strengthening agent dispersion range calculation unit 2
Reference numeral 3 includes a path management unit 24, a printing unit 25, a line feed control unit 26, and a line feed motor 27.

The print data processing unit 21 receives print data transmitted from a host device to which the inkjet printer is connected, and analyzes a character / control code included in the received print data. Print data processing unit 21
Transmits the path information to the path management unit 24 based on the analysis result.
And outputs the bitmap data to the print data storage unit 22. The print data storage unit 22 stores 2
Bitmap data for the pass is stored.

The strengthening agent spraying range calculating unit 23 calculates a printing area (waterproofing strengthening agent spraying area) for each pass from the bitmap data stored in the printing data storage unit 22, and prints the waterproofing strengthening agent. , For example, the spraying start position and the movement amount (the distance between the spraying start position and the spraying end position) are calculated.

The path management unit 24 includes a print data processing unit 21
Is converted into line feed information. The line feed control unit 26 drives a line feed motor 27 according to line feed information output from the path management unit 24. Line feed motor 27
Cooperates with a transport mechanism (not shown) to transport the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction (in the positional relationship with the print head 10).

The printing unit 25 reciprocates the print head 10 in the main scanning direction and drives the nozzle groups 11 to 15 of the print head 10. The printing unit 25 includes a path management unit 24
Information and reinforcing agent spraying range calculation unit 2 output from
Based on the position information (dispersion start position and movement amount) of the print head 10 calculated by step 3, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water resistant enhancer, and the path information output from the path management unit 24 and the print data storage unit. 22 based on the bitmap data stored in the nozzle groups 11 to 1
The printing is performed by spraying the inks of the respective colors according to 4.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the schematic operation of the print head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 (a) and FIG.
As shown in (b), the print head 10 moves in the forward direction, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water resistant enhancer on the first pass and second pass print areas, and at the same time, the nozzle groups 11 to 14 cause one pass. Printing is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the printing paper P is transported by one pass in the sub-scanning direction, and a line feed is performed. Next, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the print head 10 moves in the reverse direction, and the second pass printing is performed by the nozzle groups 11 to 14. At this time, the nozzle group 15 does not spray the water-resistant reinforcing agent. Next, the printing paper P is transported by one pass in the sub-scanning direction, a line feed is performed, and thereafter, the same operation is repeated.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to perform bidirectional printing while spraying the waterproofing enhancer with the print head 10. Therefore, the printing time can be reduced. Further, since the nozzle group 15 can be provided on one side (outgoing side) of the nozzle groups 11 to 14, the structure of the print head 10 does not become complicated.

Embodiment 2 The ink jet printer according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment, but differs in the operation of the print head 10. In the print head 10 of the second embodiment, at the time of the first pass printing, as in the first embodiment, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water resistant enhancer on the first pass and the second pass print areas, Printing of the first pass is performed by the groups 11 to 14. At the time of printing in the second and subsequent passes, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water resistance enhancer on the print area in the next pass, and the nozzle groups 11 to 14 perform printing in the current pass.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the print head according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6A and FIG.
As shown in (b), the print head 10 moves in the forward direction, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water resistant enhancer on the first pass and second pass print areas, and at the same time, the nozzle groups 11 to 14 cause one pass. Printing is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the printing paper P is transported by one pass in the sub-scanning direction, and a line feed is performed. Next, as shown in FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D, the print head 10 moves in the reverse direction, and the water resistance enhancer is sprayed on the print area of the third pass by the nozzle group 15, and at the same time, the nozzle group The second pass printing is performed by 11 to 14.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8E, the printing paper P is transported by one pass in the sub-scanning direction, and a line feed is performed. Next, as shown in FIGS. 8E and 8F, the print head 10 moves in the forward direction, and the water resistance enhancer is sprayed on the print area of the fourth pass by the nozzle group 15, and at the same time, the nozzle group The third pass printing is performed by 11 to 14.

Thereafter, similarly, each time the print head 10 moves in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the nozzle group 1
5 sprays the water resistant enhancer on the printing area of the next pass,
At the same time, printing of the current pass is performed by the nozzle groups 11 to 14.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the printing operation of the ink jet printer according to the second embodiment. Here, the print data is received by the print data processing unit 21, the path information analyzed by the print data processing unit 21 is output to the path management unit 24, and the bitmap data is output to the print data storage unit 22. I do.

First, the work is initialized (N = 1) (step S1), and it is determined whether the print data on this page is two or more passes (step S2).

If it is determined that the number of passes is equal to or more than two, the N-th pass and the N + 1-th pass (the first pass and the second pass) are performed based on the bitmap data stored in the print data storage unit 22 by the strengthening agent dispersion range calculation unit 23. The printing area (area to which the water resistant enhancer is applied) is calculated (step S3, step S3).
4) The spray start position and the movement amount of the print head 10 for spraying the water resistance enhancer of each pass are calculated (step S5).

Next, while moving the print head 10 in the forward direction, the nozzle group 15
The water-resistant reinforcing agent is sprayed on the print area of the +1 pass (the first pass and the second pass), and at the same time, the Nth pass (the first pass) is printed by the nozzle groups 11 to 14 (step S).
6).

Next, it is determined whether the print data of this page is three or more passes (step S7). When it is determined that the number of passes is three or more, a line feed of the printing paper is performed (step S8), and the work is updated (N = N + 1) (step S9).

Next, the N + 1th pass print area (water resistant enhancer spray area) is calculated from the bitmap data stored in the print data storage section 22 by the enhancer spraying range calculation section 23 (step S10), and the N + 1th pass is performed. The spraying start position and the moving amount of the print head 10 for spraying the water-resistant reinforcing agent are calculated (step S11).

Next, while moving the print head 10 in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water resistant enhancer on the (N + 1) th pass printing area, and at the same time, prints the Nth pass printing by the nozzle groups 11 to 14. Is performed (step S12).

Next, it is determined whether the current print pass is the last print pass-1 (step SS13). When it is determined that the current print pass is not the last print pass-1, the process returns to step S8.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the current print pass is the last print pass-1, a line feed of the printing paper is performed (step S14), and the work is updated (N = N + 1) (step S15). Then, while moving the print head 10 in the forward direction or the reverse direction, printing of the last print pass is performed by the nozzle groups 11 to 14 (step S16).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the print data of this page is less than three passes, the process proceeds to step S14.
And a line feed of the printing paper is performed (step S14).
The work is updated (N = 2) (step S15). Then, while moving the print head 10 in the reverse direction,
The second pass printing is performed by the nozzle groups 11 to 14 (step S16).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S2 that the print data on this page is less than two passes, the first pass printing from the bitmap data stored in the print data storage unit 22 by the strengthening agent dispersion range calculation unit 23 is performed. An area (water-reinforcement spraying area) is calculated (step S17), and a spray start position and a movement amount of the print head 10 for spraying the first pass of the water-resistant strengthening agent are calculated (step S1).
8).

Next, while moving the print head 10 in the forward direction, the nozzle group 15 sprays the water-resistant reinforcing agent on the print area of the first pass, and at the same time, the nozzle groups 11 to 1
4 to perform the first pass printing (step S1).
9).

As described above, also in the second embodiment, it is possible to perform bidirectional printing while spraying the waterproofing enhancer with the print head 10. Therefore, the printing time can be reduced.

[0043]

According to the present invention, bidirectional printing can be performed by the first nozzle group while spraying the water-resistant reinforcing agent by the second nozzle group. Therefore, the printing time can be reduced. Further, since the second nozzle group can be provided on one side (outgoing side) of the first nozzle group, the structure of the print head does not become complicated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print head of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are diagrams showing an operation of the print head shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an operation when the print head moves in a forward direction, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation when the print head moves in the reverse direction.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic operation of the print head according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic operation of the print head according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic operation of a print head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic operation of a print head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a schematic operation of a print head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the ink jet printer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the ink jet printer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional print head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 print head 11 nozzle group of K color ink 12 nozzle group of Y color ink 13 nozzle group of M color ink 14 nozzle group of C color ink 15 nozzle group of water resistance enhancer

Claims (2)

[Claims] A print head that reciprocates in a main scanning direction; a first nozzle group provided on the print head for spraying ink for performing printing for one pass; and a first nozzle group of the print head. A second nozzle group that is provided on the forward side of the nozzle group and is capable of spraying a water-resistant reinforcing agent on the print area for the one pass and the next pass. The nozzle group of No. 2 sprays the waterproofing agent on the print area for one pass and the next pass, and performs the printing for one pass by the first nozzle group. When the print head moves backward, An ink jet printer, wherein printing for the next pass is performed by a first nozzle group. 2. A print head reciprocating in a main scanning direction, a first nozzle group provided on the print head and spraying ink for performing one-pass printing, and a first nozzle group of the print head. A second nozzle group that is provided on the outward movement side of the nozzle group and that can spray a water-resistant reinforcing agent on the print area for the first pass and the next pass. In the case of printing for the first pass, the second nozzle group is provided. The first group of nozzles performs the first-pass printing while the first group of nozzles performs the first-pass printing, and the second nozzle group performs the second-pass printing. An ink jet printer which sprays a water-resistant reinforcing agent on a printing area of a next pass by a nozzle group of the present invention and performs printing of a current pass by the first nozzle group.