JP2003266726A - Printing method, printing system and printing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing method for reducing the number of replacement times by a user by reducing the number of replacement times of an ink cartridge, a printing system and a printing program. <P>SOLUTION: The printing system is constituted of a printer with ink cartridges where ink of the same color is stored and an ink cartridge where a color other than the color is stored, and a computer for controlling the printer. In the case where printing is carried out not at a high speed and by a mode for reducing the number of replacement times, the computer judges whether or not a remaining amount of the same color ink is nearly equal (step S101), whether or not the remaining amount of the same color ink is nearly equal to a remaining amount of the ink cartridge which stores the other color ink (step S107), and the like. When the remaining amount of the same color ink is not nearly equal, the computer determines to primarily use the ink cartridge having a large remaining amount of ink (step S106). Printing is carried out by discharging the ink from the ink cartridge judged by the determination to be used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method, a printing system and a printing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer equipped with inks of light magenta, light cyan, and dark yellow in addition to inks of three primary colors of magenta, cyan, and yellow and black ink in order to print a high-quality image without graininess. There is. In this type of printer, the ink cartridges to be mounted can be individually changed according to the preference of the user.
Therefore, instead of installing ink cartridges of light magenta, light cyan and dark yellow, a user who wants to perform high-speed printing rather than high-quality printing, installs magenta, cyan, and yellow, and prints magenta, cyan, and yellow. The printer may include two ink cartridges. As a result, high-speed printing can be performed without changing the ink for a long time.

[0003]

However, even if the printer has a total of four colors including two ink cartridges each of cyan, magenta and yellow and one black ink cartridge, the ink There are seven cartridges. Therefore, in order to replace all the ink cartridges with new ink cartridges, it is necessary to replace each ink cartridge in accordance with the ink depletion of the ink cartridge, which results in a total of 7 replacements, which is a large number of replacements. Was becoming.

Therefore, as the number of times of replacement increases, the number of times of replacement work by the user also increases, which takes time and effort for the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method, a printing system, and a printing program capable of reducing the number of times of exchanging ink cartridges and reducing the number of times of exchange by users.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a recording head having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges containing ink of the same color, and An ink cartridge containing ink of a color different from that of the color, wherein a plurality of inks containing the same color of ink are provided in a printing method in which the ink of each ink cartridge is ejected from the nozzle onto a print recording medium to perform printing. Ejecting ink in a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color of ink so that the ink contained in one of the cartridges is consumed almost at the same time as the ink contained in the other ink cartridges. The point is to control and print.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, and the ink of each ink cartridge is transferred from the nozzles to a print recording medium. In the printing method of ejecting and printing, the gist of performing the printing is to preferentially eject the ink of the ink cartridge having a large amount of remaining ink among the plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the first aspect, among the ink cartridges containing the ink of the same color, the first one has the smallest remaining amount of ink.
When the difference between the remaining amount of the ink cartridge and the remaining amount of the second ink cartridge having the second smallest remaining amount of ink exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the remaining amount of ink of the first ink cartridge, When the remaining amount of the ink cartridges of other colors is almost the same, the printing is performed by preferentially ejecting the ink of the ink cartridges of the other colors and the ink of the first ink cartridge. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to any one of the first to third aspects, there are a plurality of ink cartridges for the same color containing ink of the same color for a plurality of colors. When the remaining amount of one set of the ink cartridges containing the color inks is almost the same, it is judged whether or not there is an ink cartridge for the same color of another color which is almost the same as this remaining amount, and the same remaining amount. The gist is to preferentially eject the inks of the same color ink cartridges of other colors to perform the printing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, and an ink cartridge containing an ink of a color different from the color. In a printing system for performing printing by ejecting the ink of each of the ink cartridges from a nozzle onto a print recording medium, a remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of ink in each of the ink cartridges, and A color detection unit for detecting the color of the ink and at least one ink of the plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color of ink are consumed so as to be consumed at substantially the same time as the ink of the other ink cartridge. The gist is that a control means for controlling the ejection of the ink in the ink cartridge containing the ink is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a recording head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ink cartridges containing ink of the same color are provided, and the ink of each ink cartridge is transferred from the nozzles to a print recording medium. In a printing system that ejects and prints, a remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of ink in each of the ink cartridges, and among the ink cartridges, ink of an ink cartridge with a large remaining amount of ink is preferentially ejected. The gist is that a control means for controlling so as to perform is provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fifth aspect, the control means controls the remaining of the first ink cartridge having the smallest remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges containing the same color ink. When the difference between the amount and the remaining amount of the second ink cartridge, which has the second smallest remaining amount of ink, is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the remaining amount of ink is substantially the same as the remaining amount of ink of the first ink cartridge. In the case where there is an ink cartridge of another color in the amount, the gist is to preferentially eject the ink of the ink cartridge of the other color and the ink of the first ink cartridge.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the control means has substantially the same residual amount of ink of the same color. When there is an ink cartridge containing ink of another color having almost the same remaining amount, control is performed so that inks of ink cartridges of other colors determined to have the same remaining amount are preferentially ejected. That is the summary.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of ink cartridges containing ink of the same color and a plurality of ink cartridges containing ink of a color different from the color. A control computer of a printing system for performing printing by ejecting from a plurality of nozzles provided in a recording head, a residual amount detecting means for detecting the residual amount of ink in each ink cartridge, The same color ink is contained so that at least one ink of the color detecting means for detecting and the plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink is consumed almost at the same time as the ink of the other ink cartridges. The purpose is to function as a control means for controlling the ejection of the ink in the ink cartridge That.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system including a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, and printing is performed by ejecting ink from the ink cartridges from a plurality of nozzles provided in a recording head. Control computer for controlling the remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in each of the ink cartridges, and preferentially ejecting the ink of the ink cartridge having the largest remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges. The point is to make it function as a control means.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing program according to the ninth aspect, the control means controls the first ink cartridge having the smallest remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges containing the same color ink. When the difference between the remaining amount and the remaining amount of the second ink cartridge having the second smallest remaining amount of ink is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the remaining amount of ink of the first ink cartridge and another color When it can be determined that the remaining amount of the ink cartridge is substantially the same, the gist is to preferentially eject the ink of the other color ink cartridge and the ink of the first ink cartridge.

The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claims 9 to 1.
In the print program described in any one of 1, the control unit causes the color detection unit and the remaining amount detection unit to have substantially the same remaining amount of ink of the same color, and the remaining amount substantially the same as these remaining amounts. When it is determined that there is an ink cartridge containing another color of ink, the function is such that the inks of the other color ink cartridges having substantially the same remaining amount are preferentially ejected. To do.

(Operation) According to the invention described in claim 1, 5 or 9, the ejection of the plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink is controlled, and the consumption time of the plurality of ink cartridges, that is, the replacement time. Same as above. Therefore, the ink cartridges can be collectively replaced, and the number of replacements can be reduced. Therefore, the labor of the user can be saved.

Further, normally, when the ink cartridge is replaced, in the printing system, an operation of ejecting ink from all the nozzles, that is, a so-called flushing operation is performed. Therefore, the number of times of replacement is reduced, the number of times of flushing is reduced, and the total amount of ink ejected by this flushing is reduced, so that wasteful ink can be reduced.

According to the second, sixth or tenth aspect of the present invention, among the plurality of ink cartridges containing the ink of the same color, the ink of the ink cartridge having a large remaining amount of ink is preferentially used. Therefore, even if there is a difference in the remaining amount of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, the remaining amount can be almost the same. Therefore, the ink in the ink cartridge containing the same color ink can be used on average, and the time when all the ink is consumed (the time when ink runs out) can be made approximately the same. That is, since the plurality of ink cartridges can be replaced at the same time, a plurality of ink cartridges can be collectively replaced, and the number of times of replacement of the ink cartridges can be reduced.

According to the third, seventh or eleventh aspect of the invention, when the ink remaining amount of the first ink cartridge is larger than the ink remaining amount of the second ink cartridge by a predetermined threshold value or more. , It is determined whether or not there is an ink cartridge of another color having a remaining amount of ink that is substantially the same as the remaining amount of the first ink cartridge. Then, when there is an ink cartridge of another color having almost the same remaining amount, the first ink cartridge and the ink cartridge of another color are preferentially discharge controlled. As a result, when only one of the ink cartridges of the same color is newly replaced, the ink cartridge that has just been replaced and has a large remaining amount can be left as is, and the ink that has been used more than half and not replaced can be used first. It is possible.

According to the invention described in claim 4, 8 or 12, it is possible to make the time when all the inks of a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink are consumed almost at the same time, and at the same time for other colors. The time when all the ink in the ink cartridge is consumed can be almost the same time. That is, it is possible to make the time when all of at least three inks of one ink cartridge of the same color ink and the ink cartridge of the color different from that color ink are consumed almost at the same time. Therefore, since more ink cartridges can be collectively replaced, it is possible to further reduce the number of replacements and save more labor.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a printing system embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system of this embodiment comprises a computer 11 used by a user and an ink jet color printer (hereinafter referred to as printer) 12 connected to the computer 11. The computer 11 includes a keyboard 14 and a mouse 15, which are operated to input characters and change settings. Further, the computer 11 is a monitor 1
6, the user designates a document or image to be printed or gives an instruction to execute printing to the user via the monitor 16.

On the other hand, the printer 12 is provided with a paper feed tray 17 and a paper discharge tray 18 outside and a plurality of paper feed rollers 19 inside. The paper feed roller 19 is appropriately driven by the paper feed motor 19a shown in FIG. Therefore, the printer 12 introduces the paper P, which is a print recording medium, from the paper feed tray 17, conveys the paper P in the sub-scanning direction X, and then discharges it to the paper discharge tray 18.

The printer 12 also includes a carriage 20 and a platen 21 facing the carriage 20 inside.
The platen 21 is a support base that supports the paper P during printing, and the paper P conveyed by the paper feed roller 19 reaches above the platen 21 during printing. The carriage 20 is fitted to a guide shaft 22 and fixed to a timing belt 23 driven by a carriage motor 20a so that it can reciprocate in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface).

As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 20 has a recording head 30 on its lower surface. On the lower surface of the recording head 30, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzles N are arranged. The recording head 30 causes the ink to be ejected onto the paper P from the nozzle N by the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element 30a shown in FIG. Therefore, the carriage 20 ejects ink from the recording head 30 while moving in the main scanning direction to print on the paper P.

As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 20 has eight ink cartridges 31 and 3 of the same shape.
2, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 are mounted. Each of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 is connected to each of the two rows of nozzles N located below. Therefore, the ink in each of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 is ejected to the outside from each of the two rows of nozzles N located below them.

The ink cartridges 31 and 32 contain cyan (C) ink, the ink cartridges 33 and 34 contain magenta (M) ink, and the ink cartridges 35 and 35.
36 stores yellow (Y) ink, and ink cartridges 37 and 38 store black (K) ink. That is, the carriage 20 has cyan,
Two sets of magenta, yellow and black inks are mounted, respectively. The ink cartridge 32 can be replaced with an ink cartridge containing light cyan (LC) ink. Further, the ink cartridge 34 can be replaced with an ink cartridge containing light magenta (LM) ink, and the ink cartridge 36 can be replaced with an ink cartridge containing dark yellow (DY) ink. Each ink cartridge 32,
By replacing 34 and 36 with these colors, a higher quality image can be printed. The ink cartridges 31 to 38 contain the same amount of ink (for example, 100 nl (nanoliter) of ink for simplifying the following description).

Each ink cartridge 31, 32, 33,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38 have non-volatile memories (EEPROM) 31a, 32a, 33a,
34a, 35a, 36a, 37a, 38a are attached, respectively. In the non-volatile memories 31a to 38a, for example, the remaining amounts S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S of the ink stored in the ink cartridges 31 to 38 are stored.
6, S7, S8 and the attribute information of the ink such as the color of the ink, and the ink cartridge information such as the type of the ink cartridge, the number of attachments and the manufacturing date are stored.

Next, the electrical configuration of this printing system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the computer 11 includes a CPU 40 as a control means. The CPU 40 is connected to the keyboard 14, mouse 15 and monitor 16 via a bus line 41. Further, the CPU 40 has a RAM and RO (not shown).
It is connected to M. The RAM stores the differences ΔSC, ΔSM, ΔSY, Δ between the same color inks calculated by the CPU 40.
Information such as the value of SK is temporarily stored.
In addition, ΔSC = | S1-S2 |, ΔSM = | S3-S4
│, ΔSY = │S5-S6│, ΔSK = │S7-S8│
Is. Further, the ROM determines a determination value (for example, within plus or minus 2 nl) when determining that the remaining amount is the same, a predetermined threshold value (for example, 70 nl) in the ink cartridge for each color, and whether or not the ink will be exhausted soon. The judgment reference value (for example, 5 nl) and the like are stored.

The predetermined threshold value is a preset value. In addition, here, in a mode in which the number of times of replacement is reduced, the inks of the same color are used on average to replace each other at the same time, or the ink cartridges which are not the same color of ink are used simultaneously to replace them at the same time. This is a value for the computer 11 to determine whether or not to.

Further, the above-mentioned judgment reference value is a value which is set in advance, and is a value at which it is possible to perform printing several times, but it can be judged that the ink is almost consumed. Further, the CPU 40 is connected to the data storage unit 42 and the program storage unit 43. The data storage unit 42 stores document data and image data.

The program storage unit 43 incorporates a printer driver program and a printing application program that are read and installed from an information recording medium (not shown). The printer driver program includes intermediate image data (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and other multi-valued signals) that can be processed by the printer 12 for print data created based on document data, image data, and the like. This is a program for converting to print data). In addition, the printing application program executes a predetermined operation by the CPU in order to obtain information necessary for printing and calculation according to a user operation.
It is a program to be performed by 40. That is, the CPU 4
0 determines an ink cartridge to be used according to this printing application program, or creates print data for ejecting ink of a predetermined color from each nozzle N onto the paper P.

On the other hand, the printer 12 is provided with a CPU 45 as a remaining amount detecting means and a color detecting means.
The U 45 is connected to the CPU 40 of the computer 11 via the interface I. The CPU 45 is connected to the RAM 47 and the ROM 48 via the bus line 46. The RAM 47 temporarily stores the print data received from the computer 11. A predetermined program is stored in the ROM 48, and based on this program, the CP
U45 performs a predetermined operation and printing is performed.

Further, the CPU 45 of the printer 12 is connected to each drive unit of the feed motor drive unit 51, the moving motor drive unit 52, and the head drive unit 53. The feed motor drive unit 51 replaces the paper feed motor 19a with the movement motor drive unit 5
2 is the carriage motor 20a, the head drive unit 53
Respectively drive the piezoelectric elements 30a.

Further, the CPU 45 of the printer 12 is connected to the reading section 49. The reading unit 49 connects to the nonvolatile memories 31a to 38a when the carriage 20 is in the non-operating position. That is, the CPU 45
When the carriage 20 is at the home position, the reading / writing unit 49 reads / writes data from / to the nonvolatile memory 25a.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned printing system will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, in the case of high speed printing, all ink cartridges 31 to 38 are used.
Is used. In the case of printing that is not high-speed printing, only one of the ink cartridges of the same color ink is used.

The user operates the monitor 16 of the computer 11.
When it is desired to print the document or image displayed on the screen, the printing application program is started via the keyboard 14 and the mouse 15. Then, the user starts the keyboard 14 or the mouse 15 after starting this program.
Through the procedure, whether or not it is the high-speed printing, and if it is not the high-speed printing, it is designated whether or not the mode is a mode in which the number of exchanges is reduced, and a print execution command is input (step S1 in FIG. 5).
1).

Next, the computer 11 acquires these acquisition signals from the printer 12 in order to acquire the color data and the remaining amount data of the ink in each of the ink cartridges 31 to 38.
(Step S12). The printer 12 acquires the color data and the remaining amount data of each ink from each of the nonvolatile memories 31a to 38a via the reading unit 49, and transmits the ink color data and the remaining amount data to the computer 11 (step S13).

Next, the computer 11 uses the printer 12
When the ink color data and the remaining amount data are acquired from (YES in step S13a), it is determined whether the printing to be executed from now is high-speed printing (step S14). When the computer 11 determines that the high speed printing is performed (YES in step S14), all the ink cartridges 31 to 38 are used.
Print data is created so that ink is ejected from the printer (step S15). At this time, the computer 11
The image data designated by the user is stored in the data storage unit 42.
And print data is created based on this data.

Then, the computer 11 converts the created print data into intermediate image data according to the printer driver program (step S16), and transmits the intermediate image data to the CPU 45 of the printer 12 (step S17).

The printer 12 prints based on the intermediate image data (step S18). More specifically, the CPU 45 of the printer 12 first temporarily stores the received intermediate image data in the RAM 47. And C
The PU 45 has the ROM 4 and the temporarily stored data.
A drive signal is given to each of the drive units 51 to 53 based on the program of No. 8. As a result, the CPU 45 moves the carriage 20 while moving the nozzle N of the recording head 30.
Ink droplets of each color are ejected from. The feed motor drive unit 51 is operated every time the recording head 30 moves once in the main scanning direction, and conveys the paper P while printing. Further, during printing, the RAM 47 of the printer 12 stores the number of times each color ink of each ink cartridge 31 to 38 is ejected from each nozzle N and the ejection amounts E1 to E8 actually ejected at each number of times.

When the printing is completed, the printer 12
The CPU 45 stores the remaining amount S1 at the start of printing of the usage amounts (total sum of the ejection amounts E1 to E8) of the inks of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 actually used in the current printing stored in the RAM 47. ~ S8 is subtracted from each to calculate new remaining amounts S1 to S8 of the respective inks (step S19). Then, the CPU 45 uses the reading unit 49 to read the new remaining ink amounts S1 to S8 of the ink cartridges 31 to 38, respectively, and the nonvolatile memories 31a to 38a of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 of the respective colors.
To store (step S20). Next, the printer 12 transmits a print end signal to the computer 11 (step S21). When the computer 11 receives the print end signal (step S21a), the monitor 16
It is displayed that the printing is completed (step S22).

On the other hand, when the computer 11 determines that the printing to be executed is not high speed printing (step S
If NO in 14, it is determined whether or not the mode is one in which the number of exchanges is reduced (step S23). When the computer 11 determines in the above step S11 that the mode is not a mode for reducing the number of replacements (NO in step S23 of FIG. 5), the predetermined ink cartridges 32, 34,
36 and 38 are determined to be used, and print data is created so that ink is ejected from these (step S2).
4). Here, the “predetermined ink cartridge” is a cyan ink cartridge 32 that is replaced with a light cyan ink cartridge, a magenta ink cartridge 34 that is replaced with a light magenta ink cartridge, and a yellow ink cartridge that is replaced with a dark yellow ink cartridge. Of the ink cartridge 36. The “predetermined ink cartridge” in black is the ink cartridge 38. This ink cartridge 3
8 is on the same side (the right side in FIG. 4A) as the predetermined color ink cartridges 32, 34, 36 of the other colors in the ink cartridge of the same color, and is thus determined in this embodiment. There is. Then, the computer 11 performs the processes of steps S16 to S22 of FIG. 5 based on the created print data.

Next, printing in a mode in which the number of replacements is reduced will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6. At this time, the remaining ink amounts S1 to S8 in the ink cartridges 31 to 38 are respectively 90 as shown in FIG.
nl, 40nl, 10nl, 80nl, 90nl, 90
The description will be given assuming that they are nl, 30nl, and 20nl.

When the computer 11 is in the mode in which the number of replacements is reduced (YES in step 23), first, the remaining ink amounts S1 to S8 received from the printer 12 are received.
Based on the above, the ink cartridge to be used for the color (here, yellow) having the smallest difference (ΔSC, ΔSM, ΔSY, ΔSK) between the remaining amounts S1 to S8 in the same color ink is determined.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the computer 11 determines whether or not the ink cartridges 35 and 36 containing the yellow ink have substantially the same remaining amounts S5 and S6, based on the judgment value. (Step S1
01). The remaining ink amounts S5 and S6 of the ink cartridges 35 and 36 containing the yellow ink are 90 n, respectively.
Since it is 1 (YES in step S101), the computer 11 next determines that the remaining ink amounts S5 and S6 are 5 nl.
In the following, it is determined whether or not it will soon disappear (step S102). Then, the computer 11 determines that the ink remaining amounts S5 and S6 are not less than 5 nl (step S
No in 102), it is determined to use a predetermined ink cartridge (step S103). Here, the predetermined ink cartridge is the ink cartridge 36 determined to be used in step S24.

Next, the computer 11 uses the ink cartridges 31 to 38 for all the sets of the same color ink, that is, for each color of magenta, cyan, yellow and black.
Is determined (step S10)
4). Since only the yellow ink cartridge 36 has been determined, the computer 11 repeats the processing from step S101 again. At this time, the computer 11 next determines an ink cartridge to be used for a color (black) ink having a small difference between the same color inks.

More specifically, the ink cartridges 37 and 38 for black ink are 30 nl and 20 nl, respectively.
The inks of the remaining amounts S7 and S8 are stored. Therefore, the computer 11 determines that the remaining ink amounts S7 and S8 are not the same (NO in step S101), and then determines whether the difference is 70 nl (predetermined threshold value) or more (step S105). ). Black ink remaining S
Since the difference ΔSK between 7 and S8 is 10 nl (NO in step S105), the computer 11 determines the remaining amount S7,
It is determined to use the ink cartridge 37 having many S8 (step S106).

Next, the computer 11 determines whether or not ink cartridges have been determined for all of the same color ink (step S104). Computer 11
Determines that which ink cartridge 31 to 34 is to be used for the same color inks of magenta and cyan has not yet been determined (NO in step S104),
The processing from step S101 onward is repeated again. At this time, the computer 11 next determines the ink cartridge to be used for the ink of the color (cyan) in which the difference of the same color ink is small.

More specifically, the cyan ink cartridges 31 and 32 contain inks of 90 nl and 40 nl in the remaining amounts S1 and S2, respectively. Therefore, the computer 11 determines that the difference ΔSC is 70 nl (predetermined threshold value) or less (N in step S105).
O), it is determined to use the ink cartridge 31 with a large remaining amount S1, S2.

Again, the computer 11 determines whether or not ink cartridges have been determined for all of the same color ink (step S104). Computer 11
Determines that it has not yet been determined which ink cartridge 33, 34 is to be used for magenta ink (NO in step S104). Then, the computer 11 repeats the processing from step S101 again to determine which of the ink cartridges containing magenta ink is to be used.

More specifically, the computer 11 uses the ink cartridges 33, 3 containing magenta ink.
No. 4 contains inks of remaining amounts S3 and S4 of 10 nl and 80 nl, respectively. Therefore, the computer 11
Determines that the magenta difference ΔSM is 70 nl or more (YES in step S105). Then, the computer 11 sets the remaining ink amount S3 (plus or minus 2n) which is almost the same as that of the ink cartridge 33 having the small remaining ink amount.
It is determined whether or not there is an ink cartridge of the other color for which the ink of 1) is accommodated and the ink cartridge to be used has not been decided yet (step S107). At this time, since there are no more ink cartridges that have not been decided to be used, the computer 11 judges that there is no corresponding ink cartridge (NO in step S107), and decides to use the ink cartridge 34 with a large amount of ink remaining. (Step S106).

As described above, the ink cartridge 31,
Computer 1 decided to use 33, 36, 37
1 determines that the ink cartridges to be used for all the sets of the same color ink have been determined (step S1).
Yes at 04). The computer 11 then uses the ink cartridges 31, 33, 36, 37 to be used.
The print data is created so that the ink is ejected from and the printing is performed (step S108). Next, the computer 11 completes printing by performing the processing of steps S16 to S22 (see FIG. 5) based on the created print data. Therefore, the ink cartridges 31, 34, 3
In FIG. 7, ink is used as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4A, and the remaining amount of other ink cartridges 32, 33, and 38 of the same color approaches. The ink of the ink cartridge 36 is used for the yellow ink cartridges 35 and 36 having the same ink remaining amount.

Thereafter, high-speed printing or printing in a mode other than the mode for reducing the number of replacements is performed, and the remaining ink amounts S1 to S8 in the ink cartridges 31 to 38 are shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), 80 nl, 10 nl, 5 respectively
nl, 50nl, 85nl, 10nl, 5nl, 5nl
Let's say. Then, in this case, when the mode for reducing the number of exchanges is again set, the process shown in FIG. 6 is performed again (YES in step S23).

More specifically, the computer 11 determines the black ink cartridges 37, 38 having the smallest difference ΔSC, ΔSM, ΔSY, ΔSK of the same color ink.
It is determined which ink cartridge 37, 38 is to be used. The computer 11 uses the remaining ink amounts S7, S
It is determined that 8 is almost the same and is 5 nl or less (YES in step S101 and Y in step S102.
ES), and then it is determined whether or not there is a cartridge in which the remaining amount S3 of the other color ink is 5 nl or less (step S1).
10). At this time, since the remaining amount S3 of the ink cartridge 33 containing magenta ink is 5 nl, the computer 11 determines that there is an ink cartridge 33 having an ink remaining amount of 5 nl or less in addition to black (step S3). (YES in S110). Therefore, the computer 11 determines to use the ink cartridge 33 for magenta (step S11).
1). For black, it is determined to use the predetermined ink cartridge 37 (step S10).
3).

Next, the computer 11 determines that the ink cartridge to be used for cyan and yellow is not determined (NO in step S104), and then determines the ink cartridge to be used for cyan, which has a small difference. To do.

More specifically, the computer 11 determines the remaining ink amount S1 of the cyan ink cartridges 31 and 32.
It is determined that S2 is not substantially the same (NO in step S101), and it is determined that the difference ΔSC is 70 nl or more (YES in step S105). Next, the computer 11
Determines whether or not there is an ink cartridge having the same ink remaining amount as the ink with the smaller remaining amount among the ink cartridges 31 and 32 and containing another color ink for which the ink cartridge to be used has not yet been determined. (YES in step S107). On the other hand, the remaining amount of yellow ink S for which the ink cartridge to be used has not been decided yet
1 and S2 are 85 nl and 10 nl. Therefore, the remaining amount S2 of cyan ink in the ink cartridge 32 is substantially the same as the remaining amount S3 (10 nl) of the remaining amount S3 of the ink cartridge 36 that contains a small amount of yellow ink.
Therefore, the computer 11 determines that there is ink of a different color with almost the same remaining amount as that of the ink with a small remaining amount (YES in step S107). So computer 1
1 determines to use the ink cartridge 31 with a small remaining amount for cyan (step S112), and determines to use the ink cartridge 36 with the same remaining amount as the yellow ink (step S11).
3).

The computer 11 uses the ink cartridges 32 and 3 for all sets of the same color ink, that is, for each color of magenta, cyan, yellow and black.
It is determined that all 3, 36, and 37 have been determined (YES in step S104). Then, the same computer 11
Are the ink cartridges 32, 33, 3 to be used.
Print data is created such that ink is ejected from 6, 37 (step S105).

Then, the computer 11 performs the processes of steps S16 to S22 based on the created print data, and the printing is completed. In this case, the ink cartridge 33 whose remaining ink amount is 5 nl or less,
38 is used and consumed in much the same way. Further, since the ink cartridges 37 and 38 for black ink have the same remaining amount, when high speed printing is performed thereafter and ink is similarly used from the ink cartridges 37 and 38, all the ink is consumed at the same time. It

The ink cartridges 33, 37, 3
When all the ink has been consumed for the eight ink cartridges, the computer 11 causes the monitor 16 to display these ink cartridges 3
A message indicating that all the ink has been consumed for 3, 37, and 38 and a replacement instruction screen is displayed to the user. By the user
The ink cartridges 33, 37, 38 are replaced, and new ink cartridges 33, 37, 38 are replaced by the carriage 2
When the computer 11 is mounted on the piezoelectric element 30,
A signal is given to a to eject ink droplets from each nozzle,
Perform flushing operation.

According to the printing system of this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In this embodiment, if the ink cartridges 37 and 38 are 5 nl or less and there is an ink cartridge 33 having the same amount of ink as those of them (YES in step S110), the computer 11 is substantially the same. The remaining ink cartridges 37 and 38 and the ink cartridge 33 are used. Then, these inks are run out at approximately the same time. That is, since the ink cartridges 37 and 38 of the same color (black) have almost the same remaining amount (5 nl), when ink of approximately the same amount is ejected from these ink cartridges 37 and 38 in the next high speed printing, Ink cartridge 37,3
The time when all 8 inks are consumed is almost the same. In addition, these black ink cartridges 37,
38 and the yellow ink cartridge 33 have almost the same remaining amount, so if yellow and black are used similarly, the ink cartridge 33 and the ink cartridge 3
The time when all the inks of 7,38 are consumed is almost the same. Therefore, since it is possible to make the time when all the inks of the plurality of ink cartridges are consumed the same, it is possible for the user to have the plurality of ink cartridges 33, 37, 3
It is possible to notify the replacement time of 8 at a time. Therefore, since the user can collectively replace the ink cartridges, it is possible to reduce the number of replacements and save the user the trouble.

Further, since the number of exchanges is reduced, the number of flushing operations performed after the exchange of the ink cartridges 33, 37, 38 is completed is reduced.
It is possible to reduce the total amount of ink ejected by each of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 for flushing, and reduce wasteful ink.

(2) In the present embodiment, when the remaining amount of ink cartridges of the same color ink is not the same (step S1)
For NO in 01, the ink cartridge having a large amount of remaining ink is preferentially used (step S10).
6). Therefore, the ink cartridge 31 of FIG.
As in 34 and 37, it is possible to use one of the ink cartridges containing the same color ink, which has a larger remaining amount of ink, so that the remaining amount of the same color ink is the same. Therefore, in the case of high-speed printing in which ink is ejected from all the ink cartridges for printing (step S15 in FIG. 5), all the inks in the ink cartridges 37 and 38 containing the same color ink are simultaneously discharged as shown in FIG. 4B. It can be consumed and the ink cartridges 37, 38 can be collectively replaced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of times of exchanging the ink cartridges 31 to 38 and save the trouble of exchanging them. Further, it is possible to reduce the number of times of flushing using ink in each of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 at the time of replacement to reduce wasteful consumption of ink.

(3) In the present embodiment, the ink cartridges containing the same color ink have the differences ΔSC, ΔSM, ΔSY, ΔSK of 70 nl or more. If there is ink, these are used (YES in step S107). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, when deciding to use the ink cartridges 31 and 32 containing the cyan ink in which the remaining ink of the same color is different by 70 nl or more, it is almost the same as the one in which the remaining cyan ink is small. When there are yellow ink cartridges 35 having the same remaining amount, the inks of the ink cartridges 32 and 35 having substantially the same remaining amount are used. Therefore, the ink cartridges 32 and 35 can be made to consume all the ink at the same time.
Therefore, when the remaining amount of one of the inks is large due to the reason that only the cyan ink cartridge 31 is newly replaced, the ink cartridge containing the ink with the small remaining amount is not used, and the ink cartridge is not used. Can be used.

(4) In this embodiment, when the remaining amount of the same color ink is almost the same and is 5 nl or less (step S
If YES in 101 and NO in step S102), it is determined whether or not there is another ink cartridge whose remaining ink amount is 5 nl or less (step S110). That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the black ink cartridges 37 and 38 are about to finish their use at 5 nl or less, the other 5 nl or less ink cartridges 33 are used so that the three ink cartridges 33 can be used. , 3
7, 38 can be ended almost at the same time. Therefore, the user can use the three ink cartridges 33,
Since 37 and 38 can be exchanged, the number of exchanges can be further reduced.

(5) In the present embodiment, in order to reduce the number of times of replacement of the ink cartridges 31 to 38, the same color ink is used evenly, or only one of the ink cartridges containing the same color ink is concentrated. It can be easily changed according to the user's instruction. for that reason,
Predetermined ink cartridges 31 to 31 according to user's wishes
38 can be used.

(6) In the present embodiment, when the ink cartridges 31 to 38 of the same color ink have almost the same remaining amount, the predetermined ink cartridges 32, 34, 36, 3 are used.
Ink cartridges 32, 34, 3 that are not replaced with light cyan, light magenta, or dark yellow
Ink was used to leave 6 inks. Therefore, in order to obtain high-quality images and high-speed printing as appropriate, light cyan,
Even if light magenta and dark yellow are frequently replaced with cyan, magenta, and yellow, the non-replaced cyan, magenta, and yellow can consume ink as much as possible. That is, the number of times of ink replacement can be reduced.

(7) In this embodiment, when the use of the ink cartridge containing the same color ink is decided, the ink cartridge to be used is decided from the color having the smaller difference between the same color inks. Therefore, the ink cartridge to be used is determined from the inks of the same color that are considered to consume all the ink at the same time. Therefore, when the inks of the same color are all consumed at the same time, other inks having the same remaining amount can be detected preferentially, so that the inks are consumed at the same time for more ink cartridges. Ink can be ejected. Therefore, more ink cartridges can be replaced collectively.

(Modification) The present embodiment may be modified as follows. In the above-described embodiment, the case where there are two cyan, two magenta, two yellow, and two black has been described. However, for example, when one of cyan, magenta, and yellow is replaced with light cyan, light magenta, and dark yellow, and there are two blacks, the same effect can be obtained. When printing an image that hardly uses black or magenta depending on the image, one of magenta and black may be used as cyan and yellow, and three cyan and yellow may be mounted. Even in this case, it is possible to reduce the number of times the ink cartridge is replaced by ejecting the ink evenly as described above.

In the above embodiment, the computer 11 uses one of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 of the same color ink instead of high speed printing (step S1).
No. 4), printing is performed in a mode in which the number of times of ink replacement is reduced (YES in step S23). However, even in the case of high-speed printing using both ink cartridges 31 to 38, the print data is decomposed and a large amount of ink is preferentially selected from the ink cartridges containing the same color ink that have a large remaining amount. It is also possible to eject a small amount of ink from the one with the smallest remaining amount of ink. By doing so, the ink cartridges containing the same color ink are used so that the remaining ink amounts are almost the same, so that the inks in these ink cartridges are almost simultaneously consumed and collected. The ink cartridge can be replaced.

In the above embodiment, in printing in the mode in which the number of times of exchanging ink is reduced, the processes of steps S101 to S113 are performed for all the colors of the ink of the ink cartridge having a plurality of inks of the same color. . Instead of this, for example, control may be performed so that only a predetermined color is averagely used according to a user's instruction.

In the above embodiment, the computer 11 creates print data and determines the ink cartridges 31 to 38 to be used. The computer 11 may be made unnecessary by providing this function to the inkjet color printer 12 as well.

In the above embodiment, the information about the color and the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridges 31 to 38 is stored in the non-volatile memories 31a to 38a attached to the ink cartridges 31 to 38. Instead of this,
It may be stored in the computer 11.

In the above embodiment, the remaining amount of the ink cartridges 31 to 38 containing the same color ink is 70n.
When there is a difference of l (threshold value) or more, it is detected whether or not the cartridge with a small remaining amount is almost the same as the remaining amount of ink of other colors. Not limited to.

Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiments and other examples will be added below along with their effects. (A) A recording head having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, and a plurality of ink cartridges having a color different from the color,
A printing system comprising: a printing method in which the ink is ejected from a nozzle onto a print recording medium to perform printing, the printing system including an instruction unit for instructing replacement of at least a plurality of ink cartridges.

Therefore, according to the invention described in (a), since the user can know the replacement of a plurality of ink cartridges at once, the replacement of a plurality of ink cartridges can be carried out at the same time. The number of times the ink cartridge is replaced can be reduced.

[0078]

According to the present invention, since the ink to be ejected from the recording head is controlled so that all the inks in two or more ink cartridges are consumed at the same time, the user is prompted to replace a plurality of ink cartridges. be able to. Therefore, since the user can replace the ink cartridges collectively, the number of times of replacement can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the carriage according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the ink cartridges that display the remaining amount of each ink cartridge for explaining the determination process in the embodiment, and FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the remaining amount when the remaining amount of all ink cartridges is more than 5 nl. The amount, (b) is the remaining amount when there is an ink cartridge containing ink with an ink remaining amount of 5 nl or less.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of print processing in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of used cartridge determination processing for determining an ink cartridge to be used when ink is ejected evenly in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

P Paper as a print recording medium N Nozzles S3, S7, S8 Ink remaining amounts 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 Ink cartridges 11 Computer 12 constituting a printing system Inkjet color constituting a printing system Printer 30 Recording head 40 CPU 49 as control means Reading unit as remaining amount detection means and color detection means

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges containing ink of the same color,
An ink cartridge containing ink of a color different from the color is provided, and in a printing method in which the ink of each ink cartridge is ejected from the nozzle to a print recording medium to perform printing, a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color of ink are provided. Ink in a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color of ink is consumed so that the ink contained in one of the ink cartridges is consumed almost at the same time as the ink contained in the other ink cartridges. A printing method characterized in that ejection is controlled to perform printing. 2. A printing method comprising: a recording head having a plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, wherein the ink of each ink cartridge is ejected from the nozzles onto a print recording medium to perform printing. In the method, the printing is performed by preferentially ejecting the ink of the ink cartridge having a large amount of ink remaining in the plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink. 3. Among the ink cartridges containing the same color ink, the remaining amount of the first ink cartridge having the smallest remaining amount of ink and the remaining amount of the second ink cartridge having the second smallest remaining amount of ink. When the difference is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, and the remaining amount of ink in the first ink cartridge and the remaining amount of ink cartridges of other colors are substantially the same, the ink cartridges of the other colors 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the ink is ejected preferentially from the ink of the first ink cartridge and the printing is performed. 4. When there are a plurality of ink cartridges for the same color containing the same color ink for a plurality of colors, and the remaining amount of one set of the ink cartridges containing one color ink is almost the same, It is determined whether or not there is an ink cartridge for the same color of another color that has almost the same remaining amount, and the above-described printing is performed by preferentially ejecting the ink of ink cartridges for the same color of another color with the same remaining amount. The printing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A recording head having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink,
An ink cartridge containing an ink of a color different from the color, wherein the ink of each ink cartridge is ejected from the nozzle onto a print recording medium to perform printing, wherein the ink remaining in each ink cartridge is Remaining amount detecting means for detecting the amount, color detecting means for detecting the color of the ink in each ink cartridge, and at least one ink of a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink is the other ink cartridge. The ink in the ink cartridge containing the same color ink so as to be consumed almost at the same time as the above ink. 6. A printing method comprising: a recording head having a plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink, wherein the ink of each ink cartridge is ejected from the nozzles onto a print recording medium to perform printing. In the system, a remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of ink in each of the ink cartridges, and a control unit that controls to preferentially eject the ink of the ink cartridge having the largest remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges. A printing system characterized by being provided. 7. The remaining amount of the first ink cartridge having the smallest remaining amount of ink and the remaining amount of the second ink cartridge having the second smallest remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges containing the same color ink. When the difference from the amount is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, and when there is an ink cartridge of another color having almost the same ink remaining amount as the ink remaining amount of the first ink cartridge, other The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the ink of the color ink cartridge and the ink of the first ink cartridge are ejected preferentially. 8. The control means, when the remaining amount of ink of the same color is almost the same and there is an ink cartridge containing ink of another color having the same remaining amount as these remaining amounts,
The printing system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein control is performed to preferentially eject ink of ink cartridges of other colors determined to have the same remaining amount. 9. A plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color of ink and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the ink of a color different from the color, and a plurality of inks provided from the ink cartridges to a recording head. A control computer of a printing system for performing printing by ejecting from the nozzles, a residual quantity detecting means for detecting a residual quantity of ink in each ink cartridge, a color detecting means for detecting a color of ink in each ink cartridge, The ink in the ink cartridge containing the same color ink is consumed so that at least one ink in the plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink is consumed at substantially the same time as the ink in the other ink cartridges. A printing program characterized by causing it to function as control means for controlling ejection. 10. A control computer of a printing system, comprising: a plurality of ink cartridges containing the same color ink; and ejecting ink from the ink cartridges from a plurality of nozzles provided in a recording head to perform printing, A remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge and a control unit that controls to preferentially eject the ink of the ink cartridge having a large remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges Characteristic printing program. 11. The control unit controls the remaining amount of a first ink cartridge having the smallest remaining amount of ink and the second remaining ink cartridge having the second smallest remaining amount of ink among the ink cartridges containing the same color ink. When it can be determined that the remaining amount of ink in the first ink cartridge and the remaining amount of ink cartridges of other colors are substantially the same when the difference from the remaining amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. 10. The printing program according to claim 9, wherein the ink of the other color ink cartridge and the ink of the first ink cartridge are preferentially ejected. 12. The control means causes the color detection means and the remaining amount detection means to have substantially the same remaining amount of ink of the same color, and accommodates inks of other colors having substantially the same remaining amount as these remaining amounts. 12. When it is determined that there is a remaining ink cartridge, the ink cartridges of the other color ink cartridges having substantially the same remaining amount are made to function to eject ink preferentially. The printing program according to item 1.