JP2004181695A - Bidirectional liquid ejection controller, liquid ejector comprising it, and bidirectional liquid ejection control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a bidirectinal liquid ejection controller capable of flexible correction of a liquid ejection timing without requiring a large capacity storage medium for storing a large volume of correction amount data. <P>SOLUTION: Bidirctional print timing is corrected by extracting a correction amount suitable for the print mode and print speed from a data table (step S1). A decision is then made whether moving speed of a carriage 61 is altered (requested) or not (step S2). If moving speed of the carriage 61 is altered (requested) (step S2; Yes) and printing is not in progress (step S4; No), moving speed of the carriage 61 is altered due to alteration (request) of moving speed of the carriage 61 (step S5). A correction difference α is determined from the speed difference of the carriage 61 before and after alteration and added to a specified correction amount in order correct ink ejection timing (step S6) thus performing printing (recording) (step S3). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention of the present application is directed to a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head scanning unit that reciprocally scans a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid to a material to be ejected in a predetermined scanning direction relative to an ejection surface of the material to be ejected. During the reciprocating scanning of the liquid ejecting head in the scanning direction by the liquid ejecting head scanning means, the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head and the liquid is ejected onto the material to be ejected both during the forward scan and the backward scan of the liquid ejecting head. The present invention relates to a liquid ejection control device, a liquid ejection device including the bidirectional liquid ejection control device, and a bidirectional liquid ejection control program.
[0002]
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile that executes recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head to the recording material. Including a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to a specific application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the above-described recording head to an ejecting material corresponding to a recording material in place of ink, and attaching the liquid to the ejecting material. Use in meaning. As the liquid ejecting head, in addition to the recording head described above, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an electrode material used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) ( A conductive paste) injection head, a biological organic material injection head used for biochip production, a sample injection head for injecting a sample as a precision pipette, and the like.
[0003]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid to an ejecting material, an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink from a recording head to an ejecting material such as a recording material to execute recording is known. . The ink jet recording apparatus generally includes a carriage for reciprocally scanning a recording head as a liquid ejecting head in a main scanning direction with respect to a recording surface of a recording material. A carriage on which a recording head is mounted is supported by a guide member such as a carriage guide shaft so as to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction, and is driven by a rotational driving force source such as a DC motor or a stepping motor. When ink is ejected from a recording head that reciprocally scans a recording surface of a recording material by reciprocation of a carriage, ink is ejected only during forward scanning of reciprocating scanning, and printing is performed. In other words, there is an advantage that the printing execution speed can be approximately doubled when the printing is executed by ejecting the ink to the recording material both in the forward scan and the backward scan.
[0004]
However, when performing bidirectional printing in which ink is ejected at both the forward scan and the backward scan, even if ink is ejected at the same ink ejection position, the ink is ejected at the same position on the recording surface of the recording material during the forward scan and the backward scan. There is a problem that the positions of the formed ink dots differ. In other words, even if ink is ejected when the position where the ink dot should be formed matches the position of the ink ejection hole of the recording head, the recording head ejects the ink while moving in the scanning direction. Is slightly shifted in the scanning direction from the position where the ink dots are to be formed. This is the same even when the reciprocating scanning is performed by moving the recording material side without moving the recording head.
[0005]
Therefore, the ink ejection timing at the time of the forward scan and at the time of the backward scan is set so that the ink dots to be formed at the same point at the time of the forward scan and the backward scan of the recording head are formed at the same point. Specifically, at a timing that is earlier than the original ink ejection timing by a certain time or by a certain number of dots, that is, shifted in a direction opposite to the scanning direction by a certain time or a certain number of dots from the original ink ejection timing. By correcting the ink ejection timing by ejecting the ink at the adjusted timing, it is possible to prevent the above-described displacement of the ink dots from occurring.
[0006]
The correction amount of the ink ejection timing varies depending on the distance from the head surface of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material, the scanning speed of the recording head (the moving speed of the carriage), and the ink ejection speed. Therefore, for example, a change in the ink ejection speed due to a change in the viscosity of the ink due to the temperature, a deterioration of the platen which supports the recording material and defines the distance between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording material, If these change slightly due to, for example, deterioration of a carriage guide shaft that supports the carriage so as to be able to reciprocate, ink dots will shift.
[0007]
Therefore, a bidirectional printing control device that changes a correction amount according to a change in ink ejection speed due to, for example, a change in ink viscosity is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, the distance from the head surface of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material may slightly change due to the lifting of the recording material, or a driving mechanism (carriage) in the main scanning direction. A technique is known in which a reference correction amount is corrected by a relative correction amount for correcting a shift of an ink dot caused by a change in the scanning speed of a recording head due to backlash or the like (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-96733 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-296609 A
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of an ink jet type recording apparatus, for example, the scanning speed (carriage speed) of the recording head is set to a different speed depending on the recording execution mode such as a high-speed recording mode in which the recording execution speed is emphasized and a high-quality recording mode in which the image quality is emphasized. May be done. The scanning speed of the recording head in such a recording execution mode may have three or four different recording modes depending on the apparatus, and different scanning speeds may be set for each mode. Also known is an inkjet recording apparatus having a configuration in which the distance from the head surface of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material can be changed according to the type of the recording material in order to execute higher-quality recording. Has become.
[0010]
Therefore, it is necessary to set the above-mentioned correction amount for each scanning speed of the recording head, which is changed depending on the recording execution mode and the type of recording material. It is necessary to set a correction amount for each distance to the recording surface of the material. Further, if the properties of the ink differ for each ink color, the actual ink ejection speed may differ for each ink color due to, for example, a difference in viscosity, and it is necessary to set a correction amount for each ink type. Occurs. These correction amounts are stored in a storage medium (memory) in advance, as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, and are stored in advance in accordance with the recording execution mode and the type of the recording material. By reading the corresponding correction amount data from the storage medium and correcting the ink ejection timing from the print head with the correction amount and executing the bidirectional printing control, it corresponds to the printing execution mode and the type of the recording material. In this way, printing can be performed such that ink dot displacement does not occur.
[0011]
However, if a large number of correction amount data are stored in the storage medium in advance for each recording execution mode or each type of recording paper, a large-capacity storage medium is required, which increases the cost of the apparatus. There is a fear. In addition, since the ink ejection timing can be corrected only by the correction amount data stored in the storage medium in advance, for example, changing the scanning speed of the print head by an element other than the print mode and the type of the recording material is used. A problem arises in that control cannot be flexibly performed, and accurate bidirectional recording control can be performed only within a limited range.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a large-capacity storage medium for storing a large amount of correction amount data and to flexibly correct the liquid ejection timing. It is to realize possible bidirectional liquid injection control.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid to a material to be ejected is reciprocally scanned in a predetermined scanning direction relative to a surface to be ejected of the material to be ejected. In the liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head scanning unit, the liquid ejecting head scans the liquid ejecting head in the reciprocating scan in the scanning direction while the liquid ejecting head scans in the forward and backward directions. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device that ejects liquid from a head to execute liquid ejection on a material to be ejected, wherein liquid dots to be formed at the same point during forward scan and backward scan of the liquid ejecting head are the same. Correction amount calculating means for calculating a correction amount of the liquid ejection timing according to the scanning speed of the liquid ejecting head so as to be formed at one point; and a correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculating means. And a liquid injection timing correcting means for correcting the liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejection head, it is two-way liquid injection control apparatus characterized by.
[0014]
As described above, the correction amount of the liquid ejection timing is calculated in accordance with the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head, and the liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejection head is corrected with the calculated correction amount. There is provided an operational effect that a large-capacity storage medium for storing a large amount of correction amount data for each time is not required, and that the liquid ejection timing can be corrected flexibly corresponding to the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the storage medium according to the first aspect, wherein a predetermined correction amount as a correction amount of the liquid jet timing at a predetermined scanning speed of the liquid jet head scanning means is stored in advance. The correction amount calculating means calculates a correction amount difference of the liquid ejection timing from a speed difference between the specified scanning speed and the scanning speed of the liquid jet head during the bidirectional liquid jetting, and defines the correction amount difference as the specified value. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device, characterized in that a value added to the correction amount is used as the correction amount.
[0016]
First, only a specified correction amount at a specified scanning speed of the liquid ejecting head is stored in a storage medium in advance. Then, a correction amount difference of the liquid ejection timing is calculated from the specified scanning speed and the scanning speed of the liquid ejecting head at the time of printing and the speed difference, and a value obtained by adding the correction amount difference to the specified correction amount is set as a correction amount. Therefore, the correction amount stored in the storage medium in advance can be reduced, so that a large-capacity storage medium for storing a large number of correction amount data for each settable scanning speed of the liquid ejecting head is not required. In addition, since the correction amount difference is calculated from the speed difference with respect to the specified scanning speed and added to the specified correction amount to calculate the correction amount, it is possible to correct the liquid ejection timing flexibly corresponding to the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head. The operation and effect are obtained.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above-described second aspect, a difference between a scanning speed with respect to the prescribed scanning speed is a scanning speed difference, and a distance from a head surface of the liquid ejecting head to a surface to be ejected of the material to be ejected is determined. The liquid ejecting distance, the liquid ejecting speed of the liquid from the liquid ejecting head is defined as a liquid ejecting speed, and the correction amount calculating means multiplies the value obtained by dividing the liquid ejecting distance by the liquid ejecting speed by the scanning speed difference. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device, wherein a correction amount difference is calculated.
[0018]
By dividing the liquid ejection distance by the liquid ejection speed, the arrival time until the liquid droplet ejected from the liquid ejection head reaches the ejection target surface of the ejection target material is obtained. Further, by multiplying the arrival time of the liquid droplet by the scanning speed of the liquid ejecting head, a shift amount of the arrival position of the liquid droplet in the scanning direction, that is, a correction amount is obtained. Accordingly, by multiplying the value (arrival time) obtained by dividing the liquid ejection distance by the liquid ejection speed by the scanning speed difference (the difference between the scanning speed and the prescribed scanning speed), the deviation of the arrival position of the liquid droplet corresponding to the scanning speed difference is obtained. An amount difference, that is, a correction amount difference can be obtained.
[0019]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-described third aspect, the resolution of the liquid ejecting head in the scanning direction is defined as a liquid ejecting resolution, and the correction amount calculating means determines the correction amount difference as the liquid ejecting resolution. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device, wherein the number of dots in the scanning direction corresponding to the correction amount difference is calculated by dividing.
[0020]
2. Description of the Related Art A liquid ejecting apparatus is a group of dots (dots) formed on a surface to be ejected of a material to be ejected by liquid droplets ejected from a liquid ejecting head, and forms a printed matter such as an image in an ink jet recording apparatus. The resolution expresses the dot density of the dot, and is used as a unit indicating the accuracy of a group of dots based on a standard indicating the liquid ejecting performance of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and is indicated by a unit such as dpi (dot per per inch). It is. For example, in the case of an ink jet recording apparatus, it indicates how many dots can be recorded in one inch of recording paper. If the resolution of the recording head for ejecting ink in the scanning direction is 1440 dpi, the scanning width of 1 inch is the maximum. This means that 1440 ink dots can be formed. That is, the resolution in the scanning direction of the liquid ejecting head is the maximum number of dots per inch in the scanning direction of the liquid ejecting head.
[0021]
Here, one inch is divided by the resolution (dpi), the resolution (dpi) is converted to the dot interval (mm), and the correction amount difference (mm) is divided by the dot interval (mm). The number of dots can be obtained. Therefore, the number of dots of the correction amount difference is obtained, and the liquid ejection timing is simply shifted by the number of dots in the direction opposite to the scanning direction, so that the liquid amount based on the correction amount obtained by adding the correction amount difference to the specified correction amount of the liquid ejection timing. The effect of being able to easily execute the injection is obtained.
[0022]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fourth aspects described above, a large number of liquid ejection holes are arranged on a head surface of the liquid ejection head in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A plurality of liquid ejecting nozzles are provided, each prescribed correction amount corresponding to each liquid ejecting nozzle is stored in the storage medium, and the correction amount calculating means is provided for each prescribed correction amount corresponding to each liquid ejecting nozzle. Calculating the correction amount for each of the liquid ejecting nozzles, and the liquid ejecting timing correcting means calculates the liquid ejecting timing from the liquid ejecting head for each of the liquid ejecting nozzles with the correction amount calculated for each of the liquid ejecting nozzles. The bidirectional liquid ejection control device is characterized in that correction is performed.
[0023]
As described above, since the correction amount is calculated for each of the plurality of liquid ejecting nozzles arranged on the head surface of the liquid ejecting head, a different correction amount can be set for each of the liquid ejecting nozzles. Therefore, for example, even when a liquid having different properties is ejected for each liquid ejecting nozzle, and a liquid ejecting speed or the like is different due to a difference in the properties of the liquid, a different correction amount is set for each liquid ejecting nozzle and an appropriate liquid ejection is performed. The operation and effect that the timing can be corrected can be obtained.
[0024]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fifth aspects described above, the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting distance changing unit that changes the liquid ejecting distance in a stepwise manner. Each prescribed correction amount corresponding to each liquid ejection distance that can be set by the liquid ejection distance changing unit is stored in the storage medium, and the correction amount calculating unit is configured to change the liquid ejected by the liquid ejection distance changing unit. A bidirectional liquid injection control device, wherein the specified correction amount corresponding to an injection distance is selected and the correction amount is calculated.
[0025]
As described above, the specified correction amount data corresponding to the liquid ejection distance that can be set by the liquid ejection distance changing unit is stored in the storage medium in advance, and when the liquid ejection distance is changed by the liquid ejection distance changing unit, Since the correction amount is calculated by selecting the specified correction amount data corresponding to the changed liquid ejection distance, it is possible to appropriately correct the liquid ejection timing according to the liquid ejection distance at the time of executing the liquid ejection. Is obtained.
[0026]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, the liquid ejecting head scanning means mounts the liquid ejecting head, and moves the liquid ejecting head with respect to a guide member in the scanning direction. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device, comprising: a carriage slidably supported on a shaft; and a carriage driving force source for driving the carriage in the scanning direction.
[0027]
As described above, by mounting the liquid ejecting head and reciprocating the carriage rotatably supported by the guide member in the scanning direction in the scanning direction in the scanning direction, the liquid ejecting head is moved with respect to the ejection target surface of the ejection target material. In a liquid ejecting apparatus having a configuration in which reciprocating scanning is performed, the operation and effect according to the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects described above can be obtained.
[0028]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned seventh aspect, a carriage speed control device for controlling the carriage driving force source to control a sliding speed of the carriage to a predetermined speed is provided. The apparatus includes a load detection unit that detects a load on the carriage driving force source due to the sliding resistance of the carriage, and when the load on the carriage driving force source detected by the load detection unit exceeds a certain load, And a deceleration control means for controlling a sliding speed of the carriage to a speed lower than a predetermined speed.
[0029]
When the carriage, which is reciprocally supported by a guide member such as a carriage guide shaft, reciprocates by the driving force of the carriage driving force source, a sliding resistance, that is, a sliding contact portion between the carriage and the guide member. A load is applied to the carriage driving force source due to the generated frictional resistance. If the sliding resistance is large, it is difficult to smoothly reciprocate the carriage, but the limit value of the sliding resistance varies depending on the reciprocating speed of the carriage. In other words, there is a limit in the torque performance of the carriage driving force source, and the limit speed of the carriage speed at which the carriage can be smoothly reciprocated increases as the sliding resistance of the carriage decreases, and the sliding speed of the carriage decreases. The higher the resistance, the lower the speed. Therefore, while the carriage is reciprocating at a certain speed to execute liquid ejection, the load of the carriage driving force source due to the sliding resistance of the carriage is detected, and when the load exceeds the certain load, That is, if the sliding load increases due to factors such as the above-described ink mist and it becomes difficult to smoothly reciprocate the carriage, and there is a possibility that the liquid ejection accuracy may be significantly reduced, By lowering the reciprocating speed of the carriage that has reciprocated at the above speed, the carriage can be smoothly reciprocated.
[0030]
As described above, when the sliding load between the carriage and the guide member becomes large and it becomes difficult to smoothly reciprocate the carriage, and there is a possibility that the liquid ejection accuracy may be significantly reduced, the carriage may be moved. By performing the liquid ejection by controlling the reciprocating speed of the carriage that has reciprocated at a constant speed to a low speed without forcibly stopping, it is possible to perform the liquid ejection by smoothly reciprocating the carriage. In a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus capable of executing high-precision and high-speed liquid ejecting, it is possible to prevent a decrease in liquid ejecting accuracy due to an increase in sliding resistance of a carriage due to ink mist or aging. And the service life of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be extended without increasing the size of the carriage driving force source. Effect can be obtained.
[0031]
Since the increase in the sliding resistance of the carriage due to ink mist and aging gradually increases, the carriage speed when the carriage is decelerated is smoothly moved back and forth by the load detected by the load detecting means. It is preferable to set the speed as fast as possible within the range in which it can be moved, thereby minimizing the decrease in the throughput of the liquid ejection execution due to the deceleration control and feeling the carriage when the deceleration control is performed. The decrease in speed can be reduced to an inconspicuous degree.
[0032]
A ninth aspect of the present invention is a liquid ejecting apparatus including the bidirectional liquid ejecting control device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.
[0033]
According to the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, the operation and effect according to any one of the first to eighth aspects described above can be obtained.
[0034]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage mounted with a recording head for ejecting ink to a recording material, and supported by a guide member so as to be slidable in a predetermined scanning direction. And a carriage driving force source for driving the recording head in the scanning direction, and while the carriage reciprocates in the scanning direction due to the driving force of the carriage driving force source, ink is transmitted from the recording head during the forward scan and the backward scan of the recording head. And a bidirectional recording control device that performs recording on a recording material by ejecting the recording head, wherein the bidirectional recording control device performs a forward scan and a backward scan of the recording head. Correction amount calculating means for calculating a correction amount of ink ejection timing according to the scanning speed of the carriage so that ink dots to be formed at the same point are formed at the same point; And an ink ejection timing correction means for correcting the ink ejection timing from the recording head by the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation means, it is an ink jet recording apparatus characterized by.
[0035]
According to the ink jet recording apparatus described in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the same functions and effects as those of the first aspect described above can be obtained in the ink jet recording apparatus.
[0036]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting head scanning means for reciprocally scanning a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid to a material to be ejected in a predetermined scanning direction relative to a surface to be ejected of the material to be ejected. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, while the liquid ejecting head performs reciprocating scanning in the scanning direction by the liquid ejecting head scanning unit, the liquid ejecting head ejects liquid from the liquid ejecting head both at the time of forward scan and at the time of backward scan. A bidirectional liquid ejection control program for causing a computer to execute control for executing liquid ejection on a material to be ejected, wherein liquid dots to be formed at the same point during forward scan and backward scan of the liquid ejecting head. A correction amount calculation procedure for calculating a correction amount of the liquid ejection timing according to the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head so that the correction amount is formed at the same point; And a liquid injection timing correction procedure for correcting the liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejecting head with the calculated correction amount, it is two-way liquid injection control program characterized.
[0037]
According to the bidirectional liquid ejection control program according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the invention described in the first aspect, and to execute the bidirectional liquid ejection control program. Any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed can have the same operation and effect as the invention described in the first aspect described above.
[0038]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect described above, the correction amount calculating step is configured such that the liquid ejection is performed based on a speed difference between the prescribed scanning speed and the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head during the bidirectional liquid ejection. A timing correction amount difference is calculated, and a value obtained by adding the correction amount difference to a specified correction amount as a correction amount of the liquid ejection timing at the specified scanning speed stored in a storage medium in advance is set as the correction amount. This is a bidirectional liquid ejection control program characterized by the following.
[0039]
According to the bidirectional liquid ejection control program according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the above-described invention according to the second aspect, and to execute the bidirectional liquid ejection control program. Any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed can have the same operation and effect as the invention described in the second aspect.
[0040]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect described above, the difference between the scanning speed with respect to the prescribed scanning speed is a scanning speed difference, and the distance from the head surface of the liquid ejecting head to the surface of the material to be ejected is determined. The liquid ejecting distance, the liquid ejecting speed of the liquid from the liquid ejecting head is defined as a liquid ejecting speed, and the correction amount calculating step multiplies the value obtained by dividing the liquid ejecting distance by the liquid ejecting speed by the scanning speed difference. This is a bidirectional liquid injection control program for calculating a correction amount difference.
[0041]
According to the bidirectional liquid ejection control program described in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the invention described in the third aspect can be obtained, and the bidirectional liquid ejection control program can be used. The same operation and effect as those of the invention described in the above-described third aspect can be provided for any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed.
[0042]
In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention based on the thirteenth aspect, the resolution in the scanning direction of the liquid ejecting head is defined as a liquid ejecting resolution, and the correction amount calculating step includes calculating the correction amount difference by the liquid ejecting resolution. The bidirectional liquid ejection control program is characterized in that the number of dots in the scanning direction corresponding to the correction amount difference is calculated by dividing.
[0043]
According to the two-way liquid ejection control program according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the above-described fourth aspect of the invention, and to execute the two-way liquid ejection control program. The same operational effects as those of the invention described in the fourth aspect can be provided to any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed.
[0044]
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the twelfth aspect to the fourteenth aspect, a large number of liquid ejecting holes are arranged on a head surface of the liquid ejecting head in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A plurality of liquid ejecting nozzles are provided, and the correction amount calculating step calculates the correction amount for each liquid ejecting nozzle from each prescribed correction amount corresponding to each liquid ejecting nozzle stored in advance in the storage medium. The liquid jet timing correction procedure corrects the liquid jet timing from the liquid jet head for each of the liquid jet nozzles with the correction amount calculated for each of the liquid jet nozzles. It is a control program.
[0045]
According to the bidirectional liquid ejection control program according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the fifth aspect described above can be obtained, and this bidirectional liquid ejection control program can be used. Any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed can have the same operation and effect as the invention described in the fifth aspect described above.
[0046]
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the twelfth aspect to the fifteenth aspect, the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting distance changing unit that changes the liquid ejecting distance in a stepwise manner. The correction amount calculation procedure is the specified correction amount corresponding to the liquid ejection distance set by the liquid ejection distance changing means from among the specified correction amounts for each of the liquid ejection distances stored in advance in the storage medium. And calculating the correction amount.
[0047]
According to the bidirectional liquid ejection control program according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the above-described sixth aspect, and to execute the bidirectional liquid ejection control program. The same operation and effect as those of the invention described in the sixth aspect can be provided for any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed.
[0048]
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the eleventh aspect to the sixteenth aspect described above, the liquid ejecting head scanning means mounts the liquid ejecting head, and moves in the scanning direction with respect to a guide member. A carriage driving force source for driving the carriage in the scanning direction, wherein the bidirectional liquid ejection control program controls the carriage driving force source to control the carriage driving force source. A carriage speed control step of controlling a sliding speed of the carriage to a predetermined speed, the carriage speed control step includes a load detecting step of detecting a load of the carriage driving force source due to a sliding resistance of the carriage; When the load of the carriage driving force source detected by the load detecting means exceeds a predetermined load, the sliding speed of the carriage is reduced to a speed lower than a predetermined speed. And a Gosuru deceleration control procedure, it is two-way liquid injection control program characterized.
[0049]
According to the bidirectional liquid ejection control program described in the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the invention described in the eighth aspect can be obtained, and the bidirectional liquid ejection control program can be used. The same operation and effect as those of the invention described in the eighth aspect can be provided for any liquid ejecting apparatus that can be executed.
[0050]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus as a “liquid ejecting apparatus” according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus as a “liquid ejecting apparatus” according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part.
[0051]
In the ink jet type recording apparatus 50, a carriage 61 is supported by a bearing portion 611 on a carriage guide shaft 51 supported by the main body frame 1 as a means for performing recording on recording paper P as a “material to be ejected”. It is arranged so as to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X in a state in which it is in the upright position. A recording head as a “liquid ejecting head” that performs recording by ejecting ink as a “liquid” filled in the ink cartridge 61 a onto the recording paper P at a predetermined ink ejecting speed (liquid ejecting speed) on the carriage 61. 62 are mounted. A platen 52 that defines a gap (liquid ejection distance) between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording paper P is provided to face the recording head 62. Then, an operation of transporting the recording paper P by a predetermined transport amount in the sub-scanning direction Y between the carriage 61 and the platen 52, and ink from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P while the carriage 61 is moved in the main scanning direction X The recording is performed on the recording paper P by alternately repeating the operation of ejecting the recording paper P.
[0052]
The ink jet recording apparatus 50 is equipped with an ASF (auto sheet feeder) 10 for automatically feeding the recording paper P. The ASF 10 includes a paper feed roller 57 and a paper feed tray 58, and is an automatic paper feed mechanism having a configuration in which one paper feed roller 57 can support recording paper P of all paper widths. The paper feed roller 57 has a substantially D-shaped cross-sectional shape in which the length from the rotation center to the peripheral surface is partially shortened, and the rotation of a rotation driving power source such as a stepping motor (not shown) is provided. It is integrally supported by a paper feed roller rotating shaft 571 that is rotated by a driving force. The paper feed tray 58 is configured to be able to feed recording paper P such as plain paper or photo paper, for example, and push up the recording paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 58 from the bottom side to feed paper feed rollers 57. And a hopper 581 as an "urging means" for urging the peripheral surface of the recording paper P, and slidably disposed in the direction indicated by the symbol A in accordance with the width of the recording paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 58. Guide portion 582. A member having high frictional resistance is provided around the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 57, and the recording sheets P stacked on the paper supply tray 58 are urged by the hopper 581 against the peripheral surface of the paper supply roller 57. The uppermost recording paper of the recording paper P is fed in the rotation direction (reference numeral B) of the paper feeding roller 57 in a state of being in close contact with the peripheral surface of the paper feeding roller 57.
[0053]
A transport drive roller 53 for transporting the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y and a transport driven roller 54 are provided. The transport driving roller 53 is rotated by a rotation driving force source such as a stepping motor (not shown), and the recording paper P is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation (reference D) of the transport driving roller 53. A plurality of transport driven rollers 54 are provided, each of which is individually urged by the transport drive roller 53 while being supported by the transport driven roller holder 541, and the recording paper P is transported by the rotation of the transport drive roller 53. In this case, the recording paper P rotates while being in contact with the recording paper P while being in contact therewith. The surface of the transport drive roller 53 is provided with a film having a high frictional resistance. The recording paper P pressed against the surface of the transport drive roller 53 by the transport driven roller 54 comes into close contact with the surface of the transport drive roller 53 due to the frictional resistance of the surface, and is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the rotation of the transport drive roller 53. You. In addition, a paper detector 63 according to a known technique is disposed between the paper feed roller 57 and the transport drive roller 53. The paper detector 63 has a lever 631 pivotally supported by a shaft 63a as a swing axis, and a lever detection unit 632 for detecting the swing position of the lever 631. The recording paper P fed from the tray 58 is rotated by the rotation of the paper feed roller 57 so that the leading end of the recording paper P pushes the lever 631 and swings in the direction indicated by the symbol C to detect the fed recording paper P. are doing.
[0054]
On the other hand, as means for discharging the recorded recording paper P, a paper discharge drive roller 55 and a paper discharge driven roller 56 are provided. The discharge drive roller 55 is rotationally controlled by a rotational driving force of a stepping motor or the like, and the recording paper P is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation (reference numeral E) of the discharge drive roller 55. The paper discharge driven roller 56 is a toothed roller having a plurality of teeth around it and having a sharp tip sharp at the tip of each tooth so as to make point contact with the recording surface of the recording paper P. The plurality of paper ejection driven rollers 56 are urged by the paper ejection drive roller 55 while being supported by the paper ejection driven roller holders 561 individually disposed on the paper ejection frame 2. When the sheet is ejected by the rotation of the sheet ejection drive roller 55, the sheet contacts the recording sheet P and rotates following the ejection of the recording sheet P.
[0055]
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus 50 as a “liquid ejecting apparatus” according to the present invention.
[0056]
In the ink jet recording apparatus 50, a linear scale 67 is arranged in parallel with the carriage guide shaft 51 which supports the carriage 61 so as to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X. In the linear scale 67, a large number of slits detectable by the sensor 66 mounted on the carriage 61 are formed at regular intervals. The detection signal of the sensor 66 is input to the encoder circuit 11, and the encoder circuit 11 determines the absolute position of the carriage 61 and the moving direction of the carriage 61 from the encoder signal generated by the sensor 66 detecting the slit of the linear scale 67. And the moving speed. The rotational driving force of the carriage driving motor 64 is transmitted to the carriage 61 via the endless belt 65. A drive pulley 641 disposed so as to be able to transmit rotation to the rotation shaft of the carriage drive motor 64 and a driven pulley 642 that is rotatably driven and supported, are stretched substantially parallel to the main scanning direction X. A part of the endless belt 65 is connected to the connecting portion 612 of the carriage 61, and the endless belt 65 is bidirectionally rotated in the direction indicated by the symbol F by the bidirectional rotational driving force of the carriage driving motor 64, whereby The carriage 61 reciprocates in the main scanning direction X.
[0057]
The carriage guide shaft 51 is moved in parallel by, for example, an eccentric mechanism or the like, so that the distance between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording surface of the recording paper P (a so-called paper gap, hereinafter referred to as PG). That is, a PG switching unit 511 as a “liquid ejection distance changing unit” for changing the ink ejection distance (liquid ejection distance) is provided. The PG switching unit 511 has a unit that outputs information of the set PG to the control unit 1 such as, for example, a contact output of a switching position of the PG switching mechanism. Further, the encoder circuit 11 outputs the calculated information on the absolute position, the moving direction, and the moving speed of the carriage 61 to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 performs a control of ejecting ink from the nozzle row to execute printing during the forward scan and the backward scan while the recording head 62 performs reciprocal scanning in the main scanning direction X. And ink corresponding to the PG input from the PG switching means 511 and the moving direction and moving speed of the carriage 61 input from the encoder circuit 11, ie, the scanning direction and scanning speed of the recording head 62. The head drive circuit 12 is controlled while correcting the ejection timing.
[0058]
Here, the ink ejection speed (liquid ejection speed) of the ink ejected from the recording head 62 reciprocating in the main scanning direction X, the ink ejection distance (liquid ejection distance), and the moving speed of the carriage 61 (the liquid ejection head (Scan speed) will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0059]
FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the carriage 61 and the recording paper P during forward scanning in the main scanning direction X. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the carriage 61 and recording paper P during backward scanning in the main scanning direction X. FIG.
[0060]
When ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 62 onto the recording surface of the recording paper P while moving the carriage 61 in the forward scanning direction XF at the specified speed Vcr1 (245 cps), the ejected ink droplets flow in the forward scanning direction XF. While reaching the recording surface of the recording paper P, it reaches a position shifted from the nozzle position at the time of ink ejection by the length indicated by the symbol L1 in the forward scanning direction XF. Further, while the ink ejection distance PG and the ink ejection speed Vm are kept as they are, the carriage 61 is decelerated and moved to the specified speed Vcr2 (190 cps) lower than the specified speed 1 in the forward scanning direction XF, and the recording paper P When the ink is ejected onto the recording surface of the recording paper P, the ejected ink droplets reach the recording surface of the recording paper P while flowing in the forward scanning direction XF, and move outward from the nozzle position at the time of the ink ejection by the length indicated by the symbol L2. It will reach a position shifted in the scanning direction XF.
[0061]
On the other hand, when ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 62 onto the recording surface of the recording paper P while the carriage 61 is moved at the specified speed Vcr1 (245 cps) in the backward scanning direction XR, the ejected ink droplets move in the backward scanning direction XR. As the ink is ejected, it reaches the recording surface of the recording paper P, and reaches a position deviated in the backward scanning direction XR from the nozzle position at the time of ink ejection by the length indicated by reference numeral L1. Also, while the ink ejection distance PG and the ink ejection speed Vm are kept as they are, the carriage 61 is decelerated and moved to the specified speed Vcr2 (190 cps) lower than the specified speed 1 in the backward scanning direction XR, and the recording paper P is moved from the nozzles of the recording head 62. When the ink is ejected on the recording surface of the recording paper P, the ejected ink droplet arrives at the recording surface of the recording paper P while flowing in the backward scanning direction XR, and returns from the nozzle position at the time of the ink ejection by the length indicated by the symbol L2. It will reach a position shifted in the scanning direction XR.
[0062]
Therefore, when the carriage speed is the specified speed Vcr1, the ink arrival position is shifted by the length of L1, and the correction amount for correcting the shift is L1, and the ink jetting distance PG and the ink jetting speed Vm remain unchanged. When only the carriage speed is reduced from the specified speed Vcr1 to the specified speed Vcr2, the ink arrival position is shifted by the length of L2, and the correction amount for correcting the shift is L2. Here, when the ink ejection speed (liquid ejection speed) is Vm and the ink ejection distance (liquid ejection distance) is PG, the correction amount L1 is obtained by dividing the specified speed Vcr1 by a value obtained by dividing the ink ejection distance PG by the ink ejection speed Vm. It is obtained by multiplying.
[0063]
Specified correction amount L1 = Vcr1 · PG / Vm (1)
Similarly, the correction amount L2 is obtained by multiplying a value obtained by dividing the ink ejection distance PG by the ink ejection speed Vm by a specified speed Vcr2.
[0064]
Correction amount L2 = Vcr2 · PG / Vm (2)
If the speed difference (scanning speed difference) between the specified speed Vcr1 and the specified speed Vcr2 is ΔVcr, the difference between the correction amount L1 and the correction amount L2, that is, when the carriage speed is reduced from the specified speed Vcr1 to the specified speed Vcr2 is controlled. Is obtained by multiplying the value obtained by dividing the ink ejection distance PG by the ink ejection speed Vm by the scanning speed difference ΔVcr.
[0065]
Correction amount difference α = ΔVcr · PG / Vm (3)
For example, if the ink ejection distance PG is 1.55 [mm] and the ink ejection speed Vm is 5.5 [m / s], Vcr1 = 245 cps = 0.6223 [m / s] and Vcr2 = 190 cps = 0.4826. [M / s], the correction amount difference α is (0.6223−0.4826) × 1.55 ÷ 5.5 = 0.03937 [mm].
[0066]
FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing the carriage 61 and the recording paper P during reciprocal scanning in the main scanning direction X.
[0067]
Here, assuming that the correction amount L1 at the specified speed Vcr1 before deceleration is the specified correction amount L1, and the correction amount L2 at the specified speed Vcr2 after deceleration is the corrected amount L after deceleration, the moving speed of the carriage 61 is set to the specified speed Vcr1. When the recording head 62 scans in the forward scanning direction XF, the recording head 62 shifts the ink ejection position in the direction opposite to the forward scanning direction XF by the prescribed correction amount L1 to execute the recording by reciprocating. When the scanning is performed in the backward scanning direction XR, the ink ejection position due to the difference in the scanning direction of the recording head 62 is corrected by shifting the ink ejection position in the direction opposite to the backward scanning direction XR by the specified correction amount L1. Thus, the ink dots formed during the forward scan and the ink dots formed during the backward scan can be formed at the same position (reference numeral H). When the scanning speed of the carriage 61 is controlled to be reduced from the specified speed Vcr1 to the specified speed Vcr2 while the ink jetting distance PG and the ink jetting speed Vm remain unchanged, the ink jetting timing is corrected by the specified correction amount L1 as it is. In the forward scan, the ink dot is formed at the position indicated by reference numeral H1, and during the backward scan, the ink dot is formed at the position indicated by reference numeral H2, and is formed at the same position during the forward scan and the backward scan as shown. The positions of the ink dots to be formed are shifted from each other.
[0068]
Therefore, when the moving speed of the carriage 61 is reduced from the specified speed Vcr1 to the specified speed Vcr2, a correction amount difference α is calculated from the speed difference (Vcr1−Vcr2) using Expression (3) to obtain the specified correction amount L1. The correction amount L is obtained by adding the correction amount difference α to the correction amount L, and the ink ejection timing is corrected by the obtained correction amount L to execute the bidirectional printing. As a result, when only the moving speed of the carriage 61 is reduced while keeping the ink jetting distance PG and the ink jetting speed Vm, the ink jetting timing is corrected by an appropriate correction amount L corresponding to the deceleration of the moving speed of the carriage 61. Two-way recording can be performed. As described above, the correction of the ink ejection timing by the correction amount L1 may be performed by correcting the ink ejection timing by the correction amount L1 in the direction opposite to the scanning direction at the time of the forward scan and the backward scan. The ink ejection timing may be corrected by twice the correction amount L1 in the direction opposite to the scanning direction only in the backward scanning with reference to the forward scanning, and in such a case, the moving speed of the carriage 61 is reduced. In this case, the ink ejection timing is corrected at the time of the backward scanning by an amount obtained by subtracting the value obtained by doubling the correction amount difference α from the value obtained by doubling the correction amount L1. As a result, there is a merit that it is possible to omit the calculation of the correction amount difference α in the case where the printing is executed by ejecting the ink only during the forward scan.
[0069]
In this embodiment, the control unit 1 is a control unit realized by a microcomputer control device configured by an MPU (micro processing unit) or the like executing a software program. Next, a control procedure according to the “bidirectional liquid ejection control program” according to the present invention will be described.
[0070]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure according to the “bidirectional liquid ejection control program” according to the present invention.
[0071]
First, a correction amount suitable for the printing mode and printing speed of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is extracted from the data table to correct the bidirectional printing timing (ink ejection timing) (step S1). That is, the printing (recording) mode, the prescribed speed Vcr of the carriage 61 corresponding to the printing (recording) speed, the ink ejection distance PG, and the prescribed correction amount corresponding to the ink ejection speed Vm are previously stored in a storage medium (not shown). The ink ejection timing is corrected by selecting from the specified correction amount data table. This data table will be described later. Next, it is determined whether there is a change (request) in the moving speed of the carriage 61, that is, the scanning speed of the recording head 62 due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage 61 (step S2). The determination as to whether there is a change (request) in the carriage speed in step S2 is made by setting the specified speed Vcr, the ink ejection distance PG, and the ink ejection speed Vm of the carriage 61 according to the type of the recording paper P (printing). This is a procedure for determining whether or not a control request for changing only the moving speed of the carriage 61 without changing the moving speed of the carriage 61 due to the change of the mode, but in the printing (recording) mode, is generated. , The movement speed of the carriage 61 is not yet changed. With respect to the change of the printing (recording) mode, it is determined in step S1 to change the specified correction amount.
[0072]
If the change (request) of the moving speed of the carriage 61 has not occurred (No in Step S2), the printing (recording) is executed as it is (Step S3). On the other hand, if a change (request) in the moving speed of the carriage 61 has occurred (Yes in step S2), it is determined whether or not printing is being performed (recording is being performed) (step S4). If printing is being performed (recording is being performed) (Yes in step S4), printing (recording) is continued at the moving speed of the carriage 61 as it is (step S3), and if printing is not being performed (recording is being performed) (step S4). (No in S4), the moving speed of the carriage 61 is changed by changing (requesting) the moving speed of the carriage 61 (step S5).
[0073]
After changing the moving speed of the carriage 61, a correction amount of the bidirectional printing timing is obtained. That is, the correction amount difference α of the ink ejection timing is calculated from the speed difference between the moving speed of the carriage 61 before the change and the moving speed of the carriage 61 after the change (correction amount calculation procedure), and the correction amount difference α is defined. After the ink ejection timing is corrected by adding it to the correction amount (liquid ejection timing correction procedure) (step S6), printing (recording) is performed (step S3). The “correction amount calculation procedure” according to the present embodiment is performed by first changing the pre-change speed of the carriage 61 to a value obtained by dividing the distance between the head nozzle and the paper (ink ejection distance PG) by the ink droplet speed (ink ejection speed Vm). The correction amount difference α is calculated by multiplying the difference from the subsequent speed (scanning speed difference ΔVcr). In the present embodiment, the calculated correction amount difference α is further divided by the resolution (resolution) in the main scanning direction X, and the correction amount difference α is reduced to the number of dots in the main scanning direction X corresponding to the correction amount difference α. Convert.
[0074]
In this embodiment, if the resolution in the main scanning direction X is 1440 dpi (dot per inch), a maximum of 1440 ink dots are formed per inch in the main scanning direction X. The minimum dot interval of X is 1/1440 [inch]. Therefore, when the correction amount difference α is divided by the resolution 1440 dpi, the correction amount difference α can be converted into the number of dots in the main scanning direction X corresponding to the correction amount difference α. Since the unit of the correction amount difference α is mm, the calculation is performed after the resolution is converted to the unit of mm. Since 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1/1440 [inch] = 25.4 / 1440 = 0.017464 [mm]. For example, the ink ejection distance PG is 1.55 [mm], and the ink ejection speed Vm is 5. Assuming that 5 [m / s], Vcr1 = 245 cps = 0.6223 [m / s] and Vcr2 = 190 cps = 0.4826 [m / s], so that the correction amount difference α is (0.6223−0.4826). ) × 1.55 ÷ 5.5 = 0.03937 [mm]. Then, when the correction amount difference α is divided by the resolution, the correction amount difference α = 0.03937 [mm] ÷ 0.01764 [mm] = 2.232 = about 2 [dots], and the ink ejection timing based on the specified correction amount In addition to the correction, by simply shifting the ink ejection timing by two dots in the direction opposite to the main scanning direction X, the ink ejection timing can be corrected by the correction amount obtained by adding the correction amount difference α to the specified correction amount. .
[0075]
In this manner, by converting the correction amount difference α to the number of dots in the main scanning direction X, the ink ejection timing is defined by simply shifting the liquid ejection timing in the direction opposite to the main scanning direction X by the number of dots. It is possible to easily perform a procedure of correcting with a correction amount obtained by adding the correction amount difference α to the correction amount (liquid ejection timing correction procedure).
[0076]
Next, a data table of the correction amount stored in a storage medium (not shown) in advance will be described.
FIG. 9 is a table showing a data configuration of a correction amount data table in the “bidirectional liquid ejection control device” according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a table showing a data configuration of a data table of the correction amount, and shows a case where the correction amount when the moving speed of the carriage 61 is reduced to a low speed is also configured as a data table. is there.
[0077]
On the head surface of the recording head 62, a plurality of ink nozzles having a large number of ink ejection holes arranged in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction X are arranged, and each prescribed correction amount corresponding to each ink nozzle is stored in a storage medium. Have been. The specified correction amounts corresponding to the five types of head drive modes (recording modes) that differ depending on the combination of the settings of the specified speed Vcr of the carriage 61, the ink jetting distance PG, and the ink jetting speed Vm are used as the bidirectional correction values. Assigned to. Since the actual ink ejection speed Vm is slightly different depending on the characteristics (viscosity and the like) of the ink ejected from the recording head 62, the prescribed correction amounts L1 to L5 for the Bk (black) ink are provided for each head drive mode. And the specified correction amounts L6 to L10 for the color (color) ink. As described above, since a different correction amount is set for each ink nozzle, a different correction amount is set for each ink nozzle even when the ink ejection speed or the like is different due to a different property of the ink, so that an appropriate correction of the ink ejection timing is performed. It can be performed.
[0078]
As shown in FIG. 11, when the data table is configured with all correction amounts when only the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 is reduced to a low speed (190 cps) without changing the head drive mode, the data of the correction amount The number is required to be 18, and the capacity of the storage medium for storing the correction amount data table increases. When the head drive mode is VSD3, the original moving speed of the carriage 61 is 190 cps, so the low-speed bidirectional correction value does not change (L3, L8). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the correction amount when only the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 is reduced to a low speed (190 cps) without changing the head drive mode is obtained by adding the correction amount difference α to the specified correction amount. When the value is a value, the number of data of the correction amount can be reduced to about half, that is, 10, so that the capacity of the storage medium for storing the data table of the correction amount can be reduced. Further, since the correction amount can be calculated by calculating the correction amount difference α according to the speed difference of the carriage 61 at the time of deceleration, the speed at the time of deceleration is not limited to a specific speed. The ink ejection timing can be corrected flexibly corresponding to the moving speed (scanning speed of the recording head 62).
[0079]
In this manner, bidirectional ink (liquid) ejection control that does not require a large-capacity storage medium for storing a large amount of correction amount data and that can flexibly correct ink (liquid) ejection timing is realized. be able to.
[0080]
Further, as another embodiment, in addition to the above-described embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus 50 including a “carriage speed control device” for controlling the moving speed of the carriage can be cited.
In this embodiment, the control unit 1 also has control means as a “carriage speed control device” for controlling the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61, and the absolute position and the movement direction of the carriage 61 output by the encoder circuit 11. And the motor driving circuit 13 for driving the carriage driving motor 64 based on the information on the moving speed and the moving speed, so as to move the carriage 61 in a desired moving direction, moving amount and moving speed. I do. The carriage drive motor 64 is a DC motor (DC motor), and the control unit 1 controls the current value of the carriage drive motor 64 and the movement of the carriage 61 by the motor drive circuit 13 as control means of the “carriage speed control device”. "Load detecting means" for detecting the load on the carriage driving motor 64 due to the sliding load between the carriage guide shaft 51 and the bearing portion 611 of the carriage 61 from the speed, and the carriage driving detected by the load detecting means. When the load on the motor 64 exceeds a predetermined load, the motor 64 has “deceleration control means” for controlling the moving speed of the carriage 61 to a speed lower than a predetermined speed.
[0081]
In the DC motor, since the relationship between the generated torque and the current value is proportional, when the carriage driving motor 64 is controlled to rotate at a constant speed to drive the carriage 61 at a predetermined speed, the carriage 61 As the sliding load between the carriage 61 and the carriage guide shaft 51 as a "guide member" of the carriage 61 increases, a large generated torque is required to drive the carriage 61 at a constant speed. The value of the current flowing through the motor 64 increases. On the other hand, as described above, the DC motor has a limit in the generated torque at a certain rotation speed because the relationship between the generated torque and the rotation speed is inversely proportional. Therefore, as long as the drive voltage is constant, the greater the generated torque, that is, the greater the sliding load between the carriage 61 and the carriage guide shaft 51, the greater the drive rotation of the carriage drive motor 64. The possible number of rotations will decrease, and the limit speed of the controllable moving speed of the carriage 61 will decrease. Therefore, when the sliding load between the carriage 61 and the carriage guide shaft 51 exceeds a certain magnitude with respect to a certain moving speed of the carriage 61, the carriage 61 smoothly reciprocates at the moving speed. It becomes difficult.
[0082]
Therefore, the torque generated by the carriage driving motor 64 is detected from the current value flowing through the carriage driving motor 64 by the load detecting means, that is, the load of the carriage driving motor 64 is detected, and the detected load of the carriage driving motor 64 is detected. If the load exceeds a certain load, the deceleration control means controls the moving speed of the carriage 61 to a speed lower than a predetermined speed to execute printing. As a result, even if the sliding load between the carriage 61 and the carriage guide shaft 51 increases due to ink mist or rattling due to aging of the bearing portion 611 of the carriage 61, the carriage driving motor 64 is driven by the driving voltage. Before the generated torque exceeds the limit, the moving speed of the carriage 61 can be appropriately reduced according to the increase in the load on the carriage driving motor 64 due to the sliding resistance. Therefore, even if the sliding resistance of the carriage 61 increases due to ink mist or aging, the carriage 61 is not forcibly stopped, but the moving speed of the carriage 61 is appropriately reduced and the carriage 61 is smoothly reciprocated to perform recording. Since it is possible to prevent the printing accuracy from lowering by performing the process, it is possible to extend the service life of the ink jet printing apparatus 50 without increasing the size of the carriage driving motor 64.
[0083]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the control procedure according to the “bidirectional liquid ejection control program” according to the present invention.
[0084]
First, instead of the printing (recording) operation on the recording paper P, the carriage 61 is simply run (reciprocated) at a constant speed (at a constant speed) (step S11), and the current value of the carriage driving motor 64 at that time is determined. It is determined (step S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the generated torque of the carriage driving motor 64 obtained from the current value, that is, the magnitude of the sliding load of the carriage 61 exceeds a limit value at which the constant speed control is possible (step S13). This makes it possible to determine whether or not the carriage 61 can be controlled at a constant speed before printing on the printing paper P (load detection procedure). If the load of the carriage driving motor 64 is detected by the load detection procedure each time the carriage 61 reciprocates, it is quickly detected that the magnitude of the sliding load has exceeded the limit value at which constant speed control is possible. can do.
[0085]
If the magnitude of the sliding load of the carriage 61 does not exceed the limit value at which constant speed control is possible, that is, if the carriage 61 can reciprocate at constant speed control (No in step S13), a print (record) command is issued. Is executed (step S14), and the carriage 61 is controlled at a constant speed to execute recording on the recording paper P (step S15). After executing the recording, it is determined whether or not the power of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is turned off (step S16). If the power is not turned off (No in step S16), the process returns to step S12. On the other hand, if the magnitude of the sliding load of the carriage 61 exceeds the limit value at which constant speed control is possible, that is, if the carriage 61 cannot reciprocate under constant speed control (Yes in step S13), printing is being performed (step S13). It is determined whether or not recording is in progress (step S17). If recording is in progress (Yes in step S17), recording is continued and executed as it is (step S14), and if recording is not in progress (step S17). No), the traveling speed of the carriage 61 is changed (decelerated) (step S18). Then, the bidirectional correction value (correction amount) is changed in the same procedure as in step S6 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 (step S19).
[0086]
Specifically, for example, at the time of constant speed control, the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 of 225 cps is reduced to 190 cps (deceleration control procedure), and a correction amount difference α corresponding to the decelerated moving speed of the carriage 61 is calculated to determine the correction amount. The calculation is performed to correct the ink ejection timing from the recording head 62. Then, a printing (recording) command is executed (step S14), and the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 is controlled to be reduced to execute recording on the recording paper P (step S15). As described above, by not performing the deceleration control during printing, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the print quality is locally reduced due to a change in the carriage speed during printing. Then, after printing is performed, it is determined whether or not the power of the ink jet type printing apparatus 50 has been turned off (step S16). If the power has not been turned off (No in step S16), the process returns to step S12.
[0087]
When the power supply of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is turned off (Yes in step S16), the control for reducing the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 is reset (step S20). Accordingly, the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 cannot be controlled at a constant speed, and after the deceleration control of the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 is executed, the reciprocating motion of the carriage 61 is continued until the power supply of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is turned off. The deceleration control of the dynamic speed is continuously performed. In this embodiment, the control unit 1 controls the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 in each print mode (recording execution mode) of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 as a constant speed control speed of 295 cps, 245 cps, 225 cps, and 190 cps. Various types of carriage speed control modes are provided. At the time of deceleration control of the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 by the deceleration control procedure, the deceleration control is uniformly performed to the lowest speed of 190 cps. Is smaller, which is preferable. In this embodiment, the control unit 1 does not perform the deceleration control procedure during the printing, but performs the printing at the time when the load of the carriage driving motor 64 exceeding a certain load is detected in the load detecting procedure. The deceleration control procedure may be executed first.
[0088]
In this manner, when the sliding load between the carriage 61 and the carriage guide shaft 51 becomes large, it becomes difficult to smoothly reciprocate the carriage 61, and there is a possibility that the recording accuracy may be significantly reduced. By performing the printing while controlling the reciprocating speed of the carriage 61 to a low speed without forcibly stopping the carriage 61 and performing the printing, it is possible to execute the printing by smoothly reciprocating the carriage 61.
[0089]
Further, as another embodiment, in each of the above-described embodiments, the acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 61 can be controlled to a settable speed without changing the recording mode.
FIG. 10 is a table showing another embodiment of the data configuration of the correction amount data table in the “bidirectional liquid ejection control device” according to the present invention.
[0090]
The specified correction amounts corresponding to the five types of head drive modes (recording modes) that differ depending on the combination of the settings of the specified speed Vcr of the carriage 61, the ink jetting distance PG, and the ink jetting speed Vm are used as the bidirectional correction values. Assigned to. Since the actual ink ejection speed Vm is slightly different depending on the characteristics (viscosity and the like) of the ink ejected from the recording head 62, the prescribed correction amounts L1 to L5 for the Bk (black) ink are provided for each head drive mode. And the specified correction amounts L6 to L10 for the color (color) ink. The control unit 1 calculates a correction amount difference α from a speed difference (scanning speed difference ΔVcr) between the specified speed Vcr of the carriage 61 in each head drive mode (recording mode) and the moving speed of the carriage 61 after acceleration / deceleration. The correction amount after the acceleration / deceleration is obtained by adding the correction amount difference α to the correction amount at the speed Vcr. For example, when the head drive mode (recording mode) is VSD1, the specified speed Vcr is 245 cps, the correction amount difference α after the speed change of the carriage 61 is calculated, and the correction amount difference α corresponds to the specified speed Vcr. The correction amount is calculated by adding the specified correction amount L1 (Bk ink) and the specified correction amount L6 (Color ink).
[0091]
As described above, if the correction amount data corresponding to the four settable movement speeds of the carriage 61 for each of the five types of head drive modes (recording modes) is stored in the storage medium in advance for each ink type, 40 correction amount data are stored. However, one specified correction amount data may be stored in advance for each ink type for each head drive mode (recording mode). Accordingly, in the ink jet recording apparatus 50 in which the movement speed of the carriage 61 can be controlled to a settable speed without changing the recording mode, the correction amount data previously stored in the storage medium is 10 pieces. Only the correction amount data (specified correction amounts L1 to L10) is required, and the required data capacity of the storage medium can be reduced to ４. Further, in the case where the moving speed of the carriage 61 (scanning speed of the recording head 62) is controlled in fine steps, the ink ejection timing can be corrected flexibly in response to a change in the moving speed of the carriage 61. .
[0092]
The invention of the present application is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the invention of the present application. Needless to say.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a carriage and recording paper during forward scanning.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a carriage and recording paper during backward scanning.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the carriage and the recording paper during reciprocal scanning.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a bidirectional liquid ejection control program.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a bidirectional liquid ejection control program.
FIG. 9 is a table showing a data configuration of a correction amount data table.
FIG. 10 is a table showing a data configuration of a correction amount data table.
FIG. 11 is a table showing a data configuration of a correction amount data table.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 control unit, 10 ASF (auto sheet feeder), 11 encoder circuit, 12 head drive circuit, 13 motor drive circuit, 50 ink jet recording device, 51 carriage guide shaft, 52 platen, 53 transport drive roller, 54 transport driven Roller, 55 discharge drive roller, 56 discharge driven roller, 57 paper feed roller, 58 paper feed tray, 61 carriage, 62 recording head, 63 paper detector, 64 carriage drive motor, 67 linear scale, X main scanning direction , Y Sub scanning direction

Claims (17)

In a liquid ejecting apparatus including liquid ejecting head scanning means for reciprocatingly scanning a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid to a material to be ejected in a predetermined scanning direction with respect to a surface to be ejected of the material to be ejected, During the reciprocating scanning of the liquid ejecting head in the scanning direction by the head scanning means, the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head to execute the liquid ejection on the material to be ejected at both the forward scan and the backward scan of the liquid ejecting head. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device,
The correction amount of the liquid ejection timing is calculated according to the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head so that the liquid dot to be formed at the same point at the time of the forward scan and the backward scan of the liquid ejection head is formed at the same point. Correction amount calculating means;
A liquid ejection timing correction unit for correcting the liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejection head with the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit. 2. A storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising a storage medium in which a prescribed correction amount as a correction amount of the liquid ejection timing at a prescribed scanning speed of said liquid ejecting head scanning means is stored in advance. A correction amount difference of the liquid ejection timing is calculated from a speed difference between the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head and the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head during the bidirectional liquid ejection, and a value obtained by adding the correction amount difference to the specified correction amount is set as the correction amount. And a bidirectional liquid ejection control device. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a difference between the scanning speed with respect to the specified scanning speed is a scanning speed difference, a distance from a head surface of the liquid ejecting head to a surface to be ejected of the material to be ejected is a liquid ejecting distance, The ejection speed is a liquid ejection speed, and the correction amount calculating means calculates the correction amount difference by multiplying a value obtained by dividing the liquid ejection distance by the liquid ejection speed by the scanning speed difference. Bidirectional liquid injection control device. 4. The scan according to claim 3, wherein a resolution of the liquid ejecting head in the scanning direction is a liquid ejecting resolution, and the correction amount calculating means divides the correction amount difference by the liquid ejecting resolution to perform the scanning corresponding to the correction amount difference. A bidirectional liquid ejection control device for calculating the number of dots in each direction. 5. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of liquid ejecting nozzles having a plurality of liquid ejecting holes arranged in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction are provided on a head surface of the liquid ejecting head. Each specified correction amount corresponding to each ejection nozzle is stored in the storage medium, and the correction amount calculation means calculates the correction amount for each liquid ejection nozzle from each specified correction amount corresponding to each liquid ejection nozzle. Bi-directional liquid ejection control, wherein the liquid ejection timing correction means corrects the liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejection head for each of the liquid ejection nozzles with the correction amount calculated for each of the liquid ejection nozzles. apparatus. 6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting distance changing unit that changes the liquid ejecting distance in a stepwise manner, and each liquid ejecting device can be set by the liquid ejecting distance changing unit. Each prescribed correction amount corresponding to the distance is stored in the storage medium, and the correction amount calculating means selects the prescribed correction amount corresponding to the liquid ejection distance changed by the liquid ejection distance changing means. A bidirectional liquid injection control device, wherein the correction amount is calculated. The carriage according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid ejecting head scanning means is mounted with the liquid ejecting head, and is pivotally supported on a guide member so as to be slidable in the scanning direction. And a carriage driving force source for driving a carriage in the scanning direction. 8. The carriage speed control device according to claim 7, further comprising a carriage speed control device that controls the carriage driving force source to control a sliding speed of the carriage to a predetermined speed, wherein the carriage speed control device is configured to control the carriage by a sliding resistance of the carriage. Load detecting means for detecting a load on the driving force source, and when the load on the carriage driving force source detected by the load detecting means exceeds a certain load, the sliding speed of the carriage is lower than a predetermined speed. And a deceleration control means for controlling the speed to a speed. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the bidirectional liquid ejecting control device according to claim 1. A carriage mounted with a recording head for ejecting ink to a recording material and slidably supported in a predetermined scanning direction with respect to a guide member; and a carriage driving force for driving the carriage in the scanning direction. The recording head ejects ink from the recording head during both the forward scan and the backward scan while the carriage reciprocates in the scanning direction by the driving force of the carriage driving force source. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising:
The bidirectional printing control device controls an ink ejection timing according to the scanning speed of the carriage so that ink dots to be formed at the same point at the time of forward scan and at the time of backward scan of the print head are formed at the same point. A correction amount calculating means for calculating a correction amount; and an ink ejection timing correcting means for correcting an ink ejection timing from the recording head with the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculating means. Inkjet recording device. In a liquid ejecting apparatus including liquid ejecting head scanning means for reciprocatingly scanning a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid to a material to be ejected in a predetermined scanning direction with respect to a surface to be ejected of the material to be ejected, During the reciprocating scanning of the liquid ejecting head in the scanning direction by the head scanning means, the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head to execute the liquid ejection on the material to be ejected at both the forward scan and the backward scan of the liquid ejecting head. A bidirectional liquid ejection control program for causing a computer to execute control,
The correction amount of the liquid ejection timing is calculated according to the scanning speed of the liquid ejection head so that the liquid dot to be formed at the same point at the time of the forward scan and the backward scan of the liquid ejection head is formed at the same point. Correction amount calculation procedure,
A liquid ejection timing correction procedure for correcting the liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejection head with the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation means. 12. The correction amount calculation procedure according to claim 11, wherein the correction amount calculation step calculates a correction amount difference of a liquid ejection timing from a speed difference between the specified scanning speed and a scanning speed of the liquid ejection head during the bidirectional liquid ejection. A bidirectional liquid ejection control program, characterized in that a value obtained by adding a difference to a specified correction amount as a correction amount of the liquid ejection timing at the specified scanning speed stored in a storage medium in advance is used as the correction amount. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a difference between the scanning speed with respect to the specified scanning speed is a scanning speed difference, a distance from a head surface of the liquid ejecting head to a surface to be ejected of a material to be ejected is a liquid ejecting distance, The ejection speed is a liquid ejection speed, and the correction amount calculation procedure calculates the correction amount difference by multiplying a value obtained by dividing the liquid ejection distance by the liquid ejection speed by the scanning speed difference. Bidirectional liquid injection control program. 14. The scanning method according to claim 13, wherein the resolution of the liquid ejecting head in the scanning direction is a liquid ejecting resolution, and the correction amount calculating step divides the correction amount difference by the liquid ejecting resolution to perform the scanning corresponding to the correction amount difference. A bidirectional liquid ejection control program for calculating the number of dots in each direction. 15. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of liquid ejecting nozzles having a large number of liquid ejecting holes arranged in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction are provided on a head surface of the liquid ejecting head. The amount calculating step calculates the correction amount for each of the liquid ejecting nozzles from each prescribed correction amount corresponding to each of the liquid ejecting nozzles stored in advance in the storage medium, and the liquid ejecting timing correcting step includes: A bidirectional liquid ejection control program, wherein a liquid ejection timing from the liquid ejection head is corrected for each of the liquid ejection nozzles with the correction amount calculated for each nozzle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising a liquid ejecting distance changing unit that changes the liquid ejecting distance in a stepwise manner, wherein the correction amount calculation procedure is stored in the storage medium in advance. Calculating the correction amount by selecting the specified correction amount corresponding to the liquid ejection distance set by the liquid ejection distance changing means from among the specified correction amounts for each of the liquid ejection distances. Characteristic bidirectional liquid ejection control program. The carriage according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the liquid ejecting head scanning means is mounted with the liquid ejecting head and is pivotally supported on a guide member so as to be slidable in the scanning direction. A carriage driving force source for driving the carriage in the scanning direction, wherein the bidirectional liquid ejection control program controls the carriage driving force source to control the sliding speed of the carriage to a predetermined speed. A speed detection procedure for detecting a load on the carriage driving force source due to a sliding resistance of the carriage; and a load detection procedure for detecting the load on the carriage driving force source detected by the load detection means. A deceleration control procedure for controlling the sliding speed of the carriage to a speed lower than a predetermined speed when the load exceeds a certain load. Bidirectional liquid ejection control program characterized.

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