JP2006001140A - Printer, method of printing and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a time period for printing and to prevent variation in printing when printing even on an edge portion of a medium. <P>SOLUTION: This printer comprises an ink ejection section for ejecting ink toward a medium, a plurality of groove sections for collecting the ink ejected therefrom, a conveyance mechanism for conveying the medium in a predetermined direction, a controller for printing on the medium even on the edge portion by alternately performing the ejection operation of the ink by means of the ink ejection section and the conveyance operation by a predetermined conveyance amount by means of the conveyance mechanism, and a support section which is provided between the groove sections and is adapted to support the medium. The width of the support section in the predetermined direction is shorter than the predetermined conveyance amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a program that perform printing by ejecting ink toward a medium.

  Inkjet printers are known as printing apparatuses that perform printing on various media such as paper, cloth, and film. This ink jet printer prints on a medium by ejecting ink of a plurality of colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) toward the medium.

  On the other hand, recently, an ink jet printer having a function capable of performing printing called “borderless printing” has appeared (see Patent Document 1). Here, “marginless printing” is a printing method in which ink is printed to the edge of the medium, and printing is performed so that no margin is generated at the edge of the medium by ink being applied to the edge of the medium. Can do.

However, the ink ejected toward the edge of the medium may be detached from the medium. In such a case, the ink removed from the medium may be scattered around and contaminate the inside of the apparatus. Therefore, an ink jet printer that performs such “marginless printing” is provided with a groove for collecting ink that has come off the medium. This groove is provided on, for example, a platen that supports a medium to be printed. The ink that has come off the medium is collected in the groove.
JP 2002-103584 A

  However, such an ink jet printer has the following problems. In other words, when “marginless printing” is executed, ink cannot be ejected toward the edge of the medium unless the position of the edge of the medium reaches the groove. On the other hand, since the area where the groove is provided is very limited, ink can be discharged toward the edge of the medium only at a predetermined position where the groove is provided. For this reason, when printing to the edge of the medium, it is necessary to adopt a conveyance method called so-called `` anomalous feed '' that switches the conveyance amount of the medium in the middle, thereby requiring extra printing time, In some cases, such as printing unevenness occurs and a high-quality image cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the printing time and prevent the occurrence of printing unevenness when printing to the edge of the medium. is there.

The main invention for achieving the object is as follows:
An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A printing apparatus, comprising: a support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the width in the predetermined direction is shorter than the predetermined transport amount. It is.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A printing apparatus, comprising: a support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the width in the predetermined direction is shorter than the predetermined transport amount. .

  In such a printing apparatus, since the support portion provided between the grooves is shorter than the predetermined conveyance amount, even if the conveyance operation for the predetermined conveyance amount is performed, the ink removed from the medium is removed. It can be recovered by the groove. As a result, it is possible to improve the printing speed, suppress printing unevenness, and print to the edge of the medium.

  In such a printing apparatus, the groove portion may be formed along a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. In this way, if the groove is formed along the direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the ink detached from the medium can be efficiently collected.

  Further, in such a printing apparatus, the groove portions may be provided in parallel to each other. In this way, if the groove portions are provided in parallel to each other, it is possible to efficiently recover the ink that has been removed from the medium.

  In such a printing apparatus, the ink discharge section may be provided so as to be movable along the groove section. As described above, if the ink discharge portion is provided so as to be movable, the ink discharged from the ink discharge portion can be collected in the groove portion.

  Moreover, in this printing apparatus, you may provide the said groove part 3 or more. If three or more grooves are provided in this way, printing can be smoothly performed up to the edge of the medium.

  In such a printing apparatus, the printing method when printing is performed up to the edge of the medium may be an interlace method. In this way, if printing is performed up to the edge of the medium by the interlace method, printing can be performed by a transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism.

  Further, in such a printing apparatus, the printing method when printing is performed up to the edge of the medium may be an overlap method. In this way, if printing is performed up to the edge of the medium by the overlap method, printing can be performed by a transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism.

  In such a printing apparatus, when printing is performed up to the edge of the medium, the edge of the medium may pass over the support portion and stop on the groove portion for each transport operation. In this way, if the edge of the medium passes over the support portion and stops on the groove portion for each transport operation, the printing process can be performed smoothly when printing to the edge of the medium.

An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the width in the predetermined direction is shorter than the predetermined transport amount;
The groove is formed along a direction intersecting the predetermined direction;
The grooves are provided in parallel to each other;
The ink ejection part is provided movably along the groove part;
Having 3 or more of the grooves,
The printing method when printing to the edge of the medium is either the overlap method or the interlace method,
When printing is performed up to the edge of a medium, the edge of the medium passes over the support portion and stops on the groove portion for each transport operation.

An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A method of printing using a printing apparatus provided between the groove portions and provided with a support portion for supporting the medium,
When printing to the edge of the media,
Discharging ink from the ink discharge portion toward the medium;
Transporting the medium by a predetermined transport amount that is longer than the width of the support portion in the predetermined direction by the transport mechanism;
The printing method characterized by performing alternately.

An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A program provided between the groove portions and executed in a printing apparatus including a support portion for supporting the medium,
When printing to the edge of the media,
Discharging ink from the ink discharge portion toward the medium;
Transporting the medium by a predetermined transport amount longer than the width of the support portion in the predetermined direction by the transport mechanism;
A program characterized by alternately executing.

A computer device and a printing device connectable to the computer device;
The printing apparatus includes an ink discharge unit that discharges ink toward a medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A printing system, comprising: a support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the support portion has a width in the predetermined direction shorter than the predetermined transport amount.

=== Overview of Printing Apparatus ===
An embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described by taking an inkjet printer as an example.

  1 to 4 show the ink jet printer 1. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the inkjet printer 1. FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the inkjet printer 1. FIG. 3 shows the transport section of the inkjet printer 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the inkjet printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 has a structure for discharging a medium such as printing paper supplied from the back side from the front side, and an operation panel 2 and a paper discharge unit 3 are provided on the front side. The paper feeding unit 4 is provided on the back side. Various operation buttons 5 and display lamps 6 are provided on the operation panel 2. Further, the paper discharge unit 3 is provided with a paper discharge tray 7 that closes the paper discharge port when not in use. The paper feed unit 4 is provided with a paper feed tray 8 that holds cut paper (not shown). Note that the inkjet printer 1 may include a paper feed structure that can print not only on single-sheet-like printing paper such as cut paper but also on continuous media such as roll paper.

  Inside the ink jet printer 1, a carriage 41 is provided as shown in FIG. The carriage 41 is provided so as to be relatively movable along a predetermined direction (lateral direction in the figure). Around the carriage 41, a carriage motor (hereinafter also referred to as a CR motor) 42, a pulley 44, a timing belt 45, and a guide rail 46 are provided. The carriage motor 42 is constituted by a DC motor or the like, and functions as a drive source for relatively moving the carriage 41 along the predetermined direction. The timing belt 45 is connected to the carriage motor 42 via the pulley 44, and a part of the timing belt 45 is connected to the carriage 41. The carriage 41 is relatively driven along the predetermined direction by the rotation of the carriage motor 42. Move to. The guide rail 46 guides the carriage 41 along the predetermined direction.

  In addition, a linear encoder 51 that detects the position of the carriage 41 and a direction in which the medium S intersects the moving direction of the carriage 41 (corresponding to a predetermined direction of the present invention, hereinafter referred to as a transport direction) are also provided around the carriage 41. 17A) and a paper transport motor 15 that rotationally drives the transport roller 17A.

  On the other hand, the carriage 41 is provided with an ink cartridge 48 that stores various inks, and a head 21 that performs printing on the medium S. The ink cartridge 48 contains, for example, each color ink such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and is detachable from a cartridge mounting portion 49 provided on the carriage 41. It is attached to. In the present embodiment, the head 21 performs printing by ejecting ink onto the medium S. For this purpose, the head 21 is provided with a number of nozzles for ejecting ink. The ink ejection mechanism of the head 21 will be described in detail later.

  In addition, a cleaning unit 30 for eliminating clogging of the nozzles of the head 21 is provided inside the ink jet printer 1. The cleaning unit 30 includes a pump device 31 and a capping device 35. The pump device 31 is a device that sucks out ink from the nozzles in order to eliminate clogging of the nozzles of the head 21, and is operated by a pump motor (not shown). On the other hand, the capping device 35 seals the nozzles of the head 21 when printing is not performed (for example, during standby) in order to prevent clogging of the nozzles of the head 21.

  Next, the configuration of the transport unit of the inkjet printer 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport unit includes a paper insertion port 11A and a roll paper insertion port 11B, a paper feed motor (not shown), a paper feed roller 13, a platen 14, and a paper transport motor (hereinafter referred to as PF). (Also referred to as a motor) 15, a transport roller 17A, a paper discharge roller 17B, a free roller 18A, and a free roller 18B. Among these, the paper transport motor 15, the transport roller 17A, the paper discharge roller 17B, etc. constitute the transport mechanism of the present invention.

  The paper insertion slot 11A is where the medium S, which is a medium, is inserted. The paper feed motor (not shown) is a motor that transports the medium S inserted into the paper insertion slot 11A into the ink jet printer 1, and is configured by a pulse motor or the like. The paper feed roller 13 is a roller that automatically conveys the medium S inserted into the paper insertion slot 11A into the ink jet printer 1 in the direction of arrow A in the figure (the direction of arrow B in the case of roll paper). It is driven by a motor. The paper feed roller 13 has a substantially D-shaped cross section. Since the circumferential length of the circumferential portion of the paper feed roller 13 is set to be longer than the conveyance distance to the paper conveyance motor 15, the medium S can be conveyed to the paper conveyance motor 15 using this circumferential portion. it can.

  The medium S conveyed by the paper supply roller 13 contacts the paper detection sensor 53. The paper detection sensor 53 is installed between the paper feed roller 13 and the transport roller 17A, and detects the medium S fed by the paper feed roller 13.

  The medium S detected by the paper detection sensor 53 is conveyed to the platen 14. The platen 14 is a support unit that supports the medium S during printing. The paper transport motor 15 is a motor that feeds, for example, paper, which is the medium S, in the transport direction (corresponding to a predetermined direction of the present invention), and is configured by a DC motor. The transport roller 17 </ b> A is a roller that feeds the medium S transported into the inkjet printer 1 by the paper feed roller 13 to a printable region, and is driven by the paper transport motor 15. The free roller 18A is provided at a position facing the transport roller 17A, and presses the medium S toward the transport roller 17A by sandwiching the medium S with the transport roller 17A.

  The paper discharge roller 17B is a roller that discharges the medium S on which printing has been completed to the outside of the inkjet printer 1. The paper discharge roller 17B is driven by the paper transport motor 15 by a gear (not shown). The free roller 18B is provided at a position facing the paper discharge roller 17B, and presses the medium S toward the paper discharge roller 17B by sandwiching the medium S between the paper discharge roller 17B.

<System configuration>
Next, the system configuration of the inkjet printer 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the inkjet printer 1 includes a buffer memory 122, an image buffer 124, a system controller 126, a main memory 127, and an EEPROM 129. The buffer memory 122 receives and temporarily stores various data such as print data transmitted from the computer device 140. The image buffer 124 acquires the received print data from the buffer memory 122 and stores it. The main memory 127 is composed of a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

  On the other hand, the system controller 126 reads a control program from the main memory 127 and controls the entire inkjet printer 1 according to the control program. The system controller 126 of this embodiment includes a carriage motor control unit 128, a conveyance control unit 130, a head drive unit 132, a rotary encoder 134, and a linear encoder 51. The carriage motor control unit 128 drives and controls the rotation direction, rotation speed, torque, and the like of the carriage motor 42. Further, the head drive unit 132 performs drive control of the head 21. The conveyance control unit 130 controls various drive motors arranged in the conveyance system such as the paper conveyance motor 15 that rotationally drives the conveyance roller 17A.

  The print data sent from the computer device 140 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 122. Necessary information is read from the print data stored here by the system controller 126. Based on the read information, the system controller 126 refers to the output from the linear encoder 51 and the rotary encoder 134 and controls the carriage motor control unit 128, the conveyance control unit 130, and the head drive unit 132 according to the control program. Control each one.

  The image buffer 124 stores print data of a plurality of color components received by the buffer memory 122. The head drive unit 132 acquires print data of each color component from the image buffer 124 according to a control signal from the system controller 126, and drives and controls the nozzles of each color provided in the head 21 based on this print data.

  In addition, the system controller 126 receives a signal output from the paper detection sensor 53 and indicating whether or not the medium S is detected. As a result, the system controller 126 can know whether or not the paper detection sensor 53 is detecting the medium S.

  In addition to the above, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a reflective optical sensor 502 and a reflective optical sensor control unit 508. The reflective optical sensor 502 and the reflective optical sensor control unit 508 will be described in detail later.

<Head>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the ink nozzles provided on the lower surface of the head 21. On the lower surface of the head 21, as shown in the figure, nozzles comprising a plurality of nozzles # 1 to # 180 for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Groups 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K are provided. The nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) color nozzle groups 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K are provided in the ink discharge section of the present invention. It corresponds to.

  The nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle groups 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K are arranged linearly along the transport direction of the medium S. The nozzle groups 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K are arranged in parallel with a space between each other along the movement direction (carriage movement direction) of the head 21. Each nozzle # 1 to # 180 is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for ejecting ink droplets.

  When a voltage having a predetermined time width is applied between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands according to the voltage application time and deforms the side wall of the ink flow path. As a result, the volume of the ink flow path contracts according to the expansion and contraction of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction is ejected from the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of each color as ink droplets.

=== Printing operation ===
Next, the printing operation of the above-described ink jet printer 1 will be described. Here, “bidirectional printing” will be described as an example. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the printing operation of the inkjet printer 1. Each process described below is executed by the system controller 126 reading a program stored in the main memory 127 or the EEPROM 129 and controlling each unit according to the program.

  Upon receiving print data from the computer device 140, the system controller 126 first performs a paper feed process to execute printing based on the print data (S102). The paper feed process is a process of supplying the medium S to be printed into the ink jet printer 1 and transporting it to a print start position (also referred to as a cue position). The system controller 126 rotates the paper feed roller 13 to send the medium S to be printed to the transport roller 17A. The system controller 126 rotates the transport roller 17A to position the medium S sent from the paper feed roller 13 at the print start position.

  Next, the system controller 126 executes a printing process for printing the medium S by moving the carriage 41 relative to the medium S. Here, first, forward printing is performed in which ink is ejected from the head while the carriage 41 is moved in one direction along the guide rail 46 (S104). The system controller 126 drives the carriage motor 42 to move the carriage 41 and drives the head based on the print data to eject ink. The ink ejected from the head 21 reaches the medium S and is formed as dots.

  After printing is performed in this way, next, a carrying process for carrying the medium S by a predetermined amount is executed (S106). In this transport process, the system controller 126 drives the paper transport motor 15 to rotate the transport roller 17A and transports the medium S by a predetermined amount relative to the head 21 in the transport direction. By this carrying process, the head 21 can print in an area different from the previously printed area.

  After carrying out the carrying process in this way, it is determined whether or not to discharge paper (S108). If there is no other data to be printed on the medium S being printed, a paper discharge process is executed (S116). On the other hand, if there is other data to be printed on the medium S being printed, the return pass printing is executed without performing the paper discharge process (S110). In this backward printing, printing is performed by moving the carriage 41 along the guide rail 46 in the direction opposite to the previous forward printing. Again, the system controller 126 drives the carriage motor 42 to rotate in the opposite direction to move the carriage 41 and drives the head 21 based on the print data to eject ink and perform printing.

  After performing the return pass printing, a carrying process is executed (S112), and then a paper discharge determination is made (S114). Here, if there is other data to be printed on the medium S being printed, the paper discharge process is not performed, the process returns to step S104, and the forward printing is executed again (S104). On the other hand, if there is no other data to be printed on the medium S being printed, a paper discharge process is executed (S116).

  After the paper discharge process is performed, next, a print end determination is performed to determine whether or not to end printing (S118). Here, based on the print data from the computer device 140, it is checked whether there is a medium S to be printed next. If there is a medium S to be printed next, the process returns to step S102, the paper feed process is executed again, and printing is started. On the other hand, if there is no medium S to be printed next, the printing process is terminated.

=== Printing method ===
<Interlace method>
FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a method for printing the image G by forming dots on the medium S by the interlace method. Here, for convenience of explanation, the nozzle group 211 that ejects ink is depicted as moving with respect to the medium S, but this figure shows the relative positional relationship between the nozzle group 211 and the medium S. In actuality, the medium S is moving along the transport direction. In the same figure, the nozzles indicated by black circles are nozzles that eject ink, and the nozzles indicated by white circles are nozzles that do not eject ink. 7A shows the position of the nozzle group 211 (head 21) in pass 1 to pass 4 and how dots are formed, and FIG. 7B shows the position of the nozzle group 211 (head 21) and dot in pass 1 to pass 6. The state of formation is shown.

  Here, “pass” refers to an operation in which the head 21 having the nozzle group 211 moves once along the moving direction by the movement of the carriage 41. In the “interlace method”, by repeatedly executing such “pass”, dots are arranged in line along the moving direction of the carriage 41 for each pass, and raster lines constituting the image G to be printed are sequentially formed. Then, the image G is printed. The “raster line” is a column of pixels arranged in the moving direction of the carriage 41 and is also called a scanning line. Further, the “pixel” is a square grid that is virtually defined on the medium S in order to define the position where dots are recorded by landing ink droplets.

  In the interlace method, each time the medium S is transported at a constant transport amount F in the transport direction, each nozzle records a raster line immediately above the raster line recorded in the immediately preceding pass. In order to perform recording with a constant carry amount in this way, the number N (integer) of nozzles that can eject ink is relatively prime to k, and the carry amount F is set to N · D.

  Here, a state in which the image G is formed using # 1 to # 4 of the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle group 211 is shown. Since the nozzle pitch of the nozzle group 211 is 4D, not all nozzles can be used in order to satisfy “N and k are relatively prime”, which is a condition for performing the interlace method. Therefore, here, a case where the image G is formed by the interlace method using three nozzles # 1 to # 3 will be described. Further, since three nozzles are used, the medium S is transported by a transport amount of 3 · D. As a result, for example, using the nozzle group 211 having a nozzle pitch of 180 dpi (4 · D), dots are formed on the paper at a dot interval of 720 dpi (= D).

  In the drawing, the first raster line is formed by nozzle # 1 in pass 3, the second raster line is formed by nozzle # 2 in pass 2, and the third raster line is formed by nozzle # 3 in pass 1. The fourth raster line is formed by nozzle # 1 in pass 4 and a continuous raster line is formed. In pass 1, only nozzle # 3 ejects ink, and in pass 2, only nozzle # 2 and nozzle # 3 eject ink. This is because a continuous raster line cannot be formed on the medium S when ink is ejected from all nozzles in pass 1 and pass 2. In pass 3 and thereafter, the three nozzles (# 1 to # 3) eject ink, the paper is transported at a constant transport amount F (= 3 · D), and a continuous raster line has a dot interval. D. Thereby, raster lines are sequentially formed for each pass, and the image G is printed.

  FIG. 8 explains another method of the interlace method. Here, the number of nozzles used is different. The nozzle pitch and the like are the same as in the case of the above-described explanatory diagram, and thus the description thereof is omitted. 8A shows the position of the nozzle group 211 in the pass 1 to pass 4 and how dots are formed, and FIG. 8B shows the position of the nozzle group 211 in the pass 1 to pass 9 and how dots are formed.

  In the figure, an example in which an image G is printed on the medium S using # 1 to # 8 of the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle group 211 will be described. Here, since the nozzle pitch of the nozzle group 211 is 4D, it is not possible to use all the nozzles in order to satisfy “N and k are relatively prime”, which is a condition for performing the interlace method. Therefore, here, a case will be described in which the interlace method is used by simply using seven nozzles # 1 to # 7. The transport amount of the medium S is set to “7 · D” because the seven nozzles # 1 to # 7 are used.

  In the drawing, the first raster line is formed by nozzle # 2 in pass 3, the second raster line is formed by nozzle # 4 in pass 2, and the third raster line is formed by nozzle # 6 in pass 1. The fourth raster line is formed by nozzle # 1 in pass 4 and a continuous raster line is formed. In pass 3 and thereafter, seven nozzles (# 1 to # 7) discharge ink, and the medium S is transported at a constant transport amount F (= 7 · D), so that a continuous raster line is a dot. It is formed at an interval D.

  Compared to the interlace method described above, the number of nozzles used for ink ejection is increased. For this reason, since the number N of nozzles that eject ink increases, the transport amount F per time increases, and the printing speed increases. As described above, when the number of nozzles capable of ejecting ink is increased in the interlace method, the printing speed is increased, which is advantageous.

<Overlap method>
FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a method of printing the image G on the medium S by the overlap method. 9A shows the position of the nozzle group 211 in the pass 1 to pass 8 and how dots are formed, and FIG. 9B shows the position of the nozzle group 211 in pass 1 to pass 12 and how dots are formed. In the interlace method described above, one raster line is formed by one nozzle. On the other hand, in the overlap method, for example, one raster line is formed by two or more nozzles.

  In the overlap method, each time the medium S is transported at a constant transport amount F in the transport direction, each nozzle intermittently forms dots every few dots. Then, in another pass, dots are formed so as to complement intermittent dots already formed by other nozzles, thereby completing one raster line with a plurality of nozzles. When one raster line is completed in M passes in this way, it is defined as the overlap number M. In the figure, since each nozzle intermittently forms dots every other dot, dots are formed in odd-numbered pixels or even-numbered pixels for each pass. Since one raster line is formed by two nozzles, the overlap number M = 2. In the case of the above-described interlace method, the overlap number M = 1.

In the overlap method, the following conditions (1) to (3) are necessary to perform recording with a constant conveyance amount.
(1) N / M is an integer.
(2) N / M is relatively prime to k.
(3) The carry amount F is set to (N / M) · D.

  In the figure, the number of nozzles in the nozzle group 211 is 180. However, since the nozzle pitch of the nozzle group 211 is 4D (k = 4), all nozzles are satisfied in order to satisfy “N / M and k are relatively prime”, which is a condition for performing printing by the overlap method. Cannot be used. Therefore, here, an example in which the image G is printed using the nozzles # 1 to # 6 of the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle group 211 will be briefly described. Since six nozzles are used, the medium S is transported by a transport amount of 3 · D. As a result, for example, dots are formed on the medium S at a dot interval of 720 dpi (= D) using a nozzle group having a nozzle pitch of 180 dpi (4 · D). Further, in one pass, each nozzle intermittently forms dots every other dot in the scanning direction. In the drawing, the raster line in which two dots are drawn in the carriage movement direction has already been completed. For example, in FIG. 9A, the first raster line to the sixth raster line are already completed. A raster line in which one dot is drawn is a raster line in which dots are intermittently formed every other dot. For example, in the seventh and tenth raster lines, dots are intermittently formed every other dot. The seventh raster line in which dots are intermittently formed every other dot is completed by forming dots so that nozzle # 1 in pass 9 is complemented.

  In the figure, the first raster line is formed by nozzle # 4 in pass 3 and nozzle # 1 in pass 7, and the second raster line is formed by nozzle # 5 in pass 2 and nozzle # 2 in pass 6. The fourth raster line is formed by nozzle # 6 of pass 1 and nozzle # 3 of pass 5, and the fourth raster line is formed by nozzle # 4 of pass 4 and nozzle # 1 of pass 8, and is a continuous raster line. It shows a state that is formed. In pass 1 to pass 6, there are nozzles that do not eject ink among nozzles # 1 to # 6. This is because a continuous raster line cannot be formed on the medium S when ink is ejected from all nozzles in pass 1 to pass 6. In pass 7 and thereafter, the six nozzles (# 1 to # 6) eject ink, the medium S is transported at a constant transport amount F (= 3 · D), and continuous raster lines are formed as dots. It is formed at an interval D.

  The formation positions of the dots formed in each pass in the scanning direction are collectively shown below.

Here, “odd number” means that dots are formed in odd-numbered pixels among pixels (raster line pixels) arranged in the carriage movement direction. Further, “even number” in the table means that dots are formed at even-numbered pixels among the pixels arranged in the scanning direction. For example, in pass 3, each nozzle forms dots at odd-numbered pixels. When one raster line is formed by M nozzles, k × M passes are required to complete a raster line for the nozzle pitch. For example, in the present embodiment, since one raster line is formed by two nozzles, eight (4 × 2) passes are required to complete four raster lines. As can be seen from Table 1, in the first four passes, dots are formed in the order of odd-even-odd-even. As a result, when the first four passes are completed, dots are formed in even-numbered pixels in raster lines adjacent to raster lines in which dots are formed in odd-numbered pixels. In the latter four passes, dots are formed in the order of even-odd-even-odd. That is, in the latter four passes, dots are formed in the reverse order of the first four passes. As a result, dots are formed so as to complement the gaps between the dots formed by the first half pass.

  Similarly to the interlace method described above, when the number N of nozzles that can eject ink increases, the overlap amount F increases and the printing speed increases. Therefore, when the number of nozzles that can eject ink is increased in the overlap method, the printing speed is increased, which is advantageous.

=== Borderless printing ===
In the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, “marginless printing” can be executed.

<Outline of borderless printing>
10 and 11 explain the outline of “marginless printing” executed by the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between the printing area P and the sheet (medium) S when normal printing is performed instead of “marginless printing”. FIG. 11 illustrates the relationship between the medium S and the printing area P when “marginless printing” is performed.

  In the case of normal printing, as shown in FIG. 10, the print area P is set to a size smaller than the paper S so as to fit on the paper S. In the peripheral edge of the paper S, margins are formed along the left and right sides and the upper and lower sides. The process of storing the print area P on the paper S in this way is performed by a printer driver installed in the computer device 140. The printer driver generates print data so that the print area P fits on the paper S based on image data given from an application program executed by the computer device 140. Here, when processing image data that cannot fit the print area P in the paper S, the printer driver excludes a part of the image represented by the image data from the print target, or The image may be reduced so that it fits on the paper S. The print data created by the printer driver in this way is transmitted from the computer apparatus 140 to the inkjet printer 1. The inkjet printer 1 performs normal printing by executing print processing based on print data sent from the computer device 140.

  On the other hand, in the case of “borderless printing”, the printing area P is set to be larger than the medium S so as to protrude from the medium S as shown in FIG. Unlike the case of the normal printing described with reference to FIG. 10, no margin is formed on the peripheral edge of the medium S. Here, the entire medium S is covered with the printing region P, and no margin is formed at the peripheral edge of the medium S. However, in the case of “marginless printing”, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the margin of the medium S is not limited to the case where no margin is formed at the periphery of the medium S, such as the left edge, the right edge, the upper edge, and the lower edge of the medium S. This includes the case where a blank portion is formed in the portion. That is, when the setting is made so that the print region P protrudes from the medium S even a little, it corresponds to “marginless printing”.

  The process for causing the print area P to protrude from the medium S in this way is performed by a printer driver or the like as in the case of normal printing. The printer driver generates print data such that the print area P protrudes from the medium S based on the image data given from the application program. Here, when processing image data such that the print area P is smaller than the medium S, the printer driver enlarges the print area P so that the print area P covers the entire medium S. The print data created in this way is transmitted from the computer device 140 to the inkjet printer 1. The inkjet printer 1 executes “printing without borders” by executing a printing process based on the print data sent from the computer device 140. As a result, it is possible to realize printing that is excellent in appearance without borders.

  In addition to this, in the “marginless printing”, it is not always necessary to set the printing area P to protrude from the medium S in this way. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of “marginless printing” when the print area P is not set so as to protrude from the medium S but is set so as to fit exactly on the medium S. As shown in the figure, even if the print area P does not protrude from the medium S, “marginless printing” without margins is performed by setting the print area P to fit the size of the medium S. be able to.

<Ink recovery unit>
When such “marginless printing” is executed, the ink ejected from the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of each nozzle group 211 may be detached from the medium S. In this way, when the ink is removed from the medium S, there is a risk of adverse effects such as staining the platen. Therefore, in a printing apparatus that performs such “marginless printing”, a groove is provided in the platen 14 as an ink collection unit that collects ink that has been removed from the medium S.

=== Conventional problems ===
<Actual borderless printing>
FIG. 13 shows an example of a groove portion of a conventional ink jet printer. Here, two groove portions 354 a and 354 b are provided on the platen 14 as groove portions for collecting ink. These two groove portions 354a and 354b are provided to face the head 21, respectively. One groove portion 354a is provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium S, and is formed so as to face the nozzles # 178 to # 180 among the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle group 211 of the head 21. Has been. The other groove portion 354b is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium S, and among the nozzle groups 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K of the head 21, nozzles # 1 to # 3 are provided. Are formed to face each other. As a result, the ink ejected from the nozzles # 1 to # 3 and # 178 to # 180 of the head 21 is directly driven into the grooves 354a and 354b, and is collected by the absorbent 356 in the grooves 354a and 354b, respectively. It is like that.

  When printing is performed on the medium S, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount between printing operations performed on the medium S by the head 21. When printing is performed on the leading end portion in the transport direction of the medium S, the transport amount between printing operations is reduced when the leading end portion in the transport direction of the medium S reaches the downstream groove portion 354b. The medium S is transported slowly. Then, using the nozzles # 1 to # 3 provided on the downstream side in the transport direction, ink is ejected from the nozzles # 1 to # 3 and printing is performed on the leading end portion of the medium S. At this time, the ink ejected from the nozzles # 1 to # 3 and removed from the medium S is collected in the groove portion 354b on the downstream side in the transport direction.

  On the other hand, when printing is performed on the rear end of the medium S in the transport direction, the printing operation is performed in the same manner as the front end of the medium S when the rear end of the medium S reaches the downstream groove 354b. The medium S is transported slowly by reducing the transport amount between the two. Then, ink is ejected from the nozzles # 178 to # 180 using the nozzles # 178 to # 180 provided on the upstream side in the transport direction, and printing is performed on the rear end portion of the medium S. At this time, the ink ejected from the nozzles # 178 to # 180 and removed from the medium S is collected in the groove 354a on the upstream side in the transport direction.

<Problem>
In conventional ink jet printers, the area where a groove for collecting ink that has come off the medium is limited, so that ink is ejected toward the edge of the medium only at a predetermined position where the groove is provided. For this reason, when printing to the edge of the medium, there has been no other choice but to adopt a so-called “abnormal feed” conveying method in which the medium conveying amount is switched halfway. As a result, there have been cases in which an extra printing time is required or printing irregularities occur and a high-quality image cannot be obtained.

=== Configuration of the Embodiment ===
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following groove portion is provided in order to perform “edgeless printing” without performing so-called “regular feed” in which the medium conveyance speed is switched halfway.

<Groove>
14 and 15 show an ink recovery unit provided in the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the ink recovery portion. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the ink recovery unit. As shown in FIG. 14, the ink collection unit includes a plurality of grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g that are spaced from each other along the conveyance direction of the medium S. . Here, seven groove portions 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g are provided. These seven grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g are, in order from the upstream side in the transport direction, the first groove 360a, the second groove 360b, the third groove 360c, the fourth groove 360d, and the fifth groove. 360e, a sixth groove part 360f, and a seventh groove part 360g.

  Of these seven grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g, the five grooves 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f at the center in the transport direction are formed wide and are positioned at the ends in the transport direction. The two groove portions 360a and 360g are formed narrow. The five grooves 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, and 360f at the center in the transport direction are formed to have substantially the same width and are arranged at a predetermined interval M along the transport direction. These seven grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g are arranged so as to be able to face the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle groups 211Y, 211M, 211C, 211K provided in the head 21. Yes.

  Further, in order to support the medium S to be printed between the seven groove portions 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g, six protrusions 362a and 362b are used as the support portions of the present invention. , 362c, 362d, 362e, and 362f. These six protrusions 362a, 362b, 362c, 362d, 362e, 362f are, in order from the upstream side in the transport direction, the first protrusion 362a, the second protrusion 362b, the third protrusion 362c, the fourth protrusion 362d, These are referred to as a fifth protrusion 362e and a sixth protrusion 362f. Each of the protrusions 362a, 362b, 362c, 362d, 362e, 362f is formed such that the width in the transport direction is a predetermined width dimension N.

  These seven grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g are provided in a recess 364 for collecting the ink provided on the platen 14, as shown in FIG. Here, the concave portion 364 is formed horizontally long along the moving direction of the head 21 so as to face the head 21. The lateral width L (dimension in the head movement direction) of the recess 364 is set corresponding to the maximum size of the medium S that can be printed by the inkjet printer 1. The grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g are linearly spaced from each other along the moving direction of the head 21 (the moving direction of the carriage 41) inside the recess 364. They are formed in parallel. Further, projections 362a, 362b, 362c, 362d, 362e, and 362f are provided between the grooves 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g, respectively.

<Regarding the predetermined interval M>
In the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, each time the medium S is transported, the edge of the medium S passes through the protrusions 362a, 362b, 362c, 362d, 362e, and 362f one by one. 360 a, 360 b, 360 c, 360 d, 360 e, 360 f, 360 g, the distance M between the five grooves 360 b, 360 c, 360 d, 360 e, 360 f in the center in the transport direction is It is set to be approximately equal to the carry amount. This is because the printing process is performed without performing so-called “anomalous feeding”, in which the conveyance amount of the medium S is changed halfway, and the medium S is transferred to a predetermined conveyance amount by various printing methods such as interlace printing and overlap printing. This is because borderless printing is realized by conveying the sheet one by one. Thus, each time the medium S is transported, the edge of the medium S passes through the protrusions one by one and reaches the grooves 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and stops, so that the edge of the medium S comes off the edge of the medium S. Ink can be collected in each groove 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g.

  As described above, the interval M between the grooves 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f is set to be approximately equal to the transport amount of the medium S for each transport operation, so that the protrusions 362a, 362b, 362c, 362d, 362e, The width dimension N in the transport direction of 362f is shorter than the transport amount of the medium S.

=== Actual printing operation ===
FIG. 16A to FIG. 16F and FIG. 17A to FIG. 17F are procedures for performing “marginless printing” in the inkjet printer 1 according to this embodiment provided with such groove portions 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g. Is described. FIG. 16A to FIG. 16F illustrate a procedure when printing is performed on the leading end portion of the medium S in the transport direction. FIG. 17A to FIG. 17F illustrate a procedure when printing is performed on the rear end portion in the transport direction of the medium S. Here, printing is performed by a printing method such as an interlace method or an overlap method. The transport operation of the medium S performed between the printing operations by the head 21 is executed with a predetermined transport amount.

  First, the medium S is transported by the transport roller 17A until the leading edge of the medium S reaches the second groove portion 360b. After the leading edge of the medium S reaches above the second groove 360b, the transport operation is temporarily stopped. Then, as shown in FIG. 16A, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S, and ink is ejected from the predetermined nozzles of the head 21 toward the medium S to print on the medium S.

  Next, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. The predetermined transport amount here is the above-described constant transport amount F defined by a printing method such as an interlace method or an overlap method. By this conveyance, the leading edge of the medium S passes through the second protrusion 362b and reaches above the third groove 360c. After the leading edge of the medium S reaches the third groove 360c in this way, ink is ejected from the predetermined nozzle of the head 21 toward the medium S to print on the medium S as shown in FIG. 16B. .

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the leading edge of the medium S passes through the third protrusion 362c and reaches above the fourth groove 360d. After the leading edge of the medium S reaches the upper part of the fourth groove 360d in this manner, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. The medium S is printed by ejecting ink toward S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the leading edge of the medium S passes through the fourth protrusion 362d and reaches above the fifth groove 360e. After the leading edge of the medium S reaches the upper portion of the fifth groove 360e in this way, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. The medium S is printed by ejecting ink toward S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the leading end of the medium S passes through the fifth protrusion 362e and reaches above the sixth groove 360f. After the leading end of the medium S reaches the upper part of the sixth groove 360f in this manner, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. The medium S is printed by ejecting ink toward S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the leading edge of the medium S passes through the sixth protrusion 362f and reaches the seventh groove 360g. After the leading edge of the medium S reaches the upper portion of the seventh groove 360g in this way, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. The medium S is printed by ejecting ink toward S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. As a result, the leading edge of the medium S moves to the paper discharge side through the seventh groove 360g. Thus, even after the leading edge of the medium S moves to the paper discharge side, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount, and the medium S is ejected from the nozzles of the head 21 toward the medium S. The printing operation for performing printing is alternately repeated.

  Then, the rear end portion of the medium S reaches the first groove portion 360a as shown in FIG. 17A. Here, as shown in the figure, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S, and ink is ejected from the predetermined nozzles of the head 21 toward the medium S to print on the medium S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the rear end of the medium S passes through the second protrusion 362b and reaches above the third groove 360c. After the rear end of the medium S reaches the upper part of the third groove 360c in this way, as shown in FIG. 17B, ink is ejected from the predetermined nozzle of the head 21 toward the medium S to print on the medium S. Apply.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the rear end of the medium S passes through the third protrusion 362c and reaches above the fourth groove 360d. After the rear end of the medium S reaches the upper part of the fourth groove 360d in this way, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. Ink is ejected toward the medium S to print on the medium S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the rear end of the medium S passes through the fourth protrusion 362d and reaches above the fifth groove 360e. After the rear end of the medium S reaches the upper part of the fifth groove 360e in this way, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. Ink is ejected toward the medium S to print on the medium S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the rear end of the medium S passes through the fifth protrusion 362e and reaches above the sixth groove 360f. After the rear end of the medium S reaches the upper part of the sixth groove portion 360f in this way, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. Ink is ejected toward the medium S to print on the medium S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. By this conveyance, the rear end of the medium S passes through the sixth protrusion 362f and reaches the seventh groove 360g. In this way, after the rear end of the medium S reaches above the seventh groove portion 360g, the head 21 is moved relative to the medium S as shown in FIG. Ink is ejected toward the medium S to print on the medium S.

  Further, the medium S is transported by a predetermined transport amount. As a result, the leading edge of the medium S moves to the paper discharge side through the seventh groove 360g. Thereafter, the medium S is discharged and the printing process is terminated.

  From the above, even if the medium S is conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount between printing operations in which ink is ejected from the nozzles of the head 21 toward the medium S, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the medium S are first to first. Since the ink always stops at any one of the seventh groove portions 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, and 360g, the ink removed from the medium S is removed from the groove portions 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, and 360f. It can be recovered at 360 g. As a result, “borderless printing” can be executed while the medium S is being conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount without contaminating the platen 14 or the like.

<Procedure for executing borderless printing>
FIG. 18 explains the execution procedure of borderless printing. First, an initial transport operation for transporting the medium S to a predetermined print start position is executed (S201). Next, a printing operation is executed, and printing is performed on the medium S transported to a predetermined printing start position (S202). Next, a transport operation for a predetermined transport amount is executed for the medium S (S203). Thereafter, the printing operation and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount are executed alternately (S204 to S213). After the printing process on the medium S is completed in this way, the paper discharge process is performed on the medium S (S214).

=== Summary ===
As described above, in the present embodiment, since the medium S can be transported by a predetermined transport amount by a predetermined transport amount by the interlace method or the overlap method, “edgeless printing” can be performed. Compared to the above, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the occurrence of problems such as extra printing time required and uneven printing.

=== Other Embodiments of Grooves ===
19 and 20 show other embodiments of the groove part, respectively. FIG. 19 shows a case where the number of the groove portions 360 is larger than that in the embodiment described above, and FIG. 20 shows a case where the number of the groove portions 360 is smaller than that in the embodiment described above.

  When the number of the groove parts 360 is large, as shown in FIG. 19, the number of the protrusion parts 362 is also large. The case where the number of the groove portions 360 is large in this way is a case where the transport amount M of the transport operation executed between printing operations is very small. Here, the width N of the protruding portion 362 in the transport direction is shorter than the transport amount M of the transport operation. Thus, even when the transport amount M of the transport operation is small, borderless printing can be performed while transporting the medium S by a predetermined transport amount by increasing the number of the groove portions 360 accordingly. .

  Further, when the number of the groove portions 360 is small, the number of the protrusion portions 362 is also small as shown in FIG. Thus, the case where the number of the groove portions 360 is small is a case where the transport amount M of the transport operation executed between the printing operations is very large. Here, the width N of the protruding portion 362 in the transport direction is shorter than the transport amount M of the transport operation. Thus, even when the transport amount M of the transport operation is large, borderless printing can be performed while transporting the medium S by a predetermined transport amount by reducing the number of the groove portions 360 accordingly. .

=== Configuration of Printing System etc. ===
Next, as an example of a printing system according to the present invention, a printing system including an inkjet printer as a printing apparatus will be described as an example.

  FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of the printing system. The printing system 1000 includes a computer main body 1102, a display device 1104, a printing device 1106 such as the inkjet printer 1, an input device 1108, and a reading device 1110. In this embodiment, the computer main body 1102 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 1104 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. The printer described above is used as the printing apparatus 1106. In this embodiment, the input device 1108 is a keyboard 1108A and a mouse 1108B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 1110 uses a flexible disk drive device 1110A and a CD-ROM drive device 1110B. However, the reading device 1110 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magnet Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system shown in FIG. An internal memory 1202 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 1204 are further provided in a housing in which the computer main body 1102 is housed.

  The computer program for controlling the operation of the inkjet printer 1 described above can be downloaded to a computer 1000 or the like connected to the printing apparatus 1106 via a communication line such as the Internet, for example, and can be read by a computer. It can be recorded in S and distributed. As the recording medium, for example, various recording media such as a flexible disk FD, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk MO, a hard disk, and a memory can be used. Note that information stored in such a storage medium can be read by various reading devices 1110.

  In the above description, an example in which the printing apparatus 1106 is connected to the computer main body 1102, the display apparatus 1104, the input apparatus 1108, and the reading apparatus 1110 to configure the printing system has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. is not. For example, the printing system may be configured by the computer main body 1102 and the printing device 1106, and the printing system may not include any of the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110. For example, the printing apparatus 1106 may have a part of the functions or mechanisms of the computer main body 1102, the display apparatus 1104, the input apparatus 1108, and the reading apparatus 1110. As an example, the printing apparatus 1106 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, and a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure which has.

  The printing system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

=== Other Embodiments ===
As described above, the printing apparatus such as a printer according to the present invention has been described based on one embodiment. However, the above-described embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is limited and interpreted. Not meant to be The present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and needless to say, the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, even the embodiments described below are included in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, part or all of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, part of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware.

  In addition, a part of processing performed on the printing apparatus side may be performed on the host side, and a dedicated processing apparatus is provided between the printing apparatus and the host, and a part of processing is performed on this processing apparatus. May be performed.

<Ink ejection section>
In the above-described embodiment, the ink ejection unit of the present invention has been described by taking the nozzle groups 211C, 211M, 211Y, and 211K having a large number of nozzles # 1 to # 180 as shown in FIG. 5 as an example. In the ink discharge portion of the present invention, not only the nozzle groups 211C, 211M, 211Y, and 211K having such a large number of nozzles # 1 to # 180, but any type of ink can be discharged. It may be an ink discharge unit.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ink ejection unit of the present invention includes the nozzle group 211C including the nozzles # 1 to # 180 that are linearly arranged at predetermined intervals along the predetermined direction (conveying direction). , 211M, 211Y, 211K have been described as an example, but the ink ejection unit of the present invention is not limited to the nozzle group having such a nozzle arrangement, and any method can be used as long as ink is ejected. Any type of ink ejection unit may be used.

<Ink ejection mechanism>
In the above-described embodiment, a mechanism for ejecting ink using a piezoelectric element as a piezoelectric element has been introduced. However, in the mechanism for ejecting ink according to the present invention, a mechanism for ejecting ink by such a method is used. Any mechanism that ejects ink, such as a system that ejects ink by generating bubbles in the nozzles by heat or the like, various other systems, or a mechanism that ejects ink is applicable. May be adopted.

<About the groove>
In the above-described embodiment, linear grooves 360, 360a, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g having a concave cross section provided on the platen 14 are disclosed as the grooves of the present invention. The groove portion of the invention is not limited to such a groove portion, and any groove portion is included in the groove portion of the present invention as long as the ejected ink can be collected.

<About support part>
In the above-described embodiment, as the support portion of the present invention, projections (first to sixth projections) 362a, 362b, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16A to 16F, and 17A to 17F, Although 362c, 362d, 362e, and 362f are provided, the present invention is not limited to such a support portion, and any form of support is possible as long as the support portion supports the medium S to be printed. It may be a part.

<About printing devices>
As the printing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described inkjet printer 1, any type of printing apparatus may be used as long as it is a printing apparatus that ejects ink, such as a bubble jet printer. It doesn't matter.

<About media>
The medium S includes plain paper, matte paper, cut paper, glossy paper, roll paper, paper, photographic paper, roll-type photographic paper, etc. In addition to these, film materials and cloth materials such as OHP film and glossy film Alternatively, a metal plate material or the like may be used. That is, any medium can be used as long as it can be an ink ejection target.

<About ink>
The ink used may be a pigment ink or a dye ink.
Regarding the ink color, in addition to the above-described yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), for example, light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), and dark yellow (DY), for example, Ink of other colors such as red, violet, blue, and green may be used.

<About the transport mechanism>
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration including the paper transport motor 15, the transport roller 17A, the paper discharge roller 17B, and the like is disclosed as the transport mechanism of the present invention as the transport mechanism of the present invention. The mechanism is not limited to such a mechanism, and any mechanism that can transport the medium S may be used.

<About predetermined direction>
In the above-described embodiment, as the “predetermined direction” of the present invention, the conveyance direction of the arrows as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, 10 to 17, 19, and 20 is exemplified. The “predetermined direction” of the invention is not limited to such a direction, and may be any direction as long as the medium S is transported by the transport mechanism.

<About a direction that intersects with a predetermined direction>
In the above-described embodiment, the “direction intersecting the predetermined direction” of the present invention is a predetermined direction (conveying direction) as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, 10 to 17, 19, and 20. The direction of movement of the carriage 41 that is orthogonal to the above has been described as an example. However, the “direction intersecting the predetermined direction” of the present invention is not limited to such a direction, but the “direction intersecting the predetermined direction”. ”Is not necessarily perpendicular to the predetermined direction (conveying direction).

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the printing apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows the conveyance part of a printing apparatus. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a head of a printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of printing processing. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams for explaining an example of an image printing procedure by an interlace method. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an image printing procedure according to another interlace method. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams for explaining an example of an image printing procedure by an overlap method. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a printing area P and a medium S during normal printing. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a printing area P and a medium S during borderless printing. Explanatory drawing explaining the other example of borderless printing. The figure explaining the conventional problem. Sectional drawing explaining an example of the groove part of this invention. The top view explaining an example of the groove part of this invention. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the front-end | tip part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the front-end | tip part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the front-end | tip part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the front-end | tip part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the front-end | tip part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the front-end | tip part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the rear-end part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the rear-end part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the rear-end part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the rear-end part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the rear-end part of a medium. The figure explaining the printing procedure of the rear-end part of a medium. The figure explaining the execution procedure of borderless printing. The figure explaining an example in case there are many groove parts. The figure explaining an example in case the number of groove parts is small. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention. The block block diagram which shows the structure of the printing system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Inkjet printer, 2 operation panel, 3 paper discharge unit, 4 paper supply unit,
5 operation buttons, 6 indicator lamps, 7 paper discharge tray, 8 paper feed tray,
11A paper insertion slot, 11B roll paper insertion slot, 13 paper feed roller, 14 platen,
15 paper transport motor, 17A transport roller, 17B paper discharge roller,
18A free roller, 18B free roller, 21 heads,
30 cleaning unit, 31 pump device, 35 capping device,
41 Carriage, 42 Carriage motor, 44 Pulley, 45 Timing belt,
46 guide rail, 48 ink cartridge, 49 cartridge mounting part,
51 linear encoder, 122 buffer memory, 124 image buffer,
126 system controller, 127 main memory,
128 Carriage motor controller, 129 EEPROM, 130 Transport controller,
132 head drive unit, 134 rotary encoder,
140 Computer device, 211 nozzle group, 211Y nozzle group (Y),
211M nozzle group (M), 211C nozzle group (C), 211K nozzle group (K),
354a groove part, 354b groove part, 356 absorbent material,
360a 1st groove part, 360b 2nd groove part, 360c 3rd groove part, 360d 4th groove part, 360e 5th groove part, 360f 6th groove part, 360g 7th groove part,
362a first protrusion, 362b second protrusion, 362c third protrusion,
362d fourth projection, 362e fifth projection, 362f sixth projection,
364 recess,
1102 Computer body, 1104 display device, 1106 printing device,
1108 input device, 1108A keyboard, 1108B mouse,
1110 reader, 1110A flexible disk drive,
1110B CD-ROM drive device, 1204 hard disk drive unit,
S Medium

Claims (12)

An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A printing apparatus, comprising: a support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the width in the predetermined direction is shorter than the predetermined transport amount. .   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove portion is formed along a direction intersecting the predetermined direction.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove portions are provided in parallel to each other.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink discharge unit is provided so as to be movable along the groove.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three or more groove portions are provided.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing method when printing is performed up to an edge of the medium is an interlace method.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing method when printing is performed up to the edge of the medium is an overlap method.   When printing is performed up to the edge of the medium, the edge of the medium passes over the support portion and stops on the groove portion for each transport operation. The printing device according to item. An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the width in the predetermined direction is shorter than the predetermined transport amount;
The groove is formed along a direction intersecting the predetermined direction;
The grooves are provided in parallel to each other;
The ink ejection part is provided movably along the groove part;
Comprising 3 or more of the grooves,
The printing method when printing to the edge of the medium is either the overlap method or the interlace method,
When printing is performed up to the edge of a medium, the edge of the medium passes over the support portion and stops on the groove portion for each transport operation. An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A method of printing using a printing apparatus provided between the groove portions and provided with a support portion for supporting the medium,
When printing to the edge of the media,
Discharging ink from the ink discharge portion toward the medium;
Transporting the medium by a predetermined transport amount that is longer than the width of the support portion in the predetermined direction by the transport mechanism;
The printing method characterized by performing alternately. An ink ejection unit that ejects ink toward the medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A program provided between the groove portions and executed in a printing apparatus including a support portion for supporting the medium,
When printing to the edge of the media,
Discharging ink from the ink discharge portion toward the medium;
Transporting the medium by a predetermined transport amount longer than the width of the support portion in the predetermined direction by the transport mechanism;
A program characterized by alternately executing. A computer device and a printing device connectable to the computer device;
The printing apparatus includes an ink discharge unit that discharges ink toward a medium;
A plurality of grooves for collecting the ink ejected from the ink ejection section;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium along a predetermined direction;
A controller for performing printing to the edge of the medium by alternately executing the ink ejection operation by the ink ejection unit and the transport operation for a predetermined transport amount by the transport mechanism;
A printing system, comprising: a support portion provided between the groove portions for supporting the medium, wherein the support portion has a width in the predetermined direction shorter than the predetermined transport amount.