JP2006035770A - Inkjet recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate arranging adjustment to the recording body width of a plurality of nozzle groups and to maintain printing quality, in relation to an inkjet recording system in which the plurality of nozzle groups are arranged in the width direction of the recording body to be carried and carry out printing by discharging ink. <P>SOLUTION: In the inkjet recording system, a nozzle component body 14 discharging ink is arranged in the same direction as the width direction of a sheet 13, and a given number of the printing heads 15-1 to 15-4 equipped with a given number of the nozzle groups 21-1 to 21-4 are arranged both in the width direction and the carrying direction. Each nozzle group 21-1 to 21-4 is overlapped on the carrying direction by the number of nozzles (W) corresponding to the largest width of one character, allowing one character printed on the overlapping portion of each nozzle group 21-1 to 21-4 to be printed by one nozzle group at all times, without being spanned by the adjacent nozzle groups. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording system in which a plurality of nozzle groups are arranged in the width direction of a recording medium to be conveyed, and printing is performed by discharging ink.

  In recent years, ink jet recording has been used for business purposes, and business print heads are arranged in a line that covers the entire width of paper or the like recorded by a nozzle, unlike personal use. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent a decrease in print quality at the boundary between the nozzle groups due to the plurality of nozzle groups arranged in the width direction of the paper.

  Conventionally, a commercial ink jet printer uses a print head that covers a line in the width direction with respect to a sheet to be recorded. However, as the number of nozzles of the print head increases, the cost of manufacturing a print bed increases. Therefore, it is known that a predetermined number of print heads obtained by dividing the number of nozzles corresponding to the paper width by a plurality of nozzle groups are arranged in the paper width direction. Such an ink jet printer is disclosed in the following patent documents.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-76480

  Here, FIG. 7 shows an explanatory diagram of printing by a plurality of nozzle groups in the conventional inkjet recording. FIG. 7A is a partial extraction of the configuration of the print head disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document. The first print head 102-1 having the first nozzle group 101-1 and the second nozzle The second print head 102-2 having the group 101-2 is arranged in the width direction in the paper transport direction. In this case, the rightmost nozzle of the first nozzle group 101-1 and the leftmost nozzle of the second nozzle group 101-2 are continuous in the width direction of the paper transport direction. That is, this continuous boundary portion is referred to as so-called stitching (S), and the ink is ejected in one line apparently with respect to the width direction by ink ejection according to the conveyance timing in the paper conveyance direction. .

  However, it is very difficult to adjust the position so that the rightmost nozzle of the first nozzle group 101-1 and the leftmost nozzle of the second nozzle group 101-2 are continuous. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, for example, when the character “A” is printed in the stitching portion, the rightmost nozzle of the first nozzle group 101-1 and the uppermost nozzle of the second nozzle group 101-2. If it is separated from the left end nozzle, the characters will be separated at the stitching part as shown in a. On the other hand, if a predetermined number of nozzles are overlapped in a line shape, the letters will appear at the stitching part as shown in b. There is a problem that the print quality is deteriorated due to the overlapping state.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording system that facilitates the arrangement adjustment of the plurality of nozzle groups with respect to the recording body width and maintains the print quality.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is an ink jet recording system that performs recording by ejecting ink in the width direction of a recording medium conveyed by a predetermined conveying means based on printing data. And a predetermined number of nozzle groups having a predetermined number of nozzles in the same direction as the width direction of the recording medium are arranged in the transport direction together with the width direction, and each nozzle group is at least in the print data A nozzle structure corresponding to the maximum number of nozzles corresponding to the maximum width of one character is overlapped in the transport direction, and controls ink ejection to each nozzle group based on at least the print data. A recording control unit that performs a process of always printing one character printed at the overlapping portion of the nozzle group with one nozzle group without straddling the adjacent nozzle group is provided.

In inventions of claims 2 and 3, "the nozzle structure is configured to have a predetermined number of single print heads including the single nozzle group",
“The nozzle structure is composed of a single print head having all the nozzle groups”.

  According to the present invention, a nozzle structure that ejects ink is arranged in a predetermined number of nozzle groups including a predetermined number of nozzles in the same direction as the width direction of the recording body in the transport direction along with the width direction. The nozzle group is configured to overlap at least the number of nozzles corresponding to the maximum width of one character in the print data in the transport direction, and one character to be printed at the overlapping portion of each nozzle group is set to the adjacent nozzle. By always printing with one nozzle group without straddling the group, it is possible to easily adjust without having to strictly adjust the arrangement of the plurality of nozzle groups with respect to the recording body width. Can be prevented from being deteriorated without being separated or overlaid.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording system according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the entire system, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of nozzle groups. In FIG. 1A, an ink jet recording system 11 is such that a sheet of paper 13 serving as a recording medium is conveyed on a conveying means (for example, belt conveying) 12, and a nozzle is disposed above a predetermined position of the conveying means 12. The structure 14 is arranged. Here, the recording medium to be printed will be described as a sheet of paper, but it may be a continuous paper or a paper or plastic card, and a conveying means corresponding to these may be adopted. .

  The nozzle structure 14 is configured so that the first and third print heads 15-1 and 15-3 and the second and fourth print heads 15-2 and 15-4 in the width direction of the paper 13 are minutely spaced in the transport direction. It is arranged with. As shown in FIG. 1B, each of the print heads 15-1 to 15-4 has a first nozzle group 21-1 to a fourth nozzle group 21-4 in which a predetermined number of nozzles are arranged in the paper width direction. In each of the nozzle groups 21-1 to 21-4, at least the number W of nozzles corresponding to the maximum width of one character in the print data is overlapped in the transport direction. Here, the character is a concept including symbols, pictograms and the like in addition to general characters such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, and roman characters.

  Each of the print heads 15-1 to 15-4 includes a nozzle driving unit (for example, an existing nozzle driving mechanism such as a piezoelectric element) corresponding to each of the nozzle groups 21-1 to 21-4 provided. The recording control device 16 controls the drive unit based on the print data (described later). For example, a host computer 17 that creates a print data file is communicably connected to the recording control device 16. The recording control device 16 and the host computer 17 constitute control processing means. As the control processing means, the recording control device 16 and the host computer 17 may be a single device or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the host computer and recording control system shown in FIG. FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the portion of the host computer related to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the recording control apparatus. The host computer 17 shown in FIG. 2A mainly includes a control means 31, a bus 32, an interface (IF) 33, a RAM 34, and a print data process for generating a print data file. Means 35, print data storage means 36, input means 37, and display means 38 are provided as appropriate.

  The control means 31 is for performing overall processing related to at least the ink jet recording system 11, has a program for that purpose, and is appropriately expanded in the RAM 34 and executed. The IF 33 is used for input / output consistency for inputting print source data from another system and outputting the created print data file to the recording control device 16, for example. Has a board and program. The RAM 34 serves as a work area for developing and executing various programs. For example, the RAM 34 is composed of a semiconductor memory and includes a concept that is virtually built on a hard disk. is there.

  The print data processing means 35 straddles one character to be printed by the overlapping portions of the nozzle groups 21-1 to 21-4 between adjacent nozzle groups based on the input printing source data. In this case, a process for creating a print data file for printing with one nozzle group is performed at all times (details will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4). The The print data storage means 36 is for storing the input print source data and for storing the print data file created by the print data processing means 35. A storage device such as a hard disk. The input means 37 is a keyboard, a mouse or the like for performing various settings and editing, and the display for the display is performed by the display means 38.

  Also, the recording control device 16 shown in FIG. 2B performs drive control such as paper conveyance and fixing after printing (not shown in FIG. 1), and drive control of the nozzle structure 14. As appropriate, a control unit 41, a bus 42, an IF 43, a RAM 45, a font processing unit 45, a fixing control unit 46, a conveyance control unit 47, and a nozzle drive control unit 48 are provided. The control means 41 controls the entire apparatus as a whole, has a program for that purpose, and is developed and executed in the RAM 44 or the like.

  The IF 43 sends a drive control signal to the first nozzle group drive unit 22-1 to the fourth nozzle group drive unit 22-4 connected to the apparatus, sends a drive control signal to the transport drive unit 23, and fixes. In order to achieve consistency for sending drive control signals to the drive unit 24 and to achieve consistency for inputting a print data file from the host computer 17, a circuit board and a program therefor are provided. .

  As described above, the RAM 44 serves as a work area for developing and executing various programs. For example, the RAM 44 is composed of a semiconductor memory and is virtually built on a hard disk. It is a concept that also includes The font processing means 45 performs, for example, font processing for conversion into an outline font or the like based on the input print data file, and a program for this is developed in the RAM 44 and executed.

  The fixing unit 46 generates a drive control signal for driving the fixing driving unit 24 for fixing by heating after ink ejection. The transport unit 47 generates a drive control signal for causing the transport drive unit 23 constituting the transport unit 12 that transports the paper 13 to feed paper or print. The nozzle drive control means 48 includes first nozzle group drive units 22-1 to 2-4 each having a piezoelectric element or the like that is driven for each nozzle of the first nozzle group 21-1 to the fourth nozzle group 21-4. A drive control signal for driving the nozzle group driving unit 22-4 based on the font data is generated.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing flow chart for creating a print data file by the print data processing means in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a process for creating a print data file by the print data processing means in FIG. Process explanatory drawing is shown. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, among the characters included in the print data, the maximum width character is 80 dots (maximum font width) and the first print heads 15-1 to 15-4. Each of the first nozzle group 21-1 to the fourth nozzle group 21-4 included in the print head 15-4 is set to 500 nozzle groups (500 dots), and the number W of overlapping nozzles is set to the maximum font width (80 dots). ) If it is larger than 100 dots, it can be assumed that the apparent single print head 15 includes 1700 apparent single nozzle groups 21 corresponding to 1700 dots. Here, the first dot shown in FIG.

  In this case, the printing source data is created as a format that is previously regulated as a format with a maximum of 1700 dots per line. Note that the deviation T in the transport direction between the first print head 15-1 and the third print head 15-3 and the second print head 15-2 and the fourth print head 15-4 that are arranged is known. In the case where the second print head 15-2 and the fourth print head 15-4 are used, a print timing signal for correcting the shift T is created, and the description is omitted in the following description.

  Therefore, in FIG. 3, first, the print data processing means 35 of the host computer 17 obtains the print source data from a predetermined device or means (for example, another computer or storage medium) (steps). (S) 1) The paper size, the number of characters per line, the character spacing, and the maximum font width (here 80 dots) are extracted from the printing source data, and the nozzle group switching dots from the dot reference value (1) are extracted. Threshold values (R1 to R3) are calculated (S2). That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first dot threshold R1 for switching between the first nozzle group 21-1 and the second nozzle group 21-2 is 420 dots, and the second nozzle group 21-2 The second dot threshold value R2 for switching to the third nozzle group 21-3 is 820 dots, and the third dot threshold value R3 for switching between the third nozzle group 21-3 and the fourth nozzle group 21-4 is 1220. It is a dot.

  Subsequently, all characters in one line (first line first) for one page (first page first) are specified from the acquired printing source data (S3). In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. Based on the character width and character spacing, the printing start dot number (A) from the dot reference value is calculated for one character of the specified line (S4). For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, intermediate attribute information (A, f) specifying the print start dot number (A) and the font width (f) of the character for the first character “A” is (1,50).

  For this intermediate attribute information (A, f), it is first determined whether the print start dot number (A) is smaller than the first dot threshold value R1 (420th dot) (S5). A flag for designating printing by the nozzle group 21-1 is created (S6). Then, the used nozzle group flag (here, “00”, which is the flag of the first nozzle group 21-1, for example) created in the character information (here “A”) is added as attribute information (S12). For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a flag (“00”) to be printed by the first nozzle group 21-1 for each of “A to O” is added as attribute information.

  For example, when the intermediate attribute information (A, f) is “450” of (450, 50), it is determined that the print start dot number (A) is larger than the first dot threshold value R1 (420th dot) ( If it is smaller than the second dot threshold value R2 (820th dot) (S7), a flag (for example, “01”) designating printing by the second nozzle group 21-2 is created (S8). ), The flag is added as attribute information (S12).

  If the intermediate attribute information (A, f) is “825” (825, 50), it is determined that the print start dot number (A) is larger than the first dot threshold value R1 (420th dot) ( S5), if it is determined that it is larger than the second dot threshold value R2 (820th dot) (S7) and smaller than the third dot threshold value R3 (1220th dot) (S9), the third nozzle group 21- A flag (for example, “10”) for designating printing is created in S3 (S10), and the flag is added as attribute information (S12).

  Further, when the intermediate attribute information (A, f) is “Chi” of (1275, 50), it is determined that the print start dot number (A) is larger than the first dot threshold value R1 (420th dot) ( S5) If it is determined that it is greater than the second dot threshold value R2 (820th dot) (S7) and greater than the third dot threshold value R3 (1220th dot) (S9), the fourth nozzle A flag (for example, “11”) for designating printing in the group 21-4 is created (S11), and the flag is added as attribute information (S12).

  The above arithmetic processing is repeated S3 to S12 for all characters in one line (S13), S3 to S13 are repeated for all lines on the page (S14), and S3 to S14 are repeated for all pages of the printing source data. (S15). Then, a print data file in which the attribute information of the used nozzle group flag is added to all the characters of the acquired print source data is created (S16). The print data file is temporarily stored in the print data storage means 36 together with the print source data, and is sent to the recording control device 16.

  In the recording control device 16, the font processing means 45 creates the above-mentioned font data based on the acquired print data file, and the nozzle drive control means 48 applies the first to each character based on the attribute information of the flag. A drive control signal is sent to any one of the nozzle group driving unit 22-1 to the fourth nozzle group driving unit 22-4 to perform printing by ink ejection.

  Note that FIG. 3 shows a case where the process is performed to calculate the intermediate attribute information (A, f) for each character and attach a flag indicating which nozzle group is used. Alternatively, the intermediate attribute information (A, f) is calculated for all characters on all lines or all characters on each page, and then a flag indicating which nozzle group is used is attached. It is good also as making it perform.

  As described above, since the flag indicating which nozzle group is used for each character is printed, each nozzle group 21 is arranged when the print heads 15-1 to 15-4 are arranged. Even if the number of dots to be overlapped in -1 to 21-4 is slightly deviated, it is possible to prevent character breakage and character overlap at the stitching portion, and it is not necessary to perform strict adjustment. In this case, the character spacing may be slightly shifted, but this is not a visual problem. That is, it is possible to easily adjust the arrangement of the plurality of nozzle groups, and it is possible to prevent the print quality from being deteriorated.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram (1) of another configuration of the nozzle group in the print head of FIG. The ink jet recording system 11 shown in FIG. 5A shows a case where the nozzle structure 51 is a single print head, and the other structure is the same as that in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, the single print head (nozzle structure) 51 includes a first nozzle group 21-1 and a third nozzle group 21 each having a predetermined number of nozzles in the paper width direction. -3, the second nozzle group 21-2, and the fourth nozzle group 21-4 are arranged in the transport direction, in which case the first nozzle group 21-1, the second nozzle group 21-2, and the second nozzle In each of the group 21-2 and the third nozzle group 21-3, the third nozzle group 21-3 and the fourth nozzle group 21-4, at least the number of nozzles W corresponding to the maximum width of one character in the print data They are arranged overlapping in the transport direction.

  The single print head (nozzle structure) 51 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and the nozzle structure 14 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are each a nozzle group 21-1 to 21-21. -4 is only a difference when manufacturing, and the effect is the same.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram (2) of another configuration of the nozzle group in the print head of FIG. FIG. 6A shows the first print head 15-1 (first nozzle group 21-1) and the second print head 15-2 each having a predetermined number of nozzles in the paper width direction as the nozzle structure 14. (Second nozzle group 21-2), third print head 15-3 (third nozzle group 21-3), and fourth print head 15-4 (fourth nozzle group 21-4) in the transport direction. The first nozzle group 21-1, the second nozzle group 21-2, the second nozzle group 21-2, the third nozzle group 21-3, and the third nozzle group 21-3 are sequentially arranged at minute intervals. In each of the fourth nozzle groups 21-4, at least the number W of nozzles corresponding to the maximum width of one character in the print data is arranged to overlap in the transport direction.

  FIG. 6B shows a single print head (nozzle component) 51 in which the first nozzle group 21-1 and the second nozzle group of a predetermined number of nozzles in the paper width direction. 21-2, the third nozzle group 21-3, and the fourth nozzle group 21-4 are sequentially arranged at minute intervals in the transport direction, and at that time, the first nozzle group 21-1 and the second nozzle group 21- 2. Nozzles corresponding to at least the maximum width of one character in the print data in each of the second nozzle group 21-2 and the third nozzle group 21-3, and each of the third nozzle group 21-3 and the fourth nozzle group 21-4 Several Ws are overlapped in the transport direction.

  Even when the first nozzle group 21-1 to the fourth nozzle group driving unit 22-4 are arranged in this way, the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained only by determining the printing timing based on the interval (displacement) in the transport direction. It can be played. This is not limited to the arrangement example shown in each embodiment, but can be determined as appropriate according to the head manufacture.

  The inkjet recording system of the present invention is suitable for printing and printing various forms, business cards, various cards, leaflets and the like.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording system according to the present invention. It is a block block diagram of the host computer and recording control system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart for creating a print data file by the print data processing means of FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of processing for creating a print data file by the print data processing means of FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing (1) of the other structure of the nozzle group in the print head of FIG. It is explanatory drawing (2) of the other structure of the nozzle group in the print head of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the printing by the several nozzle group in the conventional inkjet recording.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Inkjet recording system 12 Conveyance means 13 Paper 14 Nozzle structure 15-1 to 15-4 Print head 15 Apparent single print head 16 Recording control device 17 Host computer 21-1 to 21-4 Nozzle group 21 Appearance Upper single nozzle group 51 Single print head

Claims (3)

An ink jet recording system that performs recording by ejecting ink on the width direction of a recording material conveyed by a predetermined conveying means based on printing data,
A predetermined number of nozzle groups having a predetermined number of nozzles in the same direction as the width direction of the recording medium are arranged in the transport direction along with the width direction, and each nozzle group has at least one character in the print data. A nozzle structure in which a substantial number of nozzles are overlapped in the transport direction; and
At least the ink ejection is controlled for each nozzle group based on the print data, and one character to be printed in the overlapping portion of each nozzle group is not straddled between adjacent nozzle groups, Control processing means for performing processing to always print with one nozzle group;
An inkjet recording system comprising:   2. The ink jet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle structure includes a predetermined number of single print heads each having a single nozzle group.   2. The ink jet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle structure is constituted by a single print head including all the nozzle groups.

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