JP2008001071A - Carriage control device, recording device, carriage control program, and liquid jetting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further increase throughput in consideration of carriage idling time. <P>SOLUTION: When the time until the carriage stops after recording is terminated in a carriage decelerating area is T<SB>E(n)</SB>, the time for the carriage to start recording after activation in a carriage acceleration area is T<SB>S(n+1)</SB>, the carriage idling time of the case in which a current path recording termination position and a next path recording starting position are different is T<SB>D</SB>, and the time required for a transporting operation of a recording medium is T<SB>PF</SB>, the time T<SB>PF</SB>is overlapped with at least the time T<SB>E(n)</SB>, the time T<SB>S(n+1)</SB>, and the time T<SB>D</SB>, thereby setting and using the time T<SB>E(n)</SB>and T<SB>S(n+1)</SB>for each recording path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a carriage control apparatus that drives a carriage in a recording apparatus that records on a recording medium, a recording apparatus including the carriage control apparatus, and a carriage control program. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device that ejects a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to an ejected medium corresponding to a recording medium, and adheres the liquid to the ejected medium. .

  In addition to the recording head, as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include an ejection head, a bioorganic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

  In a serial printer as an example of a recording apparatus, a recording medium conveyance operation (hereinafter referred to as a “paper feeding operation”) and a carriage operation are conventionally performed for the purpose of improving throughput (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 to 4). In other words, the carriage operation area is divided into an acceleration area, a constant speed area, and a deceleration area. However, by performing the paper feeding operation using the acceleration area and the deceleration area, time is wasted and throughput is improved. It will be illustrated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-232882 JP 2002-219835 A JP 2004-90431 A JP 2005-288944 A

  In recent years, due to the demand for higher throughput, it has become necessary to perform the recording operation not only in the constant speed region of the carriage but also in the acceleration region and the deceleration region. In this manner, by providing an area for recording while accelerating (hereinafter referred to as “accelerated recording area”) and an area for performing recording while decelerating (hereinafter referred to as “decelerated recording area”), the throughput can be further increased. However, the recording quality in the acceleration recording area and the deceleration recording area is inferior to that of the constant speed recording area.

  Therefore, in the serial printer described in Patent Document 2, the paper feed time is determined for each pass, and when the paper feed time is long, that is, when the acceleration area and the deceleration area of the carriage can be sufficiently secured, All recording on the medium is performed within the constant speed area of the carriage. Conversely, when the paper feed time is short, an acceleration recording area and a deceleration recording area are set to maintain a balance between recording quality and throughput. . In addition, when comparing the recording in the acceleration recording area and the recording in the deceleration recording area, in consideration of the property that the deceleration recording area generally has less deterioration in recording quality, the specific gravity is placed on the deceleration recording area to accelerate as much as possible. The recording time in the recording area is shortened.

By the way, the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass are not necessarily coincident. In such a case, an area where the carriage runs idle without performing recording is generated. The time during which the carriage travels in such a free-running area is a blank time that is not used for either the recording operation or the paper feeding operation. However, none of the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 considers such carriage idle time.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to further increase the throughput in consideration of the carriage idle time.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a first aspect of the present invention includes a carriage that includes a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium and that is reciprocated in the main scanning direction, and a conveyance path that conveys the recording medium. A recording medium transport unit that is provided upstream of the recording head and transports the recording medium to an area facing the recording head; and a carriage position detection unit that detects a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction. In the recording apparatus, the detection information of the carriage position detection means is input, and the carriage control apparatus drives the carriage based on the input information and recording data, and after the recording is completed in the carriage deceleration area of the current pass the time until the carriage stops T _{E (n),} the calibration in the carriage acceleration region of the next path Tsu di is the time until the start of activation after recording T _{S (n + 1),} if the recording end position of the current path and the recording start position of the next path is different, the carriage recording end position and the next path of the current path When the time required for idling to the recording start position is T _D and the time required for the recording medium transport operation is T _PF , the time T _D and the time T _PF are determined based on the recording data. After obtaining the time T _PF , at least the time T _{E (n)} , the time T _{S (n + 1),} and the time T _D are superimposed on each other to obtain the time T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1).} Is set for each recording pass and is used.

According to this aspect, when the recording end position of the current pass is different from the recording start position of the next pass, that is, the carriage runs freely between the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass (recording is performed). If the Meide carriage travel) to, in consideration of the time T _D required for the empty run is superposition of the conveying operation and the carriage operation of the recording medium is performed. Here, the superposition of the recording medium conveyance operation (conveyance time) and the carriage operation (carriage operation time) is performed by using the time required for the recording medium conveyance operation for the carriage operation other than the recording execution time. That is. Therefore, according to empty run time T _D is longer, it becomes possible to time T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} is set shorter, there is no blank time is also not utilized in any of the recording operation and the recording medium conveying operation Thus, the throughput can be further improved.

A second aspect of the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium and is provided upstream of the recording head in a carriage that is reciprocated in the main scanning direction and a conveyance path that conveys the recording medium. And a carriage position detecting means for detecting a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction, and a carriage position detecting means for detecting the position of the carriage in the main scanning direction. A carriage control device that inputs the detection information of the means and drives the carriage based on the input information and recording data, and the time until the carriage stops after the recording is completed in the carriage deceleration area of the current pass the T _{E (n),} the carriage in the carriage acceleration region of the next path starts activation after recording Until the time T _{S (n + 1)} that _the T a margin time to be considered in the carriage stop operation or start operation _WC, if the recording end position of the current path and the recording start position of the next path is different, The time required for the carriage to idle between the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass is T _D , the time required for the recording medium transport operation is T _PF , and the recording medium transport means is activated. operation or _{T WP} margin time to be considered in the stop operation, and the on time, the recording data time _{T D} based on, seek time _{T PF,} the time _{T D,} time _{T PF} and the time _{T WC} Based on the time T _WP , the following relational expression (a): T _{E (n)} + T _{S (n + 1)} + T _WC + T _D = T _PF + T _WP (a) T _{E (n)} , time T _{S (n + 1)} is obtained for each recording pass and used.

According to this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the carriage is empty run between the recording end position and the recording start position of the next path of the current path, taking into account the time T _D required for the empty run Since the recording medium conveyance operation and the carriage operation are overlapped, the times T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are set shorter as the idle time T _D becomes longer. The blank time that is not used for either the recording operation or the recording medium conveyance operation is eliminated, and the throughput can be further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the carriage control device according to the second aspect, the margin time _TWC is a stop stabilization time for the carriage to stop stably, or the stop stabilization time. The margin time _TWP is a stop stabilization time for the recording medium transport means to stop stably or includes the stop stabilization time. According to this aspect, since the carriage stop stabilization time and the recording medium transport unit stop stabilization time are taken into account in the overlap of the recording medium transport operation and the carriage operation, the stop stabilization time is set as a pure waiting time. Thus, further time efficiency can be achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the carriage control device according to the second or third aspect, the following formula (b) using (T _D , T _PF , T _WC , T _WP ): (T _PF + T _When the value of ( _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ) (b) is equal to or larger than a predetermined value or exceeds a predetermined value, T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are determined in advance. It is characterized in that it is set to the maximum value determined.
According to this aspect, the maximum value is set to the value of (T _PF + T _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ), that is, the value of T _{E (n)} + T _{S (n + 1)} . When there is a margin in the transport time _TPF , the time _{TE (n)} and the time TS _{(n + 1)} become longer than necessary, that is, until the carriage is stopped after the recording is finished and the carriage is started. Thus, it is possible to prevent the carriage travel area from starting from being unnecessarily enlarged and the carriage from performing unnecessary operations.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the carriage control device according to the second or third aspect, the following formula (b) using (T _D , T _PF , T _WC , T _WP ): (T _PF + T _When the value of ( _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ) (b) is less than or equal to a predetermined value or less than the predetermined value, T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are determined in advance. It is characterized in that it is set to a minimum value.

According to this aspect, the minimum value is set to the value of (T _PF + T _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ), that is, the value of T _{E (n)} + T _{S (n + 1)} . If the transport time T _PF is short and, when the carriage idle running time T _D is longer, the acceleration recording region and the deceleration recording region is enlarged more than necessary, i.e. the time T _{E (n)} and time T _{S (n + 1)} is extremely Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording quality from deteriorating beyond the allowable range.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the carriage control device according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the recording apparatus has a plurality of recording modes. The first mode using fixed values determined in advance as the time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} without using the equation (a), and the time T _{E for} each recording pass using the equation (a). _(N) and a second mode in which time T _{S (n + 1)} is obtained and used, and when the recorded data is only text data not including image data, the second mode is selected. However, when image data is included, the first mode is selected.

  According to this aspect, since the acceleration recording area and the deceleration recording area are fixed when the recording data includes image data, high-quality recording can be executed using a more stable carriage operation area, When the recording data is only text data, the acceleration recording area and the deceleration recording area change for each recording pass, thereby preventing a decrease in throughput.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising the carriage control device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.
According to this aspect, in the recording apparatus, it is possible to obtain the same effects as any of the first to sixth aspects.

An eighth aspect of the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium and is provided upstream of the recording head in a carriage that is reciprocally driven in the main scanning direction and a conveyance path that conveys the recording medium. And a carriage position detecting means for detecting a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction, and a carriage position detecting means for detecting the position of the carriage in the main scanning direction. And a carriage control program executed by a carriage control device for driving the carriage based on the inputted information and print data, after the print is completed in the carriage deceleration area of the current pass. There the time to stop T _{E (n),} the carriage acceleration region smell next path The carriage is time T _S until the start of activation after recording _{(n + 1),} if the recording end position of the current path and the recording start position of the next path is different, the carriage recording end position and the next path of the current path When the time required for idling to the recording start position is T _D and the time required for the recording medium transport operation is T _PF , the time T _D and the time T _PF are determined based on the recording data. calculating, in the time _{T PF,} and at least the time _{T E (n),} and the time _{T S (n + 1),} by superimposing, and time _{T D,} time _{T E (n)} and _{T S (n + 1)} Is calculated for each recording pass. By using the carriage control program according to this aspect, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the first aspect described above.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto the ejection target medium, and a carriage that is driven to reciprocate in the main scanning direction; A medium to be ejected medium for conveying the medium to be ejected to a region facing the liquid ejecting head; a carriage position detecting means for detecting a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction; and a detection by the carriage position detecting means. And a carriage control device that drives the carriage based on the inputted information and liquid ejection data, and after the liquid ejection ends in the carriage deceleration region of the current pass time T _E until the carriage stops _(n), wherein the carriage acceleration region of the next path carry The time until di starts after starting liquid jet T _{S (n + 1),} if the current liquid ejection end position of the path and the liquid ejecting start position of the next path is different, the liquid ejection end position of the carriage current path empty run to take a time T _D, when the time required for the transport operation of the injection medium and T _PF, and the time T _D based on the liquid ejection data between the liquid injection start position of the next pass when and after having determined the time _{T PF,} the time _{T PF,} and at least the time _{T E (n),} and the time _{T S (n + 1),} by superimposing, and time _{T D,} time _{T E (n)} and A feature is that TS _{(n + 1)} is set for each path and used.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an outline of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 1 as an example of a recording apparatus or a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described first with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of the printer 1. In the following description, the left direction (front side of the printer) in FIG. 1 is referred to as “downstream side” of the paper conveyance path, and the right direction (backward side of the printer) is referred to as “upstream side”.

  The printer 1 is provided with a feeding device 2 capable of setting a sheet of cut paper (hereinafter referred to as “paper P”) as an example of a recording medium or an ejection medium in an inclined posture on the rear side. P is fed toward a recording medium conveying means (hereinafter referred to as “conveying means”) 4 on the downstream side. The fed paper P is transported by the transport means 4 to the recording means (liquid ejecting means) 3 on the downstream side, and recording (liquid ejecting) is performed. The recorded paper P is discharged to the front of the apparatus by a recording medium discharge means (hereinafter referred to as “discharge means”) 5 on the downstream side.

Hereinafter, components on the paper conveyance path of the printer 1 will be described in more detail. The feeding device 2 includes a hopper 11, a feeding roller 12, a retard roller 13, a return lever 14, and other components not shown.
The hopper 11 is formed of a plate-like body, and is provided so as to be able to swing around an upper swing fulcrum 11a. By swinging, the paper P supported in an inclined posture on the hopper 11 is pressed against the feeding roller 12. Let The feeding roller 12 has a substantially D shape when viewed from the side, and feeds the uppermost sheet P pressed by the arc portion to the downstream side.

  The retard roller 13 is provided so as to be able to come into pressure contact with the arc portion of the feeding roller 12 and is provided with a predetermined rotational resistance (torque). Prevent double feed. The return lever 14 is provided so as to be swingable when the paper P feeding path is viewed from the side. By swinging, the return lever 14 returns the succeeding and subsequent sheets P to the hopper 11.

Between the feeding device 2 and the conveying means 4, a detecting means (not shown) for detecting the passage of the paper P, a feeding posture of the paper P, and a contact of the paper P with the feeding roller 12 are formed. A guide roller 26 is provided to prevent the above and reduce the conveyance load.
The transport unit 4 includes a transport drive roller 30 that is rotated by the power of the PF motor 66 (FIG. 2), and a transport driven roller 31 that is driven to rotate while being pressed against the transport drive roller 30. The transport driven roller 31 is pivotally supported at the downstream end portion of the paper guide upper 24 so as to be freely rotatable. The shaft 24a is pivotally supported by the main frame 7 so that the paper transport path is viewed from the side. The coil driven spring 31 is urged by the coil spring 25 in a direction in which the conveyance driven roller 31 is pressed against the conveyance driving roller 30.

The paper P that has reached the transport means 4 is sub-scanned and sent downstream by the transport drive roller 30 rotating while being nipped by the transport drive roller 30 and the transport driven roller 31.
On the downstream side of the conveying unit 4, a recording head 36 that constitutes the recording unit 3 and a paper guide front 37 that is disposed to face the recording head 36 are provided. The recording head 36 is provided at the bottom of the carriage 33. The carriage 33 reciprocates in the main scanning direction by the power of the carriage motor 62 (FIG. 2) while being guided by a carriage guide shaft 34 extending in the main scanning direction. The carriage 33 carries independent ink cartridges (not shown) for each of a plurality of colors, and supplies ink to the recording head 36.

A first rib 38a, a second rib 38b, and a third rib 38c are formed on the surface facing the recording head 36 on the front side 37 that defines the distance between the paper P and the recording head 36, and ink is supplied. Grooves 39a and 39b to be discarded are formed, and so-called marginless recording is performed in which recording is performed without margins on the edge of the paper P by using these grooves 39a and 39b.
An auxiliary roller 43 and a discharge unit 5 are provided on the downstream side of the recording head 36. The auxiliary roller 43 is provided so as to be driven and rotated in contact with the recording surface of the paper P on the paper conveyance path from the area where the recording head 36 and the paper guide front 37 are opposed to the discharge means 5. The function of preventing the lift from the front 37 and maintaining the distance between the paper P and the recording head 36 is achieved.

  The discharge means 5 includes a discharge drive roller 41 attached to a rotary shaft 40 that is rotated by the power of the PF motor 66 (FIG. 2), and a discharge driven roller 42 that is driven to rotate in contact with the discharge drive roller 41. Has been. The paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording head 36 is discharged toward the front of the apparatus (not shown) by rotating the discharge drive roller 41 while being nipped by the discharge drive roller 41 and the discharge driven roller 42. Is done.

  Next, a drive control unit 50 that performs various controls of the printer 1 and that functions as a carriage control device according to the present invention, and the surrounding configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration of the drive control unit 50 and its periphery. The drive control unit 50 is configured to be able to transmit and receive data to and from the host computer 100 that transmits recording data and other information to the printer 1, and includes an IF 51, an ASIC 52, and a RAM 53 that are interfaces with the host computer 100. , PROM 54 and EEPROM 55, CPU 56, timer IC 57, DC unit 58, paper feed (PF) motor driver 61, carriage (CR) motor driver 60, and head driver 59.

  The CPU 56 performs arithmetic processing for executing the control program of the printer 1 and other necessary arithmetic processing, and the timer IC 57 causes the CPU 56 to generate periodic interrupt signals necessary for various processing. The ASIC 52 controls the recording resolution, the drive waveform of the recording head 36 and the like based on the recording data transmitted from the host computer 100 via the IF 51. The RAM 53 is used as a work area for the ASIC 52 and the CPU 56 and a primary storage area for other data. The PROM 54 and the EEPROM 55 have various control programs (firmware) necessary for controlling the printer 1 and data necessary for processing. Is stored.

  The DC unit 58 is a control circuit for controlling the speed of the DC motor (the CR motor 62 and the PF motor 66), and includes a PID control unit, an acceleration control unit, a PWM control circuit, etc. (not shown). The DC unit 58 performs various calculations for controlling the speed of the DC motor based on control commands sent from the CPU 56 and output signals from various sensors (detection means) such as the rotary encoder 69 and the linear encoder 64. And sends a signal to the CR motor driver 60 and the PF motor driver 61.

  The PF motor driver 61 drives and controls the PF motor 66 under the control of the DC unit 58. In the present embodiment, the PF motor 66 rotates a plurality of driving targets, that is, the feeding roller 12, the conveyance driving roller 30, and the discharge driving roller 41 described above. Reference numeral 68 denotes an endless belt, and reference numeral 67 denotes a driven pulley attached to the shaft end of the transport driving roller 30.

  The CR motor driver 60 drives or controls the CR motor 62 under the control of the DC unit 58 to reciprocate the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction, or to stop and hold the carriage 33. The head driver 59 drives and controls the recording head 36 according to the recording data transmitted from the host computer 100 under the control of the CPU 56.

  The CPU 56 and the DC unit 58 are provided with the output signal from the rotary encoder 69 for detecting the rotation amount, rotation direction, and rotation speed of the transport drive roller 30 (PF motor 66) and the absolute position of the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction. An output signal from the linear encoder 64 to be detected is given.

  The rotary encoder 69 includes a disc-shaped scale 69b having a large number of light transmitting parts on the outer periphery, a light emitting part that emits light to the light transmitting part, and a light receiving part that receives light that has passed through the light transmitting part. 69a, and the detection unit 69a outputs a rising signal and a falling signal formed by the light passing through the light transmitting part according to the rotation of the disk-shaped scale 69b. By receiving the output signal from the rotary encoder 69, the rotation amount, rotation speed, and rotation direction of the conveyance drive roller 30 and the like are detected, and thereby the paper feed control of the target paper P can be executed. It has become.

  The linear encoder 64 as “carriage position detecting means” includes a code plate 64b that is long in the main scanning direction, a light emitting unit that emits light to a plurality of light transmitting units formed in the main scanning direction on the code plate 64b, and the light transmitting unit. It has the detection part 64a provided with the light-receiving part which receives the light which passed the part. The detection unit 64a outputs a rising signal and a falling signal formed by the light passing through the translucent unit, and the drive control unit 50 receives the output signal from the detection unit 64a. The position of the carriage 33 in the main scanning direction is detected.

The above is the overall configuration of the printer 1, and the carriage control method will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the meaning of each parameter used for controlling the carriage 33. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the carriage operation speed (upper stage) and the paper feed speed (paper transport speed, that is, the rotational speed of the transport drive roller 30). : is a diagram showing the elapsed change periods of bottom), FIG. 4 (a) when the carriage empty run time T _D is zero, FIG. 4 (B) carriage empty run time T _D is present to some extent Shows the case. FIG. 5A shows a case where the times T _Emax and T _Smax function because the paper feed time T _PF is long, and FIG. 5B shows the time T _{Emin because the} paper feed time T _PF is short. And T _Smin functions. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the contents of the carriage control program.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage operation area is divided into an acceleration section, a constant speed section, and a deceleration section in order from the start of the carriage in the case of the n-pass in the figure (in the case of n + 1 pass, the acceleration section and the constant section are sequentially in the left direction). Recording on the paper P is performed in a part of the acceleration section, a constant speed section, and a part of the deceleration section. However, as will be described later, it may be executed only in the constant speed section. Code T _S represents the time until the carriage in the carriage acceleration region starts after starting recording, code T _E denotes the time until the recording after the end carriage stops in the carriage deceleration region, reference numeral T _PF paper feed time Is shown.

Parameters shown on the sheet P indicates a distance concept rather than time concept, reference numeral L _S represents the interval distance to the carriage in the carriage acceleration region starts after starting recording, the code L _E is recorded in the carriage deceleration region The section distance until the carriage stops after completion is indicated, the symbol _LPF indicates the paper feed amount, and L _P indicates the recording distance. The subscripts n and n + 1 indicate paths.
Further, when the sign T _D is where the current recording start position of the path recording end position and the next path (n Path) (n + 1 path) different, the carriage of the recording end position and the recording start position of the next path of the current path It indicates the time required for empty run between the sign L _D represents the same empty run distance.

The printer 1 according to the present invention includes a plurality of recording modes, and the drive control unit 50 selects and executes a recording mode suitable for the recording application. The first mode is a recording mode that uses a predetermined fixed value as time T _{E (n)} and time T _{S (n + 1)} in all recording passes, and is used when the recording data includes image data. That is, since the acceleration recording section and the deceleration recording section are fixed, a constant recording quality can be maintained.

On the other hand, the second mode is a recording mode in which the time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are obtained and used for each recording pass, and when the recording data is only text data not including image data. Used. In the second mode, the acceleration record region and the deceleration recording interval changes, especially if and paper feed time T _PF is short, when the carriage idle running time T _D is long, the time T _{E (n)} and time T _{S (N + 1)} is shortened, the acceleration recording section and the deceleration recording section are expanded, and the throughput is improved.

Drive control unit 50, by causing (also referred to hereinafter as "paper feed operation") and overlapping the carriage operation conveying operation of the sheet P, "non-recording time = paper feed time" is satisfied to as time T _{E ( n)} and time TS _{(n + 1)} are calculated. More specifically, the following formula (a):
T _{E (n)} + T _{S (n + 1)} + T _WC + T _D = T _PF + T _WP (a)
The time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are calculated so that. FIG. 4 (A) shows the case carriage empty run time T _D is zero, FIG. 4 (B) shows an example of a case where the carriage empty run time T _D is present a predetermined time.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the time T _WC indicates a margin time to be taken into consideration during the stop operation or start operation of the carriage. In this embodiment, the time T _WC is a stop stabilization time for the carriage to stop stably. . The time T _WP indicates a margin time to be taken into consideration when the transport driving roller 30 is started or stopped. In this embodiment, the time T _WP is a stop stabilization time for the transport driving roller 30 to stop stably.

Figure 4 As shown in (A), in the case where the carriage empty run time T _D is zero, as the time required for the carriage operation other than the recording and the time required for sheet feeding are the same, i.e. "non-recording time = The time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are set so that the “paper feed time” is established, thereby preventing a decrease in throughput due to a blank time that does not belong to either the recording operation or the paper feed operation. ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), when the carriage idle running time T _D is present a predetermined time also, superposition of the conveying operation and the carriage operation of the sheet P by considering the time T _D is performed. That is, the time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are shortened by the amount of time T _D , so that the time required for carriage operation other than the time of recording and the time required for paper feeding are the same. That is, the relationship of “non-recording time = paper feeding time” is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in throughput due to a blank time that does not belong to either the recording operation or the paper feeding operation.

However, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the paper feed time _TPF is long, the time _{TE (n)} and the time TS _{(n + 1)} become longer than necessary, that is, the carriage is finished after the recording is completed. The area from when the carriage stops and the area from when the carriage is activated to when recording is started are enlarged (the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A), and the carriage performs a useless operation. Therefore, the following formula (b):
(T _PF + T _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ) (b)
Is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or exceeds a predetermined value, T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are set to predetermined maximum values T _Emax and T _Smax . Thereby, useless operation of the carriage can be prevented. In this case, the relationship of “non-recording time = paper feeding time” is not established exceptionally. In this case, the recording operation is performed only in the constant speed region of the carriage.

Conversely, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the paper feed time _TPF is short, the time _{TE (n)} and the time TS _{(n + 1)} become extremely short, and the acceleration recording area and the deceleration recording area are There is a risk that the recording quality will deteriorate beyond a certain limit due to over-expansion. Therefore, when the value of the above formula (b) is less than or equal to the predetermined value or less than the predetermined value, T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are set to predetermined minimum values T _Emin and T _Smin. Set to. Thereby, the time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are extremely shortened, and it is possible to prevent the recording quality from deteriorating beyond a certain limit. In this case as well, the relationship “non-recording time = paper feeding time” is not established.

Hereinafter, description will be made based on the flowchart of FIG. When the drive control unit 50 acquires the print data (step S101), the drive control unit 50 sets a variable n indicating the number of passes to zero (step S102), and then increments the integer 1 (step S103). Subsequently, based on the recording data, the recording end position of the n-th pass, the recording start position of the n + 1-th pass, the paper feed amount (L _PF ) and the paper feed time (T _PF ) between the n pass and the n + 1 pass, the carriage idle running A distance (L _D ) and idle time (T _D ) are calculated (step S104).

The speed of the carriage constant speed section, the relationship between the acceleration section distance and speed (acceleration curve), and the relationship between the deceleration section distance and speed (deceleration curve) are stored in advance in the EEPROM 55 (FIG. 2) as a data table. (The same applies to the speed of the transport drive roller 30). Therefore, it turns out from the recording data sheet feed amount L _PF and the carriage empty run distance L _D is, which can be obtained paper feed time based T _PF and carriage empty run time T _D. If the distances L _E and L _S in FIG. 3 are found, the times T _E and T _S during which the carriage travels can also be obtained. Similarly, the carriage stop stabilization time T _WP and the transport drive roller stop stabilization time T _WC are stored in advance in the EEPROM 55 (FIG. 2) as data.

Next, it is determined whether the value of the above formula (b) is equal to or greater than T _Emax + T _Smax (step S105). If Yes, LE _(n) = LS _{(n + 1)} = L _max , T _{E ( n)} = T _Emax and T _{S (n + 1)} = T _Smax are used (step S106: see FIG. 5A). In the case of No in step S105, it is determined whether the value of the above equation (b) is less than T _Emin + T _Smin (step S107), and in the case of Yes, LE _(n) = L _{S (n + 1)} = L These are used as _min , T _{E (n)} = T _Emin , T _{S (n + 1)} = T _Smin (see step S108: FIG. 5B).

In the case of No in step S107, L _{E (n)} , T _{E (n)} , L _{S (n + 1)} , T _{S (} based on the formula (a) ′ and the formula (c), which are modifications of the formula (a). _{n + 1)} is calculated, and based on this, the carriage is controlled (step S109). If the next path exists, step S103 and subsequent steps are repeated (step S110). Thus, the carriage idle running time T _D to the superposition of the paper feed operation and the carriage operation is considered, there is no idle time that does not belong to any of the recording operation and the paper feeding operation, it is possible to improve the throughput.

Note that the times T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} can also be set by the method shown in FIG. In FIG. 7A, steps S201 to S204 are the same as steps S101 to S104 shown in FIG. In the method shown in FIG. 7, a data table as shown in FIG. 7B is prepared in advance for each value of the expression (b), and L _{E (n)} , T T according to the value of the expression (b). _{E (n)} , L _{S (n + 1)} , and T _{S (n + 1)} are set stepwise (step S205, FIG. 7B).

  The embodiment described above is an example, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a recording apparatus and can be applied to all liquid ejecting apparatuses.

1 is a side sectional view of a printer according to the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the drive control part which concerns on this invention, and its periphery. Explanatory drawing which shows the meaning content of each parameter used for carriage control. The figure which showed the change of a carriage operation speed and a paper feed speed with time. The figure which showed the change of a carriage operation speed and a paper feed speed with time. The flowchart which shows the content of a carriage control program. The flowchart which shows the content of a carriage control program.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer, 2 Feeding device, 3 Recording means, 4 Recording medium conveyance means, 5 Recording medium discharge means, 11 Hopper, 12 Feeding roller, 13 Retard roller, 14 Return lever, 24 On paper guide, 25 Coil Spring, 26 Guide roller, 28 After paper guidance, 30 Conveyance drive roller, 31 Conveyance driven roller, 33 Carriage, 34 Carriage guide shaft, 36 Recording head, 37 Before paper guidance, 41 Discharge drive roller, 42 Discharge driven roller, 43 Guide Roller, 50 Drive controller, 51 IF, 52 ASIC, 53 RAM, 54 ROM, 55 EEPROM, 56 CPU, 57 Timer IC, 58 DC unit, 59 Head driver, 60 Carriage (CR) motor driver, 61 Paper feed (PF ) Motor driver, 62 carry (CR) motor, 64 linear encoder, 66 paper feed (PF) motor, 69 rotary encoder, P recording paper

Claims (9)

A carriage having a recording head for recording on a recording medium and reciprocatingly driven in the main scanning direction;
A recording medium conveying means provided on the upstream side of the recording head in a conveying path for conveying the recording medium, and conveying the recording medium to an area facing the recording head;
And a carriage position detection unit that detects a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction. The carriage position detection unit receives detection information of the carriage, and the carriage is based on the input information and print data. A carriage control device for driving
The time until the carriage stops after the end of recording in the carriage deceleration area of the current pass is TE _(n) ,
In the carriage acceleration area of the next pass, the time from the start of the carriage to the start of recording is _expressed as T _{S (n + 1)} ,
When the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass are different, the time required for the carriage to idle between the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass is expressed as T _D ,
When the time required for the recording medium transport operation is T _PF ,
After having determined the time T _D and the time T _PF on the basis of the recording data,
By superimposing at least time T _{E (n)} , time T _{S (n + 1)} , and time T _{D on} time T _PF , time T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are recorded for each recording pass. Configured and configured to use this,
A carriage control device. A carriage having a recording head for recording on a recording medium and reciprocatingly driven in the main scanning direction;
A recording medium conveying means provided on the upstream side of the recording head in a conveying path for conveying the recording medium, and conveying the recording medium to an area facing the recording head;
And a carriage position detection unit that detects a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction. The carriage position detection unit receives detection information of the carriage, and the carriage is based on the input information and print data. A carriage control device for driving
The time until the carriage stops after the end of recording in the carriage deceleration area of the current pass is TE _(n) ,
In the carriage acceleration area of the next pass, the time from the start of the carriage to the start of recording is _expressed as T _{S (n + 1)} ,
T _WC , an allowance time to be considered in the carriage stop operation or start operation
When the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass are different, the time required for the carriage to idle between the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass is expressed as T _D ,
The time required for the recording medium conveying operation is _TPF ,
T _WP , an allowance time to be taken into account when starting or stopping the recording medium conveying means
When the said recording data time _{T D} based on, seek time _{T PF,} the time _{T D,} time _{T PF} and the time _{T WC,} based on time _{T WP,} the following relational expression (a ):
T _{E (n)} + T _{S (n + 1)} + T _WC + T _D = T _PF + T _WP (a)
A carriage control device characterized in that the time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are obtained for each recording pass so that the following holds. 3. The carriage control device according to claim 2, wherein the margin time T _WC is a stop stabilization time for the carriage to stop stably, or includes the stop stabilization time,
The margin time T _WP is a stop stabilization time for the recording medium transport means to stop stably, or includes the stop stabilization time.
A carriage control device. In the carriage control device according to claim 2 or 3, the following formula (b) using T _D , T _PF , T _WC , T _WP :
(T _PF + T _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ) (b)
If the value of is equal to or greater than a predetermined value or exceeds a predetermined value, T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are set to a predetermined maximum value.
A carriage control device. In the carriage control device according to claim 2 or 3, the following formula (b) using T _D , T _PF , T _WC , T _WP :
(T _PF + T _WP ) − (T _WC + T _D ) (b)
If the value of is less than or equal to a predetermined value or less than the predetermined value, T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are set to a predetermined minimum value.
A carriage control device. The carriage control device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the carriage control device has a plurality of recording modes.
A first mode in which the plurality of recording modes use fixed values predetermined as time T _{E (n)} and time T _{S (n + 1)} without using the formula (a) in all recording passes;
A second mode in which the time T _{E (n)} and the time T _{S (n + 1)} are obtained and used for each recording pass using the above formula (a), and
When the recording data is only text data not including image data, the second mode is selected, and when the recording data includes image data, the first mode is selected.
A carriage control device. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising the carriage control apparatus according to claim 1.
A recording apparatus. A carriage having a recording head for recording on a recording medium and reciprocatingly driven in the main scanning direction;
A recording medium conveying means provided on the upstream side of the recording head in a conveying path for conveying the recording medium, and conveying the recording medium to an area facing the recording head;
And a carriage position detection unit that detects a position of the carriage in the main scanning direction. The carriage position detection unit receives detection information of the carriage, and the carriage is based on the input information and print data. A carriage control program executed by a carriage control device for driving
The time until the carriage stops after the end of recording in the carriage deceleration area of the current pass is TE _(n) ,
In the carriage acceleration area of the next pass, the time from the start of the carriage to the start of recording is _expressed as T _{S (n + 1)} ,
When the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass are different, the time required for the carriage to idle between the recording end position of the current pass and the recording start position of the next pass is expressed as T _D ,
When the time required for the recording medium transport operation is T _PF ,
Calculating a time T _D and the time T _PF on the basis of the recording data,
Calculating time T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} by superimposing at least time T _{E (n)} , time T _{S (n + 1)} , and time T _{D on} time T _PF ; ,
Is executed for each recording pass. A carriage that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto a medium to be ejected and is driven to reciprocate in the main scanning direction;
An ejected medium transporting means for transporting the ejected medium to a region facing the liquid ejecting head, provided upstream of the liquid ejecting head in a transport path for transporting the ejected medium;
Carriage position detecting means for detecting the position of the carriage in the main scanning direction;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a carriage control device that inputs detection information of the carriage position detecting means and drives the carriage based on the inputted information and liquid ejecting data;
In the carriage deceleration area of the current pass, the time until the carriage stops after the liquid ejection is finished is T _{E (n)} ,
In the carriage acceleration area of the next pass, the time from the start of the carriage to the start of liquid ejection is _expressed as T _{S (n + 1)} ,
When the liquid ejection end position of the current pass is different from the liquid ejection start position of the next pass, the time required for the carriage to idle between the liquid ejection end position of the current pass and the liquid ejection start position of the next pass is T _D ,
When the time required for the transport operation of the ejection target medium is T _PF ,
After having determined the time T _D and the time T _PF based on the liquid ejection data,
Time T _{E (n)} and T _{S (n + 1)} are set for each path by overlapping at least time T _{E (n)} , time T _{S (n + 1)} , and time T _{D on} time T _PF. And is configured to use this,
A liquid ejecting apparatus.

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