JP2008100364A - Printer, optical disc duplicating apparatus and method for controlling printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an ink etc. from overflowing to the outside of a printable region formed on a label face in a printer which prints an image on the label face of a disc type recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The image is printed in the printable region 11A by a printing head 31 by scanning in the digit direction a carriage 30 carrying a printing head 31 while the optical disc 11 is conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction. On the other hand, a position of the printable region 11A is detected. A printing position of image data for printing is corrected on the basis of the position of the detected printable region 11A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints an image, an optical disk duplicating apparatus including the printing apparatus, and a control method for the printing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a disk-type recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD, an ink absorber that absorbs printing ink is attached to a label surface to enable printing on the label surface. An apparatus for printing an image on the label surface of such a disk type recording medium is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-132589 A

  By the way, in a printing apparatus that performs printing on a disk type recording medium, various causes such as a positional deviation of the print head, a positional deviation when the disk type recording medium is conveyed, and the disk type recording medium is not set at the correct position, etc. As a result, when the relative position of the print head and the disk type recording medium is displaced, ink or the like may protrude outside the printable area. Since the disc base made of synthetic resin is exposed outside the printable area, if the ink protrudes from the printable area, the protruded ink may not be fixed and the inside of the printing apparatus may be soiled. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and in a printing apparatus that prints an image on a label surface of a disk type recording medium, ink or the like does not protrude outside a printable area formed on the label surface. The purpose is to do so.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a printing apparatus that prints an image in a printable area provided on one surface of an optical disc type recording medium, and stores data in which a print position in the printable area is associated with an image. The print data storage means for storing and the optical disk type recording medium are transported in a predetermined transport direction, while a carriage having a print head is scanned in a digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, and the print data storage means Based on the stored data, a print control means for printing an image on the printable area by the print head, a position detection means for detecting the position of the printable area, and a position detected by the position detection means. And a correction unit that corrects the printing position of the data stored in the print data storage unit. To provide.
According to this configuration, while the optical disk type recording medium is transported in a predetermined transport direction, the carriage loaded with the print head is scanned in the digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, and the print data stored in the print data storage means can be printed. When the print head prints an image in the printable area based on the data in which the print position in the area is associated with the image, the position detection unit detects the position of the printable area in the carriage scanning direction, and detects it. Based on the set position, the data stored in the print data storage unit is corrected by the correction unit. As a result, when the relative position shift between the printable area and the print head occurs, the relative position shift can be compensated by correcting the printing data. For this reason, printing can be performed without attaching ink or the like outside the printable area, and contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented.

In the present invention, the correction means may store data stored in the print data storage means based on a difference between the position of the printable area detected by the position detection means and the position of the printable area stored in advance. The print position may be corrected.
In this case, the positional deviation of the printable area can be accurately obtained, and the relative positional deviation between the printable area and the print head can be reliably compensated by correcting the data.

In the present invention, the position detection means detects the position of the printable area in the scanning direction of the carriage, and the correction means is based on the position detected by the position detection means. The print position of the data stored in the print data storage means may be shifted in the digit direction.
In this case, the positional deviation of the printable area in the carriage scanning direction, that is, the digit direction is detected, and the data printing position is shifted in the digit direction to compensate for this positional deviation. Can be compensated for.

In the present invention, the position detecting means detects the position of the printable area before printing by the print control means is started, and the correcting means is based on the position detected by the position detecting means. The print position of the data stored in the print data storage means may be corrected before printing by the print control means is started.
In this case, the position of the printable area is detected before printing is started, and the print position of the data is corrected as necessary. Therefore, even when the first line is printed, ink or the like is placed outside the printable area. Printing can be performed without adhesion.

In the above-described configuration, the print control unit may be arranged between the position of the printable area detected by the position detection unit before printing by the print control unit and the position of the printable area stored in advance. The printing may not be started when there is a deviation of an amount exceeding a predetermined threshold.
In this case, if there is a deviation exceeding the threshold value, that is, if the position of the printable area is extremely displaced, printing is not started. For this reason, printing is not performed for a large misalignment caused by an installation error of the optical disk type recording medium, so that it is possible to reliably prevent internal contamination and damage and to eliminate unnecessary printing. Throughput can be improved.

In the present invention, the carriage is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the printable area at a position facing the carriage, and the position detection means detects the sensor while scanning the carriage. The position of the printable area may be obtained based on the state.
In this case, since the position of the printable area is detected by scanning the carriage using the sensor mounted on the carriage, the position of the printable area can be reliably and promptly detected. With this configuration, the number and size of sensors can be reduced, and furthermore, the position of the printable area can be detected by the same operation as during printing, so there is no need to provide a new drive unit or the like. Therefore, it can be realized easily and at low cost by effectively using the configuration of a normal printing apparatus.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the print head may print an image by ejecting ink toward the printable area.
In this case, the ink does not adhere outside the printable area, which is more effective.

The present invention provides an optical disc duplicating apparatus for recording information in an information recording area provided on one side of an optical disc type recording medium and printing an image on a printable area provided on the other side. Print data storage means for storing data in which print positions and images are associated with each other, and a carriage on which a print head is mounted substantially perpendicular to the transport direction while transporting the optical disc type recording medium in a predetermined transport direction. Print control means for scanning in the digit direction and printing an image on the printable area by the print head based on data stored in the print data storage means, and position detection for detecting the position of the printable area And a mark of data stored in the print data storage means based on the position detected by the position detection means. Position correction means for correcting, to provide an optical disc duplicator system which comprising the.
According to this configuration, while the optical disk type recording medium is transported in a predetermined transport direction, the carriage loaded with the print head is scanned in the digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, and the print data stored in the print data storage means can be printed. When an image is printed on the printable area by the print head based on the data in which the print position and the image in the area are associated with each other, the position of the printable area is detected by the position detection unit, and based on the detected position. Then, the data stored in the print data storage unit is corrected by the correction unit. Thereby, when the relative position shift between the printable area and the print head occurs, the shift can be compensated by correcting the printing data. For this reason, printing can be performed without attaching ink or the like outside the printable area, and contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented.

The present invention also relates to a control method for a printing apparatus that prints an image in a printable area provided on one surface of an optical disk type recording medium, wherein the print head is conveyed while the optical disk type recording medium is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction. Is scanned in a digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, and an image is printed on the printable area by the print head based on data in which a print position and an image in the printable area are associated with each other. There is provided a control method for a printing apparatus, characterized in that, while printing is performed, the position of the printable area is detected, and the print position of the data is corrected based on the detected position of the printable area.
According to this method, while the optical disk type recording medium is transported in a predetermined transport direction, the carriage on which the print head is mounted is scanned in the digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, so that the print position and the image in the printable area are obtained. When an image is printed on the printable area by the print head based on the associated data, the position of the printable area is detected, and the data is corrected based on the detected position. Thereby, when the relative position shift between the printable area and the print head occurs, the shift can be compensated by correcting the printing data. For this reason, printing can be performed without attaching ink or the like outside the printable area, and contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, even when the relative position between the printable area and the print head is shifted, the ink or the like is attached to the outside of the printable area by correcting the image data to be printed in the printable area. Printing can be executed without any problems, and contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical disc duplicating apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The optical disc duplicating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 records data on an optical disc 11 as an optical disc type recording medium and prints an image in a printable area provided on the optical disc 11.

The optical disk 11 is an optical recording medium capable of additionally recording and reading data using laser light or the like, and specific examples include CD-R, CD-RW, DVD ± R, DVD ± RW, DVD- It is an optical disk called a RAM or a next-generation DVD. These optical recording media use one or a plurality of substrates made of synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, and a recording layer, a reflective layer, etc. are laminated on the substrate to form a disk shape having a diameter of 120 mm (millimeters), for example. Is done.
One disk surface of the optical disk 11 is a recording surface for recording data by laser light, and the other disk surface is a label surface, and a printable area 11A (FIG. 2) capable of receiving ink is formed on the label surface. Has been. The printable area 11A on the label surface is formed by applying a receiving material that receives ink to form a receiving layer, or by attaching a sheet including a receiving layer that receives ink. The receiving layer is configured using, for example, an ink swelling type component mainly composed of a polymer or a gap absorption type component mainly composed of an inorganic pigment.

The optical disc duplicating apparatus 1 includes a plurality of data recording devices 12 that record data by irradiating a recording surface of the optical disc 11 with a laser, and a plurality of printing devices 2 that print images on the optical disc 11. Here, the image includes characters and images.
The optical disk duplicating apparatus 1 is loaded on the first stacker 13 on which a plurality of unused optical disks 11 are loaded, on the second stacker 14 on which the optical disks 11 that have undergone data recording and printing are loaded, and on the first stacker 13. A transport unit 15 is provided for transporting the optical disc 11 to the data recording device 12 and the printing device 2 and transporting the optical disc 11 on which data has been recorded and printed to the second stacker 14.

  The transport unit 15 includes a handling unit 15A that grips the clamp area 11C (FIG. 2) of the optical disc 11, an arm 15B that supports the handling unit 15A, and a drive unit 15C that drives the arm 15B. The drive unit 15C moves the arm 15B up and down along the rod-shaped guide 15D and rotates it around the guide 15D, thereby causing the optical disk 11 to move to the first stacker 13, the data recording device 12, the printing device 2, and the like. And the second stacker 14.

  Data such as an image to be printed on the optical disk 11 by the printing apparatus 2 is transmitted to the control unit 10 from the personal computer 16 (FIG. 8) externally connected to the optical disk duplicating apparatus 1, and is transmitted from the control unit 10 to the printing apparatus 2. .

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of the printing apparatus 2. 2 and the subsequent drawings indicate the scanning direction of a carriage 30 (FIG. 3), which will be described later, and Y indicates the transport direction of the disc tray 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 21 of the printing apparatus 2 has a front opening 22 into which the optical disk 11 is inserted, and a disk tray 20 is attached to the front opening 22. The disc tray 20 is formed with a recess 20A into which the optical disc 11 is fitted. With the optical disc 11 set in the recess 20A, the disc tray 20 is conveyed into the main body 21 and printing on the optical disc 11 is performed.
Further, a switch 23 for turning on / off the power of the printing apparatus 2 is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 21. Further, an opening panel 24 covering the front opening 22 is disposed on the front surface of the main body 21 so as to be openable and closable.

  As described above, one disk surface of the optical disk 11 is a recording surface, and the other disk surface is a label surface, and is set on the disk tray 20 so that the label surface faces upward. At this time, the printable area 11 </ b> A formed on the label surface of the optical disk 11 is exposed on the upper surface side of the disk tray 20.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printing apparatus 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of legs 25 that support the main body 21 in contact with the installation surface are provided on the bottom surface of the main body 21 of the printing apparatus 2.
In FIG. 3, the conveyance path W along which the disc tray 20 inserted from the front opening 22 is conveyed inside the main body 21 is indicated by phantom lines. The transport path W extends substantially linearly from the front side to the back side of the main body 21, and the first transport unit 41 and the second transport unit 45 are disposed along the transport path W. The first transport unit 41 is positioned on the front opening 22 side of the printing apparatus 2, and the second transport unit 45 is positioned on the back side of the printing apparatus 2 and grips and transports the disc tray 20.

  The first transport unit 41 is adjacent to the transport drive roller 42 positioned below the transport path W, the transport driven roller 43 positioned above the transport path W so as to face the transport drive roller 42, and the transport driven roller 43. And a conveyance follower auxiliary roller 44 arranged in this manner. The conveyance driven roller 43 and the conveyance driven auxiliary roller 44 are urged toward the conveyance driving roller 42 by a roller holder (not shown). For this reason, in the first transport unit 41, the disc tray 20 on the transport path W is sandwiched between the transport drive roller 42, the transport driven roller 43, and the transport driven auxiliary roller 44. The conveyance drive roller 42 is connected to a conveyance motor 40 (FIGS. 7 and 8) described later via a gear (not shown) and a drive belt (not shown), and is driven by the conveyance motor 40. The conveyance driven roller 43 and the conveyance driven auxiliary roller 44 are driven rollers that are rotatably supported by the roller holder (not shown).

  The second transport unit 45 includes a transport driving roller 46 positioned below the transport path W and a transport driven roller 47 positioned above the transport path W so as to face the transport drive roller 46. The transport driven roller 47 is urged toward the transport drive roller 46 by a roller holder 48. For this reason, the second transport unit 45 is configured such that the disc tray 20 on the transport path W is sandwiched between the transport drive roller 46 and the transport driven roller 47. The conveyance drive roller 46 is connected to a conveyance motor 40 (FIGS. 7 and 8), which will be described later, via a gear (not shown) and a drive belt (not shown), and is driven by the conveyance motor 40. The conveyance driven roller 47 is a driven roller that is rotatably supported by the roller holder 48.

Further, the printing apparatus 2 is provided with a carriage 30 that reciprocates along a carriage guide shaft 33 that extends in the width direction of the main body 21. The carriage 30 is mounted with a print head 31 that discharges ink facing the conveyance path W and an ink cartridge 32 that supplies ink to the print head 31.
The carriage 30 engages with an endless belt 35 that is stretched substantially parallel to the carriage guide shaft 33, is driven by the endless belt 35, and reciprocates in the scanning direction indicated by a symbol X in FIG. 2. The endless belt 35 is hung on a pulley 37 (FIGS. 4 and 5) attached to a rotating shaft of a carriage drive motor 36 (FIGS. 4 and 5) on one end side outside the scanning range of the carriage 30. It is driven by the rotation operation of the drive motor 36. The scanning direction of the carriage 30 is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport path W.
A predetermined number of digits are virtually set in the scanning range of the carriage 30. In the first embodiment, 80 digits are set, one end of the scanning range is a 0 (zero) digit position, and the other end is an 80 digit position. The 0-digit position is on the right side in FIG. 2, and the 80-digit position is on the left side in FIG. Further, the scanning direction of the carriage 30 and the digit direction described in the first embodiment are synonymous.

  The print head 31 performs printing on the label surface of the optical disk 11 by ejecting ink droplets of a predetermined color, and includes a nozzle opening row 50 (FIG. 4) to be described later for each ink color. The print head 31 protrudes toward the conveyance path W, and ejects ink at a printing position indicated by a symbol P in FIG. The printing position P is located between the first transport unit 41 and the second transport unit 45. The ink cartridge 32 includes a tank for storing ink ejected by the print head 31, and the ink cartridge 32 for the number of colors used in the printing apparatus 2 is mounted side by side on the carriage 30.

FIG. 4 is a top view excluding the ink cartridge 32 in the vicinity of the carriage 30, and FIG. 5 is a side view in the vicinity of the carriage 30, particularly a side view as seen from the 0 digit side. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the print head 31, (A) is a front view of the print head 31 as viewed from the front side of the printing apparatus 2, and (B) is a bottom view of the print head 31.
As shown in these drawings, the print head 31 has a number of nozzle opening rows 50 corresponding to the number of colors of ink used in the printing apparatus 2 arranged in the scanning direction. In each nozzle opening row 50, nozzle openings 51, which are fine holes, are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction of the carriage 30.

The carriage 30 is provided with a disk position sensor 55 on the surface facing the conveyance path W. The disk position sensor 55 includes a light emitting unit that emits light toward the transport path W, and a light receiving unit that detects reflected light reflected by the optical disk 11 on the transport path W. Type optical sensor. The disk position sensor 55 is aligned with the print head 31 on the bottom surface of the carriage 30 and emits light directly below it, that is, directly below the carriage 30 to detect reflected light.
The disk position sensor 55 is connected to the control circuit 200 via a circuit mounted on the substrate 52 mounted on the carriage 30, and the detection value of the disk position sensor 55 can be acquired by the MPU 201 (FIG. 8) of the control circuit 200. It has a configuration.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the disk position sensor 55 is disposed on the 80-digit position side of the print head 31. Therefore, when the carriage 30 is moved from the 0-digit position to the 80-digit position, the disk position sensor 55 passes over the optical disk 11 before the print head 31.

In the disk-shaped optical disk 11, a center hole 11B is opened at the center position of the disk surface, and the periphery of the center hole 11B is a clamp area 11C where a synthetic resin substrate is exposed. The clamp area 11C is gripped when the optical disk 11 is transported by the transport unit 15 (FIG. 1), for example. The printable area 11A is formed on almost the entire board surface except for the center hole 11B and the clamp area 11C, and the outer end of the printable area 11A is located very close to the outer peripheral edge of the substrate constituting the optical disc 11, or It reaches the outer edge.
When the label surface of the optical disk 11 is irradiated with light from the disk position sensor 55, the irradiated light is reflected at a constant reflectance in the printable area 11A. This is because the printable area 11A is usually white or silver so that the print quality is improved. In the center hole 11B, the irradiation light is not reflected as a matter of course. The reflectance in the clamp area 11C is clearly different from the reflectance in the printable area 11A. Therefore, based on the amount of reflected light detected by the disk position sensor 55, it can be easily determined whether or not there is a printable area 11A immediately below the disk position sensor 55.
Further, a rotation detection unit 53 (FIG. 5) is attached to the carriage drive motor 36. The rotation detection unit 53 is a rotary encoder, for example, and detects the rotation angle of the rotation shaft of the carriage drive motor 36.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing how the carriage 30 scans.
As shown in FIG. 7, the carriage 30 is driven by the carriage drive motor 36 via the endless belt 35 and reciprocated in the scanning direction indicated by the symbol X. In the state where the printing operation or the like is not performed, the carriage 30 stops at the end position on the 0-digit side and stands by, and is moved from the 0-digit position toward the 80-digit position at the start of the operation.
Here, the process of moving the carriage 30 in one direction is called a path, the path from the 0-digit position to the 80-digit position is called the forward path, and the path from the 80-digit position to the 0-digit position is the return path. Called the path.

  The disc tray 20 on which the optical disc 11 is placed is moved in the carrying direction indicated by the symbol Y by a carrying drive roller 46 driven by the carrying motor 40 and a carrying drive roller 42 (FIG. 3). The position of the disc tray 20 can be detected by the transport position sensor 54 (FIG. 8). The transport position sensor 54 detects, for example, a rotary encoder that detects the rotation angle of the transport motor 40, a linear encoder that detects the position of the disk tray 20 itself, or the presence or absence of the disk tray 20 at a specific position in the transport path W. It is an optical sensor.

In this configuration, the position in the digit direction of the printable area 11A can be specified based on the detection value of the disk position sensor 55 while the carriage 30 is scanned.
First, by performing arithmetic processing based on the rotation angle of the carriage drive motor 36 detected by the rotation detection unit 53 (FIG. 5), the known length of the endless belt 35, and the diameter of the pulley 37, the carriage 30 is processed. , And the position of the carriage 30 in the digit direction is specified. Next, the timing at which the edge of the printable area 11 </ b> A is detected is specified from the change in the detection value of the disk position sensor 55. Based on the position of the carriage 30 at the specified timing, the position of the edge of the printable area 11A in the digit direction can be obtained.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the optical disc duplicating apparatus 1. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram and does not limit a specific implementation mode. That is, each functional unit in the drawing may be realized by independent hardware, or may be realized by cooperation of hardware and software. In this case, a plurality of functional units are realized by common hardware. It may be realized.

The control unit 10 that controls the optical disc duplicating device 1 controls the data recording device 12 (FIG. 1), the transport unit 15 (FIG. 1), and the printing device 2 and also controls the entire control unit 10 (MPU unit). ) 101, ROM 102 that stores in advance various control programs executed by MPU 101, RAM 103 that temporarily stores various programs and various data, EEPROM 104 that stores various data in a nonvolatile manner that can be updated, and data recording device 12, a communication interface 105 for performing communication between the transport unit 15 and the printing apparatus 2, an external storage unit 106 configured by a hard disk drive or the like and having a large storage capacity, and a bus 107 connecting these units to each other It is equipped with.
The communication interface 105 included in the control unit 10 is connected to the data recording device 12, the transport unit 15, and the control circuit 200 of the printing device 2 via a predetermined communication line (not shown). A personal computer 16 is connected to the communication interface 105 so that the personal computer 16 can control the optical disc duplicating apparatus 1. Further, image data to be printed in the printable area 11 </ b> A by the printing apparatus 2 is input from the personal computer 16 to the control unit 10, and this image data is output to the control circuit 200 via the communication interface 105. .

  The control circuit 200 included in the printing apparatus 2 includes an MPU 201 that controls each unit, a ROM 202 that stores various control programs executed by the MPU 201 in advance, a program such as various control programs executed by the MPU 201, and a control unit from the personal computer 16. RAM 203 for temporarily storing image data and the like input via 10, EEPROM 204 for nonvolatile storage of various information including disk position data 204 A indicating the position of optical disk 11 at the time of printing, and control unit 10 A communication interface 205 is connected to the communication interface 105 and transmits / receives various information to / from the communication interface 105, and a driver circuit 206. These units are connected to each other via a bus 207.

When image data is input from the personal computer 16 via the control unit 10, the MPU 201 expands the image data as print image data 203 A that matches the size and shape of the printable area 11 A and stores the image data in the RAM 203. . Here, the RAM 203 functions as a print data storage unit. The print image data 203A is data in which an image printed in the printable area 11A is associated with a print position in the printable area 11A. For example, printing is performed for each dot corresponding to the print position in the printable area 11A. This is data in a bitmap data format in which a color is specified. Based on the print image data 203A, the position in the digit direction and the transport direction of the printable area 11A and the print color to be printed at the position are determined.
The MPU 201 refers to a look-up table stored in advance in the EEPROM 204, and according to the print color determined by the print image data 203A, the ink amount (the size of the ink droplets and the number of ink droplets) for each color ejected from the print head 31. Control).

The disk position data 204A stored in the EEPROM 204 is information indicating the position of the optical disk 11 when printing is performed by the print head 31, and is information indicating the position of the edge of the printable area 11A in the digit direction, that is, the scanning direction of the carriage 30. It is.
As described above, since the optical disk 11 has a disk shape, the position of the edge of the printable area 11A in the digit direction differs depending on the position of the optical disk 11 in the transport direction. For this reason, the disk position data 204A includes data in which the position in the transport direction of the disk tray 20 is associated with the position of the edge of the printable area 11A in the digit direction.

The driver circuit 206 includes a transport motor 40 that transports the disk tray 20, a carriage drive motor 36 that scans the carriage 30, and a head drive unit 38 that controls the ink ejection operation by the print head 31, and is controlled by the MPU 201. The power supply voltage is supplied to each of these driving units to control the operation.
The driver circuit 206 also includes a rotation detection unit 53 that detects the rotation angle of the rotation shaft of the carriage drive motor 36, a conveyance position sensor 54 that detects the conveyance position of the disk tray 20, and the disk position mounted on the carriage 30. The detection unit is connected to the sensor 55, controls each of these detection units under the control of the MPU 201, converts the detection value into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the MPU 201.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the optical disc duplicating apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, and specifically shows the printing operation executed by the printing apparatus 2. When executing the printing operation shown in FIG. 9, the MPU 201 functions as a print control unit, a position detection unit, and a correction unit.
The printing operation described below prints an image in the printable area 11A under the control of the MPU 201, and compensates for this deviation when the position of the printable area 11A deviates from the position indicated by the disk position data 204A. This is an operation for correcting the printing position of the printing image data 203A.

First, when image data output from the personal computer 16 to the control unit 10 is input to the control circuit 200 via the control unit 10, the MPU 201 expands the image data to generate print image data 203A. And stored in the RAM 203 (step S11).
Subsequently, when the optical disk 11 is set on the disk tray 20 by the transport unit 15 under the control of the MPU 101 (step S12), the MPU 201 drives the transport motor 40, and the center of the optical disk 11 corresponds to directly below the print head 31. The disc tray 20 is conveyed until the printing position P (FIG. 3) to be reached is reached (step S13).
Here, the MPU 201 drives the carriage drive motor 36 to scan the carriage 30, energizes the disk position sensor 55 during the scanning to acquire a detection value, and detects the edge position of the printable area 11 </ b> A. (Step S14).

  Thereafter, the MPU 201 calculates the amount of deviation between the position of the printable area 11A detected in step S14 and the position indicated by the disk position data 204A (step S15). The calculated deviation amount is a distance from the position indicated by the disk position data 204A to the position of the printable area 11A detected in step S14. Here, it is preferable that the calculated amount of deviation takes a positive or negative value according to the direction of deviation because the magnitude of the deviation and the direction of deviation can be expressed together. For example, when the detected position of the printable area 11A is shifted by 2 mm toward the 0-digit position with respect to the position of the disk position data 204A, the shift amount is expressed as “+2” and shifted by 3 mm toward the 80-digit position. In such a case, the deviation amount may be expressed as “−3”.

Further, the MPU 201 determines whether or not there is a shift that cannot be corrected (step S16). If the amount of deviation calculated in step S15 is remarkably large, for example, there may be a situation where the optical disc 11 is not set correctly on the disc tray 20, and a normal print result is obtained even if the print image data 203A is corrected. Not always. For this reason, the MPU 201 determines that correction is not possible when there is a significant shift. This determination is performed, for example, by comparing the threshold value stored in advance in the EEPROM 204 with the deviation amount calculated in step S15. The threshold value is an amount indicating a range that can be dealt with by correcting the printing position of the printing image data 203A as described above. Specifically, the threshold value is, for example, about several mm to 0.1 mm. Are stored in the EEPROM 204 in advance. This allowable amount may be fixedly set or may be variable so as not to exceed the range in which the carriage 30 can be scanned. In the case of variable, an arithmetic expression for obtaining the allowable amount may be stored in the EEPROM 204, and the MPU 201 may calculate the allowable amount as necessary.
If the amount of deviation is large and correction is impossible (step S16; Yes), the MPU 201 ends printing (step S17), ejects the disc tray 20 outside the printing apparatus 2 (step S18), The process ends.

  On the other hand, if there is no shift that cannot be corrected (step S16; No), the MPU 201 determines whether or not the printing image data 203A needs to be corrected based on the shift amount calculated in step S15 (step S15). S19). This determination is performed based on, for example, whether the calculated deviation amount exceeds the allowable amount stored in the EEPROM 204 in advance. If the shift amount of the printable area 11A is small, ink does not adhere outside the printable area 11A even if correction is not performed. For this reason, in step S19, it is determined whether or not correction is necessary based on whether or not a deviation enough to cause ink adhesion has occurred. Here, the allowable amount is set in advance to an amount that does not allow ink to adhere to the outside of the printable area 11 </ b> A. Specifically, the allowable amount is, for example, about several mm to 0.1 mm, and is stored in the EEPROM 204 in advance. . This allowable amount may be fixedly set according to the size of the print image with respect to the area of the printable area 11A, the position in the transport direction of the disc tray 20, or the like. In the case of variable, an arithmetic expression for obtaining an allowable amount is stored in the EEPROM 204 and every time a print image is input from the control unit 10 to the MPU 201 or every time the transport motor 40 is driven to transport the disk tray 20. The allowable amount may be calculated.

  If the MPU 201 determines that correction is necessary (step S19; Yes), the MPU 201 performs correction for shifting the print position in the digit direction by an amount that can compensate for the shift amount calculated in step S15 for the print image data 203A. (Step S20), the transport motor 40 is driven to transport the disc tray 20 to the printing position (Step S21). If it is determined that correction is not necessary (step S19; No), the MPU 201 proceeds to step S21 without performing the process of step S20.

Here, the MPU 201 determines whether there is data for printing in the next one-way pass in the printing image data 203A (step S22).
In this step S22, since it is determined whether or not there is data of a portion to be printed in the printable area 11A in the subsequent processing, there is naturally data when the conveyance is first performed in step S21.
If there is not enough data to be printed next in the print image data 203A, that is, if all of the print image data 203A has been printed (step S22; No), the MPU 201 proceeds to step S17 and prints. Is finished, the process proceeds to step S18, the disc tray 20 is ejected to the outside of the printing apparatus 2, and this process is finished.

In addition, when the process of step S21 is first performed and then the process proceeds to step S22, and when the process of step S21 is performed after the second time and there is print image data 203A for next printing (step S22; Yes), the MPU 201 performs printing by the print head 31 while scanning the carriage 30. That is, the MPU 201 moves the carriage 30 from the 0-digit position and prints the forward path (step S23). When the carriage 30 reaches the end position on the 80-digit side, it prints the return path (step S24). ). As a result, an image is printed in each round-trip pass.
Further, the MPU 201 energizes the disk position sensor 55 to acquire a detection value during printing of the return pass, and the detection value acquired here and the rotation of the carriage drive motor 36 detected by the rotation detection unit 53. Based on the angle, the position of the edge of the printable area 11A is detected (step S25). That is, in the return path, printing (step S24) and position detection (step S25) are performed simultaneously.

In the return path, after the print head 31 passes over the printable area 11A, the disk position sensor 55 passes over the printable area 11A. For this reason, in the return path, since the detection value of the disk position sensor 55 has only to be acquired after the ink ejection control by the print head 31, the processing load relating to the print control is not affected, and the processing load is appropriately set. There is an advantage that can be distributed to.
Here, when the printing apparatus 2 is configured to perform printing only in the forward path, after performing the forward path printing in step S23, the printing head 31 does not perform printing in the backward path, and the disk position sensor The detection value of 55 is acquired and the position of the edge of the printable area 11A is detected (step S25).

The MPU 201 calculates a deviation between the position indicated by the disk position data 204A and the position of the edge of the printable area 11A detected in step S25 (step S26), and there is a deviation that requires correction of the printing image data 203A. Whether or not (step S27). The calculation of the deviation amount is the same processing as in step S15 described above, and the determination of whether correction is necessary is the same processing as the determination in step S19 described above.
If it is determined that correction is not necessary (step S27; No), the MPU 201 proceeds to step S21 and performs printing on the next line and thereafter.
If it is determined that correction of the print image data 203A is necessary (step S27; Yes), the MPU 201 sets the print position in the digit direction by an amount that can compensate for the deviation amount calculated in step S26 for the print image data 203A. (Step S28), the process proceeds to step S21 to print the next and subsequent lines.

As described above, according to the optical disk duplicating apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the printing apparatus 2 transports the disk tray 20 on which the optical disk 11 is placed, and the carriage 30 on which the print head 31 is mounted. In a printing operation in which an image is printed on the printable area 11A of the optical disc 11 by scanning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, the position of the edge of the printable area 11A in the scanning direction of the carriage 30 is detected, and the detected position And the position indicated by the disk position data 204A are calculated, and if there is a deviation exceeding the allowable amount, the print position of the printing image data 203A is shifted in the digit direction so that the deviation can be compensated. Make corrections. As a result, a shift in the transport position when transporting the disc tray 20, a shift due to elongation of the belt that drives the endless belt 35 and the transport drive rollers 42 and 46, or the optical disc 11 on the disc tray 20 is appropriately If the relative position between the printable area 11A and the print head 31 (positional deviation) occurs due to an abnormal position of the optical disk 11 due to the fact that it has not been placed, by correcting the printing image data 203A, Misalignment is compensated. For this reason, it is possible to execute printing without attaching ink to the outside of the printable area 11A, and it is possible to prevent the inside of the disc tray 20 or the printing apparatus 2 from being damaged without lowering the throughput.
Further, since the printing apparatus 2 detects the position of the printable area 11A in the scanning direction of the carriage 30 and shifts the printing position of the printing image data 203A in the digit direction in order to compensate for the displacement, the light load is reduced. In addition, misalignment can be reliably compensated by high-speed processing.

  A disk position sensor 55 that detects the presence or absence of the printable area 11A at a position facing the carriage 30 is mounted on the carriage 30, and the printable area 11A in the scanning direction of the carriage 30 based on the detection value of the disk position sensor 55. Therefore, the position of the printable area 11A can be detected reliably and promptly. Further, in this configuration, the number of sensors can be reduced as compared with a case where a plurality of sensors are provided in the width direction of the disk tray 20 or a case where a large sensor capable of detecting the entire width direction of the disk tray 20 is used. . Further, since the position of the printable area 11A can be detected by scanning the carriage 30 in the same manner as during printing, there is no need to provide a new drive unit or the like. Therefore, it can be realized easily and at low cost by effectively using the configuration of a normal printing apparatus.

Further, the disk position sensor 55 is disposed on the carriage 30 so as to face the optical disk 11 and is located on the side of the print head 31 along the scanning direction of the carriage 30, so that printing can be performed at a position close to the print head 31. The position of the region 11A can be detected, and a misalignment that causes a problem during printing can be reliably detected.
Further, before printing is started, when the top line is printed by transporting the disk tray 20 until the center of the optical disk 11 reaches the printing position P and detecting the position of the edge of the printable area 11A. Can be corrected, and ink can be prevented from adhering outside the printable area 11A even in the first line.
Further, since the printing is not started when the positional deviation detected before the start of printing exceeds the threshold value, the printing is performed when a large deviation occurs due to an abnormality such as the optical disk 11 not being properly set on the disk tray 20. Do not do. Thus, unreasonable printing is not performed when an abnormality occurs and the printing apparatus 2 is not damaged or damaged, and throughput can be improved by omitting unnecessary printing.
In addition, since the position shift appears most noticeably at the center where the diameter of the optical disk 11 is the largest, the position shift can be detected more reliably by detecting the position of the printable area 11A at this position.

In the first embodiment, one disk position sensor 55 is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 30 on the side of the print head 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of sensors may be provided.
Hereinafter, this configuration example will be described as a second embodiment.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 10 is a top view excluding the ink cartridge 32 in the vicinity of the carriage 30 in the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The optical disc duplicating apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the optical disc duplicating apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment except for the points described later with reference to FIG. The common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the printing apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment, two sensors on the same surface as the protruding surface of the print head 31 in the carriage 30 toward the conveyance path W, that is, the 0 digit side A disk position sensor 56 and an 80-digit disk position sensor 57 are provided.
The 0-digit disk position sensor 56 and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 are exposed on the bottom surface of the carriage 30, are arranged along the scanning direction of the carriage 30, and are positioned on both sides of the print head 31. The 0-digit disk position sensor 56 is on the 0-digit position side of the print head 31, and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 is on the 80-digit position side of the print head 31. The 0-digit disk position sensor 56 and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 are reflective optical sensors similar to the disk position sensor 55 according to the first embodiment.

The MPU 201 acquires detection values of the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 while driving the carriage drive motor 36 to scan the carriage 30, and the position of the printable area 11A in the digit direction. Is detected.
As a specific example, the MPU 201 energizes the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 to acquire a detection value while performing printing by the print head 31 in the forward path. In the subsequent return path, the MPU 201 energizes the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 while printing by the print head 31 and acquires a detection value. In this way, the MPU 201 performs position detection using the sensor on the side that passes over the printable area 11A after the print head 31 in the reciprocating path. In this way, the detection value of the sensor only needs to be acquired after the ink ejection control by the print head 31. Therefore, by appropriately allocating the processing load, the processing related to the printing control may be affected. In addition, the ink ejection timing is not delayed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a printing operation when two sensors are mounted on the carriage 30 as shown in FIG. In executing the printing operation shown in FIG. 11, the MPU 201 functions as a print control unit, a position detection unit, and a correction unit.
First, when image data output from the personal computer 16 to the control unit 10 is input to the control circuit 200 via the control unit 10, the MPU 201 expands the image data to generate print image data 203A. And stored in the RAM 203 (step S31).
Subsequently, when the optical disk 11 is set on the disk tray 20 by the transport unit 15 under the control of the MPU 101 (step S32), the MPU 201 starts the printing operation, drives the transport motor 40, and the center of the optical disk 11 is printed. The disk tray 20 is transported until the printing position P corresponding to the position immediately below the head 31 is reached (step S33). Here, the MPU 201 drives the carriage drive motor 36 to scan the carriage 30, acquires the detection values of the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 during scanning, and obtains the edge of the printable area 11 </ b> A. Is detected (step S34). In this step S34, the detection value of at least one of the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 may be acquired.

Thereafter, the MPU 201 calculates a deviation amount between the position of the printable area 11A detected in step S34 and the position indicated by the disk position data 204A (step S35), and determines whether or not there is a deviation that cannot be corrected. It discriminate | determines (step S36). The amount of deviation is calculated in the same manner as in step S15 (FIG. 9) described above, and whether or not there is an uncorrectable deviation is determined in the same manner as in step S16 (FIG. 9).
If the amount of deviation calculated in step S35 is large and correction is impossible (step S36; Yes), the MPU 201 ends printing (step S37) and ejects the disc tray 20 to the outside of the printing apparatus 2. (Step S38), this process is terminated.
On the other hand, if there is no shift that cannot be corrected (step S36; No), the MPU 201 determines whether or not the printing image data 203A needs to be corrected based on the shift amount calculated in step S35 (step S35). S39). This determination is performed in the same manner as in step S19 (FIG. 9) described above.

  When the MPU 201 determines that correction is necessary (step S39; Yes), the MPU 201 performs correction for shifting the print position in the digit direction by an amount that can compensate for the deviation amount calculated in step S35 for the print image data 203A. (Step S40), the transport motor 40 is driven to transport the disc tray 20 to the printing position (Step S41). If it is determined that correction is not necessary (step S39; No), the MPU 201 proceeds to step S41 without performing the process of step S40.

Here, the MPU 201 determines whether there is data for printing in the next one-way pass in the printing image data 203A (step S42).
In the print image data 203A, when there is no data to be printed next, that is, when all the print image data 203A has been printed (step S42; No), the MPU 201 proceeds to step S17 and prints. Is finished, the process proceeds to step S18, the disc tray 20 is ejected to the outside of the printing apparatus 2, and this process is finished.
If there is printing image data 203A for the next printing (step S42; Yes), the MPU 201 performs printing by the print head 31 while scanning the carriage 30. That is, the MPU 201 acquires the detection value of the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 while performing printing by the print head 31 in the forward path (step S43), and the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 while performing printing in the backward path. The detected value is acquired (step S44).

The MPU 201 calculates a deviation between the position indicated by the disk position data 204A stored in the EEPROM 204 in advance and the position obtained from the detection values acquired in steps S43 and S44 (step S45), and determines whether correction is necessary. (Step S46). This determination is performed in the same manner as step S26 (FIG. 9) described above. If it is determined that correction is not necessary (step S46; No), the MPU 201 proceeds to step S41 and performs printing for the next and subsequent lines.
If it is determined that correction of the print image data 203A is necessary (step S46; Yes), the MPU 201 sets the print position of the print image data 203A in the digit direction by an amount that can compensate for the deviation amount calculated in step S45. The shift is performed (step S47), the process proceeds to step S41, and printing is performed for the next and subsequent lines.

As described above, according to the optical disk duplicating apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment, the carriage 30 includes a zero-digit disk position sensor 56 and Since the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 is arranged in the scanning direction of the carriage 30 and sandwiches the print head 31, the position of the optical disk type recording medium can be detected at higher speed and with higher accuracy.
In other words, in the forward path, the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 passes over the printable area 11A after the print head 31, and in the backward path, the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 can print after the print head 31. It passes after the area 11A. Therefore, it is possible to detect the position of the printable area 11A while performing printing by the print head 31 in each of the forward path and the backward path.
This eliminates the need for a pass for only detecting the position of the printable area 11A, thereby improving the throughput. Further, by performing a calculation process by combining the detection value of the 0-digit disk position sensor 56 in the forward path and the detection value of the 80-digit disk position sensor 57 in the return path, the printable area 11A can be printed with higher accuracy. The position of the edge can be detected.

The first and second embodiments described above show only one aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the first and second embodiments, the position of the edge of the printable area 11A is detected every time one reciprocating pass is printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the position detection may be performed once every time two to several reciprocating passes are printed, or the position detection is performed when the disc tray 20 is transported to a predetermined position. May be. Further, after the printing operation is started, the position of the printable area 11A is corrected after the printing position of the printing image data 203A is corrected by the processes of steps S14 to S19 (FIG. 9) and steps S34 to S39 (FIG. 11). The detection and correction of the print image data 203A may not be performed. In this case as well, it is possible to compensate for the relative positional deviation between the print head 31 and the printable area 11A, and further, a significant improvement in throughput can be expected. In order to further improve the throughput, when the printable area 11A is printed on a plurality of optical disks 11, the printing operation shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 is performed only on the first optical disk 11. The normal printing may be performed on the second and subsequent optical disks 11. Also in this case, it is possible to reliably compensate for the positional deviation caused by the elongation of the belt (for example, the endless belt 35) used in the drive unit of the printing apparatus 2, so that ink does not adhere outside the printable area 11A. Can print.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, it has been described that the print image data 203A is developed and generated in the RAM 203 every time a printing operation is started. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the case where the same image is printed on the plurality of optical discs 11, the print image data 203 </ b> A is generated in the first printing operation for starting the printing on the plurality of optical discs 11, and thereafter, the print image data already generated is generated. The image data 203A may be used. In this example, when correction is performed to shift the printing position of the print image data 203A, the print image data 203A before correction and the print image data 203A after correction are stored separately in the RAM 203. It may be left.
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the inkjet printing apparatus 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a sublimation printer, a thermal transfer printer, or the like can be used. Among various recording apparatuses (printers), the present invention can be applied to all printing apparatuses having a configuration in which an image is printed by scanning a print head, and is also applied to a printing apparatus incorporated in another device. It is also possible. In addition, it is needless to say that other detailed configurations in the above embodiment can be arbitrarily changed.

1 is a schematic diagram of an optical disc duplicating apparatus according to a first embodiment. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus. It is a top view of the vicinity of the carriage. It is a side view of the vicinity of the carriage. It is a principal part enlarged view of a head. It is a top view which shows the mode of scanning of a carriage. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of an optical disk duplicate apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a top view of the vicinity of a carriage according to a second embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical disk duplicating apparatus, 2 ... Printing apparatus, 10 ... Control unit, 11 ... Optical disk (optical disk type recording medium), 11A ... Printable area, 12 ... Data recording apparatus, 13 ... 1st stacker, 14 ... 2nd stacker, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Conveyance unit, 16 ... Personal computer, 20 ... Disc tray, 21 ... Main body, 30 ... Carriage, 31 ... Print head, 32 ... Ink cartridge, 33 ... Carriage guide shaft, 35 ... Endless belt, 36 ... Carriage drive motor, 37 ... pulley, 38 ... head drive unit, 40 ... conveyance motor, 41 ... first conveyance unit, 45 ... second conveyance unit, 50 ... nozzle opening row, 51 ... nozzle opening, 52 ... substrate, 53 ... rotation detection unit, 54 ... Conveying position sensor, 55 ... Disc position sensor, 56 ... 0-digit disk position sensor, 57 ... 80-digit sensor Position sensor, 200 ... control circuit, 201 ... MPU (print control means, position detection means, correction means), 203 ... RAM (print data storage means), 203A ... image data for printing, 204 ... EEPROM, 204A ... disk position data.

Claims (9)

In a printing apparatus for printing an image on a printable area provided on one surface of an optical disk type recording medium,
Print data storage means for storing data in which a print position and an image in the printable area are associated with each other;
While transporting the optical disc type recording medium in a predetermined transport direction, a carriage mounted with a print head is scanned in a digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, and based on data stored in the print data storage means, Print control means for printing an image on the printable area by the print head;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the printable area;
Correction means for correcting the print position of the data stored in the print data storage means based on the position detected by the position detection means;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The correction means determines the print position of the data stored in the print data storage means based on the difference between the position of the printable area detected by the position detection means and the position of the printable area stored in advance. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein correction is performed. The position detecting means detects a position of the printable area in a scanning direction of the carriage;
The correction means shifts the print position of the data stored in the print data storage means in the digit direction based on the position detected by the position detection means;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The position detection means detects the position of the printable area before printing by the print control means is started,
The correction means corrects the print position of the data stored in the print data storage means before printing by the print control means is started based on the position detected by the position detection means;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The print control means has a predetermined interval between the position of the printable area detected before the printing by the print control means is started by the position detection means and the position of the printable area stored in advance. Do not start printing when there is an amount of deviation that exceeds the threshold,
The printing apparatus according to claim 4. The carriage is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the printable area at a position facing the carriage,
The position detecting means obtains a position of the printable area based on a detection state of the sensor while scanning the carriage;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print head prints an image by ejecting ink toward the printable area. In an optical disc duplicate apparatus for recording information in an information recording area provided on one side of an optical disc type recording medium and printing an image in a printable area provided on the other side,
Print data storage means for storing data in which a print position and an image in the printable area are associated with each other;
While transporting the optical disc type recording medium in a predetermined transport direction, a carriage mounted with a print head is scanned in a digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, and based on data stored in the print data storage means, Print control means for printing an image on the printable area by the print head;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the printable area;
Correction means for correcting the print position of the data stored in the print data storage means based on the position detected by the position detection means;
An optical disc duplicating apparatus comprising: A control method for a printing apparatus for printing an image on a printable area provided on one surface of an optical disk type recording medium,
While transporting the optical disc type recording medium in a predetermined transport direction, a carriage mounted with a print head is scanned in a digit direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction so that a print position and an image in the printable area are associated with each other. Based on the obtained data, the print head prints an image on the printable area, detects the position of the printable area, and corrects the print position of the data based on the detected position of the printable area. To do,
A control method for a printing apparatus.

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