JP2009034824A - Recording device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device achieving high-speed recording even when performing preceding paper supply that is control to prepare for recording by supplying next paper in the midst of recording on predetermined paper, and its control method. <P>SOLUTION: Image data are divided into a plurality of areas arranged in a recording direction, and what area in an image exceeds power supply ability is detected based on a recording amount in each divided area. When performing the preceding paper supply, a paper supply motor is driven according to an image position or timing in which high load time is secured within recording scan. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having means for detecting a peak of a power load accompanying a recording operation, and a control method for the recording apparatus to avoid the detected peak of a power load.

  When recording characters, simple graphics, and the like, which are the main usages of the recording apparatus, not all the recording elements provided in the recording apparatus are used.

  Therefore, the power source provided in the recording apparatus does not have a power supply capability that can drive all the recording elements at the same time, and for recording images that are assumed to be used most frequently in each recording apparatus. Provide the necessary and sufficient power supply capability. In this way, the cost of the entire recording apparatus can be reduced.

  However, with such a power supply, if an image exceeding the power supply capability is to be recorded, the image cannot be recorded normally, and dot missing or print fading occurs, resulting in a decrease in recording quality.

  In order to avoid this problem, proposals have been made to normalize recording with a small-capacity power supply (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is determined in advance whether the recording amount exceeds the power supply capability based on the image data to be recorded, and if it exceeds, the recording operation is divided into a plurality of times and recorded.

Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 3, the image data to be recorded is divided into a plurality of areas, the recording amount in each area is accumulated, and control is performed so as to record to the range allowed by the power supply capability.
Japanese Patent No. 3376118 JP-A-4-366645 JP-A-5-229162 JP 2001-30474 A

  During continuous recording for high-speed recording and recording on a predetermined sheet, the next sheet is fed and control for recording (hereinafter referred to as “preceding sheet feeding”) is executed. Since this paper feeding operation is added to the driving of the recording element for the power source, the load increases. Therefore, when the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are applied, it is necessary to set the threshold used for the control low. . Therefore, there is a problem that this hinders the recording speed.

The present invention provides a recording apparatus capable of speeding up recording even when a next sheet is fed during recording on a predetermined sheet and a preceding sheet feeding, which is a control for recording, is executed. An object is to provide a control method thereof.

  In order to solve the above problems, a recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus that records on a recording medium by scanning a recording head that includes a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged. A paper feeding means for paper, a counting means for counting the number of dots in an area smaller than the area recorded by the number of recording elements provided in the recording element array, and scanning recording based on the number of dots counted by the counting means And a control means for stopping the operation of the paper feeding means when recording the power high load area.

In order to solve the above problems, a control method for a recording apparatus of the present invention is a control method for a recording apparatus that records on a recording medium by scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged. A sheet feeding process for feeding a recording medium, a counting process for counting the number of dots in an area smaller than an area recorded by the number of recording elements included in the recording element array, and the number of dots counted in the counting process And a detection step of detecting a power high load area during scanning recording, and a stop step of stopping execution of the paper feeding step when recording the power high load area.

According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the recording speed even if the next sheet is fed during the recording on a predetermined sheet and the preceding sheet feeding, which is a control for recording, is executed. There is an effect to say.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a recording apparatus PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The recording apparatus PR 1 includes a recording head 1, a carriage 2, a guide shaft 3, a timing belt 4, a carriage motor 5, a platen 6, a paper feed roller 8, and a paper feed motor 9. Further, the recording apparatus PR1 includes a paper feed gear 10, a printed board 11, a flexible cable 12, an ink tank 13, an ink supply tube 14, an ink discharge function recovery means 15, a blade 16, and a sub tank 17. Have

  The recording head 1 includes a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged. The carriage 2 carries the recording head 1 and reciprocates along the guide shaft 3. The timing belt 4 is connected to the carriage 2 and moves the carriage 2. With this configuration, the recording head performs recording by scanning the recording medium.

  The carriage motor 5 drives the timing belt 4 at a predetermined timing. The platen 6 holds the recording medium 7 at a position facing the ink ejection surface of the recording head 1. The paper feed roller 8 feeds the recording medium 7. The paper feed motor 9 drives the paper feed roller 8 via the paper feed gear 10.

  The printed circuit board 11 is electrically connected to the recording head 1 via a flexible cable 12, and is provided with a circuit for driving the heater in the recording head 1 and controlling the recording apparatus PR1.

  The ink tank 13 serves as an ink supply source, passes through a sub tank 17 from the ink tank 13 through the ink supply tube 14 having flexibility so as to follow the movement of the carriage 2, and is supplied to the recording head 1. Ink is supplied. The ink ejection function recovery means 15 is provided outside the recording area of the recording head 1.

  The blade 16 is provided along with the recovery means 15 and wipes the ink ejection surface of the recording head 1. The recovery means 15 and the blade 16 are provided to improve the ink discharge state.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the recording head 1 according to the first embodiment.

  A black recording element array 21, a cyan recording element array 22, a magenta recording element array 23, and a yellow recording element array 24 move from each recording element while moving the recording head in the scanning direction shown in FIG. Recording is performed by discharging ink. Each recording element array is composed of 1280 dots, and the interval between the recording element arrays is 64 dots.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the control block 30 provided in the recording apparatus PR1.

  The control block 30 includes a host computer 31, an interface control unit 32, an image data RAM 33, a CPU 34, a RAM 35, a ROM 36, a print control unit 37, a motor control unit 38, and a motor driver 39.

  The host computer 31 transmits data to the recording device PR1. The interface control unit 32 controls communication between an external device such as a host computer and the recording apparatus PR1.

  The image data RAM 33 stores the image data 41 received from the host computer 31 and the dot count data 42. The CPU 34 analyzes data received from the host computer 31 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 36, and executes processing related to the operation of the recording apparatus PR1. The RAM 35 temporarily stores data and the like in the process of processing by the CPU 34. The ROM 36 stores a control program for the CPU 34 and various data.

  The print control unit 37 generates data necessary for printing from the data analyzed by the CPU 34 and transmits the data to the recording head 1. The motor control unit 38 generates a control signal for driving each motor in accordance with printing. The motor driver 39 drives the carriage motor 5, the paper feed motor 9, and the paper feed motor (not shown in FIG. 1) according to a control signal from the motor control unit 38.

  The recording device PR1 includes a power supply load detection function (a block for detecting a power load) and includes a control block 30. The image data RAM 33 has an area for storing image data 41 and dot count data 42 of each color. The dot count data 42 is data obtained by dividing the image data 41 of each color into predetermined areas and counting the number of dots included in the divided areas. The dot count data 42 is generated when the interface control unit 32 stores the image data 41 in the image data RAM 33.

  Next, a method for generating the dot count data 42 by the interface control unit 32 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a part of the image data 41 is cut out.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the interface control unit 32 counts the number of recording dots included in an area of 64 × 16 pixels, and stores the image data 41 in the image data RAM 33. Dots are counted in order in the recording scan direction in units of 64 × 16 in the horizontal direction, and when the count is completed up to the end of the image, the count area is shifted by 64 dots in the vertical direction, and the dots are counted again sequentially in the recording scan direction.

  At this time, the storage address in the image data RAM 33 of the dot count data 42 is given a predetermined offset address in the continuous address when it is shifted 64 dots in the vertical direction in an area continuous in the recording scan direction.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the vertical 64 × horizontal 16 dot region shown in FIG. 4 expanded to a paper size.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording element arrays for each color are arranged at intervals of 64 dots. The power load is obtained by adding an area shifted by 64 dots for each color at one timing during the recording operation. That is, when the black recording element array 21 is recording the black dot count start area 51, the cyan recording element array 22 records the cyan dot count start area 52, and the magenta recording element array 23 is magenta dot count. The start area 53 is recorded. The yellow recording element array 24 records a yellow dot count start area 54. That is, recording is simultaneously performed in the four areas described above.

  Next, a preceding paper feed control method in the recording apparatus PR1 will be described.

  When it is detected that the recording of a predetermined sheet has reached the trailing edge of the sheet, the CPU 34 before issuing a drive start command for the sheet feeding motor to the motor control unit 38 in order to start feeding the next sheet. The dot count data 42 is read out.

  Here, if the high load time at the start of driving of the paper feed motor is 0.1 second, the carriage moving speed is 25 inches, and the horizontal resolution of the image is 1200 dpi, recording can be performed in 0.1 second. The number of horizontal dots is 25 * 1200 * 0.1 = 3000 dots. Therefore, the CPU 34 searches the dot count data 42 for an area where the power consumption including the printing element driving load (power consumption) and the high load (power consumption) of the paper feed motor does not exceed the power supply capability. Alternatively, it may be configured to search for a high load region where the power consumption exceeds the power supply capability.

  Specifically, the black recording element array 21 uses the black dot count start area 51 as a start area. The cyan recording element array 22 starts reading the dot count data from the cyan dot count start area 52 moved laterally by 64 dots from the black dot count start area 51. The magenta recording element array 23 starts reading the dot count data from the magenta dot count start area 53 moved laterally by 64 dots from the cyan dot count start area 52. The yellow printing element array 24 starts reading the dot count data from the yellow dot count start area 54 that has moved laterally by 64 dots from the magenta dot count start area 53. Then, 3000 ÷ 16 = 188 dot count data are all accumulated in order of the scanning direction, and a start area where the accumulated value does not exceed a predetermined threshold is detected.

  In the above operation, if the start area where the accumulated dot count data does not exceed the threshold value cannot be detected, the normal recording scan is performed and the preceding paper feeding operation is not performed. That is, control is performed so as not to execute the paper feeding operation during scanning recording. Alternatively, during scanning recording, control may be made to temporarily stop the paper feeding operation during a period when the load is high in terms of power.

  On the other hand, the recording scan may be divided into a plurality of times, and the preceding sheet feeding operation may be carried over when the preceding sheet feeding is performed or when the subsequent scanning is performed.

  If the start area where the accumulated dot count data does not exceed the threshold value can be detected, the CPU 34 issues a drive start command for the carriage 2 to the motor control unit 38. As the carriage 2 moves, the print control unit 37 reads the image data 41 from the image data RAM 33, outputs a recording element drive control signal to the recording head 1, and controls the recording operation. When the carriage 2 reaches the start area, the CPU 34 issues a paper feed motor drive start command to the motor control unit 38. In this way, the start timing of the preceding paper feeding operation is controlled.

  When performing the preceding paper feeding operation, the largest load is applied at the start of driving of the paper feeding motor, and the time required for the high load accompanying the start of driving is predicted by the control method of the printing apparatus PR1. be able to. In general, the time required for this high load is shorter than the scan time for one recording.

  Therefore, in the above embodiment, the image data is divided into a plurality of regions arranged in the recording direction, and based on the recording amount in this region, which region in the image exceeds the power supply capability is detected. . Since the paper feed motor is driven by the image position or timing at which the high load time can be ensured in the recording scan at the time of preceding paper feeding, the recording speed can be increased by the preceding paper feeding using a small capacity power source. be able to.

In recent years, there is a recording apparatus that increases the recording speed by increasing the number of recording elements and widening the recordable range per scan, and this increase in the number of recording elements has a large load fluctuation range within one scan. . In such a recording apparatus, the recording speed can be increased by performing the preceding paper feeding while suppressing the peak of the power load.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording head 1 in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control block 30 of the recording apparatus PR1. It is a figure showing the state where a part of image data 41 was cut out. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a vertical 64 × horizontal 16 dot region shown in FIG. 4 expanded to a paper size.

Explanation of symbols

PR1 ... Recording device,
1 ... recording head,
2 ... carriage,
3 ... guide shaft,
4 ... Timing belt,
5 ... Carriage motor,
6 ... Platen,
7: Recording medium,
8 ... paper feed roller,
9: Paper feed motor,
10 ... paper feed gear,
11 ... printed circuit board,
12 ... Flexible cable,
13 ... Ink tank,
14: Ink supply tube,
15 ... Recording head recovery means,
16 ... Blade,
17 ... Sub tank,
21 ... Black recording element array,
22: Cyan recording element array,
23: Magenta recording element array,
24 ... Yellow recording element array,
30 ... control block,
31 ... Host computer,
32. Interface control unit,
33 ... RAM for image data,
34 ... CPU,
35 ... RAM,
36 ... ROM for control,
37 ... Print control unit,
38 ... motor control unit,
39 ... Motor driver,
41 ... image data,
42 ... dot count data,
51 ... Black dot count start area,
52 ... Cyan dot count start area,
53 ... Magenta dot count start area,
54: Yellow dot count start area.

Claims (4)

A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head provided with a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged,
A paper feeding means for feeding a recording medium;
Counting means for counting the number of dots in an area smaller than the area recorded by the number of recording elements provided in the recording element array;
Detection means for detecting a high load area in terms of power during scanning recording based on the number of dots counted by the counting means;
Control means for stopping the operation of the paper feeding means when recording in the power high load area;
A recording apparatus comprising:   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detection unit does not detect the high load area in terms of power, the control unit feeds a next recording medium.   3. When the detection unit does not detect the high load area in terms of power, the control unit performs feeding of the next recording medium and scanning of the recording head in the same period. The recording device described in 1. A control method for a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head provided with a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged,
A paper feeding process for feeding a recording medium;
A counting step of counting the number of dots in an area smaller than the area recorded by the number of recording elements included in the recording element array;
A detection step of detecting a power high load area during scanning recording based on the number of dots counted in the counting step;
A stop step of stopping execution of the paper feed step when recording in the power high load area;
A control method for a recording apparatus, comprising:

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