JP2009190237A - Image recording device, method of controlling it, and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device that reduces the rate of decrease in the performance of a recording process due to the process of developing record data into dot images, a method of controlling the image recording device, and its program. <P>SOLUTION: A first-side image developing unit 12 and a second-side image developing unit 13 perform a developing process by which the record data on a plurality of double-sided pages are developed into dot images for each page and held on each side. A continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14 causes a control unit 2 to start the conveyance of recording media by a conveying mechanism 40 at the timing when the number of pages of the dot images held by the developing process of the first-side image developing unit 12 and the second-side image developing unit 13 coincides with the number of extra holding pages which is determined based on both the conveying speed of the conveying mechanism 40 during an image recording process and the time required for the developing process, which time is specified for each of the first-side image developing unit 12 and the second-side image developing unit 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording technique, and more particularly to a control technique for double-sided image recording processing on a recording medium that is a continuous sheet.

In an image recording apparatus including a copier, a printer, and the like, a technique for recording an image (recording process) on a recording medium that is a continuous sheet such as roll paper is known.
In addition, when the recording data representing the recorded image is created using a page description language, first, characters and figures expressed in the recording data are once expanded into a dot image and a bit map for each page. A technique is known in which a dot image is read out from a bit map memory and image recording is performed at an appropriate timing after being stored in a memory.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a continuous sheet double-sided recording system in which a first printer and a second printer are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of a continuous sheet conveyance path, respectively.

In the double-sided printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the first printer and the second printer perform double-sided printing by performing printing (recording) on one side and the other side of a continuous sheet, respectively. The double-sided printing system will be described in more detail. Each of the first printer and the second printer develops the recording data into a dot image and stores it in a bit map memory. Printing is started from the point of time immediately below the first printer or the second printer. Note that this operation is repeatedly performed in the multiple page recording process by the double-sided printing system of Patent Document 1.
JP 2001-324839 A

  In high-speed image recording devices such as industrial roll-to-roll printers, recording starts after the rolls of continuous sheets and the support (drum) constituting the recording surface increase. A certain amount of acceleration period (time) is required until the continuous sheet conveyance speed with respect to the head (recording unit) is stabilized at a predetermined speed. Therefore, a certain deceleration period (time) is required. If this acceleration / deceleration period is long, the performance of the recording process is reduced.

  The time required to execute the development processing from the recording data to the dot image is the recording time when the recording data is created using the page description language, which is the language used to control the recording processing of characters and images by the image recording device. The number increases according to the number of objects such as characters constituting the image corresponding to one page of the medium and the complexity of the characters. Therefore, the time required for the expansion process depends on the complexity of the image and the number of characters even if the average time per page of the expansion process is less than the recording cycle when the recording process is continuously executed. May exceed this recording cycle. In such a page recording process, the process of holding the recording data for the recorded image in the bitmap memory is in time until the recording position of the recorded image on the page in the continuous sheet reaches directly below the recording unit. It will disappear. For this reason, in order to perform image recording normally in such a case, it is necessary to temporarily stop the conveyance of the continuous sheet and wait until the holding in the bitmap memory is completed.

  In the double-sided printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, both of the first printer and the second printer responsible for image recording on the front and back of a continuous sheet are in a Ready state in which no hardware failure has occurred. The recording process is started. When print data (recording data) is transferred from the host device to the first printer and the second printer in this Ready state, printing (recording processing) is executed. However, in at least one of the first printer and the second printer, when the time required for the unfolding process exceeds the recording cycle as described above, the continuous sheet conveyance is stopped and the conveyance is resumed. Since the accompanying acceleration / deceleration of the conveyance speed is performed, the performance of the recording process is degraded.

  Here, for example, if it is attempted to avoid the continuous sheet conveyance stop by slowing the continuous sheet conveyance speed, it is necessary to change the recording processing timing in accordance with the change in the continuous sheet conveyance speed. Inevitably, the performance degradation of the recording process cannot be avoided. Further, increasing the processing capability of the development processing from the recording data to the dot image to increase the processing time will increase the cost of the apparatus.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an image recording apparatus, a control method for the image recording apparatus, and the like, in which a decrease in performance of the recording process due to the development process from recording data to dot images is reduced, And to provide the program.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an image recording apparatus which is one aspect of the present invention develops double-sided, multiple-page recording data to be recorded in an image recording process into a dot image for each page, and provides for each side. It has a first side image development unit and a second side image development unit for performing development processing to be held, and ejects ink based on the dot image from the recording head to both sides of the continuous sheet in the recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveyance unit. In the image recording apparatus that performs the image recording process, the first surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the first surface development image data held by the expansion processing by the first surface image expansion unit, and the second surface image expansion Both the second-surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the second-surface developed image data held by the development processing by the recording unit is recorded by the recording medium transport unit when the image recording processing is performed. At a timing that matches the number of margin holding pages determined based on the conveyance speed and the development processing time required for the development processing specified in advance for each of the first surface image development unit and the second surface image development unit. The continuous sheet conveyance control unit for starting conveyance of the recording medium by the recording medium conveyance unit is provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image recording apparatus, in which recording data for a plurality of double-sided pages to be recorded in image recording processing is developed into a dot image for each page and held for each side. A first side image development unit and a second side image development unit that perform development processing, and ejects ink based on the dot image from the recording head to both sides of a continuous sheet on the recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveyance unit; A method for controlling an image recording apparatus that performs an image recording process, wherein a first surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of first surface development image data held by a development process by a first surface image development unit; Both the second surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the second surface development image data held by the development processing by the surface image development unit is recorded by the recording medium conveyance unit when the image recording processing is performed. Timing coincident with the number of margin holding pages determined based on the conveyance speed and the development processing time required for the development processing specified in advance for each of the first side image development unit and the second side image development unit. And a step of starting the conveyance of the recording medium by the recording medium conveyance unit at the detected timing.

  In addition, a program which is one of the other aspects of the present invention performs a development process for developing recording data of a plurality of double-sided pages to be recorded in an image recording process into a dot image for each page and holding the data for each side. An image recording process having a first surface image developing unit and a second surface image developing unit for performing ink recording based on dot images from a recording head onto both sides of a continuous sheet in a recording medium conveyed by a recording medium conveying unit A first surface obtained by counting the number of pages of first-surface-expanded image data held by the expansion processing by the first-surface image expansion unit. Both the count value and the second surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the second surface development image data held by the development processing by the second surface image development unit are subjected to image recording processing. Margin determined on the basis of the conveyance speed of the recording medium conveyance unit when the image is printed and the development processing time required for the development processing specified in advance for each of the first surface image development unit and the second surface image development unit. The processing unit is configured to perform processing for detecting timing matching the number of held pages and processing for starting transport of the recording medium by the recording medium transport unit at the detected timing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus, an image recording apparatus control method, and a program for the same, in which a decrease in performance of the recording process due to the development process from the recording data to the dot image is reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual block configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 schematically shows an arrangement configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The image recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes at least a control unit 2, a first image recording unit 20, a second image recording unit 30, and a transport mechanism 40.
The control unit 2 includes, for example, a micro processor unit (MPU) in an arithmetic processing device having a control function and an arithmetic function, a read only memory (ROM) that stores a control program, a random access memory (RAM) that serves as a work memory of the MPU, and the like. And a non-insertable memory for storing setting values relating to the control of the image recording apparatus 1.

  The control unit 2 includes at least a first surface image development unit 12, a second surface image development unit 13, a continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14, and a storage unit 15. In the control unit 2, the storage unit 15 is configured by a non-volatile memory, for example. Further, the control unit 2 has a configuration in which a control program is stored in advance in, for example, a ROM, and this control program is read out and executed by the MPU, whereby the first surface image expansion unit 12 and the second surface image expansion unit. 13 and the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14.

  The host apparatus 3 is connected as an external device of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment via, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN). The host apparatus 3 corresponds to a computer operated by a user who causes the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment to perform image recording processing. The image recording process is performed with respect to the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The job information is notified as information related to the job. The job information includes at least the recording data (here, the data on both sides having a plurality of pages) to be recorded when the image recording process is performed, and the total number of pages on which the image recording process is performed. When the control unit 2 of the image recording apparatus 1 receives the job information notified from the host apparatus 3, the control unit 2 stores the job information in the storage unit 15 as image recording information.

  When the control unit 2 receives job information from the higher-level device 3, the control unit 2 extracts recording data from the job information. Next, the control unit 2 divides the recording data into recording data for recording the first surface image and recording data for recording the second surface image. The control unit 2 transfers the recording data to the first surface image developing unit 12 and the second surface image developing unit 13, respectively.

  When receiving the recording data for recording the first surface image, the first surface image developing unit 12 expands the recording data into a dot image for each page, and the first surface image developing unit 12 in the first surface image developing unit 12 (not shown). A decompression process is performed in which the data is stored and held in one bit map memory (BMM). Further, the first-surface image development unit 12 first increases the value of the first-surface-image-developed page counter by “1” every time the development for one page is completed, and the dot image for one page is the first. Each time the storage to the BMM is completed, a process of increasing the value of the first-surface BMM holding page counter by “1” is also performed. Therefore, the value of the first side BMM holding page counter is a value obtained by counting the number of pages of the dot image (first side developed image data) held in the first BMM by the development processing by the first side image development unit 12. (First surface count value) is shown.

  The first image recording unit 20 performs the reading process of the dot image from the first BMM in the first surface image developing unit 12 page by page, and causes the head driving unit 21 to drive the recording head unit 22, By performing ink ejection based on the read dot image of the first surface, a recording process on the first surface of the continuous sheet 50 is performed.

  When receiving the recording data for recording the second surface image, the second surface image developing unit 13 expands the recording data into a dot image for each page, similarly to the first surface image developing unit 12. A developing process for storing and holding in a second BMM (not shown) in the two-screen image developing unit 13 is performed. Further, the second side image developing unit 13 increases the value of the second side image developed page counter by “1” every time the development for one page is completed, and the dot image for one page is second. Each time storage to the BMM is completed, a process of increasing the value of the second-surface BMM holding page counter by “1” is also performed. Therefore, the value of the second-surface BMM holding page counter is a value obtained by counting the number of pages of the dot image (second-surface developed image data) held in the second BMM by the developing process by the second-surface image developing unit 13. (Second surface count value) is shown.

  The first BMM and the second BMM may be separate semiconductor memories, and different storage areas in a single semiconductor memory are allocated to the first BMM and the second BMM, respectively. It is good.

  The second image recording unit 30 reads the dot image from the second BMM in the second surface image development unit 13 page by page, and drives the recording head unit 32 to the head driving unit 31, By performing ink ejection based on the read dot image of the second surface, a recording process is performed on the second surface (back surface of the first surface) of the continuous sheet 50.

  Note that the control unit 2 includes the first-surface image developed page counter, the second-image image developed page counter, the first-surface BMM holding page counter, and the second-surface BMM holding page counter. Here, every time the recording process on the second surface of the continuous sheet 50 by the second image recording unit 30 is completed, the control unit 2 and the value of the first surface BMM retaining page counter and the second surface BMM retaining page counter The process of decreasing the value of “1” by “1” is also performed.

  The conveyance mechanism 40 is a medium conveyance unit that conveys the continuous sheet 50 in the recording medium, and includes at least a conveyance information generation unit 41 and a conveyance drive unit 42 that includes a motor.

Here, the conveyance operation by the conveyance mechanism 40 and the recording operations by the first image recording unit 20 and the second image recording unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG.
The continuous sheet supply unit 43 is arranged as an unwinding unit that rotatably holds the continuous sheet 50 and unwinds the continuous sheet 50 to the first continuous sheet carrier 44. In the present embodiment, the continuous sheet supply unit 43 holds roll paper as the continuous sheet 50.

  Although not shown, the continuous sheet supply unit 43 is provided with a powder clutch that uses magnetic powder (powder) for torque transmission, and a constant back tension is applied in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the continuous sheet 50. Plays a function that gives.

  When the continuous sheet 50 conveyed from the continuous sheet supply unit 43 is introduced, the conveyance mechanism 40 winds and holds the continuous sheet 50 via the guide roller 47-1 by the first continuous sheet carrier 44. Then, it is conveyed directly below the first image recording unit 20. Next, the transport mechanism 40 passes the continuous sheet 50 subjected to the recording process on the first surface by the first image recording unit 20 through the guide rollers 47-2, 47-3, and 47-4. It is wound and held by the second continuous sheet carrier 45 and conveyed directly below the second image recording unit 30. Thereafter, the transport mechanism 40 passes the continuous sheet 50 subjected to the recording process on the second surface by the second image recording unit 30 through the guide rollers 47-5, 47-6, and 47-7. The sheet is sent to the continuous sheet winding unit 46.

  The first continuous sheet carrier 44 is made of, for example, an aluminum drum, and enables the continuous sheet 50 to be wound at a predetermined winding angle. A vertical drag is applied to the continuous sheet 50 from the outer peripheral surface of the first continuous sheet carrier 44 by the back tension at the start of winding and the tension at the end of winding of the first continuous sheet carrier 44. Accordingly, the continuous sheet 50 is held on the first continuous sheet carrier 44 by the coefficient of friction between the first continuous sheet carrier 44 and the continuous sheet 50. Note that the first continuous sheet carrier 44 is configured as a driven drum, and rotates via the continuous sheet 50 when the second continuous sheet carrier 45 rotates.

  A conveyance information generation unit 41 is connected to the rotation shaft of the first continuous sheet carrier 44. When the rotation axis of the conveyance information generation unit 41 rotates according to the rotation of the first continuous sheet carrier 44, a detection pulse corresponding to the rotation position of the first continuous sheet carrier 44 is output. This detection pulse is input to the first image recording unit 20 and the first image recording unit 30 via the control unit 2 and the like. Note that the conveyance information generation unit 41 in the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is configured to include a rotary encoder, and according to the resolution in the conveyance direction of the continuous sheet 50, for example, one line of image recording per pulse. It is comprised so that it may become.

  The second continuous sheet carrier 45 has the same configuration as the first continuous sheet carrier 44, and is configured such that the continuous sheet 50 can be wound at a predetermined winding angle. A vertical drag is applied to the continuous sheet 50 from the outer peripheral surface of the second continuous sheet carrier 45 by the back tension at the start of winding and the tension at the end of winding of the second continuous sheet carrier 45. Therefore, the continuous sheet 50 is held on the second continuous sheet carrier 45 by the friction coefficient between the second continuous sheet carrier 45 and the continuous sheet 50. The second continuous sheet carrier 45 is configured as a driving drum, and conveys the continuous sheet 50 by the driving force of the conveyance driving unit 42.

  The continuous sheet winding unit 46 is disposed as a winding unit that rotatably holds the wound continuous sheet 50 and winds the continuous sheet 50 when the continuous sheet 50 is fed from the transport mechanism 40. A driving force of a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to the continuous sheet winding unit 46, and the continuous sheet 50 is wound.

  When the control unit 2 starts a control process for image recording, the control unit 2 activates the conveyance operation of the continuous sheet 50. Accordingly, a detection pulse corresponding to the rotation position of the first continuous sheet carrier 44 is output from the conveyance information generation unit 41 connected to the rotation shaft of the first continuous sheet carrier 44. This detection pulse is sent to the first image recording unit 20 and the second image recording unit 30 via the control unit 2.

  Thereafter, when the conveying speed of the continuous sheet 50 reaches a specified speed, the control unit 2 sends a recording operation start signal. The first image recording unit 20 performs image recording processing on the first surface of the continuous sheet 50 in response to the recording operation start signal. In this image recording process, the first image recording unit 20 first reads a dot image page by page from the first BMM in the first surface image developing unit 12. Next, the head driving unit 21 in the first image recording unit 20 drives the recording head unit 22 to eject ink based on the read dot image of the first surface in synchronization with the detection pulse described above.

  Next, the second image recording unit 30 performs an image recording process on the second side of the continuous sheet 50 on which the first image recording unit 20 has recorded an image on the first side. The registration (position) between the first surface of the continuous sheet 50 subjected to the image recording process by the first image recording unit 20 and the second surface of the continuous sheet 50 subjected to the image recording process by the second image recording unit 30. For example, is performed as follows.

  First, the image recording position on the continuous sheet 50 of the recording head unit 32 in the second image recording unit 30 from the image recording position on the continuous sheet 50 of the recording head unit 22 in the first image recording unit 20. The transport path length up to is converted into the number of detected pulses of the transport information generation unit 41 in advance. Then, after the image recording in the first image recording unit 20, when the number of detected pulses of the transport information generating unit 41 reaches a predetermined number of delay pulses, the second image recording unit 30 starts with the second surface. A dot image is read page by page from the second BMM in the image development unit 13. Next, the head driving unit 31 in the second image recording unit 30 drives the recording head unit 32 so that ink is ejected based on the read dot image of the second surface in synchronization with the detection pulse described above. To.

  The continuous sheet 50 after the image recording processing by the second image recording unit 30 is performed as described above is sent to the continuous sheet winding unit 46 from the end of winding of the second continuous sheet carrier 45, The continuous sheet winding unit 46 winds the sheet.

Next, the control processing operation by the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14 will be described.
In the description here, it is assumed that the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14 of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by a control program, and the control program stored in advance in the ROM is stored in the control unit 2. It is assumed that the MPU reads and executes to function as the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14.

  The control unit 2 controls the conveyance mechanism 40 at a predetermined timing based on the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14 and starts conveyance of the continuous sheet 50 by the conveyance mechanism 40. Here, the control unit 2 determines the conveyance start timing of the continuous sheet 50 based on the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14 as follows.

  First, based on the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14, the control unit 2 performs the first side image developed page counter, the second side image developed page counter, the first side BMM holding page counter, and the second side BMM holding page. The counter is monitored, and the following two conditions are determined.

Condition 1: Whether the value of the first surface BMM holding page counter (first surface count value) and the value of the second surface BMM holding page counter (second surface count value) both exceed the specified value N.
Condition 2: Whether the value of the first-surface image expanded page counter and the value of the second-surface image expanded page counter have reached the total number of pages for image recording processing indicated in the job information.

  Here, based on the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14, the control unit 2 does not start conveyance of the continuous sheet 50 by the conveyance mechanism 40 until at least one of the two conditions is satisfied. . And the control part 2 starts the said conveyance at the timing which determined with the continuous sheet conveyance control part 14 that at least any one of these two conditions was satisfy | filled.

  In addition, as the specified value N in the above-described condition 1 is increased, a sufficient margin can be given to the processing time of the developing process to perform the image recording process without increasing or decreasing the conveyance speed of the continuous sheet 50. . However, in this case, it takes a long time until the recording operation on the continuous sheet 50 is started after the job information is received from the host apparatus 3, and it is necessary to increase the storage capacity of the BMM. Occurs. Therefore, the specified value N is preferably as small as possible within a range in which image recording processing can be performed without increasing or decreasing the conveyance speed of the continuous sheet 50. For this purpose, the specified value N may be a value that satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2).

The equations (1) and (2) will be described.

  The value Tprc in equation (1) is the time required for image recording processing for one page. This time is a value obtained from the conveyance speed of the continuous sheet 50 by the conveyance mechanism 40 when the image recording process is performed. In addition, the value Ti in the expression (1) is a time (development process time) required for the expansion process of expanding the print data of the i-th page in the job information into a dot image and storing it in the BMM. Therefore, the value n calculated by the expression (1) is the conveyance speed of the continuous sheet 50 and the development processing time specified in advance for each of the first surface image development unit 12 and the second surface image development unit 13. It is determined based on

  In addition, the calculation performed by the expression (1) is to divide the total processing time from the first page to the Nth page in the job information by the time required for image recording processing for one page. Therefore, the value n calculated by the equation (1) represents the number of pages on which image recording processing is performed during the total development processing time. Here, if N ≧ n, the total time of the development processing time is equal to or shorter than the time required for the image recording processing for n pages, so that there is no situation where the development processing is not in time for the image recording processing. However, the value n calculated by the equation (1) indicates the number of pages, but is not necessarily an integer.

  On the other hand, the function Ceiling (n) in the expression (2) is a function that outputs the smallest integer of n or more with respect to the input of the value n. Therefore, N satisfying both the expressions (1) and (2) is the number of pages of the dot image held in the BMM by the expansion process, and there is a situation in which the expansion process cannot keep up with the image recording process. An integer indicating the smallest without. Hereinafter, this page number N is referred to as a margin holding page number.

  In summary, the expressions (1) and (2) can be summarized as follows. The development processing time required for the recording data corresponding to the number of margin holding pages is the image recording processing time required for image recording processing of the recording data for one page. It can be said that this is an expression that makes the smallest integer equal to or greater than the divided value coincide with the number of margin holding pages. The number of margin holding pages is determined in this way.

  The control unit 2 determines, based on the continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14, that at least one of the two conditions described above is satisfied using the margin holding page number N obtained as described above. Then, the transport mechanism 40 is controlled to start the transport. By doing so, there is always a dot image for at least one page in both the BMM in the first surface image development unit 12 and the BMM in the second surface image development unit 13.

  Note that the value Ti in equation (1) is defined as a fixed value in advance based on, for example, what job information the image recording apparatus 1 receives. Alternatively, the value Ti in the expression (1) is a history of the development processing time for the recording data included in the job information when this fixed value is treated as the initial value of the value Ti and the image recording processing is subsequently executed. The initial value may be updated based on the above. Further, the value Ti in the expression (1) can be configured so that the user of the image recording apparatus 1 can arbitrarily set the value Ti.

Next, FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the image recording control process performed by the control unit 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the first surface image expansion processing performed by the control unit 2. Further, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the second surface image development processing performed by the control unit 2.

  3, 4, and 5, the MPU of the control unit 2 reads and executes the control program stored in advance in the ROM of the control unit 2 as described above. It is realized by. The control unit 2 also functions as a continuous sheet conveyance control unit 14, a first surface image expansion unit 12, and a second surface image expansion unit 13 by the MPU executing this control program.

First, the process of FIG. 3 will be described. The processing in FIG. 3 is started when the control unit 2 receives job information from the higher-level device 3.
First, in step Sa1, the control unit 2 divides the job information received from the host apparatus 3 into recording data for recording the first surface image and recording data for recording the second surface image, respectively. Transfer processing to the surface image developing unit 12 and the second surface image developing unit 13 is performed. The first side image development unit 12 and the second side image development unit 13 that have received these recording data perform a first side image development process and a second side image development process, respectively, which will be described later. .

  Next, in step Sa2, the control unit 2 performs a process of determining whether or not at least one of the condition 1 and the condition 2 described above is satisfied. That is, the control unit 2 determines that both the value of the first surface BMM retained page counter (first surface count value) and the value of the second surface BMM retained page counter (second surface count value) are the number of remaining retained pages. The total page on which the image recording process in which the determination as to whether or not N has been exceeded and the value of the first page image developed page counter and the value of the second page image developed page counter are both indicated in the job information is performed Two determinations of whether or not the number has been reached are performed, and it is determined whether or not at least one of the determination results is true. Here, the control part 2 advances a process to step Sa3, when it determines with at least any one of the conditions 1 and the conditions 2 being satisfied (determination result is Yes). On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that both of the conditions 1 and 2 are not satisfied (the determination result is No), until at least one of them is satisfied (until the determination result is Yes) ), The determination process of step Sa2 is repeated.

  Next, in step Sa <b> 3, the control unit 2 performs a process of giving an instruction to the transport mechanism 40 to start the transport operation of the continuous sheet 50. In addition, when the conveyance operation of the continuous sheet 50 by the conveyance mechanism 40 has already started, this conveyance operation is continued as it is.

  Next, the control unit 2 controls the first image recording unit 20 in step Sa4, and when the recording start position of the first surface of the continuous sheet 50 reaches directly below the first image recording unit 20. Then, a process of starting an image recording process on the first surface of the continuous sheet 50 is performed.

  Next, in Step Sa5, the control unit 2 controls the second image recording unit 30, and when the recording start position of the second surface of the continuous sheet 50 reaches directly below the second image recording unit 30. Then, a process of starting an image recording process on the second surface of the continuous sheet 50 is performed.

Next, in step Sa6, the control unit 2 performs a process of decreasing the value of the first side BMM holding page counter and the value of the second side BMM holding page counter by “1”.
Next, in step Sa <b> 7, the control unit 2 performs a process of determining whether or not the image recording process has been completed for the recording data of all pages indicated in the job information received from the higher-level device 3. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that the image recording process has been completed for the recording data of all pages (the determination result is Yes), the image recording control process illustrated in FIG. 3 ends. On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that the recording data of all pages that have not been subjected to the image recording process remains (the determination result is No), the control unit 2 returns the process to step Sa2 and performs the above-described processing. repeat.

The process so far is the image recording control process.
Next, the process of FIG. 4 will be described. This process is started when the control unit 2 receives the recording data for recording the first surface image transferred by the process of step Sa1 in FIG. 3 in step Sb1.

  First, in step Sb2, the control unit 2 performs a process of clearing the value of the first-surface image developed page counter and the value of the first-surface BMM holding page counter and setting the values to “0”.

  Next, in step Sb3, the control unit 2 performs processing for developing the received recording data into a dot image for each page. Subsequently, in step Sb4, the control unit 2 performs a process of storing and holding the developed dot image in the first BMM.

  Next, in step Sb5, the control unit 2 performs a process of increasing the value of the first-surface image developed page counter by “1”. Subsequently, in step Sb6, the control unit 2 performs a process of increasing the value of the first surface BMM holding page counter by “1”.

  Next, in step Sb7, has the control unit 2 completed the development process for each page of the recording data for recording the first-surface image transferred by the process of step Sa1 in FIG. 3 for all the pages? Processing to determine whether or not. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that the expansion process has been completed for the recording data of all pages (the determination result is Yes), the first surface image expansion process illustrated in FIG. 4 ends. On the other hand, if the control unit 2 determines that the recorded data of all the pages has not been expanded (the determination result is No), the control unit 2 returns the process to step Sb3 and performs the process described above. repeat.

The process so far is the first surface image development process.
Next, the process of FIG. 5 will be described. This process is started when the control unit 2 receives the recording data for recording the second surface image transferred by the process of step Sa1 in FIG. 3 in step Sc1.

  First, in step Sc2, the control unit 2 clears the value of the second-surface image developed page counter and the value of the second-surface BMM holding page counter and sets the values to “0”.

  Next, in step Sc3, the control unit 2 performs a process of developing the received recording data into a dot image for each page. Subsequently, in step Sc4, the control unit 2 performs a process of storing and holding the developed dot image in the second BMM.

  Next, in Step Sc5, the control unit 2 performs a process of increasing the value of the second-surface image developed page counter by “1”. Subsequently, in Step Sc6, the control unit 2 performs a process of increasing the value of the second surface BMM holding page counter by “1”.

  Next, in step Sc7, has the control unit 2 completed the development processing for each page of the recording data for recording the second-surface image transferred by the processing of step Sa1 in FIG. 3 for all the pages? Processing to determine whether or not. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that the expansion process has been completed for the recording data of all pages (the determination result is Yes), the second surface image expansion process illustrated in FIG. 5 is terminated. On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that the unprocessed processing data remains among the recorded data of all pages (the determination result is No), the control unit 2 returns the processing to step Sc3 and performs the above-described processing. repeat.

The process so far is the second surface image development process.
As described above, according to the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the processing shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is performed by the control unit 2, thereby being held in the BMM in the image recording apparatus 1. The image recording operation start timing is controlled based on the number of pages of the dot image. By performing this control, a dot image for at least one page always exists in both the BMM in the first side image development unit 12 and the BMM in the second side image development unit 13. 50, the image recording process on 50 can be continued without interruption. As a result, in the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the conveyance stop of the continuous sheet 50 in one image recording job is avoided, the performance of the recording process due to the development process from the recording data to the dot image is improved. Reduction is reduced.

  Further, according to the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, whether or not the image recording process can be started in each of the first side image developing unit 12 and the second side image developing unit 13 is held in the BMM. Judge based on the number of pages in the image. Since the control unit determines whether or not to start the conveyance of the continuous sheet 50 based on the results of these two determinations, the processing load on the MPU of the control unit 2 can be reduced and the processing can be simplified.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, In the implementation stage, it can change variously in the range which does not change the summary.

1 is a diagram illustrating a conceptual block configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the image recording control process with the flowchart. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the 1st surface image expansion | deployment process with the flowchart. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the 2nd surface image expansion | deployment process with the flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 2 Control part 3 Host apparatus 12 1st surface image expansion | deployment part 13 2nd surface image expansion | deployment part 14 Continuous sheet conveyance control part 15 Memory | storage part 20 1st image recording part 21 Head drive part 22 Recording head part 30 1st 2 image recording section 31 head drive section 32 recording head section 40 transport mechanism 41 transport information generation section 42 transport drive section 43 continuous sheet supply section 44 first continuous sheet carrier 45 second continuous sheet carrier 46 continuous sheet winding Picking section 47-1 to 47-7 Guide roller 50 Continuous sheet

Claims (10)

A first side image development unit and a second side image development unit for performing a development process of developing recording data of a plurality of double-sided pages to be recorded in an image recording process into a dot image for each page and holding each page; In the image recording apparatus for performing image recording processing by ejecting ink from the recording head on both sides of the continuous sheet in the recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveying unit based on the dot image,
A first surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the first surface development image data held by the development processing by the first surface image development unit, and held by the development processing by the second surface image development unit. And the second surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the second surface developed image data, the transport speed by the recording medium transport unit when the image recording process is performed, the first surface image developing unit, The recording medium transport unit performs the recording medium conveyance at a timing that matches the number of margin holding pages determined based on the development processing time required for the development processing specified in advance for each of the second surface image development units. An image recording apparatus comprising at least a continuous sheet conveyance control unit for starting conveyance. The margin holding page number is a minimum of integers equal to or greater than a value obtained by dividing the development processing time required for the recording data for the margin holding page number by the image recording processing time required for the image recording processing of the recording data for one page. Is determined to match the number of reserved pages,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording processing time is calculated based on the conveyance speed. A control unit further comprising at least the continuous sheet conveyance control unit;
The control unit is configured to include at least an arithmetic processing unit and a storage unit that stores a control program in advance. The control unit causes the arithmetic processing unit to execute the control program, thereby forming the continuous sheet conveyance control unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus functions. The control unit further includes the first surface image expansion unit and the second surface image expansion unit,
The arithmetic processing unit functions as the continuous sheet conveyance control unit by executing the control program, and also displays a dot image developed by the development processing by the first surface image development unit in a first bitmap memory. 4. The image according to claim 3, wherein control is performed to hold the dot image developed by the development processing by the second surface image development unit in a second bitmap memory. 5. Recording device. A first side image development unit and a second side image development unit for performing a development process of developing recording data of a plurality of double-sided pages to be recorded in an image recording process into a dot image for each page and holding each page; A control method of an image recording apparatus for performing image recording processing by ejecting ink from a recording head on both sides of a continuous sheet in a recording medium conveyed by a recording medium conveying unit based on the dot image,
A first surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the first surface development image data held by the development processing by the first surface image development unit, and held by the development processing by the second surface image development unit. And the second surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the second surface developed image data, the transport speed by the recording medium transport unit when the image recording process is performed, the first surface image developing unit, Detecting a timing corresponding to the number of margin holding pages determined based on the development processing time required for the development processing specified in advance for each of the second surface image development units;
And a step of starting conveyance of the recording medium by the recording medium conveyance unit at the detected timing. The margin holding page number is a minimum of integers equal to or greater than a value obtained by dividing the development processing time required for the recording data for the margin holding page number by the image recording processing time required for the image recording processing of the recording data for one page. Is determined to match the number of reserved pages,
The method of controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image recording processing time is calculated based on the conveyance speed. Holding a dot image developed by the development processing by the first surface image development unit in a first bitmap memory;
6. The control of an image recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: holding a dot image developed by the development processing by the second surface image development unit in a second bitmap memory. Method. A first side image development unit and a second side image development unit for performing a development process of developing recording data of a plurality of double-sided pages to be recorded in an image recording process into a dot image for each page and holding each page; For causing an arithmetic processing unit to control an image recording apparatus that performs image recording processing by ejecting ink from a recording head based on the dot image onto both sides of a continuous sheet in a recording medium conveyed by a recording medium conveying unit. A program,
A first surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the first surface development image data held by the development processing by the first surface image development unit, and held by the development processing by the second surface image development unit. And the second surface count value obtained by counting the number of pages of the second surface developed image data, the transport speed by the recording medium transport unit when the image recording process is performed, the first surface image developing unit, Processing for detecting a timing that matches the number of margin holding pages determined based on the development processing time required for the development processing specified in advance for each of the second surface image development units;
A program for causing the arithmetic processing unit to perform processing for starting transport of the recording medium by the recording medium transport unit at the detected timing. The margin holding page number is a minimum of integers equal to or greater than a value obtained by dividing the development processing time required for the recording data for the margin holding page number by the image recording processing time required for the image recording processing of the recording data for one page. Is determined to match the number of reserved pages,
The program according to claim 8, wherein the image recording processing time is calculated based on the conveyance speed. A process of holding a dot image developed by the development processing by the first surface image development unit in a first bitmap memory;
9. The processing device according to claim 8, further comprising: causing the arithmetic processing unit to further perform a process of holding a dot image developed by the development process by the second surface image development unit in a second bitmap memory. Program.