JP2011101973A - Printer, method of forming bonding surface, and printer controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer provided with a printer driver that can set a region to be "an overlap width" that forms a joining surface on a medium. <P>SOLUTION: The printer includes (A) a head part that ejects an adhesive to form dots on the medium, (B) a printer control section that makes a user set, through an user interface screen, the adhesive ejected region where the adhesive is ejected to form the joining surface on the medium, and (C) an unit control section that operates the head part to form the joining surface on the adhesive ejected region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, an adhesive surface forming method, and a printing apparatus control apparatus.

  Inkjet printers that perform printing by ejecting liquid from nozzles are widely used. Inkjet printers can form a printing surface of any shape at any position on the medium. By ejecting adhesive instead of ink, you can efficiently seal the envelopes of envelopes and fixed envelopes. Possible ways to do this. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which an adhesive is applied to a medium from an ink jet printer provided with an adhesive discharge head to join a recording medium such as paper or an envelope (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-187269 A

  According to the method of Patent Document 1, it is possible to create a booklet or the like formed by superposing sheets made of a plurality of media, more easily, regardless of the type of non-recording medium.

  However, the medium from which the adhesive is ejected is not always a standard sheet, and depending on the size and type of the medium, it is necessary to set a “margin” area for the user to eject the adhesive. On the other hand, the conventional printer does not have a concept of “margin” setting, and the ejection position of the adhesive ejected onto the medium cannot be determined appropriately.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus including a printer driver that can set an area to be a “margin” for forming an adhesive surface on a medium.

  The main invention for achieving the above object is as follows: (A) a head part that ejects an adhesive to form dots on the medium; and (B) an adhesive that forms an adhesive surface on the medium. A printing apparatus control unit that allows a user to set an adhesive ejection area, which is an area, via a user interface screen; and (C) a unit control unit that operates the head unit to form an adhesive surface on the adhesive ejection area And a printing apparatus.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system. FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a roller-type transport unit of the printer. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the belt-type transport unit. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3B is a side view illustrating the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of a head. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a method of adhering a medium using a two-component mixed adhesive. FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram when the medium is bonded. It is explanatory drawing in the case of forming an adhesive surface in an expansion | deployment envelope. It is explanatory drawing in the case of forming an adhesive surface in a fixed form envelope. It is a figure explaining the flow of print data processing. It is a figure which shows an example of an interface screen.

  At least the following matters will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

(A) a head unit that ejects an adhesive to form dots on the medium; and (B) an adhesive ejection area that is an area for ejecting an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface on the medium. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing apparatus control unit that is set by a user via a screen; and (C) a unit control unit that operates the head unit to form an adhesive surface on the adhesive ejection area.
According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to realize a printing apparatus including a printer driver that can set a “margin” area for forming an adhesive surface on a medium.

In this liquid ejecting apparatus, (A) the head unit ejects ink for forming an image on a medium, and (B) the printing apparatus control unit is arranged around a region where an image is formed by the ink. It is preferable that the user sets a blank area, which is a region, via the user interface screen, and sets the adhesive ejection area in the blank area.
According to such a printing apparatus, since the margin can be set by the user interface, the area where the adhesive is ejected is limited to the margin area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink forming the printing surface and the adhesive from being mixed.

In such a liquid ejecting apparatus, when the adhesive ejected from the head part has adhesiveness by mixing the first liquid and the second liquid, the printing apparatus control unit When the first adhesive ejection area for ejecting the first liquid is set, the second liquid is introduced into an area that is symmetric with respect to the first adhesive ejection area and the folding line of the medium. It is desirable to set the second adhesive ejection region to be ejected.
According to such a printing apparatus, when a two-component curable adhesive is used, when the medium is folded and bonded, the main component and the curing agent of the two-component curable adhesive must always face each other when folded. The adhesive can be ejected so that the two liquids are reliably mixed.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the printing apparatus control unit issues a warning when the set margin area and the adhesive ejecting area are smaller than a predetermined size.
According to such a printing apparatus, the size of the margin portion and the margin portion can be limited on the printer driver side so that the size of the adhesive surface can be secured to obtain the minimum adhesive strength.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the printing apparatus control unit may prevent the image from being overlapped with the blank area when a print area of print data created from original image data overlaps with the blank area. It is desirable to adjust the data.
According to such a printing apparatus, the overlapped portion and the printing surface can prevent printing from becoming invisible and insufficient adhesion of the bonding surface.

  In addition, the printing apparatus control unit sets an adhesive ejection area, which is an area for ejecting an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface on the medium, via the user interface screen, and the set adhesive ejection An adhesive surface forming method having an area in which an adhesive is ejected from the head portion becomes apparent.

  Further, the user can set an adhesive ejection area, which is an area for ejecting an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface on the medium, via the user interface screen, and the set adhesive ejection area can be set from the head unit. A printing apparatus control device that generates data for ejecting an adhesive is disclosed.

=== Basic Configuration of Printing Apparatus ===
As a form of a printing apparatus for carrying out the invention, an ink jet printer (printer 1) will be described as an example.

<Configuration of printing device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the printing apparatus.
The printer 1 is a liquid ejection device that records (prints) characters and images on a medium such as paper, cloth, and film, and is connected to a computer 110 that is an external device so as to be communicable.

A printer driver is installed in the computer 110. The printer driver is a program for displaying a user interface on a display device (not shown) and converting image data output from an application program into print data. This printer driver is recorded on a recording medium (computer-readable recording medium) such as a flexible disk FD or a CD-ROM. Also, the printer driver can be downloaded to the computer 110 via the Internet. In addition, this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for implement | achieving various functions.
The computer 110 is a printing apparatus control unit that outputs print data corresponding to an image to be printed to the printer 1 in order to cause the printer 1 to print an image.

  The printer 1 includes a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a head unit 40, a detector group 50, and a controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on print data received from the computer 110 that is a printing apparatus control unit, and prints an image on a medium. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by the detector group 50, and the detector group 50 outputs the detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the detector group 50.

<Transport unit 20>
The transport unit 20 is for transporting a medium (for example, paper S) in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a transport direction). Here, the transport direction is a direction that intersects the moving direction of the carriage.

  In a general ink jet printer, as shown in FIG. 2A, a blank portion outside the printing range of the medium is sandwiched between upper and lower rollers such as a conveyance roller 23 and a discharge roller 25, and the roller is rotated to rotate the medium. In many cases, a so-called roller transport type transport unit that transports is used. However, in this embodiment, it is difficult to use a roller conveyance type conveyance unit as shown in FIG. 2A. In the present embodiment, since the adhesive may be ejected to the blank portion of the medium (the portion sandwiched between the normal rollers), the ejected adhesive adheres to the upper surface of the medium of the transport roller 23 and the discharge roller 25. This is because there is a possibility that the subsequent smooth conveyance of the medium may be hindered.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the transport unit 20 is a transport mechanism using a belt. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an outline of the transport mechanism of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2B, the belt transport mechanism includes an upstream transport roller 26 </ b> A and a downstream transport roller 26 </ b> B, and a belt 27. When a transport motor (not shown) rotates, the upstream transport roller 26A and the downstream transport roller 26B rotate, and the belt 27 rotates. The medium being conveyed is electrostatically attracted or vacuum attracted to the belt 27. The medium fed by a feed roller (not shown) is conveyed to a printable area (area facing the head) by the belt 27. The paper S that has passed through the printable area is discharged to the outside by the belt 27. Throughout the conveyance process, the medium surface (printed surface) and the conveyance mechanism are kept in a mechanically non-contact state, so that the adhesive substance adheres to the conveyance mechanism even after the adhesive surface is formed on the medium. Such a problem is less likely to occur.

<Carriage unit 30>
The carriage unit 30 is for moving (also referred to as “scanning”) the carriage 31 to which the head unit 40 is attached in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a moving direction). The carriage unit 30 includes a carriage 31 and a carriage motor 32 (also referred to as a CR motor) (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
The carriage 31 can reciprocate in the moving direction and is driven by a carriage motor 32. The operation of the carriage motor 32 is controlled by a controller 60 on the printer side. Further, the carriage 31 detachably holds an ink cartridge that stores ink.

<Head unit 40>
The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto the paper S. The head unit 40 includes a head 41 having a plurality of nozzles. The head 41 is provided on the carriage 31, and when the carriage 31 moves in the movement direction, the head 41 also moves in the movement direction. Then, when the head 41 is intermittently ejected while moving in the moving direction, dot lines (raster lines) along the moving direction are formed on the paper.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the head 41. The head 41 includes a case 411, a flow path unit 412, and a piezo element group PZT. The case 411 houses the piezo element group PZT, and the flow path unit 412 is joined to the lower surface of the case 411. The flow path unit 412 includes a flow path forming plate 412a, an elastic plate 412b, and a nozzle plate 412c. The flow path forming plate 412a is formed with a groove portion serving as a pressure chamber 412d, a through hole serving as a nozzle communication port 412e, a through port serving as a common ink chamber 412f, and a groove portion serving as an ink supply path 412g. The elastic plate 412b has an island portion 412h to which the tip of the piezo element PZT is joined. An elastic region is formed by an elastic film 412i around the island portion 412h. The ink stored in the ink cartridge is supplied to the pressure chamber 412d corresponding to each nozzle Nz via the common ink chamber 412f. The nozzle plate 412c is a plate on which the nozzles Nz are formed. On the nozzle surface, a yellow nozzle row Y for discharging yellow ink, a magenta nozzle row M for discharging magenta ink, a cyan nozzle row C for discharging cyan ink, and a black nozzle row K for discharging black ink are formed. Has been. In addition, a nozzle row L for ejecting a liquid (for example, an adhesive) for forming an adhesive surface on the medium is provided. In each nozzle row, the nozzles Nz are arranged at a predetermined interval D in the transport direction.

  The piezo element group PZT has a plurality of comb-like piezo elements (drive elements), and is provided by the number corresponding to the nozzles Nz. A drive signal COM is applied to the piezo element by a wiring board (not shown) on which the head controller HC and the like are mounted, and the piezo element expands and contracts in the vertical direction according to the potential of the drive signal COM. When the piezo element PZT expands and contracts, the island portion 412h is pushed toward the pressure chamber 412d or pulled in the opposite direction. At this time, the elastic film 412i around the island portion 412h is deformed, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 412d rises and falls, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles.

<Detector group 50>
The detector group 50 is for monitoring the status of the printer 1. The detector group 50 includes a linear encoder 51, a rotary encoder 52, a paper detection sensor 53, an optical sensor 54, and the like (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
The linear encoder 51 detects the position of the carriage 31 in the moving direction. The rotary encoder 52 detects the rotation amount of the transport roller 26A or 26B. The paper detection sensor 53 detects the position of the leading edge of the paper S being fed. The optical sensor 54 detects the presence or absence of the paper S at the opposing position by the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit attached to the carriage 31, for example, detects the position of the edge of the paper while moving, and sets the width of the paper. Can be detected. The optical sensor 54 also has a leading edge (an end portion on the downstream side in the transport direction, also referred to as an upper end) and a rear end (an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction, also referred to as the lower end) of the paper S depending on the situation. It can be detected.

<Controller 60>
The controller 60 is a control unit (control unit) for controlling the printer. The controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64.
The interface unit 61 transmits and receives data between the computer 110 that is an external device and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing device for performing overall control of the printer 1. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and is configured by a storage element such as a RAM or an EEPROM. Then, the CPU 62 controls each unit such as the transport unit 20 via the unit control circuit 64 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63.

<Print processing by printer driver>
The printer driver receives image data from the application program, converts it into print data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 1, and outputs the print data to the printer. When converting image data from an application program into print data, the printer driver performs resolution conversion processing, color conversion processing, halftone processing, rasterization processing, command addition processing, and the like. The printer driver also performs processing related to liquid ejection for forming an adhesive surface.
Hereinafter, various processes performed by the printer driver for printing characters and the like from image data will be described. The process for forming the adhesive surface will be separately described later.

The resolution conversion process is a process for converting image data (text data, image data, etc.) output from an application program into a resolution (print resolution) for printing on a medium. For example, when the print resolution is specified as 720 × 720 dpi, the vector format image data received from the application program is converted into bitmap format image data with a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi.
Each pixel data of the image data after the resolution conversion process is RGB data of each gradation (for example, 256 gradations) represented by the RGB color space. Here, a pixel is a unit element constituting an image, and an image is formed by arranging these pixels two-dimensionally. The pixel data is print data of unit elements constituting an image, and means, for example, a gradation value of dots formed on the paper S.

The color conversion process is a process for converting RGB data into data in the CMYK color space. The image data in the CMYK color space is data corresponding to the ink color of the printer. This color conversion processing is performed based on a table (color conversion lookup table LUT) in which gradation values of RGB data and gradation values of CMYK data are associated with each other.
The pixel data after the color conversion processing is 8-bit CMYK data with 256 gradations represented by the CMYK color space. In the present embodiment, image processing is performed using the data to prevent ink bleeding at the boundary between two images to be printed. Details of the image processing will be described later.

  The halftone process is a process for converting high gradation number data into gradation number data that can be formed by a printer. For example, data representing 256 gradations is converted into 1-bit data representing 2 gradations or 2-bit data representing 4 gradations by halftone processing. In the halftone process, a dither method, a γ correction, an error diffusion method, or the like is used. The data subjected to the halftone process has a resolution equivalent to the print resolution (for example, 720 × 720 dpi). The image data after halftone processing corresponds to 1-bit or 2-bit pixel data for each pixel, and this pixel data is data indicating the dot formation status (presence / absence of dot, dot size) in each pixel. Become.

  The rasterizing process rearranges the pixel data arranged in a matrix for each pixel data in the order of data to be transferred to the printer 1. For example, the pixel data is rearranged according to the arrangement order of the nozzles in each nozzle row.

  The command addition process is a process for adding command data corresponding to the printing method to the rasterized data. The command data includes, for example, conveyance data indicating the medium conveyance speed.

  The print data generated through these processes is transmitted to the printer 1 by the printer driver.

<Printer operation>
The printing operation of the printer 1 will be briefly described. The controller 60 receives a print command from the computer 110 via the interface unit 61 and controls each unit to perform a paper feed process, a dot formation process, a transport process, and the like.

  The paper feed process is a process of supplying paper to be printed into the printer and positioning the paper at a print start position (also referred to as a cue position). The controller 60 rotates a paper feed roller (not shown) and sends the paper to be printed to the transport belt 27. Subsequently, the belt 27 is rotated by the upstream and downstream transport rollers 26A and 26B, and the paper fed from the paper feed roller 21 is positioned at the print start position.

  The dot forming process is a process for forming dots on paper by ejecting ink intermittently from a head moving in the moving direction (scanning direction). The controller 60 moves the carriage 31 in the movement direction, and ejects ink from the head 41 based on the print data while the carriage 31 is moving. When the ejected ink droplets land on the paper, dots are formed on the paper, and a dot line composed of a plurality of dots along the moving direction is formed on the paper.

  The carrying process is a process of moving the paper relative to the head in the carrying direction. The controller 60 rotates the upstream and downstream transport rollers 26A and 26B to transport the paper in the transport direction. By this carrying process, the head 41 can form dots at positions different from the positions of the dots formed by the previous dot formation process.

The controller 60 alternately repeats the dot formation process and the conveyance process until there is no more data to be printed, and gradually prints an image composed of dot lines on paper. When there is no more data to be printed, the paper discharge roller is rotated to discharge the paper. The determination of whether or not to discharge paper may be based on a paper discharge command included in the print data.
The same processing is repeated when printing on the next paper, and the printing operation is terminated when not printing.

=== Regarding Formation of Adhesive Surface ===
In the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, printing ink and an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface are ejected from a head 41 for ejecting ink. Thereby, in the conveyance process of a medium, the process of forming a printing image in the predetermined area | region on a medium and the process of forming an adhesive surface can be performed simultaneously.

<Method for forming adhesive surface>
In the present embodiment, a liquid adhesive is ejected from the head unit 40 to form adhesive droplets (dots) in a predetermined region on the medium, thereby forming an adhesive surface. An area where the adhesive that becomes the “margin” is ejected (hereinafter also referred to as an adhesive ejection area) is set by the printer driver at the start of printing. A specific setting method will be described later.

  As the adhesive used in the present embodiment, it is necessary to select a fluid liquid as much as possible so as not to cause nozzle clogging of the head unit 40.

  Alternatively, the adhesive ejected from the head portion may be an adhesive that cures by mixing two types of liquids (hereinafter also referred to as a two-component adhesive). A two-component adhesive consists of a main agent and a curing agent, and is a non-sticky liquid at room temperature. Therefore, before mixing the two liquids, it can be ejected from the head portion of the ink jet printer in the same manner as the printing ink, which causes clogging of the ejection nozzle like a normal adhesive. Unlikely.

  When a two-component adhesive is used, the main agent and the curing agent ejected from different nozzles are mixed on the medium to cause a chemical reaction to start curing and form an adhesive surface. The chemical reaction is continued in a state where the adhesion surface is in close contact with the adherend medium, and the medium is adhered by being completely cured. As an example of a typical two-component adhesive, there is a method in which an epoxy resin is used as a main agent and an amine such as a polyamide resin is used as a curing agent and cured by a polymerization reaction when both are mixed. There is also a method using a resin or a urethane resin. Moreover, in order to make it easy to eject a liquid from the nozzle of a printer, the viscosity of a liquid can be lowered | hung by mixing a softener in a main ingredient or a hardening | curing agent.

  FIG. 5A shows a conceptual diagram of an adhesion method using a two-component adhesive. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the main agent and the curing agent of the two-component adhesive are ejected to different areas A and B on the medium, respectively. Regions A and B are regions disposed so as to face each other when the medium is folded along the folding line of FIG. 5A. Since the main agent and the curing agent ejected to the areas A and B on the medium are not mixed on the medium, curing by a chemical reaction does not start.

  Next, FIG. 5B shows a conceptual diagram when actual bonding is performed. When the medium in which the adhesive is jetted in the state of FIG. 5A is bent and the regions A and B are brought into contact with each other, the main agent applied to the region A and the curing agent applied to the region B are mixed, The curing reaction is started. Then, the mixed two-component adhesive is completely cured, whereby the adhesion of the medium is completed.

=== Example of Bonded Surface to be Formed ===
A description will be given of how an adhesive surface is formed on a medium when printing is actually performed using the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. Note that only the case where the above-described two-component adhesive is used as the adhesive to be used will be described. When a normal adhesive (one-component adhesive) is used, the printing operation may be performed assuming that only one of the main agent and the curing agent is used out of the two-component adhesive.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which a spread-type envelope (hereinafter also referred to as a development envelope) is printed. An unfolded envelope is an envelope that is sealed by bending a planar medium and bonding a portion that becomes an outer edge other than the folding line.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the medium 101 is rectangular paper, and an area 102 represented by a hatched portion at the center of the medium is a print area where characters and figures are printed. In the present embodiment, a printed image is formed by ejecting color ink to the print area 102 while the medium is being transported, and a main component and a curing agent of a two-component adhesive are formed in a margin part around the print area 102. Is ejected to form an adhesive ejection region 103 that will later become an adhesive surface. In FIG. 6, the adhesive ejection region 103 is composed of regions 103 </ b> R and 103 </ b> L having symmetrical shapes with the folding line 104 interposed therebetween. The main agent is ejected to one region (region 103R with a dark color in FIG. 6), and the curing agent is ejected to the other region (region 103L with a light color on the left side in FIG. 6). By jetting the main component and the curing agent of the two-component adhesive into different areas, the adhesive is not cured at this point. Then, the region 103R where the main agent is ejected and the region 103L where the curing agent is ejected are brought into close contact with each other by folding along a folding line, whereby the two liquids are mixed and curing of the adhesive starts. Then, the mixed adhesive is completely cured, so that the medium is bonded.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows an example of printing on a standard envelope (long shape, square shape, etc.). In the fixed envelope shown in FIG. 7, an adhesive ejection area 303A is formed in the flap portion, and an adhesive ejection area 303B and a printing surface 302 on which an address and the like are printed are formed in the envelope portion of the envelope. In FIG. 7, the main component of the two-component adhesive is ejected to the region 303 </ b> A that is darkly colored, and the curing agent of the two-component adhesive is ejected to the region 303 </ b> B that is lightly colored. Note that the curing agent may be ejected to the region 303A and the main agent may be ejected to the region 303B. Adhesive ejection regions 303A and 303B have a symmetrical shape with a fold line 304 interposed therebetween, and when the flap portion is folded to seal the envelope, the regions 303A and 303B are overlapped so that they are ejected to 303A. The main agent and the curing agent ejected to 303B are mixed, and the curing of the adhesive starts.

  As a result, as in the case of the above-described deployment envelope, the curing reaction of the two-component adhesive does not start in the state before the flap portion is folded and the areas are brought into contact with each other, and the adhesive ejection areas 303A and 303B Does not have adhesive strength. Then, after the medium 301 is discharged from the printer, the first time when the flap is folded and the envelope is sealed, curing starts when the main agent of the adhesive comes into contact with the curing agent, and the adhesive is completely cured. To complete the sealing.

=== About Print Data Processing ===
At the start of printing, print data for determining the ejection position and ejection amount of ink and adhesive is created by the printer driver. Then, based on the created print data, the controller 60 appropriately ejects ink, a main component of a two-component adhesive, and a curing agent from the head unit 30 to form a print surface (image) and an adhesive surface on the medium. The In normal printing, print data is created from image data according to the above-described print processing procedure. However, in this embodiment, printing cannot be performed in an area where an adhesive surface is to be formed. Special processing is required for the setting and so on.
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of print data processing in the present embodiment. In the print data processing step, items set by the user include paper setting (S110), margin setting (S120), and adhesive ejection area setting (S150). Then, the printer driver issues a warning for each set item (S135, S165) or adjusts the image data (S140, S145), so that the printer 1 can form an appropriate adhesive surface. Generate data.

<Paper setting (S110)>
Each process shown in FIG. 8 is performed using the user interface via the computer 110. FIG. 9 shows an example of a user interface screen used in this embodiment. First, the user sets the size (size) of the medium used for printing on the area setting screen as shown in FIG. 9 displayed on the display device (display or the like) of the computer 110 (S110). When the medium used for printing is a so-called standard size such as various OA papers such as A3 and A4 and reciprocating postcards, the user only has to select a paper size preset in the printer driver bar. On the other hand, when the medium has an irregular size, it is necessary for the user himself / herself to set the width and height of the medium by inputting numerical values on the interface screen.

<Margin setting (S120), etc.>
After setting the size of the medium, a margin portion around the print area is set (S120). The blank portion is a region serving as a basis for forming an adhesive ejection region described later. In the present embodiment, an image cannot be formed on the adhesive ejection area where the adhesive surface is to be formed. That is, it is necessary to prevent the adhesive ejection area (adhesion surface) and the image printing area (printing surface) from overlapping. Therefore, it is necessary to form the adhesive ejection area only in the blank area around the printing area. Therefore, a margin area is set on the medium before setting the adhesive ejection area.

  If the medium is a standard size such as A4 or a postcard size, the print area and the margin area are automatically adjusted according to the initial setting values of the printer driver. On the other hand, when the medium is an irregular sheet or the like, it is necessary for the user himself to set a margin area. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the margin area is set by inputting the margin widths in the vertical and horizontal directions from the outer edge of the medium. Also, the print area is automatically set by setting the margin. Note that even when the medium is a standard size, the user can set the margin area.

  In the printer driver of the present embodiment, the range in which the margin area can be set is limited, or the size (area) is set to a minimum so that the medium can be bonded with sufficient strength when the bonding surface is formed. Can be kept. If the size of the set margin area is insufficient, the area of the adhesive ejection area formed on the margin area may also be insufficient, so that it may not be possible to form an adhesive surface of a predetermined size. Because there is. Therefore, a reference area of the margin area corresponding to the size of the medium is set in the printer driver in advance, and the set margin part is compared with the reference value (S130), and the area of the margin part determines the reference area. If it falls below, a warning is displayed (S135). Then, by allowing the user to set a sufficiently large margin area (S120), it is possible to prevent an insufficiently sized adhesive surface from being formed, and to perform bonding securely. To do.

<Adjustment of Image Print Data (S140)>
The print data for forming an image by ejecting ink is created from the original image data in the print processing (color conversion processing, halftone processing, etc.) by the printer driver as described above. Here, when the print range of the created print image data is larger than the print area (the inner part of the margin area) set in S120, the printer driver prints the print image according to the size of the print area. Adjustment is made so that ink is not ejected to the margin part outside the printing area by reducing the data printing range or deleting a part (S140, S145). It is highly likely that the margin part will eventually become an adhesive surface when the adhesive is ejected, and is ejected to the color ink for image printing and the margin area (adhesive ejection area). This is to prevent a problem that when the adhesive is mixed, a sufficient adhesive force cannot be obtained when the adhesive surface is formed. This prevents the ink for image formation from being ejected to the margin.

<Adhesive ejection area setting (S150), etc.>
Regarding the setting of the adhesive ejection area, in this embodiment, several types of adhesive ejection areas are initially set in the printer driver in advance, and the user can select one from these set areas. The adhesive ejection area can be specified. For example, in the case of the above-described development envelope, an adhesive ejection area as shown in FIG. 5 is set in the margin corresponding to a standard size paper such as A4 paper from the beginning. In the same manner, an adhesive ejection area like 303a and 303b in FIG. 6 is set. When printing using commercially available OA paper or standard envelopes, it is possible to specify the adhesive ejection area using data set in the printer driver from the beginning. .

  On the other hand, when the adhesive ejection area cannot be selected from the initial setting value, the user needs to set the area. For example, the adhesive ejection area can be set in the layout display window of FIG. The main setting items at that time are the “position” and “size” of the adhesive ejection area, and the adhesive ejection area is placed at a predetermined position on the medium displayed on the window using a pointing device such as a mouse. Is designated (S150). However, as described above, since it is necessary to prevent the print area and the adhesive ejection area from overlapping, the adhesive ejection area can be set only in the blank area. That is, in this embodiment, it is not possible to set an adhesive ejection area larger than the blank area.

  As in the case of the margin area setting described above, the reference area is set on the printer driver side so that the size of the adhesive surface does not fall below the predetermined area, and the adhesive set by the user is set. When the size of the agent ejection area is smaller than the reference area value, a warning is displayed (S160, S165). As the reference area, the same value as the reference area when the margin is set can be used.

  Note that the adhesive ejection area when using a two-component adhesive forms a bonding surface by overlapping each other when the medium is folded and bonded, so it is formed symmetrically about the folding line. Need to be done. This is because when either one of the opposing regions is large, the liquid (the main component or curing agent of the two-component adhesive) ejected to the larger region remains unreacted. Therefore, when the user sets one area, the printer driver sets the other area so as to be symmetric with respect to the folding line so that an inappropriate area is not set. For example, in FIG. 6, when the user sets the adhesive ejection area 103R, the facing area 103L is set by the printer driver.

  When the processing of the print data is completed, the data is sent to the controller 60. The controller 60 forms the printing surface and the adhesive ejection area by ejecting ink and adhesive from the head unit 30 to a predetermined area on the medium based on the created print data and data of the adhesive ejection area. To do.

=== Summary ===
In this embodiment, the printer driver performs sealing printing using an ink jet printer by setting an area where an adhesive is ejected to form an adhesive surface and an area where an ink is ejected to form an image. Can be done efficiently.
The adhesive ejection area is set through a user interface screen displayed on a computer display or the like. The user sets an adhesive ejection area (margin) in an arbitrary area on the medium on the interface screen, and print data is created by the printer driver based on the setting.
Thus, an area that becomes a “margin” for forming an adhesive surface on the medium can be set and actually printed by the ink jet printer.

Prior to setting the adhesive ejection area, a blank area is set via the user interface screen, and the adhesive ejection area can be set only on the margin area.
Accordingly, since the adhesive is ejected only in the blank area, it is possible to prevent the ink forming the printing surface and the adhesive from being mixed. In other words, it is possible to prevent ink from being ejected onto the adhesive surface or the adhesive from being ejected onto the image printing surface, and printing can be performed without causing a problem that an adhesive surface with insufficient adhesive force is formed. be able to.

Further, when a two-component adhesive is used as an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface, when a region where one liquid (for example, main agent) is to be ejected is set, the printer driver automatically sets the other liquid ( For example, the region where the curing agent is to be ejected is set.
As a result, since the region where the main agent is ejected and the region where the curing agent is ejected are symmetrical with respect to the bend line of the medium, the main agent and the curing agent always face each other when the medium is bonded, The two liquids are surely mixed.

In addition, the printer driver sets a minimum value in a size that can set the margin area and the adhesive ejection area, and if the area of the adhesive ejection area or the like set by the user is smaller than a predetermined value, the printer driver Issue a warning.
Thereby, reliable adhesion can be performed without causing problems such as insufficient adhesion strength due to insufficient adhesion area.

If the print data created from the original image data and the set margin area overlap on the medium, the printer driver reduces the image data or deletes part of the image data. Thus, adjustment is made so that the ink is not ejected to the blank area (adhesive ejection area).
As a result, it is possible to prevent problems such as the print surface and the adhesive surface overlapping, making it impossible to see the print information, and the adhesive force of the adhesive surface becoming weak due to the influence of ink.

=== Other Embodiments ===
Although a printer or the like as one embodiment has been described, the above embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

<About formation of adhesive surface>
In the above-described embodiment, the print image and the adhesive ejection area are formed on the medium by one printing operation. However, the process may be executed by dividing the process into a plurality of printing operations. For example, a color ink is ejected at the first printing to form a printing surface such as an image, the medium is once ejected from the printer, and a two-component adhesive is ejected at the second printing to bond. You may perform printing which forms an agent ejection area | region.

<About two-component adhesives>
In the above-described embodiment, a method of adhering a medium using a two-component adhesive that is completely cured by mixing a main agent and a curing agent at a ratio of 1: 1 has been described. The adhesive is not limited to this. For example, when an adhesive that mixes the main agent and the curing agent at a ratio of 2 to 1 is used, the amount of the main agent and the curing agent ejected is 2 to 1, or the area of the ejected region is 2 to 1 By adjusting by doing, etc., the curing reaction of the two-component adhesive is appropriately performed.

<Ink used>
In the above-described embodiment, an example of printing using four colors of CMYK inks has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, printing may be performed using inks of colors other than CMYK, such as light cyan, light magenta, white, and clear.

<About piezo elements>
In the above-described embodiment, the piezo element PZT is exemplified as the element that performs the operation for ejecting the liquid. However, other elements may be used. For example, a heating element or an electrostatic actuator may be used.

<About other printing devices>
In the above-described embodiment, the type of printer 1 that moves the head 41 together with the carriage has been described as an example. However, the printer may be a so-called line printer in which the head is fixed.

1 Printer 20 transport unit, 23 transport roller, 25 paper discharge roller,
26A upstream side conveyance roller, 26B downstream side conveyance roller, 27 belt 26A upstream side conveyance roller, 26B downstream side conveyance roller, 27 belt,
30 Carriage unit, 31 Carriage, 32 Carriage motor,
40 head units, 41 heads, 411 case, 412 flow path unit,
412a flow path forming plate, 412b elastic plate, 412c nozzle plate,
412d pressure chamber, 412e nozzle communication port, 412f common ink chamber,
412g Ink supply path, 412h island part, 412i elastic film,
50 detector groups, 51 linear encoder, 52 rotary encoder,
53 Paper detection sensor, 54 Optical sensor,
60 controller, 61 interface, 62 CPU, 63 memory,
64 unit control circuit,
110 computers,
101 medium (expanded envelope), 102 printing area, 103R adhesive ejection area,
103L adhesive ejection area, 104 fold line,
301 medium (standard envelope), 302 printing area, 303A adhesive ejection area,
303B Adhesive ejection area, 204 fold line

Claims (7)

(A) a head part that ejects an adhesive to form dots on the medium;
(B) a printing apparatus control unit that allows a user to set an adhesive ejection area, which is an area for ejecting an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface on the medium, via a user interface screen;
(C) a unit control unit that operates the head unit to form an adhesive surface on the adhesive ejection region;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
(A) The head unit ejects ink that forms an image on a medium;
(B) The printing apparatus control unit causes a user to set a blank area, which is an area around an area where an image is formed by the ink, via the user interface screen;
The adhesive jetting area is set in the blank area. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
In the case where the adhesive ejected from the head part has adhesiveness by mixing the first liquid and the second liquid,
When the first adhesive ejection area for ejecting the first liquid is set, the printing apparatus control unit is configured to be symmetric with respect to the first adhesive ejection area and the medium folding line. A second adhesive ejection area for ejecting the second liquid is set. A printing apparatus, wherein: The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The printing apparatus control unit issues a warning when the size of the set margin area and the adhesive ejection area is smaller than a predetermined size. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printing apparatus control unit, when the print area of the print data created from the original image data overlaps the margin area,
The printing apparatus, wherein the image data is adjusted so as not to overlap with the margin area. Setting an adhesive ejection area, which is an area for ejecting an adhesive for forming an adhesive surface on the medium, by the printing apparatus controller via a user interface screen;
Jetting adhesive from the head part to the set adhesive jetting area;
A method for forming an adhesive surface. Allow the user to set the adhesive ejection area, which is the area to eject the adhesive for forming the adhesive surface on the medium, via the user interface screen,
A printing apparatus control apparatus that generates data for ejecting an adhesive from a head portion in the set adhesive ejection area.