JP2012016833A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of performing distributed printing which can obtain a unified output result by absorbing an individual difference in output equipment.SOLUTION: The printer which performs distributed printing by distributing printing data to perform printing by a plurality of machines includes: an ejection adjusting means which determines the reference of an ink ejection amount based on ejection information showing an ink ejection amount and adjusts the ink ejection amount so as to level output results between the respective machines based on the determined reference; and a printing means which performs printing processing according to the leveled ink ejection amount.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of distributed printing.

  When printing an image on a medium such as paper, distributed printing is known in which printing processing is distributed by a plurality of machines. For example, there is a merit that the time required for the printing process can be shortened by printing one piece of print data divided into a plurality of machines for each page or area. In order to realize such distributed printing, each machine is connected via a network or the like, and receives print data corresponding to a target page (area) through this network (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-5). ).

JP 2007-179197 A JP 2006-244150 A JP 2003-84947 A JP 2003-271331 A JP 20061955531 A

  In the above-mentioned distributed printing, each machine performs printing that is assigned individually, so if there is an individual difference in the output characteristics of each machine, color variations will occur in the printed matter output from each machine and there will be no sense of unity was there. For example, a print head that ejects ink has variations in the amount of ink ejected between solids. Therefore, it is necessary to perform color matching and the like so that the output results are leveled between each machine so that this variation can be absorbed. However, the print data created in distributed printing is not configured to absorb the output characteristics of each machine, and it is difficult to match the output characteristics of each machine at the transmission source of the print data.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a printing apparatus capable of performing distributed printing, provides a printing apparatus capable of absorbing individual differences in output devices and obtaining a unified output result. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a printing apparatus that performs distributed printing in which print data is distributed by a plurality of printers, and the ink ejection amount reference is based on ejection information indicating the ink ejection amount. And adjusting the ink discharge amount so that the output result between the airframes is leveled based on the determined standard, and performing the printing process with the leveled ink discharge amount. And a printing unit.

In the invention configured as described above, the discharge adjustment unit determines the ink discharge amount reference based on the discharge information indicating the ink discharge amount, and the ink discharge between the airframes based on the determined reference. Perform leveling. Further, the printing unit performs a printing process with the leveled ink discharge amount.
Therefore, when performing distributed printing, the ink discharge amount of each machine can be leveled from the discharge information provided for each machine, so that individual differences between the machines can be absorbed and a uniform output result can be obtained.
Here, the ejection information may be any information that represents the amount of ink ejected from each machine used for distributed printing. For example, the ejection information represents the amount of ink ejected by one ejection of ink. is there.

In addition, as an example of a configuration in which the discharge adjustment unit performs leveling of the discharge amount, the discharge adjustment unit includes a communication unit that mutually communicates the discharge information between the connected airframes. Alternatively, the ink discharge amount reference may be determined based on the discharge information of each machine.
In the invention configured as described above, since the reference is determined from the ejection information in the actual machine that performs the distributed printing, it is possible to obtain a uniform output result in accordance with the machine that actually performs the printing.

As an example of a specific configuration of processing in the discharge adjustment unit, the discharge adjustment unit determines that the machine body having the smallest ink discharge amount per shot among the acquired discharge information of each machine body is the ink discharge amount. The ink discharge amount may be adjusted based on the print data corrected based on the ink discharge amount based on the reference.
Here, the print data corrected based on the ink discharge amount of the machine having the smallest ink discharge amount per shot is corrected so as to increase the output value, and this print data is transferred to another machine (ink In the case of leveling using a machine body whose discharge amount is not the smallest, it is necessary to adjust the ink discharge amount to be lowered. As a result, the amount of ink used in each machine is lowered, so that the amount of ink used or energy cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, as another example of processing in the discharge adjustment unit, the discharge adjustment unit uses the machine body having the largest ink discharge amount per shot among the acquired discharge information of each machine body as a reference for the ink discharge amount. The ink discharge amount may be adjusted based on the print data corrected based on the reference ink discharge amount.
In the invention configured as described above, by using the print data corrected based on the ink discharge amount of the machine body having the largest ink discharge amount, the other machine bodies are equalized by performing the leveling of the ink discharge amount. Since the use amount or energy of the ink is used more than usual, it becomes possible to stably perform the distributed printing.

  Further, as an example of leveling the output result in the discharge adjustment unit, the discharge adjustment unit may be configured to adjust the ink discharge amount by changing a driving pulse when the printing unit discharges ink. .

  As an example of leveling the output result in the discharge adjusting unit, the discharge adjusting unit may adjust the ink discharge amount by changing the dot size of the ink discharged by the printing unit.

  Further, as an example of leveling the output result in the discharge adjustment unit, the printing apparatus includes a plurality of inks having different densities for each color, and the discharge adjustment unit changes the type of ink of each color according to the density. Thus, the ink discharge amount may be adjusted.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram for explaining a configuration of the printing apparatus 10. It is a figure for demonstrating ink weight ID. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing executed by the printing apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the correction amount of each printer. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of printing processing executed by the printing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
1. First embodiment:
1.1. Configuration of printing device:
1.2. Flow of printing process:
1.3. Modification 1:
1.4. Modification 2:
1.5. Modification 3:
2. Second embodiment:
3. Other embodiments:

1. First embodiment:
1.1. Configuration of printing device:
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the printing apparatus 10. The printing apparatus 10 shown as the first embodiment is configured by connecting a host PC 20 and printers 30, 40, and 50 to a network N.

  The host PC 20 includes a controller 21 having a CPU and a RAM, an HDD 22 that records program data for the controller 21 to execute predetermined arithmetic processing, and a communication IF 23 for communicating with the printers 30 to 50. It is prepared for. The host PC 20 is connected to the keyboard 25 and the mouse 26 via the IOIF 24, and accepts an operation input from the user.

  The HDD 22 stores an application program PD1 for generating original image data that is the basis of the print data PRN, and a driver program PD2 for causing the printers 30 to 50 to print the generated original image data. The controller 21 according to the present embodiment generates the print data PRN from the original image data by executing the driver program PD2, and realizes a function as the driver M1 that executes distributed printing.

  The communication IF 23 performs data communication with a communication IF 32 (described later) included in the printers 30 to 50 based on the control of the driver M1. For example, when the network N is a LAN (Local Area Network), communication of print data PRN, ink weight ID, and device ID (described later) is executed with the printers 30 to 50 through the LAN.

  The printers 30 to 50 discharge the ink filled in the ink cartridges corresponding to the colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) to form a print image on the printing paper. . Since the printers 30 to 50 have the same functions and configurations, the configuration and functions of the printer 30 will be mainly described below.

  The printer 30 according to this embodiment is an ink jet printer, and includes a controller 31, a communication IF 32, a head controller 33, and a carriage 34. The printer 30 can communicate with the host PC 20 and other printers 40 and 50 via the communication IF 32.

  The carriage 34 includes a cartridge 37 for each color of C, M, Y, and K, a memory 38, and a head unit 39. The head unit 39 includes a nozzle row that ejects C, M, Y, and K inks. In addition, each nozzle constituting the nozzle row is configured by arranging nozzles including piezoelectric elements, for example, and ink filled in the cartridge 37 is ejected from the nozzles according to the distortion of the piezoelectric elements. The memory 38 specifies the ink weight ID (ejection information) in which the ink weight ejected per shot by each nozzle row constituting the head unit 39 and the type of the printer 30 (for example, the machine number and series number) are specified. Device ID for recording.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the ink weight ID. The ink weight ID is classified into “1” to “21” according to the ink weight per shot ejected by each nozzle row. As the ID value increases, the ink weight per shot decreases. As the value decreases, the ink weight per shot increases. Note that the print data PRN generated by the host PC 20 is obtained by replacing the color space (for example, RGB color space) indicated by the original image data with a set of C, M, Y, and K ink amounts. Is determined based on a reference value of ink weight ID (for example, class “11”, and ink weight is 20.0 to 20.5 nanogram (ng)). The ink weight ID is recorded in the memory 38 for each nozzle row that ejects C, M, Y, and K inks. Note that one shot means an operation in which the head unit 39 ejects ink in one waveform of a drive pulse described later.

  The head controller 33 converts the print data generated by the host PC 20 from digital to analog and generates a drive pulse. This drive pulse, for example, causes ink to be ejected by distorting a piezo element by a predetermined amount, and is composed of a first drive signal Vcom1 and a second drive signal Vcom2, and by combining each drive signal, the dot diameter is changed. Different inks (in this embodiment, three types of dot sizes of S (small), M (medium), and L (large) can be generated) can be ejected from the head unit 39. Further, by changing the amplitude (voltage) of the first drive signal Vcom1 and the second drive signal Vcom2, it is possible to change the ink discharge amount per shot. For example, by increasing the amplitudes of the first drive signal Vcom1 and the second drive signal Vcom2 by a predetermined width, it is possible to increase the weight of ink ejected by the head unit 39 per shot.

  The controller 31 includes a CPU, a ROM that records a program for the CPU to execute a predetermined calculation, and a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU, and controls the driving of the printer 30 in an integrated manner. In the present embodiment, the controller 31 executes the program data PD3 recorded in the ROM, thereby controlling the print control module M2 (printing means) that executes print processing in the printer 30 and the communication IF 32 to control the host PC 20, And a communication module M3 (communication means) that mutually communicates data with each of the printers 40 and 50, and an ejection adjustment module M4 (ejection adjustment means) that adjusts the ink ejection amount based on an ID acquired from another printer. Realize the function. Further, the ROM stores an ID-adjustment amount table T1 that is referred to by the discharge adjustment module M4 to adjust the ink discharge amount per shot. Specific functions in each module will be described later.

1.2. Flow of printing process:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of printing processing executed by the printing apparatus 10. In the following, an example will be described in which the host PC 20 shown in FIG. 1 creates original image data based on the application program PD1, and this original image data is distributed to each printer.

  In step S1, when the user operates the keyboard 25 of the host PC 20 to select the distributed printing of the original image data by the printers 30 to 50 (step S1: YES), the driver M1 performs distributed printing on each of the printers 30 to 50. Command to start. If distributed printing is not selected (step S1: NO), normal print processing is executed without distributing the print data PRN (step S11).

  In step S2, the communication module M3 in the printer 30 communicates the device ID and the ink weight ID with each other with the printers 40 and 50 connected to the network. As a result, the controller 31 of the printer 30 acquires the IDs of the printer 40 and the printer 50 in addition to its own ID (ink weight ID, device ID).

  In step S3, when the acquired device ID of the other printer is the same as the device ID of the own device (step S3: YES), in step S4, the ejection adjustment module M4 acquires the acquired printer and the ink of the own device. An average value of each color of C, M, Y, and K of the weight ID (hereinafter referred to as average ink weight IDave) is calculated. On the other hand, when the acquired device IDs related to the other printers are different from the own device IDs (step S3: NO), there is a high possibility that the types of the printers are different, and the distributed printing process is performed without leveling the ink ejection amount. Is executed (step S10).

  In step S5, the discharge adjustment module M4 uses an average ink weight IDave as a reference (hereinafter referred to as a reference printer) for correcting the drive pulse among the average ink weight IDave calculated in step S4. Select based on. In the present embodiment, the ejection adjustment module M4 selects the printer 40 having the highest average ink weight IDave as the reference printer. Here, the reference printer means a printer that serves as a reference for the discharge amount when leveling the ink discharge amount. Further, by selecting the reference printer from among the printers that perform distributed printing, the output result can be leveled based on the printer that actually performs printing.

  In step S6, print data PRN is generated, and correction according to the ink weight ID of the reference printer (hereinafter referred to as reference IDdef) is performed on the print data PRN. Therefore, the communication module M3 transmits the device ID and reference IDdef of the reference printer specified in step S5 to the host PC 10. Then, the driver M1 of the host PC 20 generates print data PRN from the original image data, and corrects the generated print data according to the reference IDdef.

  FIG. 3A is a graph showing output values that change due to correction. In the graph shown in FIG. 3A, the horizontal axis represents the output value (ink weight) of the print data PRN before correction, and the vertical axis represents the output value (ink weight) of the print data PRN after correction. In FIG. 3A, as an example, the relationship between the output values is indicated by three slopes (γ), and correction is not performed between the output values when γ = 1, and correction is performed on the output value before correction when γ> 1. The output value after the correction becomes strong, and the output value after the correction becomes weaker than the output value before the correction when γ <1.

  Therefore, the driver M1 corrects the output value to be higher when the reference IDdef of the reference printer is higher than the reference value and the ink discharge amount per shot is small. Further, the driver M1 controls the communication IF 23 to transmit the corrected print data PRN to each of the printers 30 to 50. At this time, since distributed printing is designated in step S1, distributed print data PRN is transmitted from the host PC 20 to each of the printers 30 to 50.

  In step S7, the driver M1 registers the device ID and the reference ID def related to the reference printer. Thereafter, in the printing process, distributed printing is performed based on the registered reference IDdef of the reference printer.

  In step S8, the ejection adjustment module M4 calculates a difference between the reference IDdef and the ink weight ID of each nozzle row in the own apparatus, and sets the adjustment amount of the drive pulse corresponding to the calculated difference in the ID-adjustment amount table T1. Obtained based on (FIG. 3-b). The ID-adjustment amount table T1 is a table for setting a correction value for leveling the ink discharge amount for each nozzle row that discharges C, M, Y, and K inks. As an example, in this ID-adjustment amount table T1, the adjustment amount of the drive pulse voltage is recorded corresponding to the difference between the reference IDdef and the ink weight ID of the own device. Further, it is assumed that the voltage adjustment amount of the driving pulse recorded in the ID-adjustment amount table T1 is set according to the ink weight ID of the printer selected as the reference printer.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the correction amount of each printer. In the present embodiment, the print data PRN is corrected so that the discharge amount of the reference printer approaches the ideal ink discharge amount, and each printer uses the print data PRN to equalize the ink discharge amount. Here, since the reference printer has the highest ink weight ID, the amount of increase (correction amount) in the output value of the corrected print data PRN is the largest compared to the case where correction is performed based on another printer. . Therefore, when a printer other than the reference printer uses the corrected print data PRN to equalize the ink discharge amount, it is necessary to perform correction so as to reduce the ink discharge amount. As a result, the amplitude (voltage) of the drive pulse Correction is performed so as to be low. With the above-described configuration, each printer performs adjustment so that the voltage value of the drive pulse is lowered, so that power saving can be achieved.

  In step S9, the discharge adjustment module M4 corrects the current drive pulse based on the adjustment amount of the drive pulse calculated in step S8. At this time, the discharge adjustment module M4 records the acquired adjustment amount in the memory 38 for each color of CMYK. Therefore, when performing distributed printing using the printers 30 to 50 thereafter, printing in each printer is executed based on the adjustment amount recorded in the memory 38.

  In step S10, the print control module M2 executes print processing based on the corrected drive pulse. Specifically, the print control module M2 divides the print data PRN into band data, and ejects ink by reciprocating the carriage 34 according to each band data. In this printing process, since the ink discharge amount in each machine is leveled based on the ink discharge amount of the reference printer, the color of the image formed by each printer can be leveled. The first embodiment has been described above.

1.3. Modification 1:
The selection target of the reference printer may be a printer having the smallest ink weight ID. When the printer with the smallest ink weight ID is the reference printer, the print data PRN is corrected so that the ejection amount of the printer with the largest ink ejection amount per shot approaches the ideal ink ejection amount. Further, printers other than the reference printer adjust the drive pulse so that the ink discharge amount is leveled using the corrected print data PRN. Therefore, when the ink discharge amount is leveled using the corrected print data PRN, it is necessary to perform correction so as to reduce the ink discharge amount. As a result, the discharge amount can be increased by increasing the voltage value of the drive pulse. Can be stabilized.

1.4. Modification 2:
As a method for leveling the ink discharge amount between the printers, not only the voltage of the drive pulse but also the ink discharge amount may be adjusted by changing the dot diameter of the ink. That is, in step S8 of FIG. 3, the ejection adjustment module M4 calculates the difference between the reference IDdef and the ink weight IDave of the own apparatus, and selects the dot diameter as the adjustment amount of the drive pulse corresponding to the calculated difference. To do. In order to realize the above configuration, the dot diameter (S, M, L) corresponding to the difference between the ink weight ID specified as the reference and the ink weight ID of the own device is recorded in the ID-adjustment amount table T1 in association with each other. It only has to be done.

1.5. Modification 3:
Further, as another method of leveling the ink discharge amount between printers, adjustment may be performed by changing the ink density. For example, when six inks of C, M, Y, K, Lc (light cyan), and Lm (light magenta) are used as the inks to be used, the ejection adjustment module M4 includes the C ink and the Lc ink, or the M ink. The adjustment in step S8 may be performed by dynamically changing the use of Lm ink.

2. Second embodiment:
In the first embodiment described above, the ink weight ID and the device ID are mutually communicated between the printers to specify the reference printer from among the printers that are actually used. However, the reference printer is the reference value of the ink weight ID. It is good also as a structure set based on.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of printing processing executed by the printing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment.

  In step S21, when the user operates the keyboard 25 of the host PC 20 to select the print data PRN to be distributedly printed by the printers 30 to 50 (step S21: YES), in step S22, the discharge adjustment module M4 displays the reference printer. Set. At this time, in the second embodiment, the reference printer is virtually set as a machine body having a reference ID (for example, ID “11”). In step S23, the driver M1 records the reference ID described above as the ID of the reference printer.

  In step S24, the ejection adjustment module M4 calculates the difference between the ink weight ID of the own apparatus and the reference ID def, and acquires the adjustment amount of the drive pulse based on this difference. In addition, as an acquisition method of adjustment amount, it acquires with reference to ID-adjustment amount table T1 similarly to 1st Embodiment. In step S25, the discharge adjustment module M4 corrects the current drive pulse based on the adjustment amount of the drive pulse acquired in step S24.

  Subsequently, in step S26, the print control module M2 executes the distributed printing process by driving the carriage 34 based on the corrected drive pulse. With the above configuration, since the reference ID is acquired from the reference value of the ink weight ID, it is not necessary to perform ID communication between printers, and it is not necessary to correct the print data PRN, thereby simplifying the process. Can be The second embodiment has been described above.

3. Other embodiments:
There are various embodiments of the present invention.
In the printing apparatus 10 described above, the use of the host PC 20 is an example, and the printer 10 may be configured by only the printers 30 to 50. In this case, for example, the controllers of the printers 30 to 50 may have the function of the driver M1 of the host PC 20.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. That is, the mutually replaceable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments are applied by changing their combinations as appropriate. The members and configurations disclosed in the examples can be replaced with the members and configurations interchangeable with each other as appropriate, and the combination thereof is changed and applied. It is one of the present invention that a person skilled in the art can appropriately substitute the members and configurations that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments based on the above, and change the combination to apply. It is disclosed as an example.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing device, 20 ... Host PC, 21 ... Controller, 22 ... HDD, 23 ... Communication IF, 24 ... Keyboard, 25 ... Mouse, 30 ... Printer, 31 ... Controller, 32 ... Communication IF, 33 ... Head controller, 34 ... Carriage, 37 ... Cartridge, 38 ... Memory, 39 ... Head unit, 40, 50 ... Printer, M1 ... Driver, M2 ... Print control module, M3 ... Communication module, M4 ... Discharge adjustment module

Claims (7)

A printing apparatus that performs distributed printing in which print data is distributed by a plurality of machines,
An ink discharge amount reference is determined based on the discharge information indicating the ink discharge amount, and the ink discharge amount is adjusted so that the output result between each machine is leveled based on the determined reference. Adjusting means;
And a printing unit that performs a printing process using the leveled ink discharge amount. Communication means for mutually communicating the discharge information between each connected aircraft,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge adjustment unit determines a reference of an ink discharge amount based on the acquired discharge information of each machine. The discharge adjustment means uses the machine body with the smallest ink discharge amount per shot among the acquired discharge information of each machine body as a reference for the ink discharge amount,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink discharge amount is adjusted based on print data corrected based on the reference ink discharge amount. The discharge adjustment means uses the machine body having the largest ink discharge amount per shot among the acquired discharge information of each machine body as a reference for the ink discharge amount,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink discharge amount is adjusted based on print data corrected based on the reference ink discharge amount.   The said discharge adjustment means adjusts the said ink discharge amount by changing the drive pulse at the time of the said printing means discharging ink, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Printing device.   5. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the ejection adjustment unit adjusts the ink ejection amount by changing a dot size of the ink ejected by the printing unit. apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a plurality of inks having different densities for each color,
5. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the ejection adjustment unit adjusts the ink ejection amount by changing a type of the ink of each color according to a density. 6. apparatus.

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