JP2012045715A - Data storage processing apparatus in printing apparatus, printing apparatus, and data storage processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data storage processing apparatus that can correctly write back update data of a second storage unit written by a print controller to a first storage unit, and does not reduce print throughput preferably, and to provide a printing apparatus, and a data storage processing method.SOLUTION: Data D written in a first storage part 131 of RAM 54 from a nonvolatile memory 55 when powered on is updated by write access of part of each of print system task parts 81-89. A write task part 91 copies the data D of the first memory 131 to the second memory 132. A write back task part 92 writes back the data D of the second memory 132 to the nonvolatile memory 55. Priorities of tasks set by a scheduler 72 of a real-time OS 71 are set in such that the priority of a writing task part 91 is higher than those of the printing system task sections 81-89, and the priority of a write back task part 90 is set lower than those of the print system task parts 81-89.

Description

  The present invention relates to a data storage processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a data storage processing method in a printing apparatus that stores data including printing related information updated during operation of the printing apparatus in a nonvolatile storage unit.

For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose printing apparatuses that store and store data such as ink remaining amount information in a nonvolatile memory.
For example, a recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a nonvolatile memory mounted on a recording head and a nonvolatile memory mounted on an ink tank. A technique for copying the contents of a non-volatile memory mounted on a tank is disclosed. When an operation that consumes ink is performed at the end of printing or when the recovery operation is completed, the contents of the non-volatile memory of the ink tank and the non-volatile memory of the recording head are simultaneously rewritten. For this reason, even if data rewriting to the ink tank non-volatile memory fails due to an unexpected action such as attachment / detachment of the ink tank during data writing, the contents of the non-volatile memory of the ink tank The contents can be restored.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a printing apparatus that calculates the remaining ink amount and writes it back to a nonvolatile memory (EEPROM) each time printing of one page is completed. When a power-down command is output, the remaining amount of ink data in the nonvolatile memory is written in the nonvolatile storage element of the ink cartridge.

  However, since data was written back from RAM or non-volatile memory to another non-volatile memory (non-volatile storage element) when the power was turned off, the power was not supplied when a power failure occurred or the power plug was disconnected. The write-back process had to be completed within a short time before being shut off (for example, the discharge time of a capacitor having a secondary battery function). In this case, the data cannot be written back to the end, and there is a possibility that problems such as a part of old data being mixed in the nonvolatile memory may occur.

  As described above, in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, since the number of times of writing is limited, data write-back is limited when a power-down command is output or when an ink cartridge is replaced. Occurs. In recent years, non-volatile memories such as FeRAM, which are durable to such an extent that the number of writing operations is not substantially limited, have come to be used. In this case, it is desirable that update data such as the ink remaining amount that is sequentially updated is stored in the RAM and written into the non-volatile memory with a writing frequency lower than the writing frequency of the RAM. In addition, in an electronic device such as a printing apparatus, for example, a configuration in which a real-time OS or the like is installed to perform multitask processing is employed.

JP 2005-193593 A JP 2003-18818 A

  However, when data is written back from one storage means (second storage means) such as RAM or non-volatile memory to another storage means (first storage means) consisting of non-volatile memory, a real-time OS or the like is used. In the configuration for performing multitask processing, the following problems may occur. Another task unit having a higher priority than the write-back task unit during the write-back while the write-back task unit (write-back unit) is writing back data from the second storage unit to the first storage unit When (for example, a printing task) is activated and the update data is overwritten on the write-back source data of the second storage means, the activated write-back task unit then writes back the data from the middle of the interruption. If the overwritten data is written back when resuming, the previous data before the interruption of writing back and the new data after resuming writing will be written back. There was a problem.

  If the power is turned off while wrong data is stored in the non-volatile memory (first storage means), for example, the remaining ink is obtained based on the wrong data read from the non-volatile memory at the next power-on. There may have been a case where the amount information is different from the actual remaining ink amount. In this case, although the ink end is not in the ink remaining amount information, the actual ink remaining amount is exhausted, the ink runs out during printing, or the ink is actually remaining. There is a problem in that the printing operation is forcibly stopped due to the ink end being determined. Of course, since various data other than the remaining ink amount are stored in the nonvolatile memory (first storage means), problems caused by incorrect data differ depending on the data type.

  Also, if the priority of the write-back task part is set higher than that of the print-related task part (printing control means), no interruption occurs during the write-back, so that correct data can be written back. However, if data write-back processing is frequently performed even during printing, another problem that print throughput is reduced occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and one of its purposes is to correctly write back the update data of the second storage means written by the print control means to the first storage means, In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data storage processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a data storage processing method in a printing apparatus that can reduce the printing throughput as much as possible.

  In order to achieve one of the above objects, one aspect of the present invention is a data storage processing apparatus in a printing apparatus, which performs a recording process for causing a printing unit to perform a recording operation on a printing medium. Printing control means for acquiring printing related information that is updated by a printing operation by the printing means, a nonvolatile first storage means for storing data including the printing related information, and the first Volatilization having a first storage unit in which data in the storage unit is written and write access by the print control unit is permitted to update the data, and a second storage unit in which write access by the print control unit is prohibited Or non-volatile second storage means, writing means for writing data of the first storage means to the first storage section, and the data of the first storage section to the second A copy unit for copying to a storage unit, a write-back unit for writing back data in the second storage unit to the first storage unit, the print control unit, the write unit, the copy unit, and the write-back unit. Control means for selectively starting according to the set start priority, the copy means is set to have a higher start priority than the print control means and the write back means, and the write back means is the print The gist of the invention is that the starting priority is set lower than at least the recording processing means in the control means.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the data in the first storage means is written into the first storage section of the second storage means by the writing means. The print control unit causes the printing unit to perform a printing operation including a recording operation, and updates the data by writing the printing related information updated by the printing operation in the first storage unit of the second storage unit. The data in the first storage unit is copied to the second storage unit by the copying means. At this time, since the copy unit has a higher activation priority than the print control unit and the write back unit, the copy source data is not rewritten by the print control unit in the middle of copying. Then, the write-back means writes the data in the second storage unit back to the first storage means. At this time, since the print control means is prohibited from writing access to the second storage unit, the data in the second storage unit is not rewritten during this write-back. As a result, correct data can be written back to the first storage means.

  In the data storage processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the printing unit includes a recording unit that records on the printing medium and a conveying unit that conveys the printing medium, and the printing control unit includes the recording unit The recording processing means for performing recording system processing including image processing for generating recording data used for the recording operation of the means, and the transport control means for performing transport system control for causing the printing means to perform the transport operation of the printing medium. The starting priority of the writing-back means is set higher than the transport control means and lower than the recording processing means.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the activation priority order of the writing-back means is set higher than the conveyance control means and lower than the recording processing means, so the writing-back means during the recording system processing by the recording processing means. Is not interrupted, and write back can be performed prior to the transport operation during the printing process during printing. As a result, as a further effect, it is possible to increase the frequency of data rewriting by performing rewriting between recordings during printing while avoiding a decrease in printing throughput as much as possible by suppressing the stagnation of recording processing. .

In the data storage processing apparatus which is one aspect of the present invention, the activation priority is set to be activated while the printing apparatus is on standby.
According to one aspect of the present invention, since the writing-back unit is activated while the printing apparatus is on standby, the write-back unit is stored in the second storage unit of the second storage unit every time a standby state in which a printing operation or the like is not performed. Data can be written back to the first storage means. For this reason, the interruption by the writing back means does not occur during the printing operation, the printing process can be smoothly performed, and the data writing back frequency can be increased.

  In the data storage processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, when the write back of the data is started by the write back means, the copy means does not copy the data until the write back of the data is completed. It is configured.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the data is not copied to the second storage unit until the write-back unit finishes writing the data in the second storage unit back to the first storage unit. For this reason, it is avoided that the data of the write-back source is rewritten during the write-back, so that correct data can be written back to the first storage means.

  In the data storage processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, when the power of the printing apparatus is shut off, the write-back means is kept in the print-back means while maintaining the relationship that the write-back means has a lower start priority than the copy means. Priority change means for changing the priority to a higher activation priority than the control means is further provided.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, when the power of the printing apparatus is turned off, the priority order changing unit retains the relationship that the activation priority is lower than that of the copy unit, while maintaining a higher priority than the print control unit. Change to rank. For this reason, when an unexpected power interruption occurs due to any cause (for example, power failure or power plug disconnection) during the printing operation, the copying unit or the writing back unit is activated in preference to the printing control unit. If the copy unit is not activated when the power is cut off, the write-back unit is activated and data is written back. On the other hand, if the copying means is copying at the time of power interruption, the writing-back means is activated after the copying is completed, and data is written back. Therefore, data can be written back even when the power is shut off, and correct data can be written back quickly.

  One aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit and a control device that controls the printing unit, and the control device includes the control unit according to any one of the above aspects of the present invention. A data storage processing device is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, since the data storage processing device according to any one of the several aspects of the invention is provided, any one of the several aspects of the invention according to the data storage processing device is provided. The effect which one has can be obtained similarly.

  One aspect of the present invention is a data storage processing method in a printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus stores non-volatile first storage means for storing data including printing related information, and the first storage. Volatile having a first storage unit in which data of the means is written and write access by the print control unit is permitted to update the data, and a second storage unit in which write access by the print control unit is prohibited Or a non-volatile second storage means, a writing stage for writing the data of the first storage means into the first storage unit of the second storage means, and a recording operation on the printing medium in the printing means. A print control stage including a print processing stage including a recording system processing stage for performing a recording system process for performing printing, and acquiring print-related information updated by a printing operation by the printing unit; A data update stage for writing the print-related information acquired in the print control stage to the first storage section, a copy stage for copying data in the first storage section to the second storage section, and data in the second storage section A write-back stage for writing back to the first storage means, wherein the copy stage has a higher execution priority than the data update stage, and the write-back stage is at least the recording system in the print control stage. The gist is that the execution priority is set lower than the processing stage. According to one aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the data storage processing device according to one of the above aspects of the present invention can be obtained.

1 is a schematic side view of a printing system according to a first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printing system. The block diagram explaining the functional structure of a controller. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a controller. (A) (b) A schematic diagram showing a task priority management table. The block diagram explaining a data storage process. The sequence diagram explaining the data storage process in the normal time. The sequence diagram explaining the data storage process at the time of power-off. The sequence diagram explaining the data storage process at the normal time in 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a printing control apparatus for a lateral type ink jet printer will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system including a lateral type ink jet printer. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing system 100 includes an image generation device 110 that generates image data, a host device 120 that generates print data based on the image data received from the image generation device 110, and a reception from the host device 120. A lateral ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer 11”) as an example of a printing apparatus that prints an image based on the print data.

  The image generation device 110 includes, for example, a personal computer, and includes an image generation unit 112 that is constructed by a CPU in the main body 111 executing image creation software. The user activates the image generation unit 112, creates an image on the monitor 114 by operating the input device 113, and operates the input device 113 to instruct printing of the image. Then, image data related to the image is transmitted to the host device 120 via a predetermined communication interface.

  The host device 120 is configured by, for example, a personal computer, and includes a printer driver 122 that is constructed by a CPU in the main body 121 executing printer driver software. The printer driver 122 generates print data based on the image data received from the image generation device 110 and transmits the print data to the control device C provided in the printer 11. The control device C controls the printer 11 based on the print data received from the printer driver 122 and causes the printer 11 to print an image based on the print data. The monitor 123 displays a menu screen for inputting and setting control setting values to the printer 11, an image to be printed, and the like.

  Next, the configuration of the printer 11 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the following description in the specification, the terms “left-right direction” and “vertical direction” refer to the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. In FIG. 1, the front side is the front side, and the back side is the rear side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 includes a rectangular parallelepiped main body case 12. In the main body case 12, a feeding unit 14 that feeds out the long sheet 13, a printing chamber 15 that prints the sheet 13 by ejecting ink, and a drying process that is performed on the sheet 13 to which ink has adhered by printing. A drying device 16 and a winding unit 17 that winds the sheet 13 that has been dried are provided.

  That is, a flat base 18 that vertically divides the inside of the main body case 12 is provided at a position slightly above in the main body case 12, and a region above the base 18 has a rectangular plate shape. The printing chamber 15 is formed by supporting the support member 19 on the base 18. In the region below the base 18, the feeding unit 14 is disposed at a position on the left side on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet 13, and is dried at a position on the right side on the downstream side. A device 16 and a winding part 17 are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a winding shaft 20 extending in the front-rear direction is rotatably provided in the feeding portion 14, and can be integrally rotated with the sheet 13 wound in a roll shape on the winding shaft 20 in advance. It is supported. That is, the sheet 13 is fed out from the feeding unit 14 as the winding shaft 20 rotates. Further, the sheet 13 fed out from the feeding unit 14 is wound around the first roller 21 located on the right side of the winding shaft 20 and guided upward.

  On the other hand, a second roller 22 is provided in parallel with the lower first roller 21 at a position corresponding to the lower first roller 21 in the vertical direction on the left side of the support member 19. And the sheet | seat 13 by which the conveyance direction was converted into the vertically upward direction by the 1st roller 21 is wound around this 2nd roller 22 from the lower left side, The conveyance direction is converted into the horizontal right direction, and the support member 19 It is designed to come into sliding contact with the upper surface.

  Further, on the right side of the support member 19, a third roller 23 facing the second roller 22 on the left side and the support member 19 is provided in parallel with the second roller 22. The positions of the second roller 22 and the third roller 23 are adjusted so that the tops of the respective peripheral surfaces are at the same height as the upper surface of the support member 19.

  The sheet 13 whose conveyance direction is changed to the horizontal right direction by the left second roller 22 in the printing chamber 15 is conveyed to the right side which is the downstream side while being in sliding contact with the upper surface of the support member 19, and then the third roller 23. By being wound from above the right side, the conveying direction is changed to a vertically downward direction and conveyed toward the drying device 16 below the base 18. The sheet 13 that has been dried by passing through the drying device 16 is further transported vertically downward, and is then wound around the fourth roller 24 to change the transport direction to the horizontal right direction. The winding shaft 25 of the winding unit 17 disposed on the right side of the fourth roller 24 rotates based on the driving force of the transport motor 61 (see FIG. 2) to be wound into a roll.

  As shown in FIG. 1, guide rails 26 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) extending in the left-right direction are provided on both the front and rear sides of the support member 19 in the printing chamber 15 so as to form a pair. The upper surface of the guide rail 26 is higher than the upper surface of the support member 19, and a rectangular carriage 27 is placed on the upper surfaces of both guide rails 26 based on the driving of the first carriage motor 62 (see FIG. 2). 26 is supported in a state in which it can reciprocate in the main scanning direction X (left-right direction in FIG. 1) shown in FIG. Further, the carriage 27 can be moved in the sub-scanning direction (the front-rear direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) based on the driving of the second carriage motor 63 (see FIG. 2). A plurality of recording heads 29 as an example of recording means are supported on the lower surface side of the carriage 27 via a support plate 28.

  A fixed range from the left end to the right end of the support member 19 is a printing area, and the sheet 13 is intermittently conveyed in units of the printing area. Then, printing is performed on the sheet 13 by ejecting ink from the recording head 29 as the carriage 27 reciprocates on the sheet 13 stopped on the support member 19.

  At the time of printing, the suction device 30 provided on the lower side of the support member 19 is driven, and the sheet 13 is moved by the suction force due to negative pressure that reaches a large number of suction holes opened on the upper surface of the support member 19. Adsorbed on the top surface. When the printing on the sheet 13 is completed once, the negative pressure of the suction device 30 is released, and the sheet 13 is conveyed.

  In the printing chamber 15, a maintenance device 32 for performing maintenance of the recording head 29 at the time of non-printing is provided in a non-printing region on the right side of the third roller 23. The maintenance device 32 includes a cap 33 and a lifting device 34 for each recording head 29. Each cap 33 moves between a capping position that contacts the nozzle formation surface of the recording head 29 and a retreat position that is separated from the nozzle formation surface by driving the lifting device 34.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality (e.g., eight) of ink cartridges IC <b> 1 to IC <b> 8 respectively containing different color inks are detachably mounted in the main body case 12. Each ink cartridge IC1 to IC8 is connected to the recording head 29 through an ink supply path or the like (not shown), and each recording head 29 ejects ink supplied from each ink cartridge IC1 to IC8. For this reason, in the printer 11 of this example, color printing using eight colors of ink is possible. In the main body case 12, an openable / closable cover 38 is provided at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8. The replacement operation of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8 is performed with the cover 38 opened. The opening operation of the cover 38 when the ink cartridge is exchanged is detected by the control device C.

  The eight ink cartridges IC1 to IC8 contain inks such as black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). A configuration in which a moisturizing liquid cartridge that stores the moisturizing liquid is loaded can also be employed. Of course, the type (number of colors) of the ink can be set as appropriate, and a configuration in which monochrome printing is performed using only black ink, or a configuration in which the ink is set to two colors, or an arbitrary number of colors other than eight colors such as three or more can be employed. .

  Each of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8 is electrically connected to the control device C via a cartridge holder (not shown), and is connected to a non-volatile storage element 47 (see FIG. 2) mounted on each of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8. The ink remaining amount information of the corresponding color is written. In the present embodiment, an uninterruptible power supply 48 is connected to the control device C, and power supply to various drive systems and display systems of the printer 11 is performed from the uninterruptible power supply 48 via the control device C. It has come to be. Instead of the uninterruptible power supply 48, a normal power supply without an uninterruptible function may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing system 100. The printer driver 122 in the host device 120 shown in FIG. 2 performs display control of various screens such as a menu screen and a print condition setting screen to be displayed on the monitor 123, and inputs from the operation unit 124 in the display state of each screen. A host control unit 125 that performs predetermined processing according to the operation signal is provided. The host control unit 125 controls the printer driver 122 as a whole. In addition, the printer driver 122 includes a resolution conversion unit 126, a color conversion unit 127, and a halftone processing unit 128 that perform image processing necessary for generating print data on the image data received from the higher-level image generation apparatus 110. I have. The resolution conversion unit 126 performs resolution conversion processing for converting image data from display resolution to print resolution. The color conversion unit 127 performs color conversion processing for color conversion from a display color system (for example, RGB color system or YCbCr color system) to a print color system (for example, CMYK color system). Furthermore, the halftone processing unit 128 converts halftone processing for converting high gradation (for example, 256 gradation) pixel data for display into low gradation (for example, two or four gradations) pixel data for printing. And so on. Then, the printer driver 122 attaches a command described by a print control code (for example, ESC / P) to the print image data generated as a result of performing these image processes, and print job data (hereinafter simply referred to as “print”). Data PD) ”.

  The host device 120 includes a transfer control unit 129 that performs data transfer control. The transfer control unit 129 serially transfers the print data PD generated by the printer driver 122 to the printer 11 sequentially by a predetermined amount of packet data.

  On the other hand, the control device C on the printer 11 side includes a controller 40 that receives the print data PD from the host device 120 and performs various controls including control of the recording system. The controller 40 controls a plurality (15 in this example) of recording heads 29.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the host device 120 of this embodiment includes a serial communication port U1. The controller 40 also has a serial communication port U2. The transfer control unit 129 serially transfers the print data PD corresponding to the controller 40 via communication between the serial communication ports U1 and U2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality (N (eight in this example)) of head control units 45 (hereinafter simply referred to as “HCU45”) are connected to the controller 40, and each HCU 45 has one for each. A plurality of (M (two in this example)) recording heads 29 are connected.

  Further, eight storage elements 47 mounted on eight ink cartridges IC1 to IC8 are connected to each communication circuit 46 connected to the controller 40, respectively. The controller 40 can communicate with the storage elements 47 mounted on the eight ink cartridges IC1 to IC4. The storage element 47 is configured by a nonvolatile storage element. The storage element 47 stores various ink-related information such as ink remaining amount information, ink color, expiration date, maintenance information, and product number of the corresponding ink cartridge IC. In the state where the ink cartridge IC (see FIG. 1) is mounted in the cartridge holder, the communication circuit 46 is connected to the storage element 47 by electrically connecting the storage element 47 and the terminal portion on the cartridge holder side. Thus, communication for reading and writing becomes possible.

  The controller 40 manages the remaining amount of ink of the eight ink cartridges IC1 to IC8. The controller 40 can read and write ink related information by communicating with the storage elements 47 of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8 via the communication circuit 46.

  Furthermore, the control device C includes a mechanical controller 43 connected to the output side (control downstream side) of the controller 40 through the communication line SL1. The mechanical controller 43 mainly controls the mechanical mechanism 44 including a transport system and a carriage drive system. The controller 40 sends a carriage start command to the mechanical controller when a plurality of (for example, fifteen) recording heads 29 that it is responsible for are ready for printing (ie, when print image data used for ink droplet ejection control is prepared). 43 is transmitted. This prevents an ejection error in which ink droplets are not ejected even though the recording head 29 has reached the ejection position due to the carriage 27 being activated before one of the controllers 40 is ready for printing. .

  Further, the controller 40 transmits a conveyance command for instructing conveyance of the sheet 13 to the mechanical controller 43 at the stage where the printing of the plurality of recording heads 29 that the controller 40 has completed is completed. Thereby, the landing position shift of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 29 with respect to the sheet 13 is caused by the start of conveyance of the sheet 13 (or the suction release of the sheet on the support member 19) before the completion of printing. (Print position deviation) is prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a linear encoder 50 is connected to the controller 40. The linear encoder 50 is provided along the movement path of the carriage 27, and a detection signal (encoder pulse signal) having a number of pulses proportional to the movement distance of the carriage 27 is input from the linear encoder 50 to the controller 40. . The encoder pulse signal input to the controller 40 is used to acquire the position (carriage position) and carriage movement direction of the carriage 27 in the main scanning direction and to generate an ejection timing signal output to the recording head 29.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 40 includes a CPU 51 (central processing unit), an ASIC 52 (Application Specific IC (integrated circuit for specific application)), a ROM 53, a RAM 54 as an example of second storage means, and a first storage. A nonvolatile memory 55 is provided as an example of the means. The CPU 51 executes various tasks necessary for print control by executing a program stored in the ROM 53. The ASIC 52 also performs recording data processing such as processing of print data PD. Of course, the program including each task may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 55.

  In the present embodiment, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) is used for the RAM 54. As DRAM, SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), DDR SDRAM (Double-Data-Rate SDRAM), DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, etc. are used, but also EDO DRAM (Extended Data Out DRAM), burst EDO DRAM, etc. It can also be used. Of course, the RAM 54 may be an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).

  In this embodiment, for example, FeRAM (ferroelectric memory) is used as the nonvolatile memory 55, but MRAM (Magnetoresistive RAM), PRAM (Phase change RAM), and ReRAM (Resistive RAM) may be used. Of course, if the number of writable times is relatively large, an EEPROM or a flash memory may be used.

  On the other hand, the mechanical controller 43 includes a transport motor 61, a first carriage motor (hereinafter also referred to as “first CR motor 62”), and a second carriage motor (hereinafter “ The second CR motor 63 "is also connected. The mechanical controller 43 is connected to the suction device 30 and the maintenance device 32. In the present embodiment, the recording head 29 and the mechanical mechanism 44 constitute an example of a printing unit. For this reason, the 1st CR motor 62 and the 2nd CR motor 63 also constitute an example of the component of printing means. In addition, the mechanical motor 44, the rollers 21 to 24, the shafts 20, 25, and the like in the mechanical mechanism 44 constitute an example of a transport unit of the printing unit.

  The mechanical controller 43 is connected with a power switch 65, an encoder 66, and a temperature sensor 67 as input systems. An on signal when the power switch 65 is turned on and an off signal when the power switch 65 is turned off are transmitted to the controller 40 via the mechanical controller 43. An uninterruptible power supply 48 is connected to the controller 40 and the mechanical controller 43. The controller 40 instructs the power supply of the uninterruptible power supply 48 based on the input of the ON signal of the power switch 65, and the OFF signal of the power switch 65 is Based on the input, the uninterruptible power supply 48 is instructed to stop power supply.

  The mechanical controller 43 drives and controls the motors 61 to 63, the suction device 30, and the maintenance device 32 in accordance with various commands received from the controller 40 through the communication line SL1. The encoder 66 detects the rotation of the rotation shaft of the conveyance drive system using the conveyance motor 61 as a power source, and the mechanical controller 43 uses the detection signal (encoder pulse signal) of the encoder 66 to convey the sheet 13. And the transport position is detected.

  The temperature sensor 67 is for detecting the temperature of the sheet 13, and a temperature detection signal corresponding to the sheet temperature is input from the temperature sensor 67 to the mechanical controller 43. This sheet temperature is used to obtain an adjustment value necessary for the printer 11 to operate.

  At the time of printing, the control device C drives the transport motor 61 to transport the sheet 13 so as to place the next print area of the sheet 13 on the support member 19, and the next print area after the sheet is transported. An adsorption operation for adsorbing to the support member 19, a printing operation on the sheet 13 by the recording head 29, and an adsorption releasing operation for releasing the adsorption of the sheet 13 after completion of printing for one time (one page) are performed. At this time, the printing operation (recording operation) is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 29 during the movement of the carriage 27 in the main scanning direction X. This printing operation is performed by moving the carriage 27 in the main scanning direction X by driving the first CR motor 62 (one-pass operation) and in the sub-scanning direction Y of the carriage 27 by driving the second CR motor 63 performed at the end of each pass. The movement to is performed by repeating a predetermined number of times.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a part related to the computer in the controller 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 51, the ASIC 52, the ROM 53, the RAM 54, and the nonvolatile memory 55 are connected to a bus 56, and the CPU 51 and the ASIC 52 access the ROM 53, the RAM 54, and the nonvolatile memory 55 via the bus 56. It is possible. A memory controller 57 is connected to the bus 56, and another RAM 59 is connected to the memory controller 57 via the bus 58. The RAM 59 is mainly used as a buffer for storing various data before, during, and after processing of print data. The ASIC 52 accesses the RAM 59 via the memory controller 57 to read out print data, print image data being processed, and data obtained by performing image processing on the read data (plane data, head control data, etc.) Write. Also, part of the image processing is performed by the CPU 51, and the CPU 51 also accesses the RAM 59 via the memory controller 57 to read out print image data and the like and write data after image processing. The memory controller 57 performs data transfer (DMA transfer) between the ASIC 52 and the RAM 59. The CPU 51 accesses the memory controller 57 to set the data transfer processing instruction to the memory controller 57 and the transfer conditions.

  By the CPU 51 and the ASIC 52 performing various image processing on the print data, plane data and head control data are generated in order. That is, plane data is generated by the CPU 51 performing decompression processing of print data, microweave processing for assigning the pixels of the print image data to the nozzles, and the ASIC 52 performs image processing such as vertical / horizontal conversion processing on the plane data. As a result, head control data is generated. In the present embodiment, plane data and head control data correspond to print data generated by image processing.

  The head control data stored in the RAM 59 is transferred to each recording head 29 via the HCU 45 shown in FIG. The recording head 29 incorporates a head drive circuit (not shown), and the head drive circuit controls the ejection drive element (not shown) provided for each nozzle based on the head control data, thereby causing ink from the nozzles of the print head 29 to flow. Drops are jetted. In addition, as the ejection drive element, in addition to a piezoelectric element (piezo element) that converts voltage into vibration and an electrostatic drive element, a heater that ejects ink droplets using the force of bubbles when the ink is heated to boil An element can also be used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the controller 40. Various functional components in the controller 40 shown in FIG. 3 are constructed by the CPU 51 executing a program.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 40 includes a real-time OS 71 which is an example of a control unit as an OS (O perating System). The controller 40 includes a plurality of task units 81 to 92 that are selectively activated under the management of the real-time OS 71. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of task units include a main control unit 81, a communication unit 82, an image processing unit 83, a command analysis unit 84, a print task unit 85, a mechanical control unit 86, a mechanical communication unit 87, a head control. A unit 88, an ink management unit 89, an emergency task unit 90 (emergency task unit), a writing task unit 91 which is an example of a writing unit and a copying unit, and a writing back task unit 92 which is an example of a writing back unit. The main control unit 81 controls the task units 82 to 92 in an integrated manner. In the present embodiment, the real-time OS 71, the task units 81 to 92, the RAM 54, and the nonvolatile memory 55 constitute an example of a data storage processing device.

  The real-time OS 71 includes a scheduler 72 and a priority changing unit 73 as an example of priority changing means. The scheduler 72 includes a task management unit 74 and a dispatch unit 75.

  The scheduler 72 performs schedule management of the task units 81 to 92. In other words, when an activation request for the task units 81 to 92 is received, the task unit is activated if there is a space, but if another task unit is already executing (Run state), the task unit is set to the Ready state. . When a notification SC (service call) indicating that processing has been completed or waiting has been received from the task portion being executed, if there is a task portion in the Ready state, the task portion with the highest priority among them The execution task (starting task) is switched by starting up. The task management unit 74 manages task states (Wait, Ready, Run, etc.). When the scheduler 72 receives a notification SC (service call) that becomes a task switching event, the dispatch unit 75 refers to the state of the task managed by the task management unit 74 and has the highest priority among the task units in the Ready state. The task part is notified of the activation instruction and activated.

  The task management unit 74 has a priority order management table 97 shown in FIG. In the priority management table 97, tasks are arranged in order of priority. In the example of FIG. 5, a plurality of tasks 81 to 92 are arranged in order of higher priority from the upper side, and the priority is set higher for the task located on the upper side.

  The priority changing unit 73 has a function of rearranging the order of priority in the priority management table 97 and changing the priority of tasks to be started by the scheduler 72. When the power is turned on, the real-time OS 71 sets a normal priority management table 97 shown in FIG. The priority level changing unit 73 manages priority levels when the printer 11 is turned off by the power switch 65 being turned off (when the normal power is turned off), and when the power is cut off due to a power plug disconnection or power failure (when the abnormal power is turned off). The table 97 is changed from the normal priority order shown in FIG. 5A to the power-off priority order shown in FIG. 5B. Here, when the CPU 51 executes one task among the tasks, one task unit among the task units 81 to 92 illustrated in FIG. 3 is activated. 3 are main control tasks, communication tasks, command analysis tasks, image processing tasks, printing tasks, mechanical control tasks, mechanical communication tasks, head control tasks, inks, which are the execution targets of the CPU 51. It corresponds to the management task, emergency task, writing task, and writing-back task, respectively. In the case of a configuration using a normal power supply that does not have an uninterruptible function, a power failure also causes an abnormal power off.

  In the normal priority management table 97 shown in FIG. 5A, priorities are set in the order of emergency task, writing task, head control task, image processing task,. That is, the priority of the writing task unit 91 is set higher than that of the printing system task units 81 to 89, and the writing back task unit 92 is set to a priority level lower than that of the printing system task units 81 to 89. Here, the printing system task units 81 to 89 indicate task units that perform processing necessary for performing printing processing based on the print data PD. In the present embodiment, the printing system task unit includes a communication unit 82 and a mechanical communication unit 87 belonging to the communication system task unit, a main control unit 81, an image processing unit 83 and a head control unit 88 belonging to the recording system task unit, A command analysis unit 84, a print task unit 85, and a mechanical control unit 86 belonging to a mechanical drive system task unit (command processing system task unit) are included. The communication system task units 82 and 87 are divided into a communication unit 82 belonging to both the recording system and the mechanical drive system, and a mechanical communication unit 87 belonging to only the mechanical drive system. In the present embodiment, the print system task units 81 to 89 constitute an example of a print control unit.

  In this embodiment, in this normal state, the write task unit 91 is set to the highest priority among the tasks other than the emergency task unit 90, and the write-back task unit 92 is set to the lowest priority. Has been. Therefore, the writing task unit 91 is set to a higher priority than the printing system task units 81 to 89, and the writing back task unit 92 is set to one priority level lower than the printing system task units 81 to 89.

  In the priority management table 97 at the time of power-off shown in FIG. 5B, priorities are set in the order of emergency task, writing task, writing-back task, head control task, image processing task,. . That is, while the priority order relationship between the write task unit 91 and the write-back task unit 92 is maintained in the same relationship as normal, the write task unit 91 and the write-back task unit 92 in the tasks other than the emergency task unit 90 Are set to the first and second priority levels, respectively. As described above, when the power is turned off, the write task unit 91 and the write-back task unit 92 both hold the relationship in which the write task unit 91 has a higher priority than the write-back task unit 92, and the printing task unit 81 Priority is set higher than -89. In other words, when the power is turned off, the write-back task unit 92 retains the priority order relationship with the write task unit 91 while maintaining the priority order lower than that of the print system task units 81 to 89. The priority is changed to a higher priority than 89. In the present embodiment, a secondary battery is provided, and even when an unexpected power cut-off (abnormal power off) such as a power plug disconnection or a power failure occurs, the secondary battery is discharged, for example, 10 to 500 mm. Electric power is supplied from the secondary battery for a predetermined time within a range of seconds. For this reason, it is possible to perform data write-back processing or the like even when the power supply is unexpectedly cut off.

Returning to FIG. 3, functions of the task units 82 to 92 will be described.
The communication unit 82 includes communication driver software for controlling the serial communication port U2, and controls serial communication performed with the host device 120 via the serial communication port U2. The print data PD received by the communication unit 82 is stored in the image buffer 59A. The image buffer 59A is constituted by at least a part of the storage area of the RAM 59. Specifically, the image buffer 59A includes a reception buffer, an intermediate buffer (plane buffer), and a print buffer (image buffer), and the print data PD is first stored in the reception buffer.

  The image processing unit 83 reads the print data PD from the image buffer 59A, and first decompresses the print data PD. Here, the print data PD includes print image data and a print language description command, and the image processing unit 83 temporarily stores the decompressed print image data in the image buffer 59A (specifically, a plain buffer) and also print language description. The command is sent to the command analysis unit 84.

The command analysis unit 84 analyzes the print language description command in the decompressed print data PD to acquire a control command, and sends the acquired command to the print task unit 85.
The image processing unit 83 sequentially performs image processing such as microweave processing (nozzle allocation processing) on the print image data (plane data) read from the image buffer 59 </ b> A as processing after decompression of the print data PD. Head control data used for control is generated and stored in an image buffer 59A (specifically, an image buffer). In the microweave process, each dot of print image data (plane data) is processed so that main scanning lines (dot lines) recorded by nozzles adjacent in the sub-scanning direction on the nozzle formation surface of the recording head 29 are not adjacent. This refers to a specific assignment process assigned to each nozzle. In the present embodiment, some image processing such as vertical / horizontal conversion processing is performed by an image processing circuit (not shown) such as a vertical / horizontal conversion circuit in the ASIC 52. In the vertical / horizontal conversion process, the ASIC 52 performs data transfer with the RAM 59 via the memory controller 57 (see FIG. 4). The CPU 51 performs a transfer start instruction and a transfer condition setting process for the memory controller 57. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a part of the main control unit 81 is configured by a software part in which the CPU 51 performs a data transfer process, a transfer condition setting process, and the like. In this respect, the main control unit 81 belongs to the recording system task units 81 to 83 and 88 that perform recording system processing including image processing for generating ejection system data used for the recording operation of the recording head 29. In the present embodiment, the recording system task units 81 to 83, 88 constitute an example of a recording system processing unit. Further, the recording system processing stage is constituted by the stage where the recording system task units 81 to 83, 88 perform the recording system processing.

  The head control unit 88 reads out the head control data from the image buffer 59A, divides the head control data for each recording head 29, and transfers the divided control data to the respective HCUs 45. Further, the HCU 45 sequentially transmits the received head control data to the corresponding recording heads 29. A head drive circuit (not shown) in the recording head 29 ejects ink droplets from the nozzles by drivingly controlling ejection drive elements for each nozzle based on the head control data. At this time, the head drive circuit inputs an injection timing signal generated based on the encoder pulse signal of the linear encoder 50, and drives the injection drive element at each injection timing based on the injection timing signal, so In addition, dots by ink droplets are formed in the main scanning direction X at a predetermined printing resolution.

  The print task unit 85 shown in FIG. 3 performs a command process that processes the command received from the command analysis unit 84 into a command that can be instructed to the mechanical controller 43, and sends the processed command to the mechanical control unit 86.

  The mechanical control unit 86 manages the received commands in the execution order and controls the job, and controls the output destination and output timing of the commands received from the job control unit 93 in the execution order, And a device control unit 94 that controls various devices such as a transport system and a carriage drive system. The job control unit 93 receives a completion notification command of the sequence operation of the head drive system, the transport system, and the carriage drive system via the device control unit 94 in the course of performing the print operation instructed by the print job. It is possible to grasp the drive timing of the transport system and carriage drive system. For this reason, the job control unit 93 can grasp the timing at which the printing operation is interrupted. Here, the break of the printing operation is the timing of a page break when printing for one page is completed, or the timing at which printing for one line (one pass) is completed by moving the carriage 27 once in the main scanning direction X. And so on.

  The device control unit 94 is connected to the mechanical communication unit 87, the head control unit 88, the ink management unit 89, the emergency task unit 90, and the like, and outputs a command addressed to each unit or receives a notification from each unit. It has a kind of device manager function for controlling these devices. For example, the device control unit 94 monitors the progress of the processing of the head control unit 88, and sends a mechanical sequence command to the mechanical communication unit 87 when head control data used for printing the next pass is prepared. Further, the device control unit 94 grasps the states of the conveyance system and the carriage drive system in the mechanical mechanism 44 based on the apparatus state information (status information) notified from the mechanical controller 43, and enters a state suitable for the start of injection. The head control unit 88 is instructed to start ejection at the determined timing.

  The sequence control commands include, for example, a transport command, a suction command, a first carriage activation command (carriage main scanning direction movement command), a second carriage activation command (carriage sub-scanning direction movement command), and a suction release command. The device control unit 94 issues these sequence commands at an appropriate timing according to the progress of the head control unit 88 or at an appropriate timing according to the progress on the mechanical controller 43 side.

  When the mechanical communication unit 87 receives a command from the mechanical control unit 86, the mechanical communication unit 87 transmits the command to the mechanical controller 43. Further, when the mechanical communication unit 87 receives from the mechanical controller 43 a command reception success response (ACK signal), a retry request (NACK signal) that is a command reception failure response, a command or status information issued by the mechanical controller 43, It is sent to the upper mechanical control unit 86.

  The ink management unit 89 shown in FIG. 3 manages ink related information of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8. The ink management unit 89 includes a calculation unit 95. The calculation unit 95 calculates the ink consumption consumed by the recording head 29 and the maintenance device 32 and the ink remaining amounts of the ink cartridges IC1 to IC8. Specifically, the computing unit 95 computes the ink consumption for eight colors consumed by each recording head 29. Here, the head controller 88 includes a dot counter (not shown) that counts the number of dots corresponding to the number of ink droplet ejections of the recording head 29 based on the head control data. The calculation unit 95 acquires the number of dots for each color of each recording head 29 from the head control unit 88, sums the acquired number of dots for each color, and further calculates the total recording head based on the total number of dots for each color. 29 calculates the ink consumption for each ink color consumed by the printer 29.

  The ink management unit 89 then prints all the recording heads 29 at a predetermined time such as when one printing is completed, when an ink cartridge is replaced, or when the power switch 65 is turned off. The ink consumption for the eight colors consumed in is calculated. Further, the calculation unit 95 calculates the current ink remaining amounts of eight colors by subtracting the ink consumption amounts for the eight colors from the previous ink remaining amounts of the eight colors. In the present embodiment, the ink management unit 89 acquires print-related information (part of data) including ink remaining amount information and information related to other ink. In the present embodiment, the print-related information includes ink-related information such as the remaining ink amount, ink consumption, and remaining ink cartridge expiration date, the number of printed pages, billing information, maintenance information (the number of times of execution for each maintenance item), Print execution time information and the like are included.

  Further, the ink management unit 89 manages the printing related information, monitors the state of the ink cartridge IC, and also detects ink related errors. For example, the ink management unit 89 determines whether or not the remaining amount of ink calculated by the calculation unit 95 is less than the ink end threshold. If the remaining amount of ink is less than the threshold, the ink management unit 89 determines that the ink has ended. For example, an error for forcibly stopping a printing operation via the mechanical control unit 86 after a certain allowable printing time or a period until a certain allowable ink amount is consumed after the ink end is reached. The emergency task unit 90 is notified. Further, the error is notified to the emergency task unit 90 via the mechanical control unit 86 when it is detected that the ink cartridge IC is detached or an ink cartridge IC of a different color is mounted. This error notification is given an identifier (for example, an error command number) that can grasp the error content and a parameter value.

  Upon receiving an error notification from the ink management unit 89, the emergency task unit 90 determines the content of the error and issues an error command of a type corresponding to the determined error content. The error command is sent to an appropriate transmission destination via the mechanical control unit 86. For example, an error command for ink end notification is sent to the mechanical controller 43 and the host control unit 125, and an emergency stop of the operation of the mechanical mechanism 44 and a display informing the ink end to the monitor 123 of the host device 120 are performed. Is called. Further, the emergency task unit 90 has a power-off function and a power-off detection function. Upon receiving an off signal when the power switch 65 is turned off, the emergency task unit 90 outputs the above-described priority change request to the real-time OS 71 by the power off function, and then indicates that the data backup processing is completed. When the return completion notification is received, the printer 11 is terminated, and the power is shut off after the termination processing. The emergency task unit 90 also outputs a similar priority order change request to the real-time OS 71 when it detects an unexpected power shutdown such as a power plug disconnection or power failure by the power shutdown detection function. Note that the write back completion notification when the power is turned off notifies the completion of the data backup processing by the write task unit 91 and the write back task unit 92.

  When the printer 11 is started when the power switch 65 is turned on, the writing task unit 91 reads data D (including printing related information) from the nonvolatile memory 55 connected to the CPU 51 via the bus 56. A writing process for writing the read data D into the RAM 54 is performed. In addition to the printing related information, the data D includes adjustment value data (correction) acquired as a result of the adjustment process when the main control unit 81 performs the adjustment process for driving the recording head 29 and the mechanical mechanism 44. Value data). As the adjustment process, an ejection timing adjustment process for adjusting the ejection timing of the recording head 29 when the carriage 27 moves forward and backward according to individual differences of the printer 11 and the thickness (medium thickness) of the sheet 13 is performed. Can be mentioned. In this ejection timing adjustment process, for example, a test pattern is printed, and the number that the user has determined to be optimal is input from among the test patterns. For example, the printer 11 may obtain an optimum adjustment value from the image analysis result. In this case, the main control unit 81 updates the adjustment value (correction value) for injection timing in the data D of the first storage unit 131. This type of adjustment value (correction value) is updated only when the user selects to execute the adjustment process, and is usually a substantially fixed value set once in the past. Therefore, once this kind of adjustment value is read and set once when the printer 11 is turned on, the adjustment value is hardly read or rewritten thereafter.

The write-back task unit 92 reads data D stored in the RAM 54 and performs a write-back process for writing the read data D back to the nonvolatile memory 55.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the RAM 54 includes a program data storage unit 130, a first storage unit 131 (mirror storage area unit), and a second storage unit 132 (copy storage area unit). The program data storage unit 130 is a storage area to which program data read from the ROM 53 (or the nonvolatile memory 55) and various setting values are written.

  The first storage unit 131 (mirror storage area unit) is a storage area to which the data D read from the nonvolatile memory 55 is written. The first storage unit 131 is a storage area in which the print task units 81 to 89 and the emergency task unit 90 can access and read and write data. Data D written from the nonvolatile memory 55 to the first storage unit 131 when the power is turned on is sequentially updated by writing accesses from the task units 81 to 89 while the printer 11 is operating (power is on). For example, the ink management unit 89 has write access to the first storage unit 131, and the data D is updated by writing print-related information such as the remaining ink amount and the remaining ink cartridge expiration date in the first storage unit 131. Of course, the data D in the first storage unit 131 is also updated by the write access of other printing system task units including the main control unit 81.

  The second storage unit 132 (copy storage area unit) is a storage area that is a copy destination of the data D read from the first storage unit 131. In the second storage unit 132, write access by the write task unit 91 and read access by the write-back task unit 92 are permitted, but write access to the second storage unit 132 of each task unit 81 to 90 is prohibited. ing. However, read access to the second storage unit 132 of each task unit 81 to 90 may be permitted.

  Since the write-back task unit 92 has the lowest priority among the task units 81 to 92 (see FIG. 5A), the write-back task unit 92 is activated during a standby period when no printing operation is performed. Then, the write-back task unit 92 activated when the printer 11 is in the standby state performs a process of writing back the data D stored in the second storage unit 132 to the nonvolatile memory 55 (write-back process). When the write-back task unit 92 completes the write-back process, the write-back task unit 92 notifies the write task unit 91 of a write-back completion.

  When the write task unit 91 receives a write back completion notification from the write back task unit 92, the write task unit 91 issues an activation request to the real-time OS 71. The write task unit 91 has the highest priority among the task units 81 to 89, 91, 92 other than the emergency task unit 90, and thus is activated immediately after the completion of the write-back process by the write-back task unit 92. When the write task unit 91 is activated upon receiving a write-back completion notification, the write task unit 91 copies the data D (update data) in the first storage unit 131 by overwriting the data in the second storage unit 132. Of course, when the data D in the first storage unit 131 has not been updated between the previous copy and the current copy, the data D in the second storage unit 132 may not change even after copying. is there.

  When the power is turned off, or when the power is turned off (when the power is cut off) such as a power plug disconnection or power failure, the priority changing unit 73 sets the priority management table 97 in the priority order shown in FIG. Then, the writing-back task unit 92 is changed to a priority order that is higher than the priority order of the printing system task units 81 to 89 (third priority order in this example). For this reason, when the copying by the writing task unit 91 is completed, the writing-back task unit 92 is activated immediately, and the latest data D just copied is written back to the nonvolatile memory 55.

  Here, in this example in which the nonvolatile memory 55 is an FeRAM, the data storage capacity that can be stored in the nonvolatile memory 55 is relatively small compared to, for example, a flash memory. In the present embodiment, data stored in a nonvolatile memory (for example, a flash memory) is changed from data that has not been updated at all during printer operation (almost unchanged data) to data that has not been updated at all, as printing has been performed and time has elapsed. The data is roughly divided into data to be updated (variable data), and a substantial part of the invariant data is stored in the host storage unit 120M of the host device 120. For this reason, the capacity of the data D to be stored in the non-volatile memory 55 is reduced, and FeRAM can be used as the non-volatile memory 55. The flash memory has a very small number of writable times compared to FeRAM, and it was necessary to limit the write-back processing when the power was turned off. However, in this embodiment, since FeRAM is used as the nonvolatile memory 55, the power is turned off. The data D can be written back to the non-volatile memory 55 even during operation of the printer 11 at other times. When the power is turned off, the write-back task unit 91 writes the latest data D read from the second storage unit 132 of the RAM 54 back to the storage element 47.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining write processing, copy processing, and write-back processing. When the power is turned on, the program data of the ROM 53 is written into the program data storage unit 130 of the RAM 54, and the real time OS 71 is started when the CPU 51 executes the boot program. The write task unit 91 is activated first when the real-time OS 71 is activated. As shown in FIG. 6, when the power is turned on, the write task unit 91 performs a write process of data D from the nonvolatile memory 55 to the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54 ((1) in FIG. 6) (write stage). . That is, the write task unit 91 reads the data D stored in the nonvolatile memory 55 when the power is turned off (when the power is cut off) from the nonvolatile memory 55 and stores the read data D in the first memory of the RAM 54. Write to the unit 131.

  The write task unit 91 also performs a copy process subsequent to the write process only during the write process when the power is turned on, and copies the data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 (in FIG. 6). (2)) (copying stage). Thereafter, when the printer 11 enters a standby state, the write-back task unit 92 having the lowest priority among the task units 81 to 92 is activated. Then, the write-back task unit 92 writes the data D in the second storage unit 132 back to the nonvolatile memory 55 ((3) in FIG. 6) (write-back stage). The write-back task unit 92 writes back all the data D, and sends a write-back completion notification to the write task unit 91 when the write-back process is completed. The write task unit 91 is activated when a write back completion notification is received, and performs a copy process for copying the data D from the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 ((2) in FIG. 6). Thus, every time the printer 11 enters the standby state, the write-back task unit 92 is activated, and the data D in the second storage unit 132 is written back to the nonvolatile memory 55 ((3) in FIG. 6). The write task unit 91 is activated each time a write-back completion notification sent from the write-back task unit 91 is received every time this write-back is completed, and the first storage unit updated in the period between the previous copy and the current copy The data D 131 is copied to the second storage unit 132 ((2) in FIG. 6).

  Hereinafter, data storage processing performed by writing, copying, and writing back data D between the nonvolatile memory 55 and the RAM 54 in the printer 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 are sequence diagrams showing the flow of processing of the writing task unit 91, the writing back task unit 92, and the printing system task units 81-89. Here, FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of data storage processing at the normal time, and FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of data storage processing at the time of power-off. First, a normal data storage process from power-on to power-off will be described with reference to FIG. 5A, FIG. 6, FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the power is turned on, the program data of the ROM 53 is written into the program data storage unit 130 of the RAM 54, and the real time OS 71 is started when the CPU 51 executes the boot program. At this time, the real-time OS 71 sets the priority management table 97 shown in FIG. In the normal time, the priority management table 97 referred to by the task management unit 74 is such that the writing task has a higher priority than the printing task, and the writing back task has a lower priority than the printing task. After the activation of the real-time OS 71, the write task unit 91 is first activated, and the write task unit 91 performs a write process for writing the data D of the nonvolatile memory 55 into the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54 (FIGS. 6 and 6). 7 (1)) (writing stage).

  Only when the power is turned on, the write task unit 91 performs a copy process after the write process ((2) in FIG. 6, first (2) in FIG. 7) (copy stage). That is, the write task unit 91 copies the data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132. When the power is turned on, the printer 11 performs initialization processing of the mechanical mechanism 44. When the printer 11 enters a standby state before or after the initialization process, the write-back task unit 92 having the lowest priority among the task units 81 to 92 is activated. Then, the write-back task unit 92 writes the data D in the second storage unit 132 back to the nonvolatile memory 55 ((3) in FIGS. 6 and 7) (write-back stage). When all the data D is written back, the write-back task unit 92 sends a write-back completion notification to the write task unit 91. The write task unit 91 is activated upon receiving a write-back completion notification, and performs a copy process for copying the data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 ((2) in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7). (2) after the second time).

  In this way, while the printer 11 is in the standby state, the writing task unit 91 copies the data D of the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 ((2) in FIG. 6), and the write-back task unit 92 The data D in the second storage unit 132 is repeatedly written back to the nonvolatile memory 55 ((3) in FIG. 6).

  For example, after the printer 11 is turned on, when the user performs a print execution instruction operation on the image generation apparatus 110, print data PD is sent from the host apparatus 120 to the printer 11. The print data PD sent to the printer 11 is received by the communication unit 82 activated by the real-time OS 71 in the controller 40. Hereinafter, the real-time OS 71 selectively switches one task unit to be activated in accordance with the flow of data of the recording processing system and the command flow of the command processing system among the printing system task units 81 to 89, thereby The units 81 to 89 are caused to perform printing system processing including recording system processing and command processing (conveyance system / carriage driving system processing) by multitask processing. The stage where the printing system task units 81 to 89 perform the printing system process corresponds to the printing process stage. Then, the print-related task units 81 to 89 update the print-related information updated by the printing operation performed as a result of performing the process of the print processing stage, at least a part of the task units of the print-related task units 81 to 89. The step acquired by corresponds to the print control step.

  In the recording system processing, the print data PD received by the communication unit 82 is decompressed by the image processing unit 83, the image processing for generating head control data from the print image data (plane data), and the head control unit 88 outputs the head control data to the HCU 45. For example, a transfer process for transferring to the recording head 29 is performed. In the command processing of the transport system / CR driving system, the command analysis unit 84 analyzes the print language description command (command analysis), the command processing by the print task unit 85, the command queue management by the mechanical control unit 86, and the mechanical sequence. Command output timing control and transmission of commands to the mechanical controller 43 by the mechanical communication unit 87 are performed. As described above, the mechanical sequence control of the mechanical mechanism 44 according to the commands of the transport system and the carriage drive system and the ink ejection control of the recording head 29 are performed at appropriate timing, so that the printer 11 is based on the print data PD. A printing operation for printing an image on the sheet 13 is performed.

  In this printing operation, the first CR motor 62 is driven based on the carriage activation command to move the carriage 27 in the main scanning direction X, and the head driving circuit in the recording head 29 is ejected based on the head control data during the movement. Printing for one pass is performed by driving the element and ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles. Each time the carriage 27 finishes moving for one pass, the first CR motor 62 is driven to move the carriage 27 in the sub-scanning direction. By repeating this for a plurality of passes, printing for one page is performed. When printing for one page is completed, the mechanical controller 43 releases the suction of the suction device 30 based on the suction release command from the controller 40, and then drives the transport motor 61 based on the transport command to move the sheet 13 to a predetermined level. Transport only the transport pitch. At a predetermined time during printing, the carriage 27 is moved to the flushing position, and ink droplets unrelated to printing are ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 29 toward the cap 33 (waste liquid receiver). Flushing (empty discharge) is performed to prevent or eliminate nozzle clogging. Further, when the elapsed time from the previous cleaning execution time has passed a certain time, or when the elapsed time has exceeded a certain time when the power is turned on, the maintenance device 32 is driven and ink is discharged from the nozzles of the recording head 29. Cleaning for forcibly discharging is performed. This cleaning is performed by driving a suction pump (not shown) and introducing a negative pressure into the cap 33 in a capping state in which the cap 33 is brought into contact with the nozzle formation surface of the recording head 29 by driving the lifting device 34. Done. Note that a part of the flushing operation and the cleaning operation are also performed when a part of the printing system task units 81 to 89 is activated.

  When a predetermined operation involving consumption of ink such as a printing operation, a flushing operation, or a cleaning operation is performed, the ink management unit 89 is set at a predetermined time, for example, in the middle of the operation (for example, an operation break) or immediately after the operation. In addition, the calculation unit 95 calculates the ink consumption amount and the remaining ink amount. For example, the remaining ink amount is obtained by subtracting the ink consumption calculated this time from the previous ink remaining amount. The ink management unit 89 rewrites the data such as the previous ink consumption amount and the remaining ink amount in the data D of the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54 to the data such as the current ink consumption amount and the remaining ink amount.

  Further, the ink management unit 89 accesses the storage element 47 at a predetermined time such as when the power is turned on or when the ink cartridge is replaced, and the ink cartridge IC is mounted (whether it is unmounted, whether there is a mounting error (color error), etc.), The expiration date, ink end (out of ink), etc. are detected. For example, if the storage element 47 cannot be accessed, it is detected that the storage element 47 is not attached. In addition, the storage element 47 stores various types of information relating to ink such as ink color, expiration date, and ink remaining amount. If the ink color read from the storage element 47 does not correspond to the ink color of the ink cartridge to be mounted at the mounting position accessed at that time, the ink management unit 89 detects a mounting error (color error). . Further, the ink management unit 89 calculates the remaining ink cartridge expiration date based on the usage date information read from the storage element 47 and the time information of the real time clock (not shown). The ink management unit 89 detects that the ink cartridge expiration date is less than “0” as a usage date limit error. Further, the ink management unit 89 detects that the ink has run out (ink end) when the ink remaining amount read from the storage element 47 is equal to or less than a predetermined value of ink end information. The ink remaining amount of the storage element 47 is updated by initially setting a full ink remaining amount and writing the ink remaining amount of the first storage unit 131 at least every time the power is turned off. The

  The ink management unit 89 accesses the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54 to provide ink-related information (ink consumption, remaining ink amount, out-of-ink information, remaining usage time, unloading, mounting error, and usage date error information. Etc.) is updated by accessing a predetermined storage area of the first storage unit 131.

  In addition, the job control unit 93 acquires job information related to a print job instructed from the host device 120. The job control unit 93 obtains the print length or the number of prints for each job based on the operation information of the transport system acquired from the mechanical controller 43. Further, the job control unit 93 calculates charging information based on the print length or the number of prints. Then, the job control unit 93 accesses the predetermined storage area of the first storage unit 131 to update the job information including the billing information.

  The mechanical controller 43 is provided with a counter (not shown) that counts the number of pulses output from the encoder 66 of the transport system and counts the count value corresponding to the transport amount of the sheet 13. Based on the amount of change, information on the print length or the number of printed sheets, which is the length of the printed sheet 13, is acquired. Further, the mechanical controller 43 acquires various mechanical parameter information related to the transport system, carriage drive system, cleaning system, and the like. Mechanical parameter information includes, for example, status information such as transport status (position / speed, etc.), carriage drive status (position / speed, etc.), and cleaning status, as well as driving of various motors in the transport system, carriage drive system, and cleaning system. Operation history information such as time and drive speed is included. This type of mechanical parameter information is periodically transmitted from the mechanical controller 43 to the controller 40. This mechanical parameter information is received by the device controller 94 in the controller 40. In addition, the device control unit 94 acquires the operating time of the printer 11 based on the time information of the real time clock. Then, the device control unit 94 accesses the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54 and rewrites the mechanical parameter information obtained by adding the operation time and the like to the information acquired from the mechanical controller 43.

  The printer 11 also includes an adjustment function for acquiring various adjustment values (correction values). For example, an adjustment function operates the measurement unit to measure an actual measurement value, and based on the difference between the initial setting value and the actual measurement value, an adjustment value (correction value) for adjusting (correcting) the initial setting value is obtained. get. This type of adjustment value takes into consideration the flushing start / end positions in the main scanning direction X, the cap position, the reference position for determining the ejection start position during printing, the conveyance reference position, and the amount of conveyance in consideration of the elongation corresponding to the sheet temperature. There is an adjustment value (correction value) for correcting. Here, the sheet temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 67 and transmitted from the mechanical controller 43 to the controller 40. The print task unit 85 calculates a conveyance adjustment value corresponding to the detected sheet temperature.

  In addition, other adjustment functions can print test patterns and respond to the numbers based on the number corresponding to one test pattern entered by the user, judging that the print result is optimal from the test pattern. The injection timing adjustment value to be acquired is acquired. This type of adjustment value includes a Uni-d adjustment value for adjusting the ejection timing in the main scanning direction X of the recording head 29 during unidirectional printing, and the ejection timing during forward and backward movement of the carriage 27 in bidirectional printing. There is a Bi-d adjustment value for adjusting. Using this Uni-d adjustment value or Bi-d adjustment value, the ejection timing according to the sheet thickness (for example, paper thickness) can be calculated. This type of adjustment information is updated when the adjustment function of the printer 11 is operated by a user operation or when a number corresponding to an optimal index such as an optimal test pattern is input by the user operation. The updated adjustment information is updated when the print task unit 85 accesses the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54. These adjustment information data are set at the shipping inspection stage of the printer 11, at the first start-up when the user uses the printer 11 for the first time, at the adjustment work performed by the user operating the adjustment mechanism, at the time of maintenance for failure repair, etc. Once set, the data is not updated for a while. As described above, the data D includes operation information data D1 including ink-related information, job information, mechanical parameter information, head information, and the like that are updated relatively frequently during the operation of the printer 11, and almost during the operation of the printer 11. There is fixed data D2 such as adjustment information that is not updated (low update frequency) and error information for analysis.

The emergency task unit 90 updates the emergency information detected by various detection functions by writing the emergency information in a predetermined storage area of the first storage unit 131.
When an error in the printing operation occurs, the emergency task unit 90 writes error information including information to the extent that the error content can be analyzed in the first storage unit 131 of the RAM 54. In this embodiment, the host device 120 is connected to a user support server (not shown) via the Internet, and error information is transmitted from the host device 120 to the server. This server performs a process of analyzing error information to find out the cause of the error and searching for a method for recovering the printer 11 from the error.

  Thus, during the printing process in which the printing task units 81 to 89 are activated, the data D in the first storage unit 131 is updated at an appropriate timing (data update stage). In this embodiment, ink-related information, job information, mechanical parameter information, and head information correspond to printing-related information that is updated by a printing operation. The adjustment information and error information are not updated by the printing operation, but constitute part of the data written in the nonvolatile memory 55 (first storage means).

  In the present embodiment, the host control unit 125 of the host device 120 requests the controller 40 to transmit data D regularly or irregularly. In response to the request, the controller 40 stores the data D in the first storage unit 131 or the second storage unit 132 of the RAM 54 at the time when the printing operation, the cleaning operation, etc. are available or when the power is turned off. It transmits to the control part 125. The host control unit 125 stores the received data D in the host storage unit 120M. Therefore, the data D is updated regularly or irregularly in the host storage unit 120M of the host device 120, although the frequency is lower than the write-back frequency. Also, part or all of the data D is sent from the host device 120 to the server of the printer manufacturer via the Internet and used for analyzing the operating status of the printer 11 and the like.

  When print processing or printing operation is being performed, the write-back task unit 92 with the lowest priority is not activated. For this reason, since the write task unit 91 does not accept the write-back completion notification, the copy process of the data D by the write task unit 91 is not performed.

  In a standby state in which neither a printing operation nor a cleaning operation is performed, the write-back task unit 92 is activated. Then, the write-back task unit 92 writes the data D in the second storage unit 132 back to the nonvolatile memory 55 ((3) in FIG. 7). The data D at this time is the old data before the printing operation because it was last copied by the write-back task unit 92. However, when a write back completion notification is received from the write task unit 91, the write task unit 91 copies the latest data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 ((2) in FIG. 7). After this copy processing, the rewritten task unit 92 that is activated again writes the latest data D in the second storage unit 132 back to the nonvolatile memory 55. In this way, data D is written back every time the printer 11 enters the standby state.

  Here, since the writing task unit 91 has a higher priority than the printing system task units 81 to 89, an interruption of the printing system task units 81 to 89 occurs during the copy process, and the copy source data is rewritten. do not do. In addition, since the second storage unit 132 is prohibited from being accessed by the print task units 81 to 89 and the emergency task unit 90, the write-back source data is printed during the write-back by the write-back task unit 92. The situation of being rewritten by 81 to 89 is avoided. Further, since the activation condition of the write task unit 91 is when the write back task unit 92 receives a write back completion notification when the data D has been written back, a copy process is performed during the write back by the write back task unit 92. It is possible to avoid the situation where the data is interrupted and the original data is rewritten. As a result, the write-back task unit 92 can write back the correct data D from the RAM 54 to the nonvolatile memory 55.

  Next, data storage processing at the time of power shutdown (power off) will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, power off (power off) includes power off when the user turns off the power switch 65 (normal power off), and unexpected power off (abnormal power off) such as power plug disconnection or power failure. There is. In the present embodiment, the uninterruptible power supply 48 is provided, and power is supplied even at the time of a power failure. Therefore, when a power plug is disconnected or a power failure occurs, an abnormal power off occurs. In the data storage process at the time of power-off, the difference between normal power-off and abnormal power-off is the presence / absence of end processing ((15) in FIG. 8) shown in FIG. The example of FIG. 8 shows the data storage process when the normal power is turned off, but the data storage process when the end process is abolished in FIG. 8 is the data storage process when the abnormal power is turned off.

  Normal power-off (normal power-off) when the user operates the power switch 65 is detected by inputting an off signal into the controller 40. On the other hand, an abnormal power off (abnormal power interruption) caused by a power plug disconnection or power failure is detected by the power interruption detection function of the emergency task unit 90 in the controller 40.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when a normal or abnormal power-off (power-off) is detected, the emergency task unit 90 is activated. That is, the real-time OS 71 activates the emergency task unit 90 having the highest priority among the task units that have accepted the activation request. For example, the power shutdown may occur during the printing operation. However, since the priority is higher than the printing task units 81 to 89, the emergency task unit 90 is activated. The activated emergency task unit 90 first makes a priority change request to the real-time OS 71 ((11) in FIG. 8). This priority change request is received by the priority change unit 73 in the real-time OS 71, and the priority change unit 73 that has received the priority change request stores the priority management table 97 referred to by the task management unit 74 in FIG. Task priority order changing processing for changing from the normal task priority order shown in a) to the task priority order in the power-off state shown in FIG. 5B is performed ((12) in FIG. 8). The priority changing unit 73 performs a process of rearranging the order of tasks in the priority management table 97, for example. This task priority order changing process may be a process of switching the table to be referred to among the plurality of prepared priority order management tables 97 to the one shown in FIG.

  As a result of the task priority order changing process, the priority order of both task parts 91 and 92 is higher than that of the printing system task parts 81 to 89 while maintaining the priority order relationship between the writing task part 91 and the writing back task part 92. Become. That is, the write-back task unit 92 is changed to a priority lower than the write task unit 91 and higher than the print system task units 81 to 89.

  For this reason, when the power is shut off (power is turned off), even if the printing operation is being performed at that time, the write-back task unit 92 is activated, and the data D is written back. Also, as shown in the example of FIG. 8, if the writing task unit 91 is in the process of copying when the power is turned off (power is cut off), the copying process of the writing task unit 91 having a higher priority is finished. After that, the write-back task unit 92 with the next highest priority is activated to perform the write-back process ((13) and (14) in FIG. 8). As a result, a situation in which the write-back task unit 92 interrupts when the power is interrupted during copying by the writing task unit 91 and the data D being copied is written back is avoided. Therefore, correct data D that has been copied by the write task unit 91 can be written back to the nonvolatile memory 55 when the power is shut off.

  In the case of normal power-off, the emergency task unit 90 that has received the write-back completion notification from the write-back task unit 92 that has finished the write-back process is activated and performs the termination process of the printer 11. This termination process is a process for bringing the printer 11 into a desired state when the power is turned off. For example, if the carriage 27 is not at the home position, the recording head 29 is capped by moving to the home position. In addition, an end operation such as processing for returning various operation units to the initial position is performed. The emergency task unit 90 shuts off the power supply after completing the termination process. Note that when the power is normally off, there is a sufficient power supply time until the power is shut off, and therefore the write-back task unit 92 may perform the data D write-back process after the end process is performed first.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The writing task unit 91 having a higher priority than the printing system task unit copies the data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 where writing by the printing system task unit is prohibited, and the write back task. Since the unit 92 writes the data D in the second storage unit 132 back to the nonvolatile memory 55, the accurate data D can be written back to the nonvolatile memory 55. For example, even if a task with a high priority is activated during the write-back, the data D in the second storage unit 132 is not rewritten, and then the write-back task unit is activated and the data write starts from the interrupted continuation. When the return process is resumed, the same data can be written back in the previous time and this time. Therefore, correct data D can be written back to the non-volatile memory 55 even if intermittent write-back processing is performed in a plurality of times due to interruption by interruption of the printing system task unit.

  (2) Since the priority of the write task unit 91 is higher than that of the print task unit, the copy of the data D from the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 is given priority over the print task unit. It can be carried out. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a situation in which copying by the writing task unit 91 is interrupted by the activation of the printing task unit, or the copy source data D is rewritten during copying. Therefore, the data in the first storage unit 131 can be correctly copied to the second storage unit 132.

  (3) At the time when the write-back task unit 92 has written back all the data D, the copy of the data D is started with the reception of the write-back completion notification notified from the write-back task unit 92 as a trigger. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the write-back source data is rewritten during the write-back. Therefore, correct data D can be written in the nonvolatile memory 55.

  (4) The priority of the write-back task unit 92 is set lower than that of the print task units 81-89. For this reason, ejection system data generation processing such as print image data and head control data and ejection system data transfer processing to the recording head 29 are performed with priority over the data write-back processing. For this reason, for example, an ejection failure (dot missing) in which ink cannot be ejected from the nozzles because the ejection system data is not in time, or the occurrence frequency of the delay of the carriage activation timing at which the carriage 27 is awaited until the head control data is prepared. It can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a printing failure due to an ejection failure and reduce the frequency of delay in the start timing of the carriage 27 to suppress a decrease in printing throughput.

  In addition, when the printer 11 is in a standby state in which a predetermined operation such as a printing operation (recording system operation and conveyance system operation) or a cleaning operation is not performed, the data D is written back. Therefore, the printing system process is preferentially performed, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in printing throughput due to the interruption of the writing back process.

  (4) The emergency task unit 90 requests the real-time OS 71 to change the task priority when the power is turned off, and updates the priority management table 97 to the task priority when the power is turned off (FIG. 5). By changing the priority, the priority of both tasks is made higher than that of the printing task while maintaining the priority relationship between the writing task and the writing-back task. Therefore, even when the power is turned off, the write-back task unit 92 can be started, and the latest data D can be written back to the nonvolatile memory 55 as much as possible. In addition, since the priority of the write task unit 91 is set higher than that of the write back task unit 92, for example, even when copying is in progress at the time of power-off, writing back of the data D can be started after all the copying is completed. For example, if the write-back task unit 92 has a higher priority than the write task unit 91, if copying is in progress at the time of power-off, the data D being copied is written back, and the reliability of the data D is impaired. It is. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the correct data D that has been copied can be written back to the nonvolatile memory 55 even when the power is shut off.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the task priority is different from that of the first embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing normal data storage processing. The example of FIG. 9 is different from the first embodiment in the task priority order set at the normal time. The priority order of the write-back task unit 92 is set lower than the recording system task units 81 to 83 and 88 among the printing system task units 81 to 89 and higher than the other task units 84 to 87 among the printing system task units. ing. That is, the write-back task unit 92 is set to a higher priority than the command processing task units 84 to 87 (including the transport system and carriage drive system task units) among the printing system task units. The command processing system task units 84 to 87 perform various command processing (command generation processing, command transmission / reception processing, etc.) including commands for transport control and commands for carriage drive control. In the present embodiment, the recording system task units 81 to 83, 88 constitute an example of a recording processing unit. Also, an example of a transport control means is configured by command processing system task units 84 to 87 that process commands for transport control.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, recording system processing including ejection system data generation processing such as print image data and head control data by the recording system task units 81 to 83 and 88 and ejection control of the recording head 29 is performed. This is prioritized over the write-back processing by the write-back task unit 92 (recording system processing stage). Then, when the recording system processing by the recording system task units 81 to 83, 88 is not performed, the write-back task unit 92 is activated and performs data write-back processing ((3) in FIG. 9). The write task unit 91 that has received the write-back completion notification from the write-back task unit 92 copies the data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit 132 ((2) in FIG. 9). The copying of the data D is performed with priority over the recording system processing by the recording system task unit.

  According to the configuration of the second embodiment, the recording system processing by the recording system task units 81 to 83 and 88 is prioritized over the writing back processing by the writing back task unit 92. The interruption of the write back process by the return task unit 92 does not occur, and the delay of the recording system process hardly occurs. For example, if the ejection system data cannot be generated in time, the ejection system data (head control data) in the image buffer 59A is not updated. In this case, an incorrect dot is formed using the previous (for example, previous pass) ejection system data, or the ejection system data storage area in the image buffer 59A is empty, and ejection control is performed based on null data. There is an inconvenience that an injection error (dot missing) occurs. However, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the priority order of the recording system task units 81 to 83, 88 is higher than the priority order of the write-back task unit 92, and the recording system processing is smooth. Since it is advanced, it is easy to avoid printing defects due to this kind of cause. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of delay in the start timing of the carriage 27 caused by waiting for the start of the carriage 27 until the head control data is prepared.

  In addition, since the priority order of the write-back task unit 92 is higher than the other task units 84 to 87 excluding the recording system task units 81 to 83 and 88 among the printing system task units, the interval between the recording system processes during the printing operation. In addition, the data D write-back process can be performed in preference to the processing operation of the transport system or the carriage drive system. For this reason, compared with the structure of the said embodiment, the write-back frequency of the data D to the non-volatile memory 55 can be raised further. As a result, even if the write-back of the data D when the power is turned off fails, for example, the data D that is as recent as possible is stored in the nonvolatile memory 55. As a result, the reliability of the data D in the nonvolatile memory 55 when the power is turned on can be further enhanced. Therefore, the reliability of the data D stored in the non-volatile memory 55 is improved by improving the frequency of writing back the data D while effectively preventing the printing failure due to the ejection failure and suppressing the decrease in the printing throughput. Can do.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be changed into the following forms.
The write-back task unit 92 is configured to repeatedly execute the write-back process while the printer 11 is on standby, but may be configured to execute the write-back process at predetermined time intervals while the printer 11 is on standby. In addition, a monitoring unit (monitoring unit) for monitoring the presence or absence of data update in the first storage unit 131 (mirror storage area) is provided, and the write-back task unit 92 is activated when a notification indicating that the data has been updated is received from the monitoring unit. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which a write-back process for writing back the data in the second storage unit 132 to the nonvolatile memory 55 is performed.

  The writing task unit 91 is replaced with a configuration that serves as both a data writing function and a copying function, and a writing task unit (writing unit) that writes the data D of the nonvolatile memory 55 to the first storage unit 131 and the first storage unit 131 A copy task unit (copying unit) for copying the data D to the second storage unit 132 may be provided separately. In this case, the priority order of the write task unit and the copy task unit may be different.

  -The priority order of the write-back task part may be changed as appropriate. For example, the priority order of the write-back task may be lower than some task parts belonging to the recording system task part and higher than some other task parts belonging to the recording system task part. Thus, the write-back task unit is not limited to a lower priority than all the task units belonging to the recording system task unit. If the recording system task unit is composed of a plurality of tasks, the recording system task unit It is sufficient that the priority order is lower than at least one task part belonging to the part. In this case, it becomes easy to avoid a delay in the recording system processing by starting one task unit having a higher priority with priority over the write-back task unit. The priority order of the write-back task may be set between the carriage drive system and the transport drive system task.

  -When the printing control unit is composed of a plurality of task units, the copy unit does not need to have a higher priority than all the task units, and has priority over all the task units that write to the first storage unit. A higher ranking is sufficient. Also with this configuration, it is possible to avoid that the copy source data in the first storage unit is rewritten by the task unit constituting the print control unit during copying by the copy unit. For example, the priority of the writing task unit 91 (copying unit) is set higher than some task units that write-access the first storage unit among a plurality of task units belonging to the printing system task unit. Even with this configuration, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the copy source data is rewritten during copying.

  The writing task unit 91 (copying unit) is not limited to a configuration that starts copying with a write-back completion notification as a trigger. For example, when the write-back unit (write-back task unit 92) is activated, first, a copy request is sent to the write task unit 91 (copy unit), and the write task unit 91 transfers the data D in the first storage unit 131 to the second storage unit. Copy to 132. When the writing task unit 91 finishes copying and the printer 11 is in a standby state, the writing back task unit 92 is activated again, and at the time of the restarting, the writing back task unit 92 stores the data D in the second storage unit 132 in a nonvolatile manner. Write back to memory 55. According to this configuration, the write-back can be performed immediately after the latest data is copied. In the method of the above embodiment, since the data D in the first storage unit 131 is the old data copied before the start of printing at the beginning of printing and in the standby state, the old data is written back by the first writing back. I do. On the other hand, with the method of this modification, the latest data can be written back by the first writing back.

  -OS is not limited to real-time OS. Other OSs may be employed. In short, any OS may be used as long as it has a function of assigning the CPU execution right to a task having a higher priority among a plurality of tasks.

-A configuration that does not change the task priority when the power is turned off can also be adopted. For example, an emergency task unit that is activated preferentially when the power is turned off may perform the write-back process.
In the embodiment, the second storage unit may be a nonvolatile memory. For example, while the printer is operating (power is on), update data is sequentially written to the non-volatile memory (second recording means) on the printer body, and the non-volatile memory mounted on the ink cartridge is stored in the non-volatile memory data. A configuration of writing back to the element 47 (first storage means) can also be adopted. For example, when the power is turned on, data D including ink-related information such as the ink remaining amount is written from the storage element 47 to the nonvolatile memory on the main body side.

  The control device C may be configured such that the controller 40 and the mechanical controller 43 are integrated. In this case, a task unit of a mechanical drive control system such as a transport control task unit and a carriage control task unit is added to the controller. This conveyance control task part constitutes an example of a conveyance control means.

  The printing medium is not limited to a long sheet made of paper or resin, but may be a cut paper or a cut resin film. Further, it may be a metal film, cloth, film substrate, resin substrate, semiconductor wafer or the like. Further, it may be an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD or a magnetic disk. Furthermore, the printing medium is not limited to a sheet shape, and in the case of a printing apparatus having a mechanism capable of printing on a surface having a predetermined three-dimensional shape, an object having such a predetermined three-dimensional shape is included.

  The printing apparatus is not limited to the lateral type printer 11 and may be a serial printer, a line printer, or a page printer. Furthermore, it is not limited to an inkjet type, A dot impact type printer, a laser printer, etc. may be sufficient.

  In the embodiment, the ink jet printer 11 is employed as the printing apparatus, but a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects fluid other than ink may be employed. Further, the present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets. In this case, the droplet refers to the state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and includes liquid droplets having a granular shape, a tear shape, and a thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And liquids as one state of the substance, as well as those obtained by dissolving, dispersing or mixing particles of a functional material made of solid materials such as pigments and metal particles in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot-melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a coloring material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, a color filter, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved state. A liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting may be used. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip production, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid that is used as a precision pipette and serves as a sample, a printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch the substrate may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these liquid ejecting apparatuses. Further, the fluid may be a granular material such as toner. In addition, the fluid referred to in this specification does not include a fluid consisting only of a gas.

The technical idea that can be grasped from the embodiment and the modifications will be described below.
(1) The printing unit includes a recording unit that records on the printing medium and a conveying unit that conveys the printing medium, and the printing control unit causes the recording unit to perform a recording operation; A transport control unit that performs transport system control for causing the printing unit to perform a transport operation of the printing medium, and the activation priority of the write-back unit is set lower than that of the print control unit. The data storage processing apparatus in the printing apparatus according to claim 1. According to one aspect of this technical idea, the write-back means is set to have a lower activation priority than the print control means, so that the write-back means does not interrupt during the process of the print control means. For this reason, priority is given to processing by the printing control means, and printing processing including recording system processing and transport system control is preferentially performed, so it is easier to avoid a decrease in printing throughput.

  (2) The write-back unit is configured to notify the copy unit of a write-back completion upon completion of the write-back, and the copy unit performs the copy upon receiving the write-back completion notification. A data storage processing apparatus in a printing apparatus according to claim 4. According to one aspect of this technical idea, the copy means performs copying upon receipt of the write-back completion notification, so that rewriting of the write-back source data during the write-back is avoided, and correct data is stored in the first storage means. Can be written back to.

  (3) An emergency processing means (90) that is activated when the power is shut off and performs a power shut-off process is further provided, and the emergency processing means is activated more than the print control means, the writing means, the copying means, and the writing back means. When the priority is set high, and the emergency processing means is activated when the power is shut off, the emergency processing means issues a priority change request to the control means. 6. The data storage processing apparatus in a printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the priority changing means is made to change the activation priority. According to one aspect of this technical idea, when receiving a priority order change request from the emergency processing means that is activated with the highest priority when the power is shut down, the control means causes the priority order changing means to change the activation priority order. Even when the power is shut off, the setting of the boot priority can be changed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer which is an example of printing apparatus, 13 ... Sheet which is an example of printing medium, 27 ... Carriage, 29 ... Recording head which is an example of the component of a printing means and is an example of a recording means, 40 ... Controller, 43 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Mechanical controller, 44 ... Mechanical mechanism for printing which is an example of components of printing means, 45 ... Head control unit (HCU), 46 ... Communication circuit, 47 ... Memory element, 50 ... Linear encoder, 51 ... CPU, 52 ... ASIC, 53... ROM, 54... RAM as an example of second storage means, 55... Nonvolatile memory as an example of first storage means, 59 A... Image buffer, 61. The first CR motor, which is an example of the constituent elements of the printing means, and 62 ... the constituent elements of the printing means. Second CR motor as an example, 65... Power switch, 71... Real-time OS as an example of control means, 72... Scheduler constituting an example of control means, 73 ... Priority change unit as an example of priority change means, 74 ... Task management part, 75 ... Dispatch part, 81 ... Main control part, 82 ... Communication part, 83 ... Image processing part, 84 ... Command analysis part, 85 ... Print task part, 86 ... Mechanical control part, 87 ... Mechanical communication part , 88... Head control unit, 89... Ink management unit, 90... Emergency task unit, 91 .. write task unit, 92 .. write back task unit, 93 .. job control unit, 94. ... Priority management table, 100 ... Print system, 110 ... Image generation device, 120 ... Host device, 120M ... Host storage unit, 122 ... Printer driver, 1 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Host control part 131 ... 1st memory | storage part 132 ... 2nd memory | storage part C ... Control apparatus, U2 ... Serial communication port, IC1-IC8 ... Ink cartridge which is an example of a printing material container, PD ... Print data , D... Data (including printing related information).

Claims (7)

A print control unit that includes a recording processing unit that performs a recording system process that causes the printing unit to perform a recording operation on a print medium, and that acquires print-related information updated by the printing operation by the printing unit;
Non-volatile first storage means for storing data including the print-related information;
A first storage unit in which data in the first storage unit is written and write access by the print control unit is permitted to update the data, and a second storage unit in which write access by the print control unit is prohibited A volatile or non-volatile second storage means comprising:
Writing means for writing data of the first storage means into the first storage unit;
Copy means for copying the data in the first storage unit to the second storage unit;
Write-back means for writing back the data in the second storage section to the first storage means;
Control means for selectively starting the printing control means, the writing means, the copying means, and the writing back means according to a set starting priority order,
The copy means is set to have a higher activation priority than the print control means and the write-back means, and the write-back means is set to have a lower activation priority than at least the recording system processing means of the print control means. A data storage processing apparatus in a printing apparatus. The printing means includes a recording means for recording on the printing medium and a conveying means for conveying the printing medium,
The print control unit performs a recording system process including an image process for generating recording data used for a recording operation of the recording unit, and causes the printing unit to perform a transport operation of the print medium. A transport control means for performing transport system control,
2. The data storage processing apparatus in a printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the activation priority of the writing-back means is set higher than the transport control means and lower than the recording processing means.   2. The data storage processing apparatus in a printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the writing-back means is set to an activation priority that is activated while the printing apparatus is on standby.   4. The copy unit according to claim 1, wherein when the data write-back by the write-back unit is started, the copy is not performed until the data write-back is completed. The data storage processing apparatus in the printing apparatus as described in any one of these.   Priority order changing means for changing the writing back means to a higher starting priority than the printing control means while maintaining the relationship that the writing back means has a lower starting priority than the copying means when the printing apparatus is powered off; The data storage processing device in a printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit; and a control device that controls the printing unit,
A printing apparatus comprising the data storage processing apparatus according to claim 1. Non-volatile first storage means for storing data including printing-related information, and data in the first storage means are written in the printing apparatus, and write access by the print control means for updating the data A volatile or non-volatile second storage unit having a first storage unit that is permitted and a second storage unit in which write access by the print control unit is prohibited,
A writing step of writing data of the first storage means into the first storage unit of the second storage means;
A print control stage including a print processing stage including a recording system processing stage for performing a recording system process for causing the printing means to perform a recording operation on a print medium, and acquiring print-related information updated by the printing operation by the printing means When,
A data update step of writing the print-related information acquired in the print control step into the first storage unit;
A copying step of copying data in the first storage unit to the second storage unit;
A write back step of writing back the data in the second storage unit to the first storage means,
The copy stage is set to have a higher execution priority than the data update stage, and the write-back stage is set to have a lower execution priority than at least the recording system processing stage in the print control stage. Data storage processing method in a printing apparatus.

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