JP2015051506A - Printer, data control device, and data control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and the like capable of printing individual images starting from a given position relative to respective reference marks, and suppressing extraneous consumption of a print medium in non-printing sections, in the case of printing while the print medium continuously.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a transport part for continuously transporting a print medium S; a sensor 5 for individually detecting passing of plural reference marks 104 disposed on the print medium S in a transport direction; and a print head 15 for printing an overlap image on the individual reference marks starting from a given position on the continuously transported print medium S. Further, when passing of a reference mark 104 corresponding to the next overlap image is detected in the midst of printing one overlap image among plural overlap images, the print head 15 starts printing the next overlap image subsequently to the one overlap image on the print medium S.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, a data control device, and a data control method.

  Conventionally, printing is performed while moving in a feed direction and a width direction with respect to a continuous medium, a transport mechanism that feeds a long continuous medium provided with a plurality of marks in the feed direction, a sensor that detects the passage of each mark, and the like. The image forming operation by the head unit and the intermittent feeding operation of the continuous medium based on the detection of each mark are alternately repeated, so that each mark is moved from a predetermined position in the feeding direction. A printer that prints each image and forms a plurality of images in the feeding direction is known. In this printer, a non-printing section is formed between images arranged in the feeding direction so as to be provided to the user in a state where the printed matter is separated one by one by a punching machine or the like (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-083468 A

  The conventional printer prints each image from a predetermined position with respect to each reference mark when printing is performed while continuously feeding a print medium, and does not perform printing without causing a non-print section.

  According to the present invention, when printing is performed while continuously feeding a print medium, each image is printed from a predetermined position with respect to each reference mark, and wasteful consumption of the print medium due to a non-print section is suppressed. It is an object to provide a printer, a data control device, and a data control method that can be used.

  The printer according to the present invention includes a feeding unit that continuously feeds a print medium, a detection unit that detects the passage of a plurality of reference marks provided in the feeding direction in the printing medium, and a printing medium that is continuously fed. A printing unit that prints an image from a predetermined position with respect to each fiducial mark based on detection of the passage of each fiducial mark, and the printing unit prints one image of the plurality of images. When the passage of the reference mark corresponding to the next image is detected, printing of the next image is started after the one image on the print medium.

According to this configuration, when the printing unit detects the passage of the reference mark corresponding to the next image during printing of the one image, the next image is printed on the print medium following the one image. To start. Thus, even when printing is performed while continuously feeding the print medium, no non-print section is generated between the images. Therefore, when printing is performed while continuously feeding the print medium, each image is printed from a predetermined position with respect to each reference mark, and wasteful consumption of the print medium due to the non-print section can be suppressed.
Here, “one image” is an image corresponding to one of the plurality of reference marks, and “next image” is a reference mark next to one reference mark, that is, An image corresponding to a reference mark provided downstream in the feed direction of one reference mark.

  In this case, a control unit that controls the printing unit is further provided, and the control unit sequentially outputs a plurality of print data for causing the printing unit to perform a plurality of times of print driving for forming each image to the printing unit. 1 memory and a second memory, and a memory switching unit for switching a memory for sequentially outputting a plurality of print data to the printing unit between the first memory and the second memory when passage of each reference mark is detected. The control unit then transfers the next print data to the other memory before or after outputting a plurality of print data corresponding to one image from one of the first memory and the second memory. It is preferable to write print data corresponding to the image.

  According to this configuration, when print data corresponding to one of a plurality of images is output from one of the first memory and the second memory to the printing unit, the reference mark corresponding to the next image is output. Is detected, the memory switching unit switches the memory that outputs the print data to the printing unit to the other memory in which the print data corresponding to the next image is written. As a result, immediately after the passage of the reference mark is detected, the print data corresponding to the next image is output to the printing unit. Therefore, the printing unit can start printing the next image following the one image.

  The data control apparatus of the present invention forms each image on a printing unit that forms a plurality of images in the feed direction on a print medium that is provided with a plurality of reference marks in the feed direction and is continuously fed. A data control device that sequentially outputs a plurality of print data for causing a printing unit to perform a plurality of times of printing driving, wherein the first memory and the second memory sequentially output the plurality of print data to the printing unit; And a memory switching section for switching between a first memory and a second memory, a memory switching section for sequentially outputting a plurality of print data to the printing section when passage of each fiducial mark is detected. When one or more print data corresponding to one image of a plurality of images is sequentially output from one of the memories or before output, the other memory corresponds to the next image. And writes the print data.

  The control method of the data control apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of reference marks provided in the feeding direction, and a printing unit that forms a plurality of images in the feeding direction on a printing medium that is continuously fed. A control method for a data control device that sequentially outputs a plurality of print data for causing a printing unit to perform a plurality of times of print driving for forming an image, wherein the data control device sends a plurality of print data to a printing unit. A first memory and a second memory for sequentially outputting; a plurality of print data corresponding to one of the plurality of images is sequentially output from one of the first memory and the second memory; In the output or before the output, the step of writing the print data corresponding to the next image in the other memory, and when the passage of each reference mark is detected, a plurality of print data is stored in the printing unit. The memory of the next output, and executes the steps of: switching to the other memory.

  According to this configuration, when print data corresponding to one of a plurality of images is output from one of the first memory and the second memory to the printing unit, the reference mark corresponding to the next image is output. Is detected, the memory switching unit switches the memory that outputs the print data to the printing unit to the other memory in which the print data corresponding to the next image is written. As a result, immediately after the passage of the reference mark is detected, the print data corresponding to the next image is output to the printing unit. Therefore, the printing unit can start printing the next image following the one image.

  In this case, it is preferable that the first memory and the second memory are obtained by logically dividing one physical memory by addressing.

  According to this configuration, the first memory and the second memory can be configured with only one physical memory.

  In this case, the first memory and the second memory are preferably composed of two physical memories.

  According to this configuration, since the first memory and the second memory are composed of two physical memories, when the external memory for writing data to the first memory and the second memory is used in the entire system, the external memory Capacity burden can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the printing medium with which the some label image was printed by the printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printer. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the printer. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating how print data is transferred and a superimposed image is printed in a control circuit unit.

  Hereinafter, a printer according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This printer prints a label image on a printing medium composed of a long sheet material by an inkjet method using UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink). The printer is communicably connected to a host computer that is an external device, and performs printing based on print data transmitted from the host computer.

  FIG. 1 shows a print medium S on which a plurality of label images 101 are continuously printed by the printer 1. Each label image 101 includes a background image 102 representing, for example, “mountain landscape”, and a superimposed image 103 representing, for example, a serial number and printed over the background image 102. After printing, the plurality of label images 101 are separated in units of label images and used as labels.

  Among the plurality of label images 101, the base image 102 has the same design, but the superimposed image 103 has a different design, that is, a number. Therefore, the base image 102 and the superimposed image 103 are printed in two steps. That is, in the first printing, the printer 1 prints a plurality of background images 102 on the print medium S in the feed direction, and at the predetermined position in the feed direction from the head of each base image 102, that is, the downstream end in the feed direction. The reference mark 104 is printed on (see FIG. 1A). In order to reduce wasteful consumption of the print medium S, the plurality of base images 102 are printed without a space between the images arranged in the feed direction.

  Subsequently, in the second printing, the printer 1 prints a plurality of superimposed images 103 in the feed direction. The printer 1 prints each superimposed image 103 from a predetermined position in the feed direction with respect to each reference mark 104 (see FIG. 1B). Thus, each superimposed image 103 is printed at a predetermined position in the feed direction with respect to each background image 102 via each reference mark 104. Although details will be described later, the printer 1 prints a plurality of superimposed images 103 so that a non-print section does not occur between images arranged in the feed direction.

Here, in FIG. 1, each superimposed image 103 is configured with a serial number, and an apparent margin is generated between the superimposed images 103, that is, serial numbers, but in places other than the serial number, Since the printing process using the print data indicating the margin is performed, no non-printing section is generated between the images. That is, the “non-printing section” refers to a section where no printing process has been performed.
Note that a plurality of label images 101 may be printed in the width direction of the print medium S. In addition, the plurality of superimposed images 103 may have a common design, and conversely, the plurality of background images 102 may have different designs. Furthermore, the printer 1 of the present embodiment is particularly capable of appropriately performing the second printing described later, and the first printing may be performed by a printing apparatus different from the printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes a feeding unit 2 that continuously sends the print medium S, and four heads that perform printing by ejecting UV ink onto the continuously sent print medium S. The unit 3 includes an irradiation unit 4 that irradiates ultraviolet rays onto the print medium S on which UV ink is ejected, and a sensor 5 (detection unit) that detects a reference mark 104 provided on the print medium S.

  The sending unit 2 sends the print medium S by a roll-to-roll method. The feeding unit 2 includes a feeding reel 6 and a take-up reel 7, a rotating drum 8 provided substantially in the middle of the feeding path, and a plurality of rollers. The plurality of rollers includes a guide roller 11 provided immediately upstream of the rotating drum 8 in the feeding direction, an upstream path change roller 12 provided upstream of the guiding roller 11 in the feeding direction, and a feeding direction of the rotating drum 8. It is comprised from the downstream path | route change roller 13 etc. which were provided in the downstream.

  The supply reel 6 is set with a print medium S wound in a roll shape, and is rotated by a supply motor (not shown) to supply the print medium S toward the upstream path changing roller 12. The upstream side path changing roller 12 changes the feeding path so that the printing medium S fed from the feeding reel 6 is fed toward the rotary drum 8. The guide roller 11 guides the print medium S sent from the upstream side path changing roller 12 to the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 8.

  The rotating drum 8 is a cylindrical drum that is rotatably supported by a support mechanism (not shown), and the print medium S sent from the upstream path changing roller 12 toward the downstream path changing roller 13 is transferred to the back side, that is, the rotating drum 8. It is supported on the peripheral surface from the side opposite to the printing surface. The rotating drum 8 receives a frictional force with the print medium S and rotates in the feed direction of the print medium S, that is, clockwise in FIG. A drum encoder 14 that detects the amount of rotation of the rotating drum 8 is attached to the rotating shaft of the rotating drum 8. A control unit 20 to be described later controls the ejection timing of the head unit 3 based on the pulse-shaped feeding unit signal output from the drum encoder 14.

  The downstream path changing roller 13 changes the feeding path so that the print medium S sent from the rotary drum 8 is sent toward the take-up reel 7. The take-up reel 7 is rotated by a take-up motor (not shown) and takes up the print medium S sent via the downstream path changing roller 13 in a roll shape.

  The four head units 3 are provided radially with respect to the rotary drum 8. The four head units 3 form color images by discharging different colors of UV ink. From the upstream side in the feed direction, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y ) In order. Each head unit 3 is composed of a plurality of print heads 15 (printing units) so that dots can be formed to the full width of the print medium S.

  Each print head 15 performs printing by an inkjet method, and forms each superimposed image 103 by performing discharge driving for discharging UV ink, that is, performing shots a plurality of times. Print data for a plurality of shots for forming each superimposed image 103 is output to each print head 15 from the control unit 20 described later.

  The irradiation unit 4 includes four temporary curing irradiators 16 provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of each head unit 3 in the feed direction, and main curing provided further downstream than the most downstream temporary curing irradiator 16. And an irradiator 17.

  Each temporary curing irradiator 16 is constituted by, for example, an LED (Light Emitteing Diode) lamp that irradiates ultraviolet rays. Each pre-curing irradiator 16 irradiates the printing medium S immediately after the UV ink has landed from the print head 15 of each head unit 3 with ultraviolet rays, thereby suppressing the spread of dots and color mixing.

  The main curing irradiator 17 is composed of, for example, a mercury lamp. The main curing irradiator 17 irradiates ultraviolet rays onto the printing surface of the printing medium S on which the UV ink has been discharged and temporarily cured, whereby the UV ink dots are completely cured and fixed to the printing medium S. To do.

  The sensor 5 is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the most upstream head unit 3. The sensor 5 is composed of, for example, a reflective photo interrupter. When the reference mark 104 passes, the output voltage or output current from the sensor 5 to the switching circuit 24 (memory switching unit) described later changes, so that the passage of the reference mark 104 is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 20 includes a main memory 21 and a control circuit unit 25 (data control device), and further includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), various memories, and the like. Each part of the printer 1 is controlled in accordance with a command from the computer 10.

The main memory 21 sequentially stores print data of a plurality of superimposed images 103 from the host computer 10. The stored print data of each superimposed image 103 is read into the control circuit unit 25 for each of a plurality of shots, for example, for 10 shots, and is written in the first memory 22 or the second memory 23 described later.
The main memory 21 is preferably composed of, for example, a DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory). In this case, the response time to the data transfer request from the print head 15 becomes long, but since a relatively large amount of data can be transferred, the data is transferred to the control circuit unit 25 at high speed per print data for one shot. can do.

  The control circuit unit 25 transfers the print data stored in the main memory 21 to the print head 15. The control circuit unit 25 includes a first memory 22 and a second memory 23, and a switching circuit 24.

  In the first memory 22 and the second memory 23, the print data from the main memory 21 is written for each of a plurality of shots as described above. Further, the print data written in the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 is output to the print head 15 one shot at a time based on the feeding unit signal output from the drum encoder 14.

  In addition, it is preferable that the control circuit unit 25 is configured by an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 are mounted as memories inside the FPGA. Thereby, although the capacity is small, the response time from the access request can be shortened, so that the data transfer at the time interval requested by the print head 15 can be appropriately performed. Moreover, it is preferable that the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 are implemented by FIFO (First In, First Out). In this case, there is no need for complicated address management, and it is possible to implement a function-focused implementation. The first memory 22 and the second memory 23 are composed of two physical memories as separate memory chips, even if one physical memory is logically divided by addressing. May be. In the former case, the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 can be composed of only one physical memory. In the latter case, since the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 are composed of two physical memories, when the main memory 21 for writing data to the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 is used in the entire system, The capacity burden of the main memory 21 can be reduced.

  When the passage of the reference mark 104 is detected by the sensor 5, the switching circuit 24 switches the transfer memory for transferring the print data to the print head 15 between the first memory 22 and the second memory 23.

  In addition, while the print data is being transferred from one of the first memory 22 and the second memory 23 to the print head 15, the control circuit unit 25 stores the print data of the next superimposed image 103 in the other memory. For example, the first 10 shots are written.

  With reference to FIG. 4, data processing in the control circuit unit 25 when the printer 1 prints a plurality of superimposed images 103 will be described. Here, the print data of the first superimposed image 103 (“001”) is designated as print data A, the print data of the second superimposed image 103 (“002”) is designated as print data B, and the third superimposed image 103 (“003”). )) Is designated as print data C. For the convenience of explanation, the required number of shots is 100 shots with respect to the design value of the interval between the reference marks 104, in other words, the design value of the dimension in the feed direction of the superimposed image 103. However, each print data is composed of data for 110 shots in consideration of an error in the interval between the reference marks 104 due to expansion and contraction of the print medium S or the like.

  First, when the user gives an instruction to start printing at the host computer 10, the host computer 10 transfers the print data A and print data B to the main memory 21. Thereafter, the print data after the print data C is also transferred sequentially.

  As a print preparation, the control circuit unit 25 writes the head portion of the print data A from the main memory 21, specifically the first to tenth shots into the first memory 22, and the head portion of the print data B, specifically The first to tenth shots are written in the second memory 23 (see FIG. 4A).

  When the feeding unit 2 starts feeding the printing medium S and the sensor 5 detects the reference mark 104 corresponding to the first superimposed image 103, the control circuit unit 25 performs one shot from the first memory 22 to the printing head 15. The print data A is transferred one by one, and printing of the first superimposed image 103 is started by the print head 15 (see FIG. 4B). During the printing of the first superimposed image 103, the control circuit unit 25 sequentially writes the print data A from the main memory 21 into the first memory 22 by 10 shots.

  Here, FIG. 4C shows a state in which print data for the 91st to 100th shots is transferred to the first memory 22 and 94 shots have been printed for the first superimposed image 103.

When the print head 15 performs the 94th shot and the reference mark 104 corresponding to the second superimposed image 103 is detected by the sensor 5, the output to the head unit 3 is first output by the switching circuit 24. The memory 22 is switched to the second memory 23.
As a result, the print data for the first 10 shots of the print data B is sequentially transferred from the second memory 23 to the print head 15, and the second superimposed image 103 is printed (see FIG. 4D). .

  That is, after the 94th shot of the print data A is transferred from the first memory 22 to the print head 15 at the timing based on the feeding section signal from the drum encoder 14, the first shot of the print data B is the second shot. The data is transferred from the memory 23 to the print head 15. Thereby, after the 94th shot of the print data A is printed, the first shot of the print data B is printed on the print medium S without any gaps.

  When the reference mark 104 corresponding to the second superimposed image 103 is detected, the control circuit unit 25 writes the head portion of the print data C from the main memory 21 to the first memory 22 (FIG. 4D). reference).

  Thereafter, when the sensor 5 detects the reference mark 104 corresponding to the third superimposed image 103, the output memory is switched from the second memory 23 to the first memory 22 by the switching circuit 24. As a result, the print data for the first 10 shots of the print data C are sequentially transferred to the print head 15 and printing of the third superimposed image 103 is started.

As described above, when print data corresponding to one of the plurality of superimposed images 103 is output to the print head 15 from one of the first memory 22 and the second memory 23, the next overlap is performed. When the passage of the reference mark 104 corresponding to the image 103 is detected, the switching circuit 24 uses the memory for outputting the print data to the print head 15 and the other memory in which the print data corresponding to the next superimposed image 103 is written. Switch to. As a result, immediately after the passage of the reference mark 104 is detected, print data corresponding to the next superimposed image 103 is output to the print head 15. Therefore, the print head 15 can start printing the next superimposed image 103 following the one superimposed image 103.
In particular, even when the transfer speed from the main memory 21 to the first memory 22 or the second memory 23 is slower than the timing required by the print head 15, the print data of the head portion of the next superimposed image 103 is previously stored. By writing in a memory different from the output memory, printing of the next superimposed image 103 can be started immediately after the passage of the reference mark 104 is detected.

  As described above, the first overlap image 103, the second overlap image 103, and the third overlap image 103 are printed on the print medium S without any non-printing section. The same applies to the subsequent superimposed images 103.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the print head 15 detects the passage of the reference mark 104 corresponding to the next superimposed image 103 during printing of the one superimposed image 103, the one superimposed image is displayed. Printing of the next superimposed image 103 is started after the image 103. Thereby, even when printing is performed while continuously feeding the print medium S, a non-print section does not occur between the superimposed images 103. Therefore, when printing is performed while continuously feeding the print medium S, each overlap image 103 is printed from a predetermined position with respect to each reference mark 104, and wasteful consumption of the print medium S due to the non-print section is suppressed. can do.

  In the printer 1, a mark printing unit that prints the reference mark 104 is provided on the upstream side of the sensor 5 in the feed direction, and the mark printing unit uses the mark printing unit for a printing medium S that is not provided with the reference mark 104 in advance. The mark 104 may be provided. The printer 1 may be an ink jet printer that discharges ink other than UV ink, or may be a printer of another type.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 2 ... Feed part 3 ... Head unit 5 ... Sensor 6 ... Delivery reel 7 ... Take-up reel 8 ... Rotating drum 11 ... Guide roller 12 ... Upstream side path change roller 13 ... Downstream side path change roller 15 ... Print head 103 ... overlapping image 204 ... reference mark S ... print medium

Claims (6)

A feeding section for continuously feeding print media;
A detection unit for detecting the passage of a plurality of reference marks provided in the feeding direction in the print medium;
A printing unit that prints an image from a predetermined position with respect to each reference mark based on detection of passage of each reference mark with respect to the print medium that is continuously sent,
When the printing unit detects the passage of the reference mark corresponding to the next image during printing of one of the plurality of images, the printing unit continues to the one image on the print medium. A printer that starts printing the next image. A control unit for controlling the printing unit;
The controller is
A first memory and a second memory for sequentially outputting to the printing unit a plurality of print data for causing the printing unit to perform a plurality of times of printing driving for forming each image;
A memory switching unit that switches a memory that sequentially outputs the plurality of print data to the printing unit between the first memory and the second memory when the passage of each fiducial mark is detected;
The control unit is configured to output the plurality of print data corresponding to the one image from one of the first memory and the second memory sequentially before or before outputting the plurality of print data. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print data corresponding to the next image is written. A plurality of printing drives for forming each image on a printing medium in which a plurality of reference marks are provided in the feeding direction and a plurality of images are formed in the feeding direction on a printing medium that is continuously fed. A data control device that sequentially outputs a plurality of print data for causing the printing unit to
A first memory and a second memory for sequentially outputting the plurality of print data to the printing unit;
A memory switching unit that switches a memory that sequentially outputs the plurality of print data to the printing unit between the first memory and the second memory when the passage of each fiducial mark is detected;
When the plurality of print data corresponding to one of the plurality of images is sequentially output from one of the first memory and the second memory, or before the output, A data control apparatus for writing the print data corresponding to the next image in a memory.   4. The data control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first memory and the second memory are obtained by logically dividing one physical memory by addressing.   4. The data control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first memory and the second memory are composed of two physical memories. A plurality of printing drives for forming each image on a printing medium in which a plurality of reference marks are provided in the feeding direction and a plurality of images are formed in the feeding direction on a printing medium that is continuously fed. A control method of a data control device for sequentially outputting a plurality of print data for causing the printing unit to perform
The data control device includes a first memory and a second memory that sequentially output the plurality of print data to the printing unit,
The plurality of print data corresponding to one image of the plurality of images is sequentially output from one of the first memory and the second memory, and at the time of the output or before the output Writing the print data corresponding to the next image in the other memory;
When the passage of each fiducial mark is detected, switching the memory that sequentially outputs the plurality of print data to the printing unit to the other memory;
The control method of the data control apparatus characterized by performing.

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