JP2016115307A - Printing device, printing system, calibration program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to easily decide the necessity of executing the calibration of a printing device even when a plurality of control devices control one printing device.SOLUTION: A printing device comprises: a communication unit for communicating with a plurality of control devices; a printing execution unit for executing print; a data storage unit for storing correction data used for the correction of the printing characteristic of the printing execution unit; and a control unit that, when the communication unit receives the correction data obtained by a control device executing calibration to correct the printing characteristic from the control device, has the data storage unit store the correction data received by the communication unit in association with date and time information indicating the acquisition date and time of the correction data by the control device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a calibration technique for a printing apparatus.

  Conventionally, various techniques for calibrating printing characteristics such as density or color of an image printed by a printing apparatus have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, an image having a predetermined density pattern is printed, and the density of the printed image is read. Then, correction data (HS data) for correcting the density of the image based on the read result is created and stored in the storage device. The storage device stores the correction data of each of the plurality of printers connected to one terminal device in association with the date and time when the correction data is acquired. When a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the acquisition of the correction data, the user is requested to reset the correction data.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3369

  As described above, Patent Document 1 describes a case where a plurality of printing apparatuses are controlled by a single control apparatus. On the other hand, when one printing apparatus is controlled by a plurality of control apparatuses, execution of calibration can be instructed from each of the plurality of control apparatuses. For this reason, for example, a user who operates with one control device may not be able to know the execution date and time of calibration according to an instruction from another control device. As a result, the date and time of execution of past calibration for the printing apparatus cannot be accurately grasped, and the user may not be able to easily determine whether or not to perform calibration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when a single printing apparatus is controlled by a plurality of control apparatuses, the user can easily determine whether or not the printing apparatus needs to be calibrated. The purpose is to provide technology that makes it possible.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention is used for correcting a printing characteristic of a communication unit that performs communication with a plurality of control devices, a print execution unit that executes printing, and a print execution unit. A date and time indicating the acquisition date and time of the correction data of the control device when the communication unit receives the correction data acquired by executing calibration for correcting the printing characteristics by the control device and the data storage unit that stores the correction data. A control unit that stores correction data received by the communication unit in association with information in the data storage unit.

  Such a printing apparatus stores correction data acquired by the control apparatus by executing calibration in a storage unit in association with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time. Therefore, when a plurality of control devices control the printing device, date and time information indicating the date and time when each control device acquires correction data by executing calibration is stored in the storage unit of the printing device. Therefore, the user can grasp the execution date and time of the past calibration for the printing device by accessing the date and time information in the storage unit of the printing device from the control device. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not to execute calibration of the printing apparatus based on, for example, the elapsed time from the past execution date and time.

  By the way, the printing execution unit can configure the printing apparatus so as to print a pattern for calibration on a printing medium in response to a request from a control apparatus that performs calibration.

  At this time, the control unit may configure the printing apparatus so that the correction data is stored in the data storage unit in association with the information about the print medium on which the pattern is printed by the calibration for acquiring the correction data. In such a configuration, the user can refer to information regarding a print medium on which a pattern has been printed in past calibration when determining whether calibration is necessary. Incidentally, the information regarding the print medium includes, for example, information such as the type of the print medium or the manufacturer.

  Alternatively, the correction data is obtained based on the result of detecting the pattern with the detector, and the control unit associates the correction data with the information related to the detector used in the calibration for acquiring the correction data in the data storage unit. The printing apparatus may be configured to store it. In such a configuration, the user can refer to information regarding the detector used for pattern detection in the past calibration when determining whether calibration is necessary. Incidentally, the information on the detector includes, for example, the type, manufacturer, or detection accuracy of the detector.

  Further, the control unit may configure the printing apparatus so that the correction data in the data storage unit is reset to an initial value when maintenance is performed on the print execution unit. In other words, when maintenance is performed on the print execution unit, the correction data acquired by the calibration up to that point is not always valid. Therefore, the correction data in the data storage unit may be reset to the initial value. Incidentally, the initial value is, for example, a value of correction data acquired by performing calibration by the operator at the time of shipment of the printing apparatus to the factory, at the time of initial installation of the printing apparatus to the user, or at the time of repairing the printing apparatus. .

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention includes a printing device that executes printing and a plurality of control devices that control the printing device, and the control device is used to correct printing characteristics of the printing device. A calibration control unit that executes calibration for acquiring correction data and stores the correction data in the printing apparatus in association with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time of the correction data, and a display unit for accessing the printing apparatus and displaying the date / time information And have.

  In such a printing system, each of a plurality of control devices stores correction data acquired by executing calibration in association with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time in the printing device. Therefore, the user can grasp the execution date and time of past calibration for the printing apparatus by accessing the printing apparatus from any of the control apparatuses. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not to execute calibration of the printing apparatus based on, for example, the elapsed time from the past execution date and time.

  By the way, in the configuration in which each of the plurality of control devices executes calibration for the printing device as in the printing system described above, the correction data acquired by the calibration executed by the other control device is one control. It is not necessarily appropriate for causing the printing apparatus to execute printing under the control of the apparatus. This is because calibration by another control device is not always suitable for printing by one control device.

  Therefore, the control device includes a history management unit that records a calibration execution history by the calibration control unit, and a print control unit that controls printing by the printing device, and the display unit is recorded in the history management unit. An execution history is displayed, and the print control unit controls the printing system to cause the printing apparatus to execute printing with the correction data acquired by the calibration selected by the user from the execution history displayed on the display unit. It may be configured. In such a configuration, the execution history of calibration executed by the control device on the printing device is recorded in the history management unit of the control device, and the user can check the execution history on the display unit of the control device. Then, the user appropriately selects a calibration that is considered appropriate for the scheduled printing from the execution history displayed on the display unit of the control device, and prints the correction data acquired by the selected calibration on the printing device. Can be executed.

  Specifically, when the calibration control unit acquires the correction data by executing the calibration, the history management unit records the correction data as the execution history in association with the date / time information, and the display unit displays the date / time information indicated by the execution history. The print control unit controls the printing system to cause the printing apparatus to execute printing with the correction data acquired at the acquisition date and time indicated by the date and time information selected by the user from the date and time information list. It may be configured. In such a configuration, the user can confirm a list of date and time information of the correction data indicated by the execution history on the display unit. Then, from the list of date and time information of the correction data displayed on the display unit of the control device, what is considered appropriate for the scheduled printing can be selected as appropriate.

  Further, when the calibration control unit obtains correction data by executing calibration, the history management unit records the calibration execution condition in association with the date information as an execution history, and the display unit records the corresponding execution condition together. The printing system may be configured to display a list of the date and time information that has been displayed. With this configuration, the user can make an appropriate selection while referring to the calibration execution condition when selecting from the list of date and time information. The calibration execution conditions include, for example, the type of print medium used in calibration, the manufacturer, the type of detector, the manufacturer, or detection accuracy.

  In addition, the history management unit records a comment input by the user as the execution history in association with the date / time information, and the display unit configures the printing system so as to display a list of date / time information in which the corresponding comment is written together. You may do it. In such a configuration, when selecting from the list of date information, the user can make an appropriate selection while referring to the comments written in the date information.

  In addition, the printing system may be configured so that the execution history can be transferred between a plurality of control devices. Such a configuration has an advantage that not only the calibration history information by the control device operated by itself but also the calibration history information by other control devices can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, a calibration program according to the present invention shows a step of executing calibration for acquiring correction data used for correcting printing characteristics of a printing apparatus that performs printing, and the date and time of acquisition of correction data. A computer is caused to execute a step of storing correction data in the printing device in association with the date information and a step of accessing the printing device and displaying the date information.

  The recording medium according to the present invention records the calibration program so as to be readable by a computer.

  In such a calibration program or recording medium, the computer stores the correction data acquired by executing the calibration in association with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time in the printing apparatus. Further, the computer accesses the printing apparatus and displays the date / time information of the correction data. Therefore, the user can grasp the execution date and time of past calibration for the printing apparatus from the display result. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not to execute calibration of the printing apparatus based on, for example, the elapsed time from the past execution date and time.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a printing system to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printer included in the printing system of FIG. 1. The figure which shows an example of the table for correction | amendment typically. The block diagram which shows typically the structure of the control terminal with which the printing system of FIG. 1 is provided. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of color calibration executed by a control device. The figure which shows an example of a log | history table typically. The figure which shows an example of the start screen which inputs the start command of color calibration. 10 is a flowchart for applying color calibration execution history to printing. The figure which shows an example of the log | history screen which shows the execution log | history of color calibration.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a printing system to which the present invention can be applied. As shown in the figure, the printing system 1 includes one printer 3 and a plurality (three) of control terminals 5. Each control terminal 5 and the printer 3 can communicate with each other via a network 7 (for example, LAN: Local Area Network), and each control terminal 5 controls the printer 3 via the network 7.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printer included in the printing system of FIG. The printer 3 includes an engine unit 31 that is a mechanical configuration of the printer 3 and a controller 35 that is an electrical configuration that controls the engine unit 31, and a print medium 30 based on paper or a film (FIG. 1). Print an image on The engine unit 31 of the printer 3 includes a print head 32 that ejects ink from nozzles using an inkjet method, and prints an image by ejecting ink from the print head 32 to the print medium 30. The engine unit 31 includes a plurality of print heads 32 that eject inks of different colors, and can print a color image on the print medium 30.

  The engine unit 31 also includes a maintenance unit 33 that performs maintenance of the print head 32. Maintenance includes capping, cleaning and wiping. Capping is a process of covering the print head 32 with a cap. This capping can suppress an increase in the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the print head 32. The cleaning is a process of forcibly discharging ink from the nozzles of the print head 32 by generating a negative pressure in the cap while capping the print head 32. By this cleaning, ink with increased viscosity, bubbles in the ink, and the like can be removed from the nozzles of the print head 32. Wiping is a process of wiping the surface (nozzle formation surface) where nozzle openings are arranged in the print head 32 with a wiper. By this wiping, the ink can be wiped from the nozzle forming surface of the print head 32.

  The controller 35 includes an arithmetic unit 36, a communication unit 37, and a storage unit 38. The arithmetic unit 36 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and comprehensively controls the operation of the printer 3. Specifically, the arithmetic unit 36 generates a drive signal Sd corresponding to the image and drives the print head 32 based on the drive signal Sd. Thus, ink is ejected from each nozzle of the print head 32 at the timing and amount indicated by the drive signal Sd, and an image is printed on the print medium 30.

  The communication unit 37 is a communication interface that controls communication with each control terminal 5. That is, the communication unit 37 receives the print command output from the control terminal 5 and transfers it to the arithmetic unit 36. Then, the arithmetic unit 36 generates a drive signal Sd corresponding to the image indicated by the print command, and executes printing as described above.

  The storage unit 38 is an NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) and stores various programs and data required for printing. Incidentally, as will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, color calibration for adjusting the color tone (printing characteristics) of an image is appropriately executed, and correction data Dc for correcting the operation of the print head 32 is obtained. When the image is printed, the arithmetic unit 36 corrects the drive signal Sd with the correction data Dc, thereby adjusting the ink discharge amount from each nozzle of the print head 32. This makes it possible to print an image with an appropriate color tone. Therefore, the storage unit 38 stores a correction table Tc having correction data Dc in a table format.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the correction table. As shown in FIG. 3, the correction table Tc is an LUT (Lookup table) having the correction data Dc in association with date / time information Dt indicating the acquisition date / time of the correction data Dc. In the color calibration, correction data Dc is calculated based on the result of measuring the color chart color printed on the print medium 30 by the colorimetric sensor 58 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the correction table Tc has information regarding the print medium 30 and the colorimetric sensor 58 used in the color calibration as medium information Dm and sensor information Ds.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. In addition to the correction table Tc, the storage unit 38 stores an initial table Ti that stores each value of the correction table Tc in the initial state. The initial table Ti is acquired by the operator performing color calibration when the printer 3 is shipped from the factory, when the printer 3 is initially installed at the user site, or when the printer 3 is repaired. Remembered.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the control terminal provided in the printing system of FIG. In FIG. 4, for example, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or USB (Universal
In addition to the control terminal 5, a recording medium 10 such as a serial bus) memory is also written. The control terminal 5 is a personal computer, and includes a calculation unit 51 that is configured by a CPU and a RAM and comprehensively controls the operation of the control terminal 5, and a storage unit 53 that is configured by an HDD (Hard disk drive). In the storage unit 53, a program Pc for defining the color calibration operation is installed from the recording medium 10, and a history table Th for recording the color calibration execution history is stored.

  The control terminal 5 further includes a communication unit 55, a display 56, an input device 57, and a colorimetric sensor 58. The communication unit 55 is an interface that controls communication with the communication unit 37 of the printer 3. That is, the communication unit 55 transmits the print command generated by the arithmetic unit 51 to the communication unit 37 of the printer 3. Accordingly, as described above, an image corresponding to the print command is printed by the printer 3. The display 56 is a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information for the user, and functions as a GUI (Graphical User Interface). The input device 57 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and accepts an input operation by a user. The colorimetric sensor 58 is a sensor that measures the color of the object, and is detachably connected to the main body of the control terminal 5 via a USB or the like.

  In the printing system 1, each of the plurality of control terminals 5 can execute the color calibration of the printing system 1. Subsequently, the contents of color calibration executed by the control terminal 5 will be described in detail. Since the contents of calibration are common to each control terminal 5, only one control terminal 5 will be described here.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of color calibration executed by the control device. The flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed when the arithmetic unit 51 performs an operation specified by the program Pc. In step S <b> 101, an execution condition setting screen that allows the user to set the color calibration execution condition is displayed on the display 56. Specifically, candidates for the print medium 30 for printing the color chart and candidates for the color measurement sensor 58 used for color measurement of the color chart are displayed on the display 56. Then, the user can select each of the print medium 30 and the colorimetric sensor 58 used for color calibration from among a plurality of candidates displayed on the execution condition setting screen by operating the input device 57.

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not a color chart printing command has been input by the user. In other words, in addition to the print medium 30 and the colorimetric sensor 58 candidates, a button for inputting a color chart print command is displayed on the execution condition setting screen. When the user selects the button by operating the input device 57, it is determined that a color chart printing command has been input ("YES" in step S102), and step S103 is executed.

  In step S <b> 103, the arithmetic unit 51 generates a print command for instructing printing of the color chart, and the communication unit 55 transmits the print command to the printer 3. In the printer 3, the color chart is printed on the print medium 30 by the arithmetic unit 36 driving the print head 32 based on the print command received by the communication unit 37. Various specific modes of the color chart are conceivable. For example, a color chart proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-101063 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-164044 can be printed.

  When the printing of the color chart is completed, a color measurement screen that allows the user to perform color measurement of the color chart is displayed on the display 56 (step S104). On this color measurement screen, the color chart color measurement procedure is displayed, and the user can measure the color chart color by the color measurement sensor 58 by operating the color measurement sensor 58 according to this procedure. Then, the arithmetic unit 36 acquires the color measurement result input from the color measurement sensor 58 in accordance with the user's color measurement operation (step S105).

  When the predetermined colorimetric results are obtained, the arithmetic unit 51 calculates correction data Dc for correcting the drive signal Sd so that the difference between the measured value and the target value is reduced to a predetermined range (step S106). As a specific calculation method here, a conventionally proposed method can be used. In step S107, it is determined whether or not a command for writing correction data Dc has been input by the user. That is, on the color measurement screen, a button for allowing the user to input a write command for the correction data Dc is displayed following the end of display of the color measurement procedure. When the user selects the button by operating the input device 57, it is determined that a write command for the correction data Dc has been input ("YES" in step S107), and step S108 is executed.

  In step S108, the arithmetic unit 51 writes the correction data Dc acquired in step S106 into the storage unit 38 of the printer 3. Specifically, the arithmetic unit 51 transmits the correction data Dc, the medium information Dm, and the sensor information Ds to the communication unit 37 of the printer 3 in association with the date / time information Dt. In the printer 3, the calculation unit 36 stores the reception result of the communication unit 37 in the storage unit 38 in the table format of FIG. 3. Here, the medium information Dm is information related to the print medium 30 selected in step S101, the sensor information Ds is information related to the colorimetric sensor 58 selected in step S101, and the correction data Dc is acquired in step S106. The correction data Dc and the date information Dt are the date and time when the correction data Dc is acquired in step S106.

  In step S109, the arithmetic unit 51 determines whether or not the correction data Dc has been written to the printer 3. Specifically, the arithmetic unit 51 reads the value of the correction data Dc stored in the printer 3 and compares it with the value of the correction data Dc acquired in step S106. If these values match (“YES” in step S109), the arithmetic unit 51 determines that the writing has succeeded and proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, if these values do not match (“NO” in step S109), the arithmetic unit 51 determines that the writing has failed, and ends the flowchart of FIG. 5 in error.

  In step S110, a history saving screen is displayed on the display 56. This history saving screen is a screen for recording the execution contents in steps S101 to S108 in the history table Th stored in the storage unit 53. On this history storage screen, the user can input a comment. When the user operates the input device 57 and selects a button indicating completion of comment input, the execution contents in steps S101 to S108 are recorded in the history table Th (step S111), and the flowchart of FIG. 5 ends. To do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a history table. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the history table Th is an LUT indicating a color calibration execution history. Specifically, the correction data Dc is recorded in the history table Th in association with date / time information Dt indicating the acquisition date / time. Furthermore, medium information Dm, sensor information Ds, and comments are recorded in the history table Th in association with the date / time information Dt of the corresponding correction data Dc. The history table Th shows the latest predetermined execution history (five times in the example of FIG. 6) among a plurality of color calibrations executed in the past, and each time color calibration is executed. Updated.

  As described above, when the color calibration of FIG. 5 is executed, the correction table Tc of the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 is updated to the correction table Tc acquired by the color calibration. Since the printer 3 performs printing based on the value of the correction table Tc stored in the storage unit 38, subsequent printing is performed based on the updated correction table Tc. As a result, an image having an appropriate color tone can be printed on the print medium 30. Further, in order to cope with a change in color tone of a printed image by repeating printing, the user can execute color calibration at an appropriate timing.

  Particularly in the present embodiment, the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 stores date / time information Dt indicating the acquisition date / time of the correction data Dc. Therefore, the user can grasp the date and time of the previous color calibration by referring to the date and time information Dt, and determine whether or not to execute the color calibration. Specifically, the user can access the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 from the control terminal 5 operated by the user and display the date / time information Dt on the display 56 of the control terminal 5 (FIG. 7).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a start screen for inputting a color calibration start command. The calibration start screen 8 is a screen for determining whether or not the color calibration shown in FIG. 5 is necessary, and is displayed on the display 56 by the arithmetic unit 51 in accordance with a display command of a user who operates the control terminal 5. . The calibration start screen 8 has a display field 81 indicating the contents of the correction table Tc stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3. That is, when the calibration start screen 8 is displayed, the arithmetic unit 51 accesses the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 and reads the correction table Tc. Then, the arithmetic unit 51 processes the contents of the correction table Tc as appropriate and displays them in the display field 81.

  The contents of the correction table Tc stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 are updated each time each control terminal 5 executes color calibration on the printer 3. Therefore, the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 shows the contents of the latest color calibration among the past color calibrations performed by the control terminals 5 on the printer 3. That is, the display column 81 of the calibration start screen 8 shows the contents of the latest color calibration.

  Specifically, the display column 81 of the calibration start screen 8 displays date / time information Dt, medium information Dm, sensor information Ds, and comments in the latest color calibration. Here, the date and time information Dt indicates the date and time when the correction data Dc was acquired, for example, in the form of the year / month / day / hour / minute / second. The medium information Dm indicates information related to the print medium 30 such as the product name, manufacturer, or type (plain paper / glossy paper) of the print medium 30. The sensor information Ds indicates information relating to the color measurement sensor 58 such as the product name of the color measurement sensor 58 or the manufacturer.

  Therefore, the user can grasp the contents of the latest color calibration by checking the display field 81 of the calibration start screen 8. Further, the user can determine whether or not to execute color calibration based on the grasp result. If it is determined that color calibration is necessary, the color calibration of FIG. 5 described above can be started by selecting the start button 82 included in the calibration start screen 8.

  As described above, the printer 3 of the present embodiment stores the correction data Dc acquired by the control terminal 5 by performing color calibration in the storage unit 38 in association with the date / time information Dt indicating the acquisition date / time. Therefore, in the above case where the printer 3 is controlled by a plurality of control terminals 5, the date and time information Dt indicating the date and time when each control terminal 5 has acquired the correction data Dc by executing color calibration is stored in the printer 3. Stored in unit 38. Therefore, the user can grasp the past date and time of color calibration for the printer 3 by accessing the date and time information Dt of the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 from the control terminal 5 operated by the user. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not the calibration of the printer 3 is necessary based on, for example, the elapsed time from the past execution date and time.

  In the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the correction data Dc acquired by each of the plurality of control terminals 5 by performing color calibration is stored in the printer 3 in association with date / time information Dt indicating the acquisition date / time. Therefore, the user can grasp the execution date and time of past color calibration for the printer 3 by accessing the printer 3 from any of the control terminals 5. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not it is necessary to perform the color calibration of the printer 3 based on, for example, the elapsed time from the past execution date and time.

  According to the program Pc of the present embodiment, the control terminal 5 stores the correction data Dc acquired by executing color calibration in the printer 3 in association with the date / time information Dt indicating the acquisition date / time. Further, the control terminal 5 accesses the printer 3 and displays the date / time information Dt of the correction data Dc. Therefore, the user can grasp the execution date and time of past color calibration for the printer 3 from the display result. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not it is necessary to perform the color calibration of the printer 3 based on, for example, the elapsed time from the past execution date and time.

  The correction data Dc is stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 in association with the medium information Dm. In this configuration, the user can check the medium information Dm by accessing the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 from the control terminal 5 operated by the user. As a result, the user can refer to information regarding the print medium 30 on which the color chart has been printed by past color calibration when determining whether or not color calibration is necessary.

  Further, correction data Dc is stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 in association with the sensor information Ds. In such a configuration, the user can check the sensor information Ds by accessing the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 from the control terminal 5 operated by the user. As a result, the user can refer to information regarding the colorimetric sensor 58 (detector) used for detecting the color chart in the past color calibration when determining whether or not color calibration is necessary.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the printer 3 corresponds to an example of the “printing apparatus” of the present invention, the communication unit 37 corresponds to an example of the “communication unit” of the present invention, and the engine unit 31 corresponds to the “printing unit” of the present invention. The storage unit 38 corresponds to an example of the “data storage unit” of the present invention, the arithmetic unit 36 corresponds to an example of the “control unit” of the present invention, and the color calibration corresponds to the present invention. The color chart corresponds to an example of the “pattern” of the present invention. The printing system 1 corresponds to an example of the “printing system” of the present invention, the control terminal 5 corresponds to an example of the “control device” of the present invention, and the arithmetic unit 51 corresponds to the “calibration control unit” of the present invention. The display 56 corresponds to an example, and the display 56 corresponds to an example of the “display unit” of the present invention. The program Pc corresponds to an example of the “calibration program” of the present invention, and the recording medium 10 corresponds to an example of the “recording medium” of the present invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above-described one without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the configuration in which each of the plurality of control terminals 5 performs color calibration on the printer 3 like the printer 3, the correction data Dc acquired by the color calibration performed by the other control terminal 5. However, it is not always appropriate for causing the printer 3 to execute printing under the control of one control terminal 5. This is because, for example, the detection accuracy of the colorimetric sensor 58 used in the color calibration by another control terminal 5 may not be suitable for the image quality required for printing by one control terminal 5. Therefore, the control terminal 5 may be configured to execute the flowchart of FIG. 8 before the printer 3 starts printing by a print command from the control terminal 5.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for applying the execution history of color calibration by the control terminal to printing. This flowchart is executed when the arithmetic unit 51 performs an operation specified by the program Pc. In step S <b> 201, when the user inputs a history display command to the control terminal 5, a color calibration execution history by the control terminal 5 is displayed. Specifically, when a history display command is input, the screen of FIG. 9 showing the contents of the history table Th stored in the storage unit 53 is displayed on the display 56 by the arithmetic unit 51.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a history screen showing a color calibration execution history by the control terminal. The history screen 9 has a display column 91 for displaying a color calibration execution history indicated by the history table Th. Specifically, the display column 91 displays date / time information Dt, medium information Dm, sensor information Ds, and comments in the past five color calibrations. The specific contents thereof are the same as those in FIG. Then, by operating the input device 57 of the control terminal 5, the user can select one of the five calibrations that is considered appropriate for the scheduled printing.

  That is, in step S202 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not there is a selection input by the user. If there is a selection input (in the case of “YES” in step S202), the arithmetic unit 51 uses the correction data Dc corresponding to the selected calibration as the date information Dt, the medium information Dm, and the sensor information Ds. Is written in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 (step S203). As a result, the content of the correction table Tc stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 is updated. Subsequently, steps S204 to S206 are executed in the same manner as steps S109 to S111 of FIG. 5 described above, and the flowchart of FIG. 8 ends.

  Printing of the printer 3 after the end of the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed based on the updated correction table Tc. That is, printing on the print medium 30 is executed with the correction data Dc determined as appropriate by the user from the history table Th. As a result, it is possible to print an image having a color tone expected by the user.

  As described above, in the modification shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the history screen 9 showing the history table Th recorded in the storage unit 53 is displayed on the display 56. Then, the arithmetic unit 51 causes the printer 3 to execute printing with the correction data Dc acquired by the color calibration selected by the user from the history table Th. That is, the user selects the color calibration that is considered appropriate for the scheduled printing while confirming the contents of the history table Th on the display 56, and prints on the printer 3 with the correction data Dc acquired by the selected color calibration. Can be executed.

  Specifically, in this modification, when the arithmetic unit 51 acquires the correction data Dc by executing color calibration, the correction data Dc is recorded in the history table Th in association with the date / time information Dt (steps S111 and S206). . Further, the display 56 displays a list of the date / time information Dt indicated by the history table Th, that is, the display column 91 (step S201). Then, the arithmetic unit 51 causes the printer 3 to execute printing with the correction data Dc acquired at the acquisition date and time indicated by the date and time information Dt selected by the user from the display field 91. In such a configuration, the user can appropriately select a list that is considered to be appropriate for the scheduled printing from the list while checking the list of date and time information Dt of the correction data Dc indicated by the history table Th on the display 56. Yes (step S202).

  Further, when the arithmetic unit 51 acquires the correction data Dc by executing the color calibration, the color calibration execution conditions, that is, the medium information Dm and the sensor information Ds are recorded in the history table Th in association with the date / time information Dt ( Steps S111 and S206). Further, the display 56 displays a list of date / time information Dt along with the corresponding execution conditions (step S201). In such a configuration, the user can appropriately select from the date / time information Dt list while referring to the calibration execution conditions (step S202).

  In the storage unit 53, the comment input by the user is recorded in the history table Th in association with the date / time information Dt (steps S111 and S206). Further, the display 56 displays a list of date / time information Dt along with corresponding comments, that is, a display column 91 (step S201). In such a configuration, the user can appropriately select the date information Dt from the list while referring to the comment (step S202).

  8 and 9, the control terminal 5 records the calibration execution history (history table Th) in the storage unit 53, and displays the execution history on the display 56 in response to a user request. To display. Note that when a plurality of control terminals 5 are controlled by one printer 3 as in the printing system 1 described above, depending on the user, calibration of the control terminal 5 different from the control terminal 5 operated by the user may be performed. It is also assumed that you want to use the execution history.

  Therefore, the contents of the history table Th may be transferred between the plurality of control terminals 5. Specifically, it is preferable that each control terminal 5 can execute export and import of the history table Th. As a result, the user can import the history table Th of another control terminal 5 into the control terminal 5 operated by the user and display it on the display 56. Further, in the same manner as steps S202 to S203 described above, the printer 3 can be selected from the history table Th and the printer 3 can execute printing with the correction data Dc acquired by calibration of the other control terminal 5. it can.

  In such a modification, the storage unit 53 corresponds to an example of the “history management unit” of the present invention, the history table Th corresponds to an example of the “execution history” of the present invention, and the arithmetic unit 51 corresponds to “ The display column 91 corresponds to an example of “print control unit”, and the display field 91 corresponds to an example of “list” of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 3 includes a maintenance unit 33, and maintenance of the print head 32 is appropriately performed. Before and after such maintenance, the amount of ink that the print head 32 ejects at one time can change. Therefore, the correction data Dc stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3 may no longer be appropriate. Therefore, when the maintenance by the maintenance unit 33 is performed, the arithmetic unit 36 may reset the correction data Dc to the initial value by rewriting the correction table Tc with the initial table Ti.

  Further, the specific contents of the medium information Dm and the sensor information Ds are not limited to the above examples, and various changes can be made. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the colorimetric sensor 58 may be recorded as the sensor information Ds and appropriately displayed on the display 56.

  Further, the display 56 displays the acquisition time itself of the correction data Dc as the date / time information Dt. However, the display mode of the date / time information Dt on the display 56 is not limited to this. For example, the elapsed time from the acquisition time of the correction data Dc may be displayed on the display 56.

  Further, as the date / time information Dt, the time when the correction data Dc was calculated in step S106 was adopted. However, the date information Dt is not limited to this as long as it can be recognized by the user as the acquisition time of the correction data Dc. Therefore, the date / time information Dt may indicate a specific time (for example, the time when the correction data Dc is written in the storage unit 38 in step S108) when the predetermined process of color calibration in FIG. 5 is completed.

  Although not particularly described above, the plurality of control terminals 5 and the printer 3 are devices provided separately from each other, and are configured to be powered independently.

  Incidentally, it is conceivable that a memory for storing correction data Dc, such as the storage unit 38, may be provided separately from the printing system 1, but in the above embodiment, the memory for storing the correction data Dc is used as a printer for the following reason. 3 is built in. That is, when the memory is provided in a device different from the printer 3, for example, a server, it is necessary to turn on both the server and the printer 3 in order to perform calibration, which increases the user's trouble. On the other hand, if the memory is built in the printer 3 as in the above embodiment, the power is supplied to the memory when the printer 3 is turned on. Can be reduced.

  In addition, the initial table Ti is stored in the storage unit 38 of the printer 3. The initial table Ti is acquired, for example, when the printer 3 is shipped from the factory, and stored in the storage unit 38. At this time, the same table as the initial table Ti may be separately stored in the storage unit 38 as the correction table Tc, and the correction table Tc may be updated each time color calibration is executed. In such a configuration, for example, the date and time information Dt of the initial table Ti and the correction table Tc are compared, and if they match, the color calibration is not performed, and if they do not match, the color calibration is performed at least once. It is possible to determine that has been implemented.

  Moreover, the case where the personal computer was made to function as the control terminal 5 was illustrated. However, a portable terminal such as a laptop computer, a smartphone, or a tablet may function as the control terminal 5.

  Further, the case where the color tone of the print image is calibrated has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to calibration other than color tone such as calibration of the density of a printed image.

  Further, the specific method in which the printer 3 executes printing is not limited to the ink jet method, and may be a laser method, for example.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 3 ... Printer, 31 ... Engine part, 36 ... Arithmetic unit, 37 ... Communication unit, 38 ... Storage unit, 5 ... Control terminal, 51 ... Arithmetic unit, 56 ... Display, 58 ... Colorimetric sensor, 10 ... Recording medium, Pc ... Program, Dc ... Correction data, Dt ... Date information, Dm ... Media information, Ds ... Sensor information, Th ... History table

Claims (13)

A communication unit for communicating with a plurality of control devices;
A print execution unit for executing printing;
A data storage unit for storing correction data used for correcting the print characteristics of the print execution unit;
When the communication unit receives the correction data acquired by executing calibration for correcting the printing characteristics by the control device from the control device, the control device associates the correction data with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time of the correction data. And a control unit that stores the correction data received by the communication unit in the data storage unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing execution unit prints the calibration pattern on a printing medium in response to a request from the control apparatus that performs the calibration.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stores the correction data in the data storage unit in association with information on the print medium on which the pattern is printed by the calibration for acquiring the correction data. . The correction data is obtained based on the result of detecting the pattern with a detector,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stores the correction data in the data storage unit in association with information on the detector used in the calibration for obtaining the correction data.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit resets the correction data in the data storage unit to an initial value when maintenance is performed on the print execution unit. A printing device for performing printing;
A plurality of control devices for controlling the printing device,
The controller is
A calibration control unit that executes calibration for acquiring correction data used for correcting printing characteristics of the printing apparatus, and stores the correction data in the printing apparatus in association with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time of the correction data;
And a display unit that displays the date and time information by accessing the printing apparatus. The control device includes a history management unit that records an execution history of the calibration by the calibration control unit, and a print control unit that controls printing by the printing device,
The display unit displays the execution history recorded in the history management unit,
The print control unit according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus causes the printing apparatus to execute printing with the correction data acquired by the calibration selected by the user from the execution history displayed on the display unit. Printing system. When the calibration control unit obtains the correction data by executing the calibration, the history management unit records the correction data as the execution history in association with the date / time information,
The display unit displays a list of the date and time information indicated by the execution history,
The printing control unit according to claim 7, wherein the printing control unit causes the printing apparatus to perform printing with the correction data acquired at the acquisition date and time indicated by the date and time information selected by the user from the list of date and time information. system. When the calibration control unit acquires the correction data by executing the calibration, the history management unit records the calibration execution condition in association with the date / time information as the execution history,
The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the display unit displays a list of the date and time information in which the corresponding execution conditions are written together. The history management unit records a comment input by a user as the execution history in association with the date and time information,
The printing system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the display unit displays a list of the date / time information in which the corresponding comments are written together.   The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the execution history can be transferred between the plurality of control devices. Executing calibration to obtain correction data used for correcting the printing characteristics of a printing apparatus that performs printing; and
Storing the correction data in the printing apparatus in association with date / time information indicating the acquisition date / time of the correction data;
A calibration program for causing a computer to execute a step of displaying the date and time information by accessing the printing apparatus. A recording medium on which the calibration program according to claim 12 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

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