JP2016150491A - Printing method, printer, and print head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: a simple method for size alignment and locating does not exist when printing is performed in a desired size in a desired location on materials-to-be-printed of a variety of shapes and sizes.SOLUTION: Marks are put on both ends of a tip side of a desired printing location on a materials-to-be-printed, respectively. A printer detects the marks, and performs printing by automatically determining a printing size and the printing location.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of printing at a desired print location at a desired print size.

  In the digital printing method, print data is placed in, for example, a computer, a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, a tablet, various memory devices, or a TV or cloud (collectively referred to as a PC or the like). This is printed on paper, fabric, and other various media. Basically, a printable area determined by the printer on the surface of the substrate is assumed, and the print content is applied to the desired location in the desired size. become. For example, when printing on a fabric is performed as “production”, the shape and size of the printing material and the printable area of the printing apparatus are first measured carefully once. Next, alignment and size adjustment of the print contents are performed using dedicated software, and the print contents are sent to the printer as print data together with the print contents, and printing is repeated. Even in postcard printing, if you use dedicated software, you know the position and size of the postcard, so you can simply write what you want to write in the specified frame on the PC screen, whether it is on the front or back side, and use it later The software will do everything such as alignment and size adjustment.

JP 2009-274218 A JP 2007-160726 A JP2015-009482A

  However, there are cases where the process of determining the printing location and size is not always easy. For postcard printing, an ordinary printer can be equipped with a postcard at the center of the paper cassette. If you don't have special software, you need to find the center position and postcard size on the screen of a PC, etc., and write it in the address or postcard, and put it in it. The former is simple, but determining the size is a lot of work. Since the screen size is not the same as the maximum print paper width, it is a trial and error process to determine the expected postcard size width on the screen.

  In textile printing, when this is done at an individual or in a store, different from mass production, various printed materials such as T-shirts, tote bags, handkerchiefs, wall hangings, baby wear, etc. of various sizes and shapes are handled. These printing materials are placed on the printing material mounting base of the printer and printed in the printable area of the printer. Here, printing is performed in various sizes at various locations within the printable area in accordance with the user's wishes. It's not a uniform place or size. Therefore, this individual print desired place and size are measured, the data is input to a PC or the like, and size adjustment and position adjustment are performed on the screen. These matching processes are left to the computing process. Of course, application software for it is prepared. However, only the position measurement and the input work to the computing process must be done manually. Unlike production, which repeats the same, in personal use and storefront printing, it is performed every time the printing material or print data is changed. These “individual” and “in-kind” operations, which must be performed, require careful attention to achieve accuracy without complications.

  As an example, a case where a printing material is a T-shirt and textile printing is performed on the T-shirt will be described with reference to FIG. Assume that image 2 is printed on T-shirt 1. The T-shirt 1 is spread flat on the cloth mounting base indicated by the dotted line 4 in FIG. 1, and the printing place and size are determined in consideration of the printable area (solid rectangle 3). Specifically, if you want to print the design image 2 in the solid line 3 with the maximum size, you can maximize the print design and paste it in the printable area shown on the screen of a PC. good. Thus, there is almost no trouble in the case of an arrangement for printing the entire printable area.

  In the case of printing a little small in a place not close to the corner of the printable area 3 as shown in FIG. 2 (a one-dot chain line area that is the outer periphery of the design image 6), first, at the right end of the upper side of the printable area 3, number 5 Measure the distance from the “*” mark (or origin in terms of coordinates). That is, the distance to the right end 7a of the front end side of the design image 6 representing the printing start position (the distance from * to the bottom and the distance from the * to the left), and the point at the left end of the alternate long and short dash line that indicates the print size 7b position measurement. If you input this location information into a PC and follow the instructions of the dedicated application software installed, the PC will automatically calculate and match the position and size of the print data.

  An example of input work is shown. “Drawing start position” → “From right” [A1] cm, “From top” [A2] cm, (7a position), “Drawing end position” → “From right” [ B1] Enter cm (position 7b), etc. “” Is an instruction on the screen, and [] is an input content based on the measured value. The PC calculates according to these input values, determines the size and printing location, and inserts the print data there. For the measurement, a scale may be used, or a transparent graph paper may be placed on the cloth, and a desired place of the print design may be grasped as the vertical and horizontal values of the graph paper. Although there are other methods, careful measurement is required, and PCs must call application software as described above and input according to the instructions. As described above, the “individual handling” “actual matching” operation is generally troublesome and requires time. Want to shorten the time, simplify it, and guarantee the accuracy of measurement. These are challenges.

  The problem solving means 1 attaches marks to both ends of the front end side of a desired printing place on the printing material, the printer detects the mark prior to printing, and prints the printing place and the print by computing processing from the mark position information. The printing method is characterized by determining the size and printing at a desired size at a desired size.

  Problem solving means 2 is a printer and print head characterized in that, in the printer used in the printing method of problem solving means 1, a mark detection device is provided on the side of the print head facing the substrate.

  The operation of the problem solving means 1 is as follows. FIG. 3 shows a typical embodiment of a “mark detection method” instead of the position measurement in FIG. There are two types of digital printing: a reciprocating scanning method and a method using a fixed line head, both of which print in a strip shape sequentially from the leading edge to the center of the printing area and toward the trailing edge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize easy handling in a printer used mainly by an individual or a casual printer used in a store service. A reciprocating scanning printer (number 10) suitable for this purpose will be described. The substrate 1 advances with respect to the print head 11 in the direction indicated by the white arrow 9 in FIG. 3, and the belt-like printing is repeated.

  In the case of the print image arrangement shown in FIG. 2 described above, first, as shown in FIG. 3, small marks are put on two places as marks by, for example, a ballpoint pen that can be erased when heated (usually erased by rubbing heat). 8a and 8b. 8a is a right end in the figure of the front end side of a desired printing place (the dashed-dotted rectangle which is the outer periphery of the design image 6 in the figure). The other mark 8b is the left end of the front end side of the desired printing location (a dashed-dotted rectangle). The mark attached with this erasable ballpoint pen is erased by heating it with an iron after completion of printing. However, since it may not be able to be completely erased, a method of sticking a sticker or the like introduced in an embodiment to be described later may be adopted when disliked that small points may remain faint.

  FIG. 4 shows that the print head has started reciprocating scanning (serial scanning) indicated by an arrow 13. An optical sensor 12 is attached to the side of the print head that faces the fabric (the side that welcomes the substrate). Printing starts and the fabric advances in the direction of the white arrow 9. The sensor 12 attached to the print head 11 starting the serial scan 13 detects the marks 8a and 8b. When the * mark 5 at the upper right end of the printable area 3 is the origin 5 (0, 0) of the xy coordinates, the position 8a (8ax, 8ay) and the position 8b (8bx, 8by) are measured. In addition to 8ay as the writing position (there are many cases in which this measurement is performed), the distance 8ax from the right end, and also the writing end positions 8bx and 8by at the left end of the upper side are measured. Thus, in addition to the writing position in the y-axis direction, the writing position in the x direction and desired print size information are detected. The measurement data is immediately sent to a PC or the like, and the print size and print position are calculated. These pieces of information are incorporated or reflected in the print data, sent to the printer, and printing proceeds at a predetermined size to a predetermined location. Advantages of the printer and the print head-attached sensor of the problem solving means 2: Compared to the mark detection mechanism independent of the printer, since it is configured to piggyback on the serial scan of the print head, there is no waste. Effect 2: Immediateness in which printing is detected immediately before the serial scan for printing and printing is started in the next scan. Effect 3: Automatic measurement that does not bother humans.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-274218 discloses a technique for detecting the “tip position” of a substrate. Regarding the registration mark and the printing apparatus with a detection sensor, for example, related technology can be found in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-160726. In the proposed technique, in addition to the “print start position”, the “print lateral position” and the “print size” are simultaneously detected. It is characterized by the simplicity of detecting the location and size simply by attaching marks to the two desired printing locations, “both ends of the leading edge”. Originally, the “rear edge” should be detected but omitted. As a result, the immediacy that allows the location and size to be detected immediately when the printer is started is obtained. However, in the case where the vertical length protrudes from the printing area, it is necessary to determine whether to perform divided printing or reduced printing by measuring as usual. The division printing will be described in the section of the embodiment. Regarding a computing process in a PC or the like, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-009482 describes a control method for appropriately printing on a sheet detected by a sensor, which is helpful. The computing process related to the print image size (size) and printing location matching process is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to use a universal technology.

  Another example is added. This is the case of Example 4 described later. In the conventional method, as in the above-described textile printing, first, the position of the place where printing is desired is measured in the printable area. These are the positions of both ends of the upper side, 15a and 15b of the alternate long and short dash line 15 (the place where printing is desired) in FIG. These are measured from the upper right end of the printable area 3 to the lower side and to the left side. If this position information is input to the PC, the corresponding size and position of the print data are automatically assigned after installing the corresponding software. But “measuring” and “entering on a PC” must be done manually. In such a three-dimensional object, there is a difference in level between the printing surface and the substrate mounting base, and a considerable amount of nerve work is required to obtain the accuracy of the position measurement. (The height of the printing surface is automatically adjusted by the printer.) If this mark automatic detection method is used, as shown in FIG. 10, marks 16a and 16b are simply attached to both ends of the upper side 15 of the actual printing place 15 as shown in FIG. It is good. After that, the printer automatically detects the mark position, and the PC does everything with the same computing process as above.

  As can be understood from the above description of the operation, the user only makes marks at the two leading ends of the printing area. There is no need to measure the position or input measurement data to a PC. Therefore, it is possible to print at a desired size and at a desired size. This technology is an "individual correspondence" "in-kind" automation technology. The individual elemental technologies constituting this automation are existing, but are a new combination for achieving the purpose. The effects of this technology configuration are: (1) ease of work, ease of learning, (2) saving work time, (3) accuracy, (4) eradication of work mistakes, (5) application The size. Although it is a difference of 3 to 5 minutes, the effect of (2) and the effects of (3) and (4) are remarkable for general individual users, busy shop assistants and workers, which is a great merit. For the sake of explanation, print data (simulating a picture of a dog drawn by a child) has been displayed as numbers 2 and 6 in FIGS. 1 to 4, but it has not been printed yet. It was used to explain that I wanted to print this picture at these locations in these sizes. Note that the cost of attaching the sensor is not significant.

  The operation and effect of the present invention have been described using textile printing on a fabric as a representative example. However, the present technique is a technique that can be widely used in addition to textile printing. For example, if you want to add additional information to the margins of a poster or menu, there is no problem if the original print data is available and the data can be output immediately. The original data can be called and added on the computer. However, when it is not, it is necessary to match the actual items. It is necessary to measure the size of the actual blank space, determine the location and adjust the size while viewing the PC screen. As a matter of fact, as described above, considerable manual work and trial and error efforts are necessary for work in kind on a PC or the like. The mark detection method of the present invention, that is, the “individually compatible automatic matching of physical objects” method, can provide the same characteristic advantages and effects as described above.

When printing over the entire printable area Manual position measurement when printing small in a non-central location Mark method as an alternative to manual work position measurement Mark detection process Printing process Print completed Process chart of position / size and print location setting process PC screen for Figure 7 Manual position measurement when printing on a desired location on the exterior of a smartphone Mark detection method for the above case Division / integrated printing process by mark detection method of discrete printing contents Same as above Mark detection method printing on desired location on the back door of a car Same as above

  The basic form for implementation is as described in the description of the operation. Individual elements and other embodiments will be described sequentially.

Example 1: An optical sensor is often used as a detection means. In this case, in addition to the marking with the erasable ballpoint pen described above, there is a method of applying a small sticker at a desired position, basically at the upper right and upper left of the place where printing is desired. This is read with a sensor. As another method, there is a method of reading a capacitance change using a paper with a metal foil attached. In addition, various methods used for position measurement can be used. In the line printer, the print heads are arranged in a line to cover the full length of the print width. Scanning in the width direction is not necessary. The printing material moves perpendicularly to the line head and is printed. Therefore, in order to detect the mark position, the detectors are arranged in a line like the head, or detected from a wide angle with a little distance from the substrate (a plurality are used depending on the length of the width). However, since line printers are fast and expensive, they are almost never used individually. In the case of mass printing with the same design, it is more reasonable to manually place the printing position and size in advance. The technology of the present invention will not be necessary.

Example 2 As a PC or the like here, a PC is taken as a representative, and FIG. 7 shows a standard processing process flowchart in which the PC receives mark position information detected by the printer and then determines the arrangement and size of print data. FIG. 8 shows a simulated PC screen corresponding to symbols A, B, C, D, and E attached to each step. Here, an image C ′ obtained by removing unnecessary portions of the original image is also displayed. Such a processing process is designed and installed in a PC or the like as application software for carrying out the present invention. After that, this application software is started up, and a print image / data is taken in, and if necessary, the image is corrected, a border is added, or unnecessary portions are trimmed. In this figure, it is represented as a trimming process. These processes are independent processes of the present invention and are general preparation processes. What the user does as the present invention is only to mark the actual printed material.

Example 3 An example of printing is shown. The explanation will be made using an inkjet (IJ) printer, which has been widely used in digital textile printing, and a reciprocating scanning IJ printer suitable for use in individuals and stores. Proceeding with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, it reaches FIG. Again, a cloth mounting base (a rectangle indicated by a dotted line) on which a T-shirt prepared outside the printer is moved moves in the direction of the white arrow 9 and enters the printer 10. The print head that starts to move synchronously performs reciprocal scanning as indicated by an arrow 13. In the process, the sensor 11 detects the mark 8a, and then detects 8b. These pieces of position information are immediately sent to the PC. In the PC, the area size of the print data is reduced or enlarged by the above computing process. Next, the print data writing start position is calculated, and the final print data in which these data are integrated is sent to the printer. When the print head reaches the print start position in the subsequent scan following the detection scan, the print head starts ink ejection and proceeds with printing. FIG. 5 shows the middle of the printing. The finished printed product is shown in FIG.

Example 4: The image drawn on the cover of the smartphone is a favorite. I wanted to add my feelings here. FIG. 10 shows a processing process for such a case (additional printing). Marks 16 a and 16 b are attached to both ends of the upper side 15 of the cover 14 where printing is desired. And printing. Simple. The picture on the right side of FIG. 10 is a completed drawing. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional printing position measurement method as described in the section of action and effect.

Example 5: Even when the size of printing is larger than the printable size of the printer, if the printed content is discrete (not a continuous pattern), it can be divided and integrated. The embodiment will be described using a textile printing process on a kimono. In FIG. 11, the kimono is placed on the substrate for placing printed material 4. Number 3 is a printable area, and a mark 8 is marked at a desired location in the area. Here, a part of the print content indicated by the number 17-1 is printed in the same size and position. Next, the position of the kimono is shifted, and the number 17-2, which is another print content, is printed. At this time, the mark is marked while looking at the already printed pattern. In this example, a mark is put in accordance with the last character “To” of “Kyotonto” printed earlier. It is possible to perform integrated printing of the divided print contents (indicated by reference numeral 17-2) simply and accurately without misalignment. The left figure of FIG. 12 shows the print completion. The picture on the right is the result of adding other print contents. For such additional printing, the mark detection method is effective as in the case of the smartphone described above. The application of the mark detection method to divided / integrated printing is an example in which the effects such as simpleness / accuracy / immediate printing by automatic position / size detection by a printer through marks are remarkably exhibited. If the print content is longer than the standard printable size and has a continuous pattern, it is also an option to use a vertically long substrate substrate.

  This technique can be applied to print data assignment (location and size) in printing on a three-dimensional object surface in addition to print data assignment in textile printing, postscript printing on a poster or menu, and the like. As an example, FIG. 13 shows a process of printing a desired size on a desired location of the back door 18 of the automobile. Just mark 19 in two places as before. Thereafter, the three-dimensional printer 20 with a detection sensor (a printing machine that performs printing while maintaining a distance from the printing surface having a curved surface) automatically prints. FIG. 14 is completed.

1 Material to be printed: T-shirt example 2 Assumed print image (print data)
3 Printable area 4 Printed material placement base 5 Position measurement starting point 5 (0, 0) Origin display 6 on the coordinate axis of number 5 Other assumed print images 7a and 7b Position measurement 8a and 8b of number 6 Number 6 mark position (8ax, 8ay) 8a Position display on xy coordinate axis (8bx, 8by) 8b Position display on xy coordinate axis 9 T-shirt printing progress direction 10 Reciprocating scanning IJ textile printer 11 Print head unit 12 Print head unit attached mark detection device 13 Print head reciprocating scan (including display without return path)
14 Smartphone cover 15, 15 a, 15 b Print position on the smart phone cover and its measurement locations 16 a, 16 b Marks 17-1, 17-2 on the smart phone cover Discrete print contents 1 and 2
18 Car back door 19 Mark attached to the printing position 20 Solid object printer (Type with mark detection device)

Claims (2)

  A mark is attached to both ends of the front end of the desired print location on the printing material, the printer detects the mark prior to printing, and the print location and print size are determined by computing processing from this mark position information, and the desired A printing method characterized by printing at a desired size in a place   A printer and a print head characterized in that a mark detection device is attached to the side of the print head that faces the substrate.

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