JP2017177757A - Control circuit, printer, and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control circuit in which it is unnecessary to set information which represents a direction of a print head on an external device, and a printer.SOLUTION: A control circuit comprises a head interface connected to a head having plural driving elements which are located in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, and a connection interface connected to an external device. The control circuit executes: reception processing for receiving input image data having plural pixels arranged correspondingly to the second direction via the connection interface; determination processing for determining a direction of the head with respect to a holder which holds the head; division processing for dividing the received input image data into plural pixel units having pixels corresponding to the second direction on the basis of the direction of the head determined in the determination processing, and a relative movement direction of a recording medium, on which a liquid injected by drive of the driving element impacts, and the head; and arrangement processing for respectively arranging the plural pixel units divided by the division processing at a prescribed position corresponding to the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present technology relates to a control circuit, a printing apparatus, and a control method for controlling a driving element that ejects liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that converts an image into image data or takes an image data from an external device that stores the image data to form an image is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of print heads, and prints by ejecting ink onto a recording medium (for example, paper) from a plurality of nozzles of each print head.

JP-A-8-267831

  The plurality of nozzles of the print head may be arranged asymmetrically in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, for example, when viewed from above. The orientation of the print head may be changed by 180 degrees depending on the arrangement of other configurations such as a configuration for circulating ink or a configuration for heat dissipation. That is, even when a plurality of the same print heads are used, when the print heads having different directions are compared, the positions of the nozzles in the print heads are different.

  Therefore, every time an image forming apparatus and an external apparatus are combined to construct a printing system, it is necessary to set information indicating the orientation of each print head in the external apparatus, but the burden on the user is large.

  The present embodiment has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a control circuit and a printing apparatus that do not need to set information indicating the orientation of the print head in an external apparatus.

  The control circuit according to the present embodiment includes a head interface that connects to a head in which a plurality of drive elements are arranged along a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction, and a connection interface that connects to an external device. A receiving process for receiving input image data having a plurality of pixels arranged corresponding to the second direction via the connection interface, and a determination process for determining the orientation of the head with respect to a holder holding the head And the received input image data based on the direction of the head determined in the determination process and the relative movement direction of the recording medium on which the liquid ejected by driving the driving element lands. , A division process for dividing the pixel unit having pixels corresponding to the positions in the second direction, and a plurality of pixel units divided by the division process It executes a layout process of placing each in a predetermined position corresponding to the first direction.

  The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the above-described control circuit, the head, the holder, and the sensor.

  The control circuit according to the present embodiment includes a head interface that connects to a head in which a plurality of drive elements are arranged along a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction, and a connection interface that connects to an external device. And receiving processing for receiving image data via the connection interface, and storing either first information or second information relating to an arrangement direction of the plurality of driving elements in the first direction and the second direction. A determination process for determining, a division process for dividing the received image data into a plurality of pixel units having a predetermined number of pixels based on either the first information or the second information to be stored, and the storing Based on either the first information or the second information, an arrangement process of arranging the plurality of pixel units divided by the division process at predetermined positions is executed.

  A control method according to the present embodiment is a control method of a control circuit that controls a head in which a plurality of drive elements are arranged along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The direction of the head with respect to the holding head holder is determined, and the reception is performed based on the determined direction of the head and the relative movement direction between the recording medium on which the liquid ejected by driving the driving element lands. The input image data is divided into a plurality of pixel units having pixels corresponding to the positions in the second direction, and the plurality of divided pixel units are respectively arranged at predetermined positions corresponding to the first direction.

  In this embodiment, the input image data is divided into a plurality of pixel units having pixels corresponding to, for example, positions in the vertical direction (second direction) of the drive elements. Further, the plurality of divided pixel units are arranged and rearranged at predetermined positions in the lateral direction (first direction) based on the relative movement direction of the recording medium and the head (paper transport direction) and the direction of the head.

  In this embodiment, the head direction can be acquired from the sensor, and the table can be selected appropriately.

  In the control circuit, printing apparatus, and control method according to the present embodiment, the input image data is divided into a plurality of pixel units having pixels corresponding to, for example, the vertical direction (second direction) position of the drive element. Further, the plurality of divided pixel units are arranged and rearranged at predetermined positions in the lateral direction (first direction) based on the relative movement direction of the recording medium and the head (paper transport direction) and the direction of the head. Therefore, when a printing system is constructed by combining a control circuit having a printing device and an external device, it is not necessary to set information indicating the orientation of the print head in the external device, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

1 is a plan view schematically showing a printing apparatus. It is the schematic sectional drawing which made the II-II line shown in FIG. 1 the cutting line. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the inkjet head. It is a block diagram which shows structures, such as a control apparatus, an external apparatus, and a head unit. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of FPGA. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of each nozzle in a 1st direction and a 2nd direction. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the table 1a, table 1b, table 1a ', and table 1b' memorize | stored in memory. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the position of the pixel which comprises the input image in a 2nd direction, and the table 2 and table 2 'memorize | stored in memory. It is explanatory drawing explaining the division process and arrangement | positioning process of an input image. 10 is a flowchart for explaining ejection image data generation processing by the FPGA.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a printing apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper (recording medium) 100 is defined as the left side of the printing apparatus 1, and the upstream side in the conveyance direction is defined as the right side of the printing apparatus 1. Further, a paper width direction that is parallel to the surface (the surface parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 1) on which the recording paper 100 is conveyed and orthogonal to the conveyance direction is defined as the front-rear direction of the printing apparatus 1. The left side of the drawing is the left side of the printing apparatus 1, and the right side of the drawing is the right side of the printing apparatus 1. Furthermore, a direction orthogonal to the conveyance surface of the recording paper 100 (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1) is defined as the vertical direction of the printing apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, the front side is the upper side and the back side is the lower side. Below, it demonstrates using front, back, left, right, up and down suitably. The left-right direction corresponds to the first direction, and the front-rear direction corresponds to the second direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a housing 2, a platen 3, four inkjet heads 4, two transport rollers 5 and 6, and a control device 7.

  The platen 3 is disposed in the housing 2. The platen 3 supports the recording paper 100 conveyed by one of the two conveying rollers 5 and 6 on the upper surface thereof. The four inkjet heads 4 are arranged above the platen 3 in a state where they are aligned in the left-right direction. The two transport rollers 5 and 6 are respectively arranged on the right side and the left side with respect to the platen 3. The two transport rollers 5 and 6 are respectively driven by a motor (not shown). By this motor, the two transport rollers 5 and 6 transport the recording paper 100 on the platen 3 to the left.

  The control device 7 is connected to an external device 9 such as a PC so that data communication is possible. The control device 7 controls each unit of the printing device 1 based on the print data transmitted from the external device 9.

  For example, the control device 7 controls a motor that drives the conveyance rollers 5 and 6 to cause the conveyance rollers 5 and 6 to convey the recording paper 100 in the conveyance direction. The control device 7 controls the inkjet head 4 to discharge ink toward the recording paper 100 while the recording paper 100 is being transported by the two transport rollers 5 and 6. As a result, an image is printed on the recording paper 100.

  A plurality of head holders 8 are arranged in the housing 2. The plurality of head holders 8 are respectively arranged on the left and right above the platen 3 and at a position between the two transport rollers 5 and 6. Each head holder 8 holds the inkjet head 4.

  The four inkjet heads 4 eject inks of four colors, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), respectively. Each inkjet head 4 is supplied with ink of a corresponding color from an ink tank (not shown).

  2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the inkjet head 4. As shown in FIG. 2, each inkjet head 4 includes a holder 10 and nine head units 11. The holder 10 has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the paper width direction. A plurality of nozzles 11 a are formed on the lower surface of each head unit 11. The nozzle 11a includes a piezoelectric body. The plurality of nozzles 11a are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction (first direction) and the front-rear direction (second direction).

  The plurality of head units 11 are arranged along the paper width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, but the head units 11 are obliquely inclined along a direction intersecting the transport direction at an angle other than 90 degrees. 11 may be arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible substrate 51 is connected to each head unit 11. The flexible substrate 51 is connected to the control device 7. Therefore, the head unit 11 and the control device 7 are connected via the flexible substrate 51.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reservoir 12 is provided above the plurality of head units 11. The reservoir 12 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) via a tube 16. The reservoir 12 temporarily stores ink supplied from the ink tank. The lower part of the reservoir 12 is connected to a plurality of head units 11. Ink is supplied from the reservoir 12 to the plurality of head units 11.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 7, the external device 9, the head unit 11, and the like. The head unit 11 includes a driver IC (Integrated Circuit) 11b. The holder 10 is provided with a first sensor 15 that outputs different detection signals depending on the orientation of the head unit 11. The first sensor 15 can take the following form, for example.

  For example, the first sensor 15 may be an optical sensor. The optical sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The head unit 11 is provided with a reflecting plate that reflects light at a predetermined position. For example, one end of the head unit 11 is located on the front side and the other end located on the opposite side of the one end is located on the rear side (in other words, the one end and the other end of the head unit 11 are When the head unit 11 is held by the holder 10, the light from the light emitting part is reflected by the reflecting plate and enters the light receiving part. On the other hand, the head unit 11 is a holder so that one end of the head unit is located on the rear side and the other end is located on the front side (in other words, the one end and the other end are in the second direction). 10, the light from the light emitting part is not reflected by the reflecting plate and does not enter the light receiving part. The optical sensor generates different detection signals depending on whether the head unit 11 is held in the first orientation or in the second orientation based on the light reception or non-light reception by the light receiving unit. Output. Based on this detection signal, the control device 7 can determine the orientation of the head unit 11 held by the holder 10.

  Further, the first sensor 15 may be an electric circuit in which a part is disconnected, for example. A conductor is disposed in the head unit 11. When the head unit 11 is held in the holder 10 in the first orientation, the conductor connects the disconnected portion of the electric circuit. On the other hand, when the head unit 11 is held in the holder 10 in the second orientation, the conductor does not connect the disconnected portion of the electric circuit. The electric circuit which is the first sensor 15 is configured such that the head unit 11 is held in the holder 10 in the first direction by the energization or non-energization of the electric circuit corresponding to the connection or non-connection by the conductor, or the second sensor 15 Different detection signals are output depending on whether they are held in the orientation. Based on this detection signal, the control device 7 can determine the orientation of the head unit 11 held by the holder 10.

  The first sensor 15 may be a switch, for example. When the user attaches the head unit 11 to the holder 10 in the first orientation, the user turns on the switch. When the user attaches the head unit 11 to the holder 10 in the second orientation, the user turns off (or does not turn on) the switch. The switch that is the first sensor 15 is detected differently depending on whether the head unit 11 is held in the holder 10 in the first orientation or the second orientation depending on whether the switch is on or off. Output a signal. Based on this detection signal, the control device 7 can determine the orientation of the head unit 11 held by the holder 10. Note that the first sensor 15 may be disposed in the head unit 11.

  The control device 7 includes a control circuit 70. The control circuit 70 includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 71, a connection interface (connection I / F) 72, a head interface (head I / F) 73, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 74, and an image processing IC 75.

  The FPGA 71 includes a plurality of circuit components and a reception interface (reception I / F) 71a. The reception I / F 71a communicates with the memory 80. The FPGA 71 receives the bit stream information for configuring a predetermined logic circuit stored in the memory 80 via the reception I / F 71a. The FPGA 71 configures a logic circuit that connects a plurality of circuit components in accordance with the received bitstream information and executes a reception process, a determination process, a division process, and an arrangement process, which will be described later.

  The control device 7 is connected to the external device 9. The control device 7 receives RGB data indicating an input image from an external device. The RGB data is input to the image processing IC 75 of the control device 7. The image processing IC 75 is connected to the connection I / F 72. That is, the FPGA 71 is connected to the external device 9 via the image processing IC 75 and the connection I / F 72. The image processing IC 75 converts the RGB data output from the external device 9 into CMYK data, and further generates input image data on which halftone processing or the like has been executed. The FPGA 72 receives the input image data generated by the image processing IC 75. The FPGA 71 executes processing to be described later on the input image data. Then, the FPGA 71 writes processed data, which will be described later, into the RAM 74. Thereafter, the FPGA 71 reads the processed data from the RAM 74 and outputs the read processed data to the driver IC 11 b via the head I / F 73.

  The printing apparatus 1 includes a second sensor 14 that detects a relative conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 with respect to the head unit 11. The second sensor 14 is, for example, a rotary encoder disposed on one of the transport rollers 5 and 6. For example, when the printing apparatus 1 is started, the conveyance rollers 5 and 6 are rotated by the conveyance rollers 5 and 6, the output of the rotary encoder is acquired, and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 is detected.

  When the head unit 11 moves and ejects ink onto the recording paper 100, the second sensor 14 may be a linear encoder that detects the moving direction of the head unit 11, for example. This linear encoder includes two output elements each having a phase difference of 90 degrees. These two output elements each output a pulsed signal. For example, when the head unit 11 moves in a predetermined direction, the linear encoder outputs these pulse signals in a state where one precedes the other. On the other hand, when the head unit 11 moves in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the linear encoder outputs these pulse signals with the other preceding one. The control device 7 receives each pulse-like signal output from the linear encoder. Then, the control device 7 can determine the relative conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 with respect to the head unit 11 depending on which one of the received pulse signals precedes. The RAM 74 stores the transport direction detected by the second sensor 14. The FPGA 71 writes data to the RAM 74 and reads data stored in the RAM 74.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the FPGA 71. The FPGA 71 includes an acquisition unit 20, a data reception unit 21, a division processing unit 22, an arrangement processing unit 23, a writing / reading unit 24, and a sensor interface (sensor I / F) 25. The acquisition unit 20 acquires the relative conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 with respect to the head unit 11 from the second sensor 14. The acquisition unit 20 acquires the orientation (first orientation or second orientation) of the head unit 11 from the first sensor 15 via the sensor I / F 25. The acquisition unit 20 transmits the transport direction acquired from the second sensor 14 and the orientation of the head unit 11 acquired from the first sensor 15 to the division processing unit 22 and the arrangement processing unit 23.

  The data receiving unit 21 receives input image data from the connection I / F 72 and transmits it to the division processing unit 22. This input image data is composed of a plurality of pixels. The division processing unit 22 executes the division processing and transmits it to the arrangement processing unit 23. The division process executed by the division processing unit 22 refers to a process of dividing a plurality of pixels of received input image data into at least one pixel unit. The arrangement processing unit 23 executes an arrangement process for arranging the received pixel unit at a predetermined position in the first direction, and generates ejection image data. Further, the arrangement processing unit 23 transmits the generated ejection image data to the writing / reading unit 24. The writing / reading unit 24 writes the received ejection image data in the RAM 74. Next, the writing / reading unit 24 reads the ejection image data written in the RAM 74 and transmits it to the driver IC 11 b via the head I / F 73. A more detailed description of the division process and the arrangement process will be given later.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the nozzles 11a in the first direction and the second direction. In FIG. 6, a to f indicate addresses of the plurality of nozzles 11a. X1 to X6 and X1 'to X6' indicate positions in the first direction. X1 'to X6' indicate positions opposite to the left and right of X1 to X6. That is, X1 'corresponds to X6, X2' corresponds to X5, X3 'corresponds to X4, X4' corresponds to X3, X5 'corresponds to X2, and X6' corresponds to X1. Y1 to Y6 indicate positions in the second direction.

  For example, the head unit 11 includes a plurality of nozzles 11a respectively corresponding to the nozzle addresses a to f. Hereinafter, the plurality of nozzles 11a corresponding to the nozzle addresses a to f are also referred to as nozzles a to f. As shown in FIG. 6, when the head unit 11 is arranged in the first direction, the nozzle a is located at (X1, Y6), the nozzle b is located at (X2, Y5), and the nozzle c is ( X3, Y4), nozzle d is located at (X1, Y3), nozzle e is located at (X6, Y2), and nozzle f is located at (X4, Y1).

  On the other hand, when the head unit 11 is arranged in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the positions of the nozzles a to f are larger than in the case where the head unit 11 is arranged in the first direction. The direction is reversed 180 degrees. That is, nozzle a is located at (X6, Y1), nozzle b is located at (X5, Y2), nozzle c is located at (X4, Y3), nozzle d is located at (X6, Y4), The nozzle e is located at (X1, Y5), and the nozzle f is located at (X3, Y6).

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the table 1a, the table 1b, the table 1a ′, and the table 1b ′ stored in the memory 75. In any table, the nozzle address is associated with the position in the first direction. Table 1a, table 1b, table 1a ', and table 1b' correspond to the first table. The table 1a corresponds to the case where the head unit 11 is arranged in the first orientation and the recording paper 100 is conveyed from left to right. The table 1b corresponds to the case where the head unit 11 is arranged in the first direction and the recording paper 100 is conveyed from right to left. The table 1a ′ corresponds to the case where the head unit 11 is arranged in the second direction and the recording paper 100 is conveyed from left to right. The table 1b 'corresponds to the case where the head unit 11 is arranged in the second direction and the recording paper 100 is conveyed from right to left.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the positions of pixels constituting the input image in the second direction, and the table 2 and the table 2 ′ stored in the memory 75. In FIG. 8, P1 to P6 indicate pixel addresses. Hereinafter, the pixels corresponding to the pixel addresses P1 to P6 are also referred to as pixels P1 to P6. The input image is composed of a plurality of pixels, for example, composed of pixels P1 to P6 as shown in FIG. The pixels P1 to P6 are located at Y1 to Y6, respectively, in the second direction.

  The table 2 shown in FIG. 8 associates the position in the second direction, the pixel address, and the nozzle address when the head unit 11 is arranged in the first direction. In Table 2, nozzle addresses f to a correspond to pixel addresses P1 to P6, respectively. The table 2 'associates the position in the second direction, the pixel address, and the nozzle address when the head unit 11 is arranged in the second direction. In Table 2, nozzle addresses a to f correspond to pixel addresses P1 to P6, respectively. That is, in the table 2 and the table 2 ′, the correspondence relationship of the nozzle addresses a to f with respect to the pixel addresses P1 to P6 is reversed. Table 2 and table 2 'correspond to the second table.

  The division process and the arrangement process will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the division processing and arrangement processing of the input image. The division processing unit 22 acquires the orientation of the head unit 11 and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 transmitted by the acquisition unit 20. Hereinafter, a case where the acquired orientation of the head unit 11 is the first orientation and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 is from right to left will be described.

  The division processing unit 22 accesses the memory 75 and reads the table 1b corresponding to the first direction and the right-to-left transport direction based on the acquired first direction and the right-to-left transport direction. Then, a set of nozzle addresses corresponding to each position in the first direction is determined. Specifically, the group corresponding to X1 ′ is the nozzle address e, there is no group corresponding to X2 ′, the group corresponding to X3 ′ is the nozzle address f, and the group corresponding to X4 ′ is the nozzle address c. , X5 ′ is a nozzle address b, and X6 ′ is a nozzle address a and d.

  The division processing unit 22 accesses the memory 75 and reads the table 2 corresponding to the first direction based on the acquired first direction. Then, referring to the pixel address corresponding to the determined set, the input image is divided into pixel units. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, a pixel unit U4 composed of a pixel P2 corresponding to a nozzle address e, a pixel unit U5 composed of a pixel P1 corresponding to a nozzle address f, and a pixel P4 corresponding to a nozzle address c. Is divided into a pixel unit U3 constituted by the pixel address U, a pixel unit U2 constituted by the pixel P5 corresponding to the nozzle address b, and a pixel unit U1 constituted by the pixels P3 and P6 corresponding to the nozzle addresses a and d. The division processing unit 22 transmits the divided pixel units U <b> 1 to U <b> 5 to the arrangement processing unit 23.

  The arrangement processing unit 23 arranges the received pixel units U1 to U5 along the first direction according to the position indicating the first direction of the table 1b ′. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the pixel unit U4 is disposed at X1 ′, the pixel unit U5 is disposed at X3 ′, the pixel unit U3 is disposed at X4 ′, and the pixel unit U2 is disposed at X5 ′. The pixel unit U1 is arranged at X6 ′. Note that no pixel unit is arranged in X2 ′. By arranging the pixel units in this way, ejection image data is generated. Then, the arrangement processing unit 23 transmits the generated ejection image data to the writing / reading unit 24. The ejection image data includes a portion where no pixel unit is arranged (portion X2 ′).

  In the ejection image data, the order of X1 ′ to X′6 corresponds to the order (timing) of ejection of the nozzles a to f arranged in the first direction. That is, the first discharge is executed from the nozzle e corresponding to the pixel unit U4 of X1 ′, and since the pixel unit is not arranged in X2 ′, the second discharge is not executed. The third discharge is executed from the nozzle f corresponding to the pixel unit U5 of X3 ′, the fourth discharge is executed from the nozzle c corresponding to the pixel unit U3 of X4 ′, and the discharge corresponds to the pixel unit U2 of X5 ′. The fifth discharge is executed from the nozzle b, and the sixth discharge is executed from the nozzles a and d corresponding to the pixel unit U1 of X6 ′ (see the diagram showing the arrangement of the nozzles in the first direction in FIG. 6). ).

  Since the recording paper 100 moves from right to left, an image corresponding to the input image is formed on the recording paper 100 by the six ejections described above. If the acquired orientation of the head unit 11 is the first orientation and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 is from left to right, the FPGA 71 reads the table 1a. If the acquired orientation of the head unit 11 is the second orientation and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 is from left to right, the FPGA 71 reads the table 1a ′ and reads the table 2 ′. If the acquired orientation of the head unit 11 is the second orientation and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 is from right to left, the FPGA 71 reads the table 1b ′ and reads the table 2 ′. When the acquired orientation of the head unit 11 or the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 is changed, the FPGA 71 changes the table to be read and similarly executes the above-described processes.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining ejection image data generation processing by the FPGA 71. The FPGA 71 acquires the orientation of the head unit 11 and the transport direction of the recording paper 100 in the acquisition unit 20 (step S1), and receives input image data in the data reception unit 21 (step S2). The FPGA 71 uses the division processing unit 22 to store the tables stored in the memory 75 (that is, the tables 1a, 1a′1b, and 1b ′) based on the orientation of the head unit 11 and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 acquired by the acquisition unit 20. Any one of the tables 2 and 2 ') is read (step S3). Then, the FPGA 71 divides the input image data into a plurality of pixel units in the division processing unit 22 in accordance with the read table (any one of the tables 2 and 2 ′) (step S4).

  The FPGA 71 uses the table 1a corresponding to one of the tables (tables 2 and 2 ') stored in the memory 75 based on the orientation of the head unit 11 and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 set in the arrangement processing unit 23. 1a′1b and 1b ′) are read out, and a plurality of divided pixel units are respectively arranged at predetermined positions in the first direction (step S5), and image data for ejection is generated (step S6).

  The FPGA 71 writes the generated ejection image data in the RAM 74 in the writing / reading unit 24 (step S7). Further, the FPGA 71 reads out the ejection image data written in the RAM 74 in the writing / reading unit 24 (step S8). Then, the FPGA 71 transmits the ejection image data to the driver IC 11b via the head I / F 73 in the writing / reading unit 24 (step S9), and ends the ejection image data generation process.

  In the printing apparatus according to the embodiment, the input image data is divided into, for example, a plurality of pixel units having pixels corresponding to positions in the vertical direction (second direction) of the drive elements. Further, the plurality of divided pixel units are arranged and rearranged at predetermined positions in the lateral direction (first direction) based on the relative movement direction of the recording medium and the head (paper transport direction) and the direction of the head. Therefore, when a printing system is constructed by combining a control circuit having a printing device and an external device, it is not necessary to set information indicating the orientation of the print head in the external device, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  According to the above description, the memory 75 corresponds to the plurality of relative movement directions of the recording paper 100 and the head unit 11 (for example, the movement direction from right to left and the movement direction from left to right). A table indicating the position in the direction (discharge timing) is stored. In addition, the memory 75 stores tables indicating the second direction positions of the pixels of the pixel unit corresponding to the directions of the plurality of heads (for example, the first direction and the second direction). The FPGA 71 can access the memory 75, refer to each table, arrange the pixel unit at a predetermined position in the first direction, and generate ejection image data.

  Further, according to the above description, the FPGA 71 can acquire the orientation of the head unit 11 from the first sensor 15 and appropriately select the table. The first sensor 15 includes a switch, an optical sensor, or an electric circuit, which allows the FPGA 71 to determine the orientation of the head unit 11. Further, the printing apparatus 1 can execute the above-described division processing and arrangement processing at high speed by the FPGA 71.

  Instead of the FPGA 71, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or dedicated hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specified IC) may be used.

  It should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The technical features described in each embodiment can be combined with each other, and the scope of the present embodiment includes all modifications within the scope of claims and a scope equivalent to the scope of claims. Intended.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 7 Control apparatus 70 Control circuit 71 FPGA
71a Reception interface 72 Connection interface 73 Head interface 26 Memory 9 External device 10 Holder 11a Nozzle (driving element)
11 Head unit 15 First sensor (sensor)
25 Sensor interface

Claims (8)

A head interface connected to a head in which a plurality of drive elements are arranged along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction;
A connection interface for connecting to external devices,
A receiving process for receiving, via the connection interface, input image data having a plurality of pixels arranged corresponding to the second direction;
A determination process for determining an orientation of the head with respect to a holder for holding the head;
Based on the orientation of the head determined in the determination process and the relative movement direction of the recording medium on which the liquid ejected by driving the drive element lands, the received input image data is A division process for dividing the pixel unit into a plurality of pixel units having pixels corresponding to positions in the second direction;
A control circuit that executes a placement process for placing the plurality of pixel units divided by the division processing at predetermined positions corresponding to the first direction. A plurality of different first tables indicating positions corresponding to the first direction in which the pixel units are arranged, respectively, and a plurality of different head directions, respectively. A memory for storing a plurality of different second tables indicating positions in the second direction with respect to the pixels of the pixel unit;
In the dividing process, referring to the first table and the second table stored in the memory, the input image data is divided into the plurality of pixel units,
The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein in the arrangement processing, the plurality of pixel units are arranged at predetermined positions in the first direction with reference to a first table stored in the memory. A sensor interface that communicates with a sensor that outputs different detection signals according to the orientation of the head;
The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein in the determination process, the head direction is determined based on the detection signal received by the sensor interface. A plurality of circuit components, and a reception interface for receiving bitstream information, and performing the reception process, the determination process, the division process, and the arrangement process according to the bitstream information received by the reception interface FPGA for constructing a connection relationship of the plurality of circuit components to form a logic circuit
The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: A control circuit according to claim 3;
The head;
The holder;
A printing apparatus comprising: the sensor.   The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sensor includes a switch, an optical sensor, or an electric circuit provided in the head or the holder. A head interface connected to a head in which a plurality of drive elements are arranged along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction;
A connection interface for connecting to external devices,
A reception process for receiving image data via the connection interface;
A determination process for determining which of the first information and the second information related to the orientation of the plurality of drive elements in the first direction and the second direction is stored;
A division process for dividing the received image data into a plurality of pixel units having a predetermined number of pixels based on either the first information or the second information stored;
A control circuit that executes an arrangement process in which a plurality of pixel units divided by the division process are respectively arranged at predetermined positions based on either the first information or the second information to be stored. A control method of a control circuit for controlling a head in which a plurality of drive elements are arranged along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction,
Determining the orientation of the head relative to a head holder holding the head;
Based on the determined orientation of the head and the relative movement direction of the recording medium on which the liquid ejected by driving of the drive element lands, the received input image data is converted into a position in the second direction. Divided into a plurality of pixel units having pixels corresponding to
A control method in which a plurality of divided pixel units are respectively arranged at predetermined positions corresponding to the first direction.

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