JP2019001041A - Printing method, printing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing method which can shorten printing time and print on high picture quality depending on the purpose of a user.SOLUTION: A printing method by a head group that a first head and a second head having nozzle rows that multiple nozzles discharging ink lined up in the appointed direction line up in an appointed direction and the end of mutual nozzle rows are duplicated in the appointed direction includes: a step that either of a mode using the first head and the second head, a mode using the first head, and a mode using the second mode is chosen by a user; a step that printing data following the mode chosen by the user is made; and a step that the head group prints based on the printing data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing method, a printing system, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a recording apparatus that includes a plurality of heads in which recording elements (nozzles) are arranged in a line, and in which ends of the plurality of heads are alternately connected in a line.

JP-A-6-255175

As described in Patent Document 1, the printing time can be shortened by increasing the number of heads. On the other hand, when the number of heads increases, a deviation in the relative positional relationship between the heads tends to affect the image quality. Therefore, printing with higher image quality can be achieved with a smaller number of heads.
In addition, in an inkjet printer that ejects ink from nozzles, ejection failure may occur in the nozzles due to clogging or the like, and a head cleaning process is performed. However, when the number of heads increases, even if the cleaning process is performed, the ejection failure of one head may be resolved, but the ejection failure of another head may not be resolved. In that case, if the cleaning process is repeated until the ejection defects of all the heads are eliminated, the printing time becomes longer.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a printing method, a printing system, and a program capable of shortening the printing time or printing with high image quality according to the purpose of the user. Objective.

A main invention for achieving the above object is that a first head and a second head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in the predetermined direction, and the ends of the nozzle rows of each other A printing method using a group of heads whose parts overlap in the predetermined direction, the mode using the first head and the second head, the mode using the first head, and the second head A step in which one of the modes to be performed is selected by a user, a step in which print data corresponding to the mode selected by the user is created, and a step in which the head group prints based on the print data. This is a printing method characterized by the above.
Other characteristics of the present invention will be made clear by the description and drawings described later.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing method, a printing system, and a program capable of shortening the printing time or printing with high image quality according to the purpose of the user.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a printing system 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the head unit 14. 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams of the operation screen 28 displayed on the display device 24. FIG. It is a flow of a printing method. 6A and 6B are diagrams schematically showing dot data allocation processing. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams of the test pattern T. FIG.

=== Embodiment ===
[1. Configuration of printing system 1]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the printing system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing system 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the head unit 14. 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams of the operation screen 28 displayed on the display device 24. FIG.

  The printing system 1 includes a printing apparatus 10 and a computer 20. The printing apparatus 10 and the computer 20 are communicably connected. However, the printing system 1 may be configured by the printing apparatus 10 alone by realizing the function performed by the computer 20 in the printing apparatus 10. Further, a part of the function performed by the computer 20 may be realized by the printing apparatus 10.

  The printing apparatus 10 is an inkjet printer, and is an apparatus for performing printing by ejecting ink onto a printing medium 2 (paper, film, cloth, etc.). As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, a transport unit 12, a carriage unit 13, a head unit 14, and a cleaning unit 15. As shown in FIG. 1, in the printing apparatus 10, the three directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as the up-down direction, the X direction, and the Y direction.

  The control unit 11 is for controlling the printing apparatus 10. The control unit 11 controls the units 12 to 15 of the printing apparatus 10 based on the print data transmitted from the computer 20.

  The transport unit 12 is for transporting the print medium 2 in the X direction, and includes a transport roller 121 that is a driving roller and a pinch roller 122 that is a driven roller. By rotating the transport roller 121 with the print medium 2 sandwiched between the transport roller 121 and the pinch roller 122, the print medium 2 can be transported in the X direction.

  The carriage unit 13 includes a carriage 131 and a guide rail 132 extending in the Y direction. The carriage 131 reciprocates in the Y direction along the guide rail 132 by driving a motor (not shown).

  The head unit 14 includes a plurality of heads H that eject ink. In the head unit 14 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, eight heads H are arranged in the Y direction. In order from the head H on the left side in the Y direction, the first head H1, the second head H2,.

  The plurality of heads H are mounted on the carriage 131 and eject ink toward the print medium 2 while reciprocating in the Y direction. An image is printed on the print medium 2 by alternately repeating this discharge operation and the operation in which the transport unit 12 transports the print medium 2 in the X direction.

  A nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles 141 that eject ink are arranged at a predetermined interval D in the X direction (predetermined direction) is formed on the lower surface of the head H and facing the print medium 2. Each head H is formed with two nozzle rows arranged in the Y direction. The two nozzle rows are arranged so as to be shifted in the X direction by a length D / 2 that is half the predetermined interval D.

  Further, the heads adjacent in the Y direction (for example, the first head H1 and the second head H2, the first head and the second head of the present invention) are arranged shifted in the X direction, and the end portions of each nozzle row are X A head group Ha overlapping in the direction is formed.

  In the head unit 14 of the present embodiment, four head groups Ha are arranged in the Y direction. Further, the positions of the four head groups Ha in the X direction are aligned. That is, the positions of the odd-numbered heads (H1, H3, H5, H7) in the X direction are aligned, and the even-numbered heads (H2, H4, H6, H8) are aligned in the X direction.

  Further, the positions of the end of the left nozzle row (for example, M1 of H1) that the odd-numbered head has and the end of the left nozzle row (for example, M2 of H2) of the even-numbered head are aligned in the X direction. The positions in the X direction of the end portion of the right nozzle row (for example, Y1 of H1) and the end portion of the right nozzle row (for example, Y2 of H2) of the even-numbered head are aligned.

  The printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment performs four-color printing of yellow ink Y, magenta ink M, cyan ink C, and black ink K. The nozzle rows that eject ink of each color are composed of four rows. When the four rows ejecting ink of each color are combined, the nozzles 141 are arranged at intervals of the length D / 2 over twice the length of one nozzle row.

Specifically, the nozzle rows Y1 to Y4 for discharging the yellow ink Y are the nozzle row on the right side of the first head H1, the nozzle row on the right side of the second head H2, the nozzle row on the left side of the seventh head H7, and the eighth row. It is a nozzle row on the left side of the head H8.
The nozzle rows M1 to M4 that discharge magenta ink M are the left nozzle row of the first head H1, the left nozzle row of the second head M2, the right nozzle row of the seventh head H7, and the right side of the eighth head H8. It is a nozzle row.
The nozzle rows C1 to C4 that discharge cyan ink C are the nozzle row on the left side of the 3rd head H3, the nozzle row on the left side of the 4th head H4, the nozzle row on the right side of the 5th head H5, and the right side of the 6th head H6. It is a nozzle row.
The nozzle rows K1 to K4 that discharge the black ink K are the nozzle row on the right side of the 3rd head H3, the nozzle row on the right side of the 4th head H4, the nozzle row on the left side of the 5th head H5, and the left side of the 6th head H6. It is a nozzle row.

  The cleaning unit 15 includes a rubber cap 151 that covers the nozzle opening surfaces of the plurality of heads H outside the printing region. In the ink jet printer, dust may adhere to the nozzle 141, the ink may be thickened due to evaporation of the ink solvent, or air bubbles may be mixed into the nozzle 141. As a result, a discharge failure occurs in which a specified amount of ink is not discharged from the nozzle 141.

  In that case, a cleaning process for moving the pump (not shown) to a negative pressure inside the cap 151 may be performed with the nozzle surface of the head H covered with the cap 151. By doing so, dust, thickened ink, and bubbles are sucked together with the ink, and the ejection failure of the nozzle 141 is solved. The cleaning method for eliminating the ejection failure is not limited to the above, and for example, a method of forcibly ejecting ink toward the cap 151 or a method of wiping the nozzle surface with a wiper may be used.

  The computer 20 is a general-purpose personal computer or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, a main body 23 having a calculation control unit (CPU) 21 and a memory 22, a display device 24 such as a display, and an input such as a keyboard and a mouse. Device 25.

  The arithmetic control unit 21 of the computer 20 creates print data according to the printer driver 26 (program) stored in the memory 22 and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 10. The printer driver 26 is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or can be downloaded via the Internet.

  When the printer driver 26 is activated, an operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C is displayed on the display device 24. For example, when the user selects “print device settings” from the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 using the input device 25, an operation screen (not shown) regarding the settings of the print device is displayed on the display device 24. Further, when the user selects the detailed setting from the operation screen related to the setting of the printing apparatus, the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the display device 24. On the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIG. 4B, the user can select the head to be used for printing.

  On the operation screen 28 (FIG. 4B) of the computer 20, three buttons “All”, “H1, H3, H5, H7”, “H2, H4, H6, H8” are displayed. When the “all” button is checked, printing is performed using all the heads H <b> 1 to H <b> 8 of the head unit 14. When the “H1, H3, H5, H7” button is checked, printing is performed using odd-numbered heads (H1, H3, H5, H7). When the “H2, H4, H6, H8” button is checked, printing is performed using the even-numbered heads (H2, H4, H6, H8).

  Thus, in the printing system 1, the “all head mode” (mode using the first head and the second head of the present invention), the “odd head mode” (mode using the first head of the present invention), One of the “even-number head mode” (a mode in which the second head of the present invention is used) can be selected by the user.

[2. Printing method)
FIG. 5 is a flow of the printing method. 6A and 6B are diagrams schematically illustrating dot data allocation processing. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams of the test pattern T. FIG. Hereinafter, an example of a printing method by the printing system 1 will be described along the flow of FIG.

  First, when the user inputs execution of a print job from the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 (S01), the arithmetic control unit 21 of the computer 20 creates print data according to the printer driver 26 (S11). Briefly, the arithmetic control unit 21 converts the resolution of the image data of the print job into the resolution at the time of printing, or the ink color (YMCK) data that the printing apparatus 10 ejects the image data represented by RGB. Or dot data in which dot formation or non-formation determination is made for each pixel constituting the image data.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the arithmetic control unit 21 performs dot data allocation processing according to the mode of the head used (all head mode, odd head mode, even head mode) selected by the user. Do.

  6A and 6B exemplify the allocation process of the magenta nozzle row M1 of the first head H1 and the magenta nozzle row M2 of the second head H2 with the number of nozzles 141 reduced. 6A and 6B show dot data, a first head H1 mask, and a second head H2 mask. For each pixel constituting the dot data, “1” representing dot formation or “0” representing dot non-formation is shown. The mask for No. 1 head H1 and the mask for No. 2 head H2 are also composed of a plurality of pixels, and the pixels for assigning the corresponding dot data pixels to the head (H1 or H2) are shown in white, and the head (H1 or Pixels not assigned to H2) are shown in black.

  When the all head mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 6A, a mask in which white pixels and black pixels are mixed is used. By doing so, the upstream portion d1 of the dot data is assigned to the magenta nozzle row M1 of the first head H1, and the downstream portion d2 of the dot data is assigned to the magenta nozzle row M2 of the second head H2. A part of the dot data d3 corresponding to the overlapping nozzle 141a of the first head H1 and the second head H2 is assigned to the magenta nozzle row M1 of the first head H1, and the remaining part is magenta of the second head H2. Assigned to the nozzle row M2.

  On the other hand, when the even-numbered head mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 6B, a mask containing only white pixels and a mask containing only black pixels are used. By doing so, all the pixels of the dot data are assigned to the magenta nozzle row M2 of the second head H2. Note that NULL data (dot non-formation data) is assigned to the magenta nozzle row M1 of the first head H1.

  Similarly, when the odd-numbered head mode is selected, although not shown, a mask in which all pixels of the dot data are assigned to the magenta nozzle row M1 of the first head H1 is used.

  As described above, the arithmetic control unit 21 assigns dot data to each of the heads H1 to H8 in accordance with the mode of the used head, and then rearranges the data in the order of transmission to the printing apparatus 10 to obtain other print information (print medium). 2) is added to create print data. In the odd-numbered head mode and the even-numbered head mode, the transport amount of the print medium 2 is shorter than that in the all-head mode. Therefore, the arithmetic control unit 21 creates print data in which the transport amount of the print medium 2 is changed according to the mode of the head used.

  Here, in the flow of FIG. 5, an example in which the user inputs execution of printing of the test pattern T that detects the ejection failure of the nozzle from the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 before the start of the print job (S02). To

  Based on the command from the computer 20, the printing apparatus 10 (head group) prints the test pattern T (S02). The test pattern T may be any pattern that can detect ejection failure of the nozzles. As shown in FIG. 7A, the test pattern T is a rectangular pattern printed at a constant density for each of the two nozzle rows included in each of the heads H1 to H8. What consists of the small pattern p can be illustrated. In the small pattern p, it is assumed that ink is ejected from all nozzles of each nozzle row.

  In the small pattern p, the area printed by the nozzle in which the ink is not ejected or the ejection failure in which only a smaller amount of ink is ejected is printed is thinner than the area in which the normal nozzle is printed. Therefore, the user can inspect the occurrence of ejection failure by visually observing the test pattern T.

  For example, assume that the test pattern T in FIG. 7A is printed. In the test pattern T of FIG. 7A, the magenta nozzle row M2 of the second head H2, the black nozzle row K1 of the third head H3, the black nozzle row K3 of the fifth head H5, and the cyan nozzle row C4 of the sixth head H6. In each of the small patterns p printed, white stripes having a lighter density than other regions are generated. Therefore, the user can detect that an ejection failure has occurred in the nozzle row.

  Note that an image reading device such as a scanner may read the test pattern T and inspect for the occurrence of ejection failure.

  When ejection failure has occurred, the user can input execution of the head H cleaning process from the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 (S03). Then, the control unit 11 of the printing apparatus 10 causes the cleaning unit 15 to perform the cleaning process of the head H based on a command from the computer 20 (S13).

  Thereafter, the user can input execution of printing of the test pattern T for confirming the elimination of the ejection failure from the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 (S04). Then, the printing apparatus 10 (head group) prints the test pattern T again (S14). In this embodiment, the pattern for detecting the ejection failure of the nozzle and the pattern for confirming the elimination of the ejection failure are the same pattern, but they may be different patterns.

  Assume that the test pattern T shown in FIG. 7B is printed after the cleaning process. Although the ejection failure of some nozzle rows (K1, K3) has been eliminated by the cleaning process, the ejection failure of some nozzle rows (M2, C4) has not been eliminated.

  In this case, the user can select a mode in which the head H in which ejection failure has occurred is not used from the operation screen 28 (FIG. 4B) of the computer 20 (S05). According to the test pattern T shown in FIG. 7B, ejection failure occurs in the second head H2 and the sixth head H6. Therefore, the user selects the odd head mode and starts the next new print job.

  As described above, when the mode of the head to be used is selected (changed) after creating the print data (S15 → Yes), the arithmetic control unit 21 of the computer 20 outputs the print data according to the selected (changed) mode. Recreate it. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the dot data assignment process is performed again according to the selected (changed) mode, and the transport amount of the print medium 2 according to the mode is added. , Recreate the print data.

  The arithmetic control unit 21 of the computer 20 transmits the recreated print data to the printing apparatus 10. The printing apparatus 10 performs printing based on the print data from the computer 20 (S17).

  Note that the flow in FIG. 5 is an example of a printing method, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the user inputs printing of the test pattern T before inputting the execution of the print job, even if the mode of the head to be used is changed based on the result of the test pattern T, the mode is changed according to the changed mode from the beginning. Print data can be created.

  Further, the user is not limited to instructing printing of the test pattern T. For example, the computer 20 may cause the printing apparatus 10 to print the test pattern T every print job, every predetermined time, or the like.

[3. effect〕
As described above, according to the printing method, the printing system 1, and the printer driver 26 of the present embodiment, the computer 20 selects one of the head modes (all head mode, odd head mode, even head mode) to be used. Let the user choose.

  Note that the function of the computer 20 allowing the user to select the mode of the head to be used is that the calculation control unit 21 of the computer 20 displays the operation screen 28 (FIG. 4B) of the computer 20 on the display device 24 according to the printer driver 26. Realize with.

  When the user selects the all-head mode and printing is performed with both odd-numbered heads (H1, H3, H5, H7) and even-numbered heads (H2, H4, H6, H8) arranged in the nozzle row direction (X direction), The length (the length in the X direction) of the image printed by one movement (one pass) in the Y direction by the carriage 131 is increased. Therefore, the printing time can be shortened.

  On the other hand, in the printing apparatus 10 in which the heads H are arranged in the nozzle row direction, the number of nozzles is large, and the number of nozzles that cause ejection defects is likely to increase. In addition, the ease of eliminating discharge defects varies depending on the degree of nozzle clogging. Therefore, even if the cleaning process is performed, the ejection failure of one head is resolved, but the ejection failure of another head may not be resolved.

  Even in that case, according to the present embodiment, after the test pattern T for confirming the elimination of the ejection failure is printed, when the mode of the head to be used is selected by the user, the print data corresponding to the selected mode is obtained. Created and printed.

  For example, when the ejection of odd-numbered heads (H1, H3, H5, H7) is normal and ejection failure has occurred in even-numbered heads (H2, H4, H6, H8), the user can change from the all-head mode to the odd-numbered head mode. Can be changed. On the other hand, if the ejection failure has occurred in the odd-numbered heads (H1, H3, H5, H7) and the ejection from the even-numbered heads (H2, H4, H6, H8) is normal, the head mode is changed from the all-head mode. it can.

  By doing so, it is possible to perform printing with high quality by the head H in which no ejection failure occurs. In addition, although the printing apparatus 10 prints an image longer than in the all-head mode, printing of the test pattern T and the cleaning process are repeated many times until the ejection failure of all the heads is resolved. Compared to the case, the overall printing time can be shortened. Further, it is possible to suppress consumption of ink and the printing medium 2 due to the printing of the test pattern T and the cleaning process. In addition, the burden on the user who inspects the test pattern can be reduced.

[4. Modifications and Effects]
(1) In the flow of FIG. 5, the mode of the head to be used is selected by the user after printing the test pattern T for detecting ejection failure, but this is not restrictive. As described above, in the all head mode, the length of an image printed in one pass is increased, and the printing time can be shortened. On the other hand, when printing in the all-head mode, since the number of heads H increases, the inclination (swing) of the head unit 14 moving in the Y direction, the relative positional relationship of the heads H, and the like affect the image quality. easy.

  Therefore, as in this embodiment, by enabling the user to select the mode of the head to be used, the user can select all head modes when he wants to shorten the printing time, and when he wants to print with high image quality. The odd head mode or the even head mode can be selected. Thus, printing time can be shortened or high-quality printing can be performed according to the purpose of the user.

(2) Which mode of the used head mode is selected may be displayed on the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C. For example, when the odd head mode or the even head mode is selected, an icon 27 indicating that is displayed (FIG. 4C), and when the all head mode is selected, nothing is displayed (FIG. 4). 4A). In addition, an icon (not shown) corresponding to each mode may be displayed on the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C.

  By doing so, the user does not open the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIG. 4B from the operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C while examining the mode of the head to be used. You can know immediately. Therefore, the user's trouble can be reduced.

(3) When the user instructs the printing system 1 to print the test pattern T and the cleaning process alternately a plurality of times and then instructs a predetermined cleaning process, the arithmetic control unit 21 of the computer 20 The operation screen 28 of the computer 20 shown in FIG. 4B may be displayed on the display device 24.

  By doing so, the user can recognize that the head H used for printing can be selected. In this case, when there is a head H that does not solve the ejection failure even if the cleaning process is performed a plurality of times, the user can consider a printing method that does not use the head H. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the printing of the test pattern T and the cleaning process from being repeated many times.

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated, the said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. Further, the present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention.

1 ... printing system, 2 ... printing medium,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Conveyance unit,
121 ... Conveying roller, 122 ... Pinch roller,
13 ... Carriage unit 131 ... Carriage 132 ... Guide rail
14 ... head unit, 141 ... nozzle, H ... head, Ha ... head group,
H1 ... No. 1 head (first head), H2 ... No. 2 head (second head),
H3 ... No. 3 head (first head), H4 ... No. 4 head (second head),
H5 ... No. 5 head (first head), H6 ... No. 6 head (second head),
H7 ... No. 7 head (first head), H8 ... No. 8 head (second head),
15 ... Cleaning unit, 151 ... Cap,
20 ... Computer, 21 ... Calculation control unit, 22 ... Memory, 23 ... Main unit,
24 ... display device, 25 ... input device, 26 ... printer driver (program),
27 ... icon, 28 ... operation screen,
T ... Test pattern (pattern)

Claims (4)

A first head and a second head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in the predetermined direction, and ends of the nozzle rows overlap in the predetermined direction. Printing method by group,
A step in which a user selects a mode using the first head and the second head, a mode using the first head, or a mode using the second head;
A step of creating print data according to the mode selected by the user;
A step of printing the head group based on the print data;
A printing method characterized by comprising: The printing method according to claim 1, comprising:
The head group printing a pattern for detecting ejection failure of the nozzle;
A process in which a cleaning process for eliminating discharge defects is performed;
A step in which the head group prints a pattern for confirming elimination of ejection failure;
After the pattern for confirming the elimination of the ejection failure is printed, when the mode is selected by the user, the step of creating the print data according to the selected mode;
A printing method characterized by comprising: A first head and a second head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in the predetermined direction, and ends of the nozzle rows overlap in the predetermined direction. A printing device comprising a group;
A printing system comprising: a computer that creates print data and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus;
The computer
Allowing the user to select one of a mode using the first head and the second head, a mode using the first head, and a mode using the second head;
A printing system that creates the print data according to the mode selected by a user. A first head and a second head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in the predetermined direction, and ends of the nozzle rows overlap in the predetermined direction. A printing device comprising a group;
A printing system comprising: a computer that creates print data and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus;
A function for allowing a user to select one of a mode using the first head and the second head, a mode using the first head, and a mode using the second head;
A function of creating print data according to the mode selected by the user;
A program to realize