JP2019055559A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To replace an ink cartridge for color printing and an ink cartridge for black printing in a manual scanning type printer capable of mounting one ink cartridge therein.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes a printing mechanism 43 capable of mounting only one ink cartridge 13. The ink cartridge 13 has a plurality of ink filling sections f1, f2, and f3 and nozzle sections 14 (14M, 14Y, 14C) which have a plurality of nozzles 14a corresponding to the plurality of ink filling sections f1, f2, and f3 and have the same number as that of the ink filling sections. As the ink cartridge 13, a first cartridge 13B in which ink filled in the plurality of ink filling sections f1, f2, and f3 is the same black color and a second cartridge 13C in which the colors of ink filled in the plurality of ink filling sections f1, f2, and f3 are except black color and have colors different from each other are prepared. The first cartridge 13B and the second cartridge 13C have the same outer shape and structure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

  Conventionally, manual scanning that allows a user to print an arbitrary character string or graphic on a printing object by moving it in the scanning direction so that the user slides on the printing object such as paper or a box. A type printing apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-94101 A

By the way, in the case of a printing apparatus such as a printer externally attached to a personal computer or the like, it is not necessary to perform scanning by hand, so the size of the printing apparatus is not limited to a size that can be scanned by hand. .
Therefore, in such a printing apparatus, a plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge corresponding to color printing and an ink cartridge corresponding to black printing can be mounted simultaneously.

However, in the case of a manual scanning type printing apparatus (handy printer), the size is limited to the premise that scanning is performed by hand.
For this reason, in a manual scanning type printing apparatus, it is difficult to mount a plurality of ink cartridges at the same time as a printer externally attached to a personal computer or the like, and normally only one ink cartridge is mounted. Yes.

  In such a manual scanning type printing apparatus, when an ink cartridge corresponding to color printing is provided, color printing can be performed, and when an ink cartridge corresponding to black printing is provided. In order to be able to perform black printing and cope with both color printing and black printing, it is conceivable to replace both ink cartridges.

However, conventionally, the ink cartridges corresponding to color printing and the ink cartridges corresponding to black printing have different numbers of nozzles, and the structures of the portions that are electrically connected to the printing apparatus are different from each other. In some cases, the external shapes of the two are different from each other.
Therefore, it has been difficult to replace the ink cartridge corresponding to color printing and the ink cartridge corresponding to black printing in a manual scanning type printing apparatus in which one ink cartridge can be mounted.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a manual scanning printing apparatus in which one ink cartridge can be mounted, an ink cartridge corresponding to color printing and an ink cartridge corresponding to black printing are provided. It has the advantage that it can be exchanged.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is grasped by the following configuration.
The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a printing mechanism that performs printing on the printing medium while being manually moved relative to the printing medium, and a control device that controls the printing mechanism, and the printing mechanism. One ink cartridge is detachably mounted, and the ink cartridge has a plurality of ink filling portions filled with ink, and each of the plurality of ink filling portions is filled as the ink cartridge. A first cartridge having the same black color as the ink, and a second cartridge having a color other than black and different from each other in the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling portions. The outer surfaces of the first cartridge and the second cartridge have the same structure.

  According to the present invention, in a manual scanning printing apparatus in which one ink cartridge can be mounted, an ink cartridge compatible with color printing and an ink cartridge compatible with black printing can be exchanged.

1 is a plan view of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a bottom view of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the ink cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and an ink filling part. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a nozzle arrangement of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a printing result of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is an enlarged view showing a printing result when there is no clogged nozzle, and (b) is a case where there is a clogged nozzle. It is an enlarged view which shows the printing result. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic operation during black printing of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the combination of the nozzle which discharges the ink at the time of the black printing of the printing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a nozzle arrangement of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element throughout the description of embodiment.

[Configuration of Printing Apparatus 1]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The printing apparatus 1 is a manual scanning type handy printer that performs printing on a printing medium P such as paper, for example, when the user manually moves it in the scanning direction.
Note that the printing apparatus 1 only needs to move relative to the printing medium P. For example, the printing apparatus 1 may be moved manually with the position of the printing apparatus 1 fixed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes a case 11, a substrate 12, an ink cartridge 13 including a nozzle unit 14, an optical sensor 15, a guide roller 16, a print start position marker 17, a user interface 18, and printing. An instruction button 19, a power button 20, and a built-in power source 21 are included.
Here, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, xy coordinate axes orthogonal to each other are set.

  The case 11 is a housing for housing the substrate 12, the ink cartridge 13, the optical sensor 15, the built-in power source 21, and the like.

For example, a CPU 31, a RAM 42, a ROM 41, and the like are attached to the substrate 12 (see FIG. 3).
The functions of the CPU 31, RAM 42, and ROM 41 will be described later.

The ink cartridge 13 is a unit in which a container containing ink and a nozzle unit 14 having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink to the printing medium P for printing are integrally provided. Is provided on the surface (bottom surface in this case) facing the print medium P so that the ink ejection side is exposed from the bottom surface.
The nozzle part 14 is provided along the y-axis direction.

In other words, the main body portion 1a of the printing apparatus 1 has a cartridge mounting portion 1b in which only one ink cartridge 13 is detachably mounted, and ink according to the ink out or the type of printing (black printing, color printing). The cartridge 13 is replaced.
The cartridge mounting portion 1b constitutes a printing mechanism 43 described later.
The ink cartridge 13 is a main part of the present invention, and the detailed configuration will be described later.

  The printing apparatus 1 may have a detachable cap for preventing the ink attached to the nozzle unit 14 from drying.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 may be attached to the printing apparatus 1 and may further include a cradle or the like on which the printing apparatus 1 is placed when not in use in order to prevent the ink attached to the nozzle unit 14 from drying. Good.

  The optical sensor 15 is a movement state detection unit 44 (see FIG. 3) that detects a scanning direction (movement direction) and a movement distance of the printing apparatus 1, and is generally used for a mouse for a PC having a laser and an LED. It may be an optical sensor capable of detecting the moving direction and moving distance as used.

In the present embodiment, the optical sensor 15 is provided so that a measuring unit for detecting the moving direction and the moving distance is positioned on the bottom surface side of the printing apparatus 1.
The movement state detection unit 44 is not limited to an optical sensor, and may be a mechanical type having a rotary encoder, for example.

The guide roller 16 is provided on the bottom surface of the printing apparatus 1 so as to be partially exposed from the bottom surface, and comes into contact with the print medium P in the first direction (D1 direction shown in FIG. 1) and the second direction ( Guide is performed so that movement in the direction D2 shown in FIG. 1 can be performed smoothly.
Here, the D1 direction and the D2 direction are directions along the x-axis direction, for example.

  In the present embodiment, four guide rollers 16 are provided on the bottom surface of the printing apparatus 1 so as to surround the nozzle portion 14, and these guide rollers 16 contact the print medium P and rotate in the first direction or the second direction. By doing so, the user can easily perform a linear movement operation of the printing apparatus 1 in the first direction and the second direction.

The print start position marker 17 serves as a mark when the user places the printing apparatus 1 on the print medium P when performing printing.
In general, the printing apparatus 1 is often scanned (moved) to the right side (D1 direction) during printing, and the printing apparatus 1 is aligned with the left end that is the print start position of a frame line such as an entry field at that time. For this reason, the print start position marker 17 is provided at the right end position of the case 11 on the front side of the nozzle portion 14 in the scanning direction.

The print start position marker 17 includes a marker light emitting unit 45 (see FIG. 3) that is a light source such as an LED, and can be turned on and off.
The print start position marker 17 also has a function of guiding the operation of the printing apparatus 1 by turning on and off the marker light emitting unit 45.

  The print start position marker 17 is provided on the surface of the case 11 along the y-axis direction. The width (Lm) of the print start position marker 17 in the y-axis direction is determined by the user as a graphic character (character, symbol, pictograph). It is preferable to be equal to the width in the y-axis direction (print width: Ln) of the nozzle portion 14 so that the print width (character height) of

  The user interface 18 is an interface with a user, and includes a display unit 18a made up of a liquid crystal screen, an operation unit 18b made up of a numeric keypad, a sound output unit 46 (see FIG. 3) made up of a buzzer, and the like.

  The display unit 18a and the sound output unit 46 can function as an operation guide unit that guides the user's operation with display or sound, an error notification unit that notifies the occurrence of an error with display or sound, and the like.

  Further, the operation unit 18b can function as a print setting unit for inputting and selecting a character image to be printed, setting print conditions, and the like.

  Further, the user interface 18 is a wireless unit that can communicate with an external terminal (for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer) such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), a USB memory, an SD card, or the like. An external connection port to which a removable storage medium can be attached is included.

  Therefore, print data (template) for printing by the printing apparatus 1 is not created by the printing apparatus 1, but is created by an external terminal having a good creation environment, and the printing data created by the external terminal is used as the printing apparatus. 1 can be read.

The print instruction button 19 is an operation button for the user to instruct the printing apparatus 1 to print.
The power button 20 is an operation button for the user to turn on and off the printing apparatus 1.
The built-in power source 21 is a power source of the printing apparatus 1, for example, a dry battery or a secondary battery.

[Functional configuration of printing apparatus 1]
A functional configuration and the like of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the printing apparatus 1 includes functions such as a control device 30, a memory 40, a printing mechanism 43, a movement state detection unit 44, a marker light emission unit 45, a sound output unit 46, a print instruction unit 47, and a communication interface 48. Has a part.
The movement state detection unit 44, the marker light emitting unit 45, and the sound output unit 46 are the same as described above, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The control device 30 is a functional unit that controls the overall operation of the printing apparatus 1, and includes a CPU 31, a print control unit 32, and the like.

  For example, the CPU 31 receives a print instruction from the print instruction unit 47 constituted by the print instruction button 19, determines the print contents based on various data stored in the ROM 41 and the RAM 42, and sends it to the print control unit 32. Processing such as instructing is performed.

The print control unit 32 prints the contents of the print data (nozzle discharge data) stored in the RAM 42 according to the movement direction and movement distance of the printing apparatus 1 detected by the movement state detection unit 44. And the printing mechanism 43 executes printing.
Detailed operation of the control device 30 will be described later.

The memory 40 includes a RAM 42 and a ROM 41.
The RAM 42 temporarily stores, for example, data generated when the CPU 31 executes processing, print data output to the printing mechanism 43, and the like.

  The ROM 41 stores data such as graphic characters (including characters, symbols, and pictograms) for realizing each function of the printing apparatus 1, size information of the graphic characters, a table of print data, various programs, and the like. .

  The printing mechanism 43 is a functional unit for printing on the printing medium P, and is configured by the ink cartridge 13 including the nozzle unit 14 in the present embodiment.

  The print instruction unit 47 is a print instruction button 19, and when the user operates the print instruction button 19, the control device 30 starts control associated with printing.

The communication interface 48 is a part of the user interface 18 and is an interface for receiving various data (for example, print data (template)) and various programs from a terminal device such as a personal computer or a smartphone.
Specifically, as described above, it is an external connection port to which a Wi-Fi wireless unit, a USB memory, or the like is attached.

[Ink cartridge 13]
Next, the ink cartridge 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
4A is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 13 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a view showing an ink filling portion in the ink cartridge 13, and the ink cartridge 13 is moved upward. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic internal structure of the ink cartridge 13 as viewed from above, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the nozzle arrangement of the ink cartridge 13 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink cartridge 13 is provided corresponding to each of the three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 filled with ink and the ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3. Three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, 14C having a plurality of nozzles 14a for discharging the filled ink, a connection portion 13a electrically connected to the main body portion 1a of the printing apparatus 1, and the state of the filled ink A recording section (not shown) for recording a symbol (ID) for informing the main body section 1a of the above.
The three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 have the same capacity or substantially the same capacity.
In addition, arrangement | positioning and shape of the ink filling parts f1, f2, and f3 shown in FIG.4 (b) are examples, Comprising: It does not restrict to this, Arbitrary arrangement | positioning and shapes may be sufficient.

  As the ink cartridge 13, a first cartridge 13B that is mounted on the main body 1a of the printing apparatus 1 during black printing and a second cartridge 13C that is mounted on the main body 1a of the printing apparatus 1 during color printing are prepared. Yes.

  In the second cartridge 13C for color printing, each of the three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 is filled with ink of a different color other than black. For example, the nozzle of the first nozzle portion 14M The magenta ink is ejected from 14a, the yellow ink is ejected from the nozzle 14a of the second nozzle portion 14Y, and the cyan ink is ejected from the nozzle 14a of the third nozzle portion 14C.

Usually, an ink cartridge for black printing has one ink filling portion and one nozzle portion, and black ink is filled in one ink filling portion, and black ink is supplied from one nozzle portion. The ink cartridge for color printing has a different number of nozzles from the ink cartridge for color printing. The ink cartridge for black printing and the ink cartridge for color printing are electrically connected to the printing apparatus to be mounted. The number and arrangement of various contact points are different from each other, and the external shapes may be different from each other.
On the other hand, the structure of the outer surface of the first cartridge 13B for black printing according to the embodiment of the present invention includes three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 and three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C. The same structure as the outer surface of the second cartridge 13C for color printing, each of the three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 is filled with black ink, and each of the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C has a black color. Ink is ejected.
That is, the first cartridge 13B for black printing and the second cartridge 13C for color printing have the same outer dimensions, and the number of electrical contacts with the main body 1a of the printing apparatus 1 The arrangement is also the same.

  According to such an ink cartridge 13, black printing and color printing are prepared with a cartridge having the same structure. Therefore, the first cartridge 13 B for black printing and the color printing for the cartridge mounting portion 1 b are prepared in the cartridge mounting portion 1 b. Either one of the second cartridge 13C and the second cartridge 13C can be detachably mounted. When black printing is performed, the first cartridge 13B for black printing is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 1b and printing is performed using the first cartridge 13B. In color printing, the second cartridge 13C for color printing can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 1b and printing can be performed using the second cartridge 13C.

  Moreover, the first cartridge 13B for black printing is configured by filling the black ink in the three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 that are originally filled with the three colors of ink. The number of inks can be greatly increased, and the occurrence of ink shortage at the time of black printing can be suppressed.

A symbol indicating that the ink filling portions f1 to f3 are filled with black ink is recorded in the recording portion of the first cartridge 13B.
In the recording part of the second cartridge 13C, a symbol indicating that each of the ink filling parts f1 to f3 is filled with ink of a color other than black is recorded.
The main body 1a of the printing apparatus 1 includes a reading unit (not shown) that reads a symbol recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge 13 attached to the main body 1a via the connection unit 13a, and based on the read symbol. Thus, it is identified whether the ink cartridge 13 attached to the main body 1a is the first cartridge 13B or the second cartridge 13C.

In other words, in external printers such as personal computers, the mounting part of the cartridge differs according to each color, so that it is possible to recognize the color of the ink cartridge that is installed instead of being able to mount an unplanned cartridge. However, when the cartridge itself has the same structure as described above, such recognition cannot be performed.
Therefore, it is possible to identify the first cartridge 13B for black printing and the second cartridge 13C for color printing by management using symbols.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each of the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C has a plurality of nozzles 14a, and each nozzle 14a is arranged at the same position when viewed in the y-axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5). It is configured.

  In other words, each nozzle section 14M, 14Y, 14C has a nozzle row 14b composed of a plurality of (for example, 300 to 400) nozzles 14a arranged in a spaced apart manner in the y-axis direction, and each nozzle section Assuming that a plurality of nozzles 14a constituting each nozzle row 14b of 14M, 14Y, and 14C are numbered sequentially from the upper side of FIG. Are in the same position in the y-axis direction.

  The plurality of nozzles 14a of each nozzle portion 14M, 14Y, and 14C are divided into two nozzle rows 14b that are spaced apart in the x-axis direction. Hereinafter, the two nozzle rows 14b are combined to appropriately set a nozzle row. 14c.

  More specifically, when numbers are assigned in order from the upper side of FIG. 5 to the plurality of nozzles 14a constituting each of the two nozzle rows 14b of the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C, an odd number is assigned to one nozzle row 14b. Numbered nozzles 14a are arranged, and even-numbered nozzles 14a are arranged in the other nozzle row 14b.

By adopting such a nozzle arrangement (more specifically, a staggered arrangement), dots formed by the ink ejected from the nozzles 14a are viewed in the y-axis direction, compared to a case where there is one nozzle row 14b. And densely formed.
That is, since the interval in the x-axis direction of the dots formed by the ink ejected from the nozzles 14a of the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C can be shortened compared to the case where there is one nozzle row 14b, high-quality printing It becomes possible to do.

[Black printing operation of printing apparatus 1]
Next, the operation at the time of black printing of the printing apparatus 1 realized by the processing executed by the control device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

  When the first cartridge 13B for black printing is attached to the main body portion 1a, the control device 30 includes at least two different nozzle portions (14C, 14M, 14M and the like) of the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, 14C. 14Y, 14Y and 14C, hereinafter referred to as group 1 and group 2 as appropriate), and control is performed to form one dot by ejecting ink from each nozzle 14a.

  For example, after ejecting half of the normal ink ejection amount from one nozzle 14a in group 1 at a predetermined dot formation position, one nozzle 14a in group 2 moves to the same dot formation position. In this case, one dot is formed by ejecting half of the normal ink ejection amount from one nozzle 14a of group 2.

  According to such printing control, even if one nozzle 14a is clogged, dots are formed by the other nozzle 14a, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in appearance and an appropriate amount of ink discharged by the two nozzles 14a. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive application of ink.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a printing result of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A) is an enlarged view showing a printing result when there is no clogged nozzle 14a, and (b) is clogged. It is an enlarged view showing a printing result when there is a nozzle 14a.
In FIG. 6, only the portions that become the group 1 and the group 2 among the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C are shown.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B show the printing results when a black-painted image is printed, and when there is no clogged nozzle 14a, as shown in FIG. A black painted image is printed.

On the other hand, when there is one clogged nozzle 14a, a white line (unprinted portion) along the scanning direction (for example, the x-axis direction) is generated at a position corresponding to the clogged nozzle 14a in the conventional printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, since one dot is formed by ink ejected from the two nozzles 14a, even if one nozzle 14a of group 2 is clogged, as shown in FIG. A dot is formed by the ink ejected from one nozzle 14a.
However, since the amount of ink for forming dots is halved, a low-density line is generated along the scanning direction at a position corresponding to the clogged nozzle 14a, but the print quality is deteriorated as compared with a conventional printing apparatus in which a white line is generated. It becomes possible to suppress significantly.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the basic operation during black printing of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a basic operation during black printing of the printing apparatus 1 realized by processing executed by the control device 30.
However, it is assumed that print data (original image) to be printed by the printing apparatus 1 is created by a terminal device having a print data creation application such as a personal computer or a smartphone and registered in the printing apparatus 1 in advance.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the printing process is started, the control device 30 first generates nozzle discharge data for printing from the original image (S1) and stores it in the memory 40 (S2).
The nozzle ejection data is data that determines which nozzle 14a ejects ink at which position in the scanning direction (for example, the x-axis direction), and one dot is ejected from the nozzle 14a of group 1 And the ink ejected from the nozzles 14a of group 2.

When detecting the printing start operation (operation in the scanning direction) of the printing apparatus 1 (S3), the control device 30 detects the positions of the groups 1 and 2 (S4, S5), and discharges nozzles corresponding to the detected positions. Data is read from the memory 40 (S6, S7), and when the detection position is the ink ejection position, ink is ejected from the nozzles 14a of group 1 and group 2, respectively (S8, S9).
Then, the processes in steps S4 to S9 are repeated until the predetermined print length is reached (S10: NO). When the predetermined print length is reached (S10: YES), printing is terminated.

According to such black printing control, one dot is formed by ejecting ink from the nozzles 14a of two different nozzle portions (group 1, group 2) of the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, 14C. However, when the combination of two different nozzle portions of the three nozzle portions is fixed, the ink consumption of the three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 is biased, and the ink The life of the cartridge 13 may be shortened.
In addition, since the nozzle 14a of the nozzle part that has never been used during one printing becomes easy to dry, when printing is performed with the nozzle part that was not used for the first printing in the next printing, There is a risk of clogging.
Therefore, in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the combination of two different nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C is dynamically changed during printing.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a combination of nozzles 14a that eject ink during black printing of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the first cartridge 13B for black printing is attached to the main body 1a, the control device 30 is located at the same position in the print medium P as viewed in the x-axis direction, and the y-axis Assuming that a plurality of dot rows located at different positions when viewed in the direction is a dot row, each dot of the dot row is ejected from two different nozzle portions of the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, 14C. In forming each nozzle portion, the combination of two different nozzle portions of the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, 14C used for each adjacent dot in the dot row is made different from each other. Control is performed so that 14M, 14Y, and 14C are used almost uniformly.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, in the combination of two different nozzle portions of the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C used for 3 × 3 dots, the leftmost first In one dot row, for each dot arranged in the y-axis direction, the combination of the nozzle part 14C and the nozzle part 14M is changed to the combination of the nozzle part 14M and the nozzle part 14Y, and the nozzle part 14Y and the nozzle part 14C are further changed. Change the combination.
In the second second dot row from the left, for each dot arranged in the y-axis direction, the combination of the nozzle portion 14M and the nozzle portion 14Y is changed to the combination of the nozzle portion 14Y and the nozzle portion 14C. The combination is changed to 14C and the nozzle portion 14M.
In the third third dot row from the left, for each dot arranged in the y-axis direction, the combination of the nozzle portion 14Y and the nozzle portion 14C is changed to the combination of the nozzle portion 14C and the nozzle portion 14M. The combination is changed to 14M and the nozzle portion 14Y.
According to such print control, the ink consumption in each of the three ink filling units f1, f2, and f3 corresponding to each of the nozzle units 14M, 14Y, and 14C can be made uniform, so that the ink filling unit f1, It can be avoided that one of f2 and f3 is emptied first and the first cartridge 13B has to be replaced quickly, and the three ink filling portions f1, f2, and f3 in one printing can be avoided. Since the frequency of use of the corresponding nozzles 14a is also made uniform, the possibility of clogging of the nozzles 14a due to drying of the nozzles 14a can be suppressed.

The way of combining two different nozzle parts among the three nozzle parts 14M, 14Y, and 14C may be as shown in FIG. 8B.
In this case, the leftmost first dot row is a combination of the nozzle portion 14C and the nozzle portion 14M, the second second dot row from the left is a combination of the nozzle portion 14M and the nozzle portion 14Y, and the third from the left. In the third dot row, the nozzle portion 14Y and the nozzle portion 14C are combined.

Further, the way of combining two different nozzle portions among the three nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, 14C may be as shown in FIG. 8C.
In this case, in every dot row, for each dot arranged in the y-axis direction, the combination of the nozzle portion 14C and the nozzle portion 14M is changed to the combination of the nozzle portion 14M and the nozzle portion 14Y. The combination with the nozzle portion 14C is changed.
Also in such printing control, the ink consumption in each of the three ink filling sections f1, f2, and f3 corresponding to the nozzle sections 14M, 14Y, and 14C can be made substantially uniform, and the ink filling sections f1, It can be avoided that one of f2 and f3 becomes empty first and the first cartridge 13B has to be replaced quickly.

  In the first embodiment, in the second cartridge 13C for color printing, the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C correspond to different color inks, so attention is paid to the nozzles 14a that discharge the same color ink. Then, when viewed in the y-axis direction, a plurality of nozzles 14a arranged at the same position are not present.

  For this reason, in the case where the second cartridge 13C for color printing is attached to the main body 1a, in order to form color dots by color mixture, different color inks are not repeatedly applied to the same dots. However, unlike the case of the first cartridge 13B for black printing, the same color ink is not overcoated on one dot.

  As a result, in the second cartridge 13C for color printing, in the case of printing where there is a portion formed with one color ink, if the nozzle 14a corresponding to the portion is clogged, the dot is not formed. become.

  However, in the case of color printing, even when the clogged nozzle 14a is present, it is rare to form single-color dots formed of one color ink, and white is formed in the black printed portion. Unlike being printed, it is not visually noticeable, so it will not look as bad as when printing black.

  However, even in the case of color printing, as described above in black printing, if a plurality of nozzles 14a that eject ink of the same color are used to form one dot, one nozzle 14a is provided. Printing that does not deteriorate the appearance even when clogged is possible, and the configuration for that purpose will be described as a second embodiment.

[Second Embodiment]
The ink cartridge 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. However, about the structure which is common in 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment may be attached | subjected and description may be abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the nozzle arrangement of the ink cartridge 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 9, in the ink cartridge 100 of the second embodiment, each of the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C includes two nozzle row sets 14c and 14d, respectively. Is different.

Specifically, the nozzle row 14b provided with a plurality of nozzles 14a so that the nozzle row set 14c in one nozzle portion 14M, 14Y, 14C is arranged at the same position when viewed in the y-axis direction is x A pair of nozzle rows are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction.
Similarly to the nozzle row set 14c, the nozzle row set 14d, in which the nozzle rows 14b provided with a plurality of nozzles 14a so as to be arranged at the same position in the y-axis direction, are separated from each other in the x-axis direction. Thus, a pair of nozzle rows are arranged.
The position in the y-axis direction of each nozzle 14a in the nozzle row set 14c and the position in the y-axis direction of each nozzle 14a in the nozzle row set 14d are the same.

  For this reason, unlike the first embodiment, even in the case of the second cartridge 13C for color printing, one dot can be overcoated using a plurality of nozzles 14a that eject ink of the same color. .

  In addition, the nozzle row sets 14c and 14d in one nozzle portion 14M, 14Y, and 14C have a plurality of nozzles 14a at different positions when viewed in the y-axis direction, and are described in the staggered arrangement of the first embodiment. Similarly, the interval in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of dots formed by the ink ejected from the nozzles 14a of the nozzle portions 14M, 14Y, and 14C is shortened so that high quality printing can be performed.

Although the printing apparatus 1 of the present invention has been described based on the specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments.
For example, in the above embodiment, the ink filling unit and the nozzle unit 14 of the ink cartridge 13 are three, but may be four or more.

  Further, during black printing, one dot is formed by ink ejected from the two nozzles 14a, but if the amount of black ink forming one dot is an appropriate amount, one dot is three or more. You may form with the ink discharged from the nozzle 14a.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. It is clear from the description of the range.

The invention described in the scope of claims attached to the application of this application will be added below. The item numbers of the claims described in the appendix are as in the scope of the claims initially attached to the application of this application.
<Claim 1>
A printing mechanism for printing on the print medium while being moved manually relative to the print medium;
A control device for controlling the printing mechanism;
With
One ink cartridge is detachably attached to the printing mechanism,
The ink cartridge has a plurality of ink filling portions filled with ink,
As the ink cartridge, a first cartridge in which the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units is the same black, and a color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units are Second cartridges other than black and different from each other are prepared,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the first cartridge and the second cartridge have the same structure.
<Claim 2>
The ink cartridge includes a recording unit that records a symbol for informing a main body of the state of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units,
The printing apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a symbol recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge attached to the printing mechanism,
The symbol indicating that the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units is black is recorded on the recording unit of the first cartridge,
The symbol indicating that the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units is other than black and is different from each other is recorded on the recording unit of the second cartridge. ,
The control device acquires the information on the symbol recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge mounted on the printing mechanism read by the reading unit, and the ink attached to the printing mechanism. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus identifies whether the cartridge is the first cartridge or the second cartridge.
<Claim 3>
The ink cartridge has a plurality of nozzle portions provided corresponding to the plurality of ink filling portions,
Each of the plurality of nozzle portions has a plurality of nozzles that discharge the ink,
Each of the plurality of nozzle portions is separated from each other along the first axial direction in a first axial direction and a second axial direction orthogonal to each other.
The plurality of nozzles in each of the plurality of nozzle portions are arranged at the same position as seen in the second axis direction,
The controller is
When the first cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism and the printing mechanism moves along the first axial direction relative to the printing medium, the ink in the printing medium is ejected. And controlling the printing mechanism to form one dot formed by ejecting the ink from at least two nozzles in at least two different nozzle portions of the plurality of nozzle portions. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
<Claim 4>
The controller is
When the first cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism, a plurality of the print media are positioned at the same position when viewed in the second axis direction and are positioned at different positions when viewed in the first axis direction. The at least one of the plurality of nozzle portions for each dot with respect to at least one of the dots adjacent to each other in the first axis direction and the dots adjacent to each other in the second axis direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a combination of the at least two different nozzle portions that discharge ink is changed so that the nozzle portions are used almost uniformly.
<Claim 5>
The plurality of nozzles in each of the plurality of nozzle portions form a plurality of nozzle rows spaced apart from each other along the first axis direction, and the nozzles in each nozzle row are arranged along the second axis direction. The nozzles in the nozzle rows are arranged at the same position as seen in the second axis direction,
When the second cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism, the control device views the one dot on the print medium in the second axis direction in at least two nozzle rows in each nozzle section. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing mechanism is controlled so that the ink is ejected from at least two nozzles arranged at the same position.
<Claim 6>
Each nozzle section has at least two nozzle row sets by at least two nozzle rows,
When the second cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism, the control device transfers the one dot on the printing medium to the second axis in each of the at least two nozzle row sets in each nozzle section. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing mechanism is controlled so that the ink is ejected and formed from at least two of the nozzles arranged at the same position when viewed in a direction.
<Claim 7>
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of the plurality of ink filling units provided in the ink cartridge is three.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 1a Main body part 13 and 100 Ink cartridge 13B 1st cartridge 13C 2nd cartridge 14, 14M, 14Y, 14C Nozzle part 14a Nozzle 14b Nozzle row 14c, 14d Nozzle row set

Claims (7)

A printing mechanism for printing on the print medium while being moved manually relative to the print medium;
A control device for controlling the printing mechanism;
With
One ink cartridge is detachably attached to the printing mechanism,
The ink cartridge has a plurality of ink filling portions filled with ink,
As the ink cartridge, a first cartridge in which the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units is the same black, and a color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units are Second cartridges other than black and different from each other are prepared,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the first cartridge and the second cartridge have the same structure. The ink cartridge includes a recording unit that records a symbol for informing a main body of the state of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units,
The printing apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a symbol recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge attached to the printing mechanism,
The symbol indicating that the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units is black is recorded on the recording unit of the first cartridge,
The symbol indicating that the color of the ink filled in each of the plurality of ink filling units is other than black and is different from each other is recorded on the recording unit of the second cartridge. ,
The control device acquires the information on the symbol recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge mounted on the printing mechanism read by the reading unit, and the ink attached to the printing mechanism. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus identifies whether the cartridge is the first cartridge or the second cartridge. The ink cartridge has a plurality of nozzle portions provided corresponding to the plurality of ink filling portions,
Each of the plurality of nozzle portions has a plurality of nozzles that discharge the ink,
Each of the plurality of nozzle portions is separated from each other along the first axial direction in a first axial direction and a second axial direction orthogonal to each other.
The plurality of nozzles in each of the plurality of nozzle portions are arranged at the same position as seen in the second axis direction,
The controller is
When the first cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism and the printing mechanism moves along the first axial direction relative to the printing medium, the ink in the printing medium is ejected. And controlling the printing mechanism to form one dot formed by ejecting the ink from at least two nozzles in at least two different nozzle portions of the plurality of nozzle portions. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is
When the first cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism, a plurality of the print media are positioned at the same position when viewed in the second axis direction and are positioned at different positions when viewed in the first axis direction. The at least one of the plurality of nozzle portions for each dot with respect to at least one of the dots adjacent to each other in the first axis direction and the dots adjacent to each other in the second axis direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a combination of the at least two different nozzle portions that discharge ink is changed so that the nozzle portions are used almost uniformly. The plurality of nozzles in each of the plurality of nozzle portions form a plurality of nozzle rows spaced apart from each other along the first axis direction, and the nozzles in each nozzle row are arranged along the second axis direction. The nozzles in the nozzle rows are arranged at the same position as seen in the second axis direction,
When the second cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism, the control device views the one dot on the print medium in the second axis direction in at least two nozzle rows in each nozzle section. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing mechanism is controlled so that the ink is ejected from at least two nozzles arranged at the same position. Each nozzle section has at least two nozzle row sets by at least two nozzle rows,
When the second cartridge is attached to the printing mechanism, the control device transfers the one dot on the printing medium to the second axis in each of the at least two nozzle row sets in each nozzle section. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing mechanism is controlled so that the ink is ejected and formed from at least two of the nozzles arranged at the same position when viewed in a direction.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of the plurality of ink filling units provided in the ink cartridge is three.