JP2019155599A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recording device which can perform preliminary discharge onto a recording material even if a shape of the recording material is not set.SOLUTION: A recording device having an ASIC 43 (control means) which sets an area, in which there is image data D to be recorded, as a preliminary discharge area R, and combines a preliminary discharge pattern P in the preliminary discharge area R with image data D, thereby creating recorded data U. A CPU 40 (control means) discharges an ink onto a label paper 61 by a recording head and records an image based on recorded data D.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink onto a recording material.

  In a recording apparatus using an ink jet system, if the ink is left for a long time without ink being ejected from the ink ejection port of the recording head, the ink accumulated in the vicinity of the ink ejection port may be fixed. In order to prevent ink sticking, a cap member is brought into contact with and in close contact with the ink discharge port of the recording head, and preliminary discharge is performed on the cap member to prevent ink drying near the ink discharge port. . As described above, when preliminary ejection is performed on the cap member, it is necessary to move the recording head to the preliminary ejection position where the cap member is located, and thus the throughput corresponding to the movement time is reduced.

  For this reason, it is possible to prevent ink sticking by performing preliminary ejection on the recording material without moving the recording head to a preliminary ejection position with a cap member. The dots formed by the ink jet recording apparatus can be made smaller by making the nozzles finer, so that even if one dot is ejected onto the recording material, preliminary ejection can be performed without being noticeable.

  In Patent Document 1, preliminary ejection is performed on a recording medium while printing by superimposing a preliminary ejection pattern for performing preliminary ejection on the recording medium and image data created by the user. When preliminary ejection is performed on the entire surface of the recording medium, the end of the recording medium is curved and easily curled. For this reason, in Patent Document 2, a predetermined parameter in printing conditions for forming image forming dots on a sheet is acquired, a margin area of the sheet is determined according to the parameter, and preliminary ejection is not performed on the margin area. The parameter at this time is any one of the paper direction, type, and conveyance speed of the paper, and the blank area is widened in the order of glossy paper, thick paper, plain paper, and recycled paper.

JP 2004-098298 A JP 2014-141020 A

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2, as an area to be preliminarily ejected on a recording material, an area excluding a margin amount is set as a range for preliminarily ejecting. In a commonly used application such as a personal computer, a rectangular range corresponding to the paper size is defined as an image recording area of a recording material. On the other hand, in the case of a label sheet or the like that is detachably attached to the mount, label sheets having various shapes such as a circle or an ellipse other than a rectangle are used.

  Therefore, on an application such as a personal computer, a rectangular range close to the size of the label paper is set as the paper size regardless of the actual shape of the label paper. When preliminary ejection is performed on actual label paper based on such a paper size, if the actual label paper has a shape such as a circle or an ellipse, the preliminary ejection is also applied to the backing paper outside the label paper. May be done.

  The mount on which the label paper is releasably attached is often made of a material having good releasability and therefore cannot accept ink. For this reason, when ink is preliminarily ejected onto the mount, the ink cannot be received by the mount and the user's hand or the inside of the recording apparatus is soiled. For this reason, when the shape of the recording material is not a quadrangle, there is a problem that the preliminary ejection area cannot be determined unless the shape of the recording material to be used is set. If only a predetermined recording material is used, the shape of the recording material may be set in advance.However, if a different recording material is used each time, the shape of the recording material is changed each time. It takes time and effort to set.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of performing preliminary ejection on a recording material without setting the shape of the recording material.

  In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording head for recording an image by ejecting ink onto a recording material, and an area in which image data to be recorded exists as a preliminary ejection area. Control means for setting and creating recording data by combining the preliminary ejection pattern in the preliminary ejection area and the image data, the control means by the recording head based on the recording data An image is recorded by discharging ink onto a recording material.

  According to the present invention, preliminary ejection can be performed on a recording material without setting the shape of the recording material.

FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control part. (A) is a top view which shows the structure of the label paper of the surface side of the roll paper with a label. (B) is a back view which shows the structure by the side of the back surface of the roll paper with a label. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an example of an image recorded by ejecting black ink on an elliptical label sheet. It is a flowchart which shows printing operation. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of developing image data and creating print data in which a preliminary ejection pattern is superimposed on the image data. (A) is a figure showing image data to be printed. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a preliminary ejection area that overlaps image data. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an effective area of a preliminary discharge pattern in the preliminary discharge area. FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating a state where printing is performed with a preliminary ejection pattern superimposed on only a portion where image data exists. (A) is a figure which shows the black preliminary ejection area | region. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a cyan preliminary ejection region. (C) is a diagram showing a magenta preliminary ejection region. FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating a yellow preliminary ejection region. FIG. 6E is a diagram illustrating a state in which four color preliminary ejection regions are overlaid. (F) is a diagram showing a preliminary ejection region in which the preliminary ejection regions of four colors are combined. It is a figure which shows an example of the data arrangement | positioning inside an image memory. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a state where cumulative data of a preliminary ejection area is calculated from a plurality of print jobs. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation operation | movement of the accumulation data of a preliminary discharge area | region at the time of replacement | exchange of the roll paper with a label. (A) is a figure showing image data to be printed. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a preliminary ejection area that overlaps image data. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an effective area of a preliminary discharge pattern in the preliminary discharge area. FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating a state where printing is performed with a preliminary ejection pattern superimposed on only a portion where image data exists.

  An embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

<Recording device>
The configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of the recording apparatus 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing the configuration of the recording apparatus 10. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a configuration of the label paper 61 on the front side of the roll paper 16 with label. FIG. 4B is a back view showing the configuration of the back side of the labeled roll paper 16.

  A recording apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a recording apparatus using an inkjet method. The recording apparatus 10 performs recording by ejecting ink from the recording head 24a onto the label paper 61 that is detachably attached to the backing paper 62 of the roll paper 16 with label 16 via an adhesive layer. As shown in FIG. 4A, the label paper 61 is arranged on the mount 62 in a line at equal intervals. The label paper 61 of this embodiment is an example of an ellipse.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 10 is connected to an external device 12 such as a personal computer so as to be communicable. The recording device 10 performs recording by ejecting ink onto the label paper 61 based on a print command from the external device 12. The recording apparatus 10 is provided with a cutter unit 14. Based on the setting of the user, the label-attached roll paper 16 that has been printed by discharging ink onto the label paper 61 is cut by a pair of upper and lower working blades of the cutter 32 shown in FIG. Then, the printed label paper 61 that is detachably attached to the mount 62 via the adhesive layer is discharged to the outside of the recording apparatus 10.

  FIG. 1 shows an example in which communication is performed by connecting a USB cable 45a between a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal 45 shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, communication can be performed by connecting a LAN cable between a LAN (Local Area Network) terminal 46 provided in the recording apparatus 10 and the external apparatus 12. Furthermore, communication between the recording apparatus 10 and the external apparatus 12 can be performed using a wireless LAN.

  The roll paper 16 with label shown in FIG. 2 is set in a supply holder (not shown), and is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 16a. When the pulley 23a provided on the encoder 23 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 18 via the drive belt 18a, the transport belt 19 rotatably stretched by the stretching rollers 19a to 19c and the pulley 23a is shown in FIG. Rotates counterclockwise. The labeled roll paper 16 is nipped and conveyed by the outer peripheral surface of the conveyance belt 19 and the conveyance roller 20.

  A recording head unit 24 provided with recording heads 24a for each color of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K is provided above the transport belt 19 so as to be movable in the vertical direction in FIG. ing. Further, a recovery unit 26 is provided between the recording head 24a for each color and the conveyor belt 19 so as to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 by a moving unit (not shown). Each color recording head unit 24 has an ink of each color on a label paper 61 that is detachably attached to a mount 62 of a roll paper with a label 16 made of a roll paper as a recording material via an adhesive layer. A recording head 24a is provided for recording an image by discharging the ink.

  A printing operation is performed on the label paper 61 attached on the mount 62 (on the mount) of the roll paper 16 with label by the recording head 24a of each color. At that time, the recovery unit 26 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the left in FIG. 2 by a moving unit (not shown) and retracted from the recording area by the recording head 24a of each color. Thereafter, the recording heads 24a of the respective colors are lowered to a position close to the label paper 61 stuck on the mount 62 of the labeled roll paper 16 by an elevator unit (not shown). Then, according to the image information, ink of each color of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K is ejected from the recording head 24a of each color. As a result, a color image corresponding to the image information can be formed on the label paper 61.

  The printing timing of the label paper 61 is determined by the printing start sensor 22 shown in FIG. The print start sensor 22 is attached on the mount 62 of the labeled roll paper 16 according to the change in the amount of light when the light emitted from the light emitting section 22a passes through the labeled roll paper 16 and is received by the light receiving section 22b. The leading edge position and trailing edge position of the attached label paper 61 can be detected.

  When the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22a passes through only the mount 62, the amount of light when received by the light receiving unit 22b is large, and the label paper on which the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22a is adhered on the mount 62 When the light passes through 61, the amount of light when received by the light receiving unit 22b is small. Therefore, when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 22b changes from “large” to “small”, the leading end position of the label paper 61 is detected, and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 22b is changed from “small” to “large”. When the change is made, the rear end position of the label paper 61 can be detected.

  Further, the print start sensor 22 determines the conveyance direction (left and right in FIG. 2) from the conveyance speed of the labeled roll paper 16 conveyed by the conveyance belt 19 (conveyance means) and the detection time difference between the leading edge position and the trailing edge position of the label paper 61. A length detection unit for detecting the length in the direction) is configured. The print start sensor 22 can be configured by an optical sensor that detects the label paper 61 conveyed by the conveyance belt 19 (conveyance means).

  Ink of each color is ejected from the recording head 24a in synchronization with the output from the encoder 23 that rotates integrally with the pulley 23a that is rotationally driven by the transport motor 18 via the drive belt 18a. Thus, an image can be formed on the label paper 61 in synchronization with the conveyance of the labeled roll paper 16.

  The recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a line head type recording head 24a. Therefore, the recording head 24a is fixed at the recording position. Then, recording is performed by ejecting ink from the recording head 24a onto the label paper 61 stuck on the mount 62 of the roll paper with label 16 conveyed in the left direction of FIG. The recording head 24a can perform printing with a width of 4 inches at 1200 dpi (dots per inch). The recording head 24a includes 5184 ejection nozzles per color including spare nozzles provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction.

  Depending on the label-attached roll paper 16, as shown in FIG. 4B, a black mark 63 indicating the leading position is printed on both sides of a slit 64 that forms a cut line on the back side of the mount 62. . A roll paper 16 with a label on which a mark 63 is printed on the back side of the mount 62 is used. At that time, as shown in FIG. 2, printing on the label paper 61 is performed using a reflection type print start sensor 39 provided on the back side of the mount 62 of the roll paper 16 with label and facing the position of the mark 63. Determine timing.

  The reflection type print start sensor 39 is provided with a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and the light emitted from the light emitting part is reflected on the back surface of the mount 62, and the change in the amount of reflected light received by the light receiving part changes the mark 63. Detect position. The amount of reflected light reflected by the mark 63 on the back surface of the mount 62 is small, and the amount of reflected light reflected by the light emitted from the light emitting portion on the back surface of the mount 62 without the mark 63 is large.

  For this reason, when the amount of reflected light received by the light receiving portion changes from “large” to “small”, the position of the mark 63 can be detected. The print start sensor 39 detects the length of the mount 62 in the transport direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2) from the transport speed of the labeled roll paper 16 transported by the transport belt 19 (transport means) and the detection time difference of the mark 63. The length detection unit is configured.

  The labeled roll paper 16 printed on the label paper 61 by the recording head 24 a passes through the discharge sensor 28 and the conveyance roller 30 and reaches the position of the cutter 32 provided in the cutter unit 14. The cutter 32 of the present embodiment is a slide-type cutter in which a pair of operating blades are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the roll paper 16 with label. When the cutter motor 34 is driven to rotate, the operating blade of the cutter 32 provided in the cutter unit 14 operates, and the labeled roll paper 16 is cut along the slit 64. At this time, the operating position of the operating blade is detected by the cutter position detection sensor 36.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recovery unit 26 is disposed at a position facing the nozzle surface of the recording head 24a. The recovery unit 26 has a role of sucking ink from the nozzle surface of the recording head 24a by a pump (not shown) driven by a recovery drive motor 49 and a role of receiving ink ejected from the nozzle surface.

  The recovery unit 26 moves in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 by a moving unit (not shown). When the recording head 24a moves to a printing position close to the label paper 61 on the transport belt 19, it moves to a position retracted from the recording area of the recording head 24a by a moving unit (not shown).

  When the recording apparatus 10 enters a standby state, the recording head unit 24 is raised to the home position by an elevator unit (not shown). Then, the cap member provided in the recovery unit 26 contacts the nozzle surface of the recording head 24a to prevent the nozzle surface from drying.

  At the start of printing by the recording apparatus 10, the nozzle surface of the recording head 24 a is moved to a position that can receive ink close to the recovery unit 26, and ink is preliminarily ejected to the recovery unit 26. As a result, the printing operation can be started with the nozzle state of the recording head 24a optimized.

  The recording apparatus 10 is provided with a cover sensor 37 that detects opening and closing of a cover provided in a supply holder (not shown) when the roll paper 16 with label is replaced. Further, the recording apparatus 10 is provided with a roll width detection sensor 38 for detecting the width of the roll paper 16 with label set in a supply holder (not shown). The roll width detection sensor 38 can detect the width of the roll paper 16 with label by detecting the amount of movement of a guide member (not shown) that can move in the width direction of the roll paper 16 with a volume resistance.

  When the printing operation is completed, the printer waits at the position where the leading edge of the labeled roll paper 16 is detected by the print start sensors 22 and 39. Accordingly, when the print start sensors 22 and 39 configured as a roll paper detection unit for detecting the roll paper 16 with label (roll paper) no longer detect the roll paper 16 with label, the roll paper 16 with label is replaced. Can be determined. When the print start sensors 22 and 39 (roll paper detection unit) no longer detect the label-attached roll paper 16 (roll paper), the ASIC 43 (control means) resets accumulated preliminary discharge area Rb data described later.

<Control unit>
Next, the configuration of the control unit of the recording apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the recording apparatus 10 is controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40 serving as a control means. A USB terminal 45 and a LAN terminal 46 for receiving image data D and various settings from the user are connected to the CPU 40. An operation panel 47 is connected to the CPU 40.

  The user can turn on / off the power of the recording apparatus 10 and temporarily stop printing by operating various switches provided on the operation panel 47. Alternatively, the transport forward feed that feeds the roll paper with label 16 in the forward direction (left direction in FIG. 2) by rotating the transport motor 18 forward and the reverse direction of the roll paper with label 16 by rotating the transport motor 18 backward (see FIG. 2 to the right) can be performed.

  The operation panel 47 is provided with various LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Various LEDs can be turned on or blinked to notify the user that the ink has run out, the ink collection box is full, other errors, and the like. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 48 is provided on the operation panel 47, and the state of the recording apparatus 10 can be displayed as character information on the LCD 48 to notify the user. In addition, it is possible to notify the user that an error state has occurred in the recording apparatus 10 by using a buzzer, a speaker, or the like.

  A program memory 42 is connected to the CPU 40, and the CPU 40 reads instructions stored in the program memory 42 and operates the recording apparatus 10. A work memory 41 is connected to the CPU 40, and the CPU 40 performs buffering of communication data and various calculations by the work memory 41.

  An ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 43 is connected to the CPU 40. The ASIC 43 develops the image data D input through the CPU 40 inside the ASIC 43 and then stores it in the image memory 44. The image memory 44 also performs image processing such as registration adjustment and image composition for aligning the position of the nozzle surface of the recording head 24 a with the label paper 61. In the present embodiment, the control means is mainly configured by the CPU 40 and the ASIC 43.

  When the ASIC 43 receives a print command from the CPU 40, the ASIC 43 drives the carry motor 18 and the like, and when the print start sensor 22 detects the label paper 61, an image is generated based on a predetermined paper advance amount calculated using the encoder 23. Image data D is extracted from the memory 44. The ASIC 43 transfers the image data D to the recording head unit 24. The ASIC 43 transmits a print drive signal to the recording head unit 24. As a result, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 24 a to print on the label paper 61.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the label-attached roll paper 16 used in the recording apparatus 10 has a label paper 61 aligned and arranged at a predetermined interval on a mount 62 so as to be peeled off. An adhesive is applied to the back surface of the label paper 61 and is stuck on the mount 62. The labeled roll paper 16 is provided in a roll shape as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, a mark 63 serving as a reference for starting printing is printed on the back side of the mount 62. The label roll paper 16 on which the mark 63 is printed on the back side of the mount 62 is used in the recording apparatus 10. In this case, the mark 63 printed on the back side of the mount 62 of the labeled roll paper 16 is detected using the reflection type print start sensor 39 shown in FIG. 2, and based on the detection result, the mark 63 in FIG. ), The recording operation is performed on the label paper 61 attached to the front side of the mount 62.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a plurality of slits 64 are formed in a perforated pattern on the mount 62 between the label sheets 61 attached to the front side of the mount 62. Each label sheet 61 can be easily separated along with the mount 62 using the perforated slit 64. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the mark 63 serving as a printing reference printed on the back side of the mount 62 of the labeled roll paper 16 is arranged on both sides of the slit 64 with the perforated slit 64 as the center. Yes. A label sheet 61 shown in FIG. 4A is formed in an oval shape.

  Next, an example of printing on an elliptical label sheet 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of an image recorded by ejecting black ink onto an elliptical label sheet 61. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the printing operation. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of developing the image data D and creating the recording data U in which the preliminary ejection pattern P is superimposed on the image data D.

  In step S1 of FIG. 6, the recording apparatus 10 receives a print start command from the external apparatus 12 such as a personal computer. In step S 2, the CPU 40 transfers the image data D taken out from the work memory 41 to the ASIC 43, develops the image data D, converts it into ink ejection data, and stores it in the image memory 44. The development of the image data D in step S2 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, in step S3, the CPU 40 expands the image data D in step S2 until reception of the image data D for one page is completed. In step S3, reception of the image data D for one page is completed. Then, it progresses to step S4. In step S4, the CPU 40 preliminarily discharges ink before starting printing into the cap of the recovery unit 26 from the nozzles of the recording head 24a.

  After the preliminary ink ejection before the start of printing is completed, the CPU 40 controls the recovery unit moving motor 50 in step S5. Then, the recovery unit 26 is moved in the horizontal direction by a moving unit (not shown) and retracted from the recording area of the recording head 24a. Thereafter, the CPU 40 drives and controls the head moving motor 51 to lower the recording head unit 24 by an elevator unit (not shown) and move it to the printing position.

  Thereafter, in step S6, the CPU 40 drives and controls the conveyance motor 18 to rotate the conveyance belt 19 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 via the pulley 23a. Thereby, the conveyance operation of the roll paper 16 with label is started. In step S7, the CPU 40 performs a printing operation by discharging ink from the nozzles of the recording head 24a to the label paper 61 of the roll paper 16 with label according to the image information. The developing operation of the image data D for the second and subsequent pages is also performed during the printing operation of the recording apparatus 10.

  In step S8, the CPU 40 detects the presence or absence of image data D to be printed. If there is image data D to be printed, the printing operation is continued in step S7. When the image data D to be printed is completed in step S8, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the CPU 40 drives and controls the head moving motor 51 to raise the recording head unit 24 to the home position by a lifting unit (not shown).

  Then, the recovery unit moving motor 50 is driven and controlled, and the recovery unit 26 is moved in the horizontal direction by a moving unit (not shown). Thereby, the nozzle of the recording head 24 a is covered with the cap of the recovery unit 26. Then, the recovery unit 26 performs the recovery operation of the nozzles of the recording head 24a after printing. Then, it progresses to step S10 and complete | finishes printing operation.

  Next, the developing operation of the image data D in step S2 of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8A shows image data D to be printed. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the preliminary ejection region R that overlaps the image data D. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing an effective area of the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection area R. FIG. 8D is a diagram illustrating a state where printing is performed with the preliminary ejection pattern P superimposed on only the portion where the image data D exists.

  When the development of the image data D is started in step S <b> 21 of FIG. 7, the image data D for each line is transferred from the CPU 40 to the ASIC 43. As described above, the recording head 24a includes 5184 nozzles per color. For this reason, the image data D for one line is image data D of 5184 dots.

  Next, when image data D for one line is received in step S22, the process proceeds to step S23, and the ASIC 43 analyzes the transferred image data D. If the data is compressed, the process proceeds to step S24. Decompress the compressed data. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S 25, where the ASIC 43 binarizes the image data D for one line, and the binarized data is stored in the image memory 44. If the data is not compressed in step S23, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S26, the ASIC 43 uses the raw data of the image data D to calculate the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 being printed. The area where the image data D to be recorded exists is set as the preliminary ejection area R. The ASIC 43 detects both end points of the data in the image data D for one line as data for calculating the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 in step S26. Thereafter, in step S27, the ASIC 43 validates only the data within the end points so that all the data between the left and right end points of the image data D for one line shown in FIG. I do.

  In step S27, the data for calculating the preliminary ejection area R of the label paper 61 that has been subjected to the intra-endpoint valid process is stored in a different area from the image data D stored in the image memory 44 in step S28. Next, in step S29, it is determined whether or not image data D for one page has been received. If reception of image data D for one page has not been completed, the process returns to step S22 to continue the receiving operation. .

  When the reception of the image data D for one page is completed in step S29, the process proceeds to step S30, and the ASIC 43 sequentially reads the data of the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 is smoothed so that the outline of the boundary points of the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 is taken. In FIG. 8B, the ASIC 43 serving as the control means extracts the outline of the image data D to be recorded, and sets the inside of the outline as the preliminary ejection region R.

  Next, in step S31, the preliminary ejection of the recording material stored in another area of the image memory 44 and the data of the preliminary ejection area R of the label paper 61 shown in FIG. An AND (logical product) operation with the pattern P data is performed. As a result, only the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 is validated. FIG. 8C shows a preliminary discharge pattern P in the preliminary discharge region R (in the preliminary discharge region).

  In step S32, the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection region R of the label sheet 61 validated in step S31 and the image data D are ORed (logical sum). As a result, in step S33, as shown in FIG. 8D, the recording data U in which both the image data D and the preliminary ejection pattern P for performing preliminary ejection on the label paper 61 are combined is completed. FIG. 8D shows how the recording data U is created by combining the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection region R shown in FIG. 8C and the image data D by the ASIC 43 (control means).

  Next, how the image shown in FIG. 5 is formed will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9A. The image data D of the image indicated by “SALE” and “50% OFF” in FIG. 5 is the data in which the image data D exists in the same rectangular area (RK1, RK2) as shown in FIG. It is transmitted from the external device 12 to the recording device 10.

  When receiving the image data D from the external device 12, the recording device 10 develops the image data D by the ASIC 43. In step S26 of FIG. 7, the ASIC 43 takes out the preliminary discharge area R that overlaps the area of the image data D “SALE” and “50% OFF” shown in FIG. Smooth the whole with. In this case, smoothing refers to the smoothing of data that is smoothly connected by averaging the data of a certain point using the data of nearby points in order to eliminate singular points and noise in a continuous data collection. It is a process to make it a gathering.

  As a result, the preliminary ejection region R shown in FIG. 8B is calculated. In step S31, the ASIC 43 performs an AND (logical product) operation between the preliminary ejection pattern P for preliminary ejection from the nozzles of the recording head 24a and the preliminary ejection region R. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8C, only the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection region R is validated.

  Thereafter, in step S32, the ASIC 43 performs an OR (logical sum) operation on the image data D shown in FIG. 8A and the valid preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection region R shown in FIG. 8C. To do. The CPU 40 serving as the control means records an image by ejecting ink onto the label paper 61 (recording material) by the recording head 24a based on the recording data U shown in FIG. 8D created by the ASIC 43 (control means). . As a result, as shown in FIG. 8D, it is possible to perform printing with the preliminary ejection pattern P superimposed on only the portion where the image data D exists on the label paper 61.

  5 and 8, the calculation of the preliminary ejection region R in the case of printing on the label paper 61 with a single color of black ink and centering on characters has been described. In addition, a color image can be printed by the recording apparatus 10. The image data D of each color is processed in the same manner as shown in FIG. 7, but the area to be printed on the label paper 61 can be grasped in more detail by superimposing the preliminary ejection areas R calculated for each color. I can do it.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating the preliminary ejection regions RK1 and RK2 calculated from the black K color image data D when a color image is printed. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the preliminary ejection regions RC1 and RC2 calculated from the cyan C color image data D. FIG. 9C is a diagram showing the preliminary ejection region RM calculated from the image data D of magenta M color. FIG. 9D is a diagram illustrating the preliminary ejection area RY calculated from the image data D of yellow Y color. FIG. 9E is a diagram illustrating a state where the four-color preliminary ejection regions RK1, RK2, RC1, RC2, RM, and RY are overlaid. FIG. 9F is a diagram illustrating a preliminary discharge area Ra in which the four color preliminary discharge areas RK1, RK2, RC1, RC2, RM, and RY are combined.

  The ASIC 43 performs an OR (logical sum) operation on the image data D of each color and the valid preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection area Ra shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to perform printing with the preliminary ejection pattern P superimposed on only the portion where the image data D of each color exists on the label paper 61. That is, the ASIC 43 (control means) performs preliminary ejection areas for the image data DK, DC, DM, and DY of a plurality of colors of black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y shown in FIGS. RK1, RK2, RC1, RC2, RM, RY are set.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (e), the preliminary ejection areas Ra of the image to be recorded are set in the area where the preliminary ejection areas RK1, RK2, RC1, RC2, RM, RY of the respective colors are combined. Then, as shown in FIG. 9F, recording is performed by combining the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection area Ra (in the preliminary ejection area) of the image to be recorded and the image data DK, DC, DM, DY of each color. Data U is created. Then, the CPU 40 (control unit) records an image by ejecting ink onto the label paper 61 (recording material) by the recording head 24a of each color based on the recording data U created by the ASIC 43 (control unit).

  As described above, the preliminary ejection pattern P can be overlaid only on the portion where the image data D exists by using the preliminary ejection area R calculated from the image data D printed on the elliptical label paper 61. I can do it. The recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is an ink jet recording apparatus. The image data D is variable. A different image may be printed for each sheet of label paper 61.

  Next, an example of calculating the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 by a plurality of print jobs using the same shape of the label paper 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of data arrangement in the image memory 44. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing how accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R is calculated from a plurality of print jobs.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the image memory 44, image data D for each color page is divided and stored. In addition, data of the preliminary discharge pattern P for each color for performing preliminary discharge on the label paper 61 is stored. In the image memory 44, a data area for calculating the preliminary ejection area R for each color from the image data D for each color is provided. Further, an area for calculating and storing the preliminary ejection area R from a plurality of print jobs and an area for storing the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection area R are provided. Further, an area for storing the size data of the label paper 61 (recording material) is provided.

  Here, since the label paper 61 of the present embodiment is other than a quadrangle, the size data to be stored is not detected by the outer peripheral shape of the label paper 61 but is detected by the length detection unit configured by the print start sensors 22 and 39. The size data includes the information on the sheet length and the information on the sheet width detected by the width detection unit configured by the roll width detection sensor 38. The roll width detection sensor 38 (width detection unit) detects the width in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the label paper 61 (recording material) transported by the transport belt 19 (transport means).

  In step S41 of FIG. 11, the recording apparatus 10 receives a print start command from the external apparatus 12 such as a personal computer. Then, it progresses to step S42, S43, and CPU40 used as the control means provided in the recording device 10 performs initial operation before printing. In this initial operation, the size data (paper length and paper width) of the label paper 61 pasted on the mount 62 of the roll paper 16 with label used last time and the size data (paper length and paper width) of the label paper 61 of this time are used. It is determined whether or not there is a change in the width.

  If the size data (paper length and paper width) of the label paper 61 used last time and the size data (paper length and paper width) of the current label paper 61 are the same in steps S42 and S43, the CPU 40 is the same. It is determined that the label paper 61 having the shape is used, and the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, the accumulated data information of the same preliminary ejection region R as the previous time is used as it is. On the other hand, in steps S42 and S43, at least one of the size data (paper length and paper width) of the label paper 61 used last time and the size data (paper length and paper width) of the current label paper 61 are different. For example, the process proceeds to step S45, and the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R is cleared.

  That is, the ASIC 43 (control unit) resets the cumulative preliminary discharge area Rb when the roll width detection sensor 38 (width detection unit) detects a change in the width of the labeled roll paper 16 (recording material) in step S42. . A change in the width of the labeled roll paper 16 (recording material) can be detected based on the change in the partial pressure value of the output from the volume resistance of the roll width detection sensor 38.

  Furthermore, in step S43, when the print start sensor 22 (length detection unit) detects a change in the length of the label paper 61 (recording material), the cumulative preliminary discharge region Rb is reset. That is, the ASIC 43 (control unit) resets the cumulative preliminary discharge region Rb when the size detection unit detects a change in the size of the label paper 61 (recording material) in steps S42 and S43. Here, the size detection unit includes a roll width detection sensor 38 (width detection unit) and a print start sensor 22 (length detection unit).

  In step S44, the CPU 40 receives image data D to be printed. In step S46, the ASIC 43 calculates the preliminary ejection region R based on the received image data D in the same manner as described above. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S47, and the ASIC 43 performs an OR (logical sum) operation on the preliminary ejection region R calculated in step S46 and the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R.

  As a result, if the previous preliminary ejection region R can be preliminarily ejected in a wider region, preliminary ejection is performed on the recording material using the data of the previous wide preliminary ejection region R. On the other hand, if the current image data D has a wider area than the previous image data D, preliminary ejection can be performed on the label paper 61 in a wider area. Therefore, in step S47, the preliminary ejection region R is expanded by performing an OR (logical sum) operation on the preliminary ejection region R calculated in step S46 and the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R.

  Next, in step S48, an AND (logical product) operation is performed on the calculated accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R and the preliminary ejection pattern P of each color to perform preliminary ejection that enables preliminary ejection only in the preliminary ejection region R. A pattern P is created. Next, in step S49, the image data D and the preliminary ejection pattern P are ORed (logical sum) to create recording data U for ejecting ink from the recording head 24a, and printing is performed in step S50.

  If there is image data D to be printed next in step S51, the process returns to step S44, and the printing operation is performed again. If there is no image data D to be printed next in step S51, the process proceeds to step S52. The recovery process of the recording head 24a after the operation is performed.

  At this time, the CPU 40 drives and controls the head moving motor 51 to raise the recording head unit 24 to the home position by an elevator unit (not shown). The recovery unit moving motor 50 is driven and controlled, and the recovery unit 26 is moved in the horizontal direction by a moving unit (not shown) to cover the nozzles of the recording head 24a with the cap of the recovery unit 26. The recovery unit 26 performs a recovery operation after printing of the nozzles of the recording head 24a. Then, it progresses to step S53 and complete | finishes printing operation.

  When recording an image of a plurality of pages, the ASIC 43 (control unit) sets a region where the preliminary ejection regions R of each page are overlapped as the cumulative preliminary ejection region Rb. Then, the recording data U is created by combining the preliminary ejection pattern P in the cumulative preliminary ejection area Rb (in the cumulative preliminary ejection area) and the image data D of the page to be recorded. The CPU 40 (control unit) records an image by ejecting ink onto the label paper 61 (recording material) by the recording head 24a based on the recording data U created by the ASIC 43 (control unit).

  Thus, each time the print jobs are overlapped, the preliminary discharge area R calculated from each print job is accumulated to set the cumulative preliminary discharge area Rb. This makes it possible to perform a preliminary ejection operation on the label sheet 61 over a wider area where the label sheet 61 exists.

  Next, the continuation operation of the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R when the labeled roll paper 16 is replaced will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the continuation operation of the accumulated data in the preliminary ejection region R when the roll paper 16 with label is exchanged. When exchanging the roll paper 16 with the label, the user opens a roll cover provided in an unillustrated supply holder so as to be opened and closed. At this time, in step S <b> 61 of FIG. 12, the CPU 40 detects that a roll cover (not shown) is opened based on the detection result of the cover sensor 37.

  The user closes a roll cover (not shown) after replacing the labeled roll paper 16. At this time, in step S62, the CPU 40 detects that the roll cover (not shown) is closed based on the detection result of the cover sensor 37. If it is detected in step S62 that the roll cover (not shown) is closed based on the detection result of the cover sensor 37, the process proceeds to step S63. In step S <b> 63, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the timing when the roll cover (not shown) is opened and closed is printing of the recording apparatus 10.

  Here, whether or not printing of the recording apparatus 10 is continuing can be determined based on whether or not there is print data in the spooler (image memory 44) in the recording apparatus 10. Alternatively, the determination can be made based on whether the CPU 40 has received a print command through the USB cable 45 a connected to the USB terminal 45 or a wired or wireless LAN connected to the LAN terminal 46.

  In step S63, if the timing at which the roll cover (not shown) is opened and closed is printing of the recording apparatus 10, the process proceeds to step S64, and the CPU 40 determines whether or not to print the same job as the image data D so far. Determine. Here, as to whether the image data D is the same data, it is determined whether there is data being printed in the spooler (image memory 44) of the recording apparatus 10.

  When there is print data in the spooler (image memory 44) in the recording apparatus 10 or when new print data is sent from the external apparatus 12, it is determined that the image data D is not the same data, and the process proceeds to step S65. In step S65, it is determined whether or not the paper width is the same as the previous time, and the process proceeds to step S66 to determine whether or not the paper length is the same as the previous time.

  If the roll cover can be opened in the middle of a print job and printing of the same job is resumed in step S64, the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R can be used as it is. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S68, and printing is continued using the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R as it is.

  If it is determined in step S64 that the roll cover has been opened after the end of the job and a new job has been received, the process proceeds to steps S65 and S66. In steps S65 and S66, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the size data (paper width and paper length) is the same as the previous time.

  If the paper width and paper length of the current size data and the paper width and paper length of the previous size data are the same, the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R so far can be used. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S68, and printing is continued using the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R as it is.

  That is, the CPU 40 (control unit) determines the size of the label paper 61 (recording material) used in the previous print job detected by the roll width detection sensor 38 and the print start sensor 22 and the label paper used in the current print job. The size of 61 (recording material) is compared. If the comparison results are the same size, the ASIC 43 (control means) uses the previous preliminary ejection region R.

  In steps S65 and S66, if any of the paper width and paper length of the current size data is different from the paper width and paper length of the previous size data, the process proceeds to step S67 to accumulate the preliminary ejection region R. Clear (erase) data. Here, when the size of the label paper 61 of this time consisting of the paper width and the paper length is changed, the accumulated preliminary ejection region Rb data is cleared in step S67.

  At this time, the accumulated preliminary discharge area Rb data is cleared, but from here, the accumulation of the preliminary discharge area R is restarted for the new label paper size, and the preliminary discharge is performed in the preliminary discharge area R where the print data exists. Go and print. Further, when printing is continued, the accumulated preliminary discharge area Rb data is expanded, and preliminary discharge in accordance with the shape of the label paper 61 can be performed for a new size.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S68 to continue printing. Alternatively, the CPU 40 (control means) uses the previous preliminary discharge region R while the printing start sensor 22 detects the labeled roll paper 16, stops detecting the labeled roll paper 16, and is determined to have been replaced. In this case, the accumulated data in the preliminary ejection region R may be cleared.

  If it is determined in step S63 that the timing at which the roll cover (not shown) is opened / closed is not in the printing operation of the recording apparatus 10 but is in standby, the process proceeds to step S69. In steps S69 and S70, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the paper width and the paper length of the size data are the same as the previous time.

  If the current paper width and paper length are the same as the previous paper width and paper length, the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R so far can be used. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S72, where the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R is held as it is and the standby state is continued.

  If it is determined in steps S69 and S70 that the current paper width and paper length are different from the previous paper width and paper length, the process proceeds to step S71 to clear (erase) the accumulated data in the preliminary ejection region R. To do. Then, it progresses to step S72 and continues a standby state. In the case where the recording material is made of roll paper, the cumulative preliminary discharge region Rb is made of a region in which the respective contours of the image data D recorded on each page of the roll paper are extracted and the respective contours are superimposed.

  When the power of the recording apparatus 10 is turned off, the CPU 40 may read the size data and the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection area R from the image memory 44 via the ASIC 43 and store them in an empty area of the program memory 42. .

  The program memory 42 of the present embodiment is composed of a non-volatile memory. Therefore, data in the program memory 42 can be retained even when the recording apparatus 10 is turned off. As a result, when the power of the recording apparatus 10 is turned on again, the size data and the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R are read from the program memory 42 and developed in the image memory 44.

  In steps S42 and S43 in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the current paper width and paper length are the same as the previous paper width and paper length. At that time, it is possible to determine whether or not the previous paper width and paper length when the recording apparatus 10 is turned off are the same as the current paper width and paper length. If they are the same, the accumulated data of the preliminary ejection region R can be continuously used for printing.

  That is, the ASIC 43 (control unit) stores the preliminary ejection area R and the size data in the program memory 42 (nonvolatile memory) when the power of the recording apparatus 10 is turned off. When the power of the recording apparatus 10 is turned on again, the previous size data when the power of the recording apparatus 10 is turned off and the size data of the label paper 61 (recording material) set when the power of the recording apparatus 10 is turned on again. And compare. If the sizes are the same, the previous preliminary ejection region R stored in the program memory 42 (nonvolatile memory) is used.

  According to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 8B, the area connecting the upper, lower, left and right ends of FIG. 8B of each raster of the image data D (data expressed by a series of dots) is a preliminary ejection area. Set as R. Then, the preliminary ejection is performed on the label paper 61 by superimposing the image data D in the preliminary ejection region R. Accordingly, preliminary ejection can be performed on the label paper 61 without acquiring the detailed shape of the label paper 61.

<Other embodiments>
In the embodiment, both end points of the data in the image data D for one line are detected, and the area within the end point of each line is set as the preliminary discharge area R. However, another method for determining the preliminary discharge area R is described below. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13A shows image data D to be printed. FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating the preliminary ejection region R that overlaps the image data D. FIG. 13C is a diagram showing an effective area of the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection area R. FIG. 13D is a diagram illustrating a state in which the preliminary ejection pattern P is superimposed on only the portion where the image data D exists and printing is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, the entire image area is divided into a grid pattern, and a grid L in which the image data D exists is determined as the preliminary ejection area R. Then, an AND (logical product) operation is performed on the data of the preliminary ejection region R of the label sheet 61 and the data of the preliminary ejection pattern P shown in FIG. 13C by joining the lattice L where the image data D exists. . As a result, only the preliminary ejection pattern P in the preliminary ejection region R of the label paper 61 is validated. Then, as shown in FIG. 13D, the recording data U in which the data of both the image data D and the preliminary ejection pattern P for performing preliminary ejection on the label paper 61 is combined is completed.

  In the embodiment, the preliminary ejection region R for the label paper 61 is set on the recording apparatus 10 side. Alternatively, the external device 12 such as a personal computer may be configured to transmit to the recording apparatus 10 after setting a preliminary ejection region R for performing preliminary ejection on the label paper 61.

D, DK, DC, DM, DY ... image data P ... preliminary ejection pattern R ... preliminary ejection area U ... recording data 40 ... CPU (control means)
43 ... ASIC (control means)
61 ... Label paper (recording material)

Claims (10)

A recording head for recording an image by discharging ink onto a recording material;
A control means for setting an area in which image data to be recorded exists as a preliminary ejection area, and creating recording data by combining the preliminary ejection pattern in the preliminary ejection area and the image data;
Have
The recording apparatus records the image by ejecting ink onto a recording material by the recording head based on the recording data. The control means includes
A preliminary ejection area for each of the image data of a plurality of colors to be recorded is set, and an area in which the preliminary ejection areas for the respective colors are combined is set as a preliminary ejection area for the image to be recorded. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording data is created by combining a preliminary ejection pattern and the image data. The control means includes
When recording images of a plurality of pages, an area in which the preliminary ejection areas of each page are overlapped is set as a cumulative preliminary ejection area, the preliminary ejection pattern in the cumulative preliminary ejection area, and the image of the page to be recorded The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording data is created by combining with data. Having a size detector for detecting the size of the recording material;
The control means includes
The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cumulative preliminary discharge area is reset when a change in the size of the recording material is detected by the size detection unit. Having a conveying means for conveying the recording material;
The size detector
A width detection unit that detects a width in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording material conveyed by the conveyance unit;
The control means includes
The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the change of the width of the recording material is detected by the width detection unit, the cumulative preliminary discharge area is reset. Having a conveying means for conveying the recording material;
The size detector
A length detection unit that detects a length in a conveyance direction of the recording material conveyed by the conveyance unit;
The control means includes
6. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the change of the length of the recording material is detected by the length detection unit, the cumulative preliminary discharge area is reset. The recording material is made of roll paper,
A roll paper detection unit for detecting the roll paper;
The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit resets the cumulative preliminary discharge area when the roll paper detection unit no longer detects the roll paper.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material is a recording material having a label paper that is detachably attached to a mount and arranged in an aligned manner. The control means includes
The size of the recording material used in the previous print job is compared with the size of the recording material used in the current print job, and if the size is the same, the previous preliminary discharge area is used. The recording apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8. With non-volatile memory,
The control means includes
The preliminary ejection area when the recording apparatus is turned off and the size of the recording material are stored in the nonvolatile memory,
When the power of the recording apparatus is turned on again, the size of the previous recording material at the time of OFF is compared with the size of the recording material set at the time of the turning on. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the previous preliminary discharge area stored in the storage area is used.