JP2021049684A - Control device, image formation system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To purge nozzles without contaminating the inside of devices such as a conveyance device which conveys a medium and an image formation device which forms an image on the medium when using the medium in which there are regions for forming images on both ends in the width direction and a hole or the like is bored in the center thereof.SOLUTION: A reception unit 1111 receives various instructions from a user through an operation unit 14. An acquisition unit 1112 acquires type information indicating a type of continuous medium P conveyed by a conveyance device 2 from the conveyance device 2. A conveyance control unit 1113 controls the conveyance device 2 to convey the continuous medium P at a determined speed. A specification unit 1114 specifies a suppression nozzle among a plurality of nozzles 311 provided on a discharge head 31 of an image formation device 3. A suppression unit 1115 purges each of the plurality of nozzles 311 and suppresses the purge of the suppression nozzle when receiving an instruction for purging each of the nozzles 311 from the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to control devices, image forming systems, and programs.

Inkjet printers require steps called "purge" or "flushing" to eject ink held inside the nozzle, for example, in order to prevent nozzle clogging. Patent Document 1 describes an inkjet printer that detects a non-printing area on a print medium as an area for printing a test pattern for detecting a nozzle to be subjected to a cleaning step including flushing and the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-305798

By the way, in an inkjet printer, for example, when purging on a medium of continuous paper having holes continuously formed along the transport direction, ink passes through the holes to stain the inside of the device and the back of the paper. become. It is possible to control the inkjet printer to suppress purging from the nozzle at the end in the width direction among the plurality of nozzles arranged along the width direction. This control is effective, for example, when the holes are made only at the edges in the width direction of the paper. However, the above control is not effective when there are print areas at both ends in the width direction of the paper and a hole is formed in the center thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is that when a medium having a region for forming an image at both ends in the width direction and a hole or the like is formed in the center thereof is used, the image is transferred to the transport device for transporting the medium or the medium. It is to purge the nozzle without polluting the inside of the device such as an image forming device for forming the device.

The control device according to claim 1 of the present invention is arranged along a transport device that transports a continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium, and a second direction, which is the width direction of the continuous medium. It has a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink to the continuous medium to be conveyed, and the processor controls the continuous medium when an image specified by a user among the plurality of nozzles is formed on the continuous medium. When one or more second nozzles that do not eject ink are identified between the two first nozzles that eject ink in the second direction and an instruction to purge the plurality of nozzles is received. This is a control device that suppresses the purging of the second nozzle.

In the aspect according to claim 1, the control device according to claim 2 of the present invention receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium, and the processor receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium, and based on the content of the instruction, the second nozzle is used. A control device to identify.

The control device according to claim 3 of the present invention, in the aspect according to claim 2, when the processor receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium, the image data showing the image, the continuous. It is a control device that identifies the second nozzle according to the distance conveyed in the first direction of the medium and the positions of the plurality of nozzles in the second direction.

The control device according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the aspect according to claim 2, is type information indicating the type of the continuous medium when the processor receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium. Is a control device that identifies the second nozzle based on the type information.

In the aspect of claim 1, the control device according to claim 5 of the present invention acquires type information indicating the type of the continuous medium, and specifies the second nozzle based on the type information. It is a control device.

The control device according to claim 6 of the present invention is the control device according to claim 1, wherein the processor accepts the designation of the second nozzle and specifies the second nozzle based on the designation. ..

The control device according to claim 7 of the present invention, in the embodiment according to claim 1, the processor controls a measuring device that measures the shape of the continuous medium transported by the transport device, and the measuring device controls the measuring device. It is a control device that identifies the second nozzle based on the measured shape.

In the aspect according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the control device according to claim 8 of the present invention specifies the shape of the continuous medium, the specified shape of the continuous medium, and the shape of the continuous medium. This is a control device that suppresses the purging of the second nozzle at a timing corresponding to the distance at which the continuous medium is conveyed.

The image forming system according to claim 9 of the present invention includes the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the transfer device controlled by the control device, and the control device controlled by the control device. An image forming system having a plurality of nozzles.

The program according to claim 10 of the present invention is arranged along a transport device for transporting a continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium, and a second direction, which is the width direction of the continuous medium, and transports the continuous medium. A plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink to the continuous medium, and two nozzles that eject ink when forming an image specified by a user on the continuous medium among the plurality of nozzles to a processor that controls the nozzles. When the step of specifying one or more second nozzles that do not eject ink and the instruction to purge the plurality of nozzles are received, which are sandwiched between the first nozzles in the second direction, the second nozzle is purged. It is a program that executes the step of suppressing.

According to the inventions of claims 1, 9 and 10, when a medium having a region for forming an image at both ends in the width direction and a hole or the like in the center thereof is used, the nozzle does not stain the inside of the apparatus. Can be purged.
According to the invention of claim 2, if the instruction for forming an image does not stain the inside of the device, the nozzle can be purged without polluting the inside of the device.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the position of the second nozzle in the second direction in which the purging should be suppressed is determined by the image in which the instruction to be formed is received and the distance at which the continuous medium is conveyed in the first direction. ..
According to the invention of claim 4, the type of the continuous medium extracted from the instruction for forming an image determines the second nozzle to which the purging should be suppressed.
According to the invention of claim 5, for example, the type information indicating the type of the continuous medium acquired from the transport device or the like determines the second nozzle to which the purging should be suppressed.
According to the invention of claim 6, for example, the designation of the second nozzle to which the purging should be suppressed is accepted directly from the user, the transport device, or the like.
According to the invention of claim 7, the second nozzle to be suppressed in purging is determined according to the actual shape of the continuous medium used for purging.
According to the invention of claim 8, the shape of the continuous medium and the distance at which the continuous medium is conveyed in the first direction determine the second nozzle in which purging should be suppressed.

The figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the image formation system 9. The figure which shows the example of the medium DB 121. The figure which shows the structure of the transfer device 2 and the image forming apparatus 3. The figure which shows the arrangement of the discharge head 31. The figure which shows the arrangement of the nozzle 311 in a discharge head 31. The figure which shows an example of the functional structure of the control device 1. The flow diagram which shows an example of the flow of operation in the control device 1. The flow diagram which shows the example of the flow of the operation which the processor 111 specifies the suppression nozzle.

<Embodiment>
<Configuration of image formation system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the image forming system 9. The image forming system 9 includes a control device 1, a conveying device 2, and an image forming device 3. The control device 1 is communicably connected to each of the transfer device 2 and the image forming device 3 and controls them.

The transport device 2 is a device that transports a medium. The transport device 2 shown in FIG. 1 transports a continuous medium. A continuous medium is a medium in which a plurality of media are continuously connected in the longitudinal direction. The transport device 2 transports the continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction. In the continuous medium, a break such as a perforation or a crease is provided at the boundary between the media. This continuous medium has a predetermined width and a length corresponding to a plurality of sheets, and is made by providing the above-mentioned delimiters at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. By cutting the continuous medium along this delimiter, the user, for example, separates the media one by one from the continuous medium. The continuous medium may be made by adhering a plurality of media in the longitudinal direction.

The image forming apparatus 3 is a so-called inkjet printer provided with a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink. The image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 1 ejects ink to a continuous medium conveyed by the conveying device 2 to form an image in accordance with an instruction received from the control device 1. Further, the image forming apparatus 3 purges the above-mentioned nozzle according to the instruction received from the control device 1. Here, "purge" refers to a process of ejecting ink held in a nozzle to remove dried / solidified ink in the nozzle, air bubbles generated in the nozzle, and the like.

That is, the image forming system 9 is an example of an image forming system having a control device, a transfer device controlled by the control device, and a plurality of nozzles controlled by the control device. The number of each of the control device 1, the transfer device 2, and the image forming device 3 included in the image forming system 9 is not limited to those shown in FIG. 1, and may be one or a plurality.

<Control device configuration>
The control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an information processing device called, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, a slate PC, a tablet PC, or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, an operation unit 14, and a display unit 15. These configurations are communicatively connected to each other, for example by a bus.

The control unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a processor 111 and a memory 112. Further, the control unit 11 may have a ROM (Read Only Memory). The processor 111 controls each unit of the control device 1 by reading a computer program (hereinafter, simply referred to as a program) stored in the ROM or the storage unit 12 into the memory 112 and executing the program. The processor 111 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory 112 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

The communication unit 13 is a communication circuit connected to each of the transfer device 2 and the image forming device 3 by wire or wirelessly. The control unit 11 sends a control signal to each of the transfer device 2 and the image forming device 3 via the communication unit 13 to control each of these devices.

In addition, each of the transfer device 2 and the image forming device 3 may be directly connected to the bus of the control device 1. In this case, the control device 1 does not have to have the communication unit 13, and the transfer device 2 and the image forming device 3 do not have to have a processor for controlling their own devices. In this case, the control device 1 is, for example, a controller built in the printing device.

Further, the control device 1 communicates with each of the transfer device 2 and the image forming device 3 via a communication line composed of a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, or a combination thereof. , May be connected. In this case, the communication unit 13 may be connected to this communication line.

The operation unit 14 includes operation buttons such as an operation button, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a mouse for giving various instructions, receives an operation, and sends a signal according to the operation content to the control unit 11. This operation is, for example, a press on the keyboard, a gesture on the touch panel, or the like.

The display unit 15 has a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and displays an image under the control of the control unit 11. The transparent touch panel of the operation unit 14 may be superposed on the display screen. The control device 1 does not have to have the operation unit 14 and the display unit 15.

The storage unit 12 is a storage means for a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, or the like, and stores an operating system, various programs, data, and the like read into the processor 111 of the control unit 11.

In addition, the storage unit 12 stores the medium DB 121. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the medium DB 121. The medium DB 121 shown in FIG. 2 includes a type of continuous medium and a nozzle (hereinafter, referred to as a suppression nozzle) for suppressing purging for the continuous medium of that type among the nozzles 311 included in the image forming apparatus 3 described later. , Is a database that is associated and stored.

The medium DB 121 shown in FIG. 2 has a medium list 1211 and a suppression nozzle table 1212. The medium list 1211 is a list that stores the medium ID, which is the type information indicating the type of the continuous medium. The suppression nozzle table 1212 is a table provided for each medium ID stored in the medium list 1211, and associates the timing with the suppression nozzle ID.

This timing in the suppression nozzle table 1212 is a timing corresponding to the distance at which the continuous medium of the type indicated by the corresponding medium ID is conveyed. This timing is represented by, for example, a phase in a period corresponding to the above-mentioned perforations or the like provided at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium conveyed at a constant velocity. ..

Suppression nozzle The suppression nozzle ID in Table 1212 is identification information for identifying a suppression nozzle that should not be purged at the corresponding timing.

For example, according to the medium DB 121 shown in FIG. 2, the image forming system 9 has the suppression nozzle ID “N32” at the timing indicated by the timing “t2” with respect to the continuous medium of the type identified by the medium ID “P01”. , It can be seen that purging from the nozzle identified by "N62" should be suppressed.

The suppression nozzle table 1212 does not have to have a timing field. In this case, the medium DB 121 may store the suppression nozzle ID corresponding to the medium ID in the suppression nozzle table 1212.

<Structure of transport device and image forming device>
Hereinafter, in the figure, the space in which each configuration is arranged is represented as the xyz right-handed system coordinate space. Of the coordinate symbols shown in the figure, the symbols with dots drawn in the circle represent arrows from the back side to the front side of the paper, and the symbols with two intersecting lines in the circle are on the paper. Represents an arrow from the front side to the back side. The direction along the x-axis in space is called the x-axis direction. Further, among the x-axis directions, the direction in which the x component increases is referred to as the + x direction, and the direction in which the x component decreases is referred to as the −x direction. For the y and z components, the y-axis direction, the + y direction, the −y direction, the z-axis direction, the + z direction, and the −z direction are defined according to the above definitions.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configurations of the transport device 2 and the image forming device 3. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the transport device 2 and the image forming device 3 are viewed along the + x direction.

The transport device 2 shown in FIG. 3 includes a transport belt 20, a drive roll 21, a driven roll 22, and an accommodator 23. The image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 3 includes a discharge head 31, a support member 32, and a guide member 33.

The container 23 accommodates the continuous medium P in a folded state along the partition. In the container 23, for example, the type of the continuous medium P that can be accommodated is predetermined due to structural restrictions and the like. The chip 231 provided in the container 23 has a memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and the memory has a medium ID indicating the type of the continuous medium P to be stored in the container 23. Is remembered. The chip 231 supplies the medium ID to the control device 1.

The transport belt 20 is an endless belt spanned by the drive roll 21 and the driven roll 22. The drive roll 21 is given a driving force by a motor or the like (not shown) to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 to rotate the conveyor belt 20. The two driven rolls 22 shown in FIG. 3 rotate as the conveyor belt 20 goes around. On the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt 20, the continuous medium P is placed and transported in the transport direction D1 (that is, the first direction described above). In FIG. 3, the first direction is the + y direction. The transport device 2 shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a transport device that transports a continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium.

The above-mentioned continuous medium P is conveyed in the transfer direction D1 by the transfer device 2, and passes through the space sandwiched between the guide member 33 and the support member 32 of the image forming device 3. When passing through this space, the continuous medium P shown in FIG. 3 is in a posture along the xy plane.

The support member 32 is arranged so as to face the front surface of the passing continuous medium P and supports a plurality of discharge heads 31. The discharge head 31 is a member that forms an image by discharging liquid ink supplied from a tank (not shown) toward the front surface of the continuous medium P by an electrostatic method, a piezo method, a film boiling method, or the like. .. That is, the front surface of the continuous medium P is the surface on which the image is formed in the continuous medium P, and in FIG. 3, the surface of the continuous medium P passing through the above-mentioned space in the + z direction.

The guide member 33 is arranged so as to face the back surface of the passing continuous medium P, and supports the continuous medium P from the back surface when the continuous medium P receives the ink ejected from the ejection head 31 on the front surface. The back surface of the continuous medium P is the surface opposite to the front surface described above, and is the surface in the −z direction of the continuous medium P passing through the space described above in FIG.

The set of the ejection head 31, the support member 32, and the guide member 33 shown in FIG. 3 may be provided for each color of the ink ejected from the ejection head 31. In this case, if the above-mentioned sets are provided according to the colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), and are arranged along the transport direction D1, for example. Good.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the discharge head 31. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the continuous medium P, the support member 32, and the five discharge heads 31 supported by the support member 32 are viewed along the −z direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the five discharge heads 31 are supported by the support member 32 and are alternately arranged in two rows, which are a front row and a rear row in the transport direction D1.

Further, in the continuous medium P, sprocket holes H arranged in a row along the transport direction D1 are opened at predetermined intervals in the transport direction D1. The row of sprocket holes H is located at the center of the continuous medium P in the width direction D2 (hereinafter, also referred to as the second direction). In FIG. 4, the second direction is the + x direction. In the continuous medium P, there are regions on both sides of the row of sprocket holes H in the width direction D2 where an image is formed.

Here, when the nozzle 311 arranged at a position facing the sprocket hole H is purged, the ink discharged from the nozzle 311 passes through the sprocket hole H and the continuous medium P adheres to the guide member 33 on the back surface. As a result, the ink adhering to the guide member 33 stains the back surface of the continuous medium P and further stains the transport device 2.

The sprocket hole H provided in the continuous medium P described above is an example of a configuration in which the continuous medium P, the transport device 2, and the like may be soiled when the nozzle 311 arranged at a position facing the sprocket hole H is purged. is there. This "potentially soiled configuration" is not limited to the sprocket hole H. This configuration may be, for example, a contact surface in which the front surface of the continuous medium P comes into contact with a roll, a belt, or the like of the transport device 2 to transport the continuous medium P in the transport direction D1. Further, this configuration may be a sticker or the like that is previously attached to the continuous medium P and is made of a material that does not repel and fix the ink.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles 311 in the discharge head 31. As shown in FIG. 5, one discharge head 31 is provided with 25 nozzles 311. These nozzles 311 are arranged at two locations in the transport direction D1 along the width direction D2. That is, the nozzles 311 shown in FIG. 5 are arranged in two rows, a front row composed of 11 nozzles 311 and a rear row composed of 12 nozzles 311. The front row is a row on the upstream side in the transport direction D1, and the back row is a row on the downstream side thereof.

These nozzles 311 are arranged alternately. With this arrangement, for example, the nozzles 311c in the rear row pass through the gaps in the width direction D2 between the nozzles 311b and the nozzles 311d that are adjacent to each other in the front row. Therefore, the front surface of the continuous medium P faces any nozzle 311 at any position in the width direction D2 when it is conveyed in the transport direction D1 and passes through the space facing the discharge head 31.

The arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 311 provided on the discharge head 31 is not limited to the above-mentioned arrangement. The plurality of nozzles 311 may be arranged so as not to be interrupted at any position in the width direction D2 of the continuous medium P, and ink may be ejected to the continuous medium P. That is, the plurality of nozzles 311 shown in FIG. 5 is an example of a plurality of nozzles that are arranged along the second direction, which is the width direction of the continuous medium, and can eject ink to the continuous medium to be conveyed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the two discharge heads 31 adjacent to each other in the width direction D2 are arranged so that their ends in the width direction D2 overlap each other when viewed from the transport direction D1. With this arrangement, in the front surface of the continuous medium P transported in the transport direction D1, the two are in the region passing through the portion sandwiched between the two adjacent discharge heads 31 along the width direction D2. Nozzles 311 provided on any of the discharge heads 31 face each other. That is, these arrangements do not create a region on the front surface of the continuous medium P where the ink cannot be ejected.

The transport device 2 and the image forming device 3 may include configurations other than those described above. The transport device 2 may have, for example, a processor that controls its own device based on a control signal received from the control device 1, and transports the continuous medium P after passing through the image forming device 3 in the transport direction D1. It may have a transport belt, a drive roll, or the like. Further, the transport device 2 may have a configuration for drying the continuous medium P after passing through the image forming apparatus 3, or has a configuration for folding and accommodating the continuous medium P after drying. You may.

Further, the image forming apparatus 3 may have, for example, a processor that controls its own apparatus based on a control signal received from the control apparatus 1.

<Functional configuration of image processing device>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control device 1. In FIG. 6, the memory 112 of the control unit 11 and the boundary line of the control unit 11 are omitted. Further, in FIG. 6, in the configuration of the control device 1, the communication unit 13 and the display unit 15 are omitted.

The processor 111 of the control unit 11 functions as a reception unit 1111, an acquisition unit 1112, a transfer control unit 1113, a specific unit 1114, and a suppression unit 1115 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 12. ..

The reception unit 1111 receives various instructions from the user via the operation unit 14. The instructions received from the user include an instruction to form an image designated by the user on the continuous medium P, an instruction to purge a plurality of nozzles 311 provided in the image forming apparatus 3 by using the continuous medium P, and the like.

The acquisition unit 1112 acquires type information indicating the type of the continuous medium P conveyed by the transfer device 2 from the transfer device 2. The acquisition unit 1112 shown in FIG. 6 acquires the medium ID from, for example, the above-mentioned chip 231 (see FIG. 3) included in the transfer device 2. This medium ID is type information indicating the type of the continuous medium P housed in the container 23 of the transport device 2. That is, the processor 111 that functions as the acquisition unit 1112 is an example of a processor that acquires type information indicating the type of the continuous medium.

The transport control unit 1113 controls the transport device 2 to transport the continuous medium P at a predetermined speed.

The identification unit 1114 specifies a suppression nozzle among a plurality of nozzles 311 provided in the discharge head 31 of the image forming apparatus 3. The identification unit 1114 specifies the suppression nozzle by any of the following methods (method A) and (method B).

(Method A) A method using the content of the image formation instruction The image instructed to be formed on the continuous medium P by the user is a method based on the estimation that it corresponds to the continuous medium P. A user who intends to form an image using the continuous medium P usually knows in advance where in the continuous medium P the sprocket hole H is provided.
Therefore, the control device 1 can specify the suppression nozzle described above in purging using the continuous medium P based on the image instructed by the user to form the continuous medium P. This is because it can be estimated that the image instructed by the user is an image avoiding the sprocket hole H of the continuous medium P.

The processor 111 performs various processes such as decomposition and superimposition on the instructed image, analyzes the content of this image, and identifies the suppression nozzle from the result. The processor 111 is, for example, a nozzle 311 sandwiched in the width direction D2 shown in FIG. 5 by two nozzles 311 (also referred to as a first nozzle) for ejecting ink when forming an instructed image. The nozzle 311 (also referred to as a second nozzle) that does not discharge the ink is specified as a suppression nozzle.

For example, when forming the instructed image, the control device 1 ejects ink from the nozzles 311a, 311d, and 311e, and never ejects ink from the nozzles 311b and 311c. In this case, the processor 111 specifies the nozzle 311a, the nozzle 311d, and the nozzle 311e as the first nozzle. Then, the processor 111 specifies the nozzle 311b and the nozzle 311c sandwiched between the nozzle 311a and the nozzle 311d, which are the first nozzles, in the width direction D2 as the second nozzle, that is, the suppression nozzle.

That is, the processor 111 is an example of a processor that receives an instruction to form an image on a continuous medium and specifies a second nozzle based on the content of the instruction. Then, the processor 111 does not eject ink, which is sandwiched in a second direction between two first nozzles that eject ink when forming an image designated by a user on a continuous medium among a plurality of nozzles. This is an example of a processor that specifies the second nozzle.

The image forming apparatus 3 may have a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink contained in the tanks (not shown) connected to the nozzles 311. In this case, the processor 111 acquires information on the remaining amount of ink detected by the sensors before and after the image forming apparatus 3 actually forms an image, calculates the difference between the remaining amounts, and uses the suppression nozzle. It may be specified. The processor 111 specifies, for example, the nozzle 311 in which the difference in the remaining amount is 0 as described above as a suppression nozzle.

Further, in order to ensure the above estimation, the following method may be adopted. For example, the storage unit 12 of the control device 1 stores the positions of the sprocket holes H provided in the continuous medium P for each type of the continuous medium P. The processor 111 of the control unit 11 reads out the position information indicating the position of the sprocket hole H provided in each continuous medium P from the storage unit 12, and forms the continuous medium P of the type for each type of the continuous medium P. A group of images that are allowed to be used is extracted from the storage unit 12. As the image allowed to be formed on the continuous medium P, an image in which ink is ejected while avoiding the sprocket hole H provided in the continuous medium P is extracted. Then, the user selects and designates an image instructed to be formed on the continuous medium P from the image group permitted to be formed on the continuous medium P.

(Method B) A method using a medium ID The control device 1 may specify the suppression nozzle described above by using the type information acquired from the transfer device 2. In this case, the processor 111 included in the control unit 11 of the control device 1 functions as the acquisition unit 1112 described above, and acquires the medium ID from the chip 231. Then, the processor 111 reads out the medium DB 121 stored in the storage unit 12, extracts the suppression nozzle table 1212 corresponding to the acquired medium ID from the medium DB 121, and uses the suppression nozzle ID stored in the suppression nozzle ID to generate the suppression nozzle. You just have to specify.

That is, in this case, the processor 111 is an example of a processor that acquires type information indicating the type of the continuous medium and identifies the second nozzle based on the type information.

When the reception unit 1111 receives an instruction from the user to purge the nozzles 311, the suppression unit 1115 sends a control signal to the image forming apparatus 3 to purge each of the plurality of nozzles 311 and the specific unit 1114. Suppress the purge of the identified suppression nozzle. That is, the processor 111 that functions as the suppression unit 1115 is an example of a processor that suppresses the purging of the second nozzle when an instruction to purge a plurality of nozzles is received.

<Operation of image processing device>
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of operation in the control device 1. The processor 111 included in the control unit 11 of the control device 1 receives a user's instruction from the operation unit 14 (step S101). When the processor 111 determines whether or not the received instruction is an image formation instruction (step S102) and determines that this instruction is an image formation instruction (step S102; YES), the processor 111 follows this instruction. An image is formed on the continuous medium P (step S103). Then, the processor 111 returns the process to step S101 after this step S103.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the received instruction is not an image forming instruction (step S102; NO), the processor 111 determines whether or not this instruction is an instruction to purge a plurality of nozzles 311 provided in the image forming apparatus 3. (Step S104).

If it is determined that the received instruction is not an instruction to purge the plurality of nozzles 311 (step S104; NO), the processor 111 executes the instructed process (step S105) and returns the process to step S101.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the received instruction is an instruction to purge the plurality of nozzles 311 (step S104; YES), the processor 111 identifies the above-mentioned suppression nozzle from the plurality of nozzles 311 (step S200). .. Then, the processor 111 suppresses the purging of the specified suppression nozzle, purges the nozzle 311 excluding the suppression nozzle (step S106), and returns the process to step S101.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation flow in which the processor 111 identifies the suppression nozzle. When performing the operation shown in FIG. 8A, the processor 111 identifies image data indicating an image instructed to be formed by the user (step S201).

Then, the processor 111 decomposes the image indicated by the image data into a plurality of images having a length of one pixel arranged along the width direction D2 of the continuous medium P, and superimposes the plurality of images on top of each other. Generate an image (step S202).

The processor 111 is a pixel sandwiched between two pixels indicating that ink is ejected in the superposed image in which the pixels are arranged along the generated width direction D2, and is one or more indicating that ink is not ejected. Identify the pixels of. Then, the processor 111 specifies the nozzle 311 arranged at the position in the width direction D2 corresponding to the specified pixel as the suppression nozzle (step S203).

Further, when performing the operation shown in FIG. 8B, the processor 111 acquires a medium ID indicating the type of the continuous medium P from the chip 231 provided in the container 23 of the transport device 2 (step S211). Then, the processor 111 searches the medium DB 121 read from the storage unit 12 (step S212), and identifies the suppression nozzle ID corresponding to the acquired medium ID (step S213).

By any of the operations described above, the processor 111 identifies the suppression nozzle, suppresses the purge from the specified suppression nozzle, and causes the image forming apparatus 3 to purge the other nozzles 311. As a result, when there are regions for forming an image at both ends in the width direction and a medium having a hole or the like in the center thereof is used, the image forming system 9 is used for the transport device 2 or the medium for transporting the medium. The nozzle 311 is purged without polluting the image forming apparatus 3 that forms an image.

<Modification example>
The above is the description of the embodiment, but the content of this embodiment can be modified as follows. In addition, the following modifications may be combined.

<1>
In the above-described embodiment, the processor 111 has acquired the type information indicating the type of the continuous medium P from the transfer device 2, but the type information may be acquired from a configuration other than the transfer device 2. For example, the processor 111 may extract and acquire the above-mentioned type information from the instruction for forming an image on the continuous medium P received from the user. In this case, the "instruction for forming an image" transmitted by the user to the processor 111 via the operation unit 14 includes the medium ID of the continuous medium P as metadata in the content. The processor 111 may extract the medium ID from the received metadata of the above-mentioned instruction and specify the suppression nozzle with reference to the medium DB 121.

In this case, when the processor 111 receives an instruction to form an image on a continuous medium, the processor 111 extracts type information indicating the type of the continuous medium from this instruction and identifies the second nozzle based on the type information. This is an example of a processor that does.

The processor 111 may extract and acquire the above-mentioned type information from the purge instruction received from the user. In this case, the instruction for purging the plurality of nozzles 311 may include a medium ID indicating the type of the continuous medium P used for the purging.

<2>
In the above-described embodiment, the processor 111 functions as a reception unit 1111 that receives an instruction for forming an image and an instruction for purging the nozzle 311 from the user. However, the reception unit 1111 may accept the designation of the suppression nozzle from the user.

In this case, the processor 111 may function as a specific unit 1114 that identifies the suppression nozzle based on the designation received from the user. For example, the processor 111 controls the display unit 15 to display the image included in the user's instruction (to be formed), the shape of the continuous medium P, and the like on the liquid crystal display of the display unit 15. To do. Then, the processor 111 may receive information on the position of the suppression nozzle in the image or the continuous medium P from the touch panel of the operation unit 14. In this case, the user may recognize the image displayed on the liquid crystal display and the shape of the continuous medium P, and use these as clues to indicate the position of the suppression nozzle by touching it with a finger or the like. Further, the user may input the identification information of the suppression nozzle (the suppression nozzle ID described above) by using the keyboard or the like of the operation unit 14.

That is, in this case, the processor 111 may specify the suppression nozzle from the position or identification information specified by the user. That is, the processor 111 is an example of a processor that accepts the designation of the second nozzle and specifies the second nozzle based on this designation.

Regarding the suppression nozzle specified from the position specified by the user and the identification information, the processor 111 displays the position of the suppression nozzle on the display unit 15 at the time of purging, for example, so that the user can confirm it. You may urge. This confirmation may be prompted by the user when the suppression nozzle specified by this method and the suppression nozzle specified by another method are different.

That is, when the suppression nozzle specified by the user is different from the suppression nozzle estimated based on the medium ID acquired from the chip 231 of the transport device 2, the processor 111 corresponds to the medium ID and the medium ID to the user. The position of the suppression nozzle and the position of the suppression nozzle specified by the user are displayed on the display unit 15, respectively. Then, the processor 111 may display a sentence such as "Do you really want to suppress the purging of the designated nozzle?" On the display unit 15 to prompt the user for confirmation.

<3>
In the above-described embodiment, the processor 111 has specified the suppression nozzle ID associated with the medium ID from the medium DB 121, but the processor 111 may have a configuration for directly measuring the shape of the transmitted continuous medium P. Good.

For example, the image forming system 9 may have a measuring device 4 shown by a broken line in FIG. The measuring device 4 is a device that measures the shape of the continuous medium P conveyed by the conveying device 2. The measuring device 4 is communicably connected to the control device 1 via the communication unit 13 and is controlled by the processor 111.

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the measuring device 4 is arranged along the continuous medium P which is being conveyed to the image forming apparatus 3 by the conveying device 2. Then, the measuring device 4 measures the shape of the continuous medium P, for example, by receiving the reflected light of the light emitted toward the continuous medium P. The content measured by the measuring device 4 includes position information indicating the position of the sprocket hole H provided in the continuous medium P.

The control device 1 measures and acquires information on the shape of the continuous medium P from the measuring device 4. Then, the control device 1 identifies the suppression nozzle based on the acquired information. For example, the processor 111 may specify the position of the sprocket hole H in the continuous medium P from the acquired shape information of the continuous medium P, and specify the nozzle 311 arranged at the position facing the sprocket hole H as the suppression nozzle. Good.

That is, in this case, the processor 111 is an example of a processor that controls a measuring device that measures the shape of a continuous medium conveyed by the conveying device. The processor 111, which functions as the specific unit 1114, is an example of a processor that specifies the second nozzle based on the shape measured by the measuring device.

The arrangement of the measuring device 4 is not limited to that shown in FIG. The measuring device 4 may be arranged along the continuous medium P after the image is formed by the image forming device 3, for example. With this arrangement, the measuring device 4 measures the image formed on the continuous medium P in addition to the shape of the continuous medium P.

<4>
In the above-described embodiment, the processor 111 has specified the suppression nozzle regardless of the position of the continuous medium P in the transport direction D1, but different suppression nozzles are used depending on the position of the continuous medium P to be conveyed to the transfer device 2. It may be specified.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, there are places where the sprocket hole H is not provided depending on the position of the continuous medium P in the transport direction D1. Even if the ink is purged in the place where the sprocket hole H is not provided, the ink does not pass to the back side of the continuous medium P, so that the transport device 2 and the like are not soiled.

For example, the measuring device 4 described above measures the shape of the continuous medium P to determine the position of the sprocket hole H shown in FIG. 4, the delimiter L such as the perforation, or the delimiter mark M drawn for each delimiter L. Identify. By acquiring these positions specified by the measuring device 4, the processor 111 grasps the current position of the continuous medium P being conveyed by the transfer device 2, and the distance at which the continuous medium P is actually conveyed. May be specified.

Further, since the processor 111 functions as a transport control unit 1113 that controls the transport device 2, the processor 111 grasps the current position of the continuous medium P based on the distance instructed to transport the continuous medium P to the transport device 2. You may. That is, the processor 111 obtains information from the measuring device 4 to obtain the distance instructed to convey the continuous medium P to the conveying device 2 without knowing the distance actually conveyed by the conveying device 2. You just need to know.

Since the processor 111 functions as the reception unit 1111, it grasps the image data indicating the image instructed to be formed by the user. Then, as described above, the processor 111 grasps the distance at which the continuous medium P is transported in the transport direction D1.

Therefore, the processor 111 may specify the suppression nozzle at that time according to the image data indicating the image instructed to be formed by the user and the distance at which the continuous medium P is conveyed in the transfer direction D1.

When the processor 111 receives an instruction to form an image on a continuous medium, the image data indicating the image, the distance conveyed in the first direction of the continuous medium, and the positions of the plurality of nozzles in the second direction. This is an example of a processor that specifies the second nozzle according to the above.

<5>
In the above-described embodiment, the processor 111 identifies the suppression nozzle by the suppression nozzle ID corresponding to the medium ID acquired from the chip 231 and suppresses the purging of the suppression nozzle. However, the processor 111 may suppress the purging of the suppression nozzle specified by the specific unit 1114 at a timing according to, for example, the shape of the continuous medium P and the distance conveyed by the continuous medium P.

The processor 111, for example, determines the position of the sprocket hole H formed in the continuous medium P from the type of the continuous medium P instructed by the user to form an image and the shape of the continuous medium P measured by the measuring device 4. Identify. Further, the processor 111 identifies the conveyed distance of the continuous medium P based on the control signal sent to the conveying device 2, the information on the position of the delimiter mark M acquired from the measuring device 4, and the like. Then, the processor 111 determines whether or not the suppression nozzle faces the sprocket hole H of the continuous medium P conveyed at the specified distance.

The processor 111 may suppress the purging of the suppressing nozzle when it is determined that the suppressing nozzle is facing the sprocket hole H, and may allow the purging of the suppressing nozzle when it is determined that the suppressing nozzle is not facing the sprocket hole H.

That is, the processor 111, which functions as the suppression unit 1115, specifies the shape of the continuous medium, and at a timing corresponding to the shape of the specified continuous medium and the distance conveyed by the continuous medium, the second nozzle This is an example of a processor that suppresses purging.

<6>
In the above-described embodiment, the control device 1 has a control unit 11 having a processor 111 and a memory 112 to control each unit, but the control means for controlling the control device 1 may have other configurations. Good. For example, the control device 1 may have various processors and the like in addition to the CPU.

Here, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, and is a general-purpose processor (for example, the CPU described above) or a dedicated processor (for example, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, etc. It includes programmable logic devices, etc.).

The operation of the processor 111 in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor 111 but also by a plurality of processors existing at physically separated positions in cooperation with each other. Further, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

<7>
This program executed by the control unit 11 of the control device 1 described above is along a transport device that transports the continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium, and a second direction, which is the width direction of the continuous medium. A plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink to this continuous medium arranged and conveyed, and an ink when forming an image specified by a user among the plurality of nozzles on the continuous medium in a processor that controls the nozzles. When receiving the step of identifying one or more second nozzles that do not eject ink and the instruction to purge each of these plurality of nozzles, which are sandwiched between the two first nozzles that eject This is an example of a program for executing the step of suppressing the purging of two nozzles. This program may be provided in a state of being stored in a recording medium readable by a computer device, such as a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape and a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, an optical magnetic recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Further, this program may be downloaded via a communication line such as the Internet.

1 ... control device, 11 ... control unit, 111 ... processor, 1111 ... reception unit, 1112 ... acquisition unit, 1113 ... transfer control unit, 1114 ... specific unit, 1115 ... suppression unit, 112 ... memory, 12 ... storage unit, 121 ... Medium DB, 1211 ... Medium list, 1212 ... Suppression nozzle table, 13 ... Communication unit, 14 ... Operation unit, 15 ... Display unit, 2 ... Transfer device, 20 ... Transfer belt, 21 ... Drive roll, 22 ... Driven roll, 23 ... Container, 231 ... Chip, 3 ... Image forming device, 31 ... Discharge head, 311, 311a, 311b, 311c, 311d, 311e ... Nozzle, 32 ... Support member, 33 ... Guide member, 4 ... Measuring device, 9 ... image forming system, D1 ... transport direction (first direction), D2 ... width direction (second direction), H ... sprocket hole, L ... delimiter, M ... delimiter mark.

Claims (10)

A transport device that transports a continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium, and a transport device that is arranged along the second direction, which is the width direction of the continuous medium, and can eject ink to the continuous medium that is transported. It has a plurality of nozzles and a processor that controls the processor.
Of the plurality of nozzles, one or more second nozzles that do not eject ink and are sandwiched in the second direction by two first nozzles that eject ink when forming an image designated by the user on the continuous medium. Identify the nozzle and
A control device that suppresses purging of the second nozzle when receiving an instruction to purge each of the plurality of nozzles. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processor receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium and specifies the second nozzle based on the content of the instruction. When the processor receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium, the image data showing the image, the distance conveyed in the first direction of the continuous medium, and the first of the plurality of nozzles. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the second nozzle is specified according to the position in two directions. When the processor receives an instruction to form the image on the continuous medium, the processor extracts type information indicating the type of the continuous medium from the instruction and identifies the second nozzle based on the type information. The control device according to claim 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processor acquires type information indicating the type of the continuous medium and identifies the second nozzle based on the type information. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processor accepts the designation of the second nozzle and specifies the second nozzle based on the designation. The processor controls a measuring device that measures the shape of the continuous medium conveyed by the conveying device.
The control device according to claim 1, wherein the second nozzle is specified based on the shape measured by the measuring device. The processor identifies the shape of the continuous medium and suppresses the purging of the second nozzle at a timing corresponding to the shape of the specified continuous medium and the distance conveyed by the continuous medium. 7. The control device according to any one of 7. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The transport device controlled by the control device and
With the plurality of nozzles controlled by the control device,
An image forming system having. A transport device that transports a continuous medium in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the continuous medium, and a transport device that is arranged along the second direction, which is the width direction of the continuous medium, and can eject ink to the continuous medium that is transported. For multiple nozzles and a processor that controls
Of the plurality of nozzles, one or more second nozzles that do not eject ink and are sandwiched in the second direction by two first nozzles that eject ink when forming an image designated by the user on the continuous medium. Steps to identify the nozzle and
When the instruction to purge the plurality of nozzles is received, the step of suppressing the purging of the second nozzle and the step of suppressing the purging of the second nozzle.
A program that executes.

Images