JP2022080497A - Liquid droplet ejection device, image processing device, and liquid droplet ejection method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid droplet ejection device which can perform various image expressions and more effective image expressions.SOLUTION: A printing apparatus comprises: a carriage which has a head ejecting ink droplets to a printing medium to form dots and reciprocally scans the printing medium in the forward path direction and the return path direction with respect to the printing medium; and a printing apparatus control unit 60 which controls the ejection of the ink droplets by the head and the scan of the carriage. The printing apparatus control unit 60 can execute: the forward path ejection control of ejecting the ink droplets on the basis of the first image data while making the carriage scan in the forward path direction; and the return path ejection control of ejecting the ink droplets on the basis of the second image data while making the carriage scan in the return path direction. The head is controlled such that dots are not formed with the return path ejection control in a region on the printing medium formed with the dots with the forward path ejection control, and the dots are not formed with the forward path ejection control in a region on the printing medium formed with the dots with the return path ejection control.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a droplet ejection device, an image processing apparatus, and a droplet ejection method.

In Patent Document 1, a first metallic image is formed on the first surface of each convex portion of a recording medium having an uneven structure, and a second metallic image is formed on the second surface of each convex portion. Disclosed are an image forming method for forming an image in which images that can be visually recognized at a first viewing position and a second viewing position are different from each other, and an invention of a recording medium suitable for the image formation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-221770

However, the image forming method described in Patent Document 1 includes a specific recording method for forming a first metallic image on the first surface and forming a second metallic image on the second surface. It was not disclosed, and it was unclear how to realize the technology. Further, the image forming method described in Patent Document 1 is limited to the case of forming a metallic image on a black background, and is improved in order to perform a wide variety of image expressions and more effective image expressions. There was room.

The droplet ejection device of the present invention has an ejection head that ejects droplets onto a print medium to form dots, and has a first direction with respect to the print medium and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The droplet ejection device control unit includes a carriage that scans back and forth in the direction, a droplet ejection device control unit that controls ejection of the droplets by the ejection head, and a droplet ejection device control unit that controls scanning of the carriage. Outward discharge control for ejecting the droplets based on the first image data while scanning the carriage in the first direction, and second image data different from the first image data while scanning the carriage in the second direction. It is possible to execute the return ejection control for ejecting the droplets based on the two image data, and the dots are formed in the region on the print medium on which the dots are formed by the outward ejection control. Instead, the ejection head is controlled so that dots are not formed by the outward ejection control in the region on the print medium where the dots are formed by the return ejection control.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention has an ejection head that ejects droplets onto a print medium to form dots, and has a first direction with respect to the print medium and a second direction opposite to the first direction. An image processing device that can be connected to a droplet ejection device having a carriage that scans back and forth, and that indirectly controls ejection of the droplets and scanning of the carriage by the ejection head. The image processing apparatus control unit comprises, while scanning the carriage in the first direction, outbound ejection control for ejecting the droplets based on the first image data and scanning the carriage in the second direction. At the same time, it is possible to execute a return ejection control for ejecting the droplets based on a second image data different from the first image data, and a region on the print medium in which the dots are formed by the outward ejection control. Dots are not formed by the return ejection control, and dots are not formed by the outward ejection control in the region on the print medium where the dots are formed by the return ejection control.

The droplet ejection method of the present invention has an ejection head that ejects droplets onto a print medium to form dots, and has a first direction with respect to the print medium and a second direction opposite to the first direction. A droplet ejection method of a droplet ejection device including a carriage that reciprocates in a direction, wherein the droplet is ejected based on the first image data while scanning the carriage in the first direction. A return path ejection step of ejecting the droplets based on a second image data different from the first image data while scanning the carriage in the second direction, and the dots are ejected by the outward path ejection process. Dots are not formed in the region on the print medium to be formed by the return ejection step, and dots are not formed in the region on the print medium on which the dots are formed by the return ejection step. ..

It is a front view which shows the structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the basic function of a printer driver. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the flight angle of the ejected ink droplet. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the difference of the ink droplet landing density by the relationship between the shape of a print medium and the flight angle of the ejected ink droplet. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the appearance which the printed image was viewed in a plane when it was performed only by the ink droplet ejected in the outward path of a carriage. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state when the printed image shown in FIG. 6 is viewed from above in the −X direction at the time of printing. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state when the printed image shown in FIG. 6 is viewed from above in the + X direction at the time of printing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the generation of print data for performing printing by 1st control and 2nd control. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the 1st print image printed based on the 1st image data and the 2nd print image printed based on the 2nd image data. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state when the printed image shown in FIG. 10 is viewed from above in the −X direction at the time of printing. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state when the printed image shown in FIG. 10 is viewed from above in the + X direction at the time of printing.

The configuration of the printing device 1 as the droplet ejection device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
In the coordinates added to the drawings, the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction, the + Z direction is the upward direction, the X-axis direction is the front-back direction, the -X direction is the front direction, the Y-axis direction is the left-right direction, and the + Y direction is the left direction. The XY plane is a horizontal plane.

The printing device 1 is composed of a printing unit 100 and an image processing unit 110 connected to the printing unit 100.
The printing unit 100 is an inkjet printer that prints a desired image on a long printing medium 5 set in a rolled state based on the printing data received from the image processing unit 110.
As the print medium 5, as will be described later, a print medium having a plurality of irregularities on the surface is used. Since the print medium 5 has a plurality of irregularities on the surface, the effect according to the characteristics of the present embodiment can be obtained.

The image processing unit 110 includes an image control unit 111, an input unit 112, a display unit 113, a storage unit 114, and the like, and controls a print job that causes the print unit 100 to print. Further, the image processing unit 110 generates print data for causing the print unit 100 to print a desired image based on the image data.
The software on which the image processing unit 110 operates includes general image processing application software that handles image data to be printed, and printer driver software that controls the printing unit 100 and generates print data for causing the printing unit 100 to execute printing. Is included. In the following description, the image processing application software is simply referred to as an image processing application, and the printer driver software is simply referred to as a printer driver.
The image data referred to here is RGB digital image information including text data and full-color image data.

The image control unit 111 includes a CPU 115, an ASIC 116, a DSP 117, a memory 118, an in-device interface 119, a general-purpose interface 120, and the like, and centrally manages the entire printing device 1. CPU means Central Processing Unit, ASIC means Application Specific Integrated Circuit, and DSP means Digital Signal Processor.
The input unit 112 is an information input means as a user interface. Specifically, for example, a keyboard or a mouse pointer.
The display unit 113 is an information display means as a user interface, and under the control of the image control unit 111, information input from the input unit 112, an image to be printed on the print unit 100, information related to a print job, and the like. Is displayed.

The storage unit 114 is a rewritable storage medium such as a hard disk drive or a memory card, and information related to a program operated by the image control unit 111 as software for operating the image processing unit 110, an image to be printed, and a print job. Etc. are memorized.
The memory 118 is a storage medium that secures an area for storing a program in which the CPU 115 operates, a work area in which the CPU 115 operates, and the like, and is composed of storage elements such as RAM and EEPROM. RAM means Random access memory, and EEPROM means Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory.
The general-purpose interface 120 is an interface to which an external electronic device can be connected, such as a LAN interface or a USB interface. LAN means Local Area Network, and USB means Universal Serial Bus.

The printing unit 100 includes an ink applying unit 10, a moving unit 20, a printing control unit 30, and the like. The printing unit 100, which has received the print data from the image processing unit 110, controls the ink application unit 10 and the moving unit 20 by the print control unit 30 based on the print data, and prints the image on the print medium 5.
The print data is image forming data obtained by converting the image data so that the image data can be printed by the print unit 100 by the image processing application included in the image processing unit 110 and the printer driver, and includes a command for controlling the print unit 100. There is.

The ink applying unit 10 is composed of a head unit 11, an ink supply unit 12, and the like.
The moving unit 20 is composed of a scanning unit 40, a transport unit 50, and the like.
The scanning unit 40 includes a carriage 41, a guide shaft 42, a carriage motor, and the like. The carriage motor is not shown.
The transport unit 50 includes a supply unit 51, a storage unit 52, a transport roller 53, a platen 55, and the like.

The head unit 11 includes a head 13 and a head control unit 14 having a plurality of nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting printing ink as ink droplets are arranged. The head unit 11 is mounted on the carriage 41 and reciprocates in the X-axis direction along with the carriage 41 that moves in the X-axis direction as the scanning direction.
In the present embodiment, the ink droplet corresponds to a droplet, and the head 13 corresponds to an ejection head that ejects the droplet to the print medium 5 to form dots.
Further, the carriage 41 reciprocates in the X-axis direction in the outward path direction as the first direction and the return path direction as the second direction opposite to the first direction. The outbound direction is set to the + X direction as a predetermined direction as a default specification.

The ink supply unit 12 includes an ink tank and an ink supply path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the head 13. The ink tank and the ink supply path are not shown.
As the ink, a four-color ink set in which black K ink is added to three-color ink sets of cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y is used.
The ink is not limited to these four color inks. For example, an eight-color ink set to which an ink set such as light cyan, light magenta, light yellow, and light black in which the density of each color material is lightened is added may be used.
The ink tank, the ink supply path, and the ink supply path to the nozzle for ejecting the same ink are provided independently for each ink.

The moving unit 20, that is, the scanning unit 40 and the transport unit 50, moves the print medium 5 relative to the head 13 under the control of the print control unit 30.
The guide shaft 42 extends in the X-axis direction and supports the carriage 41 in a slidable state. Further, the carriage motor serves as a drive source for reciprocating the carriage 41 along the guide shaft 42. That is, the scanning unit 40 moves the carriage 41, that is, the head 13 along the guide shaft 42 in the X-axis direction under the control of the print control unit 30. The head 13 provided in the head unit 11 mounted on the carriage 41 ejects ink droplets to the print medium 5 supported by the platen 55 under the control of the print control unit 30 while moving in the X-axis direction. A plurality of dot sequences along the X-axis direction are formed on the print medium 5.
In this embodiment, the printing device control unit 60 as a droplet ejection device control unit that controls the head 13 and the moving unit 20 based on image data by the image control unit 111 and the print control unit 30 to perform printing. Consists of.
That is, the printing device control unit 60 controls the ejection of ink droplets by the head 13 and controls the scanning of the carriage 41.

The supply unit 51 rotatably supports the reel on which the print medium 5 is wound in a roll shape, and sends the print medium 5 to the transport path. The storage unit 52 rotatably supports a reel for winding the print medium 5, and winds the printed medium 5 for which printing has been completed from the transport path.
The transport roller 53 includes a drive roller that moves the print medium 5 in the Y-axis direction as the transport direction on the upper surface of the platen 55, a driven roller that rotates with the movement of the print medium 5, and the like, and supplies the print medium 5 to the supply unit 51. A transport path is configured to transport the ink from the ink to the storage section 52 via the print area of the ink application section 10. The print area is an area on the upper surface of the platen 55 where the head 13 moves in the X-axis direction.

The print control unit 30 includes an in-device interface 31, a CPU 32, a memory 33, a drive control unit 34, and the like, and controls the print unit 100.
The in-device interface 31 is connected to the in-device interface 119 of the image processing unit 110, and data is transmitted / received between the image processing unit 110 and the printing unit 100.
The CPU 32 is an arithmetic processing device for controlling the entire printing unit 100.
The memory 33 is a storage medium for securing an area for storing a program in which the CPU 32 operates, a working area for operating the CPU 32, and the like, and is composed of storage elements such as RAM and EEPROM.
The CPU 32 controls the ink application unit 10 and the moving unit 20 via the drive control unit 34 according to the program stored in the memory 33 and the print data received from the image processing unit 110.

The drive control unit 34 includes firmware that operates based on the control of the CPU 32, and controls the drive of the head unit 11 of the ink application unit 10, the ink supply unit 12, the scanning unit 40 of the moving unit 20, and the transport unit 50. The drive control unit 34 includes a drive control circuit including a movement control signal generation circuit 35, a discharge control signal generation circuit 36, a drive signal generation circuit 37, and the like, and a ROM or flash memory containing firmware for controlling these drive control circuits. Has been done. The ROM and flash memory containing the firmware that controls the drive control circuit are not shown. Here, ROM means Read-Only Memory.

The movement control signal generation circuit 35 is a circuit that generates a signal for controlling the scanning unit 40 and the transport unit 50 of the moving unit 20 according to an instruction from the CPU 32 based on the print data.
The ejection control signal generation circuit 36 is a circuit that generates a head control signal for selecting a nozzle for ejecting ink, selecting an ejection amount, controlling the ejection timing, and the like according to an instruction from the CPU 32 based on print data. Is.
The drive signal generation circuit 37 is a circuit that generates a drive signal for driving the pressure generation chamber included in the head 13.

With the above configuration, the print control unit 30 moves the carriage 41 that supports the head 13 along the guide shaft 42 in the X-axis direction with respect to the print medium 5 supplied to the print area by the supply unit 51 and the transfer roller 53. While repeating the operation of ejecting ink droplets from the head 13 and the operation of moving the print medium 5 in the + Y direction intersecting the X-axis direction by the transport roller 53, a desired image is printed on the print medium 5.

Printing on the print medium 5 is started by transmitting print data from the image processing unit 110 to the print unit 100. The print data is generated by the printer driver.
Hereinafter, the print data generation process performed by the printer driver will be described with reference to FIG.

The printer driver receives image data from an image processing application, converts it into print data in a format that can be interpreted by the print unit 100, and outputs the print data to the print unit 100. When converting image data from an image processing application into print data, the printer driver performs resolution conversion processing, color conversion processing, halftone processing, rasterization processing, command addition processing, and the like.

The resolution conversion process is a process of converting the image data output from the image processing application into the resolution for printing on the print medium 5. For example, when the resolution for printing is specified as 720 × 720 dpi, the vector format image data received from the image processing application is converted into the bitmap format image data having a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi. Each pixel data of the image data after the resolution conversion process is composed of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel has a gradation value of, for example, 256 gradations in the RGB color space. That is, the pixel data after the resolution conversion indicates the gradation value of the corresponding pixel. Hereinafter, the gradation value data in the RGB color space is referred to as RGB data.
Pixel data corresponding to one row of pixels arranged in a predetermined direction among the pixels arranged in a matrix is called raster data. The predetermined direction in which the pixels corresponding to the raster data are arranged corresponds to the moving direction of the head 13 when printing an image, specifically, the X-axis direction.

The color conversion process is a process of converting the RGB data of the image data into the gradation value data of the CMYK color space. The CMYK colors are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and the image data in the CMYK color space is data corresponding to the ink color of the printing unit 100. Therefore, for example, when the printing unit 100 uses four types of CMYK color inks, the printer driver generates image data in a CMYK color system four-dimensional space based on the RGB data. The gradation value data in the CMYK color space is, that is, ink amount data. Hereinafter, the gradation value data of the CMYK color space is referred to as CMYK data.
This color conversion process is performed based on a color conversion lookup table in which the gradation value of RGB data and the gradation value of CMYK data are associated with each other. The pixel data after the color conversion process is, for example, 256 gradation CMYK data represented by the CMYK color space.

The halftone process is a process of converting high gradation data, for example, 256 gradation data, into data having a gradation number that can be formed by the printing unit 100. By this halftone processing, the data showing 256 gradations is converted into 2-bit halftone data showing four gradations of no dot, small dot, medium dot, and large dot. Specifically, the dot generation rate corresponding to the gradation value is obtained from the dot generation rate table corresponding to the gradation value of 0 to 255 and the dot generation rate. As the dot generation rate obtained corresponding to the gradation value, each dotless, small dot, medium dot, and large dot generation rate is obtained. At each of the obtained generation rates, pixel data is created so that the dots are dispersed and formed by using a dither method, an error diffusion method, or the like.

The dot generation rate table is a table that associates the gradation value for each pixel included in the image data with the dot generation rate for each dot size of the dots formed on the print medium 5 by the printing unit 100, and is a table for each ink color. It is stored in the memory 33 in the printing unit 100. The sum of the products of the ejection amount per dot of each dot size and the number of dots generated is the ink ejection amount.

The rasterize process is a process of rearranging the above-mentioned 2-bit pixel data arranged in a matrix according to the dot formation order at the time of printing. The raster rise process includes a path allocation process of allocating image data composed of pixel data after halftone processing to each path for ejecting ink droplets while the head 13 moves. When the path allocation is complete, the actual nozzles that form each raster line that makes up the printed image are allocated.

The command addition process is a process of adding command data according to the printing method to the rasterized data. The command data includes, for example, transfer data related to the transfer specifications of the print medium 5 as data for controlling the moving unit 20. The transport specifications are, for example, the amount and speed of movement of the print medium 5 on the upper surface of the platen 55 in the transport direction. The data for controlling the moving unit 20 includes data for controlling the speed of the carriage 41 in the scanning unit 40.
The series of processes by the printer driver is performed by the ASIC 116 and the DSP 117 under the control of the CPU 115, and in the print data transmission process, the print data generated by the series of processes is printed by the printing unit 100 via the in-device interface 119. Will be sent to.

In the basic configuration described above, the control in the prior art for printing by ejecting ink droplets while scanning the carriage 41 in at least one direction of the outward path direction and the return path direction is the second control in the present embodiment. Applicable.
On the other hand, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can selectively perform printing by the first control described below in addition to the second control. The selection of the first control and the second control is performed based on the instruction from the input unit 112 in the function of the printer driver.
When printing by the first control, which is a feature of the present embodiment, the print medium 5 has a plurality of protrusions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates as a print medium from which the printing effect of the first control can be obtained. An uneven print medium having a portion is used.

The first control is an outward ejection control that ejects ink droplets based on the first image data while scanning the carriage 41 in the outward path direction, and a second control that scans the carriage 41 in the return path direction and is different from the first image data. It is a control to perform return ejection control to eject ink droplets based on image data, and dots are not formed by return ejection control in the region on the print medium 5 where dots are formed by outward ejection control, and return ejection is performed. The head 13 is controlled so that dots are not formed by the outbound ejection control in the region on the print medium 5 where the dots are formed by the control.
The printing based on the first control will be specifically described below.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the carriage 41 on which the head 13 is mounted is moved at a speed Vcr in the X-axis direction and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle of the head 13 at a speed Vm0 in the −Z direction, the ink droplets are ejected. Flyes at a velocity of Vm1 in the direction of the composite vector and lands on the print medium 5. That is, when the outward direction is set to the + X direction, the ink droplets ejected by the outward ejection control fly and land in the + X direction with respect to the Z-axis direction at an angle of θ shown in FIG. Further, the ink droplets ejected by the return path ejection control fly and land at an angle of θ in the return path direction, that is, the −X direction with respect to the Z-axis direction.

When the flying angles of the ink droplets ejected are different and the surface of the print medium 5 exhibits an uneven state having a plurality of convex portions in the X-axis direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates, the X-axis direction There is a difference in the landing density of the ink droplets in.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the print medium 5 conveyed to the print area has an uneven surface having a plurality of convex portions in a wavy manner in the X-axis direction, the outward path direction of the plurality of convex portions, that is, + X. Ink droplets ejected on the outward path of the carriage 41 are likely to land on the respective surfaces 5A on the opposite sides in the direction, and the respective surfaces 5B on the opposite sides of the plurality of convex portions facing the outward path, that is, Ink droplets ejected on the outward path of the carriage 41 are less likely to land on the surface 5B of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the return path. On the contrary, the ink droplets ejected on the return path of the carriage 41 are likely to land on the return paths of the plurality of convex portions, that is, on the respective surfaces 5B on the side facing the −X direction, and the return path of the plurality of convex portions. Ink droplets ejected on the return path of the carriage 41 are less likely to land on the respective surfaces 5A on the opposite sides of the carriage 41, that is, the surfaces 5A on the opposite sides of the plurality of convex portions in the outward path direction.

For example, when solid printing is performed on the entire surface of the print medium 5 using only the ink droplets ejected on the outward path of the carriage 41, the printed image of the print medium 5 in a plan view is schematically shown in FIG. The landing density of the ink droplets on the surface 5A is high with respect to the surface 5B. When this printed image is viewed from above in the −X direction at the time of printing, as schematically shown in FIG. 7, the surface 5A having a high landing density of ink droplets is mainly visually recognized, and the printed image is also viewed. When viewed from above in the + X direction at the time of printing, the surface 5B having a low landing density of ink droplets is mainly visually recognized, as schematically shown in FIG.
Further, when printing is performed only with the ink droplets ejected on the return path of the carriage 41, it is visually recognized as vice versa.

That is, when the control of ejecting ink droplets while scanning the carriage 41 in the outward path direction and the control of ejecting ink droplets while scanning the carriage 41 in the return path direction are performed based on different image data. The image to be visually recognized differs depending on the viewing direction of the printed image. In the present embodiment, in printing by the first control, while scanning the carriage 41 in the outward direction and ejecting ink droplets based on the first image data, and scanning the carriage 41 in the return direction, the first method is performed. The return ejection control for ejecting ink droplets based on the second image data different from the first image data is performed. As a result, when the printed image is viewed from above in the −X direction at the time of printing, the image based on the first image data is visually recognized more clearly, and when viewed from above in the + X direction at the time of printing, the image is visually recognized more clearly. The image based on the second image data is visually recognized more clearly.

Further, the dot is not formed by the return ejection control in the region on the print medium 5 where the dots are formed by the outward ejection control, and the dot is not formed by the return ejection control. The head 13 is controlled so as not to form dots by control. In such a case, it is possible to make the difference between the printed image based on the first image data and the printed image based on the second image data depending on the viewing angle more conspicuous.
As described above, the first image data and the second image data are image data prepared so as to be recognized as different images depending on the viewing direction when the printed image printed on the print medium 5 is visually recognized.

A method of generating print data based on the first image data and the second image data, that is, printing data for printing by the first control, will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 9.
All of the following processes are performed in the image processing unit 110 under the control of the image control unit 111. In the present embodiment, the generation of the first image data and the second image data is performed by the function of the printer driver that generates the print data.
In the following description, the image printed based on the first image data will be referred to as the first print image G1, and the image printed based on the second image data will be referred to as the second print image G2.

In the function of the printer driver, the image control unit 111 causes the user to input the designated information necessary for the first control from the input unit 112 via the user interface screen displayed on the display unit 113. The printer driver generates print data based on the specified contents.
Specifically, the designated information required for the first control is, for example,
-Whether or not to print by the first control
-Which image data should be used as the first image data and the second image data when printing is performed by the first control?
Which direction in the X-axis direction is the direction in which the first printed image G1 or the second printed image G2 is mainly visually recognized?
-Whether or not to enhance the degree of printing effect by the first control
Information such as.

First, the image control unit 111 acquires image data to be printed as step S1. Specifically, in the function of the image processing application, image data to be printed is acquired from an external electronic device via the general-purpose interface 120. Alternatively, the image data to be printed is selected from the image data acquired in advance and stored in the storage unit 114.

Next, as step S2, it is specified whether to perform printing by the first control or conventional printing, that is, printing by the second control.
When printing by the second control, that is, when No in step S2, print data is generated by the method of the above-mentioned conventional technique based on the acquired image data by the flow after step S6, and printing by the second control is performed. conduct.
That is, unlike the first control and the first control, which perform outward ejection control and inbound ejection control, the printing device control unit 60 scans the carriage 41 in at least one direction of the outward path direction and the inbound path direction while scanning ink droplets. The second control for discharging can be selectively executed.

In the case of printing by the first control, that is, in the case of Yes in step S2, the first image data and the second image data are designated as step S3.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a case where the character H is printed on the print medium 5 will be described as an example. The printed image of FIG. 10 is composed of a first printed image G1 showing the character H and a second printed image G2 which is a peripheral image of the character H.
In the image data including the image of the character H, the user designates the image data corresponding to the character H as the first image data and the image data corresponding to the surrounding image of the character H as the second image data. This designation can be made, for example, while allowing the user to refer to the image of the character H shown on the display unit 113.

By designating the first image data, a method of automatically recognizing image data other than the first image data as the second image data may be used. Specifically, the printer driver extracts the specified print image data, that is, a part of the acquired image data as the first image data, and the rest of the printed image data from which the first image data is extracted is the second image. Let it be data.
In the present embodiment, the printer driver corresponds to an image data generation unit that generates first image data and second image data from image data.
The printed image data as the original data to be identified as the first image data and the second image data may be the image data at the stage acquired as described above, or may be the image data before the rasterization process. If there is, it may be any of the image data generated at each stage of generating print data.

Next, as step S4, a direction for visually recognizing the first print image G1 or the second print image G2 is specified.
In the present embodiment, as a default specification, the outward route direction is set to the + X direction as a predetermined direction. That is, the first printed image G1 is set so as to be visually recognized when viewed from above in the −X direction at the time of printing. In step S4, this setting can be changed. That is, the first printed image G1 can be changed so that it can be visually recognized when viewed from above in the + X direction at the time of printing.
That is, the printing device 1 has a designated unit capable of designating the outward route direction as either the + X direction as the predetermined direction or the −X direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and the printing device control unit 60 has. , The carriage 41 and the head 13 are controlled according to the designation of the designated portion. Here, the designated unit is configured as a functional unit of the image control unit 111, specifically, a functional unit by the printer driver.

Next, in step S5, it is specified whether or not to enhance the degree of printing effect by the first control.
The printing effect of the first control is an effect of making the visually recognized image look different depending on the viewing direction of the printed image. As can be understood by referring to FIG. 5, the degree of this effect varies depending on the degree of unevenness of the print medium 5 and the flight angle of the ink droplets. The flight angle of the ink droplet, that is, the angle θ shown in FIG. 4, can be changed by controlling the speed Vcr of the carriage 41.
In the present embodiment, when it is specified in step S5 to enhance the degree of printing effect by the first control, the speed Vcr of the carriage 41 is compared with the speed Vcr of the carriage 41 in the second control, for example. , 30% faster control. This control is performed by the command data included in the print data.

Next, as step S6, print data is generated based on the information specified so far.
When printing is performed by the first control, the first print image G1 based on the first image data is printed while the carriage 41 is scanned in the designated outward path direction, and the carriage 41 is scanned in the return path direction. The rasterization process is performed so that the second print image G2 based on the two image data is printed, and command data for controlling the scanning unit 40 is added according to the degree of printing effect by the designated first control. Print data is generated.
The image processing unit 110 transmits the print data thus generated to the print unit 100, and the print unit 100 that has received the print data executes printing.

As shown in FIG. 10, the first print image G1 and the second print image G2, that is, the first image data and the second image data are specified, and the outward direction is set to the + X direction, for example, both print images. Is printed as a solid image of black ink, and when this printed image is viewed from above in the −X direction at the time of printing, the characters that are the first printed image G1 are schematically shown in FIG. H is visually recognized as a blacker image, and when this printed image is viewed from above in the + X direction at the time of printing, the character H, which is the second printed image G2, is schematically shown in FIG. The surrounding image of is visually recognized as a blacker image.

In the present embodiment, the printing unit 100 has a head 13 that ejects ink droplets to the print medium 5 to form dots, and has a return path in the outward path direction and a return path opposite to the outward path direction with respect to the print medium 5. In the case of a droplet ejection device including a carriage 41 that scans back and forth in the direction, the image processing unit 110 corresponds to an image processing apparatus that can be connected to the droplet ejection device. The image processing unit 110 as an image processing device includes an image control unit 111 as an image processing device control unit, and the image control unit 111 controls the ejection of ink droplets by the head 13 and the scanning of the carriage 41, and prints data. Perform indirectly through. As indirect control for controlling via print data, the image control unit 111 scans the carriage 41 in the outward direction and ejects droplets based on the first image data, and the carriage 41. It is possible to execute the return path ejection control in which the droplets are ejected based on the second image data different from the first image data while scanning in the return path direction. Further, the image control unit 111 does not form dots by the return ejection control in the region on the print medium 5 where dots are formed by the outward ejection control by indirect control via print data, but by the return ejection control. The area on the print medium 5 on which the dots are formed is controlled so as not to form dots by the outward ejection control.

Further, as described above, the designated unit configured as the functional unit by the printer driver is the functional unit of the image control unit 111, and therefore is the functional unit included in the image processing unit 110. That is, the image processing unit 110 as an image processing device has a designated unit capable of designating the outward route direction to either a predetermined direction or a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and serves as an image processing device control unit. The image control unit 111 of the above controls the carriage 41 and the head 13 according to the designation of the designated unit.

Further, when viewed as the printing method in the printing apparatus 1 described above, that is, the droplet ejection method, the droplet ejection method in the present embodiment includes a head 13 that ejects ink droplets to the printing medium 5 to form dots. A method for ejecting droplets from a printing apparatus 1 including a carriage 41 that reciprocates with respect to the print medium 5 in the outward path direction and the return path direction opposite to the outward path direction, while scanning the carriage 41 in the outward path direction. An outbound ejection step of ejecting ink droplets based on the first image data, and a return ejection step of ejecting ink droplets based on a second image data different from the first image data while scanning the carriage 41 in the return path direction. It can be said that it has. Further, dots are not formed by the return ejection process in the region on the print medium 5 where dots are formed by the outward ejection process, and dots are formed by the outward ejection process in the region on the print medium 5 where dots are formed by the return ejection process. Does not form dots.

The print medium 5 has been described by taking a print medium having wavy irregularities as shown in FIG. 5 as an example for the sake of clarity. However, the print medium 5 has an outward direction and a return direction opposite to the outward direction. Any printing medium having irregularities having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates is used may be used.
For example, it may be a printing medium in which a plurality of fine protrusions or dents are formed on the surface, or a cloth composed of woven fibers. In the case of cloth, it is possible to perform printing with the same effect by ejecting ink droplets to multiple convex parts due to individual fibers, bundled fibers, unevenness of the cloth woven with the fibers, etc. can.
Further, the uneven print medium is not limited to a print medium having both a concave shape and a convex shape, and includes a print medium having at least one of a concave shape and a convex shape.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The printing device 1 of the present embodiment scans the carriage 41 in the outward direction and ejects ink droplets based on the first image data, and scans the carriage 41 in the return direction while scanning the first image data. Ink return ejection control for ejecting ink droplets based on the second image data different from the above can be executed. Further, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment does not form dots by the return ejection control in the region on the print medium 5 where the dots are formed by the outward ejection control, but the dots are formed by the return ejection control. The head 13 is controlled so as not to form dots in the upper region by the outward discharge control.
When printing based on such control is performed on the uneven printing medium 5 having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward direction and the return direction opposite to the outward direction. Ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are likely to land on each surface of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the outward path direction, and each of the opposite sides of the plurality of convex portions on the opposite side facing the outward path direction. Ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are less likely to land on the surface of the surface, that is, the surface of the plurality of convex portions facing each other in the return direction. In addition, ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are likely to land on each surface of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the return path direction, and the opposite side of the plurality of convex portions facing the return path direction. Ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are less likely to land on each surface of the above, that is, the surface of the plurality of convex portions facing each other in the outward direction. As a result, when the printed image is visually recognized, the image viewed from the return direction side to the outward path direction is visually recognized more clearly in the image based on the first image data than in the image based on the second image data. In the image viewed from the outward path direction side to the return path direction, the image based on the second image data is visually recognized more clearly than the image based on the first image data. That is, it is possible to form an image in which the visible image differs depending on the viewing direction. Further, in this printing, the background color of the print medium 5 is not limited to black. That is, according to the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform a wide variety of image expressions and more effective image expressions.

Further, the printing device control unit 60 of the printing device 1 of the present embodiment has the carriage 41 in at least one direction of the outward path direction and the return path direction, unlike the first control and the first control for performing the outward path ejection control and the return path ejection control. It is possible to selectively execute the second control of ejecting ink droplets while scanning the carriage. Further, the scanning speed of the carriage 41 in the first control can be made faster than the scanning speed of the carriage 41 in the second control.
When printing based on the above control is performed on the uneven printing medium 5 having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward direction and the return direction opposite to the outward direction. The faster the scanning speed at which 41 moves in the outward direction, the more the surface on the opposite side of the plurality of protrusions facing the outward direction, that is, the surface on the side facing the return direction of the plurality of protrusions. The ink droplets ejected based on the first image data tend to be difficult to land. Further, the faster the scanning speed at which the carriage 41 moves in the return path direction, the more the respective surfaces on the opposite sides of the plurality of convex portions facing the return path direction, that is, the surfaces of the plurality of convex portions facing the outward path direction. There is a tendency that the ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are difficult to land. That is, by making the scanning speed of the carriage 41 in the first control faster than the scanning speed of the carriage 41 in the second control, the image based on the first image data visually recognized from the outward path direction and the image visible from the return path direction are visually recognized. The difference from the image based on the second image data can be made clearer.

Further, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a designated unit capable of designating the outward route direction as either a predetermined direction or a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Further, the printing device control unit 60 controls the carriage 41 and the head 13 according to the designation of the designated unit. That is, according to the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, with respect to the uneven printing medium 5 having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward path direction and the return path direction opposite to the outward path direction. In the image visually recognized when printing is performed based on the above-mentioned control, the image visually recognized when viewed from the outward direction and the image visually recognized when viewed from the return direction can be specified interchangeably. can.

Further, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes an image data generation unit that generates first image data and second image data from the printed image data as a functional unit by the printer driver. Further, the image data generation unit can extract a part of the printed image data as the first image data, and can use the rest of the printed image data obtained by extracting the first image data as the second image data. According to the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, by generating the first image data and the second image data in this way, the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward path direction and the return path direction opposite to the outward path direction. In the image visually recognized when printing based on the above-mentioned control is performed on the uneven print medium 5 having a plurality of convex portions, the image visually recognized when viewed from the outward route direction and the image visually recognized when viewed from the return route direction are used. An image that is visually recognized when viewed can be configured as a combined image.

Further, the image processing unit 110 as the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment has a head 13 that ejects ink droplets to the print medium 5 to form dots, and has an outward path direction and an outward path direction with respect to the print medium 5. It is an image processing device that can be connected to a droplet ejection device including a carriage 41 that scans back and forth in the direction opposite to that of the return path.
Further, the image processing unit 110 as an image processing device includes an image control unit 111 as an image processing device control unit that indirectly controls the ejection of ink droplets by the head 13 and the scanning of the carriage 41, and the image control unit 111. Is scanning the carriage 41 in the outward direction to eject droplets based on the first image data, and scanning the carriage 41 in the return direction to obtain second image data different from the first image data. It is possible to execute return ejection control for ejecting droplets based on the above. Further, here, dots are not formed by the return ejection control in the region on the print medium 5 where the dots are formed by the outward ejection control, and the outbound route is formed in the region on the print medium 5 where the dots are formed by the return ejection control. Control is performed so that dots are not formed by ejection control.
In the droplet ejection device, such control is performed for the uneven printing medium 5 having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward path direction and the return path direction opposite to the outward path direction. When printing is performed based on the above, ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are likely to land on each surface of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the outward path direction, and the ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are likely to land in the outward path direction of the plurality of convex portions. Ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are less likely to land on the respective surfaces on the opposite sides of the surface, that is, the surfaces of the plurality of convex portions facing in the return direction. In addition, ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are likely to land on each surface of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the return path direction, and the opposite side of the plurality of convex portions facing the return path direction. Ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are less likely to land on each surface of the above, that is, the surface of the plurality of convex portions facing each other in the outward direction. As a result, when the printed image is visually recognized, the image viewed from the return direction side to the outward path direction is visually recognized more clearly in the image based on the first image data than in the image based on the second image data. In the image viewed from the outward path direction side to the return path direction, the image based on the second image data is visually recognized more clearly than the image based on the first image data. That is, it is possible to form an image in which the visible image differs depending on the viewing direction. Further, in this printing, the background color of the print medium 5 is not limited to black. That is, according to the image processing unit 110 as the image processing device of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform a wide variety of image expressions and more effective image expressions.

Further, the image processing unit 110 as the image processing device of the present embodiment further has a designating unit capable of designating the outward route direction to either a predetermined direction or a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. There is. Further, the image control unit 111 as the image processing device control unit controls the carriage 41 and the head 13 according to the designation of the designated unit. That is, according to the image processing unit 110 of the present embodiment, the printing device 1 has irregularities having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward path direction and the return path direction opposite to the outward path direction. In the image visually recognized when the print medium 5 is printed based on the above-mentioned control, an image visually recognized when viewed from the outward direction and an image visually recognized when viewed from the return direction. Can be replaced and specified.

Further, the droplet ejection method of the present embodiment has a head 13 that ejects ink droplets to the print medium 5 to form dots, and has an outward path with respect to the print medium 5 and a return path opposite to the outward path direction. This is a droplet ejection method of the printing apparatus 1 including a carriage 41 that scans back and forth in the direction. The droplet ejection method of the present embodiment includes an outward ejection step of ejecting ink droplets based on the first image data while scanning the carriage 41 in the outward path direction, and a first image while scanning the carriage 41 in the return path direction. A return ejection step of ejecting ink droplets based on a second image data different from the data is provided, and dots are not formed by the return ejection process in the region on the print medium 5 where dots are formed by the outward ejection process. Dots are not formed by the outbound ejection process in the region on the print medium 5 where the dots are formed by the inbound ejection process.
Printing based on such a droplet ejection method is performed on the uneven printing medium 5 having a plurality of convex portions in the direction in which the carriage 41 reciprocates in the outward direction and the return direction opposite to the outward direction. In this case, the ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are likely to land on each surface of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the outward path direction, and the opposite side of the plurality of convex portions facing the outward path direction. Ink droplets ejected based on the first image data are less likely to land on each of the side surfaces, that is, the surfaces of the plurality of convex portions facing each other in the return direction. In addition, ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are likely to land on each surface of the plurality of convex portions on the side facing the return path direction, and the opposite side of the plurality of convex portions facing the return path direction. Ink droplets ejected based on the second image data are less likely to land on each surface of the above, that is, the surface of the plurality of convex portions facing each other in the outward direction. As a result, when the printed image is visually recognized, the image viewed from the return direction side to the outward path direction is visually recognized more clearly in the image based on the first image data than in the image based on the second image data. In the image viewed from the outward path direction side to the return path direction, the image based on the second image data is visually recognized more clearly than the image based on the first image data. That is, it is possible to form an image in which the visible image differs depending on the viewing direction. Further, in this droplet ejection method, the background color of the print medium 5 is not limited to black. That is, according to the droplet ejection method of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform a wide variety of image expressions and more effective image expressions.

1 ... printing device, 5 ... printing medium, 10 ... ink applying unit, 11 ... head unit, 12 ... ink supply unit, 13 ... head, 14 ... head control unit, 20 ... moving unit, 30 ... print control unit, 31 ... In-device interface, 32 ... CPU, 33 ... Memory, 34 ... Drive control unit, 35 ... Movement control signal generation circuit, 36 ... Discharge control signal generation circuit, 37 ... Drive signal generation circuit, 40 ... Scan unit, 41 ... Carriage, 42 ... guide shaft, 50 ... transport unit, 51 ... supply unit, 52 ... storage unit, 53 ... transport roller, 55 ... platen, 60 ... printing device control unit, 100 ... printing unit, 110 ... image processing unit, 111 ... image Control unit, 112 ... Input unit, 113 ... Display unit, 114 ... Storage unit, 115 ... CPU, 116 ... ASIC, 117 ... DSP, 118 ... Memory, 119 ... In-device interface, 120 ... General-purpose interface, G1 ... First printing Image, G2 ... Second print image.

Claims (7)

A carriage that has a discharge head that ejects droplets to the print medium to form dots and scans back and forth between the first direction and the second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the print medium.
A droplet ejection device control unit that controls ejection of the droplet by the ejection head and control of scanning of the carriage is provided.
The droplet ejection device control unit is
Outbound discharge control for ejecting the droplet based on the first image data while scanning the carriage in the first direction.
It is possible to execute return ejection control in which the droplet is ejected based on the second image data different from the first image data while scanning the carriage in the second direction.
Dots are not formed by the return ejection control in the region on the print medium where the dots are formed by the outward ejection control.
A droplet ejection device comprising controlling the ejection head so that dots are not formed by the outward ejection control in a region on the print medium in which the dots are formed by the return ejection control. The droplet ejection device according to claim 1.
The droplet ejection device control unit is different from the first control that performs the outward ejection control and the inbound ejection control, and the first control, and moves the carriage in at least one direction of the first direction and the second direction. It is possible to selectively execute the second control of ejecting the droplet while scanning.
A droplet ejection device characterized in that the scanning speed of the carriage in the first control is faster than the scanning speed of the carriage in the second control. The droplet ejection device according to claim 1 or 2.
It has a designation unit capable of designating the first direction as either a predetermined direction or a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.
The droplet ejection device control unit is a droplet ejection device that controls the carriage and the ejection head according to the designation of the designated unit. The droplet ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an image data generation unit that generates the first image data and the second image data from the printed image data.
The image data generation unit is
A part of the printed image data is extracted as the first image data.
A droplet ejection device characterized in that, of the printed image data, the remainder obtained by extracting the first image data is used as the second image data. It has an ejection head that ejects droplets to the print medium to form dots, and includes a carriage that scans back and forth between the first direction and the second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the print medium. An image processing device that can be connected to a droplet ejection device.
The image processing apparatus control unit which indirectly controls the ejection of the droplet and the scanning of the carriage by the ejection head is provided.
The image processing device control unit is
Outbound discharge control for ejecting the droplet based on the first image data while scanning the carriage in the first direction.
It is possible to execute return ejection control in which the droplet is ejected based on the second image data different from the first image data while scanning the carriage in the second direction.
Dots are not formed by the return ejection control in the region on the print medium where the dots are formed by the outward ejection control.
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the region on the print medium on which the dots are formed by the return ejection control is controlled so as not to form dots by the outward ejection control. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5.
It has a designation unit capable of designating the first direction as either a predetermined direction or a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.
The image processing device control unit is an image processing device characterized in that the carriage and the discharge head are controlled according to the designation of the designated unit. It has an ejection head that ejects droplets to the print medium to form dots, and includes a carriage that scans back and forth between the first direction and the second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the print medium. It is a droplet ejection method of a droplet ejection device.
An outbound ejection step of ejecting the droplet based on the first image data while scanning the carriage in the first direction.
The carriage is scanned in the second direction, and the return path ejection step of ejecting the droplet based on the second image data different from the first image data is provided.
Dots are not formed by the return ejection process in the region on the print medium where the dots are formed by the outward ejection process.
A droplet ejection method characterized in that dots are not formed in the region on the print medium in which the dots are formed by the return ejection step.

Images