JP2023067603A - inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress a printing quality from deteriorating.SOLUTION: A control device 60 of a printer 10 comprises: an intermediate distribution ratio creating part 73 that creates intermediate dot distribution-rate information in which a plurality of dot distribution ratios have an intermediate distribution ratio between a first distribution ratio and a second distribution ratio, on the basis of first dot distribution-ratio information in which the plurality of dot distribution ratios have the first distribution ratio and second dot distribution-ratio information in which the dot distribution ratios have the second distribution ratio; a dividing part 75 that divides an area of a vector-type object Pd11 of input data Pd1 into a first area AR11, a second area AR12 and an intermediate area AR13, in accordance with a thickness of the object Pd11; a first converting part 81 that converts the first area AR11 to printing data for printing on the basis of the first distribution ratio; a second converting part 82 that converts the second area AR12 to the printing data on the basis of the second distribution ratio; an intermediate converting part 83 that converts the intermediate area AR13 to the printing data on the basis of the intermediate distribution ratio; and a printing part 84 that performs printing on the basis of the printing data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to inkjet printers.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200000 discloses a print processing apparatus capable of ejecting three different sizes of ink, namely, small dots, medium dots, and large dots. In this print processing apparatus, when the type of object to be printed is character, it is determined whether or not the character size is X points or less. If the character size is larger than X points, normal size screen processing is performed for printing, and if the character size is X points or less, small size screen processing is performed for printing. Here, in the small-size screen processing, the density setting is shifted to the low density side compared to the normal-size screen processing. This makes it possible to improve the legibility of printed small-sized characters.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200001 discloses a printing system that reduces printing of discontinuous thin lines when the lines to be printed are thin lines. In this printing system, when a thin line exists in the print source data, the threshold value of the dither mask is changed, and halftone processing is performed based on the dither mask with the changed threshold value. As a result, the number of locations where dots are formed by ink ejection can be increased, and the continuity of fine lines can be enhanced. As a result, it is possible to reduce discontinuity of fine lines in the printed image.

JP-A-2004-306555 JP 2012-157998 A

By the way, in the print processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200010, when different screen processing is performed for characters to be printed when the character size is large and when the character size is small, the boundaries between characters with large character sizes and characters with small character sizes are different. Print quality may be degraded in some areas. Further, in the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 2, when executing halftone processing based on a dither mask whose threshold value is changed depending on whether the line to be printed is a thin line, the thin line and the thin line The print quality may be degraded at the boundary between the line and the non-marked line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an inkjet printer capable of suppressing deterioration in print quality.

An inkjet printer according to the present invention includes a support base that supports a medium, an ink head capable of ejecting ink dots of a plurality of sizes, and a medium supported by the support base and the ink head that are moved relatively. and a control device. The control device includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, an intermediate distribution rate creation unit, an acquisition unit, a division unit, a first conversion unit, a second conversion unit, an intermediate conversion unit, a printing and The first acquisition unit acquires first dot distribution ratio information in which ink distribution ratios of dots of a plurality of sizes are indicated by a first distribution ratio according to the gradation. The second obtaining unit provides a second dot allocation indicating the ink allocation ratios of dots of a plurality of sizes with a second allocation ratio in which the allocation ratio of ink for small dots is higher than the first allocation ratio. Get rate information. The intermediate distribution rate creation unit is configured to create an intermediate distribution rate between the first dot distribution rate and the second dot distribution rate based on the first dot distribution rate information and the second dot distribution rate information, Intermediate dot distribution ratio information indicating ink distribution ratios for dots of a plurality of sizes is created. The acquisition unit acquires printable input data including at least an object in vector format. The division unit divides the area of the object in vector format of the input data into a first area in which the thickness of the object in vector format is larger than the first thickness, and a first area in which the thickness of the object in vector format is larger than the first thickness. a second thickness smaller than the thickness of 1, a second area smaller than the thickness of 1, and the thickness of the vector format object is less than or equal to the first thickness and greater than or equal to the second thickness. Divide into middle region and . The first conversion unit converts the first region of the vector format object into print data for printing based on the first distribution ratio. The second conversion unit converts the second area of the vector format object into the print data based on the second distribution ratio. The intermediate conversion unit converts the intermediate area of the vector format object into the print data based on the intermediate distribution ratio. The printing section performs printing by ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes based on the print data converted by the first converting section, the second converting section, and the intermediate converting section.

According to the ink jet printer, the first dot distribution ratio information used for the first area larger than the first thickness and the second area smaller than the second thickness among the areas of the vector format object. Intermediate dot distribution rate information used for the intermediate region between the first region and the second region is created based on the second dot distribution rate information used for the second dot distribution rate information. Therefore, when printing based on print data obtained by converting the intermediate area of a vector format object, a plurality of dots of ink are ejected at an intermediate distribution ratio between the first distribution ratio and the second distribution ratio. , the difference in printing at the boundary between the first area and the intermediate area and the difference in printing at the boundary between the intermediate area and the second area can be reduced as compared with the conventional art. Therefore, printing is performed based on print data converted from input data using intermediate dot distribution ratio information in addition to the first dot distribution ratio information and the second dot distribution ratio information, thereby preventing deterioration in printing quality. can be suppressed.

Another ink jet printer according to the present invention includes a support table for supporting a medium, an ink head capable of ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes, and a medium supported by the support table and the ink head. and a control device. The control device includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, an intermediate distribution rate creation unit, an acquisition unit, an edge detection unit, a distance calculation unit, a division unit, a first conversion unit, a second It comprises a converting section, an intermediate converting section, and a printing section. The first acquisition unit acquires first dot distribution ratio information in which ink distribution ratios of dots of a plurality of sizes are indicated by a first distribution ratio according to the gradation. The second obtaining unit provides a second dot allocation indicating the ink allocation ratios of dots of a plurality of sizes with a second allocation ratio in which the allocation ratio of ink for small dots is higher than the first allocation ratio. Get rate information. The intermediate distribution rate creation unit is configured to create an intermediate distribution rate between the first dot distribution rate and the second dot distribution rate based on the first dot distribution rate information and the second dot distribution rate information, Intermediate dot distribution ratio information indicating ink distribution ratios for dots of a plurality of sizes is created. The acquisition unit acquires printable input data including at least an object. The edge detection unit detects edges of the object in the input data. The distance calculation unit calculates an edge-to-edge distance of the object based on the edges of the object detected by the edge detection unit. The dividing unit divides the region of the object in the input data into a first region in which the distance between edges is larger than a first distance and a second distance in which the distance between edges is smaller than the first distance. It divides into a second region and an intermediate region in which the distance between edges is equal to or less than the first distance and equal to or greater than the second distance. The first conversion unit converts the first area of the object into print data for printing based on the first distribution ratio. The second conversion unit converts the second area of the object into the print data based on the second allocation ratio. The intermediate conversion section converts the intermediate area of the object into the print data based on the intermediate distribution ratio. The printing section performs printing by ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes based on the print data converted by the first converting section, the second converting section, and the intermediate converting section.

According to the other inkjet printers described above, the object included in the input data may not include thickness (for example, width) information. However, in this case, by detecting edges on the object of the input data and calculating the distance between edges, the thickness of lines and the like that make up the object can be calculated as the distance between edges. Therefore, when printing based on the print data obtained by converting the intermediate area of the object, the area in which the distance between the edges of the object is equal to or smaller than the first distance and equal to or larger than the second distance is defined as the intermediate area. A plurality of dots of ink are ejected at intermediate distribution ratios between the ratios. Therefore, the difference in object printing at the boundary between the first area and the intermediate area and the difference in object printing at the boundary between the intermediate area and the second area can be reduced compared to the conventional art. As a result, printing is performed based on print data obtained by converting input data using intermediate dot distribution ratio information in addition to the first dot distribution ratio information and the second dot distribution ratio information, thereby degrading printing quality. can be suppressed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the inkjet printer which can suppress that the quality of printing falls can be provided.

1 is a front view showing a printer according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a bottom view schematically showing the configuration of the bottom surfaces of the carriage and ink heads of the printer; 1 is a block diagram of a printer according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing first, second, and third dots of ink that can be ejected by an ink head; It is a figure which shows an example of input data. 7 is a graph showing first dot distribution ratio information; 9 is a graph showing second dot distribution ratio information; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing lines of vector-formatted objects in input data; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing characters of vector format objects in input data; FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing print control for an object in vector format of input data; FIG. 7 is a graph showing intermediate dot distribution ratio information; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing raster format objects in input data; 4 is a flow chart showing print control for an object in raster format of input data; Fig. 3 shows an object in raster form after edges have been detected;

An embodiment of an inkjet printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are, of course, not intended to specifically limit the present invention. Further, members and parts having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are appropriately omitted or simplified.

An inkjet printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 according to this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a printer 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view schematically showing the configuration of the bottom surfaces of the carriage 17 and the ink head 20 of the printer 10. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printer 10 according to this embodiment. Here, symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom of the printer 10, respectively. Symbol Y in the drawing indicates the main scanning direction. In this embodiment, the main scanning direction Y is the horizontal direction. Symbol X in the drawing indicates the sub-scanning direction. In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction X is the front-rear direction, and is a direction that intersects (here, is perpendicular to) the main scanning direction Y in plan view. However, these directions are merely directions determined for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the installation mode of the printer 10 in any way, and do not limit the present invention in any way.

The printer 10 prints on the medium 5 shown in FIG. The medium 5 is, for example, roll-shaped recording paper, so-called roll paper. However, the medium 5 is not limited to roll-shaped recording paper. For example, the medium 5 may be a sheet or film made of a resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polyester, a plate material, a fabric such as a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric, or other media other than paper such as plain paper and inkjet printing paper. good.

The printer 10 is an inkjet printer. In this embodiment, the printer 10 is a so-called roll-to-roll type printer, and moves the roll-shaped medium 5 in the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in FIG. However, the printer 10 may be a so-called flatbed type printer, and the medium 5 is also moved in the sub-scanning direction X by moving the support base 13 (see FIG. 1) described later in the sub-scanning direction X. may be Further, the printer 10 may be a so-called gantry type printer, in which the medium 5 itself supported by the support table 13 does not move, and an ink head 20 (see FIG. 2) described later moves in the main scanning direction Y and in the sub scanning direction. It may move in the scanning direction X.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a printer body 11, a support base 13, a guide rail 15, a carriage 17, an ink head 20 (see FIG. 2), a moving mechanism 30, an operation panel 50, and a control device 60 .

The printer main body 11 has a casing extending in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. A printer body 11 is supported by legs 12 . The leg 12 is provided on the bottom surface of the printer main body 11 and extends downward from the bottom surface.

A support base 13 supports the medium 5 . Here, the upper surface of the support base 13 extends in the main scanning direction Y and the sub scanning direction X. As shown in FIG. The medium 5 is placed on the upper surface of the support base 13 . Printing is performed on the medium 5 on the support table 13 .

The guide rail 15 is arranged above the support base 13 . The guide rail 15 is arranged parallel to the upper surface of the support base 13 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. A carriage 17 is engaged with the guide rail 15 . The carriage 17 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 15 and is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 15 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink head 20 is provided on the carriage 17 . Here, the ink head 20 is supported by the carriage 17 so that its lower surface (here, a nozzle surface 25 described later) is exposed. The number of ink heads 20 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the number of ink heads 20 is four. The four ink heads 20 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. The ink head 20 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 15 together with the carriage 17 .

Each ink head 20 has a nozzle surface 25 . The nozzle surface 25 constitutes the lower surface of the ink head 20 . A nozzle 26 is formed on each nozzle surface 25 . A plurality of nozzles 26 are formed on the nozzle surface 25 and arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in FIG. Here, a row of nozzles 26 arranged in the sub-scanning direction X on the nozzle surface 25 is called a nozzle row 27 . Here, the number of nozzle rows 27 on one nozzle surface 25 is two. However, the number of nozzle rows 27 on one nozzle surface 25 may be one, or three or more.

In this embodiment, different color inks are ejected from the nozzles 26 for each nozzle row 27 of the ink head 20 . The ink ejected from the nozzles 26 of the ink head 20 is, for example, process color ink or special color ink. Process color inks include, for example, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. Special color inks are inks other than process color inks. Special color inks include primer ink, white ink, clear ink, gloss ink, fluorescent ink, metallic ink, orange ink, red ink, violet ink, blue ink, green ink, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the moving mechanism 30 is a mechanism for relatively moving the medium 5 supported by the support table 13 and the ink head 20 (for example, a mechanism for moving in three-dimensional directions). The configuration of the moving mechanism 30 is not particularly limited. Here, the moving mechanism 30 has a head moving mechanism 40 and a medium moving mechanism 45 .

The head moving mechanism 40 is a mechanism for relatively moving the ink head 20 (see FIG. 2) in the main scanning direction Y with respect to the medium 5 supported by the support table 13 . In this embodiment, the head moving mechanism 40 moves the ink head 20 and the carriage 17 in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. Note that the configuration of the head moving mechanism 40 is not particularly limited. Here, the head moving mechanism 40 includes left and right pulleys 41a and 41b, a belt 42, and a scan motor 43, as shown in FIG. The left pulley 41 a is provided around the left end of the guide rail 15 . The right pulley 41 b is provided around the right end of the guide rail 15 . The belt 42 is an endless belt and is wound around left and right pulleys 41a and 41b. The carriage 17 is attached and fixed to the belt 42 . A scan motor 43 is connected to the right pulley 41b.

Here, by driving the scan motor 43, the right pulley 41b rotates and the belt 42 runs. As a result, the carriage 17 and the ink head 20 move in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 15 .

The medium moving mechanism 45 is a mechanism for moving the medium 5 supported by the support table 13 in the sub-scanning direction X relative to the ink head 20 . In this embodiment, the medium moving mechanism 45 moves in the sub-scanning direction X the medium 5 supported by the support table 13 . Note that the configuration of the medium moving mechanism 45 is not particularly limited. Here, the media moving mechanism 45 includes pinch rollers 46 , grit rollers 47 and feed motors 48 . The pinch roller 46 is provided above the support base 13 and below the guide rail 15 to press the medium 5 from above. The pinch roller 46 is arranged behind the carriage 17 in plan view. The grit roller 47 is provided on the support base 13 and is a member having a cylindrical outer peripheral shape. The grit roller 47 is embedded in the support base 13 with its upper surface exposed. The grit roller 47 faces the pinch roller 46 . A feed motor 48 is connected to the grit roller 47 .

When the feed motor 48 is driven with the medium 5 sandwiched between the pinch roller 46 and the grit roller 47, the grit roller 47 rotates. As a result, the medium 5 supported by the support base 13 is transported in the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 50 is provided at the right end of the printer main body 11. As shown in FIG. The operation panel 50 is provided with a display screen 51 for displaying the status of the printer 10, input keys 52 operated by the user, and the like.

The control device 60 is a device that controls printing and the like. The configuration of the control device 60 is not particularly limited. The control device 60 is, for example, a microcomputer. The hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited. The control device 60 includes, for example, an I/F, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control device 60 is provided inside the printer body 11 . However, the control device 60 may be realized by a computer or the like installed outside the printer main body 11 . In this case, the control device 60 is communicably connected to a control board (not shown) of the printer 10 via wire or wireless.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 60 controls the ink head 20, the head moving mechanism 40 of the moving mechanism 30 (more specifically, the scan motor 43), the medium moving mechanism 45 of the moving mechanism 30 (more specifically, the feed motor). 48), and the operation panel 50 (more specifically, the display screen 51 and the input keys 52) are communicably connected. The control device 60 controls the ink head 20 , the head moving mechanism 40 , the medium moving mechanism 45 and the operation panel 50 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing ink of a plurality of dots Dt1 that can be ejected by the ink head 20. As shown in FIG. By the way, in the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Printing is performed on the medium 5 by gathering the ink of the dots Dt1 of these multiple sizes. The number of types of sizes of the ink dots Dt1 ejected by the ink head 20 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the ink head 20 is capable of ejecting ink for three types of dots Dt1 with different diameters.

Here, the ink dot Dt1 ejected from the ink head 20 includes a first dot Dt11, a second dot Dt12, and a third dot Dt13. The first dot Dt11 is a so-called large dot and has a first diameter A11. The second dots Dt12 are so-called medium dots and have a second diameter A12. Here, the second diameter A12 is smaller than the first diameter A11. The third dot Dt13 is a so-called small dot and has a third diameter A13. The third diameter A13 is smaller than the first diameter A11 and smaller than the second diameter A12.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of input data Pd1. The printer 10 according to the present embodiment converts the input data Pd1 as shown in FIG. 5 into print data, and prints based on the converted print data. For example, in the input data Pd1, printing is performed on the medium 5 based on the input data Pd1 by ejecting ink from the ink head 20 onto a region of the medium 5 corresponding to the region where the color is specified. The input data Pd1 is saved, for example, in a PDF (Portable Document Format) format. The input data Pd1 can be rephrased as image data, for example.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the input data Pd1 includes an object. An object is a general term for all things that can be edited with so-called drawing and editing software. Objects include lines, characters, images, and the like. Objects include a vector format object Pd11 and a raster format object Pd12. Depending on the input data Pd1, one of the vector-format object Pd11 and the raster-format object Pd12 may be arranged, and the other may not be arranged. Here, the vector format object Pd11 and the raster format object Pd12 have different data formats. The object Pd11 in vector format is a data format in which geometric information of the object (for example, coordinate position of point, line width, curve degree of line, etc.) is stored. The raster format object Pd12 is a data format in which the pixel values of the object are stored.

Here, the vector-format object Pd11 includes preset information about the thickness of the object Pd11, and is printed with a thickness corresponding to the thickness information. The thickness information includes information such as line width, character size, and character line width included in the vector-format object Pd11, and is defined in units such as points, for example. Examples of the vector-format object Pd11 include, for example, a line Pd21 and a character Pd22. Here, the line Pd21 includes straight lines and curved lines. The width of the line Pd21 is the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11. The characters Pd22 are drawn in a predetermined font, and include, for example, hiragana, katakana, kanji, alphanumeric characters, and symbols. The size of the character Pd22 is the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11.

The raster format object Pd12 is the input data Pd1 excluding the vector format object Pd11. The raster format object Pd12 is, for example, an image. Images include, for example, pictures, patterns, photographs, and the like. Unlike the vector-format object Pd11, the raster-format object Pd12 does not include information about thickness expressed in units such as points. Therefore, which part of the raster-format object Pd12 is thick and which part is thin cannot be directly known from the raster-format object Pd12.

6 and 7 are graphs showing the dot distribution ratio information R1. By the way, in the present embodiment, in the predetermined area of the input data Pd1, what ratio of the ink of the first dots Dt11, the ink of the second dots Dt12, and the ink of the third dots Dt13 to the predetermined area? It is determined based on the dot distribution ratio information R1 shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, or the like.

Here, the dot distribution ratio information R1 is, for example, as shown in FIG. It stipulates the allocation ratio of The dot distribution rate information R1 is represented by, for example, a table, and graphs of the dot distribution rate information R1 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. In FIG. 6 and the like, the horizontal axis indicates the gradation of the input data Pd1, and the vertical axis indicates the ratio (in other words, distribution ratio) of each of the first dots Dt11 to the third dots Dt13. there is The ink of the first dots Dt11 to the third dots Dt13 is ejected toward the medium 5 so that the distribution ratio corresponds to the gradation of the input data Pd1, and printing is performed based on the print data converted from the input data Pd1. performed on medium 5;

For example, the dot distribution rate information R1 has first dot distribution rate information R11 (see FIG. 6) and second dot distribution rate information R12 (see FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the first dot distribution ratio information R11 includes dots of a plurality of sizes (here, first dots Dt11 to third dots Dt13) of ink in accordance with the gradation. This is information in which the allocation rate is indicated by the first allocation rate Rt1. As shown in FIG. 7, the second dot distribution ratio information R12 indicates that the ink distribution ratio of dots of a plurality of sizes (here, the first dot Dt11 to the third dot Dt13) is second in accordance with the gradation. This is the information indicated by the distribution rate Rt2.

Here, the first allocation rate Rt1 and the second allocation rate Rt2 are different. The second distribution rate Rt2 is higher than the first distribution rate Rt1 in that the ink distribution rate for small dots is higher. In the present embodiment, in the second dot distribution ratio information R12, the second distribution ratio Rt2 makes the ink distribution ratios of the second dots Dt12 and the third dots Dt13 higher than the first distribution ratio Rt1. In the first dot distribution rate information R11, the first distribution rate Rt1 makes the ink distribution rate of the first dots Dt11 higher than the second distribution rate Rt2.

Conventionally, for example, when an object Pd11 in vector format of input data Pd1 is converted into print data and printed, for a thick object Pd11 (for example, an object Pd11 having a thickness equal to or larger than a predetermined reference thickness), Printing is performed based on the first dot distribution rate information R11 (see FIG. 6), and the second dot distribution rate information R12 (see 7). In other words, in printing the thin object Pd11, the ink distribution ratios of the third dots Dt13 and the second dots Dt12 are set higher than in printing the thick object Pd11.

However, as described above, when the input data Pd1 is converted into print data and printed using only the first and second dot distribution rate information R11 and R12, the first dot distribution rate information R11 and the second dot distribution At the portion where the ratio information R12 is switched, that is, at the boundary between the reference thickness or more and the reference thickness or less, there is a possibility that the printing quality may be degraded. Therefore, in the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, even when printing is performed using a plurality of pieces of dot distribution ratio information R1, the print quality is prevented from deteriorating. I do.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. , a dividing unit 75 , a first converting unit 81 , a second converting unit 82 , an intermediate converting unit 83 , and a printing unit 84 . Further, the control device 60 includes an image correction processing section 91 , an edge detection section 92 and a distance calculation section 93 . Each unit 61 to 93 constituting the control device 60 may be realized by one or a plurality of processors, or may be realized by circuits. Further, each of the units 61 to 93 constituting the control device 60 may be implemented by being programmed by predetermined software.

Next, a procedure for printing on the medium 5 based on the input data Pd1A will be described. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing lines Pd21A and characters Pd22A, respectively, of a vector-format object Pd11A in input data Pd1A. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing print control for the vector format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A. Here, first, the procedure for printing the vector format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 on the medium 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Here, first, in step S101 of FIG. 10, the first acquiring section 71 of FIG. 3 acquires the first dot distribution ratio information R11 (see FIG. 6). For example, the first dot distribution ratio information R11 is stored in the storage unit 61 in advance. Here, the first acquisition section 71 acquires the first dot distribution ratio information R11 stored in the storage section 61 from the storage section 61 . However, the first dot distribution rate information R11 may not be stored in the storage unit 61, and may be stored in an external device such as a personal computer communicably connected to the printer 10. In this case, the first acquiring section 71 may acquire the first dot distribution ratio information R11 from the external device. The first dot distribution rate information R11 acquired from the external device may be stored in the storage section 61 .

Next, at step S103 in FIG. 10, the second acquiring section 72 in FIG. 3 acquires the second dot distribution ratio information R12 (see FIG. 7). Here, the second dot distribution rate information R12 is pre-stored in the storage unit 61, like the first dot distribution rate information R11. The second obtaining portion 72 obtains the second dot distribution ratio information R12 stored in the storage portion 61 from the storage portion 61 . However, the second dot distribution ratio information R12 may be stored in the external device communicatively connected to the printer 10. FIG. In this case, the second obtaining section 72 may obtain the second dot distribution ratio information R12 from the external device. The second dot distribution rate information R12 acquired from the external device may be stored in the storage section 61 .

FIG. 11 is a graph showing intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13. Next, at step S105 in FIG. 10, the intermediate dot distribution rate creating unit 73 in FIG. 3 creates intermediate dot distribution rate information R13 as shown in FIG. Here, the intermediate dot distribution rate creating unit 73 creates the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13 based on the first dot distribution rate information R11 (see FIG. 6) and the second dot distribution rate information R12 (see FIG. 7). do. Here, the intermediate dot allocation information R13 is an intermediate allocation ratio Rt3 between the first allocation ratio Rt1 (see FIG. 6) and the second allocation ratio Rt2 (see FIG. 7), and dots of a plurality of sizes. This is information indicating the ink distribution rate of (here, the first dot Dt11 to the third dot Dt13). In the intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13, in the gradation of the input data Pd1A, the distribution ratio of the first dot Dt11 is between the first distribution ratio Rt1 and the second distribution ratio Rt2 of the first dot Dt11, and the second dot Dt12. is between the first allocation ratio Rt1 and the second allocation ratio Rt2 for the second dot Dt12, and the allocation ratio for the third dot Dt13 is between the first allocation ratio Rt1 and the second allocation ratio Rt1 for the third dot Dt13. It is between the distribution rate Rt2.

In this embodiment, in the intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13, the ink distribution ratio of the first dots Dt11 is set lower than the first distribution ratio Rt1 and higher than the second distribution ratio Rt2 at the intermediate distribution ratio Rt3. there is At the intermediate distribution rate Rt3, the ink distribution rate of the second dots Dt12 is set higher than the first distribution rate Rt1 and lower than the second distribution rate Rt2. At the intermediate distribution rate Rt3, the ink distribution rate of the third dots Dt13 is set higher than the first distribution rate Rt1 and lower than the second distribution rate Rt2.

Note that the specific control for creating the intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 by the intermediate dot distribution ratio creating unit 73 is as long as it is created based on the first dot distribution ratio information R11 and the second dot distribution ratio information R12. , is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, the intermediate dot distribution ratio creation unit 73 creates intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 using linear interpolation. Here, the intermediate dot distribution rate creating unit 73 calculates the intermediate dot distribution rate Rt3 by linearly interpolating the first distribution rate Rt1 and the second distribution rate Rt2, thereby creating the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13. . Note that the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13 created by the intermediate dot distribution rate creating section 73 is stored in the storage section 61 of FIG.

Next, at step S107 in FIG. 10, the acquisition unit 74 in FIG. 3 acquires input data Pd1A including at least a vector-format object Pd11A as shown in FIGS. The input data Pd1A is stored in an external device communicably connected to the printer 10, for example. For example, software for creating input data is installed in the external device. The external device creates and stores input data Pd1A using software for creating input data. Acquisition unit 74 of printer 10 acquires input data Pd1A from an external device communicably connected to printer 10 . The input data Pd1A acquired from the external device is stored in the storage unit 61 of FIG. Note that the input data Pd1A may be stored in the storage unit 61 in advance. In this case, the acquisition unit 74 may acquire the input data Pd1A stored in the storage unit 61 in advance.

Next, in step S109 of FIG. 10, the dividing unit 75 of FIG. 3 divides the vector format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A into a first area AR11 and a second area AR12 as shown in FIGS. , and an intermediate region AR13. Here, the vector-format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A is divided according to the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11A. In this embodiment, the area of the thick object Pd11A is the first area AR11, and the area of the thin object Pd11A is the second area AR12. The area of the vector-format object Pd11A between the thick object Pd11A and the thin object Pd11A is defined as an intermediate area AR13. Here, the intermediate area AR13 is an area obtained by excluding the first area AR11 and the second area AR12 from the entire area of the vector-format object Pd11A.

In the present embodiment, the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11A at the boundary between the first area AR11 and the intermediate area AR13 is the first thickness. That is, the dividing unit 75 sets the area of the object Pd11A in the vector format whose thickness is larger than the first thickness as the first area AR11. In FIGS. 8 and 9, a boundary line L11 is a line indicating the boundary between the first area AR11 and the intermediate area AR13. Here, the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11 at the boundary between the intermediate area AR13 and the second area AR12 is the second thickness. The second thickness is smaller than the first thickness. The dividing unit 75 sets the area of the object Pd11A having the thickness smaller than the second thickness as the second area AR12. In FIGS. 8 and 9, a boundary line L12 is a line indicating the boundary between the intermediate area AR13 and the second area AR12. The dividing unit 75 sets the area of the object Pd11A in which the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11A is equal to or smaller than the first thickness and equal to or larger than the second thickness as the intermediate area AR13.

Here, the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11A can be expressed in units of points. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the vector format object Pd11A is a line Pd21A, the thickness of the vector format object Pd11A is the width of the line Pd21A. At this time, the first thickness can be rephrased as the first width. The second thickness is rephrased as the second width. The second width is a width smaller than the first width. Of the area of the line Pd21A of the vector-format object Pd11A, the dividing unit 75 sets the area where the width of the line Pd21A is larger than the first width as the first area AR11, and the area where the width of the line Pd21A is smaller than the second width. A second area AR12. Of the area of the line Pd21A of the vector-format object Pd11A, the dividing unit 75 defines an area in which the width of the line Pd21A is equal to or smaller than the first width and equal to or larger than the second width as an intermediate area AR13.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, when the vector format object Pd11A is a character Pd22A, the thickness of the vector format object Pd11A is the size of the character Pd22A. The first thickness is rephrased as the first size. The second thickness is rephrased as the second size. The second size is smaller than the first size. Of the area of the character Pd22A of the vector-format object Pd11A, the dividing unit 75 sets the area in which the size of the character Pd22A is larger than the first size as the first area AR11, and the area in which the size of the character Pd22A is smaller than the second size. A second area AR12. Of the character Pd22A area of the vector-format object Pd11A, the dividing unit 75 defines an area in which the size of the character Pd22A is equal to or smaller than the first size and equal to or larger than the second size as an intermediate area AR13.

After dividing the area of the vector-format object Pd11A into the first area AR11, the second area AR12, and the intermediate area AR13 by the dividing unit 75 as described above, the process proceeds to step S111 in FIG. In step S111, the vector format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A is converted into print data. In this embodiment, input data Pd1A is converted into print data by performing RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing. Here, the print data is data for printing, and is data that can be interpreted by the printer 10 itself. The print data is raster data or bitmap data obtained by RIP processing. RIP processing is, for example, rasterization processing, and includes halftone processing, color conversion processing, and the like.

In this embodiment, the first conversion unit 81 converts the first area AR11 of the vector-format object Pd11A into print data based on the first dot distribution rate Rt1 (see FIG. 6) of the first dot distribution rate information R11. do. Here, the first conversion unit 81 performs RIP processing on the first area AR11 to convert it into print data. The second conversion unit 82 converts the second area AR12 of the vector-format object Pd11A into print data based on the second dot distribution rate Rt2 (see FIG. 7) of the second dot distribution rate information R12. Here, the second conversion unit 82 performs RIP processing on the second area AR12 to convert it into print data. The intermediate conversion unit 83 converts the intermediate area AR13 of the vector-format object Pd11A into print data based on the intermediate dot distribution rate Rt3 (see FIG. 11) of the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13. Here, the intermediate conversion unit 83 performs RIP processing on the intermediate area AR13 to convert it into print data. The conversion to print data may be performed for each area, that is, the conversion to print data may be performed separately for the first area AR11, the second area AR12, and the intermediate area AR13. Also, the conversion into print data may be performed collectively for the first area AR11, the second area AR12, and the intermediate area AR13.

After converting the vector-format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A into print data in this way, in step S113 of FIG. 10, the vector-format object Pd11A is printed based on the print data.

In this embodiment, the printing unit 84 generates dots of a plurality of sizes (here, the first dots Dt11 to Printing is performed by ejecting the ink of the third dot Dt13). Here, the printing unit 84 collectively (that is, once) prints the first area AR11, the second area AR12, and the intermediate area AR13. The printing of each area is specifically performed as follows.

For example, the printing unit 84 prints the first area AR11 of the vector-format object Pd11A based on the print data using the first dot distribution rate information R11 (see FIG. 6). The printing unit 84 ejects ink of a plurality of sizes (here, first dots Dt11 to third dots Dt13) at a first distribution ratio Rt1 according to the gradation to print a line in the vector-format object Pd11A. Printing of the first area AR11 of Pd21A and printing of the first area AR11 of character Pd22A are performed.

The printing unit 84 prints the second area AR12 of the vector-format object Pd11A based on the print data using the second dot distribution rate information R12 (see FIG. 7). The printing unit 84 ejects ink of a plurality of sizes (here, first dots Dt11 to third dots Dt13) at a second distribution ratio Rt2 according to the gradation to print a line in the vector-format object Pd11A. Printing of the second area AR12 of Pd21A and printing of the second area AR12 of the character Pd22A are performed.

The printing unit 84 prints the intermediate area AR13 of the vector-format object Pd11A based on the print data using the intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 (see FIG. 11). The printing unit 84 ejects ink of a plurality of sizes (first dot Dt11 to third dot Dt13 here) at an intermediate distribution ratio Rt3 according to the gradation to print a line Pd21A in the vector format object Pd11A. and printing of the intermediate area AR13 of the character Pd22A.

As described above, in this embodiment, the first dot distribution rate information R11, the second dot distribution rate information R12, and the The intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 is used to print the vector format object Pd11A.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a raster format object Pd12A in the input data Pd1A. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing print control for raster format object Pd12A of input data Pd1A. Next, the procedure for printing the raster format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A shown in FIG. 12 on the medium 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Here, as shown in FIG. 13, in step S201, the first acquisition unit 71 in FIG. 3 acquires the first dot distribution ratio information R11 (see FIG. 6), and in step S203, the second acquisition unit 71 in FIG. The unit 72 acquires the second dot distribution ratio information R12 (see FIG. 7). In step S205, the intermediate dot distribution rate creating unit 73 in FIG. 3 creates intermediate dot distribution rate information R13 (see FIG. 11) based on the first dot distribution rate information R11 and the second dot distribution rate information R12. In step S207, the acquisition unit 74 in FIG. 3 acquires input data Pd1A including at least a raster-format object Pd12A as shown in FIG. Here, steps S201, S203, S205, and S207 in FIG. 13 are the same as steps S101, S103, S105, and S107 in FIG. do.

Next, in step S209 in FIG. 13, the image correction processing unit 91 in FIG. 3 executes image correction processing for correcting the color values of the input data Pd1A (see FIG. 12) acquired by the acquisition unit 74. . Image correction processing is preprocessing for reducing the load of processing for detecting edges, which will be described later. By executing image correction processing, edges can be easily detected. Here, the image correction processing includes gray scale processing. By this grayscale processing, colors can be expressed in grayscale for the input data Pd1A. The input data Pd1A that has been subjected to grayscale processing is data that does not contain information other than luminous intensity. It expresses including the light and shade of gray. As the image correction process, a spatial filter (for example, an edge enhancement filter, a noise removal filter, a color correction filter, etc.) may be applied to the input data Pd1A.

Next, in step S211 of FIG. 13, the edge detection unit 92 of FIG. 3 detects edges of the raster format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A. In the present embodiment, the edge detection unit 92 detects the edge of the raster format object Pd12A of the image-corrected input data Pd1A. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the raster format object Pd12A after edges have been detected. Here, control for detecting specific edges is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the edge detection unit 92 detects the edge of the object Pd12A by extracting only the outline of the raster-format object Pd12A.

For example, the edge of the raster-format object Pd12A can also be said to be the outline of the raster-format object Pd12A. Here, by detecting edges, information other than the contour line of the raster-format object Pd12A, such as a painted portion, is deleted. Note that the input data Pd1A may include a vector-format object Pd11A (see FIGS. 8 and 9) in addition to the raster-format object Pd12A. In this case, the image correction processing in step S209 of FIG. 13 may be performed on the vector-format object Pd11A, or the edge detection in step S211 may be performed. If the input data Pd1A includes both a raster-format object Pd12A and a vector-format object Pd11A, image correction processing and edge detection are performed after RIP processing (rasterization processing) of both objects Pd11A and Pd12A. may be done.

Next, at step S213 in FIG. 13, the distance calculation unit 93 in FIG. , the edge-to-edge distance D1 is calculated. Here, the edge-to-edge distance D1 is the width (in other words, thickness) of the painted-out portion of the raster-format object Pd12A. The inter-edge distance D1 is, for example, the distance between the contour lines in the direction orthogonal to the contour line of the raster-format object Pd12A. Therefore, the direction of the edge-to-edge distance D1 is not particularly limited, and is determined according to the shape, size, etc. of the raster-format object Pd12A. However, in order to shorten the time required for control, the direction of the edge-to-edge distance D1 may be determined in advance in a predetermined direction, such as the main scanning direction Y or the sub-scanning direction X. The edge-to-edge distance D<b>1 calculated by the distance calculation unit 93 is stored in the storage unit 61 .

When the input data Pd1A includes the vector-format object Pd11A, the edge-to-edge distance D1 is not calculated for the vector-format object Pd11A. However, the distance calculator 93 can also calculate the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the vector format object Pd11A.

Next, in step S215 of FIG. 13, the dividing unit 75 of FIG. 3 divides the raster format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A into a first area AR21, a second area AR22, and an intermediate area as shown in FIG. and AR23. Here, the raster-format object Pd12A is divided according to the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the raster-format object Pd12A. In the present embodiment, the area of the object Pd12A with the large inter-edge distance D1 is defined as the first area AR21, and the area of the object Pd12A with the small inter-edge distance D1 is defined as the second area AR22. The area of the object Pd12A between the object Pd12A with the large inter-edge distance D1 and the object Pd12A with the small inter-edge distance D1 is defined as an intermediate area AR23. Here, the intermediate area AR23 is an area obtained by excluding the first area AR21 and the second area AR22 from the entire area of the raster-format object Pd12A.

In the present embodiment, the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the raster format object Pd12A at the boundary between the first area AR21 and the intermediate area AR23 is the first distance. That is, the dividing unit 75 sets the area of the object Pd12A in which the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the raster format object Pd12A is greater than the first distance as the first area AR21. In FIG. 14, a boundary line D11 is a line that indicates the boundary between the first area AR21 and the intermediate area AR23. Here, the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the raster-format object Pd12A at the boundary between the intermediate area AR23 and the second area AR22 is the second distance. That is, the dividing unit 75 sets the region of the object Pd12A in which the inter-edge distance D1 of the raster format object Pd12A is smaller than the second distance as the second region AR22. In FIG. 14, the boundary line D12 is a line indicating the boundary between the intermediate area AR23 and the second area AR22. The dividing unit 75 defines an area of the object Pd12A in which the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the object Pd12A in the raster format is equal to or smaller than the first distance and equal to or larger than the second distance as an intermediate area AR23.

Next, in step S217 in FIG. 13, the input data Pd1A is subjected to RIP processing and converted into print data. This step S217 is the same as step S113 in FIG. Here, the first conversion unit 81 converts the first area AR21 of the object Pd12A in raster format into print data for printing based on the first distribution rate Rt1 (see FIG. 6). The second conversion unit 82 converts the second area AR22 of the raster-format object Pd12A into print data based on the second distribution rate Rt2 (see FIG. 7). The intermediate conversion unit 83 converts the intermediate area AR23 of the raster-format object Pd12A into print data based on the intermediate distribution ratio Rt3 (see FIG. 11).

Next, at step S219 in FIG. 13, the printing unit 84 in FIG. (Here, the first dot Dt11 to the third dot Dt13) are ejected to print on the medium 5 . Here, the printing unit 84 collectively (that is, once) prints the first area AR21, the second area AR22, and the intermediate area AR23. The printing of each area is specifically performed as follows.

In this embodiment, the printing unit 84 uses the first dot distribution rate information R11 (see FIG. 6) to print the first area AR21 of the raster-format object Pd12A. The printing unit 84 ejects ink of a plurality of sizes (here, the first dot Dt11 to the third dot Dt13) at the first distribution ratio Rt1 according to the gradation to print the raster format object Pd12A. 1 area AR21 is printed.

The printing unit 84 uses the second dot distribution ratio information R12 (see FIG. 7) to print the second area AR22 of the raster format object Pd12A. The printing unit 84 ejects ink of a plurality of sizes of dots (here, the first dot Dt11 to the third dot Dt13) at the second distribution ratio Rt2 according to the gradation to print the raster format object Pd12A. 2 area AR22 is printed.

The printing unit 84 uses the intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 (see FIG. 11) to print the intermediate area AR23 of the raster format object Pd12A. The printing unit 84 ejects ink of a plurality of sizes (here, the first dots Dt11 to the third dots Dt13) at an intermediate distribution ratio Rt3 according to the gradation to print the intermediate area of the raster format object Pd12A. Print AR23.

As described above, in this embodiment, the first dot distribution rate information R11, the second dot distribution rate information R12, and the The intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 is used to print the raster format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A.

Note that when the input data Pd1A includes both a vector-format object Pd11A (see FIGS. 8 and 9) and a raster-format object Pd12A (see FIG. 12), the flow chart of FIG. 13 are executed simultaneously. Here, steps S101, S103, S105, and S107 in FIG. 10 are executed simultaneously with steps S201, S203, S205, and S207 in FIG. 13, respectively. Thereafter, steps S209, S211, and S213 of FIG. 13 are executed in order. After that, step S109 in FIG. 10 and step S215 in FIG. 13 are executed simultaneously, step S111 in FIG. 10 and step S217 in FIG. 13 are executed simultaneously, step S113 in FIG. 10 and step S219 in FIG. 13 are executed simultaneously, A vector-format object Pd11A and a raster-format object Pd12A are simultaneously printed on the medium 5 based on the print data converted from the input data Pd1A.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes the support table 13 that supports the medium 5, and the ink head 20 (see FIG. 4) capable of ejecting ink of dots Dt1 (see FIG. 4) of a plurality of sizes. 2), a moving mechanism 30 for relatively moving the medium 5 supported by the support table 13 and the ink head 20, and a control device 60. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 60 includes a first acquisition unit 71, a second acquisition unit 72, an intermediate distribution rate creation unit 73, an acquisition unit 74, a division unit 75, and a first conversion unit 81. , a second conversion section 82 , an intermediate conversion section 83 , and a printing section 84 . The first acquisition unit 71 acquires first dot distribution ratio information R11 (see FIG. 6) in which the ink distribution ratio of dots Dt1 of a plurality of sizes is indicated by a first distribution ratio Rt1 according to the gradient. . The second obtaining unit 72 obtains a second distribution rate Rt2 in which the ink distribution rate for the small dots Dt1 is higher than the first distribution rate Rt1, and the ink distribution rate for the dots Dt1 having a plurality of sizes is indicated by the second distribution rate Rt2. 2-dot distribution ratio information R12 (see FIG. 7) is obtained. Based on the first dot distribution rate information R11 and the second dot distribution rate information R12, the intermediate distribution rate creation unit 73 creates an intermediate distribution rate Rt3 between the first distribution rate Rt1 and the second dot distribution rate Rt2. , intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 (see FIG. 11) indicating the ink distribution ratio of dots Dt1 of a plurality of sizes is created. Acquisition unit 74 acquires printable input data Pd1A (see FIGS. 8 and 9) including at least object Pd11A in vector format. As shown in FIG. 8, the dividing unit 75 divides the area of the vector-format object Pd11A of the input data Pd1A into a first area AR11 in which the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11A is larger than the first thickness, and a vector-format A second area AR12 in which the thickness of the object Pd11A is smaller than the first thickness, and a second area AR12 in which the thickness of the vector-format object Pd11A is smaller than or equal to the first thickness and the second thickness and an intermediate area AR13 having a thickness equal to or larger than the thickness of the area AR13. The first conversion unit 81 converts the first area AR11 of the vector format object Pd11A into print data for printing based on the first distribution ratio Rt1 (see FIG. 6). The second conversion unit 82 converts the second area AR12 of the vector format object Pd11A into print data based on the second distribution rate Rt2 (see FIG. 7). The intermediate conversion unit 83 converts the intermediate area AR13 of the vector-format object Pd11A into print data based on the intermediate allocation rate Rt3 (see FIG. 11). Based on the print data converted by the first conversion section, the second conversion section 82 and the intermediate conversion section 83, the printing section 84 performs printing by ejecting ink of dots Dt1 of a plurality of sizes.

According to the present embodiment, the first dot distribution ratio information R11 used for the first area AR11 larger than the first thickness and the Based on the second dot distribution information R12 used for the second area AR12, the intermediate dot distribution information R13 used for the intermediate area AR13 between the first area AR11 and the second area AR12 is created. ing. Therefore, when printing based on the print data obtained by converting the intermediate area AR13 of the object Pd11A in vector format, the intermediate distribution ratio Rt3, which is between the first distribution ratio Rt1 and the second distribution ratio Rt2, is used to divide the plurality of dots Dt1. Since the ink is ejected, the difference in printing at the boundary between the first area AR11 and the intermediate area AR13 and the difference in printing at the boundary between the intermediate area AR13 and the second area AR12 can be reduced compared to the conventional art. can be done. Therefore, by printing based on the print data obtained by converting the input data Pd1A using the intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 in addition to the first dot distribution ratio information R11 and the second dot distribution ratio information R12, printing can be performed. Quality deterioration can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the vector format object Pd11A includes a line Pd21A. In the area of the line Pd21A, the division part 75 defines the area where the width of the line Pd21A is larger than the first width as the first area AR11, and the area where the width of the line Pd21A is smaller than the second width smaller than the first width. is a second area AR12, and the area where the width of the line Pd21A is equal to or smaller than the first width and equal to or larger than the second width is assumed to be an intermediate area AR13. Thus, when the vector format object Pd11A is the line Pd21A, the area of the line Pd21A is divided into the first area AR11, the second area AR12, and the intermediate area AR13 according to the width of the line Pd21A. can be divided into Therefore, when printing the intermediate area AR13 of the line Pd21A, the ink of the plurality of dots Dt1 is ejected at the intermediate distribution ratio Rt3 between the first distribution ratio Rt1 and the second distribution ratio Rt2. Therefore, compared to the conventional art, the difference in printing at the boundary between the first area AR11 and the intermediate area AR13 in the line Pd21A and the difference in printing at the boundary between the intermediate area AR13 and the second area AR12 in the line Pd21A are reduced. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of printing quality in the line Pd21A.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the vector format object Pd11A includes a character Pd22A. Of the area of the character Pd22A, the dividing unit 75 designates an area in which the size of the character Pd22A is larger than the first size as a first area AR11, and an area in which the size of the character Pd22A is smaller than a second size smaller than the first size. is a second area AR12, and an area in which the size of the character Pd22A is equal to or smaller than the first size and equal to or larger than the second size is assumed to be an intermediate area AR13. In this way, when the vector format object Pd11A is the character Pd22A, the area of the character Pd22A is divided into the first area AR11, the second area AR12, and the intermediate area AR13 according to the size of the character Pd22A. can be divided into Therefore, when printing the intermediate area AR13 of the character Pd22A, a plurality of dots Dt1 of ink are ejected at an intermediate distribution ratio Rt3 between the first distribution ratio Rt1 and the second distribution ratio Rt2. Therefore, compared to the conventional art, the printing difference at the boundary between the first area AR11 and the intermediate area AR13 in the character Pd22A and the printing difference at the boundary between the intermediate area AR13 and the second area AR12 in the character Pd22A are reduced. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration in printing quality of the character Pd22A.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 60 of the printer 10 includes an acquisition unit 74, an edge detection unit 92, a distance calculation unit 93, a division unit 75, a first conversion unit 81, a first A second conversion unit 82 and an intermediate conversion unit 83 are provided. As shown in FIG. 12, the obtaining unit 74 obtains printable input data Pd1A including at least a raster-format object (for example, an image) Pd12A. As shown in FIG. 14, the edge detection unit 92 detects the edges of the raster format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A. The distance calculator 93 calculates the edge-to-edge distance D1 of the object Pd12A based on the edges of the object Pd12A in the raster format detected by the edge detector 92 . The dividing unit 75 divides the regions of the raster-format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A into a first region AR21 in which the inter-edge distance D1 is larger than the first distance, a second distance in which the inter-edge distance D1 is smaller than the first distance, and an intermediate region AR23 in which the edge-to-edge distance D1 is less than or equal to the first distance and greater than or equal to the second distance. The first conversion unit 81 converts the first area AR21 of the object Pd12A in raster format into print data for printing based on the first distribution rate Rt1 (see FIG. 6). The second conversion unit 82 converts the second area AR22 of the raster-format object Pd12A into print data based on the second distribution rate Rt2 (see FIG. 7). The intermediate conversion unit 83 converts the intermediate area AR23 of the raster-format object Pd12A into print data based on the intermediate distribution rate Rt3 (see FIG. 11). Based on the print data converted by the first conversion section 81, the second conversion section 82, and the intermediate conversion section 83, the printing section 84 ejects ink of dots Dt1 of a plurality of sizes to perform printing.

Here, information on thickness (for example, width) is not included in the lines and the like that constitute the raster-format object Pd12A included in the input data Pd1A. However, in this embodiment, edges are detected with respect to the raster-format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A, and the distance D1 between edges is calculated, thereby estimating the thickness of the lines and the like that constitute the raster-format object Pd12A. It can be calculated as the edge-to-edge distance D1. Therefore, an area where the edge-to-edge distance D1 in the raster format object Pd12A is equal to or less than the first distance and is equal to or greater than the second distance is set as an intermediate area AR23, and printing is performed based on the print data obtained by converting the intermediate area AR23 of the raster format object Pd12A. At this time, the ink of a plurality of dots Dt1 is ejected at an intermediate distribution rate Rt3 between the first distribution rate Rt1 and the second distribution rate Rt2. Therefore, the difference in printing of the object Pd12A at the boundary between the first area AR21 and the intermediate area AR23 and the difference in printing of the object Pd12A at the boundary between the intermediate area AR23 and the second area AR22 are reduced compared to the conventional art. be able to. As a result, in addition to the first dot distribution rate information R11 and the second dot distribution rate information R12, the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13 is used to print based on the print data converted from the input data Pd1A. quality deterioration can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, the control device 60 includes an image correction processing section 91 (see FIG. 3) that executes image correction processing for correcting the color values of the input data Pd1A acquired by the acquisition section 74 . The edge detection unit 92 detects the edge of the raster format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A that has undergone image correction processing. For example, by performing grayscale processing, which is an example of image correction processing, colors can be expressed in grayscale. Therefore, since the edges of the object Pd12A in the raster format are detected without color information, the edges of the object Pd12A can be detected more appropriately.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink dots Dt1 ejected from the ink head 20 include first dots Dt11 having a first diameter A11 and second dots Dt11 having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter A11. A second dot Dt12 having A12 and a third dot Dt13 having a third diameter A13 smaller than the second diameter A12 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the second dot distribution rate information R12, the second distribution rate Rt2 makes the ink distribution rate of the third dots Dt13 higher than the first distribution rate Rt1. As a result, when printing the second area AR12 of the vector-format object Pd11A with a small thickness or the second area AR22 of the raster-format object Pd12A with a small edge-to-edge distance D1, the ink of the third dots Dt13 with a small diameter is printed with a larger amount of Therefore, the quality can be ensured even for the vector-format object Pd11A with a small thickness and the raster-format object Pd12A with a small edge-to-edge distance D1.

In this embodiment, in the second dot distribution ratio information R12, the second distribution ratio Rt2 makes the ink distribution ratio of the second dots Dt12 higher than the first distribution ratio Rt1. As a result, when printing the second area AR12 of the vector-format object Pd11A with a small thickness or the second area AR22 of the raster-format object Pd12A with a small inter-edge distance D1, the diameter is smaller than that of the first dot Dt11. The second dots Dt12 are printed with an increased amount of ink. Therefore, the quality can be ensured even for the vector-format object Pd11A with a small thickness and the raster-format object Pd12A with a small edge-to-edge distance D1.

In the present embodiment, in the second dot distribution rate information R12, the second distribution rate Rt2 makes the ink distribution rate of the first dots Dt11 lower than the first distribution rate Rt1. As a result, when printing the second area AR12 of the vector-format object Pd11A with a small thickness or the second area AR22 of the raster-format object Pd12A with a small inter-edge distance D1, the ink of the large-diameter first dots Dt11 is printed. printed with a reduced amount of Therefore, the quality can be ensured even for the vector-format object Pd11A with a small thickness and the raster-format object Pd12A with a small edge-to-edge distance D1.

In the present embodiment, the intermediate distribution rate creation unit 73 calculates the intermediate dot distribution rate Rt3 by linearly interpolating the first distribution rate Rt1 and the second distribution rate Rt2, and creates the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13. . Thus, by using the linear interpolation technique, the intermediate dot distribution information R13 can be easily created from the first dot distribution information R11 and the second dot distribution information R12.

In this embodiment, the first dot distribution rate information R11 and the second dot distribution rate information R12 are represented by a table showing the ratio of each of the plurality of dots Dt1 to the gradation of the input data Pd1A. This facilitates management of the first dot distribution rate information R11 and the second dot distribution rate information R12.

In this embodiment, common first dot distribution ratio information R11, second dot distribution ratio information R12, and intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 are common to the line Pd21A and character Pd22A of the vector format object Pd11A and the raster format object Pd12A. was used to print. However, for the line Pd21A and character Pd22A of the vector format object Pd11A and the raster format object Pd12A, the first dot distribution ratio information R11 with different distribution ratios may be used, or the second dot distribution ratio information R11 with different distribution ratios may be used. Distribution rate information R12 may be used. In this case, the intermediate dot distribution rate information R13 with different distribution rates may be used for the line Pd21A and character Pd22A of the vector format object Pd11A and the raster format object Pd12A. That is, dedicated first dot distribution ratio information R11, second dot distribution ratio information R12, and intermediate dot distribution ratio information R13 are set for line Pd21A and character Pd22A of vector format object Pd11A and for raster format object Pd12A, respectively. may be

In the present embodiment, the edge of the raster-format object Pd12A is detected after the image correction process is performed on the raster-format object Pd12A of the input data Pd1A. However, execution of the image correction process may be omitted.

5 medium 10 printer (inkjet printer)
13 support base 20 ink head 30 moving mechanism 60 control device 71 first acquisition unit 72 second acquisition unit 73 intermediate distribution rate creation unit 74 acquisition unit 75 division unit 81 first conversion unit 82 second conversion unit 83 intermediate conversion unit 84 printing Unit 91 Image correction processing unit 92 Edge detection unit 93 Distance calculation unit AR11, AR21 First area AR12, AR22 Second area AR13, AR23 Intermediate area Pd1, Pd1A Input data Pd11, Pd11A Vector format object Pd12, Pd12A Raster format object Pd21, Pd21A Wire Pd22, Pd22A Character

Claims (12)

a support for supporting the medium;
an ink head capable of ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes;
a movement mechanism for relatively moving the medium supported by the support table and the ink head;
a controller;
with
The control device is
a first acquisition unit that acquires first dot distribution ratio information in which ink distribution ratios of dots of a plurality of sizes are indicated by a first distribution ratio according to the gradient;
(2) obtaining second dot distribution ratio information indicating the distribution ratio of inks of a plurality of sizes with a second distribution ratio in which the distribution ratio of ink of small dots is higher than the first distribution ratio; an acquisition unit;
Based on the first dot distribution rate information and the second dot distribution rate information, ink of dots of a plurality of sizes at an intermediate distribution rate between the first distribution rate and the second distribution rate. an intermediate dot distribution rate creation unit that creates intermediate dot distribution rate information indicating the distribution rate of
a retrieving unit for retrieving printable input data including at least objects in vector format;
The area of the object in vector format of the input data is divided into a first area in which the thickness of the object in vector format is larger than the first thickness, and a thickness of the object in vector format is larger than the first thickness. a second area smaller than the second thickness, and an intermediate area in which the thickness of the vector format object is equal to or less than the first thickness and equal to or greater than the second thickness; a dividing portion that divides into
a first conversion unit that converts the first region of the vector format object into print data for printing based on the first distribution ratio;
a second conversion unit that converts the second area of the vector format object into the print data based on the second distribution ratio;
an intermediate conversion unit that converts the intermediate area of the vector format object into the print data based on the intermediate distribution ratio;
a printing unit that performs printing by ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes based on the print data converted by the first conversion unit, the second conversion unit, and the intermediate conversion unit;
Inkjet printer with. the vector-form object comprises a line;
In the division part, a region having a line width larger than a first width is defined as the first region, and the line width is smaller than a second width smaller than the first width. 2. An ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein said region is said second region, and said line width is equal to or less than said first width and said line width is equal to or greater than said second width, and said region is said middle region. the object in vector form includes characters;
The dividing unit defines a region having a character size larger than a first size in the character region as the first region, and a character size smaller than a second size smaller than the first size. 3. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the second area is an area, and the intermediate area is an area in which the character size is equal to or smaller than the first size and equal to or larger than the second size. a support for supporting the medium;
an ink head capable of ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes;
a movement mechanism for relatively moving the medium supported by the support table and the ink head;
a controller;
with
The control device is
a first acquisition unit that acquires first dot distribution ratio information in which ink distribution ratios of dots of a plurality of sizes are indicated by a first distribution ratio according to the gradient;
(2) obtaining second dot distribution ratio information indicating the distribution ratio of inks of a plurality of sizes with a second distribution ratio in which the distribution ratio of ink of small dots is higher than the first distribution ratio; an acquisition unit;
Based on the first dot distribution rate information and the second dot distribution rate information, ink of dots of a plurality of sizes at an intermediate distribution rate between the first distribution rate and the second distribution rate. an intermediate dot distribution rate creation unit that creates intermediate dot distribution rate information indicating the distribution rate of
a retrieving unit for retrieving printable input data including at least an object;
an edge detection unit that detects edges of the object in the input data;
a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between edges of the object based on the edges of the object detected by the edge detection unit;
a first region in which the distance between edges is larger than the first distance; a second region in which the distance between edges is smaller than the first distance; and a dividing portion that divides into an intermediate region in which the edge-to-edge distance is equal to or less than the first distance and equal to or greater than the second distance;
a first conversion unit that converts the first region of the object into print data for printing based on the first distribution ratio;
a second conversion unit that converts the second area of the object into the print data based on the second distribution ratio;
an intermediate conversion unit that converts the intermediate area of the object into the print data based on the intermediate distribution ratio;
a printing unit that performs printing by ejecting ink of dots of a plurality of sizes based on the print data converted by the first conversion unit, the second conversion unit, and the intermediate conversion unit;
Inkjet printer with. The control device comprises an image correction processing unit that executes image correction processing for correcting color values of the input data acquired by the acquisition unit,
5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein said edge detection unit detects an edge of said object in said input data that has been subjected to said image correction processing. 6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the objects comprise at least raster objects. The dots of ink ejected from the ink head are
a first dot having a first diameter;
a second dot having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
a third dot having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;
7. An inkjet printer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a 8. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, wherein in said second dot distribution ratio information, said second distribution ratio sets the ink distribution ratio of said third dot higher than said first distribution ratio. 9. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, wherein, in said second dot distribution ratio information, said second distribution ratio sets the ink distribution ratio of said second dots higher than said first distribution ratio. 10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein in said second dot distribution ratio information, said second distribution ratio sets the ink distribution ratio of said first dots lower than said first distribution ratio. The described inkjet printer. 2. The intermediate dot distribution rate generating unit calculates the intermediate dot distribution rate by linearly interpolating the first distribution rate and the second distribution rate, and generates the intermediate dot distribution rate information. 10. An inkjet printer as described in any one of 10 to 10. 12. Any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said first dot distribution rate information and said second dot distribution rate information are represented by a table indicating respective proportions of a plurality of dots with respect to the gradation of said input data. 1. An inkjet printer as described in one.

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