JP2644260B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer or a thermal printer which performs printing based on dot image data, and particularly detects an all white line which is non-recording data. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a control function of changing a feed amount of a recording medium.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a device of this type, image data of a dot image is input from an image frame buffer or the like, and the image data is printed by a dot matrix type recording head having a large number of recording elements in a vertical direction. Further, there is provided an apparatus provided with an all white line detecting means for detecting an all white line which is non-recorded data. Such an apparatus generally conveys a recording medium (recording paper) by the number of all white lines when a line that is not an all white line is detected, and receives print data for one horizontal scan of a recording head having a plurality of recording elements. Then, printing is performed, and these operations are repeated to print one page.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional example, when all the white lines that are non-print data are continuous, the recording medium is transported by the number of all the white lines, and the line that is not the all white line Since printing is performed by receiving image data for a plurality of printing elements from the first printing element, the number of printing drives of the top and top printing element among the plurality of printing elements is larger than that of other printing elements. For this reason, an overload is applied to the recording element at the upper end, which is likely to lead to destruction of the recording element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a printing apparatus that eliminates an overload on a printing element at an upper end and reduces damage to the printing element.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printhead having a plurality of print elements in a vertical scanning direction, and print data to be printed when the printhead is horizontally scanned by image data. Receiving means, receiving means, detecting means for detecting all white lines which are non-recording data in the recording data received by the receiving means, the number of all white lines detected by the detecting means Transport means for transporting a print medium, and print control means for changing a use area of a print element of the print head used to print print data of a line next to the all white line. I do.

[Operation] According to the present invention, with the above configuration, the image data is checked to detect an all white line, and the recording area used by the recording element used to record the recording data of the line next to the all white line is changed. Since the control is performed, it is possible to eliminate an overload of a specific recording element when recording image data in which an arbitrary pattern can be recorded, and to reduce the possibility of destruction of the recording element.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer or a data transfer device for transmitting print image data line by line in the horizontal direction (print direction). Image data for each line from the host computer or the data transfer device 1 to the printer is The signal is transferred at a clock rate of a predetermined frequency by a trigger signal 15 from the control unit 2. The control unit 2 controls the entire printer, and is used as a work area, for example, an MPU such as a microprocessor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing control programs and data as shown in FIG. Includes an area for recording the number of received recording elements and the number of data according to the paper size
The timer measures the time in response to the instructions of the RAM (random access memory) and the MPU. When the designated time is measured, the timer outputs an interrupt signal to the MPU, and the I / O (input / output) inputs and outputs various data and control signals. Output) port.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an image memory for storing image data transmitted from the host computer or the data transfer device 1 at least for the number of storage elements of the printhead (64 lines in this embodiment). Are sequentially stored in the image memory 3 under the control of the control unit 2. 4 is a counter 4 that can set the number of image data to be received for one line.
-1 is a receiving circuit that outputs a detection signal 19 to the control unit 2 when the number of data set by the control unit 2 is received.

Numeral 5 reads data of lines (for example, 64 lines) corresponding to the number of recording elements of the recording head 6 from the image memory 3 by one column (64 dots) in the vertical direction.
This is a data converter that outputs data corresponding to the print position. The recording head 6 is a recording head such as a thermal head or an ink-jet head, for example, in which recording elements of 64 dots are arranged in a line in a vertical direction and scanning is performed in a horizontal direction to perform print recording. Reference numeral 7 denotes a driver (drive circuit) that drives each print element of the print head 6 based on print data from the data converter 5.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a carriage motor that horizontally scans a carriage (see FIG. 2) on which the recording head 6 is mounted, and 9 denotes a carriage motor driver that drives the carriage motor based on data (control data) of the control unit 2. . Reference numeral 10 denotes a paper feed motor that can execute paper feed in units of the pitch of the print elements of the print head 6, and reference numeral 11 denotes a driver that drives the paper feed motor 10. In this embodiment, the carriage motor 8 and the paper feed motor 9 are constituted by stepping motors.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a generator which generates data on the number of receiving elements and data on the position of the upper-end recording element at random (randomly) when the control unit 2 gives a trigger signal 13. Reference numeral 14 denotes an information input unit, such as a key panel, capable of instructing a paper size. It is assumed that the information input unit 14 can specify a paper size such as A4 size or B5 size. Reference numeral 16 denotes a signal of a command such as a paper size instructed from the host computer or the data transfer device 1. The paper size can be specified not only from the information input unit 14 but also from the host computer or the data transfer device 1.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 21 is a carriage on which the recording head 6 is mounted, and 20 is a recording medium. The recording medium 20 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow (sub-scanning direction, vertical direction) by the rotation of the platen 17 connected to the paper feed motor 10 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 shows a control procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. Note that S1, S2,
... represent processing steps. First, when a print start command is sent from the host computer, the total number of data reception dots according to the current paper size is stored in the counter 4-1 in S1.
The controller 2 initializes an address pointer (hereinafter, referred to as an image buffer address) of the image buffer memory 13 in the next S2, clears the paper feed counter 2-2 in the internal RAM 2-1 in S3, and clears the S4. Proceed to.

In S4, the number X of received recording elements and the position Y of the uppermost recording element are received from the receiving element number upper end position designation generator 12 by the trigger signal 13.
And ask. The obtained data of the upper end recording element position Y is added to the paper feed counter 2-2, and the receiving recording element X is substituted for the image buffer address. Where X and Y are 1 ≦
X ≦ 64, Y is 0 ≦ X ≦ 63, and 1 ≦ X + Y ≦
A number that satisfies 64. Here, 64 is the total number of printing elements in the embodiment, and the area of the printing elements used for printing is defined by Y + 1 to X + 1.

Next, in S5, it is determined whether or not the printing of one page has been completed. If the printing has been completed, the process proceeds to the next process. If the printing has not been completed, the process proceeds to S6. In S6, paper feed counter 2
It is determined whether or not the value of Y of −2 is “0”.
If it is not 0, the blank is stored in the image buffer memory 3 by the total number of data reception dots from the image buffer address in the next S7, 1 is subtracted from Y of the paper feed counter 2-2 in S8, and the process returns to S5. .

When the process proceeds from S6 to S9, when the trigger signal 15 is generated in S9, the image data is sent from the host computer 1 at a predetermined frequency, and the receiving circuit 4 inputs one line data. In the next S10, the black dot discriminating circuit 4-2 in the receiving circuit 4 discriminates whether or not a black dot exists,
If there is no black dot, the process proceeds to S13. If there is a black dot, the process proceeds to S11, where it is determined whether or not the paper feed counter 2-3 is "0". If it is "0", the process proceeds to S17 and "0".
If not, the process proceeds to S12, paper feed is started in S12, and a paper feed interrupt is permitted, and the process proceeds to S17.

If it is determined that there is no black dot in S10 and the process proceeds to S13,
Initialize the image buffer address, add +1 to the paper feed counter in the next S14, determine whether or not the paper is being fed in S15, and if the paper is being fed, continue the paper feed in S16. To step S5. If the paper is not being fed, the process returns to step S5.

In S17, the image data for the number X of the reception recording elements is transferred to the above S.
Input in the same way as when one-line data was input in 9. However, at this time, the black dot may or may not be present. Next, it is determined whether or not 64-X = "0" in S18, and in the case of a negative determination, blanks are stored in the image buffer memory 3 by the total number of data reception dots from the image buffer address in S19. Next, in S20, -1 is subtracted from (64−X) and S
Return to 18.

If it is determined in S18 that 64-X = "0", the process proceeds to S21, where it is determined whether or not the paper is being fed. If the paper is being fed, the process waits until the paper feeding is completed. If the paper feeding is not being performed or the paper feeding is completed, the printing operation is started in the next S22, X + Y is substituted for the paper feeding counter, and the process returns to S5.

By the way, if a paper feed interrupt occurs, it is determined in S29 whether the paper feed counter is-(minus).
, The paper feed motor 10 is driven by one step, the paper feed counter 2-2 is decremented by -1 in S26, and the paper feed counter 2 is decremented in S27.
It is determined whether or not -2 is "0". If it is not "0", the interrupt is terminated as it is. If it is "0", the paper feed interrupt is disabled in S28 and the interrupt is terminated. When the paper feed counter is + (plus) in S29, the paper feed motor is driven in the reverse direction by one step (S30).
Set to 1 and proceed to S27.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show the state in the image buffer memory 3 and the value of the paper feed counter 2-2 when controlled by the control procedure of FIG. Here, the number X of reception recording elements is 62, and the position Y of the upper end recording element is 1. As described above, the area of the printing element used for printing is defined by Y + 1 to X + Y.
The second to 63rd recording elements are used for recording. The state from S1 to S3 in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 (A), and FIG. 4 (B) is the state from S5 to S8 in FIG. FIG. 4C shows a case where there is a black dot in S9 and S10 in FIG. 3, and shows a state in which S11, S12 and S17 to S20 are controlled.

In addition to the above-described embodiments, the following embodiments can be implemented as embodiments of the present invention.

[Other Embodiment 1] In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 2 stores a space corresponding to the upper-end recording element position Y in the image buffer memory 3 or (64-
X) of blank data is stored in the image buffer memory 3, whereby the recording elements (1 to Y, X + Y) other than the recording elements (Y + 1 to Y + X) corresponding to the total number of received recording elements are stored.
+1 to 64) is eliminated. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a data converter counter 5-1 and a head address register 5 are provided in the data converter 5.
2 and an upper end position register 5-3, and a drive enable / disable register 7-1 in the driver 7 to
If it is possible to set whether or not the printing element can be driven, not only the overload of the printing element is kept uniform as described later, but also it is not necessary to store a blank line in the image buffer memory 13, so that the printing speed can be reduced. Further improvement will be achieved.

FIG. 6 shows a control procedure of the control unit 2 in the circuit configuration of FIG. First, the processes from S1 to S5 are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. In the next S6, one-line data is input from the host computer or the data processing device 1, and it is determined whether or not there is a black dot in S7. If there is a black dot, the process proceeds to S8, and the paper feed counter 2-2 sets " 0 "
It is determined whether or not the paper feed counter is not "0".
To start paper feed, enable interrupts, and proceed to S10.

In S10, the current value of X (the number of received recording elements) is substituted into the converter counter 5-1 to determine the number of elements for performing HV conversion (horizontal / vertical conversion) from the image buffer memory 3 to the recording element of the recording head 6. At the same time, the start address of the image buffer memory 3 is substituted into the start address register 5-2 in the next S11, and Y (upper end print element position) is inputted to the upper end position register 5-3 which determines the upper end position of the print element in S12. ) Is substituted and the process proceeds to S18.

In S18, whether or not the printing element can be driven is determined from the values of X and Y substituted in S10 and S12, and whether or not the determined printing element can be driven is set in the drive enable / disable register 7-1. In the next S19, the image data for X is newly inputted together with the previous one-line data in S6, and it is determined whether or not the paper is being fed in S20, and the process proceeds to S21 only in the case of a negative determination. Then, the printing operation is started, and X + Y is substituted for the paper feed counter 2-2 in S22.
Then, the process returns to S4.

By the way, if there is no black dot in S7,
The process proceeds to S13, where the image memory address is initialized. At S14, the value of the paper feed counter 2-2 is incremented by +1.
Subtract 1 from the value of X and add 1 to Y. If it is determined in the next S16 that the paper is being fed, the paper feeding is continued in S17 and S5
Return to

The interrupt processing of the paper feed is the same as the control procedure of S25 to S31 in FIG.

According to the control processing as described above, the overload of the driving of the recording elements can be made uniform without storing blank data in the image buffer memory 3.

[Other Embodiment 2] The trigger signal 13 is output from the control unit 2 to the number-of-received-elements / upper-end position designation generator 12, and the values of X and Y are obtained together with the two examples of the present invention described above. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the same processing as in the above embodiment is performed by incorporating a generation program 2-3 for generating the number of receiving elements and the upper end position at random in the ROM in the control unit 2. It can be carried out. In this case, the trigger 13 is output at S4 in the control procedure of FIG. 3 or FIG. 6 to eliminate the fact that the value has been obtained. After obtaining Y, the same processing as in the above embodiment can be performed.

[Other Embodiment 3] In all the embodiments described above, the received record count X and the upper end position designation position Y are obtained every time one line is printed. It is also preferable to detect X and Y at a certain temperature. That is, when the head temperature of the recording head 6 becomes high, the possibility of destruction of the recording element increases, so that the present invention is used to prevent overload on some of the recording elements and increase the temperature of the recording element. Can be prevented at the same time. The configuration of the embodiment at this time is shown in FIG. The drawing includes a recording head temperature detection device 18, and a detection signal of the detection device 18 is sent to the control unit 2.

FIG. 9 shows a control procedure in the configuration of FIG. Since S5 and subsequent steps are exactly the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, please refer to FIG. Further, S1 to S3 are the same as those in the previous embodiment, but S4
At -1, the head temperature detected by the head temperature detecting device 18 is read, and if the temperature has reached a predetermined limit temperature, the trigger signal 13 is output at next S4-2 to obtain the values of X and Y. When the temperature has not reached the limit temperature, S4−
At 3, X = 64 and Y = 0 are substituted, and the routine proceeds to S5. Here, the limit temperature is a value specified in advance based on an experimental value or the like. Further, here, the number X of received recording elements and the upper end position Y are obtained in accordance with the temperature of the recording head 6, but the recording head temperature is not used, and it is possible to perform printing on one page, every several lines, or at random. Good.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, an all white line is detected, and a use area of a recording element used to record print data of a line next to the all white line is changed. Therefore, an effect is obtained that the overload of a specific recording element can be eliminated and the possibility of destruction of the recording element can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the printer of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a control procedure of the embodiment of FIG. FIGS. 4 (A), (B) and (C) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of changes in the internal states of the paper feed counter and the image buffer memory during execution of the control procedure of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of another embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the embodiment of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration of another embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of another embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the embodiment of FIG. 1 Host computer or data transfer device 2 Control unit 2-2 Counter (RAM) 2-3 Reception element number / top position generation program (RO
M), 3 ... image buffer memory, 4 ... receiving circuit, 4-1 ... counter, 4-2 ... black dot discriminating circuit, 5 ... data converter, 5-1 ... conversion counter, 5- 2 ... Start address register, 6 ... Recording head, 7 ... Driver, 7-1 ... Drive enable / disable register, 12 ... Receiving element number and upper end position designation generator, 14 ... Information input section, 18 ... Recording head temperature detector.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A recording head having a plurality of recording elements in a vertical scanning direction; receiving means for receiving recording data to be recorded at the time of horizontal scanning of the recording head as image data; Detecting means for detecting all white lines which are non-recording data in the recording data; conveying means for conveying a recording medium by the number of lines of the all white lines detected by the detecting means; A recording control means for changing a use area of a recording element of the recording head used for recording the recording data of the line. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit defines the use area based on the number of recording elements received by the receiving unit and a recording start position. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit inhibits recording by a recording element of the recording head other than the used area. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said recording control means supplies blank data to recording elements of said recording head other than said used area. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said recording control means prohibits driving of a recording element of said recording head other than the used area. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head discharges ink.