JP2921834B2 - Color inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a color ink jet recording apparatus. [Prior Art] As shown in FIG. 9A, red (hereinafter R), green (hereinafter G), and blue (hereinafter B) have complementary colors with Y, M and C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, in the case of a color recording apparatus, R is formed by superposing Y and M. Similarly, G is formed by superposing Y and C, and B is formed by superposing C and M. In addition, since three colors of YMC become black when they are superimposed on each other, three primary colors are sufficient in principle, but black by mixing three colors becomes cloudy. For this reason, it is common to configure a color recording apparatus using black as an independent ink. In the case of a recording device other than the ink jet recording device, for example, a transfer type color thermal printer, in order to form a black color, when the three primary colors are superimposed, the reflection characteristics are different depending on the superimposition order, and the superimposition is performed in the order of YMC. Compared to the case of superimposing in the order of C, M, and Y, the reflectance is reduced over the entire wavelength range, and clear black is obtained. For this reason, it seems that many transfer-type color thermal printers adopt a method of superimposing colors in the order of Y, M, and C. According to the applicant's experiment, the black obtained when superimposed in the order of Y, M, C becomes bluish black, and the black obtained when superimposed in the order of C, M, Y becomes yellowish black. ing. This is considered to be because the thermal printer has a configuration in which ink from the ink ribbon is attached to paper, and the formed black depends on C and Y to be transferred last. However, in the inkjet recording method, Y, M, C
Black in the order of is yellowish black, and black in the order of C, M, Y is bluish black. That is, the transfer type thermal printer is reversed. This is because, in the ink jet recording method, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, when paper is used as a recording medium, ink is absorbed by paper to form a color. This is because the dot diameter on the paper changes depending on the absorption capacity.
That is, in the case of mixed color printing of two or more colors, the ink discharged first on the paper (and M in FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively) is replaced by the ink that has been superimposed later (similarly, , M and Y) respectively, the amount of bleeding on the paper becomes larger and the dot diameter becomes larger, so that when black is obtained, it depends on Y and C which are discharged first on the paper. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An object of the present invention is to pay attention to a change in tint based on the difference in the order of superimposition of ink as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a color ink jet recording apparatus capable of forming fine colors such as reddish red. [Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention provides a plurality of recording units corresponding to inks of a plurality of colors, and image data to be formed from a host device and control of the plurality of recording units. An input unit for inputting a command, a determining unit for analyzing the command and determining data corresponding to the overlapping order of the plurality of inks, and a command from the host device according to the overlapping order obtained by the determining unit. Control means for controlling the plurality of recording means so as to form an image with the plurality of color inks in response to image data. Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a so-called bubble jet (BJ) type color ink jet recording apparatus having an electrothermal converter as a discharge energy generating means as a preferred application example of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a recording medium 1 such as a paper or a plastic sheet is supported by conveying rollers 2 and 3 composed of a pair of rollers arranged above and below a recording area, and is driven by a sheet feed motor 4. Is transported in the direction of arrow A. A guide shaft 5 is provided in front of the transport rollers 2 and 3 in parallel with the transport rollers. A carriage 6 moves along the guide shaft 5 with a carriage motor 7.
Is reciprocated in the direction of arrow B through the wire 8 by the output of. The recording head unit 90 which is a BJ type ink jet head is mounted on the carriage 6. The recording head unit 90 is for color image formation, is arranged in the scanning direction, and is provided corresponding to each color ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (BK). The recording head 9 includes 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D. On the front surface of each recording head 9, that is, a surface facing the recording medium 1 at a predetermined interval (for example, 0.8 mm), a recording unit in which a plurality of (for example, eight) ink ejection ports are arranged in a vertical line is provided. I have. FIG. 2 schematically shows a partial vertical cross section of an ink ejection portion of the recording head 9 (the same applies to any of the recording heads 9A to 9D). In FIG. 2, a plurality of ink discharge ports 10 are formed at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction on a surface facing the recording medium 1, and an electrothermal converter (heating resistor) of each ink discharge port 10 is formed based on print information. Drive 11 (electric heating) to generate a bubble 11A in the ink, form a flying ink droplet 12 by the pressure at this time, and record while attaching ink dots to the recording medium 1 in a predetermined pattern. Is performed. Each recording head 9 is mounted with a circuit board of a driving circuit (driver) 29 for driving as described above. Referring again to FIG. 1, the control circuit (CP
U) and a control unit including a ROM, a RAM and the like attached thereto are formed on a control board 15, and this control unit transmits a command signal and a data signal (recording information) from a host device 14 such as a computer. Each recording head is received through the heat driver 13 together with a drive source such as various motors based on the received data.
A drive voltage (heat voltage) of the electrothermal converter is applied to 9A to 9D. An operation panel 160 attached to an outer case (not shown) of the recording apparatus includes an online / offline switching key 16.
A, line feed key 16B, form feed key 16
C, a key setting unit such as a recording mode switching key 16 and a display unit including some alarm lamps such as an alarm lamp 16E and a power lamp 16F are provided. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the BJ type ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a CPU 21 in the form of a microprocessor
Are connected to a host device 14 such as a computer via an interface 22, and read from the host device 14 into a data memory 23, a recording information signal, and a program memory 24 in a ROM form or a RAM form. The recording operation is controlled based on a program or data stored in the working memory 25 or the like. The CPU 21 controls the carriage motor 7 (FIG. 1) and the sheet feed motor 4 (FIG. 1) via the output port 26 and the motor driver 27, and controls the head based on the recording information stored in the data memory 23. The recording head 9 is controlled via the circuit 29. Reference numeral 30 in FIG. 3 denotes a sheet sensor, which detects whether or not the recording medium 1 exists between the transport rollers 2 and 3 (FIG. 1), and sends a signal to the CPU 21 via the input port 31. A detection signal is transmitted. Outputs from the operation keys 16A to 16D (FIG. 1) on the operation panel 160 described above are transmitted to the CPU 21 via the input port 32, and output to the warning lamps such as the alarm lamp 16E and the power lamp 16F. Is supplied with a control signal via the output port 36. Reference numeral 33 in FIG. 3 denotes a DIP switch provided on a bottom portion of the exterior of the apparatus or the like, and its output is transmitted to the CPU 21 via the input port 34. In FIG. 3, the power supply circuit 28 outputs a logic drive voltage VCC (5) for operating the control logic circuit.
V), various motor drive voltage VM (30V), reset voltage RESE
T, dot forming element of each recording head 9 (electrothermal transducer 1
1) Heat voltage (head voltage) VH (25) for heating
V) and a backup voltage V for protecting the recording head 9
DDH is output. Then, the heat voltage VH is applied to the recording head 9, and the backup voltage VDDH is applied to the head control circuit 29 and the recording head 9, respectively. Hereinafter, an operation example of the color inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. here,
FIGS. 4 (A) and (B) are flowcharts showing two examples of processing procedures when data is received from the host device 14, and FIGS. 5 (A) and (B) are flowcharts showing two examples of recording processing procedures. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of setting information of the DIP switch 33 in FIG. 3, and FIGS.
FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram for explaining a mode of data conversion from data reception to recording, and FIGS. 8A and 8B are RG diagrams.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode of conversion for obtaining YMCB _K data from B data. (Reference Example 1) FIG. 4 (A) shows an example of a processing procedure at the time of data reception. This example is an embodiment of processing for setting the ink overlapping order according to keys such as DIP switches. For example, the DIP shown in FIG.
Using the key setting information of the switch 33 etc. as a setting condition, the CPU 21
Is initialized by the control unit when the power is turned on (step S10
0), detection is performed via the input port 34 (step S
101). In the present embodiment, in FIG.
DIP SW1 is set to “1” to obtain setting conditions R = Y + M, and DIP SW2 is set to “0” to obtain G = Y + C.
Description will be made assuming that DIP SW3 is set to "1" in order to obtain B = C + M. The CPU 21 determines the ink superposition order based on the setting information, and waits while monitoring the input of the control command and the recording data from the host device 14 connected to the printer via the interface 22 (S102). Here, in this example, it is assumed that the setting of the color bit image with the host device 14 is executed according to the following specifications. ESC r, DATA LENGTH, IMAGE DATA Here, ESC r indicates a command for setting a color bit image. DATA LENGTH (data length) is a 2-byte parameter indicating the total number of bytes of image data in this command. And the first "n" of IMAGE DATA
The byte is red (R), the next "n" byte is green (G), and the next last "n" byte is blue (B). In step S102, when print data is input from the host device 14 connected to the printer according to the present embodiment, in step S103, the CPU 21 stores the data in the receiving RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23 as shown in FIG. To store. Then, the CPU 21 determines in steps S102 to S1 until it determines that the reception of the specified amount (capacity of the reception buffer or one scan) of the recording data from the host device 14 has been completed (step S104).
Repeat step 04. When the CPU 21 determines in step S104 that the reception has been completed, the received data is stored in a buffer in the recording YMCBk provided in the data memory 23 in step S105.
, And store as shown in FIG. 7 (B). More specifically, for example, from the host device 14, “ESC r 64H (DATA LENGTH), AAH... (R DATA), FOH.
(B DATA), 01H... (B DATA) ”is transmitted, the table of FIG. 8A (for example, it can be provided in ROM as fixed data).
From the input R (AAH), G (FOH), R (01H) of R (= Y + M), G (= Y + C), B (= C + M), the output C (51H), M (0BH) of CMYBk , Y (FAH), BK (04H). Further, in order to perform a printing process based on ink overlay information, which is a main part of this example, a color buffer (7th overlay) in which M overlays Y on Y, Y overlays on C, and M overlays on C FIG. 7B shows a recording YMC buffer in which Y is superimposed on M, C on Y, and C on M (see FIG. 7C. Similar to the YMCBk buffer in FIG. 7B). Can be provided in the recording area of the data memory 23). Note that FIG. 10 shows a state in which print data expanded from an RGB buffer into a YMCBk buffer is stored. In this example, the heads 9 of Y, M, C, and Bk are placed on the carriage 6 in the first direction. Since they are mounted as shown in the figure, there is an interval between the heads. To correct the interval, the CPU 21
At the time of expansion to the MCBk buffer, data is stored while inputting data "00" in advance corresponding to the interval. The following executes the recording control shown in FIG. 5A (Example 3) or shown in FIG. 5B (Example 3). The logic circuit shown in FIG. 8 (B) is equivalent to the table shown in FIG. 8 (A). Therefore, the color conversion is not performed by referring to the table as described above, but such a logic circuit is provided. May be performed. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 4 (B) shows another example of the processing procedure at the time of data reception. In this embodiment, information for setting the ink overlapping order is obtained in accordance with a command of a host computer connected to a printer. This is an example. After the power is turned on, the CPU 21 initializes the control unit (S200)
Execute Next, the CPU 21 controls the host device 1 connected to the printer.
It waits while monitoring the input of the control command and recording data from 4 via the interface 22 (S202). Here, in the present embodiment, the setting of the color bit image with the host device 14 is executed according to the following specifications. ESC r, DATA LENGTH, CL, IMAGE DATA Here, ESC r indicates a setting command for a color bit image, as in the above example. Also, for DATA LENGTH (data length), a 2-byte parameter indicates the total number of bytes of image data in this command. CL is for changing the hue of RGB,
The lower three bits D0 (corresponding to R), D1 (corresponding to G), D2
The condition similar to FIG. 6 is set depending on whether (corresponding to B) is "1" or "0". And the first "n" of IMAGE DATA
The byte is red (R), the next “n” byte is green (G), and the last “n” byte is blue (B). In this embodiment, the least significant bit D0 of CL is set to "1" to obtain the setting condition R = Y + C shown in FIG. 6, the second bit D1 of CL is set to "0" and B = C + M to obtain G = Y + C. The description will be made assuming that the third bit D2 of CL is received as "1" in order to obtain. In step S202, when print data is input from the host device 14 connected to the printer according to the present embodiment, in step S203, the CPU 21 stores the data in the receiving RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23 as shown in FIG. To store. Then, the CPU 21 determines in steps S202 to S204 until the CPU 21 determines from the host device 14 that the reception of the specified amount (capacity of the reception buffer or one scan) of the recording data has been completed (step S204).
Repeat the above steps. When the CPU 21 determines in step S204 that the reception has been completed, in step S205 the received data is subjected to the color conversion shown in FIG. 8A to the recording YMCBk buffer provided in the data memory 23, and the data is converted to FIG. 7B. Store as shown. More specifically, for example, from the host device 14, “ESC r 64H (DATA LENGTH) 05 (CL) AAH... (R DATA) F
OH ... (B DATA) 01H ... (B DATA) "is transmitted from the table of FIG. 8A or the logic circuit of FIG. 8B to R (= Y + M), G (= Y
+ C), B (= C + M) input R (AAH), G (FOH), R (01
H), C, M, Y, Bk data output C (51H), M (0BH),
Y (FAH) and Bk (04H) are obtained. Further, in order to perform recording based on the ink overlay information relating to the main part of this example, Y
YMCBk superimposing M on C, Y on C, and M on C
A buffer (FIG. 7 (B)) and a YMC buffer (FIG. 7 (C)) in which Y is over M, C is over Y, and C is over M are stored as appropriate. In this embodiment, the correction according to the recording head interval is performed in the same manner as in the above (Reference Example 1). When this procedure is completed, the procedure shown in FIG. 5A (Example 2) or FIG.
(Example 3) shown in FIG. (Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 (A) shows an example of a printing processing procedure executed after the processing of FIG. 4 (A) or (B). This is an embodiment in which a recording process is performed. After the data is expanded from the RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23 to the YMCBk buffer and the YMC buffer (FIG. 7A)
(C)), the CPU 21 starts recording in the forward direction (PT direction in FIG. 1) (S300). In step S301, the CPU 21
The carriage 6 from the output port 26 via the driver 27
Is moved in the PT direction, the carriage motor 7 is driven to rotate forward. Next, in step S302, the control circuit 29 sets recording data (data developed in the YMCBk buffer in FIG. 7B) in the head 9. After the set,
In step S303, a prescribed pulse is applied to the head 9. The pulse width at this time is defined by a timer t1 by hardware or software. After the timer expires, the energization of the head 9 is stopped (step S3).
04, S305). At the same time, in step 305, the recording cycle counter provided in the working memory 25 is incremented by +1 every time power is supplied. It is determined whether or not the recording is completed in step S306 based on the recording cycle counter. If the print cycle counter does not exceed the specified print dot in one scan in step S306, the process returns to step S301 and repeats the operations of steps S301 to S306. If it is determined in step S306 that the recording cycle counter has exceeded the prescribed number of recording dots, step S3
Go to 07 to clear the recording cycle counter. Next, the CPU 21 starts the reverse recording (recording in the CR direction in FIG. 1). In step S308, the CPU 21 drives the carriage motor 7 in the reverse direction to move the carriage 6 in the CR direction from the output port 26 via the driver 27. Next, in step S309, the control circuit 29 sets the recording data (data developed in the YMC buffer in FIG. 7C) in the head 9 from the end. After the set, step
In S310, a predetermined pulse is applied to the head 9. The pulse width at this time is defined by the timer t1 similarly to the above, and after the time-up, the power supply to the head 8 is cut off (S311 and S312). At the same time, in step S312, the recording cycle counter is incremented by +1 each time power is supplied. Based on the recording cycle counter, it is determined in step S313 whether or not recording is completed. If the recording cycle counter does not exceed the specified recording dot value in step S313, the process returns to step S308, and the operations in steps S308 to S313 are repeated. When the recording cycle counter exceeds the specified recording dot value in step S313, the reciprocal recording is completed. Therefore, in order to prepare for recording of the next line, the process proceeds to step S315, in which the paper feed motor 4 is driven via the output port 26 and the driver 27 to feed the recording medium 1 by one line in the direction A, and the cycle counter is cleared. . (Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 (B) shows another example of the recording processing procedure executed after the processing of FIG. 4 (A) or (B). This is an example in which a printing process is performed by printing two times in one PT (two-pass printing) for one row. After expanding the data from the RGB buffer provided in the data memory 23 to the YMCBk color buffer and the YMC buffer (FIG. 7 (A)
-(C)), the CPU 201 starts the printing of the first pass (S4).
00). At the time of this first pass recording, the CPU 21 executes steps S401 to S406, which are the same as steps S301 to S306 in the above (Embodiment 2), respectively, for the data stored as shown in FIG. Make a record. Thereafter, in step S407, the carriage motor 7 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction via the output port 26 and the driver 27, the print head 90 is set to the print start position, and the print cycle counter is cleared. Make a record. At the time of this second pass recording, the CPU 201
Steps S408 to S4 similar to steps S401 to S406 are performed on the data stored as shown in FIG.
Perform 13 steps. When this is completed, that is, when the two-pass printing is completed, 1 is set in step S415 to prepare for the printing of the next line.
The paper is fed by the line, and then the carriage 6 is returned in step S417, and the recording cycle counter is cleared. The present invention is not only a so-called serial type color ink jet printing apparatus that performs printing while scanning a print head in a predetermined direction as in the above example, but also a so-called full multi type in which ejection ports are aligned over the entire width of a printing medium. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a color ink jet recording apparatus provided with the above recording head unit. In this case, for example, the same processing as described above is performed while the recording medium is transported in one direction with the head units of each color provided in two stages, or the recording medium is transported with the head units of each color being one stage. Recording may be performed while switching the direction. [Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the overlapping order of a plurality of inks is controlled in accordance with a command from a host device that outputs image data to be formed with an image. Color formation becomes possible. Therefore, a very high quality color image output can be obtained with a simple configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a bubble jet type ink jet recording apparatus suitable for applying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the recording head of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) show two procedures of data reception by the control system shown in FIG. 5 (A) and 5 (B) are flowcharts showing two examples of the recording processing procedure after the processing shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows an example of information for setting the superposition order. FIG. 7 (A)-(C) show Y for recording from RGB data for reception.
FIGS. 8 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams for explaining an aspect of obtaining MCBk data, and FIGS. 8 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams for explaining a logic for converting RGB data to YMCBk data. FIGS. 10) is an explanatory diagram for explaining a subtractive color mixture method in an ink jet recording system, and FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a color change due to a difference in a superposition order. 6: Carriage, 7: Carriage motor, 9: Recording head, 11: Electrothermal conversion element, 13: Head drive circuit, 14: Host device, 21: CPU.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of recording means corresponding to each of a plurality of color inks; an input means for inputting image data to be formed from a host device and a command for controlling the plurality of recording means; Discriminating means for discriminating data corresponding to the overlapping order of the inks, and forming an image in response to image data from the host device using the plurality of color inks according to the overlapping order obtained by the discriminating means. Control means for controlling said plurality of recording means. 2. The color ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink is at least yellow,
A color ink jet recording apparatus comprising three colors of magenta and cyan, and said control means having a developing means for developing into yellow, magenta and cyan recording image data in response to input of red, green and blue image data. apparatus. 3. 3. A color ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said developing means stores data to be recorded first for each of yellow, magenta and cyan, and data to be superimposed later. yellow,
Second storage means for storing each of magenta and cyan, and expansion control means for controlling expansion of the input image data to the first storage means and the second storage means in accordance with the setting A color ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The color ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording means scans a recording medium in a predetermined direction, and performs recording in the scanning process. A color ink jet recording apparatus, wherein recording is performed on recording image data from the first storage unit and the second storage unit during forward scanning and backward scanning, respectively. 5. The color ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording means scans a recording medium in a predetermined direction, and performs recording in the scanning process. And a recording device for performing recording on the recording image data from the first storage means and the second storage means at the time of scanning in two forward directions.