JP3347014B2 - Ink jet recording apparatus and recording method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which is most suitable for recording on a recording medium having a different size and shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-13069, a conventional ink jet recording apparatus records information on the surface of a recording material (for example, a product) conveyed on a conveyance line. The product detection means, which is a component thereof, detects that the product has reached the recording start position, but does not detect that the dimensions of the product are different.

[0003] This is because the original purpose of the production line is to produce a large number of products of the same kind, and the ink jet recording apparatus in the line is, for example, a can of juice or a bottle of beer. This means that products with the same shape will be recorded, and the recorded content such as the manufacturing date and expiration date only needs to be set once before the start of production. Did not need to be changed.

[0004] On the other hand, in a place such as a distribution center in the logistics industry, a variety of products are handled, and the shapes of the products are various. In the process of sorting products for each delivery destination according to the order slip, packing, and loading them on a truck for delivery, sorting and packing are the most difficult tasks as work, but this work is still Automation is slow, relying on manual labor.

[0005] The reason for this is that automatic picking is difficult because of the variety of shapes of the products. However, the picking and sorting work for each delivery destination will eventually be automated, and recording means for displaying the delivery destination will be required for various products conveyed on the conveyor.

At this time, since the shape of the product, that is, the shape of the recording material is not constant, the recording range cannot be changed by the conventional ink jet recording apparatus. It is expected that a problem that the recording range is too small for the size of the object will occur.

FIG. 7 shows a recording example of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the recording range 6 is narrow even though the width of the recording medium 2 is large. In some cases, recording is performed on a large recording medium 2 in a narrow range, but the example of FIG. 7A is a case where the recording range 6 is inconvenient.

FIG. 7B shows a recording example in the case where recording materials 2 having different dimensions and shapes are conveyed.
In this case, the recording range 6 is adjusted to the recording material 2 having a small size and shape by adjusting the recording range 6 to the recording material 2 having a large size and shape at the head.

These two examples are disadvantageous in that the size and shape of the recording material 2 cannot be recognized by the ink jet recording apparatus, and the recording range cannot be changed.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems even if the size and shape of the recording material continuously conveyed are different, and the recording is performed in accordance with the size and shape of the recording material. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording method for recording by changing the range.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a conveyed recording material in a non-contact manner. And control means for comparing the measured value measured by the measuring means with a previously stored set value, and converting the comparison result into an increase / decrease signal for a recording range on the recording medium. , based on the increase or decrease signal, the set recording speed to the recording material, before on the basis of the increase or decrease signal
If the height of the recording object is large, increase the recording height, and
If so, set the recording height to decrease the recording height
Recording means for changing the range of ink droplets to be ejected on the recording medium based on the set recording speed and the recording height.

[0012] Another feature of the present invention is an ink jet recording method for recording in a non-contact with the recording material being conveyed, a measurement step of measuring the dimensions of the recording material are measured at the measuring step Comparing the measured value with a set value stored in advance, and converting the comparison result into an increase / decrease signal for a recording range on the recording object; and Recording speed
And setting the height of the recording object based on the increase / decrease signal.
If it is large, increase the recording height; if it is small, the recording height
Setting the recording height so as to reduce the recording height, and changing the range of ink droplets to fly on the recording object based on the set recording speed and the recording height, and performing recording. It is in.

According to the present invention, the measuring means measures the dimensional shape of the conveyed recording medium. The control unit compares the measured value of the dimension and shape with a preset value stored in advance, and converts the comparison result into an increase / decrease signal for the recording range on the recording medium. Recording means on the basis of the increase or decrease signal, to set the recording speed of the recording material, the recording material on the basis of increased or decreased signal high
If it is large, increase the recording height; if it is small, the recording height
The recording height is set so as to decrease the recording height, and the recording is performed by changing the range of the ink droplets to fly on the recording medium based on the set recording speed and recording height.

Thus, even if the size and shape of the recording object are different, it is possible to change the recording range in accordance with the size and shape of the recording object and perform recording. Failure can be prevented.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 comprises a measuring means 3, a control means 4, and a recording means 5. Further, as shown in FIG.
Is composed of a size determination unit 41 and a set value storage unit 42. The recording unit 5 includes a recording speed switching unit 51 and a recording height switching unit 5.
2, a recording data creation unit 53, and a recording data setting unit 54
And a recording head unit 55.

The recording material 2 conveyed on the conveyor 7
The size of the recording material 2 in the transport direction and the size in the height direction are measured by the measuring means 3 installed on the upstream side of the conveyor 7 from the recording means 5. The measured value is taken into the control means 4 and compared with the set value of the recording range for the predetermined shape and size of the recording object stored in the set value storage section 42 in advance by the magnitude judgment section 41, and the comparison result is obtained. Is converted into an increase / decrease signal for the recording range and output to the recording means 5.

If the output increase / decrease signal is an increase / decrease signal of the magnitude in the transport direction, the recording speed switching unit 5 of the recording means 5
1, the recording speed is switched, and in the case of an increase / decrease signal in the height direction, the recording height is switched to the recording height switching section 52 to switch the recording height.

There are two methods for setting the recording speed.
One is to set a predetermined recording range in accordance with the transport speed of the recording material 2 transported on the conveyor 7.

The other is to set the recording speed to a predetermined recording range by changing the recording speed when the transport speed of the recording medium 2 is constant. This method will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a dot matrix constituting the recording range of the recording medium 2 will be described as an example of m dots vertically and n dots horizontally.

Assuming that the conveying speed of the conveyor 7 for conveying the recording object 2 is v, the dot pitch in the horizontal direction of the recording surface is p, the recording range is w, and the diameter of the recorded dots is d, w = (n-1) ) p + d (Equation 1)

The time t from the recording of the first column to the recording of the second column is represented by t = p / v (Equation 2).

The following equation (Equation 3) is derived from these two equations (Equation 1) and (Equation 2). w = (n-1) vt + d (Equation 3) From this equation (Equation 3), when the transport speed of the conveyor 7 is constant, in order to change the recording range, the dot matrix configuration must be changed or the time t It can be seen that it is better to change

Changing the configuration of the dot matrix may be a means of changing the printing speed, although the contents to be printed may be restricted.

Next, in the case where the time t is changed, the time t is the recording speed of the recording head unit 55, and the number of ink droplets generated for recording is f / sec.
In this case, t = 1 / f (Equation 4).

Therefore, when the conveyance speed of the conveyor 7 is constant, in order to change the recording range 6 for the recording target 2,
What is necessary is just to change the number of recording ink droplets generated in the recording head unit 55.

As for the change in the vertical direction, the dot m in the vertical direction of the dot matrix to be printed may be changed according to the signal indicating the height of the recording object. in this way,
By switching the increase / decrease signal in the recording speed switching unit 51 and the recording height switching unit 52, new recording data is created in the recording data creation unit 53, and the recording head unit 55 reaches a predetermined range on the recording medium 2. A record is made.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the recording range 6 changes with a change in the recording speed when the conveyance speed of the recording material 2 is fixed. In FIG. 3A, the size of the recording medium 2 is large, and a recording range 6 corresponding to the size is specified.
In (b), the recording object 2 is small, and accordingly, the recording range 6 is also specified to be narrow.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the measuring means 3 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of reflection detectors can be used to measure the height of the recording object 2 in a stepwise manner to extract a detection signal. As the reflective detector, a detector using a generally well-known one such as light or sound wave may be used.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, it is preferable that the distance between the recording material 2 and the recording head 55 be as small as possible due to the restriction of the flying distance of the ink droplets. The sheet is conveyed closer to the recording head unit 55.

Conveying the object 2 close to the recording medium 2 is convenient for detecting the height of the object 2 with a reflection type detector.
It is no longer necessary to consider the width of the conveyor 7 for transporting
The measuring means 3 can be realized simply and inexpensively.

In addition, as a means for detecting the height of the recording material 2, a transmission type detector installed on both sides of the conveyor may be used. Alternatively, although expensive, a means for recognizing an image of the entire recording object 2 with a CCD camera and detecting the dimensional shape including the height may be used.

The size of the recording medium 2 in the transport direction can be detected by the reflection type detector and the transmission type detector. The measurement of the dimension in the transport direction is detected by using any one of the detectors, and the dimension in the transport direction of the recording object 2 is calculated from the detection time of the recording object 2 and the transport speed of the conveyor 7. .

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the processing operation of the ink jet recording method according to one embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, first, a set value of a predetermined recording range with respect to a predetermined shape and size of a recording target is set in advance by the recording data setting unit 54 (step 101). Next, an object to be recorded is detected (102), and a height dimension is calculated (103) and a transport direction dimension is calculated (10) based on the detected value.
4) The results are compared with the set values set by the print data setting unit 54 and stored in the set value storage unit 42 to determine the magnitude (105, 106).

The result of the size judgment regarding the height (105),
If it is large, the recording height is increased (107), and if it is small, the recording height is decreased (108).

Although not specifically shown in this flowchart, a step for determining whether or not a determination regarding the height is necessary is added in consideration of a case where the recording height is not changed even if the height of the recording medium 2 is changed. It is possible.

The result of the magnitude judgment (10
6) If it is large, the recording speed is reduced (109), and if it is small, the recording speed is increased (110).

Next, the recording height is determined based on the results of steps 107 and 108 (step 111).
The recording speed is determined based on the results of Steps 9 and 110 (112),
Recording data is created (113) and recorded on the recording object 2 (114).

[0041]

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform recording in accordance with the size and shape of a recording object, so that it is possible to prevent problems such as protrusion of the recording and difficulty in viewing the recording, and to improve the reliability of the recording. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration block diagram of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a recording example in the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a dot matrix configuration diagram showing a recording range.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the measuring means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a processing operation of an inkjet recording method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a recording example of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink-jet recording apparatus, 2 ... Recording object, 3 ... Measuring means, 4 ... Control means, 5 ... Recording means, 6 ... Recording range, 7
... Conveyer, 41 ... Size judgment unit, 42 ... Set value storage unit
51: Recording speed switching unit, 52: Recording height switching unit, 53:
Recording data creation unit, 54: recording data setting unit, 55: recording head unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 2/13 B41J 29/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ink jet recording apparatus for recording in a non-contact with the recording material being conveyed, a measuring means for measuring the dimensions of the recording material, the measurement
Control means for comparing the measured value measured by the means with a previously stored set value, and converting the comparison result into an increase / decrease signal for a recording range on the recording medium, based on the increase / decrease signal, the set recording speed to the recording medium, the increase
If the height of the recording object is large based on the decrease signal, recording is performed.
Increase the height and decrease the recording height if smaller
Recording means for setting a recording height on the recording medium, and changing the range of ink droplets to fly on the recording medium based on the set recording speed and the recording height. Recording device. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means measures a size of the recording material in a conveying direction and a size in a height direction. 3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores a set value of a recording range for a predetermined shape and size of the recording object in advance, and stores the set value in the measured value and the set value storage unit. An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: comparing a magnitude of the set value, converting the comparison result into an increase / decrease signal for a recording range on the recording medium, and outputting the signal to the recording unit. Recording device. 4. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is configured to, when the input increase / decrease signal is an increase / decrease signal of the magnitude in the transport direction, record the recording speed on the recording medium. A recording speed switching unit for switching the recording height, when the input increase / decrease signal is an increase / decrease signal of the magnitude in the height direction, the recording height for switching the recording height to the recording object Ink-jet recording, comprising: a switching unit; and a recording data creating unit that creates data for changing a range of ink droplets to fly on the recording object based on the switched recording speed and recording height. apparatus. 5. An ink jet recording method for recording in a non-contact with the recording material being conveyed, a measurement step of measuring the dimensions of the recording material, the
A control step of comparing the measured value measured in the measurement step with a preset value stored in advance, and converting the comparison result into an increase / decrease signal for a recording range on the recording object, based on the increase / decrease signal , the height of the recording speed to the recording was set <br/> constant, the recording material on the basis of the increase or decrease signal large
If it is, increase the recording height; if it is small, decrease the recording height.
And setting a recording height so as to decrease the recording height, and changing the range of ink droplets to fly on the recording medium based on the set recording speed and the recording height to perform recording. Inkjet recording method.