JP3517674B2 - Printing method of recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method of a recording apparatus suitable for use in a magnifying copying machine for magnifying and printing image data read from an original.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a magnifying copying machine which reads an original of A4 size or the like by an image sensor, processes the read image data, and enlarges and prints it in a large size such as A1 or A0 size. .

This type of enlargement copying machine is equipped with a serial type print head in which a large number of printing elements are arranged, and at the time of printing, recording paper is intermittently transferred and the print head is perpendicular to the transfer direction of the recording paper. And scan the recording paper one line at a time. A plurality of print heads are arranged at regular intervals in the line direction, and each print head prints a length obtained by dividing the total line length by the number of print heads.

[0004]

The enlargement copying machine described above selects a binarized print mode for printing based on simple binarized data and a halftone print mode for printing based on pseudo halftone data. However, there is a problem that the following problems occur when a printable function is provided.

That is, since this type of enlargement copying machine prints line by line, a seam is generated between the printed lines.
In the case of the binarized printing mode, which is mainly used for printing text documents, this seam is hardly noticeable because it is expressed in black and white and has a large white area, but it is mainly used for printing photographs. In the tonal printing mode, white streaks and dark streaks appear, which are conspicuous and directly affect the print image quality.

On the other hand, in this type of enlargement copying machine, a plurality of different types of recording paper can be used properly.
A thermal recording paper, a transfer recording paper or a synthetic transfer recording paper can be selected and used according to the purpose.

However, in this case, since the friction coefficient and the paper thickness of the paper surface differ depending on the type of recording paper, the amount of transfer (or slip amount) at one time varies depending on the type of recording paper, and particularly, depending on the halftone printing mode. At the time of printing, the degree of visibility of the seam increases depending on the type of recording paper, and the print image quality deteriorates significantly.

The present invention has solved the problems existing in the prior art as described above, and the seams between lines in both the halftone printing mode and the binarized printing mode depend on the recording paper used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method for a recording apparatus, which can make the image quality inconspicuous without making the print quality in each printing mode dramatically.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a transfer amount Sa for one line corresponding to a plurality of different types of recording paper P is set in advance, and the recording paper P is intermittently transferred, In a printing method of a printing apparatus, in which a serial print head Ha, in which a large number of printing elements are arranged, is scanned in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of a printing paper P to print, printing is performed based on pseudo halftone data. The overlap amount Rm between the lines Ln-1 and Ln in the transfer direction for printing the transfer amounts Sa, Sb, Sc respectively corresponding to a plurality of different types of recording paper P in the halftone print mode in the transfer direction is small. And transfer amounts Sd, Se, and Sf respectively corresponding to a plurality of different types of recording paper P in the binarized printing mode in which printing is performed based on simple binarized data. The transfer amounts Sa, Sb, Sc in the halftone print mode are set to be smaller, and at the time of printing, each recording sheet P is transferred by the corresponding transfer amount Sa.

Further, the transfer speed for obtaining the transfer amount Sa ... is set such that the transfer speed Vf for a fixed period Tf from the start of transfer is smaller than the regular transfer speed Vm, and the transfer speed for the fixed period Tr until the end of transfer. Vr is the regular transfer speed V
It is desirable to set it smaller than m.

[0011]

According to the printing method of the present invention, the recording apparatus first transfers the recording paper P intermittently and records the serial print head Ha ... It has a function of performing printing by scanning in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper P.

In advance, the transfer amount Sa for one line corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of recording paper P is
Each line Ln-1 in the transfer direction for printing on the recording paper P
And the overlap amounts Rm and Rs between Ln and Ln are set to be predetermined amounts. In this case, the transfer amounts Sa and S in the halftone printing mode for printing based on the pseudo halftone data
b and Sc are set so that the overlap amount Rm is as small as possible so that the seam is inconspicuous, and
The transfer amounts Sd, Se, Sf in the binarized print mode for printing based on the simple binarized data are calculated from the transfer amounts Sa, Sb, Sc in the halftone print mode so that, for example, white streaks do not appear at the seams. Is also set smaller. Therefore, the overlap amount Rs in the binarized print mode is larger than the overlap amount Rm in the halftone print mode. As a result, the coefficient of friction of the paper surface, the paper thickness, etc. differ depending on the type of the recording paper P, and even if the slip amount changes, the optimum transfer amount Sa ... That cancels this slip amount is for each recording paper P. Each is set.

Therefore, at the time of printing, the recording paper P used
Is selected, and printing is performed while the recording paper P is being transferred by the selected transfer amount Sa. Further, when the recording paper P is transferred, the transfer speed Vf in the fixed period Tf from the start of transfer is set to be smaller than the regular transfer speed Vm, and the transfer speed Vr in the fixed period Tr until the end of the transfer is regular. Since the speed is set lower than the transfer speed Vm, so-called slow-up and slow-down are realized, and errors due to deformation of the transfer roller are reduced, so that a more accurate transfer amount can be obtained.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, an outline of an enlargement copying machine equipped with a recording apparatus capable of carrying out the printing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a block system diagram of the enlargement copying machine. The magnifying copying machine 1 is roughly divided into a reading processing system A, an operating system B, a control processing system C and a printing processing system D. In particular, the operating system B, the control processing system C and the printing processing system D are the printing according to the present invention. Configure a recording device 2 that can carry out the method.

The reading processing system A includes a reading unit 3 having an image sensor, a reduction processing unit 4 for performing reduction processing, a pseudo-halftone processing unit 5 for converting to pseudo-halftone data, and a simple binary for converting to simple binary data. The conversion processing unit 6 and the expansion processing unit 7 that performs the expansion process are included. As a result, the reading unit 3 reads the original with the image sensor and outputs the image data through necessary processing such as A / D conversion, and the image data is reduced by the reduction processing unit 4, the pseudo halftone processing unit 5, or the like. It is given to the control processing system C via the simple binarization processing unit 6 and the expansion processing unit 7.

In this case, if the same magnification is selected by the magnification selection key 10 described later, the image data passes through the reduction processing section 4 and the enlargement processing section 7 as it is. On the other hand, if an integer multiple enlargement ratio is selected, the image data is reduced by the reduction processing unit 4.
If the non-integer magnification ratio is selected, the image data is once reduced by the reduction processing unit 4 and then enlarged by the enlargement processing unit 7. Processed to obtain a constant magnification. Further, if the binarized print mode is selected by the print mode selection key 8 described later, the image data is converted into black and white binarized data via the simple binarization processing unit 6 and the halftone printing is performed. If the mode is selected, the image data is converted into pseudo halftone data via the pseudo halftone processing unit 5. An error diffusion method is used for conversion into pseudo-halftone data, and the pseudo-halftone processing unit 5 performs data processing (binarization) on image data so that halftone density of 64 gradations is represented by the density of dot pixels. ) Is done.

The operation system B includes a print mode selection key 8 for selecting a binarized print mode and a halftone print mode, a recording paper selection key 9 for selecting a recording paper type, and a magnification selection key 10 for selecting an enlargement ratio. A numeric keypad (not shown) and various function keys are provided. Then, the selection information is given to the control processing system C.

The control processing system C includes a central control unit 11 including a CPU, a ROM 12 for storing a control program, a RAM 13 for storing various data including image data,
It controls the entire enlargement copying machine 1 and executes various calculations.

The print processing system D includes a print processing unit 14 including a RAM for temporarily storing image data (print data) for one line and three print heads Ha, Hb, Hc. Thereby, the image data to be printed is printed by the print processing unit 14
Is applied to each print head Ha through the. in this case,
A serial thermal head in which a large number (for example, 124 dots) of printing elements (heating elements) are arranged can be used as each printing head Ha. Further, the print heads Ha ... Are arranged at regular intervals in the line direction, and the print heads Ha.
Is printed. Therefore, the scanning distance of the print heads Ha is also X / 3. The print heads Ha ... Scan and print in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the print elements are arranged. This direction is the main scanning direction Em. On the other hand, the recording paper P is intermittently fed in a direction at right angles to the main scanning direction, so that one line Ln-1, Ln ... Is sequentially printed. Then, this direction becomes the sub-scanning direction Es.

The print processing system D includes a motor controller 15,
A head moving motor 16 and a transfer roller driving motor 17 are provided. The head moving motor 16 moves (scans) the print heads Ha ..., and the transfer roller driving motor 17 drives a transfer roller (not shown) to intermittently transfer the recording paper P. The motors 16 and 17 are centrally controlled. It is controlled by the motor control unit 15 based on a control command from the unit 11 side.

Next, the printing method according to the present invention and the function of each related portion in the enlargement copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to.

First, the transfer amounts Sa, Sb for one line respectively corresponding to a plurality of different types of recording paper P are prepared in advance.
Sc ... is set so that the overlap amount between the lines Ln-1 and Ln in the transport direction for printing on the recording paper P becomes a predetermined amount. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, it is set in correspondence with three types of recording paper P, that is, "thermosensitive recording paper", "transfer recording paper", and "composite recording paper".

Further, the transfer amounts Sa, Sb, Sc ... Are set differently in the halftone print mode in which printing is performed based on pseudo halftone data and the binary print mode in which printing is performed based on simple binary data. . That is, the transfer amounts Sa, Sb, and Sc in the halftone print mode are set so that the overlap amount Rm shown in FIG. 4A is as small as possible, whereby the seam between the lines Ln-1 and Ln is set. Make it inconspicuous. Specifically, the transfer amount Sa of "thermosensitive recording paper"
When “K” is set to “K”, the transfer amount Sb of “transfer recording paper” is “K + m”, and the transfer amount Sc of “composite transfer recording paper” is “K−.
m ”. It should be noted that “m” can be set to, for example, half the length of the dot pixel.

On the other hand, the transfer amount S in the binary printing mode
d, Se, and Sf are the transfer amount S in the halftone print mode.
It is set smaller than a, Sb, and Sc. In particular,
The transfer amount Sd of "thermosensitive recording paper" is set to "Km", the transfer amount Se of "transfer recording paper" is set to "K", and the transfer amount Sf of "composite transfer recording paper" is set to "Kn". Note that “n” can be set to the length of one dot pixel, for example. As a result, the overlap amount Rs becomes larger than the overlap amount Rm in the halftone print mode, as shown in FIG. The generation of muscles is reliably prevented.

Therefore, at the time of printing, if, for example, "halftone recording mode" is selected by the print mode selection key 8 and "thermosensitive recording paper" is selected by the recording paper selection key 9, pseudo intermediate printing is performed. The image data converted into the pseudo halftone data by the tone processing unit 5 is printed by the print processing unit 14.
Is sent to each print head Ha through the print head Ha and is printed on the recording paper P. At this time, a control command is given from the central control unit 11 to the motor control unit 15, and the head moving motor 16 is controlled. That is, the scanning speed, the return speed, and the stop time of the print heads Ha ... Are controlled. Further, according to a control command from the central control unit 11, the transfer roller drive motor 1
7 is also controlled, and the recording paper P is the selected “thermosensitive recording paper”.
The transfer amount "K" corresponding to the above is sequentially and intermittently transferred. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper P is transported at a transporting speed Vf smaller than the regular transporting speed Vm for a certain period Tf from the start of the transporting, and for a certain period Tf.
After the time elapses, the transfer speed is switched to the regular transfer speed Vm.
Furthermore, the transfer speed V of the Tr for a certain period until the transfer is completed
r is also set to be smaller than the regular transfer speed Vm. As a result, so-called slow-up and slow-down are realized, and errors due to deformation of the transfer roller are reduced, so that a more accurate transfer amount can be obtained.

The embodiment has been described in detail above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.
For example, although the case where three print heads are used is illustrated, one or two print heads or four or more print heads may be used. Although the print head is a thermal head as an example, it does not prevent the use of a print head based on another principle. Furthermore, the setting of the transfer amount is not limited to the example, and may be set based on other conditions. On the other hand, the transfer speed of the recording paper does not prevent the regular transfer speed from being set in the entire period, and the period in which the transfer speed is lower than the regular transfer speed is applied to either the transfer start or the transfer end. You may. Further, the transfer speed may be increased or decreased in stages during the period in which the transfer speed is reduced. It should be noted that the case where the invention is applied to the enlargement copying machine is illustrated, but the invention can be applied to any recording device for other purposes. In addition, the detailed configuration, method, and the like can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the transfer amount corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of recording sheets in the halftone printing mode for printing based on the pseudo halftone data is set in the transfer direction for printing on the recording sheet. Set the amount of overlap between lines to be small, and set the transfer amount corresponding to each of multiple different types of recording paper in the binarized printing mode that prints based on simple binarized data.
It is set to be smaller than the transfer amount in the halftone print mode, and at the time of printing, each recording paper is transferred and printed at the corresponding transfer amount, so that the line in both the halftone print mode and the binarized print mode is printed. It is possible to make the seams between them inconspicuous without being influenced by the recording paper used, and to thereby significantly improve the print image quality in each print mode.

Further, when setting the transfer speed for obtaining the transfer amount, the transfer speed for a certain period from the start of transfer is set smaller than the regular transfer speed, and the transfer speed for the certain period until the end of the transfer is regular. By setting the transfer speed to be lower than the transfer speed, it is possible to reduce an error due to deformation of the transfer roller and the like, so that a more accurate transfer amount can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the type of recording paper, the print mode, and the transfer amount for explaining the printing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transfer speed characteristic diagram of recording paper,

FIG. 3 is a block system diagram of an enlargement copying machine equipped with a recording device capable of implementing the same printing method;

FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram showing the amount of overlap between lines,

[Explanation of symbols]

2 recording device Ha ... print head Ln-1 line Ln line P recording paper Rm overlap amount Sa transfer amount Tf fixed period Tr fixed period Vf transfer speed Vm transfer speed Vr transfer speed

Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/52 B41J 2/36 B41J 3/54 B41J 11/42

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A serial type print head in which a transfer amount for one line corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of recording paper is set in advance, the recording paper is intermittently transferred, and a large number of printing elements are arranged. In a printing method of a printing apparatus that prints by scanning in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing paper, corresponding to a plurality of different types of printing paper in a halftone printing mode in which printing is performed based on pseudo halftone data. The transfer amount to be set is set so that the amount of overlap between lines in the transfer direction for printing on recording paper is small, and a plurality of different types in the binarized printing mode for printing based on simple binarized data are used. The transfer amount corresponding to each recording sheet is set to be smaller than the transfer amount in the halftone printing mode, and each recording sheet is supported at the time of printing. A printing method for a recording apparatus, characterized in that the printing is carried out by a transfer amount. 2. The printing method for a recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer speed for obtaining the transfer amount is set such that the transfer speed for a certain period from the start of the transfer is set lower than the regular transfer speed. 3. The printing of the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer speed for obtaining the transfer amount is set such that the transfer speed for a certain period until the transfer is completed is set smaller than the regular transfer speed. Method.