JP4321032B2 - Printing apparatus, printing method, program, and computer system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing an image on a medium. The present invention also relates to a program for controlling such a printing apparatus and a computer system having such a printing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A printing method for printing a plurality of images on one sheet (hereinafter referred to as N-up printing method) is known.
There is also known a composite apparatus including a scanner unit that reads an image from a document and a printer unit that prints on a sheet.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When N-up printing is performed in such a composite apparatus, after each image is read from a plurality of documents, a layout in which the plurality of read images are arranged is created and printed. For this reason, since printing is started after reading a plurality of images, it takes time to complete printing.
An object of the present invention is to increase the printing time of an N-up printing method in a composite apparatus.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The main invention for achieving the above object is to perform a reading operation for reading an image from a document a plurality of times.N timesgoNGet the image of the aboveNEach image at a predetermined position on the medium.N upA printing device for printing,When performing N-up printing on a single medium, a printing operation in which a plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles to perform printing on the medium, and a conveyance operation in which the medium is conveyed In a printing device that repeatsSaidN timesBefore the reading operation ends, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.Before the printing of the image that has already been read, the conveyance operation that should be performed between the printing operation and the printing operation is not performed, and the next reading operation is performed. After the start, when the transport operation in the standby state is resumed, the medium is transported so that the transport amount of the medium in the transport operation before and after the standby state is constant, and before the standby state. A part of the read image and a part of the image read after the standby state are printed on the medium by the plurality of nozzles.It is characterized by that.
Further, another main invention for achieving the above object is to perform reading operation for reading an image from a document N times, which is N times, to obtain N images, and for each of the N images to be a predetermined medium A printing apparatus that performs N-up printing at a position, and when performing N-up printing on a single medium, data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is created based on the read image, and the plurality of nozzles are scanned in a scanning direction. In the printing apparatus that repeats a printing operation for printing on the medium by ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles based on the data and a conveying operation for conveying the medium, the N reading operations are completed. Before printing, the printing of the already read image on the medium is started, and when the data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is not prepared, the printing operation is set in a standby state, and the next reading operation is performed. After starting, it creates data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles based on the image read by the reading operation, characterized in that to resume the printing operation.
  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following matters will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
A printing apparatus that performs a reading operation for reading an image from a document a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of images, and prints the plurality of images at predetermined positions on a medium, respectively.
The printing apparatus starts printing the already read image on the medium before the plurality of reading operations are completed. According to such a printing apparatus, the printing speed can be increased.
[0006]
This printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that intermittently conveys the medium and performs printing on the medium during the intermittent conveyance, and before the printing of the already read image is completed. The intermittent conveyance is set in a standby state, and after the next reading operation is started, the intermittent conveyance is resumed so that the conveyance amount of the medium before and after the standby state becomes constant. It is desirable that the medium is conveyed. According to such a printing apparatus, since intermittent conveyance can be performed with a constant conveyance amount, an image printed on the medium becomes uniform, and high-quality printing can be performed. Further, the printing apparatus is configured to move a plurality of nozzles in a scanning direction and discharge ink from the plurality of nozzles to perform printing on the medium. After starting the next reading operation, the plurality of nozzles When the nozzle moves in the scanning direction, a part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state are transferred to the medium by the plurality of nozzles. It is preferable to be printed on. According to such a printing apparatus, a part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state can be printed simultaneously (that is, the joint between the image and the image is simultaneously displayed). Can be printed).
[0007]
This printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that intermittently conveys the medium and performs printing on the medium during the intermittent conveyance, and prints until the printing of the already read image is completed. If the next reading operation is not started when printing of the already read image is completed, the intermittent operation is continued until the next reading operation is started. It is desirable to place the transport in a standby state. According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent the image from being deteriorated due to a difference in printing states before and after standby (for example, ink drying condition).
[0008]
In this printing apparatus, a printing operation for creating data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles based on the read image and ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles moving in the scanning direction is performed based on the data. When the data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is not prepared, the printing operation is set to a standby state, the next reading operation is started, and the image read by the reading operation is then performed. It is desirable to create data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles based on the above and restart the printing operation. According to such a printing apparatus, it is determined whether or not to wait for the printing operation depending on whether or not data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is prepared. The data generated before the standby state when the plurality of nozzles move in the scanning direction after generating the data based on the image read by the next reading operation. Preferably, ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles based on the data created after the standby state. According to such a printing apparatus, a part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state can be printed simultaneously (that is, the joint between the image and the image is printed at the same time). can do).
[0009]
In such a printing apparatus, when there is an instruction to cancel printing in the standby state, it is preferable that the medium is ejected after printing of the already read image is completed. According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to print the image already read.
[0010]
In this printing apparatus, the medium is transported in the transport direction to perform printing on the medium, and the plurality of images are printed on the medium so as to be aligned in the transport direction. desirable. According to such a printing apparatus, since printing can be performed from the read image, the printing speed can be increased. The read image is preferably rotated and printed at a predetermined position on the medium. According to such a printing apparatus, printing is possible even if the direction in which the image is read differs from the direction in which the image is printed. Further, it is preferable that two images are acquired from two originals by the two reading operations, and the two images are printed on the medium. According to such a printing apparatus, the speed of so-called 2-up printing can be increased.
[0011]
This printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that performs printing on the medium by moving a nozzle that ejects ink in the scanning direction so that the read images are arranged in the scanning direction in the order of reading. It is desirable to be printed. According to such a printing apparatus, since data necessary for printing can be quickly aligned in the scanning direction, printing can be started early, so that the printing speed can be increased. Four images are acquired from four documents by the four reading operations, and the four images are printed on the medium. According to such a printing apparatus, the speed of so-called 4-up printing can be increased.
[0012]
Also, such a printing method, a program, a storage medium storing the program, and a computer system have been clarified.
[0013]
=== General Configuration of Recording Apparatus ===
A schematic configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover of a scanner unit 10 is opened, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the inside of the printer unit is exposed, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation panel unit. The recording apparatus of the present embodiment includes a scanner function for inputting a document image, a printer function for printing an image on a medium such as paper based on image data, and a local copy function for printing an image input by the scanner function on paper or the like. A scanner / printer / copier combined apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an SPC combined apparatus).
[0014]
The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 10 for reading an image of a document 5 and inputting it as image data, a printer unit 30 for printing an image on a medium such as paper based on the image data, and the entire SPC multifunction apparatus 1. It has a control circuit 50 that controls the operation and an operation panel unit 70 that serves as an input means. Under the control of the control circuit 50, a scanner function, a printer function, and a local copy function for printing data input from the scanner unit 10 by the printer unit 30 are realized.
[0015]
The scanner unit 10 is disposed on the printer unit 30. On the upper part of the scanner unit 10, a document table glass 12 for placing the document 5 to be read, and a document table when reading the sheet-shaped document 5 or when not in use. A document table cover 14 that covers the glass 12 is provided. The document table cover 14 is formed to be openable and closable, and has a function of pressing a document placed on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12 when the document table cover 14 is closed. Further, a paper supply unit 32 for supplying the paper 7 to the printer unit 30 is provided on the back side of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1, and the printed paper 7 is discharged on the lower side on the front side. An operation panel unit 70 is provided as an input unit on the upper side of the unit 34, and a control circuit 50 is built in the printer unit 30.
[0016]
The paper discharge unit 34 is provided with a paper discharge tray 341 that can close the paper discharge port when not in use, and the paper supply unit 32 is provided with a paper feed tray 321 that holds cut paper (not shown). ing. The medium used for printing is not limited to single-sheet printing paper such as cut paper, but may be continuous printing paper such as roll paper. The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 has a paper feed structure that enables printing on roll paper. It may be.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 4, the printer unit 30 and the scanner unit 10 are coupled to each other by a hinge mechanism 41 on the back side, and the scanner unit 10 unitized around the rotating unit of the hinge mechanism 41 is on the front side. Lifted from. In a state where the scanner unit 10 is lifted, the inside of the printer unit 30 is exposed from an opening 301 provided in an upper portion of a cover that covers the printer unit 30. By exposing the inside of the printer unit 30 in this manner, the ink cartridge and the like can be easily replaced, and a paper jam can be easily processed.
[0018]
A power supply unit for the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is provided on the printer unit 30 side, and a power supply cable 43 for supplying power to the scanner unit 10 is provided in the vicinity of the hinge mechanism 41. Further, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is provided with a USB interface 52 for realizing the image capturing to the host computer 3 by the scanner function and the output of the image data transmitted from the host computer 3 by the printer function. .
[0019]
=== Configuration of Operation Panel 70 ===
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel unit 70 is provided with a liquid crystal display 72 as a display unit and a notification lamp 74 at substantially the center thereof. The liquid crystal display 72 can display 32 characters of 2 rows and 16 digits, and can display setting items, setting states, operation states, and the like in characters. A notification lamp 74 provided on the side of the liquid crystal display 72 is a red LED, and lights up when an error occurs to notify the user of the occurrence of the error.
[0020]
On the left side of the liquid crystal display 72, a power button 76, a scan start button 78, a setting display button 80, and a clear button 82 are provided. The power button 76 is a button for turning on / off the power of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. The scan start button 78 is a button for starting reading of the original 5 by the scanner unit 10 in a state where the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is connected to the host computer 3. The setting display button 80 is a button for causing the liquid crystal display 72 to display a setting state for the copy function set by the user. The clear button 82 is a button for clearing the setting for the copy function and changing each setting item to a default value.
[0021]
On the right side of the liquid crystal display 72, a color copy button 84, a monochrome copy button 86, a stop button 88, and a copy number setting button 90 are provided.
[0022]
The color copy button 84 is a button for starting color copying, and the monochrome button 86 is a button for starting monochrome copying. Therefore, these copy buttons 84 and 86 serve as both a copy operation start instruction and selection means for selecting whether the image to be output is color or monochrome. The stop button 88 is a button for stopping the copy operation once started. The copy number setting button 90 is composed of two buttons 901 and 902 having “+” or “−” on the front surface. When the “+” button 901 is pressed, the set number is increased, and the “−” button 902 is displayed. Press to decrease the set number. Further, the copy number setting button 90 is set so that the number is sequentially increased or decreased by continuing to be pressed, and the increase or decrease speed is increased as the pressing time is increased.
[0023]
A menu button 92 for switching setting items displayed on the liquid crystal display 72 is provided on the front side of the liquid crystal display 72. The menu button 92 is composed of two buttons arranged on the left and right, and a left-pointing arrow or a right-pointing arrow is shown respectively. Each time the left or right menu button 92 is pressed, the setting items to be displayed are sequentially switched in the determined order, and when the display is completed, the first setting item is displayed. The left and right arrows are for changing the order in which the setting items are displayed, and the two buttons 92 display the setting items in the reverse order of the display order when the other buttons are pressed. The menu button 92 is set so that the switching speed is increased by keeping the menu button 92 pressed in the same manner as the copy number setting button 90.
[0024]
=== Configuration of Scanner Unit 10 ===
The scanner unit 10 includes a document table glass 12 on which the document 5 is placed, a document table cover 14 for pressing the reading surface of the document 5 placed on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12, and a document. A reading carriage 16 that scans along the document 5 while facing the document glass 12 while keeping a certain distance from the table glass 12, a driving means 18 for scanning the reading carriage 16, and the reading carriage 16 in a stable state. And a restriction guide 20 for scanning.
[0025]
The reading carriage 16 includes an exposure lamp 22 as a light source for irradiating the document 5 with light through the document table glass 12, a lens 24 for condensing the reflected light from the document 5, and a reflected light from the document 5 to the lens 24 And a CCD sensor 28 that receives reflected light transmitted through the lens, and a guide receiving portion 29 that engages with the restriction guide 20.
[0026]
The CCD sensor 28 is composed of three linear sensors in which photodiodes that convert optical signals into electric signals are arranged in a row, and these three linear sensors are arranged in parallel. The CCD sensor 28 includes three filters of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) (not shown), and different color filters are provided for each linear sensor. Each linear sensor detects light of a component corresponding to the color of the filter. For example, a linear sensor including an R filter detects the intensity of red component light. The three linear sensors are arranged along a direction (hereinafter referred to as a main scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to a moving direction of the reading carriage 16 (hereinafter referred to as a sub scanning direction).
[0027]
Since the length of the CCD sensor 28 is sufficiently shorter than the width of the readable original 5 (the length in the main scanning direction), the image of the reflected light of the original 5 is reduced by the lens 24 and connected to the CCD sensor 28. I will make you image. That is, the lens 24 interposed between the document 5 and the CCD sensor 28 is disposed close to the CCD sensor 28 side, and the distance between the document 5 and the lens 24 needs to be set long, and a long optical path length is required. Is done. For this reason, in order to ensure the distance between the document 5 and the lens 24 within the limited space of the scanning scanning carriage 16, the light is reflected by the four mirrors 26 to ensure a long optical path length.
[0028]
The reflected light from the document 5 is reflected by the four mirrors 26 and passes through the lens 24 to reach the CCD sensor 28. However, since the three linear sensors are arranged in parallel, they are simultaneously connected to each linear sensor. The reflection position of the reflected light to be imaged with respect to the document is displaced in the sub-scanning direction by the interval of the linear sensor. For this reason, the scanner control unit 58 (FIG. 8) of the control circuit 50 performs a line-to-line correction process for correcting this shift. The interline correction process will be described later.
[0029]
The restriction guide 20 is provided along the sub-scanning direction and is formed of a stainless steel cylindrical material. The restriction guide 20 is provided on the reading carriage 16 and penetrates through two guide receiving portions 29 formed of thrust bearings. By widening the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the two guide receiving portions 29 provided on the reading carriage 16, the reading carriage 16 can be stably scanned.
[0030]
The driving unit 18 includes an annular timing belt 181 fixed to the reading carriage 16 and a pulley 182 meshing with the timing belt 181, a pulse motor 183 disposed on one end side in the sub-scanning direction, and the other The idler pulley 184 is arranged on the end side and applies tension to the timing belt 181. The pulse motor 183 is driven by the scanner control unit 58 (FIG. 8) of the control circuit 50. The read image is scanned in the sub-scanning direction by the scanning speed of the reading carriage 16 which is changed according to the speed of the pulse motor 183. It becomes possible to enlarge and reduce.
[0031]
The scanner unit 10 irradiates the document 5 with light from the exposure lamp 22 and moves the reading carriage 16 along the document 5 while imaging the reflected light on the CCD sensor 28. At this time, by reading the voltage value indicating the amount of light received by the CCD sensor 28 at a predetermined cycle, an image corresponding to the distance moved by the reading carriage 16 during one cycle is used as data for one line of the output image. Take in. At this time, three data of R component, G component, and B component are taken in as data for one line.
[0032]
=== Configuration of Printer 30 ===
The printer unit 30 is configured to output a color image. For example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) color inks are printed on a medium such as printing paper. An ink jet method is employed in which an image is formed by forming dots by discharging the ink upward. In addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, LC), light magenta (light magenta, LM), and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used as the color ink.
[0033]
Next, the printer unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement around the print head, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drive unit of the printing paper transport mechanism.
As shown in the figure, the printer unit 30 drives a print head 38 mounted on the writing carriage 36 to eject ink and form dots, and the writing carriage 36 is conveyed by the carriage motor 40 to transport the paper 7. A mechanism that reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the direction, and a mechanism that conveys the sheet 7 supplied from a sheet feed tray 321 (see FIG. 1) by a paper feed motor (hereinafter also referred to as a PF motor) 42. .
[0034]
The mechanism for ejecting ink and forming dots includes a print head 38 having a plurality of nozzles as an ink ejection unit, and ejects ink from predetermined nozzles based on a print command signal. On the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, a plurality of nozzles form a row along the transport direction of the paper 7, and a plurality of rows are provided in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper 7. Details of the print head 38 and the nozzle arrangement will be described later. The print head 38 includes a 16-bit memory corresponding to each nozzle, and data is transferred in 16-bit units to each nozzle from a head control unit 68 (FIG. 10) described later.
[0035]
A mechanism for reciprocating the writing carriage 36 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the carriage motor 40 (hereinafter also referred to as a CR motor) for driving the writing carriage 36 and the conveyance direction of the paper 7. A sliding shaft 44 that is movably held, a linear encoder 46 fixed to the writing carriage 36, a linear encoder code plate 461 having slits formed at predetermined intervals, and a rotating shaft of the carriage motor 40 It comprises an attached pulley 48 and a timing belt 49 driven by the pulley 48.
[0036]
A print head 38 and a cartridge mounting portion provided integrally with the print head 38 are fixed to the writing carriage 36. The cartridge mounting portion includes black (K), cyan (C), and magenta (M). Ink cartridges containing ink such as yellow (Y) are mounted.
[0037]
A mechanism for transporting the paper 7 supplied from the paper feed tray 321 is arranged to face the print head 38 and serves as a guide member for guiding the paper 7 so that the paper 7 and the print head 38 are at an appropriate distance. A platen 35, a conveyance roller 37 that is provided upstream of the platen 35 in the conveyance direction of the paper 7 and conveys the supplied paper 7 so as to contact the platen 35 at a predetermined angle, and a platen 35. On the other hand, a paper discharge roller 39 is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper 7 and conveys and discharges the paper 7 removed from the conveyance roller 37, and a PF for driving the conveyance roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39. A motor 42, a rotary encoder 47 for detecting the transport amount of the paper 7, and a paper detection sensor 45 for detecting the presence / absence of the paper 7 and the leading and trailing edges of the paper 7 are provided.
[0038]
The conveyance roller 37 is provided below the conveyance path of the paper 7, and a driven roller 371 for holding the paper 7 is provided above the conveyance roller 37 so as to face the conveyance roller 37. The paper discharge roller 39 is also provided below the conveyance path of the paper 7, and a driven roller 391 for holding the paper 7 facing the paper discharge roller 39 is provided above the paper discharge roller 39. The opposed driven roller 391 is a roller which is a thin plate and provided with fine teeth on the outer peripheral portion, and is configured so that ink does not rub even if it contacts the surface of the paper 7 after printing.
[0039]
Further, the contact position between the transport roller 37 and the sheet 7 is arranged to be higher than the contact position between the platen 35 and the sheet 7. That is, the sheet 7 conveyed from the conveyance roller 37 contacts the platen 35 at a predetermined angle and is further conveyed. Thus, the sheet 7 is conveyed along the platen 35 so as to be pressed against a guide surface 351 described later. For this reason, the platen 35 can maintain the paper 7 at an appropriate position from the nozzles, and a good image can be obtained.
[0040]
Further, the transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39 are connected by the gear train 31 and are rotated by the rotation of the PF motor 42, so that the transport speed of the paper 7 by both rollers 37 and 39 is the same.
[0041]
The platen 35 has a guide surface 351 that faces the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, that is, the surface on which the nozzles are provided, and guides the paper 7 in contact therewith. The guide surface 351 is formed narrower than the area where the nozzles on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38 are provided, and some of the nozzles located on the most upstream side and the most downstream side in the transport direction of the paper 7 face the platen 35. Not. This prevents the ink ejected outside the paper 7 from adhering to the platen 35 when printing the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper 7, and prevents the back surface of the paper 7 conveyed thereafter from becoming dirty. Yes. That is, the platen 35 is not provided at a position facing the nozzles at the upstream end and the downstream end. In this space portion, an ink receiver is provided at a position lower than the guide surface 351 of the platen 35 to collect unnecessary ink so that the inside of the printer is not soiled.
[0042]
The paper detection sensor 45 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the transport roller 37, is provided above the lever 451 having a rotation center at a position higher than the transport path of the paper 7, and has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. A transmissive optical sensor 452. The lever 451 is arranged so as to hang down in the conveyance path by its own weight, and is located on the opposite side across the action portion 453 and the rotation center with the action portion 453 rotated by the paper 7 supplied from the paper feed tray 321. The light shielding unit 454 is provided so as to pass between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In the paper detection sensor 45, when the lever 451 is pushed by the supplied paper 7, and the paper 7 reaches a predetermined position, the light shielding portion 454 blocks the light emitted from the light emitting portion, so that the paper 7 reaches the predetermined position. Is detected. Thereafter, when the sheet 7 is conveyed by the conveying roller 7 and the rear end of the sheet 7 passes, the lever 451 hangs down due to its own weight, the light shielding part 454 is detached from between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, and the light of the light emitting part is received. It is detected that the rear end of the sheet 7 reaches a predetermined position. Therefore, while the light blocking unit 454 blocks the light from the light emitting unit, it is detected that the sheet 7 exists at least in the transport path.
[0043]
=== Regarding the Nozzle Configuration ===
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38.
A black ink nozzle row 33 (K), a cyan ink nozzle row 33 (C), a magenta ink nozzle row 33 (M), and a yellow ink nozzle row 33 (Y) are formed on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38. ing. Each nozzle row 33 includes a plurality of nozzles (10 in this embodiment) that are ejection openings for ejecting ink of each color.
[0044]
The plurality of nozzles of each nozzle row 33 are aligned at a constant interval (nozzle pitch: k · D) along the paper conveyance direction. Here, D is the minimum dot pitch in the paper conveyance direction (that is, the interval at the highest resolution of dots formed on the paper 32). For example, when the resolution is 720 dpi, 1/720 inch (about 35. 3 μm). K is an integer of 1 or more.
In addition, the nozzles of each nozzle row 33 are assigned a smaller number as the nozzles on the downstream side are designated as the first nozzle N1 to the tenth nozzle N10, respectively. Each nozzle is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for driving each nozzle to eject ink droplets.
[0045]
At the time of printing, the sheet 7 is intermittently transported by a predetermined transport amount F by the transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39, and the writing carriage 36 moves in the scanning direction during the intermittent transport, so that each nozzle Ink droplets are ejected from.
[0046]
=== Drive of print head ===
Next, driving of the print head 38 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive signal generator provided in the head control unit 68 (FIG. 10).
[0047]
In FIG. 9, the drive signal generation unit includes a plurality of mask circuits 204, an original drive signal generation unit 206, and a drive signal correction unit 230. The mask circuit 204 is provided corresponding to a plurality of piezo elements for driving the nozzles N1 to N10 of the print head 38, respectively. In FIG. 9, the number in parentheses at the end of each signal name indicates the number of the nozzle to which the signal is supplied. The original drive signal generator 206 generates an original drive signal ODRV that is commonly used for the nozzles N1 to N10. The original drive signal ODRV is a signal including two pulses, a first pulse W1 and a second pulse W2, within the main scanning period for one pixel. The drive signal correction unit 230 performs correction by shifting the timing of the drive signal waveform shaped by the mask circuit 204 back and forth in the entire return path. By correcting the timing of the drive signal waveform, the deviation of the ink droplet landing position in the forward path and the backward path is corrected, that is, the deviation of the dot formation position in the forward path and the backward path is corrected.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 9, the input serial print signal PRT (i) is input to the mask circuit 204 together with the original drive signal ODRV output from the original drive signal generator 206. The serial print signal PRT (i) is a 2-bit serial signal per pixel, and each bit corresponds to the first pulse W1 and the second pulse W2.
[0049]
The mask circuit 204 is a gate for masking the original drive signal ODRV in accordance with the level of the serial print signal PRT (i). That is, when the serial print signal PRT (i) is 1 level, the mask circuit 204 passes the corresponding pulse of the original drive signal ODRV as it is and supplies it as the drive signal DRV to the piezo element, while the serial print signal PRT (i ) Is 0 level, the corresponding pulse of the original drive signal ODRV is cut off.
[0050]
=== Internal Structure of Control Circuit 50 ===
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit 50.
The control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 includes a CPU 54 that controls the entire SPC multifunction apparatus 1, a ROM 55 that stores a control program, and a control ASIC 51 that controls each of the scanner function, print function, and local copy function. The SDRAM 56 capable of directly reading and writing data from the CPU 54 and the operation panel unit 70 as input means are connected by a bus. The control ASIC 51 is connected to the scanner unit 10, the print head 38, and an ASIC SDRAM 69 that can directly read and write data from the control ASIC 51.
[0051]
The control ASIC 51 includes a scanner control unit 58, a binarization processing unit 60, an interlace processing unit 62, an image buffer unit 64, a CPU interface unit (hereinafter referred to as CPUIF unit) 66, a head control unit 68, an external A USB interface (hereinafter referred to as USBIF) 52 as input / output means with the host computer 3 and drivers such as motors and lamps provided in the scanner unit 10 and the printer unit 30 are provided. Further, a line buffer 691, an interlace buffer 692, and an image buffer 693 are allocated to the control ASIC SDRAM 69, respectively. Between the control ASIC 51 and the ASIC SDRAM 69, so-called burst transfer with a data transfer unit of 64 bits is performed in order to increase the data transfer speed.
[0052]
The scanner control unit 58 controls each of the exposure lamp 22, the CCD sensor 28, the pulse motor 183 as a reading carriage drive motor provided in the scanner unit 10, and the data read via the CCD sensor 28 via the line buffer 691. And a function of sending to the binarization processing unit 60.
The binarization processing unit 60 has a function of converting the transmitted multi-gradation RGB data into CMYK binary data and transmitting the data to the interlace processing unit 62.
[0053]
The interlace processing unit 62 performs CMYK data for one raster line when performing so-called overlap printing in which one raster line (one line in the main scanning direction in the print image) is printed by scanning the writing carriage 36 a plurality of times. Is assigned to data to be printed for each scan of the writing carriage 36 to generate overlap printing compatible data (hereinafter referred to as OL compatible data). The generated OL correspondence data is stored in the interlace buffer 692 of the ASIC SDRAM 69.
In the interlace processing unit 62, the data stored in the interlace buffer 692 is read into the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62 for each predetermined size, and rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement. 64.
[0054]
The image buffer unit 64 has a function of generating head drive data for causing the nozzles for each scan of the writing carriage 36 to eject ink from the data sent from the interlace processing unit 62.
The CPUIF unit 66 has a function that allows the CPU 54 to access the control ASIC SDRAM 69 connected to the control ASIC 51. The control circuit 50 is used when driving the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data generated by the image buffer unit 64.
The head control unit 68 has a function of driving the print head 38 based on the head drive data under the control of the CPU 54 and discharging ink from the nozzles.
[0055]
=== Data Flow in Control Circuit 50 ===
<About the scanner function>
From the host computer 3 connected to the USBIF 52 of the control ASIC 51, an image reading command signal from the scanner unit 10 and reading information data such as reading resolution and reading area are transmitted to the control circuit 50. In the control circuit 50, the CPU 54 controls the scanner control unit 58 based on the image reading command signal and the reading information data, and reading of the document 5 by the scanner unit 10 is started. At this time, in the scanner control unit 58, a lamp driving unit, a CCD driving unit, a reading carriage scanning driving unit, and the like are driven, and RGB data is read from the CCD sensor 28 at a predetermined cycle. The read RGB data is temporarily stored in a line buffer 691 allocated to the ASIC SDRAM 69, subjected to inter-line correction processing for each of R, G, and B data, and sent to the host computer 3 via the USBIF 52. . The inter-line correction process is a process for correcting the deviation of the reading position between the R, G, and B linear sensors that occurs due to the structure of the scanner unit 10.
[0056]
More specifically, the CCD sensor 28 of the scanner unit 10 is a color sensor, and has a linear sensor with one line for each color for three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Yes. Since these three linear sensors are arranged in parallel with the scanning direction of the reading carriage 16, they cannot simultaneously receive the reflected light irradiated on the same line of the document 5. That is, when reflected light irradiated on the same line of the document 5 is received by each linear sensor, a time shift occurs. For this reason, it is a process for synchronizing the data sent with a delay corresponding to the arrangement of the linear sensors.
[0057]
<About the printer function>
During the printer function, image data to be printed is converted into head drive data that can be printed by the printer unit 30 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 by the printer driver of the host computer 3 connected to the USBIF 52 of the control ASIC 51. Input from USBIF 52. For example, when performing interlaced printing, the head drive data is obtained by extracting raster data corresponding to the resolution of the image to be printed and the pitch and number of nozzles of the nozzle array 33 of the writing carriage 36. The data is rearranged in the printing order for each scanning of the feed carriage 36 and becomes a signal for driving the print head 38. In interlaced printing, the nozzle pitch (nozzle spacing) is wider than the spacing of dots formed on the paper.
[0058]
The head drive data is stored in an image buffer 57 assigned to an SDRAM 56 that can be read directly by the CPU 54. The image buffer 57 includes two memory areas having a capacity capable of storing head drive data for printing by one scan of the writing carriage 36. When data for one scan is written in one image buffer 571, the data is transferred to the head control unit 68. At this time, when the image data in one image buffer 571 is transferred to the head control unit 68, the head drive data for printing in the next scanning is stored in the other image buffer 572. When data for one scan is written in the other image buffer 572, the data is transferred to the head control unit 68, and the image data is written in the one image buffer 571. As described above, the print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 and printing is executed while alternately writing and reading the head drive data using the two image buffers 571 and 572.
[0059]
<About copy function>
Next, the data flow during the copy function will be described. Here, only the data flow during the normal copy operation will be described, and the 2-up printing method of the present embodiment will be described later.
[0060]
Data read by the scanner unit 10 is taken into the line buffer 691 via the scanner control unit 58. The RGB data taken into the line buffer 691 is subjected to the RGB inter-line correction process described above, and the RGB data for the same line is sent from the scanner control unit 58 to the binarization processing unit 60.
The RGB data sent to the binarization processing unit 60 is subjected to halftone processing, and is then referred to a look-up table (LUT) 695 stored in the control ASIC SDRAM 69 to obtain binary values for each color of CMYK. It is converted into data and sent to the interlace processing unit 62.
[0061]
The CMYK binary data sent to the interlace processing unit 62 is distributed from all data of each raster line to data to be printed for each scan of the writing carriage 36 based on the designated interlace method. For example, when one raster line is formed by two scans of the writing carriage 36, it is divided into data for forming odd-numbered dots and data for forming even-numbered dots from the end of the raster line. Thus, OL correspondence data is generated. This OL-compatible data is burst-transferred to the interlace buffer 692 by 64 bits and stored.
[0062]
In addition, the interlace processing unit 62 reads the data stored in the interlace buffer 692 for each predetermined size, and burst-transfers the data to the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62. At this time, OL correspondence data is read from the interlace buffer 692 in correspondence with the nozzle arrangement of the print head 38 based on the image resolution to be printed and the nozzle pitch. For example, when the resolution of an image to be printed is 720 dpi and the nozzle pitch is 1/180 inch, three raster lines are printed between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles. For this reason, the data corresponding to the scanning of the writing carriage 36 is read out from the OL corresponding data at intervals of 3 raster lines.
[0063]
The transferred data is rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement and sent to the image buffer unit 64.
In the image buffer unit 64, the image data finely divided by the capacity of the SRAM 621 is burst-transferred to the image buffer 693 so as to be head drive data for ejecting ink to each nozzle for each scan of the writing carriage 36. Align and remember. Here, the image buffers 693 and 694 are allotted memory areas for storing head drive data for two scans of the write carriage 36, and each time the head drive data for one scan is accumulated, The CPU 54 sends the head drive unit 68 to the head control unit 68 and starts writing head drive data corresponding to the next scan in the memory area for the remaining one scan. This process is the same as the image buffer process described above in the description of the printer function.
[0064]
The head drive data for each scan stored in the image buffers 693 and 694 is controlled by the CPU 54, read into the CPU 54 via the CPUIF unit 66, and transferred to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54. The print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data, and an image is printed.
[0065]
=== Printing Method of the Present Embodiment ===
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the printing method (copying method) of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 5A denotes a first document, and an image “A” is represented on the front surface. Reference numeral 5B denotes a second document, and an image “B” is displayed on the surface. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet printed by the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. According to the printing method of the present embodiment, a print image in which the image “A” of the first document and the image “B” of the second document are reduced and arranged is printed on the sheet 7. That is, in this printing method, two images (image “A” and image “B”) are each printed at a predetermined position on one sheet of paper 7. Hereinafter, this printing method is referred to as “2-up printing”.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a margin is provided between the edge of the sheet 7 and the image. Further, a blank space is provided between the images.
[0066]
<About 2-up printing processing operations>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the 2-up printing processing operation of the present embodiment. This figure shows the flow of operations of the scanner unit, control unit (or operation panel), and printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus.
[0067]
Hereinafter, the 2-up printing method of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. A program related to the processing operation procedure of the 2-up printing is stored in the ROM 55.
[0068]
First, the user sets the paper 7 in the paper feed tray of the SPC multifunction apparatus A (S121). In the following description, it is assumed that a plurality of A4 size sheet-like printing sheets are set. Note that the user may input information regarding the paper 7 by operating various buttons on the operation panel unit 70.
[0069]
Next, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to select “2-up printing” of the present embodiment from a plurality of printing methods (S111). That is, first, the user sequentially switches the setting items displayed by the menu button 92 to display the “copy mode” display screen that is the setting item. Next, the user presses the two buttons 901 and 902 to set the setting value to “2-up printing”. As a result, the printing method of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is selected as the 2-up printing method. Similarly, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to set the size of the margin width t, whereby the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 acquires information about the margin (margin information). However, when the margin width t is not set by the operation panel unit 70, a predetermined default value is used as a setting value of the margin width. In this embodiment, the margin information indicates that the width is t (mm).
[0070]
Next, the user sets the first original 5A as the first original in the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 (S101). A state of setting the first document 5A will be described with reference to FIG. 13A. First, the user opens the document table cover 14 and places the first document 5 </ b> A on the document table glass 12. When the user places the first document 5A on the document table glass 12, the side on which the image “A” is displayed is the bottom surface, and the corner of the first document 5A is aligned with the origin mark at the corner of the document table glass 12. . Then, the user closes the document table cover 14 and presses the first document 5A on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12 by the document table cover 14. Thus, the first document 5A is set on the scanner unit 10.
[0071]
Next, the user instructs the start of the reading operation of the first original 5A. Since it is already set to perform 2-up printing (S111), the reading operation is started when the user presses the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 of the operation panel unit 70 (S112).
[0072]
Next, the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus starts an operation of reading the image “A” of the first document 5A (S102). While the scanner unit 10 reads the image “A” of the document 5A, read data (RGB data) is output from the CCD sensor at a predetermined cycle. In this embodiment, the linear sensors of the CCD sensor are arranged in parallel with the horizontal direction of the image “A”, and the reading carriage 16 scans and moves in parallel with the vertical direction of the image “A” (that is, this embodiment). Then, the image “A” of the first document 5A in FIG. 11 is read by the scanner unit 10 from top to bottom). Therefore, the read data output from the scanner unit is data obtained by sequentially outputting the horizontal line data of the image “A”.
[0073]
Next, the control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction apparatus creates head drive data based on the read data sequentially sent from the scanner unit 10 (S113). The head drive data created at this time is data for printing the portion of the image “A” in the print image “AB” on the paper 7 in FIG. A process for creating head drive data based on the read data will be described later. The created head drive data is sequentially sent to the head control unit 68.
[0074]
In the present embodiment, the writing carriage 36 scans and moves in parallel with the short side direction of the paper 7, the paper 7 is conveyed in the long side direction of the paper 7, and the print image “AB” is printed on the paper 7 (that is, In this embodiment, the print image “AB” on the sheet 7 in FIG. 11 is printed from left to right). Therefore, the head drive data is data obtained by sequentially outputting the line data in the vertical direction of the image “A”. As a result, the printer unit 30 can start printing the image “A” even before the head drive data of the image “B” is created. Therefore, in the present embodiment, printing of the image “A” already read from the first document 5A is started before the reading of the image “B” of the second document is completed.
[0075]
The printer unit 30 starts printing based on the head drive data sequentially sent to the head control unit 68 (S122). If the generation of the head drive data relating to the image “A” is completed (S114), the head drive data is not sent to the head control unit 68, so the printer unit 30 stops the print operation and waits for the print ( (Standby state of various operations such as the conveyance operation of the paper 7 and the printing operation for discharging ink) (S123).
[0076]
After the reading operation of the first document is completed, the display unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus displays a message prompting the user to replace the document. The user confirms the message, and replaces the first document 5A set on the scanner unit 10 with the second document 5B. A state of document replacement will be described with reference to FIG. 13B. First, the user opens the document table cover 14 and takes out the first document 5 </ b> A placed on the document table glass 12. Then, the user sets the second original as the second original. Since the procedure for setting the second document is the same as the procedure for setting the first document, the description thereof is omitted.
[0077]
In the present embodiment, printing of the image “A” of the print images “AB” is started before reading of the image “B” of the second document is started. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a part of the print image is already discharged from the paper discharge unit 34 during the document replacement operation (see FIG. 13B).
[0078]
The user instructs the start of the reading operation of the second original 5A after the original is exchanged. The reading operation of the second original is also started when the user presses the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 of the operation panel unit 70 (S115).
[0079]
Next, the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus starts an operation of reading the image “B” of the second document 5B (S105). While the scanner unit 10 reads the image “B” of the document 5B, read data (RGB data) is output from the CCD sensor at a predetermined cycle.
[0080]
Next, the control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction apparatus creates head drive data based on the read data sequentially sent from the scanner unit 10 (S116). The head drive data created at this time is data for printing the portion of the image “B” on the sheet 7 in FIG. A process for creating head drive data based on the read data will be described later. The created head drive data is sequentially sent to the head control unit 68.
[0081]
The printer unit 30 resumes printing based on the head drive data sequentially sent to the head control unit 68 (S124). That is, after the image “B” reading operation is started, the printer unit 30 resumes a conveying operation that intermittently conveys the paper 7, a printing operation that ejects ink from nozzles that move in the scanning direction, and the like. .
When printing is completed (S117, S125), the paper 7 is discharged from the paper discharge unit 34. A printed image “AB” is printed on the discharged paper 7 as shown in the paper 7 of FIG.
After the reading operation of the second document is completed, the display unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus displays a message prompting the user to take out the second document. The user confirms the message and takes out the second document 5B set on the scanner unit 10.
[0082]
<Data flow in the control circuit 50 during 2-up printing>
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit 50 at the time of 2-up printing. In FIG. 10 described above, two buffers are depicted as image buffers 571 and 572 (or image buffers 693 and 694) in order to alternately perform writing and reading. However, in FIG. Two buffers for alternately reading and reading are not drawn.
[0083]
Compared to the control circuit 50 of FIG. 10 described above, the hardware configuration is the same, but the allocation of memory areas in the SDRAM 56 that can be directly read by the CPU 54 is different. In FIG. 10, the CPU 54 accesses only the image buffer 694, but in FIG. 14, the CPU 54 also accesses the line buffer 691 and the interlace buffer 692. In the interlace buffer 692, the allocation of the memory area is divided into two and is logically two buffers.
[0084]
Hereinafter, the flow of data in the control circuit 50 during 2-up printing will be described with reference to FIG. A program for controlling the flow of data in the control circuit 50 at the time of the 2-up printing is stored in the ROM 55. In the above description, one raster line is formed by two scans of the write carriage 36. However, for simplicity of explanation, one raster line is formed by one scan of the write carriage 36. (In other words, it will be described below in a state where dot data of raster lines is not distributed to odd and even numbers).
[0085]
(1) First, an image “A” is read from the first original (first original 5A) (FIG. 12, S102), and data in the control circuit 50 until printing is started (S122). The flow of will be described.
[0086]
The CPU 54 receives an input signal of the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 after setting “2-up printing” from the operation panel unit 70, and transmits a control signal to the scanner control unit 58. The scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 based on a control signal from the CPU 54 and starts an operation of reading the image “A” from the first document 5A.
[0087]
Since the image “A” of the first document 5A is reduced and printed on the paper 7, the scanner control unit 58 thins out the data as compared with the case where the image “A” is read at the same magnification. The image “A” is read from the first document 5A. That is, the horizontal data of the image “A” is reduced by thinning out data from the line sensor of the CCD sensor. This thinning process is performed by the scanner control unit 58 thinning out output data from the line sensor. Further, the vertical data of the image “A” is reduced by increasing the scanning speed of the reading carriage. This process is performed by controlling the scanner control unit 58 to increase the scanning speed of the reading carriage. In this way, the data of the vertical and horizontal image “A” is thinned out, so that the image “A” is substantially reduced and read.
[0088]
The scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 and takes in RGB data output from the CCD sensor into the line buffer 691 at a predetermined cycle. The scanner control unit 58 performs RGB inter-line correction processing (described above) on the RGB data once captured in the line buffer 691, and sends the RGB data for the same line to the binarization processing unit 60.
[0089]
The binarization processing unit 60 performs halftone processing on the received RGB data. Then, the binarization processing unit 60 refers to a lookup table (LUT) 695 stored in the control ASIC SDRAM 69, and converts the halftone-processed data into binary data for each color of CMYK. The binarization unit 60 sends binary data for each color of CMYK to the interlace processing unit 62.
[0090]
The interlace processing unit 62 stores the binary data for each color of CMYK sent from the binarization processing unit 60 in one of the two interlace buffers (referred to as a first interlace buffer 692A). take in. Then, the binary data taken into the first interlace buffer 692A is sent via the CPU interface unit 66 to the layout buffer 573 in the SDRAM 56 that can be directly read by the CPU 54.
[0091]
The layout buffer 573 is a buffer allocated in the SDRAM, and is logically divided into two areas. The binary data sent from the first interlace buffer 692A is taken into one layout buffer (first layout buffer) 573A of the two areas. The other layout buffer (second layout buffer (also referred to as intermediate buffer)) 573B stores layout image data created based on the binary data of the first layout buffer 573A as described below.
[0092]
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of binary data sent to the first layout buffer 573A. Although this binary data is stored in a continuous memory area, if it is folded back and arranged in the width of the image, it becomes image information as shown in the figure (in this description, for simplicity of explanation, 1 Since the raster line is formed by one scan of the writing carriage 36, the image information becomes one).
[0093]
The CPU 54 creates layout image data based on the binary data fetched into the first layout buffer 573A. However, the second layout buffer 573B that stores the created layout image data is allocated only an area that can store only a few lines of line data corresponding to the width of the paper. Therefore, the CPU 54 creates line-shaped layout image data and sends the created layout image data to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data for several lines sent to the second layout buffer 573B is sequentially sent to the second interlace buffer 692B in the control ASIC SRAM 69.
[0094]
In the present embodiment, the read data output from the scanner unit is data obtained by sequentially outputting the horizontal line data of the image “A”. Therefore, the binary data in the horizontal direction of the image “A” is sequentially sent to the first layout buffer. On the other hand, the head drive data needs to be data obtained by sequentially outputting the vertical line data of the image “A”. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first layout buffer 573A once captures all the data of the image “A”, and the CPU 54 rotates the data of the image “A” when creating the layout image data in the second layout buffer. The vertical line data (rotated data) of the image “A” is sequentially generated. As a result, the data sequentially sent from the second layout buffer 573B to the second interlace buffer 692B becomes the vertical line data of the image “A”. Based on this data, the vertical head drive of the image “A” Data can be created sequentially.
[0095]
16A to 16G are conceptual diagrams of layout image data sent to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data is stored in a continuous memory area, but if folded back and arranged in the width of the paper, it becomes a layout image (a part of the print image) for several lines in the vertical direction as shown in the figure. .
[0096]
The layout image data is created as follows. First, the CPU 54 creates Null data for the margin in order to create image data corresponding to the margin between the top edge of the paper and the image (the margin on the left side of the image “A”) (FIGS. 16A and 16B). . After the null data for the margin width is created, the CPU 54 creates a layout image in which the vertical line data (binary data) of the image “A” captured in the first layout buffer 573A is sequentially arranged (FIG. 16B). However, when arranging the line data in the vertical direction of the image “A”, the CPU 54 inserts Null data corresponding to the margin width between the side edge of the sheet and the image. As a result, horizontal margins (upper and lower margins of the image “A”) are created in the layout image. Creation of line data in the vertical direction of the image “A” is performed for the horizontal area of the image “A” (FIGS. 16B to 16F). When the creation of the layout image for the area of the image “A” is completed, the CPU 54 again creates null data for the margin in order to create image data for the margin between the images (FIG. 16F, FIG. 16G). As a result, a vertical margin (the right margin of the image “A”) is created in the layout image. The layout image data created as needed as described above is sequentially sent to the second interlace buffer 692B in the control ASIC SRAM 69. The layout image data sent to the second interlace buffer 692B is binary data for each color of CMYK.
[0097]
The processing after the binary data (layout image data) is sent from the second layout buffer 573B to the second interlace buffer 692B is substantially the same as the processing at the time of the copy function described above. That is, the following processing is performed (however, for simplification of description, description of processing for alternately performing writing and reading is omitted).
[0098]
The interlace processing unit 62 reads the data stored in the second interlace buffer 692B for each predetermined size, and burst-transfers the data to the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62. At this time, binary data is read from the interlace buffer 692 in correspondence with the nozzle arrangement of the print head 38 based on the image resolution to be printed and the nozzle pitch. For example, when the resolution of an image to be printed is 720 dpi and the nozzle pitch is 1/180 inch, three raster lines are printed between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles. For this reason, from the binary data, data spaced by three raster lines is read as data corresponding to the scanning of the writing carriage 36.
[0099]
The transferred data is rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement and sent to the image buffer unit 64.
In the image buffer unit 64, the image data finely divided by the capacity of the SRAM 621 is burst-transferred to the image buffer 693 so as to be head drive data for ejecting ink to each nozzle for each scan of the writing carriage 36. Align and remember.
The head drive data for each scan stored in the image buffers 693 and 694 is controlled by the CPU 54, read into the CPU 54 via the CPUIF unit 66, and transferred to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54. The print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data, and an image is printed.
Thereby, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the image “A” can be arranged on the paper 7 and printed.
[0100]
(2) Next, the flow of data in the control circuit 50 from the start of printing (S122) to the print standby state (S123) will be described.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a state during printing before reading the image “B” of the second original (second original). As already described, the head drive data of the image “A” (and the surrounding margins) is sequentially stored in the image buffer. When the head drive data for one scan is accumulated, the head drive data accumulated in the head control unit 68 is sent out by the CPU 54. When the head moves in the scanning direction, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the head according to the head drive data. Therefore, in the same figure, the head drive data necessary from pass 1 (first scanning movement) to pass 8 is sequentially read after the image “A” of the first original (first original) is read. The head control unit 68 can be sent out.
[0101]
On the other hand, the head drive data required for the pass 9 (the 9th scanning movement) requires the head drive data of the image “B” of the second document. That is, if the image “B” of the second document is not read, head drive data (data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles) necessary for pass 9 is not accumulated in the image buffer 693 (head drive data is The heads of pass 9 cannot be driven because they are not aligned. As a result, the printer unit cannot print the image at the position of pass 9 before creating the head drive data for the image “B” of the second document.
[0102]
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the printing of pass 8 (eighth scanning movement) is finished, the scanning movement of the writing carriage 36 is stopped and the printing standby state is set. That is, printing has not yet been completed for portions printed after pass 9. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a part of the image “A” of the first document printed on the paper (on the right side of the image “A”) is in a standby state while being printed.
[0103]
In this embodiment, when the clear button 82 is pressed in the standby state and there is an instruction to cancel printing, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 completes printing of the image “A” of the first document and then prints the paper. 7 is discharged and printing is stopped. This is because if the sheet 7 is discharged as it is in the standby state, the image “A” is interrupted.
[0104]
(3) Finally, a data flow in the control circuit 50 from when the second original (second original) is set until printing is completed will be described.
After the reading operation of the first document 5A is completed, the CPU 54 displays a document replacement message on the display unit. After the original is exchanged, the CPU 54 receives an input signal from the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 and transmits a control signal to the scanner control unit 58. At this time, regardless of whether the input signal is the input signal of the color copy button 84 or the input signal of the monochrome button 86, the same control signal as that for the first document is transmitted to the scanner control unit 58. That is, the same operation as the reading operation of the image “A” of the first document is performed when the image “B” of the second document is read. The scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 based on a control signal from the CPU 54 and starts an operation of reading the image “B” from the second document 5B.
[0105]
If the generation of the head drive data for the image “A” is not yet completed when the input signal of the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 is received, the CPU 54 creates the head drive data for the image “A”. After completion (or after entering a standby state), a control signal is transmitted to the scanner control unit 58. This is because it is necessary to secure an area of the memory (SDRAM 56 or SDRAM 69) necessary for creating the head drive data of the image “A”. That is, it is possible to reduce the memory by starting the reading operation of the second document after finishing the generation of the head driving data of the first document (or after entering the standby state).
[0106]
The scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 and takes in RGB data output from the CCD sensor into the line buffer 691 at a predetermined cycle. The scanner control unit 58 performs RGB inter-line correction processing (described above) on the RGB data once captured in the line buffer 691, and sends the RGB data for the same line to the binarization processing unit 60.
[0107]
The binarization processing unit 60 performs halftone processing on the received RGB data. Then, the binarization processing unit 60 refers to a lookup table (LUT) 695 stored in the control ASIC SDRAM 69, and converts the halftone-processed data into binary data for each color of CMYK. The binarization unit 60 sends binary data for each color of CMYK to the interlace processing unit 62.
[0108]
The interlace processing unit 62 takes the binary data for each color of CMYK sent from the binarization processing unit 60 into the first interlace buffer 692A. The binary data fetched into the first interlace buffer 692A is sent to the first layout buffer 573A in the SDRAM 56 that can be directly read by the CPU 54 via the CPU interface unit 66.
[0109]
The CPU 54 creates line-shaped layout image data based on the binary data fetched into the first layout buffer 573A. The CPU 54 sends the created layout image data to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data for several lines sent to the second layout buffer 573B is sequentially sent to the second interlace buffer 692B in the control ASIC SRAM 69.
[0110]
The interlace processing unit 62 reads the data stored in the second interlace buffer 692B for each predetermined size, and burst-transfers the data to the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62. At this time, binary data is read from the interlace buffer 692 in correspondence with the nozzle arrangement of the print head 38 based on the image resolution to be printed and the nozzle pitch. For example, when the resolution of an image to be printed is 720 dpi and the nozzle pitch is 1/180 inch, three raster lines are printed between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles. For this reason, from the binary data, data spaced by three raster lines is read as data corresponding to the scanning of the writing carriage 36.
[0111]
The transferred data is rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement and sent to the image buffer unit 64.
In the image buffer unit 64, the image data finely divided by the capacity of the SRAM 621 is burst-transferred to the image buffer 693 so as to be head drive data for ejecting ink to each nozzle for each scan of the writing carriage 36. Align and remember.
In the image buffer, head drive data of the image “B” (and the surrounding margins) is sequentially stored. When the head drive data for one scan is accumulated, the head drive data accumulated in the head control unit 68 is sent out by the CPU 54. When the head moves in the scanning direction, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the head according to the head drive data.
[0112]
In the present embodiment, the head drive data for the image “B” is created as the head drive data for the image “A” in the pass 9 (see FIG. 17) (head drive data for the right portion of the image “A”). It will not be accumulated until it is ready, so it will not be sent to the head control unit. Therefore, the head drive data of the image “A” in pass 9 remains in the image buffer until the head drive data of the image “B” is created (that is, until the reading operation of the image “B” is started). is doing. Then, after the reading operation of the image “B” is started, the head driving data of the left portion of the image “B” is accumulated in the image buffer in which the head driving data of the image “A” remains. When the head drive data for the scan of pass 9 is accumulated in the image buffer, the CPU 54 sends out the drive data accumulated in the head control unit 68 and printing is resumed (that is, the printer unit 30 displays the image “B After the head drive data “is generated, the transport operation for intermittently transporting the paper 7 and the print operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles moving in the scanning direction are resumed). Accordingly, the head drive data in pass 9 is head drive data created based on the image “A” and the image “B”. Therefore, in pass 9, a part on the right side of the image “A” and a part on the left side of the image “B” are printed at the same time.
Thereby, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the print image “AB” can be arranged and printed on the paper 7.
[0113]
=== Configuration of Computer System etc. ===
Next, embodiments of a computer system, a computer program, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0114]
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a computer system. The computer system 1000 includes a computer main body 1102, a display device 1104, an SPC composite device 1106, an input device 1108, and a reading device 1110. In this embodiment, the computer main body 1102 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 1104 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106, the SPC multifunction apparatus described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 1108 is a keyboard 1108A and a mouse 1108B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 1110 uses a flexible disk drive device 1110A and a CD-ROM drive device 1110B. However, the reading device 1110 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magnet Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.
[0115]
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer system shown in FIG. An internal memory 1202 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 1204 are further provided in a housing in which the computer main body 1102 is housed.
[0116]
The computer program for controlling the operation of the printer described above can be downloaded to a computer 1000 or the like connected to the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 via a communication line such as the Internet. It can also be recorded and distributed. As the recording medium, for example, various recording media such as a flexible disk FD, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk MO, a hard disk, and a memory can be used. Note that information stored in such a storage medium can be read by various reading devices 1110.
[0117]
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a printer driver user interface displayed on the screen of the display device 1104 connected to the computer system. This printer driver is for complementing the printer function of the SPC multifunction apparatus. The user can make various settings of the printer driver using the input device 1108.
[0118]
The user can select a print mode from this screen. For example, the user can select the high-speed print mode or the fine print mode as the print mode. Further, the user can select a dot interval (resolution) when printing from this screen. For example, the user can select 720 dpi or 360 dpi as the print resolution from this screen.
[0119]
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a format of print data supplied from the computer main body 1102 to the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106. This print data is created from image information based on the printer driver settings. The print data includes a print condition command group and a pass command group. The print condition command group includes a command indicating the print resolution, a command indicating the print direction (unidirectional / bidirectional), and the like. The print command group for each pass includes a target carry amount command CL and a pixel data command CP. The pixel data command CP includes pixel data PD indicating a recording state for each pixel of dots recorded in each pass. The various commands shown in the figure have a header part and a data part, but are simply drawn. These command groups are intermittently supplied from the computer main body side to the printer side for each command. However, the print data is not limited to this format.
[0120]
In the above description, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 is connected to the computer main body 1102, the display apparatus 1104, the input apparatus 1108, and the reading apparatus 1110 to configure the computer system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, the computer system may be configured by the computer main body 1102 and the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106, and the computer system may not include any of the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110. Further, for example, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 may have a part of each function or mechanism of the computer main body 1102, the display apparatus 1104, the input apparatus 1108, and the reading apparatus 1110. As an example, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, and a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure which has etc.
[0121]
The computer system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.
[0122]
=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiment is mainly described for the SPC multifunction apparatus, and includes a recording apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing method, a conveying apparatus, a program, a storage medium, a computer system, a display screen, a screen display method, and a printed matter. Needless to say, the disclosure of the manufacturing method, the recording apparatus, the liquid ejection apparatus, and the like is included.
Moreover, although the SPC multifunction apparatus and the like as one embodiment have been described, the above embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.
[0123]
<About image arrangement>
According to the above-described embodiment, the images of the two originals are read and the two images are printed on the paper. However, the number of documents and the number of images to be printed on the paper are not limited to two.
FIG. 22A is a diagram for explaining a printing method according to another embodiment. In the figure, four original images are acquired by four reading operations, and the four images are arranged and printed at predetermined positions on the paper 7 (4-up printing).
[0124]
In this embodiment, after reading the image “A” of the first document (first document), the binary data is sent to the first layout image buffer 573A on the CPU 54 side. Thereafter, the image “B” of the second original (second original) is read without starting printing. The binary data of the image “B” is sent to the first layout image buffer 573A on the CPU 54 side. Since each image is reduced and the amount of data is small compared to the above-described embodiment, the first layout image buffer 573A can store both data of the image “A” and the image “B”. it can. Then, the CPU creates line-shaped layout image data in the second layout image buffer 573B based on the data of the two images in the first layout image buffer 573A. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to rotate an image when creating layout image data, as compared with the above-described embodiment. The subsequent data flow is substantially the same as in the above-described embodiment.
[0125]
In this embodiment, the printing standby state is entered before the printing of the lower part of the image “A” and the lower part of the image “B” is completed. Then, when the reading operation of the image “C” of the third document and the image “D” of the fourth document is completed, the printing is resumed.
[0126]
FIG. 22B is a diagram for describing a printing method according to another embodiment. In the figure, the arrangement order of the images is different from that in the case of the 4-up printing described above. In the present embodiment, printing cannot be started until the image “C” of the third original is read. That is, in the case of 4-up printing, the embodiment of FIG. 22A in which the read image is arranged in parallel with the scanning direction of the writing carriage is advantageous because printing can be started faster. However, even in the embodiment of FIG. 22B, a similar effect can be obtained in that printing can be started before the image “D” of the fourth original is read. However, in this embodiment, it is necessary to secure an area in which data of three images can be stored in the memory (SDRAM 56 or SDRAM 69).
[0127]
As is apparent from these embodiments, the number of documents and the number of images to be printed on paper may be four. Further, the number of documents and the number of images to be printed on the paper may be any number. For example, N images may be read from N documents, and a print image in which N images are arranged on a sheet may be printed (N-up printing). In this case, if the read image is arranged on the paper so as to be parallel to the scanning direction of the writing carriage 36, it is advantageous because printing can be started quickly.
[0128]
<About print standby>
According to the above-described embodiment, the printing operation is in a standby state before the printing of the image “A” is completed. However, the timing of the standby state is not limited to this.
[0129]
FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining a printing method according to another embodiment. According to the figure, the relative movement distance of the head between pass 6 and pass 9 is made smaller than the relative movement distance between the passes so far. This enables printing of the image “A” regardless of whether the head drive data for the image “B” is created. When the printing operation of the image “A” is finished, if the reading operation of the image “B” is not started, the conveying operation of the paper 7 (or from the nozzles) until the reading operation of the image “B” is started. (Printing operation for ejecting ink) is set to a standby state. Thus, the timing of the standby state may be after the printing of the image “A” is completed.
According to this embodiment, since it is not necessary to enter the standby state during the printing of the image “A”, it is possible to prevent the image from being deteriorated due to a difference in the printing state (for example, a difference in how ink dries before and after the standby). Can be prevented.
On the other hand, when there is not much difference in ink drying, in the above-described embodiment, the relative movement distance of the head before and after entering the standby state is constant (or before and after printing of the joint between the image “A” and the image “B”). Therefore, the entire image “A” can be printed uniformly.
[0130]
<About margins>
In the above-described embodiment, a blank portion is provided between the edge (upper edge or side edge) of the sheet and the image. In the above-described embodiment, a blank portion is provided between images. However, it is not necessary to provide a margin part. When there is no margin between the edge of the paper and the image, it is desirable not to provide a margin between the images.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, only a margin is provided between images. However, a cut line may be provided in the margin. In this way, it becomes easier to cut out an image printed on a sheet of paper.
[0131]
<About nozzle>
In the above-described embodiment, ink is ejected using a piezoelectric element. However, the method for discharging the liquid is not limited to this. For example, other methods such as a method of generating bubbles in the nozzle by heat may be used.
[0132]
【The invention's effect】
According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to improve the user operability when arranging a plurality of images on a sheet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a cover of a scanner unit is opened.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the inside of a printer unit is exposed.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel unit.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement around a print head.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drive unit of a printing paper transport mechanism.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of nozzles.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive signal generation unit.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control circuit.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a 2-up printing method according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of 2-up printing according to the present embodiment.
13A to 13B are explanatory diagrams of a document set.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control circuit in 2-up printing.
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of binary data in a first layout buffer.
16A to 16G are conceptual diagrams of layout image data in the second layout buffer.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a state during printing before reading an image “B”.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a computer system.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer system.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a user interface of a driver.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a format of print data.
FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B are explanatory diagrams of 4-up printing.
FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a printing method according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 SPC multifunction device, 3 host computer, 5 manuscript, 7 paper,
10 scanner unit, 12 platen glass, 14 platen cover,
16 reading carriage, 18 driving means, 181 timing belt
182 pulley, 183 pulse motor, 184 idler pulley
20 regulation guide, 22 exposure lamp, 24 lens, 26 mirror,
28 CCD sensor, 29 guide receiving portion, 30 printer portion, 301 aperture,
31 gear train, 32 paper supply unit, 33 nozzle row, 34 paper discharge unit,
341 discharge tray, 35 platen, 36 writing carriage,
37 transport roller, 38 print head, 39 paper discharge roller,
391 driven roller, 40 carriage motor, 41 hinge mechanism,
42 paper feed motor (PF motor), 45 paper detection sensor,
451 lever, 452 transmissive optical sensor, 453 action section, 454 light shielding section,
46 linear encoder, 461 linear encoder code plate,
47 Rotary encoder, 48 pulley, 49 timing belt,
50 control circuit, 51 control ASIC, 54 CPU, 55 ROM,
56 SDRAM, 58 Scanner control unit,
60 binarization processing unit, 62 interlace processing unit,
64 image buffer units,
66 CPU interface unit (CPUIF unit),
68 head control unit, 69 ASIC SDRAM,
691 line buffer, 692 interlace buffer,
693 Image buffer, 70 Operation panel, 72 Liquid crystal display,
74 Notification lamp, 76 Power button, 78 Scan start button,
80 Setting display button, 82 Clear button, 84 Color copy button,
86 monochrome copy button, 88 stop button,
90 Copy number setting button, 92 Menu button,

Claims (15)

A printing apparatus that performs a reading operation of reading an image from a document N times, that is, N times, acquires N images, and N-prints each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium. When performing N-up printing on a medium, printing is repeatedly performed between a printing operation in which a plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles to perform printing on the medium, and a conveyance operation in which the medium is conveyed. In the device
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
Before the printing of the image that has already been read is completed, a standby state is performed without performing the transport operation that should be performed between the printing operation and the printing operation,
After starting the next reading operation,
When the transport operation in the standby state is resumed, the medium is transported so that the transport amount of the medium in the transport operation before and after the standby state is constant,
A part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state are printed on the medium by the plurality of nozzles. . A printing apparatus that performs a reading operation of reading an image from a document N times, that is, N times, acquires N images, and N-prints each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium. When performing N-up printing on a medium, data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is created based on the read image, and the plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction, and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles based on the data. In a printing apparatus that repeats a printing operation for discharging and printing on the medium, and a conveying operation for conveying the medium,
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
When the data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is not complete, the printing operation is set to a standby state,
After starting the next reading operation, data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is created based on the image read by the reading operation, and the printing operation is resumed.
A printing device,
After creating the data based on the image read by the next reading operation, when the plurality of nozzles move in the scanning direction,
Ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles based on the data created before the standby state and the data created after the standby state.
A printing apparatus characterized by that. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there is an instruction to cancel printing in the standby state, the medium is discharged after printing of the already read image is completed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
A printing apparatus that conveys the medium in a conveyance direction and performs printing on the medium,
The printing apparatus, wherein the plurality of images are printed on the medium so as to be aligned in the transport direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
The printing apparatus, wherein the read image is rotated and printed at a predetermined position on the medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein
Two images are acquired from two originals by two reading operations,
The printing apparatus, wherein the two images are printed on the medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
A printing apparatus that performs printing on the medium by moving a nozzle that ejects ink in a scanning direction,
The printing apparatus, wherein the read images are printed so as to be arranged in the scanning direction in the order of reading. The printing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
Four images are acquired from four originals by four reading operations,
The printing apparatus, wherein the four images are printed on the medium. A printing apparatus that performs a reading operation of reading an image from a document N times, that is, N times, acquires N images, and N-prints each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium. When performing N-up printing on a medium, printing is repeatedly performed between a printing operation in which a plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles to perform printing on the medium, and a conveyance operation in which the medium is conveyed. In the device
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
Before the printing of the image that has already been read, the transport operation that should be performed between the printing operation and the printing operation is not performed, and the next reading operation is started. rear,
When the transport operation in the standby state is resumed, the medium is transported so that the transport amount of the medium in the transport operation before and after the standby state is constant,
A part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state are printed on the medium by the plurality of nozzles,
A printing apparatus that creates data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles based on the read image, and performs a printing operation based on the data to eject ink from the plurality of nozzles moving in a scanning direction, When data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is not prepared, the printing operation is set to a standby state, and after the next reading operation is started, the plurality of nozzles are applied to the plurality of nozzles based on the image read by the reading operation. Create corresponding data, restart the printing operation,
After creating the data based on the image read by the next reading operation, the data created before the standby state when the plurality of nozzles move in the scanning direction; and Based on the data created after the standby state, ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles,
When there is an instruction to cancel printing in the standby state, after the printing of the already read image is completed, the medium is discharged,
A printing apparatus that performs printing on the medium by moving a nozzle that ejects ink in a scanning direction, and the read images are printed so as to be arranged in the scanning direction in the order of reading,
4. A printing apparatus, wherein four images are acquired from four originals by four reading operations, and the four images are printed on the medium. An acquisition step of acquiring N images by performing a reading operation for reading an image from a document a plurality of times N times;
A printing process including N-up printing each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium,
When performing N-up printing on a single sheet, a printing operation in which a plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles to perform printing on the medium; In the printing method that repeats
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
Before the printing of the image that has already been read is completed, a standby state is performed without performing the transport operation that should be performed between the printing operation and the printing operation,
After starting the next reading operation,
When the transport operation in the standby state is resumed, the medium is transported so that the transport amount of the medium in the transport operation before and after the standby state is constant,
A part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state are printed on the medium by the plurality of nozzles. . A printing apparatus that performs a reading operation of reading an image from a document N times, that is, N times, acquires N images, and N-prints each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium. When performing N-up printing on a medium, printing is repeatedly performed between a printing operation in which a plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles to perform printing on the medium, and a conveyance operation in which the medium is conveyed. To the device,
A function of starting printing of the image that has already been read on the medium before the N reading operations are completed;
A function of setting the standby state without performing the transport operation to be performed between the printing operation and the printing operation before the printing of the already read image is completed;
After starting the next reading operation,
When the transport operation in the standby state is resumed, the medium is transported so that the transport amount of the medium in the transport operation before and after the standby state is constant,
Realizing a function in which a part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state are printed on the medium by the plurality of nozzles. A featured program. A computer system comprising a computer main body and a printing device,
The printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that performs N times of reading operations for reading an image from a document, obtains N images, and prints the N images N times at predetermined positions on a medium. When performing N-up printing on a single medium, a printing operation for printing on the medium by moving a plurality of nozzles in the scanning direction and ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles, and a conveyance for conveying the medium A printing device that repeats operation,
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
Before the printing of the image that has already been read is completed, a standby state is performed without performing the transport operation that should be performed between the printing operation and the printing operation,
After starting the next reading operation,
When the transport operation in the standby state is resumed, the medium is transported so that the transport amount of the medium in the transport operation before and after the standby state is constant,
A part of the image read before the standby state and a part of the image read after the standby state are printed on the medium by the plurality of nozzles. . An acquisition step of acquiring N images by performing a reading operation for reading an image from a document a plurality of times N times;
A printing process including N-up printing each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium,
When performing N-up printing on a single medium, data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is created based on the read image, and the plurality of nozzles are moved based on the data by moving the plurality of nozzles in a scanning direction. In a printing method that repeats a printing operation for discharging ink from the medium to print on the medium and a conveying operation for conveying the medium,
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
When the data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is not complete, the printing operation is set to a standby state,
After starting the next reading operation, data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is created based on the image read by the reading operation, and the printing operation is resumed.
Printing method,
After creating the data based on the image read by the next reading operation, when the plurality of nozzles move in the scanning direction,
Ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles based on the data created before the standby state and the data created after the standby state.
A printing method characterized by the above. A printing apparatus that performs a reading operation of reading an image from a document N times, that is, N times, acquires N images, and N-prints each of the N images at a predetermined position on a medium. When performing N-up printing on a medium, data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is created based on the read image, and the plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction, and ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles based on the data. In a printing apparatus that repeats a printing operation for discharging and printing on the medium and a conveying operation for conveying the medium,
A function of starting printing of the image that has already been read on the medium before the N reading operations are completed;
A function to put the printing operation in a standby state when the data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is not prepared;
A function of creating data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles based on the image read by the reading operation after starting the next reading operation and restarting the printing operation;
Is a program that realizes
After creating the data based on the image read by the next reading operation, the data created before the standby state when the plurality of nozzles move in the scanning direction; and Based on the data created after the standby state, the printing apparatus realizes a function of ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles.
A program characterized by A computer system comprising a computer main body and a printing device,
The printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that performs N reading operations for reading an image from a document a plurality of times to acquire N images, and N-prints the N images at predetermined positions on a medium. Then, when performing N-up printing on a single medium, data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles is created based on the read image, and the plurality of nozzles are moved in the scanning direction, and the plurality A printing apparatus that repeats a printing operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles of the printer and printing on the medium, and a transporting operation for transporting the medium,
Before the N reading operations are completed, printing of the already read image on the medium is started.
When the data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is not complete, the printing operation is set to a standby state,
After starting the next reading operation, data corresponding to the plurality of nozzles is created based on the image read by the reading operation, and the printing operation is resumed.
A computer system,
After creating the data based on the image read by the next reading operation, when the plurality of nozzles move in the scanning direction,
Ink is ejected from the plurality of nozzles based on the data created before the standby state and the data created after the standby state.
A printing system characterized by that.

Images