JP6056524B2 - Printer and printer print control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer equipped with font data having a resolution lower than the printing resolution in the main scanning direction of a print head, and a print control method for the printer.

  The ink jet head is driven with a driving waveform corresponding to the printing resolution in the main scanning direction to eject ink droplets. The drive waveform is generated based on waveform data stored and held in advance in the ink jet printer. Patent Document 1 describes an ink jet printer that can change a drive waveform instantaneously by storing and holding a plurality of waveform data.

JP 2011-84022 A

  Some printers equipped with font data are equipped with one type of standard resolution font data for reasons such as reducing the storage capacity of the installed memory. In such a printer, if the resolution of the font data installed does not match the resolution of printing by the print head, the character does not have a desired size when the character is printed using the font data. Therefore, for example, when printing characters using font data while printing image data at a resolution higher than the resolution of the font data, the resolution that matches the resolution of the font data with the print head print resolution. There is a problem that the throughput of printing decreases due to this switching.

  Here, if a plurality of waveform data for generating a drive waveform is stored and held as in the printer described in Patent Document 1, a drive waveform corresponding to the resolution of the font data can be instantaneously generated when printing characters. Thus, it is possible to avoid a decrease in printing throughput due to the resolution switching. However, if a plurality of waveform data is stored and held, it becomes difficult to suppress the storage capacity of the memory.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer and a printer capable of performing character printing using low-resolution font data without changing the resolution of printing in the main scanning direction by the print head. The purpose is to propose a printing control method.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a printer according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores font data having a first resolution in the main scanning direction and a first image that moves in the main scanning direction and is higher than the first resolution. And a print data processing unit that performs a process of extending the resolution of the font data in the main scanning direction to the second resolution.

  According to the present invention, the resolution of the font data can be made to correspond to the printing resolution of the print head in the main scanning direction by the enlargement process. Accordingly, it is possible to perform character printing using font data having a low resolution different from the printing resolution without changing the printing resolution by the print head. As a result, for example, when the printer has an inkjet head as a print head, it is possible to print characters without switching the drive waveform of the print head. Decreasing can be avoided. In addition, since it is not necessary to store and hold a plurality of waveform data in order to switch drive waveforms, the storage capacity of a memory or the like can be suppressed.

In the present invention, when in order to perform the stretching process in the font data, the print data processing unit, a character print command for printing the character by using the font data that is stored in the storage unit is input, the character It performs data expansion of the print command and said stretching process, it is desirable to generate print image data.

In the present invention, the resolution in the sub-scanning direction of the font data that is stored in the storage unit is a third resolution lower than the second resolution, when the character printing command is input, the printing of the sub-scanning direction A print control unit that causes the print head to print at a fourth resolution lower than the third resolution, and the print data processing unit changes the resolution of the font data in the sub-scanning direction from the third resolution. It is desirable to perform a thinning process on the fourth resolution. In this way, it is possible to prevent the characters from being printed at an excessively high resolution when the characters are printed using the font data, so that the ink consumption can be suppressed.

  In this case, in order to perform the thinning process on the font data, it is preferable that the print data processing unit expands the character print command and performs the thinning process.

Next, the print control method of the printer of the present invention inputs the print data, print data is input when you have a character print command, the main scanning direction stored in the storage unit resolution of the first resolution font data and the pull extension if to stretch processing to the higher than the first resolution a second resolution, printing with the second resolution in the main scanning direction by using the font data which has been converted into the second resolution It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, when printing characters using font data, the resolution of the font data is not matched with the resolution of the font data by the print head, but the resolution of the font data is increased by the enlargement process. To correspond to. As a result, for example, when the printer has an inkjet head as a print head, it is possible to print characters without switching the drive waveform of the print head. Decreasing can be avoided. In addition, since it is not necessary to store and hold a plurality of waveform data in order to switch drive waveforms, the storage capacity of a memory or the like can be suppressed.

In the present invention, the font data having the third resolution lower than the second resolution in the sub-scanning direction is thinned out to the fourth resolution lower than the third resolution, and the font data subjected to the thinning processing is obtained. It is desirable that printing be performed at the fourth resolution in the sub-scanning direction. In this way, it is possible to prevent the characters from being printed at an excessively high resolution when the characters are printed using the font data, so that the ink consumption can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, even when font data having a low resolution different from the resolution of printing by the print head is mounted on the printer, characters are printed as desired without changing the resolution of printing by the print head. be able to.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing of the printed matter output from a printing system. It is a flowchart of the printing operation of an inkjet printer.

  A printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Printing system)
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a printed matter output from the printing system. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 of this example includes a computer 2 and an ink jet printer 3 connected to the computer 2. An application program 4 that supplies a print job to the inkjet printer 3 is running on the computer 2. In the inkjet printer 3, a label sheet 5 (see FIG. 2) on which a label for photo printing made of glossy paper is attached to a mount is set. The inkjet printer 3 is a serial printer that performs printing by moving a print head in a predetermined direction.

  In the printing system 1, a print jab executed by print data supplied from the application program 4 to the ink jet printer 3 includes a photograph and a photograph attribute on the sheet portion 6 of each page of the label sheet 5, as shown in FIG. 2. Information is printed. The attribute information of the photo includes shooting date / time, recording source file number / folder number, camera model information, and the like.

  The print data includes an image print command and a character print command, and the print job executes two print commands of the image print command and the character print command in this order.

  The image print command prints a photograph on the first logical page with the first print area 6a of the paper portion 6 as the first logical page. The image print command includes photo data such as JPEG format. Photo printing by executing the image printing command is performed at a resolution of 720 dpi (second resolution) in the main scanning direction S1 (see FIG. 2) and a resolution of 1440 dpi in the sub-scanning direction S2 (see FIG. 2).

  The character print command prints photo attribute information on the second logical page with the second print area 6b of the paper portion 6 adjacent to the first print area 6a as the second logical page. More specifically, the character print command prints characters using font data installed in the inkjet printer 3. The character print command includes a character code. Printing of photo attribute information by execution of a character print command is performed at a resolution of 720 dpi (second resolution) in the main scanning direction S1 and a resolution of 180 dpi (fourth resolution) in the sub-scanning direction S2.

(inkjet printer)
The ink jet printer 3 is configured around a control unit 10 including a CPU and a memory. A communication interface 11 is connected to the input side of the control unit 10. Print commands (image print command and character print command) from the computer 2 are input to the control unit 10 via the communication interface 11. An inkjet head 12, a conveyance motor 13, and a carriage motor 14 are connected to the output side of the control unit 10 via a driver (not shown). The conveyance motor 13 is a drive source of a conveyance mechanism that conveys the label paper 5 in the sub-scanning direction (direction intersecting the main scanning direction) along a conveyance path that passes through the printing position by the inkjet head 12. The carriage motor 14 is a drive source for a head moving mechanism that reciprocates the inkjet head 12 in the main scanning direction S1.

  The control unit 10 includes a command analysis unit 15, a print data processing unit 16, and a printing unit 18. Further, the control unit 10 generates a reference waveform for generating a drive waveform for driving a font memory 19 (storage unit) that stores and holds font data, a data development memory 20, and nozzles that eject ink disposed in the inkjet head 12. A waveform data memory 21 for storing and holding data is provided. There is one type of font data stored and held in the font memory 19, and the resolution of the font data in the main scanning direction S1 is 360 dpi (first resolution) and the resolution in the sub-scanning direction S2 is 360 dpi (third resolution).

  The command analysis unit 15 determines whether the print command received via the communication interface 11 is an image print command or a character print command. If the print command is a character print command, the command analysis unit 15 sets a development data type information flag and notifies the print data processing unit 16 that the development data type information is a character.

  The print data processing unit 16 generates print image data by two-dimensionally expanding the print command in the data expansion memory 20. The print data processing unit 16 outputs the generated print image data to the printing unit 18.

  More specifically, when the print command is an image print command, the print data processing unit 16 two-dimensionally develops the image data included in the image print command in the data development memory 20 to generate print image data. Generate. When the print command is an image print command, the print data processing unit 16 generates print image data having a resolution of 720 dpi in the main scanning direction and a resolution of 1440 dpi in the sub-scanning direction.

  On the other hand, when the print data is a character print command, the command analysis unit 15 notifies that the expanded data type information is a character, so the print data processing unit 16 uses the character code included in the character print command. 2 is developed two-dimensionally in the data development memory 20 to generate print image data. When the print data is a character print command, the print data processing unit 16 generates print image data with a resolution of 720 dpi in the main scanning direction and a resolution of 180 dpi in the sub-scanning direction.

  Here, when the print data processing unit 16 performs two-dimensional development of the font data in the data development memory 20, the resolution 360 dpi in the main scanning direction S1 of the font data is changed to 720 dpi in the printing in the main scanning direction S1 by the inkjet head 12. The corresponding enlargement process and the thinning process for making the resolution 360 dpi in the sub-scanning direction S2 of the font data correspond to the printing resolution 180 dpi in the sub-scanning direction S2 in the second print area 6b are performed. In the enlargement process, for example, a blank for one dot is inserted in the adjacent position in the main scanning direction S1 of the dots constituting the font data, and thereby the font data is extended in the main scanning direction S1. In the thinning process, for example, dots constituting the font data are thinned every other dot in the sub-scanning direction S2.

  The printing unit 18 drives and controls the inkjet head 12, the conveyance motor 13, and the carriage motor 14 to print the print image data. More specifically, while the carriage motor 14 is driven to move the inkjet head 12 in the scanning direction, the inkjet head 12 is driven to eject ink toward the label paper 5, and the transport motor 13 is driven. The print image data is printed by alternately repeating the paper feeding operation of feeding the recording paper by a predetermined paper feeding amount.

  The printing unit 18 prints the print image data at the resolution of the print image data. Here, the print image data output from the print data processing unit 16 has a resolution of 720 dpi in the main scanning direction S1 regardless of whether the print command is an image print command or a character print command. Therefore, the printing unit 18 performs printing with the resolution of printing in the main scanning direction S1 by the inkjet head 12 being 720 dpi (second resolution). In other words, the printing unit 18 drives the nozzles of the inkjet head 12 with a drive waveform that ejects ink so that the printing resolution in the main scanning direction S1 becomes 720 dpi while the inkjet head 12 moves in the main scanning direction S1. To do. The drive waveform is generated based on the reference waveform data stored and held in the waveform data memory 21.

(Printing operation)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the printing operation of the inkjet printer 3. When the inkjet printer 3 receives a print command via the communication interface 11 (step ST1), the command analysis unit 15 determines whether the print command is an image print command or a character print command (step ST2).

  When the print command is an image print command, the print data processing unit 16 two-dimensionally develops the image data included in the image print command in the data development memory 20 to generate print image data (step ST3, step ST3). ST4).

  When the print command is a character print command, the command analysis unit 15 notifies the print data processing unit 16 that the expanded data type information is a character. Accordingly, the print data processing unit 16 generates the print image data by two-dimensionally developing the font data corresponding to the character code included in the image print command into the data expansion memory 20 while performing the enlargement process and the thinning process. (Step ST3, Step ST5).

  When print image data is generated in step ST4 or step ST5 and the print image data is output from the print data processing unit 16 to the printing unit 18, the printing unit 18 drives and controls the inkjet head 12, the paper feed motor, and the carriage motor 14. Then, print image data is printed (step ST6). Thereafter, the printing unit 18 breaks the logical page. When a page break is performed by the printing unit 18, the expanded data type information flag of the command analysis unit 15 is initialized.

  Here, in this example, the print job supplied from the computer 2 to the inkjet printer 3 includes an image print command and a character print command in this order. Accordingly, when a print job is supplied from the computer 2 to the ink jet printer 3, the ink jet printer 3 first receives an image print command. As a result, the operations of steps ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, and ST6 are performed, and a photo with a resolution of 720 dpi in the main scanning direction S1 and a resolution of 1440 dpi in the sub-scanning direction S2 is printed in the first print area 6a (first logical page). Is done. Next, the inkjet printer 3 receives a character print command. As a result, the operations of steps ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5, and ST6 are performed, and the attribute of the photograph having the resolution of 720 dpi in the main scanning direction S1 and the resolution of 180 dpi in the sub-scanning direction S2 in the second print area 6b (second logical page). Information (characters) is printed.

  According to this example, the resolution of the font data 360 dpi is made to correspond to the printing resolution 720 dpi of the inkjet head 12 in the main scanning direction S1 by the enlargement process. Therefore, it is possible to print characters using font data with a resolution of 360 dpi without changing the printing resolution 720 dpi by the inkjet head 12. That is, since it is possible to perform character printing without switching the drive waveform of the inkjet head 12, it is possible to avoid a decrease in printing throughput due to switching of the drive waveform. Further, since it is not necessary to store and hold a plurality of waveform data in order to switch drive waveforms, the storage capacity of the waveform data memory 21 and the like can be suppressed.

  Further, in this example, when printing characters using font data, the resolution of printing in the sub-scanning direction S2 by the inkjet head 12 is set to 180 dpi, which is lower than the resolution of font data 360 dpi. Further, when generating print image data from font data, enlargement processing and thinning processing are performed. This prevents characters from being printed at an excessively high resolution, thereby reducing ink consumption.

  In the printing system 1 described above, the computer 2 and the inkjet printer 3 are separate. However, the printing system is configured by integrating the computer 2 on which the application program 4 operates and the inkjet printer 3 to form one printing apparatus. It may be.

1 .. Printing system 2... Computer 3. Inkjet printer 4.. Application program 5.. Label paper 6.. Paper part 6 a ... First printing area 6 b ... Second printing area 10 .... Control unit, 11 .... Communication interface, 12 .... Inkjet head (print head), 13 .... Conveyance motor, 14 .... Carriage motor, 15 .... Command analysis unit, 16 .... Print data processing unit, 18 .... Printing unit, 19 .... Font memory (storage unit), 20 .... Data development memory, 21..Waveform data memory, S1..Main scanning direction, S2..Sub scanning direction

Claims (3)

A resolution in the main scanning direction is the first resolution, a storage unit for storing font data resolution in the sub scanning direction which is the second resolution,
A print head that moves in the main scanning direction and prints at a third resolution higher than the first resolution;
If the character print command is entered, have rows be processed if Shin pull the resolution in the main scanning direction in the third resolution of the font data, the resolution in the sub-scanning direction of the font data from said second resolution a print data processing unit intends line processing for thinning out even lower fourth resolution,
Wherein the font data, the main resolution in the scanning direction is printed in converted third resolution, printers having a printing control unit to print at the fourth resolution to convert the resolution in the sub-scanning direction. The print data processing unit
Printer according to claim 1 for performing the data expansion before Symbol character print command, and the stretching process, and a process for the thinning-out. If the character print command is input, the processing for extending the resolution in the main scanning direction of the font data from the first resolution to said first higher resolution than the third resolution, the resolution in the sub-scanning direction of the font data A process of thinning from the second resolution to a fourth resolution lower than the second resolution;
Wherein the font data, the main scanning have lines printed by the third resolution by converting the resolution of definitive direction, the print control method of the fourth cormorants line printing at a resolution printers by converting the resolution in the sub-scanning direction.