JP6221380B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

  Conventionally, in a printing process, a printing apparatus counts a paper feed amount, calculates a paper remaining length (remaining paper rear length) A from the paper feed amount and paper length data L, When the length A is equal to or less than the set value A1, an apparatus has been proposed in which an LD roller setting operation is performed and a sheet to be printed next is supplied (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, the sheet interval between the sheet before being discharged and the next sheet to be fed can be shortened, and the throughput of the recording apparatus can be improved. This set value A1 is set to a value that ensures a space between the previous sheet and the next sheet. Specifically, in order to avoid simultaneous progress of the paper feeding process and the cueing process, the setting value A1 is a distance from the head reference position, which is the position of the most downstream print head in the paper transport direction, to the paper detection sensor position. Is set to

JP 2003-72964 A

  However, the above-described printing apparatus shortens the sheet interval by supplying the next sheet after the trailing edge of the previously printed sheet exceeds the head reference position on the most downstream side of the print head. It has been desired to shorten the sheet interval.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus that can further shorten the interval between printing media and perform higher-speed printing processing.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes:
A print roller disposed in a print path for performing print processing on the print medium and conveying the print medium;
A print head configured to perform a printing process in which a plurality of nozzles are formed and eject ink onto the print medium in the print path;
In the first print mode, the print medium is transported at a predetermined first interval and a printing process is performed on the transported print medium. In the second print mode, the upstream nozzle of the print head in the transport direction of the print medium The printing roller and the print head are configured to execute a printing process including a lower end process that cuts off ink on the printing medium (that is, finishes ejecting ink) and conveys the printing medium at a second interval shorter than the first interval. A control unit for controlling
It is equipped with.

  In this printing apparatus, in the first printing mode, the printing medium is conveyed at a predetermined first interval and printing processing is performed on the conveyed printing medium. In the second printing mode, the upstream nozzles of the printing head in the printing medium conveyance direction. The printing process including the lower end process for cutting off the ink on the printing medium is executed and the printing medium is conveyed at a second interval shorter than the first interval. As described above, when the lower end processing for cutting off the ink to the print medium with the upstream nozzle of the print head is performed, the lower end of the print medium being printed is located upstream of the nozzle row of the print bed. On the other hand, the upper end of the next print medium can be brought closer to a closer position. That is, the second interval can be shorter than the first interval. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the interval between the print media and perform a higher-speed printing process. At this time, if the “upstream nozzle” is a nozzle on the more upstream side, the second interval can be further shortened, and the most upstream nozzle is most preferable.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control unit may transport the print medium at the second interval based on the length of the print path between the upstream nozzle of the print head and the print roller.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit may execute a printing process that does not include the lower end process in the first printing mode. In this way, high-speed printing can be realized without performing special lower-end processing in the first printing mode.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit causes the print medium to be placed at the first interval based on the length of the print path between the downstream nozzle of the print head and the print roller in the transport direction of the print medium. It may be transported. At this time, if the “downstream nozzle” is a more downstream nozzle, it is preferable that the “downstream nozzle” does not overlap with the conveyance of the next print medium, and the most downstream nozzle is most preferable.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the first print mode may include a high-definition print mode, and the second print mode may include a high-speed print mode. In this way, the print medium can be continuously supplied at the first interval in the high-definition print mode, and the print medium can be continuously supplied at the second interval shorter than the first interval in the high-speed print mode. It can be performed.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a conveyance roller disposed in a conveyance path positioned upstream of the printing path and conveying the printing medium, and the control unit conveys the printing medium to the printing path and The transport roller and the print roller may be controlled so as to transport the print medium to the transport path. A print medium exists in the print path and the transport path, that is, the print medium is continuously supplied and transported, so that the interval between the print media can be further shortened and a higher-speed print process can be performed.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a printer 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a printer unit 30. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing routine. Explanatory drawing of the printing data of the 1st printing mode and the 2nd printing mode. Explanatory drawing which conveys the printing medium P in a 1st printing mode. Explanatory drawing which conveys the printing medium P in 2nd printing mode.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the printer unit 30. The printer 10 of this embodiment includes a controller 21 that controls the entire printer 10, a scanner unit 25 that reads a read original, a printer unit 30 that discharges ink as a colorant onto a print medium, and a main body that houses the print medium. And a paper feed cassette 56. The printer 10 includes a scanner unit 25 and a printer unit 30 and is configured as a multifunction printer having a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function.

  The controller 21 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 22, and includes a flash memory 23 that can store various processing programs and can rewrite data, and a RAM 24 that temporarily stores data and stores data. I have. The controller 21 controls the printer unit 30 so as to execute the printing process and also controls the scanner unit 25 so as to execute the image reading process. The controller 21 is electrically connected to the scanner unit 25, the printer unit 30, and the like through a bus 29.

  The scanner unit 25 is configured as a well-known image scanner including a reading sensor that reads a conveyed read original as image data or reads a read original placed on an original table as image data. The reading sensor is a sensor that separates the reflected light after emitting light toward the document into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors to obtain scan data.

  The printer unit 30 is configured as an ink-jet color printer mechanism that includes a printing unit 31 that performs printing by discharging ink onto a printing medium and a transport unit 40 that transports the printing medium. The printing unit 31 includes a carriage 32 movably disposed on the carriage shaft, a print head 33 that applies pressure to the ink and ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 34, and a carriage belt along the carriage shaft in the main scanning direction. And a carriage motor (not shown) that moves the ink 32 and an ink cartridge (not shown) that stores ink of each color and supplies the stored ink to the print head 33. The print head 33 is provided at the lower part of the carriage 32. Each color is applied from a nozzle 34 provided on the lower surface of the print head 33 by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element to deform the piezoelectric element and pressurize the ink. The ink is discharged. In the print head 33, nozzles 34 are formed as nozzle rows 35 (see FIG. 2) arranged in the print medium conveyance direction at predetermined intervals. The mechanism for applying pressure to the ink may be based on the generation of bubbles due to the heat of the heater. The ink cartridge individually accommodates ink of each color such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 40 includes a plurality of roller pairs and is disposed below the main body of the printer 10 from the main body paper feed cassette 56 that stores the print medium to the discharge tray 58 via the transport path 50. It is comprised as a mechanism which conveys. Above the main body paper feed cassette 56, as a print medium supply mechanism, a supply roller 41 that picks up the print medium from the main body paper feed cassette 56, a separation roller 42 that separates the overlapping print media, a separation roller 42 and a roller And a retard roller 43 forming a pair. An intermediate roller 44 that is a relatively large cylindrical roller and first to third driven rollers 45 to 47 disposed on the cylindrical surface of the intermediate roller 44 are disposed in the transport path 50 so as to be capable of rotating the shaft. Yes. Each driven roller is arranged in the order of the first driven roller 45, the second driven roller 46, and the third driven roller 47 in order from the main body paper feed cassette 56 side (upstream side of the conveyance path 50). In the transport unit 40, a roller pair is formed by the intermediate roller 44 and the first driven roller 45, a roller pair is formed by the intermediate roller 44 and the second driven roller 46, and the intermediate roller 44 and the third driven roller 47 are A roller pair is formed.

  A print path 38 is formed downstream of the transport path 50, and the print head 33 is disposed above the print path 38. A printing roller 48 that conveys the printing medium is disposed upstream of the printing path 38 (conveying path 50 side), and a discharge roller 49 is disposed downstream of the printing path 38 (discharge tray 58 side). Ink is ejected from the print head 33 onto the print medium conveyed by the print roller 48 and the discharge roller 49, and printing processing is performed. In the transport unit 40, the first drive motor 51 rotationally drives the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44, and the second drive motor 52 rotationally drives the printing roller 48 and the paper discharge roller 49. The supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 can be idled by a clutch mechanism (not shown). In the transport path 50, a supply sensor 54 that detects the print medium P is disposed between the separation roller 42 and the first driven roller 45. A print path sensor 55 that detects the print medium P is disposed between the third driven roller 47 and the print roller 48.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 of this embodiment configured as described above, particularly the operation of transporting the print medium P and executing the printing process will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing routine executed by the CPU 22 of the controller 21. This routine is stored in the flash memory 23, and is executed after the user operates the operation panel and instructs execution of the printing process. When this routine is started, the CPU 22 acquires the print mode for executing printing from the information of the print setting (step S100), and determines what the print mode is (step S110). Here, for example, a high-definition mode (first print mode) for printing a high-quality image such as a photograph, and a high-speed mode (second print mode) for drafting a document or the like are included.

If the print mode is the high definition mode in step S110, normal print data is created (step S120). Here, for example, print data that does not include execution of a lower end process (hereinafter simply referred to as a lower end process ) that cuts off ink on the print medium (that is, finishes ejecting ink) with an upstream nozzle (most upstream nozzle) of the print head. create. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of print data. FIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram of print data in the first print mode, and FIG. 4B is a conceptual diagram of print data in the second print mode. As shown in FIG. 4, in normal print data creation, it is assumed that print data 11 for one pass in which ink is ejected in order from the leading edge of an image is created. At this time, for example, ink may be ejected in one pass of the print region in one pass, or ink may be ejected in two or more passes, and the print data 11 of each pass corresponding thereto is created. In this case, since print data is created in order from the leading edge (the leading edge in the transport direction), the one-pass print data 12 at the trailing edge may be less than one pass. That is, the trailing edge position of the paper at the end of printing and the position of the nozzle 34 to be cut off differ depending on the print image. 4A shows the print data 11 and 12 when ink is ejected in one pass of the nozzle row 35 for easy understanding.

  Next, when there are a plurality of print pages, the CPU 22 conveys the print medium at the first interval (step S130) and executes the print process (step S160). FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for conveying the print medium P in the first print mode. As described above, the print data at the rearmost end usually differs depending on the print image. Therefore, in the worst case, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the print medium P1 is arranged at the most downstream nozzle in the transport direction. It will be terminated. Therefore, the interval between the preceding print medium P1 and the next print medium P2 is at least between the downstream nozzle of the print head 33 and the print roller 48 (or between the downstream nozzle and the print path sensor 55). It is necessary to separate the print path 38 by a length L1 or more. This is because it is necessary to keep the next print medium P2 upstream of the print roller 48 in order to set the accurate feed amount of the print roller 48 by taking the skew of the next page. Here, the first interval is set to a length including a predetermined margin in the length L1 based on the length L1 of the printing path between the downstream nozzle of the print head 33 and the printing roller 48. In the transport process and the print process, the CPU 22 rotates the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 to supply the print medium P1 to the transport path 50, and transports it to the print path 38 by the rotational drive of the intermediate roller 44. Next, the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 are driven to rotate at the timing when the interval from the preceding print medium P <b> 1 becomes the first interval, and the next print medium P <b> 2 is supplied to the conveyance path 50. In this way, the print medium P is transported to the print path 38, the print medium P is transported to the transport path 50, and the print medium P is continuously supplied to perform high-speed printing processing.

  On the other hand, if the print mode is the high speed mode in step S110, print data including execution of a lower end process for cutting off the ink on the print medium with the most upstream nozzle of the print head is created (step S140). As shown in FIG. 4B, in the creation of the print data including the execution of the lower end process, the print data 11 and 12 for each pass are created so that the portion other than the lower end becomes the print data 12 that is less than one pass. Shall. Note that the print data creation program including the execution of the lower end processing needs to insert print data 12 that is less than one pass after grasping the entire print image, and creates normal print data. Development man-hours are larger than

  Next, when there are a plurality of print pages, the CPU 22 conveys the print medium at a second interval shorter than the first interval (step S150), and executes a print process (step S160). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for conveying the print medium P in the second print mode. As described above, in the print data including the execution of the lower end process, the rear end of the print medium P1 is cut off by the most upstream nozzle in the transport direction. Therefore, the interval between the preceding print medium P1 and the next print medium P2 needs to be separated by at least the length L2 of the print path 38 between the most upstream nozzle of the print head 33 and the print roller 48. . Here, the second interval is set to a length including a predetermined margin in the length L2 based on the length L2 of the printing path between the most upstream nozzle of the print head 33 and the printing roller 48. . In the transport process and the print process, the CPU 22 rotates the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 to supply the print medium P1 to the transport path 50, and transports it to the print path 38 by the rotational drive of the intermediate roller 44. Next, the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 are rotationally driven at the timing when the interval from the preceding print medium P <b> 1 becomes the second interval, and the next print medium P <b> 2 is supplied to the conveyance path 50. In this way, the print medium P is transported to the print path 38, the print medium P is transported to the transport path 50, the print medium P is continuously supplied at a shorter second interval, and higher-speed printing processing is performed. .

Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The controller 21 of this embodiment corresponds to the control unit of the present invention, the print head 33 corresponds to the print head, the print roller 48 corresponds to the print roller , the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, the retard roller 43, and the intermediate roller. 44 corresponds to a conveyance roller .

  According to the printer 10 of the present embodiment described in detail above, in the first print mode (high-definition mode), the print medium P is transported at the first interval, the print process is performed on the transported print medium P, and the second In the print mode (high-speed mode), the print process including the lower end process for cutting off the ink to the print medium P is executed by the most upstream nozzle of the print head 33 in the transport direction of the print medium P, and printing is performed at the second interval shorter than the first interval. The medium P is conveyed. As described above, when the lower end processing for cutting off the ink to the print medium P by the upstream nozzle of the print head 33 is performed, the lower end of the print medium being printed is upstream of the nozzle row 35 of the print bed 33. The upper end of the next print medium P can be brought closer to a position closer to the lower end of the medium. That is, the second interval can be shorter than the first interval. Therefore, the interval between the print media P can be further shortened, and higher-speed printing processing can be performed. Moreover, since it cuts off with the most upstream nozzle, the 2nd space | interval can be shortened more and is preferable.

  Further, since the printing process that does not include the lower end process is executed in the first print mode, high-speed printing can be realized without performing the special lower end process in the first print mode. Further, it is possible to reduce the man-hours for developing a program for creating print data. Further, since the first print mode includes the high-definition print mode and the second print mode includes the high-speed print mode, the high-definition print mode continuously supplies the print medium at the first interval, and the high-speed print mode from the first interval. In addition, by continuously supplying the print medium at a short second interval, a higher-speed printing process can be performed. Furthermore, since the intermediate roller 44 and the printing roller 48 are controlled so as to convey the print medium P to the print path 38 and to convey the print medium P to the conveyance path 50, the print medium P is transferred to the print path 38 and the conveyance path 50. In other words, the interval between the print media can be further shortened and the printing process can be performed at a higher speed as the print medium is continuously supplied and conveyed.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the print medium P is transported at the second interval based on the length L2 of the print path between the most upstream nozzle of the print head and the print roller 48 in the second print mode. If the second interval shorter than the first interval is used, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. In addition, although the most upstream nozzle is used, it may be an upstream nozzle. Even in this case, the interval between the print media can be further shortened, and a faster printing process can be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print medium is conveyed at the first interval based on the length of the print path 38 between the most downstream nozzle of the print head 33 and the print roller 48 in the print medium conveyance direction. If the print medium P1 and the subsequent print medium P2 are spaced apart from each other along the print path 38, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first print mode includes the high-definition print mode, and the second print mode includes the high-speed print mode. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and in addition to or in place of this. These modes may be included. For example, the second printing mode may include a high-speed printing high-speed printing mode.

10 Printer, 21 Controller, 22 CPU, 23 Flash memory, 24 RAM, 25 Scanner unit, 30 Printer unit, 31 Printing unit, 32 Carriage, 33 Print head, 34 Nozzle, 35 nozzle row, 38 Printing path, 40 Conveying unit, 41 Supply Roller, 42 Separation Roller, 43 Retard Roller, 44 Intermediate Roller, 45 First Follower Roller, 46 Second Follower Roller, 47 Third Follower Roller, 48 Print Roller, 49 Paper Discharge Roller, 50 Transport Path, 51 First Drive motor, 52 second drive motor, 54 supply sensor, 55 print path sensor, 56 main body paper feed cassette, 58 paper discharge tray, P, P1, P2 print medium.

Claims (6)

A print roller disposed in a print path for performing print processing on the print medium and conveying the print medium;
A print head configured to perform a printing process in which a plurality of nozzles are formed and eject ink onto the print medium in the print path;
In the first print mode, the print medium is transported at a predetermined first interval and a printing process is performed on the transported print medium. In the second print mode, the upstream nozzle of the print head in the transport direction of the print medium A control unit that executes a printing process including a lower end process that finishes discharging ink to the printing medium, and that controls the printing roller and the printing head to convey the printing medium at a second interval shorter than the first interval; ,
Printing device with   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit conveys the print medium at the second interval based on a length of the print path between an upstream nozzle of the print head and the print roller.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a printing process that does not include the lower end process in the first printing mode.   The said control part conveys the said printing medium by the said 1st space | interval based on the length of the said printing path | route between the downstream nozzle of the said printing head and the said printing roller in the conveyance direction of the said printing medium. 4. The printing apparatus according to any one of items 3.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first print mode includes a high-definition print mode, and the second print mode includes a high-speed print mode. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A transport roller disposed in a transport path located upstream of the print path and transporting the print medium,
The control unit controls the transport roller and the print roller to transport the print medium to the print path and to transport the print medium to the transport path.

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