JP7452603B1 - Printing device, printing method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can suppress the occurrence of waiting time until printing starts. A printing apparatus includes a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit, and a second communication circuit connected to the second communication circuit. A sub-control circuit group includes a sub-control circuit group, a first head group, and a second head group, and the plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series and included in the second sub-control circuit group. The plurality of sub-control circuits are connected in series, the first communication circuit is connected to the first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group, and the second communication circuit is The main control circuit is connected to the second sub-control circuit located at the most upstream position among the sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group, and the main control circuit is connected to the first sub-control circuit that is transmitted from the first communication circuit to the first sub-control circuit group. The amount of data and the amount of second data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub-control circuit group are determined. [Selection diagram] Figure 3

Description

The present technology relates to a printing device, a printing method, and a computer program that perform printing by driving nozzles.

Conventionally, a plurality of liquid ejecting heads connected in series (hereinafter referred to as a first head group), a plurality of liquid ejecting heads different from the first head group and connected in series (hereinafter referred to as a second head group), A printing device including a control device has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The control device transmits print data to the most upstream liquid ejecting head of the first and second head groups. The first and second head groups sequentially transfer print data from the most upstream liquid ejecting head to the most downstream liquid ejecting head and print on a print medium. The printing device can use a number of head groups depending on the size of the print medium.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-184142

After all liquid ejecting heads included in the first head group and the second head group receive print data, the first head group and the second head group may start printing. If the most downstream liquid ejecting head in one of the first head group and the second head group receives print data, and the other most downstream liquid ejecting head does not receive print data, one head group does not print. There will be a wait time until it starts.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a printing device, a printing method, and a computer program that can suppress the occurrence of waiting time until printing starts.

A printing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit, and a second communication circuit. a second sub-control circuit group connected to a second sub-control circuit group, a plurality of heads having nozzles, the first head group being controlled by the first sub-control circuit group, and a plurality of heads having nozzles, the plurality of heads having nozzles; a second head group controlled by a second sub-control circuit group, wherein the plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series and included in the second sub-control circuit group. The plurality of sub-control circuits are connected in series, the first communication circuit is connected to the first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group, and the second The communication circuit is connected to a second sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group, and the main control circuit connects the first communication circuit to the first sub-control circuit. determining an amount of first data to be transmitted to the group and an amount of second data to be transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub-control circuit group.

A printing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit, and a second communication circuit. a second sub-control circuit group connected to a second sub-control circuit group, a plurality of heads having nozzles, the first head group being controlled by the first sub-control circuit group, and a plurality of heads having nozzles, the plurality of heads having nozzles; a second head group controlled by a second sub-control circuit group, wherein the plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series and included in the second sub-control circuit group. The plurality of sub-control circuits are connected in series, the first communication circuit is connected to the first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group, and the second In a printing method for a printing device, a communication circuit is connected to a second sub-control circuit located most upstream among sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group, wherein the main control circuit is connected to the first communication circuit. An amount of first data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the first sub-control circuit and an amount of second data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub-control circuit are determined.

A computer program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit, and a second communication circuit. a second sub-control circuit group connected to a second sub-control circuit group, a plurality of heads having nozzles, the first head group being controlled by the first sub-control circuit group, and a plurality of heads having nozzles, the plurality of heads having nozzles; a second head group controlled by a second sub-control circuit group, wherein the plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series and included in the second sub-control circuit group. The plurality of sub-control circuits are connected in series, the first communication circuit is connected to the first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group, and the second The communication circuit includes a computer program executable on a printing device connected to a second sub-control circuit located at the most upstream position among the sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group. Executing processing for determining the amount of first data transmitted from the first communication circuit to the first sub-control circuit and the amount of second data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub-control circuit. let

In a printing device, a printing method, and a computer program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the amount of first data transmitted to the first sub-control circuit group and the amount of second data transmitted to the second sub-control circuit group By appropriately determining the amount of data, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of waiting time until printing starts.

1 is a schematic plan view of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan perspective view of an inkjet head. It is a block diagram of a control device, a 1st head bar, and a 2nd head bar. It is a block diagram showing detailed composition of a control device, a 1st head bar, and a 2nd head bar. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device, a first head bar, and a second head bar according to a second embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on drawings showing a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the conveyance direction of a recording medium, for example, a recording paper 100, corresponds to the front-rear direction of the printing apparatus 1. Note that the recording medium is not limited to the recording paper 100, and may be a film, cloth, or the like. Further, the width direction of the recording paper 100 corresponds to the left-right direction of the printing device 1. Further, a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 corresponds to the up-down direction of the printing apparatus 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a platen 3 housed in a case 2, four inkjet heads 4, two transport rollers 5 and 6, a control device 7, and the like. A recording paper 100 passes over the upper surface of the platen 3. The four inkjet heads 4 are arranged above the platen 3 in the transport direction. Each inkjet head 4 is a so-called line type head. Ink is supplied to the inkjet head 4 from an ink tank (not shown). Inks of different colors are supplied to the four inkjet heads 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, two conveyance rollers 5 and 6 are arranged on the rear side and the front side of the platen 3, respectively. The two transport rollers 5 and 6 are each driven by a motor (not shown), and transport the recording paper 100 on the platen 3 forward. The two transport rollers 5 and 6 correspond to a transport section. The control device 7 includes a DRAM 77. The control device 7 is connected to an external device 9 such as a PC for data communication, and stores print data transmitted from the external device 9 in the DRAM 77 . DRAM 77 constitutes a storage section.

FIG. 2 is a plan perspective view of the inkjet head 4. FIG. The inkjet head 4 includes a first head bar 4a and a second head bar 4b. The first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b are arranged side by side. The first head bar 4a includes a plurality of heads 40. A first head bar 4a including a plurality of heads 40 constitutes a first head group. For example, in the first head bar 4a, the plurality of heads 40 are arranged in two rows in the front-rear direction. In the front row, one head 40 is arranged, and in the rear row, two heads 40 are arranged along the left-right direction. A plurality of nozzles 41 are provided on the lower surface of the head 40.

The second head bar 4b includes a plurality of heads 40. The second head bar 4b including a plurality of heads 40 constitutes a second head group. In the second head bar 4b, the plurality of heads 40 are arranged in two rows in the front-rear direction. One head 40 is arranged in the front row, and one head 40 is arranged in the rear row. A plurality of nozzles 41 are provided on the lower surface of the head 40.

The front and rear positions of the heads 40 in the front row of the first head bar 4a are substantially the same as those of the heads 40 in the front row of the second head bar 4b. The front and rear positions of the heads 40 in the rear row of the first head bar 4a are substantially the same as those of the heads 40 in the rear row of the second head bar 4b. In this embodiment, the number of heads 40 on the first head bar 4a is 3, and the number of heads 40 on the second head bar 4b is 2, but the number of heads 40 on the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b is The number of 40 is not limited to this. The number of heads 40 on the first head bar 4a and the number of heads 40 on the second head bar 4b may be different or may be the same. Note that the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b may be arranged one behind the other.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control device 7, the first head bar 4a, and the second head bar 4b. The control device 7 includes a main control circuit 70. The main control circuit 70 includes a first communication circuit 74 and a second communication circuit 75. The first head bar 4a includes three sub-control circuits 43 connected in series. The three sub-control circuits 43 are connected to the three heads 40, respectively. The second head bar 4b includes two sub-control circuits 43 connected in series. The two sub-control circuits 43 are connected to the two heads 40, respectively. A first head bar 4a including a plurality of heads 40 constitutes a first head group. The second head bar 4b including a plurality of heads 40 constitutes a second head group. The first head bar 4a including a plurality of sub-control circuits 43 constitutes a first sub-control circuit group. The second head bar 4b including a plurality of sub-control circuits 43 constitutes a second sub-control circuit group.

The first communication circuit 74 is connected to the sub-control circuit 43 located at one end of the three sub-control circuits 43 connected in series, that is, the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a. The most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a constitutes a first sub-control circuit. The second communication circuit 75 is connected to the sub-control circuit 43 located at one end of the two sub-control circuits 43 connected in series, that is, the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b. The most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b constitutes a second sub-control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing detailed configurations of the control device 7, the first head bar 4a, and the second head bar 4b. As described above, the control device 7 includes the main control circuit 70 and the DRAM 77. The main control circuit 70 includes a CPU 71, a storage section 72, a RAM 73, a first communication circuit 74, a second communication circuit 75, a memory controller 76, and the like. The main control circuit 70 may include an ASIC instead of the CPU 71. The storage unit 72 is configured to be rewritable, and is, for example, an EEPROM, an EPROM, a hard disk, or the like. The CPU 71 constitutes a main control section, and the memory controller 76 constitutes a storage control section.

The storage unit 72 stores a control program (computer program). The control program is installed in the storage unit 72 from a recording medium 80 (see FIG. 1), such as an optical disk or a portable flash memory. Note that the control program may be downloaded to the storage unit 72 from a server connected to the printing apparatus 1 and capable of communicating therewith. The main control circuit 70 controls the printing apparatus 1 based on a control program. The main control circuit 70 drives each part of the printing apparatus 1 based on the print data stored in the DRAM 77 to execute printing. Note that the main control circuit 70 may include a logic circuit, such as an FPGA, instead of the CPU 71 or a processor such as an ASIC.

In the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b, the sub-control circuit 43 includes a CPU 44, a communication circuit 45, a RAM 46, a head control circuit 47, and the like. The head 40 includes a drive circuit 40a, a piezoelectric element 40b, and the like. The drive circuit 40a drives the piezoelectric element 40b to eject ink from the nozzle 41. The sub control circuit 43 may include an ASIC instead of the CPU 44, and may include a logic circuit, for example, an FPGA instead of the CPU 44 or a processor such as an ASIC. Note that in FIG. 4, only the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 and head 40 of the first head bar 4a are shown in detail, and the other sub-control circuits 43 and head 40 of the first head bar 4a, and The sub-control circuit 43 and head 40 of the second head bar 4b have the same configuration as the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 and head 40 of the first head bar 4a, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a, that is, the RAM 46 of the first sub-control circuit constitutes a first memory. The most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b, that is, the RAM 46 of the second sub-control circuit constitutes a second memory.

The memory controller 76 reads the print data from the DRAM 77 and transmits it to the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a via the first communication circuit 74. The print data is sequentially transferred from the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 to the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a.

In the first head bar 4a, the CPU 44 of each sub-control circuit 43 stores print data in the RAM 46, and outputs an ejection signal to the head control circuit 47 based on the print data. The head control circuit 47 outputs a drive signal to the drive circuit 40a based on the ejection signal. The drive circuit 40a drives the piezoelectric element 40b based on the drive signal, and causes the nozzle 41 to eject ink.

The memory controller 76 reads the print data from the DRAM 77 and transmits it via the second communication circuit 75 to the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b. The print data is sequentially transferred from the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 to the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b.

In the second head bar 4b, the CPU 44 of each sub-control circuit 43 stores print data in the RAM 46, and outputs an ejection signal to the head control circuit 47 based on the print data. The head control circuit 47 outputs a drive signal to the drive circuit 40a based on the ejection signal. The drive circuit 40a drives the piezoelectric element 40b based on the drive signal, and causes the nozzle 41 to eject ink.

The storage unit 72 of the main control circuit 70 stores the number of sub-control circuits 43 of the first head bar 4a and the number of sub-control circuits 43 of the second head bar 4b. The number of sub-control circuits 43 may be stored in advance, or the CPU 71 of the main control circuit 70 may request a response from each sub-control circuit 43, and the CPU 71 may calculate and store the number based on the received response. . The CPU 71 adds up the number of sub-control circuits 43 of the first head bar 4a (hereinafter referred to as a first total number) and the number of sub-control circuits 43 of the second head bar 4b (hereinafter referred to as a second total number), Calculate the standard total number. In this example, the reference total number is five, the first total number is three, and the second total number is two.

The CPU 71 calculates the ratio of the first total number to the reference total number (hereinafter referred to as the first ratio) and the ratio of the second total number to the reference total number (hereinafter referred to as the second ratio). In this example, the first percentage is 60% and the second percentage is 40%. The first ratio and the second ratio are stored in the RAM 73. The first head bar 4a occupies about 60% of the length of the recording paper 100 in the width direction, that is, the length of one line, and the second head bar 4b occupies about 40% of the length of one line. Therefore, the print data necessary for the first head bar 4a is about 60% of the total, and the print data necessary for the second head bar 4b is about 40% of the total. Hereinafter, approximately 60% of the print data necessary for the first head bar 4a will also be referred to as first data, and approximately 40% of the print data necessary for the second head bar 4b will also be referred to as second data. The CPU 71 determines the amount of first data based on the first ratio, and determines the amount of second data based on the second ratio. In this embodiment, the amount of first data is different from the amount of second data.

The CPU 71 transmits a first trigger for transmitting first data to the first communication circuit 74 . The first communication circuit 74 that has received the first trigger requests the memory controller 76 to read the first data stored in the DRAM 77 . The memory controller 76 that has been requested to read the first data reads the first data from the DRAM 77 and transmits the first data to the first communication circuit 74 . The first communication circuit 74 transmits the received first data to the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a.

The CPU 71 transmits a second trigger for transmitting second data to the second communication circuit 75. The second communication circuit 75 that has received the second trigger requests the memory controller 76 to read the second data stored in the DRAM 77 . The memory controller 76 that has been requested to read the second data reads the second data from the DRAM 77 and transmits the second data to the second communication circuit 75 . The second communication circuit 75 transmits the received second data to the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b.

Note that when the memory controller 76 is requested to read the first data from the first communication circuit 74 and is requested to read the second data from the second communication circuit 75, that is, the memory controller 76 reads the first data and the second data. If there is a conflict, the first data and the second data are read in parallel.

Transmission of print data is performed in units of one band. One band is a unit for determining the amount of data stored in the RAM 46 in the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 of the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b, and corresponds to a predetermined number of lines. The size of the storage capacity corresponding to one band may be changed depending on the print mode. Examples of print modes include monochrome mode and color mode. For example, in monochrome mode, the amount of data per line is smaller than in color mode, so in monochrome mode, the storage capacity for the number of lines corresponding to one band may be smaller than in color mode. That is, even in one band (one unit) having the same number of lines, the amount of data (storage capacity) in monochrome mode may be different from the amount of data (storage capacity) in color mode. An example of the print mode is print job. When a print job is a flushing process, the amount of data for the flushing process is smaller than the amount of data for a print process, so the storage capacity for the number of lines corresponding to one band is reduced compared to when the print job is a print process. Good too. That is, the CPU 71 determines the first data amount and the second data amount according to the size of the storage capacity corresponding to the unit set in the RAM 46.

Since 60% of the print data is sent to the first head bar 4a and 40% of the print data is sent to the second head bar 4b, in other words, the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a prints. Since 60% of the data is transmitted and 40% of the print data is transmitted to the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b, 100% of the print data is transmitted to the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b. The time required from the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 to the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b is shorter than that in the case where the signal is transmitted to the first head bar 4a and the second head bar 4b. Therefore, the occurrence of waiting time until printing starts can be suppressed.

When the memory controller 76 reads the first data and the second data in parallel, the CPU 71 of the main control circuit 70 calculates the difference between the amount of the first data and the amount of the second data before sending the print data. The transmission timing of the first data and the second data may be adjusted according to the difference. For example, the time when the first data reaches the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 of the first head bar 4a and the time when the second data reaches the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 of the second head bar 4b are approximately the same. As such, the time point when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time point at which the transmission of the first data starts may be set as the time point at which the transmission of the second data starts.

(Embodiment 2)
The present invention will be described below based on drawings showing a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. Among the configurations of the second embodiment, configurations similar to those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control device 7, the first head bar 4a, and the second head bar 4b. Unlike the first embodiment, the second head bar 4b includes three sub-control circuits 43 and three heads 40 in the second embodiment. Each sub-control circuit 43 is connected to each head 40

The CPU 71 calculates a reference total number, a first total number, and a second layer total number. In this example, the reference total number is six, the first total number is three, and the second total number is three. Therefore, the first ratio and the second ratio are both 50%, and the amount of first data based on the first ratio and the amount of second data based on the second ratio are approximately the same.

When printing in color, for example, the amount of data for black and yellow data is different. If the print data includes many characters, the amount of black data is larger than the amount of yellow data. Furthermore, when printing a bright color image with a large amount of image data, the amount of black data is smaller than the yellow data. Therefore, even if the number of heads 40 is the same, the amount of the first data and the second data is determined by the proportion of black or yellow data included in the first data and the second data. The amount of data and the amount of second data are not the same and may be different.

For example, depending on the ejection timing, ink may be ejected to a print area with many characters and few color images, or ink may be ejected to a print area with few characters and many color images. In a printing area with many characters, the amount of black data can be increased and the amount of magenta, cyan, and yellow data can be decreased in one band. On the other hand, in a print area with few characters, it is possible to reduce the amount of black data and increase the amount of magenta, cyan, and yellow data in one band. Therefore, even if the number of heads 40 is the same, the amount of first data and second data is determined by the proportion of black, magenta, cyan, or yellow data included in the first data and second data. , the amount of first data and the amount of second data are not the same and may differ.

Therefore, the CPU 71 determines the amounts of the first data and the second data to be appropriate amounts depending on the number of heads 40, the ratio of the ink colors used, and the like. In other words, the CPU 71 can correct the amounts of the first data and the second data based on the number of heads 40 in accordance with the ratio of the colors of ink used. As a result, for example, the CPU 71 makes the amounts of the first data and the second data different.

The CPU 71 maintains the amount of first data and second data at the data amount necessary for printing, and calculates the time required from the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 to the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 in the first head bar 4a. , the difference between the time required from the most upstream sub-control circuit 43 to the most downstream sub-control circuit 43 in the second head bar 4b can be minimized.

Note that in the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment, the amounts of the first data and the second data may be changed in accordance with the ratio of the ink colors used, as in the second embodiment.

Note that a computer program may be deployed to run on a single computer or on multiple computers located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communications network. Can be done.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should be considered not to be restrictive. The scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the scope of the claims and the range of equivalents to the scope of the claims. Items described in each embodiment can be combined with each other. Moreover, the independent claims and dependent claims recited in the claims may be combined with each other in any and all combinations, regardless of the form in which they are cited. Further, although the scope of claims uses a format in which claims refer to two or more other claims (multi-claim format), the invention is not limited to this format. It may be written using a multi-claim format that cites at least one multi-claim.

1 Printing device 7 Control device 70 Main control circuit 71 CPU (main control section)
73 RAM
74 First communication circuit 75 Second communication circuit 76 Memory controller (storage control unit)
77 DRAM (storage section)
4a First head bar (first sub-control circuit group, first head group)
4b Second head bar (second sub-control circuit group, second head group)
40 Head 43 Sub-control circuit 46 RAM (first memory, second memory)

Claims (10)

a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit;
a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit;
a second sub-control circuit group connected to the second communication circuit;
a first head group having a plurality of nozzles and controlled by the first sub-control circuit group;
a second head group having a plurality of nozzles and controlled by the second sub-control circuit group;
Equipped with
A plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series,
The plurality of sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group are connected in series,
The first communication circuit is connected to a first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group,
The second communication circuit is connected to a second sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group,
The main control circuit is configured to control the amount of first data transmitted from the first communication circuit to the first sub control circuit group and the amount of second data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub control circuit group. Determine the amount of printing equipment. The main control circuit has a total number of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group relative to a reference total number, which is the total number of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group and the second sub-control circuit group. The amount of the first data is determined according to a ratio, and the amount of the second data is determined according to the ratio of the total number of sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group to the reference total number. The printing device described in . The first sub-control circuit has a first memory in which the first data is stored,
The second sub-control circuit has a second memory in which the second data is stored,
A unit for determining the amount of data to be stored is set in the first memory and the second memory,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main control circuit determines the amount of the first data and the amount of the second data according to the size of the storage capacity corresponding to the unit. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the size of the storage capacity corresponding to the unit varies depending on the print mode. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main control circuit calculates a difference between the amount of the first data and the amount of the second data before transmitting the first data and the second data. comprising a storage unit that stores the first data;
The main control circuit is
a main control unit that transmits a first trigger for transmitting the first data to the first communication circuit;
and a storage control unit that controls the storage unit,
When receiving the first trigger from the main control unit, the first communication circuit requests the storage control unit to read the first data stored in the storage unit,
The storage control unit includes:
If reading of the first data is requested from the first communication circuit, reading the first data from the storage unit;
transmitting the first data to the first communication circuit;
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first communication circuit transmits the first data to the first sub-control circuit. comprising a storage unit that stores the first data and the second data;
The main control circuit is
a main control unit that transmits a first trigger for transmitting the first data to the first communication circuit or a second trigger for transmitting the second data to the second communication circuit; ,
and a storage control unit that controls the storage unit,
The main control unit transmits the first trigger to the first communication circuit, and transmits the second trigger to the second communication circuit,
When receiving the first trigger from the main control unit, the first communication circuit requests the storage control unit to read the first data stored in the storage unit,
When receiving the second trigger from the main control unit, the second communication circuit requests the storage control unit to read the second data stored in the storage unit,
The storage control unit includes:
When the first communication circuit requests reading of the first data and the second communication circuit requests reading of the second data, the first data and the second data are read in parallel. run to,
the first communication circuit transmits the first data to the first sub-control circuit;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second communication circuit transmits the second data to the second sub-control circuit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the first data is different from the amount of the second data. a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit, and a second sub-control circuit group connected to the second communication circuit; A first head group having a plurality of nozzles and controlled by the first sub-control circuit group; and a second head group having a plurality of nozzles and controlled by the second sub-control circuit group. a plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series, and a plurality of sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group are connected in series; The first communication circuit is connected to a first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group, and the second communication circuit is included in the second sub-control circuit group. In a printing method of a printing device connected to a second sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits,
The main control circuit is configured to control an amount of first data transmitted from the first communication circuit to the first sub-control circuit, and an amount of second data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub-control circuit. and determine the printing method. a main control circuit having a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, a first sub-control circuit group connected to the first communication circuit, and a second sub-control circuit group connected to the second communication circuit; A first head group having a plurality of nozzles and controlled by the first sub-control circuit group; and a second head group having a plurality of nozzles and controlled by the second sub-control circuit group. a plurality of sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group are connected in series, and a plurality of sub-control circuits included in the second sub-control circuit group are connected in series; The first communication circuit is connected to a first sub-control circuit located most upstream among the sub-control circuits included in the first sub-control circuit group, and the second communication circuit is included in the second sub-control circuit group. In a computer program executable by a printing device connected to a second sub-control circuit located at the most upstream of sub-control circuits,
In the main control circuit,
determining an amount of first data transmitted from the first communication circuit to the first sub-control circuit and an amount of second data transmitted from the second communication circuit to the second sub-control circuit; A computer program to be executed.

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