JPH01297259A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents
Ink jet printerInfo
- Publication number
- JPH01297259A JPH01297259A JP12756188A JP12756188A JPH01297259A JP H01297259 A JPH01297259 A JP H01297259A JP 12756188 A JP12756188 A JP 12756188A JP 12756188 A JP12756188 A JP 12756188A JP H01297259 A JPH01297259 A JP H01297259A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- nozzle
- gradation
- nozzles
- density
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 claims description 71
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract description 11
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/205—Ink jet for printing a discrete number of tones
- B41J2/2056—Ink jet for printing a discrete number of tones by ink density change
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
[産業上の利用分野1
本発明は、インクジェットプリンタ、更に詳細には、イ
ンクジェットプリンタの階調制御に係り、同一色につい
て2種類以上の濃度の異なるインクを同時に噴出制御す
ることにより階調再現性の改善を図ったインクジェット
プリンタに関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention relates to an inkjet printer, and more particularly, to gradation control of an inkjet printer, and is a method for controlling the simultaneous ejection of two or more types of ink of the same color with different densities. The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that improves gradation reproducibility by doing so.
[従来の技術〕
従来のインクジェットプリンタにおいて、階調表現は、
単一面積(マトリクス)内に打つドツト数を変える方法
(以下、ドツト密度制御法という)、あるいはインクの
噴出量(インク滴径)を制御してドツトの面積を変える
方法(以下、ドツト面積制御法という)により行なわれ
ていた。[Conventional technology] In conventional inkjet printers, gradation expression is
A method of changing the number of dots placed in a single area (matrix) (hereinafter referred to as dot density control method), or a method of changing the area of dots by controlling the amount of ink ejection (ink droplet diameter) (hereinafter referred to as dot area control method) It was carried out by law).
[発明が解決しようとする課題]
しかしながら、ドツト密度制御法では、表現階調数が増
えると1画素当たりのドツト数も多くなるため、インク
ノズルの径を細くする必要があるが、目詰まりの発生な
どからノズル径には限界があり、画素密度を低下させず
、多階調を表現することは困難であった。[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the dot density control method, as the number of expression gradations increases, the number of dots per pixel also increases, so it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the ink nozzle, but it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the ink nozzle. There is a limit to the nozzle diameter due to the occurrence of such problems, and it has been difficult to express multiple gradations without reducing pixel density.
また、ドツト面積制御法は、噴出するインク滴径の制御
がむずかしいため、階調数を多くとることができないと
いう問題点があった。Further, the dot area control method has a problem in that it is difficult to control the diameter of ejected ink droplets, so it is not possible to increase the number of gradations.
すなわち、総じて従来のインクジェットプリンタの階調
表現は、階調再現性の点で十分満足のゆくものではなか
った。That is, in general, the gradation expression of conventional inkjet printers has not been fully satisfactory in terms of gradation reproducibility.
本発明は、従来のインクジェットプリンタが有する上記
問題点を解決し、プリンタの性能上極めて重要な階調再
現性を改善したインクジェットプリンタを提供すること
を目的とする。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer that solves the above-mentioned problems of conventional inkjet printers and improves gradation reproducibility, which is extremely important for printer performance.
本発明は、インクをインクノズルより記録紙に向けて噴
出して印刷を行なうインクジェットプリンタにおいて、
同一色について2本以上の複数のノズルを有し、該イン
クノズルをその先端部において1束あるいは1本に合体
せしめ、各インクノズルに濃度の異なるインクを供給し
、これらのインクを記録紙に向けて同時に噴出せしめる
ようにしたことを特徴とするインクジェットプリンタで
ある。The present invention provides an inkjet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from an ink nozzle toward recording paper.
It has a plurality of nozzles of two or more for the same color, the ink nozzles are combined into one bundle or one at the tip, and ink of different density is supplied to each ink nozzle, and these inks are printed on recording paper. This is an inkjet printer characterized by ejecting ink toward both directions at the same time.
本発明に係る同一色について使用されるインクノズル、
すなわち2本以上のインクノズルよりなり、その先端部
において1束あるいは1本に合体せしめたもの(以下、
合体ノズルという)は、各インクノズルから送出される
濃度の異なるインクをその噴出口の前後において(記録
紙上を含む)混合し、供給されたインクの中間の濃度を
有するインクを記録紙に向けて噴出する。その結果、1
色につき単独のインクノズルを用いた場合に比べ中間濃
度のきめ細かい階調表現が可能になる。Ink nozzles used for the same color according to the present invention,
In other words, it consists of two or more ink nozzles, which are combined into one bundle or one ink nozzle at the tip (hereinafter referred to as
The combined nozzle mixes the inks with different densities sent out from each ink nozzle before and after the ejection port (including on the recording paper), and directs the ink with the intermediate density of the supplied inks toward the recording paper. gush. As a result, 1
Compared to the case where a single ink nozzle is used for each color, it is possible to express finer gradations at intermediate densities.
第1図は、本発明のインクジェットプリンタの一実施例
を示す図面で、特にそのインクノズルへのインクの供給
機構の概略構成図である。FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink jet printer of the present invention, and in particular is a schematic diagram of a mechanism for supplying ink to an ink nozzle.
この図において、la、lbはいずれもインクタンクで
、インクタンクla及び1bには、夫々色は同じで濃度
だけが異なるインクが入っている。例えば、インクタン
ク1aに入っているインク濃度を1とすると、インクタ
ンク1bにはインク濃度が2(前者の2倍の濃度)のイ
ンクが入っている。2a、2bはいずれも各インクの供
給機構のヘッド部で、これらにはインク噴出用の駆動源
である圧電素子2a’ 、2b’が内蔵されている。3
a、3bはいずれも各インクのインクノズルを示す。そ
して、5は発明に係る合体ノズル、6は合体ノズル5の
開口部である。In this figure, both la and lb are ink tanks, and the ink tanks la and lb each contain ink of the same color but different density. For example, if the ink concentration in the ink tank 1a is 1, then the ink tank 1b contains ink with an ink concentration of 2 (twice the concentration of the former). 2a and 2b are head portions of each ink supply mechanism, and these have built-in piezoelectric elements 2a' and 2b' which are driving sources for ejecting ink. 3
Both a and 3b indicate ink nozzles for each ink. Further, 5 is a combined nozzle according to the invention, and 6 is an opening of the combined nozzle 5.
本発明に係る合体ノズル5は、第1図に例示したように
、従来の単独のインクノズル3a、3bの先端部を1束
に集合し、それぞれの開口部を合わせて1本として1つ
の開口部6を形成した構造、あるいは1束に集合し、そ
れぞれの開口部を互いに接合した構造になっている。尤
も、前記した作用を有するものであれば、これに限定さ
れない。なお、開口部6の面積(径30〜60μm)は
、従来の単独のインクノズルの開口部の面積と同程度に
するのが好ましい。また、1色あたりのインクノズルの
本数は、ドツト面積との兼ね合いから通常2〜3本程度
が好適に使用される。As illustrated in FIG. 1, the combined nozzle 5 according to the present invention collects the tips of conventional single ink nozzles 3a and 3b into a bundle, and combines the respective openings into one opening. The structure has a structure in which a portion 6 is formed, or a structure in which they are assembled into one bundle and their openings are joined to each other. However, it is not limited to this as long as it has the effect described above. The area of the opening 6 (30 to 60 μm in diameter) is preferably approximately the same as the area of the opening of a single conventional ink nozzle. Further, the number of ink nozzles per color is usually preferably about 2 to 3 in consideration of the dot area.
次に、前記インク供給機構の動作を説明する。Next, the operation of the ink supply mechanism will be explained.
本発明に係るインク供給機構における各濃度のインクの
インクノズル3a、3bへの供給は、通常の方法に従っ
て行なわれる。すなわち、ヘッド部2a、2bに内蔵さ
れた圧電素子2a′。In the ink supply mechanism according to the present invention, ink of each concentration is supplied to the ink nozzles 3a, 3b according to a conventional method. That is, piezoelectric elements 2a' built into the head parts 2a and 2b.
2b’を駆動源としてインクをノズル3a、3b方向へ
同時に送出することにより合体ノズルの開口部6からイ
ンクを噴出させる。この圧電素子2a’ 、2b’ に
は、印字すべき画像信号に応じて所定の電圧が印加され
、このときの圧電素子の変形によって各インクはノズル
先端から記録紙に向けて噴出される。The ink is ejected from the opening 6 of the combined nozzle by simultaneously sending ink toward the nozzles 3a and 3b using the drive source 2b'. A predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 2a' and 2b' according to the image signal to be printed, and each ink is ejected from the nozzle tip toward the recording paper by deformation of the piezoelectric element at this time.
次に、本発明のインクジェットプリンタにおける階調表
現について第2図及び前記第1図を参照して説明する。Next, gradation expression in the inkjet printer of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 and the above-mentioned FIG. 1.
今、圧電素子2a’ 、2b’に印加される電圧は4段
階に制御され、これに応じてインクノズル3a、3bの
先端部から噴射される各濃度のインクの噴出量が4段階
に制御される場合を例に説明する。Now, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric elements 2a', 2b' is controlled in four stages, and the amount of ink ejected from the tips of the ink nozzles 3a, 3b of each density is controlled in four stages accordingly. This will be explained using an example.
第2図はこの場合の本発明における階調制御方法の模式
的説明図で、同図(a)は各単独ノズルにおける階調数
(p+)とこれに対応するインク量を模式図で示したも
のである。実際には、階調数p+に応じて印字ドツト径
が変化するが、簡単にするために、1つの円を4分割し
た模式図を用いた。同図(b)は各階調数p1に対応す
る圧電素子への印加電圧を示す図である。また、同図(
C)は4段階の階調表現が可能なインクノズル3aとイ
ンクノズル3bとをその先端部で合体させた本発明に係
る合体ノズル5における階調数p2とこれに対応するイ
ンク量(図中の数字はインク濃度を示す)を模式図で示
したもの、同図(d)は各階調数p2に対応するヘッド
部3a。FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the gradation control method according to the present invention in this case, and FIG. It is something. Actually, the print dot diameter changes depending on the number of gradations p+, but for the sake of simplicity, a schematic diagram in which one circle is divided into four is used. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element corresponding to each gray scale number p1. Also, the same figure (
C) shows the number of gradations p2 and the corresponding ink amount (in the figure) in the combined nozzle 5 according to the present invention, in which the ink nozzle 3a and the ink nozzle 3b, which are capable of expressing four levels of gradation, are combined at their tips. Figure (d) shows the head portion 3a corresponding to each gradation number p2.
3bの各圧電素子への印加電圧、同図(e)は各階調数
p2に対応するドツト面積を単独ノズルを階調数p1=
4で印字した場合を1として表わしたものである。本発
明の場合、2つのインクノズル3a、3bを合体させた
合体ノズル5を用い、各ノズルにそれぞれに異なる濃度
のインクを導いているので、各階調数p2に対応して第
2図(d)に示した電圧を圧電素子に印加すれば、8段
階の階調表現が可能である。The voltage applied to each piezoelectric element in 3b, and the dot area corresponding to each gradation number p2 in the same figure (e) are calculated using the single nozzle as the gradation number p1=
The case where 4 is printed is expressed as 1. In the case of the present invention, a combined nozzle 5 is used, which is a combination of two ink nozzles 3a and 3b, and ink of different density is introduced to each nozzle. ) is applied to the piezoelectric element, it is possible to express 8 levels of gradation.
ここで、−例として階調数p2=5でドツトを打つ場合
を考えるとする。ヘッド部2aからは1/4ドツト分の
濃度1のインクが送出され、ヘッド部2bからは2へド
ツト分の濃度2のインクが送出される。これらのインク
は、本発明に係る合体ノズル5ではその先端部が1本(
あるいは1束)になっているので、それぞれのヘッド部
2a、2bから送出されたインクは噴出と同時に混ざり
合いながら記録紙(図示せず)に向けて飛んでゆき1ド
ツトを形成する。このときのドツト面積は3/4である
。同様にして他の階調も表現することができ、きめの細
い階調表現が可能となる。As an example, let us consider the case where dots are printed at the number of gradations p2=5. 1/4 dot of ink with a density of 1 is sent from the head section 2a, and a dot of ink with a density of 2 is sent out from the head section 2b. In the combined nozzle 5 according to the present invention, these inks have one tip (
Alternatively, since the ink is sent out from each of the head sections 2a and 2b, the ink jets out and mixes as it flies toward a recording paper (not shown) to form one dot. The dot area at this time is 3/4. Other gradations can be expressed in the same way, making it possible to express fine-grained gradations.
以上詳細に説明したように、本発明によれば、同一色の
インクにつき濃度の異なる複数のインクを用い、これを
1ドツトとして噴出印字させるようにしたので、従来の
ドツト面積制御法における1ドツトの面積制御で表現で
きる階調数より遥かに多い階調表現が可能になり、原画
に忠実なきめの細かい階調表現を行なうことができる。As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of inks of the same color with different densities are used and are ejected and printed as one dot. It is possible to express far more tones than can be expressed by area control, and it is possible to express fine-grained tones that are faithful to the original image.
第1図は本発明のインクジェットプリンタのインク供給
機構の概略構成図、第2図は本発明における階調制御方
法の模式的説明図で、同図(a)は単独ノズルの階調数
plとインク量、同図(b)は階調数p、に対応する印
加電圧、同図(C)は本発明に係る合体ノズルの階調数
p2とインク量、同図(d)は階調数p2に対応する印
加電圧、同図(8)はドツト面積を示す。
la、1b・”インクタンク、2a’ 、2b’ −・
・圧電素子、3a、3b・・・インクノズル、5・・・
合体ノズル、6・・・開口部。
特許出願人 日本ビクター株式会社
代表者垣木邦夫
第1図FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the ink supply mechanism of the inkjet printer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the gradation control method of the present invention. The amount of ink, the figure (b) shows the applied voltage corresponding to the number of gradations p, the figure (C) shows the number of gradations p2 and the ink amount of the combined nozzle according to the present invention, and the figure (d) shows the number of gradations. The applied voltage corresponding to p2 and (8) in the same figure show the dot area. la, 1b・”ink tank, 2a′, 2b′ −・
・Piezoelectric element, 3a, 3b... Ink nozzle, 5...
Combined nozzle, 6... opening. Patent applicant Kunio Kakiki, representative of Victor Japan Co., Ltd. Figure 1
Claims (1)
を行なうインクジェットプリンタにおいて、同一色につ
いて2本以上の複数のノズルを有し、該インクノズルを
その先端部において1束あるいは1本に合体せしめ、各
インクノズルに濃度の異なるインクを供給し、これらの
インクを記録紙に向けて同時に噴出せしめるようにした
ことを特徴とするインクジェットプリンタ。An inkjet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from ink nozzles toward recording paper, which has two or more nozzles for the same color, and the ink nozzles are combined into one bundle or one ink nozzle at their tips. An inkjet printer characterized in that inks of different densities are supplied to each ink nozzle, and these inks are ejected simultaneously toward recording paper.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP12756188A JPH01297259A (en) | 1988-05-25 | 1988-05-25 | Ink jet printer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP12756188A JPH01297259A (en) | 1988-05-25 | 1988-05-25 | Ink jet printer |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
JPH01297259A true JPH01297259A (en) | 1989-11-30 |
Family
ID=14963071
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
JP12756188A Pending JPH01297259A (en) | 1988-05-25 | 1988-05-25 | Ink jet printer |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
JP (1) | JPH01297259A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0739742A2 (en) * | 1995-03-29 | 1996-10-30 | Sony Corporation | Liquid jet recording apparatus capable of recording better half tone image density |
WO1997044194A1 (en) * | 1996-05-22 | 1997-11-27 | Videojet Systems International, Inc. | Ink jet print head modules with common ink supply |
EP0823329A2 (en) * | 1996-08-05 | 1998-02-11 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink jet recording apparatus |
EP0829355A1 (en) * | 1996-03-28 | 1998-03-18 | Sony Corporation | Printer |
EP0830945A1 (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 1998-03-25 | Sony Corporation | Printer device and method of manufacturing same |
US6036295A (en) * | 1993-11-26 | 2000-03-14 | Sony Corporation | Ink jet printer head and method for manufacturing the same |
US6196668B1 (en) | 1997-05-12 | 2001-03-06 | Marconi Data Systems | Ink jet print head modules with common ink supply |
-
1988
- 1988-05-25 JP JP12756188A patent/JPH01297259A/en active Pending
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6036295A (en) * | 1993-11-26 | 2000-03-14 | Sony Corporation | Ink jet printer head and method for manufacturing the same |
US5777636A (en) * | 1995-03-29 | 1998-07-07 | Sony Corporation | Liquid jet recording apparatus capable of recording better half tone image density |
EP0739742A3 (en) * | 1995-03-29 | 1997-07-09 | Sony Corp | Liquid jet recording apparatus capable of recording better half tone image density |
EP0739742A2 (en) * | 1995-03-29 | 1996-10-30 | Sony Corporation | Liquid jet recording apparatus capable of recording better half tone image density |
EP0829355A4 (en) * | 1996-03-28 | 1998-12-09 | Sony Corp | Printer |
EP0829355A1 (en) * | 1996-03-28 | 1998-03-18 | Sony Corporation | Printer |
EP0830945A1 (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 1998-03-25 | Sony Corporation | Printer device and method of manufacturing same |
EP0830945A4 (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 1998-12-09 | Sony Corp | Printer device and method of manufacturing same |
EP1010532A2 (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 2000-06-21 | Sony Corporation | Printer and the manufacturing method |
EP1010532A3 (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 2000-07-05 | Sony Corporation | Printer and the manufacturing method |
WO1997044194A1 (en) * | 1996-05-22 | 1997-11-27 | Videojet Systems International, Inc. | Ink jet print head modules with common ink supply |
EP0823329A3 (en) * | 1996-08-05 | 1998-08-05 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink jet recording apparatus |
EP0823329A2 (en) * | 1996-08-05 | 1998-02-11 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink jet recording apparatus |
US6196668B1 (en) | 1997-05-12 | 2001-03-06 | Marconi Data Systems | Ink jet print head modules with common ink supply |
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