JPH039848A - Liquid jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a uniform recording by providing a change means for changing a stroke weight (thickness) at the time of developing a recording pattern in accordance with a temperature detected by a temperature detection means. CONSTITUTION:When data containing a character code is sent from a host system 1 to a printer, an I/F controller 2 inputs said data therein in the order of transmission and transmits them to a CPU 3. The CPU 3 conducts the control of the whole printer. A ROM 4 stores a program for actuating the CPU 3 and character fonts. A RAM 5 having a capacity for storing image data to be printed by the amount of at least one line is used as a reception data buffer and a work area of the CPU 3. A change means consists of the CPU 3, the ROM 4, and the RAM 5. In accordance with a temp. of a print head 11 detected by a temperature detection sensor 13, a stroke weight at the time of developing a recording pattern is changed by the change means.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The invention relates to a liquid jet recording device.

[Prior Art] Liquid jet recording device, for example; Bubble Jets! - When printing characters in a printer, (1) a method of receiving a character code from a host system and creating and printing a character image in the printer based on character generation information corresponding to the received character code; (2) There is a method of printing characters simply as image output based on bit image information output from the host system.

The font used in method (1) is a binary font that constitutes a unique character image formed by a dot matrix according to the resolution of the print head, that is, rl
, , rO, and the bitmap font that corresponds the ejection nozzles and non-ejection nozzles of the print head to the overlapped row l, and the information on the outline of the character stored in rlOM. There is also an outline font that is developed into a bit image printed on the font.

[P that the invention tries to solve! ! Title]

However, in either method, the character pattern that is the bit image that is finally output is unique due to the specification from the host system, and the bit image pattern that is finally sent to the print head and printed is The diameter of the ejected ink droplets is always the same under the environment in which the printer is placed, so the diameter of the ejected ink droplets is small when the head temperature is low, and large when the head temperature is high, and characters with relatively thin lines are produced when the head temperature is low. was printed, and when the temperature was high, characters with thick lines were printed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a liquid jet recording apparatus that can perform uniform recording.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of a recording head, and a pattern to be printed according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection means. It is characterized by comprising a changing means for changing the stroke weight (thickness) during development.

[Sakukawa 1] In the present invention, the stroke weight when developing a pattern to be printed is changed by the changing means in accordance with the print head temperature detected by the temperature sensor stage.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the invention.

In the figure, l is a host system that transfers pattern data to the printer. 2 is an I/F controller that communicates with the host system 1 and receives data.The I/F controller 2 receives data including character codes from the host system to the printer. If so, input the data according to the transfer procedure and transfer it to CPII 3. 3 is the CPU, which controls the entire printer. 4 is the ROM, which is the CPII 3.
A program for operating 'U3 and character fonts, for example, a character font corresponding to FIG. 4(C) and an outline font corresponding to FIG. 6(C) are stored. Reference numeral 5 denotes rlAM, which has a capacity to store at least one line of image data to be printed, and is used as a buffer for received data and a work area for Cr'U 3. CPU 3. , rlOM 4 and rlAM
The changing means is composed of 5.

6 is an I10 timer, which has an Ilo and a timer. 7
is a carriage motor (hereinafter referred to as 011-Yu),
The head is scanned horizontally by 1°. 8 is C
The n driver drives the CIT controller 7.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a paper feed motor (hereinafter referred to as a PF motor) which feeds the paper. IO is an I'F motor driver that drives the PF motor 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a print head attached to a carriage, which has ejection ports (orifices) arranged vertically to eject ink using air bubbles generated in the ink by thermal energy, and ejects ink based on the data shown in 23. driver, shift register and latch for data transfer,
12 is a head controller that transfers data to the driver and! This is to determine drive timing. Although the details are omitted, in this embodiment, the ink ejection means of the print head is manufactured by U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,1.
No. 29, No. 4,459,1ioO, and the drawings, the thermal energy causes a change of state in the liquid, including rapid formation of bubbles and contraction, and in response to this change, the liquid changes. Bubble jet method that ejects liquid droplets (preferably one with an electrothermal converter as a component)
is adopted. In this example, a carriage moving type device will be described, but it goes without saying that it may have heads for one line. 13 is a thermistor as a temperature detection means, and print head 1! It is placed near the head and detects the head temperature. 14 is ^1
0 converter, thermistor! This converts the analog resistance value of No. 3 into a digital value.

Next, the control procedure by Cl1ll3 will be explained.

Within the receive buffer area in rlAM 5, data is always input manually from the 1/F controller 2, and when data for a violet line is input manually, a bit image for one line is generated from the character font in ROM4. data RAM
Expands during S. When the bit image data has been expanded, the Cn motor driver 8 sends the Cn motor 7
starts the operation and causes the carriage to scan in the horizontal direction.

Then, when the print head 11 on the carriage reaches the printing position, the edited data for one line in the IIAM S is transferred to the head controller 12, this data is parallel-serial converted by the data head controller 12, and printed. While transferring to the shift register in the head 11,
The data in the shift register is temporarily moved to a register in the head.

Thereafter, the driver within the print head 11 is driven by a drive pulse having a prescribed pulse width and timing.

This drive pulse and the output of the register in the print head 11 are ANDed, and only the nozzles selected based on the data in the register are driven by the driver to print based on the data for one dot row.

Thereafter, by repeating this procedure during one horizontal scanning period of the head, printing for one line is performed. When one line of printing is completed, the Cn motor 7 is stopped and the PF motor 9 is activated by the PF driver! O is used to drive the distance for one line to perform a paper feeding operation.

From then on, every time data is sent from host system 1,
The series of operations is repeated to print the next line and subsequent lines.

Next, the control procedure by CPt14 will be explained in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure by the CPU 4 when using a character font developed into a bitmap.

When the data is expanded to the RAM 5, the head temperature is detected by the thermistor 13 in step 531, and the head temperature is detected in step S3.
In step S33, it is determined whether the head temperature detected by the thermistor 13 is higher than a predetermined temperature. as it is in RAM
Store in 5. An example of printing in this case is shown in Fig. 4 (^). As can be seen from Fig. 4 (^), the diameter of the printing dot becomes relatively large, and the width of the line made up of one dot becomes the appropriate width. Become.

On the other hand, as a result of the judgment in step 532, if the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the process moves to step S1, and in step S1, the character font corresponding to the first specified character code is changed to nOM4. to the work area of RAM 5, and in step S2, the RAM
Among the data moved to the work area No. 5, the data in the first column is calculated with TO, data and 01 (in other words, the original data is used as print data as it is. Then,
In step S3, the column counter consisting of 1 byte of RAM 5 is initialized and the column counter l-4fi is initialized.
Set m to rl by 1°.

Next, in step S4, the font data of column m and the font data of the next column, ie, column -◆1, are subjected to an ON operation, and the result of the operation is set as the font data of column m. In step s5, the column is incremented by 1, and in step s6, it is determined whether or not m is smaller than the width M of the font.As a result of the judgment, if m is smaller than the width M of the font, step S4 Return to , and from then on,
Repeat steps s4 to step S6, and
As a result of the °C1 determination in step S6, if m is not smaller than the width M of the font, that is, if the font is doubled in the horizontal direction, the process moves to step s7, and the column counter m is Initialize m=
o.

Then, in step S8, an ON operation is performed on the data in column m shifted by all 1 bit and the original font data, and in step S9, the column is incremented by 1. After incrementing, in step 510,
It is determined whether or not m is smaller than M+1, and as a result of the 111 determination, if it is smaller, the process returns to step S8, and thereafter, steps S8 to 510 are repeated.Then, as a result of the judgment in °C1 step 51G, mh<M+1 If the font width is not smaller, that is, if the font width is 1 bit wider in the vertical direction, the process moves to step Sll, and in step 511, the work area data is converted to image II.
Move to the AM area and finish expanding one character of data.

The characters printed using the font obtained in this way
An example of "II" is shown in FIG. 4 ([+).

Figure 5 shows Crtl when using an outline font.
4 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure according to No. 4.

If the data for one line has been received in step S51, it is determined in step 552 whether or not the head temperature is higher than the specified temperature, and as a result of the determination, if the head temperature is higher than the specified temperature, The process moves to step S53.

In step S53, stroke weight is specified f11
°() to expand a 1-line bit image.

After unpacking the bit image of the l line, step 55
4, print one line as specified in f111, and after printing,
In step S55, a line feed is performed and printing is completed.

An example of the character "11J" printed using the font thus created is shown in FIG. 6 (11).

On the other hand, as a result of the judgment in step 552, if the detected head temperature is not higher than the specified temperature, the stroke weight is set to (specified value + 1), a bit image of one line is developed, and in step 554 , 1 line is printed according to the specified value, and after printing, 1 is entered in step S55, a line feed is performed, and the printing is completed.

The characters printed using the font obtained in this way
11'' is shown in FIG. 6 (Δ).

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, there is an effect that uniform recording can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a liquid jet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a liquid jet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a character developed in a bitmap. 1° flowchart showing an example of the control procedure by the CPU 4 when using a font, Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of printing using a character font, and Figure 5 is a control procedure by the CI'U 4 when using an outline font. Flowchart showing an example. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of printing using an outline font. 1...Host system, 3...-cpu. 4...ROM. 5.-RAM. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Print head, 12... Head controller, 13... Thermistor, 14...-A/D converter. Figure 2 (A) (B) (C) Figure 4 Figure 5 (A) (B) Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the recording head, and a changing means for changing the stroke weight when developing a pattern to be printed according to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. A liquid jet recording device characterized by: