JPH06227006A - Information processor and image forming system using said processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform easily cost calculation of expendable supplies such as a recording agent and a recording head in a textile printing apparatus without using a form plate. CONSTITUTION:Paying a special attention to a feature of a printing apparatus wherein a basic pattern is repeated, the number of printing dots on each ink color is calculated based on printing data constituting the basic pattern (S1). Based on this data, the amt. of consumption or the cost of expendable supplies such as a head and an ink.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus for repeatedly forming a basic image on a recording medium, for example, a textile printing apparatus for printing an image on a cloth by using a cloth as the recording medium. The present invention relates to an information processing device that calculates a consumption amount and an image forming system using the information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the dyeing processing industry, there is a strong demand for swift response to small-lot production of a wide variety of products, shortening of delivery times, and specification changes due to the design characteristics that are highly fashionable. Further, since the dyeing process requires skill, a shortage of human resources is also a problem. Furthermore, it is strongly demanded to take environmental measures regarding the treatment of waste dye solutions. Therefore, as a technology to solve these problems, a plateless printing technology has been developed in which image data is directly printed on cloth from a computer or the like for screen printing using a plate or roller printing. In particular, inkjet printing technology and thermal transfer printing have been developed. Applying printing technology to printing is an effective measure for plateless printing technology.

[0003]

When calculating the cost of a print cloth in the field of textile printing, some items such as a design fee, a cloth fee, and a dyeing / processing fee are added. Considering the case, the ink cost and the consumption cost of the device of the recording unit account for a large proportion.

Here, the consumption cost of the device of the recording section is the so-called inkjet head in the inkjet technology, and particularly the heater section in the thermal transfer technology. In particular, in the ink jet method, which is expected as the mainstream of the plateless printing technology in the future, the durability life of the ejection port constituting the head or the heat generating means inside thereof is about 10 8 to 9 However, in high density printing, the frequency of use is high, and therefore the head is consumed quickly, and thus the amount of consumption is large. Further, the printing ink requires a dye concentration of about 10 times that of the ink used in a general office machine printer, which is high in cost.

As described above, in the plateless printing apparatus capable of meeting the demands for a small quantity and a large variety of products, the head cost is reduced in order to estimate the cost or to calculate the cost of the print cloth in order to improve the productivity. Since the cost of ink occupies a relatively large proportion, there is a strong demand for easy and accurate calculation of the consumption amount or cost of these consumables.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.

[0007]

To this end, the present invention provides
An information processing apparatus applied to an image forming system capable of repeatedly recording a basic image in a predetermined pattern, comprising: a first means for obtaining the number of dots forming the basic image; And a second means for calculating the consumption amount of the consumable item.

Further, it is characterized by further comprising a third means for calculating the cost of image recording from the consumption amount.

The image forming system of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus, an image output apparatus that has a recording head and records an image on a recording medium using a recording agent, and the image output apparatus. And an image supply device that supplies image data.

Here, the information processing device can be integrated with the image output device or the image supply device.

[0011]

According to the present invention, for an image forming system in which a basic image is repeatedly printed, the number of dots forming the basic image is calculated, and based on this, consumption of a recording agent such as ink or a consumable item such as a recording head is consumed. Since I tried to find the quantity,
You will be able to contribute to the calculation of production plans and production costs.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the following, a printing system to which an ink jet method is applied as a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following procedure.

(1) Overall system (FIGS. 1 and 2) (2) Host computer (FIG. 3) (2.1) Configuration (2.2) Operation (3) Printer (FIGS. 4 to 31) (3) .1) Description of printing mechanism (3.2) Description of device configuration (3.3) Description of printing method (3.4) Description of head shading (4) Example of cost calculation (5) Others (1) System FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a textile printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The host computer H serves as a data supply device that supplies original image data for printing and other control commands to a printer P that prints (hereinafter also referred to as printing) on a printing medium such as cloth. Using this host computer H, it is possible to make desired corrections to the original image created by the designer and read by the scanner S, and set the required parameters for the printer P to perform printing. The host computer H can also be connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 1016 such as Ethernet (by XEROX) to enable communication with other systems.
In addition, the printer P notifies the host computer H of its status and the like. Details will be described later with reference to FIG. 3 for the host computer H and FIG. 4 for the printer P.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a printing process procedure which can be carried out using this system. The processing contents performed in each step are as follows, for example.

Original image creating step This is a step in which the MS1 designer creates an original image by using an appropriate means, that is, a basic image which is a basic unit of a repeating image on a cloth as a recording medium. For the creation, required parts of the host computer H described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, for example, input means and display means may be used.

Original image input step MS3 Step of reading the original image created in the original creating step MS1 into the host computer H using the scanner S, or reading the original image data stored in the external storage of the host computer H, or This is a step of receiving original image data from the LAN 1016.

Original Image Correction Step MS5 The textile printing system in this example enables selection of various repeating patterns for the basic image, as will be described later with reference to FIG. Image misalignment or color tone discontinuity may occur. This step is a step of receiving the selection of the repeating pattern and correcting the discontinuity at the boundary portion of the repeating pattern according to the selection.
As a mode of the correction, the designer or the operator may use the mouse or other input means while referring to the screen of the display device of the host computer H, and the automatic correction is performed by the image processing of the host computer H itself. It may be one.

Special Color Designating Step MS7 In the printer P according to this example, basically, yellow (Y),
Printing is performed using magenta (M) and cyan (C), or even black (BK) ink. In printing, colors other than these, for example, metallic colors such as gold and silver, and clear red (R) are used. , Green (G), Blue (B), etc. may be desired. Therefore, in the printer P of this example, it is possible to perform printing using inks of these special colors (hereinafter referred to as special colors), and
In this step, the spot color is designated.

Color Palette Data Creation Step In MS9 design, the designer creates an original image while selecting a color from standard color patches. The reproducibility of the color when printing the selected color greatly affects the productivity of the printing system. Therefore, in this step, data for determining the mixing ratio of Y, M, C, or the special color for favorably reproducing the selected standard color is generated.

Logo input step MS11 In many cases, a logo mark of a designer, a brand of a manufacturer, or the like is printed on the end of a piece of cloth. In this step, such a logo mark is designated and its color, size and position are designated.

Cloth size specifying step MS13 The width, length, etc. of the cloth to be printed are specified. As a result, the scanning amount of the recording head in the printer P in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, the number of repetitions of the original image pattern, etc. are determined.

Original image magnification designation step MS15 Variable magnification at the time of printing the original image (for example, 100%, 2
00%, 400%, etc.) is set.

Cloth type designating step MS17 cloth has various kinds such as natural fibers such as cotton, silk and wool and synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester and acrylic, and has different characteristics relating to printing. It is considered that this is due to the elasticity of the cloth, but when the feed amounts at the time of printing are made equal, the appearance of streaks occurring at the boundary portion for each main scan differs. Therefore, in this step, the type of cloth for printing is input so that the printer P can be used to set an appropriate feed amount.

Maximum ink ejection amount setting step MS19 Even when the same amount of ink is ejected onto the cloth, the image density reproduced on the cloth differs depending on the cloth type. The amount of ink that can be ejected also differs depending on the configuration of the fixing system in the printer P and the like. Therefore, in this step, the maximum ink ejection amount is designated according to the cloth type, the configuration of the fixing system of the printer P, and the like.

Print Mode Designating Step MS21 Printer P does not perform multi-scan overprinting (see FIG. 20). High-speed print mode is executed or multi-scan overprinting is performed (FIGS. 18 and 19).
Etc.) is executed, or one dot is ejected once for one dot, or ink is ejected a plurality of times. Furthermore, when printing is interrupted, control is performed so that the patterns continue before and after the interruption, or whether new printing is started regardless of the pattern continuity. You can also

Head shading mode designation step
When a recording head having a plurality of ejection ports is used in the MS23 printer P, ink ejection amount, ejection direction variation, and wobbling may occur for each ejection port of the head due to manufacturing variations and subsequent usage conditions. . Therefore, in order to correct this, processing (head shading) may be performed to correct the drive signal for each ejection port to keep the print density constant. In this step, the mode of head shading according to the print mode, the timing of head shading, etc. can be designated.

Printing is performed by the printer P based on the designations in the printing step MS25 and above.

If it is unnecessary to specify the above, the step may be deleted or skipped. Moreover, you may add the step which performs other designation | designated etc. as needed.

(2) Host Computer (2.1) Configuration FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the entire system centering on the configuration of the host computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1011 is a CPU for executing control of the entire information processing system, and 1013 is a CPU 101.
1 stores a program to be executed by 1 and is used as a work area at the time of execution. A main memory 1014 transfers data between the main memory 1013 and various devices constituting the system without the CPU 1011. DMA controller (Direct Memory A)
access controller (hereinafter referred to as DMAC). 1015 is a LAN interface between the LAN 1016 and this system, and 1017 is a ROM, S
It is an input / output device (hereinafter referred to as I / O) having a RAM, an RS232C system interface, and the like. I / O
Various external devices can be connected to 1017. 101
Reference numerals 8 and 1019 denote a hard disk device and a floppy disk device as external storage devices, respectively.
Reference numeral 0 is a disk interface for signal connection between the hard disk device 1018 or the floppy disk device 1019 and this system. Reference numeral 1022 denotes a scanner / printer interface for signal connection between the printer P and the scanner S and the host computer H, which can be of the GPIB specification.
Reference numeral 1023 is a keyboard for inputting various kinds of character information, control information, and the like, 1024 is a mouse as a pointing device, and 1025 is a key interface for performing signal connection between the keyboard 1023 and the mouse 1024 and this system. Reference numeral 1026 denotes a display device such as a CRT whose display is controlled by the interface 1027. Reference numeral 1012 is a system bus composed of a data bus, a control bus, and an address bus for connecting signals between the above-mentioned devices.

(2.2) Operation In the system in which the various devices described above are connected, the designer or the operator operates while corresponding to the various information displayed on the display screen of the CRT 1026. That is, an external device connected to the LAN 1016, I / O 1017, a hard disk 1018, a floppy disk 1019, a scanner S, a keyboard 102.
3. Characters and image information supplied from the mouse 1024, operation information related to system operation stored in the main memory 1013, and the like are displayed on the display screen of the CRT 1026, and the designer or operator can see various information while viewing this display. Designate and instruct the system.

(3) Printer (3.1) Description of Mechanical Structure FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of an ink jet printer as the printing apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view of the main part thereof.
The printing apparatus (printer) of this example is roughly divided into a cloth feeding section B that sends out a cloth on a roll that has been subjected to a pretreatment for printing,
It is composed of a main body section for precisely feeding the fed cloth and printing with an inkjet head, and a winding section C for drying and winding the printed cloth. The main body portion A further includes a cloth precision feed portion A-1 including a platen and a print unit A-2.

The pre-processed roll-shaped cloth 3 is sent out to the cloth supply section and sent to the main body section A. A thin endless metal belt 6 which is precisely step-driven is wound around a drive roller 7 and a winding roller 9 on the main body. The driving roller 7 is directly step-driven by a high-resolution stepping motor (not shown) to step-feed the metal belt by the step amount. The metal belt has an adhesive applied all over the outer circumference, and the cloth fed is pressed against the belt surface backed up by the winding roller 9 by the pressing roller 10 and stuck to the adhesive surface.

The cloth 3 which has been step-fed by the belt is positioned by the platen 12 on the back surface of the belt in the first printing unit 11 and printed by the ink jet head 13 from the front side. Each time one line of printing is completed, a predetermined amount of step feed is performed, then heating from the back surface of the belt by the heating plate 14 and the warm air duct 1
5 is dried by hot air from the surface which is supplied / exhausted. Then, in the second printing unit 11 ', the first
Overprinting is performed in the same manner as the printing unit of.

The cloth after printing is peeled off, and the post-drying section 16 is composed of a heating plate and a heater (or warm air).
Is dried again, is guided to the guide roll 17, and is wound up by the winding roll 18. Then, the wound cloth is removed from the apparatus, and color development, washing, and drying are performed in a batch process to obtain a product.

In FIG. 5, the cloth 3 as a recording medium is attached to a metal belt 6 and is step-fed upward in the drawing. The first printing unit 11 at the bottom in the figure
In addition to Y, M, C, and BK, there is a first carriage 24 on which inkjet heads for the special colors S1 to S4 are mounted. Inkjet head (recording head) in this example
Uses a device having an element that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling in the ink as the energy used for ejecting the ink, and has 128 ejection ports with a density of 400 DPI (dots / inch). It uses an array of.

On the downstream side of the first printing section, a drying section 25 comprising a heating plate 14 for heating from the back side of the belt and a warm air duct 15 for drying from the front side is provided. The heat transfer surface of the heating plate 14 is pressed against the endless belt 6 which is strongly tensioned, and the high temperature and high pressure steam passing through the hollow inside strongly heats the conveyor belt 6 from the back side. The conveyor belt 6 is made of thin (100 to 150 μm) stainless steel and directly and effectively heats the cloth 3 adhered by the thin adhesive layer by heat conduction. The inside of the heating plate surface is provided with fins 14 'for collecting heat so that the heat can be efficiently concentrated on the back surface of the belt. The side not in contact with the belt is covered with a heat insulating material 26 to prevent loss due to heat dissipation.

On the front side, by blowing hot dry air from the supply duct 27 on the downstream side to the cloth which is being dried,
The effect is enhanced by applying air with lower humidity. The air flowing in the opposite direction to the cloth conveying direction and containing a sufficient amount of water sucks a much larger amount than the amount of spraying from the suction duct 28 on the upstream side, so that evaporated water leaks and Avoid condensation on mechanical devices. The supply source of warm air is on the back side of FIG. 5, and suction is performed from the front side, and the pressure difference between the blowing port 29 and the suction port 30 facing the cloth is uniform over the entire longitudinal direction. It is designed to be. The air blower / sucker is offset downstream with respect to the center of the rear heating plate so that the air hits the fully heated location. As a result, the first printing unit 11 strongly dries a large amount of water contained in the ink including the thinning liquid received by the cloth.

The second printing unit 1 is provided downstream (upper) thereof.
1 ', and the second carriage 24' having the same structure as the first carriage forms the second print portion.

FIG. 6 illustrates the speed at which the carriage of the first and second printing units 11 and 11 'in FIG. 4 scans the cloth surface for printing.

The movement of the carriage increases speed gradually from the start position, and in the print area,
When the print area ends (constant speed area) due to constant speed motion, the speed is reduced in the deceleration area and stopped at the reverse position.

After that, the movement to return to the start position starts, but the reversal without printing usually makes a faster movement than that with printing, and generally improves the productivity of the machine. Reference numeral 30 represents a motion when thinning printing is performed, and 31 represents a motion in a mode for increasing the density.

FIG. 7 shows a density unevenness correction section 237 including an HS test pattern recording section and a test pattern reading section provided on the side of the apparatus opposite to that of FIG. 213 is the first
And a recording medium for a test pattern, which is provided at the scanning position of the upper and lower carriages and which can be recorded by the inkjet heads of the second printing units 11 and 11 '.
It is stretched between A and 216B, and is conveyed in the D direction in the figure by a motor 216M. Then, similarly to the above, the recording medium 213 on which the test pattern is recorded is illuminated by the light source 218, the recording density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium 213 by each inkjet head is read by the reading line sensor 217, and the reading sensor 217. The read signals of the test pattern recording by each recording head read by the A / D converter 236 are converted into digital signals as R, G, B signals, and the read signals are temporarily stored in the RAM 219. .

(3.2) Configuration of Control System of Device Next, the configuration of the control system of this device will be described. 8 and 9 show the configuration of the ink jet printer of the embodiment and the configuration example of the operation unit thereof, and FIGS. 10 to 12 show an example of the internal configuration of the control board 102 of FIG. 8 along the data flow. It is shown in the figure.

From the host computer H via the interface (here, GPIB), the control board 1
The image data for printing is sent to 02. The device for sending the image data is not particularly limited, and the transfer form may be transfer via a network or offline via a magnetic tape or the like. The control board 102 is the CPU 102.
A, the ROM 102B storing various programs, the RAM 102C having various register areas and work areas, and each unit shown in FIGS. An operation / display unit 103 has an operation unit for the operator to give a desired instruction to the printer P and a display for displaying a message to the operator. Reference numeral 104 denotes a cloth conveyer including a motor and the like for conveying a recording medium such as cloth to be printed. Reference numeral 105 denotes a driver unit input / output unit for driving various motors (shown by "M" at the end) and various solenoids (shown by "SOL") shown in FIG. 10
Reference numeral 7 is a relay board for supplying a drive signal to each head, and for receiving information (information such as presence / absence of a mounted head and color presented by the head) of each head and supplying it to the control board 102. The information is transferred to the host computer H as described above.

Now, when the information of the image data to be printed is received from the host computer H, the image data is GPI.
The image is stored in the image memory 505 via the B interface 501 and the frame memory controller 504 (see FIG. 10).
reference). The image memory of the embodiment has a capacity of 124 Mbytes, and has an A1 size of 8-bit palette data. That is, 8 bits are assigned to each pixel. 503 is D for speeding up memory transfer
It is an MA controller. When the transfer from the host computer H is completed, printing can be started after a predetermined process.

Before and after the explanation, the host computer connected to the printing apparatus of the embodiment transfers the image data as a raster image. Since each recording head has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged in the vertical direction, the arrangement of image data must be converted so as to match the recording heads. This data conversion is performed by the raster @BJ conversion controller 5
Perform at 06. Then, the data converted by the raster @BJ conversion controller 506 is supplied to the palette conversion controller 508 through the expansion function of the next expansion controller 507 for scaling the image data. The data up to the expansion controller 507 is the data sent from the host computer, and in this embodiment is an 8-bit palette signal. Then, this pallet data (8 bits) is commonly passed to and processed by a processing unit (described below) for each recording head.

In the following, if there are eight recording heads,
That is, the description will be made assuming that a head that stores specific colors S1 to S4 in addition to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is provided.

The palette conversion controller 508 supplies the palette data inputted from the host computer H and the conversion table of the corresponding color to the conversion table memory 509.

In the case of an 8-bit palette, the number of reproducible color types is 256 from 0 to 255. For example,
The table as shown in FIG. 13 is expanded in the table memory 509 corresponding to each color.

In the case of an 8-bit palette, the number of reproducible color types is 256 from 0 to 255. For example, when 0 is input, when light gray print 1 is input, and when special color 1 is solid print. When 2 is input Solid color of special color 2 is input 3 When blue is printed by mixing cyan and magenta 4 When cyan is solid print 5 When 5 is input Mixed color of magenta and yellow In case of printing of let color 254 is input in, and in case of input of solid printing of yellow 255, nothing is printed.

As a concrete circuit configuration, the palette conversion table memory 509 fulfills its function by writing the conversion data in the address position for the palette data. That is, when the palette data is actually supplied as an address, the memory is accessed in the read mode. The palette conversion controller 508 manages the palette conversion table memory 509 and interfaces the control board 102 and the palette conversion table memory 509. Regarding the spot color, a circuit for setting the spot color mixture amount (a circuit for multiplying the output by 0 to 1) is inserted between the HS system including the HS controller 510 and the HS conversion table memory 511 at the next stage, and the set amount is set. Can be variable.

The HS conversion controller 510 and the HS conversion table memory 511 use the print density corresponding to each ejection port of each head based on the data measured by the head characteristic measuring means 108 including the density unevenness correcting section shown in FIG. The variation of is corrected. For example, data with a low density (low ejection rate) is converted to darker data, and a port with high density (high ejection rate) is converted to lighter data, and a medium density ejection port is converted. In that case, the process of flowing it as it is is performed. This process will be described later.

The next γ conversion controller 512 and γ conversion table memory 513 are table conversions for increasing or decreasing the overall density for each color. For example, when nothing is done, it is a linear table, that is, 0 output for 0 input, 100 output for 100 input, 210 output for 210 input, and 255 output for 255 output.

The binarization controller 514 in the next stage has a pseudo gradation function, inputs 8-bit gradation data, and outputs binarized 1-bit pseudo gradation data. is there. Although there are a dither matrix, an error diffusion method, and the like for converting multi-valued data into binary data, these are adopted also in the embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted, but in any case, the unit What is necessary is just to express gradation by the number of dots per area.

The binarized data is stored in the connection memory 515 and then used for driving each recording head. Then, the binary data output from each connection memory is output as C, M, Y, BK, S1 to S4. Since the same processing is performed on the binarized signals of the respective colors, the binary data C will be focused here and described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the drawing shows the configuration for the recording color cyan, and each color has the same configuration. Note that FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a stage subsequent to the connection memory 515 shown in FIGS.

The binarized signal C is a sequential multi-scan generator (hereinafter, SMS generator) 5
22 is output to the pattern generator 51.
In some cases, the test printing of the device alone is performed by the 7, 518, so the data is supplied to the selector 519. Of course, this switching is controlled by the CPU of the control board 102, and the operator operates the operation unit 103.
When a predetermined operation is performed on (see FIG. 8), the data from the binary pattern controller 517 is selected for test printing. Therefore, normally, the data from the binary controller 514 (connecting memory 516) is selected. 520 is a selector 520 and an SMS
This is a logo input section that is inserted between the generator 522 and the printer 522. In the case of textile printing, a logo mark such as a brand of a maker or a designer is often put on the end of the cloth, which is compatible with this. The configuration can be made up of, for example, a memory that stores logo data, a controller that manages a print position, and the like, and step MS11 in FIG.
You can make the required specifications at.

The SMS generator 522 prevents unevenness in image density due to changes in the ejection amount of each nozzle. Multi-scan is, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-79858.
It has been proposed as an issue. Whether to prioritize image quality by performing multi-scan, that is, by ejecting ink from a plurality of ejection ports for one pixel, or prioritizing high speed without performing such multi-scan, FIG. Can be specified in step MS21. This SMS
The printing method controlled by the generator 522 will be described later.

The connection memory 524 is a buffer memory for correcting the physical position of the head, that is, the position between the upper and lower print units in FIG. 5 and the position between the heads, and the image data is once input here. Output at a timing according to the physical position of the head. Therefore, the connection memory 524 has a different capacity for each recording color.

After performing the data processing as described above, the data is sent to the head via the head relay board 107.

By the way, conventionally, the data for palette conversion and γ conversion has been fixedly held in the memory provided in the main body of the apparatus. Therefore, it may not match the image data to be output, and an image of sufficient quality may not be obtained. Therefore, in the present embodiment, these conversion data can be input from the outside and are stored in each conversion table memory. For example, palette conversion data as shown in FIG. 13 is downloaded to the conversion table memory 509.
That is, the conversion table memories 509 and 511 of the embodiment are
All of 513 are composed of RAM. The data for palette conversion and γ conversion is sent from the host computer 101. Further, the data for HS conversion is input from the head characteristic measuring instrument 108 including the configuration shown in FIG. 7 so that the data always matched to the state of the head can be obtained. In order to obtain the head characteristic of each recording color by the head characteristic measuring device 108, test printing (recording with uniform predetermined halftone density) is performed with each recording head.
Then, the density distribution corresponding to the recording width is measured. The state of the head is the dispersion of the ejection states of a plurality of nozzles included in the head, or how much the density of the image printed by the head is different from the desired density.

Further, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent the abnormal output from being prevented until the conversion parameter is input, even if data is input, the output is set to 0 and printing is performed, as shown in FIG. I was not allowed to. The same applies to γ conversion and the like.

(3.3) Description of Print Method FIG. 15 shows certain print data, and a rectangular area surrounded by a dotted line corresponds to one pixel, and in the case of 400 DPI, it is about 63.5 μm square. In the figure, the place where a black dot is printed indicates that it is a pixel for recording an image. The recording head h moves in the direction shown, and ink is ejected from the ink ejection port at a predetermined timing to perform printing as shown in FIG.

Here, the sequential multi-scan is a head moving direction in order to correct the variation in the size of the ink droplets ejected from each ejection port and the variation in the density between each ejection port caused by the variation in the ink ejection direction. Is a method of printing the same line in a plurality of ejection ports. By thus forming one line with a plurality of ejection ports, it is possible to reduce the unevenness by utilizing the randomness of the ejection characteristics. When performing the sequence multi-scan by scanning twice, the head on the side of the first printing unit 11 shown in the lower side of FIG. 4 and the head on the side of the second printing unit 11 ′ shown in the upper side of FIG. Besides doing
For one head, for example, by using the upper half of the head in the first scan and the lower half in the second scan, an odd number of print data in the head moving direction (see FIG.
6) can be recorded by the upper half ejection port group, and the even number (FIG. 17) can be recorded by the lower half ejection port group.
This is a means for preventing the deterioration of the recording quality due to the unevenness of the ink ejection that occurs at each ejection of the inkjet head,
An effect similar to head shading can be obtained.

18 to 21 show various printing methods selectable in this embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a conventional two-stage structure using the head on the first printing section side and the head on the second printing section side shown in FIG.
It is a print with multiple multi-scans. Areas printed by the lower head on the side of the first printing unit 11 in FIG. 5 are shown as “lower 1”, “lower 2”, and “lower 3”, and areas printed by the upper head are “upper 1”, It is shown as "upper 2" and "upper 3".

The cloth feed direction is as shown by the arrow in the figure, and the step feed amount per time is the head width. As can be seen from the figure, all areas are composed of the upper half of the upper head and the lower half of the lower head, or the lower half of the upper head and the upper half of the lower head. As a result of being cut and superposed by both heads, a predetermined density is obtained. The head scan speed at this time is V1 × 2.

FIG. 19 shows a case where the print density is doubled as compared with FIG. The difference from FIG. 18 is that the print data is not thinned and the carriage speed is halved. The SMS generator 522 of FIG.
Then, in the case of FIG. 18, data distribution is executed,
In the case of FIG. 19, this is not done. Also, speed 1
The reason for setting // 2 is related to the ink refill frequency of the head.

Compared to FIG. 18, FIG. 20 eliminates thinning,
And the cloth feed amount is doubled. Further, the upper and lower head spacing is changed to an integral multiple of the head width L0. Therefore, it is possible to provide means for variably adjusting the distance between the first and second printing units 11 and 11 'in FIG. 4, but in the print shown in FIG. 4, the head distance is as shown in FIGS. Even with (N + 0.5) × L0 ″, it is possible to adjust the cloth feed amount and the scan timing of the upper and lower heads.

FIG. 21 shows still another printing method.
This is because the print is performed by scanning the upper and lower heads once each in total in FIG.
Printing is performed by scanning the upper and lower heads twice, a total of four times. In this method, the SMS generator 522 has thinning /
There is an advantage that the design can be simplified, that is, there is no need to create a mode without thinning out, and there is no need to switch the speed of the scanner.

(3.4) Description of Head Shading The image signal read from the test pattern described later is sent to the image forming section and is used for the correction of the driving condition of the recording head as described later.

In the present invention, the adjustment to prevent the occurrence of density unevenness during image formation means to make the image density of the liquid droplets from a plurality of liquid discharge ports of the recording head uniform in the recording head itself, or To make the image density uniform among a plurality of heads, or to make a desired color by mixing a plurality of liquids to obtain a desired color or to obtain a desired density. It includes at least one, and preferably includes satisfying a plurality of these.

As the density uniformization correction means for that purpose,
It is preferable that the reference print giving the correction condition is automatically read and the correction condition is automatically determined, and it is not a matter not to add a manual adjustment device for fine adjustment and user adjustment.

The purpose of correction determined by the correction conditions is
Not only optimum printing conditions but also adjustment within a predetermined range including an allowable range and a reference density that changes according to a desired image may be used, and all that are included in the purpose of correction can be applied.

As an example, description will be given of the case of correcting the density unevenness of the multi-head with the number N of recording elements, which is to converge the print output of each element to the average density value for the purpose of correction.

It is assumed that a density distribution is generated when each element (1 to N) is driven by a certain uniform image signal S to print.

First, the density OD _{1 of} the portion corresponding to each recording element
Average density as the correction object measured ～OD _N

[0079]

[Equation 1]

Find This average density is not limited to each element, but may be a method of integrating the amount of reflected light to obtain an average value or a known method.

If the relationship between the value of the image signal and the output density of a certain element or a certain element group is as shown in FIG.
For the signal actually given to this element or this element group, the correction coefficient α for correcting the signal S to bring about the target density bar OD may be determined. That is, the signal S is expressed as α × S = (bar OD /
The correction signal S corrected to OD _n ) × S may be given to this element or group according to the input signal S. Specifically, it is executed by subjecting the input image signal to table conversion as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 22 (B), a straight line A is a straight line having a slope of 1.0 and is a table for outputting an input signal without conversion, but a straight line B has a slope α = bar OD / O.
It is a straight line of D _n and is a table for converting an output signal into α · S with respect to an input signal S. Therefore, if the head drive is performed after table conversion is performed on the image signal corresponding to the n-th recording element to determine the correction coefficient α _n for each table as shown by the straight line B in FIG. Each density of the part recorded by the individual recording elements becomes equal to the bar OD. If such a process is performed on all recording elements, the uneven density is corrected and a uniform image is obtained. That is, the unevenness can be corrected by previously obtaining data as to which table conversion should be performed on the image signal corresponding to which printing element.

Needless to say, this objective correction may be carried out by comparing the densities of the respective nozzle groups (3 to 5 units) as an approximate uniformization process.

The density unevenness can be corrected by such a method. However, the density unevenness can be corrected thereafter by the use state of the apparatus or environmental changes, or by the change of the density unevenness before correction or the change of the correction circuit with time. Therefore, it is necessary to change the correction amount of the input signal in order to cope with such a situation. The cause of this is
In the case of an inkjet recording head, as it is used, deposits from the ink adhere to the vicinity of the ink ejection port,
It is conceivable that the concentration distribution may change due to foreign matter from the outside. This is also predicted from the fact that the density distribution may change due to deterioration or deterioration of each heater in the thermal head. In such a case, for example, since the uneven density correction cannot be sufficiently performed with the input correction amount initially set at the time of manufacturing or the like, the problem that the uneven density gradually becomes conspicuous as it is used is also a problem in long-term use. It becomes a problem to be solved.

FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of a control system of the apparatus of this example centering on a head shading (HS) system. Here, h is a recording head, which is a representative of each head in the first and second printing units in FIG.

Reference numeral 718 is an unevenness correction signal, and 717 is an unevenness correction RAM. Further, 720 is an ejection recovery unit for improving the ejection state of the recording head h by performing suction or the like, and 725 is a unit for causing the recording head to scan the recording medium or the test pattern recording medium.

As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the palette-converted signal 704 is sent to each HS conversion table memory 50.
9 is converted so as to correct the unevenness of the recording head. The unevenness correction table has 64 correction straight lines, and the correction straight line (or a non-linear curve can be used) is switched according to the unevenness correction signal 718.

FIG. 24 shows an example of the unevenness correction table.
In this example, there are 64 correction straight lines each having a different slope from Y = 0.68X to Y = 1.31X by 0.01, and the correction straight lines are switched according to the unevenness correction signal 718. For example, when a signal of a pixel to be recorded by an ejection port having a large dot diameter is input, a correction straight line having a small inclination is selected, and conversely, when a ejection port having a small dot diameter is selected, a correction straight line having a large inclination is selected to output an image signal to correct.

The unevenness correction RAM 717 stores a correction straight line selection signal necessary for correcting the unevenness of each head. That is, the unevenness correction signals having 64 kinds of values of 0 to 63 are stored for the number of ejection ports, and the unevenness correction signal 718 is output in synchronization with the input image signal. And
The signal 706 in which the unevenness is corrected by the straight line selected by the unevenness correction signal is subjected to γ conversion as described above with reference to FIG. 11.

By performing the unevenness correcting process as described above, the ejection energy generating element corresponding to the ejection port of the dense portion of the head lowers the driving energy (for example, the driving duty), and conversely, the ejection port of the thin portion is ejected. The corresponding ejection energy generating element raises driving energy. As a result, the print head density unevenness is corrected and a uniform image is obtained. However, if the density unevenness pattern of the head changes with use, the unevenness correction signal used becomes inadequate, causing unevenness on the image. Occurs. When this happens,
The uneven correction data is rewritten.

HS conversion controller 51 in FIG.
0 and the conversion table memory 511 and FIG. 23 are described. In this example, the HS conversion table memory 5
09 is a ROM that stores each of the correction curves as shown in FIG. 24 in a table, and the unevenness correction RAM 717 can be a component of the HS conversion controller 510.

The HS conversion table memory 509 is set to R
ROM composed of rewritable memory such as AM and provided separately
It is also possible to appropriately read the table stored in the table etc. in accordance with the HS data (density unevenness correction data) calculation processing and expand it in the HS conversion table memory 509. In this case, as will be described later, when using independent density unevenness correction data for the upper and lower heads, the memory 50 is used.
The capacity of 9 may be the capacity corresponding to each of the HS corrections for the upper and lower heads, and the corresponding table may be rewritten prior to the HS correction for the upper and lower heads.

FIG. 25 shows an example of the unevenness correction processing procedure according to this embodiment.

When this procedure is activated, first, step SP
At 1, an ejection stabilizing operation by head recovery / initialization is executed. This is because if the recording head does not have normal ejection characteristics due to thickening of ink, mixing of dust or air bubbles, etc.
This is because it may not be possible to accurately recognize the characteristics (density unevenness) of the head.

In the ejection stabilizing process, the recording head h
It is possible to forcibly discharge the ink from the ejection port by facing and joining the cap, which is a constituent element of the ejection recovery unit 720, and suctioning through the cap. Further, the ejection port forming surface may be cleaned by contacting the ejection port forming surface of the ink absorber that can be arranged in the cap unit, or by blowing air or wiping. It is also possible to drive the recording head in the same manner as during normal recording to perform preliminary ejection. However, the drive energy at the time of preliminary ejection does not necessarily have to be the same as that at the time of recording. That is, the same processing as the so-called ejection recovery operation performed in the inkjet recording apparatus may be performed.

Note that, instead of or after the above-described processing, a pattern for stabilizing ejection may be recorded on the test pattern recording medium 213. Then, after that, a test pattern or the like for correcting the uneven density may be recorded.

Next, in steps SP3 and SP5,
The test pattern is printed and read, respectively. The manner of printing and reading in this example will be described.

FIG. 26 shows a test image recording procedure (step S
An example of P3) is shown. In this procedure, first, step SP3
-1, the carriages of the first and second printing units 11 and 11 'are moved to the test pattern (test image) recording position shown in FIG. 7, and then in step SP3-3, as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether the multi-scan mode as shown in FIGS. 19 and 21 is set or the high-speed recording mode as shown in FIG. 20 is set. If the multi-scan mode is set, further step S
In P3-5, it is determined whether or not unevenness correction data is independently set for each of the upper and lower heads in FIG.

If it is determined in step SP3-3 that the high speed mode is set, or in step S3.
If an affirmative decision is made in P3-5, step SP3-
7, the test pattern T1 as shown in FIG.
And T2 may be formed by two scans of the lower head and the upper head, respectively, and read in the R direction. In this case, in each subsequent test pattern, the predetermined area M from the center of each scan may be subjected to the unevenness correction calculation target. As a result, it is possible to cover the processing for all the ejection ports for each of the upper and lower heads, and it is possible to eliminate the instability of the reading density at the image end that may occur when reading is performed by recording only one scan. . For this purpose,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-329746, a so-called anomaly 3 in which scanning performed by driving lower and upper several ejection ports is performed before and after one scan performed by driving all ejection ports.
Line printing may be performed.

On the other hand, if a negative decision is made in step SP3-5, the operation proceeds to step SP3-9, for example, as shown in FIG.
A test pattern as shown in (4) is recorded on the upper and lower heads. Here, T1 'is an area for three scans recorded by the lower head, T2' is an area for two scans overlapped by the upper head, and M'is an area to be subjected to unevenness correction calculation.

Referring again to FIG. 25, in steps S7 and S9, the averaging of the densities in the X direction and the allocating of the densities corresponding to the ejection ports are performed, respectively. As a method of assigning the density data obtained as described above to the ejection ports of the head, the following methods can be adopted. First, a threshold is determined so that a printed portion and a blank portion can be clearly distinguished from each other in the entire density distribution. Next, the center value of the coordinates having the density equal to or higher than the threshold value is obtained.
Then, the data for 64 ejection ports before and after that is obtained as the data of the unevenness correction calculation target, and in FIG. 27, the first half portion is made the density data for the lower ejection port group (the 65th to 128th ejection ports), The latter half is the upper outlet group (first
The density data for the 64th to 64th discharge ports may be used. In FIG. 28, the first half is the density data for the upper ejection port group for the lower head, the density data is for the lower ejection port group for the upper head, and the latter half is for the lower ejection port group for the lower head. And the upper head may be the density data for the upper ejection port group.

Based on the above, step SP1 of FIG.
In step 1, unevenness correction calculation is performed. That is, the signals for the number of ejection ports are sampled from the signals obtained by reading the density unevenness, and these are used as data corresponding to each ejection port as described above. When these R _1, R ₂ ... and R _{N (N} = 128), is once are stored in these RAM 219, CPU
At 102, the following calculation is performed.

These data are

[0104]

[Number 2] _{C n = -log (R n /} R 0) (R 0 is a constant becomes _{R 0 ≧ R n; 1 ≦} n ≦ N) is converted to become calculates subjected density signal.

Next, the average density

[0106]

[Equation 3]

Is calculated.

Next, how much the density corresponding to each ejection port deviates from the average density is calculated as follows.

[0109]

ΔC _n = bar C / C _n Next, the signal correction amount (ΔS) _n according to (ΔC) _n is calculated.

[0110]

## EQU5 ## ΔS _n = A × ΔC _n

Here, A is a coefficient determined by the gradation characteristics of the head.

Subsequently, a selection signal of the correction straight line to be selected is obtained according to ΔS _n , and the unevenness correction signals having 64 kinds of values of “0” to “63” are provided for the unevenness correction RAM 717 for the number of ejection ports.
(Steps SP13 and SP15). According to the unevenness correction data created in this manner, a γ correction curve (non-linear in FIG. 29A, linear in FIG. 29B) different for each ejection port is selected to correct density unevenness. To do so.

In the case shown in FIG. 27, the HS conversion data is independently obtained for the upper and lower heads. In this case, the capacity of the RAM 717 or the HS conversion table memory 509 is set to 2 heads for each color. In addition to the above, if the processing speed of the device such as the CPU 102A is high, the stored contents of the upper and lower heads may be rewritten.

Further, in the case shown in FIG. 28, mixed density data in which the upper ejection port group for the lower head and the lower ejection port group for the lower head are overprinted, and
Mixed density data obtained by performing overprinting on the lower ejection port group for the lower head and the upper ejection port group for the upper head are obtained. In this case, in order to determine the density unevenness correction data of each ejection port of the upper and lower heads from the obtained density data, the upper and lower heads perform overlapping recording in actual printing. It is also possible to calculate 1/2 (average value) of the mixed density data and obtain the density unevenness correction data for the ejection port from the calculated value. Even if the test pattern is as shown in FIG. 27, the density data obtained from both patterns may be added and then averaged. Also,
If necessary, such as when the characteristics of the upper and lower heads are different, the average value of the mixed concentration data is weighted, or the mixed concentration data is distributed at an appropriate ratio and distributed to the upper and lower heads. You can also do it.

The above process is repeated for each color recording head 1
It can be performed once or repeatedly a plurality of times until the desired correction is performed. Further, it is possible not only to perform each color independently but also to perform a mixed color test pattern.

Further, it may be changed according to the print duty of the test pattern. That is, when it is desired to perform appropriate correction in various density areas, it is conceivable to print a test pattern with a print duty that provides the density and use the read result (eg, 20).
%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or it is also possible to take the average after printing with each duty).

The test pattern may be formed or corrected only when the recording medium is a predetermined one, and this may be performed regardless of the type. In this case, for example, it is possible to form, read, or correct a test pattern with an appropriate duty according to the type of recording medium, and change the threshold according to the type of recording medium.

Further, for example, step MS in FIG.
In 23, it is possible to determine the timing for executing this procedure according to various printing conditions.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when at least the density inspection printing of a test pattern or the like constitutes one pixel with a plurality of dots, the print duty, that is, the print setting is the number of constituent dots. It can be performed by modulating the number of recording dots inside.

However, the print ratio can also be set by modulating the drive voltage and / or the drive pulse width, or the number of ink drops per dot, and these can be set when one pixel is composed of one dot. It can also correspond to. That is, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied regardless of what kind of modulation the print ratio is set to.

Further, the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention is an optimum embodiment in which the obtained correction processing is performed for each ejection energy generating element, but in practical use, the convergence state and processing time of the density uniformization processing are taken into consideration. Then, it is preferable to perform correction so as to give a common correction to predetermined adjacent plural ejection energy generating elements. The optimum configuration from this point of view is preferably configured such that the multiple ejection energy generating elements of the print head provide common correction for each block drive group in which a plurality of elements are collected. The block drive itself may be a known or publicly known one or a specific block drive method, but a drive condition that can carry out the corrected uniform density after determining the density unevenness of the present invention is given. It goes without saying that this is a prerequisite.

(4) Example of Cost Calculation In this example, as shown in FIG. 30, for example, a basic image pattern (basic pattern) 300 is repeatedly printed on a cloth, and the characteristic of printing is focused on. The number of dots for each color ink is calculated from the data constituting the above, and the cost of the head and ink is calculated based on this.

FIG. 31 shows an example of a processing procedure therefor, which is the CP in the host computer H shown in FIG.
It may be executed by the U1011 or may be executed by the CPU 102A in the printer P shown in FIG. The basic image pattern used as a basis for calculation may be the one stored in the storage unit in the host computer H or the one developed in the image memory 505 in the printer P. Regarding the means for accessing information with the operator in the process, the display 1026 and the keyboard 1 provided in the host computer H are also provided.
023 or the operation display unit 103 of the printer P may be used.

When this procedure is activated, the palette conversion as shown in FIG. 13 is performed based on the basic image data 301 'in which the palette number is written and stored for each pixel as shown in FIG. Image data (density data) for each color is added to all pixels while referring to the table (step S1). Here, if the total of the image data of a certain color is K1, in the case of the system of this example, the image data for each pixel has an 8-bit structure and has density data of 0 to 255, and further the basic image data. Since the image processing method that saves or reproduces the image density as a whole is adopted, the number N1 of dots of ink-printed in that color in the entire basic image is calculated as K1 / 255. Similarly,
When eight ink colors are used, N2 is also calculated for other colors from the total T2, T3, ..., T8 obtained in step S1.
(= K2 / 255), N3 (= K3 / 255), ..., N
8 (= K8 / 255) is calculated (step S3).

Next, the ink consumption amount per desired cloth unit area for which the cost is to be calculated is calculated (step S
5). Ink consumption L1, L for each color of eight colors of ink
2, ..., L8

[0126]

## EQU6 ## Li = 40 pl × N1 × (cloth unit area) / (basic image area); i = 1, ..., 8 is calculated. Where 40 pl (picoliter)
Is the ink ejection amount per dot. Here, if the price per unit amount of each color ink is Q1, Q2, ..., Q8, the ink consumption price Q per unit area can be calculated (step S7). That is,

[0127]

## EQU00007 ## Q = Q1.times.L1 + Q2.times.L2 + ... + Q8.times.L8.

Further, for the basic image, the number of heads consumed per cloth unit area is calculated from the number of times each head is driven for each ejection port (step S9). That is, the number of recording elements (heat generating elements or ejection ports in this example) of each color head is P.
, The average number of times one recording element is driven for printing a basic image is N1 / P, N2 / P, ..., N
Since it is 8 / P, the life of the head is 1 per recording element.
Assuming that the number of heads consumed for printing a basic image is 0 ^6,

[0129]

[Equation 8] T = (N1 / P + N2 / P + ... + N8 / P) / 10 6 next, and therefore head consumption number per cloth unit area

[0130]

## EQU9 ## T '= T.times. (Cloth unit area) / (basic image area). In addition, if the price per head is C, the price of the head required to print a unit area of cloth is

[0131]

## EQU10 ## TC = C × T 'is obtained (step S11).

Here, the rate at which each recording element in the head is driven may vary depending on the image data, but is 400 DPI.
Considering that a head in which 256 recording elements are arranged at a density of (dots / inch) prints on a cloth of 50 m, the head scans 50 m / 16.256 mm = 615 times, and each head stochastically. It can be considered that the recording element is driven almost the same number of times. However, it is also possible to index the printing element that is most driven in a unit lot and perform the calculation based on this.

Based on the above data and the like, the printing cost per unit area of cloth is (Q
1) + (T3 for head) + (cloth cost) + (design fee) + (overhead expenses).

In the above embodiments, the calculation was performed based on the basic image data, but it is also possible to provide a dot counter for each ink color and read the counting result by the CPU to calculate the cost. is there.

FIG. 33 shows an example thereof, and each unit 52 of FIG.
A counter 521 is provided between 0 and 522, and the count value is read by the CPU 102A and used for calculation. Then, this may be counted in the entire printing range. The CPU may preset the dot counter to 0 before printing and read the counter output value after printing.

In the above, the embodiment in which the device for counting the number of dots forming the basic image or calculating the cost is integrated with the host computer H or the printer P has been described, but the device configured separately from them has been described. Good.

Further, in the above example, the cost calculation is performed based on the dot number information. However, if the consumption amount of the consumables can be known in advance, it is possible to contribute to the production plan or preparation for the production. Information about the amount may be presented.

(5) Others The present invention is not limited to the ink jet system, and various recording systems can be adopted. When the ink jet recording system is adopted, it can be used for ejecting ink among them. The recording head and the recording apparatus of the type that include a means for generating heat energy as the generated energy (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) and cause a change in the state of the ink by the heat energy have excellent effects. is there. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus, or the electrical connection to the main body of the apparatus or the ink from the main body of the apparatus by being attached to the main body of the apparatus. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type recording head which can be supplied or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and the number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, a plurality of heads are provided corresponding to a single color ink, and a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode only for mainstream colors such as black,
The recording head may be configured integrally or by combining a plurality of recording heads, but the present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of recording modes of full-color by mixed colors of different colors or mixed colors. Is.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0147]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For image forming systems where basic images are repeatedly printed,
The number of dots forming the basic image is calculated, and based on this, the consumption of consumables such as recording agents such as ink and recording heads is calculated, which can contribute to the calculation of production plans and production costs. become able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a textile printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of a printing processing procedure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system focusing on the configuration of a host computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an outline of a mechanical configuration of a printer applied to this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the periphery of the recording head.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a speed of a carriage which is mounted with the recording head and is scanned.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a density unevenness reading unit applicable to the printer of this embodiment.

8 is a block diagram showing an electrical schematic configuration of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the same.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a part of the internal configuration of the control board in FIG. 8 focusing on the flow of data.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the same.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the same.

13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data developed in a palette conversion table memory in FIG.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining data set in each memory shown in FIG. 11 in order to prevent abnormal output until a conversion parameter is input.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining pixel formation for a print image.

16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining data thinning-out for FIG. 15. FIG.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram similarly.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a printing method by the printer of FIG.

FIG. 19 is also an explanatory diagram.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram similarly.

FIG. 21 is also an explanatory diagram.

22A and 22B are explanatory diagrams of a mode of unevenness correction of the recording head.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an unevenness correction table used in this example.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of the unevenness correction processing procedure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a detailed example of the test image forming process.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a test image used for independently performing HS conversion on two heads.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a test image used for commonly performing HS conversion on two heads.

29 (A) and 29 (B) are explanatory diagrams showing two examples of correction curves used for HS-γ conversion.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for explaining repeated printing of a basic image.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of cost calculation processing means.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of a data structure of a basic image.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration used in another example of cost calculation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 H host computer 1011 CPU 1016 LAN 1018, 1019 external storage 1023 keyboard 1024 mouse 1026 CRT P printer 3 recording medium (cloth) 102 control board 102A CPU 102B ROM 102C RAM 104 cloth feeder 108 head characteristic measuring machine 213 recording medium for test pattern 217 Mura reading line sensor 218 Light source 219 RAM 236 A / D converter 300 Basic image 300 'Basic image data 501 GPIB interface 504 Frame memory (FM) controller 505 Image memory 509 Palette conversion table memory 511 HS conversion table memory 513 γ conversion table Memory 515 Connected memory 717 Unevenness correction RAM

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus applied to an image forming system capable of repeatedly recording a basic image in a predetermined pattern, comprising first means for obtaining the number of dots forming the basic image, and based on the number of dots. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a second means for calculating a consumption amount of a consumable item consumed by recording. 2. A third means for calculating the cost of image recording from the consumption amount is further provided.
The information processing device according to 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable item is a recording agent and / or a recording head. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, an image output apparatus that has a recording head and records an image on a recording medium using a recording agent, and the image output apparatus. An image forming system comprising: an image supply device that supplies image data to the image forming system. 5. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the information processing device is integrated with the image output device or the image supply device. 6. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the recording heads are provided for recording agents having different color tones. 7. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head which uses ink as the recording agent and ejects the ink. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink jet recording head has an element that generates thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink as energy used for ejecting the ink. system. 9. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein cloth is used as the recording medium.