JPH0890767A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To preliminarily display the use amt. of ink necessary for desired printing. CONSTITUTION: An ink jet printer has a memory part 1 storing the emitting amt. of ink per one printing dot, a printing data developing part 2 developing input image data as printing data, a counter 3 counting the number of printing dots on the basis of the printing data, an operation device 4 integrating the number of the printing dots counted by the counter 3 and the ink emitting amt. per one dot stored in the memory part 1 to operate the total use amt. of ink necessary for actual printing and alarming machinery 5 applying information to a user on the basis of the operation result of the operation device 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to a mechanism for displaying the amount of ink used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ink jet printer, a mechanism for detecting the liquid surface of ink is provided in an ink cartridge, and the remaining ink amount is detected every time the liquid surface of this ink decreases to a certain amount. If the ink is scarce when receiving the print command, blink the LED etc. to inform the user of this, or if the ink is scarce on the display when connected to the computer. Was to be displayed.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional ink jet printer, when the image is printed, the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge is sufficient with respect to the amount of ink used for the image printing. I do not know if there is. Therefore, in order to prevent the ink from running out during printing, it is necessary to replace the ink cartridge even if there is sufficient ink, or to monitor until the printing is completed. Wasting time and burdening the user.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer capable of displaying in advance the amount of ink used for a desired print.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the ink jet printer according to claim 1 of the present invention has a storage means for storing an ink ejection amount per dot of printing and input image data as printing data. Print data developing means for developing, count means for counting the number of print dots based on the print data, number of print dots counted by the counting means, and ink discharge amount per dot stored in the storage means. Calculating means for calculating the total ink usage amount required for actual printing by integrating
It is characterized in that it has a notifying means for notifying the user based on the calculation result by this calculating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet printer in which a storage means for storing an ink ejection amount per dot of a print and a print data developing means for developing input image data as 1 / N print data. And counting means for counting the number of printing dots based on this printing data, the number of printing dots counted by this counting means, and the ink ejection amount per dot stored in the storage means are integrated, and this integration is performed. The calculation means for calculating the total amount of ink used for actual printing by integrating the ratio of the size of the developed printing data and the actual printing size to the value, and for the user based on the calculation result by this computing means It is characterized in that it has an informing means for informing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the first or second aspect, the counting means counts the number of print dots for each color, and the computing means computes the total amount of ink used for each color. It is characterized by that.

An ink jet printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the detecting means detects the remaining ink amount in the ink cartridge, and the remaining ink amount and the calculating means. The present invention is characterized by having a comparison / determination unit that compares the detected total ink usage amount and determines whether or not printing based on the designated data is possible.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention having the above-described structure, first, the processing is started when the image data is input into the ink jet printer, and the image data is expanded as the print data by the print data expansion means. . Then, the counting means counts the number of printing dots necessary for printing based on the printing data, and the calculating means integrates the ink ejection amount per dot stored in the storage means with the printing dot number to print data. The total amount of ink used is calculated, and the result is notified by the notification means. Therefore, the user can know the total amount of ink used for printing in advance.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image data input into the ink jet printer is reduced and expanded into 1 / N print data by the print data expansion means. Then, the counting unit counts the number of printing dots based on the 1 / N printing data, and the calculating unit integrates the number of printing dots and the ink ejection amount per dot stored in the storage unit. Then, N, which is the ratio of the reduced print data size to the actual print size, is added to this integrated value to calculate the total ink usage amount required for the actual print. And this result will be notified by the notification means. Therefore, the total amount of ink used can be calculated quickly.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of ink dots required for each color is counted by the counting means, and the total amount of ink used required for each color is calculated by the computing means. Also in this case, it is possible to know in advance the total amount of ink used for printing for each color.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, after the total amount of ink used for printing is calculated, the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is detected by the detecting means. The used amount is compared by the comparison and determination means. Then, it is automatically determined beforehand whether or not the ink required for printing actually remains.

[0013]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a color ink jet printer as a first embodiment of the present invention.

The color ink jet printer of the present embodiment prints image data input from a storage unit 1 for storing the ink ejection amount per dot of printing and an input device such as a keyboard and an image scanner as printing data. A data development unit 2, a counter 3 for counting the number of printing dots required for each color based on the printing data,
An arithmetic unit 4 for calculating the total ink amount of each color required for printing by integrating the number of printing dots counted by the counter 3 and the ink discharge amount per dot stored in the storage unit 1, and this calculation. It has an LCD for notifying the calculation result by the device 4 and a notifying device 5 by voice or the like.

The operation of this embodiment having such a structure will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when a user inputs image data for one sheet of paper with an input device such as a keyboard and an image scanner, the process is started and the process proceeds to step ST1. In step ST1, when this image data is read into the color inkjet printer, the process proceeds to step ST2. In step ST2, the number of printing dots counted by the counter 3 at the time of the previous calculation of the total ink usage amount is set to the initial value. It is cleared to (0), and the process proceeds to step ST3. In step ST3, the image data developing unit 2 develops the image data as print data and proceeds to step ST4. In step ST4,
In this printing, among yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) inks,
First, it is judged whether or not Bk ink is used, and YE
If S is determined, the process proceeds to the next step ST5, the counter 3 calculates the number of printing dots of Bk ink per sheet based on the printing data, and the process proceeds to step ST6. On the other hand, if NO in step ST5, that is, if Bk ink is not used, the number of printing dots is not calculated by the counter 3 and the process proceeds to step ST6.

Next, in step ST6, it is determined whether or not the Y ink is used, and if the result is YES, the process proceeds to the next step ST7, in which the counter 3 determines based on the print data. Y per sheet of paper
The number of printing dots of ink is calculated, and the process proceeds to step ST8.

Similarly, in the following steps ST9 to ST11, it is determined whether or not the M ink and the C ink are also used, and if they are used, each of the sheets per sheet is printed based on the print data. Calculate the number of printing dots with the ink of the color.

When the number of print dots for all the color inks, that is, the four color inks in this embodiment is calculated, the process proceeds to step ST12. In step ST12, the arithmetic unit 4 calculates the number of print dots of each color calculated in step ST5, step ST7, step ST9 and step ST11 and the discharge amount per dot of each color stored in the storage unit 1. Is calculated to calculate the amount of ink used per sheet of each color, and the process proceeds to step ST13. In step ST13, it is determined whether or not a plurality of images are printed. That is, when a plurality of prints are required, the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step ST14, and the calculation unit 4 integrates the ink use amount per sheet calculated in step ST12 and the required number of sheets. Then, the total amount of ink used for printing is calculated, and in step ST15, the total amount of ink used for each color is notified by the notifying device 5, and the process ends. On the other hand, if NO is determined, the number of prints is recognized as one, and the process proceeds to step ST15, and the notification device 5 notifies the ink usage amount per sheet calculated in step ST12 as the total ink usage amount. finish.

Therefore, the user can determine whether or not the ink cartridge needs to be replaced by comparing this total amount of ink used with the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge.

According to the color ink jet printer of the first embodiment as described above, the user can know in advance the total amount of ink used for printing before printing. It can be dealt with by comparing with the numerical value of the remaining ink amount detected in the cartridge, it is not necessary to monitor it during printing, and the ink in the ink cartridge can be used without waste.

Next, a color ink jet printer as a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

The color ink jet printer of the second embodiment differs from the construction of the first embodiment described above in the function of the print data developing section 2. That is, the print data expansion unit 2 does not expand the image data input by the user into the print data of the actual print size, but expands it into the reduced size. That is, in the first embodiment, the image data input from the keyboard, the image scanner, etc. in the step ST3 is expanded as the print data to the size for the actual printing, but in the step ST3 ′ of the second embodiment, , N is an arbitrary integer, the size is reduced to 1 / N of the actual print size.

After that, the same steps as in the first embodiment are performed until step ST11, and step S
At T12 ′, when calculating the ink usage amount per sheet, the number of printing dots calculated based on the reduced and expanded printing data and the ink ejection amount per dot stored in the storage unit 1 are calculated. Further, N, which is the ratio between the reduced developed data size and the actual print size, is further added to the integrated value of to calculate the total amount of ink used for each color.

More specifically, when the actual print size is the A1 paper size, the print data of this A1 paper size is re-developed as a reduced A7 paper size, and this A7 paper size is re-developed.
The required number of print dots is calculated based on the print data of the paper size. Then, A1 paper size and A7 are added to the integrated value of the number of printing dots and the ink ejection amount per dot.
It is possible to perform correction by accumulating 64, which is a magnification difference from the paper size, to calculate the total amount of ink used for the A1 paper size.

If the reduction / expansion function of the print data expansion unit 2 is made to interlock with each sheet size,
The total amount of ink used can be calculated simply by multiplying the paper switching by a simple integer, and the notification can be made instantaneously by the notification device 5.

Further, if the informing device 5 is visually informed by an LCD or the like, not only the total amount of ink used can be known, but also the hue and layout of the actual printing state can be visually judged. That is, the simulation model of the print is displayed on the screen, and even when these display contents are replaced with the inks of other colors, it is possible to convert the ink usage amount of the other colors only by the simple integration in step ST12 ′. If the arithmetic unit 4 is made to function,
It is possible to select which ink should be used while examining the color tone of the printed matter on the LCD and comparing the ink usage amount of each color with the ink remaining amount.

On the other hand, when the color ink jet printer has a confirmation print function, that is, in order to confirm the quality of the printing state before actual printing, a sheet different from the printing sheet is used to reduce the size. It may have a function to actually print. In this case, the number of print dots of each color ink such as Bk, Y, M, and C corresponding to steps ST5, ST7, ST9, and ST11 is calculated based on the print data output at the time of confirmation printing, In step ST12 ′, the ink ejection amount per dot of each color and the magnification difference between the confirmation print size and the designated output size are integrated with the number of printing dots to calculate the ink usage amount per sheet. it can.

According to the second embodiment, since the total amount of ink used for printing can be known before the actual printing, the user himself can determine the amount of ink used and the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge. Printing can be performed according to the comparison result. Therefore, it is not necessary to monitor the remaining amount of ink during printing, and the ink in the ink cartridge can be used without waste.

Further, the print data expansion unit 2 expands the print data of a reduced size with respect to the actual print size, calculates the ink usage amount based on this reduced print data, and finally the actual print size and the reduced size. Since it is only necessary to correct the magnification difference between and, the total amount of ink used can be calculated more quickly than when the actual print data is expanded as it is. Therefore, when it is necessary to study the actual print state using the print simulation model, time loss is reduced and it is more practical.

Next, a color ink jet printer as a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the color ink jet printer of this embodiment has the same structure as the color ink jet printers of the first and second embodiments described above, and the ink surface in the ink cartridge is constant. The remaining amount of ink is detected each time the amount of ink is reduced, or the remaining amount of ink is constantly detected, and the remaining amount of ink detected by the detecting unit 6 and the total ink calculated by the arithmetic unit 4 are detected. It is provided with a comparison / determination unit 7 that compares the usage amount and determines whether or not the commanded printing is possible. Therefore, on the notification device 5 such as the final LCD, whether all the designated prints are possible, how many prints can be made, or the expected remaining ink amount after the print is displayed. It will be automatically calculated and notified.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, the operation of the third embodiment having such a structure first proceeds to step ST14 by the same operation as that of the above-described first embodiment or second embodiment. Then, after calculating the total amount of ink used for printing, the process proceeds to step ST14 ′ to compare the total amount of ink used with the remaining amount of ink detected by the detection unit 6 in the comparison and determination unit 7. ,
It is determined whether all the prints are possible as specified, or how many printable sheets are available. And step S
Proceed to T15, and the result is the notification device 5 L
It will be displayed on the CD.

The flow chart in FIG. 5 shows the process up to step ST14 which corresponds to the flow chart of the first embodiment, but of course the same operation as in the second embodiment leads to step ST14. It can also be applied when going.

According to the third embodiment as described above, the detection unit 6 sequentially detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge, and the comparison / judgment unit 7 determines the total amount of ink used and the amount of ink remaining in the ink jet printer. Since it is possible to make a comparison and automatically determine in advance whether printing is possible, it is not necessary for the user to make a comparison determination, and a quick and reliable determination can be made. Further, there is no need to monitor during printing, and the ink cartridge can be used without waste.

Furthermore, the ink ejection amount per dot stored in the storage unit 1 of each of the above-described embodiments is determined by the change in viscosity or the like due to the change in ink temperature or the pressure change due to the temperature change in the ink tank. Since they are different, if they are calculated as a function with respect to temperature, or if they are defined for each printing mode in response to changes in the electrode voltage etc. depending on the printing mode, a more accurate ink usage amount can be calculated. it can.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified as necessary.

For example, instead of reading the image data for one sheet of paper all at once, every time a certain amount (for example, one line or several lines) of image data is read, the image data is expanded and each color is printed. A configuration in which the process of calculating the number of printing dots is repeated for each color, and when all the image data have been read, the above calculation results are aggregated for each color and the ink usage amount per sheet is calculated for each color. May be

Further, although the color ink jet printer has been described in the above embodiment, it can be similarly applied to a printer such as a monochrome printer having one color ink.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the total amount of ink used for printing can be known in advance before printing, the user himself can use this amount of ink and the ink in the ink cartridge. The remaining amount can be compared and dealt with, there is no need to monitor during printing, and the ink cartridge can be used without waste.

Further, when the print data is expanded and reduced in the print data expansion means, the time until the expansion and the time until the total ink usage amount is calculated can be shortened, and there is no waste.

Further, when the remaining ink amount is detected by the detecting means and the total ink usage amount and the remaining ink amount are compared by the comparing and judging means, it is not necessary for the user himself to make a comparative judgment, and the automatic judgment is automatically made in advance in the ink jet printer. Since it is judged whether or not the ink necessary for printing remains, it is possible to judge the replacement time of the ink cartridge more promptly and surely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principal block diagram showing a first embodiment and a second embodiment of an inkjet printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a principal block diagram showing a third embodiment of the inkjet printer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage unit 2 Print data development unit 3 Counter 4 Computing device 5 Notification device 6 Detection unit 7 Comparison judgment unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing an ink ejection amount per dot of a print, a print data developing means for developing input image data as print data, and a count for counting the number of print dots based on the print data. Means for calculating the total amount of ink used for actual printing by integrating the number of printing dots counted by the counting means and the ink discharge amount per dot stored in the storage means; An ink jet printer comprising: an informing unit for informing a user based on a calculation result by the calculating unit. 2. A storage unit for storing an ink ejection amount per dot of printing, a printing data developing unit for developing input image data as 1 / N printing data, and the number of printing dots based on the printing data. Counting means, the number of printing dots counted by the counting means, and the ink ejection amount per dot stored in the storage means are integrated, and the integrated value is set to the size of the developed printing data. And a notifying means for notifying the user based on the calculation result by this calculating means, by calculating the total amount of ink used for the actual printing by integrating the ratio with the actual print size. Inkjet printer characterized by having 3. The counting means counts the number of printing dots for each color, and the computing means computes the total ink use amount for each color.
The inkjet printer described in 1. 4. A detection means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is compared with the remaining ink amount and the total amount of ink used detected by the calculating means to determine whether or not printing based on designated data is possible. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a comparison / determination unit for determining.