JPH0976605A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically inspect a printing head by reading an actually printed test pattern by a sensor and comparing and collating the read image with the original test pattern. SOLUTION: The image data preliminarily stored in the ROM in a test pattern forming part 300 is read on the basis of the control signal from a control part 600 and developed on a bit map image to be outputted to a printing image memory part 240. An image reading part 400 reads the image printed on printing paper 800 by a printing part 200 to output the same to an inspection image memory part 460 as bit map image data. An inspection part 500 compares and collates the printing image stored in the printing image memory part 240 with the inspection image stored in the inspection image memory part 460 and read from printed matter to judge a printing state and outputs the judge result to the control part 600.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device capable of printing data on a medium such as printing paper at high speed and with high quality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of recording predetermined information on a medium such as paper in a visually recognizable manner is to record the same information on a large amount of medium at high speed by a printing machine using a printing plate. Also, a method of printing arbitrary data on a relatively small number of media at a low speed by a printer used as a terminal device of a computer is well known.
However, there is also a desire to record a large amount of variable data, that is, different data for each sheet at high speed, and a high-speed printer device for that purpose has been put into practical use.

Such a printer device for printing variable data at a high speed has a conveying means for conveying a print medium at a high speed, a printing means for recording an image on a sheet conveyed by the conveying means at a high speed, and a sequentially input printing. It is composed of a control unit or the like that appropriately controls data so that it is appropriately printed on paper. As the printing means, for example, a method of printing by an inkjet method with an inkjet head is applied. As such a high-speed printer apparatus for performing printing by the inkjet method, for example, an apparatus for performing printing at a speed of 5 m / sec and 15 or more sheets / second for A4 size printing paper has been put into practical use.

Further, the target of application of such a high-speed printer is, for example, a stock certificate or various cash vouchers.
There is printing of a document that has a large amount of printing and requires a different number to be printed for each. When printing such important documents, in addition to defects such as overlapping and dropping of print contents, defective printing such as scraping and crushing, low quality printing such as line width and shading variation is not allowed, It is required to print accurate data with high quality.

[0005]

However, in such a printer device, there has been a demand for inspecting the printer device, particularly the print head, in order to reduce the above-mentioned printing defects. There was a problem that could not be done properly. It is impossible to visually inspect an apparatus such as a print head, and some so-called test printing is performed, and the print head is inspected from the printed state. However, even if the trial printing is performed, a skilled work is required in order to inspect fine print quality such as dot deviation of 1 dot or less, small dust and scratches, or slight unevenness of light and shade. The person had to do it empirically, and it was not something that anyone could quickly inspect.

Further, it is difficult to prepare a test image for test printing that can effectively inspect a somewhat special print head such as an ink jet head, and the inspection cannot be performed effectively in some cases. Further, if an attempt is made to perform a test print in a normal operation mode to inspect the print state, a large amount of printing paper is printed at once in such a high-speed printer device, which causes a problem that the printing paper becomes useless . Further, when printing an important document as described above, for example, when defective printing occurs, the defective printed matter is clearly discarded and the printer is allowed to operate again. There are many cases.
Therefore, the test printing using the image data to be actually printed cannot be often performed, and the print quality cannot be checked by the test printing in some cases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to automatically inspect a print head or the like, for example, at the start of printing, thereby eliminating defective printed matter and performing accurate and high-quality printing. To provide a high-performance printer device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, a test pattern capable of inspecting a print head is generated in a printer device, and the test pattern is used to inspect the print head. . That is, the test pattern is actually printed, the printed test pattern is read by the sensor, the read image is compared with the original test pattern, and the state of the print head can be grasped.

Therefore, the printer device of the present invention comprises a test pattern generating means for generating a predetermined test pattern,
Printing means for printing the input image data or the generated test pattern on a printing medium; an image sensor means for reading the printed test pattern on the printing medium as image data; It has an inspection means for inspecting the printing state by the printing means by collating the generated test pattern with the test pattern read as the image data.

Preferably, the inspecting means template-matches the read test pattern bitmap data with the reference data, using the generated test pattern bitmap data as reference data, and outputs the bitmaps. The printing state of the printing means is inspected based on the data difference.

Further preferably, the test pattern generating means generates a test pattern corresponding to a pattern of image data to be input and printed, and the inspecting means reads the generated test pattern and its image data. Then, at least the print quality of the print pattern used in the input image data to be printed is inspected.

Specifically, the printing means has an ink jet head for ejecting ink from a nozzle provided at a predetermined pitch onto the print medium to print desired image data on the print medium.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a printer device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The printer device according to the present embodiment is a large-scale printing system that prints print data input from a host computer at high speed using a plurality of inkjet heads. In particular, a test pattern generated in the printer device is used. Thus, the state of the print head and the quality of printed characters can be inspected.

First, the configuration of each part of the printer device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer device 100 according to the present embodiment. The printer device 100 includes a paper conveyance unit 110, a printing unit 200, a head driving unit 230, a print image storage unit 240, an interface unit 250,
Test pattern generation unit 300, image reading unit 40
0, inspection image storage unit 460, monitor 470, inspection unit 500, control unit 600, operation unit 610, and heater 62.
Has zero.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the entire printer device 100. The printer device 100 includes a main body 700 in which printing paper is actually conveyed, printing is performed, and a print result is inspected, a control unit 710 housed in a housing separate from the main body 700, and similarly a separate housing. It is composed of an operation unit 725 housed in the body. In FIG. 2, (A) is a side view of the main body 700, and (B) is the main body 700.
Is a top view of the control unit 710, FIG.
(D) is a diagram showing the operation unit 725.

The paper transport unit 110 is a printing medium which is a printing medium.
A paper feed mechanism that sequentially conveys printing paper. Paper transport unit 1
As shown in FIG. 2 (A), 10 is the cup from the hopper sequentially.
Hopper unit 110 for feeding paper_-1, Print head 2
20_-1~ 220_-FourPrinting unit that transports printing paper underneath
Sending unit 110_-2, CCD camera 440_-1~ 440 _-Four
Inspection unit paper transport unit 110 for transporting printing paper underneath
_-3, Heater unit paper transport unit that transports through the heater 620.
To 110_-Four, And the figure that stores the printed printing paper
Stacker unit (not shown) is integrally connected
This enables printing paper to be printed at high speed and in
It is stably transported at a constant speed through the main body 700.

The paper transport unit 110 is composed of rollers and guides for feeding the print paper, a sensor for detecting the position of the print paper, an encoder for detecting the paper transport speed from the rotation speed of the roller, etc., and is input from the control unit 600. Based on the control signal, the conveyance / stop of the printing paper, speed adjustment, etc. are performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the pulse from the encoder 111 provided on the paper feed roller near the beginning of the printing unit paper transport unit 110 _-2 is used as a signal for generating the timing at the time of printing and the printing unit 200. Is output to. The paper transport unit 110 according to the present embodiment transports the print paper at about 3 m / s.

The printing unit 200 is input from the control unit 600.
The print image storage unit 240 based on the control signal
Print the stored image data on printing paper.
The printing unit 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
I will tell. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing unit 200.
It is. FIG. 4A shows the head 220 of the printing unit 200._-1~
220_-Four4B is a diagram showing the arrangement of
The camera 440 of the reading unit 400_-1~ 440_-FourArrangement
FIG. The printing unit 200 has four printing units 200.
_-1~ 200_-FourHaving. Each printing unit 200 _-i(I = 1 ~
In 4), a control signal is input from the control unit 600, and printing is performed.
Image data stored in the image storage unit 240
Is read. In addition, the above-mentioned paper transport unit 110
The signal from the encoder 111 is applied to all the printing units 200._-1~
200_-FourIt is commonly input to.

Each printing unit 200_-i(I = 1 to 4) is print
Control unit 210_-iAnd head 220 _-iHaving. Print system
The control unit 210 is a control signal input from the control unit 600,
And input from the encoder 111 of the paper transport unit 110
Based on the signal sent,
The operation timing of the head 220 and the head 220
The ink dropping speed described below is controlled. The head 220 is
Each dot density is 240 dpi and print width Wh is 4 inches
From the print control unit 210.
Read from the print image storage unit 240 according to the control of
The recorded image data are sequentially recorded. In this embodiment,
In addition, four heads 220_-1~ 220_-FourBut Figure 4
As shown in (A), the print dots of each head are continuous.
16 inches (4 inches
So that it can be printed on printing paper with a print width Wp of
Has become.

Further, the printing method of the head 220 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operating principle of the head 220. Head 220
In, the ink 224 in the ink bottle 221 is dripped from the nozzle 222 corresponding to each dot at a cycle of 100 kHz, that is, 100,000 drops per second. For each of the inks 224, when the position of the printing paper 800 conveyed under the nozzle 222 is a position where black should be printed, the ink 224 is dropped on the printing paper 800 as it is. , The position of the printing paper 800 is blackened. If the position is a blank position that should not be printed, an electric field is applied by an electric field applying unit (not shown) to draw the ink 224 toward the catcher 223. As a result, the ink 224 is transferred to the catcher 22.
3 is collected and is not dropped on the printing paper 800.

By this method, the head 220 is
As shown in FIG. 6, dots having a dot pitch of about 0.1 mm and a dot size of about 0.1 mm in diameter are appropriately printed to print a desired image. It should be noted that in the head 220, it is possible to drop a plurality of inks 224 at the same position, and the printer device 100 thereby expresses pseudo gradation. Further, in the present embodiment, a 240 dpi / 4 inch inkjet head manufactured by Cytex Digital Printing Co. is used as the inkjet head.

The head driving unit 230 is the same as the printing unit 2 described above.
00 is a means for finely adjusting the position of the head 220.
In this embodiment, the four heads 220 _{-1 to} 22
Since one printed matter is printed using _0-4 , if these positions are displaced, the positions of the printed dots are also displaced, and proper printing cannot be performed. Therefore, the head drive unit 23
It is necessary to adjust the position of 0 with the same level of accuracy as the resolution of the printer 100, and the head drive unit 230 performs the position adjustment.

[0023] Thus, the head driving unit 230 has four heads 220 _-1 to 220 _-4 four head driving unit corresponding to 230 _-1 to 230 _-4. Each head drive unit 23
0- _i (i = 1 to 4) is composed of a step motor that moves the positions of the heads 220 _{-1 to} 220 _-4 and a limit switch that limits the moving range thereof. within, on the basis of a control signal input from the control unit 600 adjusts the position of the head 220 _-1 to 220 _-4.

The control unit 600 generates a position adjustment signal for each head 220 _-i (i = 1 to 4) based on the inspection result of the print result in the inspection unit 500 described later. Further, the adjustment of the head 220 is performed both in the main scanning direction that is the direction of the print head (X direction in FIG. 4) and in the sub scanning direction (Y direction in FIG. 4) that is the same as the printing paper transport direction. However, with respect to the adjustment in the Y direction, the adjustment of the position of the head 220 and the adjustment of the print timing in the head 220 are performed together so that appropriate printing can be finally performed.

The print image storage unit 240 includes the print unit 20.
This is a memory for storing image data printed on the printing paper 800 by 0, and a dual port RAM is used in the present embodiment. Image data transferred from the host computer via the interface unit 250 is stored in the print image storage unit 240,
Alternatively, the image data generated by the test pattern generation unit 300 is stored in the bitmap format.

The interface section 250 is an interface for transferring image data transferred from a host computer (not shown) to the print image storage section 240, and is a dedicated serial interface in the present embodiment. The print image data is transferred at high speed by the interface unit 250 according to the print speed.

The test pattern generation unit 300 generates a test pattern for checking whether or not each unit of the printer device 100 operates normally and can print properly. In the present embodiment, the image data used for the check is stored in advance in the ROM in the test pattern generation unit 300, and the image data is read out based on the control signal input from the control unit 600, and the bit map is read. The image is developed and output to the print image storage unit 240. It should be noted that the control unit 600 causes the test pattern generation unit 300 to generate a test pattern before performing a series of printing operations such as when the printer device 100 is started up, and performs test printing to determine the printing state of the printer device 100. To check.

In this embodiment, as the test pattern, a first test pattern for adjusting the positions of the four heads 220 _{-1 to} 220 _-4 and a second test pattern for evaluating the state of the print head are used. And the third test pattern for evaluating the printed character quality are used. FIG. 7 shows a part of the first test pattern for adjusting the position of the head 220 _-i (i = 1 to 4). FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a part of the test pattern,
(B) is an enlarged view of the area C of (A).

Two heads 22 as shown in FIG.
A pattern in which there is a 1-dot gap between 0 _-i and 220 _-i-1 (i = 1 to 3) is printed, and even on the printed image, the gap d becomes a gap of 1 dot. If it is checked whether or not there is a difference in the position between the two heads in the X direction (main scanning direction), correction can be performed. Also, by checking whether or not the patterns printed in the X direction as shown in the test patterns E1 and E2 of FIG. 7B are printed on the same row, the two heads 220 _-i , 220 _-i-1 of the print position in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction) can be detected and correction can be performed.

FIG. 8 shows a second test pattern for inspecting the condition of the print head. The second test pattern shown in FIG. 8 is composed of three test patterns F, G, and H. The test pattern F is a pattern in which a straight line is drawn in the X direction for each dot in the Y direction, that is, a pattern in which all dots of each head are alternately printed in black or white. The test pattern G is a pattern in which black or white is alternately printed for each dot in the X direction and a straight line is drawn in the Y direction. The test pattern H is a pattern obtained by inverting the black or white of each dot of the test pattern G.

By using such a second test pattern, for example, the function of the head 220 can be inspected for each dot. Tatoeba, nozzle clogging, ink leakage, or interference with other dots can be detected immediately.

Although not shown, the third test pattern is a test pattern in which a large number of various characters are arranged. Using this third test pattern, the print quality of significant characters and figures is checked. Specifically, it checks for uneven characters, thin characters, thick characters, printing position differences, white spots, pinholes, character skew, stains, density differences, and missing characters.

The image reading unit 400 reads the image printed on the printing paper by the printing unit 200 in order to check the print contents and print quality, and the inspection image storage unit 460 as bit map image data.
Output to The image reading unit 400 is shown in FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image reading unit 400. The image reading unit 400 includes four image reading units 4
It is composed of 00 _{-1 to} 400 _-4 . A control signal is input from the control unit 600 to each image reading unit 400 _-i (i = 1 to 4). In addition, each image reading unit 400 _-i
From, the read image data is output to the inspection image storage unit 460.

Each image reading section 400 _-i (i = 1 to 1
4) is an edge detection sensor 410 _-i and an encoder unit 42.
0- _i , a light irradiation unit 430- _i , a CCD camera 440- _i, and a control unit 450- _i . The edge detection sensor 410 is
It is provided in the vicinity of the CCD camera 440 of each image reading unit 400, and detects the edge of the printing paper 800 that has been conveyed after printing by the printing unit 200 is completed. When the edge is detected, a signal to that effect is output to the control unit 450.

The encoder section 420 is also provided in the vicinity of the CCD camera 440 of the image reading section 400, and detects the conveyance speed of the printing paper 800 detected by the edge detection sensor 410. The configuration of the encoder unit 420 will be described with reference to FIG. Encoder part 4
20 has an encoder 421, a counter 422, and a speed calculation unit 423. The encoder 421 rotates integrally with, for example, the printing paper conveyance roller of the paper conveyance unit 110 and outputs a predetermined pulse corresponding to the rotation angle. The pulse is counted by the counter 422, and the speed calculating unit 423 calculates the transport speed of the printing paper 800 based on the count value within a predetermined time.

The light irradiating section 430 is a means for giving an appropriate amount of light to an area on the printing paper for capturing an image with a CCD camera 440 described later. In the present embodiment, the light of the halogen lamp provided in the housing is guided by the fiber cable to irradiate the imaging range of the CCD camera 440. When the CCD camera 440 captures an image, the amount of light required increases as the conveyance speed of the printing paper 800 increases. That is, the printing paper 800
And the required light amount have a substantially proportional relationship. Therefore, the amount of light emitted by the light emitting unit 430 is equal to that of the encoder 4
The control is performed based on the conveyance speed of the printing paper detected in 21.

The CCD camera 440 reads the printed image and outputs it to the inspection image storage unit 460.
The configuration of the CCD camera 440 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 shows the CCD camera 4
40 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the inspection image storage unit 460 and the inspection image storage unit 460, and FIG. 12 is a diagram further illustrating the operation of the line sensor 441. The CCD camera 440 includes a line sensor 441, an output amplifier 442, an A / D converter 44.
3, a shift register 444, a line memory 445, and a bus switcher 446.

The line sensor 441 has a resolution of 16 dots / mm, has 2048 elements in the horizontal direction and 96 elements in the vertical direction.
TDI-CC with number of TDI (time delay integration) stages
D (charge coupled device) sensor. Therefore, the reading width Wc by one line sensor 441 is 128 mm. In the present embodiment, the four line sensors 441 _{-1 to} 441 _-4 are arranged such that their reading ranges partially overlap, as shown in FIG. 4B.
As a whole, the entire range of the print width Wp of the head 220 can be read. A 15 MHz clock is applied to the TDI-CCD sensor 441. Therefore, one line scan time is about 17 μs.

FIG. 1 shows the TDI-CCD sensor 441.
2 will be described. In the TDI-CCD sensor 441, the optical image detected by the element (ROW1) in the first column is imaged on the front surface of the array, and the charges generated by photons are accumulated during the accumulation time corresponding to the scanning of one line.
Collected in the Potential Well. Then, by the clock in the vertical direction (TDI stage direction), the charges are vertically shifted to the next column (ROW2). In the next row, if the same image as before is imaged, the charge generated in ROW2 will be added to the charge from the previous row, and the sensitivity or exposure time will be doubled. Become.

Therefore, if the clock in the vertical direction and the TDI transfer direction are synchronized with the motion of the image, TD
It will be integrated by the number of I stages. TD of this embodiment
The I-CCD sensor 441 has 96 TDI stages.
Since it is a step, the detected image is integrated 96 times.
Finally, the integrated data is serially output from the horizontal shift register of the TDI-CCD sensor 441. Also, the TDI-CCD sensor 441 is 2048
It has a horizontal resolution of bits and they are output from 8 taps. Therefore, from one tap, 256
Bit data is output.

The data output from each tap of the TDI-CCD sensor 441 is output by the output amplifiers 442 _{-1 to} 442 _-8.
Are sequentially amplified by A / D converters 443 _{-1 to} 443 _-8
The data is D-converted and input to the shift registers 444 _{-1 to} 444 _-8 . Further, 256-bit data is stored in the line memories 445 _{-1 to} 445 _-8 , and the eight line memories 445 _{-1 to} 445 _-8 are sequentially selected by the bus switcher 446, and the page for each line data is paged. Memory 46
It is input to 0 _-1 . The TDI used in this embodiment is
-The CCD sensor 441 is TDIC manufactured by DALSA.
It is a D / IT-E1 image sensor.

The control unit 450 controls the image reading unit 40.
It is a control means for controlling each unit of 0. In the control unit 450, based on the control signal from the control unit 600, the information on the edge detection by the edge detection sensor 410 as described above, and the information on the print sheet conveyance speed by the encoder unit 420, the light amount of the light irradiation unit 430 is determined. Control and CCD camera 4
40 controls the image reading.

The inspection image storage section 460 is a storage means for storing the image data read by the image reading section 400. In this embodiment, the page memory 460, as shown in FIG. 11, corresponding to the four CCD cameras 440 _-1 ～440 _-4 is configured from four of the page memory 460 _-1 ～460 _-4 It

The monitor 470 has four CCD cameras 44.
It is a display device for displaying the image data read by 0 _{-1 to} 440 _{-4 as} it is, and four CCD cameras 440.
_{-1 to} 440 _-4 corresponding to four monitors 470 _{-1 to} 470
_-4 . This monitor 470 is shown in FIG.
Is mounted on the control unit 710 as shown in FIG. 1, and normally helps the operator to visually grasp a rough situation.
It is used to confirm the print result when there is an abnormality.

The inspection unit 500 includes the print image storage unit 24.
0 and the inspection image read from the printed matter stored in the inspection image storage unit 460 are compared and collated to determine whether the printing state is appropriate, and the determination result is determined by the control unit 600. Output to. In the present embodiment, the inspection unit 500 is realized by an arithmetic processing unit having a normal microprocessor. Hereinafter, the operation of the inspection unit 500 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the inspection is started (step S
0), read by four CCD cameras 440 _-1 ～440 _-4, each image data stored in the four page memory 460 _-1 ～460 _-4 mapped in one frame, The image data can be handled as one image data (step S1). Next, a reference pixel common to the read image data and the print image data recorded in the print image storage unit 240 is determined,
Pixels can be matched between both images (step S2). For example, using the upper edge pixel of the read image data to detect the edge of the image data as a reference, or detecting the center of gravity of the black pixels of both,
Processing such as determining the corresponding pixel based on that point is performed.

Next, this inspection is performed by using the printer device 10 by using a specific test pattern as shown in FIG. 7, for example.
If the inspection is to inspect a specific operation / function of 0 (step S3), the inspection image storage unit 460
The test pattern is searched for from the read image data stored in, and the printing state of the pattern is checked (step S4). When the print state is appropriate (step S5), the fact that the operation / function test is good is output (step S12),
The inspection ends (step S14). Step S
If the print condition is inappropriate in 5,
It outputs that there is a problem in the operation / function (step S13). The inspection ends (step S14).

In step S3, if this inspection is an inspection of the printing result during the normal printing operation and the inspection is to perform the overall matching of the print images,
Check the setting whether to perform matching with the compressed image or the original image (step S6),
If the mode is one in which matching is performed using a compressed image, compression is performed in step S7. This compression divides the image into 2x2 or 3x3 pixels, for example,
When the total pixel value of each element is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the corresponding pixel is set to 1, and the original image is divided into 1/4.
Alternatively, it is compressed to 1/9. Next, matching is performed.
The matching sequentially compares the read image data with the pixels of the original print image data (step S8),
The number of pixels that do not match is accumulated (step S9).
Note that this matching is simultaneously performed for a plurality of pixels. For example, if the image data is binary data and the microprocessor is a 32-bit CPU, matching is performed on 32 pixels at the same time.

When the accumulated number of mismatched pixels is larger than the predetermined threshold value THL (step S
10) It is determined that the image data read from the printed matter is different from the original print image data, that is, there is a problem in the print content or print quality. Then, a signal indicating that the print result is defective is output (step S1).
3), the inspection is completed (step S14). When the accumulated number of non-matching pixels does not exceed the threshold value THL (step S10) and the matching is completed for all the pixels in the matching target area (step S11), a signal indicating that the print result is normal is output ( In step S12), the inspection ends (step S14).

With such an operation, the inspection unit 500 causes the print image storage unit 240 and the inspection image storage unit 46.
The image data stored in 0 is compared. The inspection result is output to the control unit 600.

The control section 600 is a control section for controlling each section of the printer apparatus 100 to perform a desired operation. Printing conditions and control conditions are input to the control unit 600 from an upper host computer via the Ethernet I / F in the control unit 600. Control unit 600
Sets the operating conditions of the paper transport unit 110, the printing unit 200, the image reading unit 400, and a heater 620 to be described later based on the input data, transports the print paper, prints on the print paper, and Control the proper reading of the printed image in synchronization.

The control unit 600 also inspects the operation of the printer device 100 automatically or according to an operator's instruction prior to a series of printing operations. In some cases,
Based on the inspection result, the head 220 of the printing unit 200
The head drive unit 230 is controlled so as to correct the position. Further, the control unit 600 is in the process of printing, and when the signal indicating the print failure is input from the inspection unit 500, the control unit 600 immediately stops the printing work so as to stop the printing operation.
0 and the printing unit 200 are controlled.

The operation unit 610 is an operation terminal for performing relatively simple operations such as setting work conditions and print parameters on the printer device 100, and notifying the operator of the data notified from the printer device 100. is there. In the present embodiment, a general-purpose personal computer is used by being connected with the RS232C interface. The operation unit 610 also outputs a log file of the inspection result of the printing state and the like.

The heater 620 is provided at the last stage of the main body 700 of the printer 100, and the printed printing paper 80 is provided.
It is a blower of warm air for drying the ink above 0.

Next, the operation of the printer device 100 will be described. First, before performing a series of printing operations, the operation unit 6
According to the operator's instruction from 10, the printer 100 inspects the print state and print quality. The control unit 600 controls the test pattern generation unit 30 based on the operation of the operator.
0 is instructed to generate a test pattern. The test pattern generation unit 300 first generates a first test pattern including a test pattern as shown in FIG. 7, and the print image storage unit 2
Output to 40. The printing unit 200 reads out the test pattern from the print image storage unit 240 and prints the print paper 8
00 to print.

The test pattern printed on the printing paper 800 is read by the image reading section 400 and stored in the inspection image storage section 460. And the inspection unit 500
At that, the pattern is checked, whether or not printing is appropriate, that is, whether or not the position of the head 220 is accurate, is inspected, and the inspection result is output to the control unit 600. When the inspection result is inappropriate, the control unit 600 causes the inspection unit 50 to
Based on the data input from 0, the head drive unit 230 is configured to correct the position of the head 220 to an appropriate position.
Control.

Subsequently, the control section 600 instructs the test pattern generation section 300 to generate the second test pattern shown in FIG. As a result, the test pattern generation unit 300 mainly generates the second test pattern for inspecting the state of the print head and outputs it to the print image storage unit 240. As in the case of the first test pattern, this test pattern is printed by the printing unit 20.
0 is printed on the printing paper 800, and the printed image is read by the image reading unit 400 and stored in the inspection image storage unit 460. Inspection unit 50
In the case of 0, the image data stored in the inspection image storage unit 460 is template-matched by using the data stored in the print image storage unit 240 as reference data, and the number of mismatched pixels of both images is checked.

When the number of mismatched pixels is larger than the predetermined threshold value THL, it is determined that the print quality is below the reference, and a signal to that effect and the accompanying inspection result data are output to the control unit 600. The control unit 600 outputs the result to the operation unit 610 to notify the operator that the state of the print head is not appropriate. When the number of mismatched pixels is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value THL, the inspection unit 500 determines that the state of the print head is normal and outputs a signal to that effect to the control unit 600. The control unit 600 notifies the operator of the state via the operation unit 610.

Further, by the same inspection method, the print quality is inspected by using the above-mentioned third test pattern. This inspection result is also notified to the worker as in the case of the inspection by the second test pattern.

The operator confirms from the test result that the printer 100 operates normally, and then shifts to the actual printing operation. First, the operation unit 610, or
The print contents, print conditions, etc. are set via a host computer. As a result, the control unit 600 of the printer device 100 sets the operating conditions of the paper transport unit 110, the printing unit 200, the image reading unit 400, the heater 620, and the like. When the setting of conditions is completed and the actual printing operation is started, bitmap image data to be sequentially printed is input to the printer device 100 via the interface unit 250, and the print image storage unit 2
Sequentially stored in 40. The print image storage unit 2
The printing unit 200 reads the image data stored in 40 and prints it on the printing paper 800.

The image printed on the printing paper 800 is read by the image reading section 400 and stored in the inspection image storage section 460. Inspection image storage unit 46
The image data stored in 0 is sequentially output to the monitor 470. Then, the image data stored in the inspection image storage unit 460 is compared and collated in the inspection unit 500 with the original image data stored in the print image storage unit 240, and it is determined whether the two images match. . If there are a predetermined number or more of different pixels in both images, it is determined that the images do not match, that is, the printing state is not appropriate for some reason, and a signal to that effect is input to the control unit 600. . Then, based on the signal, the control unit 600 commands the paper conveyance unit 110 and the printing unit 200 to stop the processing, and immediately stops the printing work.

As described above, the printer device 100 according to the present embodiment can perform high-speed printing at a speed of about 3 m / sec while inspecting the print content and print state. As a result, it is possible to almost completely avoid troubles such as duplication and omission of print contents, and it is possible to print important documents with high reliability. Further, when a printing failure occurs, the printing process can be immediately stopped, so that the defective printed matter can be minimized. Furthermore, not only the print head itself is defective,
Since it is possible to comprehensively inspect the print content and print quality such as the conveyance state of the print paper and stains due to defective adjustment of the gap between the print paper and the print head, higher quality printing can be performed.

The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the print medium is not limited to the cut paper as shown in the present embodiment, and may be continuous paper or may be a print medium made of a material other than paper. In that case, the paper transport unit 11
0 may have an arbitrary configuration according to the printing medium.
If continuous paper is used, a cutting unit for cutting the continuous paper may be provided after the heater 620 of the main body 700.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inspection unit 5
The inspection result of 00 is once input to the control unit 600, and based on a control signal from the control unit 600, for example, processing such as stopping the printing operation is performed in the paper transport unit 110 or the printing unit 200. By the way, in a high-speed printer device to which the present invention is applied, when a printing defect is detected,
It is desired to stop printing as soon as possible. However, if the signal is transmitted through the control unit 600 that manages the entire printer 100, a time lag may occur depending on the processing status of the control unit 600, and defective printing may not be suppressed to the minimum. Also occurs. Therefore,
When a printing defect is detected, the inspection unit 500 directly transfers to the related components such as the paper transport unit 110 and the head 220.
A signal for stopping the processing may be transmitted.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the inspection process performed prior to the printing operation, the three test patterns, namely the first to third test patterns, are used to bond the print heads, the print heads, and , I try to inspect the quality of the printed characters. However, the test pattern is not limited to such a test pattern, and any test pattern may be used. It is also possible to print a pattern that allows all of the above-described inspections on one test pattern and perform the inspection by printing the test pattern once.

The inspection method of the inspection unit 500 described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 13 is not limited to this procedure. In particular, in step S3, the processing is performed by distinguishing between the case where the inspection is mainly performed by the matching and the inspection in which the print state needs to be analyzed in detail. For example, the matching is performed by limiting the inspection range. Depending on the method, it is possible to carry out these tests by the same method. Such an inspection method may be used.

Further, the threshold value THL for the number of mismatched pixels may be variable depending on the inspection object. For example, when the printer device is inspected using the test pattern, the threshold value TH
Make L smaller to make the inspection strict and set threshold value T during normal operation.
The HL may be increased to loosen the inspection to some extent.
Further, the threshold value THL may be changed according to the printed matter.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the printer device which performs printing in two colors of black and white like the printer device of the present embodiment, but performs multi-value printing, multi-color printing, full-color printing or the like. It can also be applied to a printer device. Other signal processing, signal transmission paths, etc. may be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0069]

1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a control unit 710 of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above.
4 shows. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 710 of this embodiment. The control unit 710 shown in FIG. 14 is an arithmetic processing unit centering on the main processor unit 713, and the master bus 719 has a main processor unit 713 and a bus controller 71.
4, frame memory controller 715, printing unit data I / F 716, inkjet head drive unit I / F 71
7, RS232CI / F718, interface unit 7
23 and the frame memory 240 are connected. In the following description of the present embodiment, components not shown in FIG. 14 and components having exactly the same functions as those of the components described in the above-described embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals. .

The main processor unit 713 is shown in FIG.
Is a processor unit that actually performs the processing of the control unit 600 in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The bus controller 714 is a controller that controls the transfer of data on the master bus 719, and controls the transfer of data of each unit in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The frame memory is the print image storage unit 240 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The frame memory controller 715 is a controller that controls reading / writing of data to / from the print image storage unit 240.

The print section data I / F 716 is an interface for transferring print image data, and the frame memory 240 is transmitted via the print section data I / F 716.
The print image is transferred to and from the print image storage unit 240. The printing section data I / F 716 is
It has two ports. The first port transfers the print image from the host computer, and the second port transfers the print image to the printing unit 200. The inkjet head drive unit I / F 717 is an interface with the head drive unit 230. RS23
The 2CI / F 718 is an interface with the operation unit 610, and an operation is performed by an operator and an inspection result is reported to the operator via the RS232CI / F 718. The interface unit 723 is an Ethernet interface that transfers data such as control signals with a host computer via Ethernet.

[0072] In the control unit 710 of the present embodiment, the image reading unit 400 shown in FIG. 1, the inspection image storage unit 460, a monitor 470, and, the function of the inspection unit 500, four CCD cameras 440 _{- 1} ~ 440
_-4 corresponding to four inspection units 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-4 . Each inspection unit 720 _-i (i = 1
4) is a RISC-MPU board 712, a video RA
M board 721 and CRT control board 722
Having. The RISC-MPU board 712 has an encoder 421, an edge detection sensor 410, and a light irradiation unit 4.
30 are connected, each RISC-MPU board 7
It is controlled by 12.

A CCD camera 440 is connected to the video RAM board 721, and the bitmap image data read by the CCD camera 440 is the video R.
It is stored in the AM board 721. The CRT control board 722 also controls the monitor 470 that outputs the read video data as it is. The boards of these inspection units 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-4 are connected via a video bus 711.

In the inspection unit 720 of this embodiment, the print section data I / F is sent from the host computer.
The print image data transferred via 716 is stored in the frame memory 240. Frame memory 240
The print image data stored in is output to the printing unit 200 via the printing unit data I / F 716 again, and is printed on the printing paper 800 by the printing unit 200. Printing paper 80
The image data printed on 0 is the inspection unit 720.
read by the CCD cameras 440 _-i of _-i (i = _1~n), respectively are recorded in the video RAM board 721 _-i. The image data recorded in the video RAM board 721 _-i is transferred to the CRT control board 722 _-i via a video bus 711, each monitor 470
Displayed in _-i .

At this time, that is, each CCD camera 4
The data read by 40- _i is the video RAM board 72.
When recorded in 1, the inspection units 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-4
RISC-MPU board 712 _-i (i = 1
4), or the main processor unit 713 performs frame mapping and positioning. When the positioning is completed, each RI of the inspection units 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-4
In SC-MPU board 712 _-1 ～712 _-4 video RAM board 7 of each inspection units 720 _-1 to 720 _-4
Image data stored in 21 _{-1 to} 721 _-4
Each image is independently compared and collated with the corresponding image data in the frame memory 240. And four inspection units 7
The results of the comparison and collation in 20 _{-1 to} 720 _-4 are collected again by any of the inspection units 720 _-i (i = 1 to n) of the inspection units 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-4 or the main processor unit 713. , The final inspection result is obtained.

To generate the test pattern, the main processor unit 713 expands the test pattern previously stored in the storage unit (not shown), and the frame memory 24
It is generated by outputting to 0.

A control unit 710 is constructed as in this embodiment.
According to the present invention, the present invention can be carried out. So
In particular, in the control unit 710 of this embodiment,
CCD camera 440 _-1~ 440_-Four4 inspections corresponding to
In the unit 720, each matching process is performed independently.
Since it is performed, the printing state inspection of the present invention can be performed at high speed.
You.

[0078]

According to the printer device of the present invention, since the print head can be automatically and strictly inspected, a reliable printer device capable of performing accurate and high-quality printing at high speed is provided. Could be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are external views of the entire printer apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2A is a side view of the main body, and FIG.
(C) is an external view of a control unit, (D) is an external view of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing unit of the printer device shown in FIG.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing an arrangement state of a print head and a CCD camera of the printer device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4A showing an arrangement state of four print heads, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the arrangement state of the CCD camera of FIG.

5A and 5B are views for explaining the structure and operation principle of the print head of the printer device shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a printing state by the print head shown in FIG.

7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a first test pattern generated by a test pattern generation unit of the printer apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a part of the test pattern, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a region C of (A).

8 is a diagram illustrating a second test pattern generated by a test pattern generation unit of the printer device illustrated in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image reading unit of the printer device shown in FIG.

10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an encoder unit of the image reading unit shown in FIG.

11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a CCD camera of the image reading unit shown in FIG.

12 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of a TDI-CCD sensor used as a line sensor of the CCD camera shown in FIG.

13 is a flowchart illustrating an inspection operation performed by an inspection unit of the printer device illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of a control unit of the printer device shown in FIG. 2 as an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Printer device, 110 ... Paper transporting unit, 111 ...
Encoder, 200 ... Printing unit, 210 ... Printing control unit, 2
20 ... Head, 221, ... Ink bottle, 222 ... Nozzle, 223 ... Catcher, 224 ... Ink, 230 ... Head drive section, 240 ... Print image storage section (frame memory), 250 ... Interface section, 300 ... Test pattern generation section, 400 ... Image reading unit, 410 ...
Edge detection sensor, 420 ... Encoder unit, 421 ... Encoder, 422 ... Counter, 423 ... Speed calculation unit, 4
30 ... Light irradiation unit, 440 ... CCD camera, 441 ... Line sensor (TDI-CCD sensor), 442 ... Output amplifier, 443 ... A / D converter, 444 ... Shift register,
445 ... Line memory, 446 ... Bus switcher, 45
0 ... control unit, 460 ... inspection image storage unit (page memory), 470 ... monitor, 500 ... inspection unit, 600 ... control unit, 610 ... operation unit, 620 ... heater, 700 ... main body,
710 ... Control unit, 711 ... Video bus, 712 ...
RISC-MPU board, 713 ... Main processor unit, 714 ... Bus controller, 715 ... Frame memory controller, 716 ... Printing section data I / F, 7
17 ... Inkjet head drive unit I / F, 718 ... R
S232C I / F, 719 ... Master bus, 720 ... Inspection unit, 721 ... Video RAM board, 722 ... C
RT control board, 723 ... Interface section, 725 ... Operation unit, 800 ... Printing paper

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Taizo Otani 3-18-5 Takaido Higashi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Tsutomu Yoneda 1-24-102 Shirayama, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer device capable of sequentially printing image data sequentially input for each print medium at high speed, and a test pattern generating means for generating a predetermined test pattern, and the input device. Printing means for printing the image data or the generated test pattern on the printing medium, image sensor means for reading the printed test pattern on the printing medium as image data, and the generated test A printer device comprising: a pattern and a test pattern that is read as the image data, and inspects a print state of the printing unit. 2. The inspecting means template-matches the bitmap data of the read test pattern with the reference data using the generated bitmap data of the test pattern as reference data. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printing state of the printing unit is inspected based on the difference. 3. The test pattern generation means generates a test pattern corresponding to a pattern of image data to be inputted and printed, and the inspection means is a test pattern read as the generated test pattern and its image data. 3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the print quality of a print pattern used in at least the input image data to be printed is inspected. 4. The ink jet head for printing desired image data on a print medium by ejecting ink onto the print medium from nozzles provided at a predetermined pitch, as the printing means. The printer device described.