JPH10324023A - Printer, print controller, printing method, and medium having print control program recorded therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure a highly precise print when a dot matrix-like print image is reproduced through scanning with a print head. SOLUTION: When a dot matrix like print image is reproduced by feeding a sheet through a sheet feed motor 31d while scanning, in the shifting direction, with a print head 31a arranged with a plurality of nozzles in the sheet feeding direction and driven through a print head shifting motor 31c, a print driver being executed as a software by a computer determines the print mode. In case of a code pattern print mode requiring a highly precise print, printing is performed using only such nozzles as matching with a preset shift of print position. According to the arrangement, relative error of the entire print image due to shift of print position among respective nozzles is eliminated resulting in a highly precise print.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which reproduces a high-definition print image by dot matrix printing.
The present invention relates to a print control device, a print method, and a medium on which a print control program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer which reproduces an output image in a dot matrix form, it is general to reproduce a dot matrix print image by feeding a paper while scanning a print head in a digit feed direction. In this case, the print head has a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged along the paper feeding direction. In other words, the digit feed direction is a predetermined number of dots according to the position accuracy of the digit feed in the print head, and the paper feed direction reproduces the print image with the dot density according to the array density of the dot printing mechanism and the paper feed accuracy. Will do.

The print head has the dot printing mechanisms arranged along the paper feed direction in order to reduce the number of scans in the digit feed direction, and the arrangement length of the dot print mechanism is called the scan range of the print head. Will be. When print data is generated, a print image that can be covered by one scan of the print head is cut out and printed.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional printer has the following problems.

[0005] When high-definition printing is to be performed, the paper feed accuracy and the digit feed accuracy of the print head can be improved to improve the accuracy. On the other hand, the dot print mechanism for printing each dot has the same positional accuracy as the print head. Irrespective of this, misregistration occurs, and it is not possible to individually control the misregistration generated for each dot printing mechanism to improve the accuracy.

Here, a code pattern that specifically requires high-definition printing will be described. The barcode is obtained by encoding predetermined information by arranging lines having different thicknesses, and can be decoded by optical scanning in one direction. On the other hand, the code pattern is realized by a combination of adding or not adding a dot to a “+” position on a two-dimensional plane as shown in FIG. 29, and is a so-called two-dimensional coding. .

On the other hand, a printer used in a computer system or the like reproduces a dot matrix print image. Therefore, it is likely that a code pattern can be generated with such dots from a simple point of view. However, if the required accuracy increases, it becomes impossible due to the positional shift in the dot printing mechanism unit as described above. For example, FIG. 30 shows three dots printed by the dot printing mechanism of the first to third rows of the print head. In the state shown in the figure, each dot is slightly shifted from the original dot position, and it seems that there is no problem.

However, when reading the code pattern shown in FIG. 30 attached in this manner, if there is no reference position to be read, the reference position is naturally searched for from the dot-added position. in this case,
FIG. 31 shows the results of applying the dot positions of the code pattern with reference to the dot positions in the first column. In the second column, the dots hit the outer edges of adjacent dots, and in the third column, no dots are attached.

In this sense, conventional printers cannot be used for code patterns requiring such high-definition printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a printing apparatus and a printing control apparatus capable of performing high-definition printing when a print head is scanned to reproduce a dot matrix print image. To provide a medium in which a printing method and a printing control program are recorded.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a dot matrix forming a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in a paper feed direction while scanning in a digit feed direction. And a printing apparatus for reproducing the print image by using only the dot print mechanism having the same print position shift among the plurality of dot print mechanisms.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a print matrix having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction is reproduced in the digit feed direction while reproducing a dot matrix print image. In this case, the printing control means causes the printing image to be printed using only the dot printing mechanism having the same printing position shift among the plurality of dot printing mechanisms.

Although it is inevitable that each of the dot printing mechanisms has some positional deviation from the original printing position, the positional deviation is often fixed and has reproducibility. Therefore, if not all dot printing mechanisms are used but only those dot printing mechanisms that have the same print position shift, the print image output position will be the same as the position shift of the used dot printing mechanism. However, the relative error of the printed dot position is reduced.

[0014] High-definition printing is required for:
There are coding technologies that encode various types of information including characters into print images, but of course, not limited to this,
The present invention can be applied to a device that requires high-precision alignment in dot units.

As a printing apparatus that reproduces a dot matrix print image by scanning the print head as described above, various types of printers having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction are employed. it can. For example, a dot impact type in which a print ribbon impregnated with color ink is pressed onto a print sheet with a print pin and transferred, or an ink jet type in which liquid color ink is ejected and adhered to the print sheet may be used. Alternatively, a thermal transfer type in which a print ribbon to which a heat-meltable color ink is adhered is melted by a dot-like heating element and adhered to print paper may be used. Of course, other methods may be used,
Any of these methods may be further classified. For example, in the case of an ink jet system, a bubble jet system in which bubbles are generated by a heater to discharge color ink or a system in which color ink is discharged by a micro pump mechanism may be used.

The printing control means may print the print image using only the dot printing mechanism satisfying the above requirements. In this case, it is not necessary to limit the printing to only such printing. As an example, the invention according to claim 2
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control means performs printing using only a normal printing mode in which printing is performed irrespective of a printing position shift of each dot printing mechanism, and a dot printing mechanism in which printing position shifts match. And a high-definition mode to be switched.

In the invention according to claim 2, the printing control means has a normal printing mode and a high-definition mode. In the normal printing mode, regardless of the printing position shift of each dot printing mechanism. Prints the entire print range of the print head in one scan, and in high-definition mode, prints using only the dot print mechanism that matches the print position shift. The print image in the scan range of one print head is printed by one scan. Then, these modes are appropriately switched as needed.

When a normal print mode is provided, various processes are performed to improve print quality. As one of the processes, a thinning process for lowering the print duty is often performed. Such a thinning-out process means that the print data of the print head is generated and then thinned out at random according to the duty, and is adopted as an independent process. However, in a case where high-definition printing is performed in dot units, the dots that should be originally provided disappear when thinning is performed in this manner.

Therefore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the printing control means includes:
It is possible to perform a thinning-out process for reducing the printing duty, and not to perform the thinning-out process in the high-definition mode.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the thinning-out operation is performed in the high-definition mode even if the printing control means can perform the thinning-out processing to reduce the printing duty. Do not process.
More specifically, taking software processing as an example, a flag indicating a mode or the like may be prepared, and in the thinning processing, the thinning processing may be performed only in the normal mode by referring to the flag. As a result, dots are not thinned out at random when performing high-definition printing.

The printing control means uses a dot printing mechanism having the same printing position deviation, but this is not necessarily limited to using a plurality of dot printing mechanisms. As an example, the invention according to claim 4 is the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing control means uses any one of the plurality of dot printing mechanisms. And print it.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the printing control means performs printing using only one of the dot printing mechanisms, different printing position deviations do not occur, and the printing position is not changed. Becomes high definition.

As described above, the use of a dot printing mechanism having the same printing position shift includes a mechanism using a single dot printing mechanism to a mechanism using a plurality of dot printing mechanisms. If multiple dot printing mechanisms are used, the number of times the print head scans is reduced accordingly, but it is necessary to select a dot printing mechanism that matches the printing position shift, and it is necessary to use one dot printing mechanism In this case, it is not necessary to select an item having the same print position deviation, but the number of scans of the print head increases.

Further, the selection of the dot printing mechanisms having the same printing position shift does not necessarily have to be one set. As an example, the invention according to claim 5 is the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the print control unit is configured to control the print image for each of a plurality of blocks in which the print image is separated in a paper feed direction. In this case, a set of a plurality of dot printing mechanisms having the same printing position deviation is assigned to each block and printing is performed.

In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, when the print image is independent for each of a plurality of blocks separated in the paper feed direction, the print control means sets the print position for each block. A set of a plurality of dot printing mechanisms having the same deviation is assigned and printed.

There is a case where it is not always required that the entire print image has the same positional shift depending on the type of image that requires high definition. In such a case, assuming that the print image is independent for each of a plurality of blocks separated in the paper feed direction, the plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction are divided into an upper side and a lower side. By printing the printed image, it is possible to perform printing more efficiently than printing by a set of dot printing mechanisms.

As described above, the printing apparatus can be employed in each system. In the case of the ink jet system in which the color ink is ejected, a cause of the printing position shift is a stain near the opening end of the ejection nozzle. That is, the situation of dust adhering to the vicinity of the opening end may cause the printing position to shift. Therefore, when the print head is cleaned, the tendency of the printing position shift changes.

With this background, the invention according to claim 6 is the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dot printing mechanism of the print head discharges color ink to perform printing. At the same time, cleaning is performed at a predetermined interval, and the print control unit is configured not to perform the cleaning during printing of one print image.

In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, assuming that the dot printing mechanism of the print head ejects color ink to perform printing and performs cleaning at predetermined intervals, The printing control means includes:
The same cleaning is not performed during printing of one print image.

It is sufficient that the cleaning is not performed as a result. In the case where the processing is performed by software, the cleaning processing refers to a flag set by the printing control means and does not start the processing during printing. I just need. This prevents the dot printing mechanism from being cleaned during the printing of one print image and changing the tendency of the printing position shift.

In some cases where high definition is required, the original accuracy in the vertical and horizontal directions does not always match. Therefore, the required printing accuracy may be gradual in the digit feed direction. On the other hand, there is a system in which single dot printing is weak, as represented by a thermal transfer system.
As a preferred example of the combination in such a case, the invention according to claim 7 is the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the print control means is required in the print image. When the printing accuracy is gradual in the digit feed direction, a plurality of dots are continuously printed by using the same dot printing mechanism.

In the invention according to claim 7, the printing control means prints a plurality of dots continuously by using the same dot printing mechanism. Dot printing can be performed with high accuracy, and the required printing accuracy is gradual in the digit feed direction.

On the other hand, although the present invention can be realized by including a print control means in such a printing apparatus, the invention can be realized even if the print control means is independent of the printing apparatus. That is, the invention according to claim 8 is directed to a printing apparatus which reproduces a dot matrix print image while scanning a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction in the digit feed direction. A print control device that outputs the print image so that printing is performed using only a dot printing mechanism that matches a printing position shift among the plurality of dot printing mechanisms, and a predetermined condition is satisfied. The present invention can also be applied to a single print control device on the premise that the printing device to be satisfied is controlled.

Further, as described above, the method of improving the positional deviation accuracy between printed dots by printing using only the dot printing mechanism whose printing position deviation coincides is limited to a substantial device. It does not need to be done, and it can be easily understood that it also functions as the method. Therefore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction is scanned in the digit feed direction to reproduce a dot matrix print image, the plurality of dot prints are performed. The printing image is printed by using only the dot printing mechanism having the same printing position shift among the mechanisms.

That is, there is no difference that the present invention is not necessarily limited to a substantial device and is also effective as a method.

By the way, as described above, such print control means may exist alone or may be used in a state of being incorporated in a certain device. Including software, hardware, etc., as appropriate.
Can be changed.

If the software for controlling the printing apparatus is realized as an example of realizing the idea of the present invention, the software naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded, and it must be said that the software is used.

As one example, a tenth aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus for reproducing a dot matrix print image while scanning a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction in the digit feed direction. And a printing control program for printing the print image using only the dot printing mechanism having the same printing position shift among the plurality of dot printing mechanisms.

Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future. Also, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product, and the like are equivalent without any question. In addition, the present invention is still used even when the supply method is performed using a communication line, and the same applies to a case where the information is written on a semiconductor chip.

Further, even when a part is implemented by software and a part is implemented by hardware, there is no difference in the concept of the invention, and it is necessary to store a part on a recording medium. It may be in a form that is appropriately read in accordance with it.

[0041]

As described above, the present invention can provide a printing apparatus capable of performing high-definition printing because printing is performed using only the dot printing mechanism in which the printing deviations match.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since printing is performed by switching between the normal printing mode and the high-definition mode, it is not necessary to dedicate high-definition printing. It is easy to apply to existing ones.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
On the other hand, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of automatically thinning out dots while performing high-definition printing.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4,
Since printing is performed using one dot printing mechanism, the control system is simplified.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5,
Since a plurality of sets of dot printing mechanisms having different printing deviations can be used, the printing speed is increased.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 6,
The printing deviation does not change during printing, and the required high-definition printing can be performed.

Further, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
It can be used even when a printing method that is not good at single dot printing is adopted.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8,
A print control device capable of performing high-definition printing can be provided.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention,
It is also effective as a method applied to devices and the like.

Further, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a medium recording a print control program capable of performing high-definition printing.

[0051]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention by a claim correspondence diagram, and FIG. 2 shows a specific hardware configuration example by a block diagram. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied as a printing system including a computer system 20 that interprets a printing device in a broad sense and generates print data, and a printer 30 that drives a print head and the like to perform actual printing. Therefore, the computer system 20 constitutes a print control unit.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the printer 30. The print head 31 includes three print head units.
a print head controller 31b for controlling the print head 31a; a print head digit moving motor 31c for moving the print head 31a in the column direction; a paper feed motor 31d for feeding the print paper in the line direction; Head controller 31b and print head girder moving motor 31c
And a printer controller 31e, which is an interface with an external device in the paper feed motor 31d, and is capable of printing an image according to print data.

FIG. 4 shows a more specific configuration of the print head 31a, and FIG. 5 shows an operation at the time of ink ejection. The print head 31a is formed with a fine conduit 31a3 extending from the color ink tank 31a1 to the nozzle 31a2, and an ink chamber 31a is provided at the end of the conduit 31a3.
4 are formed. The wall surface of the ink chamber 31a4 is formed of a flexible material, and a piezo element 31a5, which is an electrostrictive element, is provided on the wall surface. The piezo element 31a5 has a crystal structure that is distorted by applying a voltage, and performs high-speed electrical-mechanical energy conversion.
The wall of 1a4 is pushed to reduce the volume of the ink chamber 31a4. Then, a predetermined amount of color ink particles is vigorously ejected from the nozzle 31a2 communicating with the ink chamber 31a4. Hereinafter, such a pump structure is referred to as a micropump mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzles 31a2 are formed in a staggered arrangement, and two independent rows of nozzles 31a2 are formed in one print head unit. The color inks are supplied independently to the nozzles 31a2 of each row. The three print head units are provided with two rows of nozzles, respectively, so that the six color inks can be used to the maximum. It is also possible to use In the example shown in FIG. 3, two rows in the left print head unit are used for black ink, only one row in the middle print head unit is used for cyan ink, and The left and right two rows are used for magenta ink and yellow ink, respectively.

The printer 30 has a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the print head 31a in addition to these printing mechanisms. The cleaning mechanism includes a cap 31f1 that covers the nozzle surface of the print head 31a and has a suction material 31f2 disposed on the inner surface.
A cap solenoid 31f for moving the cap 31f1 toward and away from the print head 31a;
A pump motor 31g for driving a suction pump 31g1 connected to the inner surface of 1f1 and an atmospheric valve 31h similarly connected to the inner surface of the cap 31f1 are provided, all of which are connected to the printer controller 31e. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, while pressing the cap 31f1 against the print head 31a, the print head 31a is moved in the digit direction to perform wiping. By adjusting the suction force by opening and closing 31h, clogging cleaning according to a predetermined cleaning procedure can be performed.

Such cleaning is executed by the computer system 20 sending a drive signal to each actuator in accordance with a predetermined sequence via the printer controller 31e. More specifically, the cleaning procedure shown in FIG. 7 is executed.
That is, it is determined in step S205 whether or not cleaning is possible based on a flag described later, and when it is determined that cleaning is possible, wiping is performed in step S210. The wiping is performed by driving the cap solenoid 31f to press the cap 31f1 against the print head 31a and reciprocating the print head girder moving motor 31c in a minute range, so that the nozzle surface of the print head 31a is sucked by the suction material 31f2 inside the cap 31f1. Perform by rubbing. In the next step S220, the atmospheric valve 31h is closed and the pump motor 31g is driven while the cap 31f1 is pressed against the print head 31a. When the pump motor 31g is driven, the suction pump 31g1 operates, so that a negative pressure is supplied into the cap 31f1, and the color ink is ejected from each print head 31a. Of course, the color ink is sucked by the suction material 31f2. At this time, a total of about 0.5 ml of color ink blows out for six rows of nozzles. Since the amount of the blowout is relatively large, and the color ink flows slightly backward in the color ink derivation path even after the stop, the small amount of suction is executed again as described later.

In the next step S230, the atmosphere valve 31h is opened to return the inside of the cap 31f1 to the atmospheric pressure, and in step S240, the cap solenoid 31 is released.
At f, the cap 31f1 is separated from the print head 31a to drive the pump motor 31g. This processing corresponds to idle suction, and the excess color ink in the cap 31f1 is sucked.

In the following step S250, the cap 31f1 is pressed against the print head 31a again by the cap solenoid 31f, and the pump motor 31g is slightly driven. Here, a small amount of suction of about 0.1 ml in total is applied to the six rows of nozzles. This is a process for guiding the color ink to the tip of the nozzle and blending it in for discharging the color ink later. is there. And step S
At 260, empty suction is performed again, and wiping is performed at step S270. Step S28 after step S270
At 0, flushing is performed as optional processing. The flushing is a blank ejection of the color ink for a predetermined number of dots, and the next step S290 waits for a predetermined time and adjusts the entire body whether or not the flushing is performed.

In the print head 31a, the piezo element 31a
5 is applied with a voltage to eject color ink particles. In this case, the color ink particles are ejected toward the opening direction of the nozzle 31a2, but it is undeniable that the ink particles slightly deviate from the original dot positions. This is because the nozzle 31a
Although it was thought that 2 opened in the oblique direction,
It has been found that it is often caused by adhesion of dust on the periphery of the opening end of the nozzle 31a2. That is, it is confirmed that the printing position shift changes before and after the above-described clogging cleaning.
In US Pat. No. 5,955,071, cleaning is executed after determining whether cleaning is possible based on the flag.

In such a print head 31a, an ink chamber 31a4 and a piezo element 31a5 formed for each nozzle 31a2 constitute a dot printing mechanism, and 128 of these are formed in the paper feed direction. The print head 31a is moved in the digit feed direction by the print head digit moving motor 31c, and the paper is moved to the paper feed motor 31d, so that a dot matrix print image can be reproduced. . The position can be controlled in dot pitch units in both the digit feed direction and the paper feed direction.

In this embodiment, the ink jet printer 30 employing the micro pump mechanism has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to printers having other mechanisms as long as they have a print head having a dot printing mechanism.

For example, as shown in FIG.
A heater 31a8 is provided on the wall surface of the nearby conduit 31a7, and a bubble jet type pump mechanism that heats the heater 31a8 to generate bubbles and discharges color ink at the pressure is also in practical use. Even in this case, it is undeniable that dots are attached to positions shifted from the original dot positions due to dust or the like attached to the periphery of the opening end of the nozzle 31a6.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a schematic configuration of a so-called thermal transfer type printer 32 as another mechanism. A plurality of heating elements 32a1 arranged in the paper feed direction are independently formed on the print head 32a.
By energizing a1, the color ink of the thermal transfer ribbon 32b is melted and transferred to paper. Of course, the print head 32a can be moved in the column direction by a print head column moving motor (not shown), and the paper can be fed by a paper feed mechanism (not shown). In the thermal transfer method, it is undeniable that a printing position shift occurs due to the positional accuracy of the heating element 32a1 formed on the print head 32a.

Further, in a so-called dot impact printer 33 as shown in FIG. 11, an ink ribbon 3 impregnated with a color ink is interposed between a sheet and a print head 33a.
3b, the printing is performed by pressing the ink ribbon 33b against the paper with the tip of a pin driven by a hammer formed in the print head 33a. In this case, a positional shift occurs due to the positional accuracy of the pin.

Returning to the description of the printer 30 of this embodiment, the printer 30 is connected to a computer system 20 that generates print data and the like. The computer system 20 includes a computer 21, a hard disk 22, a keyboard 23, a CD-ROM drive 24
, Floppy disk drive 25 and modem 26
And a display 27 and the like.
A print control program supplied by a network or the like via a D-ROM drive 24, a floppy disk drive 25, or a modem 26 is stored in the hard disk 22, read out from the hard disk 22, and executed.

In the computer system 20,
The document created by word processing software etc.
In addition to generating print data for printing out at 0, print data for printing out the above-described code pattern by the printer 30 is generated. In the following, for convenience, the former printing process will be referred to as normal printing process and during execution thereof will be referred to as a normal mode, while the latter printing process will be referred to as code pattern printing process and during execution will be referred to as a code pattern mode. Obviously, the latter process requires high-definition printing, and the former process is a general printing process and will not be described in detail here.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a printer driver which is a control program executed by the computer 21. The computer 21 constitutes a print control unit as described later by executing processing as the printer driver. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described based on the processing as the printer driver.

As described above, the printing process includes the normal printing process and the code pattern printing process, and the latter printing is performed using only a specific dot printing mechanism. When the printer driver is started, the process branches between a case where the printer driver is started for print output from the application and a case where the printer driver is independently started for the setting process. Judge. In the case of the setting process, in step S320, the setting user interface shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display 27, and the setting data based on the setting user interface is generated.

In the setting user interface, selection of a mode, selection of a dot printing mechanism to be used, and selection of storage and reading of setting data are executed. On the screen, "Normal printing" and "Code pattern printing" are described in the upper column, and the user can select one of them by arranging alternative buttons. In the middle column, a button and a nozzle number are described in association with all of the nozzles 31a2 described above. In this case, a plurality of buttons can be selected, and a button having the same tendency of the printing position shift is selected. Here, although a plurality can be selected, it is not always necessary to select a plurality, and only one may be selected.
At least, no matter which one is selected, there is no problem that the printing position shifts do not match.

To specifically determine whether or not the printing positions of a plurality of dots coincide with each other, the test patterns shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 are printed. In the test pattern shown in FIG. 14, printing is performed in a line in the vertical and horizontal directions using two specific nozzles (nozzles A and B) 31a2.
The interval between each row is one dot, and if the stripes look uniform in both the vertical and horizontal directions, it is determined that the print position shifts of the two nozzles 31a2 match.

Further, in the test pattern shown in FIG. 15, the dots by one nozzle 31a2 are replaced by the other nozzle 31a.
It is surrounded by two dots, and the interval in this case is also one dot. Further, in the test pattern shown in FIG. 16, the dots of the two nozzles 31a2 are printed alternately at intervals of one dot in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result of looking at the test patterns in both figures, if the printing result looks uniform, it can be determined that the printing position shifts of the two nozzles 31a2 match, and if the dark and light portions are visible, the printing position shifts do not match. to decide.

On the other hand, the test pattern shown in FIG. 17 prints rows in the vertical and horizontal directions at a time by using more nozzles (nozzles A to E) 31a2. Also in this case, printing is performed at intervals of one dot. Then, it is determined that the print position shifts of the sets that look like uniform stripes coincide.

In each case, the interval has been described as one dot, but the interval may be appropriately changed depending on the dot diameter. Further, a plurality of test patterns may be printed at the same time, or a possible set of test patterns may be sequentially printed by changing a set of the nozzles 31a2. Of course, the test pattern need not be limited to these, and can be changed as appropriate.

When the user interface for setting shown in FIG. 13 is returned to the display 27, the lower part thereof shows
"Save", "Load", "Cancel" button is arranged, "Save" button saves the current settings on the screen, "Load" button to read the saved settings, The “cancel” button cancels the setting operation.

On the other hand, when the application is started for print output from an application or the like, it can be determined whether or not there is print data. If it is determined in step S330 that print data exists, the process proceeds to step S340. It is determined whether the mode is the code pattern print mode or the normal print mode.
This is stored in the setting user interface described above, and is determined by reading a predetermined setting file or the like. In the case of the normal printing mode, the thinning processing is performed in step S350, and then the normal printing processing is executed in step S355, but the details will not be described here.

On the other hand, in the code pattern printing mode,
In step S360, a cleaning prohibition setting is executed. If the print head 31a is cleaned during printing of the code pattern, dust on the periphery of the opening end of the nozzle 31a2 will be removed, but this will shift the direction in which the color ink particles are ejected. Then, printing is performed by dot printing mechanisms having different positional deviations, and as a result, high-definition printing cannot be maintained. Therefore, cleaning is prohibited. This is done by setting a flag.

Thereafter, in step S370, the code pattern printing process shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 is executed. The code pattern printing process is different depending on whether the dot printing mechanism used is one dot or plural dots. FIG.
In the code pattern printing process for one dot shown in (1), a code pattern image is created in step S410, and this is temporarily stored in a buffer. The code pattern is obtained by coding the above-described predetermined information in a dot matrix shape, but such coding is not described in detail here. However, from the point of view of the printing process, there is no difference from the one other than the code pattern in the case of forming the code pattern in terms of the dot matrix print image.

On the other hand, in the printing process, a print image in a dot matrix form is represented by (x, y) as shown in FIG.
Save to buffer managed by coordinates. When only one dot is used in the dot printing mechanism, only one nozzle 31a2 of the print head 31a is used to print only one line in the x direction.
Repeat in the direction. Therefore, step S420
Reference is made to the pointer (x, y) to read a dot image corresponding to the pointer from the buffer, and to print at step S430 using the predetermined one nozzle 31a2 with the print head 31a. The data is created and transmitted via the printer controller 31e. For example, when the print head 31a has 128 nozzles 31a2, the nozzle 31a2 is used to control whether or not to perform printing with the individual nozzles 31a2.
Although 16-byte bit image data corresponding to the number 2 is transmitted, it is possible to perform printing using only the nozzle 128a2 of # 128 depending on whether the least significant bit is turned on or off. Become.

When such bit image data is created and transmitted, in step S440, the pointer (x,
y) is updated. When the pointer is updated, the x coordinate is increased from "1" to "the number of bits in the buffer in the x direction". When the pointer reaches the end, the x coordinate is returned to "1" and the y coordinate is increased by "1". If the pointer (x, y) updated in this way exceeds the end of the buffer, it is determined in step S450 that the buffer data has been completed, and the code pattern printing process ends.
However, if the buffer data has not been completed, it is determined in step S460 whether or not it has moved to the end in the x direction.
At 470, a one-dot paper feed is executed. For one-dot paper feeding, control data for moving the paper feed motor 31d by one dot may be sent.
At 0, the paper feed motor 31d rotates by a predetermined angle and feeds the paper based on the control data input via the printer controller 31e.

As described above, in step S430, the process of creating and transmitting print data to be printed using only one nozzle 31a2 to the print head 31a is repeated in the x direction, and one scan is completed. 1 at the time
By feeding paper dot by dot, as a result, a dot matrix print image can be reproduced with only one dot printing mechanism. Therefore, such control constitutes the printing control means of the present invention. The dots printed in this manner may be shifted from the original dot positions (“+” portions in the figure) as shown in FIG. 21, but the shift is uniform. Therefore, if the coordinate axes are fixed from the printing result, as shown in FIG. 22, it can be said that the printing result is high definition without relative displacement.

On the other hand, if one dot printing mechanism is used, the print head 31a is scanned by the number of bits in the y direction. However, if a plurality of dot printing mechanisms having the same printing position shift are used, one dot printing mechanism is used. Since the number of lines that can be printed in one scan increases, the number of scans decreases. When the setting user interface is set to use the plurality of nozzles 31a2, the code pattern image is stored in the buffer in step S510, and then the process proceeds to step S52.
At 0, the dot pattern of the nozzles used in the print head 31a is compared with the unprinted pattern in the buffer, and the dot amount of paper feed for printing an unprinted image is calculated. Then, after the paper is fed by the dot amount in dot units in step S530, step S5
At 40, print data is generated and transmitted.

This situation will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. For easy understanding, it is assumed that the print head 31a has nozzles 31a2 of 8 dots, and the code pattern to be printed is 16 dots in the y direction. Here, the nozzles 31a2 are numbered # 1 to # 8 from the front side in the paper feeding direction, and the nozzles 31a2 of # 1, # 3, and # 7 are assigned.
It is assumed that the print position shifts coincide with each other. Note that a print image in the x direction in the buffer is called a line. The arrangement of the nozzles 31a2 may not be continuous, and the first nozzle 31a2 may be # 1 and the next nozzle 31a2 may be # 4. That is, here, not only the number of dots is reduced for simplicity, but also the nozzles are continuous for simplicity.

In the first scan, all lines in the buffer are unprinted, and the x-direction print image is printed using the nozzles 31a2 of # 1, # 3, and # 7 without feeding the paper. As a result, in the buffer, # 1, # 3, # 7
Is printed. In the second scan, among the unprinted lines in the buffer, the line # 2 is unprinted, and one dot of paper is required to print this line with the nozzle 31a2 of # 1. # After paper feed
When a print image in the x direction is printed using the nozzles 31a2 of # 1, # 3 and # 7, # 1, #
This means that lines # 2, # 3, # 4, # 7, and # 8 have been printed.

In this state, the top one of the unprinted lines of the buffer is # 5, and this is replaced with the nozzle 31 of # 1.
In order to print at a2, a three-dot paper feed is required. When three dots of paper are fed, the nozzle 31 of # 3
a2 corresponds to line # 7 of the buffer,
Printing is performed in the third scan, and there is no need to perform printing in the third scan. That is, when comparing the dot pattern of the used nozzle with the unprinted pattern in the buffer, the necessary paper feed amount and the nozzle 31a2 to be used are checked, and the nozzle 31a2 to be used at each time is selected again for printing. Will generate data.

Even when printing is performed in this manner, the printing result is the same as that shown in FIG. That is, since printing is performed only with the nozzle 31a2 having the same printing position deviation,
The relative shifts will match. Of course, such control also constitutes the printing control means of the present invention. FIG. 24 shows how the number of unprinted lines in the buffer decreases in the case of the example where printing is performed with only one dot with reference to the example of FIG.

Until now, one print result has been a high-definition print without any relative displacement as a whole. This can be said to be an indispensable condition when reading the whole at once. However, depending on the reading method, there is a case where the positional deviation does not always have to match.

FIG. 25 shows this specific example. It is assumed that the reading side recognizes 8 dots each as one set in the y direction, and that two sets of blocks are obtained as code patterns. On the other hand, assuming that the print head 31a has nozzles 31a2 for 16 dots in the y direction, the nozzles 31a2 of # 1 and # 9 may be selected as the dots to be used. In this case, the nozzles 31a of # 1 and # 9
Even if the print position deviations of No. 2 do not match, when considering them as two blocks, the print position deviations of the dots in these blocks match, and high-definition printing is performed.

Needless to say, these blocks may be further divided into a large number of blocks, and a comparison may be made between the used dot pattern and the unprinted line of the buffer so that each block is printed by the same nozzle 31a2. In this case, printing may be performed with a smaller number of scans by combining a plurality of nozzles 31a2 having the same printing position shift for each block.

Up to now, the ink jet printer 3
0 has been described as an example, but as described above, the thermal transfer printer 32 and the dot impact printer 33
Can obtain the same printing result.

Although the above-described code pattern is based on a dot matrix having a constant aspect ratio, the aspect ratio may not be constant depending on the code pattern standard. On the other hand, in the thermal transfer printer 32,
It is not good to print only one dot, and it is better to print continuous dots to obtain better printing quality.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 26, when the printing accuracy required for the code pattern is gradual in the digit feed direction, two dots are printed by the print head 32a of the thermal transfer type printer 32 as shown in FIG. You may make it print continuously. By doing so, as a result, the printing quality of each dot is improved, and as shown in FIG. 28, the printing position shifts between the dots also match, thereby reducing errors in reading.

The structure for continuous hitting is described in, for example, step S
After creating print data for the print head in 430, the data may be output twice. Whether it should be performed twice or once may be set at the time of the first installation or the like.

In an ink jet printer, printing is performed by spraying color ink. In a solid area or the like, a thinning process is performed as a pre-print process to reduce the duty.

However, in a code pattern for determining whether or not to perform printing in dot units, even if the duty is increased, a thinning out of the dots may mean another code. Therefore, FIG.
Only in the case of the normal print mode in which the normal print process is performed as shown in FIG. 2, the thinning process is executed before the normal print process,
In the case of the code pattern printing mode, the thinning process is not executed so that necessary dots are not missed. Also in this case, the setting data or the like is used as a flag, and is used to determine whether to perform the thinning process.

As described above, a plurality of nozzles 3
When the print head 31a provided with 1a2 is scanned in the digit feed direction by the print head digit moving motor 31c, the paper is fed by the paper feed motor 31d to reproduce a dot matrix print image. The printer driver executed as software in (1) determines the print mode, and in the case of the code pattern print mode in which high-definition printing is required, printing is performed using only the nozzles 31a2 having a preset printing position deviation. Therefore, the relative error of the entire print image due to the print position deviation for each nozzle 31a2 is eliminated, and high-definition printing is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific hardware / software configuration example of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a printer.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed schematic explanatory view of a print head unit in the printer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a situation where color ink is ejected by the print head unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating cleaning of a print head.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a cleaning procedure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory view showing a situation in which color ink is ejected by a bubble jet type print head.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of a thermal transfer type printer.

FIG. 10 is a main part circuit diagram of the printer.

FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory view of a printer of a dot impact system.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a printer driver corresponding to a print control program.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a setting screen in a setting user interface.

FIG. 14 is a test pattern for comparing print position deviations of two nozzles.

FIG. 15 is a test pattern for comparing print position shifts of two nozzles.

FIG. 16 is a test pattern for comparing print position shifts of two nozzles.

FIG. 17 is a test pattern for comparing print position shifts of a plurality of nozzles.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a code pattern printing process (1 dot).

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a code pattern printing process (a plurality of dots).

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an image of a buffer for storing a code pattern image.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged image of a code pattern printed in a code pattern printing process.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an image showing a relative displacement of the same code pattern.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a procedure for reproducing a print image using a plurality of dots.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a procedure for reproducing a print image using one dot.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a printing procedure when there are a plurality of read blocks.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing regular dot positions when the required positional accuracy differs in the vertical and horizontal directions.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an image when dots are continuously hit.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a relative displacement when dots are continuously hit.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a code pattern.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a conventional dot printing image.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a relative displacement between a conventional print image and a print image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Computer system 21 ... Computer 22 ... Hard disk 24 ... CD-ROM drive 25 ... Floppy disk drive 26 ... Modem 30 ... Printer 31 ... Ink jet printer 31a ... Print head 31a2 ... Nozzle 31a6 ... Nozzle 32 ... Thermal transfer printer 32a ... Print head 33 … Dot impact printer 33a… print head

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus that reproduces a dot matrix print image while scanning a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in a paper feed direction in a digit feed direction. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that prints the print image using only a dot printing mechanism having a printing position shift that matches. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing control means includes a dot printing mechanism in which a printing position shift coincides with a normal printing mode in which printing is performed regardless of a printing position shift of each dot printing mechanism. A high-definition mode in which printing is performed by using only the printer. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said print control means is capable of performing a thinning-out process for lowering a print duty and performing said thinning-out process in said high-definition mode. A printing device characterized by the absence of a printing device. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control means performs printing using any one of the plurality of dot printing mechanisms. Characteristic printing device. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control means is independent for each of a plurality of blocks separated in the paper feed direction. A plurality of sets of dot printing mechanisms having the same printing position shift for each block, and performing printing. 6. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dot printing mechanism of the print head prints by discharging color ink and performs cleaning at predetermined intervals. A printing apparatus, wherein the printing control means does not perform the cleaning while printing one print image. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control means is the same when the printing accuracy required for the printing image is gentle in the digit feed direction. A printing apparatus characterized in that a plurality of dots are continuously printed by utilizing the dot printing mechanism of (1). 8. A print control which outputs a print image to a printing apparatus which reproduces a dot matrix print image while scanning a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in a paper feed direction in a digit feed direction. A device,
A print control device for outputting the print image so as to perform printing using only a dot printing mechanism having a printing position shift among the plurality of dot printing mechanisms. 9. A print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in the paper feed direction, while scanning in the digit feed direction to reproduce a dot matrix print image, a printing position shift of the plurality of dot printing mechanisms. A printing method, wherein the printing image is printed using only a dot printing mechanism that matches. 10. A medium in which a print control program for a printing apparatus for reproducing a dot matrix print image while scanning a print head having a plurality of dot printing mechanisms arranged in a paper feed direction in a digit feed direction is recorded. And a printing control program for printing the print image by using only the dot printing mechanism having the same printing position shift among the plurality of dot printing mechanisms.