JPH103368A - Method and system for print - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the definition of print image by identifying a printer to be selectively connected to a controller and controlling that printer while using dedicated data. SOLUTION: As the identification data of printer connected to computer terminal equipment, a printer ID is investigated (S502). After that printer ID is retrieved inside a storage device and correction data corresponding to that printer ID are read out, while using these correction data and setting data concerning the setting of print conditions set for each printer, head shading processing to the printer connected to the computer terminal equipment is performed (S511).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing method and a printing system for printing an image on a print medium by controlling a printer selectively connected thereto by a control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a printing apparatus using a print head which discharges ink from an ink flow path forming a plurality of nozzles, the influence of subtle variations in the shape of the ink flow path forming the nozzles and the printing Density unevenness may appear in a printing result such as printing due to a change in the ejection amount of the ink as an agent. A correction method for making such density unevenness inconspicuous is head shading (H
S).

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus that actually performs head shading. In the following, first, three systems of reading, image processing, and printing are configured in one apparatus. The conventional head shading technique in the case where there is is described.

In FIG. 10, a document exposure system 801 is a portion for reading a document, and corresponds to a portion for reading a print result of a print density pattern such as a print required for performing head shading. The image processing unit 802
This is a part for performing an operation or the like on an image read by the document exposure system 801 and includes functions of color processing, binarization processing, and head shading. The image forming unit 803
The image processing unit 8 is read by the document exposure system 801 and
02 is a part for printing the image processed by the print heads 804 to 804 to print the image.
807. Reference numeral 804 denotes a head for discharging black ink, 805 denotes a head for discharging cyan ink, 806 denotes a head for discharging magenta ink, and 807 denotes a head for discharging yellow ink.

In the printing apparatus having such a configuration, in order to examine the output characteristics of each of the print heads 804 to 807 of the image forming unit 803, first, each of the print heads 80 to 807 is checked.
4 to 807 so as to form an image of a constant density,
Using these, a predetermined test pattern image is printed, and the print result is read by the document exposure system 801.
The read data read by the document exposure system 801 is
The image processing unit 802 is used to create HS data 808. The HS data 808 is data for correcting the output density of ink from the ink flow path forming a plurality of nozzles in each of the print heads 804 to 807. And this HS data 80
8 is used as correction data for image data input from the document exposure system 801 in order to make the density unevenness less noticeable, and the image forming unit 803 prints an image in which the density unevenness has been eliminated. .

In a printing apparatus having such a configuration, a document exposing system 801, an image processing unit 802, an image forming unit 80
3 are not individually separated, and the characteristics of the print heads 804 to 807 of the image forming unit 803 and the HS data 808
There is no inconsistency between them as described below.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Terminal device 2 capable of image processing and transfer
And the printing apparatus 1 are independent, and these are connection cables 5
In the print system configuration connected by the printer, the printing apparatus 1 may be replaced and connected.

[0008]

However, in the system configuration as shown in FIG. 1, when head shading is performed, if the printing device 1 connected to the computer terminal device 2 is changed, the printing device 1 Is inconsistent with the HS data managed by the computer terminal device 2, and proper data correction cannot be performed. Therefore, conventionally, head shading cannot be performed in the print system as shown in FIG.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing method and a printing method capable of improving the quality of a printed image by identifying a printer selectively connected to a control device and controlling the printer using dedicated data. It is to provide a printing system.

[0010]

According to a printing method of the present invention, a plurality of printers each having a plurality of printing elements are selectively connected to a control device, and the printer connected to the control device is controlled by the control device. In a printing method for printing an image on a print medium, correction data relating to control of each printer connected to the control device is stored in a storage device, and the printer is set with respect to setting of print conditions of the printer. Data is set, the printer to be controlled connected to the control device is identified from the identification code attached to the printer, and the correction data corresponding to the identified printer to be controlled is read from the storage device, The control target printer is controlled using the read correction data and the control target printer setting data. It is characterized in.

In a printing system according to the present invention, a plurality of printers each having a plurality of printing elements are selectively connected to a control device, and the control device controls the printer connected to the control device so that an image is printed on a print medium. A printing system for printing correction data related to control for each printer connected to the control device, and setting means provided in the printer for setting setting data related to setting of printing conditions of the printer. Identification means for identifying a printer to be controlled connected to the control device from an identification code assigned to the printer, and search means for searching and reading correction data corresponding to the identified printer to be controlled from the storage device When,
Correction means for correcting the control content of the controlled printer using the read correction data and the setting data of the controlled printer.

According to the present invention, a printer selectively connected to the control device is identified, correction data relating to control of the printer is read out, and the correction data and
The corresponding printer is controlled using the setting data relating to the setting of the printing condition set for each printer.

[0013]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printer system to which the present invention can be applied. A color barcode printer 1 as a printing apparatus used in the present system has a plurality of nozzles. A print head having an ink flow path to be formed is used.
(A) and (b) show. As the print head,
Head 704 for ejecting black ink, head 703 for ejecting cyan ink, head 7 for ejecting magenta ink
02, four types of heads 701 for discharging yellow ink. FIG. 9B is a representative perspective view of the head 701. Reference numeral 706 in FIG. 9B denotes a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink.

In FIG. 1, a bar code printer 1 and
A computer terminal device 2 that can perform image processing and transfer, an image scanner 3 as a reading device, and a storage device 4 that stores the above-described correction HS data for correcting an output image are connected by a connection cable 5. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation from the measurement of the output characteristics of the print head of the bar code printer 1 as a printing apparatus to the creation of HS data necessary for performing image correction. First, a predetermined density pattern is printed by each of the print heads 701 to 704 in order to detect density unevenness of a print image (step S301).

The density pattern is a print pattern in which each of the print heads 701 to 704 forms an image having a constant density per unit area in a print area such as printing. 7
A pattern was used in which the print density was 50%. Then, print the result of the density pattern
Reading is performed by the reading device 3 connected to the computer terminal device 2 (step S302), density unevenness of a print image by each of the print heads 701 to 704 is detected, and HS data is created based on the data (step S303).

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of the relationship between the printer 1 and the contents stored in the storage device 4. FIG. Here, as the printer 1, various types of printers other than a barcode printer can be connected. In FIG. 2A, these printers are represented as printers 1, 2,. The print heads for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are represented as HC, HM, HY, and HB.

The storage device 4 has a computer terminal device 2
HS data 207, 20 for each print head HC, HM, HY, HB for each of the printers 1, 2,.
An HS data unit 204 for storing 8, 209 and 210;
Printer 1 connected to computer terminal device 2
A printer identification unit 206 for storing information composed of symbols and numbers for identifying 2... N is provided. Printer IDs corresponding to the printer IDs registered for each of the printers 1, 2,..., N are registered in the printer recognition unit 206, and are connected to the computer terminal device 2 by collating these printer IDs. .. N are identified. Further, the date and time when the HS data was acquired is stored in the printer recognition unit 206 as date and time data 211. The data section 204 and the printer identification section 206 are collectively called an HS table. The print setting values 212 specific to printing are set in the printers 1, 2,..., N. The print setting value 212 is, for example, a print range or a print margin setting value. FIG. 2
(B) represents one of the printer identification unit 206 and the data unit 204 in FIG.

As described above, each print head HC,
Since HM, HY, and HB are provided with an ink flow path that forms a plurality of nozzles, it is necessary to know the degree of print density corresponding to each nozzle. Therefore, the read data obtained from the reading device 3, that is, the read data of the print result of the above-described predetermined density pattern is analyzed, and the predetermined print density pattern to be printed at a fixed density is compared with the actual print density. Detect if there is a change in

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of creating the S data and the HS table will be described.

First, in order to associate read data obtained from the reading device 3, that is, read density data of a print result of the above-described predetermined density pattern with each nozzle of each print head, the resolution of the read density data, The resolution of the printer must be equivalent. Therefore, the resolution of the read density data is converted into the resolution of the printer. Here, the read density data for one line of the reading device 3 is associated with the nozzles of each print head.

Therefore, in order to associate the print density corresponding to the nozzle of each print head with the read density data of the reading device 3, a nozzle position cutout process (step S401) is performed. Here, the reading device 3
In the read density data obtained from, since the rise and fall of the read density change at the boundary between the print area such as printing and the non-print area becomes gentle, the interval from the first nozzle to the last nozzle of each print head is read. It is difficult to assign to density data. Therefore, attention is paid to the rising and falling portions of the read density change, and the first nozzle is statistically detected from the read density data, and the other nozzles are sequentially associated with the first nozzle. .

Next, an average value of the read density data corresponding to each nozzle is determined for each print head (step S402), and is used in calculating a correction value later. Next data shift processing (step S40)
3) is a process corresponding to the fact that the reading density data from the reading device 3 changes due to the difference in the recording material ejected from each print head. That is, if there is a large difference in the average value of the read density data for each print head, the correction effect described later greatly changes for each print head. Change the value to the same value. As a result, it is possible to suppress the correction effect from being changed by each print head.

In the next weighting process (step S404), the reliability of the value itself of the data performed in the previous cutout process (step S401), that is, the read density data associated with each nozzle is determined. This is a process for improving data values by weighting surrounding data values before and after the data value of interest, thereby enabling more accurate processing of data values corresponding to each nozzle. The read density data for each nozzle obtained in this way is compared with the average value of the read density data for each print head previously obtained, and the difference between them is calculated.
Then, HS data for each print head is created from the result (step S406).

Further, a printer ID for determining which printer the HS data belongs to is added to the HS data (step S407), and the date and time when the HS data was obtained is used as date and time data 211. The information is registered in the identification unit 206 (step S408), and an HS table is created (step S409). This HS table is stored in the storage device 4 connected to the computer terminal device 2.
And performs head shading by referring to and searching for the printer recognition unit 206.

Next, an example of a head shading processing operation using such an HS table will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the image data requested to be output from the computer terminal device 2 is converted into image data in a form capable of executing head shading (step S501). The printer ID is checked (step S502). Then, the printer ID is searched from the printer recognition unit 206 in all the HS tables registered in the storage device 4 (step S503). Then, if the printer ID can be searched, the printer recognition unit 2
If the HS data corresponding to the currently searched printer ID has been acquired with reference to the date and time data 211 registered in the printer 06 (step S505), it is determined that the elapsed time is longer than a preset elapsed time. Makes a request to reset the HS data (steps S509 and S516), and ends the process (step S517). This is a problem caused by performing head shading using HS data that has passed a certain period of time or more when the density unevenness appearing in the print result changes due to the change over time of each print head, that is, This is to prevent a problem that the correction has an adverse effect due to a change in the position of the density unevenness.

If the predetermined elapsed time has not elapsed since the acquisition of the HS data, the print setting value 21 registered in the currently connected printer is set.
2 (step S510), and executes head shading (step S511). On the other hand, printer I
If D cannot be searched, the search is repeated. If the printer ID cannot be searched even after checking all the HS tables stored in the storage device 4, the device is currently connected to the computer terminal device 2. It is determined that there is no information such as HS data relating to the printer in existence, a warning is issued, error processing is performed (step S506), and a series of processing is interrupted (step S507).

Head shading (step S51)
In the execution of 1), arithmetic processing is performed on the image data divided for each print head in order to equalize the print density of the image corresponding thereto. That is, H
The difference between the average value of the density data for each print head in the S data and the density data of each nozzle was obtained, and head shading was performed based on the difference, and the density data of the target nozzle was thinner than the average value. In this case, the print density of the nozzle is increased, while when the print density is higher than the average value, the print density of the nozzle is reduced. At this time, depending on the type of print head used in the printer, for example, it is necessary to perform head shading in consideration of print setting values 212 such as a print area and margin settings. The processing is executed with reference to the print setting value 212. The print setting value 212 will be described later together with the second embodiment.

After the above-described head shading processing (step S511), processing such as output γ correction, masking processing, and gray processing is added by the color processing unit (step S512). If the printer is a binary printer, it performs a binarization process represented by a dither method and an error diffusion method (step S513), and then transfers the data to the printer (step S514).
Printing is performed (step S515).

(Second Embodiment) Next, referring to FIG.
Another example of the head shading processing operation using the S table will be described.

First, an image requested to be output from the computer terminal device 2 is converted into an image format in which head shading can be executed (step S 601). Next, the printer ID of the printing device currently connected to the computer terminal device 2 is converted. Is checked (step S602). Then, the printer ID is searched from the printer recognition unit 206 in all the HS tables registered in the storage device 4 (step S603). If the printer ID can be searched, the date and time data 211 registered in the printer recognition unit 206 is further referred to (step S6).
05), if the HS data corresponding to the currently searched printer ID has been acquired and it has been longer than the preset elapsed time, a request to reset the HS data is made (step S608, In step S616, the process ends (step S616). This is a problem caused by performing head shading using HS data that has passed a certain period of time or more when the density unevenness appearing in the print result changes due to the change over time of each print head, that is, This is to prevent a problem that the correction has an adverse effect due to a change in the position of the density unevenness.

If the predetermined elapsed time has not elapsed since the acquisition of the HS data, the print setting value 21 registered in the currently connected printer is set.
2 (step S609), and executes head shading (step S610).

Here, the print setting value 212 will be described.

When the printer 1 is a so-called full line type printer, that is, as shown in FIG. 11, the printer 1 is provided with a print head H extending in the width direction of the print medium S.
If the printer prints an image on the print medium S by ejecting ink from the nozzles N of the print head H while transporting the print medium S in the length direction of the arrow in the figure, printing on the print medium S is performed. Range L1-
A, L2-B, and print margins L1-B, L2
The nozzle N to be used changes according to the set value of -B. Therefore, such a set value is set in advance as a print set value 212, and by using the set value 212, the corresponding HS data is assigned to the nozzle N to be used, and an appropriate head shading is performed. Can be executed.

On the other hand, if the printer ID cannot be searched, the search is repeated (steps S603 and S60).
4) If the printer ID is not found even after checking all the HS tables stored in the storage device 4, the head shading process is omitted, and the process proceeds to the color process (step S611) described later.

Head shading (step S61)
In the execution of 0), the image data divided for each print head is subjected to an arithmetic process for equalizing the print density of the image corresponding to the image data. That is,
When the difference between the average value of the density data for each print head in the HS data and the density data of each nozzle is obtained, head shading is performed based on the difference, and the density data of the target nozzle is lower than the average value. In the process, the print density of the nozzle is increased, while if the print density is higher than the average value, the print density of the nozzle is reduced.

After the above-described head shading processing (step S610), the color processing unit performs processing such as output γ correction, masking processing, and gray processing (step S611). If the printer is a binary printer, after performing a binarization process (step S612) represented by a dither method and an error diffusion method, data is transferred to the printer (step S613).
Printing is performed (step S614).

(Third Embodiment) Next, referring to FIG.
Still another example of the head shading process using the S table will be described.

In the case of this example, the computer terminal device 2 transmits a request for image printing to the printing device from the computer terminal device 2 until the printing is performed.
Printer ID in the storage device 4 connected to
When the printer ID cannot be searched, the head shading process is interrupted. When the printer ID is searched and the date and time data has exceeded the set time, the head shading process is omitted and the normal process is continued.

First, the image requested to be output from the computer terminal device 2 is converted into an image format in which head shading can be executed (step S701). Next, the printer ID of the printing device currently connected to the computer terminal device 2 is converted. Is checked (step S702). Then, the printer ID is searched from the printer recognition unit 206 in all the HS tables registered in the storage device 4 (step S703). If the printer ID can be searched, the date and time data 211 registered in the printer recognition unit 206 is further referred to (step S70).
5) If the HS data corresponding to the currently searched printer ID has been acquired and the elapsed time is longer than a preset elapsed time, the head shading process (step S712) is omitted, The process proceeds to step S713 described below. This is because, when the density unevenness appearing in the print result changes due to the change over time of each print head, H which has been passed for a certain period of time or more has been obtained.
This is to prevent a problem caused by performing the head shading using the S data, that is, a problem that the correction has a reverse effect due to a change in the position of the density unevenness.

If the predetermined elapsed time has not elapsed since the acquisition of the HS data, the print setting value 21 registered in the currently connected printer is set.
2 (step S711), and executes head shading (step S712). On the other hand, printer I
If D cannot be searched, the search is repeated (steps S703 and S704). If the printer ID cannot be searched even after checking all the HS tables stored in the storage device 4, error processing and error processing are performed. A display is performed (step S706), and the process ends (step S70).
7).

Head shading (step S71)
In the execution of 2), the image data divided for each print head is subjected to arithmetic processing for equalizing the print density of an image corresponding to the image data. That is,
When the difference between the average value of the density data for each print head in the HS data and the density data of each nozzle is obtained, head shading is performed based on the difference, and the density data of the target nozzle is lower than the average value. , The print density of the nozzle is increased. On the other hand, if the print density is higher than the average value, a process of reducing the print density of the nozzle is performed.

After the above-described head shading processing (step S712), processing such as output γ correction, masking processing, and gray processing is added by the color processing unit (step S713). If the printer is a binary printer, it performs a binarization process represented by a dither method or an error diffusion method (step S714), and then transfers the data to the printer device (step S71).
5) Printing is performed (step S716).

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, referring to FIG.
Still another example of the head shading process using the S table will be described.

In the case of this example, the computer terminal device 2 transmits a request for printing an image to the printing device from the computer terminal device 2 until the image is printed.
Printer ID in the storage device 4 connected to
If the search cannot be performed, or if the set time has elapsed since the date and time data was acquired, the head shading process is omitted and the normal process is continued.

First, an image requested to be output from the computer terminal device 2 is converted into an image format in which head shading can be executed (step S801). Next, the printer ID of the printing device currently connected to the computer terminal device 2 is converted. Is checked (step S802). Then, the printer ID is searched from the printer recognition unit 206 in all the HS tables registered in the storage device 4 (step S803). If the printer ID can be searched, the date and time data 211 registered in the printer recognition unit 206 is further referred to (step S80).
5) If the preset elapsed time has elapsed since the acquisition of the HS data corresponding to the currently searched printer ID, the head shading process (step S810) is omitted, and the process will be described later. The process proceeds to the color processing (step S812). This is because when the density unevenness appearing in the print result changes due to the change over time of each print head, a problem caused by performing head shading using HS data that has passed a certain time or more after acquisition, that is, This is to prevent a problem that the correction has an adverse effect due to a change in the position of the density unevenness.

If the predetermined elapsed time has not elapsed since the acquisition of the HS data, the print setting value 21 registered in the currently connected printer is set.
2 (step S809), and executes head shading (step S810). On the other hand, printer I
If D cannot be searched, the search is repeated (steps S803 and S804). If the printer ID cannot be searched even after checking all the HS tables stored in the storage device 4, the head shading processing is performed. (Step S810) is omitted, and the process proceeds to color processing (step S812) described later.

Head shading (step S81)
In the execution of 0), the image data divided for each print head is subjected to an arithmetic process for equalizing the print density of the image corresponding to the image data. That is,
When the difference between the average value of the density data for each print head in the HS data and the density data of each nozzle is obtained, head shading is performed based on the difference, and the density data of the target nozzle is lower than the average value. , The print density of the nozzle is increased. On the other hand, if the print density is higher than the average value, a process of reducing the print density of the nozzle is performed.

After the above-described head shading processing (step S810), the color processing unit performs processing such as output γ correction, masking processing, and gray processing (step S812). If the printer is a binary printer, it performs a binarization process represented by a dither method and an error diffusion method (step S813), and then transfers the data to the printer device (step S81).
4) Printing is performed (step S815).

The connectable printers 1, 2,..., N as shown in FIG. 2 are not limited to color bar code printers, but include various types of printers having a print head having a plurality of nozzles. A printer can be used. Further, the present invention can be widely applied to a print system including a computer terminal device 2 capable of editing print data transferred to a printer, and includes a printer, a computer terminal device 2, and a reading device 3.
Is not particularly limited.

As a method of determining HS data and a color process and a binarizing process in a process of causing a printer to perform a printing operation by the computer terminal device 2, conventionally known methods can be used. Was omitted. Of course, the method and procedure for those processes are not limited at all.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention has a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

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

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

It is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, for example, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid.
An ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or the ink jet method controls the viscosity of the ink by adjusting the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C. Is generally controlled so as to be within the stable ejection range, so that the ink may be in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60
As described in JP-A-71260, a configuration may be adopted in which a liquid or solid substance is held in a concave portion or through hole of a porous sheet and opposed to an electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention include, in addition to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like,
Further, a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function may be used.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, a printer selectively connected to a control device is identified, correction data relating to control of the printer is read, and the correction data and the In order to control the corresponding printer using the setting data relating to the set print conditions, the printer selectively connected to the control device is appropriately controlled using the dedicated data, and there is no density unevenness or the like. High quality images can be printed.

Further, by storing the date and time when the correction data is obtained, it is possible to avoid a control problem caused by using the correction data when a predetermined time has elapsed from the date and time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printing system to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2A is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of an HS table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of creating HS data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of creating an HS table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a side view of a printer applicable to the present invention, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged perspective view of the print head.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a conventional print system.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the print setting values shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Barcode Printer 2 Computer Terminal Device 3 Image Scanner 4 Storage Device 5 Connection Cable 204 HS Table 206 Printer ID (Identification Data) 207 Correction HS Data (Cyan) 208 Correction HS Data (Magenta) 209 Correction HS Data (Yellow) ) 210 Correction HS data (black) 211 Date and time data 212 Print set value 701 Print head (yellow) 702 Print head (magenta) 703 Print head (cyan) 704 Print head (black)

Claims (26)

[Claims] A printing method for selectively connecting a plurality of printers having a plurality of printing elements to a control device, and controlling the printer connected to the control device to print an image on a print medium by the control device. In the storage device, correction data relating to control for each printer connected to the control device is stored in a storage device, and setting data relating to setting of printing conditions of the printer is set in the printer, and attached to the printer. Identifying the control target printer connected to the control device from the identified identification code, reading out the correction data corresponding to the identified control target printer from the storage device, and reading out the read out correction data and the control target printer. And a control target printer is controlled using the setting data. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction data is correction data relating to control for each print element of the printer. 3. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction data is correction data relating to a print density for each print element of the printer. 4. The correction data is correction data relating to a print density for each print element of the printer, and the correction data is a print result of a print result when the printer prints an image of a predetermined density pattern on a print medium. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the printing method is obtained based on read data. 5. When printing an image on the print medium, the image is printed using a plurality of the printing elements arranged in the width direction of the print medium while conveying the print medium in the length direction. Wherein the correction data is correction data relating to a print density for each of the print elements; the setting data is a set value of a print area for the print medium; and the print located in the print area based on the set data. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein the correction data corresponding to the element is assigned. 6. When printing an image on the print medium, the image is printed using a plurality of the printing elements arranged in the width direction of the print medium while conveying the print medium in the length direction. The correction data is correction data relating to a print density for each of the print elements.The setting data is a set value of a print margin for the print medium.Based on the set data, the correction data is located outside a print margin. 5. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein the corresponding correction data is assigned to a print element. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the correction data is stored in the storage device in association with the identification code, and the correction data corresponding to the identification code is read from the storage device by searching the identification code. The printing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: 8. When the identification code cannot be retrieved from the storage device, a message to that effect is displayed and control of the printer to be controlled connected to the control device is interrupted. 7. The printing method according to 7. 9. When the identification code cannot be retrieved from the storage device, control of a printer to be controlled connected to the control device is continued without using the correction data and the setting data. Claim 7
Printing method described in. 10. The storage device further stores a storage date and time at which the correction data is stored, and when controlling the printer to be controlled using the correction data and the setting data, a predetermined period from the storage date and time. If it has passed, we will indicate that,
10. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein control of the printer to be controlled is interrupted. 11. The storage device also stores a storage date and time at which the correction data is stored, and when controlling the printer to be controlled using the correction data and the setting data, a predetermined period from the storage date and time. The printing method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when the above has elapsed, control of the printer to be controlled is continued without using the correction data and the setting data. 12. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of printing elements of the printer constitute an ink jet head for discharging ink. 13. The printing method according to claim 12, wherein the ink jet head has an electrothermal converter that causes film boiling of the ink to discharge the ink. 14. A printing system for selectively connecting a plurality of printers having a plurality of print elements to a control device, and controlling the printer connected to the control device to print an image on a print medium by the control device. A storage device that stores correction data relating to control for each printer connected to the control device; a setting unit that is provided in the printer and sets setting data relating to setting of printing conditions of the printer; Identification means for identifying a printer to be controlled connected to the control device from the identification code obtained; searching means for searching for and reading correction data corresponding to the identified printer to be controlled from the storage device; and The control target printer is controlled using the correction data and the control target printer setting data. Printing system characterized by comprising a correction means for correcting the contents, the. 15. The printing system according to claim 14, wherein the storage device stores, as the correction data, correction data relating to control for each print element of the printer. 16. The storage device according to claim 14, wherein the storage device stores, as the correction data, correction data relating to a print density for each print element of the printer.
The printing system according to 1. 17. The storage device stores, as the correction data, correction data relating to a print density for each print element of the printer, and stores the data when the printer prints an image of a predetermined density pattern on a print medium. The printing system according to claim 14, further comprising: a reading device that reads a print result; and a unit that obtains the correction data based on data read by the reading device. 18. A printing apparatus, comprising: transport means for transporting the print medium in a length direction, a plurality of the print elements arranged in a width direction of the print medium, and the storage device stores the print elements as the correction data. Correction data for each print density is stored; the setting means sets a set value of a print area for the print medium as the setting data; and the correction means sets the set value in the print area based on the set data. 18. The printing system according to claim 16, wherein the corresponding correction data is assigned to the printing element located. 19. A printing apparatus, comprising: transport means for transporting the print medium in a length direction, a plurality of the print elements being arranged in a width direction of the print medium, the storage device stores the print elements as the correction data. Correction data for each print density, the setting unit sets a setting value of a print margin for the print medium as the setting data, and the correction unit sets the print margin based on the setting data. 18. The printing system according to claim 16, wherein the corresponding correction data is assigned to the printing element located outside. 20. The storage device stores the correction data in association with the identification code, and the search unit searches the identification code to store the correction data corresponding to the identification code. 20. The readout from the device.
The printing system according to any one of the above. 21. A display means for displaying when the search means cannot search the identification code from the storage device, and when the search means cannot search the identification code from the storage device. 21. The print system according to claim 20, further comprising means for interrupting control of a printer to be controlled connected to the control device. 22. A means for continuing control of a printer to be controlled connected to the control device without using the correction data when the search means cannot search the identification code from the storage device. The printing system according to claim 20, comprising: 23. The storage device also stores a storage date and time at which the correction data is stored, and when controlling the printer to be controlled using the correction data and the setting data, a predetermined date and time from the storage date and time. If the period has elapsed, a display means for displaying that fact, and when controlling the printer to be controlled using the correction data and the setting data, a predetermined period has elapsed from the storage date and time. 23. The print system according to claim 14, further comprising: means for interrupting control of the printer to be controlled in the event of a change. 24. The storage device also stores a storage date and time at which the correction data is stored, and when controlling the printer to be controlled using the correction data and the setting data, a predetermined date and time from the storage date and time. 23. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: means for continuing control of the printer to be controlled without using the correction data and the setting data when a period of time has elapsed. Print system. 25. The printing system according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of printing elements of the printer constitute an ink jet head that ejects ink. 26. The print system according to claim 25, wherein the ink jet head has an electrothermal converter that causes film boiling of the ink to eject the ink.