JPH1058667A - Ink jet printing device for print circuit substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit the carry-out of the optimum printing operation by a method wherein the remaining amount data of ink used in an ink jet printer is stored and amount of consumption data is operated based on a printing data before starting printing operation to compare it with the remaining amount data of ink and judge which is bigger while printing operation is prohibited when the consumption is bigger than the remaining amount of ink. SOLUTION: The frame memory 24 of a printing data processing circuit 10 is connected to a printing head driving circuit 34 through the line buffers 26, 28 and the switch circuits 31, 32 of an ink jet printer 14. The number of coloring picture elements in the memory 24 is detected and the total consuming amount of ink, necessary for printing, is operated by adding not only ink drops, injected out of a nozzle upon operation of a printing head 36, but also the consumption of the ink due to cleaning of printing surface of the printing head 36 to a raster data for one frame. The amount of consumption of the ink is compared with the remaining amount of ink in an ink tank 38 before carrying out printing in such a manner whereby a trouble, such as the shortage of ink during printing and the like, can be avoided when the printing operation is controlled while effecting the comparison.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board for printing information such as characters and figures on a printed circuit board, and more particularly to an ink jet printer and a method for processing print data to be transferred to the ink jet printer. And a print data processing circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, information such as characters and figures is printed on a printed circuit board before various electronic components are mounted. For example, such characters include the serial number and circuit identification number of the electronic component to be mounted, and such figures include the outline shape of the electronic component to be mounted and the positioning marks for the electronic component automatic mounting machine. It is.

Conventionally, a silk printing apparatus has been used to print such information as characters and figures on a printed circuit board. Therefore, characters and the like printed on a printed circuit board are generally referred to as silk characters. Called. Such a silk printing device is suitable for mass production of printed circuit boards, but it is not cost-effective for a large number of types of printed circuit boards. There's a problem. This is because a silk-screen printing apparatus requires a silk-screen printing plate to be prepared for each type of printed circuit board, and the production of the silk-screen printing plate requires a relatively large cost.

Therefore, in recent years, an ink jet printing apparatus has attracted attention as a printing apparatus suitable for high-mix low-volume production of printed circuit boards. In addition, such an ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board is a part of an integrated system for manufacturing a printed circuit board. It can be configured to carry. In addition,
Such a manufacturing integrated system includes a CAD (Compu- ture) for designing a circuit pattern of a printed circuit board, a protection film pattern, and the like.
ter Aided Design) station, a CAM (Computer Aided Manufa) that edits the circuit pattern data and protective film pattern data obtained by this CAD station.
and a laser drawing device for drawing a circuit pattern or a protective film pattern on a photosensitive film for photomask or a photoresist layer of a substrate based on pattern data processed in a CAM station.

[0005]

In the above-described ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, an ultraviolet curable ink is used as the ink in the ink jet printer, and printing on the printed circuit board is performed in the dark. Will be This is because the ink of the inkjet printer can be cured by the ultraviolet light included in the natural light.

Therefore, it is impossible for the operator to visually observe the operation status of the ink jet printer, and when the printing operation is performed in such a condition, the amount of ink remaining in the ink jet printer is accurately determined. Must be understood. This is because if the printing operation is continued despite the fact that the ink has run out during the printing operation, ink droplets are randomly ejected from the inkjet nozzles and the printed circuit board may be contaminated. In such a case, it is necessary to clean the printed circuit board contaminated with the ink, replace the ink tank of the print head of the ink jet printer with a new one, and execute the printing operation again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board for printing characters, figures, and the like on a printed circuit board, and to accurately ascertain the remaining amount of ink in the ink jet printer and perform an appropriate printing operation. The present invention provides an inkjet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board configured to perform the following.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention is for printing information such as characters and figures on a printed circuit board.
It comprises an inkjet printer and print data processing means for processing print data to be transferred to the inkjet printer. According to the present invention, the print data processing unit includes an ink remaining amount data storage unit for storing ink remaining amount data used in the ink jet printer, and a print data processing unit based on the print data before starting the printing operation in the ink jet printer. An ink consumption calculating means for calculating ink consumption data to be consumed in the printing operation in advance; and comparing the ink consumption data obtained by the ink consumption calculation means with the remaining ink data, the ink consumption data is calculated. Discriminating means for discriminating whether the amount is smaller or larger than ink remaining amount data, and printing operation inhibiting means for inhibiting printing operation by the ink jet printer when the discriminating means judges that the ink consumption data is larger than the ink remaining amount data. And

According to the present invention, the ink consumption calculating means calculates the ink consumption based on at least the total number of color pixels of the print data. Further, the ink consumption calculating means is based on not only the total number of color pixels of the print data but also the number of times of cleaning of the print head of the ink jet printer performed according to the number of color pixels included in each main scanning direction line in the print data. It is more preferable to calculate the amount of ink consumption. Further, the ink consumption calculating means may calculate the ink consumption based on not only the total number of color pixels of the print data and the number of times of cleaning of the print head of the ink jet printer but also the number of printed sheets of the printed circuit board to be printed. .

In the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention, preferably, the print data processing means further prints when the discrimination means determines that the ink consumption data is larger than the ink remaining amount data. A print number reset input means for resetting the number data is provided. Preferably, the print operation prohibiting means includes a display means for displaying that the print operation by the ink jet printer is impossible.

In the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention, preferably, the print data processing means further includes an ink jet printer when the judgment means judges that the ink consumption data is smaller than the ink remaining amount data. And display means for displaying that the printing operation is possible.

In the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention, preferably, the print data processing means further comprises a data obtained by subtracting the ink consumption data from the ink remaining amount data after the printing operation by the ink jet printer is completed. Is updated as new ink remaining amount data in the ink remaining amount data storage unit.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of an ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention, which is a part of an integrated system for manufacturing a printed circuit board. And is responsible for the CA
The transfer of print data and the like created therefrom from the D station or the CAM station is accepted. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board includes a print data processing circuit 10, a keyboard 12 for inputting various command signals, necessary data, and the like to the print data processing circuit 10, and a print data processing circuit. An ink jet printer 14 for printing information such as characters and figures on a printed circuit board (not shown) based on the print data processed by the processing circuit 10 is provided.

The print data processing circuit 10 is provided with a system control circuit 16, which is configured as a microcomputer including a microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory (ROM, RAM) and the like. You. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the keyboard 12 is connected to the system control circuit 16, and the input of various command signals and data from the keyboard 12 is performed by the system control circuit 16.
Done for Also, the system control circuit 1
A TV monitor device 17 is connected to 6 and displays a message for prompting various commands, a message for notifying the operator, and the like.

The print data processing circuit 10 includes a hard disk drive 18 as data storage means, and this hard disk drive 18 is operated by a system control circuit 16. Also, the system control circuit 1
6, a LAN interface circuit 20 is connected, and the system control circuit 16 takes in print data and the like transferred from the CAD station or CAM station via the LAN interface circuit 20, and stores the print data and the like in the hard disk device 18 as appropriate. Will be retained.

The print data is created in advance by a CAD station or a CAM station, and includes coded data such as characters and vector data such as graphics. An operator of the inkjet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board inputs a command signal to the system control circuit 16 via the keyboard 12, requests transfer of necessary print data from the CAD station or the CAM station, and stores the transfer in the hard disk device 18. .

The system control circuit 16 appropriately reads out print data (vector data) from the hard disk device 18 and converts the read data into raster data by a raster conversion circuit 22 before the frame memory 24
Is written and held. The writing of raster data to the frame memory 24 is performed based on a write clock pulse output from the system control circuit 16 to the frame memory 24.

A read clock pulse output from the system control circuit 16 is input to the frame memory 24. In accordance with the read clock pulse, raster data (print data) is read from the frame memory 24 in units of, for example, 32 bits. . The system control circuit 16 can take in the raster data held in the frame memory 24 in order to detect whether or not each pixel of the raster data is a coloring pixel.

The ink jet printer 14 is provided with a first line buffer 26 and a second line buffer 28. The first and second line buffers 26 and 28 are arranged in parallel, a first switch circuit 30 is arranged on the input terminal side of these line buffers, and the second switch circuit is arranged on the output terminal side of these line buffers. A circuit 32 is provided. The first switch circuit 30 is provided with one input terminal and two output terminals. The input terminals are connected to the frame memory 24 of the print data processing circuit 10, and the two output terminals of the first switch circuit 30 Each first
And the input terminals of the second line buffers 26 and 28. The second switch circuit 32 has two input terminals and one output terminal. The two input terminals are connected to the output terminals of the first and second line buffers 26 and 28, respectively. The output terminal of the circuit 32 is connected to the print head drive circuit 34.

The print head drive circuit 34 includes a print head 36
For example, 64 ink jet nozzles are appropriately arranged on the print surface of the print head 36 along the sub-scanning direction. In this case, the print head 36 is 64 × 64
It is possible to perform recording using a dot matrix of The print head 36 is supplied with ultraviolet curable ink held in an ink tank 38, and the ink tank 3
Numeral 8 is replaced when the ultraviolet curable ink therein is consumed.

By the way, as is well known, a pressure wave generating element such as a piezoelectric element is incorporated in each ink jet nozzle of the print head 36, and when such a pressure wave generating element is driven based on a color pixel of raster data, Ink droplets are ejected from the corresponding inkjet nozzles, and thereby dot recording is performed on the printed circuit board by the ink droplets. Assuming that printing based on one frame of raster data in the frame memory 24 is as shown in FIG. 2, for example, black circles indicate dots recorded by ink droplets ejected from inkjet nozzles, and white circles indicate ink droplets. Indicates a portion where no dot is formed. Since the amount of ink droplets ejected from each ink jet nozzle of the print head 36 is substantially constant, it is possible to calculate the total number of dots at the end of printing based on one frame of raster data and integrate the amount of ink droplets. And the amount of ink consumption required for printing based on one frame of raster data.

In the present invention, it is necessary to know the ink consumption amount as described above before the actual printing operation based on the raster data for one frame.
By detecting the number of coloring pixels (corresponding to dots) in 4, the amount of ink consumption required for printing based on one frame of raster data is calculated. In the example of FIG.
Assuming that the total number of coloring pixels (dots) is ^ TP (52) "and the amount of ink per ink droplet is ^ DV", the amount of ink consumed for printing based on one frame of raster data is as follows. It can be expressed by the following equation. TP * DV Note that the symbol ^ * "represents the product. If the number of printed circuits on the printed circuit board is ^ Nt", the total ink consumption ^ Cp "consumed by printing on all the printed circuit boards is given by the following equation. Cp = TP * DV * Nt

The ink consumed during the operation of the print head 36 is consumed not only by the ink droplets ejected from the ink jet nozzles but also by cleaning the print surface of the print head 36. More specifically, when an ink droplet is ejected from each inkjet nozzle, a fine part is separated from the ink droplet and adheres as a fine ink droplet around the nozzle opening of the inkjet nozzle. The fine ink droplet attached to the nozzle opening grows each time the ejection of the ink droplet from the corresponding inkjet nozzle is repeated,
When the attached ink droplet becomes large, the attached ink droplet falls on a printed circuit board on which printing is to be performed, or the flying direction of the ink droplet ejected from the corresponding inkjet nozzle is bent under the influence of the attached ink droplet. Therefore, when the number of ejections of ink droplets from any one of the inkjet nozzles of the print head 36 exceeds the limit point, the print head 36
Is cleaned, and at this time, a predetermined amount of ink is consumed. That is, cleaning of the print surface of the print head 36 is performed by wiping the print surface with an ink suction device. At this time, not only the attached ink droplets but also a small amount of ink is taken from each ink jet nozzle by the ink suction device. become.

When printing based on the raster data in the frame memory 24 is performed, the number of cleaning times is determined by counting the number of ink droplets ejected from each ink jet nozzle. When the number of ink droplet ejections exceeds the limit point, the number of cleanings is set to one, and then the number of ink droplets ejected from each inkjet nozzle is re-counted, and the number of ink droplets ejected from any one of the inkjet nozzles is counted again. Each time the number of times exceeds the limit, the number of times of cleaning can be counted up once.

In the present invention, it is necessary to know the amount of ink consumed by cleaning the print head 36 before the actual printing operation based on one frame of raster data. By counting the number of colored pixels of the raster data in the main scanning direction line, the number of times of cleaning can be known in advance. It should be noted here that the printing surface of the print head 36 is usually cleaned each time a printing operation is completed once in an ink jet printer. Therefore, the number of times of cleaning of the print head 36 must be incremented by one each time the printing operation is completed once.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when printing is performed by moving the print head 36 having 64 ink jet nozzles once in the main scanning direction to form one band, the number of ejections of ink droplets from each ink jet nozzle is assumed. Can be known by counting the number of coloring pixels (dots) included in the main scanning direction line corresponding thereto, and the limit of the number of times of ejection of ink droplets even in one of the 64 inkjet nozzles ^ When "DN" is exceeded, the printing surface of the print head 36 is cleaned by the ink suction device before printing of the corresponding band is performed. The number of coloring pixels (dots) included in the main scanning direction line corresponding to the number of ejections is counted again, and the number of pixels of 64 inkjet nozzles is counted. When at least one of them exceeds the limit of the number of ejections of ink droplets ^ DN ", the printing surface of the print head 36 is cleaned by the ink suction device before printing of the corresponding band is performed. In this manner, the number of times of cleaning can be determined by sequentially detecting the number of color pixels included in the raster data of the main scanning direction line in the frame memory 24.

Therefore, in printing based on one frame of raster data, the number of cleanings is set to ^ TC (this includes cleaning performed after the end of the printing operation).
Assuming that the amount of ink consumed during each cleaning is ^ CV, the amount of ink consumed by cleaning associated with printing based on one frame of raster data can be expressed by the following equation: TC * CV Also, the number of printed circuits on the printed circuit board Is represented by ^ Nt ", the total ink consumption due to cleaning accompanying the printing of all printed circuit boards ^ Cc" can be expressed by the following equation: Cc = TC * CV * Nt

Thus, before the actual printing is executed, the ink consumption data ^ Cp "and ^ Cc" as described above are obtained in advance and compared with the remaining ink amount in the ink tank 38 to manage the printing operation. Then, a situation such as running out of ink during the printing operation can be avoided.

Next, an operation routine of the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, in step 401, it is determined whether or not a print data read command has been issued. If the print data read command has not been confirmed, a standby state is set.
In step 401, when there is a print data read command, the process proceeds to step 402, where the hard disk device 18 is accessed to determine whether there is the corresponding print data. If the relevant print data is not stored in the hard disk device 18, the process proceeds to step 403, where a message indicating that the relevant print data is not stored in the hard disk device 18 is displayed on the TV monitor device 17, and then the process proceeds to step 401. Return. In this case, the operator can request to access the CAD station or the CAM station and transfer the corresponding print data to the hard disk device 18.

If it is determined in step 402 that the print data is stored in the hard disk device 18, the process proceeds to step 404, where the print data is read from the hard disk device 18. Next, the routine proceeds to step 405, where the raster conversion circuit 22
Is operated, and the raster conversion circuit 22 converts print data (encoded data such as characters and vector data such as graphics) from the hard disk device 18 into raster data. In step 406, writing of the converted raster data to the frame memory 24 is started, and then in step 407, it is determined whether or not writing of the converted raster data to the frame memory 24 is completed.

At step 407, when it is confirmed that the conversion raster data has been written into the frame memory 24, the process proceeds to step 408, where the print number data ^ Nt "of the printed circuit board to be printed is input to the keyboard 12.
It is determined whether or not the data has been input to the system control circuit 16 via the CPU, and the apparatus is in a standby state until the number-of-printed-sheet data ^ Nt "is input.

In step 408, when the input of the number-of-printed-circuit-data ^ Nt "is confirmed, the flow advances to step 409, in which it is determined whether the ink tank 38 of the print head 36 has been replaced with a new one. If the ink tank 38 has been replaced with a new one, the process proceeds to step 410, where the ink amount data ^ FV "of the new ink tank 38 is transmitted to the system control circuit 16 via the keyboard 12 by the operator. It is determined whether the input has been made. When there is no input of the ink amount data ^ FV ", the process enters a standby state. When the input of the ink amount data ^ FV" is confirmed in step 410, the process proceeds to step 411, where the ink amount data ^ FV "is stored in the ink tank 38. Is the current ink amount data ^ Vc "held in.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step 409 that the ink tank 38 has not been replaced with a new one, the process proceeds to step 412, where the remaining ink data ^ RV "is read from the hard disk device 18, and Next, at step 413, the remaining ink data ^ RV "is made the current ink amount data ^ Vc" held in the ink tank 38.

In step 414, the system control circuit 16 retrieves the color pixels from the raster data in the frame memory 24 and calculates the color pixel total data ^ TP "(FIG. 2). By performing such an operation, ink consumption data ^ Cp "consumed in the current printing (printed number of printed circuit board ^ Nt") is obtained. Cp ← TP * DV * Nt

At step 416, the color pixels included in each of the raster data of the main scanning direction line (64 lines) of the first band in the frame memory 24 are sequentially detected again, and the number of color pixels is counted (FIG. 3). . In this case inside the system control circuit 16, the counter CN ₁ to CN ₆₄ respectively corresponding is prepared in 64 ink jet nozzles in the main scanning direction line i.e. the print head 36 of the 64 duty,
Every time one color pixel is detected in each line in the main scanning direction, the count of the corresponding counter CN _n (n = 1, 2,..., 64) is incremented by “1”.

[0038] In step 417, to counter CN ₁ no
It is determined whether or not any of the count numbers of the CN ₆₄ has exceeded predetermined color pixel number data (that is, limit ejection number data to be cleaned) ^ DN ". If the counters CN ₁ to CN ₆₄ If none of the counts exceeds the color pixel number data ^ DN ", the process proceeds to step 418, where the count of the counter BC is incremented by" 1 ". Then, the process returns to step 416, where counting the number of color pixels color pixels sequentially detected and included in each of the raster data of second band in the main scanning direction line (64), thereby to counter CN ₁ no CN
Each of the ₆₄ counts is counted up by “1”. That is, to the counter CN ₁ not to exceed any number of counts color pixel number data ^ DN "of CN _64,
The routine consisting of steps 416, 417 and 418 is repeated.

[0039] In step 417, if to the counter CN ₁ not exceeding "either count number color pixel number data ^ DN of CN _64, the process proceeds to step 419, where the count number of the counter BC, ie to counter CN ₁ no CN ₆₄
One of the count numbers is the color pixel count data ^ DN "
When the band number exceeds the band number, it is stored in the RAM of the system control circuit 16, and the printing surface of the print head 36 is cleaned before printing based on the raster data of the band number.

In step 420, the count number of the counter TC is incremented by "1", the program proceeds to step 421, where all counters CN ₁ to CN ₆₄ is reset. Subsequently, in step 422, it is determined whether or not the counting of the number of coloring pixels included in each of the raster data of the main scanning direction line (64 lines) in the last band has been completed. If the counting of the number of color pixels included in each of the raster data of the main scanning direction line (64 lines) in the last band has not been completed, step 42 is executed.
The process proceeds to step 3, where the count of the counter BC is incremented by "1", and the process returns to step 416.
That is, steps 416, 417, 418, 419, and 42 are performed until the end of the counting of the number of coloring pixels is confirmed.
The routine consisting of 0, 421, 422 and 423 is repeated. In short, as is apparent from the description with reference to FIG. 3, in the repetition of this routine, the printing surface of the print head 36 must be cleaned during printing based on the raster data in the frame memory 24. Be counted.

When it is confirmed in step 422 that the counting of the number of color pixels for the raster data of the last band in the frame memory 24 has been completed, step 4
The process proceeds to 24, where the count number of the counter TC is further incremented by "1". Here the counter TC
The reason why "1" is added to the count number is that the printing surface of the print head 36 is always cleaned at the end of the printing operation, as described above.

In step 425, the following operation is performed to execute the current printing (the number of printed circuits on the printed circuit board).
^ Nt ") is obtained as ink consumption data ^ Cc" consumed in cleaning the print head 36. Cc ← TC * CV * Nt

Subsequently, in step 426, the following calculation is performed. ΔVc ← Vc-(Cp + Cc) That is, the difference data ΔVc between the current ink amount data ^ Vc "and the total ink consumption data (Cp + Cc) to be consumed in the current printing.
Is required.

In step 427, it is determined whether the difference data ΔVc is positive or negative. That is, if the difference data ΔVc is positive, it means that the current ink amount data ^ Vc "can cover the total ink consumption (Cp + Cc) consumed in the current printing. In this case, it means that the current ink amount data ^ Vc "cannot cover the total ink consumption amount (Cp + Cc) consumed in the current printing. That is, the latter case means that the ink runs out during the printing operation.

In step 427, if ΔVc ≧ 0, the process proceeds to step 428, where a message indicating that printing is possible is displayed on the TV monitor device 17.
Next, at step 429, the print command is sent to the keyboard 1
It is determined whether or not a print command has been input via the keyboard 12, and if no print command has been input, the process proceeds to step 430, where it is determined whether or not a print stop command has been input via the keyboard 12. If there is no print cancel command input,
Return to step 429. If the printing is canceled for some reason, for example, the change of the number-of-printed-data ^ Nt ", that is, if the input of the printing cancel command is confirmed in step 430, steps 430 to 43 are executed.
Go to 1 where all counters are reset and then return to step 401.

On the other hand, when the input of the print command is confirmed in step 429, the process proceeds from step 429 to step 432, where the ink jet printer 14 is operated.
Next, in step 433, raster data is read from the frame memory 24 in response to a request from the inkjet printer 14, and the read raster data is output to the input terminal of the switch circuit 30 of the inkjet printer 14.

In step 434, it is determined whether or not printing on the printed circuit board has been completed, and the process is on standby until printing is completed. In step 434, when the end of printing on the printed circuit board is confirmed, the process proceeds to step 435, where it is determined whether or not the count number of the print number counter NP is equal to the print number data ^ Nt "(initial stage). Then, the counter NP is in a reset state).
If the count number of the counter NP has not reached the print number data ^ Nt ", the process proceeds to step 436, where the count number of the counter NP is incremented by" 1 ", and then returns to step 433 to execute the next print circuit. Printing is performed on the substrate.

In step 435, when it is confirmed that the count number of the counter NP has reached the print number data "Nt", that is, when the printing for all the number (Nt) of the printed circuit board is completed, steps 435 to 437 are performed. Then, the operation of the ink jet printer 14 is stopped.Next, in step 438, the following calculation is executed: RV ← ΔVc That is, the difference data ΔVc calculated in step 426 is replaced with the remaining ink amount in the next printing. It is the quantity data RV.

Next, in step 439, new ink remaining amount data RV is written to the hard disk device 18. Subsequently, in step 440, all the counters are reset, and thereafter, the process returns to step 401, and enters a standby state for the next printing.

In step 427, when ΔVc <0, that is, when the current ink amount data ^ Vc "cannot cover the total ink consumption (Cp + Cc) consumed in the current printing, the process proceeds to step 441. Therefore, a message indicating that the current printing is not possible is displayed on the TV monitor device 17. Next, in step 442, it is determined whether or not the print number data ^ Nt "should be changed. If the operator inputs a command to change the number-of-prints data ^ Nt "to the system control circuit 16 via the keyboard 12, step 44
2 to step 443, where the number of prints data ^ N
It is determined whether or not there has been a change setting input of "t".

In step 443, the print number data
If the change setting input of ^ Nt "is confirmed, the process proceeds to step 444, where the following calculation is performed again based on the changed print number data data ^ Nt" to obtain ink consumption data ^ Cp ". ← TP * DV * Nt

Next, the process returns to step 425, where the following calculation is performed again based on the changed number-of-printed-sheets data data ^ Nt "to obtain ink consumption data ^ Cc". Cc ← TC * CV * Nt

Thus, new ink consumption data ^ Cp "
And ^ Cc ", a similar routine is repeated.

On the other hand, in step 442, the number of print data ^ N
When a command not to change t "is input to the system control circuit 16 via the keyboard 12, the process proceeds to step 445, where all the counters are reset, and then returns to step 401.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the hard disk device 18 for storing print data is used as storage means for the remaining ink data ^ RV ", but if necessary, the remaining ink data ^ RV" is used. It is also possible to use a dedicated storage unit such as a nonvolatile memory.

In the above-described embodiment, the amount of ink consumption due to cleaning at the time of execution of printing ^ Cc "is also calculated. However, as for the amount of ink consumption at the time of cleaning, the print content is appropriately determined by the operator. Then, the ink consumption amount ^ Cc "may be input via the keyboard 12.

[0057]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention, the remaining amount of ink is always managed, so that troublesome situations such as running out of ink during printing are troublesome. Can be prevented from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an inkjet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of calculating an ink consumption amount consumed in a printing operation before performing the printing operation by the inkjet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of calculating an ink consumption amount consumed in cleaning a print head accompanying a printing operation before performing the printing operation by the inkjet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention. is there.

FIG. 4 is another part of the flowchart showing the printing operation routine of the inkjet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is still another part of the flowchart showing the printing operation routine of the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is the remaining part of the flowchart showing the printing operation routine of the ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 print data processing circuit 12 keyboard 14 inkjet printer 16 system control circuit 17 TV monitor device 18 hard disk device 20 LAN interface circuit 22 raster conversion circuit 24 frame memory

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board for printing information such as characters and figures on a printed circuit board, comprising: an ink jet printer; and print data for processing print data to be transferred to the ink jet printer. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, comprising: an ink remaining amount data storing unit for storing the ink remaining amount data used by the ink jet printer; and the ink jet printer. An ink consumption calculating means for calculating beforehand the ink consumption data to be consumed in the printing operation based on the print data before starting the printing operation, and an ink consumption amount obtained by the ink consumption calculating means. Comparing the ink consumption data with the ink remaining amount data. Determining whether the ink consumption data is smaller or larger than the ink remaining amount data, and prohibiting the printing operation by the inkjet printer when the ink consumption data is determined to be larger than the ink remaining amount data by the determining unit. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, comprising: 2. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said ink consumption calculating means calculates the ink consumption based on at least a total number of color pixels of said print data. Ink jet printer for printed circuit boards. 3. The ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 2, wherein said ink consumption calculating means is included not only in the total number of color pixels of said print data but also in each main scanning direction line in said print data. An ink-jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, wherein the ink consumption is calculated based on the number of times the print head of the ink-jet printer is cleaned in accordance with the number of color-developed pixels. 4. The ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 3, wherein the ink consumption calculating means performs printing as well as the total number of color pixels of the print data and the number of cleanings of the print head of the ink jet printer. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, wherein the ink consumption is calculated based on data on the number of printed sheets of the printed circuit board to be applied. 5. The ink-jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 4, wherein said print data processing means further determines that said ink consumption data is larger than said ink remaining amount data by said determination means. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, comprising: a print number reset input unit for resetting the print number data. 6. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said print operation prohibiting means indicates that a print operation by said ink jet printer is impossible. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, characterized by comprising means. 7. An ink-jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said print data processing means further comprises: said discrimination means for determining whether said ink consumption data is equal to said remaining ink amount. An ink jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board, comprising: display means for displaying that the printing operation by the ink jet printer is possible when it is determined that the number is smaller than the data. 8. The ink-jet printing apparatus for a printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said print data processing means further comprises: said ink remaining amount after a printing operation by said ink-jet printer is completed. An ink jet printer for a printed circuit board, comprising ink remaining amount updating means for storing data obtained by subtracting the ink consumption amount data from the data as new ink remaining amount data in the ink remaining amount data storing means and updating the same. Printing device.