TW202146254A - Printing data generation device and controller of ink coating device capable of reducing printing data capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing data generation device capable of reducing printing data capacity. The printing data generation device may generate the printing data specifying the ink coating positions. The printing data includes: basic image data specifying the ink coating position in each of a plurality of unit areas on the surface to be depicted; position information specifying the ink coating position in each of a plurality of unit areas on the surface to be depicted; and associated information, which may establish the association for each of the plurality of unit areas with any one of the plurality of basic image data. A common basic image data is established with an association with the unit areas having the same distribution of the plurality of ink coating positions in the unit area among the plurality of unit areas.

Description

Printing data generation device and control device of ink coating device

The present invention relates to a printing data generating device and a control device of an ink coating device.

In the resistive film type touch panel, a dot spacer is used to prevent short circuit between two conductive films. The dot spacers are composed of a plurality of dots regularly distributed in the plane, and the plurality of dots are composed of an insulating material. The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of forming dot spacers by spraying ink on a dot spacer forming surface using an ink jet printer. When an ink jet printer is used to draw a desired pattern, image data in a raster format is used in order to control the ejection of ink from the ink jet head. Image data in raster format is usually generated by converting data in vector format using CAD. The image data in raster format is defined by a plurality of pixels arranged in substantially the entire area of the surface to be coated with ink. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-139162

[The problem to be solved by the invention]

When the range in which the ink should be applied is expanded and the resolution is increased, the number of pixels of the image data for printing (printing data) becomes a huge number. If the number of pixels increases, the time required to convert image data in vector format to image data in raster format increases. Furthermore, the data capacity of the printing data increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing data generation device and an ink application device capable of reducing the data volume of the printing data. [Means of Solving Problems]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing data generating device that generates printing data, and the printing data is supplied to an ink application device that discharges ink from an inkjet head and applies the ink to a surface to be drawn, and specifies ink. coating location, where, The aforementioned printed materials include: Basic image data specifying the ink application positions in each of the plurality of unit areas delineated on the aforementioned painted surface; position information specifying the respective positions of the plurality of unit areas on the depicted surface; and Association information, which is to associate each of the plurality of unit areas with any one of the plurality of basic image data; For a unit area with the same distribution of a plurality of ink application positions in the unit area among the plurality of unit areas, a common one of the above-mentioned basic image data is associated to generate the above-mentioned printing data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for controlling an ink application device, the ink application device comprising: an inkjet head for forming and discharging ink droplets, and a substrate arranged to face the inkjet head a moving mechanism that moves one of the aforementioned ink jet head and the aforementioned substrate relative to the other, and control the inkjet head and the moving mechanism according to the printing data specifying the ink application position on the painted surface of the substrate, and apply the ink on the ink application position of the painted surface; wherein, The aforementioned printed materials include: Basic image data specifying ink application positions in each of the plurality of unit areas delineated on the aforementioned surface to be depicted; and position information specifying the respective positions of the plurality of unit areas on the depicted surface; The common one of the aforementioned basic image data is associated with a unit area having the same distribution of a plurality of ink coating positions in the unit area among the plurality of unit areas. [Inventive effect]

Since a common base image data is associated with a unit area in which the distribution of the ink application positions in the unit area is the same among the unit areas, the data capacity of the printing data can be reduced.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 7 , a description will be given of an apparatus for generating printing data according to an embodiment. FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of the printing data generation device and the ink application device for drawing using the printing data generated by the printing data generation device according to the present embodiment. On the base 10 , a movable bed 12 is supported by the moving mechanism 11 . An xyz orthogonal coordinate system is defined with the x-axis and y-axis oriented horizontally and the z-axis oriented vertically downward. The moving mechanism 11 is controlled by the control device 50 to move the movable bed 12 in both directions of the x-direction and the y-direction. As the moving mechanism 11, for example, an XY stage including an X-direction moving mechanism 11X and a Y-direction moving mechanism 11Y can be used. The X-direction moving mechanism 11X moves the Y-direction moving mechanism 11Y relative to the base 10 in the x-direction, and the Y-direction moving mechanism 11Y moves the movable bed 12 relative to the base 10 in the y-direction.

The substrate 20 to which the ink is to be applied is held on the upper surface (holding surface) of the movable bed 12 . The substrate 20 is fixed to the movable bed 12 by, for example, a vacuum chuck. The moving mechanism 11 moves the base plate 20 held on the movable bed 12 in a direction parallel to the xy plane. Above the movable bed 12 , the ink discharge unit 30 and the imaging device 40 are supported by, for example, a door-shaped support member 13 . The ink ejection unit 30 and the imaging device 40 are supported so as to be movable up and down with respect to the base 10 . The ink discharge unit 30 has a plurality of nozzles facing the substrate 20 . Each nozzle converts photocurable (for example, ultraviolet curable) ink into droplets and discharges it toward the surface of the substrate 20 . The discharge of ink is controlled by the control device 50 .

The imaging device 40 images the upper surface (surface on which the ink is applied) of the substrate 20 . An area of the upper surface of the substrate 20 within the range of the viewing angle of the imaging device 40 is captured by the imaging device 40 .

The control device 50 includes a memory unit 51 and a control unit 52 . In the memory unit 51, information (hereinafter, referred to as image data) specifying a position where the ink should be applied is stored. The image data is composed of a plurality of pixels that are respectively associated with a plurality of positions on the surface of the substrate 20 . The pixel on which the ink should be dripped is specified by establishing a corresponding relationship between the information specifying the presence or absence of ink coating and each pixel. In this specification, a position on the substrate corresponding to a plurality of pixels of the image data may be simply referred to as a "pixel".

The control unit 52 controls the movement mechanism 11 and the ink ejection unit 30 based on the image data to drop ink on a predetermined position on the surface of the substrate 20 . Thereby, a dot pattern or a film pattern made of ink is formed on the surface of the substrate 20 . In this specification, among the dots, the ink dripped on one pixel is not continuous with the ink dripped on other pixels but is independent as an "independent dot".

The print data generation device 60 generates print data based on various information input by the user. The generated printing data is input to the control device 50 . Input of the printing data from the printing data generating device 60 to the control device 50 is performed using a removable medium, a communication network such as a LAN, or short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the positional relationship of the movable bed 12 , the ink ejection unit 30 , and the imaging device 40 in a plan view. The substrate 20 is held on the holding surface of the movable bed 12 . The ink ejection unit 30 and the imaging device 40 are supported above the substrate 20 . The ink ejection unit 31 and the imaging device 40 are supported above the substrate 20 . A plurality of nozzles 32 are provided on the surface of the ink jet head 31 facing the substrate 20 . The plurality of nozzles 32 are arranged at equal intervals in the x direction. This interval is, for example, a size corresponding to a resolution of 600 dpi. In addition, the plurality of nozzles 32 do not need to be arranged on a straight line parallel to the x-direction, and may be arranged at positions that are regularly shifted in the y-direction from a reference line parallel to the x-direction. For example, it can be configured as staggered.

The light sources 33 for curing are respectively arranged on both sides of the inkjet head 31 in the y direction, and irradiate the substrate 20 with light for curing the ink applied on the substrate 20 . For example, if the ink is of an ultraviolet curing type, the curing light source 33 irradiates the substrate 20 with ultraviolet rays. The curing light source 33 functions as a curing device for curing the ink applied to the substrate 20 .

The moving mechanism 11 is controlled by the control device 50 to move the movable bed 12 in the x-direction and the y-direction. Furthermore, the control device 50 controls the discharge of ink from each nozzle 32 of the inkjet head 31 .

By ejecting ink from the inkjet head 31 while moving the substrate 20 in the y direction (in other words, while moving the inkjet head 31 relative to the substrate 20 in the y direction), it is possible to print the ink in the x direction at a resolution of, for example, 600 dpi. The ink is applied to the substrate 20 . The ink dropped on the substrate 20 is cured by light radiated from the curing light source 33 located on the downstream side in the moving direction of the substrate 20 . The operation of dropping ink from the inkjet head 31 to the substrate 20 while moving the substrate 20 in the y direction is referred to as a "scanning operation". The y direction is referred to as the scanning direction.

The inkjet head 31 can be reciprocated in the y direction at least once by one scanning operation. At this time, the ink can be dropped on the substrate 20 with a resolution of 1200 dpi by offsetting the ink jet head 31 with respect to the substrate 20 by 1/2 of the pitch of the nozzles 32 in the x direction during the forward and return travels. By reciprocating the inkjet head 31 twice with the offset amount of the inkjet head 31 being 1/4 of the pitch of the nozzles 32 , the ink can be dropped on the substrate 20 with a resolution of 2400 dpi. In this way, even when the inkjet head 31 is moved a plurality of times in the negative and positive directions of the y-axis in order to improve the resolution, the plurality of movements are collectively referred to as one scanning operation.

When one scan operation ends, the control device 50 moves the movable bed 12 in the x direction. In other words, the ink jet head 31 is relatively moved in the x direction with respect to the substrate 20 . This action is called "displacement action". The x direction is referred to as the displacement direction. By repeating the scanning operation and the displacement operation, the ink can be applied to the entire area of the substrate 20 . The relative movement amount of the inkjet head 31 in the x direction with respect to the substrate 20 may be set to be approximately equal to the distance between the two nozzles 32 located at both ends in the x direction. In addition, when a part of the nozzles 32 in the vicinity of both ends is not used for the discharge of ink, the distance between the nozzles 32 located at both ends of the nozzles 32 actually used may be set to be substantially equal.

By performing a plurality of scanning operations without performing a displacement operation, the ink can be dropped on one pixel a plurality of times. That is, the ink can be repeatedly applied. By repeatedly applying the ink, the independent dots can be made higher and the film can be made thicker.

When the scanning operation is performed in a state where the substrate 20 is irradiated with light from the curing light source 33 , the ink discharged from the inkjet head 31 is temporarily cured immediately after dropping on the substrate 20 . Specifically, after the ink is dropped, the ink is temporarily cured in a short period of time until the drop point of the ink moves into the path of the light irradiated from the curing light source 33 . Before the ink is temporarily cured, the ink dropped on the substrate 20 spreads in the in-plane direction of the substrate 20 . The degree of diffusion depends on the degree of lyophilicity of the surface of the substrate 20 . After the ink is temporarily cured, the spreading of the ink in the in-plane direction of the substrate 20 does not occur.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a drawing area for arranging patterns formed on the surface of the substrate 20 . In this embodiment, dot spacers for resistive film touch panels are formed. Eight touch panels are spliced on one substrate 20 . The surface of the substrate 20 to which the ink should be applied is referred to as the surface to be drawn 23 . A square or rectangular drawing area 25 is defined on the drawing surface 23 corresponding to the eight touch panels, respectively. Each of the four edges of the surface 23 to be drawn and the four edges of the drawing area 25 are parallel to the x direction (displacement direction) or the y direction (scanning direction). When the x direction is the row direction and the y direction is the column direction, the eight drawing regions 25 are arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 2 columns.

As an example, one vertex of the surface 23 to be drawn is defined as the origin O of the xy coordinate system. In Figure 2, the upper left vertex is defined as the origin O. Reference points 24 whose relative positions with respect to the drawing area 25 are fixed are respectively defined in the drawing area 25 . As the reference point 24, for example, the vertex closest to the origin O among the four vertexes of the drawing area 25 is used. In FIG. 2 , the upper left vertex of each of the surfaces 23 to be drawn becomes the reference point 24 . By specifying the position of the reference point 24 in the xy coordinate system, the position of the drawing area 25 on the surface 23 to be drawn can be specified.

A pixel coordinate system is defined on the surface to be drawn 23, and the positions of the pixels arranged on the surface to be drawn 23 are designated by the pixel coordinates. Among the plurality of pixels arranged on the surface 23 to be drawn, a pixel having the origin O of the xy coordinate system as one vertex is defined as the origin (0, 0) of the pixel coordinate system. The pitch of the pixels is set according to the resolution of the pattern to be formed on the surface 23 to be drawn. If a position is specified on the xy coordinate system, a corresponding relationship can be established between the position and a pixel of the pixel coordinate system.

A plurality of independent dots are respectively arranged in the drawing area 25 . The printing data generated by the printing data generating device 60 ( FIG. 1A ) specifies the positions of the plurality of dots 22 arranged on the surface 23 to be drawn. The control device 50 applies ink to a predetermined position on the surface 23 to be drawn by controlling the moving mechanism 11 and the inkjet head 31 based on the printing data.

The area where the ink can be applied by one scanning operation is referred to as a sweep (original: パス) area 21 . A plurality of sweep regions 21 are arranged in a row along the x direction. In FIG. 2 , the entire area of the depicted surface 23 to which ink should be applied is covered by four sweep areas 21 . In addition, the number of the required sweep regions 21 varies depending on the size of the substrate 20 and the size of the ink jet head 31 .

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B , information (hereinafter, referred to as “drawing information”) specifying the range of the drawing area 25 and the dot pattern to be formed in the drawing area 25 will be described.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the drawn surface 23 and a drawing area 25 within it. The upper-left vertex of the drawn surface 23 corresponds to the origin O of the xy coordinate system. A drawing area 25 is arranged in the surface to be drawn 23 . The drawing area 25 is divided into a peripheral edge portion 25A and an inner deep portion 25B. The inside of the drawing area 25 and the area outside the inner deep portion 25B are the peripheral portion 25A. The upper left vertex of the peripheral edge portion 25A coincides with the reference point 24 of the drawing area 25 . The upper left vertex of the inner deep part 25B is set as the reference point 24B of the inner deep part 25B.

The drawing areas 25 each constitute one unit area 28 . The unit area 28 becomes a unit for generating the basic image data 90 (FIG. 3B) described below. As a reference point 29 serving as a reference for specifying the position of the unit area 28 on the surface 23 to be drawn, the reference point 24 of the drawing area 25 is used.

FIG. 3B is a graph showing various information included in the depiction information. The drawing information set for one drawing area 25 includes information specifying the position of the drawing area 25 on the drawing surface 23 , the range of the drawing area 25 , and the distribution rule of the ink application positions (dots) in the drawing area 25 . As the information specifying the position of the drawing area 25, the information specifying the position of the reference point 24 (FIG. 3A) of the drawing area 25 is used. As the information specifying the range of the drawing area 25, the information specifying the size in the x direction and the size in the y direction of the drawing area 25 is used. As information on the distribution rule for specifying the ink application position, the distances (dot pitch) in the x-direction and y-direction of the specified points arranged on the peripheral edge portion 25A, and the distance between the reference point 24B of the inner deep portion 25B and the reference point 24 of the drawing area 25 are used. Information on the relative position, the dimensions in the x-direction and the y-direction of the inner deep part 25B, and the dot pitch in the x-direction and the y-direction of the inner deep part 25B.

The printing data generating device 60 (FIG. 1A) allows the user to input the information contained in the drawing information. Furthermore, the printing data generating device 60 generates the basic image data 90 based on the information other than the position information of the reference point 24 of the drawing area 25 among the drawing information input by the user. The basic image data 90 is image data in a raster format composed of a plurality of pixels 70 , and information specifying whether or not to apply ink (whether or not to arrange dots) is assigned to the plurality of pixels 70 .

The printing data generating device 60 ( FIG. 1A ) generates a common base image data 90 for a plurality of drawing regions 25 having the same information except for the position information of the reference point 24 in the drawing information.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing the pixels 70 constituting the two basic image data 90A and 90B, respectively, on a two-dimensional plane of a pixel coordinate system. The base image data 90A, 90B respectively designate the positions of the plurality of dots 71 arranged in the corresponding unit area 28 (FIG. 3A). In FIGS. 4A and 4B , the pixels 70 where the dots 71 are arranged are painted in black. The pixel 70 in which the dot 71 is arranged is sometimes simply referred to as the dot 71 . In addition, in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, hatching is attached|subjected to 25 A of peripheral edge parts.

In the peripheral edge portion 25A and the inner deep portion 25B, a plurality of dots 71 are regularly arranged at equal intervals in the x-direction and the y-direction, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 4A , the pitch of the dots 71 arranged in the inner deep portion 25B is wider than the pitch of the dots 71 arranged in the peripheral portion 25A. In the example shown in FIG. 4B , on the contrary, the pitch of the dots 71 arranged in the inner deep portion 25B is narrower than the pitch of the dots 71 arranged in the peripheral portion 25A. In addition, a plurality of dots 71 may be arranged in a distribution rule other than the arrangement of dots shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B . For example, a plurality of dots 71 may be uniformly arranged in the entire area of the unit area 28 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the information included in the printing material 95 . The printing data 95 includes basic image data 90A, 90B (FIGS. 4A and 4B) and information defining a plurality of unit areas 28, respectively. The information respectively defining the unit area 28 includes information specifying the position of the unit area 28 on the surface 23 to be drawn (hereinafter, referred to as position information). The position of the unit area 28 is designated by the position of the reference point 29 . The position of the reference point 29 is specified, for example, in pixel coordinates defined on the surface 23 to be drawn.

The information defining the unit area 28 further includes information (hereinafter, referred to as association information) for associating the plurality of unit areas 28 with any one of the basic image data 90A and 90B, respectively. Associating the unit area 28 with the base image data refers to making it possible to access one base image data among the plurality of base image data according to information specifying the plurality of unit areas 28 respectively. For example, as the related information, identification information for identifying one of a plurality of basic image data, a pointer to an address where the basic image data is stored, or the like can be used. In FIG. 5 , the relationship between the unit area 28 and the base image data 90A and 90B is indicated by an arrow 91 which goes toward the unit area 28 from either of the base image data 90A and 90B. The positions of the plurality of points respectively arranged in the plurality of unit areas 28 are designated by the basic image data 90A or 90B associated with the unit areas 28 .

The control device 50 (FIG. 1A) controls the moving mechanism 11 and the ink jet head 31 so that a dot pattern designated by the basic image data 90A is formed in the unit area 28 associated with the basic image data 90A, A dot pattern designated by the base image data 90B is formed in the unit area 28 to which the data 90B is associated.

Next, the excellent effect of the above-mentioned embodiment will be described. As printing data, image data in a raster format generated for the entire area of the surface 23 (FIG. 2) to be drawn are generally used. In this embodiment, one base image data 90 is generated for a plurality of unit areas 28 having the same dot pattern among the eight unit areas 28 ( FIG. 3B ). The area of the unit area 28 to which the position of the point is specified by the base image data 90 is smaller than the area of the entire area of the surface 23 to be drawn. Therefore, the data capacity of the base image data 90 is smaller than that of the image data in raster format generated for the entire area of the surface 23 to be drawn. Furthermore, the total data capacity of the plurality of basic image data 90A, 90B included in the printing data 95 ( FIG. 5 ) according to the embodiment is also smaller than the raster format image data generated for the entire area of the surface 23 to be drawn. data capacity.

Compared with the data capacity of the base image data 90A, 90B, the information specifying the position of the unit area 28 contained in the print data 95 (FIG. 5) and the unit area 28 and the plurality of base image data 90A, 90B are included. The data volume of any of the associated information is sufficiently small. Therefore, by generating the printing data by the printing data generating apparatus 60 (FIG. 1A) based on the above-described embodiment, the data volume of the printing data can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a common base image data 90 is generated for a plurality of unit areas 28 having the same dot pattern, so compared with the case where image data are separately generated for all the unit areas 28 as printing data. , which can shorten the generation time of printing materials.

Next, other excellent effects will be described with reference to FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of unit regions 28 in the surface 23 to be drawn. In the example shown in FIG. 5 , the eight unit regions 28 are arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 2 columns. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the unit area 28 is not arrange|positioned in the position of the 1st row and the 2nd row of the 1st column.

Two unit areas 28 are arranged in the first and second sweep areas 21 from the left, and four unit areas 28 are arranged in the third and fourth sweep areas 21 . In FIG. 6 , the moving trajectory of the ink jet head 31 relative to the substrate 20 is indicated by a broken line with an arrow.

The control device 50 ( FIG. 1A ) obtains the range in which the unit area 28 is arranged in the y direction for each sweep area 21 based on the position of the reference point 29 and the basic image data 90A and 90B. During the scanning operation, the area where the unit area 28 is not arranged is not scanned by the inkjet head 31 . During the scanning operation, the moving distance of the inkjet head 31 is shortened compared with the case where the entire range of the surface 23 to be drawn in the y direction is scanned. Thereby, the ink application time can be shortened.

Next, other excellent effects will be described with reference to FIG. 7 . FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the plurality of unit regions 28 in the surface 23 to be drawn. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the unit area 28 is not arranged at the position of the first column and the second row. During the scanning operation, when the inkjet head 31 passes through the range in which the unit area 28 is not arranged in the y direction, the moving speed of the inkjet head 31 is increased. In FIG. 7 , the range in which the inkjet head 31 is moved by increasing the moving speed is indicated by an arrow thicker than the broken line with the arrow indicating the trajectory of the inkjet head 31 .

The ink application time can be shortened by increasing the moving speed of the inkjet head 31 in a part of the sweep area 21 .

Next, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, two basic image materials 90A and 90B are generated. However, when the dot patterns of the plurality of unit regions 28 are classified into three or more types, they are generated according to the number of types of dot patterns. Three or more basic image materials 90 are sufficient.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 9 . Hereinafter, descriptions of the configurations common to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 5 are omitted.

8A is a diagram showing the positional relationship between a plurality of drawing areas 25 and unit areas 28 in the drawing surface 23 designated by the printing data generated by the printing data generating device 60 ( FIG. 1A ) according to the present embodiment. The eight drawing areas 25 are arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 2 columns. In FIG. 8A , the drawing area 25 is hatched. In addition, the same hatching is attached|subjected to the drawing area 25 with the same dot pattern. The dot patterns of the unit areas 28 in the first row and the second row are the same, and the dot patterns of the unit areas 28 in the third row and the fourth row are the same. The dot patterns of the unit area 28 in the first row and the unit area 28 in the third row are different.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 5 , one drawing area 25 constitutes one unit area 28 ( FIG. 5 ). On the other hand, in this embodiment, two drawing areas 25 arranged in the x direction constitute one unit area 28, and a total of four unit areas 28 are arranged in the y direction. The reference point 29 of the unit area 28 coincides with the reference point 24 of the left drawing area 25 in FIG. 8A .

The basic image data 90 ( FIG. 3B ) associated with one unit area 28 is generated based on the drawing information of the two drawing areas 25 constituting the unit area 28 . The position of the point of the drawing area 25 arranged on the right in FIG. 8A within the unit area 28 can be determined in consideration of the relative position of the reference point 24 of the drawing area 25 on the right with respect to the reference point 24 of the drawing area 25 on the left.

FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the relationship between the unit area 28 and the basic image data 90C and 90D. The basic image data 90C is associated with the unit areas 28 in the first and second rows, and the basic image data 90D is associated with the unit areas 28 in the third and fourth rows.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the movement locus of the ink jet head 31 relative to the substrate 20 when the dot pattern is formed by the ink coating apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 9 , the moving locus of the ink jet head 31 is indicated by a broken line with an arrow. The area where the ink should be applied is covered by the three sweep areas 21 . The central sweep area 21 includes a part of the drawing area 25 on the left side and a part of the drawing area 25 on the right side.

Next, the excellent effects of the present embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 5 , one base image data 90 is shared among the plurality of unit areas 28 , so that the data capacity of the printing data can be reduced.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 10 , more excellent effects of the present embodiment will be described as compared with the case where the ink is applied using the printing material 95 shown in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the movement locus of the inkjet head 31 when ink is applied using the printing material 95 shown in FIG. 5 . One drawing area 25 constitutes one unit area 28 . A reference point 29 is set for each unit area 28 . The ink application position within the unit area 28 is designated by the relative position with respect to the reference point 29 .

Therefore, the control device 50 ( FIG. 1A ) determines the ink application position according to the different reference points 29 when the ink is applied to the unit area 28 in the first row and when the ink is applied in the unit area 28 in the second row. Therefore, it is difficult to simultaneously apply ink to the unit areas 28 in the first row and the unit areas 28 in the second row by one scanning operation.

When the scanning operation is performed on the second sweep area 21 from the left, ink is applied to a part of the unit area 28 in the first column, so it is difficult to simultaneously apply ink to the unit area 28 in the second column where the reference points 29 are different. In order to apply ink to the unit area 28 in the second row, the third and fourth scanning operations must be performed. Therefore, a total of four scan operations must be performed.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 , the two drawing areas 25 arranged in the x direction are collectively referred to as one unit area 28 , so that one reference point 29 spans the two drawing areas 25 arranged in the x direction. The areas of the drawing area 25 establish a corresponding relationship. The control device 50 controls the inkjet head 31 based on the one reference point and the one basic image data 90, whereby ink can be applied to an area spanning the two drawing areas 25 arranged in the x direction by one scanning operation. Therefore, the ink can be applied to all the drawing regions 25 by three scanning operations.

In this embodiment, compared with the case shown in FIG. 10, the number of scan operations can be reduced. As a result, the ink application time can be shortened.

Next, a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A to 9 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 8A , the number of drawing regions 25 arranged in the x direction is two. When the number of drawing regions 25 arranged in the x direction is three or more, the three or more drawing regions 25 arranged in the x direction may be collectively referred to as one unit region 28 . In addition, when the number of the drawing areas 25 arranged in the x direction is four or more, all the drawing areas 25 arranged in the x direction may be collectively set as one unit area 28, or a part of a plurality of drawing areas 25 may be collectively formed is a unit area 28.

The printing data generation device 60 ( FIG. 1A ) may allow the user to designate a plurality of drawing areas 25 included in one unit area 28 . For example, the drawing information ( FIG. 3B ) set for each drawing area 25 may include information specifying the unit area 28 including the drawing area 25 among the plurality of unit areas 28 .

Each embodiment is only an example, and of course, some substitutions or combinations of the configurations shown in different embodiments can also be performed. For each embodiment, the same functions and effects based on the same structure of the plurality of embodiments will not be described one by one. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited by the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, it is a matter of course for those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains to be capable of various changes, improvements, combinations, and the like.

10: Abutment 11: Mobile Mechanism 11X: X direction moving mechanism 11Y: Y direction moving mechanism 12: Movable bed table 13: Supporting members 20: Substrate 21: Scanning area 23: Depicted Surface 24: Benchmark 24B: Datum point of inner depth 25: Delineate the area 25A: Peripheral part 25B: Inner Deep 28: Unit area 29: The reference point of the unit area 30: Ink discharge unit 31: Inkjet head 32: Nozzle 33: Light source for curing 40: Camera device 50: Control device 51: Memory Department 52: Control Department 60: Printing data generation device 70: pixels 71: point 90, 90A, 90B, 90C, 90D: Basic image data 91: Arrows representing associations 95: Printing materials

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a printing data generating device and an ink application device for drawing using image data generated by the printing data generating device according to an embodiment; Fig. 1B shows a movable bed, A diagram showing the positional relationship between the ink ejection unit and the imaging device when viewed from above. [ Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a drawing area for arranging patterns formed on the surface of a substrate. [FIG. 3] FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a surface to be drawn and a drawing area inside it; FIG. 3B is a diagram showing various information included in the drawing information. [FIG. 4] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams respectively showing pixels constituting two kinds of basic image data on a two-dimensional plane of a pixel coordinate system. [ Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically showing information included in the printing material. [ Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of unit regions in the surface to be drawn. [ Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of a plurality of unit regions in the drawn surface. [ Fig. 8] Fig. 8A is a diagram showing the positional relationship of a plurality of drawing areas and unit areas in a surface to be drawn specified by the printing data generated by the printing data generating apparatus according to another embodiment, and Fig. 8B is a A graph showing the relationship between the unit area and the base image data. [ Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the movement locus of the ink jet head relative to the substrate when the dot pattern is formed by the ink coating apparatus according to the present embodiment. [ Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the movement locus of the inkjet head when ink is applied using the printing material shown in Fig. 5 .

23: Depicted Surface

28: Unit area

29: The reference point of the unit area

90A, 90B: Basic image data

91: Arrows representing associations

95: Printing materials

Claims (6)

A printing data generation device that generates printing data, the printing data is supplied to an ink application device that discharges ink from an inkjet head and applies the ink to a surface to be drawn, to specify an ink application position, wherein, The aforementioned printed materials include: Basic image data specifying the ink application positions in each of the plurality of unit areas delineated on the aforementioned painted surface; position information specifying the respective positions of the plurality of unit areas on the depicted surface; and Association information, which is to associate each of the plurality of unit areas with any one of the plurality of basic image data; For a unit area with the same distribution of a plurality of ink application positions in the unit area among the plurality of unit areas, the common basic image data is associated to generate the printing data. The printing data generating device of claim 1, wherein, A plurality of drawing areas are respectively delineated in the aforesaid plurality of unit areas; Drawing information is respectively set for the above-mentioned plural drawing areas; The above-mentioned drawing information includes information specifying the position of the drawing area on the above-mentioned surface to be drawn, the range of the drawing area, and the distribution rules of the ink coating positions in the drawing area; The aforementioned basic image data is generated according to the aforementioned drawing information. The printing data generating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The ink coating device performs a scanning operation of ejecting ink on the surface to be drawn while moving the inkjet head along the first direction at different positions in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; The plurality of drawing regions are arranged in a matrix shape with the first direction and the second direction as the row direction and the column direction, respectively; The plurality of drawing areas arranged in the second direction are collectively referred to as one unit area. The printing data generating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, It has the function of allowing the user to designate a plurality of drawing areas included in a unit area. A control device for controlling an ink coating device, the ink coating device comprising: an ink jet head for forming and discharging ink droplets; a moving mechanism for moving one of the aforementioned substrates relative to the other, and control the inkjet head and the moving mechanism according to the printing data specifying the ink application position on the painted surface of the substrate, and apply the ink on the ink application position of the painted surface; wherein, The aforementioned printed materials include: Basic image data specifying ink application positions in each of the plurality of unit areas delineated on the aforementioned surface to be depicted; and position information specifying the respective positions of the plurality of unit areas on the depicted surface; The common one of the aforementioned basic image data is associated with a unit area having the same distribution of a plurality of ink coating positions in the unit area among the plurality of unit areas. The control device of claim 5, wherein, Perform a scanning operation of ejecting ink on the surface to be drawn while moving the inkjet head in the first direction at different positions in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction; A plurality of drawing areas are respectively defined in the plurality of unit areas, and the plurality of drawing areas are arranged in a matrix shape with the first direction and the second direction as the row direction and the column direction, respectively; The plurality of drawing areas arranged in the second direction are collectively referred to as one unit area.

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