JPH0911571A - Printing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Even if the printing speed is changed, the printing timing can be appropriately corrected without performing the test printing, and the operability is improved. [Structure] For each of a plurality of correction levels, the interval between encoder signal edges is set to 6 for each speed at which the carrier is moved.
Deviation time table 2-1 consisting of speed tables 2-12 and 13 considering the difference of carrier moving distance from the standard time and unit time divided equally, and correction of EEPROM for storing the correction level selected and designated by test printing. A level area is provided, and at the time of printing, the shift time stored in the shift time table 2-1 is read according to the correction level stored in the correction level area and the speed at which the carrier moves at the time of printing, and the print timing What corrects.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus in which a print head is mounted on a carrier and printing is performed on the paper by the print head while moving the carrier, and in particular, the paper is actually printed after an electronic print timing occurs. The present invention relates to a print control device mounted on a print device such as an inkjet printer or a wire dot printer in which the time until printing is performed cannot be ignored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet printer, a wire dot printer, or the like, for example, in the case of an ink jet printer, the flight time of ink is changed from the time when a signal indicating printing is actually output to the print head to the time when printing is actually performed on the paper. , Wire dot printer takes time for wire movement time (protrusion time). That is, the timing of printing the signal and the timing of printing on the paper are deviated.

In particular, in a serial printer in which a print head is mounted on a carrier and the carrier is moved in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveying direction, the printing position is right when printing the carrier from left to right. When the carrier is moved from right to left, the printing position is shifted to the left.

Therefore, when reciprocal printing is performed by the serial printer, the printing positions are deviated to the right side and the left side, respectively, on the forward path and the backward path, and there is a problem that the printing quality is deteriorated. Therefore, in conventional serial printers, multiple types of correction values are provided to correct the print position in the forward and backward passes, and test printing is performed by actually performing reciprocal printing with each correction value. There is a method in which a correction value that does not cause a deviation is determined and the correction value is set as a correction value for correcting the print timing in actual printing in the serial printer.

[0005]

However, in the print control device mounted on the conventional serial printer, a plurality of appropriate correction values are simply provided, and each correction value is printed and compared to obtain an appropriate correction value. Although the value was determined, the printing speed was not considered at all.

Therefore, in the conventional serial printer, when the printing speed is changed, it is necessary to perform the test printing again to change the setting of the correction value of the print timing, and it takes time to correct the print timing, and the operability is increased. There was a problem that was bad.

Therefore, the present invention provides a print control apparatus capable of appropriately performing print timing correction in a short time without performing test printing even if the print speed is changed, and improving operability. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print control device, wherein a print head is mounted on a carrier, and printing is performed on a sheet by the print head while moving the carrier. Between the encoder that detects the distance and the edge of the output waveform of the encoder when the carrier is moved at the preset reference speed for multiple correction levels that are set to correct the print timing of the print head. Based on a reference unit time obtained by dividing the time interval into n equal parts, a deviation time from a preset reference 0 correction level and a time interval between edges of an output waveform of an encoder when a carrier is moved at a predetermined speed Based on a predetermined unit time that is divided into n equal to n, the time required from the print timing of the print head to the actual printing on the surface of the paper The shift time table that stores the shift time from the 0 correction level in consideration of the difference in the carrier movement distance between the reference speed and the predetermined speed, and the shift time table corresponding to the carrier speed for each correction level A correction printing unit that corrects the print timing with the deviation time stored in the printer, and prints a print pattern for correction, and a correction level that stores the optimum correction level selected and designated based on the print result by the correction printing unit. A storage unit and a correction unit that corrects the print timing of the print head with the correction level stored by the correction level storage unit during actual printing, with the deviation time stored in the deviation time table corresponding to the speed of the carrier at that time; Is provided.

[0009]

In the present invention having such a structure, the correction printing means corrects the printing timing with the deviation time stored in the deviation time table corresponding to the speed of the carrier, and the correction printing pattern is printed. It

A user such as an operator will determine an appropriate correction level by visual inspection from the printed result and select and specify the correction level.

The correction level storage means stores the correction level selected and designated based on the printing result.

At the time of actual printing, the print timing of the print head is adjusted by the correction means by the correction level stored in the correction level storage means in accordance with the speed of the carrier at the time of printing and the shift time stored in the shift time table. Will be corrected.

Since the print shift time basically depends on the moving speed of the carrier and the time required from the print timing of the print head to the actual printing on the surface of the paper, the carrier of the carrier is recorded in the time table. The shift time stored corresponding to each speed has the same correction action for each correction level.

That is, the correction level selected and designated based on the printing result by the correction printing means at an arbitrary carrier speed has the same correction action at any speed, so that the speed is changed even if the speed is changed. If the print timing is corrected with the deviation time stored at the same correction level corresponding to the speed, the optimum correction is performed.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of an inkjet printer equipped with a print control device to which the present invention is applied.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (centr that constitutes the main body of the control unit.
al processing unit). ROM (read onlymem) in which program data of processing performed by the CPU 1 is stored.
ory) 2, a random access memory (RAM) in which various memory areas used when the CPU 1 performs processing are formed.
ory) 3, EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable) that can store data even when the power is off
read only memory) 4, a timer 5 that outputs a clock signal by measuring time, a communication interface 6 that controls transmission of data through a line with another data processing device, etc., respectively, via the system bus 7 and the CPU 1 It is connected.

The CPU 1 is connected to the system bus 7
An operation panel interface 9 for controlling data transmission to and from an operation panel 8 composed of a display, a keyboard (not shown), and the like, and a head for controlling an ink ejecting head 10 having a plurality of nozzles. Controller 11, carrier drive unit 1 for moving the carrier on which the head is mounted in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction
I / O (detection signal from a carrier drive controller 13 that controls the sheet No. 2, a sheet conveyance controller 15 that controls the sheet conveyance unit 14 that conveys the sheet, and an encoder 16 that detects the position (or movement amount) of the carrier input / ou
tput) connected to port 17.

A shift time table 2-1 described later is formed in the ROM 2, and the EEPROM 4 has a shift time table 2-1.
A correction level area 4-1 is formed as a correction level storage means for storing the correction level.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of the above-mentioned shift time table 2-1. The deviation time table 2-1
Is a plurality (12, 11, 10-1, 0, -1 --- 6-
) Correction level area where the correction level of 2) is set
Then, for each correction level, the carrier is set to the reference speed (18.3ips (=
inch / sec)), the reference speed table 2-12 in which the number of edges of the encoder signal and the delay time for the edges are set, and the carrier is moved at a high quality speed (15 ips) for each correction level. And a high quality speed table 2-13 in which the number of edges of the encoder signal and the delay time for the edges are set. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, as the speed for moving the carrier, a speed having two speeds of the reference speed and the high quality speed will be described. However, even if the speed of moving the carrier is three or more, the present invention can be realized. It is applicable.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating the delay time set for each correction level. The resolution of the encoder 16 is 600 dpi here.

First, consider the case where the carrier is moved at a reference speed of 18.3 ips. At this time, the half cycle of the detection waveform output from the encoder 16 is calculated as 1 / (18.3 ips × 600 dpi) and becomes about 91 μs. If this half cycle is divided into six equal parts, one reference unit time becomes about 15 μs. Therefore, the delay time from each edge (rising edge and falling edge) output from the encoder 16 is 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, respectively.
μs.

If the correction level (0 correction level) corresponding to the reference edge (the number of edges is 0) is set to 0, the delay time at this edge also becomes 0. Therefore, for example, the correction level from the number of edges-1 to the delay time of 75 µs becomes 1, and the correction level from the number of edges-1 to the delay time of 60 µs becomes 2. On the contrary, the delay time 1 from the reference edge
The correction level of 5 μs is −1, and the correction level of the delay time 30 from the reference edge is −2.

Next, the carrier is set to one of the predetermined speeds,
Consider the case of moving at a high quality speed of 15 ips. At this time, the half cycle of the detection waveform output from the encoder 16 is calculated as 1 / (15 ips × 600 dpi) and is about 111 μs. If this half cycle is divided into 6 equal parts, one high quality unit time is about 18.5μ.
s. Therefore, the delay time from each edge output from the encoder 16 is 0, 19, 37,
56, 74, 93 μs.

By the way, when the speed of moving the carrier is changed from the reference speed (18.3 ips) to the high quality speed (15 ips), the carrier moves in the time until the ink ejected from the nozzles of the head 10 reaches the paper. The distance also changes.

That is, assuming that the distance (gap) from the position of the ejection port of the nozzle to the paper is 1 mm and the flight speed of the ink is 10 m / s, the time until the ink ejected from the nozzle reaches the paper is 1 mm / 10 m / s = 0.0001 s.

Therefore, the difference in moving distance between the reference speed and the high quality speed is (18.3 ips −15 ips) × 0.0001 s = 0.0
0033inch Converting the difference of the moving distance to the transit time at high quality speed, 0.00033inch / 15ips = 0.000022s =
It becomes 22 μs.

This passing time of 22 μs is the deviation of the delay time at the high quality speed from the reference speed. Therefore, the correction level can be adjusted by adding the passing time of 22 μs from each delay time.

That is, the reference correction level (0 correction level) is from the number of edges 0 to the delay time of 22 μs.
The correction level 1 has a delay time of 4 μs from 0 edges. The correction level 2 is from the number of edges-1 to the delay time 96.
μs. In addition, the correction level −1 is a delay time of 41 μs from 0 edges.

By taking this passage time of 22 μs into consideration, the same correction effect can be obtained by using the delay time corresponding to the speed of the same correction level for each speed of moving the carrier.

As described above, the deviation time table 2-1
Are all created by theoretical calculation processing, and similarly various other speeds at which carriers are moved can also be created by theoretical calculation processing.

However, the design length may be used for the distance (gap) from the position of the nozzle ejection port to the paper, but due to dimensional errors of parts and assembly factors, it may be different for each ink jet printer. Although it is a small amount, it may be different, and it is possible to calculate a correction value (deviation time) with higher accuracy by actually measuring and setting.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of main processing performed by the CPU 1. First, an initialization process for initializing and initializing the memory such as the RAM 3 is performed, and when this initialization process is completed, step 1 (ST1
As a process of), it is determined based on an input from the operation panel 8 whether test printing is to be performed.

If it is determined that the test printing is to be performed,
Whether or not the automatic mode is set is determined based on the input from the operation panel 8. Here, when the automatic mode is determined, the moving speed of the carrier in the carrier driving unit 12 is set to the reference speed 1
Set to 8.3 ips, read all or part of preset deviation time data of the reference speed table 2-12 of the deviation time table 2-1 and shift to the processing of step 2 (ST2) described later. Has become.

When it is judged that the mode is the manual mode instead of the automatic mode, the display requesting the designation of the speed is displayed on the display provided on the operation panel 8, and the operation panel 8 waits until the speed designation is input. Becomes

In this embodiment, since the deviation time table is provided with only two kinds of speed tables, when the manual mode is specified, the high quality is automatically obtained without waiting for the above-mentioned display and speed specification input. The speed is specified.

When the high quality speed is designated, the carrier moving speed in the carrier driving unit 12 is set to the high quality speed of 15 ip.
Set to s and read all or a part of preset deviation time data of the designated high quality speed table 2-13 of the deviation time table 2-1 and shift to the processing of the next step 2. Has become.

In the process of step 2, the print data of the test pattern stored in the ROM 2 is read, printing is performed based on the print data (correction printing means), and the test pattern is issued. When the issuance of the test pattern is completed, the operation panel 8 enters a standby state until the correction level selection designation is input.

When the correction level selection designation is input from the operation panel 8, this correction level is stored (registered) in the correction level area 4-1 of the EEPROM 4, and the process returns to the above-mentioned step 1 again. There is.

If it is determined in step 1 that the printing is not test printing, it is determined in step 3 (ST3) whether or not normal printing is performed based on the input from the operation panel.

If it is determined that printing is not to be performed, other processing is performed. If this other processing is completed, it is determined whether or not the business is completed. If it is determined that the business is not completed, the above-described step 3 is performed again. The process is returned to. Further, when it is determined that the work is finished, the main process is finished.

When it is determined that normal printing is performed, E
The correction level stored in the correction level area 4-1 of the EPROM 4 is read, and the read correction level corresponds to the moving speed of the carrier set in the carrier drive unit 12 at this time and the shift time table 2-1. The deviation time (the number of edges and the delay time) stored in is set in the head controller 11 as the correction value of the print timing.
(Correction means).

Next, as step 4 (ST4) processing, it is determined whether or not there is a speed designation input (speed change designation input). If there is no speed designation input, the process proceeds to step 5 (ST5) described later. When it is determined that there is a speed designation input, the designated speed is set as the moving speed of the carrier in the carrier driving unit 12, and the deviation time corresponding to the set moving speed is set at the read correction level. The deviation time stored in Table 2-1 is set in the head controller 11 as a print timing correction value.
), The process proceeds to the next step 5.

In the process of step 5, one reciprocal printing is performed,
When this one-way printing is completed, it is judged whether or not the printing is completed. If it is determined that the printing has not ended, the process returns to step 4 described above. Also, when it is judged that printing is completed, it is judged whether or not business is completed,
When it is determined that the work is not completed, the process returns to the above-mentioned step 3 again. Further, when it is determined that the work is finished, the main process is finished.

The print control device comprises the CPU 1, the RO
M2 (deviation time table 2-1), RAM3, E
EPROM 4 (correction level area 4-1), the operation panel 8, the operation panel interface 9, the head controller 11, the carrier drive controller 13
It is composed of

In this embodiment having such a configuration, first, test printing is performed at the start of work. In the automatic mode, the moving speed of the carrier is set to the reference speed, and the whole or a part of the reference speed table 2-12 of the deviation time table 2-1 (for example, the correction levels 6 to 0) is set.
-3) Deviation time (number of edges and delay time) is read, and ROM2 is read for each of these correction levels.
One reciprocal print is performed according to the print pattern stored in.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a print pattern is printed. Note that FIG. 5 shows an example in which the correction levels 4 to 0 are printed. The print pattern is a straight line parallel to the paper transport direction, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the carrier movement direction. If there is no misalignment in double-sided printing, it will be one straight line with no folds. If there is a misalignment in double-sided printing, a crease will be formed to form two straight lines. This figure 5
In the example of printing, the printing deviation is accurately corrected by the correction level 3.

Therefore, by visually observing the result printed by the test printing, a correction level having no print deviation is selected, and the selected correction level is EE by the operation panel 8.
It is stored in the correction level area 4-1 of the PROM 4.

In the actual printing (as a business), the correction level is read from the correction level area 4-1 and the ROM 2 is read in correspondence with the read correction level and the moving speed of the carrier at the time of printing. Deviation time table 2-1
The deviation time (the number of edges and the delay time) stored in is read and the read deviation time is set in the head controller 11 as a print timing correction value, and printing is started.

When the speed at which the carrier is moved is changed during printing, the deviation time stored in the deviation time table 2-1 is read in correspondence with the correction level being read and the changed speed. The head controller 1 uses this deviation time as a correction value for which the print timing is changed.
Set to 1 to continue printing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the detection signal from the encoder 16 is used to correct the print timing, and when the carrier is moved at the reference speed for each of the plurality of correction levels. The reference speed table 2-12, which stores the deviation time based on the reference unit time obtained by equally dividing the edge of the encoder signal into 6 and the edge of the encoder signal when the carrier is moved at high quality, is equally divided into 6 Based on the high-quality unit time, the deviation time is stored in consideration of the difference in the moving distance of the carrier between the reference speed and the predetermined speed in the time required from the print timing of the print head to the actual printing on the surface of the paper. A deviation time table 2-1 composed of a quality speed table 2-13 and an EEPR storing the correction level selected and designated by test printing.
A correction level area 4-1 for the OM4 is provided, and at the time of printing,
By correcting the print timing by reading the shift time stored in the shift time table 2-1 in accordance with the correction level stored in the correction level area 4-1 and the speed at which the carrier moves during printing. If you perform test printing once and set the correction level, you can automatically correct printing timing properly and prevent print misalignment without performing test printing even if you change the printing speed. Can be improved.

[0051]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a print control device capable of appropriately performing print timing correction in a short time without performing test print even if the print speed is changed, and improving operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of an ink jet printer equipped with a print control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of a shift time table of the inkjet printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating a delay time set for each correction level in the inkjet printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of main processing performed by the inkjet printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a test print of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 2-1 ... deviation time table, 2-12 ... reference speed table, 2-13 ... high quality speed table, 4 ... EEPROM, 4-1 ... correction level area, 8 ... operation panel, 11 ... Head controller, 13 ... Carrier drive controller.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 2/055 B41J 3/04 104D 2/13 3/10 101F 2/51 101J

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A print control device mounted on a printing device, wherein a print head is mounted on a carrier and printing is performed on the paper by the print head while moving the carrier, and an encoder for detecting the position or moving distance of the carrier. The time interval between the edges of the output waveform of the encoder when the carrier is moved at a preset reference speed for a plurality of correction levels set to correct the print timing of the print head. Based on a reference unit time divided into n equal parts, a deviation time from a preset reference 0 correction level and a time interval between edges of an output waveform of the encoder when the carrier is moved at a predetermined speed are calculated. Based on a predetermined unit time divided into n equal parts, it is necessary from the print timing of the print head to the actual printing on the surface of the paper. Shift time table that stores the shift time from the 0 correction level in consideration of the difference in the moving distance of the carrier between the reference speed and the predetermined speed during a certain time, and the speed of the carrier corresponding to each correction level. Then, the correction timing is corrected by the deviation time stored in the deviation time table, and the correction printing means for printing the printing pattern for correction, and the optimum correction selected and designated based on the printing result by the correction printing means A correction level storage means for storing the level and a correction level stored by the correction level storage means at the time of actual printing, and the print head with the shift time stored in the shift time table corresponding to the speed of the carrier at that time. And a correction unit that corrects the print timing of the print control device.