JP3982361B2 - Recording apparatus and recording unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention Recording apparatus and recording unit About.
[0002]
[Background]
2. Related Art Inkjet printers are known as devices that print images on various print media such as paper, cloth, and film. In an inkjet printer, printing is performed by alternately and repeatedly executing a step of positioning a printing medium by moving it in the conveyance direction by a conveyance roller or the like, and a step of discharging ink while moving the nozzle in the scanning direction. .
[0003]
Here, in order to perform good printing, it is necessary that the substrate to be printed is accurately conveyed. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-49399, a conveyance device in which a correction amount of a conveyance error is set in advance in the manufacturing process, and the conveyance amount is corrected by the correction amount to convey a print sheet. Is disclosed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a printing apparatus in which the printing medium is continuously supplied, such as roll paper, the remaining amount of the printing medium may affect the conveyance amount of the printing medium by the conveyance roller. For example, the diameter of roll paper as a printing medium decreases as consumption progresses, and as a result, the moment of inertia about the rotation axis of the roll paper gradually changes, and this change in moment of inertia causes the conveyance roller and roll paper to change. The tension of the printing medium between them changes. The change in tension may change the amount of slip between the paper feed roller and the printing medium during conveyance, leading to a reduction in image quality.
An object of the present invention is to improve the conveyance accuracy of a printing medium and improve the image quality.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A main invention includes a transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium, and a transport amount of the recording medium by the transport mechanism becomes a target transport amount. The transport mechanism In a recording apparatus that repeatedly executes an operation of controlling and an operation of performing recording by discharging liquid onto the recording medium, The storage element provided with the recording medium has a rewritable area and a non-rewritable area, and the rewritable area stores the remaining amount information of the printing medium, and the non-rewritable area. Stores correction amount information during conveyance in which a plurality of correction amounts are set stepwise according to a change in the remaining amount of the printing medium, and the storage element is used when conveying the recording medium. Read the correction amount information during conveyance from The target transport amount is corrected by a correction amount corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium. And controlling the transport mechanism according to the corrected target transport amount to transport the recording medium, generating the remaining amount information based on the remaining amount of the recording medium after transport, Write remaining amount information to the rewritable area This is a recording apparatus.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following matters will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
An operation that includes a conveyance mechanism that conveys the recording medium, and that controls the conveyance amount of the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism to be a target conveyance amount; and an operation that performs recording by discharging liquid onto the recording medium In the recording apparatus that repeatedly executes the above, the target transport amount is corrected by a correction amount corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium.
[0007]
According to such a recording apparatus, since the target transport amount is corrected by the correction amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, it is possible to appropriately correct the target transport amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the conveyance accuracy of the printing medium and improve the image quality.
[0008]
Further, it is desirable that the correction amount is prepared according to the type of the recording medium. There are different types of recording media, such as paper type, paper width, and core material, and the correction amount may be different if the type of recording media is different. Therefore, by preparing the correction amount according to the type of the printing medium as the correction amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, it is possible to optimally correct the target transport amount for each type of the printing medium. Therefore, it is possible to improve the image quality by improving the conveyance accuracy.
[0009]
Further, the correction amount may be set stepwise according to a change in the remaining amount of the recording medium. That is, the slip amount of the printing medium with respect to the paper feed roller is often very small with respect to the change in the remaining amount of the printing medium, and the correction amount is continuously applied to the change in the remaining amount of the recording medium. This is because there are many cases where the processing load of the recording apparatus becomes high and the image quality cannot be improved much even if the value is changed.
[0010]
In addition, if the correction amount is changed during a series of print processing periods (referred to as “one-job print processing period”) for one print data, there is a disadvantage that a discontinuous portion is generated in the print image. May occur. Therefore, it is preferable to correct the target carry amount with the same correction amount within the print processing period of one job.
[0011]
The recording device is, for example, an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink and landing on a recording medium.
[0012]
An operation of controlling the conveyance amount of the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism to be a target conveyance amount; and discharging ink to the recording medium to the recording medium In the recording apparatus that repeatedly executes the operation of performing printing by landing, the target transport amount is corrected by a correction amount corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium, and the correction amount depends on the type of the recording medium The correction amount is set stepwise according to a change in the remaining amount of the recording medium, and the target transport amount is corrected by the same correction amount within the print processing period of one job. A recording apparatus. According to such a recording apparatus, since the target transport amount is corrected by the correction amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, it is possible to appropriately correct the target transport amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the conveyance accuracy of the printing medium and improve the image quality. The recording medium is roll paper, for example.
[0013]
An operation that includes a conveyance mechanism that conveys the recording medium, and that controls the conveyance amount of the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism to be a target conveyance amount; and an operation that performs recording by discharging liquid onto the recording medium It is also possible to realize a computer program for realizing a function of correcting the target transport amount with a correction amount determined according to the remaining amount of the recording medium in a recording apparatus that repeatedly executes the above.
[0014]
A computer main body, a display device connected to the computer main body, and a transport mechanism that transports the recording medium, and an operation for controlling the transport amount of the recording medium by the transport mechanism to be a target transport amount; And a recording apparatus that repeatedly performs an operation of discharging a liquid onto the recording medium and correcting the target conveyance amount by a correction amount corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium. A computer system is also feasible. Further, the computer main body stores a plurality of the correction amounts prepared for each type of the recording medium, allows the user to specify the type of the recording medium, and corrects by the correction amount corresponding to the type specified by the user It is also possible to realize a computer system in which the target transport amount generated in this way is transmitted to the recording apparatus, and the recording apparatus receives the target transport amount. As a result, the user operating the computer main body can set the target transport amount according to the type of the recording medium.
[0015]
In addition, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium is provided, and an operation for controlling the transport amount of the recording medium by the transport mechanism to be a target transport amount, and recording is performed by discharging liquid onto the recording medium. In the recording method in the recording apparatus that repeatedly executes the operation, the target transport amount is corrected by a correction amount corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium. According to such a recording method, since the target transport amount is corrected by the correction amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, it is possible to appropriately correct the target transport amount according to the remaining amount of the recording body. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the conveyance accuracy of the printing medium and improve the image quality.
[0016]
=== General Configuration of Printing Apparatus ===
First, a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment as an example of a recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows a color printer CP as an example of a printing apparatus. The color printer CP includes a printer main body as a printing apparatus main body, and a roll paper 30 as a printing medium unit that is detachably attached to the printer main body.
[0018]
The color printer CP is a printer that can output a color image. For example, four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are ejected onto a printing medium. Thus, the ink jet printer forms an image by forming dots. In addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, LC), light magenta (light magenta, LM), and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used as the color ink.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer CP has a structure for discharging a printing medium such as printing paper supplied from the back side from the front side. An operation panel 11 and a paper discharge unit 12 are provided on the front side of the printer body 10. And a paper feed unit 13 on the back. Various operation buttons 111 and a display lamp 112 are provided on the operation panel 11. The paper discharge unit 12 includes a paper discharge tray 121 that closes the paper discharge port when not in use. The paper feed unit 13 includes a paper feed holder 131 and roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 that hold the roll paper 30.
[0020]
The roll paper 30 includes a core material 31, a roll paper 32 wound around the outer periphery of the core material 31, and a storage element (element) 33 as storage means provided on the inner peripheral surface of the core material 31. . Details of the storage element 33 will be described later.
[0021]
The roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 are arranged to form a pair on both sides of the back surface of the printer main body 10. The roll paper unit holder 20 includes an electrical contact 201 with the printer main body 10 and a transmission / reception unit that is electrically connected to the electrical contact 201 and transmits / receives data to / from the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30. 202 is provided. In FIG. 1, the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 are removed from the printer main body 10 and the roll paper 30 in order to show the contacts 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202 provided in the roll paper unit holder 20. It is shown.
[0022]
=== Configuration of Storage Element ===
Next, the configuration of the memory element 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating the configuration of the storage element 33. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data array in the memory cell 336 provided in the storage element 33.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage element 33 includes a memory cell 336, a W / R control unit 334 that controls reading and writing of data to the memory cell 336, and data reading by the W / R control unit 334. Alternatively, an address counter 332 for designating an address in the memory cell 336 based on the clock signal CLK when writing is performed. Note that data reading or writing by the W / R control unit 334 is performed serially.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, the memory cell 336 includes a rewritable area 338 where data can be read and rewritten, and a non-rewritable area 339 where data can be read and cannot be rewritten. Here, the rewritable area 338 is configured by an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that is an electrically erasable and rewritable ROM, and the non-rewritable area 339 is only once. It is composed of a one-time ROM, which is a writable ROM.
[0025]
Writing to the non-rewritable area 339 is performed before the roll paper 30 is mounted on the printer main body 10, for example, when the roll paper 30 is manufactured in a factory. Accordingly, the printer body 10 can execute both reading and writing of data with respect to data stored in the rewritable area 338, but performs reading of data with respect to the non-rewritable area 339. However, data writing cannot be executed.
[0026]
The rewritable area 338 stores remaining sheet information, use start information, and use end information. The paper remaining amount information is information indicating the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32 included in the roll paper 30. The use start information is information indicating the latest date when the printer main body 10 starts using the roll paper 30, and the use end information is the end of use of the roll paper 30 by the printer main body 10. This is information indicating the latest date. In the rewritable area 338, information other than these may be stored as appropriate.
[0027]
The non-rewritable area 339 includes manufacturing date information, paper type information, paper thickness information, paper color information, paper width information, paper surface quality information, and conveyance correction amount H. The production date information is information about the date of manufacture of the printing roll, the paper type information is information about the type of paper (plain paper, photo paper, etc.), and the paper thickness information is paper The paper color information is information about the color of the printing surface of the paper, the paper width information is information about the width of the paper, and the paper surface quality information is the surface quality of the printing surface of the paper. It is information about. The conveyance correction amount H is a correction amount for correcting a target conveyance amount, which will be described later, when the printing apparatus conveys a printing medium during printing. Specific contents of the conveyance correction amount H will be described later. It should be noted that information other than these may be stored in the non-rewritable area 339 as appropriate.
[0028]
=== Positional relationship between storage element and transmission / reception unit ===
Next, a positional relationship between the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30 and the transmission / reception unit 202 of the roll paper unit holder 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the storage element 33 and the transmission / reception unit 202 in a state where the roll paper 30 is held by the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21. FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 viewed from the roll paper unit holder 20 side.
[0029]
In this embodiment, a non-contact type storage element is used as the storage element 33, and the storage element 33 and the transmission / reception unit 202 do not need to be in contact with each other when data is transmitted / received. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a gap between the transmission / reception unit 202 and the storage element 33. Further, in a non-contact type storage element, necessary electric power is generated by rectifying a carrier wave transmitted from an external transmission / reception circuit.
[0030]
The storage element 33 of the roll paper 30 is closest to the transmission / reception unit 202 of the roll paper unit holder 20 every time the roll paper 30 rotates once. When a close storage element having a transmittable / receiveable distance of about 2 mm is used as the storage element 33, data transmission / reception is executed at the timing at which the storage element 32 and the transmission / reception unit 202 are closest to each other. When a proximity storage element having a transmission / reception distance of about 20 cm is used, data transmission / reception is executed regardless of the relative position between the storage element 32 and the transmission / reception unit 202. Needless to say, a contact-type memory element can be used as the memory element 33. In such a case, the roll paper unit holder 20 is provided with a contact instead of the transmission / reception unit 202, and the roll paper 30 rotates and the contact on the roll paper unit holder 20 side contacts the contact of the storage element. In addition, data transmission / reception is executed.
[0031]
=== Paper transport mechanism ===
Next, the internal configuration of the color printer CP will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the color printer CP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the transport mechanism of the color printer CP.
[0032]
As shown in the figure, the color printer CP has a mechanism for discharging ink and forming dots by driving the print heads IH1 to IH4 mounted on the carriage 40, and the carriage 40 is moved in the axial direction of the platen 42 by the carriage motor 41. It has a mechanism for reciprocating, a mechanism for transporting the printing roll paper 32 supplied from the roll paper 30 by the paper feed motor 43, and a control circuit 50.
[0033]
A mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 40 in the axial direction of the platen 42 is an endless drive between the carriage motor 41 and a slide shaft 44 that is installed in parallel with the axis of the platen 42 and slidably holds the carriage 40. A pulley 46 and the like for stretching the belt 45 are included.
[0034]
An ink cartridge INC1 and an ink cartridge INC2 are mounted on the carriage 40. Each ink cartridge INC1, INC2 is provided with a storage element ME for storing the remaining amount of ink. The ink cartridge INC1 contains black (K) ink, and the ink cartridge INC2 contains other inks, that is, three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). As described above, light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), and dark yellow (DY) inks can also be stored.
[0035]
The transport mechanism that transports the printing roll paper 32 supplied from the roll paper 30 includes a platen 42, a paper feed motor 43 that rotates the platen 42, paper feed rollers 17 </ b> A and 17 </ b> B, and rotation of the paper feed motor 43. 42 and a gear mechanism 48 for transmitting to the paper feed auxiliary roller, and an encoder 47 for detecting the rotation angle of the platen 42. Further, a contact 101 is provided on the printer main body 10 so as to face the contact 201 provided on the roll paper unit holder 20.
[0036]
The control circuit 50 appropriately controls the movement of the paper feed motor 43, the carriage motor 41, and the print heads IH1 to IH4 while exchanging signals with the operation panel 11 of the printer. The paper S drawn from the printing roll paper 32 of the roll paper 30 held by the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 of the color printer CP is sandwiched between the paper feed roller 17A and the free roller 18A, and the paper feed roller. The paper is conveyed in the paper conveyance direction according to the rotation angle of 17A.
[0037]
=== Internal structure of control circuit ===
Next, the internal configuration of the control circuit 50 of the color printer CP will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the control circuit 50 of the color printer CP according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, a CPU 51, a PROM 52, a RAM 53, a peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 54, a timer 55, a drive buffer 56, and the like are provided in the control circuit 50.
[0038]
A transmission / reception unit 202 is connected to the PIO 54 via a personal computer PC, a contact MEC with the storage element ME of the ink cartridge, a carriage motor 41, a paper feed motor 43, an encoder 47, and contacts 101 and 201. The drive buffer 56 is used as a buffer for supplying ON / OFF signals for dot formation to the print heads IH1 to IH4. These are connected to each other by a bus 57 and can exchange data with each other. The control circuit 50 is also provided with an oscillator 58 that outputs a drive waveform at a predetermined frequency, and a distribution output device 59 that distributes the output from the oscillator 58 to the print heads IH1 to IH4 at a predetermined timing.
[0039]
For example, the control circuit 50 performs the operation on the storage element 33 provided on the core material 31 of the roll paper 30 via the transmission / reception unit 202 at the time of turning on the power, replacing the roll paper 30, or turning off the power. to access. The control circuit 50 reflects the information acquired from the storage element 33 and controls the printing process. The control circuit 50 outputs dot data to the drive buffer 56 at a predetermined timing while synchronizing with the movements of the paper feed motor 43 and the carriage motor 42.
[0040]
=== Relationship between paper slip and image quality ===
The relationship between the slippage of the paper with respect to the paper feed roller 17A and the image quality will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how dots are formed when the slippage of the paper with respect to the paper feed roller 17A is small and the actual carry amount is larger than the target carry amount, and FIG. 10 shows the state of the paper with respect to the paper feed roller 17A. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how dots are formed when there is a large slip and the actual carry amount is smaller than the target carry amount. For simplicity of explanation, the heads IH1 to IH4 are assumed to have seven nozzles for one color. Further, numerals 1 to 7 shown in the circles indicate nozzle numbers, and nozzles with smaller numbers are provided downstream in the paper transport direction. The circle mark indicates the position (pixel position) of the dot formed in the first pass, the square mark indicates the position of the dot formed in the second pass, and the hexagon mark indicates the third pass. The positions of the dots to be formed are shown, and the octagon marks indicate the positions of the dots formed in the fourth pass. The number in each mark indicates the number of the nozzle that ejected the ink for forming the dot.
[0041]
In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, two dots are formed for each pass. However, in actuality, since the nozzles intermittently eject ink while moving in the scanning direction, many dots are formed along the scanning direction. Are formed in a line shape (hereinafter referred to as “raster line”). In this recording method, each time the paper is transported by the transport amount F in the scanning direction, each nozzle records a raster line immediately above the raster line recorded in the immediately preceding pass.
[0042]
In FIG. 9, when the target transport amount is F, the transport unit transports the printing medium with a transport amount (F + δ) including a certain positive error δ. In other words, the printing medium is transported to the downstream side in the paper transport direction by an error δ with respect to the target transport amount F. Such a positive error is, for example, between the actual paper conveyance roller 17A and the printing medium, compared to the slippage between the paper conveyance roller 17A and the printing medium that is expected when the target conveyance amount F is set. This occurs when the amount of sliding is small. When such an error δ is accumulated, as shown in FIG. 11, the dot pitch between raster lines is widened, and the color stripes are lightly called “bright banding”, “white banding”, “light banding”, etc. Etc.), which causes image quality degradation.
[0043]
In FIG. 10, when the target transport amount is F, the transport unit transports the print medium with a transport amount (F−δ) that includes a certain minus error −δ. That is, the printing medium is transported downstream in the paper transport direction with respect to the target transport amount F by a shortage of the error δ. Such a negative error is, for example, between the actual paper conveyance roller 17A and the printing medium as compared to the slippage between the paper conveyance roller 17A and the printing medium which is expected when the target conveyance amount F is set. This occurs when the amount of slippage is large. When such an error δ is accumulated, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the dot pitch between raster lines is partially narrowed, resulting in dark stripes (“dark banding”, “black banding”, “dark banding”). Banding ”, etc.), which causes image quality degradation.
[0044]
<Relation between paper slip and remaining paper>
The slip amount of the printing medium with respect to the paper feed roller 17A may depend on the remaining amount (usage amount) of the printing medium. For example, when the printing medium is the printing roll paper 32, the slip amount of the paper S drawn from the printing roll paper 32 and conveyed to the paper feeding roller 17 </ b> A with respect to the paper feeding roller 17 </ b> A remains in the roll paper 30. It changes according to the remaining amount of the roll paper 32 for printing. In such a case, for example, even if the target conveyance amount is corrected in advance by considering the quality of the printing medium (for example, the quality of the roll paper), the error due to the change in the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32 It is not corrected until.
[0045]
Here, the principle of how the slip amount of the paper S with respect to the paper feed roller 17A changes in accordance with the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the tension T caused by the moment of inertia around the rotation axis of the printing roll paper 32 acts on the paper S that is sandwiched and conveyed between the paper feed roller 17A and the free roller 18A. ing. That is, the paper S is pulled out in the paper transport direction when the paper feed roller 17A pulls the paper S with a force F equal to or higher than the tension T. Here, the tension T is determined according to the moment of inertia around the rotation axis of the printing roll paper 32. This moment of inertia changes according to the change in the diameter (2R) of the printing roll paper 32, for example, for printing. As the consumption of the roll paper 32 progresses and the diameter 2R of the printing roll paper 32 decreases, the moment of inertia of the printing roll paper 32 also decreases. When the moment of inertia changes in this way, the tension T applied to the paper S also decreases, and the amount of slippage of the paper S relative to the paper feed roller 17A decreases. From the above, it is understood how the slip amount of the paper S with respect to the paper feed roller 17A changes according to the change in the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32.
[0046]
<Correction amount during transport>
In the color printer CP of the present embodiment, the target transport amount is set in consideration of the variation of the slip amount of the paper S with respect to the paper feed roller 17A due to the change in the remaining amount of the paper S as described above. . The conveyance correction amount H illustrated in FIG. 3 is a correction amount used for this correction. In the example of FIG. 3, the conveyance correction amount H is set stepwise in accordance with the change in the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32. The reason why the correction amount is set stepwise according to the change in the remaining amount of the roll paper 32 for printing instead of continuously is that the change in the slip amount of the paper S with respect to the paper feed roller 17A is a change in the remaining amount. In many cases, even if the correction amount is continuously changed with respect to the change in the remaining amount of the recording medium, the processing load of the recording apparatus is increased. This is because an improvement in image quality commensurate with the processing load cannot be expected.
[0047]
The conveyance correction amount H stored in the storage element 33 is read into the memory inside the color printer CP at a timing such as when the roll paper 30 is loaded. Note that the type of paper roll (print paper 32, plain paper, high-quality paper, photographic paper, matte paper, art paper, glossy paper, OHP, seal paper, etc.), paper thickness, paper width, etc. The types are various, and the conveyance correction amount H also varies depending on the roll paper 30. Accordingly, the storage element 33 stores the conveyance correction amount H corresponding to each roll paper 30.
[0048]
=== Conveyance control system ===
Next, a description will be specifically given of the conveyance process of the printing medium performed by the above-described conveyance mechanism, which is performed in the color printer CP of the present embodiment.
[0049]
For example, the CPU 51 of the control circuit 50 sets a target carry amount based on print data input from a computer such as a personal computer connected to the color printer CP, and rotates it by a rotation amount corresponding to the target carry amount. A signal is output to the paper feed motor 43. The paper feed motor 43 rotates by a predetermined rotation amount based on a signal sent from the CPU 51, whereby the paper feed roller 17 </ b> A transports the paper S. On the other hand, the encoder 47 detects the rotation amount of the paper feed roller 17A and notifies the CPU 51 of the detection result.
[0050]
FIG. 14 is a control block diagram for explaining a mechanism of feedback control of the paper feed motor 43 performed in the conveyance process. The CPU 51 determines a history (speed profile) of the rotational speed that is the target of the paper feed roller 17A. The CPU 51 calculates a history of the rotational speed that is the target of the paper feed roller 17A based on information included in the print data, and generates a command value based on the calculated history. On the other hand, the CPU 51 obtains a difference value between the generated command value and the detection value from the encoder 47, and performs PID control based on this difference value. As described above, the feedback control of the paper feed motor 43 is performed so that the paper carry amount becomes the target carry amount.
[0051]
=== Operation of Color Printer CP ===
Next, the operation of the color printer CP according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing print processing including data transmission / reception executed between the control circuit 50 and the storage element 33, which is executed in the color printer CP at the time of printing. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the rewriting process of the RAM 53.
[0052]
In FIG. 15, first, the control circuit 50 determines whether or not a power-on request has occurred (step S100). That is, it is determined whether or not the operation of the color printer CP has started.
[0053]
If the control circuit 50 determines that the power-on request has not occurred, the control circuit 50 determines that the color printer CP is in operation, and determines whether a request for replacing the roll paper 30 has occurred (step S110). ). The request for replacing the roll paper 30 is generated, for example, when the roll paper replacement button 111 on the operation panel 11 is pressed down.
[0054]
If the control circuit 50 determines that a request to replace the roll paper 30 has occurred (step S110: Yes), the storage element of the roll paper 30 is exchanged via the transmission / reception unit 202 after the roll paper 30 is replaced by the user. 33 is accessed to read out the paper related information including the conveyance correction amount H (step S120).
[0055]
Even when the control circuit 50 determines in step S100 that a power-on request has occurred (step S100: Yes), the control circuit 50 reads out the paper-related information from the storage element 33.
[0056]
When the paper-related information can be read from the storage element 33 (step S130: Yes), the control circuit 50 temporarily stores the read paper-related information in the RAM 53 (step S140).
[0057]
Next, the control circuit 50 executes a printing process (step S150). Here, in this printing process, the paper is transported by the above-described mechanism, and the control circuit 50 corrects the target transport amount according to the transport correction amount H stored in the RAM 53 during the transport. Specifically, this correction is performed by outputting a signal corresponding to the conveyance amount obtained by correcting the target conveyance amount determined by the print data by the correction amount H during conveyance to the paper feed motor 17A. Is called. The paper feed motor 17A is controlled according to the target carry amount corrected by the carry correction amount H read from the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30 in this way, so that the paper according to the change in the remaining amount of the roll paper 32 for printing. An error caused by a change in the slip amount of the S with respect to the paper feed roller 17A is corrected, and the image quality can be improved.
[0058]
For example, when printing one image, the target carry amount is corrected during a series of print processing periods (one job print processing period) for one print data sent from a computer connected to the color printer CP. If the conveyance correction amount H to be applied is changed, there may be inconveniences such as a discontinuous portion in the printed image. Therefore, when such an inconvenience becomes a problem, the same conveyance correction amount H can be used during the print processing period of one job.
[0059]
Further, since the conveyance correction amount H is read from the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30, the correction can be performed with the conveyance correction amount H suitable for the type of the roll paper 30. For example, a new standard roll Even when the paper 30 is commercialized, it is not necessary to newly install or set the conveyance correction amount H in the color printer CP or a computer connected thereto, and there is no burden on the user.
[0060]
On the other hand, in the printing process, the RAM 53 is rewritten. During the printing process, the control circuit 50 rotates the paper feed roller 17A in accordance with the paper conveyance amount (step S220). The control circuit 50 detects the rotation amount of the paper feed roller 17A at this time by the encoder 47. Thus, the paper feed amount is acquired (step S230). Then, the control circuit 50 generates paper remaining information after the printing process based on the acquired paper feed amount (step S240), and stores the generated paper remaining information after the printing process in the RAM 53 (step S250). ).
[0061]
Returning to FIG. 8 again, the description will be continued. The control circuit 50 waits for the end of printing (step S170: No), and if it determines that the printing has ended (step S170: Yes), it acquires the remaining paper amount information from the RAM 53 (step S180).
[0062]
The control circuit 50 accesses the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30 via the transmission / reception unit 202, writes the remaining paper amount information in the storage element 33 (step S190), and ends this processing routine.
[0063]
Here, the remaining paper amount information is not stored on the color printer CP side, but is written in the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30. For example, the roll paper 30 may be replaced during use. This is because there is a problem that there is.
[0064]
If the control circuit 50 determines in step S110 that a request for replacing the roll paper 30 has not occurred (step S110: No), the control circuit 50 reads the updated paper remaining amount information from the storage element 33 (step S192). ), The process of step S150 is executed. If the control circuit 50 determines in step S130 that the paper-related information cannot be read from the storage element 33 (step S130: No), the graphical user interface displayed on the display display of the computer PC. (GUI) or the occurrence of a reading abnormality is notified via the display lamp 112 on the operation panel 11 or the like (step S194), and this processing routine is terminated.
[0065]
Further, when the requested print data amount is larger than the remaining amount of paper (step S150: Yes), the control circuit 50 notifies the GUI or the operation panel 11 that the printing cannot be completed correctly. Notification is made via the upper display lamp 112 or the like (step S196), and this processing routine is terminated.
[0066]
=== Configuration of Computer System etc. ===
Next, embodiments of a computer system, a computer program, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0067]
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a computer system. The computer system 1000 includes a computer main body 1102, a display device 1104, a printer 1106, an input device 1108, and a reading device 1110. In this embodiment, the computer main body 1102 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 1104 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the printer 1106, the printer described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 1108 is a keyboard 1108A and a mouse 1108B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 1110 uses a flexible disk drive device 1110A and a CD-ROM drive device 1110B. However, the reading device 1110 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magnet Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.
[0068]
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer system shown in FIG. An internal memory 1202 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 1204 are further provided in a housing in which the computer main body 1102 is housed. The computer program for controlling the operation of the printer described above is recorded on a flexible disk FD or a CD-ROM, which is a recording medium, and is read by the reading device 1110. The computer program may be downloaded to the computer system 1000 via a communication line such as the Internet.
[0069]
In the above description, the printer 1106 is connected to the computer main body 1102, the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110 to configure the computer system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the computer system may include a computer main body 1102 and a printer 1106, and the computer system may not include any of the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110. Further, for example, the printer 1106 may have a part of each function or mechanism of the computer main body 1102, the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110. As an example, the printer 1106 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure to have.
[0070]
In the above-described embodiment, a computer program for controlling the printer may be stored in the memory 65 of the control unit 60. Then, the control unit 60 may achieve the operation of the printer in the above-described embodiment by executing this computer program.
[0071]
The computer system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.
[0072]
=== Other Embodiments ===
The printer and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on one embodiment. However, the above-described embodiment is for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and is intended to limit the present invention. is not. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, even the embodiments described below are included in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0073]
Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to the printing roll paper 32, the present invention can be applied even when a printing medium other than the printing roll paper 32 is used.
The above-described storage element 33 may be an element that can store various types of information, and may be an element that includes various processing units, arithmetic units, and the like in addition to the memory cells.
In the above-described example, the remaining amount of paper is stored in the storage element 33. However, the usage amount of paper (for example, how many mm is used, what percentage is used) may be stored. If the amount of paper used is known, the amount of remaining paper is also known, so the remaining amount information relating to the remaining amount of the printing medium such as paper is a concept that includes not only the remaining amount of paper but also the amount of paper used. .
In the above-described embodiment, the printing paper has been described as an example of the recording medium. However, a film, a cloth, a thin metal plate, or the like may be used as the recording medium.
[0074]
In the above-described embodiments, the printer dedicated to roll paper has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the printing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a color printer CP that can use both cut paper and roll paper 30. Yes.
In the above embodiment, the color printer CP is used as the printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as the printing apparatus can perform printing processing on roll paper. May be.
[0075]
In the above embodiment, the paper feed amount is obtained based on the rotation angle of the paper feed motor 43 (platen 42) detected by the encoder 47, but is sent from the personal computer PC side to the color printer CP. The paper feed amount may be calculated based on the paper feed amount signal.
In the above embodiment, the paper feed amount is obtained based on the rotation angle of the paper feed motor 43 (platen 42) detected by the encoder 47, and the remaining paper amount is calculated from the obtained paper feed amount. The case 36 may be provided with a weight sensor WS, and the remaining amount (use amount) of the printing roll paper 32 may be detected based on the weight detected by the weight sensor WS. Alternatively, a position sensor PS that linearly detects the height (thickness) of the printing roll paper 32 is provided on the side wall of the case 36, and based on the height of the printing roll paper 32 detected by the position sensor PS. Thus, the remaining amount (usage amount) of the printing roll paper 32 may be detected. The weight sensor and the position sensor are realized using known sensors.
[0076]
In the above embodiment, the conveyance correction amount H is read from the storage element 33 of the printing roll paper 32, and the target conveyance amount is corrected in the color printer CP based on the conveyance correction amount H. For example, the conveyance correction amount H may be stored in the computer main body 1102, and the computer correction amount H may be notified from the computer main body 1102 to the color printer CP. In this case, the target transport amount corrected on the color printer CP side may be generated. However, the computer main body 1102 generates a target transport amount that anticipates the transport correction amount H in advance and sends the target transport amount to the color printer CP. It is good also as a structure. In this case, a mechanism for grasping the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32 on the computer main body 1102 side is required. For example, the color printer CP notifies the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32. This can be easily realized.
[0077]
Further, when the computer main body 1102 is configured to store the conveyance correction amount H, the color printer CP may notify the computer main body 1102 of the conveyance correction amount H read from the storage element 33 of the roll paper 30. Alternatively, it may be configured to be installed directly on the computer main body 1102 using a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Note that when the conveyance correction amount H is installed in the computer main body 1102 from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, the conveyance correction amount H corresponding to the type of the roll paper 30 is selected and applied. This mechanism is necessary. This mechanism provides, for example, a user interface screen for performing various settings for the printer driver of the color printer CP displayed on the screen of a display device connected to the computer main body 1102 as shown in FIG. Specifically, for example, a plurality of conveyance correction amounts H prepared for each type of recording medium are stored in the computer main body 1102, and the user selects the type of printing medium on this screen. In this case, the target transport amount is corrected by the transport correction amount H corresponding to the selected printing medium.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium and improve the image quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage element 33. FIG.
3 is a diagram showing a data array in a memory cell 336 provided in the memory element 33. FIG.
4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a storage element 33 and a transmission / reception unit 202 in a state where the roll paper 30 is held by the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21. FIG.
5 is a side view of FIG. 4 viewed from the roll paper unit holder 20 side. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a color printer CP according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transport mechanism of a color printer CP according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control circuit of a color printer CP according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how dots are formed when the actual carry amount is larger than the target carry amount.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how dots are formed when the actual carry amount is smaller than the target carry amount.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of occurrence of print stripes (banding) in FIG. 9;
12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of occurrence of print stripes (banding) in FIG.
13 is a diagram for explaining the principle that the amount of slip relative to the paper feed roller 17A changes according to the change in the remaining amount of roll paper 32. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a control block diagram for explaining the mechanism of feedback control of the paper feed motor 43;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process including data transmission / reception executed between the control circuit 50 and the storage element 33, which is executed in the color printer CP during printing.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a rewrite process of a RAM 53;
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a computer system.
18 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer system shown in FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen for performing various settings for the printer driver of the color printer CP displayed on the screen of the display device connected to the computer main body.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Printer body
11 Operation panel
111 Operation buttons
112 Indicator lamp
12 Paper discharge unit
121 Output tray
13 Paper feeder
131 Paper feed holder
20, 21 Roll paper unit holder
201 contacts
202 transceiver
30 roll paper
31 Core
32 Roll paper for printing
33 Memory element
40 Carriage
42 Platen
43 Paper feed motor
44 Sliding shaft
45 Drive belt
46 pulley
47 Encoder
48 Gear mechanism
50 Control circuit
51 CPU
52 PROM
53 RAM
54 Peripheral device input / output unit (PIO)
55 timer
56 Drive buffer
57 Bus
58 Oscillator
59 Distribution output device
23 Roll paper support shaft
205 contacts
210 Transmission / reception circuit
24 Roll paper unit holder
H Correction amount during transport
PC personal computer
INC1, INC2 ink cartridge
ME memory element
MEC contact
IH1, IH2, IH3, IH4 Print head

Claims (2)

A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium, and controlling the transport mechanism so that the transport amount of the recording medium by the transport mechanism becomes a target transport amount; and recording by discharging liquid onto the recording medium In a recording apparatus that repeatedly executes the operation of
The storage element provided with the recording medium has a rewritable area and a non-rewritable area, and the rewritable area stores the remaining amount information of the printing medium, and the non-rewritable area. Is stored correction amount information at the time of conveyance in which a plurality of correction amounts are set in stages according to a change in the remaining amount of the printing medium.
When conveying the recording medium, the correction amount information during conveyance is read from the storage element, the target conveyance amount is corrected by a correction amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, and the corrected target conveyance The conveyance mechanism is controlled according to the amount to convey the recording medium, the remaining amount information is generated based on the remaining amount of the recording medium after conveyance, and the generated remaining amount information is the rewritable area. A recording device characterized by writing to the recording medium. A recording unit comprising a recording medium and a storage element,
  The storage element has a rewritable area and a non-rewritable area. The rewritable area stores remaining amount information of the printing medium, and the rewritable area includes the printing medium. The correction amount information at the time of conveyance in which a plurality of correction amounts are set step by step according to the change in the remaining amount of is stored.
  When the recording medium is transported, the transport correction amount information is read from the storage element,
  After the recording medium is conveyed based on the target conveyance amount corrected by the correction amount according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, the remaining amount information corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium after conveyance is obtained. Written to the rewritable area
A recording unit characterized by that.

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