JP4322900B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention supplies print data consisting of a large number of dot information to a print head in which a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scanning direction, and the print head and the print medium are relative to each other in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method of a system in which a head is moved in a scanning direction in an inkjet printer that moves and prints an image on the surface of a printing medium.

As a printing apparatus, there is a proposal for making a printing position complicated in order to make printing unevenness in a joint portion inconspicuous (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a method of controlling the amount of ink in order to reduce density unevenness such as black stripes is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, there is known an ink jet recording apparatus in which a dot thinning process or an overlapping printing process is performed to suppress a deterioration in image quality due to a connecting stripe at a band boundary (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In addition, a recording method is known in which lines are overlapped to make the joints inconspicuous, and the recording density of overlapping lines is recorded at a lower density than other non-overlapping lines (see, for example, Patent Document 4). A printer that prints obliquely and prevents banding is known (see, for example, Patent Document 5).
JP 2003-34017 A JP 2002-200755 A JP 2000-238935 A JP 09-99550 A JP 2000-52595 A

The streak-like phenomenon in the scanning direction of the head is due to problems such as mechanical errors such as paper conveyance accuracy of the printing device, subtle deviations in the head mounting position, and slight print position of ink ejected from the head. It can be influenced by various complex factors such as misalignment and print data problems. However, considering that streaks appear in the scanning direction of the head, the biggest cause is that the print head moves in the scanning direction of the head and performs printing for a certain printing width after the paper is conveyed. it is conceivable that. Also, depending on the print head, when the ink discharge nozzle discharges ink continuously, if there are a large number of nozzles that discharge side by side among these nozzles, the nozzles located at the ends of the nozzles The print position accuracy may not be achieved. The ink ejection control of this end nozzle and the other nozzles is the same, but the accuracy of the position of the ink ejected from the end nozzle may not be achieved, so this is connected in the horizontal direction, It may be one of the causes of streaks.
The present invention prevents the phenomenon that stripes appear in the scanning direction of the head at the joints even if the print head is moved in the scanning direction, so that the scanning direction of the head does not appear. The purpose is to make the streaks inconspicuous.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, after scanning by relative movement of the print head with respect to the print medium in the main scanning direction, the print medium is relatively moved with respect to the print head in the predetermined transport amount sub-scanning direction. Print data consisting of a large number of dot information is supplied to a print head in which a plurality of dots are arranged in parallel so as to overlap and a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scanning direction, and an image is printed on the surface of the print medium. The printing apparatus is configured to complete printing in an area corresponding to a single movement width of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction by a plurality of relative movements in the main scanning direction of the print heads with respect to the print medium. , the dot end of indicia character data to the data in the sub-scanning direction end portion of the print data supplied to the print heads are so not arranged continuously in the main scanning direction of the print head A deformed data generating means for forming a deformed data portion in the print data by forming an uneven portion for generating the deformed data portion, the deformed data generating means generates a deformed data portion out of phase, and The print data having the shifted deformation data portion is supplied, and the deformation data portions whose phases are shifted are overlapped by a plurality of print heads, and the main print head of the first print head among the plurality of relative movements of the print head is printed. The first print data in which the deformation data portion is formed is printed on the print medium in the scan, and in the subsequent main scan, the print data extending over the previous print area and the next print area in the previous print area. sequentially printed, followed by the main scanning, that printing of the first print data is left deformation data portion of the print area portion was made to complete And butterflies.
The present invention also provides a method of moving the print medium relative to the print head in the sub-scanning direction by a relative movement in the sub-scanning direction after scanning by the relative movement of the print head relative to the print medium, thereby forming a plurality of dots along the sub-scanning direction A printing apparatus for supplying print data comprising a large number of dot information to a print head in which elements are arranged, and printing an image on the surface of the print medium, wherein the print head has a plurality of times in the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium. A plurality of print heads arranged in parallel so as to be overlapped in the main scanning direction so as to complete printing in an area corresponding to one movement width of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction by relative movement. One of a plurality of mask pattern data out of phase is selected, and at the end in the sub-scanning direction of the print data supplied to the print head by the selected mask pattern data A deformed data generating means for generating a deformed data portion in which uneven portions are formed so that dots are not lined up continuously in the main scanning direction of the character head, and a phase shift of the uneven portions in the plurality of print heads Means for supplying the print data having the deformed data portion and printing the deformed data portion with the phase difference of the concavo-convex portion overlapped by a plurality of print heads, and among the plurality of relative movements of the print head, In the main scan of the first print head, the first print data in which the deformation data portion is formed is printed on the print medium, and in the subsequent main scan, the previous print area and the next print are printed in the previous print area. The print data extending over the area is sequentially printed, and in the subsequent main scan, the printing of the remaining portion of the deformation data portion in the area where the first print data is printed is completed. Characterized in that the.
Further, the invention is characterized in that the dot arrangement of the uneven portion of the deformation data portion has a waveform shape.
Further, the present invention provides an area with a change in the printing rate in which the uneven portion is formed in the deformation data portion, and provides a region with a printing rate of 100% on the side contacting the main data portion of the printing data. A 100% region and a region where the printing rate of the deformation data portion is changed are in contact with each other in a concavo-convex shape.
Further, the invention is characterized in that the uneven shape is a wave shape.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that complement data for complementing the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is generated, and the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is complemented by the complement data. To do.
Further, according to the present invention, the printing of the image is sequentially completed with a plurality of scans of the print head with respect to the print medium as one unit, and the print data of the image having a deformation data portion in the print head is provided. Print data having the supplement data and / or print data having both the deformation data portion and the supplement data are supplied.
According to the present invention, the deformation data portion is formed at the rear end in the sub-scanning direction of the print data including the front end of the print data supplied to the print head for each scan, and the intermediate portion of the image The deformation data portion is formed at the rear end portion of the print data in the sub-scanning direction, and complementary data that complements the deformation data portion of the print data adjacent thereto is generated at the front end portion. It is characterized in that complementary data that complements the deformation data portion of the print data in contact with the front end portion of the data in the sub-scanning direction is generated.
Further, according to the present invention, when printing of the image including the deformation data portion is completed, the deleted portion of the image of the deformation data portion is added to the end portion of the print data supplied to the print head in the next print head scanning. It is characterized by being supplemented by the supplemented data.
Further, the present invention sequentially supplies n (n is a positive number) lines of print data as print units to a plurality of print heads arranged in parallel so as to overlap in the main scan direction, and the main scan direction of the print head A printing method for printing on a printing medium by moving the printing medium and conveying the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the dot at the end of the print data is added to the data at the end of the print data supplied to each print head in the sub-scanning direction Are formed so as to generate a deformation data portion in the print data by forming an uneven portion for preventing the print heads from being continuously arranged in the main scanning direction of the print head. supplying print data having a data portion so as to overprinted deformed data portion deviated in the phase of a plurality of print heads, by a plurality of times relative movement in the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium of the print head Printing on each area corresponding to one conveyance width of the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction is completed, and the first printing head main scan of the plurality of relative movements includes the printing medium on the printing medium. The first print data in which the deformation data portion is formed is printed, and in the subsequent main scan, the print data extending over the previous print area and the next print area are sequentially printed in the previous print area, and thereafter In main scanning, printing of the remaining portion of the deformation data portion of the area where the first print data is printed is completed .
Further, the present invention sequentially supplies n (n is a positive number) lines of print data as print units to a plurality of print heads arranged in parallel so as to overlap in the main scan direction, and the main scan direction of the print head Is a printing method for printing on a printing medium by moving the printing medium and transporting the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction, generating a plurality of mask pattern data by shifting the phase of the basic mask pattern, and applying the mask pattern data to each print head. The plurality of print heads are formed with a deformed data portion having an uneven portion for preventing dots from being arranged continuously in the main scanning direction at an end portion in the sub scanning direction of the main data portion of the supplied print data, supplying the deformed data portions with shifted phase, so as to overprinted the deformed data portions shifted in phase by a plurality of print heads, main with respect to the print medium of the print head Printing in each area corresponding to one transport width of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction is completed by a plurality of relative movements in the scanning direction, and the first print head in the plurality of relative movements In the main scan, the first print data in which the deformation data portion is formed is printed on the print medium, and in the subsequent main scan, the previous print area and the next print area are straddled. The print data is sequentially printed, and in the subsequent main scan, printing of the remaining portion of the deformation data portion of the area where the first print data is printed is completed .
Further, the present invention is characterized in that complementary data that complements the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is generated, and the complementary data is printed overlapping the deformation data portion.
Further, the present invention provides complementary data for complementing the deleted dot data in the modified data portion on the joint side of the other print data in contact with the print data having the modified data portion. Is printed by overlapping the deformation data portion.
According to the present invention, the uneven shape of the deformation data portion is a waveform.

  According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus that moves the print head in the scanning direction, it is possible to easily realize a printing result in which a phenomenon that looks like a streak in the scanning direction of the head is not noticeable simply by changing data. .

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic overall configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. The ink jet printer 2 is controlled by a controller 4 including a computer circuit, and the controller 4 is connected to an external computer 8 via a connector 6. The controller 4 incorporates a program for performing conversion processing of the end portions before and after the printing data conveyance direction. The computer 8 transmits print data to the controller 4 mounted on the printer 2. As will be described later, the controller 4 analyzes the received data and controls the drive unit of the printer 2. The printer 2 includes a sub-scan feed mechanism that transports the print medium 10 such as roll paper in the arrow direction B by a paper feed motor, and a main scan feed mechanism that reciprocates the carriage 12 in the axial direction of the drive roller 14 by a carriage motor. have.

Here, the feed direction B of the print medium 10 by the sub-scan feed mechanism is called a sub-scan direction, and the movement direction A of the carriage 12 by the main scan feed mechanism is called a main scan direction. The term “print” does not mean simply writing characters, but is used in a broad concept including images, symbols, and the like. A print unit 16 having a plurality of print heads is mounted on the carriage 12. The carriage 12 is reciprocally driven in the main scanning direction A along a Y-axis rail (not shown) by a head driving belt 22 stretched around belt driving rollers 18 and 20. The print medium 10 is driven in the sub-scanning direction by the drive roller 14 and the pinch roller 24 and slides on the platen 26. As the print medium 10, roll paper is usually used. The position of the carriage 12 is detected by a timing fence signal from a linear encoder including a sensor provided in the printing unit 16 and a linear scale 28 provided to face the sensor.

  In the above configuration, when the printing operation starts, the carriage 12 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction along the Y-axis rail under the control of the controller 4, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the print head mounted on the print unit 16. Discharge. When the printing unit 16 reaches the end in the main scanning direction, the controller 4 moves the printing medium 10 by a predetermined pitch in the sub-scanning direction and executes a printing operation in the next main scanning direction. The printer 2, the controller 4, and the computer 8 constitute a printing apparatus as a whole.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the printing operation of the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
The computer 8 generates print data such as signature characters, figures and patterns to be printed out. The print data generated by the computer 8 is transferred to the controller 4 via the connector 6 (steps 1 and 2). The controller 4 receives print data from the computer 8 based on the program stored in the memory, and analyzes this print data (step 3). The CMYK conversion unit of the controller 4 converts the color of each pixel into an ink color that can be output by the printer 2. Next, the print data is converted into print data corresponding to the ink jet print head (step 4). FIG. 5 shows the print head 30.

The print unit 16 is equipped with six print heads 30 that eject inks of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and other colors. For convenience of explanation, one print head 30 among the plurality of print heads will be described. The configuration and operation of other print heads are the same as those of the print head 30 described below. In the present embodiment, the print head 30 has 256 nozzles 32 arranged in the sub-scanning direction. In the drawing, not all nozzles are shown for the convenience of drawing. Of course, various resolutions of the print head 30 can be employed, and the number of nozzles is not particularly limited to 256.

Further, the nozzle arrangement of the print head 30 can adopt a single-row or multi-row configuration. Among the 256 nozzles, for example, in the case where printing is completed by four scans, when the paper transport distance for one time is 50 nozzles, the end part is equivalent to 200 nozzles, which is four times 50 nozzles. 54 nozzles for data printing are assigned as nozzles used for printing, and printing is performed while using the 254 nozzles. Therefore, the remaining two nozzles are unused. Of the 54 nozzles for printing the end data, 18 nozzles are used for printing the region a including the wavy portion w of the deformation data portion 36 described later, which has a printing rate of 100%, as shown in FIG. The 36 nozzles are used for printing in the printing rate changing area b in which the printing rate having the uneven portions is changed. The number of nozzles to be used, the transport distance, the number of scans, etc. can be changed as necessary.

6 to 9 disclose print data A, B, C, and D corresponding to the first four scans of the print head 30. As shown in FIG. 9, the printing of the image corresponding to the scanning region 34 for 50 nozzles is completed by the scanning of the print head 30 four times. As shown in FIG. 6, the print data A corresponds to the size of 104 nozzles of the print head in the sub-scanning direction of the data, and the rear end of the main data portion e is based on the transport direction of the print medium 10. A deformation data portion 36 having a waveform for 54 nozzles is formed in contact with the portion 34. The deformation data portion 36 is formed at the rear end portion 34 of all the main data portions of the print data A, B, C, and D. Here, the front end portion or the rear end portion is based on the conveyance direction of the print medium, that is, the sub-scanning direction in the printing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the deformation data portion 36 has a waveform area w with a printing rate (density) of 100%, a printing rate change area c with a printing rate of 50%, and a waveform area d with a printing rate of 0%. It consists of and. Various printing rates can be adopted as the printing rate in the printing rate changing area c, and the printing rate is not particularly limited to 50%. Further, the print rate may be changed stepwise or continuously in the sub-scanning direction or the main scanning direction between 0% and 100%. Here, the printing rate means the rate of printing of data that needs to be printed in one scan, and the printing rate of 100% means that all of this data is printed (100%).

FIG. 1 shows a method for generating the deformation data section 36. The controller 6 stores a basic mask pattern 38 for creating a deformation data portion in a memory in advance. The basic mask pattern 38 includes a region d having a printing rate of 0%, a region c in which the printing rate changes in the main scanning direction, and a region w having a printing rate of 100%. The boundary between the area d and the area c where the printing rate is 0%, and the area c and the area w where the printing rate is 100% are in wave contact. In this embodiment, the concavo-convex line L1 formed at the boundary between the area d and the area c with the printing rate of 0% and the concavo-convex line L2 formed at the boundary between the area c and the area w with the printing rate of 100% are waveforms. However, in addition to the waveform pattern, any irregular shape may be used as long as the dots do not line up continuously in the main scanning direction, such as a triangular waveform pattern, a convex pattern, a sawtooth pattern, or the like. The height, length, etc. of the waveform pattern may be arbitrarily set as necessary, and are not limited to a specific shape.

In order to generate the deformation data portion 36 at the end portion of the print data A, the data corresponding to the 54 nozzle width adjacent to the rear end portion of the main data portion e of the print data A is used as the change portion data 40. The basic mask pattern 38 is expanded so as to be connected to the waveform, and the changed portion data 40 includes a masked portion, that is, a portion d where no dots are present, a printing rate changing portion c where the density is changed, and a printing rate. Produces a portion w of 100%. The printing rate changing area c of the basic mask pattern 38 is not limited to a specific printing rate. As shown in FIG. 6, the deformation data portion 36 of each print data has the dot information of the area d deleted by the basic mask pattern 38, and the dot information of the area c is thinned out according to the printing rate. In the present embodiment, a plurality of mask pattern data 38b, 38c, and 38d are generated by shifting the phase of the basic mask pattern 38 shown in FIG. 1 in addition to the generation of the deformation data portion by the basic mask pattern data 38a of the basic mask pattern 38. Based on this, the deformation data portion 36 is generated in the print data.

FIG. 1B shows mask pattern data 38a having a point a on the horizontal axis (position) of the basic mask pattern 38 as a starting point of a dot deletion thinning pattern cycle as a basic form. Mask pattern data 38b having a point b shifted in phase in the main scanning direction from the point a of the basic mask pattern 38 is shown as a developed form from the portion b. Mask pattern data 38c having the point c of the basic mask pattern 38 as the starting point of the pattern period is shown as a developed form from the portion c. Mask pattern data 38d having the point d of the basic mask pattern 38 as the starting point of the pattern period is shown as a developed form from the portion d. In the present embodiment, the print data having the deformation data portion 36 deformed by the mask pattern data 38a is No. The print data having the deformation data portion 36 supplied to the print heads 30, 3, 5 and deformed by the mask pattern data 38c is No. 2, 4, and 6. Of course, the combination of the mask pattern data and the print head is not particularly limited to this combination. The deleted and thinned dot information of each print data 40 needs to be complemented when printing of the deformation data portion of each print data is completed.

For this reason, the controller generates complementary data for each modified data portion and stores it in the memory as data that complements the deleted and thinned dot information of the modified data portion of the print data. As will be described later, in the fifth and subsequent printing operations, the deformation data portion 36 is printed with the complementary data including the deleted and thinned dot information overlapped, and the deformation data portion 36 is complemented. The The distribution of the density of the deformation data portion 36 and the complementary data that complements the deformation data portion 36 is set to 100% by addition. In this case, the supplement data is not limited to a configuration that is supplemented by one printing, but may be a configuration that is supplemented by a plurality of printings. For example, the density changed portion c of the deformation data portion 36 printed at a printing rate (density) of 50% may be supplemented by two printing operations with two supplemental data of density 30% and 20%. Also, the print head 30 is designated as No. 1, 2, no. 3, 4, No. 5, no. If grouping with 6 is performed, it is possible to cope with four mask patterns less than the number of print heads.

In consideration of the drying of the ink by the heater on the printing surface, printing is first performed at a high density such as 80% or 90%, and later supplemented by low density supplement data such as a density of 20% or 10%. Sorting the printing rate is also effective. With such a configuration, when drying the ink with a heater, there is a margin for drying because the drying time is long even if the amount of ink is increased at the beginning, but in the later printing, drying is performed. Since the application time is short, the problem that the ink is difficult to dry can be solved. Also, it is not a factor of this time, it is difficult to dry because the total amount of ink ejected to the place is larger than the first printed, so it is hard to dry. There is also a point. Note that the deformation data generation means for changing the print rate of the deformation data portion and the supplemental data is not particularly limited to the configuration using the mask pattern, and reproducibility such as simply thinning out dot information by calculation by the controller. You may make it utilize a certain technique.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the deformation data portion 36 and the print rate change portion of the complementary data are changed continuously finely by gradation technology. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. A configuration is employed in which printing is performed in six colors using the print heads 30 of 1-6. 6 to 14 show Nos. 6 among the six print heads 30. 1 shows a printing operation of one print head 30. In this embodiment, this No. The print data in which the deformation data portion 36 is generated by the mask pattern data 38a shown in FIG. 1B is input to one print head 30. Other No. The operations of the print heads 30 to 6 are No. The operation of the print head 30 is the same as that of the first print head 30, and the description thereof is omitted.
The complement data A ″ of the deformation data portion 36 shown as the print change portion A ′ in FIG. 6 of the print data A is dot information on (print) off (delete) the mask pattern 38 shown in FIG. Is generated by a mask pattern (not shown) obtained by inverting the above, and the other complementary data B ″, C ″, D ″, E ″ described later are also the same.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, in the print data, the print data A, B, C, D including the front end portion 46 of the original image, that is, the print start end, includes the deformation data portion at the rear end portion 34 in the transport direction. 36, that is, A ′, B ′, C ′, and D ′ are formed. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the print data F, G, H, and I including the rear end portion 48 of the original image, that is, the print end end, are formed. , Complementary data B ″, C ″, D ″, E ″ are formed at the front end 44 in the transport direction, and as shown in FIG. Is formed with complementary data A ″ at the front end in the transport direction, and a deformation data portion E ′ is formed at the rear end. Each print data A, B, C having the deformation data portion and the complementary data formed therein. , D, E, F, G, H, and I have a waveform shape.

As described above, when the change processing of the front and rear ends of the print data is performed (step 5), the controller 4 next transfers the print data to the print head 30 (step 6), and the head unit. 16 (step 7), the printing medium 10 is conveyed (step 8), and the original image is printed on the printing medium 10. The operation of steps 7 and 8 will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 6 to 14 show the print data in which the deformation data portion generated by the mask pattern data not shifted in phase and the complementary data are formed. Only the case of printing by one print head 30 is shown, and the printing operation by other print heads is not shown.

  FIG. 6 shows the first scan by the print head 30. When the first scanning by the group of 104 nozzles of the print head 30 is completed, the print data A having a waveform at the joint side is printed on the print medium 10. Next, the print medium 10 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by 50 nozzles. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the print head 30 moves in the main scanning direction, the second printing is performed, and the print data B having a length corresponding to 154 nozzles and having a waveform on the joint side is printed. . When the second printing by the print head 30 is completed, the print medium 10 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by 50 nozzles. In this way, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the third and fourth printing are performed.

When the fourth printing is completed, the printing of the first area 50 corresponding to the length of 50 nozzles of the printing medium 10 is completed. In this area 50, as indicated by A + B + C + D in FIG. 8, four scans are performed by the print data A, B, C, D, and printing is completed. In the area 52 for 54 nozzles adjacent to the first area 50 of the print medium 10, the deformation data portion A ′ of the print data A and the print data B, C, and D are printed as indicated by A ′ + B + C + D. This area has not yet been supplemented with the printing of the dot information deleted and thinned out by the deformation data portion A ′. Therefore, it is necessary to complement the deformation data portion A ′ with the supplement data A ″ including the supplement data with the density of 50%.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the print medium 10 is conveyed by 50 nozzles in the conveyance direction, the print head 30 is moved in the main scanning direction, the fifth printing is performed, and the intermediate portion of the original image is printed. Print data E having a length of 254 nozzles is printed. At this time, the data deletion thinned portion of the change data portion of the area 52 is supplemented by the supplement data A ″ of the print data A. That is, the print data E is printed at the front end portion 44 (joint side). Complementary data A ″ composed of the complementary data A ″ of A is generated.

As described above, the print data E having a length corresponding to 254 nozzles in the intermediate portion of one original image is complementary data that complements the deformation data portion A ′ of the adjacent region 50 at the front end portion 44. A ″ is created as the supplement data portion A ″. The complementary data A ″ of the print data E, that is, the waveform uneven shape on the joint side is closely fitted with the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data A. Thereby, the first region 50 and the second region of the print medium 10 are fitted. Lines that continuously extend in the main scanning direction are not formed at the joints (boundaries) of the area 54, and a phenomenon of appearing as stripes in the scanning direction of the head does not occur. The sixth printing is executed by print data F having a length of 254 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 of the original image, as shown in FIG. Is formed with complementary data B ″ for complementing the deformation data portion 36 (B ′) of the print data B at the front end thereof.

The waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data F fits exactly with the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data B, and the complement data B ″ is printed overlapping the deformation data portion B ′. 11, the second printing is executed by print data G having a length of 204 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 of the original image, which is printed at the front end of the print data C. Complement data C ″ for complementing the deformation data portion 36 (C ′) is formed. The waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data G fits exactly with the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data C, and the complementary data C ″ is printed overlapping the deformation data portion C ′. The deformation data portion C ′ of C is complemented by the supplement data C ″.

As shown in FIG. 13, the eighth printing is executed by the print data H having a length of 154 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 of the original image. The print data H is formed with complementary data D ″ that complements the deformation data portion 36 (D ′) of the print data D at the front end. The waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data H is the print data. It fits snugly with the corrugated uneven shape on the joint side of D. The ninth printing is executed by the print data I having a length of 104 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 (print end end) of the original image. In the print data I, a complementary data portion E ″ that complements the deformation data portion 36 (E ′) of the print data E is formed at the front end portion 44 thereof.

The waveform uneven shape of the deformation data portion 36 on the joint side of the print data I is closely fitted to the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data E, and the deformation data portion 36 (E ′) of the print data E is the complementary data. E ”is supplemented to complete the printing of the original image. Note that this embodiment only explains the concept as an explanation, and when data continues, data portions corresponding to E are sequentially created. (Step 9) Needless to say, data after F is finally created.
FIG. 2 shows a printing result of the deformation data part 36 generated by the basic mask pattern data 38a and the deformation data part 36 generated by the developed mask pattern data 38c from the part c. The print data having the deformation data portion 36 generated by the basic mask pattern data 38a is No. The print data having the deformation data portion 36 supplied to the print heads 30, 3, and 5 and generated by the developed mask pattern data 38c from the portion c is No. Supplied to 2, 4, 6 print heads 30.

The deformation data portion 36 of the print data having the deformation data portion 36 generated by the basic mask pattern data 38a is No. Printing is performed as shown in FIG. 2A by the print heads 30 of 1, 3, and 5, respectively. Further, the deformation data portion 36 of the print data having the deformation data portion 36 generated from the developed mask pattern data 38c from the portion c is No. Printing is performed as shown in FIG. 2B by the print heads 2, 4, and 6, respectively. The left diagram in FIG. 2C shows a state in which the mask pattern data 38a and 38c overlap, and the right diagram in FIG. The print result is shown in which the prints of the deformation data portions of the print data by the print heads 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are combined and overlapped. In the present invention, as described above, the print head 30 No. 1, 3, 5 are supplied with the deformation data portion 36 having the same phase. The configuration is not particularly limited to the configuration in which the deformation data portions having the same phase are supplied to 2, 4 and 6, but the configuration in which the print data having the deformation data portions created by the mask pattern data having different phases is provided for each print head. It is also good.

The dot data that has been deleted and thinned out from the deformation data portion generated by the mask pattern data created for each print head 30 is complemented by the supplement data for the mask pattern used for each print head.
In the above embodiment, by providing a deformed data portion whose print rate is changed in the main scanning direction at the joint of the print data, the regularity of printing is eliminated at the joint of the print data, and the random data is generated. Due to a synergistic effect with the streak generation preventing effect due to the uneven shape of the stub, the generation of streaks at the joint is prevented. In addition, it is also effective that printing from nozzles with poor printing accuracy located at the end when the nozzles from which ink is ejected are arranged do not continue in the horizontal direction.

  In the present embodiment, the conveyance of the print medium is set to be performed at equal intervals of 50 nozzles as described above, but may be changed for each conveyance. This is for printing dots between the nozzle pitches when printing finer than the nozzle pitch, and the regular interval is for 50 nozzles. For example, 49 nozzles are fed or 51 nozzles are fed. It may be changed for each conveyance. Also, regarding the relationship between printing medium (paper) transport and print head scanning, printing and paper feeding may occur when the print head moves forward, and printing and paper feeding may occur when the head moves backward. In some cases, the same line is printed by movement, and in the practice of the present invention, the scanning of the head and the conveyance of the paper are not particularly limited to the illustrated system.

The controller 4 determines whether or not the print data has been completed in step 9, and ends the printing if it determines affirmative. In the above embodiment, an inkjet printer having a head for ejecting ink using a piezo element is used. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to an inkjet printer using a piezo element. Can be used for an ink ejection type printing apparatus in which the head unit moves in the lateral direction, such as a system for ejecting ink.

It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a print head. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Printer 4 Controller 6 Connector 8 Computer 10 Print medium 12 Carriage 14 Drive roller 16 Print unit 18 Belt drive roller 20 Belt drive roller 22 Belt 24 Pinch roller 26 Platen 28 Linear scale 30 Print head 32 Nozzle 34 Rear end 36 Deformation data section 38 basic mask pattern 40 data 42 part 44 front end part 46 front end part 48 rear end part 50 area 52 area 54 area

Claims (14)

After scanning by the relative movement of the print head with respect to the print medium in the main scanning direction, the print medium is moved relative to the print head by a predetermined transport amount in the sub-scanning direction, and a plurality of them are arranged in parallel so as to overlap in the main scanning direction. A printing apparatus that supplies print data including a large number of dot information to a print head in which a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scanning direction, and prints an image on the surface of a print medium . Print data supplied to each print head so as to complete printing in an area corresponding to a single movement width of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction by a plurality of relative movements in the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium. An uneven portion for preventing the dots at the end of the print data from being continuously arranged in the main scan direction of the print head is formed in the data at the end of the sub-scanning direction. Provided with a deformation data generation means for generating a deformation data section, wherein the deformation data generation means generates a deformation data section having a phase shift, and supplies print data having the deformation data section having a phase shift to the plurality of print heads. In this case, the deformation data portions whose phases are shifted by the plurality of print heads are superimposed and printed, and the deformation data portion is included in the print medium in the main scanning of the first print head among the plurality of relative movements of the print head. The formed first print data is printed, and in the subsequent main scan, the print data extending over the previous print area and the next print area is sequentially printed in the previous print area, and in the subsequent main scan, A printing apparatus characterized in that printing of the remaining portion of the deformation data portion of the area where the first print data is printed is completed . After scanning by the relative movement of the print head with respect to the print medium in the main scanning direction, the print medium is moved relative to the print head in the predetermined transport amount in the sub-scanning direction, and a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scanning direction. A printing apparatus for supplying print data comprising a large number of dot information to a print head and printing an image on the surface of the print medium, wherein the print head is moved by a plurality of relative movements in the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium. A plurality of print heads arranged in parallel so as to complete printing in an area corresponding to one movement width of the medium in the sub- scanning direction and overlap in the main scanning direction, and a plurality of phases shifted from each other One of the mask pattern data of the print head is selected and the print head main end of the print data is supplied to the print head by the selected mask pattern data. A deformation data generating means for generating a deformation data portion in which uneven portions for preventing dots from being arranged continuously in the scanning direction; and a deformation data portion in which the phases of the uneven portions are shifted in the plurality of print heads A first print head of a plurality of relative movements of the print head. In the main scan, the first print data in which the deformation data portion is formed is printed on the print medium, and in the subsequent main scan, the previous print area and the next print area are straddled. sequentially printing the print data, in the subsequent main scan, that printing of the portion where the first print data is left deformation data portion of the print area is to be completed Printing apparatus according to symptoms. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dot arrangement of the uneven portion of the deformation data portion has a waveform shape. The deformation data portion is provided with a region where the unevenness is formed and the printing rate is changed, and a region with a printing rate of 100% is provided on the side of the printing data in contact with the main data portion. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an area in which the printing rate of the deformation data portion is changed is in contact with an uneven shape. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the uneven shape is a wave shape. The complement data for complementing the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is generated, and the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is complemented by the complement data. The printing apparatus according to 2. The printing of the image is sequentially completed in units of a plurality of scans of the print head with respect to the print medium, and the print data of the image having the deformation data portion in the print head and the complementary data are used. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing data is provided and / or printing data including both the deformation data portion and the complementary data is supplied. Of the print data supplied to the print head for each scan, the deformation data portion is formed at the rear end portion in the sub-scan direction of the print data including the leading end of the image, and the sub-scan of the print data in the intermediate portion of the image Forming the deformation data portion at the rear end of the direction, generating complementary data for complementing the deformation data portion of the print data adjacent thereto at the front end, and sub-scanning direction of the print data including the rear end of the image 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein complementary data for complementing a deformation data portion of print data in contact with the front end portion is generated. When printing of the image including the deformation data portion is completed, the supplementary data added to the end portion of the print data supplied to the print head in the next print head scan by the deleted portion of the image of the deformation data portion The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus is supplemented by: The print data of n (n is a positive number) line is sequentially supplied as a print unit to a plurality of print heads arranged in parallel so as to overlap in the main scan direction, and the movement of the print head in the main scan direction and the print medium In the printing method of printing on a print medium by transport in the sub-scanning direction, the dot at the end of the print data is added to the data at the end of the sub-scanning direction of the print data supplied to each print head. A print having a deformed data portion formed on the print data by forming a concavo-convex portion so as not to be continuously arranged in the scanning direction, and having a plurality of print heads having a deformed data portion out of phase. supplies data to be overprinted deformed data portion deviated in the phase of a plurality of print heads, the print medium by a plurality of times relative movement of the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium of the print head Printing in each area corresponding to one conveyance width in the sub-scanning direction is completed, and the deformation data portion is included in the print medium in the main scanning of the first print head among the plurality of relative movements. The formed first print data is printed, and in the subsequent main scan, the print data extending over the previous print area and the next print area is sequentially printed in the previous print area, and in the subsequent main scan, A printing method characterized in that printing of the remaining portion of the deformation data portion of the area where the first print data is printed is completed . The print data of n (n is a positive number) line is sequentially supplied as a print unit to a plurality of print heads arranged in parallel so as to overlap in the main scan direction, and the movement of the print head in the main scan direction and the print medium A printing method for printing on a printing medium by carrying in the sub-scanning direction, generating a plurality of mask pattern data by shifting the phase of the basic mask pattern, and supplying the print data to each print head by the mask pattern data Forming a deformed data portion having a concavo-convex portion for preventing dots from being continuously arranged in the main scanning direction at an end portion of the main data portion in the sub-scanning direction, and causing the plurality of print heads to be out of phase. the modification provides data unit, so as to overprinted the deformed data portion deviated in the phase of a plurality of print heads, a plurality of main scanning direction with respect to the print medium of the print head The relative movement of the print medium completes printing in each area corresponding to one conveyance width in the sub-scanning direction of the print medium, and in the main scan of the first print head among the plurality of relative movements, The first print data in which the deformation data part is formed is printed on the print medium, and in the subsequent main scan, the print data extending over the previous print area and the next print area are sequentially printed in the previous print area. Then, in the subsequent main scanning, printing of the remaining portion of the deformation data portion of the area where the first print data is printed is completed . 12. The supplement data for complementing the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is generated, and the complement data is printed by overlapping the deformation data portion. The printing method described. Complement data for complementing the deleted dot data of the deformation data portion is provided on the joint side of the other print data in contact with the print data including the deformation data portion, and the complement data is provided to the deformation data portion. The printing method according to claim 12, wherein printing is performed so as to overlap each other. The printing method according to claim 10, wherein the uneven shape of the deformation data portion is a waveform.

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