JP2000071440A - Printer and print head unit therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To perform clear printing according to the characteristics of a print head unit used in each printer. SOLUTION: The print head unit is provided so as to be able to read head identification information determined in advance in accordance with characteristics of the print head unit which fluctuate according to the manufacturing history of the print head unit. The printer executes a printing process according to a printing process parameter determined according to the head identification information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a print head unit therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ordinary printer is provided with a print head unit for performing printing. It is preferable that various print processing parameters (for example, the drive voltage of the head) are adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the print head unit so as to perform clear printing.

[0003]

However, the characteristics of the print head unit vary depending on the manufacturing history of the print head unit. Therefore, in order to be able to perform clean printing with each printer, a technology that can set a print processing parameter to an appropriate value according to the characteristics of the print head unit used in each printer and perform clear printing is desired. It had been.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and provides a technique capable of performing clear printing according to the characteristics of a print head unit used in each printer. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

In order to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, a printer according to the present invention is a printer that performs printing using a print head unit. The head identification information determined in advance according to the characteristics of the print head unit that fluctuates according to the manufacturing history of the print head unit is provided so as to be readable, the printer,
The image processing apparatus further includes a control unit that executes a printing process according to a printing process parameter determined according to the head identification information.

Here, the "print head unit" means a unit that is integrally attached to and detached from the printer. In the above-described printer, an appropriate print processing parameter can be determined according to the head identification information readable by the print head unit, and the print processing is executed according to the print processing parameter determined in this manner. Therefore, it is possible to perform fine printing according to the characteristics of the print head unit used for each printer.

The head identification information may be stored in a nonvolatile memory provided in the print head unit. This makes it possible to easily set the print processing parameters by reading the head identification information from the nonvolatile memory.

At this time, the use history of the print head unit may be written in the nonvolatile memory. This makes it possible to determine the life of the print head unit from the usage history.

The head identification information may be displayed on a surface of the print head unit.

Further, the printer further stores a plurality of dot recording modes having substantially the same printing speed as a dot recording mode which defines a scanning method when printing is performed by recording dots at the same recording resolution. The head identification information may include recording mode information for designating a preferable dot recording mode from the plurality of dot recording modes.

With this configuration, it is possible to easily set a dot recording mode capable of performing clear printing in accordance with the characteristics of the print head unit.

[0012] With respect to a printer having a plurality of print head units, the head identification information may be provided readable for each print head unit. In this way, it is possible to set preferable print processing parameters according to the characteristics of each print head unit.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment: Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer 20 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The printer 20 includes a mechanism for transporting the paper P by the paper feed motor 22, a mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 30 in the axial direction of the platen 26 by the carriage motor 24, and a print head unit 60 (“printing unit”) mounted on the carriage 30. (Also referred to as "head assembly") for controlling ink ejection and dot formation, and control for exchanging signals with the paper feed motor 22, carriage motor 24, print head unit 60 and operation panel 32. And a circuit 40. Control circuit 40
Are connected to the computer 88 via the connector 56.

The mechanism for transporting the paper P is a paper feed motor 2
2 is provided with a gear train (not shown) for transmitting the rotation of No. 2 to a platen 26 and a sheet conveying roller (not shown). The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 30 includes a platen 2
6, a pulley 38 for extending an endless drive belt 36 between the carriage motor 24, and the origin position of the carriage 30 are detected. And a position detection sensor 39 that performs the operation.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the printer 20 with the control circuit 40 at the center. The control circuit 40
PU 41 and programmable ROM (PROM) 43
, A RAM 44, and a character generator (CG) 45 storing a character dot matrix. This control circuit 40
Further includes an I / F dedicated circuit 50 for exclusively interfacing with an external motor or the like;
A head drive circuit 52 connected to the print head unit 60 and driving the print head unit 60, and a motor drive circuit 54 for driving the paper feed motor 22 and the carriage motor 24 are also provided. The I / F dedicated circuit 50 has a built-in parallel interface circuit, and can receive the print signal PS supplied from the computer 88 via the connector 56.

Next, the specific structure of the print head unit 60 and the principle of ink ejection will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the print head unit 60 has a substantially L-shape, and is capable of mounting a black ink cartridge and a color ink cartridge (not shown), and a partition plate for partitioning both cartridges. 31 are provided.

A head ID sticker 100 indicating head identification information assigned in advance according to the characteristics of the print head unit 60 is attached to the upper end surface of the print head unit 60. The contents of the head identification information displayed on the head ID seal 100 will be described later.

At the bottom of the print head unit 60, there are provided upright pipes 71 to 76 for guiding ink from an ink container to the print head 28 (described later). When the black ink cartridge and the color ink cartridge are mounted on the print head unit 60 from above, the introduction pipes 71 to 76 are inserted into the connection holes provided in each cartridge.

The mechanism for ejecting ink will be briefly described. When the ink cartridge is attached to the print head unit 60, the ink in the ink cartridge is sucked out through the introduction pipes 71 to 76 by utilizing the capillary phenomenon, and as shown in FIG. 60 is guided to the print head 28 provided below.

The print head 28 includes a plurality of nozzles n provided in a row for each color, a piezo element PE provided for each nozzle n, and a drive signal supplied from a head drive circuit 52 (FIG. 2). And an actuator circuit 90 for operating the piezo element PE accordingly. Head drive circuit 5
2 generates a common drive signal that is commonly applied to all nozzles and supplies the same to the print head 28. The actuator circuit 90 latches data indicating ON (discharges ink) or OFF (does not discharge ink) for each nozzle according to the print signal PS supplied from the computer 88, and drives the head only for the ON nozzles. The common drive signal given from the circuit 52 is
To communicate. As is well known, the piezo element PE is an element that distorts the crystal structure due to the application of a voltage and converts electro-mechanical energy very quickly. The piezo element P
The whole including E and the actuator circuit 90 is called an "actuator".

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the piezo element PE and the nozzle n in detail. The piezo element PE is installed at a position in contact with the ink passage 80 that guides ink to the nozzle n. In the present embodiment, by applying a voltage having a predetermined time width between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezo element PE, the piezo element PE rapidly expands as shown in FIG. Deform one side wall. As a result, the volume of the ink passage 80 contracts in accordance with the expansion of the piezo element PE, and the ink corresponding to the contraction becomes particles Ip and is ejected at a high speed from the tip of the nozzle n.
The paper P on which the ink particles Ip are mounted on the platen 26
, The printing is performed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing the correspondence between a plurality of rows of nozzles in the print head 28 and a plurality of sets of actuators. The printer 20 is a four-color printer that performs printing using four color inks of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). However, in order to speed up black-and-white printing, three nozzle rows for black ink are provided. The nozzles of the other three color inks are arranged in one row. The actuator circuit 90 includes a first actuator circuit 91 that ejects ink from two nozzle rows for black ink, a remaining one nozzle row for black ink,
A second actuator circuit 92 for ejecting ink from the nozzle row for cyan ink and a third actuator circuit 93 for ejecting ink from the nozzle row for magenta ink and the nozzle row for yellow ink are provided. I have. When performing black-and-white printing, printing is performed using only the first actuator circuit 91 and using two nozzle rows for black ink. On the other hand, when performing color printing, printing is performed using the nozzle arrays for the four colors of KCYU using the second and third actuator circuits 92 and 93.

In this specification, the entire configuration of FIG. 3 including the print head 28 and the mounting portion of the ink cartridge is referred to as a “print head unit 60” because the print head unit 60 is formed as one component in the printer 20. It is because it is attached and detached. That is, when the print head 28 is to be replaced, the print head unit 60 is replaced.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the head identification information displayed on the head ID seal 100. A bar code 102 and an ID symbol 104 are printed on the head ID sticker 100. As the ID symbol 104,
Eight kinds of symbols “S2QYLJ1N” are set.
The bar code 102 represents the same one of these eight types of ID symbols. The eight types of ID symbols are, in order from the upper left, first drive voltage information VH ₁ , actuator rank information AR, second drive voltage information VH ₂ , third drive voltage information VH ₃ , and first ink ejection amount information. IW ₁ , second ink ejection amount information IW ₂ , and checksum information CI
D is shown. Checksum information CID is
This is information used to check whether the other seven pieces of information are correct.

Three drive voltage information VH ₁ , VH ₂ , VH
₃ and the actuator rank information AR relate to the waveform of the common drive signal generated by the head drive circuit 52. By the way, the printer 20 of the present embodiment executes fixed-quantity dot printing in which printing is performed using dots of a fixed size and variable-quantity dot printing in which printing is performed using dots of three different sizes. Can be. The waveform of the common drive signal used in fixed-quantity dot printing is different from the waveform of the common drive signal used in variable-quantity dot printing. Therefore, first, before describing the contents of the drive voltage information VH ₁ , VH ₂ , VH ₃ and the actuator rank information AR, the waveform of the common drive signal will be described.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a common driving signal waveform for printing a fixed dot, and FIG. 10 shows an example of a fixed dot recorded using the common driving signal.
The grid in FIG. 10 indicates the boundaries of the pixel areas, and one rectangular area divided by the grid corresponds to an area for one pixel.
Note that, in FIG. 10, the fixed amount dot is 1 along the main scanning direction.
An example in which recording is performed for each pixel is shown.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a common drive signal waveform for printing variable amount dots, and FIG. 12 shows an example of variable amount dots recorded using this common drive signal. As shown in FIG. 11, in the common drive signal for variable-amount dot printing, one pixel section is divided into a small dot portion and a medium dot portion. In the small dot part, the small dot pulse W
1 occurs, and a medium dot pulse W2 is generated in the medium dot portion. When recording a small dot, only a small dot pulse W1 within one pixel section is applied to the piezo element. Also,
When printing a medium dot, only the medium dot pulse W1 within one pixel section is applied to the piezo element. When both the small dot pulse W1 and the medium dot pulse W2 in one pixel section are applied to the piezo element, a large dot is recorded (see FIG. 12).

The driving voltage V1 of the common driving signal waveform for fixed-quantity dots shown in FIG. 9 is determined by the _first driving voltage information VH1 shown in FIG. Further, the driving voltages V2 and V3 of the common driving signal waveform for the variable dot shown in FIG.
Is determined by the second and third drive voltage information VH ₂ and VH ₃ , respectively. FIG. 8B shows the drive voltage information VH.
And symbols of _{1 ~VH 3,} shows the relationship between the voltage value. In the example of FIG. 8 (a), as the first drive voltage information VH _1,
Since the symbol "S" is assigned, the driving voltages V ₁ shown in FIG. 9, (will be described later setting) set to 24 volts.

The values of the high voltage level width L1 of the waveforms shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 and the zero level width L2 of the waveform shown in FIG. 11 are determined according to the actuator rank AR information. FIG. 8C shows that the rank of the actuator (the actuator circuit 90 and the piezo element) is determined by the actuator rank information AR.
The rank of the actuator is set in advance by checking the actual characteristics of the actuator (the actuator circuit 90 and the piezo element). A detailed description of the relationship between the actuator rank and the widths L1 and L2 of the waveform is omitted.

The ink ejection amount information I shown in FIG.
W _1, IW ₂ is among the three actuators circuits 91 to 93 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink amount ejected by the two actuators circuits 92 and 93 for color printing (of the quantitative dot) Weight ratio (average value is 100
%). The amount of ink ejected by each actuator (actuator circuit and piezo element) fluctuates somewhat due to the influence of the manufacture of each actuator. In order to perform color printing finely, it is preferable that the ejection amount of each ink can be accurately controlled. Therefore, in the present embodiment, information on the amount of ink discharged by each actuator for color printing is supplied to a printer driver (not shown) of the computer 88, and the amount of ink discharged by each actuator is Reflects the fluctuation of More specifically, for an ink having a relatively small discharge amount from the nozzle, the dot recording density (the number of dots recorded in a certain area) is increased, and conversely, an ink having a relatively large discharge amount from the nozzle is increased. Is to reduce the dot recording density.
The ink ejection amount information may be set for all the actuators provided in the print head unit 60.

The recording mode information RM shown in FIG.
This is information for specifying a preferable recording mode suitable for the print head unit 60. Here, the “dot recording mode” means a dot recording method defined by the number of nozzles actually used in each nozzle array, the sub-scan feed amount, and the like. In this specification, "dot recording mode" and "dot recording method" are used as synonyms. The PROM 43 shown in FIG. 2 stores dot recording mode information including a plurality of dot recording mode parameters.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing parameters defining the dot recording method. FIG. 13A shows an example of sub-scan feed when four nozzles are used, and FIG. 13B shows parameters of the dot recording method. In FIG. 13A, solid circles including numbers are
The positions in the sub-scanning direction of the four nozzles after each sub-scan feed are shown. Numbers 0 to 3 in the circles indicate nozzle numbers. The positions of the four nozzles are sent in the sub-scanning direction each time one main scan is completed. However, actually, the feed in the sub-scanning direction is realized by moving the paper by the paper feed motor 22 (FIG. 1).

As shown at the left end of FIG. 13A, in this example, the sub-scan feed amount L is a constant value of 2 dots. Therefore, each time the sub-scan feed is performed, the positions of the four nozzles are shifted by two dots in the sub-scan direction. FIG. 13B shows various parameters related to the dot recording method. The parameters of the dot recording method include the nozzle pitch k [dot], the number of used nozzles N [number], the number of scan repetitions s, and the effective nozzle number Neff [number].
And the sub-scan feed amount L [dot].

In the example of FIG. 13, the nozzle pitch k is 3 dots, and the number N of used nozzles is 4. The number of used nozzles N is the number of nozzles actually used among a plurality of mounted nozzles. The number of scan repetitions s means that dots are formed intermittently every (s−1) dots in one main scan. Therefore, the number of scan repetitions s is also equal to the number of nozzles used to record all dots on each raster. In the case of FIG. 13, the number of scan repetitions s is 2. Note that a dot recording method in which the number of scan repetitions s is 2 or more is called an "overlap method".

The effective number of nozzles Neff is a value obtained by dividing the number of used nozzles N by the number of scan repetitions s. This effective nozzle number Neff can be considered to indicate the net number of rasters that can be recorded in one main scan.

The table of FIG. 13B shows, for each sub-scan feed, the sub-scan feed amount L, its cumulative value ΔL, and the nozzle offset F after each sub-scan feed. Here, the offset F refers to the periodic position of the first nozzle in which the sub-scan feed has not been performed (the position every four dots in FIG. 13) as a reference position of the offset 0, and This value indicates how many dots the nozzle position is apart from the reference position in the sub-scanning direction. For example, FIG.
As shown in (A), the nozzle position moves in the sub-scanning direction by the sub-scanning feed amount L (2 dots) by the first sub-scan feed. On the other hand, the nozzle pitch k is 3 dots. Therefore, the offset F of the nozzle after the first sub-scan feed is 2 (see FIG. 13A). Similarly, 2
The position of the nozzle after the second sub-scan feed is Σ from the initial position.
L = 4 dots have been moved, and the offset F thereof is 1. The nozzle position after the third sub-scan feed has moved by ΔL = 6 dots from the initial position, and its offset F is zero. Since the nozzle offset F returns to 0 by the three sub-scan feeds, the three sub-scans are regarded as one small cycle, and by repeating this small cycle, all the dots on the raster in the effective recording range are recorded. be able to.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing scanning parameters in four dot recording systems having substantially the same recording speed. The scanning parameters of the first dot recording method shown in FIG. 14A are such that the nozzle pitch k is 6 dots, the number of used nozzles N is 48, the number of scan repetitions s is 2, and the effective nozzle number Neff is 24. The sub-scan feed amount L [dot] has six different values (20, 27, 22, 28,
21, 26) are used. The scanning parameter of the second dot recording method shown in FIG.
Other than the above, it is the same as the first dot recording method.

The scanning parameters of the third dot recording method shown in FIG. 14C are as follows. The nozzle pitch k is 6 dots, the number of used nozzles N is 47, the number of scan repetitions s is 2, and the effective nozzle number Neff is 23.5. Individual. The sub-scan feed amount L [dot] has two different values (21, 26).
Is used. The scanning parameters of the fourth dot recording method shown in FIG. 14D are the same as those of the third dot recording method except for the sub-scan feed amount L.

In the first and second dot recording methods, the number N of used nozzles is 48, and in the third and fourth dot recording methods, the number N of used nozzles is 47. The number N is different. However, since the difference in the number N of used nozzles is about 10% or less, the recording speeds are almost equal. As described above, the parameters of the plurality of dot recording methods having the same recording resolution and substantially the same recording speed are used as the plurality of dot recording mode information to be selected as the PROM 43 in the printer 20 (FIG. 2).
It is possible to register in advance

In the example shown in FIG. 8E, the recording mode information RM specifies the dot recording mode used in the high-quality printing mode and the dot recording mode used in the high-speed printing mode. The “high-quality print mode” is a print mode in which higher image quality is obtained at a relatively low speed. On the other hand, the “high-speed print mode” is a mode in which printing can be performed at a higher speed with a low image quality. As the high quality print mode,
A plurality of dot recording modes having substantially the same printing speed at the same recording resolution are prepared in advance, and a plurality of dot recording modes having substantially the same printing speed at the same recording resolution are prepared in advance even in the high-speed printing mode. Have been. Here, “print speeds are substantially equal to each other” means that the difference in print speed is about 10%.

When a plurality of types of dot recording modes having substantially the same printing speed at the same recording resolution are applicable, the image quality of an image recorded in each dot recording mode depends on the arrangement characteristics of the nozzle array in the print head unit 60. (The actual position of the individual nozzles). For example, when the four dot recording modes shown in FIG. 14 can be used as the high image quality printing mode, one of the dot recording modes can achieve higher image quality than the other dot recording modes. There is. Therefore, a preferable dot recording mode for obtaining higher image quality is determined according to the arrangement characteristics of the nozzle array, and is displayed on the print head unit 60 as the recording mode information RM. Using mode,
Fine printing can be performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure for assembling the print head unit 60 to the printer 20. When the print head unit 60 is mounted on the printer 20 in step S1, head identification information is input in step S2. As shown in FIG. 3, when the head ID sticker 100 is attached to the print head unit 60, there are several methods for inputting the head identification information as follows. The first method is
This is a method in which an operator inputs head identification information using a keyboard (not shown) of the computer 88. The second method is to read the barcode 102 with a barcode reader. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 20 is provided with a bar code reader 110 for optically reading the head ID sticker 100. In this case, when the print head unit 60 moves in the main scanning direction, the barcode 102 on the head ID sticker 100 can be automatically read by the barcode reader 110. It is not always necessary to provide the barcode reader 110 in the printer 20.
A barcode reader prepared separately from 0 may be used. It should be noted that other types of physically readable (ie, optically, magnetically, or electrically) machine-readable codes can be used instead of the barcodes.

The head identification information thus input is stored in the PROM 43 in the printer 20. Further, the ink discharge amount information IW ₁ ~IW ₂ and the recording mode information RM
Is also registered in a printer driver (not shown) in the computer 88. The PROM 43 is provided in the printer 20 irrespective of whether the print head unit 60 is attached or detached. That is, the PROM 43 stores the printer 2
The print head unit 60 is provided on the circuit board inside the printer 20 and remains in the printer 20 even when the print head unit 60 is replaced. Therefore,
When the print head unit 60 is replaced, PRO
The head identification information registered in M43 is rewritten with the head identification information of the new print head unit 60 after replacement.

In step S3, the ink cartridge is mounted on the print head unit 60, and the print head 28 is filled with ink. In step S4, ink is ejected from each nozzle array to print a predetermined test pattern. This printing reflects the head characteristics of the attached print head unit 60. Specifically, the drive signal waveform generated by the head drive circuit 52 (see FIGS. 9 and 1)
1) it is adjusted according to the drive voltage information VH ₁ ~VH ₃ and the actuator rank information AR. Also, to correctly reproduce the gradation of the image data, dot recording density of each ink is determined by the printer driver in accordance with the ink discharge amount information IW ₁ ~IW _2. Further, an image processing in a printer driver, such as executing a printing in accordance with the determined dot recording mode, is determined by the recording mode information RM, and the dot recording mode actually used is determined.
The main scanning and sub-scanning operations of the printer 20 are controlled.

The parameters of the drive signal waveform (V1 to V3,
L1 to L2), the ink ejection amount of each ink, a preferable dot recording mode, and the like are parameters that affect the printing result, and are called “print processing parameters”. As can be understood from this description, the control circuit 40 and the computer 88
The printer driver inside has a function as a control unit that executes a printing process according to a printing process parameter corresponding to the head identification information. Such a function of the control unit may be shared between the control circuit in the printer 20 and the computer 88 connected to the printer 20. Further, depending on the type of print processing parameters to be set, it is also possible to execute such a function of the control unit only in the printer 20 or only in the computer 88.

In step S5, the operator inspects the inspection pattern. If the inspection pattern does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, the head cleaning is executed and step S
3. Execute S4 again. If the inspection does not pass even after performing the predetermined number of cleanings, the print head unit 60 is replaced in step S7, and the process proceeds to step S2.
-S5 are executed again. At this time, the new print head unit 60 is also provided with the head ID seal 10.
Since 0 (FIG. 3) is attached, it is possible to easily set a print processing parameter suitable for the print head unit. If the inspection is passed, the print head 28 is filled with the delivery liquid for delivery of the printer 20, and the assembly of the print head unit 60 is completed.

In the above embodiment, head identification information is assigned to the print head unit 60 in accordance with the characteristics of the print head unit 60 that fluctuate according to the manufacturing history.
This head identification information is displayed in a readable manner. Therefore, the print head unit 60 attached to each printer is
The print processing parameters (drive signal waveform, dot recording mode, etc.) of each printer can be easily set according to the head characteristics. In particular, the PR on the circuit board of the printer 20
The dot recording mode information including a plurality of dot recording mode parameters is stored in the OM 43, and the recording mode information RM is displayed on the print head unit 60. The dot recording mode can be easily set. Such an advantage is particularly remarkable when the print head unit 60 is replaced by a user using the printer 20. That is, when the print head unit 60 is replaced, if the head identification information is set in the printer driver and the PROM 43, it is possible to perform clean printing according to the characteristics of the replaced print head unit. .

B. FIG. 16 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a print head a provided in the print head unit according to the embodiment. This print head 28a
Has a programmable ROM (PROM) 200 in which the head identification information shown in FIG. 8 is stored. Since the PROM 200 is provided in the print head unit, if the print head unit is replaced, the PROM 200 is also replaced at the same time.
The head identification information stored in the ROM 200 is transmitted to the control circuit (FIG. 3) in the printer 20 and the computer 88.
Is read and used by the printer driver.

By the way, depending on the type of printer, there is a type in which a plurality of print head units are mounted. FIG. 17 shows an example of the relationship between a plurality of print head units and a control circuit. In the example of FIG. 17, a first print head unit 60a for black-and-white printing and a second print head unit 60b for color printing are independently detachably provided. Two print head units 60
PROMs 200a and 200b for storing the respective print head identification information are provided in a and 60b. Further, the control circuit 40a is provided with head drive circuits 52a and 52b for supplying drive signals to the two print head units 60a and 60b, respectively. Instead of the PROMs 200a and 200b, a head ID sticker as shown in FIG. 8 may be attached to each print head unit.

As in this example, if a plurality of print head units can be mounted in one printer, and if head identification information is set for each print head unit, any print head unit can be replaced. According to the characteristics of the print head unit, it is possible to perform clean printing.

When a plurality of print head units can be mounted, a single drive circuit may supply a drive signal common to a plurality of print head units. Also in this case, similarly to the first embodiment, print processing parameters that do not affect the drive signal waveform (preferable dot recording mode and dot recording density according to ink ejection amount)
Can be determined according to the characteristics of each print head unit. However, if a plurality of head drive circuits corresponding to a plurality of print head units are provided as in the example of FIG. 17, drive signals having preferable waveforms corresponding to the characteristics of each print head unit can be supplied. There is an advantage that you can.

When a PROM 200 is provided for each print head unit, the use history of each print head unit is stored in the PROM 200 by using the control circuit 40 (FIG. 2).
It is also possible to write to For example, the control circuit 40 controls the number of ink ejections from the print head unit.
May be counted by a counter (not shown), and the count value may be stored in the PROM 200 in the print head unit. In this way, even if the print head unit is removed during use, the number of times of use is
It is possible to read from within 0 and determine the life of the print head unit. The usage history includes the number of ink ejections for each actuator,
Various types such as the number of times of ink ejection for each ink can be used.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.
For example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) P in the control circuit 40 of the printer 20
As the ROM 43 (FIG. 2) and the PROM 200 (FIG. 16) provided in the print head unit, various nonvolatile memories other than the so-called programmable ROM can be used.

(2) The head identification information shown in the above embodiment is merely an example. In general, the head identification information determined in advance according to the characteristics of the print head unit that fluctuates according to the manufacturing history of the print head unit is printed. It is possible to assign to the head unit.

(3) The information included in the head identification information is:
As described below, various objects can be set as units. For example, when the print head unit includes a plurality of actuators, the head identification information may include information for determining a plurality of sets of print processing parameters for the plurality of actuators. Further, the head identification information may include information for determining a plurality of sets of print processing parameters for a plurality of sets of nozzle arrays. Further, the head identification information may include information for determining a plurality of sets of print processing parameters for a plurality of sets of nozzle arrays. By including such information in units of various objects, appropriate print processing parameters can be set according to each object, and high-quality printing can be realized. .

(4) In the above embodiment, an ink jet printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an ink jet printer, but is generally applicable to various printers that perform printing using a print head unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer 20 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit 40 in the printer 20.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a print head unit 60.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration for ejecting ink in each print head.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which ink particles Ip are ejected by expansion of a piezo element PE.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence between a plurality of rows of nozzles in a print head and a plurality of actuator circuits.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between a plurality of rows of nozzles in a print head and a plurality of actuator circuits.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of head identification information displayed on a head ID seal 100.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a drive signal waveform for fixed-quantity dot printing.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a fixed amount dot.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a drive signal waveform for printing variable-amount dots.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a variable amount dot.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing parameters that define a dot recording method.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing scanning parameters in four dot recording methods having substantially the same recording speed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure for assembling the print head unit 60 to the printer 20.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a print head a provided in a print head unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a print head unit and a control circuit in a printer including a plurality of print head units.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Printer 22 ... Paper feed motor 24 ... Carriage motor 26 ... Platen 28 ... Print head 30 ... Carriage 31 ... Partition plate 32 ... Operation panel 34 ... Sliding shaft 36 ... Drive belt 38 ... Pulley 39 ... Position detection sensor 40 ... Control Circuit 41 CPU 43 PROM 44 RAM 50 I / F dedicated circuit 52 Head drive circuit 54 Motor drive circuit 56 Connector 60 Print head unit 71 to 76 Inlet tube 80 Ink passage 88 Computer 90 Actuator circuits 91 to 93 Actuator circuit 100 Head ID seal 102 Barcode 104 ID symbol 110 Barcode reader 200 PROM

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printer for performing printing using a print head unit, wherein the print head unit includes a head determined in advance according to characteristics of the print head unit that fluctuates according to a manufacturing history of the print head unit. A printer, wherein identification information is provided so as to be readable, and the printer includes a control unit that executes print processing in accordance with print processing parameters determined according to the head identification information. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the head identification information is stored in a nonvolatile memory provided in the print head unit. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein a use history of a print head unit can be written in said non-volatile memory. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said head identification information is displayed on a surface of said print head unit. 5. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a dot recording mode that defines a scanning method when printing is performed by recording dots at the same recording resolution. A recording mode memory for storing a plurality of dot recording modes having substantially the same printing speed, wherein the head identification information includes recording mode information for designating a preferred dot recording mode from among the plurality of dot recording modes. , Printer. 6. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of said print head units, wherein said head identification information is readable for each print head unit. . 7. A print head unit used in a printer, wherein head identification information determined in advance according to characteristics of the print head unit that fluctuates according to a manufacturing history of the print head unit is provided so as to be readable. A print head unit, characterized in that: 8. The print head unit according to claim 7, wherein said head identification information is stored in a nonvolatile memory provided in said print head unit. 9. The print head unit according to claim 7, wherein the head identification information is displayed on a surface of the print head unit. 10. The print head unit according to claim 7, wherein a dot recording mode that defines a scanning method when printing is performed by recording dots at the same recording resolution, The head identification information can be used for a printer having a recording mode memory that stores a plurality of dot recording modes having substantially the same printing speed, and the head identification information is for specifying a preferable dot recording mode from among the plurality of dot recording modes. A print head unit including recording mode information.