JP2002240370A - Recording apparatus and data converting method therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute vertical/lateral conversion as multi-value data, convert and record the same to dot data corresponding to the recording element arrangement of a recording head at the same processing rate as that of binary data. SOLUTION: An recording apparatus for receiving raster image data from a host computer 100, converting and recording the same corresponding to the arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements of a recording head 112, stores multi-value raster image data received form the host computer 100 in a raster data buffer 104a, executes vertical/lateral conversion of the multi- value raster image data according to the arrangement direction of the plurality of the recording elements of the recording head 112 by an HV conversion part 107, stores the converted multi-value image data in a printing buffer 104b, converts the stored multi-value image data to dot data for driving each recording element in the recording head, and outputs the same to the printing head 112.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for inputting image data from an external device such as a host computer and recording the same on a recording medium, and a data conversion method in the recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when recording is performed by transmitting raster image data from a host computer to a printer device, the transmitted raster image data is sequentially stored in a reception buffer in the printer. When the printer device stores the image data from the reception buffer to the print buffer, the arrangement direction of the raster image data is recorded corresponding to the column direction which is the arrangement direction of the recording elements (nozzles and the like) of the recording head. After performing so-called vertical / horizontal conversion in which the heads are arranged in the column direction, the data is stored in a print buffer. The image data thus stored in the print buffer is sequentially read out in synchronization with the recording operation by the recording head, and transferred to the recording head for recording.

[0003] In the raster image data generated by the host computer and sent to the printer, the pixel data may be binary data or multi-valued data. In the case of binary data, the printer performs printing with (1) or without (0) a dot according to the value of the binary data.
In the case of multi-value data, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of dots are used to represent one pixel, and multi-gradation (area gradation) corresponding to a density value (Index value) depending on the presence or absence of each dot.
To express. Therefore, the resolution of dots actually recorded is different from the resolution of pixels in an actual image.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which one pixel of multi-valued image data represented by a 2-bit Index value is represented by 2 × 2 dots. This pixel is 600 dpi × 600 dpi.
It is represented by the resolution of Therefore, the resolution of each dot is 1200 dpi × 1200 dpi, which is twice as large.

[0005] In the figure, the Index value represents the value of this multi-valued data. And "Index value = 00"
Is null (no dot), "Index value = 01"
, Only one dot is recorded, when "Index value = 10", two dots are recorded, and when "Index value = 11", three dots are recorded as shown in the figure. The image is recorded as a pixel having a corresponding density.

Here, the resolution is 1200 dpi × 1200.
When a 2 × 2 dot matrix represented by dpi is represented by bits corresponding to each dot, 4 bits are required for one pixel. However, when represented by using an Index value as shown in FIG. 5, one pixel data requires only two bits, so that the amount of image data is reduced by half compared to the case where each dot is represented by one bit.

[0007]

In recent recording apparatuses such as printer apparatuses, the resolution of an image to be recorded has been increased, and accordingly, the amount of data to be processed has become enormous. Therefore, by using the Index value as described above, the processing load on the external device such as the host device is reduced, and the amount of data transmitted from the host device to the printer device is reduced, thereby improving the throughput of the recording process. . However, when such an Index value is adopted, when each pixel data of the image data input in the raster order is subjected to the vertical / horizontal conversion in accordance with the arrangement of the recording elements in the recording head of the printer device, the index value is temporarily set. Is converted into binary data and stored in a memory, and the binary data stored in the memory is subjected to vertical / horizontal conversion and developed in a print buffer.

For this reason, a large amount of processing time is required to convert the Index value into binary data, and a large-capacity print buffer is required because the data stored in the print buffer is binary data. , Which was a factor of cost increase.

[0009] Considering that the resolution of the recording head will be further increased and the number of nozzles will increase in the future, the processing time required for such data conversion will further increase, and the throughput of the recording processing will not be satisfied. It is possible. In addition, such a conventional configuration has a problem that the circuit configuration in the printer device becomes complicated and a required memory capacity increases, thereby increasing costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and performs vertical / horizontal conversion without changing multi-valued data to convert dot data matched to the arrangement of recording elements of a recording head at the same processing speed as binary data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device capable of converting and recording and a data conversion method in the recording device.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the cost of the apparatus by suppressing the increase in the capacity of a buffer for storing data used for recording when inputting multi-valued data and converting it into dot data for recording. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reduced recording apparatus and a data conversion method in the recording apparatus.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a recording device that receives raster image data from an external device, converts the data in accordance with the arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements of a recording head, and records the data, and a storage unit that stores the received multivalued raster image data. The multi-level raster image data stored in the storage unit is converted by the vertical-horizontal conversion unit into a vertical / horizontal conversion unit that performs vertical / horizontal conversion as multi-valued image data according to the arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements of the recording head. Column data storage means for storing the multi-valued image data,
A dot conversion unit that converts the multi-valued image data stored in the column data storage unit into dot data for driving each printing element of the print head; and using the dot data converted by the dot conversion unit. And a head driving means for driving the recording head.

To achieve the above object, a data conversion method in a recording apparatus according to the present invention includes the following steps. That is, a data conversion method in a printing apparatus that receives raster image data from an external device, converts the raster image data in accordance with the arrangement direction of a plurality of print elements of a print head, and prints the data. A storage step of storing; a vertical / horizontal conversion step of performing vertical / horizontal conversion as image data when the multi-value raster image data stored in the memory is adjusted to an arrangement direction of a plurality of print elements of the print head; A column data storing step of storing the multi-valued image data converted in the step, and converting the multi-valued image data stored in the column data storing step into dot data for driving each recording element of the recording head. And a dot conversion step.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Before describing the embodiments of the present invention in detail, the gist of the present embodiment will be briefly described.

FIG. 2 shows a case where pixel data of raster image data input from an external device such as a host computer is Ind.
It is a figure explaining the processing outline of ex value.

The raster image data received from the host computer is stored in a raster data buffer 104a for temporary storage (described later with reference to FIG. 1) in the order of the received data. Here, unlike the case where the pixel data is binary data, the Index value is represented by 2 bits, and when this is expanded into dot data, for example, in the example of FIG.
2 dots, that is, when viewed from the recording element of the recording head,
This is data for 2 × 2 recording elements, that is, data spanning two rasters.

Here, assuming that the image size for vertical / horizontal conversion is, for example, 64 bits (horizontal) × 16 bits (vertical) as shown in FIG. 2, it is developed into binary data for recording based on this. The structure of the subsequent data is as shown by 200. That is, the data 200 after being expanded into binary data is 64 bits (horizontal) × 32 bits (vertical) which is enlarged twice in the vertical direction.

In FIG. 2, D31, D30,..., D1,
D0 represents a 2-bit Index value. When these two-bit Index values are expanded into binary data, D31
Is developed at the position of A shown by the 2 × 2 matrix. Similarly, D0 is 2 × 2 of the expanded data 200.
Expands to B shown in the matrix.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, a 2-bit Inde
The process from raster image data represented by the x value to HV conversion and storage in the print buffer will be described.

As in FIG. 2, each of the raster image data In
Each of the dex values (D0, D1,..., D30, D31) is represented by 2 bits, and 32 values per raster (64 bits).
Index values are stored. Here, the bit data of the first raster is a (1, 63) and a (1, 6), respectively.
2),..., A (1,1), a (1,0), and the bit data of the second raster are a (2,63), a
(2, 62),..., A (2, 0). Similarly, the 16th raster is a (16, 63), a (16, 6)
2),..., A (16, 1) and a (16, 0). Therefore, D31 is the bit data a (1, 63), a (1,
62), and D30 is a (1,61), a (1,6)
0), D0 is a (1, 1), a
(1, 0).

As a result of the vertical / horizontal conversion, the bit data in the first column is a (1,63), a
(1,62), a (2,63), a (2,62), ...,
a (16, 63) and a (16, 62). Next, the bit data in the second column is a (1,61), a (1,6)
0), a (2, 61), a (2, 60),..., A (1
6, 61), a (16, 60). Similarly, the Index values for 16 lines are vertically and horizontally converted, transferred to the print buffer 104b (FIG. 1) and stored. Next, the 32-bit data strings are sequentially read out, converted into dot data corresponding to the Index value, for example, the dot data in FIG. 5, and output to the recording head.

When the raster image data is originally binary data, the raster image data is vertically and horizontally converted as shown in FIG. 4 and stored in the print buffer.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a recording apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording apparatus 1000 may be any recording apparatus employing, for example, an inkjet method, a wire dot method, a thermal method, or the like.
The recording elements (nozzles,
Heating elements, wires, etc.)
Any recording device that records an image on a recording medium such as a recording sheet may be used. In this embodiment, this recording apparatus scans an inkjet head having a plurality of nozzles mounted on a carriage and arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction in the main scanning direction, and in synchronization with the main scanning. A description will be given of a case of a serial type ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium such as a recording sheet with ink ejected from these nozzles.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a host computer as an external device, and a recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
000, and instructs to record an image by transmitting raster image data and control commands. Reference numeral 101 denotes an interface control unit which controls communication with an external device such as the host computer 100, and
0 receives image data sent from the host computer 100 and exchanges various control data with the host computer 100. A CPU 102 controls the operation and processing of the entire recording apparatus 1000 according to a program stored in a ROM 103. The ROM 103 stores, together with such a control program, various data such as device-specific control data and font data. A RAM 104 is used as a work area when the CPU 102 executes control processing, and temporarily stores various data. Also, the RAM 104 sends the interface control unit 1
01, a reception buffer for temporarily storing the data received, a raster data buffer 104a for storing raster image data, and a print buffer 104b for storing print data for one line.

A work buffer control unit 105 rearranges the raster image data stored in the raster data buffer 104a to facilitate processing in the subsequent HV conversion unit 107 and stores the rearranged image data in the work buffer 106. ing. The work buffer 106 rearranges the raster image data stored in the raster data buffer 104a by the work buffer control unit 105 (described later with reference to FIG. 6), and stores the result here. 1
Reference numeral 07 denotes an HV conversion unit which converts the rearranged image data stored in the work buffer 106 into the recording head 112.
HV conversion according to the arrangement of the recording elements (30 in FIG. 3)
(Shown as 0) in the print buffer 104b.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a head control unit which supplies a control signal to the head driving unit 109 for recording an image on a recording medium, reads an HV-converted Index value from the print buffer 104b, and converts the index value into an index value. The corresponding dot data (see FIG. 5) is generated and supplied to the head driving unit 109. The recording head 112 is a recording head such as an inkjet head mounted on a carriage, for example. The carriage (CR) driving unit 111
The rotation of the carriage motor 114, that is, the travel of the recording head 112, is controlled by an instruction from the CPU 102.
The LF drive unit 110 controls the rotation of a sheet feed motor (LF motor) 113 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 102 to control the conveyance of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

First, data sent from the host computer 100 to the recording device is transmitted to the interface control unit 101.
And stored in a reception buffer (not shown) of the RAM 104. The CPU 102 reads data received from the reception buffer according to a program stored in the ROM 103, and analyzes a command included in the data. If the received image data is raster image data, the raster image data is sequentially stored in the raster data buffer 104a. When a predetermined amount of image data is stored in the raster data buffer 104a, the raster image data stored in the raster data buffer 104a is rearranged under the control of the work buffer control unit 105 and stored in the work buffer 106. Is done.

This processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams for explaining the storage state of raster image data received from the host computer 100. FIG.

FIG. 6A shows the host computer 100.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing raster image data received from the maker.

FIG. 6B shows, as a reference example, a state where rdn, n in FIG. 6A is stored in the work buffer 106 when the binary data is composed of 32 bits. Here, since the work buffer 106 is connected to a 64-bit data bus, 1 is stored at address 0.
The first two data rd1,1, rd1,2 of the raster are stored, and the first two data rd2,1, rd2,2 of the second raster are stored at address 8;
First two data rd32,1, rd32,2 of the second raster
Is stored at address 00F8h (h represents a hexadecimal number). Then, the third and fourth data rd1,3, rd1,4 of the first raster are stored at the address 0100h, and similarly stored in the work buffer 106.

FIG. 6C relates to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6A, rdn, n is raster image data D composed of, for example, 16 Index values as shown in FIG.
In the case of 0 to D15 (32 bits in total), the state stored in the work buffer 106 is shown. Since the work buffer 106 is also connected to the 64-bit data bus, the first two data rd1,1 and rd1,2 of the first raster are stored at the address 0, and 2 at the address 8 The first two data rd2,1, rd of the raster
2, 2 are stored, and similarly, the first two data rd16,1 and rd16,2 of the 16th raster are stored in the address 0.
078h. Then, the third and fourth data rd1,3, rd1,4 of the first raster are stored in the address 00.
80h, and thereafter, in the same manner, the work buffer 1
06 is stored. As described above, in the case of FIG. 6C, since one Index value is represented by 2 bits, 1 Index value is represented by 2 bits.
32 lines of dot data are generated with the index values for 6 rasters.

Incidentally, the rearrangement and storage of the raster image data in the work buffer 106 as described above is performed in the subsequent HV.
In the conversion process, by reading out from the work buffer 106 at regular intervals, vertical raster data can be easily extracted, and the vertical / horizontal conversion process can be easily performed.

Next, returning to FIG. 1, when the Index values are rearranged and stored in the work buffer 106 as described with reference to FIG.
6 is informed that the image data has been prepared.
Starts the HV conversion unit 107. Thus, the HV conversion unit 107 reads the data of 16 bits × 64 bits from the work buffer 106, performs vertical / horizontal conversion to generate data of 32 bits in the vertical direction, and transfers the result to the print buffer 104 b. . This processing will be described later with reference to FIG. This HV conversion process is performed for the number of nozzles of the print head 112, and for Y, M,
If the C and K print heads are provided, the process is repeated until print data corresponding to each of these print heads is stored in the print buffer 104b.

The HV conversion unit 107 has a CPU 10
The CPU 1 determines in advance what the recording mode analyzed in step 2 is.
02 has been notified. Therefore, in the case of multi-valued data, the Index value is directly subjected to HV conversion, and Y, M,
When C and K recording heads are provided, Y and
The data is stored in the M, C, and K print buffers 104b, respectively. Note that Ind corresponding to each of Y, M, C, and K
The address of the print buffer 104b that stores the ex value is set in advance by the CPU 102 as a storage address.

When print data for the number of nozzles in the vertical direction of the print head 112 or one scan of each of Y, M, C, and K is stored in the print buffer 104b, C
The carriage motor 114 is rotationally driven by the R driving unit 111 to move the recording head 112 in the main scanning direction.
When the print head 112 reaches a predetermined print position by scanning of the print head, the Index value stored in the print buffer 104b is changed to the print buffer 104.
b and sequentially sent to the head control unit 108. The head controller 108 converts the index value into dot data for recording each dot in accordance with the index value, as shown in FIG. The dot data converted in this way is sent to the head drive unit 109, and when dot data for the number of nozzles of the recording head 112 is completed,
The print data is transferred to the print head 112 as ejection data.

The ejection data thus transferred to the recording head 112 is temporarily stored in the recording head 112, and is sent from a corresponding nozzle to a recording medium in accordance with the ejection data in accordance with an ejection control signal (heat signal). The ink is ejected toward. Thus, the recording head 11
2 completes one scan of printing, the LF drive 11
0 is driven to convey the recorded portion of the recording medium. By repeating such processing, a series of recording processing is performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. A control program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 103,
It is executed under the control of U102.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether there is data sent from the host computer 100. If there is data, the process proceeds to step S2, where the interface control unit 101 receives it and stores it in the reception buffer of the RAM 104. I do. If the received data includes raster image data (described with an Index value), the raster image data is stored in the RAM 10.
4 is stored in the raster data buffer 104a. Then, the process proceeds to step S3, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, checks whether raster image data for 16 lines has been received,
If not, the process returns to step S1 to repeatedly execute the above-described processing.

In step S3, the raster data buffer 1
When the raster image data for 16 lines is stored in 04a, the process proceeds to step S4, and the raster image data is rearranged and stored in the work buffer 106 as described above. Next, the process proceeds to step S5, where the work buffer 10
6 instructs the HV conversion unit 107 to perform vertical / horizontal conversion in order to HV convert the image data stored in the image data 6. As a result, image data as a result of the vertical / horizontal conversion of the raster image data is stored in the print buffer 104b. Then, in step S6, the CR driving unit 111 is driven to start rotation of the carriage motor 114, and scanning of the recording head 112 in the main scanning direction is started.

Next, in step S7, the image data stored in the print buffer 104b is read out in the order of columns in the main scanning direction, and is read out by the head control unit 108.
Then, the data is converted into dot data corresponding to each print element (nozzle) of the print head 112 and indicating whether or not ink corresponding to the Index value is ejected, and is sent to the print head 112.
As a result, dot data for one row (one row of nozzles) is stored in a shift register (not shown) of the print head 112. Next, in step S8, it is determined whether or not the recording head 112 has reached the recording position and it is time to perform recording. When the recording timing comes, the process proceeds to step S9, and a heat signal is output to the recording head 112. Accordingly, ink is ejected from each nozzle of the head 112 according to the dot data for one row stored in the recording head 112. At this time, one row of nozzles is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block is divided and driven.

Thus, the process proceeds to step S10 to check whether one scan of the carriage (recording head 112) has been completed.
If not, the process returns to step S7 to read the data of the next dot row to be printed. However, as will be described later, when one column of Index data is read from the print buffer 104b and converted to dot data, two columns of dot data are generated. It only needs to be done once in two rows.

When one scan of the recording head 112 is completed, the process proceeds to step S11, where the carriage motor 114
Carriage return is executed after the rotation of
The F motor 113 is rotationally driven to convey the recorded recording medium portion in the sub-scanning direction, and the process proceeds to step S12. Then, the process proceeds to step S12 to check whether the recording process for one page has been completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S4.
The above processing is repeatedly executed. Although not shown in this flowchart, in the processing after step S4, the reception of data from the host computer 100 and the processing of storing raster image data in the raster data buffer 104a are performed in parallel. Therefore, when the process returns from step S7 to step S4, the image data to be recorded next is prepared in the raster data buffer 104a. When the recording process for one page is completed, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S13, where the recorded recording medium is discharged out of the apparatus, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 8 shows an HV converter 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a digital camera 07.

The control unit 810 controls the entire operation of the HV conversion unit 107, and
Is accessed every address "8" from address 0, and the data (64 bits) stored therein is read. The read data is rearranged and arranged as data in the column direction as described with reference to FIG. The read data is stored in the 64-bit bit shifter 800 via the data bus 803. The bit shifter 800 shifts bits to the left according to the bit shift amount stored in the shift amount register 801. In this embodiment, Index
Since the value is represented by 2 bits, the shift amount is 2 bits. The 2-bit data thus shifted and shifted out is sent to the 32-bit shift register 802, where the 2-bit data is shifted in and stored. The result shifted by the 64-bit shifter 800 is written again to the same address of the work buffer 106 via the data bus 803. This is for 16 lines, that is, the work buffer 106
When the first column of 32-bit data is stored in the 32-bit shift register 802 until the address (0078h), the 32-bit data is sent to the print buffer 104b via the bus 804 and stored.

Next, the data in the second column is read from the address (0080h) of the work buffer 106, and is shifted by the 64-bit shifter 800 in the same manner as described above.
The bit shift register 802 stores the data of the second column, 3
Stores 2-bit data and stores it in the print buffer 10
4b and stored. This process is repeatedly executed until data for one scan of the print head 112 is stored in the print buffer 104b. In this way,
The Index value stored in the work buffer 106 is vertically and horizontally converted as it is, and the result is sequentially stored in the print buffer 104b.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining a process of converting an Index value into dot data in the head control unit 108 according to the present embodiment.

Here, the 2-bit Index value read out from the print buffer 104b in units of columns is input to the conversion table 900. The conversion table 900 stores data 903 obtained by vertically and horizontally converting the dot pattern shown in FIG. 5 according to each Index value. Therefore, when an Index value for one column is input, dot data for two columns (32 bits × 2 columns)
Will be converted to The two rows of dot data thus obtained are transferred to the buffer 901 and stored.
The dot data stored in the buffer 901 is synchronized with the scanning of the print head 112 by the print head 112.
Is used to drive the recording head 112, and an image corresponding to the dot data is recorded.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by converting the raster image data into the column data in accordance with the arrangement of the recording elements of the recording head while maintaining the Index value input from the host computer, An increase in the memory capacity of the print buffer can be minimized.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the recording head 112 is an ink jet head,
It has a black recording head (Bk) and a color (Y, M, C) recording head. The resolution of the black recording head and its raster image data is, for example, 600 dpi. Image data resolution of 120
0 dpi. The image data for black is transmitted as binary data from the host computer, and the image data for color is transmitted as multi-value data represented by, for example, the above-mentioned Index value.

As described above, in a printing apparatus which receives raster image data transmitted as binary data and multi-valued data, and rearranges the raster image data in the column direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of the print elements of the print head, and prints it. Also, by adopting the configuration as in the above-described embodiment, the raster image data is vertically and horizontally converted by a common circuit or means regardless of whether the data is binary data or multi-valued data, and the converted image is converted. The image can be recorded by outputting the data to the recording head.

Prior to recording, the host computer sends a recording mode such as monochrome or color recording mode, recording resolution, and multi-valued image data per pixel to such a recording apparatus. By specifying the number of bits and the like, an image can be recorded according to the recording mode.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the main structure of the mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink tank (not shown)
And a inkjet recording head 112 are integrally formed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a carriage, and four ink jet recording heads (Bk) for recording in each color.
(Black) head, Y (yellow) head, M (magenta) head, C (cyan) head) and a drive belt 4 for transmitting the rotational driving force of the carriage driving motor 114. It is movably attached to guide shafts 6A and 6B which are partially connected and arranged in parallel to the scanning direction. Then, by the rotation of the carriage driving motor 114, a recording sheet (recording medium) fed from a medium feeding device (not shown) along the platen 7 arranged opposite to the ink ejection surface of the ink jet recording head 112.
Is reciprocated over the entire width of the recording sheet to perform recording on the recording sheet.

Each of the ink jet recording heads corresponding to each color is provided with a plurality of thin pipe-shaped nozzle openings for discharging ink on a surface of the recording sheet opposite to the recording surface, and further connected via a tube. In addition, heaters for giving ink ejection energy to ink supplied from the corresponding ink tanks are provided near each nozzle opening. Further, the nozzle opening arrays of these recording heads are respectively arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction of the carriage 3, and these four recording heads are arranged side by side in the scanning direction of the carriage 3. ing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a head recovery unit, which is a recording head 1
A head cap 8A for covering the ink ejection surface of the recording head 112 and a blade 9 for wiping the ink ejection surface of the recording head 112 are provided. Unit 8
Are moved in the direction of the head position to be able to move between a head recovery position where capping and / or suction of the nozzle openings of each recording head is performed, and a standby position where the recording head 112 is not contacted. Reference numeral 12 denotes a projection for detecting the position of the carriage 3, which is capable of detecting whether or not the carriage 3 is at the head recovery position by engaging with a photo sensor (not shown) provided on the head carriage 3. Further, at the time of recording sheet feeding, the rotation of the sheet feeding motor 113 is transmitted to the conveying roller 13 via the clutch 11 so that the recording sheet can be conveyed in the sub-scanning direction.

The recording head unit 1 is provided with a position encoder sensor 14 for detecting a scanning position of the carriage 3.
When the carriage 3 moves along the guide shafts 6A and 6B, the carriage 3 reads a code at an interval recorded on an encoder film and detects the position of the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction. The signal from the sensor is used to generate a trigger signal that defines the ink ejection timing.

The reference position of the carriage 3 in the recording operation is determined by moving the carriage 3 to the limit of the movable range of the carriage 3 in the initial sequence when the power is turned on.
Since the signal from the position encoder stops when the carriage 3 cannot move any more, the reference position of the carriage 3 is determined based on the signal from the encoder after grasping the absolute position of the carriage 3 using this.

The above-described ink jet recording apparatus receives data such as image information and control commands input from the external host device 100 (FIG. 1) by the interface control unit 101 (FIG. 1) described later and receives the data. After developing the image data of each color in accordance with the data, the image data is transferred to the corresponding inkjet recording head 112, and the carriage driving motor 114 is rotated to scan the carriage 3, and the ink ejection driving is performed at a desired timing. Thus, a series of recording operations are performed.

Note that the CPU 102 and the like in FIG. 1 and the carriage 3 are connected via a flexible cable 15, and each recording head receives various signals and the power required for ink ejection via this cable 15. I have.

The present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in an ink jet recording system. Although the printing apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of the ink has been described, the same effect can be obtained in a piezoelectric ink jet recording method as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-6357. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion. It is good also as composition based on -138461 gazette.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, the print head is replaceable with a print head of a replaceable chip type, which can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus and can supply ink from the main body of the apparatus, or is integrated with the print head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the printing apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. . To be more specific, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording Performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection is also effective for performing stable printing.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention is not only provided as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also integrally or separately, as well as a copying apparatus combined with a reader and the like. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.) ) May be applied.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a computer) of the system or the apparatus. This is also achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program codes, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program codes. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
The case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in both binary data and multivalued data, the vertical / horizontal conversion from raster data to column data is performed after the conversion into binary data. Print data by inputting the data as it is, storing the converted image data in the print buffer buffer as it is, and converting it to data corresponding to dots when transferring from the print buffer to the print head. High-resolution images can be recorded while suppressing an increase in the memory capacity of the buffer. This also has the effect that high-resolution images can be recorded at high speed without increasing the cost of the apparatus.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, vertical / horizontal conversion is performed without changing multi-value data, and converted into dot data matching the array of print elements of the print head at the same processing speed as binary data. There is an effect that it can be recorded.

According to the present invention, when multi-valued data is input, converted into dot data, and recorded, the increase in the capacity of a buffer for storing the data is suppressed, thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an array of stored Index values (2 bits) for 16 lines and a data structure after HV conversion and expansion into dot data.

FIG. 3 shows an index value (2 bits) for 16 lines as H
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example in which V conversion is performed and the result is stored in a print buffer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which binary data for 32 lines is input, converted to HV, and stored in a print buffer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between an index value and dot data according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method of storing raster image data in a work buffer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating HV conversion processing in an HV conversion unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a conversion process from an Index value to dot data (ejection data) in the head control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a main configuration of a mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which receives raster image data from an external device, converts the raster image data in accordance with the arrangement direction of a plurality of printing elements of a printing head, and prints the converted data. Means for converting the multi-value raster image data stored in the storage means into vertical / horizontal conversion as multi-valued image data in accordance with the arrangement direction of a plurality of printing elements of the printhead; Column data storage means for storing the multi-valued image data converted by the above, and converting the multi-valued image data stored in the column data storage means into dot data for driving each recording element of the recording head Dot conversion means, head driving means for driving the recording head using the dot data converted by the dot conversion means,
A recording device comprising: And a scanning unit for reciprocally scanning in a main scanning direction with the recording head mounted thereon, wherein an arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements of the recording head is a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dot conversion means converts the data into dot data representing an area gradation corresponding to the density of the multi-valued image data. 4. The vertical / horizontal converting means: means for rearranging in a column direction into a predetermined number of data units of multi-value raster image data stored in the storage means, and storing the data in a predetermined address unit of a memory; Reading means for reading multi-valued image data in a predetermined address unit and extracting multi-valued pixel data included in the multi-valued image data; and means for rearranging the multi-valued pixel data extracted by the extracting means in a column direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. A data conversion method in a printing apparatus for receiving raster image data from an external device, converting the raster image data in accordance with an arrangement direction of a plurality of print elements of a print head, and printing the received multi-value raster image data. And a vertical / horizontal conversion step of vertical / horizontal conversion of the multi-value raster image data stored in the memory as multi-value image data in accordance with the arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements of the recording head. A column data storing step of storing the multi-valued image data converted in the vertical / horizontal converting step; and a driving unit for driving the recording elements of the recording head using the multi-valued image data stored in the column data storing step. A dot conversion step of converting the data into dot data. 6. A scanning step in which the recording head is placed and reciprocally scanned in a main scanning direction, wherein an arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements of the recording head is a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. 6. The data conversion method in the recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The data conversion method according to claim 5, wherein, in the dot conversion step, the data is converted into dot data representing an area gradation corresponding to the density of the multi-valued image data. 8. The vertical / horizontal conversion step: a step of rearranging the multivalued raster image data stored in the memory in a column direction in a predetermined number of data units and storing the data in a predetermined address unit of the memory; Reading out multi-valued image data in address units of, and taking out multi-valued pixel data included in the multi-valued image data, and rearranging the multi-valued pixel data taken out in the taking out step in a column direction, 6. The data conversion method in the recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: