JP2003341040A - Printer and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing a decrease in the use efficiency of a RAM and a reduction in a printing speed in an image including a color area only in a part of a page. A printing apparatus has a memory for storing print data and a color print head in which a plurality of print elements are arranged, and prints an image obtained using the stored print data. A scanning unit that scans in a direction different from the array direction of the elements, for example, a direction perpendicular to the array, and an address for each column obtained by dividing a part or all of the serial number addresses in the memory by an integer equal to or greater than the total number of recording elements. A writing unit that performs a process of writing data corresponding to the recording elements in the order of the arrangement of the recording elements for each color, and a configuration unit that reads the recording data from the memory in synchronization with the scanning of the recording head by the scanning unit. , And an image is printed using the read recording data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a serial printer has been widely spread as a printing apparatus which can be constructed in a small size and at a low price.

In particular, the inkjet printer has made remarkable progress in recent years as a printer capable of quiet and high-speed printing among serial printers, and various performances have been improved.

In an ink jet printer, as a means for improving print quality, a banding line (bandin) is used.
(g) means for forming one row (band) by a plurality of scans to make it inconspicuous (hereinafter referred to as fine mode)
Is being implemented. Paper feed amount (sub-scan amount) at this time
Is used as 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, etc. of the head width.

A buffer structure suitable for performing the fine mode is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-39222.
There is a structure called a scroll buffer. This is configured such that addresses are continuous with respect to an array of print data corresponding to the array direction of a plurality of print elements arranged in the print head, and print data is controlled from an arbitrary address by the print head. Since it is possible to transfer the data to another unit, it becomes easy to manage the memory and configure the hardware.

In color printers, scrolling
The RAM area allocated for the buffer is divided into the number of colors used in the page at the beginning of the page, and a scroll buffer is configured for each color to perform the recording operation.

[0007]

However, in the printer having the scroll buffer described above, most data in one page is black, but only a part of the data is color, as in a one-point color document. Even in the case of an image that includes the area of, since the scroll buffer for color must be configured at the top of the page,
The scroll buffer for black data becomes small on that page. As a result, there is a problem that the use efficiency of the RAM is reduced and the printing speed may be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a method thereof, which can improve the use efficiency and printing speed of a recording data storage means. .

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing print data and a color print head in which a plurality of print elements are arranged. In a printing apparatus that prints an image corresponding to print data, a scanning unit that scans the print head in a direction different from an array direction of the print elements, and a part or all of addresses of serial numbers included in the storage unit, Writing means for writing the data corresponding to the recording elements to each of the addresses for each column obtained by dividing the column by an integer greater than or equal to the total number of the recording elements, in an order based on the array of the recording elements for each color; Read means for reading the print data from the storage means in synchronization with the scan of the print head by the scan means.

In order to achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention is a printing method for printing an image using a color recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, wherein the recording heads are arranged in an array. Scanning step for scanning in a direction different from the direction, and for each of the addresses for each column obtained by dividing part or all of the addresses of the serial numbers of the storage means by an integer greater than or equal to the total number of the recording elements, for each color. A writing step of writing print data corresponding to the printing elements in an order based on the array of the printing elements,
And a reading step of reading the print data stored in the storage means in synchronization with the scan of the print head in the scan step.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention is a control program for controlling a printing apparatus for printing an image using a color recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, A scanning step of scanning the recording head in a direction different from the array direction of the recording elements, and a column obtained by dividing a part or all of addresses of serial numbers of storage means by an integer greater than or equal to the total number of recording elements A writing step of writing the recording data corresponding to the recording elements in the order of arrangement of the recording elements for each color in each of the addresses, and the recording data stored in the storing means to the recording head. It is characterized in that a reading process for reading is performed in synchronism with scanning.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to the present invention is characterized by storing the above control program.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components described in this embodiment, mathematical expressions, numerical values, etc., unless otherwise specified,
The scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer embodying the present invention.

The recording medium 106 inserted in the paper feeding position of the printer 100 is indicated by an arrow P by the feed roller 109.
And is conveyed to the recordable area of the print head 103. Recording medium 10 in recordable area
A platen 108 is provided at the bottom of the unit 6. The carriage 101 is movable in a direction along the axial directions of the two guide shafts 104 and 105, and reciprocally scans the recording area in the directions of arrows Q1 and Q2. Recording cartridge 103 mountable on the carriage 101
Is configured to include a recording head capable of ejecting ink of a plurality of colors, and an ink tank containing the ink to be supplied to the recording head. The inks of a plurality of colors in the inkjet recording apparatus of this example are four colors of Bk (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow).

Reference numeral 107 denotes an arrangement portion of a switch portion and a display element portion. The switch portion is used when turning on / off the power of the recording apparatus and setting various recording modes, and the display element portion displays the state of the recording apparatus. Play a role.

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the recording head and nozzles of the recording cartridge 103, and is a schematic view of the recording cartridge 103 seen through from above the recording medium 106.

103 (Y), 103 (M), 103
Recording heads (C) and 103 (Bk) are for ejecting yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks. The recording cartridge 103 moves in the main scanning direction of arrows Q1 and Q2 with respect to the recording medium 106. Recording medium 10
6 is conveyed to the recording cartridge 103 in the sub-scanning direction of arrow P. Each recording head 103 (Y) to 103
The number of nozzles 103A of (Bk) is 64, and the pitch of these nozzles 103A is 360d.
pi.

Each recording head 103 (Y) -10
In the nozzle 103A of 3 (Bk), the intervals of the arrows Q1 and Q2 in the main scanning direction are set to the size of 32 pitches of the nozzle 103A. Each recording head 103 (Y)
The nozzle 103A of 103 (Bk) is linearly arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning. The recording heads 103 (Y) to 103 (Bk) are serially arranged in the main scanning direction so that their lower ends coincide with each other in the main scanning direction of the recording cartridge 103. Each of the recording heads 103 (Y) to 103 (Bk) is a head that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy.
The heat energy generated by the electrothermal converter causes film boiling in the ink, and the change in pressure caused by the growth and contraction of bubbles due to the film boiling is utilized to generate the nozzle 103A.
Ink is ejected from.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an ink jet printer embodying the present invention. Character and image data to be recorded is input to the reception buffer 301 of the printer 100 from the host computer. In addition, the data for confirming whether the data is correctly transferred and the data for notifying the operating state of the recording device 100 are recorded.
Sent to the host computer. Receive buffer 3
01 data is transferred to the memory unit 303 under the control of the CPU 302, and the RAM of the memory unit 303 is
(Random access memory) is temporarily stored. The mechanical control unit 304 drives and controls a mechanical unit 305 such as a carriage motor (CR motor) or a line feed motor (LF motor) according to a command from the CPU 302. The sensor / SW control unit 306 sends a signal from the sensor / SW unit 307 including various sensors and SW (switch) to the CPU 302. The display element control unit 308 controls the display element unit 309 including the LEDs of the display panel group, the liquid crystal element, and the like according to a command from the CPU 302. The printhead control unit 310 includes the CPU 3
The recording head 103 is controlled according to the command from 02. In addition, the recording head control unit 310 includes the recording head 1
03 temperature information indicating the state of 03 is detected and CP
Send to U302.

Next, a conventional scroll buffer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of address mapping of the scroll buffer when printing a Bk single color page using the print head of the printer. The hexadecimal number in the figure indicates the relative address in the scroll buffer area allocated by 256 KB. The left direction of the figure corresponds to the sub-scanning direction (arrow P direction), and the upper direction corresponds to the main scanning direction (arrow Q2 direction). The addresses are mapped so that the addresses are continuous in the sub-scanning direction and the addresses are equally spaced in the main scanning direction. In the memory of the scroll buffer, an address mapped in the main scanning direction is defined as one buffer, and acquisition and release are managed one by one. For example, the memory at the address 00000h is 0,040h, 000.
One buffer is composed of 80h, ..., 3FFC0h and is acquired and released. The scroll buffer of FIG. 4 is composed of 64 buffers.

Recording data (print width 2) sent from the host computer is sent to the scroll buffer.
The procedure for expanding (880 columns) is shown below.

(1) At the top of the page, 00000h is assigned to the write pointer variable (variable name WritePtr).

(2) Recorded data is 8 rasters × print width 28
Receive only 80 columns.

(3) Write destination address (Write
Wait until the buffer containing Ptr) is freed and get.

(4) The received recording data is written in order from the write destination address (WritePtr) to the address every 40040h.

(5) Write pointer WritePtr
Add 1 to.

(6) Until a paper discharge command arrives (2) to (5)
repeat.

For example, the recording data of the first 8 rasters × 2880 columns is [(00000h), (00040)
h), (00080h), ..., (2CFC0h)], and the subsequent recording data of 8 rasters × 2880 columns is [(00001h), (00041h),
(00081h), ..., (2CFC1h)].

On the other hand, the procedure for reading the recording data from the scroll buffer and ejecting the ink will be described below.

(1) The paper feeding operation is performed, and 00000h is assigned to the read pointer variable (variable name ReadPtr).

(2) Waiting until all the print data necessary for main scanning, which starts from (ReadPtr), are prepared.

(3) Data is sequentially read out, the recording head is driven while main scanning is performed, and ink is ejected onto the recording medium.

(4) Release the used buffer.

(5) A predetermined amount of paper is fed, and a predetermined amount is added to the read pointer ReadPtr.

(6) Until a paper discharge command arrives (2) to (5)
repeat.

When the writing and reading of the recording data are proceeded in such a procedure, the write pointer eventually becomes 00040h. At this time, the write destination memory is [(04040h), (00080h), (000C0
h), ..., (2D000h)], which is the same as the buffer in which the first 8 rasters are expanded. Therefore, writing is kept waiting until the recording of the first 8 rasters is completed and the buffer is released. As can be seen from this, recording data can be expanded up to 512 rasters in the scroll buffer.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a scroll buffer structure for recording four-color pages. 256 KB RAM allocated as scroll buffer is 64
4 colors are assigned to each KB, and each scroll
Configure the buffer. The procedure for expanding the print data (print width 2880 columns) sent from the host computer to this scroll buffer is shown below.

(1) At the top of the page, set 0000h to the write pointer variable (variable name WritePtr) and set it to Bk.
0000 for the offset amount (variable name OffsetBk) of
0h for the offset amount of C (variable name OffsetC) and 10000h for the offset amount of M (variable name OffsetC)
tM) to 20000h, Y offset amount (variable name O
Substitute 30000h for ffsetY).

(2) Recorded data is 8 rasters × print width 28
Receive only 80 columns.

(3) Wait until the buffer containing the write destination address of the color for which the recording data exists is released and acquired. Here, the write destination address of Bk is (Wri
tePtr + OffsetBk), the write destination address of C is (WritePtr + OffsetC), and the write destination address of M is (WritePtr + Offset).
M) and Y write destination addresses are (WritePtr +
OffsetY).

(4) The received data is sequentially written to the addresses every 00010h from the write destination address.

(5) Write pointer WritePtr
Add 1 to.

(6) Until a paper discharge command arrives (2) to (5)
repeat.

On the other hand, the procedure for reading out recording data from the scroll buffer and ejecting ink will be described below.

(1) The paper feeding operation is performed, and 0000h is set to the read pointer variable (variable name ReadPtr) and Bk.
0000 for the offset amount (variable name OffsetBk) of
0h for the offset amount of C (variable name OffsetC) and 10000h for the offset amount of M (variable name OffsetC)
tM) to 20000h, Y offset amount (variable name O
Substitute 30000h for ffsetY).

(2) (ReadPtr + OffsetB
k), (ReadPtr + OffsetC), (Rea
dPtr + OffsetM), (ReadPtr + Of
It waits until all the print data necessary for the main scanning, which starts from fsetY), is prepared.

(3) Data is sequentially read out, the recording head is driven while main scanning is performed, and ink is ejected onto the recording medium.

(4) Release the used buffer.

(5) A predetermined amount of paper is fed, and a predetermined amount is added to the read pointer ReadPtr.

(6) Until a paper discharge command arrives (2) to (5)
repeat.

As the writing and reading of the recording data proceed in this manner, as can be seen from FIG.
Recording data can be expanded up to 128 rasters in the scroll buffer. The number of rasters cannot be increased even when the recording data of only one color exists. Therefore, since the number of rasters that can be expanded in advance is small, when the scan width of the print data is short, the expansion of the data cannot be done in time and the printer is likely to stop and wait. For example, when recording a one-point color document, the scroll buffer areas assigned to colors other than Bk are rarely used, and the memory usage efficiency is very poor.

FIG. 6 shows a scroll buffer structure of the present invention which solves this problem. The 256 KB RAM allocated as the scroll buffer constitutes one scroll buffer regardless of the number of colors in the page. Recording data (print width 2880) sent from the host computer is sent to the scroll buffer.
The procedure for expanding columns) is shown below.

(1) At the top of the page, write pointer variable (variable name WritePtr) is set to 00000h and Bk
0000 for the offset amount (variable name OffsetBk) of
0h for the offset amount of C (variable name OffsetC) and 00010h for the offset amount of M (variable name Offse)
tM) = 02020h, Y offset amount (variable name O
Substituting 00030h into ffsetY).

(2) Print data is 8 rasters × print width 28
Receive only 80 columns.

(3) Wait until the buffer containing the write destination address for the color in which the recording data exists is released and acquired. Here, the write destination address of Bk is (Wri
tePtr + OffsetBk), the write destination address of C is (WritePtr + OffsetC), and the write destination address of M is (WritePtr + Offset).
M) and Y write destination addresses are (ReadPtr + O
ffsetY).

(4) The received data is sequentially written from the write destination address to the addresses every 40040h.

(5) Write pointer WritePtr
Add 1 to.

(6) Until a paper discharge command arrives (2) to (5)
repeat.

On the other hand, the procedure for reading the print data from the scroll buffer and ejecting the ink will be described below.

(1) A paper feeding operation is performed, and 0000h is set to the read pointer variable (variable name ReadPtr) and Bk.
0000 for the offset amount (variable name OffsetBk) of
0h for the offset amount of C (variable name OffsetC) and 00010h for the offset amount of M (variable name Offse)
tM) = 02020h, Y offset amount (variable name O
Substituting 00030h into ffsetY).

(2) (ReadPtr + OffsetB
k), (ReadPtr + OffsetC), (Rea
dPtr + OffsetM), (ReadPtr + Of
It waits until all the print data necessary for the main scanning, which starts from fsetY), is prepared.

(3) Data is sequentially read out, the recording head is driven while main scanning is performed, and ink is ejected onto the recording medium.

(4) Release the used buffer.

(5) A predetermined amount of paper is fed, and a predetermined amount is added to the read pointer ReadPtr.

(6) Until a paper discharge command arrives (2) to (5)
repeat.

As the writing and reading of recording data proceed in this procedure, as can be seen from FIG.
In the portion where the data of all four colors are present, the writing destination of the Bk recording data eventually catches up with the buffer in which the recording data of C is expanded, so that it is waited until the recording of this data is completed. The amount that can be expanded at this time is 128 rasters, which is the same as the scroll buffer in FIG. On the other hand, in the portion where only the Bk data exists, since the C, M, and Y recording data does not exist, the buffer is released, and the recording data can be expanded until it catches up with the Bk data of one round before. The amount at this time is 512 rasters, which is the same as that of the scroll buffer in FIG.

With the scroll buffer configuration of the present embodiment, the memory can be efficiently used even in a one-point color situation while maintaining the advantage of the scroll buffer that facilitates memory management and hardware configuration. It can be used, and it is possible to prevent the printer from slowing down.

[Other Embodiments] Note that the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but is also an apparatus composed of 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 recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer of the system or apparatus ( Alternatively, by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium,
It goes without saying that it will be achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instruction of the program code,
An operating system (OS) running on the computer does some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The use efficiency of the storage means and the printing speed can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a printhead and nozzle arrangement of the print cartridge according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example of address mapping of a scroll buffer when recording a Bk monochrome page.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional example of address mapping of a scroll buffer when recording a 4-color page.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of address mapping of the scroll buffer according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus, comprising a storage unit for storing print data and a printhead for color in which a plurality of print elements are arranged, for printing an image corresponding to the print data. A scanning unit that scans in a direction different from the array direction of the recording elements, and a part or all of the addresses of the serial numbers that the storage unit has, the address of each column obtained by dividing by an integer greater than the total number of the recording elements. A writing unit that writes data corresponding to the recording elements in an order based on the array of the recording elements for each color, and synchronizes the recording data with the scanning of the recording head by the scanning unit. And a reading unit that reads out from the storage unit. 2. A printing method for printing an image using a color recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, comprising a scanning step of scanning the recording head in a direction different from an arrangement direction of the recording elements. For each of the addresses for each column obtained by dividing a part or all of the addresses of the serial numbers of the storage means by an integer equal to or more than the total number of the recording elements, for each color, in the order based on the arrangement of the recording elements, A write step of writing print data corresponding to the print element; and a read step of reading the print data stored in the storage means in synchronization with scanning of the print head in the scanning step. A printing method characterized by. 3. A control program for controlling a printing apparatus for printing an image using a color recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, wherein the recording head and the recording element are arranged in a computer. Is a scanning step of scanning in different directions, and a part of or all of the addresses of the serial numbers of the storage means are separated by an integer greater than or equal to the total number of the recording elements, each of the addresses for each column, and for each color, A writing step of writing recording data corresponding to the recording elements in the order of arrangement of the recording elements; and a reading step of reading the recording data stored in the storage means in synchronization with scanning of the recording head. A control program characterized by being executed. 4. A computer-readable storage medium in which the control program according to claim 3 is stored.