JP2019022945A - Image recording device, information processing device, image recording system and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image recording device that can suppress deterioration in quality of a prescribed image caused by temporarily stopping carrying of a recording medium while suppressing increase in costs, which can solve the problem that in a conventional technique a recording medium has to be carried with accuracy of one dot or less and a high-accuracy carrying motor and a position of the recording medium have to be detected with high accuracy, resulting in increase of costs of a device.CONSTITUTION: The image recording device comprises: recording means that performs image recording on a recording medium to be carried; and changing means that when an image at a recording position where image recording performed by the recording means on the recording medium being carried is a prescribed image, changes the prescribed image so that the image deviates from the recording position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an image recording system, and an image creation method capable of recording an image on a recording medium and stopping the recording of the image halfway.

  In the middle of image recording on a recording medium by the image recording apparatus, continuous paper may be cut by a cutter, or image recording may be temporarily stopped in order to write data to the recording medium. In such a case, there is a gap in the image before and after the temporary stop due to variations in the stop position when stopping the recording medium and positional displacement caused by slightly pulling the recording medium in the cutter direction when cutting with the cutter. (White spots) may occur. When such white spots occur in an object that is premised on being read by a reading device or the like, specifically, a barcode, the image recognition rate in the reading device may be reduced. Even when reading is not premised, when a high-quality image such as face photo data is required, it is necessary to suppress a decrease in image quality due to white spots.

  In order to prevent deterioration in image quality such as white spots, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for forming image dots so that white spots do not occur by reverse conveyance by the amount of displacement of the recording medium during pause. .

JP 2011-230428 A

  However, in the conventional technology, it is necessary to transport the recording medium with an accuracy of 1 dot or less, and a technology for detecting the position of the highly accurate transport motor and the recording medium with high accuracy is necessary. Therefore, there has been a problem that the cost of the apparatus increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems existing in the conventional technology, and the image quality of a predetermined image is reduced as the conveyance of the recording medium is temporarily stopped while suppressing an increase in cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an image recording system, and an image creation method that can suppress this.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium to be transported, and a recording position where recording by the recording unit on the recording medium being transported is stopped halfway. And changing means for changing the predetermined image so as to deviate from the recording position when the image becomes a predetermined image.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that transmits an image to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium to be transported by a recording unit, to the recording medium being transported by the image recording apparatus. And changing means for changing the predetermined image so as to deviate from the recording position when the image at the recording position where the recording is stopped is a predetermined image.

  The recording system according to the present invention is an image recording system including an image recording apparatus that records an image on a transported recording medium by a recording unit, and an information processing apparatus that transmits an image to the image recording apparatus. And changing means for changing the predetermined image so as to deviate from the recording position when an image at a recording position where recording by the recording means on the recording medium being conveyed is stopped in the middle is a predetermined image. An image recording system.

  The image creation method according to the present invention is an image creation method for creating an image to be recorded on a transported recording medium, and an image at a recording position at which recording on the recording medium being transported is stopped is predetermined. In this case, the predetermined image is changed so as to be out of the recording position.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in image quality of a predetermined image due to temporarily stopping the conveyance of the recording medium while suppressing an increase in cost.

It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of an image recording device. It is a figure which shows the flow of the system cut | disconnected after recording. It is a figure which shows the flow of the system cut | disconnected during recording. It is a figure which shows the rotation process of an image. It is a block diagram of the control part of an image recording device. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a control part. It is a figure which shows the rotation process of an image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the image recording apparatus in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, as an example of an image recording apparatus, a description will be given using a printer that records image information on a roll-shaped recording medium by an inkjet method.

  The printer 100 includes a printer main body 101 and a feeding unit 105 that feeds a recording medium to the printer main body 101. Recording data to be recorded on the recording medium P is transmitted from the host computer (hereinafter also referred to as host PC) 700 to the printer main body 101 via the print cable 701. The printer main body 101 includes an operation panel 103 for performing various settings and notifying the operator of the status of the printer 100.

  The printer main body 101 includes a four-color recording head 10 in which a plurality of ejection openings are arranged over the entire width of the recording medium P, and can record an image in full color on the recording medium P. Below the recording head 10, a cap unit 11 that protects the ejection ports of the recording head 10 in order from the top, a transport unit 20 that transports the recording medium P, a four-color ink tank 30 that supplies ink to the recording head 10, The cap unit 11 includes a recovery tank 40 that stores the recovered ink.

  The recording medium P set in the feeding unit 105 is fed to the printer main body 101 (in the direction of arrow A) by driving a feeding roller by a driving force by a feeding motor (not shown).

  The recording medium P fed to the printer main body 101 is detected by an inlet sensor 22 and is conveyed to the position of the recording head 10 by a conveying belt 21 that is rotationally driven by a driving force of a conveying motor (not shown). The conveyance belt 21 is provided with suction holes, and the recording medium P is sucked onto the conveyance belt 21 by being sucked into a suction fan (not shown) provided below the conveyance belt 21.

  Further, the conveyance position of the recording medium P is controlled by an encoder (not shown) that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the conveyance belt 21.

The recording medium P on which recording has been performed by the recording head 10 is detected by the exit sensor 23, and is stopped when the trailing end of the recording page reaches the cutting position of the cutter unit 50. Then, after the trailing edge of the recording page is cut by the cutter, the recording page is discharged.

There are two timings for cutting the recording medium P. There are a method of alternately performing image recording and cutting for each page, and a method of cutting the previous page in the middle of image recording of the next page.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of a method for alternately performing image recording and cutting for each page. The recording data shown in FIG. 2 includes a text area 401 and a barcode area 402.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the image recording for one page is completed, and the recording medium is conveyed until the rear end of the image reaches the cutting position without recording the next page. 2 (b) state). At this position, the cutter is driven to cut the recording medium P (the state shown in FIG. 2C), and the recording medium P is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the new front end of the recording medium returns to the front of the recording head (FIG. 2D). State).

As described above, in the method in which image recording and cutting are alternately performed for each page, a conveyance operation for cutting is performed between the end of image recording of the preceding page and the start of image recording of the subsequent page. Although the throughput of the image recording is reduced by the conveyance operation, the image quality of the entire page can be maintained because the image recording throughput is not paused during the image recording.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a method for cutting the previous page in the middle of image recording of the next page.

  FIG. 3A shows a state where image recording for one page is completed, and recording of the next page is continued until the rear end of the recorded page reaches the cutting position (FIG. 3B). State). At this position, conveyance of the recording medium P and image recording of the next page are temporarily stopped, and the cutter is driven to cut the rear end side of the previous page (state shown in FIG. 3C). When the cutting is finished, the conveyance of the recording medium P and the image recording of the next page are resumed (state shown in FIG. 3D).

  As described above, in the method of cutting the previous page in the middle of image recording of the next page, the cutting operation is inserted in the middle of performing image recording of the subsequent page, so that the throughput of image recording can be improved. However, white spots may occur when image recording is paused. When there is no image (hereinafter also referred to as “predetermined image”) that requires an image quality of a predetermined level or higher, such as a barcode or a face photograph, at the pause position and the recording speed is important, the method described with reference to FIG. When there is an image that requires a predetermined image quality such as a barcode or a face photograph at the stop position, conventionally, a method of alternately recording and cutting images for each page as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to perform high-precision conveyance so that white spots do not occur at the pause position.

In the present invention, image recording is performed by the method shown in FIG. 4 so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in image quality of a predetermined image due to temporarily stopping the conveyance of the recording medium while suppressing an increase in cost.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing image rotation processing in the present embodiment.

  In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not there is a predetermined image (for example, a barcode) at the pause position. If there is a predetermined image, an image obtained by rotating the entire image by 180 degrees is recorded.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the pause is performed at a position where the trailing edge of the preceding page is cut, the barcode area 402 stops in the middle of recording, so that white spots may occur in the barcode. There is sex. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, recording is performed by rotating the entire image by 180 degrees. As a result, the barcode area 402 deviates from the pause position, so that it is possible to suppress a reduction in image quality of an image that requires a predetermined image quality or higher, such as a barcode.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 600 of the printer 100. A CPU 601 that controls the entire printer includes a ROM 602 and a RAM 603. The ROM 602 is a read-only storage element in which various programs and data for performing image recording are written. A RAM 603 is a writable and erasable storage element, holds a program read from the ROM 602, and writes and erases processing data and calculation results generated during the image recording process as needed. The EEPROM 604 is a storage area for storing setting values of the apparatus and the operator.

  The CPU 601 receives an operator instruction via the operation panel 103 or notifies the operator of the operation state of the printer 100.

  The CPU 601 converts the recording data input from the host PC 700 into ink ejection information ejected from the recording head 10 by the image processing circuit 605. Then, the recording head 10 is driven via the head driving circuit 606 to eject ink onto the recording medium.

  The CPU 601 feeds the recording medium from the feeding unit 105 in parallel with image processing and head driving. The CPU 601 drives the feeding motor 609 via the motor driver 607 and feeds the recording medium to the printer main body 101. When the recording medium fed to the printer main body 101 is detected by the inlet sensor 22, the CPU 601 drives the conveyance motor 608 via the motor driver 607 to convey the recording medium to the position of the recording head 10.

  The CPU 601 performs recording by ejecting ink from the recording head 10 at the timing when the recording medium reaches the recording head 10.

  In the method of alternately performing image recording and cutting for each page, when the rear end of the page on which the image is recorded passes through the exit sensor 23 and reaches the cutting position of the cutter unit 50, the CPU 601 drives the transport motor. Stop. The cutter motor 610 is driven via the motor driver 607 to cut the recording medium, and then the recording medium is conveyed to the position of the recording head 10.

In the method of cutting the previous page in the middle of image recording of the next page, when the trailing edge of the preceding page reaches the cutting position, image recording of the subsequent page is temporarily stopped and the recording medium is cut. After that, the image recording of the subsequent page is resumed.

The following control is performed by the CPU 601 executing a processing program stored in the ROM 602.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rotation process executed by the CPU 601.

  When there is an image recording instruction from the operator, in step S101, the CPU 601 determines whether the image recording is in the image quality priority mode. The operator can set on the host PC 700 or the operation panel 103 whether the image quality priority recording that emphasizes image quality (the method of FIG. 2) or the speed priority recording that emphasizes the throughput (the method of FIG. 3). .

  If the image quality priority mode is set in step S101, image recording and cutting are alternately performed for each page as shown in FIG. Therefore, in step S102, the CPU 601 first records an image for one page, and conveys the page so that the trailing edge of the page recorded in step S103 comes to the cutting position. In step S104, the CPU 601 drives the cutter unit 50 to cut the trailing edge of the recorded page. In step S105, the CPU 601 reversely conveys the conveying belt 21 so that the leading edge of the cut recording medium P returns to the upstream side of the recording head 10. To do. In step S106, it is determined whether there is a recorded image of the next page (whether recording of all pages has been completed). If there is a next page, the process returns to step S102.

  If the image quality priority mode is not set in step S101 (speed priority recording), as shown in FIG. 3, the process proceeds to step S107 in order to cut the previous page during the image recording of the next page. In this embodiment, in this case, first, in step S107, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the barcode area 402 is at a position where the recording is to be stopped in the middle of image recording. For this determination, for example, the presence or absence of a barcode is set in the attribute information of the image data sent from the host PC 700. Since the distance between the recording head 10 and the cutting position of the cutter unit 50 is information unique to the printer main body 101, the distance information is acquired in advance by the image editing application on the host PC 700, and is there a barcode at the cutting position of the image to be recorded? It is determined whether or not information is added at the time of image data transmission.

  If the CPU 601 obtains that presence / absence is set in the presence / absence information of the barcode, the CPU 601 proceeds to step S108 and rotates the image data by 180 degrees. If the presence / absence information of the barcode is not set, the process proceeds to step S109 without rotating.

  In the method of cutting the previous page in the middle of image recording of the next page, the trailing edge of the first page of the image recording is not cut. Therefore, in step 109, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the current recording page is the first page. judge. If the current recording page is the first page, the process proceeds to step S110 to record an image for one page. In step S114, it is determined whether there is a recorded image of the next page. If there is a next page, the process returns to step S107. Similarly for the second and subsequent pages, the rotation process is performed according to the presence / absence information of the barcode, and the process proceeds to step S111.

  In step S111, the CPU 601 records the first half of the image up to the temporary stop position. Thereafter, the conveyance and the image recording are stopped, and in step S112, the CPU 601 drives the cutter unit 50 to cut the rear end of the previous page that has been recorded. In step S113, conveyance and image recording are resumed, and the remaining second half image of the current page is recorded.

  Finally, if there is no next page in step S114, the process proceeds to step S115, the sheet is conveyed to the cutting position at the rear end of the last page, the recording medium is cut, and the process ends.

  According to the present embodiment, in the case of an image having a barcode at the stop position in steps S107 and S108, the image is rotated in advance by 180 degrees. (Decrease) can be suppressed.

  In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not there is a barcode area at the stop position. However, not only the barcode but also an image that requires high image quality, such as a face photograph, is stopped as shown in FIG. You may make it determine whether it exists in a position. In the example of FIG. 7, the face photograph and the barcode are set as images that require high image quality. In FIG. 7A, the high image quality area of the face photograph is at the recording stop position. The entire image is rotated 180 degrees as shown in b). As a result of the rotation, as shown in FIG. 7B, the high-quality area of the barcode does not become the recording stop position, and this rotation is effective. As a result of rotation, there is a possibility that another area where high image quality is required may come to the stop position. Therefore, determination is made including the result of rotation by 180 degrees, and as a result of rotation as shown in FIG. The image may be rotated only when the image that is requested does not come to the stop position. If an image that requires high image quality even when rotated is at the stop position, as described with reference to FIG. 2, image recording and cutting may be performed alternately for each page.

  In addition, if another area that requires high image quality comes to the stop position as a result of rotating the image by 180 degrees, the stop position may be advanced or delayed so as to avoid the area that requires high image quality by reducing the throughput. You may do it.

  In addition, when the recording medium is a square, the rotation angle is not limited to 180 degrees, and may be 90 degrees or 270 degrees. When the image to be recorded is a circle, other angles may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the entire image is rotated 180 degrees to change the predetermined image from the stop position like a barcode. However, the predetermined image may be moved to a place other than the stop position. If there is a blank area that can be generated, only the predetermined image may be moved to the blank area without rotating the entire image. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, since there is a blank area on the recording head 10 side (right side in the figure) of the barcode area 402, the barcode area 402 can be moved out of the stop position by moving to the right side in the figure. it can.

  In addition, when there is no blank area where the predetermined image can be moved at a place other than the stop position, the predetermined image is reduced so as to be out of the stop position, or other than the predetermined image is reduced. A margin area in which a predetermined image can be moved may be created.

  In addition, if a predetermined image comes to the stop position regardless of any change of rotation, movement, and reduction, image recording and cutting may be alternately performed for each page as described with reference to FIG. good.

  In this embodiment, the image rotation processing is performed by the CPU 601 (changing unit) of the printer main body 101. However, the CPU of the host PC 700 may perform it in the image editing application.

  Further, the CPU (determination unit) of the host PC 700 determines whether there is a predetermined image at the stop position, and the CPU 601 (acquisition unit) of the printer main body 101 that has acquired the determination result performs an image rotation process (change process). It is also possible to configure with an image recording system such as that performed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when it is not the image quality priority mode, it is determined whether or not there is a predetermined image at the stop position, but it is possible to set whether or not to allow image rotation processing (change processing), If the setting is acceptable, it may be determined whether there is a predetermined image at the stop position. In that case, when setting is not allowed to rotate the image (change process), even if there is a predetermined image at the stop position, it cannot be changed, so as described in FIG. To do.

  Further, when the recording head 10 has four colors, the distance between the cutting position of the cutter unit 50 and the position where ink is recorded is different for each color. Therefore, the determination as to whether or not there is a predetermined image at the stop position may be performed for each color.

In the present embodiment, the example in which a roll-shaped recording medium is cut by a cutter unit after image recording has been described. However, the factor for temporarily stopping image recording may not be cutting of the recording medium. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where image recording is temporarily stopped when an apparatus such as an RFID for wirelessly writing information to a card is attached.

100 Printer (image recording device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Printer main body 103 Operation panel 105 Feeding device 601 CPU (change means, acquisition means)
10 Recording head (recording means)
50 Cutter unit P Recording medium 700 Host computer (information processing device)

Claims (22)

Recording means for recording an image on a transported recording medium;
Changing means for changing the predetermined image so as to deviate from the recording position when an image at a recording position where recording by the recording means on the recording medium being conveyed is stopped in the middle is a predetermined image;
An image recording apparatus comprising: An acquisition means for acquiring a determination result as to whether or not the image at the recording position is the predetermined image;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the acquisition unit acquires that the image at the recording position is the predetermined image, the change unit performs the change. The change by the changing means includes at least one of a process of rotating the entire image to be recorded, a process of moving the position of the predetermined image in the direction of conveyance or the direction opposite to the conveyance, and a process of reducing the predetermined image. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one image recording apparatus is included. It further has a cutter unit for cutting a recording medium on which an image has been recorded,
The recording by the recording means to the recording medium being conveyed is stopped halfway when the recorded recording medium is cut by the cutter unit,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording position is set based on a distance between the cutter unit and the recording unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image includes an image to which information to be read by a reading apparatus is added. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image includes a face photograph image. An information processing apparatus for transmitting an image to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a transported recording medium by a recording unit,
Changing means for changing the predetermined image so as to deviate from the recording position when an image at a recording position where recording on the recording medium being conveyed by the image recording apparatus is stopped in the middle is a predetermined image;
An information processing apparatus comprising: A determination unit for determining whether or not the image at the recording position is the predetermined image;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the determination unit determines that the image at the recording position is the predetermined image, the change unit performs the change. The change by the changing means includes at least one of a process of rotating the entire image to be transmitted, a process of moving the position of the predetermined image in the direction of conveyance or the direction opposite to the conveyance, and a process of reducing the predetermined image. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, comprising one. The recording by the recording means to the recording medium being conveyed in the image recording apparatus is stopped halfway when the recorded recording medium is cut by a cutter unit provided in the image recording apparatus,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording position is set based on a distance between the cutter unit and the recording unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined image includes an image to which information to be read by a reading device is added. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined image includes a face photograph image. An image recording system including an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium to be conveyed by a recording unit, and an information processing apparatus that transmits an image to the image recording apparatus,
A change unit configured to change the predetermined image so as to deviate from the recording position when an image at a recording position where recording by the recording unit is stopped on the recording medium being conveyed is a predetermined image; An image recording system characterized by the above. The information processing apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines whether an image at the recording position is the predetermined image,
The image recording system according to claim 13, wherein when the determination unit determines that the image at the recording position is the predetermined image, the change unit performs the change. 15. The image recording system according to claim 13, wherein the changing unit is included in the information processing apparatus. 15. The image recording system according to claim 13, wherein the changing unit is included in the image recording apparatus. The image recording apparatus further includes an acquisition unit that acquires a determination result of whether or not the image at the recording position by the determination unit is the predetermined image;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when the acquisition unit acquires that the image at the recording position is the predetermined image, the change unit performs the change. The change by the changing means is at least one of a process of rotating the entire image, a process of moving the position of the predetermined image in the transport direction or in a direction opposite to the transport, and a process of reducing the predetermined image. The image recording system according to claim 13, further comprising: The image recording apparatus further includes a cutter unit for cutting an image-recorded recording medium,
The recording by the recording means to the recording medium being conveyed is stopped halfway when the recorded recording medium is cut by the cutter unit,
The image recording system according to claim 13, wherein the recording position is set based on a distance between the cutter unit and the recording unit. The image recording system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined image includes an image to which information to be read by a reading device is added. 21. The image recording system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined image includes a face photograph image. An image creation method for creating an image recorded on a transported recording medium,
When the image at the recording position where recording on the recording medium being conveyed is stopped in the middle is a predetermined image, the predetermined image is changed so as to be out of the recording position.
An image creation method characterized by that.

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