JP4433803B2 - Printing apparatus, printing control apparatus, printing method, investigation method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing control apparatus, a printing method, a survey method, and a program for printing an image by forming dots on a medium.

  Inkjet printers are known as printing apparatuses that print dots by forming dots on various media such as paper, cloth, and film. This ink jet printer ejects ink of each color such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) toward the medium, and forms dots on the medium by the ejected ink for printing. I do.

  In such a printing apparatus, when ink is applied to the contour portion of the printed image, the ink that has been ejected may protrude from the contour of the image and the contour may be blurred. . This occurred because the ink oozed into the medium when it adhered to the medium, and oozed out of the contour portion of the image. For this reason, particularly when a text image such as a character or symbol is printed, the outline of the character or symbol is not clear, which may cause problems such as difficulty in reading or poor appearance.

Therefore, in such a printing apparatus, in order to prevent ink bleeding from occurring in the contour portion of the image, the dots to be formed in the contour portion of the image to be printed are replaced with dots of a smaller size. In other words, a process called contour processing for reducing the number of dots to be formed in the contour portion is performed (see Patent Document 1, etc.).
JP 2003-191456 A

However, although there are various contour processing methods such as replacing dots to be formed in the contour portion of the image to be printed with smaller dots, or decimating dots to be formed in the contour portion, etc. , Did not know which contour processing method is appropriate. For this reason, when printing is performed, appropriate contour processing cannot be executed, and ink bleeding may occur in the contour portion, or the contour may be lightly blurred due to excessive contour processing. there were. In particular, there is a problem that an appropriate contour processing method cannot be executed because the method of bleeding on the medium differs depending on the type of ink, and the ink may or may not easily spread on the medium depending on the type and properties. there were.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to investigate appropriate contour processing.

A main invention for achieving the above object includes a printing unit that prints an image by forming dots by ejecting ink toward a medium, and an optical sensor that detects an image formed on the medium. In a printing apparatus that performs contour processing for performing processing on dots to be formed on a contour portion of the image when the image is printed, a predetermined survey pattern in which a plurality of small patterns are arranged, a predetermined survey pattern having a gap portion between the small pattern formed on the medium, the predetermined study pattern is detected by the optical sensor, the tooth receiving the amount of the optical sensor has acquired a predetermined The length of the section exceeding the threshold value is acquired as the length of the area not affected by the ink bleeding in the gap, and the dot to be formed in the contour section based on the length of the section versus That the processing method to determine, when printing an image including a text image as the image printing apparatus characterized by performing the determined the contour processing.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, an appropriate contour processing method can be easily investigated.

=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A printing unit that forms dots on a medium and prints an image; and a sensor that detects an image formed on the medium. When printing the image, the dot is to be formed on the outline of the image. In a printing apparatus that performs contour processing,
A predetermined survey pattern is formed on the medium, the predetermined survey pattern is detected by the sensor, and a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion is determined based on a detection result of the sensor. Characteristic printing device.
In such a printing apparatus, a predetermined survey pattern is formed on the medium, the predetermined survey pattern is detected by a sensor, and the contour processing method is determined based on the detection result. Various contour processing methods can be investigated.

  In such a printing apparatus, the size of a predetermined part in the predetermined survey pattern is detected by the sensor, and a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion is determined based on the detection result. good. By performing such detection, it is possible to easily determine a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion.

  Further, in such a printing apparatus, a processing method for a dot to be formed on the contour portion is detected based on the detection result by detecting the color density of a predetermined portion in the predetermined survey pattern by the sensor. You may decide. By performing such detection, it is possible to easily determine a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion.

  In such a printing apparatus, the sensor may be configured by an optical sensor. If such a sensor is used, the investigation pattern formed on the medium can be easily detected.

  Further, in such a printing apparatus, the printing unit can form two or more types of dots having different sizes as the dots, and as the contour processing, the dots to be formed in the contour portion are smaller in size. It is also possible to execute a size replacement process in which the dots are replaced with dots. By performing such processing, the contour of the image to be printed can be smoothed.

In such a printing apparatus, the printing unit prints an image by forming dots by ejecting ink toward a medium,
The size replacement processing as the contour processing may be executed so that the ink discharge amount to the contour portion according to the detection result of the sensor. By performing such processing, the contour of the image to be printed can be more smoothly and smoothly formed.

  In such a printing apparatus, as the contour processing, thinning processing for thinning out dots to be formed on the contour portion may be executed. By performing such processing, the contour of the image to be printed can be smoothed.

In such a printing apparatus, the printing unit prints an image by forming dots by ejecting ink toward a medium,
The thinning process as the contour process may be executed so that the ink discharge amount to the contour part according to the detection result of the sensor. By performing such processing, the contour of the image to be printed can be more smoothly and smoothly formed.

  In this printing apparatus, the printing unit may be provided in a head that can move relative to the medium, and the sensor may move together with the head. If such a sensor is used, the investigation pattern formed on the medium can be easily detected.

  In such a printing apparatus, the contour processing may be executed when a text image is printed as the image. When the text image is printed in this way, if contour processing is executed, the text such as characters and symbols can be printed in an easy-to-see manner.

A printing unit that forms dots on a medium and prints an image; and a sensor that detects an image formed on the medium. When printing the image, the dot is to be formed on the outline of the image. In a printing apparatus that performs contour processing,
A predetermined survey pattern is formed on a medium, a dimension of a predetermined portion in the predetermined survey pattern is detected by the sensor, and processing for dots to be formed on the contour portion based on the detection result of the sensor Decide how,
The sensor is constituted by an optical sensor,
The printing unit prints an image by forming dots by ejecting ink toward a medium,
The printing unit can form two or more different sizes of dots as the dots,
As the contour processing, a size replacement processing for replacing dots to be formed on the contour portion with dots of a smaller size and a thinning processing for thinning dots to be formed on the contour portion are executed,
The size replacement process or the thinning process as the contour process is performed so that the ink discharge amount to the contour part according to the detection result of the sensor is obtained,
The printing unit is provided in a head that can move relative to a medium, and the sensor moves together with the head,
A printing apparatus that executes the contour processing when printing a text image as the image.

A printing control apparatus that controls a printing apparatus including a printing unit that forms dots on a medium and prints an image, and a sensor that detects an image formed on the medium,
In a printing control apparatus that executes contour processing for performing processing on dots to be formed on a contour portion of the image when an image is printed on a medium by the printing device,
A processing method for forming a predetermined survey pattern on the medium by the printing unit, detecting the predetermined survey pattern by the sensor, and processing a dot to be formed on the contour portion based on a detection result of the sensor. A printing control apparatus characterized by determining.

In a printing method for executing contour processing for performing processing on dots to be formed on a contour portion of the image when printing an image by forming dots on a medium,
When printing an image on a medium, a predetermined survey pattern should be formed on the medium, the predetermined survey pattern should be detected by a sensor, and formed on the contour portion based on the detection result of the sensor A printing method characterized by determining a processing method for dots.

A printing unit that forms dots on a medium and prints an image; and a sensor that detects an image formed on the medium. When printing the image, the dot is to be formed on the outline of the image. In the printing apparatus for performing the contour processing, the method for investigating the processing method of the contour processing,
A predetermined survey pattern is formed on the medium, the predetermined survey pattern is detected by the sensor, and a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion is determined based on a detection result of the sensor. Survey method characterized.

A printing unit that forms dots on a medium and prints an image; and a sensor that detects an image formed on the medium. When printing the image, the dot is to be formed on the outline of the image. A program executed in a printing apparatus for performing contour processing,
Forming a predetermined survey pattern on the medium;
Detecting the predetermined investigation pattern formed on the medium by the sensor;
And a step of determining a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion based on a detection result of the sensor.

=== Overview of Printing Apparatus ===
As an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, an outline of a printing system including a printer main body 1 and a computer apparatus 1100 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an example of the printing system. The printing system 1000 includes a printer main body 1 and a computer device 1100. The computer device 1100 includes a display device 1200, an input device 1300, and a recording / reproducing device 1400. Here, the printer main body 1 is constituted by an ink jet printer, and performs printing by ejecting ink toward various media such as paper, cloth, and film.

  The computer apparatus 1100 and the printer main body 1 are connected to each other so as to be able to perform data communication by wired or wireless such as a cable. The computer apparatus 1100 generates print data of an image to be printed by the printer main body 1 and outputs the print data to the printer 1. The display device 1200 includes a display 1201 and displays a user interface such as an application program or a printer driver. The input device 1300 includes, for example, a keyboard 1300A and a mouse 1300B, and is used for application program operations, printer driver settings, and the like along a user interface displayed on the display device 1200. The recording / reproducing apparatus 1400 includes, for example, a flexible disk drive apparatus 1400A and a CD-ROM drive apparatus 1400B.

  A printer driver (not shown) is installed in the computer device 1100. This printer driver is a program for realizing a function of displaying a user interface on the display device 1200 and a function of converting image data output from an application program into print data. The printer driver is stored and distributed in various storage media (computer-readable recording media and the like) such as a flexible disk FD and a CD-ROM, or distributed through various communication means such as the Internet.

=== Printer driver ===
<About the printer driver>
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of basic processing performed by the printer driver. The components already described are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the computer 1100, computer programs such as a video driver 1102, an application program 1104, and a printer driver 1110 are operating under an operating system installed in the computer. The video driver 1102 has a function of displaying, for example, a user interface on the display device 1200 in accordance with a display command from the application program 1104 or the printer driver 1110. The application program 1104 has a function of performing image editing, for example, and creates data (image data) related to an image. The user can give an instruction to print an image edited by the application program 1104 via the user interface of the application program 1104. Upon receiving a print instruction, the application program 1104 outputs image data to the printer driver 1110.

  The printer driver 1110 receives image data from the application program 1104, converts the image data into print data, and outputs the print data to the printer 1. Here, the print data is data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 1, and is data having various command data and pixel data. The command data is data for instructing the printer 1 to execute a specific operation. The pixel data is data relating to pixels constituting an image to be printed (printed image). For example, data relating to dots (color and size of dots) formed at positions on the medium S corresponding to a certain pixel. Etc.).

  The printer driver 1110 includes a resolution conversion processing unit 1112, a color conversion processing unit 1114, a halftone processing unit 1116, and a rasterization processing unit 1118 in order to convert image data output from the application program 1104 into print data. I have. Hereinafter, various processes performed by the processing units 1112, 1114, 1116, and 1118 of the printer driver 1110 will be described.

  The resolution conversion processing unit 1112 performs resolution conversion processing for converting image data (text data, image data, etc.) output from the application program 1104 into a resolution for printing on the medium S. In the resolution conversion process, for example, when the resolution when printing an image on paper is specified as 720 × 720 dpi, the image data received from the application program 1104 is converted into image data having a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi. Note that the image data after the resolution conversion process is multi-gradation (for example, 256 gradations) RGB data represented by an RGB color space. Hereinafter, RGB data obtained by performing resolution conversion processing on image data is referred to as RGB image data.

  The color conversion processing unit 1114 performs color conversion processing for converting RGB data into CMYK data represented by a CMYK color space. The CMYK data is data corresponding to the ink color of the printer 1. This color conversion processing is performed by the printer driver 1110 referring to a table (color conversion lookup table LUT) in which the gradation values of RGB image data and the gradation values of CMYK image data are associated with each other. Through this color conversion process, RGB data for each pixel is converted into CMYK data corresponding to the ink color. The data after the color conversion processing is CMYK data with 256 gradations represented by the CMYK color space. Hereinafter, CMYK data obtained by performing color conversion processing on RGB image data is referred to as CMYK image data.

  The halftone processing unit 1116 performs a halftone process for converting high gradation number data into gradation number data that can be formed by the printer 1. The halftone processing is, for example, processing for converting data indicating 256 gradations into 1-bit data indicating 2 gradations or 2-bit data indicating 4 gradations. In this halftone process, pixel data is created using a dither method, γ correction, error diffusion method, or the like so that the printer 1 can form dots in a dispersed manner. When halftone processing is performed, the halftone processing unit 1116 refers to the dither table when performing the dither method, refers to the gamma table when performing γ correction, and is diffused when performing the error diffusion method. Reference is made to an error memory for storing errors. The data subjected to the halftone process has a resolution (for example, 720 × 720 dpi) equivalent to the RGB data described above. The halftoned data is composed of 1-bit or 2-bit data for each pixel, for example. Hereinafter, of the halftone processed data, 1-bit data is referred to as binary data, and 2-bit data is referred to as multi-value data.

  A rasterization processing unit 1118 performs processing for changing matrix image data in the order of data to be transferred to the printer 1. Thus, the rasterized data is output to the printer 1 as pixel data included in the print data.

<About printer driver settings>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the user interface of the printer driver 1110. The user interface of the printer driver 1110 is displayed on the display device via the video driver 1102. A user can make various settings of the printer driver 1110 using the input device 1300.

  The user can select a print mode from this screen. For example, the user can select the high-speed print mode or the fine print mode as the print mode. Then, the printer driver 1110 converts the image data into print data so as to have a format corresponding to the selected print mode.

  Further, the user can select the printing resolution (dot interval when printing) from this screen. For example, the user can select 720 dpi or 360 dpi as the print resolution from this screen. The printer driver 1110 performs resolution conversion processing according to the selected resolution, and converts the image data into print data.

  Further, the user can select a printing paper (medium) used for printing from this screen. For example, the user can select plain paper or glossy paper as the printing paper. If the paper type (paper type) is different, the ink bleeding and drying methods are also different, so the ink amount suitable for printing also differs. Therefore, the printer driver 1110 converts the image data into print data according to the selected paper type.

  As described above, the printer driver 1110 converts image data into print data in accordance with conditions set via the user interface. The user can make various settings of the printer driver 1110 from this screen, and can also know the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge.

=== Configuration of Printer Main Body 1 ===
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of the printer main body 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the printer main body 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the printer main body 1 of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, a basic configuration of the printer main body 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a head unit 40, a sensor 50, and a controller 60. The printer 1 that has received the print data from the computer 1100 as an external device controls each unit (the conveyance unit 20, the carriage unit 30, and the head unit 40) by the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the print data received from the computer 1100 and forms an image on the medium S. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by a sensor 50, and the sensor 50 outputs a detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 that has received the detection result from the sensor 50 controls the units 20, 30, and 40 based on the detection result.

  The transport unit 20 is for feeding a medium (for example, paper) S to a printable position and transporting the medium S by a predetermined transport amount in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a transport direction) during printing. That is, the transport unit 20 functions as a transport mechanism (transport means) that transports the medium S. As shown in FIG. 6, the transport unit 20 includes a paper feed roller 21, a transport motor 22 (also referred to as a PF motor), a transport roller 23, a platen 24, and a paper discharge roller 25. However, in order for the transport unit 20 to function as a transport mechanism, all of these components are not necessarily required. The paper feed roller 21 is a roller for automatically feeding the medium S inserted into the paper insertion slot into the printer 1. The paper feed roller 21 has a D-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the length of the circumferential portion is set to be longer than the transport distance to the transport roller 23, so the medium S is transported using this circumferential portion. It can be conveyed to the roller 23. The transport motor 22 is a motor for transporting the medium S in the transport direction, and is configured by a DC motor. The transport roller 23 is a roller that transports the medium S fed by the paper feed roller 21 to a printable area, and is driven by the transport motor 22. The platen 24 supports the medium S being printed. The paper discharge roller 25 is a roller for discharging the medium S on which printing has been completed to the outside of the printer 1. The paper discharge roller 25 rotates in synchronization with the transport roller 23.

  The carriage unit 30 is for moving (scanning) the head 41 in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a scanning direction). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the carriage unit 30 includes a carriage 31 and a carriage motor 32 (also referred to as a CR motor). The carriage 31 can reciprocate in the scanning direction. (Thus, the head moves along the scanning direction.) Further, the carriage 31 detachably holds an ink cartridge 90 that stores ink. The carriage motor 32 is a motor for moving the carriage 31 in the scanning direction, and is constituted by a DC motor.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto the medium S. The head unit 40 has a head 41. The head 41 has a plurality of nozzles as the color ink discharge portion of the present invention, and discharges ink intermittently from each nozzle. The head 41 is provided on the carriage 31. Therefore, when the carriage 31 moves in the scanning direction, the head 41 also moves in the scanning direction. Then, dot lines (raster lines) along the scanning direction are formed on the medium S by intermittently ejecting ink while the head 41 is moving in the scanning direction.

The sensor 50 includes a linear encoder 51 (see FIG. 5), a rotary encoder 52 (see FIG. 6), a paper detection sensor 53 (see FIG. 6), a paper width sensor 54 (see FIG. 6), and the like. The linear encoder 51 is for detecting the position of the carriage 31 in the scanning direction. The rotary encoder 52 is for detecting the rotation amount of the transport roller 23. The paper detection sensor 53 is for detecting the position of the leading edge of the medium S to be printed.
The paper detection sensor 53 is provided at a position where the leading edge of the medium S can be detected while the paper supply roller 21 is feeding the medium S toward the transport roller 23. The paper detection sensor 53 is a mechanical sensor that detects the leading edge of the medium S by a mechanical mechanism. More specifically, the paper detection sensor 53 has a lever that can rotate in the paper transport direction, and this lever is disposed so as to protrude into the transport path of the medium S. Therefore, the leading edge of the medium S comes into contact with the lever, and the lever is rotated. Therefore, the paper detection sensor 53 detects the position of the leading edge of the medium S by detecting the movement of the lever. The paper width sensor 54 is attached to the carriage 31. The paper width sensor 54 is an optical sensor, and detects the presence or absence of the medium S by the light receiving unit detecting the reflected light of the light irradiated to the medium S from the light emitting unit.
The paper width sensor 54 detects the position of the end of the medium S while moving by the carriage 41 and detects the width of the medium S. The paper width sensor 54 can also detect the leading edge of the medium S depending on the situation. Since the paper width sensor 54 is an optical sensor, the position detection accuracy is higher than that of the paper detection sensor 53.

  The controller 60 is a control unit (control means) for controlling the printer 1. The controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 is for transmitting and receiving data between the computer 1100 as an external device and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer 1. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing the program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and has storage means such as a RAM and an EEPROM. The CPU 62 controls each unit via the unit control circuit 64 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63.

=== Head 41 ===
<About the configuration of the head>
FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface of the head 41. As shown in the drawing, a plurality of color ink nozzle groups 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411K are provided on the lower surface of the head 41. In the present embodiment, yellow ink nozzle group 411Y, magenta ink nozzle group 411M, and cyan ink nozzle for each color ink, that is, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. A group 411C and a black ink nozzle group 411K are provided. Each of the nozzle groups 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411K includes a plurality of nozzles # 1 to # 180 (180 in this embodiment) that are ejection openings for ejecting ink of each color.

  The plurality of nozzles # 1 to # 180 of each of the nozzle groups 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411K are aligned at regular intervals (nozzle pitch: k · D) along the transport direction. Here, D is the minimum dot pitch in the carrying direction (that is, the interval at the highest resolution of dots formed on the paper S). K is an integer of 1 or more. For example, when the nozzle pitch is 180 dpi (1/180 inch) and the dot pitch in the transport direction is 720 dpi (1/720), k = 4.

  The nozzles # 1 to # 180 of the nozzle groups 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411K are assigned lower numbers as the nozzles on the downstream side (# 1 to # 180). That is, the nozzle # 1 is located downstream of the nozzle # 180 in the transport direction. Further, the paper width sensor 54 is located at substantially the same position as the nozzle # 180 on the most upstream side with respect to the position in the paper transport direction. Each of the nozzles # 1 to # 180 is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for driving the nozzles # 1 to # 180 to discharge ink.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, a reflection type optical sensor 300 is provided as a sensor of the present invention below the head 41, that is, here on the nozzle # 180 side. The reflective optical sensor 300 will be described in detail later.

<About driving the head>
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the drive circuit of the head unit 40. This drive circuit is provided in the above-described unit control circuit 64, and includes an original drive signal generation unit 64A and a drive signal shaping unit 64B, as shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, such drive circuits for the nozzles # 1 to # 180 are provided for each color ink and clear ink nozzle group, that is, the yellow ink nozzle group 411Y, the magenta ink nozzle group 411M, the cyan ink nozzle group 411C, It is provided for each black ink nozzle group 411K, and the piezo elements are individually driven for each nozzle group 411Y, 411M, 411C, 411K. In the figure, the numbers in parentheses at the end of each signal name indicate the number of the nozzle to which the signal is supplied.
When a voltage having a predetermined time width is applied between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands according to the voltage application time and deforms the side wall of the ink flow path. As a result, the volume of the ink flow path contracts in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the piezo element, and the ink amount corresponding to the contraction is discharged from the nozzles # 1 to # 180 of each color as ink.

The original drive signal generator 64A generates an original signal ODRV that is used in common by the nozzles # 1 to # 180. This original signal ODRV is a signal including a plurality of pulses within the main scanning period for one pixel (within the time during which the carriage 31 crosses the interval of one pixel).
The drive signal shaping unit 64B receives the original signal ODRV from the original signal generation unit 64A and the print signal PRT (i). The drive signal shaping unit 64B shapes the original signal ODRV according to the level of the print signal PRT (i), and outputs it as the drive signal DRV (i) toward the piezoelectric elements of the nozzles # 1 to # 180. The piezoelectric elements of the nozzles # 1 to # 180 are driven based on the drive signal DRV from the drive signal shaping unit 64B.

<About the head drive signal>
FIG. 9 is a timing chart for explaining each signal. In other words, the timing chart of each signal of the original signal ODRV, the print signal PRT (i), and the drive signal DRV (i) is shown in FIG.

  The original signal ODRV is a signal that is commonly supplied from the original signal generator 64A to the nozzles # 1 to # 180. In the present embodiment, the original signal ODRV includes two pulses of a first pulse W1 and a second pulse W2 within a main scanning period for one pixel (within a time during which the carriage crosses the interval of one pixel). The original signal ODRV is output from the original signal generator 64A to the drive signal shaping unit 64B.

  The print signal PRT is a signal corresponding to pixel data assigned to one pixel. That is, the print signal PRT is a signal corresponding to the pixel data included in the print data. In the present embodiment, the print signal PRT (i) is a signal having 2-bit information for one pixel. Note that the drive signal shaping unit 64B shapes the original signal ODRV according to the signal level of the print signal PRT and outputs the drive signal DRV.

  The drive signal DRV is a signal obtained by blocking the original signal ODRV according to the level of the print signal PRT. That is, that is, when the print signal PRT is 1 level, the drive signal shaping unit 64B passes the corresponding pulse of the original signal ODRV as it is to obtain the drive signal DRV. On the other hand, when the print signal PRT is 0 level, the drive signal shaping unit 64B blocks the pulse of the original signal ODRV. The drive signal shaping unit 64B outputs the drive signal DRV to the piezo element provided for each nozzle. The piezo element is driven according to the drive signal DRV.

  When the print signal PRT (i) corresponds to the 2-bit data “01”, only the first pulse W1 is output in the first half of one pixel section. As a result, small ink droplets (hereinafter also referred to as small ink droplets) are ejected from the nozzles, and small dots (small dots) are formed on the paper. When the print signal PRT (i) corresponds to the 2-bit data “10”, only the second pulse W2 is output in the latter half of one pixel section. As a result, medium-sized ink droplets (hereinafter also referred to as medium ink droplets) are ejected from the nozzles, and medium-sized dots (medium dots) are formed on the paper. When the print signal PRT (i) corresponds to the 2-bit data “11”, the first pulse W1 and the second pulse W2 are output in one pixel section. Thereby, a large ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle, and a large dot (large dot) is formed on the paper. When the print signal PRT (i) corresponds to the 2-bit data “00”, neither the first pulse W1 nor the second pulse W2 is output in one pixel section. As a result, no ink droplets of any size are ejected from the nozzles, and no dots are formed on the paper.

  As described above, the drive signal DRV (i) in one pixel section is shaped to have four different waveforms according to four different values of the print signal PRT (i).

=== Configuration Example of Reflective Optical Sensor ===
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a reflective optical sensor 300 as a sensor of the present invention. The reflection type optical sensor 300 is provided on the carriage 41 and moves relative to the medium S together with the carriage 41 as shown in FIG.

The light emitting unit 300A of the reflective optical sensor 300 is set so that light is irradiated to the medium S at a predetermined angle. On the other hand, the light receiving unit 300B detects light (including regular reflection light and diffuse reflection light) reflected on the surface of the medium S. As a result, the reflective optical sensor 300 measures the reflection amount of the light received by the light receiving unit 300B and detects the glossiness of the medium S, the color density, and the like. The detection result of the reflective optical sensor 300 is output to the system controller 126.
In the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 300A and the light receiving unit 300B are arranged adjacent to each other, but may be arranged separately with a space therebetween.

=== Print processing ===
<Printer driver processing>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the printing method of the present embodiment. Various operations described below are performed by the printer driver 1110. That is, the printer driver 1110 which is a program has codes for executing various functions described below.

  First, the printer driver 1110 receives a print command from the application program (S102). This print command is issued when the user commands printing on the application program. This print command includes, for example, image data edited on an application program. The printer driver 1110 converts the image data included in the print command into print data as follows, and outputs the print data to the printer body 1.

  Next, the printer driver 1110 converts the image data into RGB image data having a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi (S104: resolution conversion processing). As will be described later, in this embodiment, the printer performs printing at a resolution of 720 dpi × 720 dpi. Note that the RGB image data after resolution conversion processing in this embodiment is 256-gradation RGB data.

  Next, the printer driver 1110 converts RGB image data into CMYK image data (S106: color conversion process). In the present embodiment, since the RGB image data has a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi, the CMYK image data after color conversion processing also has a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi. Note that the CMYK image data after color conversion processing in this embodiment is CMYK data of 256 gradations.

  Next, the printer driver 1110 converts the CMYK image data of 256 gradations into multivalued data with a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi in the halftone processing unit 1116 (S108: halftone processing). In the present embodiment, this halftone process generates 2 bit data in which 2 bits of data are assigned to each pixel. That is, here, each pixel is composed of data of “00” (no dot is formed), “01” (small dot), “10” (medium dot), or “11” (large dot). Data is generated.

  The generated 2-bit data (multi-value data) is then sent to the rasterization processing unit 1118 and rasterized (step S110). The rasterization processing unit 1118 performs processing (rasterization processing) for changing the generated multi-value data in the order of data to be transferred to the printer body 1. Then, the rasterization processing unit 1118 outputs the created print data to the printer 1 (S112).

<Operation of Printer Main Body 1>
The printer main body 1 executes print processing when print data is sent from the computer apparatus 1100. FIG. 12 is a processing flow of the printer main body 1 at this time. Each process described below is executed by the controller 60 controlling each unit in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63. This program has a code for executing each process.

  Print Command Reception (S202): The controller 60 receives a print command from the computer apparatus 1100 via the interface unit 61. This print command is included in the header of print data transmitted from the computer 1100. Then, the controller 60 analyzes the contents of various commands included in the received print data, and performs the following paper feed processing, transport processing, ink ejection processing, and the like using each unit.

  Paper feed process (S204): First, the controller 60 performs a paper feed process. The paper feed process is a process of supplying paper to be printed into the printer 1 and positioning the paper at a print start position (also referred to as a cue position). The controller 60 rotates the paper feed roller 21 and sends the paper to be printed to the transport roller 23. The controller 60 rotates the transport roller 23 to position the paper fed from the paper feed roller 21 at the print start position. When the paper is positioned at the print start position, at least some of the nozzles of the head 41 are opposed to the paper.

  Dot Formation Processing (S206): Next, the controller 60 performs dot formation processing. The dot formation process is a process for forming dots on paper by intermittently ejecting ink from a head that moves in the scanning direction. The controller 60 drives the carriage motor 32 to move the carriage 31 in the scanning direction. Then, the controller 60 ejects ink from the head based on the print data while the carriage 31 is moving. When ink droplets ejected from the head land on the paper, dots are formed on the paper.

  Transport Process (S208): Next, the controller 60 performs a transport process. The conveyance process is a process of moving the paper relative to the head along the conveyance direction. The controller 60 drives the carry motor and rotates the carry roller to carry the paper in the carrying direction. By this carrying process, the head 41 can form dots at positions different from the positions of the dots formed by the previous dot formation process.

  Paper discharge determination (S210): Next, the controller 60 determines whether or not to discharge the paper being printed. If there is still data to be printed on the paper being printed, no paper is discharged. Then, the controller 60 alternately repeats the dot formation process and the conveyance process until there is no data to be printed, and gradually prints an image composed of dots on paper. When there is no more data for printing on the paper being printed, the controller 60 discharges the paper. The controller 60 discharges the printed paper to the outside by rotating the paper discharge roller. The determination of whether or not to discharge paper may be based on a paper discharge command included in the print data.

  Print end determination (S212): Next, the controller 60 determines whether or not to continue printing. If printing is to be performed on the next paper, printing is continued and the paper feeding process for the next paper is started. If printing is not performed on the next paper, the printing operation is terminated.

=== Outline processing ===
In the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, contour processing can be performed on a contour portion of an image to be printed. This contour processing is to prevent ink squeezed out into the contour portion of the image to be printed out or to smooth out the contour portion of the image to be printed. This is a process for reducing the amount of driving. In the present embodiment, the contour process is executed only when the image to be printed is a text image.

  In this embodiment, the contour process is performed by the printer driver 1110. The printer driver 1110 is based on the data of the number of gradations that can be formed by the printer main body 1 obtained by conversion from the CMYK image data, here, multi-valued data with a resolution of 720 dpi × 720 dpi. Perform contour processing. Hereinafter, a specific method of the contour processing will be described in detail.

<Multi-valued data>
13 and 14 are diagrams for explaining an example of a text image on which contour processing is performed. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of an ejection region of ink (in this embodiment, black (K) ink), and FIG. 14 illustrates multi-value data (ink value) for ejecting ink to the ejection region. In the present embodiment, an example of black (K) multi-value data) is shown. Here, a case where the ink ejection area is set to a rectangular graphic area Ag as shown in FIG. 13 will be described as an example. It is assumed that no ink is ejected to the background area Ab around the rectangular graphic area Ag.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the multi-value data for ejecting ink is multi-value data to which 2-bit data is assigned. The squares in the figure are virtually defined squares and indicate pixels that are the minimum structural unit when an image is constructed. In the figure, for simplification of description, the description will be made using an image composed of 13 pixels × 13 pixels.

  Each pixel is assigned 2-bit data of “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11”. Data (pixel data) corresponding to each pixel is information indicating the color (gradation) of the pixel. No dot is formed at a position on the paper corresponding to a pixel whose pixel data is “00”. A small dot (small size dot) is formed at a position on the paper corresponding to a pixel whose pixel data is “01”. A medium dot (medium size dot) is formed at a position on the paper corresponding to a pixel having pixel data “10”. Also, large dots (large size dots) are formed at positions on the paper corresponding to the pixels whose pixel data is “11”.

Here, as shown in FIG. 13, pixel data “11” is assigned to the pixels in the rectangular area Ag, and “00” is assigned to the pixels in the surrounding background area Ab. It should be noted that “11” is basically assigned as pixel data to the pixels constituting the image that fills the predetermined area as in the present embodiment.
Here, the pixel data of the pixel located at (X, Y) is represented as F (X, Y). For example, if the position of the upper left pixel in the figure is (X, Y) = (0, 0), the pixel data of this pixel is F (0, 0) = 00. According to this rule, F (2,2) = 11.

<Outline processing>
A contour process performed on such multi-value data will be described. FIG. 15 shows the state of dots when ink is ejected based on the multivalued data shown in FIG. 14 without performing contour processing. FIGS. 16 and 17 show the multi-value data and the state of dots when the contour processing is performed.

(1) Method for reducing the size of the dots to be formed FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a method for reducing the size of the dots to be formed. FIG. 16A shows an example of multi-valued data when processing for replacing the dot corresponding to the contour portion with a dot of a smaller size is performed, and FIG. 16B shows the state of dots formed based on this multi-valued data. Is shown.

  In FIG. 16A, “11” in the pixels (cells) indicates that “large dots” are formed. Also, “10” in the pixel (cell) means that “medium dot” is formed. Note that in the present embodiment, the blank area in the pixel means that “00” 2-bit data, that is, data indicating that ink is not ejected is stored. Although not shown here, when “01” is indicated in a pixel (cell), it means that a “small dot” is formed. The same applies to the following description.

  As shown in FIG. 16B, here, the pixel corresponding to the outline portion of the rectangular area Ag from which ink is ejected is “11”, that is, from the data for forming a “large dot”. 10 ”, data for forming a smaller-sized dot, that is, data instructing formation of“ medium dot ”in this case. The replacement of the pixel data is performed on the entire pixel in contact with the non-ejection area Ab where ink is not ejected along the outline of the rectangular area Ag.

  Thus, the pixels corresponding to the contour portion of the region ejected by ink are replaced with small dots, so that the contour portion is compared with the case where the dots in the contour portion are not replaced with small dots as shown in FIG. The discharge amount per unit area of ink can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress bleeding of the ink in the contour portion of the area where the ink is ejected.

(2) Method of reducing the number of dots to be formed FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a method of reducing the number of dots formed on the contour portion. FIG. 17A shows an example of multi-value data when the number of dots corresponding to the contour portion is reduced, and FIG. 17B shows a state of dots formed based on this multi-value data.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, here, every other pixel corresponding to the outline of the rectangular area Ag from which ink is ejected, data indicating that ink is not ejected, that is, “00” (this embodiment) In the form “blank”). The replacement of the pixel data is performed on the entire pixel in contact with the non-ejection area Ab where ink is not ejected along the outline of the rectangular area Ag.

  Thus, every other pixel corresponding to the contour portion of the region ejected by ink is replaced with data indicating that ink is not ejected, that is, “00” (blank), so that the contour portion is filled with ink. The number of dots formed can be reduced. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the amount of ink discharged per unit area of the contour portion can be reduced as compared with the case where the dots of the contour portion are not reduced, and thereby the contour of the region Ag where ink is ejected. It is possible to suppress bleeding of ink in the portion.

  In the present embodiment, every other pixel corresponding to the contour portion of the region ejected by ink is replaced with data indicating that ink is not ejected. However, in the present invention, this is the case. For example, the ratio may be replaced at an arbitrary ratio such as one in three places or one in four places. In addition, as described above, it is not always necessary to replace at a constant rate.

=== Other contour processing method (application example) ===
<Part 1>
18A and 18B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 18A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 18B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

Here, as shown in FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, the dots (area ED1 in the figure) formed in the outermost contour of the image are replaced with small dots (“01”), and the outermost contour is formed. The dots formed inside (region ED2 in the figure) are replaced with medium dots ("10"). In this way, by forming the outermost contour of the image and the dots to be formed inside thereof with small dots and medium dots, respectively, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink that is driven into the contour portion of the image. Furthermore, the dots formed in the outermost outline of the image are replaced with dots of a smaller size (here, small dots), so that the contour of the image to be printed can be formed smoothly.
For example, when the ink placement amount is 4.5 [ng] for small dots, 7.5 [ng] for medium dots, and 14.5 [ng] for large dots, the outermost contour The average ink deposition amount per pixel in (area ED1, small dot formation) is 4.5 [ng], and the average ink ejection amount per pixel in the inside (area ED2, medium dot formation) is 7.5 [ng]. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink driven into the contour portion of the image.

<Part 2>
19A and 19B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 19A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 19B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the dots (area ED1 in the figure) formed in the outermost outline of the image to be printed are replaced with small dots (“01”), and Similarly, the dots (in the drawing, the region ED2) formed inside the outermost contour are formed by being replaced with small dots ("01"). That is, the outermost outline of the image to be printed and the dots formed inside thereof are both small dots (“01”).
Thus, both the dots formed in the outermost outline of the image (area ED1 in the figure) and the dots formed in the outermost outline (area ED2 in the figure) are both small-sized dots (small dots). ; “01”), the amount of ink driven into the contour of the image can be further reduced.
For example, when the ink ejection amount is 4.5 [ng] for small dots, 7.5 [ng] for medium dots, and 14.5 [ng] for large dots, the outermost area (area ED1, small dots) The average ink deposition amount per pixel in (formation) is 4.5 [ng], and the average ink deposition amount per pixel in the inside (region ED2, small dot formation) is 4.5 [ng], which is a significant reduction. You can see that

<Part 3>
20A and 20B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 20A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 20B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the outermost contour of the image to be printed and the dots formed inside thereof are both formed by small dots (“01”), and along the inner side of the outermost contour. The dots (in the figure, the region ED3 in the figure) formed further inside are formed by thinning along the inside. As a result, the amount of ink that is driven into the contour portion of the image can be further reduced.
Here, the dots to be formed inside the contour portion are formed by thinning out every other row along the inside. As for the thinned out pixels, as shown in FIG. 20B, the data “11” corresponding to the large dot is replaced with data “00” representing the blank.
Note that the average ink placement amount per pixel in the image outline is 4.5 [ng] for small dots, 7.5 [ng] for medium dots, and 14.5 [ng] for large dots. The area ED1 is 4.5 [ng], the area ED2 is 4.5 [ng], and the area ED3 is 7.25 [ng], so that the amount of ink driven into the contour portion of the image can be further reduced.

<Part 4>
21A and 21B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 21A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 21B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the outermost outline of the image to be printed and the dots formed inside thereof are both formed by small dots (“01”), and along the inner side of the outermost outline. The dots (in the figure, the region ED3 in the figure) formed further inside are formed by thinning along the inside. However, here, among the dots formed by thinning out (dots in the region ED3 in the drawing), the dots to be formed side by side along the moving direction of the carriage 31 (here, the horizontal direction in the drawing). All omitted. The reason for omitting dots in this way will be described in detail below.

  22A shows ideal dots, and FIGS. 22B and 22C show dots that are actually formed. As ideally formed dots, as shown in FIG. 22A, it is preferable that the dots P0 be formed in a circular shape close to a perfect circle. In practice, however, as described above with reference to FIG. 9, a large size dot (large dot) is divided into a medium size dot (medium dot) and a small size dot (small dot). It is formed by forming continuously for a very short time. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 22B, the medium-sized dot (medium dot) P1 and the small-sized dot (small dot) P2 are connected along the moving direction of the carriage 31, that is, the horizontal direction here. As a result, dots having different shapes are formed. Further, when the formed small size dot and the medium size dot (medium dot) overlap, the overlapped portion is blurred, so in practice, as shown in FIG. Dots P3 are formed in an elliptical shape.

  FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B show a state where such oval or elliptical dots P3 are arranged in a line to form a line. FIG. 23A shows the state of the dots P3 when the oval or elliptical dots P3 are arranged in a line along the vertical direction to form a vertical line. FIG. 23B shows the state of the dots P3 when the oval or elliptical dots P3 are arranged in a line along the horizontal direction to form a horizontal line.

  When vertical lines are formed, the formed oval or elliptical dots P3 are formed in close contact with each other along the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 23A, and between adjacent dots P3. In this case, there are portions M1 that overlap each other. In the portion M1 where the dots P3 overlap, the ink oozes out in the direction indicated by the arrow Q1 in the drawing, that is, the moving direction (lateral direction) of the carriage 31. However, since the area of the portion M1 where the dots P3 arranged along the vertical direction overlap is not so large, the amount of bleeding is small.

  On the other hand, when a horizontal line is formed, as shown in FIG. 23B, the formed oval or elliptical dots P3 are formed in close contact with each other along the horizontal direction, and the adjacent dots P3 are formed. A portion M2 that overlaps with each other is generated between them. Here, since the area of the overlapping portion M2 of the dots P3 arranged in the horizontal direction is very large, the amount of ink bleeding is also large. For this reason, a larger amount of ink oozes out in the direction indicated by the arrow Q2 in the drawing, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 31 (conveying direction, vertical direction) as compared with the case of vertical lines. . Therefore, the amount of ink oozing is greater when the dots P3 are formed side by side along the horizontal direction than when the dots P3 are formed side by side along the vertical direction. That is, for the dots P3 formed side by side along the horizontal direction (movement direction of the carriage 31), the dots P3 formed side by side along a direction other than the horizontal direction, for example, the vertical direction (conveyance direction). It is preferable to increase the thinning-out amount. Therefore, in the present embodiment, all the dots P3 formed side by side along the movement direction of the carriage 31 are omitted in order to suppress the bleeding of the ink by arranging the dots P3 in such a horizontal direction. . That is, in the present embodiment, all dots that should be formed side by side along the inner side of the outermost outline along the horizontal line portion at the top of the image of the letter “T” are excluded from the formation target. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the average ink placement amount per pixel in the contour portion of the image is 4.5 [ng] for small dots, 7.5 [ng] for medium dots, and 14.5 [ng] for large dots. ], The region ED1 is 4.5 [ng], the region ED2 is 4.5 [ng], the horizontal direction of the region ED3 is 0 [ng], and the vertical direction of the region ED2 is 7.25 [ng]. .

  Further, here, among the dots to be formed by thinning along the inner side of the outermost outline (the portion of the region ED3 in the figure), the dots formed side by side along the moving direction of the carriage 31 are: Although all of them are omitted, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and the dots to be formed side by side along the movement direction of the carriage 31 are along other directions other than the movement direction. It is sufficient that the amount of thinning is smaller than the dots to be formed side by side, and further, the amount of thinning may be different.

<5>
24A and 24B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 24A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 24B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the dots formed in the outermost outline of the image to be printed (the portion of the region ED1 in the figure) are replaced with small dots (“01”), and are formed. Further, dots formed inside the outermost outline (the portion of the region ED2 in the drawing) are formed by being thinned out along the inner side of the outermost outline.
In this way, the dots formed in the outermost contour (the portion of the region ED1 in the drawing) are replaced with small dots (“01”), and the dots formed inside the outermost contour (in the drawing, the region ED2 in the drawing) Even if the portion is formed by being thinned out along the inner side of the outermost contour, the amount of ink applied to the contour portion of the image can be reduced. Thereby, the bleeding of the ink can be suppressed, and the contour of the image to be printed can be smoothly formed.

<Part 6>
25A and 25B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 25A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 25B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

Here, as shown in FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B, dots formed in the outermost outline of the image to be printed (area ED1 in the drawing) are replaced with small dots (“01”), and the dots are formed at the top. Dots formed along the inside of the outer shell (the portion of the region ED2 in the figure) are formed by thinning out along the inner side of the outermost shell. Further, the dots formed by the thinning (region ED2) are formed by replacing them with medium dots ("10").
By forming dots in this way, it is possible to further reduce the amount of ink applied at the contour portion of the image. Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the bleeding of the ink, and to smoothly form the contour of the image to be printed.

<Part 7>
26A and 26B are diagrams for explaining another example of the contour processing method of the present invention. FIG. 26A shows the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image, and FIG. 26B shows the state of the image data of the contour portion.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B, dots formed in the outermost outline of the image to be printed (parts of the region ED1 in the figure) are replaced with small dots (“01”), and the outermost dots are formed. Dots formed along the inside of the outer shell (the portion of the region ED2 in the figure) are formed by thinning out along the inner side of the outermost shell. Further, dots formed along the inner side of the dots (region ED2 portion) formed by thinning out the dots (region ED3 portion in the drawing) are also formed by thinning out along the inner side. In other words, here, the dots formed along the innermost side of the outermost outline are thinned out for two rows (areas ED2 and ED3). For the pixel corresponding to the thinned portion, as shown in FIG. 26B, the 2-bit data “11” representing formation of a large-sized dot is replaced with 2-bit data “00” representing blank.
By forming dots in this way, it is possible to further reduce the amount of ink applied at the contour portion of the image. Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the bleeding of the ink, and to smoothly form the contour of the image to be printed.

<Supplementary explanation>
In the contour processing method described in <Part 5>, <Part 6>, and <Part 7>, as described in <Part 4>, the image is thinned along the innermost outermost part of the image to be printed. Of the dots to be formed, all the dots to be formed side by side along the moving direction of the carriage 31 may be omitted. In this case, the dots to be formed side by side along the movement direction of the carriage 31 may have a smaller thinning amount than the dots to be formed side by side along a direction other than the movement direction. Furthermore, the amount of thinning is different between the dots to be formed side by side along the movement direction of the carriage 31 and the dots to be formed along the direction other than the movement direction. Also good.

  Further, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is not always necessary to be able to execute all the above-described contour processing methods, and one or more types of contour processing selected from the above-described contour processing methods. It is only necessary that the method is executable, and other contour processing methods other than these may be executable.

  Further, the contour processing according to the present invention is not limited to the processing for reducing the ink ejection amount in the contour portion of the image to be printed as described above, but any processing to be performed on the contour portion of the image to be printed. Any process may be used as long as it is.

=== Investigation Method for Outline Processing ===
In the printing system 1000 (printing apparatus) of the present embodiment, it is possible to investigate the processing status of contour processing. In this investigation, ink is actually ejected from the head 41 to form a predetermined investigation pattern on the medium, and a contour processing method is determined based on the formed investigation pattern. An appropriate contour processing method is found from a plurality of types of contour processing methods that can be executed by the printing system 1000 and executed.

<Investigation procedure>
FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the procedure of the investigation performed here.
The person who executes the survey first issues a survey execution command to the printing system 1000 (S302). Here, since the survey of the outline process is performed by the printer driver 1110 of the computer apparatus 1100 that controls the printer main body 1, the survey execution command is performed with respect to the printer driver 1110.
Upon receiving the investigation execution command, the printer driver 1110 feeds the medium and ejects ink from the head 41 toward the fed medium to form a predetermined investigation pattern (S304). Here, a predetermined pattern that has not been subjected to the contour process is formed as a survey pattern. This investigation pattern will be described in detail later.

Then, the printer driver 1110 detects the formed investigation pattern by the reflective optical sensor 300 after the formation of the investigation pattern. As described with reference to FIG. 10, the reflective optical sensor 300 is a sensor mounted on the carriage 41 of the printer main body 1. The printer main body 1 moves the carriage 41 relative to the medium and detects the investigation pattern formed on the medium by the reflective sensor 300 (S306). The detection result of the reflective sensor 300 is sent to the computer apparatus 1100 through the printer body 1.
The printer driver 1110 acquires the detection result of the reflective sensor 300 sent from the printer main body 1 in the computer device 1100 (S308), and executes arithmetic processing based on the detection result (S310). A specific method of the arithmetic processing performed here will be described in detail later. Then, the printer driver 1110 determines an appropriate contour processing method to be executed based on the processing result of the arithmetic processing (S312).
After determining an appropriate contour processing method, the printer driver 1110 stores information on the determined contour processing method in an appropriate storage unit such as a memory. The printer driver 1110 then performs contour processing on the image to be printed by the determined contour processing method from the next printing.

<Survey pattern>
FIG. 28 shows an example of the investigation pattern formed in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the survey pattern 100 is composed of nine small patterns 102, and the entire pattern is formed in a rectangular shape. Each small pattern 102 is formed in a rectangular shape, and a predetermined gap 104 is formed between the small patterns 102. The gap 104 is a non-ink ejection area where ink is not ejected. As shown in the figure, the non-ink ejection region 104 is formed in a grid pattern on the investigation pattern 100 as vertical lines and horizontal lines.

  When such a survey pattern 100 is detected by the reflective optical sensor 300, in this embodiment, the reflective optical sensor 300 is moved along the direction of arrow A by the movement of the carriage 31 as shown in FIG. The survey pattern 100 is detected across the survey pattern 100 on the medium. As described in FIG. 10, the reflective optical sensor 300 emits light from the light emitting unit 300A toward the medium, reflects the light on the medium, and receives the reflected light at the light receiving unit 300B. It has become. The reflective optical sensor 300 transmits information related to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 300B to the controller 60 of the printer main body 1, and the information is output from the controller 60 to the computer apparatus 1100. The printer driver of the computer apparatus 1100 1110 is transmitted.

<Pattern detection method (part 1)>
A method for detecting the investigation pattern 100 by the printer driver 1110 will be described. FIG. 29 illustrates an example of the detection method.

  When the carriage 31 moves relative to the medium and the reflective optical sensor 300 passes above the investigation pattern, the reflective optical sensor 300 is moved from above the small pattern 102 shown in the upper side of FIG. When reaching the non-ink ejection region 104, the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 increases greatly as shown on the lower side of the figure. This is because the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 300B of the reflective optical sensor 300 is increased, and the detection target area of the reflective optical sensor 300 is attached to the ink from the area where the ink is attached (part of the small pattern 102). The amount of light detected by the light receiving unit 300B is increased by switching to a non-ink area (non-ink ejection area 104), that is, a normal "white" area.

  When the carriage 31 further moves and the reflective optical sensor 300 moves again from the non-ink ejection area 104 to above the small pattern 102, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 300B decreases, and the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 becomes Then, it becomes smaller again, and becomes almost the same value as before reaching the non-ink ejection area 104.

  On the other hand, when ink bleeding has occurred in the contour portion of the adjustment pattern 100 (here, the contour portion of each small pattern 102), it has occurred in the contour portion of the small pattern 102 as shown in the upper side of FIG. Bleeding penetrates into the non-ink ejection regions 104 between the small patterns 102, and the region T close to the small pattern 102 in the non-ink ejection regions 104 is colored by the ink that has oozed out. The output of the reflective optical sensor 300 at this time is as shown on the lower side of FIG. That is, when the reflective optical sensor 300 moves from above the small pattern 102 to the non-ink ejection region 104 by the movement of the carriage 31, the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 is output from above the small pattern 102. The value gradually increases as it moves to. When the reflective optical sensor 300 reaches a region that is not affected by ink bleeding even in the non-ink ejection region 104, that is, the “white” region Q in the center of the drawing, the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 Becomes a peak.

  When the carriage 31 moves and the reflective optical sensor 300 approaches the small pattern 102 again, the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 gradually decreases and reaches the upper side of the small pattern 102. The value is almost the same as the value before reaching the non-ink ejection area 104.

  The printer driver 1110 sequentially compares the output value acquired from the reflective optical sensor 300 with a predetermined threshold value Ko, and measures the length of the section Q in which the output value exceeds the predetermined threshold value Ko. To do. That is, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, when the carriage 31 moves, the timing when the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 exceeds the predetermined threshold value Ko and the predetermined value again. The length of the section Q is obtained from the timing when it falls below the threshold value Ko. This section Q corresponds to a predetermined part of the present invention.

  Regarding the length of the section Q, the printer driver 1110 determines that the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 from the printer main body 1 exceeds the predetermined threshold value Ko and the reflective optical sensor 300 (carriage when the output value falls below the predetermined threshold value Ko). It is preferable to obtain and obtain information on the position 31). Further, the length of the section Q may be obtained from the time from when the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 exceeds the predetermined threshold value Ko to when it falls.

  Here, when there is little ink bleeding in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 (the contour portion of each small pattern 102), as shown in FIG. 29, the output value from the reflective optical sensor 300 is a predetermined value. The length of the section Q from when it exceeds the threshold value Ko to when it falls below it becomes large. On the other hand, when the ink bleeding at the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 (the contour portion of each small pattern 102) is large, the output value from the reflective optical sensor 300 has a predetermined threshold as shown in FIG. The length of the section Q from exceeding the value Ko to falling is very small.

  The printer driver 1110 determines a contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing according to the length of the section Q from when the output value from the reflective optical sensor 300 exceeds a predetermined threshold value Ko to when it falls below.

  FIG. 31 illustrates a specific setting example of the contour process according to the length of the section Q. Here, a case will be described in which the contour processing method of <Part 1> to <Part 4> described above is applied as the contour processing method to be set. Note that these <Part 1> to <Part 4> contour processing methods are processes set so that the amount of ink discharged to the contour portion of the image to be printed decreases stepwise.

As shown in FIG. 31, the length of an ideal section Q when no ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 is “a”, and the contour processing method is performed based on the value of “a”. decide. When the length D of the actually obtained section Q is larger than “a × 0.98” and is equal to or smaller than the value “a”, the contour processing is set not to be executed on the printed image. .
On the other hand, when the length D of the actually obtained section Q is larger than “a × 0.9” and equal to or exceeds the value of “a × 0.98”, the contour processing corresponding to <No. 1> Is set as the contour processing to be executed. Further, when the length D of the section Q actually obtained is larger than the value of “a × 0.83” and equal to or exceeds the value of “a × 0.9”, it corresponds to <No. 2>. The contour processing is set as the contour processing to be executed. Further, when the length D of the section Q actually obtained is larger than the value of “a × 0.75” and equal to or exceeds the value of “a × 0.83”, it corresponds to <No. 3>. The contour processing is set as the contour processing to be executed. Further, when the length D of the section Q actually obtained is equal to or less than the value of “a × 0.75”, the contour processing corresponding to <No. 4> is set as the contour processing to be executed. .
Thus, an appropriate contour processing method can be set according to the amount of ink bleeding at the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 (the contour portion of the small pattern 102).

  In addition, about the length of the area Q, you may make it obtain | require by detecting over several points and averaging the length of each obtained point.

<Pattern detection method (2)>
FIG. 32 explains another detection method of the investigation pattern 100. Here again, as in the pattern detection method (part 1) described above, the printer driver 1110 receives the reflection optical sensor 300 mounted on the carriage 31 when the carriage 31 moves relative to the medium. The contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing is determined based on the acquired output value. However, here, the printer driver 1110 acquires a peak value when the reflective optical sensor 300 passes through the non-ink ejection region 104 from the output value from the reflective optical sensor 300, and contours based on the peak value. Determine the processing method. Here, the non-ink ejection area 104 corresponds to a predetermined part of the present invention.

  FIGS. 32A to 32D respectively show the peak of the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 according to the ink bleeding state in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 (the contour portion of the small pattern 102). FIG. 32A shows the appearance of the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 when almost no ink bleeding occurs and the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 at this time, and FIG. 32B shows a slight ink bleeding. The appearance of the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 when it occurs and the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 at this time are shown. FIG. 32C shows the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 when a certain amount of ink bleeding occurs. And the sensor output at this time are shown in FIG. 32D, and the outline of the investigation pattern 100 when the ink bleeding is large and the sensor output at this time are shown.

  In the case where there is almost no ink bleeding in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100, as shown in FIG. 32A, the non-ink ejection region 104 between the small patterns 102 is not colored, that is, “white”. . The peak value of the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 at this time is the maximum value “Va”.

  On the other hand, when ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100, the peak value of the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 differs depending on the degree of ink bleeding. When slight ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100, as shown in FIG. 32B, for example, a part of the non-ink ejection region 104 between the small patterns 102 is colored, so that the reflection type optical The peak value of the output of the sensor 300 is “Vb” which is smaller than the maximum value “Va”. Furthermore, when the amount of ink bleeding is larger than this, as shown in FIG. 32C, for example, the entire non-ink ejection region 104 between the small patterns 102 is lightly colored, and the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 is output. The peak value is “Vc” which is smaller than the previous value “Vb”. When the amount of ink bleeding is large, as shown in FIG. 32D, for example, the entire non-ink ejection region 104 between the small patterns 102 is colored darker than in the case of FIG. The output peak value is “Vd” which is smaller than the previous value “Vc”. That is, the peak value of the output from the reflective optical sensor 300 differs according to the color density of the non-ink ejection region 104.

  In this way, the printer driver 1110 uses a change in the peak value of the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 in accordance with how the ink spreads in the non-ink ejection area 104, so that a contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing is performed. decide. Here, the peak values “Va”, “Vb”, “Vc” and “Vd” obtained according to the ink bleeding method are set appropriately, and the output actually obtained by the reflective optical sensor 300 is obtained. The peak value Vo is compared with these “Va”, “Vb”, “Vc”, and “Vd” to check which range the actually acquired peak value Vo corresponds to.

  FIG. 33 illustrates an example where an appropriate contour processing method is set from the actually acquired peak value Vo. Here, a case will be described in which the contour processing methods of <Part 1> to <Part 3> described above are applied as the contour processing method to be set.

  Here, if the actually acquired peak value Vo is substantially the same as the peak value in a state where ink bleeding hardly occurs (see FIG. 32A), that is, the maximum value “Va”, The contour processing is set not to be executed. On the other hand, when the actually acquired peak value Vo is smaller than the maximum value “Va” and equal to or exceeds the value “Vb”, the contour processing corresponding to <No. 1> is to be executed. Set. Further, when the actually acquired peak value Vo is smaller than the value “Vb” and equal to or exceeds the value “Vc”, the contour processing corresponding to <No. 2> is set as the contour processing to be executed. To do. If the actually acquired peak value Vo is smaller than the value “Vc” and equal to or exceeds the value “Vd”, the contour processing corresponding to <No. 3> is set as the contour processing to be executed. To do.

  The peak value Vo may be detected over a plurality of points with respect to the non-ink ejection region 104, and the obtained value of each point may be averaged.

<Pattern detection method (part 3)>
FIG. 34 explains another detection method of the investigation pattern 100. Here, as in the pattern detection methods (Part 1) and (Part 2) described above, the printer driver 1110 is mounted on the carriage 31 when the carriage 31 moves relative to the medium. An output value from the reflective optical sensor 300 is acquired, and a contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing is determined based on the acquired output value. However, here, the printer driver 1110 detects the width of the ink bleeding area from the output value from the reflective optical sensor 300, and determines the contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing according to the width. Here, the portion of the ink bleeding area detected by the reflective optical sensor 300 corresponds to a predetermined portion of the present invention.

  When ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100 (the contour portion of the small pattern 102), the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 is as shown in FIG. When entering the non-ink ejection region 104 from above, it gradually increases, reaching a peak when the reflective optical sensor 300 reaches near the center of the non-ink ejection region 104, and the reflective optical sensor 300 is small. As the pattern 102 is approached, the output value gradually decreases.

  The width of the ink bleeding area is detected from the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 as described above. In this embodiment, two threshold values K1 and K2 are set in order to detect the width of the ink bleeding area. As shown in FIG. 34B, these threshold values K1 and K2 are output peak values “from the reflective optical sensor 300 in the ideal state where no ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the investigation pattern 100”. “Va” is set as a reference. That is, the threshold value K1 is set to 0.9 times the peak value “Va”, and the threshold value K2 is set to 0.1 times the peak value “Va”. The width of the ink bleeding area is the length W1 from when the output value of the reflective optical sensor 300 increases to exceed the threshold value K2 until it exceeds the threshold value K1, or the reflective optical sensor 300. The width of the ink bleed area is obtained from the length W1 from when the output value decreases to below the threshold value K2 after the output value decreases. An appropriate contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing is determined from the widths W1 and W2 of the ink bleeding areas.

  FIG. 35 illustrates an example in which an appropriate contour processing method is set based on the widths W1 and W2 of the ink bleeding area. Here, an appropriate contour processing method is set based on the average value Wo of the widths W1 and W2. In the case where the average value Wo is less than 5 [μm], in the present embodiment, the contour processing is set not to be executed on the printed image.

  On the other hand, when the average value Wo is 5 [μm] or more and less than 15 [μm], the contour processing corresponding to <No. 1> is set as the contour processing to be executed. Further, when the average value Wo is 15 [μm] or more and less than 25 [μm], the contour processing corresponding to <No. 2> is set as the contour processing to be executed. When the average value Wo is 25 [μm] or more and less than 35 [μm], the contour processing corresponding to <No. 3> is set as the contour processing to be executed. Furthermore, when the average value Wo is 35 [μm] or more and less than 45 [μm], the contour processing corresponding to <No. 3> is set as the contour processing to be executed.

  Note that the width of the bleeding area may be obtained by detecting over a plurality of points and averaging the values of the obtained points.

<Summary>
As described above, in such an embodiment, a predetermined survey pattern is printed on a medium, the survey pattern is detected by a sensor, and a contour processing method to be executed at the time of printing is determined based on the detection result. Thus, an appropriate contour process can be executed.
Further, bleeding can be prevented according to the type of medium, the type of ink, and the like, and high-quality printing can be performed.
Further, since the contour processing method can be automatically checked by the sensor, it is very simple and convenient, and an appropriate contour processing can be surely set.

=== Other patterns for investigation (1) ===
FIG. 36 shows another embodiment of the investigation pattern. Here, as shown in the figure, the investigation pattern 200 is configured by a lattice pattern composed of vertical lines 202 and horizontal lines 204. Ink is ejected to a region where the vertical line 202 and the horizontal line 204 are formed. The reflection-type optical sensor 300 moves across the survey pattern 200 along the direction of arrow B in the figure as the carriage 31 moves, and detects the survey pattern 200.

  FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for detecting such a survey pattern 200. FIG. 37A shows the state of the contour when ink bleeding does not occur in the contour of the survey pattern 200 (here, the contour of the vertical line 202), and the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 at that time. Is shown. FIG. 37B shows the state of the contour when ink bleeding occurs in the contour of the investigation pattern 200 (here, the contour of the vertical line 202) and the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 at that time. It is a thing.

  In the case where no ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the survey pattern 200 (here, the contour portion of the vertical line 202), as shown in the lower side of FIG. When the sensor 300 reaches the vertical line 202 of the investigation pattern 200, the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 decreases. While the reflective optical sensor 300 passes above the vertical line 202, the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 remains reduced. When the reflective optical sensor 300 exits from above the vertical line 202, the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 increases again to return to the value before entering the vertical line 202.

  On the other hand, when ink bleeding occurs in the contour portion of the survey pattern 200 (here, the contour portion of the vertical line 202), as shown in the upper side of FIG. The ink oozes out from the outline portion 202 and the peripheral portion of the vertical line 202 is colored by the ink. For this reason, the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 starts to decrease gradually as the reflective optical sensor 300 moves above the vertical line 202 of the investigation pattern 200 as shown in the lower side of FIG. 37B. When the reflective optical sensor 300 exits from above the vertical line 202 while remaining reduced when passing over the vertical line 202, the output of the reflective optical sensor 300 gradually increases again and returns to the original value.

  The printer driver 1110 sequentially compares the output value acquired from the reflective optical sensor 300 with a predetermined threshold value K3, and measures the length of the section T in which the output value exceeds the predetermined threshold value K3. To do. And based on the length of the section T calculated | required there, the outline processing method which should be performed at the time of printing is determined. Here, the longer the section T is, the longer the contour processing is selected, and the shorter the section T is, the smaller the ink discharge amount is at the contour section to be printed. A contour process with a large discharge amount is selected.

=== Other patterns for investigation (2) ===
FIG. 38 shows another embodiment of the investigation pattern of the present invention. The survey pattern 400 is formed by performing different contour processing on the contour portion. For example, the contour processing method corresponding to <Part 1> described above is performed on the investigation pattern 400A corresponding to the code (A), and the investigation pattern 400B corresponding to the code (B) The contour processing method corresponding to <No. 2> described in (2) is performed, and the contour processing method corresponding to <No. 3> described above is performed on the investigation pattern 400C corresponding to the code (C). The survey pattern 400D corresponding to the code (D) is subjected to the contour processing method corresponding to <Part 4> described above, and the survey pattern 400E corresponding to the code (E) The contour processing corresponding to <No. 5> described above is performed.

  In the present embodiment, the reflective optical sensor 300 crosses above the survey patterns 400A, 400B, 400C, 400D, and 400E, and detects the survey patterns 400A, 400B, 400C, 400D, and 400E. As a result, based on the output obtained from the reflective optical sensor 300, for example, a survey pattern in which the contour portion is printed cleanly is searched, and a contour processing method suitable for printing is determined. Even when such a survey pattern is printed, an appropriate contour processing method can be found.

=== Text image ===
Here, the text image to be subjected to the contour processing is formed based on text data composed of character codes such as ASCII codes, character codes including characters and symbols, and control codes, for example. There are images etc. Here, the text data includes document data created by various word processing software such as “Microsoft Word (product name)” and “Ichitaro (product name)” or a text editor. When printing is performed based on such text data, a character code such as a character code included in the text data is imaged as a character, a symbol, or the like with reference to font information provided in advance. . The text image here means an image printed by such processing.

  As the text image of the present embodiment, in addition to such characters and symbols, for example, graphic drawing data created or edited by various CAD application software such as “Vector Works (product name)” or other application software Including graphics such as graphics formed based on In addition, the text image includes graphics and graphs created or edited by various graphic creation functions and graph creation functions such as various word processors and spreadsheet application software.

<Images not subject to contour processing>
Examples of images that are not to be subjected to the contour processing include natural images such as data of photographs taken with a digital camera and the like, and various image data recorded by various still image storage methods such as JEPG and bitmap.

=== Judgment whether or not it is a text image ===
The printer driver 1110 determines whether the image to be printed is a text image. The printer driver 1110 converts the image data received from the application program into RGB image data having a resolution of 720 dpi × 720 dpi (see S104 in FIG. 11), and after converting this RGB data into CMYK image data of 256 gradations ( Based on the generated CMYK image data, it is determined whether or not the image to be printed is a text image.

  Specifically, the printer driver 1110 refers to data of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) from the generated CMYK image data, and other than black (K). It is checked whether the data of each color of cyan, that is, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are all composed of data having no color, that is, “white” gradation. When data of colors other than black (K), that is, data of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are all composed of data indicating a gradation of “white”. Next, it is checked whether all the data indicating the color state in the black (K) data is data indicating a predetermined gradation. The data indicating the predetermined gradation here is data indicating the darkest color among the 256 gradation colors represented by black (K). For example, data such as “0” and “255”. This is because in the present embodiment, only the darkest color of black (K) is used for printing text images in order to clearly print characters, symbols, and the like. Since only the dark color is used for printing the text image, it is possible to check whether the data indicating the state of the color included in the black (K) data is all data indicating a predetermined gradation. It is possible to easily determine whether the image to be printed is a text image.

  FIG. 39 shows an example of the determination process performed by the printer driver 1110. First, the printer driver 1110, based on CMYK image data generated by converting RGB image data, each color included in the CMYK image data, that is, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black ( From the data of each color of K), the colors other than black (K), that is, the data of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are all in the absence of color, that is, “white” gradation It is checked whether it is composed of data indicating.

  In this embodiment, first, CMYK image data is acquired (S402), and cyan (C) is checked (S404). Here, when the data of cyan (C) includes data other than the color state, that is, data indicating “white”, it is determined that the image to be printed is an image other than the text image. The process is terminated (S416). On the other hand, if the cyan (C) data is all in a state having no color, that is, data indicating “white”, the process proceeds to the next step S406.

  In step S406, the magenta (M) data is checked. Here, when the data of magenta (M) includes data other than data indicating “white”, it is determined that the image to be printed is an image other than the text image, and the processing is terminated ( S416). On the other hand, if the magenta (M) data is all in a state of no color, that is, data indicating “white”, the process proceeds to the next step S408, and the yellow (Y) data is examined. Here, when the data of yellow (Y) includes data other than the data indicating “white”, it is determined that the image to be printed is an image other than the text image, and the processing ends ( S416). On the other hand, if the yellow (Y) data are all in a state having no color, that is, data indicating “white”, the process proceeds to the next step S410, and the black (K) data is examined.

  Here, if all of the black (K) data indicate “white”, it is determined that an error has occurred, and the process returns to step S402 to repeat the process from the beginning. On the other hand, if the black (K) data includes data other than the data indicating “white”, the process proceeds to step S412 and the black (K) data indicates data indicating a predetermined gradation. It is checked whether it is constituted only by. That is, it is checked whether or not the black (K) data is composed of only the data having the darkest color among the 256 gradations. If the black (K) data is composed only of data indicating a predetermined gradation, it is determined that the image to be printed is a text image (S414). On the other hand, if the black (K) data includes data indicating gradations other than the predetermined gradation (excluding data indicating “white” gradation), the image to be printed is text. It is determined that the image is not an image (S416), and the process ends.

  Note that colors other than black (K), that is, here cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) have been examined in the above-described order. You can check in a different order.

  In addition, when there are a plurality of types of black (K), it is determined whether or not black (K) used for printing a text image among the plurality of types of black (K) is configured by only predetermined data. Good. When ink of a color other than black (K) is used for printing a text image, it is preferable to determine whether or not the color is constituted only by predetermined data.

  In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the text image is based on 256-level CMYK image data obtained by converting RGB image data. However, the CMYK image data has a number of levels that the printer can form. After converting to data, for example, binary data having a resolution of 720 dpi × 720 dpi, it may be determined whether the image is a text image based on the data obtained by the conversion.

  In this embodiment, the printer driver 1110 checks whether there is data to be printed in data of a color other than black (K) based on the CMYK image data, and should print only on the black (K) data. When there is data, it is determined that the image to be printed is a text image. However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to adopt such a method, and an image to be printed by another method. It may be determined whether or not is a text image.

=== Other Embodiments ===
As described above, the printing apparatus such as a printer according to the present invention has been described based on one embodiment. Not meant to be The present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and needless to say, the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, even the embodiments described below are included in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

In the present embodiment, part or all of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, part of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware.
In addition, a part of processing performed on the printing apparatus side may be performed on the host side, and a dedicated processing apparatus is provided between the printing apparatus and the host, and a part of processing is performed on this processing apparatus. May be performed.

<About the printing device (printing section)>
The printing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described ink jet printer, and may be a printing apparatus that performs printing in another ink ejection format.
In addition, the printing apparatus of the present invention may be a printer that does not eject ink, specifically, an apparatus that prints an image by forming dots on a medium, such as a dot impact printer or a laser printer. Any type of printing apparatus may be used.

<About dots>
In the printing apparatus described above, the dots are formed by the ink ejected toward the medium. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. It may be a dot formed by adhering to a toner, or a dot formed by fixing toner represented by a radar beam printer or the like to a medium.

<About dot size types>
In the printing apparatus described above, there are three types of dot sizes to be formed: small dots, medium dots, and large dots. However, the present invention is not limited to such cases, and the types of sizes are not limited. There may be four or more types, or two types.

<About contour processing>
The contour processing method according to the present invention is not limited to the methods of the first to ninth embodiments described above.
Further, the plurality of types of contour processing methods described above may all be implemented with one printing apparatus. Further, even if one or more contour processing methods selected from the contour processing methods of the first to ninth embodiments can be implemented by one printing apparatus, the first to ninth embodiments have been described. Other contour processing methods other than the contour processing method may be implemented by the printing apparatus.
Further, different contour processing may be adopted for each type of ink, that is, for each characteristic or property (how to spread).

<About the image to be contoured>
In the above-described embodiment, only the text image is the target of the contour processing. However, in the present invention, not only such an image but also an image other than the text image may be the target of the contour processing. Specifically, for example, an image including a character image, for example, an image including a natural image such as a photograph in which a text image such as a character is incorporated may be the target of the replacement process. In this case, it is preferable to perform the replacement process only for the text image portion included in the natural image.
In the above-described embodiments, images including natural images such as photographs recorded in JPEG or bitmap format are excluded from the replacement processing target. However, in the present invention, these images are not necessarily replaced. There is no need to exclude them from these objects, and these images may be replaced.

<About reflective optical sensors>
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the reflective optical sensor 300 as described above is applied as an example of the optical sensor of the present invention has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a sensor. This type of optical sensor may be used.

<About sensor>
The sensor of the present invention is not limited to the case of using various optical sensors including the reflective optical sensor 300 described above, and other types of sensors can be used as long as the investigation pattern formed on the medium can be detected. A sensor may be used.
In the above-described embodiment, the sensor is provided on the carriage that moves relative to the medium. However, the sensor of the present invention is not limited to such a case and is formed on the medium. If the survey pattern can be detected, it may be installed in another location.

<Survey pattern>
In the embodiment described above, the patterns of FIG. 28, FIG. 36, FIG. 38, and the like have been described as examples of the investigation pattern of the present invention. However, the investigation pattern of the present invention is not limited to these patterns. First, any pattern may be used as long as the pattern is formed on the medium in order to investigate the processing state of the contour processing.

<Pattern detection method>
In the embodiment described above, as a method for detecting an investigation pattern of the present invention, the size of a predetermined part in the predetermined pattern, the density of the color of the predetermined part, or the predetermined part However, the investigation pattern detection method of the present invention is not limited to such a method, and the investigation pattern may be detected by other methods. .

<About the printer driver>
According to the above-described embodiment, the printer driver 1110 on the computer apparatus side performs the replacement process. However, the replacement process is not limited to the printer driver 1110. If a program for realizing a function necessary for performing the replacement process is stored in various storage units such as a memory of the printer, the printer can perform the replacement process.

<About media>
As for the media, the above-mentioned paper includes plain paper, matte paper, cut paper, glossy paper, roll paper, paper, photographic paper, roll type photographic paper, etc. In addition to these, films such as OHP film and glossy film It may be a material, a cloth material, a metal plate material, or the like. That is, any medium can be used as long as it can be an ink ejection target.

It is explanatory drawing of the whole structure of one Embodiment of a printing apparatus. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of processing performed by a printer driver. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a user interface of a printer driver. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of a printer main body. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of a printer main body. FIG. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal configuration of a printer main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence of the nozzle of a head. It is explanatory drawing of the drive circuit of a head unit. It is a timing chart for explanation of each signal. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of a reflection type optical sensor. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printer driver. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of printing. It is explanatory drawing of the image (original image) used as printing object. It is explanatory drawing of the multi-value data by which the halftone process was carried out. A state of dots formed when the contour processing is not performed is shown. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram of multi-value data when an example of contour processing is performed, and FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram of a state of dots formed based on the multi-value data of FIG. 16A. FIG. 17A is an explanatory diagram of multi-value data when an example of contour processing is performed, and FIG. 17B is an explanatory diagram of a state of dots formed based on the multi-value data of FIG. 17A. FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating a dot formation state of the contour portion of the image when another contour processing is performed, and FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating data of the contour portion of the image of FIG. 18A. FIG. 19A is a diagram showing the dot formation state of the contour portion of the image when other contour processing is performed, and FIG. 19B is a diagram showing the data of the contour portion of the image of FIG. 19A. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating a dot formation state of the contour portion of the image when other contour processing is performed, and FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating data of the contour portion of the image of FIG. 20A. FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating a dot formation state in the contour portion of the image when another contour processing is performed, and FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating data in the contour portion of the image in FIG. 21A. 22A is a diagram showing ideal dots, and FIGS. 22B and 22C are diagrams showing dots actually formed. FIG. 23A is a diagram showing a state when dots are arranged in a line in the vertical direction to form vertical lines, and FIG. 23B is a diagram showing a state when dots are arranged in a line in the horizontal direction to form horizontal lines. FIG. 24A is a diagram showing a dot formation state of the contour portion of the image when other contour processing is performed, and FIG. 24B is a diagram showing data of the contour portion of the image of FIG. 24A. FIG. 25A is a diagram illustrating a dot formation state of the contour portion of the image when another contour processing is performed, and FIG. 25B is a diagram illustrating data of the contour portion of the image of FIG. 25A. FIG. 26A is a diagram illustrating a dot formation state of the contour portion of the image when other contour processing is performed, and FIG. 26B is a diagram illustrating data of the contour portion of the image of FIG. 26A. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the investigation procedure of an outline process. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern for investigation. It is a figure explaining an example of the detection method of the investigation pattern shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining an example of the detection method of the pattern for investigation. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting of an outline process. It is a figure explaining the other detection method of the investigation pattern shown in FIG. 28, and FIG. 32A-FIG. 32D is a figure explaining the output of the reflective optical sensor according to the bleeding state of an ink. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting of an outline process. FIG. 34A is a diagram for explaining an example of another detection method for a survey pattern, FIG. 34A is a diagram for explaining the occurrence of ink bleeding in the contour portion of the survey pattern, and FIG. 34B is a contour of the survey pattern. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram when ink bleeding does not occur in a portion. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting of an outline process. It is a figure explaining other embodiment of the pattern for investigation. It is a figure explaining an example of the detection method of the pattern for investigation. It is a figure explaining other embodiment of the pattern for investigation. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the judgment procedure of whether it is a text image.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer body
20 transport unit, 21 paper feed roller, 22 transport motor (PF motor),
23 transport roller, 24 platen, 25 discharge roller,
30 carriage unit, 31 carriage,
32 Carriage motor (CR motor),
40 head units, 41 heads,
50 sensors, 51 linear encoders, 52 rotary encoders,
53 Paper detection sensor, 54 Paper width sensor,
60 controller, 61 interface unit, 62 CPU,
63 memory, 64 unit control circuit,
64A original drive signal generation unit, 64B drive signal shaping unit,
100 survey patterns, 102 small patterns,
104 non-ink ejection area,
200 Survey pattern, 202 Vertical line, 204 Horizontal line,
300 reflective optical sensor, 300A light emitting unit, 300B light receiving unit,
400 survey pattern,
400A, 400B, 400C, 400D, 400E Investigation pattern,
411Y yellow ink nozzle group, 411M magenta ink nozzle group,
411C cyan ink nozzle group, 411K black ink nozzle group,
1100 computer, 1102 video driver,
1104 Application program, 1110 Printer driver,
1112 resolution conversion processing unit, 1114 color conversion processing unit,
1116 halftone processing unit, 1118 rasterization processing unit,
1200 display device, 1201 display,
1300 input device, 1300A keyboard, 1300B mouse,
1400 recording / reproducing apparatus, 1400A flexible disk drive apparatus,
1400B CD-ROM drive device,
1000 printing system

Claims (10)

A printing unit that forms dots by ejecting ink toward the medium and prints an image; and an optical sensor that detects the image formed on the medium, and when the image is printed, In a printing apparatus that performs contour processing for processing dots to be formed in a contour portion,
A predetermined survey pattern in which a plurality of small patterns are arranged, wherein a predetermined survey pattern in which a gap is provided between the small patterns is formed on a medium, and the predetermined survey pattern is used as the optical sensor. And the length of the section in which the amount of received light acquired by the optical sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold is acquired as the length of the area of the gap that is not affected by ink bleeding. Determining a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion based on the length of the section ;
A printing apparatus that executes the determined contour processing when printing an image including a text image as the image . The printing unit can form two or more different sizes of dots as the dots, and as the contour processing, the size replacement processing is performed by replacing the dots to be formed in the contour portion with dots of a smaller size. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the size replacement processing as the contour processing is executed so that an ink discharge amount to the contour portion according to the length of the section is obtained. Examples contour processing, the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, characterized by executing a thinning process of forming by thinning out the dots to be formed on the contour. The printing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the thinning process is performed as the contour process so that an ink discharge amount to the contour part according to a length of the section is obtained. The printing unit is provided in a head that can move relative to a medium in a predetermined direction, and the optical sensor moves together with the head ,
In the predetermined survey pattern, the small patterns are arranged in the predetermined direction.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that. A printing control apparatus that controls a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit that forms dots by ejecting ink toward a medium and prints an image, and an optical sensor that detects an image formed on the medium. ,
In a printing control apparatus that executes contour processing for performing processing on dots to be formed on a contour portion of the image when an image is printed on a medium by the printing device,
A predetermined survey pattern in which a plurality of small patterns are arranged by the printing unit , and a predetermined survey pattern in which a gap is provided between the small patterns is formed on the medium, and the predetermined survey pattern the then detected by the optical sensor, the length of the region in which the light receiving quantity of the optical sensor acquired are not affected by ink bleeding of said air gap the length of the interval exceeds a predetermined threshold Is obtained, and based on the length of the section , determine a processing method for dots to be formed in the contour portion ,
The printing control apparatus , wherein the determined contour processing is executed when an image including a text image is printed as the image . In a printing method for executing contour processing for performing processing on dots to be formed on a contour portion of the image when printing an image by forming dots by discharging ink toward a medium,
A predetermined survey pattern in which a plurality of small patterns are arranged, wherein a predetermined survey pattern in which a gap is provided between the small patterns is formed on a medium , and the predetermined survey pattern is used as the optical sensor. And the length of the section in which the amount of received light acquired by the optical sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold is acquired as the length of the area of the gap that is not affected by ink bleeding. Determining a processing method for dots to be formed on the contour portion based on the length of the section ;
A printing method characterized by executing the determined contour processing when printing an image including a text image as the image . A printing unit that forms dots by ejecting ink toward the medium and prints an image; and an optical sensor that detects the image formed on the medium, and when the image is printed, A method for investigating a processing method of the contour processing in a printing apparatus that performs contour processing for performing processing on dots to be formed in a contour portion,
A predetermined survey pattern in which a plurality of small patterns are arranged, wherein a predetermined survey pattern in which a gap is provided between the small patterns is formed on a medium, and the predetermined survey pattern is used as the optical sensor. And the length of the section in which the amount of received light acquired by the optical sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold is acquired as the length of the area of the gap that is not affected by ink bleeding. An investigation method characterized by determining a processing method for dots to be formed in the contour portion of the image including a text image based on the length of the section . A printing unit that forms dots by ejecting ink toward the medium and prints an image; and an optical sensor that detects the image formed on the medium, and when the image is printed, A program executed in a printing apparatus that performs contour processing that performs processing on dots to be formed in a contour portion,
A predetermined survey pattern in which a plurality of small patterns are arranged, and a predetermined survey pattern in which a gap is provided between the small patterns is formed on the medium; and
Said predetermined survey pattern formed on the medium is detected by the optical sensor, the length of a section where the light receiving amount of the optical sensor acquired exceeds the predetermined threshold value of said air gap Obtaining as the length of the area unaffected by ink bleeding ;
Determining a processing method for dots to be formed in the contour portion based on the length of the section ;
Executing the determined contour processing when printing an image including a text image as the image;
A program characterized by executing