JPH08332750A - Printer and recording method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the lowering of a recording grade caused by the density irregularity or stripe caused by the uneven driving of a plurality of recording elements, to contribute to the extension of the life of a recording head and to reduce running cost by continuously printing one image many times in a printer. CONSTITUTION: In a printer performing recording while moving a material 13 to be recorded in the direction crossing a recording element arranging direction almost at a right angle by a recording head 5 having a plurality of recording elements capable of recording an image 15 on the material 13 to be recorded according to image data, a data conversion means converting image data so as to alter the direction and/or recording position of the image 15 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and a recording method thereof, and more specifically, to a recording head capable of dot recording on a recording material, and the same image is recorded a plurality of times on the recording material by the recording head. The present invention relates to a printer capable of continuous recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink is heated by an electrothermal conversion element (heater) to generate bubbles in the ink, and the pressure at which the bubbles expand causes ink to be ejected from a ejection port of a recording head toward a recording material. There is known an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by performing the recording. Among such ink jet recording apparatuses, there is an ink jet label printer used for recording a label sticker or a commodity slip in which a product name and a product code of a product are recorded.
Such printers are used for printing product labels of products in manufacturing factories and the like, and are used for printing shipping slips in the distribution industry.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a recording head of an ink jet label printer. As shown in this figure, the recording head 10 has a plurality of ink ejection ports 11 for ejecting ink.
Are arranged in the ejection port surface 12 in the width direction of the recording material so that the ink ejection port surface 12 is a continuous recording material (hereinafter referred to as a continuous sheet) as shown in FIG. ) Fixed downwards so as to face 13 and continuous sheet 1
While the sheet 3 is conveyed by the conveying roller 14 in the direction orthogonal to the row of the ink ejection ports 11, the commodity-level images 15 are successively recorded on the continuous sheet 14.

In such a label printer, for example, an image 15 of a label as shown in FIG. 8 is continuously recorded a plurality of times. As shown in FIG. 7, the left half 15A of the image 15 is a character image. Since it is a list, the ejection frequency from the corresponding left-half ink ejection port 11 of the recording head 10 is low,
Since the right half 15B of the image 15 is an image formed by printing which is almost solid, the ejection frequency from the right half ink ejection port 11 is extremely high.

[0005]

By the way, in the label printer, as described above, the ejection frequency greatly varies depending on the arrangement position of the ink ejection ports. Ink ejection openings that do not occur occur. On the other hand, originally, in the inkjet recording head 10, each heater has a life, and each time the ejection is repeated, the charcoal of the ink adheres to the heater to change the recording density, or the wiring to the heater is changed. Discharge may not be possible due to disconnection. In particular,
In the above-mentioned label printer, such a phenomenon occurs early only in some of the ejection ports where the ejection frequency is high, and the ejection function is significantly deteriorated. Therefore, when printing one label image many times and then printing labels with different images, the functional difference between the ejection port having a high ejection frequency and the ejection port having a low ejection frequency becomes noticeable, and density unevenness appears in the recorded image. There is a fear that streaks, streaks, and tooth chips may occur and the recording quality may deteriorate.

Further, when some of the ink ejection openings having a high ejection frequency cannot be ejected for the above reason, the ejection frequency is low and the normal ink ejection openings that have not been ejected sufficiently have a sufficient function. The recording head must be replaced regardless of having

As described above, in the ink jet label printer, when a label image is recorded, the ejection frequency thereof greatly differs depending on the ink ejection port, which causes deterioration of the recording quality such as uneven density, and a part of the ejection port. Since it becomes impossible to eject the ink, it becomes necessary to replace the head, which leads to an increase in running cost.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent deterioration in recording quality such as density unevenness due to continuous recording of the same image, prolong the life of the recording head, and reduce running cost. An object of the present invention is to provide and propose a printer suitable for a label printer or the like capable of reducing the number and a recording method thereof.

[0009]

In order to achieve such an object, the printer of the present invention uses a recording head having a plurality of recording elements capable of recording an image on a recording material according to image data. In a printer that performs recording while moving the recording material in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the image data, the image data is changed so as to change the direction and / or the recording position of the image recorded on the recording material. It is characterized by comprising a data converting means for converting.

Further, in the recording method of the printer of the present invention, the data of the image is converted by the data converting means to change the orientation and / or the recording position of the image recorded on the recording material, and the recording material is recorded. It is characterized in that recording is performed on the recording material according to the image data converted by the data converting means while moving in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements.

[0011]

According to the printer of the present invention and the recording method thereof,
On the recording material, the image data is converted by the data conversion means for converting the image data so that the orientation and / or the recording position of the recorded image is changed, and is moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements. An image is selectively recorded according to the image data and the converted image data.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a controllable circuit configuration according to the present invention. Here, 1 is a control unit that has a function of a CPU and controls the printing operation of the printer of the present invention, and 2 is a host device 3.
The image memory for temporarily storing the image data sent from the side to the control unit 1 as a basic image, 4 detects the image density distribution of the basic image composed of the stored image data as described below. This is an image density detection unit. For example, assuming that the image 15 as shown in FIG. 8 is sent as image data, the arrangement direction of the pixels forming the image 15 is represented by the X and Y directions as shown in FIG. When the dot imprinting number ND in the pixel is displayed as the density distribution in the X direction, it becomes as shown in FIG.

Here, the dot number ND is shown in FIG.
When ink jet recording is performed by the recording head 10 having the ink ejection ports 11 arranged in the X direction on the ejection port surface 12 as shown in FIG. 1, while printing one image 15 from each ink ejection port 11. Represents the frequency of how many times the ink is ejected, that is, the number of times the heater associated with the ejection port is driven. As is apparent from FIG. 2B, in the case of the image 15, almost the left half is a character and almost the right half is a graphic, so that the dot imprinting number ND is significantly higher in the right half than in the left half. I understand. That is,
The image density detecting section 4 detects the distribution of the image density of the image data from such a count value and sends it to the control section 1.

On the other hand, the control unit 1 sequentially changes the image data of the basic image 15 stored in the image memory 2 from the state shown in FIG. 3A to, for example, (B), (C) and (D). It has a function of converting data into a plurality of shapes so that an image rotated by 90 ° can be obtained. Such data conversion is performed based on the data stored in the image memory 2 in the form of a bitmap, and the conversion procedure will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the characters BJ are shown as images for the sake of easy understanding.

Now, it is assumed that image data is stored in the image memory 2 as a bitmap as shown in FIG. 4A as a basic image. It is to be noted that here, a schematic arrangement is shown in which each of the dot arrays has 16 dots in the X direction and 16 dots in the Y direction. In such a bitmap, conventionally, the direction and order of address reading are performed in the X direction from the left side to the right side in the upper part of the figure, as shown by arrow S1, and such scanning is performed from the top to the Y direction. It was carried out sequentially along. On the other hand, in order to obtain a recorded image as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3B, in the present example, the reading direction and order are from the right side of the figure as indicated by arrow S2. Vertical columns are sequentially read out to the left. Thus, the image 15-1 as shown in FIG. 4A or 4B can be transformed into the image 15-2 shown in FIG. 4C. Similarly, by reading each address according to the direction and order of arrow S3 in FIG. 4A, the recorded image shown in FIG. 3C can be obtained, and by reading in the direction of arrow S4. The image data can be converted so that the recorded image shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the A recording image memory 5A is, for example, a memory in which image data in the form shown in FIG. 3A is stored.
The image data converted into the form shown in FIG. 3B is converted into the form shown in FIG. 3C in the C recording image memory 5C and into the form shown in FIG. 3D in the D recording image memory 5D. The created image data is stored. Reference numeral 6 denotes a data selector. In the data selector 6, by inputting a selection signal to the control unit 1, image data is appropriately read from the print image memories 5A to 5D according to the selection signal from the control unit 1, and the print head 10 is read. To send to. Therefore, the recording head 10 records the label image 15 as shown in FIG. 8 by rotating it by 90 ° as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D in accordance with the fed image data. You can

The selection order during recording is (A) → (B).
The order is not limited to → (C) → (D) →, but may be repeated for a limited image such as (A) → (C) → (A) → (C) →. Alternatively, it is possible to record a plurality of images of the same form, for example, two images in succession. Reference numeral 7 denotes an image selection panel, which is operated by a user, for example, by specifying what type of image is designated and selected. That is, the user can freely select the image form to be recorded from the images stored in the memories 5A to 5D via the image selection panel 7. Further, when the user desires only the label image 15 in the form of FIG. 3A, it is possible to make such designation through the image selection panel 7.

As described above, by freely changing the output form of the label image 15, all the ink ejection ports 11
With respect to the above, it is possible to eliminate the bias in the discharge frequency, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of density unevenness, tooth chipping, and the like due to the frequent deterioration of the discharge port 11. Further, even if some of the ink ejection openings become defective, recording can be performed by selecting the image form so that the user can avoid ejection from the ink ejection openings as much as possible. For example, the label image 1 as shown in FIG.
In order to record No. 5, even if some of the ink ejection openings at either end are defectively or improperly ejected, the memory may be selected so as to record in the form of (B) or (D) of FIG. become.

Furthermore, the label image 15 is small, and it is desired to selectively set the recording position thereof in five areas (A) to (E) in the recording area 13A on the recording sheet 13 as shown in FIG. In such a case, the four recording image memories 5A to 5D shown in FIG. In this case as well, it becomes possible to select the recording mode when there is an ink ejection port that has impaired the ejection function.

Since the label image 15 is generally used by separating it from the sheet, it does not hinder the use regardless of its orientation or recording position on the sheet. Absent. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the selectable image forms are not limited to the numbers described in the above embodiments.

Further, the printer system is not limited to the ink jet printer, but can be widely applied to a printer having a recording means capable of selectively recording dots. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied not only to a continuous sheet as a recording material but also to a printer capable of recording on a scrap recording sheet, and further to a printing printer.

[0023]

As described above, according to the printer and the recording method of the present invention, the plurality of recordings are performed by the recording head having the plurality of recording elements capable of recording the image on the recording material according to the image data. In a printer that performs recording while moving the recording material in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the elements, the image data for changing the orientation and / or recording position of the image recorded on the recording material. Since a data conversion means for converting the same is provided, the recording element with high frequency is deteriorated due to the uneven usage frequency of the recording element caused by printing a large number of the same image. It is possible to prevent a decrease. In particular, in recent years, labels and the like have been colorized, and many characters and color graphic images are mixed. Therefore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a plurality of recording heads even for the printing of such a label image, and in particular, as shown in FIG. When the recording is performed separately, the above-mentioned problems are likely to occur, but the application of the present invention can solve such problems.

Further, even in the case where recording elements having impaired functions are unevenly distributed, image recording can be performed by selecting the recording mode, and further contributes to prolonging the life of the recording head and reducing the running cost. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a control circuit configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram relatively showing a label image (A) relating to application of the present invention and a distribution (B) of the number of imprints by the recording element.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing image forms stored in a recorded image memory according to the present invention in four examples (A) to (D).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a read operation for image conversion performed based on a basic image memory according to the present invention with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the form of the label image converted according to the present invention in five examples (A) to (E).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a recording head on a line printer side applied to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a continuous recording state of label images according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a label image in its recording state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Unit (CPU) 2 (Basic Image) Image Memory 3 Host Device 4 Image Density Detection Unit 5A-5D Recording Image Memory 6 Data Selector 7 Image Selection Panel 10 Recording Head 11 Ink Ejection Port 12 Ink Ejection Surface 13 Recording Material (Recording sheet) (Continuous sheet) 13A Recording area 15, 15-1, 15-2 (Label) image

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having a plurality of recording elements capable of recording an image on a recording material according to image data while moving the recording material in a direction substantially orthogonal to an array direction of the plurality of recording elements. A printer for recording, comprising a data conversion unit for converting the image data so as to change the orientation and / or recording position of the image recorded on the recording material. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the same image is selectively recorded on the recording material according to the image data converted by the data converting means. 3. The plurality of recording elements are capable of selectively ejecting flying droplets from an ejection port and landing the droplets on the recording material to perform dot recording over the width of the recording material. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a printer. 4. A plurality of image data storage means are provided, and a plurality of image data converted by the data conversion means are stored in the image data storage means, respectively. The printer described in that section. 5. The data of the image is converted by a data conversion means so as to change the direction and / or the recording position of the image recorded on the recording material, and the recording material is arranged in the arrangement direction of a plurality of recording elements. A printing method for a printer, which prints on the recording material according to the image data converted by the data converting means while moving in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other. 6. The recording method for a printer according to claim 5, wherein the same image is selectively recorded on the recording material according to the image data converted by the data converting means. 7. The plurality of recording elements are capable of selectively ejecting flying droplets from an ejection port and landing the droplets on the recording material so that dot recording can be performed over the width of the recording material. 7. The printer recording method according to claim 5, wherein the recording method is the printer. 8. The printer recording method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of image data converted by the data conversion unit are stored in a plurality of image data storage units.