JPH11221932A - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printing apparatus for accurately detecting the remaining amount of ink. SOLUTION: A mechanism for separating dots having a plurality of diameters, a dot diameter detecting section 25 for detecting a diameter of a dot to be formed by ink ejection based on a predetermined printing request, and a dot number measuring section for measuring an accumulated number of dots 23.Detect the ink ejection environment, correct the measured cumulative number based on the difference between the detected ink ejection environment and a predetermined standard ink ejection environment, and set the dot diameter to a predetermined reference dot diameter. It has a measurement value correction unit 26 that converts and corrects the cumulative number, and a measurement value transfer unit 27 that notifies the external device of the corrected cumulative number. The accumulation of dots is performed in a state where the ink ejection is restricted by the ejection restriction processing unit 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function of notifying a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) of an accumulated number of used dots or an ink remaining amount of the apparatus based on the accumulated number. To correct the ink amount to a correct ink amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the use environment of a printing apparatus, which has been mainly connected to a host locally, has been changed to a premise of use in a network environment with the spread of networks. Specifically, at the time of local connection, various statuses in the printing device are displayed on the LCD (Liquid C
In general, the user was notified using a rystal display (LED) or LED (Light Emitting Diode), but in a network environment, various statuses of the printing device were transmitted to the host, and the host used the printing device. The environment, for example, the remaining amount of ink, can be managed.

[0003] In the printing apparatus of the type that prints using the special ink in the cartridge, it is necessary to replace the cartridge before the ink runs out. For this reason, the printing apparatus is provided with an ink remaining amount detection mechanism for detecting a state in which the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge is low (near-end state) or a state in which the remaining amount of ink is exhausted (end state). Is detected, the fact is notified to the host to urge the user operating the host to replace the cartridge.

Various types of ink remaining amount detection mechanisms have been adopted, and a mechanism using a dot counter for counting the number of dots formed by ink ejection is generally used. This is because the ink consumption is indirectly calculated by counting the number of times of ink ejection (the number of dots) from the actuator attached to the print head with a dot counter, and the calculated ink consumption is set to an initial value (full filling). The remaining ink amount is calculated by subtracting the remaining ink amount from the current state. Then, when the remaining ink amount reaches a preset ink amount, status information indicating that the ink cartridge is in the near-end state or the end state is transmitted to the host.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional ink remaining amount detecting mechanism calculates the remaining ink amount by subtracting the amount of ink for the number of dots from the total amount of ink in the cartridge. I have. In this case, it is assumed that the standard ink weight is obtained based on the standard rank (performance determined according to the ejection characteristics) and the reference temperature of the actuator. It is also assumed that an average dot diameter is obtained for the ink ejection amount from each actuator. But,
The amount of ink actually ejected from the actuator greatly changes depending on the ink ejection environment during printing, and therefore, the remaining amount of ink based on the dot count value does not always match the actual remaining amount of ink.

In the case of a cartridge having a small capacity, since the cartridge is frequently replaced, the difference between the ink remaining state and the actual remaining amount of ink before reaching the ink end state is within an allowable range. Most of it. However, when the capacity of the cartridge is increased in consideration of the use from a plurality of hosts in the above-described network environment, the above-mentioned displacement becomes a problem, and erroneous status information may be transmitted to the host.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of ink in order to solve such a problem.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a dot number measuring means for measuring the cumulative number of dots to be formed by ink discharge, and detecting an ink discharge environment at the time of printing. Correcting means for correcting the cumulative number measured by the dot measuring means based on a difference between the detected ink discharging environment and a predetermined standard ink discharging environment; and notifying the external device of the corrected cumulative number. Provided is a printing apparatus including an ink remaining amount notifying unit.

The present invention is also directed to a dot number measuring means for measuring the cumulative number of dots to be formed by ink discharge, and restricting the discharge of ink corresponding to each dot while continuing to measure the cumulative number. Control means for detecting an ink ejection environment at the time of printing, and correcting the cumulative number measured by the dot number measurement means based on a difference between the detected ink ejection environment and a predetermined standard ink ejection environment. A printing device provided with a measured value notifying unit for notifying the external device of the corrected cumulative number.

The present invention further provides a printing apparatus provided with a mechanism for separating dots having a plurality of diameters, a dot diameter detecting means for detecting a diameter of a dot to be formed by ink ejection based on a predetermined printing request, The dot number measuring means for measuring the cumulative number of the dots, and an ink ejection environment is detected, and the dot number measuring means counts based on a difference between the detected ink ejection environment and a predetermined standard ink ejection environment. And a control means for correcting the accumulated number and correcting the accumulated number by converting the dot diameter detected by the dot diameter detecting means into a predetermined reference dot diameter. In this printing apparatus, the control means is preferably configured to limit the ejection of ink corresponding to each dot while continuing to measure the cumulative number.

In each of the above printing apparatuses, the control means corrects the cumulative number as follows, for example.

(1) A temperature at the time of printing is detected, and the cumulative number is corrected according to a ratio of the detected temperature to a predetermined standard temperature.

(2) The humidity at the time of printing is detected, and the accumulated number is corrected according to the ratio of the detected humidity to a predetermined standard humidity.

(3) The cumulative number is corrected according to the drive frequency of the actuator that performs ink ejection.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer will be described below. This ink jet printer includes a head having a mechanism capable of separating dots having a plurality of diameters, and a controller for controlling a printing mechanism including the head based on a control code received from a host.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a controller. That is, the controller 1 is connected to the host 2 so that the input / output interface 11 can perform bidirectional communication. I / O interface 11
Is a general-purpose parallel interface for transmitting and receiving various data to and from the host 2. An input / output interface 11 includes an ASIC (Application Specifield IC) 1 for data control which has a built-in dot counter.
The ASIC 12 is connected to a DRAM 13 functioning as a buffer memory or the like.

The ASIC 12 also includes an actuator mounted on the head, that is, a head driver 14 for controlling the ejection of the ink jet nozzles, and a controller 1.
And a CPU 16 that performs overall control. C
The PU 16 is a kind of computer that realizes required functions by reading and executing a program in the ROM 161. The RAM 162 is used as a working memory of the CPU 16.

The head driver 15 selectively receives an enable signal and a disable signal from the CPU 16. The enable signal is a signal for permitting ink discharge from the head, and the disable signal is a signal for supplying data to the head but prohibiting ink discharge. These signals are selectively output when the CPU 16 decodes the head drive waveform from the ASIC 15 and the ejection restriction request from the ASIC 12.

Next, C operating according to the above program
FIG. 2 shows a functional block configuration of the controller 1 formed by the PU 16 and the ASIC 12 and the like.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 16 and the like use the data expansion unit 21, the dot transfer unit 22, the dot number measurement unit 23, the measurement value holding unit 24, the dot diameter detection unit 25, the measurement value correction unit 26, and the measurement value transfer unit. Unit 27, ejection restriction processing unit 2
8 are formed.

The data expanding section 21 performs a buffer (line) expanding process of the control code received from the host 2 through the input / output interface 11, that is, a process of converting the control code into image data and expanding the image data in the DRAM 13. The image data is represented by dots for each line. The dot transfer unit 22 serially transfers the buffer-developed image data to the head driver 14.

For example, the ASIC 1
2 controls the operation of a dot counter prepared as an internal function. Specifically, the number of dots corresponding to the serially transferred image data is counted and accumulated in the measured value holding unit 24.

When the image data is serially transferred, the dot diameter detecting section 25 detects the diameter of each dot corresponding to the data. In the present embodiment, according to the diameter,
Three types are detected: a "normal dot" having a reference dot diameter, a "micro dot" having a diameter approximately half that of a normal dot, and a "large dot" having a diameter approximately twice that of a normal dot. The detection of the dot diameter is not performed by actually measuring the dots actually formed on the printing paper, but is performed indirectly according to the driving frequency of the head for each line. For example, as shown in the ink ejection characteristic diagram of FIG. 3, the basic drive frequency of the head is
28.8 [kHz] for normal dots, 14.4 [kHz] for microdots, and 7.2 [kHz] for large dots
z], the frequency of change of the basic drive frequency is statistically obtained for each frequency, and the statistical values are compared with each other to indirectly determine the ratio of each dot diameter when a single print request (control code) is received. Can be detected.

The measured value correcting section 26 corrects the measured number of dots (measured dot number) based on the difference between the ink discharge environment detected at the time of printing and a predetermined standard ink discharge environment. . The grounds for the amendment are as follows.

For example, it is often experienced that the size of the dot diameter, that is, the amount of consumed ink differs depending on the temperature and humidity at the time of ink ejection. Further, in the case of continuous hitting of dots, the dot diameter becomes larger than in the case of non-continuous hitting. This is because ink is likely to be ejected due to residual vibration caused by the previous drive voltage (drive pulse). Further, it is well known that the weight of the ink droplet is changed by changing the drive voltage of the actuator.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation area in a case where ink of a standard material is used in this type of printing apparatus, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a head driving voltage and an ink weight. As is apparent from these figures, the weight of the ink uniquely changes depending on the temperature, the humidity, and the driving voltage of the head. From this, by detecting the current temperature, humidity, and drive voltage with a sensor (not shown), the actual ink ejection state at that time can be known. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a predetermined standard ink ejection environment (for example, 2 degrees Celsius)
The measurement value correction unit 26 holds a table showing the relationship between the ink ejection environment at the time of printing for 5 degrees, about 40% humidity, and normal dots. Then, the accumulated value held in the measured value holding unit 24 is corrected based on the information of the table and the ink ejection characteristics. Further, as described above, in a printing apparatus having a mechanism capable of differently printing different dot diameters, if the dot diameters are different, the amount of consumed ink naturally becomes different. Therefore, the dot diameter is detected, and the detected ink diameter is converted into a normal dot diameter to correct the cumulative number.

The measured value transfer section 27 transfers the appropriately corrected measured values held in the measured value holding section 24 to the host 2.

When the control code received from the input / output interface 11 includes a discharge restriction request, the discharge restriction processing unit 28 sends the disable signal to the head to measure the number of dots. This limits ink ejection.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus will be described.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a processing procedure showing a procedure from when the controller 1 measures the number of dots to when the measured value is transferred to the host 2.

When print data is received from the host 2 via the input / output interface 11 (step S10).
1) The data developing unit 21 develops an image (line) of the received control code (step S102). Also,
The head driver 14 based on the data developed in the buffer
The dot is serially transferred to (step S103). At the time of normal printing, a head driving process is performed (step S1).
04: Yes, S105). On the other hand, when the ejection restriction request is added to the print data, the blank ejection process, that is, the process for restricting the ink ejection without performing the head drive control process is performed (step S104: No, S
106).

The dot number measuring section 23 counts the number of dots irrespective of the head drive processing or the idling processing (step S107), and holds the measurement result in the measured value holding section 24. The measurement value correction unit 26 performs the measurement value correction process as described above (Step S108). If there is other received data, the processing after step S101 is repeated (step S109: No), and when the received data is exhausted, the corrected measurement value is transferred to the host 2 via the input / output interface 11 ( Step S11
0).

As described above, in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment,
The controller 1 detects the ink discharge environment at the time of printing, and corrects the cumulative number of dots measured based on the difference between the detected ink discharge environment and a predetermined standard ink discharge environment. Can be notified of the correct remaining amount of ink and the status at that time.

Further, since the number of dots is measured without actually discharging ink, it is possible to avoid a situation where ink is wasted when, for example, detecting the amount of ink consumed in performing test printing. become.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the accumulated number of dots is corrected in accordance with the ink ejection environment at the time of printing. Can be accurately grasped.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a controller included in a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of a controller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a table showing ink ejection characteristics in a printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation area when a standard material ink is used in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a head driving voltage and an ink weight.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory process diagram illustrating a procedure from detection of the number of dots by the controller to correction and notification to the host;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Controller provided in printing apparatus 2 Host computer 11 Input / output interface 12, 15 ASIC 13 DRAM 14 Head driver 16 CPU 161 ROM 162 RAM 21 Data development unit 22 Dot transfer unit 23 Dot number measurement unit 24 Measurement value holding unit 25 Dot diameter detection Unit 26 Measured value correction unit 27 Measured value transfer unit 28 Discharge restriction processing unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A dot number measuring means for counting an accumulated number of dots to be formed by ink ejection, detecting an ink ejection environment at the time of printing, and detecting the detected ink ejection environment and a predetermined standard ink ejection. A printing apparatus comprising: a correction unit that corrects the cumulative number measured by the dot measuring unit based on a difference from an environment; and an ink remaining amount notifying unit that notifies an external device of the corrected cumulative number. 2. A dot number measuring means for counting the cumulative number of dots to be formed by ink discharge, and a discharge limiting means for limiting the discharge of ink corresponding to each dot while allowing the cumulative number to be measured. Correction means for detecting the ink ejection environment at the time of printing, and correcting the cumulative number measured by the dot number measurement means based on a difference between the detected ink ejection environment and a predetermined standard ink ejection environment, A measurement value notifying unit that notifies the external device of the corrected cumulative number. 3. A printing apparatus having a mechanism for separating dots of a plurality of diameters, wherein a dot diameter detecting means for detecting a diameter of a dot to be formed by ink ejection based on a predetermined print request; Means for counting the number of dots, detecting an ink ejection environment, and calculating the cumulative number measured by the dot number measuring means based on a difference between the detected ink ejection environment and a predetermined standard ink ejection environment. Correcting means for correcting and accumulating the cumulative number by converting the dot diameter detected by the dot diameter detecting means into a predetermined reference dot diameter; and a measured value notifying means for notifying the external device of the corrected accumulated number. A printing device comprising: 4. An ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising an ejection restricting unit for restricting the ejection of the ink corresponding to each of the dots, wherein the dot number measuring unit measures the cumulative number of the dots while the ejection limiting unit restricts the ink ejection. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus is configured as follows. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit detects a temperature at the time of printing and corrects the cumulative number in accordance with a ratio of the detected temperature to a predetermined standard temperature. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit detects a humidity at the time of printing and corrects the accumulated number in accordance with a ratio of the detected humidity to a predetermined standard humidity. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit is configured to correct the cumulative number in accordance with a driving frequency of an actuator that performs ink ejection.