Printing apparatus and method for controlling printing apparatus

Abstract

The invention discloses a printing apparatus and a control method of the printing apparatus, and a hidden danger that printing is shifted relative to a deformed pattern exists in the prior art. A printing apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a medium having a pattern; an imaging unit that captures an image of the medium; a printing unit that performs printing on the medium; and a control unit that performs a printing process after performing a pre-printing process, acquires pattern data relating to a pattern on the medium as the pre-printing process, expands the printing data to be printed by the printing unit to generate expanded data, and performs the printing process as the printing process. The control unit acquires captured pattern data relating to a pattern included in the medium by means of the imaging unit, generates conversion data from the expansion data on the basis of the captured pattern data, and prints the conversion data on the medium by means of the printing unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is known an apparatus that acquires surface information related to the surface of a medium by an imaging device and adjusts the amount of ink, thereby performing printing on the medium.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-63795

[0004] When the medium has a pattern, as the medium deforms such as elongation of the conveyed medium, the pattern sometimes deforms. In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the printing may shift with respect to the deformed pattern. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The printing apparatus includes: a conveyance unit that conveys a medium having a pattern; an imaging unit that images the medium; a printing unit that prints on the medium; and a control unit that performs a printing process after performing a pre-printing process. As the pre-printing process, the control unit acquires pattern data related to the pattern of the medium, expands printing data to be printed by the printing unit to generate expansion data. As the printing process, the control unit acquires captured pattern data related to the pattern of the medium by the imaging unit, generates transformation data based on the captured pattern data according to the expansion data, and prints the transformation data on the medium by the printing unit.

[0006] A control method for a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including: a conveyance unit that conveys a medium having a pattern; an imaging unit that images the medium; and a printing unit that prints on the medium, the method performing a printing process after performing a pre-printing process. In the pre-printing process, pattern data related to the pattern of the medium is acquired, and printing data to be printed by the printing unit is expanded to generate expansion data. In the printing process, captured pattern data related to the pattern of the medium is acquired by the imaging unit, transformation data is generated based on the captured pattern data according to the expansion data, and the transformation data is printed on the medium by the printing unit. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus.

[0008] Figure 2 is a schematic view when the printing apparatus is viewed from above.

[0009] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram when observing the printing device from the front.

[0010] Figure 4 It is a flowchart showing the pre-printing process.

[0011] Figure 5 It is an imaginary diagram showing the acquired pattern data corresponding to the medium.

[0012] Figure 6 It is an imaginary diagram showing the printing data including the first printing data, the second printing data, and the third printing data corresponding to the medium.

[0013] Figure 7 It is from Figure 6 An imaginary diagram when the third printing data outside the pattern is separated from the shown printing data.

[0014] Figure 8 It is showing Figure 7 An imaginary diagram of the third expansion data after expanding the shown third printing data.

[0015] Figure 9 It is from Figure 6 An imaginary diagram when the first printing data and the second printing data inside the pattern are separated from the shown printing data.

[0016] Figure 10 It is showing Figure 6 An imaginary diagram of the first expansion data after expanding the shown first printing data and the second reduction data after shrinking the second printing data along with the first expansion data.

[0017] Figure 11 It is Figure 10 An imaginary diagram when the shown second reduction data is replaced with the second printing data.

[0018] Figure 12 It is a flowchart showing the printing process.

[0019] Figure 13 An imaginary diagram when the captured pattern is made to correspond to the medium.

[0020] Figure 14 An imaginary diagram before removing the part overlapping with the captured pattern, i.e., the third removal data, from the third expansion transformation data obtained by transforming the third expansion data.

[0021] Figure 15 It is showing Figure 14 An imaginary diagram of the third transformation data outside the captured pattern after removing the third removal data from the third expansion transformation data in

[0022] Figure 16It is an imaginary diagram before removing the first removal data that exceeds the captured pattern data PS from the first expansion-transformed data obtained by transforming the first expansion data.

[0023] Figure 17 It represents Figure 16 an imaginary diagram of the first transformed data within the captured pattern after removing the first removal data output from the first expansion-transformed data and the second transformed data within the captured pattern obtained by transforming the second printing data.

[0024] Figure 18 It is an imaginary diagram representing the transformed data obtained by combining the first transformed data, the second transformed data within the captured pattern, and the third transformed data outside the captured pattern.

[0025] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0026] 1. Printing device; 10. Control unit; 11. Storage unit; 12. Printing unit; 13. Conveyor unit; 14. Imaging unit; 15. Input / output unit; D0. Printing data; D10. First printing data; D20. Second printing data; D30. Third printing data; D11. First expansion data; D21. Second reduction data; D31. Third expansion data; DS. Transformed data; DS10. First transformed data; DS20. Second transformed data; DS30. Third transformed data; M. Medium; MS. Captured medium data; P. Pattern, pattern data; PS. Captured pattern data. Detailed Embodiment

[0027] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the directions in the figures will be described using a three-dimensional coordinate system. For ease of explanation, the positive direction of the Z-axis is referred to as the upward direction, the upper side, or simply the upper, the negative direction is referred to as the downward direction, the lower side, or simply the lower, the positive direction of the X-axis is referred to as the rightward direction, the right side, or simply the right, the negative direction is referred to as the leftward direction, the left side, or simply the left, the positive direction of the Y-axis is referred to as the rearward direction, the rear side, or simply the rear, and the negative direction is referred to as the forward direction, the front side, or simply the front for explanation.

[0028] 1. Structure of the Printing Device

[0029] As Figure 1 shown, the printing device 1 is configured to include a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, a printing unit 12, a conveyor unit 13, an imaging unit 14, and an input / output unit 15. The structure of the printing device 1 will also be described with reference to Figures 2 - 3 .

[0030] The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that centrally controls each unit of the printing device 1 , a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) that manages input and output, and a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) that are logic circuits. A CPU is also called a processor.

[0031] The storage unit 11 is configured to include a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) as a rewritable nonvolatile memory, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a volatile memory, and the like.

[0032] The CPU of the control unit 10 reads out a program such as firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory of the storage unit 11 and executes the program using the RAM of the storage unit 11 as a work area. The control unit 10 and the storage unit 11 are mounted on a circuit board (not shown).

[0033] Figures 2 - 3 The medium M shown is, for example, a long strip of cloth made of natural fibers or synthetic fibers. The long strip of cloth is also called raw fabric. The printing device 1 prints on the medium M. Printing on cloth is also called printing and dyeing, and the medium M is also called a printed material. In addition, the medium M can also be any one of ordinary paper, synthetic paper, and film.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the medium M has a pattern P. Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , for convenience, one pattern P is shown on the medium M, but a plurality of patterns P may be provided and each pattern P may be arranged at a predetermined position.

[0035] The medium M having the pattern P may include, for example, a pre-dyed fabric woven by weaving a material dyed at the fiber or yarn stage into the pattern P, a jacquard fabric woven by weaving fibers or yarns into a concave-convex pattern, etc. Alternatively, the medium M may be a medium on which the pattern P is printed in advance.

[0036] In addition, Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , imaged medium data MS and imaged pattern data PS, which will be described later and are obtained by imaging the medium M and the pattern P by the imaging unit 14 , are also virtually shown in correspondence with the medium M and the pattern P.

[0037] like Figure 2As shown, the conveying unit 13 is configured to include a seamless conveyor belt 13a. The conveying unit 13 circulates the conveyor belt 13a through a conveying motor and rollers (both not shown), thereby conveying the medium M rearward in the conveying direction.

[0038] In addition, hereinafter, the upstream and downstream in the conveying direction based on the conveying unit 13 will also be simply referred to as the upstream and downstream.

[0039] The printing unit 12 is configured to include an inkjet head 12a having a plurality of nozzles, a carriage 12b, and a guide shaft 12c. The head 12a is located above the conveyor belt 13a and at a position facing the conveyor belt 13a.

[0040] The printing apparatus 1 is capable of being equipped with an ink tank or an ink cartridge storing various colors of ink such as CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) as the ink colors.

[0041] The printing unit 12 is provided with a supply mechanism (not shown) for supplying ink from an ink tank or the like to the head 12a. The supply mechanism supplies each color of ink to the corresponding nozzles of the head 12a.

[0042] The carriage 12b includes a carriage motor (not shown). The head 12a is mounted on the carriage 12b. The head 12a can reciprocate in the left - right direction above the medium M placed on the conveyor belt 13a together with the carriage 12b through the carriage motor.

[0043] Under the control of the control unit 10 based on the printing data, the head 12a ejects ink droplets from the nozzles onto the medium M while moving above the medium M to perform printing. The printing data is stored in the storage unit 11. The printing data can also be obtained from an external device such as a computer that can be connected to the printing apparatus 1.

[0044] In addition, the ink colors can also be any combination of 4 or more colors such as shades including CMYK.

[0045] In addition, the head 12a can also be structured to include nozzles for ejecting a penetration liquid onto the medium M. The penetration liquid is a liquid that promotes the penetration of the ink droplets attached to the surface of the medium M to the back surface.

[0046] The imaging unit 14 is constituted by a camera having a solid - state imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, for example. In addition, the imaging unit 14 can also be provided with an illumination device.

[0047] The imaging unit 14 is located above the conveyor belt 13a and at a position facing the conveyor belt 13a. The imaging unit 14 can image the medium M placed on the conveyor belt 13a.

[0048] As Figure 3As shown, the imaging unit 14 can at least capture images across the entire width of the medium M from left to right. Additionally, as Figure 2 shown, the imaging unit 14 is located upstream of the printing unit 12. The imaging unit 14 can capture an image of the pattern P on the medium M before it is printed by the printing unit 12.

[0049] The input / output unit 15 is, for example, a touch panel display. The input / output unit 15 includes a display panel as an output unit for displaying various information and a detection panel as an input unit.

[0050] The detection panel is configured to overlap with the display panel. The detection panel can detect operations of a user's finger or the like by methods such as the capacitance method, the resistive film method, or the optical method.

[0051] In addition, in the input / output unit 15, the input unit can be a keyboard, a mouse, a button, etc., and the output unit can be a vertical liquid crystal display, etc.

[0052] 2. Control Method of a Printing Apparatus for Performing Pre-Printing Processing

[0053] As Figure 4 shown, before the control unit 10 of the printing apparatus 1 wants to print the print data D0 through the printing unit 12, it performs a prescribed process on the print data D0. Also refer to Figures 5 - 11 to explain the control for performing pre-printing processing executed by the control unit 10.

[0054] In addition, in Figures 5 - 11 is a conceptual diagram when making the pattern data P, the print data D0, the data of the process for processing the print data D0, etc. correspond to the medium M.

[0055] In addition, the control unit 10 can write and read each data corresponding to the conceptual diagram of Figures 5 - 11 with respect to the address on the memory of the storage unit 11. In addition, in the following description, the description of the control unit 10 writing and reading each data from the storage unit 11 is omitted.

[0056] As Figure 4 shown, the control unit 10 acquires the pattern data P (S100). The pattern data P is information related to the pattern P of the medium M. The pattern data P is, for example, CAD data including information indicating the position and shape of the pattern P in the medium M. Figure 5 The pattern data P shown is data corresponding to the pattern P of the medium M shown in Figure 2 . For the sake of facilitating the explanation corresponding to the pattern P of the medium M, the same reference numerals are used to indicate.

[0057] The control unit 10 can obtain pattern data P as CAD data from other devices such as a loom that can form a pattern P from a knitting medium M. The obtained pattern data P is stored in the storage unit 11. The pattern data P may also be pre-stored in the storage unit 11. The control unit 10 can obtain the pattern data P from the storage unit 11.

[0058] Here, the control unit 10 performs binarization processing on the obtained pattern data P and sets first feature points related to the edges of the binarized pattern data P. At this time, the control unit 10 may also perform smoothing processing on the binarized pattern data P.

[0059] The control unit 10 can display the binarized pattern data P through the input / output unit 15, detect the operation of the user, and set the first feature points. The storage unit 11 may also store an algorithm for setting the first feature points. The control unit 10 can read out the algorithm from the storage unit 11 and execute it to set the first feature points. In addition, the control unit 10 may also set the first feature points through an external device.

[0060] The control unit 10 or the user extracts characteristic points from the binarized pattern data P to set the first feature points. For example, the control unit 10 or the user may also extract the corners that become the edges from the binarized pattern data P and set them as the first feature points.

[0061] The set first feature points are used when the control unit 10 performs the printing process described later.

[0062] The control unit 10 obtains printing data D0 to be printed by the printing unit 12 (S101). As Figure 6 shown, the printing data D0 includes information such as the position, shape, and printing color on the medium M, for example.

[0063] The control unit 10 can obtain the printing data D0 from an external device or from the pre-stored storage unit 11.

[0064] In Figure 6 's example, the printing data D0 has first printing data D10 located within the pattern data P. In addition, the printing data D0 also has second printing data D20, which is blank data located within the pattern data P and within the first printing data D10. In Figure 6 's case, the printing data D0 is shown overlapping with the pattern data P as Figure 5 shown. As Figure 6 shown, the outer periphery of the pattern data P and the outer periphery of the first printing data D10 are in the same position and shape.

[0065] In addition, the print data D0 also has third print data D30 located outside the pattern data P. The third print data D30 includes 3A print data D30a located on the left side and 3B print data D30b located on the right side.

[0066] The control unit 10 separates the print data D0 (S102). Specifically, as Figure 7 shown, the control unit 10 separates the third print data D30 outside the pattern data P from the print data D0. The third print data D30 is located outside the pattern data P and does not overlap with the pattern data P.

[0067] In addition, as Figure 9 shown, the control unit 10 separates the first print data D10 inside the pattern data P from the print data D0. The first print data D10 is located inside the pattern data P and overlaps with the pattern data P.

[0068] When the print data D0 has second print data D20 inside the first print data D10, the control unit 10 separates the second print data D20 together with the first print data D10. In this case, the second print data D20 is also located inside the pattern data P and overlaps with the pattern data P.

[0069] The control unit 10 expands the print data D0 to generate respective expansion data (S103). Here, expansion means that the control unit 10 makes the print data D0 increase and become larger in the front, back, left, and right directions.

[0070] Specifically, the control unit 10 expands the third print data D30 outside the separated pattern data P as Figure 8 shown to generate third expansion data D31. The third expansion data D31 includes 3A expansion data D31a obtained by expanding the 3A print data D30a and 3B expansion data D31b obtained by expanding the 3B print data D30b.

[0071] In addition, the control unit 10 expands the first print data D10 inside the separated pattern data as Figure 10 shown to generate first expansion data D11.

[0072] The control unit 10 corrects the first expansion data D11 (S104). That is, the control unit 10 corrects the first expansion data D11 according to a predetermined rule in the manner described below.

[0073] As Figure 10 shown, as the control unit 10 expands the first print data D10 to generate the first expansion data D11, the second print data D20 inside the pattern data P becomes smaller and shrinks to become second shrinkage data D21.

[0074] Therefore, asFigure 11 As shown, the control unit 10 performs correction in such a way that the reduced second reduced data D21 is replaced with the original second print data D20. In this way, when generating the first expanded data D11, the control unit 10 performs correction so that the second print data D20 is located within the first expanded data D11.

[0075] Hereinafter, the expanded data is referred to as including the above-mentioned third expanded data D31, the first expanded data D11, and the replaced second print data D20.

[0076] Based on the generated expanded data, the control unit 10 can be transformed into covering the deformed pattern P, as described later.

[0077] The control unit 10 can also perform display through the input / output unit 15 in such a way as to emphasize the part expanded from the original print data D0 based on the expanded data.

[0078] 3. Control Method of a Printing Device for Performing Printing Processing

[0079] As Figure 12 shown, after the above-mentioned pre-printing processing, the control unit 10 of the printing device 1 performs printing processing. Also referring to Figures 13 - 18 , the control for performing printing processing executed by the control unit 10 will be described.

[0080] The control unit 10 can start printing processing based on the operation of the user on the input / output unit 15. The control unit 10 can utilize the time before the user operates the input / output unit 15 to pre-perform the above-mentioned pre-printing processing.

[0081] In addition, similarly to the above-mentioned pre-printing processing, Figures 13 - 18 it is a conceptual diagram when expressing the data of the process processed by the control unit 10 as corresponding to the imaging medium data MS obtained from the imaging medium M.

[0082] In addition, similarly to the above-mentioned pre-printing processing, the control unit 10 can write and read each data corresponding to the address on the memory of the storage unit 11 and the Figures 13 - 18 conceptual diagram. In addition, in the following description, the description of the control unit 10 writing and reading each data from the storage unit 11 is omitted.

[0083] As Figure 12 shown, the control unit 10 acquires the captured pattern data PS (S200) through the imaging unit 14. Specifically, the control unit 10 conveys the medium M in the conveying direction through the conveying unit 13, and captures the pattern P on the medium M through the imaging unit 14, so as to acquire the imaging medium data MS and the captured pattern data PS as Figure 13 shown.

[0084] Based on the acquired photographed pattern data PS, the control unit 10 generates transformation data according to the dilation data generated through the above pre-printing processing (S201). More specifically, the control unit 10 performs an affine transformation on the dilation data to generate the transformation data.

[0085] An affine transformation refers to transforming the data of the processing object, such as rotation, translation, deformation, magnification, and reduction. Hereinafter, the affine transformation processed by the control unit 10 will be specifically described.

[0086] When the medium M and the pattern P are conveyed through the conveying unit 13, they may be stretched or otherwise elongated or deflected, thus undergoing deformations such as rotation, translation, deformation, magnification, and reduction. Along with this, the photographed medium data MS and the photographed pattern data PS captured by the imaging unit 14 also become values that reflect the deformation.

[0087] Specifically, as Figure 5 shown, the photographed pattern data PS actually captured by the imaging unit 14 may undergo deformations such as rotation, translation, magnification, and reduction with respect to the pattern data P, which is the CAD data used when weaving the medium M. As an example of deformation, Figure 13 the photographed pattern data PS shown represents a case of elongation and magnification in the conveying direction with respect to the pattern data P.

[0088] Here, the control unit 10 performs binarization processing on the acquired photographed pattern data PS. The control unit 10 extracts the second feature points corresponding to the above first feature points set in the pre-printing processing for the binarized photographed pattern data PS. At this time, the control unit 10 may also perform smoothing processing on the binarized photographed pattern data PS.

[0089] The control unit 10 can calculate the correction amount of the affine transformation for transformation such as rotation, translation, deformation, magnification, and reduction based on the result of comparing the first feature points and the second feature points.

[0090] As described above, in Figure 13 the example of the photographed pattern data PS shown, it elongates and magnifies in the conveying direction with respect to Figure 5 the pattern data P shown. The correction amount of the affine transformation here becomes a correction amount such that it expands as it elongates in the conveying direction.

[0091] The control unit 10 performs an affine transformation on the dilation data based on the calculated correction amount of the affine transformation to generate the transformation data (S201). That is, the control unit 10 performs an affine transformation on the dilation data in a manner corresponding to the deformed photographed pattern data PS to generate the transformation data. In addition, the control unit 10 corrects the generated transformation data (S202).

[0092] The control unit 10 can perform an affine transformation within a range that covers the distorted captured pattern data PS based on the expansion data generated during pre-print processing.

[0093] Hereinafter, the affine transformation for the third expansion data D31 and the first expansion data D11, which are the expansion data, will be described in sequence. In addition, the correction of the respectively generated transformation data will also be described.

[0094] First, the control unit 10 performs an affine transformation on the third expansion data D31 to generate Figure 14 the third expansion transformation data DS31 shown in (S201).

[0095] The third expansion transformation data DS31 includes the 3A expansion transformation data DS31a obtained by performing an affine transformation on the 3A expansion data D31a and the 3B expansion transformation data DS31b obtained by performing an affine transformation on the 3B expansion data D31b.

[0096] As shown in Figure 14 , the control unit 10 virtually attempts to overlap the captured pattern data PS on the third expansion transformation data DS31. The control unit 10 performs correction (S202) in such a way that the overlapping duplicate portion with the captured pattern data PS is removed from the third expansion transformation data DS31, and it is set to Figure 15 the third transformation data DS30 shown in.

[0097] As shown in Figure 14 , the third removal data DS32 includes the 3A removal data DS32a and the 3B removal data DS32b.

[0098] The control unit 10 performs correction in such a way that the 3A removal data DS32a is removed from the 3A expansion transformation data DS31a, and it is set to the 3A transformation data DS30a as shown in Figure 15 . In addition, the control unit 10 performs correction in such a way that the 3B removal data DS32b is removed from the 3B expansion transformation data DS31b, and it is set to the 3B transformation data DS30b as shown in Figure 15 .

[0099] Next, as shown in Figure 16 , the control unit 10 performs an affine transformation on the first expansion data D11 to generate the first expansion transformation data DS11 (S201). The first expansion transformation data DS11 is within the outermost ellipse shown in Figure 16 .

[0100] The control unit 10 virtually attempts to overlay the shooting pattern data PS on the first dilation transformation data DS11. The control unit 10 corrects the first dilation transformation data DS11 in such a way as to remove the portion extending outward from the shooting pattern data PS, that is, the first removal data DS13 (S202).

[0101] The first removal data DS13 is an annular portion between the outer periphery of the first dilation transformation data DS11 and the outer periphery of the shooting pattern data PS.

[0102] In addition, in Figure 16 in order to facilitate the explanation of the first removal data DS13 extending outward from the shooting pattern data PS, the second transformation data DS20 described later is covered and hidden by the shooting pattern data PS.

[0103] Figure 17 The first transformation data DS10 represents the first dilation transformation data DS11 after removing the first removal data DS13. The outer periphery and size of the shooting pattern data PS are the same as those of the first transformation data DS10.

[0104] In addition, the control unit 10 arranges the second transformation data DS20 obtained by performing an affine transformation on the second printing data D20 replaced in the pre-printing process within the first transformation data DS10.

[0105] As Figure 18 shown, the control unit 10 combines (S203) the first transformation data DS10, the second transformation data DS20 within the shooting pattern data PS, and the third transformation data DS30 outside the shooting pattern data PS to obtain the transformation data DS.

[0106] That is, in the pre-printing process, the control unit 10 performs dilation processing on the printing data D0 separated inside and outside the pattern data P and then corrects it. In the printing process, after performing an affine transformation and correction, they are combined to obtain the transformation data DS.

[0107] In addition, in Figure 18 the control unit 10 virtually overlays the transformation data DS on the shooting pattern data PS. Therefore, the shooting pattern data PS appears above the second transformation data DS20 which is blank data.

[0108] The control unit 10 prints the transformation data DS on the medium M through the printing unit 12 (S204). Specifically, the control unit 10 conveys the medium M in the conveying direction through the conveying unit 13 and prints the transformation data DS on the medium M through the printing unit 12.

[0109] In addition, as described above, at this time, the control unit 10 captures the pattern P of the medium M through the imaging unit 14. During the printing process, the control unit 10 can sequentially acquire the captured pattern data PS upstream in the conveying direction, generate the transformation data DS, and perform printing.

[0110] The control unit 10 can also print the transformation data DS on the medium M through the printing unit 12 while conveying the medium M in the conveying direction through the conveying unit 13. The control unit 10 can also capture the pattern P of the medium M through the imaging unit 14 while conveying the medium M in the conveying direction through the conveying unit 13. In this case, the control unit 10 simultaneously performs conveyance based on the conveying unit 13, printing based on the printing unit 12, and imaging based on the imaging unit 14 on the medium M.

[0111] In addition, the control unit 10 can also print the transformation data DS on the medium M by repeatedly printing through the printing unit 12 after conveying the medium M a predetermined length in the conveying direction through the conveying unit 13. The imaging unit 14 can capture the pattern P of the medium M that has stopped being conveyed during printing by the printing unit 12. Alternatively, the imaging unit 14 can capture the pattern P of the medium M that is being conveyed when the printing unit 12 is not performing printing.

[0112] Figure 18 It is also possible to show a diagram corresponding to the result of actually printing the transformation data DS on the medium M by the control unit 10 through the printing unit 12.

[0113] In this case, Figure 18 the captured medium data MS and captured pattern data PS can be shown as data corresponding to the deformed medium M and pattern P. In addition, Figure 18 the transformation data DS including the first transformation data DS10, the second transformation data DS20, and the third transformation data DS30 in can be shown as data corresponding to the printing result.

[0114] In this way, the control unit 10 can generate the transformation data DS in accordance with the pattern P of the deformed medium M and perform printing.

[0115] The printing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment includes: a conveying unit 13 that conveys a medium M having a pattern P; an imaging unit 14 that images the medium M through the conveying unit 13; a printing unit 12 that performs printing on the medium M; and a control unit 10 that performs a printing process after performing pre-printing processing.

[0116] As pre-printing processing, the control unit 10 acquires the pattern data P related to the pattern P of the medium M, and expands the printing data D0 printed by the printing unit 12 to generate expansion data.

[0117] In printing processing, the control unit 10 acquires photographed pattern data PS related to the pattern P of the medium M through the photographing unit 14, generates transformation data DS based on the photographed pattern data PS according to the dilation data, and prints the transformation data DS on the medium M through the printing unit 12.

[0118] The printing apparatus 1 sometimes prints the printing data D0 in accordance with the pattern P of the medium M or at a position corresponding to the position of the pattern P. When the control unit 10 directly prints the printing data D0 on the deformed medium M, the printing position of the printing data D0 may shift from the intended position with respect to the deformed pattern P.

[0119] However, according to the printing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to generate and print the transformation data DS in accordance with the pattern P of the deformed medium M, thereby suppressing the case of shifting from the intended position with respect to the deformed pattern P.

[0120] As described above, the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific structure is not limited to the embodiments, and changes, replacements, deletions, etc. can be made as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated from.

[0121] For example, the pattern P of the medium M may be printed in advance on the opposite surface of the surface of the medium M on which printing is performed.

[0122] In pre-printing processing, the control unit 10 may first process the first printing data D10 in the separated pattern data, and then process the third printing data D30 outside the separated pattern data P.

[0123] In addition, in pre-printing processing, the control unit 10 may first process the first dilation data D11 in the separated pattern data, and then process the third dilation data D31 outside the separated pattern data P.

[0124] In addition, in the generation of the transformation data DS based on the dilation data, methods other than affine transformation may be used. For example, projection transformation, B-spline method, Thin-plate spline method, etc., which are non-linear transformations, may be used.

Claims

1. A printing device, characterized in that: have: A conveying part, conveying a medium having a pattern; An imaging unit for imaging the medium; a printing unit for printing on the medium; and The control unit performs printing processing after performing pre-printing processing. As the pre-printing process, the control unit acquires pattern data related to the pattern possessed by the medium, and expands the print data to be printed by the printing unit to generate expanded data. As the printing process, the control unit acquires photographed pattern data related to the pattern on the medium through the imaging unit, generates conversion data according to the expansion data based on the photographed pattern data, and prints the conversion data on the medium through the printing unit.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that As the pre-printing process, the control unit separates the print data into first print data located within the pattern data and overlapping with the pattern data and third print data located outside the pattern data and not overlapping with the pattern data, and generates first expansion data and third expansion data, respectively.

3. The printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that As the pre-printing processing, when the print data has second print data located within the first print data, the control unit separates the second print data together with the first print data, and when generating the first expansion data, performs correction in such a manner that the second print data is located within the first expansion data.

4. The printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: As the printing process, the control unit generates first conversion data based on the first expansion data, generates third conversion data based on the third expansion data, and combines the first conversion data and the third conversion data to set them as the conversion data to be printed by the printing unit.

5. The printing device according to claim 4, characterized in that As the printing process, the control unit removes a portion overlapping with the photographed pattern data from the first converted data, corrects the third converted data so as to remove a portion exceeding the photographed pattern data, and then combines the data.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: As the pre-printing process, the control unit performs binarization processing on the acquired pattern data to set a first feature point related to an edge of the pattern data, As the printing process, the control unit performs the binarization process on the acquired captured pattern data to extract second feature points corresponding to the first feature points, and generates the conversion data based on a result of comparing the first feature points with the second feature points.

7. A method for controlling a printing device, characterized in that: The printing device comprises: a conveying unit for conveying a medium having a pattern; an imaging unit for imaging the medium; and a printing unit for printing on the medium, and performing printing processing after performing pre-printing processing, wherein: As the pre-printing process, pattern data related to the pattern possessed by the medium is acquired, and the print data to be printed by the printing unit is expanded to generate expanded data. As the printing process, the imaging unit acquires photographed pattern data related to the pattern on the medium, generates conversion data from the expansion data based on the photographed pattern data, and the printing unit prints the conversion data on the medium.

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