Image formation device

Abstract

To provide an image formation device which prevents images from not being a target image on a rear end of long-sized printing, and can prevent wasteful consumption of many supplies accompanied by the long-sized printing.SOLUTION: An image formation device includes: a printing part for performing scanning in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a sub-scanning direction of conveying a roll sheet, and printing image data on the roll sheet; a measurement part for measuring an actual conveyance distance of the roll sheet when the roll sheet is conveyed; a storage part for storing the actual conveyance distance, the image data for each one scan of the printing part, and measured value data including a total number of scans of the printing part; and a control part for acquiring the measured value data before printing by the printing part, and then performing trial printing on the roll sheet only in the vicinity of a rear end of the image data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] There are image forming devices that are intended for printing on roll paper. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration that allows test printing and normal printing to be distributed to the same printing device for processing, for the purpose of test printing. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, when printing on roll paper, the print position of the trailing edge may shift due to various error factors such as transport error and magnification error. Also, when printing on roll paper, the effect of errors is small for small sizes such as A4, but for longer lengths, the errors accumulate and the shift in the print position of the trailing edge becomes greater. Furthermore, it is desirable to test print this trailing edge to check the shift, but even if the trailing edge image is calculated and printed only within the image processing, the shift cannot be determined until it is actually printed, because transport error and the like cannot be determined until the paper is actually transported. Also, if the image at the trailing edge is not the desired image when printing a long length, more supplies are consumed when redoing it than with normal printing.

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a trailing edge portion of a long sheet is test printed to check for misalignment, even if the trailing edge image is calculated and printed only within the image processing, conveyance errors and the like cannot be determined until the paper is actually conveyed, so the misalignment cannot be determined until the actual printing is performed. Also, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a long sheet is test printed, supplies are consumed accordingly. Also, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, if the trailing edge image is not the intended image when a long sheet is printed, supplies are consumed more than normal when redoing the print.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an image forming device that can prevent the desired image from being produced at the end of a long-length print and can prevent the large amount of supplies that accompany long-length prints from being wasted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises a printing unit that prints image data on the roll paper by scanning in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction in which the roll paper is transported, a measurement unit that measures an actual transport distance of the roll paper when the roll paper is transported, a storage unit that saves actual measurement data including the actual transport distance, the image data for each scan of the printing unit, and the total number of scans of the printing unit, and a control unit that acquires the actual measurement data before printing by the printing unit and then performs test printing on the roll paper only near the rear end of the image data. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the trailing edge of a long sheet of paper from not producing the intended image, and to prevent the wasteful consumption of a large amount of supplies that accompanies long sheet printing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the control unit according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the control unit according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of test printing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of test printing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of test printing after correction in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another example of test printing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of test printing after correction of magnification error in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an input unit 11, a guide and conveyance unit 13, a printing unit 15, a drying unit 17, and a discharge unit 19.

[0011] The carry-in unit 11 is a unit that carries in the recording medium 110, which is roll paper, and transports it to the guide transport unit 13. The recording medium 110 is sent out by the rotation of a main winding roller 111, guided and transported by the rollers of the carry-in unit 11, the guide transport unit 13, the printing unit 15, the drying unit 17, and the discharge unit 19, and taken up by a take-up roller 190 of the discharge unit 19. The carry-in unit 11 has a measurement unit 11a. The measurement unit 11a has a sensor, an encoder, etc., and is an example of a measurement unit that measures the actual transport distance of the recording medium 110 when the recording medium 110 is transported (hereinafter referred to as the actual transport distance).

[0012] The recording medium 110 is not limited to paper, but may be anything to which a liquid can at least temporarily adhere, and may be something to which the liquid adheres and sticks, or something to which the liquid adheres and penetrates, etc. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, film, and cloth, electronic boards, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers, organ models, and test cells, and unless otherwise specified, includes all things to which liquid adheres.

[0013] The material to which the above-mentioned liquid can adhere may be anything to which the liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc.

[0014] The liquid may have a viscosity and surface tension that allows it to be discharged from the discharge head, and is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the viscosity is 30 [mPa·sec] or less at room temperature and normal pressure, or by heating or cooling. More specifically, the liquid may be a solution, suspension, emulsion, etc. containing a solvent such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant such as a dye or a pigment, a functionalizing material such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, a surfactant, a biocompatible material such as DNA, an amino acid, a protein, calcium, an edible material such as a natural dye, etc., and these can be used for applications such as inkjet ink, a surface treatment liquid, a liquid for forming a component of an electronic element or a light-emitting element or an electronic circuit resist pattern, a material liquid for three-dimensional modeling, etc.

[0015] The guide and conveyance unit 13 is a unit that guides and conveys the recording medium 110 conveyed by the carry-in unit 11 to the printing unit 15.

[0016] The printing unit 15 is a unit that performs printing processing (image formation) on a recording medium 110 by a line head type ejection head 151. The printing unit 15 includes a head unit 150, a transport guide member 159, a liquid charging unit 160, a medium charging unit 170, and a control unit 180.

[0017] The head unit 150 is a unit that prints an image by ejecting liquid such as ink onto the recording medium 110. The head unit 150 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of ejection heads 151 that eject liquid onto the recording medium 110. Specifically, the head unit 150 is, for example, a scan-type head unit that performs printing processing while displacing the ejection heads 151 in the main scanning direction relative to the recording medium 110. That is, the head unit 150 is an example of a printing section that prints image data onto the recording medium 110 by scanning in a main scanning direction (width direction of the recording medium 110) perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction in which the recording medium 110 is transported. The plurality of ejection heads 151 may also include ejection heads that individually eject ink of a plurality of colors (for example, CMKY, etc.), ejection heads that eject surface treatment liquid such as a protective coating liquid, etc.

[0018] The transport guide member 159 is a guide member for transporting the recording medium 110 so that the printing surface of the recording medium 110 faces the head unit 150 (ejection head 151).

[0019] The liquid charging unit 160 is a unit that charges the liquid (droplets) ejected from the ejection head 151.

[0020] The medium charging unit 170 is a unit that charges the recording medium 110. The medium charging unit 170 of this embodiment generates an electric field downstream of the liquid charging unit 160, and charges the recording medium 110.

[0021] The control unit 180 is a unit that controls the operation of the printing unit 15 , and controls the head unit 150 (ejection head 151 ), the liquid charging unit 160 and the medium charging unit 170 .

[0022] The drying unit 17 is a unit that dries moisture on the recording medium 110 on which an image has been printed by the printing unit 15, and fixes the ink, surface treatment liquid, etc. to the paper. The drying unit 17 transports the recording medium 110 after drying to the discharge unit 19.

[0023] The discharge unit 19 is a unit that winds up the printed recording medium 110 transported from the drying unit 17 around a winding roller 190 .

[0024] 1 is an example, and the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited thereto. For example, a cooling unit for cooling the recording medium 110 may be further provided as a post-process of the drying unit 17.

[0025] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control unit according to the present embodiment. The control unit 180 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) 204, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 205, a host I / F 206, an I / O 207, a head drive circuit 211, a liquid charging drive circuit 212, and a medium charging drive circuit 213.

[0026] The CPU 201 is a calculation device that controls the entire printing unit 15. The ROM 202 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 201 and other fixed data. The RAM 203 is a volatile memory that functions as a work area for the CPU 201. The NVRAM 204 is a non-volatile memory that stores data even when the power to the printing unit 15 is cut off. The ASIC 205 is an integrated circuit that performs specific image processing and signal processing.

[0027] The host I / F 206 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data and signals to and from a host 250 that provides commands and the like to the image forming apparatus 1. The host I / F 206 is, for example, a network interface conforming to TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol). The host I / F 206 may also be an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or a two-wire bus communication. Examples of the host 250 connected to the host I / F 206 include an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), an image reading device such as an image scanner, an imaging device such as a digital camera, and other units disposed adjacent to the printing unit 15.

[0028] The I / O 207 is an interface for inputting detection signals from various sensors disposed within the print unit 15 .

[0029] The head driving circuit 211 is a circuit that outputs driving signals that control the driving of the head unit 150 (ejection head 151) in response to signals from the CPU 201, ASIC 205, etc. When print data is received from the host 250 via the host I / F 206, the CPU 201 reads and analyzes the print data in a receive buffer included in the host I / F 206. The ASIC 205 performs necessary image processing and the like on the print data, and outputs the processed data (image data) to the head unit 150 via a head driving circuit section 511.

[0030] The liquid charging drive circuit 212 is a circuit that outputs a drive signal that controls the drive of the liquid charging unit 160 in response to a signal from the CPU 201 etc. The CPU 201 drives the liquid charging unit 160 via the liquid charging drive circuit 212 so that the liquid ejected from each ejection head 151 of the head unit 150 is charged at a predetermined timing.

[0031] The medium charging drive circuit 213 is a circuit that outputs a drive signal for controlling the drive of the medium charging unit 170 in response to a signal from the CPU 201 etc. The CPU 201 drives the medium charging unit 170 via the medium charging drive circuit 213 so as to generate an electric field at a predetermined timing in order to charge a non-image forming area, which will be described later.

[0032] Operation panel 260 is a device having an input function and a display function, and receives various inputs according to user operations and displays various information. Operation panel 260 can be configured, for example, using an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) equipped with a touch panel function, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) equipped with a touch panel function, or the like.

[0033] Note that the hardware configuration of the control unit 180 shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and may include components other than those described above, or may not include some of the components.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the control unit according to the present embodiment. The control unit 180 has a storage unit 501 and a control unit 502. These functional units 501-502 are realized by cooperation between the components 201-207, 211-213 of the control unit 180 described in Fig. 2 and programs stored in the ROM 202 and the NVRAM 204.

[0035] The storage unit 501 is an example of a storage unit that stores actual measurement data including the actual transport distance measured by the measurement unit 11a, image data for each scan of the head unit 150, and the total number of scans of the head unit 150. Here, the total number of scans may be the number of scans of the head unit 150 in printing from the image data at the leading end to the image data at the trailing end.

[0036] The control unit 502 is an example of a control unit that acquires actual measurement data before printing by the head unit 150 and then performs test printing on the recording medium 110 only near the rear end of the image data. This allows test printing in advance only the rear end image during long-length printing based on actual measurement data obtained in the same environment and situation as during actual printing where paper transport and image processing are performed, and by correcting or adjusting any deviation due to some error before printing, it is possible to prevent the rear end of the long-length printing from not producing the intended image and to prevent the associated waste of a large amount of supplies.

[0037] Furthermore, when acquiring actual measurement data, the control unit 502 transports the recording medium 110 to measure the actual transport distance, but may store image data for each scan by the head unit 150 in the storage unit 501 without performing a printing operation by the head unit 150. This makes it possible to acquire the final scanned image (printed image) and the actual transport distance based on the same operating environment as the actual printing operation without consuming ink.

[0038] Furthermore, after measuring the actual measurement data, the control unit 502 may rewind the transported recording medium 110 to the print start position and then perform test printing. In this way, by rewinding the discharged recording medium 110 after measuring the actual transport distance, it is possible to obtain the actual measurement data without consuming the recording medium 110 such as paper.

[0039] Furthermore, if the image printed by the test printing is not as intended by the user, the control unit 502 may perform error correction and adjustment of the trailing edge image according to an adjustment instruction from the user, and perform test printing again. Here, the intended image may be a specified image, an image indicated by image data, etc. This allows the user to arbitrarily correct errors in the trailing edge image. Furthermore, in correcting the trailing edge image, only the trailing edge image can be test printed based on the acquired actual measurement data, so that consumption of supplies (e.g., ink, paper) can be reduced compared to test printing all images.

[0040] 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of test printing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, the control unit 502 does not actually perform a printing operation by the head unit 150, but performs image processing and paper transport (transport of the recording medium 110) for each scan (for one scan) (step S401). During this time, the measurement unit 11a measures the actual transport distance of the recording medium 110 (for example, counts the amount of paper transport) (step S402).

[0041] Then, the control unit 502 repeats image processing and paper transport for each scan until the final scan (step S403: No). The control unit 502 also internally stores in the storage unit 501 actual measurement data such as the actual transport distance, image data near the rear end of the image data (for example, image data near the final scan), and the total number of scans.

[0042] The actual transport distance of the recording medium 110 is measured by a measuring unit 11a such as a sensor or an encoder, and is stored in the storage unit 501 until the image of the rear end is scanned (final scan) (step S403: Yes, step S404). When the transport of the recording medium 110 such as paper up to the final scan is completed (step S403: Yes), the control unit 502 rewinds the transported recording medium 110 such as paper to the position before printing started (step S405).

[0043] Next, the control unit 502 prints (test prints) the image data of the rear end (image data near the final scan) on the recording medium 110 by the head unit 150 (step S406). If the image printed on the recording medium 110 is not the image the user intended (the image intended by the user) (step S407: No), the control unit 502 corrects or adjusts the error of the image of the rear end according to an adjustment instruction from the user (step S408), and returns to step S406. On the other hand, if the image printed on the recording medium 110 is the image intended by the user (step S407: Yes), the control unit 502 ends the test print.

[0044] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of test printing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of test printing after correction in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. As an example of a state in which there is a transport error of the recording medium 110, if the original image is 10 m but the actual transport amount is 9.9 m, when printing is performed as is, as shown in Fig. 5, the image at the rear end will be cut off by 0.1 m, the amount of the transport error.

[0045] In contrast, in this embodiment, image data near the rear end and the actual transport distance are stored in storage unit 501 as actual measurement data, so the image position is calculated based on that data and a portion near the rear end of the long image is printed as a test print so that the user can check it. This allows the user to input an adjustment instruction for the transport error of the recording medium 110, as shown in Fig. 6, to correct or adjust the transport error of the recording medium 110.

[0046] 7 is a diagram for explaining another example of test printing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. As an example of a state in which there is a magnification error on the image processing side of the image forming apparatus 1, if the document image is 10 m long but the image becomes 9.9 m long after image processing, if printing is performed as is, the image will shrink by 0.1 m, the amount of the magnification error, and the margin at the rear end will become longer.

[0047] In contrast, in this embodiment, image data near the rear end and the actual transport distance are stored as actual measurement data in storage unit 501, so the image position is calculated based on that data, and a portion near the rear end of the long image is printed as a test print so that the user can check it. This allows the user to input an adjustment instruction for the magnification error in image processing to correct or adjust the transport error of the recording medium 110.

[0048] Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of test printing after correction of magnification error in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. When there is a difference between an image near the rear end (image near the final scan) printed by test printing and an original image due to a magnification error on the image processing side of the image forming apparatus 1, after test printing of an image near the rear end, the user can input an adjustment instruction as shown in Fig. 8 to correct the difference.

[0049] If the deviation is due to a magnification error, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot recognize that there is a deviation due to a magnification error from the actual measurement data, so if the deviation is not due to a transport error, the user inputs an adjustment instruction to correct the deviation due to the magnification error (for example, a process to correct the image magnification for each scanned image of the original image) at their discretion, and then executes test printing again.The user then checks the image printed by the corrected test printing, and ends the test printing if there are no problems.

[0050] In this way, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, by test printing in advance only the rear end image when printing a long sheet of paper based on actual measurement data obtained in the same environment and conditions as when actually printing, where paper transport and image processing are performed, any deviation due to some error can be corrected or adjusted before printing, thereby preventing the rear end of the long sheet of paper from not producing the desired image and preventing the associated waste of a large amount of supplies.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention is described as being applied to a multifunction device having at least two of the functions of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. However, the image forming apparatus 1 can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a scanner device, or a facsimile device.

[0052] For example, aspects of the present invention are as follows. <1> a printing unit that prints image data on the roll paper by scanning the roll paper in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a sub-scanning direction in which the roll paper is transported; a measuring unit that measures an actual transport distance of the roll paper when the roll paper is transported; a storage unit that stores actual measurement data including the actual transport distance, the image data for each scan of the printing unit, and a total number of scans of the printing unit; a control unit that acquires the actual measurement data before printing by the printing unit and then performs test printing on the roll paper of only the rear end portion of the image data; An image forming apparatus comprising: <2> When acquiring the actual measurement data, the control unit transports the roll paper and measures the actual transport distance, but does not perform a printing operation by the printing unit, and stores the image data for each scan by the printing unit in the storage unit. <1> 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . <3> After measuring the actual measurement data, the control unit rewinds the transported roll paper to a printing start position and then performs the test printing. <1> or <2> 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . <4> If the image printed by the test printing is not as intended by the user, the control unit issues an adjustment instruction, arbitrarily corrects errors and performs adjustments, and performs the test printing again. <1> from <3> 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Image forming device 11 Loading unit 11a Measurement section 13 Guide and conveyor unit 15 Printing unit 17 Drying unit 19 Discharge unit 110 Recording media 150 Head Unit 151 Discharge Head 180 Control Unit 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 501 Preservation Department 502 Control section [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0054] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-003827 A

Claims

1. a printing unit that prints image data on the roll paper by scanning the roll paper in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a sub-scanning direction in which the roll paper is transported; a measuring unit that measures an actual transport distance of the roll paper when the roll paper is transported; a storage unit that stores actual measurement data including the actual transport distance, the image data for each scan of the printing unit, and a total number of scans of the printing unit; a control unit that acquires the actual measurement data before printing by the printing unit and then performs test printing on the roll paper of only the rear end portion of the image data; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when acquiring the actual measurement data, the control unit transports the roll paper and measures the actual transport distance, but does not perform a printing operation using the printing unit, and stores the image data for each scan by the printing unit in the storage unit.

3. 3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit, after measuring the actual measurement data, rewinds the transported roll paper to a print start position and then performs the test printing.

4. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit issues an adjustment instruction if the image printed by the test printing is not as intended by the user, performs error correction and adjustment as desired, and performs the test printing again.

Images