Print data creation apparatus and printing system

Abstract

To provide a print data creation device or the like capable of creating print data so as to quickly start printing after receiving the print data.SOLUTION: A print data creation device 50 which includes a plurality of nozzle arrays 41 for ejecting ink and performs printing while repeating a plurality of passes includes a processing unit 51 which divides respective print data provided to each of the nozzle arrays 41 into pass units and creates a group of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, and the processing unit 51 outputs the created group of the print data as print data arranged in the order of the passes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a print data creation device that creates print data to be provided to a printing device such as a printer (2D printer) such as an inkjet printer or electrophotographic printer that prints on media using color materials such as ink or toner, or a printer (3D printer) such as a binder jet printer that prints from powder using a binder or other binding agent (3D modeling). [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology for a printing device that stores print data for each color component (see, for example, FIG. 8). Also, Patent Document 2 describes a technology for an image forming device that stores compressed data for each band, which is a collection of print data for multiple lines, in memory for each color component (see, for example, paragraph

[0029] and FIG. 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-264423 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-169916 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, according to the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, if the size of each band of compressed data for each color component is smaller than the amount of data required to start printing, printing cannot start until the printer receives multiple bands of compressed data for each color component. On the other hand, if the size of each band of compressed data for each color component is larger than the amount of data required to start printing, there is a problem that the printer takes extra time to receive unnecessary print data when starting printing, which delays the start of printing.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a print data creation device or the like that can generate print data so that a printing device can start printing quickly after receiving the print data. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the following exemplary aspects and best modes, as well as the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to facilitate an understanding of the outline of the present invention, the following examples are given of embodiments according to the present invention.

[0007] In an aspect according to the present invention, a print data creation device is provided with a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink, and performs printing by repeating a plurality of passes, and has a processing unit that divides the print data provided to each of the nozzle rows into pass units and creates groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, and the processing unit outputs the created groups of print data arranged in the order of the passes.

[0008] In an aspect according to the present invention, the processing unit divides the print data provided to each nozzle row into pass units, creates and outputs groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, so that the print data required for each ink head in one pass is compiled into a group and sent to the printing device.This means that the printing device can shorten the time it has to wait until the print data required for printing the first pass immediately after starting printing is complete, and there is no need to wait for the data required for the entire print to be complete, so it can start printing quickly after starting to receive print data.

[0009] Those skilled in the art will easily understand that the exemplified embodiments according to the present invention can be further modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a front view of an inkjet printer used as a printing device in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the underside of the carriage of the inkjet printer of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3(a) is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a print data creation device and a printing device that constitute a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a control unit possessed by the printing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example (FIG. 4(c)) of the data structure of print data created by the data creation device according to the embodiment of the present invention, together with comparative examples (FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)). [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation sequence between the print data creation device and the printing device that constitute the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram used to explain the operation of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the flow of print data between a print data creation device and a printing device that constitute the printing system. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram used to explain the concept of a path. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram used to explain the relationship between paths and print data. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The best mode described below is used to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and therefore, those skilled in the art should be aware that the present invention is not unduly limited by the embodiments described below.

[0012] (Configuration of the printing device 60) FIG. 1 is a front view of an inkjet printer used as a printing device 60 in a printing system 200 according to this embodiment.

[0013] In the following description, the symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings respectively represent the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom when the inkjet printer is viewed from the front. The symbol Y in the drawings indicates the main scanning direction, and the symbol X (see FIG. 2) in the drawings indicates the sub-scanning direction. In this embodiment, the main scanning direction Y is the left-right direction. The sub-scanning direction X is the front-to-back direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction Y in a plan view. However, these directions are merely defined for the convenience of explanation and do not in any way limit the installation mode of the inkjet printer 60 used as the printing device 60, nor do they in any way limit the present invention.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, a printing device 60 (inkjet printer) prints on a medium 5. The medium 5 is formed, for example, in a long length and wound into a roll before use. The medium 5 may also be in the form of a sheet that has been wound into a roll and then cut to a predetermined length. The medium 5 is, for example, recording paper. However, the medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. For example, the medium 5 includes a sheet made of a resin material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyester, a sealing material made of a backing paper and a release paper that is laminated on the backing paper and coated with an adhesive, and the like.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 60 (inkjet printer) includes a printer main body 10A, a platen 13, a conveying mechanism 20, a guide rail 15, a carriage 17, a head moving mechanism 30, an ink head 40 (see FIG. 2), a light irradiation device 38, and a control device 100.

[0016] The printer main body 10A has a casing that extends in the main scanning direction Y. The medium 5 is placed on a platen 13. With the medium 5 placed on the platen 13, printing is performed on the medium 5 on the platen 13. The platen 13 extends in the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X.

[0017] The transport mechanism 20 transports the medium 5 placed on the platen 13 in the sub-scanning direction X. In this embodiment, the transport mechanism 20 includes a pinch roller 21, a grit roller 22, and a feed motor 23. The pinch roller 21 is located above the platen 13 and below the guide rail 15, and presses down on the medium 5 from above. The grit roller 22 is mounted on the platen 13 with its upper portion exposed above the platen 13. The grit roller 22 faces the pinch roller 21. Note that the installation positions and number of the pinch roller 21 and the grit roller 22 are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the pinch roller 21 and the grit roller 22 are located at the left and right ends of the platen 13, respectively.

[0018] In this example, a feed motor 23 is connected to the grit roller 22. When the feed motor 23 is driven while the medium 5 is sandwiched between the pinch roller 21 and the grit roller 22, the grit roller 22 rotates. This causes the medium 5 to be transported in the sub-scanning direction X. The feed motor 23 is controlled by the control device 100.

[0019] The guide rail 15 is disposed above the platen 13. The guide rail 15 is disposed parallel to the platen 13 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. A carriage 17 is engaged with the guide rail 15. The carriage 17 is provided slidably on the guide rail 15.

[0020] The head moving mechanism 30 is a mechanism that moves the carriage 17, the ink head 40 (see FIG. 2), and the light irradiation device 38 in the main scanning direction Y. The configuration of the head moving mechanism 30 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the head moving mechanism 30 includes a left pulley 31a, a right pulley 31b, a belt 32, and a carriage motor 33. The left pulley 31a is provided near the left end of the guide rail 15. The right pulley 31b is provided near the right end of the guide rail 15. The belt 32 is, for example, endless, and is wound around the left pulley 31a and the right pulley 31b. The carriage 17 is attached and fixed to the belt 32.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, a carriage motor 33 is connected to the right pulley 31b. When the carriage motor 33 is driven, the right pulley 31b rotates, and the belt 32 runs between the left pulley 31a and the right pulley 31b. This causes the carriage 17, ink head 40, and light irradiation device 38 to move in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 15. The carriage motor 33 is controlled by the control device 100.

[0022] 2, the ink heads 40 are mounted on the carriage 17. The ink heads 40 include an ink head 40A, an ink head 40B, an ink head 40C, and an ink head 40D.

[0023] The ink heads 40A to 40D are formed so that their length in the sub-scanning direction X is longer than their length in the main scanning direction Y. The ink heads 40A to 40D are formed to have the same shape and size. The ink head 40 includes a nozzle row 42 in which multiple nozzles 41 are aligned in the sub-scanning direction X, a nozzle row 43 located to the side of the nozzle row 42 and in which multiple nozzles 41 are aligned in the sub-scanning direction X, and a nozzle surface 44 in which multiple nozzles 41 are formed. In this example, the nozzle row 43 is located to the right of the nozzle row 42. Ink (e.g., photocurable ink) is ejected from the nozzles 41 toward the medium 5. A negative pressure (pressure lower than atmospheric pressure) is set inside the nozzles 41. In this embodiment, the inkjet printer includes four ink heads 40, but the number is not particularly limited. Each ink head 40 includes two nozzle rows, but may include one nozzle row or three or more nozzle rows.

[0024] Each of the ink heads 40A to 40D ejects ink of a different color tone. For example, each of the ink heads 40A to 40D ejects one of process color inks, such as cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, or black ink. The number of ink heads 40A to 40D is not limited to four; for example, white ink, primer ink (an ink that improves adhesion), or glossy ink may be added. Also, ink heads 40 of a type having multiple nozzle rows that eject ink of different colors within a single ink head 40 (print data is distributed to each nozzle row) are also included in the category of ink heads 40 used in the printing system 200 of this embodiment.

[0025] The nozzles 41 of the ink head 40 eject, for example, photocurable ink. However, the ink ejected from the nozzles 41 of the ink head 40 is not limited to photocurable ink, and may be solvent ink or water-based ink. An example of photocurable ink is ultraviolet curable ink. UV curable ink has the property of curing when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

[0026] 1, the light irradiation devices 38 are disposed on the right and left sides of the carriage 17. The light irradiation devices 38 are devices that irradiate light (e.g., ultraviolet light) onto photocurable ink (e.g., ultraviolet curable ink) ejected onto the medium 5. Note that the printing device 60 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the light irradiation devices 38.

[0027] (Configuration of printing system 200) FIG. 3(a) is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the print data creation device 50 and the printing device 60 (inkjet printer) that constitute the printing system 200 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the control device 100 possessed by the inkjet printer.

[0028] 3(a), the printing system 200 of this embodiment is made up of a print data creation device 50 and a printing device 60. Note that the print data creation device 50 may be configured integrally with the printing device 60.

[0029] The print data creation device 50 has multiple ink heads 40 (here, 40A-40F) that eject ink, and can create print data to be sent to the printing device 60, which performs printing by repeating multiple passes. The printing device 60 repeats printing using multiple pass data (print data formed by a single scan) created by the print data creation device 50 and sent sequentially, allowing for the desired printing without waiting for printing. Figure 7 shows a conceptual diagram of passes. As shown in Figure 7, for example, in four-pass mode, the ink head prints on the media based on each pass data (the area represented by a group of dots in the figure indicates the area printed in each pass), and printing is completed by scanning a specified area (the area surrounded by a dashed line in the figure) four times (first pass, second pass, third pass, and fourth pass).

[0030] As will be described later, the print data creation device 50 divides the print data to be provided to each ink head 40 into pass units, creates groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass (the connection order of the control units 61 to 63), and sends the created groups of print data arranged in the order of the passes to the printing device 60.

[0031] Printing device 60 includes multiple daisy-chained control units (similar to control device 100 in FIG. 1, hereafter referred to as control units 61 to 63) that control any number of ink heads 40. Control unit 61 receives print data created by print data creation device 50 and distributes the received print data to other control units 62 and 63 by communicating with them, and each of control units 61 to 63 can retrieve the necessary print data and supply it to the corresponding ink head 40 (any of ink heads 40A to 40F). The number of control units 61 to 63 can be arbitrary.

[0032] The print data creation device 50 includes a processing unit 51 and a transmission unit 52. The processing unit 51 divides the print data to be provided to each of the ink heads 40 (40A-40F) into pass units, and creates a group of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass (for example, the order of the daisy-chain-connected control units 61, 62, and 63, described below). To this end, the processing unit 51 divides the print data into pass units that correspond to the number of nozzles 41 formed in each of the ink heads 40 (40A-40F). Alternatively, the processing unit 51 may divide the print data into pass units that are the number of nozzles 41 formed in each of the ink heads 40 divided by an arbitrary integer n. This will be described in more detail below.

[0033] The transmitting unit 52 can transmit print data, in which a group of print data created by the processing unit 51 is arranged in the order of the passes, to the printing device 60. The processing unit 51 and the transmitting unit 52 are both constructed as a higher-level device, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), with the processing unit 51 implemented in the PC main body (processor) and the transmitting unit 52 implemented in a LAN (Local Area Network) adapter.

[0034] Printing device 60 includes control units 61, 62, and 63 (all of which are mounted on printing device 60 as control boards) and ink heads 40 (here, 40E and 40F are added to 40A to 40D shown in FIG. 2).

[0035] Control unit 61 controls ink head 40A and ink head 40B, control unit 62 controls ink head 40C and ink head 40D, and control unit 63 controls ink head 40E and ink head 40F. In other words, control units 61 (62, 63) and the ink heads 40A and 40B (40C and 40D, and 40E and 40F) connected thereto are each connected in a daisy chain as a set, and by further expanding and connecting these sets via a daisy chain, a scalable structure is created that allows the number of ink heads 40 to be added later without changing the configuration before expansion.

[0036] As will be described later, according to the printing system 200 of this embodiment, even if the number of sets of control units 61 (62, 63) and connected ink heads 40A, 40B (40C, 40D, and 40E, 40F) increases or decreases, the data structure is such that each ink head 40 can sequentially distribute a block of print data required to start printing to each ink head 40, resulting in a compressed data structure suitable for a scalable structure. Details will be described later.

[0037] In the printing system 200 of this embodiment, a network is formed by the transmitter 52 (LAN adapter) of the print data creation device 50 and the control units 61, 62, and 63 of the printing device 60. That is, communication is possible between the transmitter 52 and the control units 61, 62, and 63. The control units 61, 62, and 63 are daisy-chain connected, and receive compressed print data generated and transmitted by the print data creation device 50. Based on the head controller connection status information set in the header H (see FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c)), the control units 61, 62, and 63 perform a filtering process to capture the necessary compressed print data (only the compressed data body D necessary to drive the connected ink heads 40) and supply it to each of the connected ink heads 40 (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E, and 40F).

[0038] Here, the head controller connection status information is information indicating whether the head controller 612 (see FIG. 3(b)) is connected to a connection slot (not shown) that each of the control units 61, 62, and 63 has, and for example, one bit is assigned to each as data indicating the connection status in the connection slot, with the bit being "1" if the head controller 612 is connected to the corresponding connection slot, and "0" if it is not connected. Each of the control units 61, 62, and 63 can identify the connection slot to which the head controller 612 is connected by referring to this head controller connection status information.

[0039] Fig. 3(b) shows the detailed internal configuration of only the control unit 61. Control units 62 and 63 also have the same configuration as control unit 61 shown in Fig. 3(b). According to Fig. 3(b), control unit 61 is made up of a CPU 610, storage 611 equipped with memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an MMC (Multi Media Card), a head controller 612, and LAN connectors 613 and 614.

[0040] The CPU 610 receives compressed print data sent by the print data creation device 50 via the LAN connector 613, performs the filtering process described above to decompress the captured compressed print data, and stores it in storage 611. The CPU 610 also supplies the decompressed print data to the corresponding head controller 612 in accordance with the head controller connection status information set in the header section H. The head controller 612 is implemented, for example, as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and one ink head 40 (any of 40A to 40F) is connected to one head controller 612 to control that one ink head 40. One head controller 612 may also be connected to multiple ink heads 40 and control the multiple connected ink heads 40.

[0041] The control unit 61 is connected to other control units 62 and 63 via a LAN connector 614 in a manner that allows communication therewith.

[0042] Next, with reference to FIG. 4(c), an example of the data structure of print data created by the print data creation device 50 of this embodiment will be described along with a comparative example (see FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)). Note that in each of FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c), the area surrounded by a thick solid line indicates the location of one pass's worth of data in each data structure. For ease of explanation, only data specifying where to apply cyan ink C is shown as a set of dots. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show an example of the data structure of print data in a comparative example (conventional example). According to FIG. 4(a), the print data consists of a header section H and a data body section D specifying where to apply ink. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the data body section D is constructed in color (C, M, Y, K, W) units in the row order (from top to bottom) of the input print image. That is, on the first line of the print image, data specifying where to apply each of the cyan ink C, magenta ink M, yellow ink Y, black ink K, and white ink W is listed in color order, then on the second line of the print image, data specifying where to apply each of the CMYKW inks is listed in color order,... and on the nth line of the print image, data specifying where to apply each of the CMYKW inks is listed in color order (first pass data (here, n lines of data are assumed to be the data required for one pass)). Data for the second pass and beyond is listed in the same way, resulting in a data structure in which color data is listed in order from the top line of the print image.

[0043] 4(b), the print data is similar to the comparative example shown in FIG. 4(a), consisting of a header section H and a data body section D that specifies where to place ink, and the data body section D is divided into color units, with each color grouped together on lines 1 to Z (here, line Z is the last line of the print image). In other words, all data from the first pass to the last pass is grouped by color.

[0044] Specifically, the processing unit 51 forms print data by arranging groups (rows 1 to z) of color component C, which specifies the locations where cyan ink is to be applied, color component M, which specifies the locations where magenta ink is to be applied, color component Y (not shown), which specifies the locations where yellow ink is to be applied, color component K (not shown), which specifies the locations where black ink is to be applied, and color component W, which specifies the locations where white ink is to be applied, in the data main body D. Note that instead of using the above-mentioned color units, the print data (group) may also be formed by dividing the data into units of nozzle rows 42 and 43 or ink heads 40 (40A to 40F).

[0045] In addition to the head controller connection status information described above, the header section H also contains the value of the division number n when the print data for lines 1 to n are grouped together, and the connection order of the ink heads 40 (40A to 40F). Based on the information set in the header section H, the control sections 61, 62, and 63 of the printing device 60 can determine which line of the divided print data to import and to which ink head 40 (40A to 40F) to pass it.

[0046] Fig. 4(c) shows an example of the data structure of print data created by the print data creation device 50 (processing unit 51) of this embodiment. According to Fig. 4(c), the print data consists of a header section H and a data body section D that specifies the locations where ink should be applied. Here, the data body section D is structured so that it is divided into color units for each arbitrary line, and each group is compressed. Specifically, the processing unit 51 divides the data main body D into designated lines for the inks CMYKW, respectively as C1 (lines 1 to n), C2 (lines n+1 to 2n)···Cm, M1 (lines 1 to n), M2 (lines n+1 to 2n)···Mm, K1 (lines 1 to n), K2 (lines n+1 to 2n)···Km, W1 (lines 1 to n), W2 (lines n+1 to 2n)···Wm, and arranges the data main body D in the following order: C1, M1, Y1, K1, W1, C2, M2, Y2, K2, W2,···Cm, Mm, Ym, Km, Wm. According to the data structure shown in Figure 4(c), once data C1, M1, Y1, K1, and W1 (i.e., C (first row) to W (nth row)) are collected, in other words, once the data for one pass enclosed by the thick solid frame in Figure 4(c) is collected, printing by the printing device 60 can begin, facilitating data distribution to the daisy-chain-connected printing devices 60 (control units 61 to 63) described below.

[0047] The relationship between passes and the data structure of print data is shown in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 8, if we take a cyan ink head as an example, the data for the first pass in the area represented by the set of dots in Figure 7 corresponds to the data portion C1 (lines 1 to n) where the locations where cyan ink is to be applied are specified.

[0048] The number of divisions n is determined, for example, by the number of dots in the sub-scanning direction X that are ejected in a predetermined area where passes are repeated, and the number of nozzles in the nozzle rows 42 and 43 of the ink head 40. When data from lines 1 to n are grouped together, this value of n is set in the header section H of the print data. Based on the information n in this header H, each of the control sections 61 to 63 can determine which line of the received print data to import and to which ink head 40 to pass it to.

[0049] The former (where n is the number of feed dots per pass width) divides the print data by p, which is the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction X of the nozzle rows 42 and 43 divided by the number of passes (any integer), which is the number of times the ink head 40 repeatedly scans a predetermined area, and the latter (where n is the number of nozzles) divides the print data by L, the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction X of the nozzle rows 42 and 43. Note that while the print data is divided here by ink types C, M, Y, K, and W, it may also be divided by ink types such as C, M, Y, K (back side colors), W, CMYK (front side colors), etc., to accommodate three-layer printing.

[0050] (Operation of the printing system 200) Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an operation sequence between the print data creation device 50 and the printing device 60 that constitute the printing system 200 according to this embodiment. Fig. 6 is a diagram cited for explaining the operation of the printing system 200 according to this embodiment, and shows the flow of print data between the print data creation device 50 and the printing device 60 that constitute the printing system 200. Below, the operation of the printing system 200 including the print data creation device 50 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

[0051] In FIG. 5, the print data creation device 50 first divides the input print image (print data) into pass units by the processing unit 51, and creates a group A of print data (see FIG. 6) arranged in a predetermined order for each pass (step ST101). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the print data creation device 50 (processing unit 51) creates the print data for the first pass as one group (group) (area surrounded by a thick solid line in the figure), with the data portion C1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where cyan ink is to be applied, the data portion M1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where magenta ink is to be applied, the data portion Y1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where yellow ink is to be applied, the data portion K1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where black ink is to be applied, and the data portion W1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where white ink is to be applied being one group (group) (area surrounded by a thick solid line in the figure), and the print data for the second pass as one group (group) with the data portion C2 (lines n+1 to 2n) specifying the locations where cyan ink is to be applied, and...the data portion W2 (lines n+1 to 2n) specifying the locations where white ink is to be applied being one group, and similarly creates the print data for the third pass and beyond as groups (groups). Here, the division number n is determined by the number of feed dots per pass width (the number of dots in the sub-scanning direction X that are ejected in a predetermined area where passes are repeated) and the number of nozzles in the nozzle rows 42 and 43 of the ink head 40.

[0052] Next, the processing unit 51 compresses the print data consisting of the header section H and the data body section D (step ST102), and the transmitting unit 52 starts transmitting the compressed print data obtained on a pass-by-pass basis to the printing device 60 sequentially (steps ST103, ST104).

[0053] The printing device 60 receives the compressed print data including the header section H sent by the print data generating device 50 via the network (denoted by the symbol a in FIG. 6) (step ST105) and executes a filtering process (step ST106). In the filtering process, the control unit 61 can determine which line of the divided print data to import and to which ink head 40 (one of 40A to 40F) to transfer it, by having the CPU 610 refer to the head controller connection status information set in the header section H, the value of the number of divisions n when the print data for lines 1 to n are formed as a group, and information related to the connection order of the ink heads 40 (40A to 40F).

[0054] Figure 6 shows how a block (group) of print data A (data portion C1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where cyan ink is to be applied, data portion M1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where magenta ink is to be applied, data portion Y1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where yellow ink is to be applied, data portion K1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where black ink is to be applied, and data portion W1 (lines 1 to n) specifying the locations where white ink is to be applied) of the first pass created by the print data creation device 50 (processing unit 51) is distributed to each control unit 61 to 63 that make up the printing device 60, which are connected by a daisy chain. Of print data A, C1 and M1 (lines 1 to n) are taken in by control unit 61, and of print data B, the data portion of Y1, K1, and W1 (lines 1 to n) excluding C1 and M1 from print data A is taken in by control unit 62, and of print data C, the data portion of W1 (lines 1 to n) excluding Y1 and K1 from print data B is taken in by control unit 63. Note that the print data for the second and subsequent passes, which are subsequently created by print data creation device 50 (processing unit 51) and transmitted by transmission unit 52, are similarly distributed to and taken in by each of control units 61 to 63 constituting printing device 60 connected by daisy chain.

[0055] Specifically, the control unit 61 (CPU 610 in FIG. 3(b)) can retrieve the compressed print data it needs (here, for example, the cyan C print data A1 for the first to nth lines and the magenta M print data A2 for the first to nth lines as shown in FIG. 6). Next, the CPU 610 stores the print data retrieved by the filtering process in the storage 611 and executes the decompression process (step ST107). Then, after writing the decompressed print data to the storage 611, the CPU 610 transfers the decompressed print data read from the storage 611 to the corresponding head controller 612. The corresponding head controller 612 is identified by referencing information regarding the connection order of the ink heads 40, which is set in the header section H of the print data. The head controller 612 then transfers the cyan C print data A1 for the first to nth lines to the ink head 40A and the magenta M print data A2 for the first to nth lines to the ink head 40B (step ST108).

[0056] Meanwhile, control unit 62 (CPU 610) retrieves the compressed print data it needs (here, yellow Y print data B1 and black K print data B2 for lines 1 to n) from the remaining compressed print data B including header section H received via the network (denoted by symbol b in FIG. 6) by referencing the head controller connection status information, division number n, and information related to the connection order of ink heads 40, which are set in header section H, and then executes a decompression process and transfers the decompressed print data to the corresponding head controller 612. Head controller 612 then transfers yellow Y print data B1 for lines 1 to n to ink head 40C and black K print data B2 for lines 1 to n to ink head 40D.

[0057] The control unit 63 also references the head controller connection status information set in the header section H from the remaining compressed print data C, including the header section H, received via the network (denoted by symbol c in FIG. 6), and retrieves the necessary compressed print data (here, the first to nth lines of white W print data C1) through a filtering process. The control unit 63 then executes a decompression process and transfers the decompressed print data to the head controller 612. The head controller 612 then transfers the first to nth lines of white W print data C1 to the ink head 40E. Similarly, the print data for the second and subsequent passes transmitted by the transmission unit 52 is distributed and retrieved by the respective control units 61-63 that make up the printing device 60, which are connected by a daisy chain. Finally, the ink head 64 selected based on the transferred print data begins to be driven (printed) (step ST109), and the desired printing process is performed by ejecting ink from the nozzles toward the medium 5, thereby completing the series of processes performed by the printing system 200.

[0058] As described above, in the printing system 200 of this embodiment, the print data creation device 50 divides the print data provided to the printing device 60 (each of the ink heads 40) into pass units, creates groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, and transmits the created groups of print data arranged in the order of the passes to the printing device 60. This allows each ink head 40A-40F to send the print data (C1, M1, Y1, K1, W1) required for a single pass to the printing device 60 as a group. This reduces the time the printing device 60 waits for the print data required for the first pass immediately after printing begins, and eliminates the need to wait for the data required for the entire print run to be available. This allows the printing device 60 to start printing quickly after starting to receive print data. Furthermore, because compression and decompression can be performed collectively on the print data required for a single pass, the efficiency of the compression and decompression processes can be improved.

[0059] (Addendum) As described above, the print data creation device 50 of this embodiment is a print data creation device 50 that has a plurality of nozzle rows 41 that eject ink and performs printing by repeating a plurality of passes, as shown in Fig. 3(a), for example. The print data creation device 50 has a processing unit 51 that divides the print data provided to each of the nozzle rows 41 into pass units and creates groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, and the processing unit 51 is configured to output the created groups of print data arranged in the order of the passes.

[0060] In the print data creation device 50 of this embodiment, the processing unit 51 divides the print data provided to each nozzle row into pass units, creates and outputs groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, so that the print data required for each ink head in one pass is compiled into a group and output to the printing device 60.This means that the printing device 60 can shorten the time it spends waiting until the print data required for printing the first pass immediately after starting printing is complete, and there is no need to wait for the data required for the entire print to be complete, so printing can begin quickly after starting to receive print data.

[0061] Furthermore, in the print data creation device 50 of this embodiment, a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are formed in each nozzle row 41, and the processing unit divides the print data into pass units that correspond to the number of nozzles formed in each nozzle row 41. In this way, by configuring the processing unit 51 to divide the print data into pass units that correspond to the number of nozzles formed in each nozzle row 41, the print data required for one pass is collected into a group and output to the printing device 60, so the printing device 60 can shorten the time it takes to wait until the print data required for printing the first pass immediately after starting printing is complete, and because there is no need to wait until the data required for the entire print run is complete, it can start printing quickly after starting to receive the print data.

[0062] Furthermore, in the print data creation device 50 of this embodiment, multiple nozzles (42, 43) that eject ink are formed in each nozzle row 41, and the processing unit 51 divides the print data into pass units that are values ​​obtained by dividing the number of nozzles formed in each nozzle row 41 by any integer. Therefore, even in multi-pass printing, in which multiple passes are made to each area of ​​the medium 5, the print data required for one pass is compiled into a group and output to the printing device 60. This means that the printing device 60 can shorten the time it waits until the print data required for printing the first pass immediately after printing starts is complete, and there is no need to wait for the data required for the entire print to be complete, so printing can start quickly after starting to receive print data.

[0063] Furthermore, in the print data creation device 50 of this embodiment, each nozzle row 41 ejects ink of a different color. Therefore, even in the case of multi-color printing, the print data required for one pass of the nozzle row 41 is grouped together and output to the printing device 60, so the printing device 60 can shorten the time it takes to wait until the print data required for the first pass of printing is ready immediately after starting printing, and there is no need to wait until the data required for the entire print is ready, so printing can begin quickly after starting to receive print data.

[0064] 3(a), the printing device 60 includes a plurality of daisy-chained control units 61, 62, and 63 that control any number of nozzle rows 41, and the processing unit 51 creates print data in a predetermined order based on the connection order of the control units 61, 62, and 63. This allows the necessary group of print data to be distributed in order to each of the ink heads 40a to 40F in one pass.

[0065] Furthermore, the printing system 200 of this embodiment is a printing system 200 that includes, for example, a print data creation device 50 that has multiple nozzle rows 41 (e.g., ink heads 40A to 40F) that eject ink and creates print data that is printed by repeating multiple passes, and a printing device 60 that prints the print data, as shown in FIG. 3(a). In the printing system 200, the print data creation device 50 divides the print data to be provided to each of the nozzle rows 41 into pass units, creates a group of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass (step ST101), outputs the created group of print data arranged in the predetermined order of the passes to the printing device 60 (steps ST102 to ST104), the printing device 60 has a plurality of control units 61 to 63 connected in a daisy chain to control any number of nozzle rows, receives the print data created by the print data creation device 50 (step ST105), and each of the control units 61 to 63 takes in the necessary print data and supplies it to the corresponding nozzle row 41 (steps ST106 to ST108).

[0066] According to the printing system 200 of this embodiment, the print data creation device 50 divides the print data provided to the printing device 60 (each of the ink heads 40) into pass units, creates groups of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, and transmits the created groups of print data arranged in the order of the passes to the printing device 60. This allows the print data required for each ink head 40A-40F to be collected as a group in a single pass and transmitted to the printing device 60. This reduces the time the printing device 60 waits for the print data required for the first pass immediately after printing begins, and eliminates the need to wait for the data required for the entire print run to be collected, allowing the printing device 60 to begin printing quickly after starting to receive print data. Furthermore, since the required print data can be compressed and decompressed collectively in a single pass, the efficiency of the compression and decompression processes can be improved.

[0067] 3(a), the printing system 200 according to this embodiment has a daisy-chain connection (a string of beads) of control units 61 (62, 63) and ink heads 40A, 40B (40C, 40D, and 40E, 40F) connected thereto, as a set. By further expanding these sets by daisy-chaining (a string of beads), the system has a scalable structure that allows the number of ink heads 40 to be increased later without changing the configuration before expansion. Therefore, even if the number of sets of control units 61 (62, 63) and ink heads 40A, 40B (40C, 40D, and 40E, 40F) connected thereto increases or decreases, the system has a data structure that allows each ink head 40 to sequentially distribute the block of print data required to start printing to each ink head 40, and a compressed data structure that is suitable for a scalable structure.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to easily modify the above-described exemplary embodiments to the extent that they fall within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 5...media, 10A...printer body, 13...platen, 15...guide rail, 17...carriage, 20...transport mechanism, 30...head movement mechanism, 38...light irradiation device, 50...print data creation device, 51...processing unit, 52...transmission unit, 60...printing device, 61, 62, 63...control unit, 40 (40A to 40F)...ink head, 41 (42, 43)...nozzle row, 200...printing system, 610...CPU, 611...storage, 612...head controller, 613, 614...LAN connector

Claims

1. A print data creation device that has a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink and performs printing by repeating a plurality of passes, a processing unit that divides print data to be provided to each of the nozzle rows into pass units and creates a group of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass; The processing unit A print data creation device that outputs the created group of print data by arranging them in the order of passes.

2. A plurality of nozzles that eject the ink are formed in each of the nozzle rows, The processing unit 2. The print data creation device according to claim 1, wherein the print data is divided into pass units each of which corresponds to the number of nozzles formed in each of the nozzle rows.

3. A plurality of nozzles that eject the ink are formed in each of the nozzle rows, The processing unit 2. The print data creation device according to claim 1, wherein the print data is divided into pass units each of which is a value obtained by dividing the number of nozzles formed in each of the nozzle rows by an arbitrary integer.

4. Each of the nozzle rows 4. The print data creating device according to claim 1, wherein inks of different colors are ejected.

5. The printing device receives the print data output from the processing unit, a plurality of control units connected in a daisy chain to control any number of the nozzle rows; The processing unit The print data creation device according to claim 1 , wherein the print data is created with the connection order of the control units set to the predetermined order.

6. A printing system including a print data creation device that has a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink and creates print data that executes printing by repeating a plurality of passes, and a printing device that prints the print data, The print data creation device Dividing print data to be provided to each of the nozzle rows into pass units, creating a group of print data arranged in a predetermined order for each pass, and sending the created group of print data arranged in the predetermined order in the order of the passes to the printing device; The printing device A printing system comprising a plurality of daisy-chained control units that control any number of the nozzle rows, the print data created by the print data creation device is received, and each of the control units retrieves the necessary print data and supplies it to the corresponding nozzle row.

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