Liquid discharge device, method for controlling the same, and program

Abstract

To prevent jam in a configuration that can adjust an amount of liquid to be used.SOLUTION: A control unit of a printer includes the steps of: adjusting CMYK values on the basis of adjustment values (S4); and executing recording processing on the basis of the adjusted CMYK values (S8). The control unit includes a step of changing the adjustment values to reduce an ink amount (S11) when detecting jam during execution of recording processing (S9: YES).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device capable of adjusting the amount of liquid used, and a control method and program for the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that an adjustment value is set in response to a user's input, and the density of image data (amount of ink used) is adjusted in response to the adjustment value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-141941 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, when image data is adjusted in the direction of higher density (higher ink usage) according to user input, the paper (recording medium) curves as it absorbs the ejected ink, and the curved paper collides with components inside the liquid ejection device, potentially causing a jam.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection device that can prevent jams in a configuration in which the amount of liquid used can be adjusted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The liquid ejection device of the present invention comprises an ejection section having a nozzle, a movement section that moves the ejection section and a recording medium relatively, and a control section, and the control section is capable of executing a recording process including a movement process that moves the ejection section and the recording medium relatively using the movement section, and an ejection process that ejects an amount of liquid based on an adjustment value from the nozzle onto the recording medium, and is further characterized in that the control section is capable of executing a jam detection process that detects whether a jam has occurred on the recording medium during execution of the movement process, and a change process that changes the adjustment value in a direction that reduces the amount of liquid used in the ejection process if a jam is detected in the jam detection process.

[0007] The control method of the present invention is a control method for a liquid ejection device equipped with an ejection unit having a nozzle and a moving unit that moves the ejection unit and a recording medium relatively, and is capable of executing a recording process including a moving process that moves the ejection unit and the recording medium relatively using the moving unit, and an ejection process that ejects an amount of liquid based on an adjustment value from the nozzle onto the recording medium, and is characterized in that it is further capable of executing a jam detection process that detects whether a jam has occurred on the recording medium during execution of the moving process, and a change process that changes the adjustment value in a direction that reduces the amount of liquid used in the ejection process if a jam is detected in the jam detection process.

[0008] The program of the present invention is characterized in that it causes a control unit used in a liquid ejection device having an ejection unit with a nozzle and a movement unit that moves the ejection unit and a recording medium relatively to each other to function as a means capable of executing a recording process including a movement process that moves the ejection unit and the recording medium relatively to each other using the movement unit, and an ejection process that ejects an amount of liquid based on an adjustment value from the nozzle onto the recording medium, a jam detection means that detects whether a jam has occurred on the recording medium while the movement process is being executed, and a change means that, if a jam has been detected by the jam detection means, changes the adjustment value in a direction that reduces the amount of liquid used in the ejection process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a printer 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a CPU 91 of the printer 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a screen displayed on the display 71 of the printer 1 when the stain suppression function is ON. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a table showing reference values ​​stored in a ROM 92 of the printer 1. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a screen displayed on the display 71 of the printer 1 when the stain suppression function is OFF. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen displayed on the display 71 in S13 of FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] First Embodiment 1 is a first embodiment of a liquid ejection device according to the present invention. The printer 1 includes a housing 1A, a head 10 arranged inside the housing 1A, a carriage 2, a scanning unit 3, a platen 4, a transport unit 5, and a control device 9.

[0011] The head 10 corresponds to the "ejection section" of the present invention, and has a plurality of nozzles 11 on its bottom surface. The carriage 2 holds the head 10.

[0012] The scanning unit 3 includes a pair of guides 3A and 3B that support the carriage 2, and a belt 3C connected to the carriage 2. The guides 3A and 3B and the belt 3C extend in the paper width direction. When the carriage motor 3M (see FIG. 2) is driven under the control of the control device 9, the belt 3C runs, and the carriage 2 moves in the paper width direction along the guides 3A and 3B.

[0013] The platen 4 is disposed below the carriage 2 and the head 10. A sheet of paper S is placed on the upper surface of the platen 4. The sheet of paper S corresponds to the "recording medium" of the present invention.

[0014] The transport section 5 has roller pairs 5A and 5B. In the transport direction, the head 10, the carriage 2, and the platen 4 are arranged between the roller pairs 5A and 5B. When the transport motor 5M (see FIG. 2) is driven under the control of the control device 9, the paper S placed on a paper feed tray (not shown) is transported in the transport direction by the roller pairs 5A and 5B, passes below the head 10, and is received on a paper output tray (not shown).

[0015] The paper width direction and the transport direction are perpendicular to the vertical direction and are also perpendicular to each other.

[0016] The scanning unit 3 moves the head 10 and the paper S relatively in the paper width direction. The transport unit 5 moves the head 10 and the paper S relatively in the transport direction. In this embodiment, the scanning unit 3 and the transport unit 5 both correspond to the "moving unit" of the present invention.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the control device 9 has a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, an I / F 94, and an EEPROM 95. The ROM 92 stores programs and data for the CPU 91 to perform various controls. The RAM 93 temporarily stores data used when the CPU 91 executes a program. The I / F 94 transmits and receives data to and from the outside. The EEPROM 95 stores predetermined adjustment values, which will be described later. The CPU 91 corresponds to the "control unit" of the present invention, the ROM 92 corresponds to the "first storage unit" of the present invention, and the I / F 94 corresponds to the "input unit" of the present invention.

[0018] 2, the control device 9 is communicatively connected to the driver IC 10D, the carriage motor 3M, the transport motor 5M, and a touch panel display 71. The display 71 is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 1A, and transmits a signal corresponding to a portion touched by the user to the I / F 94, and displays a screen based on a signal from the CPU 91. The display 71 corresponds to the "notification unit" of the present invention.

[0019] 2, the control device 9 is further connected to an external device 100 so as to be able to communicate with it. The external device 100 is, for example, a PC. The CPU 91 can communicate with an EEPROM 105, which is a storage unit of the external device 100, and can read and write data from and to the EEPROM 105. The EEPROM 105 corresponds to the "second storage unit" of the present invention.

[0020] Next, the program executed by the CPU 91 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] First, the CPU 91 determines whether or not a recording command has been received from the external device 100 (S1 :YES).

[0022] If it is determined that a recording command has not been received from the external device 100 (S1: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the process of S1.

[0023] If it is determined that a recording command has been received from the external device 100 (S1: YES), the CPU 91 converts the RGB (red, green, blue) values ​​corresponding to the color of the image indicated by the image data included in the recording command into CMYK values ​​corresponding to the color of the ink (S2).

[0024] After S2, the CPU 91 determines whether the stain suppression function is ON (S3). Every time the user touches a portion of the display 71 that corresponds to turning the stain suppression function ON / OFF, a signal is sent from the display 71 to the I / F 94, and the flag stored in the RAM 93 is switched between ON and OFF. If the flag stored in the RAM 93 is ON, the CPU 91 determines that the stain suppression function is ON (S3: YES), and if the flag stored in the RAM 93 is OFF, the CPU 91 determines that the stain suppression function is not ON (S3: NO).

[0025] S3 corresponds to the "determination process" of the present invention. When a signal is sent from the display 71 to the I / F 94 and the flag stored in the RAM 93 switches from OFF to ON, the signal corresponds to the "signal indicating that the discharge process based on the adjustment value is permitted" of the present invention.

[0026] When the stain suppression function is ON, for example, a screen such as that shown in Fig. 4 is displayed on the display 71. This screen indicates that the stain suppression function is ON and that the predetermined adjustment value for the amount of ink used is "5" on a scale of 0 to 10. The larger the adjustment value, the greater the amount of ink used per unit pixel in the ejection process.

[0027] If it is determined that the stain suppression function is ON (S3: YES), the CPU 91 adjusts the CMYK values ​​obtained in S2 based on the reference values ​​(see Figure 5) stored in the ROM 92 and the predetermined adjustment values ​​(see Figure 4) stored in the EEPROM 95 (S4).

[0028] The predetermined adjustment value (see FIG. 4), that is, the adjustment value used when the stain suppression function is ON, has an initial value of "5", for example, and is updated as described below.

[0029] The reference values ​​(see Figure 5) are determined for each type of paper S and each size of paper S. For example, types of paper S include plain paper, inkjet paper, and glossy paper, and the amount of deformation of the paper due to ink penetration varies for each type, and the likelihood of jamming varies. For example, plain paper is more likely to deform due to ink penetration and to jam than glossy paper. Furthermore, sizes of paper S include A3, A4, A5, etc., and the likelihood of jamming varies for each size. For example, the larger the size, the more likely it is to jam.

[0030] If it is determined that the stain prevention function is not ON (S3: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether or not a user-specified adjustment value has been set (S5).

[0031] When the stain prevention function is OFF, for example, a screen such as that shown in Fig. 6 is displayed on the display 71. At this time, the user can touch the display 71 to specify an adjustment value for the amount of ink used within the range of 0 to 10. This screen shows that the stain prevention function is OFF and that the user-specified adjustment value for the amount of ink used is "7".

[0032] The user-specified adjustment value is stored in RAM 93. If the user-specified adjustment value is stored in RAM 93, the CPU 91 determines that the user-specified adjustment value has been set (S5: YES), and if the user-specified adjustment value is not stored in RAM 93, the CPU 91 determines that the user-specified adjustment value has not been set (S5: NO).

[0033] If it is determined that user-specified adjustment values ​​have been set (S5: YES), the CPU 91 adjusts the CMYK values ​​obtained in S2 based on the reference values ​​(see Figure 5) stored in ROM 92 and the user-specified adjustment values ​​(see Figure 6) stored in RAM 93 (S6).

[0034] After S4, after S6, or if it is determined that the user-specified adjustment value has not been set (S5: NO), the CPU 91 converts the CMYK values ​​into ejection data (S7). The ejection data indicates the volume of ink (large droplets, medium droplets, small droplets, or zero) to be ejected from each nozzle 11 per recording cycle (the time required for the paper S to move relative to the head 10 by a unit distance corresponding to the resolution of the image formed on the paper S).

[0035] When an adjustment is made to decrease the ink amount, the ink volume may be changed from large droplets to medium droplets, or from medium droplets to small droplets, in a certain recording cycle.When an adjustment is made to increase the ink amount, the ink volume may be changed from medium droplets to large droplets, or from small droplets to medium droplets, in a certain recording cycle.

[0036] After S7, the CPU 91 starts the recording process (S8). The recording process includes a transport process in which the transport motor 5M (see FIG. 2) is driven to transport the paper S a predetermined distance in the transport direction, and a scanning process in which the carriage motor 3M and the driver IC 10D (see FIG. 2) are driven to move the head 10 in the paper width direction while ejecting ink from the nozzles 11 onto the paper S. In this way, ink dots are formed on the paper S, and an image is recorded.

[0037] The transport process and the process of moving the head 10 in the paper width direction during the scanning process correspond to the "movement process" of the present invention. The process of ejecting ink from the nozzles 11 onto the paper S during the scanning process corresponds to the "ejection process" of the present invention.

[0038] After S8, the CPU 91 detects whether or not a jam of the paper S has occurred based on a signal from the transport motor 5M, etc. (S9) S9 corresponds to the "jam detection process" of the present invention.

[0039] If it is not detected that a jam has occurred (S9: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the recording process has ended (S10).

[0040] If it is determined that the recording process has not ended (S10: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S9.

[0041] If a jam is detected (S9: YES), the CPU 91 changes the predetermined adjustment value stored in the EEPROM 95 so that the amount of ink used in the ejection process decreases (S11). S11 corresponds to the "change process" of the present invention.

[0042] After S11, the CPU 91 determines whether the contamination prevention function is ON (S12), similar to S3.

[0043] If it is determined that the contamination prevention function is not ON (S12: NO), the CPU 91 causes the display 71 to display a screen such as that shown in FIG. 7 (S13). That is, the CPU 91 causes the display 71 to notify the user whether or not to input a signal indicating that a discharge process based on the adjustment value is permitted. When the user touches the "YES" portion on the screen of FIG. 7, the flag stored in the RAM 93 switches from OFF to ON. When the user touches the "NO" portion on the screen of FIG. 7, the flag stored in the RAM 93 remains OFF.

[0044] After S13, or when it is determined that the stain prevention function is ON (S12: YES), the CPU 91 notifies the user via the display 71 that an error has occurred (S14).

[0045] After S14, or when it is determined that the recording process has ended (S10: YES), the CPU 91 ends the program.

[0046] As described above, according to this embodiment, if a jam occurs (S9: YES), the adjustment value is changed so that the amount of ink used in the ejection process decreases (S11). As a result, the amount of ink used per unit pixel in the next printing process is less than in the current printing process, preventing a jam from occurring. In other words, according to this embodiment, a jam can be prevented in a configuration in which the amount of ink used can be adjusted.

[0047] In this embodiment, if the user permits the ejection process based on the adjustment value (S3: YES), the ejection process based on the predetermined adjustment value is executed (S4 → S7 → S8), thereby realizing the printing desired by the user.

[0048] If a jam occurs (S9: YES), the CPU 91 causes the display 71 to notify the user whether or not to input a signal indicating that the discharge process based on the adjustment value is permitted (see FIG. 7). This makes it possible to prompt the user to permit the discharge process based on the adjustment value, and more reliably prevents a jam from occurring in the next recording process.

[0049] If no jam has occurred (S9: NO), the CPU 91 does not perform the change process of S11 and sets the adjustment value as the predetermined adjustment value for the next recording process to be executed, thereby preventing a jam from occurring in the next recording process as well.

[0050] The CPU 91 adjusts the CMYK values ​​obtained in S2 (S4) based on the reference values ​​for each type of paper S stored in the ROM 92 (see FIG. 5) and the predetermined adjustment values ​​stored in the EEPROM 95 (see FIG. 4). This makes adjustments appropriate for the type of paper S, making it possible to more reliably prevent jams.

[0051] The CPU 91 adjusts the CMYK values ​​obtained in S2 (S4) based on the reference values ​​(see FIG. 5) for each size of the paper S stored in the ROM 92 and the predetermined adjustment values ​​(see FIG. 4) stored in the EEPROM 95. This makes adjustments appropriate for the size of the paper S, making it possible to more reliably prevent jams.

[0052] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0053] In the first embodiment, the CPU 91 stores predetermined adjustment values ​​in the EEPROM 95 of the printer 1 and acquires the adjustment values ​​from the EEPROM 95. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the CPU 91 stores predetermined adjustment values ​​in the EEPROM 105 of the external device 100 and acquires the adjustment values ​​from the EEPROM 105 (see FIG. 2).

[0054] The external device 100 is communicably connected to a plurality of printers 1, and the EEPROM 105 stores predetermined adjustment values ​​received from the plurality of printers 1. Here, the CPU 91 sets the median value of the predetermined adjustment values ​​corresponding to the plurality of printers 1 as the initial value of the predetermined adjustment value for that printer 1.

[0055] As described above, in this embodiment, by storing the adjustment values ​​in the EEPROM 105 of the external device 100 instead of the EEPROM 95 of the printer 1, it is possible to prevent the storage capacity of the EEPROM 95 of the printer 1 from running short.

[0056] Furthermore, by setting the median value of the adjustment values ​​for the multiple printers 1 as the initial value of the adjustment value, jams can be prevented more reliably.

[0057] <Modification> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0058] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the adjustment value is notified as shown in Fig. 4 or 6, but this is not limiting. For example, the ejection process based on the adjustment value may be executed without the adjustment value being notified.

[0059] The type of the discharge unit is not limited to a serial type, but may be a line type.

[0060] The recording medium is not limited to paper, but may be, for example, cloth, a substrate, a plastic member, or the like.

[0061] The liquid ejected from the nozzles is not limited to ink, but may be any liquid (for example, a treatment liquid that aggregates or precipitates components in the ink, etc.).

[0062] The present invention is not limited to printers, but can also be applied to facsimiles, copiers, multifunction machines, etc. The present invention can also be applied to liquid ejection devices used for purposes other than image recording (for example, liquid ejection devices that eject conductive liquid onto a substrate to form a conductive pattern).

[0063] The program according to the present invention can be distributed by recording it on a removable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk, or can be distributed via a communication line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Printer (liquid ejection device) 10 Head (discharge part) 11 nozzles 3 Scanning unit (moving unit) 5. Transport section (moving section) 71 Display (notification unit) 91 CPU (control unit) 92 ROM (1st memory) 94 I / F (input section) 100 External device 105 EEPROM (second memory unit) S Paper (recording medium)

Claims

1. a discharge unit having a nozzle; a moving unit that moves the ejection unit and the recording medium relatively; a control unit, The control unit a moving process for moving the ejection unit and the recording medium relatively by the moving unit, and a discharging process for discharging an amount of liquid based on an adjustment value from the nozzle onto the recording medium, a jam detection process for detecting whether a jam has occurred in the recording medium during the movement process; a change process for changing the adjustment value in a direction that reduces the amount of liquid used in the ejection process when a jam is detected in the jam detection process; The liquid ejection device is characterized by being further capable of executing the above.

2. further comprising an input unit, The control unit executes a determination process to determine whether a signal indicating that the ejection process based on the adjustment value is permitted has been input to the input unit; The liquid ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein, when it is determined in the determination process that the signal has been input to the input section, the ejection process is performed based on the adjustment value.

3. Further provided with a notification unit, The liquid ejection device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit causes the notification unit to notify whether or not to input the signal to the input unit when it is detected that a jam has occurred in the jam detection process.

4. The liquid ejection device described in claim 1, characterized in that if a jam is not detected in the jam detection process during execution of the recording process based on the adjustment value, the control unit sets the adjustment value as the adjustment value for the recording process to be executed next.

5. a first storage unit that stores a reference value for each type of recording medium; The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit executes the ejection process based on the reference value corresponding to the type of recording medium moved in the movement process, among the reference values ​​stored in the first memory unit, and the adjustment value.

6. a first storage unit that stores a reference value for each size of the recording medium; The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit executes the ejection process based on a reference value corresponding to the size of the recording medium moved in the movement process, among the reference values ​​stored in the first memory unit, and the adjustment value.

7. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is capable of communicating with a second memory unit which is a memory unit of an external device, stores the adjustment value in the second memory unit, and acquires the adjustment value from the second memory unit.

8. the second storage unit stores the adjustment values ​​received from the plurality of liquid ejection devices; The liquid ejection device according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit sets a median of the adjustment values ​​corresponding to the plurality of liquid ejection devices as an initial value of the adjustment value.

9. A method for controlling a liquid ejection device including an ejection unit having a nozzle and a movement unit that moves the ejection unit and a recording medium relatively, comprising: a moving process for moving the ejection unit and the recording medium relatively by the moving unit, and a discharging process for discharging an amount of liquid based on an adjustment value from the nozzle onto the recording medium, a jam detection process for detecting whether a jam has occurred in the recording medium during the movement process; a change process for changing the adjustment value in a direction that reduces the amount of liquid used in the ejection process when a jam is detected in the jam detection process; The control method is characterized in that it can further perform the following.

10. A control unit used in a liquid ejection device including an ejection unit having a nozzle and a movement unit that moves the ejection unit and a recording medium relatively, a means for executing a recording process including a movement process for relatively moving the discharge unit and the recording medium by the movement unit, and a discharge process for discharging an amount of liquid based on an adjustment value from the nozzle onto the recording medium; a jam detection unit that detects whether a jam has occurred in the recording medium during the movement process; and a change unit that changes the adjustment value in a direction that reduces the amount of liquid used in the ejection process when the jam detection unit detects that a jam has occurred; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

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