Printer, printing method, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a printer, a printing method and a storage medium in which productivity can be enhanced even when a curled part is present at the end part of a print medium.SOLUTION: The printer includes a head, a carriage, a sensor, and a CPU. The CPU moves the sensor in the main scanning direction together with the carriage and acquires a detection result of the sensor. The CPU acquires a profile of height information of the print media over the main scanning direction based on the acquired detection result (S3). The CPU specifies a turned-up part generated at the end of the printing media in the main scanning direction based on the acquired profile (S5). The CPU determines a specific print area which is an area inside the turned-over part specified in the main scanning direction and is an area for printing an image (S17). The CPU moves the carriage in the main scanning direction within the determined specific print area to print an image on the print media by the head (S21).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer, a printing method, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] The printer described in Patent Document 1 conveys a print medium such as fabric in the sub-scanning direction and moves an inkjet head in the main scanning direction to print on the print medium. The print medium may have a thickness-varying portion (e.g., a thick portion, a curl, or a wrinkle) whose thickness varies in the height direction. When the thickness-varying portion passes under the inkjet head, the printer raises the inkjet head to a height that does not interfere with the thickness-varying portion. While the inkjet head is raised, the printer stops ejecting liquid from the inkjet head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-128130 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above printer, the inkjet head is raised and the ejection of liquid is stopped every time a portion of the printing medium that changes in thickness, such as a curled-up portion at the end of the printing medium, passes under the inkjet head, which leads to a decrease in productivity.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing method, and a storage medium that can improve productivity even when the print medium has a curled portion at the end. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a head capable of printing an image on a print medium transported in a sub-scanning direction, a carriage on which the head is mounted and which is movable in a main scanning direction, a sensor that detects the height of the print medium in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction along the main scanning direction, and a controller, wherein the controller moves the sensor together with the carriage in the main scanning direction and performs a first acquisition process to acquire the detection result of the sensor, and a second acquisition process to acquire a profile of height information of the print medium across the main scanning direction based on the detection result acquired in the first acquisition process. The printer is characterized by performing a first acquisition process, a first identification process that identifies a curled portion at the edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on the profile acquired in the second acquisition process, a first determination process that determines a specific print area, which is an area of ​​the printing medium inward in the main scanning direction from the curled portion identified in the first identification process and is an area for printing the image based on print data, and a first print process that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction within the specific print area determined in the first determination process based on the print data and prints the image on the printing medium with the head. When the carriage is moved within the specific print area, the printer can avoid interference between the carriage and the curled portion of the printing medium. Therefore, the printer can continue printing on the printing medium with the head regardless of the curled portion of the printing medium. Therefore, the printer can improve productivity even when there is a curled portion at the edge of the printing medium.

[0007] A printing method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a printing method for a printer including a head capable of printing an image on a printing medium transported in a sub-scanning direction, a carriage on which the head is mounted and which is movable in a main scanning direction, and a sensor that detects the height of the printing medium in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction along the main scanning direction, the printing method comprising: a first acquisition step of moving the sensor together with the carriage in the main scanning direction and acquiring a detection result of the sensor; and a second acquisition step of acquiring a profile of height information of the printing medium across the main scanning direction based on the detection result acquired in the first acquisition step. The printing method according to the second aspect includes a first identification step of identifying a curled-up portion occurring at an edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on the profile acquired in the second acquisition step, a first determination step of determining a specific printing area in the main scanning direction that is an area of ​​the printing medium inside the curled-up portion identified in the first identification step and is an area in which the image is to be printed based on print data, and a first printing step of moving the carriage in the main scanning direction within the specific printing area determined in the first determination step based on the print data, and printing the image on the printing medium with the head.

[0008] A storage medium according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a printer having a head capable of printing an image on a print medium transported in a sub-scanning direction, a carriage on which the head is mounted and movable in a main scanning direction, and a sensor that detects the height of the print medium in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction along the main scanning direction, the storage medium including: a first acquisition step of moving the sensor together with the carriage in the main scanning direction and acquiring the detection result of the sensor in a computer of the printer; The printer according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it stores a program for executing the following steps: a second acquisition step for acquiring a profile of height information of the printing medium across the main scanning direction based on the detection result acquired in the first acquisition step; a first identification step for identifying a curled-up portion that has occurred at an edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on the profile acquired in the second acquisition step; a first determination step for determining a specific print area that is an area of ​​the printing medium inward in the main scanning direction from the curled-up portion identified in the first identification step and is an area in which the image is to be printed based on print data; and a first printing step for moving the carriage in the main scanning direction within the specific print area determined in the first determination step based on the print data and printing the image on the printing medium with the head. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a simplified diagram showing the configuration of a printer 1. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the printer 1. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart of a main process. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart of a profile acquisition process. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the carriage 22 and the print medium 15 when a profile is acquired. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a profile when the print medium 15 is normal. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a profile when the print medium 15 has turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart of a normal printing process. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the height hc of the carriage at the printing position P1 and the height h2 of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the printing medium 15. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of a specific printing process. [Figure 11] 10 is a diagram showing a profile when the edge of the print medium 15 is guided by guides 39, 39. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, various directions such as front / rear, up / down, left / right, as indicated by arrows in the drawings, will be used. The right side, left side, top side, bottom side, front side of the paper, and back side of the paper in Figure 1 correspond to the back side, front side, top side, bottom side, right side, and left side of the printer 1.

[0011] The configuration of printer 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. Printer 1 shown in Figure 1 is, for example, a textile printing machine. Printer 1 prints characters, figures, etc. on printing surface 151 of print medium 15. Print medium 15 is, for example, a sheet-like medium such as cloth such as woven or knitted fabric, paper, PVC sheet, tarpaulin, or polyester film. Printer 1 includes a printing unit 2, a master winding unit 3, and a winding unit 4.

[0012] The printing unit 2 is provided at the top of the printer 1 and includes a platen 21, a carriage 22, a print head 23 (hereinafter referred to as the "head 23"), and a sensor 29. The platen 21 extends in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions, and supports the print medium 15 from below. The carriage 22 is supported above the platen 21 and moves in the main scanning direction by being driven by a drive mechanism 34 (see FIG. 5). The main scanning direction is the left-to-right direction. The carriage 22 also moves up and down by being driven by an elevator mechanism (not shown).

[0013] The head 23 is mounted on the carriage 22. The head 23 faces the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15 supported on the platen 21 across a predetermined gap. The head 23 is a piezo type. The head 23 performs printing by ejecting ink onto the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15 transported in the F1 direction along a transport path on the platen 21. The transport path extends from the master winding unit 3 via the printing unit 2 to the winding unit 4. The transport path bends in a roughly U-shape that opens downward in a side view. The F1 direction is the sub-scanning direction, which is the direction from the master winding unit 3 via the printing unit 2 toward the winding unit 4. The sub-scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

[0014] The sensor 29 is mounted on the left surface of the carriage 22. Therefore, the sensor 29 moves in the main scanning direction together with the carriage 22. The sensor 29 is, for example, an optical sensor. For example, the sensor 29 is a distance measuring sensor equipped with a light receiving unit 29B (see FIG. 2) and a light emitting unit 29A (see FIG. 2). For example, the light emitting unit 29A emits light toward the printing medium 15. The light receiving unit 29B receives light reflected from the printing medium 15. The detection result of the light receiving unit 29B includes information about the height of the printing medium 15.

[0015] The master winding unit 3 is located at the rear of the printer 1. The master winding unit 3 includes a shaft 31A, a pair of left and right holders 31 (only the right holder 31 is shown in FIG. 1), and a master winding motor 32 (see FIG. 2). The shaft 31A extends in the left-right direction and supports the master winding roll 100. The master winding roll 100 is a roll of unprocessed printing medium 15, i.e., unprinted printing medium 15, wound around a cardboard tube. The printing medium 15 is wound around the cardboard tube with the printing surface 151 facing outward. The pair of left and right holders 31 are attached to the shaft 31A. The pair of left and right holders 31 support the master winding roll 100 by supporting both ends of the cardboard tube inserted into the shaft 31A. Therefore, the master winding roll 100 rotates integrally with the shaft 31A. The master winding motor 32 drives the shaft 31A to rotate. The master winding motor 32 rotates the master winding roll 100 in the A1 direction together with the shaft 31A. As a result, the printing medium 15 is unwound toward the printing unit 2 from the master roll 100 supported by the shaft 31A.

[0016] The winding unit 4 is provided at the front of the printer 1. The winding unit 4 comprises a shaft 41A, a pair of left and right holders 41, and a winding motor 42 (see Figure 2). The shaft 41A extends in the left-right direction. The shaft 41A supports a paper tube. The pair of left and right holders 41 are attached to the shaft 41A and support the paper tube from both the left and right sides. Therefore, the paper tube rotates integrally with the shaft 41A. The winding motor 42 drives the shaft 41A to rotate in the D1 direction. Therefore, after printing by the head 23 is completed, the winding unit 4 winds the printing medium 15, which has been transported in the F1 direction, onto the paper tube so that the printed surface 151 faces outward.

[0017] Arranged on the transport path from the master winding unit 3 to the printing unit 2 are, in order from upstream, an upstream tension bar 5, an upstream intermediate roller 6, and a support roller 7. Arranged on the transport path from the printing unit 2 to the winding unit 4 are, in order from upstream, a transport roller 8, a downstream intermediate roller 9, and a downstream tension bar 10.

[0018] The upstream tension bar 5 is positioned behind and diagonally above the shaft 31A of the master winding unit 3. The upstream tension bar 5 extends in the left-right direction. The upstream tension bar 5 comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the printing medium 15. The upstream tension bar 5 is supported by a swing arm 25. The upstream tension bar 5 swings under its own weight around the rotation shaft 26 along an arc-shaped trajectory Q1 in response to the tension applied to the printing medium 15.

[0019] The upstream intermediate roller 6 is positioned diagonally above and in front of the upstream tension bar 5. The upstream intermediate roller 6 extends in the left-right direction and comes into contact with the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15. The upstream intermediate roller 6 guides the print medium 15 upward and forward. The support roller 7 is positioned above the upstream intermediate roller 6 and behind the platen 21. The support roller 7 extends in the left-right direction and comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the print medium 15. The support roller 7 guides the print medium 15 forward.

[0020] The transport roller 8 is located in front of the platen 21, at the upper front end of the printer 1. The transport roller 8 extends in the left-right direction and is driven to rotate by a feed motor 33 (see FIG. 2). The transport roller 8 comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the printing medium 15 and rotates forward in the direction C1. As a result, the transport roller 8 transports the printing medium 15 in the direction F1 while guiding it downward toward the winding unit 4.

[0021] The downstream intermediate rollers 9 are disposed in the middle position of the printer 1 and below the transport rollers 8. The downstream intermediate rollers 9 extend in the left-right direction and come into contact with the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15. The downstream intermediate rollers 9 guide the print medium 15 downward from the transport rollers 8.

[0022] The downstream tension bar 10 is positioned diagonally above and in front of the shaft 41A of the winding unit 4. The downstream tension bar 10 extends in the left-right direction. The downstream tension bar 10 comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the printing medium 15. The downstream tension bar 10 is supported by a swing arm 27. The downstream tension bar 10 swings under its own weight around the rotation shaft 28 along an arc-shaped trajectory Q2 in response to the tension applied to the printing medium 15.

[0023] In the transport path downstream of the printing unit 2, a heater 13 is disposed between the transport roller 8 and the downstream intermediate roller 9. The heater 13 faces the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15 transported from the transport roller 8 toward the downstream intermediate roller 9. The heater 13 dries the printing surface 151 after printing.

[0024] The electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to Figure 2. The printer 1 comprises a CPU 11, a ROM 12, and a RAM 16. The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 16 are electrically connected to one another. The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the printer 1 and is electrically connected to the ROM 12 and RAM 16. The ROM 12 stores various programs, such as a main program for controlling the printer 1. The main program executes the main processing (see Figure 3), which will be described later. The RAM 16 temporarily stores various data, etc.

[0025] The feed motor 33, master winding motor 32, take-up motor 42, head 23, drive motor 35, lift motor 37, operation unit 45, and sensor 29 are electrically connected to the CPU 11. The feed motor 33, master winding motor 32, take-up motor 42, head 23, drive motor 35, lift motor 37, operation unit 45, and sensor 29 are each driven under the control of the CPU 11.

[0026] The operation unit 45 outputs information according to operations by the user to the CPU 11. The operation unit 45 has a power button 46 and a print button 47. The user can turn the power of the printer 1 on and off by operating the power button 46. The user can input a print instruction to the printer 1 to start printing by operating the print button 47.

[0027] The light emitting section 29A of the sensor 29 emits light under the control of the CPU 11. The light receiving section 29B of the sensor 29 outputs the detection result of the reflected light to the CPU 11.

[0028] The main processing will be described with reference to Figure 3. For example, a user places print medium 15 in printer 1 and turns on the power to printer 1. When the user turns on the power to printer 1, CPU 11 reads the main program from ROM 12 and executes the main processing.

[0029] When the main process is executed, the CPU 11 determines (S1) whether print data for printing on the print medium 15 has been received. If it determines that print data has not been received (S1: NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to S1 and waits.

[0030] If it is determined that the print data has been accepted (S1: YES), the CPU 11 executes a profile acquisition process (see FIG. 4) (S3).

[0031] When the profile acquisition process (see FIG. 4) is executed, the CPU 11 raises the carriage 22 from the standby position to a height Hd of the detection position P2 (S101). As shown in FIG. 5, the height Hd of the carriage 22 at the detection position P2 is, for example, a position where the sensor 29 is sufficiently far from the print medium 15. The height Hd of the detection position P2 is higher than, for example, a height hc of the carriage 22 at the print position P1 described below. This allows the CPU 11 to suppress interference between the carriage 22 and the print medium 15.

[0032] The CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the left in the main scanning direction (S103). As the carriage 22 moves, the CPU 11 acquires the detection result of the sensor 29 (S105). This allows the CPU 11 to acquire height information of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction.

[0033] The CPU 11 acquires a profile based on the detection results of the sensor 29 (S107). For example, the profiles shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are acquired. The profile indicates information about the height of the printing medium 15. The printing medium 15 shown in FIG. 6(A) is not curled at its edges and is properly placed on the platen 21. As shown in FIG. 6(B), when the printing medium 15 is properly placed on the platen 21, the profile indicates a constant height h1. Note that, as shown in FIG. 7(A), the printing medium 15 has curled portions Tp1 and Tp2 at its edges in the main scanning direction. These curled portions Tp1 and Tp2 occur due to, for example, differences in the characteristics of the front and back surfaces of the printing medium 15. The profile shown in FIG. 7(B) is a waveform that follows the shape of the curled portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the printing medium 15, and does not have a constant height.

[0034] The CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the right in the main scanning direction to move the carriage 22 to the standby position (S109), and returns the process to the main process.

[0035] When the process returns to the main process, the CPU 11 determines, based on the acquired profile, whether or not there are curled portions Tp1 and Tp2 at the ends of the printing medium 15 in the main scanning direction (S5). For example, the CPU 11 determines the amount of deviation in the height direction of the end of the acquired profile (see FIG. 7B) from the end of the normal profile (see FIG. 6B). For example, if the amount of deviation is greater than a predetermined threshold, the CPU 11 determines that there are curled portions Tp1 and Tp2. The threshold may be set as appropriate.

[0036] If it is determined that there are no curled portions Tp1, Tp2 (S5: NO), for example, if the profile of the print medium 15 is normal (see FIG. 6B), the CPU 11 executes the normal printing process (see FIG. 8) (S23).

[0037] When the normal printing process (see FIG. 8) is executed, for example, the carriage 22 is moved from the standby position to a height hc of the printing position P1 (see FIG. 9) (S201). There are two possible printing positions P1: one where the distance between the printing medium 15 and the head 23 is short, and one where the distance between the printing medium 15 and the head 23 is long. For example, the height hc of the carriage 22 at the printing position P1 shown in FIG. 9 is the case where the distance between the printing medium 15 and the head 23 is short.

[0038] The CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 leftward in the main scanning direction (S203). In this case, the CPU 11 controls the head 23 based on the print data to print on the print medium 15 (S205). The CPU 11 determines whether printing is complete (S207). If it determines that printing is not complete (S207: NO), the CPU 11 transports the print medium 15 by one line in the sub-scanning direction to print the next line (S209). The CPU 11 returns the process to S203.

[0039] For example, the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the right in the main scanning direction (S203) and controls the head 23 to print on the print medium 15 (S205). In this way, the CPU 11 prints an image on the print medium 15 by repeating printing one line at a time.

[0040] If it is determined that printing is complete (S207: YES), the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the standby position (S211). The CPU 11 returns the process to the main process. The CPU 11 returns the process to S1.

[0041] On the other hand, if the main processing determines that curled portions Tp1 and Tp2 exist at the ends of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction (S5: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether to print to the edges of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction (S7). Here, "printing to the edges" means, for example, printing within a specified print area Ra in the width direction (see FIG. 6). The specified print area Ra refers to the area for printing specified by the print data. The CPU 11 determines whether to print to the edges based on width information of the print medium 15 based on the acquired profile and width information of the image based on the print data.

[0042] If it is determined that printing will be performed up to the edges of the print medium 15 (S7: YES), the CPU 11 notifies an error (S9). For example, the CPU 11 displays text such as "Printing will be performed on the turned-up portion" or "Cannot print up to the edges" on the display unit. This allows the user to recognize that printing cannot be performed up to the edges and that printing will be performed on the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the print medium 15. The CPU 11 proceeds to S11.

[0043] On the other hand, if it is determined that printing does not extend to the edge of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction (S7: NO), the CPU 11 advances the process to S11.

[0044] The CPU 11 determines whether or not to print on the print medium 15 having the turned-over portions Tp1 and Tp2 (S11). The CPU 11 makes this determination based on, for example, whether the user has pressed the print button 47 within a certain period of time. For example, if the print button 47 is not pressed within the certain period of time and it is determined that printing on the print medium 15 having the turned-over portions Tp1 and Tp2 will not be performed (S11: NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to S1 without printing. In this case, the user may take action such as changing the print medium 15 or the print data.

[0045] On the other hand, if the print button 47 is pressed within a certain time period and it is determined that printing will be performed on the printing medium 15 having the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 (S11: YES), the CPU 11 identifies the heights of the identified turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 (S13) based on the profile of the printing medium 15. For example, in the example profile shown in Fig. 7(B), the height h2 of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 is, for example, the height of the highest point of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2.

[0046] The CPU 11 identifies the turning positions E1 and E2 of the turning portions Tp1 and Tp2 (S15). For example, in the example shown in Fig. 7(B), the turning position E1 is the position of the inner end of the turning portion Tp1. The turning position E2 is the position of the inner end of the turning portion Tp2.

[0047] The CPU 11 determines a specific print area Rs (S17). The specific print area Rs is an area of ​​the print medium 15 inside the specified turn-over portions Tp1 and Tp2 in the main scanning direction, and is an area for printing an image based on print data. In the example shown in FIG. 7(B), the specific print area Rs is an area in the main scanning direction from turn-over position E1 to turn-over position E2. The specific print area Rs is used in the specific print process (see FIG. 10), which will be described later.

[0048] The CPU 11 determines whether the height h2 of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 is equal to or greater than the height hc of the carriage 22 at the printing position P1 (S19). If the CPU 11 determines that the height h2 of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 is less than the height hc of the carriage 22 at the printing position P1 (S19: NO), the CPU 11 proceeds to S23 and executes the normal printing process (see FIG. 8) (S23).

[0049] In the normal printing process (see FIG. 8) after S19: NO, the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 in the main scanning direction within the designated printing area Ra including the turned-over portions Tp1 and Tp2, and prints an image on the printing medium 15 with the head 23 (S203 to S209). Because there is little possibility that the turned-over portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the printing medium 15 will interfere with the carriage 22, the CPU 11 can continue printing on the printing medium 15 without damaging the carriage 22 and the head 23.

[0050] On the other hand, if it is determined that the height h2 of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 is greater than or equal to the height hc of the carriage 22 at the printing position P1 (S19: YES), for example, in the case of the positional relationship shown in Figure 9, the CPU 11 executes a specific printing process (see Figure 10) (S21).

[0051] When the specific printing process (see FIG. 10) is executed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the image indicated by the print data can be printed within the specific printing area Rs (S301). If it is determined that printing can be performed within the specific printing area Rs (S301: YES), the CPU 11 proceeds to S305.

[0052] On the other hand, if it is determined that printing cannot be performed within the specific print area Rs (S301: NO), the CPU 11 edits the print data so that printing can be performed within the specific print area Rs (S303). The CPU 11 edits the print data to print data that corresponds to the specific print area Rs of the print medium 15. There are two ways to edit the print data. The first is to compress the image of the print data. In this case, the editing process by the CPU 11 compresses the size of the image of the print data to correspond to the specific print area Rs. The second is to cut the edges of the image. In this case, the CPU 11 cuts the edges in the main scanning direction of the image based on the print data to correspond to the specific print area Rs. The method of editing the print data is specified by the user.

[0053] The CPU 11 raises the carriage 22 until the position of the lower end of the carriage 22 is higher than the height hc of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 (S305). In this case, the height of the carriage 22 may be determined from the heights h2 and h2 of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2, or may be determined to be the height Hd of the detection position P2 shown in FIG. 5.

[0054] The CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 leftward in the main scanning direction to a position corresponding to the turning position E2 (see FIG. 9) (S307). As a result, the head 23 faces, for example, the turning position E2 (see FIG. 9(B)) in the vertical direction. The CPU 11 lowers the carriage 22 to a height hc (see FIG. 9) of the printing position P1 (S309).

[0055] Based on the print data, the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the left in the main scanning direction within the specific print area Rs (S311). The CPU 11 controls the head 23 to print an image on the print medium 15 (S313). The CPU 11 determines whether printing is complete (S315). If it determines that printing is not complete (S315: NO), the CPU 11 transports the print medium 15 by one line in the sub-scanning direction to print the next line (S317). The CPU 11 returns the process to S311.

[0056] The CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the right in the main scanning direction within the specific print area Rs (S311), and controls the head 23 to print the image on the print medium 15 (S313). In this way, the CPU 11 repeats printing one line at a time to print the image in the specific print area Rs.

[0057] If it is determined that printing is complete (S315: YES), the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 to the standby position (S319). The CPU 11 returns the process to the main process. The CPU 11 returns the process to S1.

[0058] As described above, the CPU 11 acquires a profile of height information of the printing medium 15 across the main scanning direction based on the acquired detection results. Based on the acquired profile, the CPU 11 identifies the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 that have occurred at the ends of the printing medium 15 in the main scanning direction. The CPU 11 determines a specific printing area Rs. The specific printing area Rs is an area of ​​the printing medium 15 that is more inward in the main scanning direction than the identified turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2, and is an area for printing an image based on print data. Based on the print data, the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 in the main scanning direction within the determined specific printing area Rs, and prints an image on the printing medium 15 with the head 23.

[0059] When the printer 1 moves the carriage 22 within the specific printing area Rs, it is possible to avoid interference between the carriage 22 and the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the print medium 15. Therefore, the printer 1 can continue printing on the print medium 15 using the head 23, regardless of the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the print medium 15. Therefore, the printer 1 can improve productivity even when the turned-up portions Tp1 and Tp2 are present at the ends of the print medium 15.

[0060] The CPU 11 identifies the heights h2, h2 of the identified turned-over portions Tp1, Tp2. The CPU 11 executes the specific printing process (see FIG. 10) if the identified heights h2, h2 of the turned-over portions Tp1, Tp2 are equal to or greater than the height hc of the printing position P1 of the carriage 22 when printing is performed on the printing medium 15 by the head 23. When moving the carriage 22 during printing, the printer 1 can suppress interference between the carriage 22 and the printing medium 15.

[0061] The CPU 11 identifies the heights h2, h2 of the identified turned-over portions Tp1, Tp2. If the identified heights h2, h2 of the turned-over portions Tp1, Tp2 are lower than the height hc of the printing position P1 of the carriage 22 when printing is performed on the printing medium 15 by the head 23, the CPU 11 moves the carriage 22 in the main scanning direction within a designated printing area Ra of the printing medium 15 that includes the turned-over portions Tp1, Tp2 in the main scanning direction based on the print data, and prints an image on the printing medium 15 with the head 23. The printer 1 can print directly within the designated printing area Ra based on the print data, even when the printing medium 15 has turned-over portions Tp1, Tp2.

[0062] The CPU 11 determines whether to print up to the edge of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction based on width information of the print medium 15 based on the acquired profile and width information of the image based on the print data. If the CPU 11 determines to print up to the edge of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction, it edits the print data to print data that corresponds to a specific print area Rs on the print medium 15. The CPU 11 prints an image based on the edited print data in the specific print area Rs. The printer 1 can print the image of the print data so that it corresponds to the specific print area Rs.

[0063] In the editing process, the CPU 11 compresses the size of the image in the print data to correspond to the specific print area Rs. The printer 1 can print the compressed image in the specific print area Rs. Therefore, the printer 1 does not print on the turned-over portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the print medium 15, so the print quality of the image can be maintained.

[0064] The CPU 11 cuts the edges in the main scanning direction of the image based on the print data in accordance with the specific print area Rs. The printer 1 can print the image with the edges cut in the width direction in the specific print area Rs. Therefore, the printer 1 does not print on the turned-over portions Tp1 and Tp2 of the print medium 15, and can maintain the print quality of the image.

[0065] The CPU 11 determines whether to print up to the edge of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction based on width information of the print medium 15 based on the acquired profile and width information of the image based on the print data. If the CPU 11 determines that printing will be done up to the edge of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction, it notifies the user of an error. For example, the user can recognize that printing cannot be done up to the edge of the print medium 15.

[0066] The sensor 29 is mounted on the carriage 22. The printer 1 can move the sensor 29 in the main scanning direction using an existing configuration.

[0067] The sensor 29 is an optical sensor, and the printer 1 can improve the accuracy of the profile.

[0068] In the above description, the CPU 11 is an example of a "controller" of the present invention. The left-right direction is an example of a "main scanning direction" of the present invention. The forward direction is an example of a "sub-scanning direction" of the present invention. The up-down direction is an example of an "orthogonal direction" of the present invention. The process of S105 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of a "first acquisition process" of the present invention. The process of S107 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of a "second acquisition process" of the present invention. The process of S5 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of a "first identification process" of the present invention. The process of S17 executed by the CPU 11 is a "first determination process" of the present invention. The processes of S21 and S311 to S317 executed by the CPU 11 are an example of a "first printing process" of the present invention. The process of S13 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of a "second identification process" of the present invention. The processes of S23 and S203 to S209 executed by the CPU 11 are an example of a "second printing process" of the present invention. The process of S7 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of a "determination process" of the present invention. The process of S303 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of an "editing process" of the present invention. The process of S9 executed by the CPU 11 is an example of the "notification process" of the present invention.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. In this embodiment, the printer 1 is a printing device equipped with a head 23 that mainly ejects ink, but it may also be a recording device equipped with a recording head that ejects liquid other than ink, such as a pretreatment liquid when performing double printing (overlapping).

[0070] The configuration of the printer 1 is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 1. For example, the printer 1 may be any printer as long as it can transport a medium and perform printing using the head 23. The head 23 is a piezo type, but it may be of a different type, such as a thermal head.

[0071] The printer 1 of the above embodiment may further include guides 39, as shown in FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B). The guides 39 are disposed at both ends of the platen 21 in the main scanning direction. The guides 39 are L-shaped when viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 11(B), the guide 39 guides the edge of the print medium 15 in the main scanning direction between itself and the platen 21. Here, the printer 1 acquires a profile, as in the above embodiment (see FIG. 11(B)). Even when the printer 1 guides the edge of the print medium 15 with the guides 39, 39, it can identify the curled portions Tp1 and Tp2 based on the profile and print an image in the specific print area Rs.

[0072] Although the sensor 29 in the above embodiment is an optical sensor, it is not limited to this. For example, the sensor 29 may be an ultrasonic sensor. In this case, the printer 1 can acquire a profile with an inexpensive configuration.

[0073] Instead of the CPU 11, a microcomputer, an ASIC, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like may be used as a processor. The main processing may be distributed among multiple processors. The printer 1 may also include other non-transitory storage media, such as flash memory or a hard disk drive. The non-transitory storage media may be any storage media capable of retaining information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. The non-transitory storage media does not have to include a temporary storage medium (for example, a transmitted signal).

[0074] The various programs may be downloaded (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) from a server connected to a network not shown, and stored in a flash memory, a HDD, etc. In this case, the various programs may be stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a HDD provided in the server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1. Printer 11 CPU 15 Print media 22 heads 24 Carriage 29 Sensors 39 Guide Tp1, Tp2 rolled up part h1, h2 height P1 print position Ra Specified print area Rs specific printing area

Claims

1. a head capable of printing an image on a print medium transported in a sub-scanning direction; a carriage on which the head is mounted and which is movable in the main scanning direction; a sensor that detects the height of the printing medium in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction along the main scanning direction; Controller and Equipped with The controller a first acquisition process of moving the sensor together with the carriage in the main scanning direction and acquiring a detection result of the sensor; a second acquisition process for acquiring a profile of height information of the printing medium across the main scanning direction based on the detection result acquired in the first acquisition process; a first identification process for identifying a curled portion occurring at an edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on the profile acquired in the second acquisition process; a first determination process for determining a specific print area, which is an area of ​​the print medium inside the turned-over portion identified in the first determination process in the main scanning direction, and is an area for printing the image based on print data; a first printing process in which the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction within the specific printing area determined in the first determination process based on the printing data, and the image is printed on the printing medium by the head; Run A printer characterized by:

2. The controller execute a second identification process to identify the height of the turned-up portion identified in the first identification process; The first printing process is executed when the height of the turned-up portion identified in the second identification process is equal to or greater than the printing position of the carriage when printing is executed on the printing medium by the head.

2. The printer according to claim 1.

3. The controller a second identification process for identifying the height of the turned-up portion identified in the first identification process; a second printing process in which, if the height of the turned-up portion identified in the second identification process is lower than the printing position of the carriage when printing is executed on the printing medium by the head, the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction within a designated printing area of ​​the printing medium in the main scanning direction, including the turned-up portion, based on the print data, and the image is printed on the printing medium by the head; Run 2. The printer according to claim 1.

4. The controller a determination process for determining whether to print up to the edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on width information of the printing medium based on the profile acquired in the first acquisition process and width information of the image based on the print data; an editing process of editing the print data into print data corresponding to the specific print area of ​​the print medium when it is determined by the determination process that printing will be performed up to the edge of the print medium in the main scanning direction; Run The first printing process The image based on the print data edited in the editing process is printed in the specific print area.

2. The printer according to claim 1.

5. The editing process compresses the size of the image of the print data in accordance with the specific print area.

5. The printer according to claim 4.

6. The editing process cuts an edge of the image based on the print data in the main scanning direction in accordance with the specific print area.

5. The printer according to claim 4.

7. The controller a determination process for determining whether to print up to the edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on width information of the printing medium based on the profile acquired in the first acquisition process and width information of the image based on the print data; a notification process for notifying an error when it is determined that printing will be performed up to the edge of the print medium in the main scanning direction; Run 2. The printer according to claim 1.

8. The sensor is mounted on the carriage.

2. The printer according to claim 1.

9. The sensor is an optical sensor.

2. The printer according to claim 1.

10. The sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

2. The printer according to claim 1.

11. a guide for guiding an edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction; 2. The printer according to claim 1.

12. a head capable of printing an image on a print medium transported in a sub-scanning direction; a carriage on which the head is mounted and which is movable in the main scanning direction; a sensor that detects the height of the printing medium in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction along the main scanning direction; A printing method for a printer comprising: a first acquisition step of moving the sensor together with the carriage in the main scanning direction and acquiring a detection result of the sensor; a second acquisition step of acquiring a profile of height information of the printing medium across the main scanning direction based on the detection result acquired in the first acquisition step; a first identification step of identifying a curled portion occurring at an edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on the profile acquired in the second acquisition step; a first determination step of determining a specific print area, which is an area of ​​the print medium inside the turned-over portion specified in the first determination step in the main scanning direction, and is an area for printing the image based on print data; a first printing step of moving the carriage in the main scanning direction within the specific printing area determined in the first determination step based on the print data, and printing the image on the printing medium with the head; Equipped with A printing method characterized by:

13. a second specifying step of specifying the height of the turned-up portion specified in the first specifying step; The first printing step is executed when the height of the turned-up portion identified in the second identifying step is equal to or greater than the printing position of the carriage when printing is executed on the print medium by the head.

13. The printing method according to claim 12.

14. a second specifying step of specifying the height of the turned-up portion specified in the first specifying step; a second printing step of, if the height of the turned-up portion identified in the second identifying step is lower than a printing position of the carriage when printing is executed on the printing medium by the head, moving the carriage in the main scanning direction within a designated printing area of ​​the printing medium including the turned-up portion in the main scanning direction based on the print data, and printing the image on the printing medium by the head; Equipped with 13. The printing method according to claim 12.

15. a determination step of determining whether to print up to the edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on width information of the printing medium based on the profile acquired in the first acquisition step and width information of the image based on the print data; an editing step of editing the print data into print data corresponding to the specific print area of ​​the print medium when it is determined in the determining step that printing will be performed up to the edge of the print medium in the main scanning direction; Equipped with The first printing step The image based on the print data edited in the editing step is printed in the specific print area.

13. The printing method according to claim 12.

16. a head capable of printing an image on a print medium transported in a sub-scanning direction; a carriage on which the head is mounted and which is movable in the main scanning direction; a sensor that detects the height of the printing medium in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction along the main scanning direction; Printer with computer a first acquisition step of moving the sensor together with the carriage in the main scanning direction and acquiring a detection result of the sensor; a second acquisition step of acquiring a profile of height information of the printing medium across the main scanning direction based on the detection result acquired in the first acquisition step; a first identification step of identifying a curled portion occurring at an edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on the profile acquired in the second acquisition step; a first determination step of determining a specific print area, which is an area of ​​the print medium inside the turned-over portion specified in the first determination step in the main scanning direction, and is an area for printing the image based on print data; a first printing step of moving the carriage in the main scanning direction within the specific printing area determined in the first determination step based on the print data, and printing the image on the printing medium with the head; A storage medium storing a program for executing the above.

17. a second specifying step of specifying the height of the turned-up portion specified in the first specifying step; When the height of the turned-up portion specified in the second specifying step is equal to or greater than the print position of the carriage when printing is performed on the print medium by the head, the first printing step is performed. The program for causing the computer to execute the 17. The storage medium according to claim 16.

18. a second specifying step of specifying the height of the turned-up portion specified in the first specifying step; a second printing step of, if the height of the turned-up portion identified in the second identifying step is lower than a printing position of the carriage when printing is executed on the printing medium by the head, moving the carriage in the main scanning direction within a designated printing area of ​​the printing medium including the turned-up portion in the main scanning direction based on the print data, and printing the image on the printing medium by the head; The program for causing the computer to execute the 17. The storage medium according to claim 16.

19. a determination step of determining whether to print up to the edge of the printing medium in the main scanning direction based on width information of the printing medium based on the profile acquired in the first acquisition step and width information of the image based on the print data; an editing step of editing the print data into print data corresponding to the specific print area of ​​the print medium when it is determined in the determining step that printing will be performed up to the edge of the print medium in the main scanning direction; storing the program that causes the computer to execute the above; The first printing step The image based on the print data edited in the editing step is printed in the specific print area.

17. The storage medium according to claim 16.

Images