Printing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a printing device that can suppress increase of an interval between images to be printed which are printed on the basis of respective pieces of print data, in performing printing on the basis of a plurality of pieces of printing data.SOLUTION: A printing device performs printing on the basis of divided images of an input image which are divided in a sub scanning direction Y. The printing device generates printing data for printing an image to be printed on a printing medium on the basis of the divided images. The printing device performs a shifting process, in generating the print data. The printing device determines whether printing based on the printing data generated from next divided images should be performed to one divided images. The printing device, when performing the printing based on the printing data generated from the next divided images, cancels printing operation before printing the whole of the one divided images. The printing device combines k-lines at an upstream side Y2 in the sub scanning direction in the one divided images for which the printing operation is cancelled with k-lines at a downstream side Y1 in the sub scanning direction in the next divided images.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a thermal printer that prints on thermal paper using a thermal line head having a plurality of heating elements is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The thermal printer sequentially heats a plurality of heating elements while supplying the thermal paper to the thermal head, and prints a 1-dot line constituting print data on the thermal paper. The thermal printer creates print data including a dot line obtained by moving dots in a dot line with a high printing rate to other dot lines and synthesizing them.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a thermal printer that performs printing based on print data including a dot line obtained by moving dots in one dot line to other dot lines and synthesizing them as in Patent Document 1, printing may be performed by dividing one print data into a plurality of print data. In this case, the last dot line related to one of the divided print data and the first dot line related to the print data to be printed next to one of the print data cannot be synthesized. Therefore, when printing based on a plurality of divided print data in a thermal printer, the interval between the printed images printed based on each print data may become large.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in the interval between printed images printed based on each print data when printing is performed based on a plurality of print data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a print head having a plurality of elements arranged in the main scanning direction, a transport unit that moves the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, and a control unit that controls the print head and the transport unit, wherein the control unit performs an acquisition process to acquire image data corresponding to each of a plurality of divided images obtained by dividing an input image in the sub-scanning direction, a generation process to generate print data for printing a print image based on the image data, a first synthesis process performed in the generation process to synthesize at least two of the lines from a plurality of lines obtained by dividing the divided image in the sub-scanning direction into print units, thereby forming a plurality of lines constituting the print image, and controls the transport unit to move the printing medium and the print head relative to each other based on the print data generated by the generation process The printing process involves controlling the print head to drive the plurality of elements while moving the element relative to the sub-scanning direction, thereby printing the print image by forming dots on the printing medium for each line; a printing decision process after printing based on one print data, determining whether or not to print based on the next print data following the first print data; and, if the printing decision process determines to print based on the next print data, a partial cancellation process in the printing process, during the execution of printing based on the first print data, canceling the printing of a predetermined number of lines from the end of the first print data; and a second synthesis process, which combines the predetermined number of lines from the first print data whose printing was canceled by the partial cancellation process with the predetermined number of lines from the beginning of the next print data.

[0007] In the first embodiment, when printing based on one print data and then printing based on the next print data, the printing of a predetermined number of lines from the end of the first print data is stopped. The printing device then combines the predetermined number of lines from the first print data that were stopped with a predetermined number of lines from the beginning of the next print data. This allows the printing device to suppress the widening of the spacing between printed images when printing based on multiple print data.

[0008] A printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a print head having a plurality of elements arranged in the main scanning direction, a transport unit that moves the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, and a control unit that controls the print head and the transport unit, wherein the control unit includes an acquisition process for acquiring image data, an image data determination process for determining whether the image data acquired in the acquisition process is divided data representing each of a plurality of divided images obtained by dividing the input image in the sub-scanning direction, or undivided data representing the input image itself, and, if the image data determination process determines that the image data is undivided data, a first generation process for generating first print data for printing a first print image corresponding to the input image based on the undivided data, and executable in the first generation process. The invention is characterized by performing a synthesis process to combine at least two of the lines obtained by dividing the input image into print units in the sub-scanning direction to form a plurality of lines constituting a print image; a second generation process to generate second print data for printing a second print image corresponding to each of the divided images, based on the divided data, when the image data determination process determines that the image data is the divided data; and a printing process to print the print image by controlling the transport unit to move the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in the sub-scanning direction, and controlling the print head to drive the plurality of elements and form dots for each line, based on the first print data generated by the first generation process or the second print data generated by the second generation process.

[0009] The printing apparatus of the second embodiment can perform a synthesis process when the image data is undivided data, but does not perform a synthesis process when the image data is divided data. As a result, when the printing apparatus performs printing based on multiple print data, it can suppress the widening of the spacing between printed images printed based on each print data by synthesizing at least two lines in the input image. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram of the printing device 1. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing device 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows the input image U1. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing the divided images U11, U21, and U31. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram for performing line printing based on print images V11, V21, and V31. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram for shifting the dots that make up the input image in the sub-scanning direction Y. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the shifting process. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing printed image V2. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram for performing line printing based on print images V12, V22, and V32. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing printed images V13, V23, and V33. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram for performing line printing based on print images V13, V23, and V33. [Figure 12] This is a diagram illustrating the thinning process. [Figure 13] This figure shows the input image U2 and the divided images U3 and U4. [Figure 14] This is an explanatory diagram showing how feature elements are thinned out during the thinning process. [Figure 15] This is a flowchart of the setup process. [Figure 16] This is a flowchart of the first generation printing process. [Figure 17] This is a flowchart of the first process executed in the first generation printing process. [Figure 18] This is a flowchart of the second process executed in the first generation printing process. [Figure 19] This is a flowchart of the second generation printing process. [Figure 20] This is a flowchart of the second generation printing process following FIG. 19.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Referring to the drawings, the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The drawings are used to explain the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. That is, the configuration and control of the apparatus described in the drawings are not intended to be limited thereto, but are merely illustrative examples.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 is a thermal printer capable of printing characters (objects such as letters, symbols, numbers, and figures) on a printing medium T. The printing medium T is not limited to a specific medium, but is, for example, sheet-like or tape-like, and in the present embodiment, it is a roll paper around which a thermal recording medium is wound.

[0013] The printing device 1 comprises a case 2, an input unit 3, a communication unit 4, a transport unit 5, and a print head 6. The case 2 is rectangular in shape and is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-back and up-down directions. The case 2 houses the transport unit 5 and the print head 6. The case 2 detachably houses the power supply 10 shown in Figure 2. The power supply 10 supplies power to the printing device 1. An insertion opening 21 is formed on the top surface of the case 2, and an output opening 22 is formed on the front surface of the case 2. The insertion opening 21 and the output opening 22 are each formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. The printing medium T is inserted into the printing device 1 from the insertion opening 21 and discharged from the printing device 1 from the output opening 22. The input unit 3 is provided near the left end of the top surface of the case 2. The input unit 3 includes a plurality of push buttons. The communication unit 4 is a USB jack provided on the right side of the case 2. The communication unit 4 can be connected to a USB cable connector.

[0014] The transport unit 5 comprises a motor 51 and a roller 52 as shown in Figure 2. The roller 52 is roller-shaped with an axis extending in the left-right direction and is installed diagonally upward and forward inside the case 2. The motor 51 rotates the roller 52. The transport unit 5 moves the printing medium T relative to the print head 6 by transporting the printing medium T in the transport direction TR by the rotation of the roller 52. The transport direction TR is perpendicular to the left-right direction and, in this embodiment, extends diagonally upward and backward and diagonally downward and forward. Hereinafter, the diagonally upward and backward direction of the transport direction TR will be referred to as the upstream side and the diagonally downward and forward side will be referred to as the downstream side.

[0015] The print head 6 is located below the roller 52. The print head 6 is a line head and includes a plurality of elements 61 and a driver IC 62 as shown in Figure 2. Each of the plurality of elements 61 in this embodiment is a heating element that generates heat when energized. The plurality of elements 61 come into contact with the printing medium T, which is pressed downward by the roller 52, and generate heat to print on the printing medium T. The driver IC 62 is configured to selectively energize the plurality of elements 61 to generate heat.

[0016] Referring to Figure 2, the electrical configuration of the printing device 1 will be described. The printing device 1 comprises a CPU 7, RAM 8, storage unit 9, communication unit 4, input unit 3, transport unit 5, and print head 6. The transport unit 5 comprises a motor 51 and rollers 52. The print head 6 comprises a driver IC 62 and multiple elements 61. The CPU 7 controls the printing device 1. The CPU 7 is electrically connected to the RAM 8, storage unit 9, communication unit 4, input unit 3, motor 51, and driver IC 62. The RAM 8 stores temporary data such as various variables. The storage unit 9 stores programs executed by the CPU 7 to control the printing device 1, print data, and various setting information. The communication unit 4 is a controller for communicating with an external device 99 via a USB cable. The external device 99 is a known information processing device such as a PC, tablet PC, or smartphone. The external device 99 comprises a display unit 98. The display unit 98 displays an image according to instructions transmitted by the CPU 7 via the communication unit 4.

[0017] The printing operation of the printing device 1 is described below. The printing device 1 selectively energizes multiple elements 61 of the print head 6 according to the print data. The print data includes instructions to energize and to de-energize each of the multiple elements 61. Thermal energy is applied to the portion of the printing medium T that is in contact with the energized multiple elements 61. As a result, the printing device 1 forms a row of pixels aligned in the main scanning direction X, corresponding to the arrangement of the multiple elements 61. The printing device 1 rotates the roller 52 with the motor 51 to transport the printing medium T downstream in the transport direction TR, while intermittently energizing the multiple elements 61 multiple times. As a result, multiple lines are formed on the printing medium T, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pixel arrangement in one line of image. The multiple lines create shades on the printing medium T depending on the presence or absence of each pixel, forming a printed image. The above operation is called the "printing operation".

[0018] In the following explanation, the direction in which multiple elements 61 are aligned is called the "main scanning direction X," and the printing unit corresponding to a single row of pixels aligned in the main scanning direction X is called a "line." The direction in which multiple lines are aligned is called the "sub-scanning direction Y." The sub-scanning direction Y is defined by the transport direction TR. The printing unit corresponding to each of the multiple elements 61 is called a "dot."

[0019] Printing by the printing device 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 14. In the example shown in Figure 3, printing is performed on the printing medium T based on the input image U1. The printing medium T is a roll of paper with its longitudinal direction parallel to the sub-scanning direction Y. The length of the printing medium T in the main scanning direction X is B (see Figure 5).

[0020] The left-right direction of input images U1 and U2 (see Figure 14) corresponds to the main scanning direction X, and the up-down direction of input images U1 and U2 corresponds to the sub-scanning direction Y. The leftward direction of input images U1 and U2 corresponds to one side X1 of the main scanning direction, and the rightward direction of input images U1 and U2 corresponds to the other side X2 of the main scanning direction. The upper part of input images U1 and U2 corresponds to the downstream side Y1 of the sub-scanning direction, and the lower part of input images U1 and U2 corresponds to the upstream side Y2 of the sub-scanning direction. Input images U1 and U2 are rectangular in shape, extending in the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y.

[0021] The longitudinal direction of the input image U1 is the sub-scanning direction Y. The length of the input image U1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is A1, and the length of the printable area N1 in the main scanning direction X is D. Multiple grid lines are arranged in the input image U1, extending in the main scanning direction X. The multiple grid lines are arranged in the sub-scanning direction Y with a gap of length C1 between them. Numbers and symbols are arranged in the main scanning direction X on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of each grid line.

[0022] Printer 1 may print the input image U1 as is. Alternatively, Printer 1 may print the image based on divided images obtained by dividing the input image U1 in the sub-scanning direction Y. As shown in Figure 4, Printer 1 prints the images V11, V21, and V31 (see Figure 5) based on the input image U1 into three divided images U11, U21, and U31. Hereafter, when Printer 1 prints based on the divided images U11, U21, and U31, it will be referred to as "performing line printing."

[0023] The three segmented images U11, U21, and U31, when arranged in the order U11, U21, and U31 from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction, coincide with the input image U1. The lengths of the sub-scanning direction Y for the segmented images U11, U21, and U31 are A11, A21, and A31, respectively. The sum of the lengths of the sub-scanning direction Y for the segmented images U11, U21, and U31 is equal to the length of the sub-scanning direction Y for the input image U1 (A11 + A21 + A31 = A1). The spacing between multiple grid lines in the segmented images U11, U21, and U31 is length C1, the same as in the input image U1.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, when the printer 1 performs line printing, it prints print image V11, print image V21, and print image V31 in that order. When the printer 1 finishes printing print image V11, it starts printing print image V21. When the printer 1 finishes printing print image V21, it starts printing print image V31. In the printed medium T, the distance between the ruled line on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of print image V11 and the ruled line on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of print image V21 is length C1. In the printed medium T, the distance between the ruled line on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of print image V21 and the ruled line on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of print image V31 is length C1. The combination of printed print images V11, V21, and V31 is the same as if the input image U1 were printed as is.

[0025] Furthermore, the printing device 1 may print lines composed of dots from multiple lines by moving the dots that make up the lines of the input image U1 to other lines. For example, the printing device 1 shifts the dots that make up the lines of the input image U1 to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. This reduces the peak number of energized elements 61 in the printing device 1, allowing it to print at a faster printing speed compared to when the dots are not shifted. Hereinafter, the act of the printing device 1 shifting the dots that make up the input image in the sub-scanning direction Y will be referred to as "performing a shifting process."

[0026] In the example of the shifting process shown in Figure 6, the shifting process is performed on grid lines extending in the main scanning direction X with thicknesses of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 16 dots as input images. Figure 6(A) is the input image before the shifting process is performed. Figure 6(B) is the printed image after the shifting process has been performed on the input image.

[0027] In the printing device 1, the dots are shifted to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction by the shifting process. The amount by which the dots are shifted to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction increases with the other side X2 in the main scanning direction of the input image. Due to the shifting process, the printed image is tilted to the other side X2 in the main scanning direction and to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction compared to the input image. In the input image, the dots at the edge of the other side X2 in the main scanning direction are shifted the most to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. In the printable area N1, the maximum amount by which the dots are shifted in the sub-scanning direction Y due to the shifting process is called the "shift amount L". In this embodiment, the shift amount L is 150 μm. The tilt angle θ of the input image due to the shifting process is θ = arctan(L / D). The shift amount L is a sufficiently small value compared to the length D in the main scanning direction X of the printable area N1. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to visually confirm that the printed image is tilted.

[0028] As another example of the shifting process, the dots constituting the line shown in Figure 7(A) are shifted to form the line shown in Figure 7(B). In Figures 7 and 14, the left-right direction and the up-down direction correspond to the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y, respectively. The column names, represented by numbers, indicate the identification numbers (hereinafter referred to as element numbers) assigned sequentially to each of the multiple elements 61, starting from one side X1 in the main scanning direction. The row names, represented by numbers, indicate the identification numbers (hereinafter referred to as line numbers) of the lines printed by the elements 61, starting from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction. The printing device 1 forms images on the printing medium T in order of increasing line number. A portion of the multiple dots corresponding to the print data is shown in a matrix, and the formed dots are shown in black.

[0029] The line shown in Figure 7(B) is obtained by shifting the dots that make up the line shown in Figure 7(A) by 0 dots upstream Y2 in the sub-scan direction for dots with element numbers 1 to 4, 1 dot upstream Y2 in the sub-scan direction for dots with element numbers 5 to 8, 2 dots upstream Y2 in the sub-scan direction for dots with element numbers 9 to 12, and so on. After the shifting process, for example, the line with line number N+2 shown in Figure 7(B) is a line that is a composite of the line with line number N+2 shown in Figure 7(A), the line with line number N+1, and the line with line number N. After the shifting process, the line with line number N+2 shown in Figure 7(B) includes the dots with element numbers 1 to 4 of line number N+2 shown in Figure 7(A), the dots with element numbers 5 to 8 of line number N+1, and the dots with element numbers 9 to 12 of line number N.

[0030] The printed image V2 shown in Figure 8 is the input image U1 after a shifting process has been applied. For ease of understanding, Figures 8 to 12 show only the grid lines in the input and printed images, omitting numbers and symbols. In the printed image V2, the grid lines are inclined at an angle θ (θ = arctan(L / D)) toward the other side X2 in the main scanning direction and the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. The length A2 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the printed image V2 is longer than the length A1 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the input image U1 (see Figure 3) due to the shifting of the dots (A2 > A1). Since the entire printed image V2 is inclined, the spacing between the grid lines is the same length C1 as in the input image U1.

[0031] As shown in Figure 9, the printing device 1 may print printed images V12, V22, and V32, which are obtained by shifting the divided images U11, U21, and U31, onto the printing medium T. Printed images V12, V22, and V32 are printed in the same order as printed images V11, V21, and V31, which are printed in the order of printed image V12, printed image V22, and printed image V32. The number of lines in printed images V11, V21, and V31 is M, each.

[0032] Conventionally, when a printing device finishes printing image V12, it starts printing image V22. When the printing device finishes printing image V22, it starts printing image V32. Therefore, the distance between the grid line on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of image V12 and the grid line on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of image V22 is C2, which is greater than the length C1. The distance between the grid line on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of image V22 and the grid line on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of image V32 is also C2.

[0033] To prevent the gap between two printed images V12, V22 or printed images V22, V32 from becoming too large, the printing device 1 combines some lines of printed image V12 with printed image V22, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The printing device 1 also combines some lines of printed image V22 with printed image V32.

[0034] More specifically, the printing apparatus 1 prints M - K lines out of the M lines of the print image V12, excluding the K lines on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. The printing apparatus 1 synthesizes the K lines of the print image V12 that were not printed and the K lines on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V22. When synthesizing, the printing apparatus 1 synthesizes the K-th line from the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V12 and the first line from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V22. The printing apparatus 1 synthesizes the (K - 1)-th line from the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V12 and the second line from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V22. The printing apparatus 1 sequentially synthesizes the K lines of the print image V12 and the K lines of the print image V22.

[0035] The printing apparatus 1 prints M - K lines out of the M lines after the synthesis, excluding the K lines on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction, as the print image V23. The printing apparatus 1 similarly synthesizes the K lines of the print image V22 that were not printed and the K lines on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V32. The printing apparatus 1 prints the M lines after the synthesis as the print image V33.

[0036] In the printed print medium T, the distance between the ruled line on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V13 and the ruled line on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V23 is the length C1. In the printed print medium T, the distance between the ruled line on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V23 and the ruled line on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the print image V33 is the length C1. The combination of the printed print images V13, V23, and V33 becomes the same image as when the print image V2 is printed.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the printing device 1 may print a printed image V4 in which lines from the input image U1 are thinned out at predetermined intervals from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction in order to reduce the length of the printed image in the sub-scanning direction Y. In Figure 12, the lines thinned out from the input image U1 are schematically shown by diagonal shading. Hereinafter, the act of the printing device 1 thinning out lines from the input image in the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction at predetermined intervals will be referred to as "thinning processing". In this embodiment, the thinning processing thins out lines from the input image U1 at intervals of 1 line for every 20 lines from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction. Figure 12(A) is the input image U1 before thinning processing is performed. Figure 12(B) is the printed image V4 in which the input image U1 has undergone thinning processing. The length A3 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the printed image V4 is 95% of the length A1 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the input image U1.

[0038] The printing device 1 may divide the input image U2 shown in Figure 13(A) into divided images U3 and U4 shown in Figure 13(B) and perform a decimation process. Before the lines are decimated from the input image U2 by the decimation process, the divided images U3 and U4 coincide with the input image U2 when arranged in the order of divided image U3 and divided image U4 from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction.

[0039] The input image U2 consists of numbers, symbols, and lines on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction, and barcodes and QR codes (registered trademarks) on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. The divided image U3 includes the numbers, symbols, and lines from the input image U2. The divided image U4 includes the barcodes and QR codes from the input image U2.

[0040] When decimation is performed on the segmented image U4, the decimation of lines may make it impossible to read barcodes and QR codes in the printed image after line printing. Parts that are distinctive and undesirable to decimate, such as barcodes and QR codes, are called feature parts. Feature parts are identified, for example, by input information or pattern matching.

[0041] In a plurality of divided images, if the divided image to be printed after the first divided image contains a feature portion and a decimation process is performed, the printing device 1 combines the dots that constitute the lines in the next divided image with the dots that constitute the lines on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the first divided image.

[0042] Referring to Figure 14, a method for combining multiple lines when the divided images contain feature regions will be explained. The image data of the input image before division, shown in Figure 14(A), includes lines numbered N to N+5. The image data shown in Figure 14(B) is the image data of the divided images obtained by dividing the input image. The image data of the P-th divided image includes lines numbered N to N+2. The image data of the P+1-th divided image includes lines numbered N+3 to N+5 in the input image before division. In the image data of the P+1-th divided image, the line numbers are shifted down by N+2. Line number N+3 in the input image before division becomes line number 1 in the P+1-th divided image. Line number N+4 in the input image before division becomes line number 2 in the P+1-th divided image. The P+1-th divided image is assumed to contain feature regions.

[0043] When printing based on the image data of the P-th segmented image, the printing device 1 refers to the image data of the P+1-th segmented image. Through a decimation process, the line with line number 1 in the image data of the P+1-th segmented image, which contains the feature portion, is decimated. The printing device 1 then combines the line with line number N+2 in the image data of the P-th segmented image with the line with line number 1 in the P+1-th image data.

[0044] As shown in Figure 14(C), the line with line number N+2 in the P-th image data after synthesis contains the dots that make up the line with line number N+2 in the P-th image data before synthesis, and the dots that make up the line with line number 1 in the P+1-th image data before synthesis. After the decimation process, the line number in the P+1-th image data is shifted down by 1. In the P+1-th image data, the line with line number 3 before the decimation process becomes the line with line number 2. The line with line number 2 before the decimation process becomes the line with line number 1.

[0045] Referring to Figures 15 to 20, the processes performed by the CPU 7 of the printing device 1 will be explained. The CPU 7 performs a setting process, a first generation printing process, and a second generation printing process, which will be described later. The setting process is the process of setting whether or not to perform either a shifting process or a thinning process in the first generation printing process and the second generation printing process, before the execution of the first generation printing process and the second generation printing process. The first generation printing process is the process of generating print data based on the input image and performing the printing operation.

[0046] The user inputs an instruction to start the setup process via the input unit 3. When the CPU 7 detects the instruction to start the setup process, it reads a program for executing the setup process from the storage unit 9 into the RAM 8. The CPU 7 executes the setup process, which has the following steps, according to the instructions contained in the read program. Various data obtained during the setup process are stored in the storage unit 9 as appropriate.

[0047] RAM8 stores a composite variable as a common variable used in the setup process, the first generation print process, and the second generation print process described later. The composite variable is stored as 1 when the system is set to perform a shifting process, as 2 when the system is set to perform a decimation process, and as 0 when neither the shifting process nor the decimation process is set to perform. The first generation print process and the second generation print process perform operations based on the value of the composite variable stored in the setup process.

[0048] As shown in Figure 15, when the CPU 7 starts the setting process, it determines whether or not it has received a signal to set the shifting process and the decimation process (S1). The user inputs one of the following via the input unit 3: an instruction to set the execution of the shifting process, an instruction to set the execution of the decimation process, or an instruction to set both the shifting process and the decimation process not to be performed. If the CPU 7 has not received a signal to set the shifting process and the decimation process (S1: NO), it returns to the determination in S1 and repeats the determination in S1 until it receives a signal to set the shifting process and the decimation process.

[0049] When the CPU 7 receives a signal for setting instructions regarding shifting and decimation processes (S1:YES), it determines whether the received instruction is an instruction to set the execution of the shifting process (S2). If the received instruction is an instruction to set the execution of the shifting process (S2:YES), the CPU 7 sets the value of the composite variable to 1 and stores it in RAM 8 (S3). The CPU 7 then returns to the determination in S1.

[0050] If the received instruction is not an instruction to set up the execution of a shifting process (S2: NO), CPU7 determines whether the received instruction is an instruction to set up the execution of a decimation process (S4). If the received instruction is an instruction to set up the execution of a decimation process (S4: YES), CPU7 sets the value of the composite variable to 2 and stores it in RAM8 (S5). CPU7 returns to the decision in S1.

[0051] If the received instruction is not an instruction to set up decimation (S4: NO), CPU7 sets the value of the composite variable to 0 and stores it in RAM8 (S6). CPU7 returns the process to the decision in S1.

[0052] The first generation printing process will be explained with reference to Figures 16 to 18. The user inputs a command to start the first generation printing process via the input unit 3. When the CPU 7 detects the command to start the first generation printing process, it reads a program for executing the first generation printing process from the storage unit 9 into the RAM 8.

[0053] RAM8 stores a division variable and a sequence variable P as variables used in the first generation printing process. The division variable is stored as 1 when line printing is performed based on the divided image, and as 0 when line printing is not performed. The sequence variable P indicates the position of the divided image from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction relative to the input image. The minimum value of the sequence variable P is 1, and the maximum value is Q, the number of divisions in the input image (in the example shown in Figure 4, Q=3). In this embodiment, the number of lines in each divided image is M.

[0054] As shown in Figure 16, when the CPU 7 starts the first generation print process, it acquires image data representing the input image (S11). The image data is data representing either the input image or a divided image. If the image data represents a divided image, it includes data indicating that it is a divided image, data indicating the maximum value Q of the ordinal variable P of the input image, and data indicating which position the divided image is relative to the input image from the downstream Y1 in the sub-scanning direction. When the CPU 7 acquires image data representing a divided image in S11, the image data is data representing the first divided image to be printed when performing a line print (the divided image at the furthest downstream Y1 in the sub-scanning direction on the printing medium T).

[0055] The CPU 7 acquires image data generated by an external device 99, for example, from the external device 99 via the communication unit 4. The CPU 7 may acquire image data stored in the memory unit 9, or it may acquire image data input by the input unit 3 through user operation. The CPU 7 then proceeds to process S12.

[0056] CPU7 obtains the setting (S12) which determines whether to execute either the shifting process or the decimation process, as set during the configuration process. In S12, CPU7 obtains the value of the composite variable stored in RAM8. CPU7 then proceeds to S13.

[0057] CPU7 determines whether or not to perform line printing (S13). In making the decision in S13, CPU7 makes the decision based on the image data acquired in S11. If the image data contains data indicating that it is a segmented image and line printing is to be performed (S13: YES), CPU7 sets the value of the segmentation variable to 1 and stores it in RAM8 (S14). CPU7 sets the value of the sequential variable P to 1 and stores it in RAM8 (S15). CPU7 then proceeds to process S17.

[0058] If the image data does not contain data indicating that it is a segmented image and line printing is not performed (S13: NO), CPU7 sets the value of the segmentation variable to 0 and stores it in RAM8 (S16). CPU7 then proceeds to S17.

[0059] CPU7 determines whether or not to perform the shifting process based on the value of the composite variable obtained in S12 (S17). If the value of the composite variable is 1 and the shifting process is to be performed (S17: YES), CPU7 performs the first process (S18) and terminates the first generation and printing process. The first process is the process of generating print data and performing the printing operation when the shifting process is to be performed.

[0060] Referring to Figure 17, the first process (S18, see Figure 16) performed in the first generation printing process will be explained. The CPU 7 determines whether or not to perform line printing based on the value of the division variable (S31).

[0061] If the value of the division variable is 1 and line printing is to be performed (S31: YES), CPU 7 performs the first part generation process (S32). The first part generation process is a process that performs a shifting process on the first part obtained by further dividing the divided image acquired in S11 (see Figure 16) into three parts, and generates print data to form the dots after the shifting process. The first part of the divided image consists of lines numbered 1 to K of the divided image. The second part of the divided image consists of lines numbered K+1 to MK of the divided image. The third part of the divided image consists of lines numbered M-K+1 to M of the divided image. CPU 7 then proceeds to process S33.

[0062] CPU7 performs the second part generation process (S33). The second part generation process involves shifting the second part of the divided image and generating print data to form the dots after the shifting process. CPU7 performs the third part generation process (S34). The third part generation process involves shifting the third part of the divided image and generating print data to form the dots after the shifting process. CPU7 then proceeds to process S35.

[0063] The CPU 7 starts the printing operation (S35). The CPU 7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in the first and second generation processes and prints the print image (print image V13 in Figure 11) onto the printing medium T. The CPU 7 controls the transport unit 5 and the print head 6 to print sequentially, starting from line number 1 of the print image.

[0064] CPU7 prints the divided image line by line number 1 and then determines whether printing is complete until the number of unprinted lines in the divided image reaches K (S36). If printing is not complete until the number of unprinted lines reaches K (S36: NO), CPU7 returns to the determination in S36 and repeats the determination in S36 until the number of unprinted lines reaches K. If printing is complete until the number of unprinted lines reaches K (S36: YES), CPU7 stops the transport unit 5 and the print head 6 and cancels the printing operation (S37). When the printing operation is canceled, printing of lines 1 to MK in the divided image has been completed. CPU7 proceeds to S38.

[0065] CPU7 obtains the next image data, the P+1 image data, which is the basis for the P image data that formed the basis of the printing operation performed in S35 to S37 (S38). CPU7 adds 1 to the value of the sequential variable P (S39). CPU7 then proceeds to S40.

[0066] CPU7 executes the synthesis and generation process (S40). In the synthesis and generation process, CPU7 performs a shifting process on the first part of the divided image in the P+1 image data and generates print data to form the dots after the shifting process. CPU7 synthesizes the print data based on the third part of the P image data that was not printed in S35 to S37 with the print data based on the first part of the P+1 image data. CPU7 then proceeds to process S41.

[0067] CPU7 determines whether the value of the ordinal variable P is equal to the maximum value Q (S41). If the value of the ordinal variable P is less than the maximum value Q (S41: NO), CPU7 returns to S33, deciding to print based on the print data generated from the P-th divided image, and then print based on the print data generated from the P+1-th divided image. CPU7 performs the printing operation based on the print data of the first part synthesized in S40 and the print data of the second part generated in S33 (S35-S37).

[0068] If the value of the ordinal variable P is equal to the maximum value Q (S41: YES), the CPU 7 performs the remaining portion generation process (S42). The remaining portion generation process involves shifting the second and third parts of the divided image (ordinal variable P=Q) that will be printed last, and generating print data to form the dots after the shifting process.

[0069] CPU7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in S40 and S42 (S43). The print image (print image V33 in Figure 11) is printed on the print medium T. CPU7 returns the process to the first generation print process.

[0070] On the other hand, if the value of the division variable is 0 and line printing is not performed (S31:NO), CPU7 performs a full shift generation process (S44). The full shift generation process is a process that performs a shift process on the entire input image and generates print data to form the dots after the shift process. CPU7 performs a print operation based on the print data generated in S44 (S45). CPU7 returns the process to the first generation print process.

[0071] As shown in Figure 16, if the value of the composite variable is not 1 and the shifting process is not performed (S17:NO), the CPU 7 determines whether or not to perform the decimation process based on the value of the composite variable obtained in S12 (S19).

[0072] If the value of the composite variable is 2 and decimation is to be performed (S19: YES), CPU7 performs the second process (S20) and terminates the first generation printing process.

[0073] Referring to Figure 18, the second process (S20, see Figure 16) performed in the first generation printing process will be explained. The CPU 7 determines whether or not to perform line printing based on the value of the division variable (S51).

[0074] If the value of the division variable is 1 and line printing is to be performed (S51:YES), CPU7 determines whether the value of the sequential variable P is different from the maximum value Q (S52). If the value of the sequential variable P is different from the maximum value Q (S52:YES), CPU7 performs the first decimation generation process, assuming that printing will be performed based on the print data generated from the P-th divided image, followed by printing based on the print data generated from the P+1-th divided image (S53). The first decimation generation process is a process that performs decimation on the first and second parts of the divided image in the P-th image data and generates print data for printing the lines after the decimation process. In the first decimation generation process, after the decimation process is performed, line numbers are reassigned in the P-th image data.

[0075] CPU7 starts the printing operation (S55). CPU7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in the first decimation generation process and prints the print image onto the printing medium T. CPU7 controls the transport unit 5 and the print head 6 to print the print image sequentially, starting from line number 1.

[0076] CPU7 prints the divided image line by line number 1 and determines whether printing is complete until the number of unprinted lines in the divided image reaches K (S55). If printing is not complete until the number of unprinted lines reaches K (S55: NO), CPU7 returns to the determination in S55 and repeats the determination in S55 until the number of unprinted lines reaches K. If printing is complete until the number of unprinted lines reaches K (S55: YES), CPU7 stops the transport unit 5 and the print head 6 and stops the printing operation (S56). CPU7 then proceeds to S57.

[0077] CPU7 obtains the next image data, image data P+1, based on image data P (S57). CPU7 refers to the image data P+1 obtained in S53 (S58). In S54, CPU7 checks whether the image data P+1 contains feature parts by referring to the input information of the divided images or by performing pattern matching.

[0078] CPU7 determines whether the P+1 image data referenced in S54 contains feature portions (S59). If the P+1 image data contains feature portions (S59: YES), CPU7 executes the second decimation generation process (S60). The second decimation generation process involves decimating the third portion of the divided image in the P image data, and combining the lines of the third portion of the divided image in the P image data with the lines containing feature portions in the first portion of the divided image in the P+1 image data. The second decimation generation process generates print data corresponding to the third portion of the P divided image. CPU7 then proceeds to process S62.

[0079] If the image data for P+1 does not contain any feature parts (S59:NO), CPU7 executes the third decimation generation process (S61). The third decimation generation process is a process that performs decimation on the third part of the divided image in the image data for P. The third decimation generation process generates print data corresponding to the third part of the divided image for P. CPU7 then proceeds to S62.

[0080] CPU7 performs the printing operation based on the print data corresponding to the third part of the P-th segmented image, which was generated in S60 and S61 (S62). CPU7 adds 1 to the value of the sequential variable P (S63) and returns the process to the decision in S52.

[0081] If the value of the ordinal variable P, after being added in S63, becomes equal to the maximum value Q (S52: NO), the CPU 7 executes the fourth decimation generation process (S64). The fourth decimation generation process is a process that performs decimation on the entire divided image (ordinal variable P=Q) that will be printed last. The fourth decimation generation process generates print data corresponding to the Qth divided image. The CPU 7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in S64 (S65). The CPU 7 then returns to the first generation and printing process.

[0082] On the other hand, if the value of the division variable is 0 and line printing is not performed (S51:NO), CPU7 performs a full decimation generation process (S66). The full decimation generation process is a process that performs decimation on the entire input image. The full decimation generation process generates print data corresponding to the input image. CPU7 performs printing operations based on the print data generated in S66 (S67). CPU7 returns the process to the first generation print process.

[0083] As shown in Figure 16, if the value of the composite variable is 0 and neither the shifting process nor the decimation process is performed (S19: NO), the CPU 7 generates print data based on the input image or divided image acquired in S11 (S21). The CPU 7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in S21 (S22). The CPU 7 then terminates the first generation print process.

[0084] In the first embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 may print on a printing medium T based on divided images obtained by dividing the input image in the sub-scanning direction Y. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 may combine multiple lines into a single line during the shifting and thinning processes. The combined line includes the dots that constitute each of the multiple lines before the combination. The printing apparatus 1 acquires image data of the divided images (S11, S38, S57). The printing apparatus 1 generates print data based on the image data of the divided images (S32-S34, S40, S42, S53, S60, S61, S64). The printing apparatus 1 performs the shifting process in S32-S34, S40, and S42. The printing apparatus 1 performs the shifting process when generating print data in S32-S34, S40, and S42. In the shifting process, the printing apparatus 1 combines multiple lines into a single line. In S60, when the printing device 1 generates print data, it performs a decimation process and combines multiple lines into one line. After printing based on the print data generated from the P-th divided image, the printing device 1 decides whether or not to print based on the print data generated from the P+1-th divided image (S41, S52). If the printing device 1 decides to print based on the print data generated from the P+1-th divided image, it stops the printing operation before printing the entire P-th divided image (S37, S56). The printing device 1 combines the K lines on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the P-th divided image, from the K lines on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction of the P+1-th divided image (S40, S60). As a result, the printing device 1 of the first embodiment can suppress the widening of the spacing between printed images when printing based on print data corresponding to each of multiple divided images.

[0085] In steps S32-S34, S40, and S42, the printing device 1 performs a shifting process when generating print data. Due to the shifting process, some of the dots that make up the line are shifted to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. Even in this case, the printing device 1 can suppress the widening of the spacing between the printed images printed based on each print data.

[0086] Printing device 1 refers to the P+1 divided image and checks whether the P+1 divided image contains a feature portion (S58). When generating print data in S60, printing device 1 performs a decimation process on the third part of the P divided image and combines the lines of the third part of the P divided image with the lines of the first part of the P+1 divided image that contain the feature portion. Printing device 1 refers to the P+1 divided image and changes the dots that make up the lines of the P divided image. Even in this case, printing device 1 can suppress the widening of the spacing between the printed images printed based on each print data.

[0087] In the first embodiment, when the printing device 1 performs line printing and also performs shifting or decimation, it combines the lines of the P-th divided image with the lines of the P+1-th divided image. This prevents the printing device 1 of the first embodiment from increasing the spacing between printed images based on the print data corresponding to multiple divided images. In contrast, the printing device 1 of the second embodiment is controlled so as not to perform both line printing and shifting or decimation.

[0088] The printing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment differs from the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment in that it performs a second generation printing process instead of a first generation printing process. Hereinafter, components having the same functions as the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted or simplified. Processes similar to the first generation printing process are denoted by the same reference numerals as the first generation printing process, and their descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0089] Referring to Figures 19 and 20, the second generation printing process executed by the CPU 7 will be explained. The user inputs a command to start the second generation printing process via the input unit 3. When the CPU 7 detects the command to start the second generation printing process, it reads the program for executing the second generation printing process from the storage unit 9 into the RAM 8.

[0090] As shown in Figure 19, when the CPU 7 starts the second generation printing process, it acquires image data (S11). The CPU 7 acquires the value of the composite variable from RAM 8 to obtain the setting set in the setting process (see Figure 15) to determine whether or not to execute either the shifting process or the decimation process (S12).

[0091] CPU7 determines whether or not to perform line printing based on the image data acquired in S11 (S13). If the image data contains data indicating that it is a segmented image and line printing is to be performed (S13: YES), CPU7 sets the value of the segmentation variable to 1 and stores it in RAM8 (S14). CPU7 sets the value of the sequential variable P to 1 and stores it in RAM8 (S15). CPU7 then proceeds to process S71.

[0092] Based on the value of the composite variable obtained in S12, CPU7 determines whether or not the setting process is configured to execute a shifting process or a decimation process (S71).

[0093] If the value of the composite variable is 1 or 2 and it is set to execute a shifting or decimation process (S71: YES), the CPU 7 executes a disable process (S72). The disable process is the process of disabling the setting to execute a shifting or decimation process that was set in the setting process. In the disable process, the CPU 7 sets the value of the composite variable to 0 and stores it in the RAM 8. The CPU 7 executes a notification process (S73). In the notification process, the CPU 7 sends an instruction to the external device 99 via the communication unit 4. The external device 99 executes line printing in accordance with the instruction of the CPU 7 and displays on the display unit 98 that it is not possible to execute the shifting and decimation processes. The CPU 7 moves the process to S74.

[0094] If the value of the composite variable is 0 and no shifting or decimation process is set to be performed (S71:NO), CPU7 proceeds to S74.

[0095] CPU7 generates print data based on the acquired segmented images (S74). CPU7 does not perform either shifting or decimation in S73. CPU7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in S73 (S75). CPU7 then proceeds to S75.

[0096] CPU7 determines whether the ordinal variable P is equal to the maximum value Q (S76). If the ordinal variable P is less than the maximum value Q (S76: NO), CPU7 adds 1 to the value of the ordinal variable P (S77). CPU7 obtains the image data of the divided image of the ordinal variable P after the addition in S76 (S78). CPU7 returns to processing S74. CPU7 repeats processing S74 to S78 until printing of all divided images is complete. If the ordinal variable P is equal to the maximum value Q (S76: YES), CPU7 considers that printing of all divided images is complete and terminates the second generation printing process.

[0097] If the image data does not contain data indicating that it is a segmented image and line printing is not performed (S13: NO), CPU 7 sets the value of the segmentation variable to 0 and stores it in RAM 8 (S16). CPU 7 then proceeds to process S17 (see Figure 20).

[0098] As shown in Figure 20, the CPU 7 determines whether or not to perform the shifting process based on the value of the composite variable obtained in S12 (S17). If the value of the composite variable is 1 and the shifting process is to be performed (S17: YES), the CPU 7 performs the full shift generation process (S44) and proceeds to S79.

[0099] If the value of the composite variable is not 1 and the shifting process is not performed (S17: NO), CPU7 decides whether or not to perform the decimation process based on the value of the composite variable obtained in S12 (S19). If the value of the composite variable is 2 and the decimation process is to be performed (S19: YES), CPU7 performs the full decimation generation process (S66) and proceeds to S79.

[0100] If the value of the composite variable is 0 and neither the shifting process nor the decimation process is performed (S19:NO), the CPU 7 generates print data based on the input image acquired in S11 (S79). The CPU 7 performs the printing operation based on the print data generated in S44, S66, and S78 (S80). The CPU 7 then terminates the second generation print process.

[0101] In the second embodiment, the printing device 1 determines, based on the image data acquired in S11, whether the image data represents the print image itself or a divided image (S13). If the image data represents a divided image and line printing is to be performed, the printing device 1 generates print data based on the acquired divided image (S74). The printing device 1 does not perform either a shifting process or a decimation process in S73. The CPU 7 performs a printing operation based on the print data generated in S73 (S75). If the image data represents the input image itself and line printing is not to be performed, the printing device 1 performs a full shift generation process (S44) and a full decimation generation process (S66) to generate print data. In the full shift generation process, the printing device 1 performs a shifting process on the entire input image. In the shifting process, the printing device 1 combines multiple lines into one line. In the full decimation generation process, the printing device 1 performs a decimation process on the entire input image. The printing device 1 performs printing based on the print data (S74, S80). As a result, when the printing device 1 of the second embodiment performs printing based on multiple print data, it can suppress the widening of the spacing between the printed images printed based on each print data by combining two or more lines of the divided images.

[0102] When the printing device 1 acquires image data representing an input image, it performs a shifting process when generating print data in the full shift generation process (S44). Due to the shifting process, some of the dots that make up the line are shifted to the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction. The printing device 1 does not perform a shifting process when it acquires image data representing a divided image. As a result, the printing device 1 can suppress the widening of the spacing between printed images printed based on each print data by performing a shifting process on the divided image and compositing two or more lines.

[0103] When the printer 1 acquires image data representing an input image, it performs a decimation process when generating print data in the full decimation generation process (S66). The decimation process removes some of the lines from the input image. The printer 1 does not perform a decimation process when it acquires image data representing a divided image. When the printer 1 decimates the lines of image data representing multiple divided images, it may refer to the image data representing the next divided image to be printed and modify the lines of the print data for that divided image. By performing a decimation process on the divided images and merging the lines of the print data for that divided image, the printer 1 can suppress the widening of the spacing between the print images printed based on each print data.

[0104] In the setting process, the printer 1 receives instruction signals via the input unit 3 to set shifting and decimation processes (S1). If the image data represents a segmented image and line printing is to be performed, the printer 1 performs a nullification process (S72). In the nullification process, the printer 1 nullifies the setting for shifting or decimation that was set in the setting process. Even if the printer 1 receives instruction signals for shifting and decimation processes in the setting process, if the image data represents a segmented image and line printing is to be performed, the printer 1 nullifies the received setting. This simplifies the processing for the printer 1.

[0105] Printing device 1, where image data represents a segmented image, performs notification processing (S73) when performing line printing. CPU 7 sends instructions to external device 99 via communication unit 4 during notification processing. External device 99 performs line printing according to the instructions of CPU 7, and displays on display unit 98 that shifting and decimation processing cannot be performed. The user can understand that shifting and decimation processing cannot be performed through the notification from the notification processing.

[0106] The printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate.

[0107] The printing device 1 may be a printing device having a line thermal head for thermally transferring an ink ribbon as the print head 6. The printing device 1 may be an inkjet printer having a plurality of piezoelectric elements as a plurality of elements 61 and a line inkjet head as the print head 6. The printing device 1 may be an electrophotographic printer having a plurality of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) as a plurality of elements 61 and a line LED head as the print head 6.

[0108] The printing medium T is not limited to any particular medium. The printing medium T may be, for example, a sheet of cut paper. The printing medium T may be a laminated tape in which release paper is attached to one side of a double-sided adhesive tape and tape is attached to the other side of the double-sided adhesive tape. The printing medium T may be fanfold paper that is folded along perforations etched into the paper.

[0109] Various modifications may be made to the shifting process. The direction in which the printed image is tilted relative to the input image due to the shifting process is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the printed image may have a shape tilted to the other side X2 in the main scanning direction and to the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction compared to the input image. For example, the printed image may have a shape tilted in a V-shape compared to the input image. In the shifting process, the dots constituting the input image may be shifted not only in the sub-scanning direction Y but also in the main scanning direction X. For example, the printed image may have a shape rotated clockwise compared to the input image.

[0110] The printing device 1 may modify the generated print data so that some dots in the printed area are not formed. This allows the printing device 1 to reduce the peak number of energized elements 61.

[0111] In the first generation printing process or the second generation printing process, the printing device 1 may receive instruction signals for setting shifting and thinning processes after acquiring image data. If the acquired image data represents a segmented image and the printing device 1 determines that line printing should be performed, the printing device 1 may perform a signal rejection process to prohibit the reception of instruction signals for setting shifting and thinning processes after that determination. This allows the printing device 1 to simplify its processing.

[0112] The setup process, first generation printing process, and second generation printing process performed by the CPU 7 may be performed by a dedicated or general-purpose device provided separately from the printing device 1. The first generation printing process and the second generation printing process may be performed individually or in combination. The printing device 1 may change the configuration of the transport unit 5 depending on the type of print head 6. The transport unit 5 may change the relative position between the print head 6 and the printing medium T by moving the print head 6. The communication unit 4 may be configured to communicate with an external device 99 wirelessly or via a wired connection.

[0113] The program, which includes instructions for executing the setup process, the first generation print process, and the second generation print process, only needs to be stored in the storage device of the printer 1 before the CPU 7 executes the corresponding program. Therefore, the method of acquiring the program, the acquisition path, and the device that stores the program can each be changed as appropriate. The program executed by each printer 1 may be received from other devices via cable or wireless communication and stored in a storage device such as a memory unit. Other devices include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

[0114] The setup process, the first generation print process, and the second generation print process are not limited to being performed by CPU 7, but may be partially or entirely performed by other electronic devices (e.g., ASICs). The setup process, the first generation print process, and the second generation print process may be distributed among multiple electronic devices (e.g., multiple CPUs). The order of the setup process, the first generation print process, and the second generation print process can be changed, steps can be omitted, and additional steps can be added as needed. The following modifications may be made to the setup process, the first generation print process, and the second generation print process as appropriate.

[0115] In the composite generation process (S40) of the first generation printing process, CPU7 may combine the lines of the third part of the P-th divided image, whose printing operation was stopped, with the lines of the first part of the P+1-th divided image, to generate print data corresponding to the third part of the P-th divided image. In this case, after printing based on the print data generated in this process, CPU7 will print from the lines of the second part of the P+1-th divided image that has undergone the shifting process.

[0116] In the second decimation generation process (S40) of the first generation printing process, CPU 7 may combine the lines of the third part of the P-th divided image, whose printing operation was stopped, with the lines of the first part of the P+1-th divided image, to generate print data corresponding to the first part of the P+1-th divided image. In this case, after printing based on the print data generated in this process, CPU 7 will print from the lines of the second part of the P+1-th divided image that has undergone decimation. The above modifications may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not contradict each other.

[0117] In the above embodiment, CPU7 is an example of the control unit of the present invention. Processing S11, S38, and S57 is an example of the acquisition process of the present invention. Processing S32-S34, S40, S42, S53, S60, S61, and S64 is an example of the generation process of the present invention. Processing to combine multiple lines into one line in shifting and thinning processes is an example of the first synthesis process and synthesis process of the present invention. Processing S35, S43, S54, S62, S75, and S80 is an example of the printing process of the present invention. Processing S31 and S51 is an example of the print judgment process of the present invention. Processing S40 and S64 is an example of the second synthesis process of the present invention. Image data representing a divided image is an example of divided data of the present invention. Image data representing an input image is an example of undivided data of the present invention. Processing S13 is an example of the image data judgment process of the present invention. Processing S44 and S66 is an example of the first generation process of the present invention. Print data generated by processing S44 and S66 is an example of the first print data of the present invention. Processing S74 is an example of the second generation process of the present invention. The print data generated in S74 is an example of the second print data of the present invention. The instruction signals set for shifting and decimation are an example of the designation signals of the present invention. The processing in S1 is an example of the reception processing of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 1: Printing device, 4: Communication unit, 5: Transport unit, 6: Print head, 7: CPU, 8: RAM, 9: Storage unit

Claims

1. A print head having multiple elements aligned in the main scanning direction, A transport unit that moves the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, The print head and the transport unit are controlled by a control unit. Equipped with, The control unit, An acquisition process that acquires image data corresponding to each of the multiple divided images obtained by dividing the input image in the sub-scanning direction, Based on the aforementioned image data, a generation process is performed to generate print data for printing the print image, A first synthesis process is performed in the generation process, which combines at least two of the lines obtained by dividing the divided image into print units in the sub-scanning direction to form a plurality of lines constituting the print image, A printing process that prints the image by controlling the transport unit to move the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in the sub-scanning direction based on the print data generated by the generation process, while controlling the print head to drive the plurality of elements and forming dots on the printing medium line by line, A print decision process that determines whether or not to print based on the next print data after printing based on the first print data, If the print determination process determines that printing should be performed based on the next print data, the print process includes a partial cancellation process that cancels printing of a predetermined number of lines from the end of the first print data when printing based on the first print data is performed. A second synthesis process combines the predetermined number of lines from the first print data whose printing was stopped by the partial cancellation process and the predetermined number of lines from the beginning of the next print data. A printing apparatus characterized by performing the following actions.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit, in the first synthesis process, shifts the dots constituting the divided image in the sub-scanning direction to form the dots constituting the printed image.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit, in the first synthesis process, refers to the next print data and changes the dots that constitute the line in the first print data.

4. A print head having multiple elements aligned in the main scanning direction, A transport unit that moves the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, The print head and the transport unit are controlled by a control unit. Equipped with, The control unit, The process of acquiring image data, Image data determination process that determines whether the image data acquired in the acquisition process is divided data representing each of the multiple divided images obtained by dividing the input image in the sub-scanning direction, or undivided data representing the input image itself, If the image data determination process determines that the image data is undivided data, a first generation process generates first print data for printing a first print image corresponding to the input image based on the undivided data, A synthesis process that can be performed in the first generation process, which involves combining at least two of the lines obtained by dividing the input image into print units in the sub-scanning direction to form a plurality of lines constituting a print image, If the image data determination process determines that the image data is the segmented data, a second generation process generates second print data for printing a second print image corresponding to each of the segmented images based on the segmented data, A printing process is performed in which, based on the first print data generated by the first generation process or the second print data generated by the second generation process, the transport unit is controlled to move the printing medium and the print head relative to each other in the sub-scanning direction, the print head is controlled to drive the plurality of elements, and the print image is printed by forming dots line by line. A printing apparatus characterized by performing the following actions.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit, in the synthesis process, shifts the dots constituting the input image in the sub-scanning direction to form the dots constituting the printed image.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the control unit, in the synthesis process, refers to the line following the line of the line and changes the dots that constitute the line of the line.

7. Equipped with an input section, The control unit, A reception process that receives a designation signal via the input unit that specifies that the synthesis process should be performed, If, before the execution of the reception process, the image data determination process determines that the image data is the segmented data, a reception prohibition process is performed to prohibit the reception of the designated signal in the reception process. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by performing the following.

8. Equipped with an input section, The control unit, A reception process that receives a designation signal via the input unit that specifies that the synthesis process should be performed, If the image data determination process determines that the image data is the segmented data, an invalidation process is performed to invalidate the designated signal received in the reception process. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by performing the following:

9. The printing apparatus according to either 7 or 8, characterized in that the control unit performs a notification process to notify in the reception process that the synthesis process cannot be performed if the image data is determined to be the divided data in the image data determination process.

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