Recording device

Abstract

This recording device comprises: a conveyance unit that conveys a label sheet in a conveyance direction; a recording head that has a recording element row including a plurality of recording elements arranged along the conveyance direction; a head control unit that controls the operation of the recording head on the basis of recording data; a data storage unit that stores the recording data for a single pass of the recording head; a data writing unit that writes the recording data into the data storage unit; and a determination unit that determines a magnitude relationship between the data length, which is the length of the recording data stored in the data storage unit in the conveyance direction, and the row length, which is the length of the recording element row in the conveyance direction. The data writing unit is configured to be capable of offsetting the data writing position of the recording data in the data storage unit on the basis of the length of a margin in the conveyance direction, and when the determination unit determines that the offset data length of the recording data in the data storage unit is less than the row length, newly writes the recording data from the offset position.

Description

Recording device

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device.

[0002] An example of a recording device that records an image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head is an inkjet recording device. In such a recording device, an image is recorded on the recording medium by repeating a recording scan in which the recording head that ejects ink droplets moves in a scanning direction and a conveyance of the recording medium in a direction intersecting the scanning direction.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration that, in order to increase the efficiency of the printing operation, is provided with a detection means for detecting the positions of the leading and trailing ends of a printing medium, and performs printing simultaneously on the trailing end of the printing medium and the leading end of a printing medium that is transported following that printing medium.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-175642

[0005] However, the above-described configuration cannot be applied when it is difficult to detect the leading or trailing edge positions, such as when the recording medium is roll paper formed from a continuous sheet or when the recording medium has an irregular shape.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of improving the efficiency of the recording operation.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the recording device of the present invention is a recording device that records an image on label paper on which label pieces and margins are arranged alternately in a conveying direction, and comprises: a conveying unit that conveys the label paper in the conveying direction; a recording head that has a recording element array including a plurality of recording elements aligned along the conveying direction and that records an image on the label paper by ejecting droplets from the recording elements while moving in a moving direction that intersects the conveying direction; a head control unit that controls the operation of the recording head based on recording data corresponding to the image to be recorded on the label piece; a data storage unit that internally stores the recording data for one pass of the recording head; a data writing unit that writes the recording data into the data storage unit; and a determination unit that determines the magnitude relationship between a data length, which is the length of the recording data stored in the data storage unit in the conveying direction, and an array length, which is the length of the recording element array in the conveying direction. The data writing unit is configured to be able to offset the data writing position of the recording data in the data storage unit based on the length of the margin portion in the transport direction, and when the determination unit determines that the data length of the recording data in the offset data storage unit is less than the column length, it writes new recording data from the offset position.Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the recording device of the present invention is a recording device that records an image on label paper on which label pieces and margins are arranged alternately in a conveyance direction, and comprises: a conveying unit that conveys the label paper in the conveyance direction; a recording head that ejects droplets while moving in a movement direction intersecting the conveyance direction to record an image on the label paper; a control unit that controls the conveying unit and the recording head so as to alternately convey the label paper in the conveyance direction by the conveying unit and move the recording head in the movement direction to record an image on the label paper; a data storage unit that internally stores recording data for one pass of the recording head; a data writing unit that writes the recording data into the data storage unit; and a determination unit that determines the magnitude relationship between a data length, which is the length of the recording data stored in the data storage unit in the conveyance direction, and the amount of transport of the label paper by the conveying unit. The data writing unit is configured to be able to offset the data writing position of the recording data in the data storage unit based on the length of the margin in the transport direction, and when the determination unit determines that the data length of the recording data in the offset data storage unit is less than the transport amount, it writes new recording data from the offset position.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus that can improve the efficiency of the recording operation.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of a recording head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the control configuration of a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory diagrams of label paper. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the recording operation according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 6A to 6E are explanatory diagrams of data length and column length. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing the relationship between the recorded material and the number of passes of the recording head. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the recording operation according to a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method for acquiring blank data correction amounts. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the recording operation according to a third embodiment.

[0010] The following describes in detail exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the embodiments may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration and various conditions of the device to which the invention is applied. In other words, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0011] In the following description, a recording apparatus using an inkjet recording method will be used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this specification, "recording" (sometimes referred to as "printing" or "printing") refers not only to the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also to the formation of meaningful or insignificant information. Furthermore, it broadly refers to the formation of images, patterns, and the like on a recording medium, or the processing of a medium, regardless of whether the information is visible to humans. Furthermore, "recording medium" refers not only to paper used in general printing devices, but also to a wide range of materials that can accept ink, such as cloth, plastic film, and leather.

[0012] First Embodiment A recording apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The recording apparatus 100 is an inkjet recording apparatus that uses an inkjet recording method.

[0013] (Recording Apparatus) First, a description will be given of the general configuration of the recording apparatus 100. FIG.

[0014] The recording device 100 includes an ink cartridge 101 that contains ink, and a recording head 102 that ejects ink supplied from the ink cartridge 101 as ink droplets (liquid droplets) onto a recording medium to record an image. In FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 101 individually stores ink such as black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), and each storage chamber is integrally formed. The recording head 102 is used in the form of a unit having an array of recording elements corresponding to each ink stored in the ink cartridge 101. FIG. 1 also shows how recording paper 108, serving as a recording medium, is transported by a transport unit.

[0015] The recording device 100 further includes a carriage 103 that holds the ink cartridge 101 and the recording head 102, a guide shaft 104 that guides the carriage 103, and an encoder scale 105. The carriage 103 is a holding member to which the ink cartridge 101 and the recording head 102 are detachably attached. The carriage 103 is slidably engaged with the guide shaft 104, thereby being able to move along the guide shaft 104. The recording head 102 is configured to be able to scan integrally with the carriage 103 while held by the carriage 103. The movement direction of the carriage 103, i.e., the scanning direction (movement direction) of the recording head 102, is the X direction in the figure, which intersects with the recording medium transport direction (orthogonal in the first embodiment) and is approximately parallel to the surface of the recording medium being transported.

[0016] In the recording operation by the recording device 100, conveyance of the recording paper 108 in the conveyance direction and movement of the recording head 102 in the scanning direction are alternately repeated. Then, an image is recorded on the recording paper 108 by ejecting liquid while the recording head 102 moves in the scanning direction.

[0017] The encoder scale 105 is provided on a surface facing the carriage 103, and has slits at intervals of, for example, 150 lpi. When light emitted by an encoder sensor (not shown) is irradiated onto the encoder scale 105, A-phase and B-phase signals based on the transmitted light are output according to the scanning position of the carriage 103. The B-phase signal is 90 degrees behind the A-phase signal.

[0018] The recording device 100 includes a transport roller 106, an auxiliary roller 107, a paper feed roller 109, and a paper feed roller 110 as transport members that make up a transport section that transports the recording paper 108. The transport roller 106 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 while sandwiching the recording paper 108 together with the auxiliary roller 107, thereby transporting the recording paper 108 in the Y direction in the figure. In the first embodiment, the transport direction (Y direction) of the recording paper 108 is a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction (X direction) of the recording head 102.

[0019] Furthermore, paper feed roller 109 and paper feed roller 110 form a pair of paper feed rollers that sandwich and feed recording paper 108. Recording paper 108 is stored in a recording paper tray (not shown) provided in the main body of recording device 100, and recording operations can be performed continuously.

[0020] 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of the print head 102 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the print head 102, ink cartridge 101, and carriage 103. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a print element array 201 of the print head 102. The X direction in the figure is the "main scanning direction," and the Y direction is the "sub-scanning direction." In other words, the "main scanning direction" is parallel to the movement direction (scanning direction) of the print head 102, and the "sub-scanning direction" is parallel to the transport direction of the print medium in the printing unit. Furthermore, the ink ejection direction of the print head 102 is approximately perpendicular to the transport direction and scanning direction in the printing unit.

[0021] The print head 102 performs printing by engaging with a carriage 103. The print head 102 is used in the form of a unit having a print element array corresponding to each ink stored in the ink cartridge 101. The ink cartridge 101 stores ink such as black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) individually, and each ink storage chamber is integrally formed.

[0022] The print head 102 has one print element array 201 (array A). The print element array 201 is configured with a plurality of print elements 202 arranged along the Y direction. The print elements 202 are electrothermal transducers that generate energy to eject ink from the nozzles corresponding to the print elements 202. Here, a configuration using heaters is shown as an example of an inkjet printing method, but the configuration is not limited to this. The print element array 201 provided in the print head 102 is used to print one color component. The print head 102 prints on a print medium by ejecting ink in synchronization with the movement timing while moving in the X direction.

[0023] The overall flow of the printing apparatus 100 will be described using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the control configuration of the printing apparatus 100, and shows the configuration of the ASIC 301, which is an application specific integrated circuit, and the relationship with related units. Note that an actual inkjet printing apparatus uses multiple ICs and has a structure that is too complex to describe in this diagram, but here we will focus on the ICs and internal components of the ICs that are related to this embodiment and explain their internal configuration.

[0024] 3 shows a configuration in which the print head 102, PC 302, ROM 303, RAM 304, motor driver 305, DC motors 306a and 306b, encoders 307a and 307b are connected to an ASIC 301. The PC 302 is an external device located outside the printing device 100, and transfers image information to the printing device 100, or more precisely, to a data receiving unit of the ASIC 301. The print head 102 is a print head for creating a printed image output, which is the output of the printing device 100. Print image data and drive pulse signals that control the operation of the print head 102 are generated inside the ASIC 301.

[0025] The recording device 100 includes a ROM 303, which is a nonvolatile memory, and a RAM 304, which is a volatile memory. The ROM 303 is a serial ROM (SROM) that includes a program area 309 that stores a control program for controlling the recording device 100, and a data area 310 that stores data as needed. The ROM 303 communicates via a ROM controller 311. The ROM 303 does not necessarily have to be a serial ROM, and may be a nonvolatile memory such as a parallel ROM or an EEPROM, or the program and data may be managed as separate ROMs.

[0026] The following describes the internal configuration of the ASIC 301, which is the control unit of the recording device 100. The ASIC 301 includes a CPU 308, a ROM controller 311, a receiving I / F 312, a RAM controller 313, a received data decoding unit 315, a head driving block 318, a motor control unit 320, a timing signal generation unit 319, and a carrier signal receiving unit 322.

[0027] The CPU 308 controls and manages the overall operation of the ASIC 301. The CPU 308 reads a program from a program area 309 in the ROM 303, and performs drive control of the recording elements 202 and relative transport control between the recording elements 202 and a recording medium in accordance with the control program stored in the program area 309. The CPU 308 can also store necessary data in non-volatile memory by performing a write operation to a data area 310 as needed.

[0028] Next, the random logic portion will be described. The receiving I / F 312 is an interface unit that receives data transferred from the PC 302. The receiving I / F 312 receives signals in accordance with an interface protocol such as USB or IEEE 1394, and generates data in a format that is easy for the ASIC 301 to handle (usually, data is often formatted in 1-byte units).

[0029] The RAM controller 313 is a data writing unit that writes data to the RAM 304. The data generated by the reception I / F 312 is saved in the RAM 304 via the RAM controller 313. Typically, the area in the RAM 304 that stores the data received from the reception I / F 312 is called a reception buffer.

[0030] The RAM 304 is an SD-RAM that includes data storage areas such as a receive buffer 314, an image buffer (input image buffer) 316, and a nozzle buffer 317. The data stored in the receive buffer 314 undergoes command analysis by the CPU 308, and is then expanded for each color in the image buffer 316 using a received data expansion unit 315. The print data expanded in the image buffer 316 is then expanded to a nozzle buffer 317 for scanning the print head 102. The nozzle buffer 317 includes a first nozzle buffer 317a and a second nozzle buffer 317b as data storage units that store print data for driving the print head 102. The first nozzle buffer 317a and the second nozzle buffer 317b are each configured to be able to store print data for one pass of the print head 102, and the print data is written to them by the RAM controller 313. It should be noted that the RAM 304 does not necessarily have to be an SD-RAM, and may be a D-RAM, an S-RAM, or any other memory that falls within the category of RAM definition.

[0031] When a block within the ASIC 301 accesses each piece of data in the RAM 304, communication is performed via a RAM controller 313 unless otherwise specified. Data stored in the first nozzle buffer 317a and the second nozzle buffer 317b is read by a head drive block 318. The head drive block 318 is a head control unit that controls the operation of the printhead 102. The head drive block 318 performs device control specific to the printhead, such as transferring print data to the printhead 102 and sending drive pulse signals.

[0032] The DC motors 306a and 306b, which scan the carriage 103 engaged with the print head 102 and transport the print medium, are driven by a motor driver 305. The printing device 100 has two motors: the DC motor 306a for driving the print head 102 and the DC motor 306b for transporting the print medium. Control signals for driving these DC motors are transferred as data from a motor control unit 320 inside the ASIC to the motor driver 305.

[0033] When the various motors are driven, the encoders provided for each motor read the encoder scales 105 provided inside the recording device 100. Using the input signal from encoder 307a corresponding to DC motor 306a, a timing signal generation unit 319 generates various recording timings, generating signals at appropriate intervals based on the encoder signals. This supplies timing signals to a head drive block 318 for generating data in real time at appropriate timing. In addition, the recording medium transport is controlled by the input signal from encoder 307b corresponding to DC motor 306b.

[0034] The recording device 100 includes an edge sensor 323 as an edge detection unit that can detect the rear edge of the recording medium being conveyed. The data from the encoder 307b and the detection data from the edge sensor 323 are sent to a conveyance signal receiving unit 322. The conveyance signal receiving unit 322 can integrate these data and send the count value of the encoder 307b, which corresponds to the position of the edge of the recording medium, to the CPU 308.

[0035] With this configuration, the printing device 100 can control each unit using the ASIC 301, which is the control unit, to alternately transport the printing medium in the transport direction and move the printing head 102 in the scanning direction to print an image on the printing medium.

[0036] (Label Paper) We will now explain label paper 401 that can be used as the recording medium (recording paper 108) for recording device 100. Figures 4A to 4D are explanatory diagrams of label paper 401 that can be used for recording device 100. Figure 4A is a perspective view of an example of label paper 401. Figures 4B, 4C, and 4D are each diagrams showing an example of label paper 401.

[0037] 4A, the label paper 401 is a roll-shaped recording medium. The label paper 401 is configured by temporarily attaching a plurality of label pieces 403 to a label mount 402. On the label paper 401, the plurality of label pieces 403 are arranged at equal intervals along the direction in which the label paper 401 is transported.

[0038] Between adjacent label pieces 403 in the transport direction, a margin of margin amount 404 is provided. The margin has perforations 405, and the label paper 401 can be cut along the perforations 405. In the following description of the recording operation, one label piece 403 is treated as one page.

[0039] The recording job data received by the recording device 100 includes image original data as image information to be recorded on the label strip 403. The image original data is data for generating recording data for driving the recording head 102. The recording device 100 can receive one page of image original data as one recording job, or can receive multiple pages of image original data as one recording job. In the first embodiment, the receiving I / F 312 functions as an image original data acquisition unit that acquires image original data from an external device such as the PC 302. Once the recording of the received recording job is complete, the user can use the label paper 401, on which the image has been recorded and output, by cutting it along the perforations 405.

[0040] The recording device 100 may also be configured to include a cutting unit for cutting the label paper 401. With this configuration, after the required number of labels (number of label pieces 403) have been recorded, the label paper 401 can be automatically cut off at predetermined intervals, allowing the user to obtain the desired recording results.

[0041] Note that the label piece 403 does not have to be rectangular as shown in Fig. 4B. For example, the label piece 403 may be round as shown in Fig. 4C, star-shaped as shown in Fig. 4D, or another shape. When such an irregularly shaped label piece 403 is used, the margin amount 404 can be set, for example, to match the leading and trailing ends of the label piece 403 in the conveying direction (the upper and lower ends in Figs. 4C and 4D).

[0042] In the above embodiment, label paper 401 has label piece 403 temporarily attached to label mount 402, and label piece 403 protrudes from label mount 402, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, label paper 401 may be entirely adhesive, with no difference in level between the area where label piece 403 is temporarily attached and the other areas.

[0043] (Printing Operation) Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the printing operation of the printing device 100. The printing operation according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 5. The printing operation here refers to the operation from when the printing device 100 accepts a print job, generates print data for driving the print head 102, and drives the print head 102 based on the print data to print on a print medium.

[0044] During printing operations, data stored in the image buffer 316 is read by the head drive block 318 via the nozzle buffer 317, and device control is performed, such as transferring print image data and sending drive pulse signals to the print head 102. Such device control will be described in particular detail below.

[0045] [S501] The recording operation starts, for example, when the PC 302 of the recording device 100 accepts a recording job. First, in step (hereinafter simply referred to as "S") 501, image data is stored in the receiving buffer 314. The image data is information about an image to be recorded on a recording medium.

[0046] [S502] Next, in S502, margin data is acquired, including information regarding the label size of the label paper 401 and the margin amount 404, which is the distance between label pieces 403 arranged consecutively in the conveyance direction on the label mount 402. The margin data can be acquired, for example, from sheet information input from an external device, or can be set directly by the user.

[0047] [S503] The margin data acquired in S502 is stored (saved) in the data area 310 of the ROM 303 via the ROM controller 311 in S503.

[0048] [S504] Next, in S504, based on the image data stored in the receive buffer 314, print data is expanded and stored in the image buffer 316 via the received data expansion unit 315. The print data is expanded for each page in raster units. The data that has been transferred from the image buffer 316 to the nozzle buffer 317 and the amount of data remaining in the image buffer 316 are managed by the CPU 308.

[0049] [S505] In S505, in response to the reception of the print data, the paper feed roller 110 is driven to transport the print medium to the print start position.

[0050] [S506] In S506, the print data stored in the image buffer 316 is transferred (expanded) to the nozzle buffer 317. When transferred to the nozzle buffer 317, the print data is converted into column-unit data corresponding to each nozzle color of the print head 102. The print data is expanded to either the first nozzle buffer 317a or the second nozzle buffer 317b of the nozzle buffer 317. The print data is transferred to the head drive block 318 as job data for one scan in the main scanning direction. In other words, not all of the print data in the image buffer 316 is transferred to the nozzle buffer 317 at once, but rather print data for one scan (pass) is transferred to the nozzle buffer 317 each time.

[0051] As described above, the nozzle buffer 317 has multiple data storage units for storing print data, and the first nozzle buffer 317a and the second nozzle buffer 317b can each store print data for one scan of the print head 102. By providing storage areas for multiple scans, the nozzle buffer 317 can, for example, prepare print data for the next printing operation in the second nozzle buffer 317b while the print head 102 is being driven based on print data stored in the first nozzle buffer 317a. This means that printing operations can be performed continuously without having to be stopped to prepare print data.

[0052] [S507] In S507, the CPU 308 determines whether the print data transferred in S506 includes the final data of the page (label piece 403) on which the printing operation is to be performed. Here, the final data of the page is the data of the upstream end of that page in the transport direction.

[0053] [S520] If the print data does not include final data, i.e., if the answer is NO in S507, proceed to S520. In S520, an image is printed on the print medium by the print head 102. Specifically, the print head 102 scans in the main scanning direction together with the carriage 103, and an image is printed on the print paper 108 by ejection control of the timing signal generation unit 319 based on the print data transferred to the head drive block 318.

[0054] [S508] If the print data includes the final data, i.e., if S508 returns YES, the process proceeds to S508. In S508, the CPU 308 determines whether the data length LD, which is the length in the transport direction of the print data expanded to the nozzle buffer 317 in S506, is the same as the array length (nozzle length) LN, which is the length in the transport direction of the print element array 201. The fact that the data length LD of the print data is the same as the nozzle length LN is synonymous with the data volume of the print data being the same as the number of elements in the print element array 201. Therefore, the fact that the data length LD of the print data is the same as the array length LN means that print data has been assigned to all of the print elements 202 in the print element array 201. It is not necessary to directly compare the data length LD with the array length LN in this determination; a comparison of values ​​correlated with each value may also be used. For example, the amount of data to be printed, which is proportional to the data length LD, may be compared with the number of elements in the printing element array 201, which is proportional to the array length LN, to determine whether the data length LD is the same as the array length LN.

[0055] 6A to 6E are explanatory diagrams of data length LD and row length LN. The relationship between data length LD and row length LN will be described using FIGS. 6A to 6E as an example. For the purpose of explanation, of the label pieces 403 on the label paper 401, two label pieces 403 aligned in the feed direction will be referred to as the first label piece and the second label piece. Furthermore, the record data to be recorded on the first label piece will be referred to as first record data RD1, and the record data to be recorded on the second label piece will be referred to as second record data RD2. The second label piece is adjacent to the first label piece on the upstream side of the feed direction, and a margin of margin amount 404 is provided between the first and second label pieces.

[0056] 6A to 6E are diagrams showing the transport direction positions of the print data stored in the nozzle buffer 317, with the first print data RD1 and the second print data RD2 indicated by hatching. Also, in Figures 6A to 6E, the downstream end of the print element array 201 in the transport direction is indicated as D1, the upstream end in the transport direction is indicated as D2, and the upstream end in the transport direction of the first print data RD1 is indicated as D3. The length from the downstream end D1 to the upstream end D2 is the array length LN.

[0057] If the data length LD of the print data is the same as the row length LN (LD=LN), i.e., if S508 returns YES, the process proceeds to S520. LD=LN means that print data has been assigned to all print elements 202, so the print data for one pass (scan) is considered complete and is transferred to the head drive block 318, and image printing is performed in S520.

[0058] 6A shows an example in which the data length LD of the print data stored in the nozzle buffer 317 is the same as the array length LN. In this example, all of the print data is first print data RD1. In this case, the upstream end D2 of the print element array 201 and the upstream end D3 of the first print data RD1 are positioned at the same time. In other words, print data for printing an image on the first label piece is assigned to all of the print elements 202 in the print element array 201. In this case, the determination in S508 is YES.

[0059] If the data length LD of the print data is not equal to the row length LN (LD ≠ LN), i.e., if S508 returns NO, the process proceeds to S509. If LD ≠ LN, the data length LD is shorter than the row length LN, meaning that there are print elements 202 to which print data is not assigned. In other words, print elements 202 located upstream in the transport direction from the final data of the page are not used at all when the print head 102 scans. In the first embodiment, in such a case, the process proceeds to S509 to perform additional processing in order to reduce the number of print elements 202 that are not driven and improve the efficiency of the printing operation, even if only slightly.

[0060] 6B shows an example in which the data length LD of the print data RD stored in the nozzle buffer 317 is less than the array length LN and is not identical. In this example, all of the print data is the first print data RD1. In this case, no print data is assigned to the print elements 202 that correspond between the upstream end D2 of the print element array 201 and the upstream end D3 of the first print data RD1. Therefore, when the print head 102 is driven based on this print data, there will always be unused print elements 202. In this case, the determination in S508 is NO.

[0061] [S509] In S509, the data write address (data write position) in the nozzle buffer 317 is offset by an amount corresponding to the length of the margin amount 404 for the print data in the nozzle buffer 317. The data length LD of the print data in the nozzle buffer 317 is increased by an offset length (offset amount) LO due to the offset. In the first embodiment, the RAM controller 313, which is the data write unit, is configured to be able to offset the data write address. However, this configuration is not limited to this, and an offset unit that offsets the data write address may be provided separately from the RAM controller 313, and the RAM controller 313 and this offset unit may form the data write unit.

[0062] The offset length LO can be determined by using data converted based on the margin data into element units of the printing element array 201. The offset length LO can be obtained based on the margin data, as long as the received data expanding unit 315 or the like is configured to be able to do so.

[0063] [S510] In S510, the CPU 308 determines whether the data length LD of the print data in the nozzle buffer 317 after offsetting is equal to or greater than the column length LN. Due to the offset of the data write address in S509, the data length LD of the print data in the nozzle buffer 317 in the transport direction is increased by the offset length LO, which corresponds to the margin amount 404. Then, in S510, the data length LD of the print data is compared again with the column length LN.

[0064] If the data length LD of the print data is equal to or greater than the row length LN (LD≧LN) due to the offset of the data write address in S509, i.e., if the answer is YES in S510, the process proceeds to S520. Since LD≧LN means that the printing element 202 can be used to the full extent except for the portions corresponding to the margins, the print data for one scan is considered to be complete, and the print data is transferred to the head drive block 318, where image printing is performed.

[0065] 6C-E, the position where the offset is performed by the offset length LO from the upstream end D3 of the first print data RD1, i.e., the data write position after the offset, is shown as D4. FIG. 6C shows an example in which the data length LD of the print data after the offset is longer than the row length LN. The data length LD after the offset is the sum of the conveyance direction length of the first print data RD1 in the nozzle buffer 317 and the offset length LO. In this case, all of the print elements 202 to which print data is not assigned correspond to the margin. In this case, the determination in S510 is YES.

[0066] If the data length LD of the print data is shorter than the column length LN (LD<LN) even after adding blank data (offset) in S509, that is, if the answer is NO in S510, the process proceeds to S511.

[0067] 6D shows an example in which the data length LD of the print data after offsetting is shorter than the array length LN. In this case, no print data is assigned to the print elements 202 that correspond between the upstream end D2 of the print element array 201 and the data writing position D4. Note that the data writing position D4 is the upstream end of the print data in the nozzle buffer 317 in the transport direction, and its position changes depending on the offset. Therefore, when the print head 102 is driven based on this kind of print data, there will always be print elements 202 that are not being used. In this case, the determination in S510 is NO.

[0068] [S511] In S511, the print data for the next page in the image buffer 316 is written to the nozzle buffer 317, starting from the data write address (data write position D4) offset in S509. In other words, S511 results in one scan's worth of print data including the print data for the preceding page and the print data for the following page. Since there is a gap between the print data for the preceding page and the print data for the following page by the offset value corresponding to the margin amount 404, images are printed appropriately on each page. After S511, the process proceeds to S520. Through this process, print data for the array length LN of the printing element array 201 is stored in the nozzle buffer 317, and the head drive block 318 drives the print head 102 based on the transferred print data.

[0069] 6E shows an example in which second print data RD2 of the second label piece following the first label piece is newly written to the nozzle buffer 317 from the offset data writing position D4. At this time, there is a distance of offset length LO corresponding to the margin portion of margin amount 404 between the first print data RD1 of the first label piece and the second print data RD2 of the second label piece. When the print head 102 is driven based on this print data, it is possible to perform printing operations on the upstream portion of the first label piece in the transport direction and the downstream portion of the second label piece in the transport direction in the same pass.

[0070] [S521] After the print head 102 is driven to print an image in S520, the process proceeds to S521, where the conveying roller 106 is driven to convey the print medium to the next print start position.

[0071] [S522] Next, in S522, the print data in the nozzle buffer 317 is cleared (erased). The nozzle buffer 317 is cleared with NULL data each time print data is sent to the head drive block 318. This process allows print data spanning multiple pages to be aligned in the nozzle buffer 317 simply by controlling the memory addresses, and allows printing operations to be performed on multiple pages simultaneously.

[0072] [S523] Next, in S523, it is determined whether image recording for all data of the recording job has been executed. If image recording for all data has been executed, that is, if S523 is YES, the recording operation ends. If image recording for all data has not been executed and there is data to be image-recorded remaining, that is, if S523 is NO, the process proceeds to S506, and the next recording data is developed.

[0073] In the first embodiment, the scanning of the print head 102 is triggered by the completion of the print job (S520) and is performed when all job data is ready. Therefore, the carriage 103 and the transport roller 106 do not stop midway while waiting for data. By repeating this operation until image recording of all data is completed, stable driving can be achieved.

[0074] In the above-described operational example, whether the print data stored in the nozzle buffer 317 is sufficient to accommodate all of the print elements 202 of the print head 102 is determined by comparing the data length LD with the array length LN. However, other methods can also be used to determine this. For example, in S521, the transport amount (feed amount) by which the print medium is transported by a transport unit such as the transport roller 106 corresponds to the array length LN of the print head 102. Therefore, steps similar to S508 and S510 may be performed by determining whether the data length LD of the print data is equal to or less than the transport amount of the print medium. In other words, the data length LD and the array length LN may be replaced with values ​​equivalent to or proportional to these values ​​for determination. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 308 functions as a determination unit that determines the magnitude relationship between the data length LD and the array length LN. However, a configuration in which a determination unit separate from the CPU 308 is provided may also be used.

[0075] It should be noted that the above steps do not necessarily have to be performed in the order described above. For example, S501 (receive print data), S502 (receive margin data), and S503 (storage margin data) may be performed in parallel. Furthermore, S505 (drive paper feed rollers) may be performed immediately after accepting a print job. Furthermore, for example, if the print data includes the final data, the determination in S508 may not be performed, and the address may always be offset as in S509.

[0076] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an example of the relationship between the recorded matter generated by the recording operation and the number of passes of the recording head 102. As an example, Figures 7A and 7B show how multiple alphabet Zs (pop characters) and identification information such as a barcode or serial number are recorded on each label piece 403. Also, in Figures 7A and 7B, blank areas onto which ink is not ejected are indicated by hatching.

[0077] 7A and 7B show, as an example, a state in which a recording operation has been performed on three label pieces 403. The three label pieces 403 will be described as the first label piece (first page), the second label piece (second page), and the third label piece (third page) in order from downstream to upstream in the conveyance direction (from bottom to top in the figure).

[0078] As a comparative example, Figure 7A shows an example in which control of the printing operation is interrupted on a page-by-page basis. In the example shown in Figure 7A, image printing for one page is completed with three passes. Then, in the third pass scan of the first label piece and the second label piece, print data is not assigned to a portion of the printing element array 201, and the portion is not used for the printing operation. In Figure 7A, the portion of the printing element array 201 that is used for the printing operation is colored, and the portion that is not used for the printing operation is shown in white.

[0079] From the perspective of improving the efficiency of printing operations, it is undesirable for the printing element array 201 to have unused portions (white portions in the figure). Furthermore, when printing operations are repeatedly performed on label pieces 403 of the same size, the unused printing elements 202 are always the same. Therefore, repeated printing operations may result in large differences in the frequency of use among the multiple printing elements 202, which may have a negative impact on the life of the print head 102.

[0080] 7B shows an example of the printing operation according to the first embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 7B, an image corresponding to the print data is printed on the first label piece by three passes of the print head 102. Then, during the third pass, printing is performed simultaneously on the upstream end of the first label piece in the conveying direction and the downstream end of the second label piece in the conveying direction. In other words, the third pass of the first label piece is the same as the first pass of the second label piece. Similarly, in this example, the third pass of the second label piece is the same as the first pass of the third label piece. Therefore, the only unused printing elements 202 are those in the margins.

[0081] In this way, by offsetting the position where the print data read by the head drive block 318 is written to drive the print head 102, it is possible to print on two print media (for example, two label pieces 403) lined up in the transport direction with the same scan. In other words, the efficiency (throughput) of the print operation can be improved compared to a configuration in which the print operation process is completed once for each print media.

[0082] As described above, with the configuration of the first embodiment, if the final data of the previous page is small relative to the printing element array 201, the printing data of the next page can be allocated from a write start address that takes into account an offset corresponding to the margin amount 404. Therefore, printing can be performed without interruption of control on a page-by-page basis. For example, when completing processing for each printing page, it is necessary to adjust the conveyance amount of the conveyance roller 106 to match the start position of the page. However, with the configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to perform printing across pages with a constant conveyance amount, thereby improving throughput. Furthermore, because a detection device for detecting the position of the printing medium is not required, increases in cost and an increase in the size of the device can be suppressed.

[0083] Furthermore, with the configuration of the first embodiment, the printing operation does not stop for each label piece 403, so in most cases the relative position of the print head 102 with respect to the label piece 403 in the conveyance direction will shift for each label piece 403. Therefore, large differences in usage frequency among the multiple printing elements 202 are suppressed.

[0084] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Only the differences between the configuration of the second embodiment and the configuration of the first embodiment will be described below. Elements in the configuration of the second embodiment that are similar to those in the configuration of the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0085] During printing operations, slight deviations in the position of the print medium in the conveyance direction may occur due to environmental influences, etc. If deviations occur, printing may not be performed at the correct position on the target page (label piece 403), which may result in a decrease in print quality. In order to prevent such a decrease in print quality due to conveyance deviations, in the second embodiment, when printing an image that spans pages, an offset amount based on the amount of conveyance deviation of the print medium is applied in addition to an offset amount corresponding to the margin amount 404 of the margin portion.

[0086] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the recording operation of the recording device 100 according to the second embodiment. The recording operation according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Note that the following description will focus only on the differences from the first embodiment. [S531] After the data write address (data write position) is offset in S509, the data write address is offset by a correction offset amount to correct for conveyance deviation in S531 before proceeding to the determination in S510. Then, after an additional address offset is performed in S531, the process proceeds to S510, where it is determined whether the data length LD of the recording data is equal to or greater than the column length LN.

[0087] [S530] The calculation of the correction offset amount for the address offset in S530 is performed after the recording medium is conveyed in S521 and before the next recording operation is started. The correction offset amount is calculated (acquired) based on the data acquired by the encoder 307b provided in the recording device 100 and the detection result of the edge sensor 323. The correction offset amount for correcting the conveyance deviation may be acquired by, for example, the CPU 308, or may be acquired by an offset amount acquisition unit provided other than the CPU 308.

[0088] In the second embodiment, step S531 (offsetting the write address) is additionally performed after step S509, but this is not limited to this. For example, the offset amount in step S509 may be corrected based on the correction amount calculated in step S531. Also, in the second embodiment, the offset amount is calculated after the image of the first page is recorded, but this is not limited to this. For example, the blank data correction value may be calculated once when the paper feed roller 110 conveys the recording medium in step S505, and the blank data correction value may be taken into account when generating the print data for the first page. This configuration can also suppress degradation of print quality due to conveyance deviations from the first page onwards.

[0089] The encoder 307b, which controls the position of the conveyance roller 106, is an incremental encoder and is capable of measuring relative position. The edge sensor 323, which is an edge detection unit that detects the paper edge of the recording medium, is capable of detecting, for example, the paper edge in the conveyance direction of the label piece 403. The data acquired by the encoder 307b and the data acquired by the edge sensor 323 are integrated by the conveyance signal receiving unit 322, and a count value 701 of the encoder 307b corresponding to the position of the paper edge is sent to the CPU 308. Then, based on the count value 701, a correction offset amount is calculated as an offset amount for correcting conveyance deviation.

[0090] 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method for acquiring the blank data correction amount, which shows the relationship between the encoding position where the leading edge of the print medium is detected and the nozzle array corresponding to the print data.

[0091] 9 shows how an edge 603 of an actual print medium is deviated from an ideal edge position 602 by a deviation amount 604. When it is determined that the position of the edge 603 of the conveyed print medium is deviated from the ideal edge position 602 in response to a count signal 601 from the encoder 307b, the deviation amount 604 is converted into units of nozzles 605. Then, based on the converted deviation amount 604, the start position of the data for the next page to be written to the nozzle buffer 317 is corrected. With this configuration, it is possible to correct the position of the data to be written to the nozzles and perform printing at a more accurate position.

[0092] <Third Example> Next, a third example of the present invention will be described. Only the differences between the configuration of the third example and the configuration of the first example will be described below. In the configuration of the third example, the same components as those in the first example will be assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0093] In the first embodiment, one-pass printing is described as an example in which image printing is completed in one pass (scan) on the printing target portion of the printing medium. In the third embodiment, an example in which multi-pass printing is performed in which an image is formed by scanning the printing medium multiple times will be described.

[0094] Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the recording operation of the recording device 100 according to the third embodiment. The recording operation according to the third embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 10. Note that in the following explanation, only the differences from the first embodiment will be explained.

[0095] When multi-pass printing is performed, the conveying roller 106 feeds the recording medium to the printing element array 201 of the print head 102 by a conveying amount divided by the number of passes, and performs image printing. In multi-pass printing, an image is formed at the same image position by multiple print head scans, so printing at the page edge is also performed multiple times. In other words, during multi-pass printing, the data write start address for the next page also changes for each pass, so the data length LD in the conveying direction of the print data is repeatedly compared with the array length LN for each pass.

[0096] [S540] In the third embodiment, after the conveyance roller 106 is driven in S521, the CPU 308 determines in S540 whether all image recording has been performed for the print data in the nozzle buffer 317. If there is still data in the print data for which image recording has not been performed, that is, if the answer is NO in S540, the process returns to S507, where it is determined whether the next print data includes the final data. On the other hand, if all image recording for the print data expanded in the nozzle buffer 317 has been completed, that is, if the answer is YES in S540, the process proceeds to S522, where the print data is cleared.

[0097] By adopting such a configuration, even in the printing apparatus 100 capable of performing multi-pass printing, printing can be performed without interruption of control on a page-by-page basis, thereby improving throughput. Note that position correction by the encoder 307b can also be applied to the third embodiment.

[0098] In applying the present invention, the processes described in the above embodiments as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by a plurality of devices.

[0099] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following claims are appended to clarify the scope of the present disclosure. This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-123390, filed July 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0100] 100...jet recording apparatus, 102...recording head, 201...recording element array, 202...recording element, 308...CPU (determination unit), 313...RAM controller (data writing unit), 317a...first nozzle buffer (data storage unit), 318...head driving block (head control unit)

Claims

1. A recording device that records an image on label paper on which label strips and margins are arranged alternately in a conveying direction, comprising: a conveying unit that conveys the label paper in the conveying direction; a recording head that has a recording element array including a plurality of recording elements aligned along the conveying direction and that records an image on the label paper by ejecting droplets from the recording elements while moving in a moving direction that intersects the conveying direction; a head control unit that controls the operation of the recording head based on recording data corresponding to the image to be recorded on the label strip; a data storage unit that internally stores the recording data for one pass of the recording head; a data writing unit that writes the recording data into the data storage unit; and a determination unit that determines the relative size of a data length, which is the length of the recording data stored in the data storage unit in the conveying direction, and an array length, which is the length of the recording element array in the conveying direction. The data writing unit is configured to be able to offset the data writing position of the recording data in the data storage unit based on the length of the margin portion in the transport direction, and when the determination unit determines that the data length of the recording data in the offset data storage unit is less than the column length, the data writing unit writes new recording data from the offset position.

2. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data writing unit offsets the data writing position based on the length of the margin in the transport direction when the determination unit determines that the data length and the column length are not the same.

3. The recording device described in claim 1, characterized in that the judgment unit determines whether the data length and the column length are the same when the recording data stored in the data storage unit includes data corresponding to an image to be recorded at the upstream end of the label piece in the conveying direction.

4. The recording device described in claim 3, characterized in that when the label piece including the upstream end is the first label piece and the label piece adjacent to the first label piece on the upstream side of the conveying direction is the second label piece, the data writing unit writes new recording data corresponding to the second label piece from the offset position.

5. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination unit compares the number of recording elements constituting the recording element array with the amount of data of the recording data stored in the data storage unit to determine the relationship in magnitude between the data length and the array length.

6. A recording device as described in claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with an edge detection unit that detects the edge of the label piece in the transport direction, and the data writing unit offsets the data writing position in the data storage unit based on the length of the margin in the transport direction and the detection result of the edge detection unit.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an offset amount acquisition unit that acquires an offset amount based on the result of the edge detection unit.

8. The recording device according to claim 7, wherein the edge detection unit detects the edge after the transport unit transports the label paper and before the next transport starts, and the offset amount acquisition unit acquires the offset amount based on the result of the edge detection unit.

9. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said data storage units.

10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said data storage unit erases the recording data stored therein every time one pass of the recording head is completed.

11. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the head control unit controls the recording head so that image recording is completed in one pass of the recording head at the same position on the label piece in the transport direction.

12. The recording device described in claim 1, characterized in that the head control unit controls the recording head so that image recording is completed in multiple passes of the recording head at the same position in the transport direction of the label piece, and the determination unit determines whether or not the recording operation for the recording data stored in the data storage unit has been executed after the label paper has been transported by the transport unit.

13. A recording device for recording an image on label paper on which label pieces and margins are arranged alternately in a conveying direction, comprising: a conveying unit that conveys the label paper in the conveying direction; a recording head that ejects droplets while moving in a moving direction intersecting the conveying direction to record an image on the label paper; a control unit that controls the conveying unit and the recording head so that the conveying unit conveys the label paper in the conveying direction and the recording head moves in the moving direction alternately to record an image on the label paper; a data storage unit that internally stores recording data for one pass of the recording head; a data writing unit that writes the recording data into the data storage unit; and a determination unit that determines the relationship between a data length, which is the length of the recording data stored in the data storage unit in the conveying direction, and the amount of transport of the label paper by the conveying unit. The data writing unit is configured to be able to offset the data writing position of the recording data in the data storage unit based on the length of the margin in the transport direction, and when the determination unit determines that the data length of the recording data in the offset data storage unit is less than the transport amount, the data writing unit writes new recording data from the offset position.

Images