JP2001080058A - INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINT SYSTEM USING THE APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide printing in a printing apparatus having a heating device for promoting drying of a print medium from which ink has been ejected while performing printing using a print head which ejects ink to the print medium. Even when the power amount is limited, the fastest printing operation can be performed under the limited amount. SOLUTION: An input of an amount of power that can be supplied to the device is received, and a possible driving amount of the heating device is calculated in accordance with the input.
Also, from the heating amount at that time, a printing speed that does not cause a problem even if the printing medium is continuously output and superimposed is calculated,
The driving amount of the heating device and the printing speed are controlled based on the calculated values. Further, the driving amount of the heating device is adjusted based on data relating to printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus for forming an image by discharging ink onto a print medium, and a printing system using the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Paper, cloth,
The inkjet printing method for printing on a print medium such as a plastic sheet or an OHP sheet (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “recording paper”) is a low-noise, non-impact printing method, and is a high-density and high-speed printing method. This printing method has extremely excellent features such as operability and easy colorization. In recent years, colorization and higher image quality have been further accelerated, but there is also a problem that has become conspicuous.

For example, when printing is continuously performed on a plurality of recording sheets, one of the cases is that the plurality of recording sheets cannot be immediately deposited.
This is a more serious problem when printing an image such as a picture or a photograph than when printing an image composed of character strings such as numbers and symbols. Such image data has a high print ratio to the recording paper, and a large amount of ink is applied to the recording paper, so that it takes time to fix or dry the ink. This is because it may not be possible to immediately superimpose and store.

Heretofore, a solution to this problem has been to reduce the overall printing speed to allow time for drying and to immediately superimpose subsequent prints on previously printed prints. Or a technique of providing a fixing heater for heating the recording paper to promote drying.

[0005]

However, the former technique reduces the printing speed only because the printing apparatus itself can perform high-speed printing, but simply cannot superimpose the printed matter. There is an aspect that cannot be said to be a solution that fully utilizes the performance of the printing apparatus. In addition, the latter technique requires a large amount of power to drive the fixing heater, so that the power consumption increases. On the other hand, when a sufficient power supply cannot be secured, there is a problem that this cannot be practically adopted. .

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and while making use of the advantages of these technologies, by performing appropriate control according to the use environment and the like, it is possible for a user to obtain a printed matter at high speed. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

For this purpose, the present invention provides:
In an ink jet printing apparatus that performs printing using a print head that discharges ink onto a print medium, a means for promoting drying of the print medium onto which the ink has been discharged and a power supply amount that can be supplied to the apparatus. Means for controlling the driving amount of the drying promoting means and controlling the printing speed in accordance with the driving amount.

[0008] Here, the drying promoting means may include means for heating the print medium.

Further, the control means can control the transport speed of the print medium and the drive speed of the print head during a printing operation as the print speed control.

[0010] The print head may include an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink as energy used for discharging the ink.

Further, the ink jet printing apparatus itself may be provided with a means for inputting data relating to the electric energy.

The control means may include means for calculating the drive amount and the corresponding print speed in response to the instruction. The control means may further comprise the control means in response to data relating to printing. The driving amount of the drying promotion means can be adjusted.

Further, the ink jet printing apparatus itself can be provided with means for selecting whether or not the drying promoting means is driven.

Further, the printing system of the present invention supplies the above-described ink-jet printing apparatus, image data relating to printing to the ink-jet printing apparatus, receives input of the data relating to the electric energy, and transmits the data. A host device having a means for supplying the ink-jet printing device.

Here, the drive amount and the corresponding print speed can be calculated by the host device according to the power amount, and supplied to the ink jet printing device as control data of the control means. The driving amount of the drying promoting unit can be adjusted according to the image data and supplied to the inkjet printing apparatus.

Further, the host device may include means for receiving selection of whether or not to drive the drying promotion means and supplying data relating to the selection to the ink jet printing apparatus.

Further, the present invention provides an operation required for causing such a host device to supply the data to the ink jet printing device (acceptance of input of an electric energy, calculation, adjustment, selection of whether or not to drive). Reception, and a supply operation corresponding to them) in a storage medium storing a control program.

In this specification, "print"
(Sometimes referred to as "records") refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures,
In addition, regardless of whether or not they are visualized so that humans can perceive them visually, images, patterns,
This also refers to the case where a pattern or the like is formed or the medium is processed.

Here, the term "print medium" refers not only to paper used in general printing apparatuses but also to inks such as cloth, plastic films, metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. Let's say what is possible.

Further, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted broadly as in the definition of “print” described above. It refers to a liquid that can be used for forming a pattern or the like, processing a print medium, or processing ink (for example, solidifying or insolubilizing a color material in ink applied to a print medium).

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Structural Example of Printing Apparatus) FIG. 1 schematically shows an ink jet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation panel, which includes a power switch, a switch for instructing start of printing,
Input means for receiving an instruction input by the operator, such as a switch for setting an online state with the host device 12, a paper feed command key, and a numerical key for inputting an amount of power (power allowance) that can be supplied to the printing device. In addition, a means (display means such as an LCD) for notifying the operator of the apparatus state is provided.

A control unit 2 controls the entire printing apparatus 8. The control unit 2 generates a print data of the printing apparatus, analyzes various commands, performs various settings according to an input from the operation panel, and executes a processing procedure described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. , An RO that stores a program corresponding to the processing procedure, a required table, and other fixed data.
M, a RAM having an area used as a buffer for expanding print data and an area for temporarily storing various setting information, a non-volatile memory (EEPROM, etc.) for holding an input allowable power value, etc., a print head 4
And a driver for the transport device 3 of the print medium 7 and the like.

The transport device 3 includes a roller for transporting (sub-scanning) the print medium 7, a motor serving as a drive source thereof, and a required transmission mechanism. Then, the transport device 3 includes the control unit 2
Accordingly, the conveyance speed of the print medium 7, that is, the rotation speed of the motor serving as the driving source is appropriately controlled.

The print head 4 has discharge ports for discharging ink as a printing agent. For example, such discharge ports are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the drawing over a range corresponding to the width of the print medium 7. Full line type. In addition, the print head 4 can use a color (eg, cyan, magenta, and yellow) ink in addition to a monochrome (eg, black) ink. , The color heads may be arranged in the transport direction of the print medium 7.

Instead of using such a full-line type print head 4, a form (serial scan type) of being mounted on a scanning member such as a carriage and scanning (main scanning) in the width direction of the print medium 7 is used. Alternatively, in such a case, the ejection ports may be arranged in a direction different from the main scanning direction (for example, the sub-scanning direction). Furthermore, when color printing is realized in such a mode, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the color heads are juxtaposed in the main scanning direction and they are scanned integrally.

Further, the print head 4 has an electrothermal converter (discharge heater) for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of the ink in response to energization as energy used for discharging the ink. Can be used.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a heating device for heating the print medium 7 to promote drying and fixing of the ink.
This serves as a drying accelerating means of this example. Reference numeral 6 denotes a heating control device that appropriately changes the amount of heat generated by the heating device 5 under the control of the control unit 2. The heating device 5 may be in the form of a lamp or the like that irradiates infrared rays to face the print surface of the print medium 7, or may be a member that contacts the back surface of the print medium 7 and directly transmits heat. it can. In this case, the member can be integrated with a platen or a part thereof that regulates the print medium 7 flat near the printing position, and a roller for discharging the print medium is a heating roller (heat roller). ) Can be realized. The drying promoting means does not necessarily need to be accompanied by heating as long as the effect is sufficient. For example, a means having a blower or the like for quickly evaporating the ink solvent may be used.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a host device connected via an interface (I / F) 14, which may be a computer that performs processing such as creation and processing / editing of data such as images to be printed by the printing device 8. it can. Note that the host device 12 may be in the form of an image reader, a digital camera, or the like.

(Mode of Control) FIG. 2 shows an example of a processing procedure when an allowable power value is input to the printing apparatus. This procedure is used, for example, when the user who has obtained the device connects to the power line for the first time, or when the user connects the device to a new power line by moving the device, and then turns on the power for the first time thereafter. It can be launched as an initialization procedure to be performed. Here, the power consumption of the printing device 8 itself is, for example, 50 to 500 W (the power consumption when the heating device 5 is not driven at all is 50 W, and the power consumption when the heating device 5 is driven to the maximum is 500 W). It will be described as.

When this procedure is started, the user first sets the allowable power value of the power supply to which the printing apparatus 8 is connected to the operation panel 1.
(Step S1). In response to the input, the control unit 2 stores the data in a predetermined memory (for example, an EEPROM).
(Step S3).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a print processing procedure based on the settings shown in FIG. When image data is received from the host device 12 (step S11), the control unit 2 determines the heating amount (driving rate of the heating device 5) and the printing speed (print medium) based on the image data and the set allowable power value. 7 (ie, the rotation speed of the transfer motor).
The print operation is performed based on the settings (steps S13 and S15) (step S17).

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the amount of heating and the printing speed for promoting drying of the print medium after printing and enabling superimposition immediately. The horizontal and vertical axes in the figure are
The relationship between the two when the heating device 5 is driven to the maximum and the transfer speed is set to the maximum speed is defined as 100%. By using such a relation, for example, such a relation is tabulated and stored in a ROM or the like, and the table is referred to in accordance with the driving rate of the heating device 5 determined according to the allowable power value, or a predetermined relation is obtained. By using the equation, it is possible to calculate or set the print speed.

For example, if the power that can be supplied by the power supply is 1000 W, the user only needs to input data corresponding to 1000 W to the operation panel 1. In this case, there is a sufficient margin for the maximum power consumption of the printing apparatus 500 of 500 W. Therefore, the control unit 2 can recognize that the heating device 5 can be driven at 100% and that the printing operation at the maximum speed is possible.

In the printing process, the printing operation is performed at the maximum speed possible by the apparatus. Here, the printing operation includes the control of the transport speed and the head drive control according to the control. In the case of a serial scan type device, control of the carriage speed can be further included.

Further, the heating device 5 can be controlled to adjust the heating amount so that a required heating amount (which can be calculated from the image data) according to the received image data is obtained through the printing operation. . That is, a small amount of data can be heated if the data is sparse, and a large amount of heating can be performed if the data is dense. However, the heating device may always be driven at 100% without calculating the necessary and sufficient heating amount according to the data. In any case, if the power supply has a sufficient margin for the maximum power consumption of 500 W of the printing apparatus 8, the print medium that has completed printing at the maximum speed can be immediately superimposed in any case.

In such a case, when the power that can be supplied by the power supply is, for example, 200 W (for example, when the capacity of the outlet at the installation location of the apparatus has a limit such as “up to 200 W”), the user operates Data corresponding to 200 W is input to panel 1. In this case, since the power consumption that can be used for driving the heating device 5 can be calculated as 150 W, the control unit 2 can recognize that the heating device 5 can be driven up to 30% at the maximum. From the table showing the relationship of No. 4, it can be recognized that if the printing speed (conveying speed) is set to 50% of the maximum value, it is possible to sufficiently dry even with 30% heating.

In the printing process, a printing operation is performed with the conveying speed set to 50% of the maximum speed, and a required heating amount (calculated from the image data) according to the received image data is performed through the printing operation. ), The heating condition can be appropriately set in the range of 0 to 30% to control the heating device 5 (the heating device may be constantly driven at 30%).

As described above, even when the maximum power consumption of the printing apparatus 8 is limited to 200 W with respect to the maximum power consumption of 500 W, printing is performed fastest in that environment, and the print medium on which printing has been completed is immediately superimposed. become able to.

Further, the power that can be supplied by the power supply is, for example, 50
If it is W, the user inputs data corresponding to 50 W into the operation panel 1. In this case, even when the heating device 5 is not driven at all, the printing device 8 can consume 50 W of power, so that the control unit 2 can recognize that the heating device 5 cannot be driven, and further, from the table showing the relationship in FIG. , Even in that case, the print speed (conveyance speed) is 25% of the maximum value
Then, it can be recognized that drying can be sufficiently performed. Then, in the printing process, the printing operation may be performed without driving the heating device 5 at all, with the transport speed being 25% of the maximum speed. That is, even when power supply is allowed up to only 50 W with respect to the maximum power consumption of 500 W of the printing apparatus 8, the printing apparatus of this example can be used.

In the present embodiment, it is of course possible to adopt a usage mode in which the heating condition is suppressed by setting a value lower than the allowable power value. For example, even if the power supply exceeding 50 W is possible, the user performs the setting corresponding to the 50 W so that the heating is not performed and the power saving is prioritized over the printing speed. Is also possible.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the heating amount and the printing speed can be set and controlled in multiple steps or steplessly in accordance with the input of various allowable power values. Input or setting / control can be simplified. For example, the power consumption of the printing device 8 itself is 50 to 500 W as in the above example (the power consumption when the heating device 5 is not driven at all is 50 W, and the power consumption when the heating device 5 is driven to the maximum is 500 W). In this case, a switch for selectively inputting that the suppliable power is 500 W or more or less than 500 W is provided as an input means, and 100% of the heating device 5 is set according to the input.
A mode for driving and printing at the highest speed,
It is also possible to switch the mode to a printing operation in which the transport speed is 25% of the maximum speed without driving the heating device 5 at all. In this case, the intermediate setting and control as in the case where the allowable power value is 200 W cannot be performed as described above, but the hardware and software of the control system of the printing apparatus can be simplified. There is. It goes without saying that the numerical values such as the allowable power values shown in the above description are merely examples.

In the above-described embodiment, the input means for the allowable power value is provided on the printing apparatus 8 side. However, an input is made from a host apparatus 12 such as a computer serving as a supply source of image data, and the printing apparatus 8 outputs the data. May be received to perform the same setting and control as described above. Here, the operation of receiving an input by the user and supplying the input to the printing device 8 can be realized as a function of a printer driver installed in the host device 12.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the heating amount and the printing speed are calculated on the printing apparatus 8 side. However, the host apparatus 12 calculates them from the allowable power value, and the printing apparatus 8 controls them. The same control as described above may be performed by receiving the data.
In this case, the host device 12 calculates the upper limit of the heating amount from the allowable power value and can adjust the heating amount in advance from the image data to be transmitted, so that the efficiency of the printing system can be improved. . Also in this case, the operation of calculating or adjusting the control data and supplying the control data to the printing device 8 can be realized as a function of the printer driver installed in the host device 12.

In addition, the heating device 5 according to the above-described embodiment is used.
It is also possible to make it possible to select whether or not to use. In this embodiment, if the user selects “use”, the same operation as in the above embodiment can be performed. On the other hand, the allowable power value is set to the maximum value, and the heating device 5 is set to “not used”.
Then, the data at point A in FIG. 4 is set, and the printing operation can be performed at the maximum speed while minimizing the power consumption. This is particularly the case when the printed matter to be output is not superimposed, for example, when printing only one sheet without performing continuous printing, or when the user sequentially handles the printed matter that is continuously output so as not to be superimposed, This can be selected when means such as a sorter for outputting to a separated position is provided. Alternatively, it can also be selected in a case where it is possible to superimpose undried.

In this embodiment, a selection switch or the like can be added to the printing device 8 itself so as to enable selection of the use or non-use of the heating device 5, or printing is performed as a predetermined command from the host device 12. Device 8
You can also give to. In addition, this form
The present invention is also applicable to the embodiment in which the input of the allowable power value as described above is performed from the host device 12 and the embodiment in which the heating amount and the printing speed are calculated in the host device 12.

The software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment or the program code of the printer driver is supplied to a computer in a machine or a system to which various devices including a printing apparatus are connected, and stored in the computer of the machine or the system. A print system that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments by operating various devices by the program code is also included in the scope of the present invention.

In this case, the program code itself realizes the new function of the present invention, and the program code itself and a means for supplying the program code to a computer such as a storage medium are also included in the scope of the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the above processing is performed, and the functions of each embodiment are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, This includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the embodiments.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, among ink jet recording methods. An excellent effect is obtained in a print head and a printing apparatus of a system in which a change in the state of ink is caused by the thermal energy. This is because such a method can achieve higher density and higher definition of the print.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. Applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the printing information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, causing the electrothermal transducer to generate thermal energy, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the printhead. This is effective because bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent printing can be performed.

As the configuration of the print head, a combination configuration of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid path or a right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications.
In addition, the present invention also includes a configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, printing can be performed reliably and efficiently regardless of the form of the print head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type print head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a print medium that can be printed by a printing apparatus. Such a print head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of print heads, or a configuration as a single print head that is integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of a serial type, the print head fixed to the apparatus main body or the ink supply from the apparatus main body can be provided by being attached to the apparatus main body and electrically connected to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type print head or a cartridge type print head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the print head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a print head discharge recovery means, a preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the printing apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
Pre-heating means for heating using a capping means, a cleaning means, a pressure or suction means, an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof for the print head, Pre-discharge means for performing another discharge can be given.

The type and the number of print heads to be mounted are, for example, one for each single color ink.
In addition to those provided with only a plurality of inks, a plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different print colors and densities. That is, for example, the print mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to the print mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be any of a print head integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of print heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the full-color print modes using mixed colors.

In addition to the above, the embodiment of the present invention may be a printing apparatus used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, or may be a system combined with a host computer, a reader, or the like. It may be a copier, or a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the amount of power supply is limited by appropriately controlling the driving of the drying promotion means and the printing speed in accordance with the amount of power that can be supplied by the power supply to which the inkjet printing apparatus is connected, even if the amount of power supply is limited, , The fastest printing operation can be performed. Further, by making it possible to select whether or not to use the drying promoting means, it is possible to perform the printing operation at the maximum speed while minimizing the power consumption.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an inkjet printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for inputting an allowable power value for the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing procedure performed in response to the input illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a heating amount and a printing speed for enabling a print medium to be immediately superimposed after printing in the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Control part 3 Transport device 4 Print head 5 Heating device 6 Heating control device 7 Print medium 12 Host device 14 Interface (I / F)

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet printing apparatus for performing printing using a print head that discharges ink onto a print medium, comprising: means for promoting drying of the print medium from which the ink has been discharged; and power that can be supplied to the apparatus. An ink jet printing apparatus comprising: a driving amount of the drying accelerating means in accordance with the amount of the ink; and a means for controlling a printing speed in accordance with the driving amount. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drying promoting means has means for heating said print medium.
5. The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the transport speed of the print medium and the drive speed of the print head during a printing operation as the print speed control. Inkjet printing equipment. 4. The print head according to claim 1, further comprising an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy that causes film boiling of the ink as energy used for discharging the ink. An inkjet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for inputting data relating to said electric energy. 6. An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means has means for calculating said drive amount and said corresponding print speed in response to said instruction. 7. The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit further adjusts a driving amount of the drying promoting unit in accordance with print data. 8. An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting whether to drive said drying promoting means. 9. An ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: supplying image data relating to printing to the ink-jet printing apparatus; A host device having means for supplying the data to the ink jet printing apparatus. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the host device calculates the drive amount and the corresponding print speed in accordance with the power amount, and supplies the print speed to the inkjet printing device as control data of the control unit. 10. The print system according to item 9. 11. The printing system according to claim 10, wherein the host device further adjusts a driving amount of the drying promoting unit according to the image data and supplies the driving amount to the inkjet printing apparatus. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the host device receives a selection as to whether or not the drying promotion unit is to be driven, and includes means for supplying data relating to the selection to the inkjet printing apparatus. A printing system according to any one of claims 9 to 11. 13. A storage medium storing a control program for causing the host device according to claim 9 to execute an operation required to supply said data to said inkjet printing apparatus.