JP2003308193A - Test recording pattern deployment method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a test recording pattern deployment method, a recording apparatus and a recording system in which a test recording pattern optimal for each recording medium size is deployed at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: One test pattern is divided into a plurality of blocks and deployed, optimal block layout is performed in accordance with a size of a recording medium, and the test pattern is deployed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a test recording pattern expanding method, a recording device, and a recording method capable of expanding a predetermined test recording pattern into a memory according to an instruction to the recording device and the recording system. It is about the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus, a recording system or the like has a test recording function.

This test recording function is executed by a predetermined key operation or an instruction from a host computer, and a pattern for fine adjustment of the recording position of the recording head (hereinafter referred to as "registration adjustment") and a memory in the recording apparatus are provided. The pattern representing the information peculiar to the device, the pattern representing the function of the recording device, etc. stored in the memory is developed in the memory and recorded on the recording medium.

[0004]

Conventionally, the recording apparatus can record on a plurality of recording medium sizes, but the test recording pattern corresponds to only one type of recording medium size which is normally handled by the recording apparatus. Therefore, the user has to prepare a standard size recording medium at all times. To solve this, "Japanese Patent Application No. 05-001148",
Patents such as "Japanese Patent Application No. 62-127006" have been filed.

In Japanese Patent Application No. 05-001148, "test recording pattern data having different print contents according to the tape width is stored inside a recording device, and a test recording pattern corresponding to the detected tape width is recorded. However, in the present invention, a large amount of internal memory is required to store the test print pattern for each corresponding paper size in the internal memory of the printing apparatus, resulting in high cost. The problem occurs.

In Japanese Patent Application No. 62-127006, "font information including character size and number of characters corresponding to the acquired paper size information is determined, and a test pattern suitable for the paper size is generated based on the determined font information. However, in the present invention, when the paper is small, the characters to be recorded are also small, which makes it difficult to see.

Further, the above-mentioned two inventions are inventions based on a test recording pattern using graphic characters such as letters and numbers, and no consideration is given to an image pattern for register adjustment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a test recording pattern developing method, a recording apparatus and a recording system which can develop an optimum test recording pattern for each recording medium size at low cost.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention implements the following means.

Test recording pattern developing method having a memory developing means for dividing a test recording pattern into a plurality of blocks and developing it in a memory. The memory developing means is based on the size of the recording medium acquired by the means for acquiring the size of the recording medium. A test recording pattern expanding method characterized by expanding the test recording pattern by the block layout described above, a unit for dividing the test recording pattern into a plurality of blocks and expanding the block into a memory, a unit for acquiring the size of the recording medium,
A recording system having means for developing a test recording pattern into a memory by an optimum block layout based on the acquired size of the recording medium.

A test recording pattern developing method, a recording apparatus, and a recording system, wherein when the test recording pattern does not fit within one page, the test recording pattern is divided into a plurality of pages and expanded into a memory.

The individual block sizes of the divided blocks are
A test recording pattern developing method, a recording apparatus, and a recording system, which are characterized by having a size equal to or smaller than a recordable area in a minimum recordable recording medium size.

Division holding means for dividing the test recording pattern information into a plurality of blocks and holding it, means for obtaining the size of the recording medium, and dividing and holding the test pattern information based on the obtained recording medium size Test recording pattern developing method having means for expanding memory by block layout

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform the test recording pattern development in which the optimum test recording pattern can be developed for each recording medium size.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a label paper used in this embodiment.

The label paper (700) is wound in a roll shape, and a plurality of labels (702) are attached to a mount paper (701).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") which is a control device used in this embodiment.
Shown in.

The PC (102) has an input / output means (802).
A label recording device (100) which is a recording device, a CRT (106) which is a display device, and a keyboard (107) and a mouse (108) which are input devices are connected via the.

The PC (102) is composed of an MPU (microprocessor) (800), a memory (801) and an input / output means (802), and recording information and application software are stored in an external storage device (not shown) in the memory (801). And is executed by the MPU (800).

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram in which a color label recording apparatus (100) (hereinafter referred to as "recording apparatus") of an ink jet system using four long line heads used in this embodiment is connected to a PC.

An operation panel (105) is mounted on the front surface of the recording apparatus (100), and a roll-shaped label paper (206) which is a recording medium is set in a paper feeding section (101). There is.

The PC (102) and the recording device (100) are connected by a printer cable (103), and the PC (102)
When the MPU (800) therein executes the application software, the record information stored in the memory (801) is converted into a control command and output to the printer cable (103) via the input / output unit (317). .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the schematic arrangement of the recording apparatus used in this embodiment.

The recording apparatus comprises a recording unit (200) and a paper feeding unit (101).

The paper feeding unit (101) drives a paper feeding motor (described later in FIG. 5) to feed the label paper (206) to the recording unit (200).

In the recording section (200), the label paper (20
6) a transport belt (204) for transporting the transport belt, a transport roller (203) driven by a transport motor (described later in FIG. 5) for driving the transport belt (204), and Y / M / C / K (yellow / magenta /
A recording head unit (201) that stores cyan / black) recording heads, a TOF (Top Of Form) sensor (205) for detecting the position of the paper, and a Y / M /
It is composed of an ink tank unit (205) for supplying C / K ink to each recording head.

The ink tank unit (205) is connected to the recording head unit (201) by a tube (not shown), and supplies ink to the recording head unit (201) by controlling the recovery motor (516). .

In the recording section (200), the conveyor belt (20
4) The TOF sensor (20
In 5), the leading end position of the label is detected, and based on the detected position information, ink is ejected from the recording head according to the image forming signal, and the ink is sprayed on the surface of the label to form an image.

An operation panel of the recording apparatus used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.

On the operation panel, there are an error LED (303) for notifying an error occurrence, a ready LED (304) for notifying a power-on state, etc., and a stop key (301) for stopping a recording job.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a label in which a "registration adjustment" pattern is recorded with a standard label size in this embodiment.

A recording pattern for adjusting the vertical and horizontal positions of the K head and the C / M / Y head.

This test recording pattern is divided into patterns of the same size for each function, and the "K and C lateral registration adjusting unit (401)" is arranged in the first row and the first column, and the "K and M side is arranged in the first row and the second column." The horizontal registration adjusting unit (402) "and the" K and Y horizontal registration adjusting unit (403) "are developed in the first row and the third column.

Next, in the second row and the first column, the "K and C vertical registration adjusting section (404)", in the second row and the second column, the "K and M vertical registration adjusting section (405)", and in the second row and the third column. The "K and Y vertical registration adjustment units (406)" are developed and recorded in the columns.

The vertical size (407) and the horizontal size (408) of one block of the test recording pattern are previously set to ROM (5
01: described later in FIG. 5).

The size of one block is set smaller than the recordable area of the smallest label recordable by the recording device.

FIG. 5 shows an electrical simplified block diagram of the recording apparatus in this embodiment.

MPU (microprocessor) (500)
Realizes the following control by executing the control program stored in the program ROM (501). 1) The interface driver (505) is controlled to receive the control command output from the PC (102). 2) Of the received control commands, the setting values of various setting commands are stored in the work RAM (502), and the image data is expanded in the data expansion RAM (504). When the test record execution command is received, the data expansion RAM
The test recording pattern is developed in (504) and recording is performed on the label. Character data used in the test recording pattern is stored in the CGROM (503). 3) The motor driver (511, 513, 515) is controlled via the output port (510), and the conveyance motor (5
12), paper feed motor (514), recovery motor (516)
To drive. 4) Output port (510) according to the state of the recording device
Error LED (303) and ready LED (3
04) and ON (lighting) / OFF (lighting off) are controlled. 5) The stop key (301) and the TOF sensor (209) are periodically scanned through the input port (519),
Watch for keystrokes. 6) By controlling the head drive circuit (506) according to the label position information, which is based on the label tip position detected by the TOF (Top Of Form) sensor (209), the inside of the recording head unit (201) is controlled. By driving the recording head and ejecting ink, the data expansion RAM (50
Record the image data developed in 4) on the label.

The test recording execution command used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.

The recording device (100) sends this command to the PC.
Upon receiving from (102), the vertical and horizontal sizes (601, 602) of the paper are stored in the work RAM (502), and the test recording pattern expansion processing is started.

This command is composed of an identification unit (600) for identifying a test recording execution command, a paper vertical designation size (601), and a horizontal designation size (601).

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the "test recording pattern expansion processing" in this embodiment.

This flow is based on the program ROM (501)
The MPU (500) executes the control program stored in.

When the test recording execution command is received from the PC (102), this processing is started.

First, initialization processing of the expansion matrix number (90
0) initializes the matrix number to be expanded.

Next, the line number stored in V (expanded line number) which is an area existing in the work RAM (502),
The "KC lateral registration adjustment pattern" is expanded at the address of the data expansion RAM (504) corresponding to the position indicated by the column number stored in H (expansion column number) which is the area existing in the work RAM (502) (901 ) Do.

Next, V and H are updated to the matrix number to be developed next (902), and then the development of each test recording pattern which is made into blocks (903, 905, 907, 909, 91).
1) and expansion matrix number update processing (904, 906, 90)
8 and 910) are alternately executed, and the test recording pattern, which has been developed at the end, is recorded on the label (912).

"Initialization processing of expansion matrix number" (90
Details of 0) are shown in FIG.

When this process is started by the "test recording pattern expansion process", the vertical size of the paper stored in the work RAM (502) and the vertical size of the block of the test recording pattern stored in the ROM (501). (407)
From this, how many blocks can be expanded in the vertical direction of the paper (maximum expanded line number) is calculated and stored in the area A existing in the work RAM (502) (1000).

Next, the paper lateral size stored in the work RAM (502) and the block lateral size (408) of the test recording pattern stored in the ROM (501).
From this, the number of blocks that can be expanded in the lateral direction of the paper (maximum expanded column number) is calculated and stored in area B existing in the work RAM (502) (1001).

Further, H initialization (1002) and V initialization (1003) are performed, and the data expansion RAM (504) is executed.
Is cleared (1004).

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the "expanded matrix number updating process" in this embodiment.

This flow is also for the program ROM (501)
The MPU (500) executes the control program stored in.

When this process is activated by the "test recording pattern expansion process", H is incremented (1100).
And compare (1101) with B. If H and B are equal (1101: Yes), it cannot be further expanded in the currently expanded row, so 0 is assigned to H (1102) for initialization, and then V is incremented (1103). Update the line number expanded with to the next line.

Further, V and A are compared (1104) to obtain V
And A are the same (1104: Yes), the expanded page cannot be expanded any further, and the expanded page is recorded (1105). Then, H initialization (1106) and V initialization (1107) are performed, and the data expansion RAM (504) is cleared (1108), so that expansion to a new page can be started. .

In this embodiment, the registration adjustment pattern is set to 3
FIG. 12 shows an example of a label (1200) recorded on a recordable label with a block configuration of 2 rows.

In the 1st row and 1st column, "K and C lateral registration adjusting units (1
201) ”, expand the“ K and M lateral registration adjustment unit (1202) ”in the first row and the second column, and expand the“ K and Y in the second row and the first column.
Horizontal registration adjustment unit (1203) ", 2nd row and 2nd column" K and C
Vertical registration adjustment unit (1204) ", row 3, column 1" K and M
Vertical registration adjustment unit (1205) "and" K and Y vertical registration adjustment unit (1206) "in the third row and second column.
It is recorded.

In this embodiment, the registration adjustment pattern is set to 2
FIG. 13 shows an example of labels (1300, 1307) recorded on a recordable label with a block configuration of two rows and two columns.

On the first page (1300), the "K and C lateral registration adjusting section (1301)" is developed in the first row and the first column, and the "K and M lateral registration adjusting section is displayed in the first row and the second column. (1302) ", 2
The “K and Y horizontal registration adjustment unit (1303)” is in the first row, and the “K and C vertical registration adjustment unit (1303) is in the second row and second column.
4) ”is expanded and recorded. Page 2 (130
7), in the 1st row and 1st column, "K and M vertical registration adjustment units (13
05) ”, and the“ K and Y vertical registration adjustment unit (1306) ”is developed and recorded in the first row and second column.

With the above configuration, it is possible to realize the test recording pattern developing method, the recording apparatus, and the recording system which can develop the optimum test recording pattern for each recording medium size.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
The processing is performed on the PC side to develop the test recording pattern, and the recording device is realized by recording the image data received from the PC on the label.

FIG. 14 shows a test recording execution screen displayed on the CRT (201) in this embodiment.

This screen is displayed on the memory (80
This is realized by the MPU (800) executing the control program stored in 1).

The user uses the keyboard (107) to set the vertical size of the label to the paper vertical size input section (1400).
When the horizontal size is input to the paper horizontal size input unit (1401), the input value is stored in the memory (801). Next, by pressing the test record execution button (1402) using the mouse (108), the memory (801)
Then, the test recording pattern is developed, and the recording data is transmitted to the recording device.

A flow chart of the "test recording process" in this embodiment is shown in FIG.

This flow is realized by the MPU (800) executing the control program stored in the memory (801).

When the depression of the test record execution button (1402) is detected, this process is started, and the expansion matrix number initialization process (1600) initializes the page number and matrix number to be expanded.

Next, the memory (801) corresponding to the position indicated by the values stored in P (page number), V (expanded row number) and H (expanded column number) which are areas existing in the memory (801). The "KC lateral registration adjustment pattern" is expanded at the address of the data expansion memory area existing in (1160).

Subsequently, V and H are updated to the matrix number to be expanded next (1602), and thereafter the expansion of each test recording pattern that has been blocked (1603, 1605, 1607, 1).
609 and 1611) and expansion matrix number update processing (160
4, 1606, 1608, 1610) are executed alternately. Finally, the test recording pattern of one page or a plurality of pages whose expansion has been completed is converted into a command dedicated to the recording device (1612), and the command-converted recording data is sent to the recording device (1613).

FIG. 17 shows the details of the "expansion matrix number initialization process" (1600) in this embodiment.

When this process is started by the "test recording process", the vertical size of the paper stored in the memory (801) and the vertical size of the block of the test recording pattern stored in the memory (801) (407). From this, the number of blocks that can be expanded in the vertical direction of the paper (maximum expanded line number) is calculated and stored in the area A existing in the memory (801) (1700).

Next, from the paper lateral size stored in the memory (801) and the block lateral size (408) of the test recording pattern stored in the memory (801),
The number of blocks that can be expanded in the horizontal direction of the paper (maximum expanded column number) is calculated and stored in the area B existing in the memory (801) (1701). Further, initialization of H (170
2) and V are initialized (1703), and the memory (80
1) A data expansion memory area for one page is acquired and cleared (1704). Further, P (page number) which is an area existing in the memory (801) is also initialized.

The details of the "expanded matrix number updating process" (1608) in this embodiment are shown in FIG.

When this process is started from the "test recording pattern expansion process", H is incremented (1800) and B
(1801).

When H and B are equal (1801: Yes)
Cannot be further expanded in the currently expanded line, so 0 is substituted for H (1802) for initialization, and V is incremented (1803) to update the expanded line number to the next line.

Further, V and A are compared (1804) to obtain V
And A equal to each other (1804: Yes), the page currently being expanded cannot be expanded any more, so a data expansion memory area for one page is acquired on the memory (801) and cleared (1805). Initialization of H (180
6) and V are initialized (1807) and P is incremented (1808) so that the page can be expanded to a new page.

With the above structure, it is possible to realize the test recording pattern developing method, the recording device and the recording system which can develop the optimum test recording pattern for each recording medium size.

(Third Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
This is achieved by using the block size of each block of the test recording pattern that is optimized for each block and managing the expansion address by the address instead of the matrix number.

An example of a label (1900) in which a registration adjustment pattern is recorded with a standard label size in this embodiment is shown in FIG.
9 shows.

In this test recording pattern, each block is formed into a pattern having an optimum size, and a "K and C lateral registration adjusting unit (1901)" and a "K and M lateral registration adjusting unit (1902)" are provided. And "K and Y lateral registration adjustment unit (190
3) ”have the same vertical size (1907) and horizontal size (1
908), and the "K and C vertical registration adjustment unit (1
904) ”,“ K and M vertical registration adjustment unit (405) ”and“ K
And the vertical registration adjustment unit (406) for Y ”are divided into blocks of the same vertical size (1909) and horizontal size (1910), developed, and recorded.

In this embodiment, the registration adjustment pattern is developed with a label size different from the standard, and the recorded label (2
000) example is shown in FIG. Because each block is expanded into blocks of the optimum size. The test recording pattern can be developed in a smaller space as compared with the second embodiment.

In the above configuration, an optimum test recording pattern can be developed for each recording medium size, and a more efficient test recording pattern developing method, a recording apparatus, and a recording system configuration can be realized.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the third embodiment,
When the block to be expanded next cannot be expanded due to lack of area, it can be realized by searching for a block that can be expanded in the area and expanding it.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the label (2100) in which the registration adjustment pattern is recorded with the same label size as that of the third embodiment (FIG. 20) in this embodiment.

First, the "K and C lateral registration adjustment unit" (150
1) Expand, but in the next expansion area (right side of "K and C lateral registration adjustment section" (1501)), "K and M lateral registration adjustment section"
Since there is no space to expand (1502), the vertical size adjustment unit for K and C, which is the horizontal size that can be expanded in the area (1
504) is developed to construct and record an optimum layout. Compared with the third embodiment, the test recording pattern can be developed in a smaller space.

In the above configuration, an optimum test recording pattern can be developed for each recording medium size, and a more efficient test recording pattern developing method, recording device, and recording system configuration can be realized.

(Other Embodiments) In the embodiments, a card recording device for recording on a plastic card, a cut sheet or the like, a thermal transfer type recording device using an ink ribbon or the like, or a recording head for a recording medium conveyance direction. The type and recording method of the recording device, such as a recording device that performs serial scanning in the direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the (sub-scanning direction) to perform recording on the recording medium on the platen, are not limited.

Further, in the embodiment, the means for acquiring the size of the recording medium acquires from the signal obtained by reading the identification portion of the cassette containing the recording medium with the sensor or the signal obtained by measuring the size of the recording medium with the sensor. It is not limited to the acquisition method, such as acquisition from a key signal input by the user on the operation panel, or the like.

[0089]

As described above, the test recording pattern is divided into a plurality of blocks and expanded in the memory,
By having a unit for acquiring the size of the recording medium and a unit for expanding the test recording pattern in the memory by the optimum block layout based on the acquired size of the recording medium, the cost can be optimized for each recording medium size. It is possible to provide a test recording pattern developing method, a recording device, and a recording system capable of developing a test recording pattern.

[0090]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram of a recording apparatus and a PC used in Examples 1 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a recording device used in Examples 1 to 4.

FIG. 3 shows an operation panel of the recording apparatus used in Examples 1 to 4.

FIG. 4 shows a label in which a test recording pattern is recorded with a standard size label (a block of 2 rows and 3 columns can be printed) recorded in Examples 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 shows an electrical simplified block diagram of the recording apparatus used in Examples 1 to 4.

FIG. 6 shows a paper size setting command used in Examples 1 and 3 to 4.

FIG. 7 shows the label paper used in Examples 1 to 4.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a PC used in Examples 1 to 4.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a test recording pattern development process used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of initialization processing of the expansion matrix number used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an expansion matrix number updating process used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a label on which a test recording pattern is recorded with a label of “a printable size of a block of 3 rows and 2 columns” recorded in Examples 1 and 2.

FIG. 13 shows a label in which a test recording pattern is recorded with a label of “a printable size of a block of 2 rows and 2 columns” recorded in Examples 1 and 2.

FIG. 14 shows a test recording execution screen displayed on the CRT (201) used in Example 2.

FIG. 15 shows a label on which a test recording pattern recorded in Example 4 is recorded.

16 shows a flowchart of a test recording process used in Example 2. FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of initialization processing of the expansion matrix number used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of an expansion matrix number updating process used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a label in which a test recording pattern is recorded with a standard size label recorded in Examples 3 to 4.

FIG. 20 shows a label on which the test recording pattern recorded in Example 3 is recorded.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Inkjet color label recording apparatus 101 Paper feeding unit 102 PC 103 Printer cable 105 Operation panel 200 Recording unit 201 Recording head unit 203 Conveying roller 204 Conveying belt 205 TOF sensor 206 Label paper 207 Ink tank unit 301 Stop key 303 Error LED 304 Ready LED 400 Label that records the registration adjustment pattern (2 lines 3
Row) 401 K and C horizontal registration adjusting unit 402 K, M horizontal registration adjusting unit 403 K, Y horizontal registration adjusting unit 404 K, C vertical registration adjusting unit 405 K, and M vertical registration adjusting unit 406 K Vertical register adjustment unit 407 block Vertical size 408 Block horizontal size 500 MPU 501 Program ROM 502 Work RAM 503 CGROM 504 Data expansion RAM 505 Interface driver 506 Head drive circuit 510 Output port 511 Conveyor motor driver 512 Conveyor motor 513 Feed motor Driver 514 Paper feed motor 515 Recovery motor driver 516 Recovery motor 519 Input port 600 Identification unit 601 Vertical paper size parameter 602 Horizontal paper size parameter 700 Label paper 701 Mount 702 Label 800 MPU 801 Memory 802 Input / output means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A test recording pattern expanding method having a memory expanding means for dividing a test recording pattern into a plurality of blocks and expanding the blocks into a memory. 2. The memory expansion means expands the test recording pattern by a block layout based on the size of the recording medium acquired by the means for acquiring the size of the recording medium. Test recording pattern development method 3. A test recording pattern according to an optimum block layout based on a means for dividing a test recording pattern into a plurality of blocks and expanding it in a memory, a means for acquiring the size of the recording medium, and an acquired size of the recording medium. And a recording system having means for expanding the memory. 4. The test recording pattern developing method and the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the test recording pattern does not fit within one page, the test recording pattern is divided into a plurality of pages and expanded into a memory. And a recording system. 5. An individual block size of a divided block is
The test recording pattern developing method, the recording apparatus, and the recording system according to claim 1, wherein the size is equal to or smaller than the recordable area in the minimum recordable recording medium size. 6. A division holding unit for dividing and holding the test recording pattern information into a plurality of blocks, a unit for acquiring the size of the recording medium, and a test pattern divided and held based on the acquired size of the recording medium. Test recording pattern developing method having means for expanding information in a memory by a block layout