JP2006240209A - Mode setting method and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mode setting method and a printer capable of appropriately setting a mode for defining the operation of the printer.
A method of setting a mode that regulates the operation of a printer 1 includes an acquisition step in which an acquisition unit 51 acquires a mode to be set in the printer 1 from a host computer 50, and the acquired mode is stored in a flash ROM 54 of the printer 1. When the determination unit 52 determines that the printer 1 corresponds to a compatible mode, and the acquired mode corresponds to the compatible mode, the acquired mode defines the operation of the printer 1. And a setting step set by the setting unit 53 in the printer 1 as a setting mode.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer mode setting method in which an operation is defined by a set mode and a printer.

  Conventionally, when a color ink jet printer is used for monochrome printing (single color printing), the mode is set to print using only nozzles that discharge black ink of the color ink jet printer. Accordingly, the setting of the color inkjet printer is changed so that the nozzle cleaning setting is performed only for the nozzles that eject black ink, but no other setting is changed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-94672 A

  However, with the conventional technology, even when monochrome printing is performed exclusively, printing is possible if a color ink cartridge is installed instead of a black ink cartridge, and in that case, only black ink is consumed and other inks are consumed. Will be wasted. Even if the setting is exclusively for monochrome printing, the printing start position on the printing medium is the same as in the case of color printing, and the printing speed is not different from the printing speed for a single color in color printing.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a mode setting method and a printer that can appropriately set a mode that defines a printing method of the printer.

  The mode setting method of the present invention is a mode setting method for setting a mode for specifying the operation of the printer to the printer. The acquisition step for acquiring the mode to be set for the printer from the computer, and the mode are stored in the storage unit of the printer. A determination step for determining that the printer corresponds to a compatible mode, and a setting step for setting the mode to the printer as a mode that regulates the operation of the printer if the mode corresponds to the compatible mode. It is characterized by having.

  According to this mode setting method, the printer stores a mode that can correspond to the storage unit as a corresponding mode. In order to set the mode in the printer in order to define the operation of the printer, first, the mode input from the computer connected to the printer is acquired. Next, it is determined whether or not the acquired mode corresponds to the corresponding mode. If the acquired mode is the corresponding mode, the printer is set as a mode that defines the operation of the printer. The printer stores in advance what mode the printer can support, and accepts the mode as the printer mode only when it is set to one of the stored corresponding modes. Therefore, setting to the printer can be easily performed without sequentially performing a plurality of complicated settings.

  In this case, it is preferable that the mode can be set so that the printer operates with a function of either multicolor printing or single color printing.

  According to this method, modes that can be set in the printer are a mode for performing multicolor printing and a mode for performing single color printing. According to this setting, when a printer capable of multi-color printing is used, for example, for monochrome monochrome printing, it can be set as a dedicated black printer by changing the mode settings without changing the various settings in order. Is possible.

  In addition, it is preferable that the mode can individually set the position at which the printer starts printing on the print medium in accordance with the function of multicolor printing or single color printing set for the printer.

  According to this method, it is possible to control the print medium suitable for each printing method by individually setting the print start position on the print medium in the case of multicolor printing and the case of single color printing. In monochromatic printing, control for printing other plural colors is unnecessary, and it is not necessary to be restricted by complicated multicolor printing control. Therefore, it is possible to set an optimum print start position for monochromatic printing different from that for multicolor printing in accordance with the printing method of monochromatic printing of the printer. If the print medium is positioned in accordance with the print start position and printing is performed, high-speed printing is possible compared to multicolor printing.

  The printer is an ink jet printer having a removable ink cartridge, and the mode is only when an ink cartridge for multicolor printing or single color printing corresponding to the mode set in the ink jet printer is mounted. Preferably, the inkjet printer can be set to operate.

  According to this method, the printer functions as a printer only when the printer is an ink jet printer including an ink cartridge and an ink cartridge corresponding to a mode set in the ink jet printer is mounted. For example, even if an ink cartridge dedicated to monochrome printing is mounted on an inkjet printer set to multicolor printing, it does not function as a printer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that monochrome printing is intended for color printing.

  In this case, when the ink jet printer is set to the function of monochromatic printing depending on the mode, it is preferable that the ink for monochromatic printing can be ejected from all nozzles.

  According to this method, the inkjet printer set to the monochrome printing function performs printing by ejecting ink of the set color from all the nozzles. Normally, when performing monochromatic printing with an inkjet printer capable of multicolor printing, printing is performed using only nozzles that eject ink of a set color. Monochromatic printing using all nozzles can increase the printing speed.

  In addition, the nozzles of the ink jet printer form two rows along the print medium conveyance direction, and each of these rows is composed of two nozzle groups having the same number of continuous nozzles. It is preferable that different colors of ink can be ejected for each.

  According to this method, the inkjet printer has four nozzle groups that eject inks of different colors, and can perform four-color printing. The nozzle group extends along the printing medium conveyance direction, and printing can be performed in units of length of one nozzle group, enabling wide and efficient printing.

  In this case, when the inkjet printer is set to the multi-color printing function, the printing start position on the printing medium is the most upstream nozzle position of the nozzle group on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction, and the inkjet printer performs monochrome printing. When the function is set, the print start position on the print medium is preferably the most upstream nozzle position of the upstream nozzle group with respect to the transport direction.

  According to this method, in the case of an ink jet printer set to multicolor printing, the first nozzle capable of ejecting ink is the most upstream nozzle of the nozzle group located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the print medium. If printing is started from this nozzle and the print medium is conveyed, printing by nozzle groups that discharge ink of the other three colors can be executed in order. In the case of an inkjet printer set to monochrome printing, the first nozzle capable of ejecting ink is the most upstream nozzle in the nozzle group located upstream in the transport direction of the print medium. In this way, it is possible to print at a higher speed than multicolor printing by ejecting single color ink from all nozzles.

  The printer of the present invention is a printer whose operation is regulated by the set mode. The acquisition unit acquires the mode set for the printer from the computer, the storage unit stores the corresponding mode that the printer can handle, and the computer. A determination unit that determines that the acquired mode corresponds to the corresponding mode stored in the storage unit, and if the mode corresponds to the corresponding mode, the mode is set to the printer as a mode that regulates the operation of the printer. And a setting unit for setting.

  According to this printer, a mode that the printer can support is stored in the storage unit of the printer as a corresponding mode. In order to define the mode in which the printer operates, the mode is set in the printer. The acquisition unit acquires a mode input from a computer connected to the printer. The determination unit determines whether or not the acquired mode corresponds to the corresponding mode. If the setting unit is the corresponding mode, the setting unit sets the mode as a mode that defines the operation of the printer. The printer stores in advance what mode the printer can support, and accepts the mode as the printer mode only when it is set to one of the stored corresponding modes. Therefore, setting to the printer can be easily performed without sequentially performing a plurality of complicated settings.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, the present invention will be described by taking as an example a printer (inkjet printer) in which ink cartridges having four colors of ink can be mounted.
(Embodiment)

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printer 1 of the present invention. The printer 1 includes a base 2, a cantilever part 3 positioned at one end of the base part 2, and a recording part 4 that is cantilevered via the cantilever part 3. A paper conveyance path 5 into which a paper is inserted is provided between the base unit 2 and the recording unit 4. The paper conveyance path 5 communicates in three directions other than the cantilever part 3 as a front opening 5a, a back opening 5b, and a side opening 5c. Further, on the side opposite to the base 2 side of the recording unit 4, a cover 6 that can be freely opened and closed, an opening 7 covered with the cover 6, and a back opening 5 b side of the cantilever 3 are provided, and a paper transport path 5 and a lever 8 for releasing the paper presser are provided. When the lever 8 opens the paper, the user can manually insert and remove the paper. An ink cartridge 10 that can be detached from the opening 7 is accommodated in the recording unit 4, and an operation unit for operating the printer 1 such as power supply and paper supply / discharge on the cantilever 3. 61, and a display unit 63 that displays the state of the printer 1 by LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting.

  FIG. 2 is a three-sided view showing the appearance of the ink cartridge 10. The ink cartridge 10 is integrally formed by sequentially connecting a cyan tank 11a for storing cyan ink for printing, a magenta tank 11b, a yellow tank 11c, a black tank 11d, and a waste liquid tank 11e. A tab 16 for taking out the ink cartridge 10 from the printer 1 is provided on one surface of the container 11. Each ink tank is provided with an ink supply port 12 for supplying ink to the printer 1 on the surface opposite to the surface on which the tab 16 is provided, and the waste liquid tank 11e is a waste liquid for receiving the waste liquid. A receiving port 13 is provided.

  Further, a cartridge storage unit 15 that stores information about the ink cartridge 10 is provided on one side surface of the waste liquid tank 11e. The cartridge storage unit 15 is a flash ROM that is a rewritable nonvolatile memory.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the ink supply system of the printer, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of the printer. With reference to both the drawings, a portion relating to the ink of the printer 1 will be described. The recording unit 4 of the printer 1 includes a cartridge holder 31 for mounting the ink cartridge 10, an ink supply tube 32 for supplying ink from the cartridge holder 31 to the head 20, a carriage 25 for holding the head 20, A guide shaft 26 that guides the movement and a guide plate 28 that engages with a slide groove 40 provided in the carriage 25 are incorporated. The head 20 performs printing by ejecting ink onto the paper 9.

  The guide shaft 26 and the guide plate 28 extend from the side opening 5 c side of the recording unit 4 in the direction of the cantilever unit 3. For this reason, the carriage 25 moves along the guide shaft 26 and the guide plate 28. Is possible. The carriage 25 is moved by a ring-shaped timing belt 41 which is arranged in parallel with the guide plate 28 and is stretched at both ends by a rotatable pulley. The pulley 42 on the cantilever 3 side is interlocked with a motor (not shown), the timing belt 41 is rotated by the rotation of the pulley 42, and the carriage 25 connected to the timing belt 41 is moved.

  A waste liquid tube 33 for receiving waste liquid into the ink cartridge 10 is further provided from the cartridge holder 31, and communicates with a pump 34 and a capping part 35 installed at the lower part of the cantilever part 3. The capping unit 35 is a maintenance device for maintaining the function of the head 20. When the head 20 moves right above the capping unit 35, the capping unit 35 is raised by the cam mechanism and is in close contact with the head 20. The ink is forcibly sucked from the head 20 by the suction action of the pump 34. This suction action can prevent clogging of the head 20 due to ink drying, adhesion of foreign matters, and the like. This maintenance is called cleaning.

  Further, in the middle of printing, ink is ejected from the heads simultaneously at the position of the capping portion 35 so that the head portion with less ink ejection does not cause abnormalities such as clogging. This maintenance is called flushing. Cleaning and flushing are periodically performed when a predetermined amount of printing is performed, and a state in which normal ink ejection can be performed is always maintained.

  Here, the cartridge holder 31 for mounting the ink cartridge 10 will be described. The cartridge holder 31 includes four ink receiving portions 18 that receive ink from the ink supply port 12 corresponding to the ink cartridge 10 and a waste liquid supply portion that supplies the waste liquid to the waste liquid receiving port 13 in an inner portion where the ink cartridge 10 is mounted. 17 and a holder substrate unit 14 that conducts data and communicates with the cartridge storage unit 15.

  When the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge holder 31, the ink supply port 12 and the ink receiving unit 18 are connected, and ink is supplied to the head 20 through the ink supply tubes 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d for each ink color. .

  On the other hand, the printer 1 can be used not only as a color ink jet printer with four color specifications (multicolor printing) but also as a printer with black monochrome specifications (single color printing), for example. In this case, if the printer is in the monochrome mode set to the monochrome monochrome specification, it is necessary to mount the ink cartridge 10 containing only the monochrome monochrome monochrome ink. The printer 1 determines whether or not the black monochrome ink cartridge 10 is installed, and functions as the printer 1 only when the monochrome ink cartridge 10 is installed. In the case of a four-color mode printer set to the four-color specification, the printer 1 functions only when the four-color specification ink cartridge 10 is mounted. The black monochrome ink cartridge 10 is preferably connected to each tank other than the waste liquid tank 11e.

  Next, a mechanism for conveying the paper 9 will be described. The lower surface of the paper conveyance path 5 from the back opening 5b to the front opening 5a of the printer 1 is mainly composed of a platen 21 which is a plate-like member, and further from the back opening 5b direction upstream of the conveyance of the paper 9 A BOF (Bottom Of Feed) lever 27, a paper feed roller 24, and a paper transport sub-roller 30 are arranged. The upper surface of the sheet conveying path 5 facing the platen 21 is, from the direction of the rear opening 5b, a sheet guide 22, a sheet conveying main roller 23 facing the sheet feeding roller 24, a carriage 25, and a TOF (facing to the sheet conveying sub-roller 30). Top Of Feed) lever 29 is disposed. Similar to the BOF lever 27, the TOF lever 29 is for sensing the paper 9. A control unit 36 is disposed below the platen 21.

  In the printer 1, the sheet 9 can be inserted when the vertical direction of the sheet conveyance path 5 is separated as shown in FIG. 3. When the paper 9 is inserted into the paper conveyance path 5 and the lever 8 is raised, the platen 21 rises and presses the paper. At this time, the BOF lever 27 is pushed down by the paper 9, and the TOF lever 29 is pushed up to detect that the paper 9 is inserted. The paper 9 is sandwiched between the paper transport main roller 23 and the paper feed roller 24, and is temporarily fed in the direction of the rear opening 5b by the rotation of the paper transport main roller 23 driven by a motor (not shown). When the sheet 9 is separated from the TOF lever 29, the position is recognized as the leading end of the sheet 9, and becomes a reference for controlling the subsequent sheet 9 feeding. When the paper 9 is inserted in a state where it is not engaged with either the BOF lever 27 or the TOF lever 29, first, the paper is moved to a position where the paper 9 is detected by both levers, and then the leading edge of the paper is recognized. I do.

  Since the three directions of the paper conveyance path 5 are thus opened, printing in a special state such as printing on one of the bound sheets is possible. is there. Furthermore, automatic paper feeding with a fixed paper feeding device or a roll paper feeding device is also possible.

  Next, the configuration of the head 20 attached to the carriage 25 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the head as viewed from the paper side. The head 20 has 128 nozzles 45 that eject ink. The 128 nozzles 45 are composed of two nozzle rows A and B each having 64 nozzles 45. The two nozzle rows of A row and B row extend along the paper transport direction. Of the nozzles 45 belonging to the A row, the nozzle group 20a composed of 32 nozzles 45 ejects black ink, and the remaining nozzle group 20b composed of 32 nozzles 45 ejects magenta ink. . Similarly, the nozzle groups 20c and 20d of the nozzle 45 in the B row discharge yellow and cyan colors, respectively.

  In the head 20 having this configuration, the A row and the B row are arranged in the same direction as the conveyance direction of the paper 9, and the paper is fed by the width printed by the 32 nozzles 45 at the time of printing, thereby printing four colors. Yes. On the other hand, for example, if the printer 1 has a black monochrome specification, black ink is ejected from all the nozzles 45, and the paper can be fed with a width printed by 64 nozzles 45. That is, the printing speed is faster than that of four-color printing.

  The mechanism for ejecting ink from the nozzles 45 of the printer 1 uses a known electrostatic actuator system, and finely sets ejection patterns and ejection amounts suitable for the types of inks such as pigments and dyes. be able to. Therefore, a wide range of inks can be selected, and it can be used for multipurpose printing. In addition to the electrostatic actuator method, the mechanism for ejecting ink may be a method using a piezo element or an electrothermal conversion element.

  Next, the control system of the printer 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control unit of the printer. The printer 1 is connected to a host computer (computer) 50. The control unit 36 includes a acquiring unit 51 that acquires a monochrome or four-color specification mode transmitted from the host computer 50 as a mode to be set in the printer 1, and a mode acquired from the host computer 50. A determination unit 52 that determines that the mode is compatible, and a setting unit 53 that sets the mode to the printer 1 as a mode that defines the operation of the printer 1 when the acquired mode is the corresponding mode. Have.

  The control unit 36 also includes a flash ROM 54 (storage unit) that stores corresponding modes that can be supported by the printer 1 and a RAM (Random) that temporarily stores print data sent from the host computer 50. Access Memory) 55. Furthermore, it has the cleaning control part 56 which controls the cleaning for function maintenance of the nozzle 45, the pump drive part 57 which performs cleaning, and the mechanism control part 58 which performs control for printing. The mechanism control unit 58 includes a print control unit 59 that controls the head 20 that performs printing by discharging ink onto the paper 9, and a paper conveyance unit 60 that controls conveyance of the paper 9.

  The acquisition unit 51, the determination unit 52, the setting unit 53, the flash ROM 54, the RAM 55, the cleaning control unit 56, the mechanism control unit 58, the cartridge storage unit 15, the host computer 50, and the operation unit 61 constituting the control unit 36 are buses. They are connected to each other through 62.

  Next, the flash ROM 54 that is a storage unit of the printer 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a memory map diagram showing the memory configuration of the flash ROM of the control unit. The flash ROM 54 is a nonvolatile memory that can freely rewrite the stored contents and retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off.

  The configuration of the flash ROM 54 includes a boot area 71 that is a collection of minimum programs necessary for initialization at power-on and rewriting of firmware, and firmware that stores (stores) a firmware program that controls the printer 1. An area 72 and a CG data area 73 for storing fonts of characters to be printed and the like are formed. Further, the flash ROM 54 has a setting mode storage area 74 for storing a setting mode, which is a mode indicating whether the printer 1 is set to the black single color specification or the four color specification, and the black single color specification and the four color specification. And a mode-specific specification storage area 75 for storing detailed specifications set in the printer 1 corresponding to the above. In the specification storage area 75 for each mode, detailed specifications of the black single color specification and the four color specification are stored as a single color mode 76 and a four color mode 77. The single color mode 76 and the four color mode 77 are the corresponding modes.

  The minimum necessary programs stored in the boot area 71 are an initialization program at power-on, a program for mode determination, and a memory rewrite program for rewriting firmware and the like. These are called boot programs.

  The firmware area 72 stores standard firmware written by the boot program. In addition to the standard firmware, it is possible to add custom firmware, firmware to try out as a sample, and the like.

  The setting mode stored in the setting mode storage area 74 determines the specifications of the printer 1 based on the detailed specifications of the mode-specific specification storage area 75 corresponding to the mode. Specifically, when the four-color specification is stored in the setting mode storage area 74 as a setting mode by the setting unit 53, the printer 1 has four colors in the mode-specific specification storage area 75 corresponding to the four-color specification setting mode. According to the detailed specification of mode 77, it functions as the printer 1 that executes four-color printing. Similarly, when the black monochrome specification is stored in the setting mode storage area 74 as the setting mode, the monochrome printing is executed according to the detailed specification of the single color mode 76 in the mode specific storage area 75 corresponding to the black monochrome specification setting mode. Function as the printer 1 to be used.

  At this time, if the printer 1 selects the print start position on the paper 9 corresponding to each of the single color mode 76 and the four color mode 77, efficient printing is possible particularly in the single color mode 76. The method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A is a front view showing the print start position when the four-color mode 77 is set, and FIG. 8B is a front view showing the print start position when the single-color mode 76 is set. In both figures, the head 20 is viewed from the paper 9 side. Further, the sheet leading edge 9a of the sheet 9 is sensed and positioned by the TOF lever 29 so that the position where the sheet 9 is conveyed and the top margin 46 is secured from the sheet leading edge 9a becomes the printing start position 47. The paper transport direction is the direction from the nozzle group 20b (downstream nozzle group) to the nozzle group 20a.

  First, the case of the four-color mode 77 in FIG. In the case of the four-color mode 77, the nozzle groups 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d eject different colors of ink. Therefore, the printing start position 47 on the paper 9 is a printing position by the nozzle 45a located at the uppermost stream of the nozzle groups 20b and 20d as the downstream nozzle group so that printing can be started from any of the four colors. is there. If this position is set to the printing start position 47, the magenta color of the nozzle group 20b and the cyan color printing by the nozzle group 20d are performed by moving the head 20 along the guide shaft 26 in the direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. Printing can start at the position. If the sheet 9 is conveyed in the sheet conveying direction by the length of the nozzle group 20a, printing in the black color of the nozzle group 20a and the yellow color by the nozzle group 20c is possible. As described above, by setting the print start position 47 to be the print position by the nozzle 45a, it is possible to start printing corresponding to any of the four colors.

  The movement of the head 20 along the guide shaft 26 is set so that printing with a predetermined side margin 48 is ensured from both ends of the width corresponding to the width of the sheet 9 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. Is done.

  Next, the case of the monochrome mode 76 in FIG. 8B will be described. In the single color mode 76, the nozzle groups 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d all eject the same color ink. That is, when the head 20 moves along the guide shaft 26, printing in the paper transport direction is performed with the total length of the nozzle groups 20a and 20b. The same applies to the nozzle groups 20c and 20d. Compared to the case of the four-color mode 77, printing can be performed at a time with double the length. Therefore, in the case of the monochrome mode 76, the print start position 47 is a print position by the nozzle 45b positioned at the uppermost stream of the nozzle groups 20a and 20c that are the upstream nozzle groups.

  The mode setting for the printer 1 and the mode confirmation when the printer is started up and when the ink cartridge is replaced will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for setting a mode in the printer. This flowchart is executed by the control unit 36 of the printer 1. In the flowchart, the host computer 50 is represented as a host.

  First, in step S <b> 1, a mode to be set for the printer 1 is received from the host computer 50. If received, the process proceeds to step S2, while if not received, the process proceeds to step S3. In this case, the mode set to the printer 1 is a mode for setting the printer 1 to the single color mode 76 or the four color mode 77. The mode transmitted from the host computer 50 is received via the acquisition unit 51 of the printer 1 and stored in the RAM 55.

  Next, in step S <b> 2, the acquisition unit 51 acquires a corresponding mode that is a compatible mode stored in the printer 1 from the flash ROM 54 of the printer 1 and stores it in the RAM 55. The corresponding mode stored in the printer 1 is stored in the mode-specific specification storage area 75 of the flash ROM 54. After acquisition, the process proceeds to step S4.

  On the other hand, if the mode has not been received, in step S3, the determination unit 52 determines that the mode has not been received, and transmits a mode selection request to the host computer 50. After transmission, the process returns to step S1.

  Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the mode received from the host computer 50 corresponds to a corresponding mode that the printer 1 can handle. The determination is made by comparing the mode received from the determination unit 52 and the host computer 50 stored in the RAM 55 with the corresponding mode acquired from the flash ROM 54. As a result of the determination, if the mode does not correspond to the corresponding mode, the process proceeds to step S5, whereas if it corresponds, the process proceeds to step S6.

  The mode transmitted from the host computer 50 is selected according to the program of the host computer 50, and the options include various printer modes. Even if the operator transmits an incorrect mode from the host computer 50, the printer 1 can determine whether or not the mode can be accepted.

  If the mode does not correspond to the corresponding mode, a request for reselecting the mode is transmitted to the host computer 50 in step S5. After transmission, the process returns to step S1.

  If the mode corresponds to the corresponding mode, in step S6, the mode received from the host computer 50 is stored and set in the setting mode storage area 74 as the setting mode for the printer 1. Setting to the setting mode storage area 74 is performed by the setting unit 53. Thus, the mode for defining the operation of the printer 1 is set in the printer 1, and the flow ends.

  Next, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for confirming the mode when the printer is started up and when the ink cartridge is replaced. This flowchart is executed by the control unit 36 of the printer 1 to check the modes of the ink cartridge 10 and the printer 1. In the flowchart, the ink cartridge 10 is simply represented as a cartridge.

  In step S10, it is determined that the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the printer 1. If so, the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the process proceeds to step S12. Here, if the ink cartridge 10 is mounted, the information in the cartridge storage unit 15 is acquired by the acquisition unit 51 via the holder substrate unit 14. Then, the determination unit 52 determines whether the ink cartridge 10 is installed.

  Next, in step S11, the mode of the ink cartridge 10 is acquired from the information of the ink cartridge 10. The ink cartridge 10 has a single color mode 76 or a four color mode 77, which is acquired by the acquisition unit 51 and stored in the RAM 55. After storing, the process proceeds to step S13.

  If the ink cartridge 10 is not mounted, the display unit 63 is instructed to display that the ink cartridge 10 is not mounted in step S12. The instruction is given by the setting unit 53. The display unit 63 turns on a predetermined LED and displays that the ink cartridge 10 is not installed. After the display, the process returns to step S10.

  Next, in step S <b> 13, the acquisition unit 51 acquires the setting mode stored in the setting mode storage area 74 of the flash ROM 54 and stores it in the RAM 55. The setting mode acquired here is the mode set in step S6. After storing, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S <b> 14, the determination unit 52 determines whether the mode acquired from the ink cartridge 10 matches the setting mode acquired from the setting mode storage area 74. If they match, the process proceeds to step S15, whereas if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S16. The matching mode means that the ink cartridge 10 that matches the setting of the single color mode 76 or the four color mode 77 set in the printer 1 is mounted.

  If the modes match, the position of the leading edge 9a is set in step S15 according to the specifications of the matched mode. Setting is performed by the setting unit 53 instructing the mechanism control unit 58. If the mode is the monochrome mode 76, the top margin 46 is secured so that the printing position by the nozzle 45b becomes the printing start position 47, and the position of the paper leading edge 9a is set. If the mode is the four-color mode 77, the top margin 46 is secured so that the printing position by the nozzle 45a becomes the printing start position 47, and the position of the paper leading edge 9a is set. After setting, the flow ends.

  If the modes do not match, the setting unit 53 instructs the display unit 63 to display an error in step S16. The display unit 63 turns on a predetermined LED and prompts replacement of the ink cartridge 10. After the display, the flow ends.

  The embodiments of the mode setting method of the printer 1 and the printer 1 have been described above. The effect of this embodiment is described collectively.

  (1) The printer 1 operates only when the ink cartridge 10 that matches the mode set in the printer 1 is mounted. Accordingly, the wrong ink cartridge 10 is mounted and printed in a color different from the intended color, or the ink supply tube 32 is contaminated by being mixed with the ink of the ink cartridge 10 used immediately before. Problems can be prevented.

  (2) The printer 1 individually optimally sets the position of the paper leading edge 9a at the start of printing corresponding to the arrangement of the nozzles 45 and the single color mode 76 and the four color mode 77. In the four-color mode 77, the print start position is set at the nozzle 45a position in the center of the head 20, and printing can be started from any color. In the single-color mode 76, the nozzle 45b position at the end of the head 20 is set. In this setting, the print start position is set and monochrome printing is performed. By setting the position of the paper 9 according to the mode, it is possible to start printing optimally and execute printing in each mode.

  (3) When the mode is set to the single color mode 76, since the ink is ejected from all the nozzles 45, the printing speed is increased as compared with the four-color mode 77 in which each color of the ink is ejected by the nozzle 45. Is possible.

  (4) The printer 1 can identify the type of the ink cartridge 10, can prevent the installation of a bad cartridge containing ink of inferior quality, and can protect the mechanism of the printer 1.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications can be given.

  (Modification 1) The mode of the printer 1 is not limited to the single color mode 76 and the four color mode 77. Further, the nozzle arrangement is not limited to the arrangement by the nozzle groups 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d in the A and B rows. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to multi-color printing other than four colors and printers with various arrangement forms of the nozzles 45.

  (Modification 2) The display unit 63 of the printer 1 may be a display unit using liquid crystal instead of LED display. The display information can be displayed in more detail.

  (Modification 3) In changing the setting between the single-color mode 76 and the four-color mode 77, it is necessary to clean the ink flow path of the printer 1 in response to acquisition of a new mode. In that case, an ink cartridge 10 containing cleaning liquid instead of ink is mounted on the printer 1 and cleaning is performed. Since the cleaning liquid is collected as waste liquid in the same ink cartridge 10, the printer 1 does not need special consideration such as a cleaning program or an additional device. Cleaning the flow path when switching the mode setting to the printer 1 is simplified.

  (Modification 4) The ink cartridge 10 is easy to handle with an ink storage portion 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d and a waste liquid storage portion 11e integrated, but the ink and waste liquid storage portion 11 is separated. It is also possible to exchange them individually. In addition, the inks may be individually exchanged with each color as a separate separation container. By doing so, each ink color and waste liquid can be managed more precisely.

  (Modification 5) The printer 1 employs a so-called off-carriage structure in which the ink cartridge 10 and the carriage 25 are separately located. A so-called on-carriage structure that moves may be employed. The design options of the printer 1 are expanded.

  (Modification 6) The mode setting method of the printer 1 is not limited to the ink jet printer, but may be a transfer printer, an impact printer, a sublimation printer, or the like, and can be applied to control of various types of printers.

  (Modification 7) In step S1, transmission of the mode to be set to the printer 1 may be performed not from the host computer 50 but from the operation unit 61 of the printer 1. The mode can be set by the printer 1 alone, and the host computer 50 is unnecessary.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the printer according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a three-side view illustrating an appearance of an ink cartridge. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an ink supply system of a printer. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer. The front view which looked at the head from the paper side. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the printer. The memory map figure which shows the memory structure of the flash ROM of a control part. (A) The front view which shows the printing start position at the time of setting of 4 color mode. (B) The front view which shows the printing start position at the time of the setting of monochrome mode. The flowchart which sets a mode to a printer. 6 is a flowchart for confirming a mode when starting up the printer and replacing an ink cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer as an inkjet printer, 9 ... Paper, 9a ... Paper leading edge, 10 ... Ink cartridge, 11 ... Storage part, 15 ... Cartridge storage part, 20 ... Head, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d ... Nozzle group, 25 ... Carriage 26 ... guide shaft 29 ... TOF lever 35 ... capping part 36 ... control part 45 ... nozzle 45a, 45b ... most upstream nozzle 46 ... top margin 47 ... print start position 51 ... acquisition part 52: Determination unit, 53: Setting unit, 54: Flash ROM, 58 ... Mechanism control unit, 59 ... Print control unit, 74 ... Setting mode storage area, 75 ... Specification storage area by mode, 76 ... Single color mode, 77 ... 4 Color mode.

Claims (8)

In a mode setting method for setting a mode that defines the operation of the printer in the printer,
An acquisition step of acquiring from the computer the mode to be set in the printer;
A determination step of determining that the mode corresponds to a corresponding mode that is stored in the storage unit of the printer and is compatible with the printer;
When the mode corresponds to the corresponding mode, a mode setting method comprising: setting the mode to the printer as the mode that defines the operation of the printer. The mode setting method according to claim 1,
The mode setting method is characterized in that the mode can be set so that the printer operates with a function of either multicolor printing or single color printing. In the mode setting method according to claim 2,
In the mode, the position at which the printer starts printing on a print medium can be individually set corresponding to the function of the multi-color printing or the single-color printing set in the printer. Setting method. In the mode setting method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The printer is an ink jet printer having a removable ink cartridge,
The mode can be set so that the ink jet printer operates only when the ink cartridge for multi-color printing or single color printing corresponding to the mode set for the ink jet printer is installed. A mode setting method characterized by. The mode setting method according to claim 4, wherein
The mode setting method, wherein the ink jet printer is capable of ejecting the ink for monochrome printing from all nozzles when the function for monochrome printing is set by the mode. The mode setting method according to claim 5,
The nozzles form two rows along the transport direction of the print medium, and each of the rows is composed of two nozzle groups having the same number of continuous nozzles, and the nozzle groups are the nozzle groups. A mode setting method characterized in that the ink of a different color can be ejected every time. The mode setting method according to claim 6, wherein
When the inkjet printer is set to the multicolor printing function, the print start position on the print medium is the most upstream nozzle position of the nozzle group on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction, and the inkjet When the printer is set to the monochrome printing function, the printing start position on the printing medium is the most upstream nozzle position of the nozzle group upstream in the transport direction. Setting method. In a printer whose operation is regulated by the set mode,
An acquisition unit for acquiring the mode set in the printer from a computer;
A storage unit for storing a corresponding mode that can be supported by the printer;
A determination unit that determines that the mode acquired from the computer corresponds to the corresponding mode stored in the storage unit;
When the mode corresponds to the corresponding mode, the printer has a setting unit that sets the mode as the mode that defines the operation of the printer.

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