JP2018001490A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to improve the throughput of recording processing and reduce the size of a product. When the medium transport time in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording exceeds a first threshold value, the constant speed recording of the recording unit at the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording is performed. The deceleration side distance that is the distance from the end of the current recording to the end position (end side end position) on the end side of the movable range of the moving unit in the main scanning direction Is less than the second threshold value, the decelerated recording of the recording unit is executed at the end of the current recording, and the acceleration side distance that is the distance from the end side end position to the start end of the next recording is the second If it is less than the threshold value, accelerated recording of the recording unit is executed at the beginning of the next recording. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

  A recording device that performs constant-speed recording, which is a recording operation in a constant-speed area in which a carriage mounted with a liquid ejection head moves at a predetermined speed, and not only constant-speed recording but also the carriage accelerates from a stopped state to a predetermined speed. There is known a recording apparatus that also performs acceleration recording, which is a recording operation in an acceleration region, and deceleration recording, which is a recording operation in a deceleration region in which the carriage decelerates from a predetermined speed to a stop state.

  Further, an algorithm (super logical seek) is known that extends the carriage movement for the current recording to move the carriage to the next recording movement start position, thereby improving the carriage movement efficiency (patent). Reference 1).

JP 2001-138590 A

Although the conventional technique has been devised to increase the carriage movement efficiency as described above, it can be said that there is still room for improvement in improving the throughput of the recording process. Moreover, the device for size reduction of the product was also needed.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a recording apparatus capable of improving the throughput of recording processing and reducing the size of a product.

  One aspect of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a medium, a recording unit that performs recording on the medium based on recording data, and a main unit that intersects the transport direction of the medium when recording on the medium. A transport unit that moves in the scanning direction, a transport unit, the recording unit, a control unit that controls the operation of the moving unit, and transport of the medium by the transport unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording A transfer time acquisition unit for acquiring time, and when the transfer time exceeds a first threshold, the control unit moves the moving unit at the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording. A recording apparatus that performs constant-speed recording of the recording unit with movement at a constant speed, wherein the control unit includes the current position among both end positions of a movable range of the moving unit in the main scanning direction. End position of the end of recording Is the end-side end position, and when the deceleration side distance, which is the distance from the end of the current recording to the end-side end position, is less than a second threshold, the end of the current recording When deceleration recording of the recording unit accompanied by deceleration of the moving unit is executed, and an acceleration side distance that is a distance from the end side end position to the start end of the next recording is less than the second threshold value Then, at the start of the next recording, accelerated recording of the recording unit accompanied by acceleration of the moving unit is executed.

  According to this configuration, the control unit basically executes constant speed recording when the transport time is long. However, if there is no deceleration-side distance or acceleration-side distance greater than or equal to the second threshold within the range of movement of the physically limited moving unit, it will be before the end of the current recording. Switching from constant speed recording to deceleration recording, or switching from acceleration recording to constant speed recording after the beginning of the next recording. As a result, when the transport time is long, the ratio of constant speed recording is increased as much as possible to improve the throughput of recording processing (for example, the number of recordings per predetermined time by the recording apparatus), and at the same time the recording quality can be improved. . Further, by performing control suitable for such physical limitation, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the printing apparatus in the main scanning direction, and as a result, it is possible to contribute to a reduction in the size of the product.

  The controller may execute the deceleration recording at the end of the current recording when the transport time is equal to or less than the first threshold value. Further, the control unit may execute the accelerated recording at a start end of the next recording when the transport time is equal to or less than the first threshold value. That is, when the transport time is short, the control unit executes deceleration recording and acceleration recording to eliminate time loss caused by executing constant speed recording, thereby improving the throughput of the recording process.

The technical idea of the present invention is also realized by a device other than a recording device. For example, a method (recording method) including a process executed by each unit of the recording apparatus can be regarded as an invention.
In addition, a program that causes a computer to execute such a method and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the program are also established as inventions.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a recording apparatus. The figure which shows the partial structure containing a carriage and a wall part. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a CR acceleration table, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a CR deceleration table. 6 is a flowchart showing recording control processing. The figure which shows an example of the pattern printed as a result of a flowchart. The figure which shows an example of the pattern printed as a result of a flowchart. The figure which shows an example of the pattern printed as a result of a flowchart. 8A is a diagram showing the relationship between the carriage speed and the PF motor speed corresponding to the example of FIG. 5, FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the relationship between the carriage speed and the PF motor speed corresponding to the example of FIG. 6, and FIG. Is a diagram showing the relationship between the carriage speed and the PF motor speed corresponding to the example of FIG. 7, and FIG. 8D is a diagram showing the relationship between the carriage speed and the PF motor speed corresponding to the processing when “No” is determined in step S120. The figure which shows a relationship.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each figure is only an example for explaining this embodiment. The drawings may be simplified as appropriate or may not be aligned with each other.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a main configuration of a recording apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment. The recording device 40 is grasped as a product such as a printer, a multifunction machine including a plurality of functions such as a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile. The recording device may be called a printing device, a printing device, a liquid ejection (ejection) device, or the like. A part of the recording device 40 may be referred to as a recording device.

  The recording apparatus 40 includes, for example, a paper feed (PF) motor 1, a PF motor driver 2 that drives the PF motor 1, a carriage 3, and a carriage (CR) that moves the carriage 3 along a predetermined main scanning direction D1. A motor 4, a CR motor driver 5 that drives the CR motor 4, and a controller 20 are included.

  Furthermore, the recording apparatus 40 includes, for example, a recording head 9, a head driver 10 that controls driving of the recording head 9, a linear encoder 11 fixed to the carriage 3, and slits formed at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction D1. A code board 12, a rotary encoder 13 for measuring the rotation of the PF motor 1, and an interface unit (IF) 19 for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device (for example, a host computer 18). It is out. Further, the recording apparatus 40 includes, for example, a platen 25 that supports the medium being recorded, a transport roller 27 that rotates by the PF motor 1 to transport the medium in a predetermined transport direction D2 (see FIG. 2), and a CR motor 4 A pulley 30 attached to the rotating shaft and a timing belt 31 driven by the pulley 30 are included.

  The controller 20 includes, for example, a main control unit 21, a conveyance control unit 22, a CR control unit 23, and a recording control unit 24. Each of these functions (the main control unit 21, the conveyance control unit 22, the CR control unit 23, and the recording control unit 24) of the controller 20 may be realized as software by a CPU that executes a program, or by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. You may implement | achieve as hardware, and also may implement | achieve by cooperation with software and hardware.

  For example, the main control unit 21 interprets a command in a print job sent from the host computer 18 via the IF 19, and requests the conveyance control unit 22 or the CR control unit 23 to convey the medium or the carriage 3 according to the command. Make various requests including requests for movement. In addition, the main control unit 21 sends raster data (bitmap data) other than commands in the print job to the recording control unit 24.

  The carriage 3 is equipped with a recording head 9 and can move in both directions along the main scanning direction D <b> 1 under the control of the controller 20. The recording head 9 has a plurality of holes (nozzles) for ejecting ink or a liquid other than ink. The recording head 9 may be called a print head, a print head, a liquid ejection (ejection) head, or the like.

  The PF motor 1 conveys the medium under the control of the controller 20. A configuration including the PF motor 1 and the transport roller 27 for transporting a medium (paper feed, paper feed, discharge, etc.) is also referred to as a transport unit. Hereinafter, the description will be continued assuming that the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit is a sheet (for example, the sheet 50), but materials other than the sheet can also be used as the medium (recording medium). The conveyance unit may include an automatic document feeder (ADF) that continuously conveys the paper 50 from a document tray or a cassette (not illustrated). The transport direction D2 intersects (orthogonally) the main scanning direction D1.

  The recording head 9 receives ink supplied from, for example, a cartridge (not shown) that holds ink, and discharges ink from each nozzle according to control by the controller 20 through the head driver 10. Recording is realized by the ink ejected from each nozzle landing on the paper 50. The recording head 9 corresponds to a recording unit that performs recording on a medium based on recording data (the raster data).

  The carriage 3 is connected to the CR motor 4 via a pulley 30 by a timing belt 31, and is guided by a guide member (not shown) to move along the main scanning direction D1. The carriage 3 corresponds to a moving unit that moves the recording unit in the main scanning direction D1 that intersects the conveyance direction D2 of the medium when recording on the medium. As is known, various information such as the direction and speed of movement of the carriage 3 and the position of the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction D1 can be acquired and calculated based on the pulse signal output from the encoder 11. For example, the CR control unit 23 moves at a designated speed based on the command (acceleration, constant speed, deceleration) of the carriage 3 sent from the main control unit 21 and the output from the encoder 11. Thus, the drive of the CR motor 4 is feedback-controlled through the CR motor driver 5. The feedback control is so-called PID control or PI control.

  As is known, various information such as the direction and speed of conveyance of the paper 50 and the conveyance amount (distance) can be acquired and calculated based on the pulse signal output from the encoder 13. The transport control unit 22 feeds the paper 50 at the commanded speed based on the paper feed speed (acceleration, constant speed, deceleration) command sent from the main control unit 21 and the output from the encoder 13, for example. As described above, the drive of the PF motor 1 is feedback controlled via the PF motor driver 2. The controller 20 corresponds to a control unit that controls operations of the transport unit, the recording unit, and the moving unit.

  FIG. 2 simply shows a partial configuration in the recording apparatus 40 including the carriage 3 and the wall portions 60 and 61 from the viewpoint of the recording apparatus 40 from above. As shown in FIG. 2, a platen 25 is provided below the carriage 3 so as to correspond to the range in which the carriage 3 can move. Wall portions 60 and 61 exist on both sides of the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction D1. The wall portions 60 and 61 are a part of the inner wall of the casing of the recording medium 40 or some member fixed in the casing. In any case, the movable range of the carriage 3 is physically limited by the wall portions 60 and 61 on both sides. Reference numerals SP1 and SP2 in FIG. 2 indicate positions at both ends of a range in which the carriage 3 is movable in the main scanning direction D1. That is, the end position SP1 is the position of the carriage 3 when the carriage 3 abuts on the left wall 60 in FIG. 2, and the end position SP2 is the carriage 3 abuts on the right wall 61 in FIG. This is the position of the carriage 3 at the time.

  The distance between the wall 60 and the wall 61 in the main scanning direction D1 is determined based on, for example, the maximum width of the medium to be recorded by the recording device 40 and the minimum run-up distance of the carriage 3. The maximum width of the medium is a fixed value in the design of the product (recording device 40). The carriage 3 starts acceleration from a stopped state (speed 0), reaches a predetermined constant speed (first speed) through an acceleration period, moves at the first speed, and then decelerates after the constant speed period. Then stop. It is not impossible to cause the recording head 9 to start recording (liquid ejection) simultaneously with the start of movement of the carriage 3 and to continue recording until the carriage 3 stops. However, if the liquid is discharged at the beginning of the acceleration period of the carriage 3 (and at the end of the deceleration period), the recording quality is considerably deteriorated. Therefore, in a situation where the speed of the carriage 3 does not reach the speed at which the recording quality is stabilized to some extent (second speed, where first speed> second speed), the recording head 9 should not perform recording. Therefore, the minimum value that satisfies both the moving distance of the carriage 3 required to reach the second speed from the stopped state and the moving distance of the carriage 3 required to stop from the second speed is the minimum running distance. To do. The minimum approaching distance is a value determined in advance by experiments or the like, and is a distance of about 10 mm as an example.

  3A shows a CR acceleration table Dcr1 used for speed control of the CR motor 4, and FIG. 3B shows a CR deceleration table Dcr2 used for speed control of the CR motor 4. These tables are previously stored in a predetermined memory by the controller 20. The CR acceleration table Dcr1 defines the change (0 → Vcr1) of the speed Vcr of the carriage 3 with respect to the change of the position x starting from the position where the carriage 3 starts to move. The position x is, for example, the relative position of the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction D1 that is grasped by counting the edges of the pulses output from the encoder 11. The speed Vcr1 indicates the first speed described above, and the speed Vcr2 indicates the second speed described above. The CR deceleration table Dcr2 defines the change (Vcr1 → 0) of the speed 3 of the carriage 3 with respect to the change of the position x starting from the position where the carriage 3 starts to decelerate from the speed Vcr1. The tables Dcr1 and Dcr2 may define the pulse period of the encoder 11 for each position x instead of the speed Vcr. The period of this pulse is a value proportional to the reciprocal of the speed Vcr. The CR control unit 23 performs acceleration control and deceleration control of the CR motor 4 (carriage 3) according to the tables Dcr1 and Dcr2. Further, by accumulating such cycles, it is possible to obtain a movement time corresponding to the movement distance of the carriage 3 during the acceleration period and a movement time corresponding to the movement distance of the carriage 3 during the deceleration period.

  In order to simplify the description, the movement distance of the carriage 3 required to reach the second speed Vcr2 from the stopped state according to the CR acceleration table Dcr1, and the carriage 3 required until the carriage 3 stops from the second speed Vcr2 according to the CR deceleration table Dcr2. It is assumed that such a moving distance is the minimum approaching distance. A symbol Lmin in FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates the minimum approach distance. In such a situation, the distance (maximum movement range Rmax) from the end position SP1 to the end position SP2 in the main scanning direction D1 is, for example, a distance obtained by adding a minimum run distance Lmin × 2 to the maximum width of the medium. The walls 60 and 61 are provided at positions where the maximum movement range Rmax is physically determined from both sides. According to such a configuration, when the movement of the carriage 3 is started from the end position SP1 (or end position SP2) and the carriage 3 is stopped at the end position SP2 (or end position SP1), the maximum width of the medium is obtained. Thus, it is possible to record appropriately.

  In the present embodiment, not only the movement of the carriage 3 from the start of the movement of the carriage 3 to the start of the recording by the recording head 9, but also the movement of the carriage 3 stops after the recording by the recording head 9 is completed. The movement of the carriage 3 up to this point is also expressed using the word “running”. Such “running” is a movement of the carriage 3 that is not accompanied by recording by the recording head 9, and may be called a non-recording movement.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording control process (recording method) realized by the controller 20.
In step S100, the main control unit 21 determines the current pass of the carriage 3 (movement of the carriage 3) and the next time based on the print data and the setting information instructed by the command or the like accompanying the print data. A range (CR movement range) in which the carriage 3 should move in each pass is calculated. The current path means a path to be executed first (or being executed) based on the current time, and the next path means a path to be executed next to the current path. The current path is also expressed as a first path, and the next path is also expressed as a second path.

  The CR movement range for each pass calculated in step S100 is a range obtained by adding the above-described minimum run-up distance to the front and back of the image to be recorded in each pass (front and back in the direction of movement of the carriage 3). The contents of the image are various, such as characters, CG, and photographs, and are not questioned here. The main control unit 21 sets the paper 50 for each pass on the basis of various setting information such as recording data, the size of the paper 50, the enlargement / reduction ratio of printing, the presence / absence of margin (margin), and the width of margin (margin). Specify the range of images actually recorded above. Next, a range obtained by adding the minimum approach distance Lmin before and after the range (recording range) in the main scanning direction D1 of the identified image is set as a CR movement range corresponding to one path. The start point of the CR movement range is called a CR movement start position, and the end point of the CR movement range is called a CR stop position. Further, the position near the CR movement start position in the recording range included in the CR movement range is the recording start position, and the position near the CR stop position in the recording range included in the CR movement range is the recording end position. Call. The main control unit 21 uses these CR movement start position, CR stop position, recording start position, and recording end position as a reference point with a predetermined position in the main scanning direction D1 (for example, a standby position of the carriage 3 called a home position or the like). Can be grasped by the distance.

  Next, in step S110, the main control unit 21 calculates the transport time (paper feed time Tpf) of the paper 50 by the transport unit in the transition process from the current pass to the next pass. It can be said that the controller 20 (main control unit 21) corresponds to the conveyance time acquisition unit in that step S110 is executed. In step S100, the main control unit 21 has already specified the position on the paper 50 of the image to be recorded in the current pass and the image to be recorded in the next pass. Therefore, the main control unit 21 calculates the distance (paper feed distance Lpf) on the paper 50 from the image to be recorded in the current pass to the image to be recorded in the next pass in the transport direction D2, and then The paper feed distance Lpf is converted into time (paper feed time Tpf).

  The paper feed speed of the paper 50 driven by the PF motor 1 is controlled by a table (paper feed speed table) held in advance by the controller 20. Similarly to the tables Dcr1 and Dcr2 as described above, for example, the paper feed speed table is used to change the speed according to the position change, the speed for constant speed movement, etc. for each of acceleration and deceleration of the PF motor 1. It prescribes. Therefore, by referring to the paper feed speed table, the main control unit 21 can easily calculate the time (paper feed time Tpf) required for paper feed for the paper feed distance Lpf.

  Next, in step S120, the main control unit 21 determines whether or not the paper feed time Tpf calculated in step S110 exceeds the minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin. If the paper feed time Tpf exceeds the minimum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmin (“Yes” in step S120), the process proceeds to step S130, and if the paper feed time Tpf is less than or equal to the minimum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmin (step S120). In "No"), the process proceeds to step S150.

  The minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin is a time required for the carriage 3 to move the above-described minimum running distance Lmin × 2. More specifically, the minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin is equal to the time Tmin1 required for moving the minimum running distance Lmin (reaching the second speed Vcr2) while accelerating the carriage 3 from the stopped state according to the CR acceleration table Dcr1. This is the sum of the time Tmin2 required for the carriage 3 to move (stop) the minimum approach distance Lmin while decelerating from the second speed Vcr2 according to the deceleration table Dcr2. The minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin is a predetermined value in the same manner as the minimum running distance Lmin. Alternatively, the main control unit 21 may obtain the minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin by referring to the tables Dcr1 and Dcr2 and calculating the times Tmin1 and Tmin2. The minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin corresponds to an example of a first threshold value. Times Tmin1 and Tmin2 are not necessarily equal, but are assumed to be equal here for the sake of simplicity.

In step S130, the main control unit 21 calculates an acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx. The acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx is information for correcting the CR moving range calculated in step S100.
In step S130, the main control unit 21 determines the acceleration / deceleration running time Tx according to the following policies 1 to 3, and calculates the acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx as the moving distance of the carriage 3 corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration running time Tx.

policy:
1. Acceleration / deceleration run time Tx = paper feed time Tpf.
2. However, when the paper feed time Tpf ≧ maximum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmax, the acceleration / deceleration run time Tx = the maximum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmax.
3. Maximum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmax is
If the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table is a distance based on physical limitations, the time Tmax1 corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table is set.
If the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table> the distance based on the physical limitation, the time Tmax2 corresponding to the distance based on the physical limitation is set.

  The policy 1 is an idea that the paper feeding time Tpf is used as it is for the time between the run with deceleration in the current pass and the run with acceleration in the next pass (acceleration / deceleration run time Tx). By following the policy 1, the main control unit 21 sets, for example, half of the paper feeding time Tpf (first half) as a running time for decelerating the carriage 3 according to the CR deceleration table Dcr2 in order to stop the carriage 3. The remaining (second half) time of the time Tpf is a running time for accelerating the stopped carriage 3 according to the CR acceleration table Dcr1. Specifically, the distance from the position of the speed Vcr = 0 according to the CR deceleration table Dcr2 to the position corresponding to the speed Vcr when the time half the paper feeding time Tpf is traced, and the speed Vcr = 0 according to the CR acceleration table Dcr1 The acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration running time Tx is defined as the sum of the distance from the position to the position corresponding to the speed Vcr when the paper feeding time Tpf is half the time.

However, according to the tables Dcr1 and Dcr2, since the length of both the acceleration period and the deceleration period of the carriage 3 is limited, if the paper feed time Tpf is quite long, the entire paper feed time Tpf is accelerated / decelerated. It cannot be time Tx. Therefore, policies 2 and 3 are required.
The above-mentioned “acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table” refers to the moving distance of the carriage 3 during the acceleration period determined by the CR acceleration table Dcr1 (the carriage 3 required until the first speed Vcr1 is reached from the stop state). ) And the movement distance of the carriage 3 during the deceleration period determined by the CR deceleration table Dcr2 (the movement distance of the carriage 3 necessary for stopping from the first speed Vcr1). The moving distance of the carriage 3 required to reach the first speed Vcr1 from the stopped state is not necessarily equal to the moving distance of the carriage 3 required to stop from the first speed Vcr1, but here, the description is simplified. Is assumed to be equal. The code | symbol Lst of FIG. 3A and 3B has illustrated the reference run distance. That is, the reference approach distance Lst = the moving distance of the carriage 3 required to reach the first speed Vcr1 from the stopped state = the moving distance of the carriage 3 required to stop from the first speed Vcr1. Therefore, the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table is the reference approach distance Lst × 2. The reference run distance Lst corresponds to an example of a second threshold value.

  The above-mentioned “distance based on physical restriction” is the end position (hereinafter referred to as the end side) of the end side of the current recording (image recorded in the current pass) from both end positions (end positions SP1, SP2). This is the sum of the deceleration side distance Lr2 which is the distance to the end position) and the acceleration side distance Lr1 which is the distance from the end side end position to the beginning of the next recording (image recorded in the next pass). That is, this is the distance left between the image and the wall (wall 60 or wall 61) that the carriage 3 can move from the current recording to the next recording. For example, the current pass of the carriage 3 from the wall 60 side (for convenience, also referred to as one end side in the main scanning direction D1) to the wall 61 side (for convenience, also referred to as the other end side in the main scanning direction D1). Suppose it is a move. In this case, the main control unit 21 grasps the distance from the recording end position of the current pass to the end position SP2 on the wall 61 side as the deceleration side distance Lr2, and from the end position SP2 to the recording start position of the next pass. The distance is grasped as the acceleration side distance Lr1.

  “Time Tmax1 corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table” refers to the movement time Tst1 of the carriage 3 required for the carriage 3 to reach the first speed Vcr1 from the stopped state according to the CR acceleration table Dcr1, and the CR This is the sum of the movement time Tst2 of the carriage 3 required until the carriage 3 reaches the stop state from the first speed Vcr1 according to the deceleration table Dcr2. The times Tst1 and Tst2 are predetermined values as with the reference run distance Lst. Alternatively, the main control unit 21 may acquire the time Tmax1 by calculating the times Tst1 and Tst2 with reference to the tables Dcr1 and Dcr2. The times Tst1 and Tst2 are not necessarily equal, but are assumed to be equal here for the sake of simplicity.

  The “time Tmax2 corresponding to the distance based on the physical limit” refers to the movement time Tr1 required for the carriage 3 to move the acceleration side distance Lr1 while accelerating from the stop state according to the CR acceleration table Dcr1, and the carriage 3 is stopped. This is the sum of the travel time Tr2 necessary for moving (stopping) the deceleration side distance Lr2 while decelerating according to the CR deceleration table Dcr2 from a position separated from the position by the deceleration side distance Lr2. The time Tr1 can also be calculated based on, for example, the acceleration side distance Lr1 and the CR acceleration table Dcr1, and the time Tr2 can also be calculated based on, for example, the deceleration side distance Lr2 and the CR deceleration table Dcr2.

  According to policies 2 and 3, if paper feed time Tpf ≧ maximum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmax, acceleration / deceleration run time Tx = maximum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmax. If Tmax = Tmax1, the main control unit 21 sets the acceleration / deceleration distance Lx = acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table, that is, the reference approach distance Lst × 2. On the other hand, if Tmax = Tmax2, the main control unit 21 sets acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx = distance based on physical restriction, that is, deceleration side distance Lr2 + acceleration side distance Lr1.

  In step S140, the main control unit 21 corrects the CR moving range calculated in step S100 using the acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx calculated in step S130. Specifically, the main control unit 21 determines the distance from the recording end position of the CR movement range of the current pass to the CR stop position (current setting is the minimum approaching distance Lmin) and the CR movement range of the next pass. The distance from the CR movement start position to the recording start position (current setting is the minimum approach distance Lmin) is replaced with the acceleration / deceleration approach distance Lx. That is, by correcting the CR stop position of the current pass and the next CR movement start position, the run-up of the carriage 3 after recording in the current pass and the run-up of the carriage 3 before printing in the next pass are extended. .

  In step S150, the main control unit 21 causes the carriage 3 to move according to the CR movement range. Of course, if the process proceeds from step S120 to step S150, the carriage 3 is moved according to the CR movement range calculated in step S100. If the process proceeds to step S150 via steps S130 and S140, step S140 is performed. The carriage 3 is moved in accordance with the corrected CR movement range. The main control unit 21 instructs the CR control unit 23 about the CR movement range of the current path and the CR movement range of the next path. The CR control unit 23 drives and controls the CR motor 4 via the CR motor driver 5 so that the carriage 3 moves between the instructed CR movement range of the current pass and the CR movement range of the next pass. Of course, the movement of the carriage 3 for each pass starts acceleration control based on the CR acceleration table Dcr1 with reference to the CR movement start position, and moves at a constant speed (first speed Vcr1) after the acceleration period. After that, the vehicle enters the deceleration period at the timing calculated backward based on the CR deceleration table Dcr2 so that the speed Vcr = 0 at the CR stop position, and the deceleration control is performed.

  The main control unit 21 instructs the recording control unit 24 and the conveyance control unit 22 to execute not only the movement of the carriage 3 in step S150 but also recording by the recording head 9 and paper feeding by the PF motor 1 as a matter of course. The recording control unit 24 performs recording (liquid ejection) on the recording head 9 via the head driver 10 at the timing when the position of the carriage 3 grasped based on the pulse output from the encoder 11 reaches the recording start position for each pass. ). The recording control unit 24 ends the recording (liquid ejection) of the recording head 9 via the head driver 10 at the timing when the position of the carriage 3 reaches the recording end position for each pass.

  In this embodiment, in principle, control is performed so that recording by the recording head 9 is started simultaneously with the end of paper feeding and the next paper feeding is started simultaneously with the end of recording by the recording head 9. Such control is also called PF / CR overlay control. For example, the CR control unit 23 outputs an instruction to the conveyance control unit 22 at a timing when the position of the carriage 3 reaches the recording end position in the CR movement range. In response to the instruction, the conveyance control unit 22 starts paper feeding of the paper 50 by the rotation of the PF motor 1 (paper feeding for the paper feeding distance Lpf). Further, when the conveyance control unit 22 starts paper feeding, the timing at which the paper feeding time Tpf has elapsed after the start of the paper feeding is the recording start timing in the next pass. Therefore, the CR control unit 23 sets the movement start timing of the next pass of the carriage 3 necessary for the carriage 3 to reach the print start position in the next pass at the print start timing in the next pass. Is calculated according to the distance from the CR movement start position to the recording start position and the speed of the CR motor 4. Then, the movement of the next path of the carriage 3 is started at the calculated movement start timing.

  The above-described flowchart (FIG. 4) is repeatedly executed. That is, the “next path (second path)” described so far becomes a new “current path (first path)”, and the CR of the new “current path (first path)”. The stop position and the CR movement start position of the new “next pass (second pass)” are corrected (but may not be corrected as a result).

The execution result of the flowchart (FIG. 4) will be described using some specific examples.
5, 6, and 7 exemplify images (patterns PT <b> 1 and PT <b> 2) printed on the paper 50 by the recording device 40. Assume that the left and right sides of the sheet 50 in FIGS. The pattern PT1 is an image recorded by the first pass of the carriage 3, and the pattern PT2 is an image recorded by the second pass of the carriage 3. In step S100, the main control unit 21 records the CR movement range (CR movement range of the first path) for recording the pattern PT1 and the pattern PT2 based on the recording data and various setting information as described above. To calculate the CR movement range (CR movement range of the second path). In the examples of FIGS. 5 to 7, in common, for example, various sizes such as the size of the paper 50 = A4, the enlargement / reduction ratio of printing = 100%, the absence / existence = the presence of the border, and the border width = the predetermined default value. Suppose the setting is adopted.

  In FIGS. 5 to 7, broken-line arrows written in the vicinity of the patterns PT1 and PT2 indicate the directions of movement of the carriage 3 when recording the patterns PT1 and PT2, respectively. The symbol PE indicates the recording end position of the pattern PT1, and the symbol PS indicates the recording start position of the pattern PT2. Symbol CE indicates the CR stop position before correction of the first pass for recording the pattern PT1, and symbol CE ′ indicates the CR stop position after correction of the first pass for recording the pattern PT1. Symbol CS indicates the CR movement start position before correction of the second path for recording the pattern PT2, and symbol CS ′ indicates the CR movement start position after correction of the second path for recording the pattern PT2. . Accordingly, the distance from the recording end position PE to the CR stop position CE and the distance from the CR movement start position CS to the recording start position PS in the main scanning direction D1 are both the minimum run-up distance Lmin. 5 to 7, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the recording end position PE of the pattern PT1 and the recording start position PS of the pattern PT2 coincide in the main scanning direction D1, and the CR stop position CE after the end of recording of the pattern PT1. 'And the CR movement start position CS' before the start of recording of the pattern PT2 are assumed to coincide with each other in the main scanning direction D1. Furthermore, in FIGS. 5-7, the various information obtained in the process of step S110-S130 is described collectively.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the paper feed distance Lpf calculated in step S110 is 33 mm, and the paper feed time Tpf is 112 ms. Note that the “CR movement range (before correction)” described in FIG. 5 (same for FIGS. 6 and 7) is, for convenience, the distance from the recording start position of the pattern PT1 to the recording end position, from the recording end position of the pattern PT1. It is assumed that this is a value obtained by adding the distance to the CR stop position (minimum approach distance Lmin) and the distance from the CR movement start position of the pattern PT2 to the recording start position (minimum approach distance Lmin). Similarly, the “CR movement range (after correction)” described in FIG. 5 (the same applies to FIGS. 6 and 7) is calculated by adding the distance calculated from the recording start position to the recording end position of the pattern PT1 in step S130 for convenience. It is assumed that the value is obtained by adding the deceleration approach distance Lx.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the length of the pattern PT1 on the paper 50 in the main scanning direction D1 is 130 mm from the difference (148 mm-18 mm) between the CR movement range (before correction) and the running distance (Lmin × 2). I know that there is. In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the paper feed time Tpf (112 ms) is longer than the minimum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmin compared in step S120 and shorter than the above-described time Tmax. Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 5, in step S130, acceleration / deceleration run time Tx = paper feed time Tpf (112 ms). The acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx corresponding to this acceleration / deceleration running time Tx (112 ms) was calculated to be 44 mm, for example. As described above, since the length of the pattern PT1 on the paper 50 in the main scanning direction D1 is 130 mm, adding the acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx (44 mm) to this increases the CR movement range (after correction) to 174 mm. It becomes. That is, in the example of FIG. 5, the CR stop position is such that the sum of the distance from the recording end position PE to the CR stop position CE ′ and the distance from the CR movement start position CS ′ to the recording start position PS is 44 mm. CE is corrected to CE ′, and CR movement start position CS is corrected to CS ′.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the paper feed distance Lpf calculated in step S110 is 167 mm, and the paper feed time Tpf is 422 ms. Further, from the difference (178 mm-18 mm) between the CR movement range (before correction) and the running distance (Lmin × 2), it can be seen that the length of the pattern PT1 on the paper 50 in the main scanning direction D1 is 160 mm. . In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the paper feed time Tpf (422 ms) is longer than the minimum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmin compared in step S120 and longer than the above-described time Tmax. In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the recording end position PE of the pattern PT1 and the recording start position PS of the pattern PT2 are both sufficiently separated from the wall (the wall 61 on the other end side in the main scanning direction D1). . Therefore, the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table <the distance based on physical limitations is established. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, in step S130, the acceleration / deceleration running time Tx = time Tmax1 (= Tst1 + Tst2) corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table, for example, 212 ms. The acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx is an acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table, and is 118 mm, for example. This 118 mm corresponds to the reference run distance Lst × 2.

  As described above, in the example of FIG. 6, the length of the pattern PT1 in the main scanning direction D1 on the paper 50 is 160 mm. Therefore, by adding the acceleration / deceleration run distance Lx (118 mm) to this, the CR movement range (After correction) is 278 mm. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, the CR stop position is such that the sum of the distance from the recording end position PE to the CR stop position CE ′ and the distance from the CR movement start position CS ′ to the recording start position PS is 118 mm. CE is corrected to CE ′, and CR movement start position CS is corrected to CS ′.

  In the example of FIG. 7, as in the example of FIG. 6, the paper feed distance Lpf calculated in step S110 is 167 mm, and the paper feed time Tpf is 422 ms. From the difference (226 mm-18 mm) between the CR movement range (before correction) and the running distance (Lmin × 2), it can be seen that the length of the pattern PT1 in the main scanning direction D1 on the paper 50 is 208 mm. In the example of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the paper feed time Tpf (422 ms) is longer than the minimum acceleration / deceleration run time Tmin compared in step S120 and longer than the above-described time Tmax. In the example of FIG. 7, since the recording end position PE of the pattern PT1 and the recording start position PS of the pattern PT2 are both very close to the wall portion (the wall portion 61 on the other end side in the main scanning direction D1), CR acceleration / deceleration is performed. It is assumed that the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the table ≧ the distance based on the physical limit holds.

  As described above, in the example of FIG. 7, the length of the pattern PT1 on the paper 50 in the main scanning direction D1 is 208 mm. In addition, due to the presence of the walls 60 and 61, the above-described maximum movement range Rmax is assumed to be 290 mm, for example. Assuming that both the patterns PT1 and PT2 are images recorded at the center of the paper 50, the recording end position PE of the pattern PT1 (recording start position PS of the pattern PT2) and the wall 61 on the other end side in the main scanning direction D1. The distance left in between is 41 mm, and 82 mm, which is twice this, is the distance based on physical limitations, that is, the acceleration / deceleration running distance Lx. This 82 mm corresponds to the deceleration side distance Lr2 + the acceleration side distance Lr1. In addition, acceleration / deceleration running time Tx = time Tmax (= Tr1 + Tr2) corresponding to a distance based on physical limitations, for example, 166 ms. In the example of FIG. 7, the CR stop position CE is set so that the sum of the distance from the recording end position PE to the CR stop position CE ′ and the distance from the CR movement start position CS ′ to the recording start position PS is 82 mm. It was corrected to CE ', and the CR movement start position CS was corrected to CS'. The CR stop position CE ′ and the CR movement start position CS ′ are equal to the end position SP2 when the carriage 3 contacts the wall 61 on the other end side in the main scanning direction D1.

FIG. 8A shows the relationship between the speed Vcr of the carriage 3 and the speed Vpf of the PF motor 1 corresponding to the example of FIG.
FIG. 8B shows the relationship between the speed Vcr of the carriage 3 and the speed Vpf of the PF motor 1 corresponding to the example of FIG.
FIG. 8C shows the relationship between the speed Vcr of the carriage 3 and the speed Vpf of the PF motor 1 corresponding to the example of FIG.

  8A, 8B, and 8C (and FIG. 8D) all show changes in the speeds Vcr and Vpf with respect to time, and also show periods in which the patterns PT1 and PT2 are recorded, respectively. The period during which the speed Vcr is changing is the deceleration period and acceleration period of the carriage 3, and as long as the tables Dcr1 and Dcr2 are determined, the lengths of the deceleration period and acceleration period do not change. Similarly, the length of the period during which the speed Vpf is changing (deceleration period and acceleration period of the PF motor 1) does not change. The time Tα is the run time after recording the pattern PT1 in the first pass, and the time Tβ is the run time before recording the pattern PT2 in the second pass. Therefore, the time Tα + Tβ corresponds to the acceleration / deceleration running time Tx. As apparent from FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, paper feeding is started simultaneously with the end of recording of the pattern PT1, and recording of pattern PT2 is started simultaneously with the end of paper feeding (PF / CR overlay control is performed). ing).

  In the example of FIG. 5, acceleration / deceleration running time Tx = paper feeding time Tpf. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, the time Tβ continues after the time Tα, and Tα + Tβ = Tpf. In the example of FIG. 5, the paper feed time Tpf is shorter than the above-described time Tmax. Therefore, the paper feed time Tpf is added to the deceleration period and acceleration period of the carriage 3, that is, the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table. The time Tmax1 (= Tst1 + Tst2) corresponding to is not included. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 8A, recording with deceleration of the carriage 3 (deceleration recording) is performed at the end of recording of the pattern PT1, and acceleration of the carriage 3 is performed at the start of recording of the pattern PT2. The accompanying recording (accelerated recording) is executed. Note that the times Tα and Tβ shown in FIG. 8A are longer than the time Tmin1 (= Tmin2).

  In the example of FIG. 6, acceleration / deceleration run time Tx = time Tmax1 (= Tst1 + Tst2) corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table, which is sufficiently within the paper feed time Tpf. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 8B, recording with constant speed (speed Vcr1) of the carriage 3 at the end of recording of the pattern PT1 and the start of recording of the pattern PT2 (constant speed recording). Execute.

  In the example of FIG. 7, acceleration / deceleration running time Tx = time Tmax2 (= Tr1 + Tr2) corresponding to the distance based on the physical limit, which is well within the paper feed time Tpf, but due to the physical limitation described above. The entire deceleration period and acceleration period of the carriage 3 cannot be accommodated in the paper feed time Tpf. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 8C, the deceleration recording with the deceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the end of the recording of the pattern PT1, and the acceleration with the acceleration of the carriage 3 is performed at the beginning of the recording of the pattern PT2. Recording is in progress.

  FIG. 8D shows the relationship between the speed Vcr of the carriage 3 and the speed Vpf of the PF motor 1 corresponding to the processing in the case where “No” is determined in step S120 (FIG. 4). In the example of FIG. 8D, the paper feed time Tpf is very short. Therefore, the minimum run, that is, the run with the minimum run distance Lmin (deceleration from the speed Vcr2 of the carriage 3 to the speed 0) after recording the pattern PT1, and then the run with the minimum run distance Lmin before recording the pattern PT2 ( When the carriage 3 is accelerated from the speed 0 to the speed Vcr2, the paper feed time Tpf ends before the minimum run-up ends. Accordingly, in step S150 when “No” is determined in step S120 (FIG. 4), as shown in FIG. 8D, deceleration recording accompanied by deceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the end of recording of the pattern PT1, Accelerated recording with acceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the beginning of recording of the pattern PT2. In FIG. 8D, since the paper feed time Tpf ends before the minimum run-up, the PF / CR overlay control cannot be performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the controller (controller 20) determines that the medium transport time (paper feed time Tpf) in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording is the first threshold (for example, When the minimum acceleration / deceleration running time Tmin) is exceeded, constant speed recording is performed with the carriage 3 moving at a constant speed at the end of the current recording (recording end position) and the start of the next recording (recording start position). (Refer to the description regarding FIG. 6 and FIG. 8B). However, if the distance based on physical restrictions (deceleration side distance Lr2 + acceleration side distance Lr1) is shorter than the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table (reference run-up distance Lst × 2), at least the current record Deceleration recording with deceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the end, or acceleration recording with acceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the start of the next recording (see the description regarding FIG. 7 and FIG. 8C). When the distance based on the physical restriction (deceleration side distance Lr2 + acceleration side distance Lr1) is shorter than the acceleration / deceleration distance (reference run distance Lst × 2) according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table, the deceleration side distance Lr2 and the acceleration It can be said that at least one of the side distance Lr1 is less than the second threshold value (reference running distance Lst). For this reason, if at least one of the deceleration side distance Lr2 and the acceleration side distance Lr1 is less than the second threshold value, at least at the end of the current recording, deceleration recording with deceleration of the carriage 3 is executed. It can also be said that acceleration recording with acceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the beginning of the next recording. As a result, the present invention executes the deceleration recording accompanied by the deceleration of the carriage 3 at the end of the current recording when the deceleration-side distance Lr2 is less than the second threshold (reference run distance Lst), It can also be said that when the acceleration side distance Lr1 is less than the second threshold value (reference running distance Lst), acceleration recording with acceleration of the carriage 3 is executed at the beginning of the next recording (see FIG. 8C).

  As described above, the control unit (controller 20) executes constant speed recording when the paper feed time Tpf is long (Tpf> Tmin). That is, when the paper feed time Tpf is long, the deceleration period and the acceleration period of the carriage 3 are all included in the paper feed time Tpf, and image recording is executed at constant speed recording, thereby improving the throughput of the recording process. Let However, even when the paper feed time Tpf is long, the deceleration side distance greater than or equal to the second threshold value (reference run-up distance Lst) within the physically limited range of movement of the carriage 3 or If the acceleration side distance is not left, the constant speed recording is switched to the deceleration recording before the end of the current recording, or the acceleration recording is switched to the constant speed recording after the start of the next recording. As a result, when the paper feed time Tpf is long, the ratio of constant speed recording can be increased as much as possible to improve the throughput of the recording process, and at the same time the recording quality can be improved. Further, by performing control according to such physical restrictions, the recording apparatus 40 can be prevented from being enlarged in the main scanning direction D1 (without increasing the maximum movement range Rmax). This can contribute to product miniaturization.

Further, when the paper feed time Tpf is equal to or shorter than the first threshold value, the control unit (controller 20) executes the deceleration recording at the end of the current recording and executes the acceleration recording at the start of the next recording. (Refer to the description regarding FIG. 8D). That is, when the paper feed time Tpf is short, the control unit executes deceleration recording and acceleration recording in order to eliminate time loss caused by executing constant speed recording, thereby improving the throughput of the recording process. .
In the above-described embodiment, the time Tmax (= Tst1 + Tst2) corresponding to the acceleration / deceleration distance according to the CR acceleration / deceleration table may be used as the first threshold value.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in step S100 (FIG. 4), for each pass based on the recording data, various setting information such as the size of the paper 50, the enlargement / reduction ratio of printing, the absence / existence of borders, and the border width. The CR movement range is calculated, and this CR movement range is corrected in step S140. Therefore, it can be said that the run-up distance is set in order to achieve the fastest throughput in various patterns (PT1, PT2) and the above settings.
Needless to say, the specific numerical values shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are merely values used for describing the embodiment, and do not limit the starting range of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PF motor, 2 ... PF motor driver, 3 ... Carriage, 4 ... CR motor, 5 ... CR motor driver, 9 ... Recording head, 10 ... Head driver, 11 ... Linear encoder, 12 ... Code plate, 13 ... Rotary Encoder, 19 ... IF, 20 ... Controller, 21 ... Main control unit, 22 ... Carrying control unit, 23 ... CR control unit, 24 ... Recording control unit, 25 ... Platen, 27 ... Carrying roller, 30 ... Pulley, 31 ... Timing belt, 40 ... recording device, 50 ... paper, 60, 61 ... wall, D1 ... main scanning direction, D2 ... conveying direction, Dcr1 ... CR acceleration table, Dcr2 ... CR deceleration table, Lpf ... paper feed distance, Lx ... Acceleration / deceleration run distance, PT1, PT2 ... pattern, SP1, SP2 ... end position, Tpf ... paper feed time, Tmin ... minimum Run-up time, Tx ... acceleration and deceleration run-up time, Tmax ... maximum acceleration and deceleration run-up time

Claims (3)

A transport unit for transporting the medium;
A recording unit for recording on the medium based on recording data;
A moving unit that moves the recording unit in a main scanning direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the medium when recording on the medium;
A control unit that controls operations of the transport unit, the recording unit, and the moving unit;
A transport time acquisition unit that acquires the transport time of the medium by the transport unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording;
When the transport time exceeds a first threshold, the control unit is configured to move the moving unit at a constant speed at the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording. A recording device that performs constant speed recording,
When the end position on the end side of the current recording is the end position on the end side of the current recording among the both end positions of the movable range of the moving unit in the main scanning direction, the control unit starts from the end of the current recording. When the deceleration side distance, which is the distance to the end side end position, is less than the second threshold value, the recording unit performs deceleration recording with deceleration of the moving unit at the end of the current recording. When the acceleration side distance, which is the distance from the end side end position to the start of the next recording, is less than the second threshold value, the moving part is accelerated at the start of the next recording. A recording apparatus that performs accelerated recording of the recording unit.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the decelerating recording at the end of the current recording when the transport time is equal to or less than the first threshold value.   The said control part performs the said acceleration recording in the start end of the said next recording, when the said conveyance time is below the said 1st threshold value. Recording device.

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