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JP-2026075299-A - Print control device

JP2026075299AJP 2026075299 AJP2026075299 AJP 2026075299AJP-2026075299-A

Abstract

[Problem] To suppress misalignment of dots. [Solution] The print control device according to the present disclosure causes a printing device to perform a printing operation which alternately repeats a dot formation operation in which ink is ejected from the nozzles while moving the nozzle row in a first direction, and a feed operation in which the nozzle row is moved in a second direction. The print control device according to the present disclosure includes a tilt detection unit that detects the tilt of the nozzle row, and a code generation unit that generates a command code for the printing device to perform the printing operation according to the tilt of the nozzle row. [Selection Diagram] Figure 4C

Inventors

  • 小林 康彦

Assignees

  • ローランドディー．ジー．株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241022

Claims (6)

  1. A printing control device that causes a printing device to perform a printing operation which alternately repeats a dot-forming operation in which ink is ejected from nozzles while moving a nozzle row in a first direction, and a feed operation in which the nozzle row is moved in a second direction, A tilt detection unit for detecting the tilt of the nozzle row, A printing control device comprising: a code generation unit that generates a command code for the printing device to execute the printing operation according to the inclination of the nozzle row.
  2. A printing control device according to claim 1, The tilt detection unit is, To cause the aforementioned printing device to print a test pattern, To acquire image data of the aforementioned test pattern, A printing control device characterized by calculating the inclination of the nozzle row based on the image data.
  3. A printing control device according to claim 2, The tilt detection unit is, By moving the nozzle row in the first direction and ejecting ink from the nozzles at both ends of the nozzle row, two ruled lines that constitute the test pattern are printed. A printing control device characterized by calculating the inclination of the nozzle row based on the image data of the two ruled lines.
  4. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A print control device characterized by correcting the resolution of the image to be printed by the printing device based on the inclination of the nozzle row.
  5. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A printing control device characterized by correcting the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles based on the inclination of the nozzle row.
  6. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A printing control device characterized by correcting the feed amount in the feed operation based on the inclination of the nozzle row.

Description

This invention relates to a printing control device. Patent Document 1 describes a printer in which the nozzle row is arranged at an angle so that each nozzle in the nozzle row is spaced at a different distance from the surface (printing surface) of the recording paper. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-519 Figure 1 is a block diagram of the printing system 100 of this embodiment.Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment.Figure 3A is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the nozzle row 11 is not tilted. Figure 3B is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the nozzle row 11 is tilted.Figure 4A is an explanatory diagram showing the case where dots are formed with the nozzle row 11 not tilted.Figure 4B is an explanatory diagram showing the case where dots are formed without correction while the nozzle row 11 is tilted.Figure 4C is an explanatory diagram showing the formation of dots after tilt correction has been applied.Figure 5 is a flowchart of the tilt detection process.Figures 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the process of printing a test pattern.Figure 7 is a flowchart of the code generation process.Figures 8A to 8C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the timing of ink ejection from the nozzle 12. ===Implementation=== <Basic configuration> Figure 1 is a block diagram of the printing system 100 of this embodiment. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the printing device 1 of this embodiment. The printing system 100 is a system for printing on a substrate 90. In this example, the printing device 1 uses the truck bed as the substrate 90 and prints an image on the side of the truck bed. However, the substrate 90 is not limited to the truck bed. In the following explanation, the printing surface of the substrate 90 is defined as the XY plane, and the direction of movement of the head 10 when ejecting ink is defined as the "X direction." The X direction is the direction of movement of the nozzle row 11 (see Figures 3A and 3B). In the following explanation, the operation of ejecting ink from the head 10 moving in the X direction (in other words, the operation of ejecting ink from the nozzles 12 in Figures 3A and 3B) may be referred to as the "dot formation operation" or "pass." The direction in which the head 10 moves between dot formation operations is defined as the "Y direction." The Y direction is the direction in which the nozzle row 11 (see Figures 3A and 3B) moves between dot formation operations. The Y direction is parallel to the printing surface (XY plane) of the substrate 90 and intersects with the X direction. The X direction may be referred to as the "first direction" or "scanning direction," and the Y direction may be referred to as the "second direction," "sub-scanning direction," or "feed direction." Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the XY plane is defined as the Z direction. The Z direction is the direction in which the print head 10 ejects ink. The Z direction is sometimes referred to as the "third direction," "ejection direction," or "ink flight direction." The printing system 100 comprises a printing device 1 and a printing control device 60. However, the printing system 100 may consist solely of the printing device 1, with the printing device 1 performing the functions of the printing control device 60. Furthermore, some of the functions of the printing control device 60 may be implemented by the printing device 1. The printing device 1 is a device for printing on a substrate 90. The printing device 1 consists of an inkjet printer that ejects ink from a head 10. The printing device 1 includes a head 10, a carriage 20, an XY movement unit 30, a Z-axis movement unit 40, and a controller 50. The print head 10 is the component that ejects ink. The print head 10 is mounted on a carriage 20 and is movable in the X and Y directions. A nozzle row 11 (see Figure 3A) is provided on the nozzle surface of the print head 10. The nozzle surface of the print head 10 faces the printing surface of the workpiece 90. The nozzle row 11 consists of multiple nozzles 12 (see Figure 3A) arranged in a row. Each nozzle 12 is provided with an ejection drive unit (not shown). For example, the ejection drive unit is composed of a piezoelectric element. When the ejection drive unit is driven, ink is ejected from the nozzle 12. Note that the ejection drive unit is not limited to a piezoelectric element; it may also be composed of, for example, a heater. The nozzle row 11 and nozzles 12 will be described later. The carriage 20 (see Figure 2) is a movable component (moving body) that can move in the X and Y directions. The carriage 20 moves along the printing surface of the workpiece 90 (in this case, the side of the truck bed). The head 10 is mounted on the carriage 20. As the carriage 20 moves, the nozzle row 11 of the head 10 (see Figures 3A and 3B) also moves. The XY movement unit 30 is a unit (movement mechanism) fo