JP7744839B2 - Inkjet Printer System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer system, and more particularly to an inkjet printer system equipped with multiple continuous-jet, charge-controlled inkjet recording devices.

A typical continuous-jet, charge-controlled inkjet recording device has an ink container in its main body that stores ink, which is supplied to the print head by an ink supply pump. The ink supplied to the print head is continuously ejected from the ink nozzles and formed into ink droplets. Of the ink droplets, those used for printing are charged and deflected, and then sent to the desired printing position on the print target to form letters and symbols. Ink droplets not used for printing are not charged or deflected, but are collected in an ink recovery section (gutter) and returned to the ink container by an ink recovery pump.

In large-scale production factories that manufacture products such as packaging containers for food and PET bottles filled with beverages, multiple inkjet recording devices are installed on their production lines, printing expiration dates, manufacturing plants, serial numbers, and other information on the surfaces of many of the products. In inkjet printer systems equipped with multiple inkjet recording devices, the printing specifications for expiration dates, manufacturing plants, serial numbers, and other information must be changed to suit the product. For this reason, it is known to connect multiple inkjet recording devices to a server via transmission lines and change the printing specifications of the multiple inkjet recording devices.

One known method for changing the printing specifications of multiple inkjet recording devices is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-26057 (Patent Document 1). In this patent document, multiple inkjet recording devices are connected to a server via a transmission line. The optimal printing specifications obtained for a specific inkjet recording device are then transmitted to the server via the transmission line. The server can then import these optimal printing specifications and provide them to other inkjet recording devices. This allows the other inkjet recording devices to perform high-quality printing even if they do not have the functionality to determine the optimal printing specifications.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-26057

In such inkjet printer systems, the operator must input setting value information such as initial values when starting up the inkjet recording device. For example, setting value information such as ink pressure, charging voltage, deflection voltage, and excitation frequency is set by the operator operating the input panel to set temporary setting value information, then performing a test print. When it is determined that the printout is appropriate, the setting value information is registered as the appropriate setting value information by operating the input panel.

However, when multiple inkjet recording devices are used, the above-mentioned setting value information must be configured for each inkjet recording device. This poses issues such as taking up a lot of operator time and increasing the risk of incorrect settings. Furthermore, when using a server as a host device, there is the issue of needing to build extensive communications equipment, including server configuration and wiring between the server and each inkjet recording device.

The object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer system that can quickly and quickly set the setting values of multiple inkjet recording devices without the risk of incorrect settings, and that does not require the construction of large-scale communication equipment.

This invention is an inkjet printer system equipped with a master inkjet recording device and a slave inkjet recording device, in which the control means of the master inkjet recording device and the slave inkjet recording device are connected by a master wireless terminal and a slave wireless terminal that can communicate with each other. Setting value information for the master inkjet recording device is set by operating the input panel of the master inkjet recording device, and operation information for setting the setting value information on the input panel of the master inkjet recording device is sent from the master wireless terminal of the master inkjet recording device to the slave wireless terminal of the slave inkjet recording device. The slave inkjet recording device uses the received operation information to set the setting value information for the slave inkjet recording device using the same operation procedure as the master inkjet recording device.

According to this invention, operational information from the master inkjet recording device is sent to the slave inkjet recording device via a wireless terminal, and setting value information is set using the same operational procedure on the master inkjet recording device and slave inkjet recording device. This allows setting value information for multiple inkjet recording devices to be set quickly and without the risk of incorrect setting, and provides an inkjet printer system that does not require the construction of large-scale communication equipment.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus that constitutes an inkjet printer system according to the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an inkjet printer system of the present invention; 10 is a flowchart showing a process for setting setting value information in the master inkjet recording device. 10 is a flowchart showing a process for setting setting value information in a slave inkjet printing apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and its scope also includes various modifications and applications within the technical concept of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an inkjet recording device according to the present invention. The inkjet recording device comprises a recording device main body 100 and a print head 200, which is installed so as to face the transport path of a printing target 500 transported by a conveyor 400 on a production line.

The recording device main body 100 is equipped with a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 101 that controls the entire inkjet recording device, a read-only memory (ROM) 102 that stores control programs and data necessary for the MPU 101 to operate, and a rewritable temporary memory (RAM) 103 that temporarily stores data required by the MPU 101 while the program is running.

The temporary storage memory 103 has a storage area for storing operation information, which will be described later, and operation information input from the input panel 104 is transferred via the bus line 106 and temporarily stored therein. This transfer and storage is controlled by the MPU 101. These devices function as "control means."

The inkjet recording device also includes an input panel 104 for inputting print content, setting value information, etc., and a display device (browser) 105 for displaying the input setting value information and print content, etc. The input panel 104 and display device 105 use touch-input display panels with transparent touch switches superimposed on the surface of the liquid crystal display screen.

Operation information and setting value information set by operation on the input panel 104 are transferred to the temporary storage memory 103 via the bus line 106. In addition, the bus line 106 transmits data signals, address signals, control signals, etc. from the MPU 101.

The print head 200 ejects ink liquid 109, which is supplied under pressure by an ink supply pump 108 from an ink container 107 in the recording device main body 100, from a nozzle 201 in the form of an ink pillar 109a, and is equipped with a charging electrode 203 that surrounds the position where the tip of the ink pillar 109a separates to form an ink droplet 109b.

Furthermore, the device is equipped with a deflection electrode 204 that generates a deflection electric field, which deflects the flying, charged ink droplets 109b according to the amount of charge and directs them toward the printing target 500 for printing. It also has a gutter 205 that captures ink droplets 109b not used for printing, and a phase detection sensor (hereinafter referred to as an auto-phase sensor) 206 that generates a phase detection signal according to the amount of charge on the ink droplets 109b captured by the gutter 205.

The recording device main body 100 is further equipped with a pump drive circuit 111 that controls the ink supply pump 108 and the ink recovery pump 110 that recovers the ink droplets 109b captured by the gutter 205 into the ink container 107. It is also equipped with an excitation voltage generation circuit 112 that excites the electrostrictive element 202 built into the print nozzle 201 to provide regularity to the timing at which the ink pillar 109a ejected from the print nozzle 201 separates into ink droplets 109b.

Furthermore, there is provided a D/A converter 115 that converts the digital signal-form charging signals output from the printing charging signal generating circuit 113 and the phase search charging signal generating circuit 114 into analog voltage signals, and an amplifier circuit 116 that amplifies the analog voltage signals output from the D/A converter 115 to generate a charging voltage to be applied to the charging electrode 203.

Furthermore, it is equipped with a deflection voltage generation circuit 117 that generates a deflection voltage to be applied to the deflection electrode 204, an amplifier circuit 118 that amplifies the analog phase detection signal output from the auto phase sensor 206, a phase determination circuit 119 that inputs the amplified phase detection signal and determines whether charging is normal, and an A/D converter 120 that inputs the amplified phase detection signal and performs A/D conversion.

In an inkjet recording device configured in this manner, the MPU 101 controls the pump drive circuit 111 via the bus line 106 to operate the ink supply pump 108 and ink recovery pump 111, thereby sucking and pressurizing the ink 109 in the ink container 107 and supplying it to the print nozzle 201, causing a columnar ink pillar 109a to be ejected from the print nozzle 201, and sucking up the ink droplets 109a captured by the gutter 205 and recovering them in the ink container 107.

The tip of the ink pillar 109a ejected from the nozzle 201 separates to become an ink droplet 109b. The timing at which the tip of the ink pillar 109a separates into an ink droplet 109b can be regulated to a predetermined phase relative to the excitation voltage by generating an excitation voltage using the excitation voltage generating circuit 112, which excites the electrostrictive element 202 of the print nozzle 201 and vibrates the ink pillar 109a.

The amount of charge on the ink droplet 109b is proportional to the amount of charge on the ink pillar 109a due to the potential of the charging electrode 202 when the ink droplet 109b separates from the tip of the ink pillar 109a. The printing charging signal generating circuit 113 generates a printing charging signal to apply a charging voltage to the charging electrode 203 so that the amount of charge is sufficient to deflect the ink droplet 109b to a predetermined position when the tip of the ink pillar 109a separates into the ink droplet 109b.

In response to the charging voltage generated based on the printing charging signal, the charged ink droplets 109b are electrostatically deflected as they fly between the deflection electrodes 203, and land at a predetermined position on the printing target 500. Uncharged ink droplets 109b travel in a straight line and are captured and collected by the gutter 205.

The timing for generating the printing charge signal must be such that a charging voltage can be applied to the charging electrode 202 so that when the ink pillar 109a separates into ink droplets 109b, the amount of charge required to deflect the ink droplets 109b to a predetermined position is achieved.

As shown in Figure 1, when the inkjet recording device detects the arrival of a print target 500 transported by a conveyor 400 on the production line, moving in front of the print head 200, using a print target arrival sensor, it generates a printing charging voltage that charges the ink droplets 109b, and deflects and controls the ink droplets 109b to print.

Then, during non-printing periods between print objects 500, a phase search charging voltage is generated to perform phase search. For this phase search, the phase search charging signal generating circuit 114 generates a charging signal to generate multiple phase search charging voltages with different phases relative to the excitation voltage. This phase search charging voltage is set to a magnitude that deflects the charged ink droplet 109b to an extent that it does not jump over the gutter 205 (it can be captured by the gutter 205).

The phase detection signal output from the auto phase sensor 206, depending on the charge amount of the ink droplet 109b charged by this charging voltage, is input to the phase determination circuit 119 and A/D converter 120 via the amplifier circuit 118.

Furthermore, a wireless terminal 121, which is a feature of this embodiment, is connected to the bus line 106. The bus line 106 can transfer operation information from the temporary storage memory 103 to the wireless terminal 121, which is operated on the input panel 104 to set the setting value information, or can transfer operation information received by the wireless terminal 121 to the primary storage memory 103.

Operation information is information about input operations on the input panel 104 performed to set setting value information, and this operation information is stored in a storage area set in the temporary storage memory 103 by command of the MPU 101. For example, when setting a deflection voltage, operation information is information about operations associated with operating the deflection voltage setting button and inputting setting values, and is operation information entered into an input section (not shown) in the browser of the input panel 104. This operation information is also transferred to the temporary storage memory 103 via the bus line 106.

In addition, setting value information set via the input panel 104 is also stored in temporary memory 103, and the MPU 101 reflects this setting value information in the print data, and printing is performed based on this print data. In other words, the printing operation of the inkjet recording device shown in Figure 1 above is performed.

Then, at the command of MPU 101, the operation information stored in temporary storage memory 103 is read out and transmitted from wireless terminal 121. Conversely, at the command of MPU 101, the operation information is received by wireless terminal 121 and stored in temporary storage memory 103. In this way, wireless terminal 121 transmits the operation information read out from temporary storage memory 103, or receives the operation information and transfers it to temporary storage memory 103 for storage.

In this way, the setting value information of the inkjet recording device is set by operating the input panel 104 of the inkjet recording device, and the operation information for setting the setting value information on the input panel 104 of the inkjet recording device is stored in the temporary storage memory 103.

The operation information stored in temporary storage memory 103 is then sent from the wireless terminal 121 of the inkjet recording device to the wireless terminal 121 of the other inkjet recording device via bus line 106. In response, the other inkjet recording device stores the received operation information in temporary storage memory 103, provides this stored operation information to an input unit (not shown), and sets the setting value information in the other inkjet recording device using the same operating procedure as the previous inkjet recording device.

In other words, the other inkjet recording device virtually operates the input panel 104, and the setting value information set thereby is stored in temporary memory 103. The MPU 101 then reflects this setting value information in the print data, and printing is performed based on this print data.

In this way, setting value information can be set using the same operating procedure on inkjet recording devices linked via a wireless terminal, so setting value information on multiple inkjet recording devices can be quickly and quickly set without the risk of incorrect settings, and an inkjet printer system can be provided that does not require the construction of large-scale communication equipment.

Next, an example of an inkjet printer system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 shows an example in which a master inkjet recording device and a slave inkjet recording device are connected via a wireless terminal 121 and setting value information is input. Figure 3 shows the process flow for setting setting value information on the master inkjet recording device, and Figure 4 shows the process flow for setting setting value information on the slave inkjet recording device.

Figure 2 shows a configuration in which multiple slave inkjet recording devices 800 and 900 are linked (connected) in parallel to one master inkjet recording device 600.

The master inkjet recording device 600 is equipped with an input panel 601, a browser 602, a master wireless terminal 603, and a temporary storage memory 604. The master wireless terminal 603 is wirelessly connected to a network 700 such as a LAN.

The slave inkjet recording device 800 is also provided with an input panel 801, a browser 802, a slave wireless terminal 803, and temporary storage memory 804. The slave wireless terminal 803 is wirelessly connected to a network 700 such as a LAN. The slave inkjet recording device 900 is also provided with an input panel 901, a browser 902, a slave wireless terminal 903, and temporary storage memory 904. The slave wireless terminal 903 is wirelessly connected to a network 700 such as a LAN.

Here, the configuration of the master inkjet recording device 600 and the multiple slave inkjet recording devices 800 and 900 described above is the same as the inkjet recording device shown in Figure 1.

Then, the operation information entered into the input section of the browser 602 by operating the input panel 601 is stored in the temporary storage memory 604 of the master inkjet recording device 600 (this temporary storage memory 604 is the same as the temporary storage memory 103 in Figure 1).

At this time, the information stored in temporary memory 604 is operation information related to operations on input panel 601 and setting value information, such as initial values, entered at this time. Then, when the operation on input panel 601 is completed, the stored setting value information is reflected in the print data by MPU 101 (see Figure 1), and printing is performed based on this print data.

Next, when the setting value information for the master inkjet recording device is confirmed and a transmission command is issued from the input panel 601, the MPU 101 reads out the operation information stored in the temporary storage memory 604, and the master wireless terminal 603 transmits the operation information to the network 700 via the bus line 106.

Meanwhile, the operation information transmitted by the master wireless terminal 603 of the master inkjet recording device 600 is received via the network 700 by the slave wireless terminals 803 and 903 of the slave inkjet recording device 800 and the slave inkjet recording device 900. The received operation information is stored in the temporary storage memory 804 of the slave inkjet recording device 800 and the temporary storage memory 904 of the slave inkjet recording device 900 via the bus line 106.

When the operation information is stored in the temporary storage memory 804, 904, the MPU 101 of the slave inkjet recording device 800, 900 reads the operation information and inputs it into the input section of the browser 802, 902 as if the input panel 801, 901 had been operated, and stores the same setting value information as that of the master inkjet recording device in the temporary storage memory 804, 904.

In this way, setting value information is set for the slave inkjet recording devices 800 and 900 using the same operating procedures as for the master inkjet recording device. The stored setting value information is then reflected in the print data by the MPU 101, and printing is performed based on this print data.

In addition to setting value information, when ejecting or stopping ink from the print head 200, operation information from the master inkjet recording device 600 can be sent to the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900, and the ink ejection or stopping operations of the master inkjet recording device 600 can be performed directly on the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900. This means that ink ejection and stopping operations can be performed without touching the input panels 801, 901 of the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900.

In this embodiment, operation information is sent in parallel between the slave inkjet recording device 800 and the slave inkjet recording device 900, and is not sent in series from the slave inkjet recording device 800 to the slave inkjet recording device 900. In other words, the slave wireless terminal 803 of the slave inkjet recording device 800 is configured not to relay information to other slave wireless terminals 903 of other slave inkjet recording devices 900.

This reduces information delays to the slave inkjet recording device 900. Furthermore, because the slave inkjet recording device 800 does not transmit data as a relay for the slave inkjet recording device 900, collisions in communication of operation information can be avoided.

In this embodiment, because the system uses wireless terminals 603, 803, and 903, even if new inkjet recording devices are added, there is no need to prepare new cables to connect the inkjet recording devices, reducing the cost burden of communication equipment.

In addition, communications using wireless terminals tend to be more prone to delays the larger the amount of information transmitted, compared to communications using cables. However, instead of transmitting the print data itself to the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900, the input panel 601 of the master inkjet recording device 600 exchanges operational information about how the device was operated, reducing the amount of information transmitted and minimizing delays.

Furthermore, when adding other functions, communication protocols and the like require the addition of new communication message processing in addition to screen control. However, in this embodiment, input panel operation processing is performed via communication, so there is less need to add new reception processing.

Next, the process flow for setting the setting value information in the master inkjet recording device 600 will be explained using Figure 3. Note that communication of operation information is as described above.

In FIG. 3, when screen operation is started using the input panel 601, in "Step S10," it is determined whether an operation related to changing the setting value information has been performed. If it is determined that no operation related to changing the setting value has been performed (NO), the screen operation ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that an operation related to changing the setting value has been performed (YES), the process proceeds to "Step S11."

In "Step S11," it is determined whether or not the mode is collective control mode. This collective control mode means that the setting value information of the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900 is also set at the same time. If it is determined that the mode is not collective control mode (NO), the inkjet recording device in question proceeds to "Step S14" and reflects the input setting value information (see explanation in Figure 2) in the print data. In this step, it has not yet been determined to be the master inkjet recording device 600.

Next, if it is determined that the mode is collective control mode (YES), then in step S12 it is determined whether it is the master inkjet recording device 600. In this embodiment, the master inkjet recording device 600 and the slave inkjet recording devices 800 and 900 are configured to be arbitrarily and selectively switchable. In other words, of the linked inkjet recording devices, one can be arbitrarily set as the master inkjet recording device, and the others as slave inkjet recording devices.

If step S12 determines that the device is not the master inkjet recording device 600 (NO), the process proceeds to step S14, where the input setting value information (see the explanation in Figure 2) is reflected in the print data. This assumes that the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900 will be set independently, even in collective control mode.

On the other hand, if it is determined to be the master inkjet recording device 600 (YES), the process proceeds to "Step S13", where operation information from the input panel 601 is transmitted from the master wireless terminal 603. Note that this is the operation information transmitted when the input panel 601 described in FIG. 2 is operated. After transmitting the operation information, the process proceeds to "Step S14", where the master inkjet recording device 600 reflects the setting information set by operating the input panel 601 in the print data. After that, the screen operation ends.

Next, the process flow for setting the setting value information for the slave inkjet recording devices 800 and 900 in the collective control mode will be explained using Figure 4.

When a transmission is received from the master inkjet recording device 600, a determination is made in step S20 as to whether it is a slave inkjet recording device. If it is determined that it is not a slave inkjet recording device 800, 900 (NO), the process exits to end reception. This assumes that the device is not linked to the master inkjet recording device 600.

On the other hand, if it is determined to be the slave inkjet recording device 800, 900 (YES), the process proceeds to step S21, where the received operation information is stored in its own temporary storage memory 804, 904. Then, the process proceeds to step S22, where the operation information is virtually displayed on the browser 801, 901 based on the received operation information. Then, the process proceeds to step S23. This allows the setting value information to be set using the same operation procedure as for the master inkjet recording device 600.

After executing "Step S22," "Step S23" determines whether the setting value information set in "Step S22" has been changed. If it is determined that the setting value information has not been changed (NO), reception ends. This assumes that the setting value information newly set in the master inkjet recording device 600 is the same as the setting value information currently set in the slave inkjet recording device.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the setting value information has been changed (YES), the setting value information (see the explanation in Figure 2) is reflected in the print data in step S24.

Here, the slave inkjet recording devices 800, 900 can be configured so that if they do not set the setting value information based on the operation information sent from the master inkjet recording device 600, they can be configured so that the slave wireless terminal does not receive it.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an inkjet printer system comprising a master inkjet recording device and a slave inkjet recording device, wherein the control means of the master inkjet recording device and the slave inkjet recording device are connected by a wireless terminal capable of communicating with each other, and the setting value information of the master inkjet recording device is set by operation on the input panel of the master inkjet recording device, and the operation information for setting the setting value information on the input panel of the master inkjet recording device is sent from the master wireless terminal of the master inkjet recording device to the slave wireless terminal of the slave inkjet recording device, and the slave inkjet recording device uses the received operation information to set the setting value information of the slave inkjet recording device using the same operation procedure as the master inkjet recording device.

In this way, operation information from the master inkjet recording device is sent to the slave inkjet recording device via a wireless terminal, and setting value information is set using the same operating procedure on the master inkjet recording device and slave inkjet recording device. This allows setting value information for multiple inkjet recording devices to be set quickly and without the risk of incorrect settings, and provides an inkjet printer system that does not require the construction of large-scale communication equipment.

100... Recording device main body, 101... MPU, 102, 103... Memory, 104... Input panel, 105... Display device, 106... Bus line, 107... Ink tank, 108... Ink pump, 109... Ink, 109a... Particulated ink, 109b... Charged ink particles, 110... Ink recovery pump, 111... Pump drive circuit, 112... Excitation voltage generation circuit, 113... Printing charge signal generation circuit, 114... Phase search charge signal generation circuit, 115... D/A converter, 116... Amplifier, 117... Deflection voltage generation circuit, 118... Amplifier, 119... Phase determination circuit, 120... A/D converter, 121... Wireless terminal, 200... Print head , 201... nozzle, 202... electrostrictive element, 203... charging electrode, 204... deflection electrode, 205... gutter, 400... belt conveyor, 500... printing substrate, 600... master inkjet recording device, 601... input panel, 602... browser, 603... master wireless terminal, 604... temporary storage memory, 00... network, 800... slave inkjet recording device, 801... input panel, 802... browser, 803... slave wireless terminal, 804... temporary storage memory, 900... slave inkjet recording device, 901... input panel, 902... browser, 903... slave wireless terminal, 804... temporary storage memory.

Claims (6)

An inkjet printer system comprising a master inkjet recording device and a plurality of slave inkjet recording devices having the same configuration as the master inkjet recording device,
the master inkjet recording device and each of the slave inkjet recording devices are connected by a master wireless terminal and a slave wireless terminal, and the master wireless terminal can communicate with only each of the slave wireless terminals,
setting of setting value information in the master inkjet recording device is performed by operation on an input panel of the master inkjet recording device, and operation information for setting the setting value information on the input panel of the master inkjet recording device is sent from the master wireless terminal of the master inkjet recording device to the slave wireless terminals of each of the slave inkjet recording devices,
an inkjet printer system characterized in that each of the slave inkjet recording devices uses the received operation information to perform the same operation procedure as that of the master inkjet recording device on the input panel of each of the slave inkjet recording devices, thereby setting the setting value information of each of the slave inkjet recording devices. 2. The inkjet printer system of claim 1,
The master inkjet recording device and each of the slave inkjet recording devices have a print head including a print nozzle for ejecting ink liquid as ink droplets, a charging electrode for charging the ink droplets, a deflection electrode for deflecting the charged ink droplets, and a gutter for collecting the ink droplets not used for printing, and a control means for controlling the operation of the print head and further connected to the input panel for inputting the setting value information,
An inkjet printer system, characterized in that the control means of the master inkjet recording device and each of the slave inkjet recording devices are connected to the master wireless terminal and each of the slave wireless terminals. 3. The inkjet printer system according to claim 2,
an inkjet printer system, characterized in that the operation information from the master wireless terminal of the master inkjet recording device is relayed over a network and received by the slave wireless terminal of each of the slave inkjet recording devices. 4. The inkjet printer system according to claim 3,
An inkjet printer system characterized in that the master inkjet recording device and each of the slave inkjet recording devices can be selectively switched as desired. 4. The inkjet printer system according to claim 3,
An inkjet printer system characterized in that each of the slave inkjet recording devices can be configured not to receive the setting value information at the slave wireless terminal if the setting value information is not executed based on the operation information sent from the master inkjet recording device. 4. The inkjet printer system according to claim 3,
An inkjet printer system, wherein the slave wireless terminal of each of the slave inkjet recording devices does not relay for other slave wireless terminals.