阅读说明：本技术 印刷装置以及印刷方法 (Printing apparatus and printing method ) 是由 萱原直树 于 2020-11-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及印刷装置以及印刷方法。由于向印刷部提供歪斜形状的图像,因此难以确保印刷质量。印刷装置具备：控制部,执行包括图像数据的分割以及结合的图像处理；以及印刷部,基于所述图像处理后的图像数据对印刷介质进行印刷,所述控制部获取作为第n次所述图像处理的对象的图像数据,通过以水平线分割所述图像数据而生成下边水平的上图像和上边水平的下图像,通过在所述上图像的上边结合第n-1次所述图像处理中通过分割生成的上边水平的下图像,由此生成上边及下边水平的结合图像数据,并且,所述控制部使所述印刷部执行基于所述结合图像数据的印刷。(The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method. Since the image in a skew shape is provided to the printing portion, it is difficult to ensure the printing quality. The printing device is provided with: a control unit that executes image processing including division and combination of image data; and a printing unit configured to print a printing medium based on the image data after the image processing, wherein the control unit acquires image data to be subjected to the image processing for the nth time, generates an upper image at a lower horizontal side and a lower image at an upper horizontal side by dividing the image data by a horizontal line, and generates combined image data at the upper and lower horizontal sides by combining the upper image at the upper horizontal side generated by the division in the image processing for the (n-1) th time with the upper image, and the control unit causes the printing unit to execute printing based on the combined image data.)

1. A printing apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a control section that performs image processing including division and combination of image data; and

a printing unit configured to print a printing medium based on the image data after the image processing,

the control section acquires image data as an object of the image processing of the nth time,

the control section generates an upper image of a lower horizontal and a lower image of an upper horizontal by dividing the image data by horizontal lines,

the control section generates combined image data of upper and lower levels by combining, on the upper side of the upper image, a lower image of an upper level generated by division in the image processing of the (n-1) th pass, and,

the control section causes the printing section to execute printing based on the combined image data.

2. Printing device according to claim 1,

the control section divides the image data by a horizontal line passing through a point closest to an upper side in a lower side of the image data.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing apparatus comprises:

a conveying unit that conveys a cloth as the printing medium on which a pattern is formed; and

an imaging unit that images the cloth conveyed by the conveying unit,

the control unit extracts a pattern region corresponding to the pattern in second image data based on a comparison between first image data representing the pattern and second image data generated by imaging the fabric by the imaging unit,

the control section corrects third image data representing an image to be printed overlapping the pattern to match a shape of the pattern region, and,

the control unit sets the corrected third image data as a target of the image processing.

4. A method of printing, comprising:

an image processing step of performing image processing including division and combination of image data; and

a printing step of printing a print medium based on the image data after the image processing,

in the image processing step, image data to be subjected to the image processing for the nth time is acquired, an upper image at a lower horizontal side and a lower image at an upper horizontal side are generated by dividing the image data by a horizontal line, and combined image data at the upper and lower horizontal sides is generated by combining the upper image at the upper horizontal side generated by the division in the image processing for the (n-1) th time on the upper image,

in the printing step, printing based on the combined image data is performed.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

Background

The following image forming apparatus is disclosed: this image forming apparatus uses a recording medium having a tile-like dividing line formed on the surface thereof, detects the dividing line by a sensor to determine the skew of the recording medium being conveyed, performs correction processing on image data based on the determination result, and performs image formation based on the corrected image data (see patent document 1).

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-300949

A printing unit that performs printing based on image data repeatedly acquires images of a certain shape as a unit of processing for printing and prints the images on a print medium. However, there are the following technical problems: in the case where printing is performed based on image data that is skewed in shape by correction or the like, an image that is not skewed in shape is supplied to the printing portion, making it difficult to maintain print quality.

Disclosure of Invention

The printing device is provided with: a control section that performs image processing including division and combination of image data; and a printing unit that prints a printing medium based on the image data after the image processing, wherein the control unit acquires image data to be subjected to the image processing for the nth time, the control unit generates an upper image at a lower horizontal side and a lower image at an upper horizontal side by dividing the image data by a horizontal line, the control unit generates combined image data at the upper and lower horizontal sides by combining the upper image at the upper horizontal side generated by dividing the image data in the image processing for the (n-1) th time, and the control unit causes the printing unit to execute printing based on the combined image data.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram simply showing the configuration of a printing apparatus.

Fig. 2A is a view showing a configuration of a conveyed cloth and its vicinity from a viewpoint from above to below.

Fig. 2B is a view showing a part of the configuration shown in fig. 2A from a viewpoint from upstream toward downstream.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the printing process.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing details of step S100.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing details of step S140.

Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment by way of a specific example.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment by specific examples following fig. 6.

Description of the reference numerals

10 … printing device; 11 … a control unit; 12 … procedure; 12a … pattern recording section; 12b … pattern extraction section; 12c … correction processing unit; 12d … print control unit; a display part 13 …; 14 … an operation receiving unit; 15 … an imaging unit; 16 … conveying part; 17 … printing section; 18 … storage part; 19 … print head; 20 … a carriage; 22 … endless belt; 30 … cloth; 40 … pattern image data; 41 … capturing image data; 41a, 41b, 41c … pattern areas; 50. 51a, 51b, 51c …; 51 … incorporating the base image data; 55 …; 56, 56 … images; 60 … incorporate the image data.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are only for illustrating the present embodiment. Since the drawings are merely illustrative, there are cases where the proportion and the shape are inaccurate, or do not match each other, or a part is omitted.

1. The device comprises:

fig. 1 is a simplified diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

The printing apparatus 10 executes a printing method. The printing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 13, an operation receiving unit 14, an imaging unit 15, a conveying unit 16, a printing unit 17, a storage unit 18, and the like. The control unit 11 includes: 1 or more ICs having a CPU11a, ROM11b, RAM11c, and the like as processors, other nonvolatile memories, and the like.

The CPU11a serving as a processor in the control unit 11 controls the printing apparatus 10 by executing arithmetic processing in accordance with 1 or more programs 12 stored in the ROM11b, other memory, and the like, using the RAM11c and the like as a work area. The control unit 11 functions as a pattern recording unit 12a, a pattern extraction unit 12b, a correction processing unit 12c, a print control unit 12d, and the like, by following the program 12. Note that the processor is not limited to 1 CPU, and may be configured to perform processing by a plurality of hardware circuits such as CPUs and ASICs, or may be configured to perform processing in cooperation with a CPU and a hardware circuit.

The display unit 13 is a unit for displaying visual information, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 13 may include a display and a driving circuit for driving the display. The operation receiving unit 14 is a means for receiving a user operation, and is implemented by, for example, a physical button, a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. Of course, the touch panel may be implemented as one function of the display unit 13. The display unit 13 and the operation receiving unit 14 may be a part of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10, or may be peripheral devices externally provided to the printing apparatus 10.

The transport unit 16 is a mechanism that transports the print medium under the control of the control unit 11. Here, as the printing medium, a cloth having a three-dimensional pattern formed by a method of weaving with a drill thread, such as a jacquard woven cloth and a lace cloth, is assumed. A pattern of 1 piece or 1 set is formed on such a cloth in a repeated arrangement. Hereinafter, such 1 or 1 set of patterns is referred to as 1 pattern.

The conveying section 16 includes, for example, a feed roller for feeding the cloth before printing, which is wound in a roll, to the downstream of the conveyance, a belt and/or a roller for further conveying the fed cloth, a winding roller for collecting the printed cloth again in a roll, a motor for rotating the rollers and the belt, and the like. Hereinafter, the upstream and downstream in the conveying direction in which the conveying unit 16 conveys the material are simply referred to as upstream and downstream.

The imaging unit 15 images the cloth conveyed by the conveying unit 16 under the control of the control unit 11. The imaging unit 15 includes a light source for irradiating the cloth, an imaging element for receiving the reflected light from the cloth and generating and outputting image data as an imaging result, and the like.

The printing unit 17 prints the cloth conveyed by the conveying unit 16 under the control of the control unit 11. The printing unit 17 is provided downstream of the imaging unit 15. The printing unit 17 prints on the fabric based on the print data transmitted from the control unit 11. The printing unit 17 can perform printing by ejecting inks of a plurality of colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) by an ink jet method, for example. According to the ink jet method, the printing unit 17 ejects ink dots from a nozzle, not shown, based on print data in which dots or no dots are defined for each pixel, thereby printing on a fabric.

The storage unit 18 is a storage unit such as a nonvolatile memory or a hard disk drive. The storage unit 18 may be understood as a part of the control unit 11. In addition, the RAM11c may be understood as a part of the storage section 18.

The printing apparatus 10 may be referred to as a recording apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a printer, or the like. The printing apparatus 10 may be implemented not only by 1 independent apparatus but also by a plurality of apparatuses communicably connected to each other via a communication interface or a network. A printing apparatus 10 composed of a plurality of apparatuses may be referred to as a printing system 10.

The printing system 10 is configured to include, for example, a printer including an imaging unit 15, a conveying unit 16, and a printing unit 17, and one or more information processing devices functioning as the control unit 11. The information processing apparatus is, for example, a Personal Computer (PC), a server, a smartphone, a tablet type terminal, or an apparatus having processing capabilities to the same extent as those described above. In the printing system 10, a device serving as the control unit 11 may be referred to as an image processing device, a print control device, or the like. Of course, a part of the apparatus constituting the printing system 10 may be invented.

Fig. 2A shows the cloth 30 being conveyed and the structure in the vicinity of the cloth 30 from a viewpoint of going from above to below. In fig. 2A, the drawing of the pattern formed in advance on the fabric 30 is omitted. In fig. 2A, a conveying direction in which the conveying section 16 conveys the cloth 30 is shown by reference numeral D1. Reference numeral 22 denotes an endless belt 22 as a part of the conveying section 16. The fabric 30 in a state of being placed on the endless belt 22 is rotated by the endless belt 22 and is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction D1.

As shown in fig. 2A, a carriage 20 is disposed above the endless belt 22. The carriage 20 is movable in directions D2 and D3 intersecting the conveyance direction D1. The term "crossing" as used herein is orthogonal, but orthogonal is not limited to strict orthogonal, and may be understood to include errors in manufacturing of products. The carriage 20 moves along the long guide member 21 in directions D2 and D3 intersecting the conveyance direction D1. The direction D2 and the direction D3 face opposite directions to each other, and one of the directions D2 and D3 is understood as a forward movement direction of the carriage 20, and the other is understood as a return movement direction of the carriage 20.

The carriage 20 carries a print head 19. That is, the print head 19 moves in the direction D2 and the direction D3 together with the carriage 20. The directions D2, D3 are referred to as "main scanning direction", or "width direction". The carriage 20 and the print head 19 form the printing unit 17. Although not shown, in the print head 19, a plurality of nozzles are opened on a lower surface facing the endless belt 22. The print head 19 ejects ink from the nozzles based on print data while moving in the direction D2 and the direction D3 together with the carriage 20. The operation of ejecting ink from the nozzles while moving the print head 19 in the direction D2 or the direction D3 is referred to as "main scanning" or "pass (pass)".

As shown in fig. 2A, the imaging unit 15 is disposed above the endless belt 22 and at a predetermined position upstream of the carriage 20 and the print head 19.

Fig. 2B shows a part of the configuration shown in fig. 2A from a viewpoint from upstream toward downstream. The imaging unit 15 takes a lower surface facing the endless belt 22 as an imaging surface 15a, and images the cloth 30 on the endless belt 22 through the imaging surface 15 a. The imaging unit 15 is, for example, a line scan camera in which a plurality of imaging elements are arranged in the width direction D2 or D3. The imaging unit 15 repeatedly performs imaging in units of lines via a lens and an imaging element, not shown, provided on the imaging surface 15 a. In fig. 2B, the imaging range of the imaging section 15 in the width direction D2, D3 is illustrated by a broken line. The imaging unit 15 can image substantially the entire range of the endless belt 22 in the width directions D2 and D3 by the function of the lens.

The configuration of the imaging unit 15 is not limited to the example shown in fig. 2A and 2B. For example, the following configuration is possible: the plurality of imaging units 15 are arranged above the endless belt 22 in the width directions D2 and D3, and the plurality of imaging units 15 capture images while sharing a part of the entire range of the endless belt 22 in the width directions D2 and D3. Alternatively, the image pickup unit 15 may be a line sensor (line sensor) configured by arranging a plurality of image pickup elements over substantially the entire range of the endless belt 22 in the width directions D2 and D3. Alternatively, the imaging unit 15 may be configured as follows: similarly to the print head 19 mounted on the carriage 20, the imaging unit 15 is mounted on a carriage movable in the width directions D2 and D3, and images the endless belt 22 while being moved in the width directions D2 and D3 by the carriage.

2. The printing method comprises the following steps:

fig. 3 shows a flowchart of the printing process executed by the control unit 11 in accordance with the program 12.

In step S100, the pattern recording unit 12a of the control unit 11 records pattern image data indicating a pattern formed on the fabric 30 in the storage unit 18. The pattern image data corresponds to "first image data", and step S100 corresponds to a recording step.

Fig. 4 shows details of step S100 by a flowchart.

First, in step S102, the pattern recording unit 12a acquires basic image data indicating the pattern of the fabric 30. The cloth 30 is, for example, a textile fabric woven by repeating 1 pattern designed by a designer. Therefore, the basic image data is image data representing the 1 pattern generated in advance using prescribed software for design and drawing. The pattern recording unit 12a receives, for example, basic image data stored in a PC outside the printing apparatus 10 from the PC in accordance with an operation by a user, and stores the received basic image data in the storage unit 18.

In step S104, the pattern recording unit 12a acquires pre-scan data, which is image data generated by pre-scanning the cloth 30. The pre-scan refers to reading and imaging performed before imaging of the cloth 30 in step S110 described later. For example, the user causes a scanner outside the printing apparatus 10 to scan the cloth 30 in advance. Then, the pattern recording unit 12a receives image data generated by the scanning from the scanner and stores the image data in the storage unit 18 as pre-scan data.

Alternatively, the imaging unit 15 may execute a pre-scan. For example, the control unit 11 causes the conveying unit 16 to start conveying the cloth 30, and stops conveying the cloth 30 at a timing when the leading end of the cloth 30 reaches a position downstream of the imaging unit 15 by a predetermined distance. The leading end of the cloth 30 refers to an end of the cloth 30 facing downstream. The image pickup unit 15 picks up an image of the cloth 30 passed under the image pickup unit 15 by the conveyance, and the pattern recording unit 12a receives image data generated by the image pickup from the image pickup unit 15 and stores the image data in the storage unit 18 as pre-scan data.

In step S106, the pattern recording unit 12a compares the base image data acquired in step S102 with the pre-scan data acquired in step S104, and extracts pattern regions corresponding to 1 pattern of the cloth 30 from the pre-scan data. At this time, the pattern recording unit 12a extracts an image region having a higher similarity to the basic image data within the pre-scan data by using an image recognition technique, and sets the image region as a pattern region.

Then, in step S108, the pattern recording unit 12a stores the image data corresponding to the pattern area extracted in step S106 in the storage unit 18 as pattern image data. As described above, the recording of the pattern image data is completed.

According to the description made with reference to fig. 4, the pattern image data can be said to be at least a part of the pre-scan data.

However, the pattern recording unit 12a may simplify step S100 by recording the basic image data itself as the pattern image data in the storage unit 18.

Returning to the description of fig. 3.

In step S110, the control unit 11 causes the imaging unit 15 to image the cloth 30. Step S110 corresponds to an imaging step. The region of the cloth 30 imaged in the one step S110 is referred to as a "target region". For example, the length of the target region in the width directions D2 and D3 is the length of the cloth 30 in the width directions D2 and D3, and the length of the target region in the conveyance direction D1 is the length including the size of a predetermined number of pattern image data in the conveyance direction D1.

The control unit 11 controls the conveying unit 16 so that the area corresponding to 1 target region of the cloth 30 passes below the imaging unit 15 to convey the cloth 30. Then, the imaging unit 15 images the conveyed cloth 30 to generate the captured image data as the imaging result of 1 target region. The captured image data corresponds to "second image data".

Although not specifically shown in the flowchart of fig. 3, the control unit 11 causes the conveying unit 16 to continuously or intermittently convey the fabric 30 at least during the period from step S110 to step S160 in order to perform imaging of the fabric 30 and printing on the fabric 30. Thus, the printing method of the present embodiment includes a conveying step of conveying the cloth 30.

In step S120, the pattern extraction unit 12b extracts a pattern region corresponding to the pattern of the fabric 30 in the captured image data based on the comparison between the pattern image data recorded in step S100 and the captured image data generated by the capturing in step S110. Step S120 corresponds to an extraction step. A plurality of patterns are arranged and shown in the captured image data, which is the result of capturing the target area of the cloth 30. Thus, the pattern extraction unit 12b extracts the pattern regions for each of the patterns arranged one by one in the captured image data.

The pattern extraction unit 12b may extract, as a pattern region, an image region having a similarity to the pattern image data higher than a predetermined level in the captured image data by using an image recognition technique. Specifically, the pattern extraction unit 12b extracts the edge of the image in the pattern image data, and similarly extracts the edge of the image in the captured image data. Then, the distribution of the edges in the pattern image data is shifted from the distribution of the edges in the captured image data, the pattern image data is deformed and repeatedly compared, and a region whose evaluation of the degree of matching between the edge distributions is as high as a predetermined value or more is extracted as 1 pattern region. By such processing, the pattern extraction unit 12b extracts a plurality of pattern regions from the captured image data.

Extracting a plurality of pattern regions from captured image data represented by two-dimensional coordinates is also a coordinate that determines the angle of each pattern region within the captured image data.

As in the processing of step S120, in step S106, the pattern recording unit 12a may extract a pattern region in the pre-scan data based on the degree of matching of the edge distribution between the compared images.

In step S130, the correction processing unit 12c corrects the coloring image data representing the image to be printed in superimposition with the pattern of the cloth 30 so as to match the shape of the pattern region extracted in step S120. The coloring image data corresponds to "third image data", and step S130 corresponds to a correction step. The coloring image data is color image data generated in advance indicating colors to be colored for 1 pattern and a printing range of the colors. The coloring image data is stored in the storage unit 18 in advance, for example. Alternatively, the control unit 11 inputs color image data stored in a PC external to the printing apparatus 10, for example, from the PC in accordance with an operation by a user, and stores the input color image data in the storage unit 18.

The shape of the coloring image data is an ideal shape of the region including 1 pattern, and is, for example, a rectangle. On the other hand, the shape of each pattern region extracted from the captured image data in step S120 may be accompanied by stretching and/or distortion due to stretching and/or distortion of the cloth 30 being conveyed, and may not necessarily match the shape of the color image data. Therefore, the correction processing section 12c deforms the shape of the color image data so as to match the shape of each pattern region extracted in step S120. As the deformation method, for example, affine transformation including enlargement, reduction, rotation, clipping, and the like of an image or other deformation methods are used. Such a modification is correction in step S130.

In step S140, the print control unit 12d generates combined image data by arranging the plurality of color image data corrected in step S130. In step S140, the print control unit 120d performs image processing including division and combination of the image data in order to generate the combined image data. Such image processing is referred to as "specific image processing" for convenience. That is, the print control unit 12d sets the color image data subjected to the correction in step 130 as the target of the specific image processing. The specific image processing corresponds to an image processing step.

Fig. 5 shows details of step 140 by means of a flow chart.

In step S142, the print control unit 12d generates image data as a basis of the combined image data by arranging the plurality of colored image data corrected in the manner described above according to the shape of each pattern region in the captured image data so as to correspond to the arrangement of the plurality of pattern regions in the captured image data. For convenience, the image data generated by step S142 is referred to as "combined base image data". The corrected coloring image data is not substantially rectangular since it is deformed. In this way, the shape of the combined base image data generated by arranging the plurality of corrected color image data can be said to be non-rectangular.

In step S142, the print control unit 12d acquires image data to be subjected to the n-th specific image processing. n is a positive integer. At least steps S144, S146, and S148 in fig. 5 correspond to specific image processing. The number of times of the specific image processing is the same as the number of times of execution of step S140. Thus, in step S140 executed first after the flowchart of fig. 3 is started, n is 1, that is, the 1 st specific image processing is executed.

In step S144, the print control unit 12d divides the bonding base image data generated in step S142 into horizontal lines to generate an upper image at a lower horizontal side and a lower image at an upper horizontal side. Here, each image data processed by the control unit 11 in steps S100 to S150 is an image expressed by two-dimensional coordinates including orthogonal X and Y axes, the X axis corresponding to the direction D3, for example, and the Y axis corresponding to the direction opposite to the conveying direction D1. The vertical orientation of each image data processed in steps S100 to S150 will be described with the orientation corresponding to the conveyance direction D1 being "up" and the orientation (Y-axis direction) opposite to the conveyance direction D1 being "down". The horizontal line of the segmentation joint base image data is a line parallel to the X-axis. The combined base image data is separated into an upper image at a lower level and a lower image at an upper level by step S144.

In step S146, the print control unit 12d stores the lower image generated in step S144, that is, the lower image generated by the division in step S144 in the n-th specific image processing in the storage unit 18. The lower image saved in step S146 is shifted to the next specific image processing for combining with the upper image generated in the next specific image processing. Therefore, the saving of the lower image in step S146 is referred to as "shift to save".

In step S148, the print control unit 12d joins the upper side of the upper image generated in step S144 with the lower image saved in step S146 of the previous specific image processing. That is, the top image generated by the segmentation of step S144 in the nth specific image processing is combined with the bottom image generated by the segmentation of step S144 in the n-1 st specific image processing. This generates combined image data, which is image data of the upper and lower levels.

In the specific image processing, the execution order of step S146 and step S148 may be the reverse of the order shown in fig. 5. Alternatively, in the specific image processing, step S146 and step S148 may be executed at the same time. With the above, step S140 ends. Each time step S140 is ended, the print control unit 12d adds "1" to the current n.

Returning to the description of fig. 3.

In step S150, the print control unit 12d causes the printing unit 17 to print the cloth 30 based on the combined image data generated in step S140. Step S150 corresponds to a printing step of performing printing based on the image data after the specific image processing. The print control unit 12d performs various necessary processes such as a so-called color conversion process and a halftone process on the combined image data to convert the combined image data into print data. The print data is also an image of the upper and lower sides. Then, the print control unit 12d transfers the print data to the printing unit 17, and causes the printing unit 17 to start printing by the movement of the carriage 20 and the ejection of ink from the printing head 19 based on the print data at a predetermined timing when the unprinted area of the fabric 30, which is the imaging target in step S110, reaches below the printing head 19. As a result, the color image represented by each color image data constituting the combined image data is printed in superimposition with the pattern in a manner matching the expansion and contraction and distortion of each pattern in the fabric 30.

The conveying unit 16 is provided with an encoder for detecting the amount of rotation of the roller or belt rotated for conveyance. The control unit 11 calculates and grasps the current feed distance of the cloth 30 based on the detection signal from the encoder. Thus, the control unit 11 can grasp the position of the target region in the conveyance direction D1, and start printing on the unprinted region including the target region by the printing unit 17 at the timing when the unprinted region reaches below the print head 19.

In step S160, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to end printing, and if the printing is ended, determines yes, and ends the flowchart of fig. 3. For example, when the user receives an instruction to end printing, or when printing for a predetermined length in the conveyance direction D1 is ended with respect to the cloth 30, the control unit 11 determines that printing is ended. Of course, even if the determination in step S160 is yes and the flowchart in fig. 3 is ended, the control unit 11 stops the conveying unit 16 after controlling necessary processes such as collecting the fabric 30 by the winding roller, for example.

On the other hand, if the printing is not finished, the control unit 11 determines no in step S160, and repeatedly executes the processing of and after step S110. That is, the processing of and after step S110 is performed on the next target region of the cloth 30 adjacent upstream to the target region up to this point. Note that, considering that the photographing section 15 is located upstream of the printing section 17, the photographing section 15 may photograph an area upstream of the area of the cloth 30 currently being printed, in parallel with the printing by the printing section 17. Therefore, at the time point when printing is completed for a certain target area in step S150, the image pickup unit 15 may end image pickup for the next target area. Thus, at the time point when the control unit 11 determines no in step S160, when the imaging unit 15 finishes imaging the next target area, the processing of step S120 and subsequent steps may be performed.

Alternatively, the control unit 11 may not simultaneously perform the image pickup of the fabric 30 by the image pickup unit 15 and the printing of the fabric 30 by the printing unit 17, and when it is determined as no in step S160, the control unit 11 may retract the fabric 30 by the transport unit 16 to return the unprinted area in the fabric 30 to the upstream side of the image pickup unit 15. The retreat refers to conveyance in a direction from downstream toward upstream. Then, the control unit 11 may restart the process of and after step S110 after the cloth 30 is retracted.

Fig. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining a part of the flowchart of fig. 3 by specific examples. Fig. 7 can be understood as a continuation of fig. 6. In step S100, the pattern recording unit 12a records the pattern image data 40 in the storage unit 18. In the example of fig. 6, the pattern image data 40 is image data representing a pattern designed on the basis of the shape of petals.

In step S110, the target region of the cloth 30 is imaged by the imaging unit 15, and as a result, the captured image data 41 is obtained. When the cloth 30 is stretched or distorted, it indicates that each pattern in the captured image data 41 is also stretched or distorted.

In step S120, the pattern extraction unit 12b extracts a pattern region in the captured image data 41 by comparing the pattern image data 40 with the captured image data 41. In the example of fig. 6, each region divided by a broken line in the captured image data 41 is each pattern region extracted by the pattern extraction unit 12b for each pattern. In fig. 6, a part of the plurality of pattern regions within the captured image data 41 is indicated by reference numerals 41a, 41b, 41 c.

In step S130, the correction processing unit 12c performs correction for deforming the coloring image data 50 and the captured image data 41 by matching the shapes of the pattern regions. In step S142 of step S140, the print control unit 12d generates the combined base image data 51 by aligning the plurality of corrected color image data 50 in correspondence with the arrangement of the pattern regions in the captured image data 41.

According to the example of fig. 6, reference numeral 51a shows the colored image data 50 corrected in such a manner as to match the shape of the pattern region 41 a. Similarly, reference numeral 51b is the color image data 50 corrected to match the shape of the pattern region 41b, and reference numeral 51c is the color image data 50 corrected to match the shape of the pattern region 41 c. The combined base image data 51 is image data in which the corrected color image data 51a, 51b, and 51c … … are arranged in the arrangement of the pattern regions 41a, 41b, and 41c … …. The combined base image data 51 is image data to be subjected to the nth specific image processing.

In step S144 of step S140, as shown in fig. 7, the print control unit 12d divides the combined base image data 51 into the upper image 55 and the lower image 56 by the horizontal line HL. In fig. 7, a horizontal line HL is shown by a two-dot chain line. In the explanation of fig. 7 and the like, the characters indicated by parentheses for the upper image 55, the lower image 56, and the combined image data 60 indicate images generated in the specific image processing of the fourth time.

According to the example of fig. 7, neither the upper side 52 nor the lower side 53 of the combined base image data 51 is horizontal. According to the example of fig. 7, the print control section 12d divides the joint base image data 51 by a horizontal line HL passing through a point 54 closest to the upper side 52 of the lower side 53 of the joint base image data 51. The lower side of the upper image 55(n) and the upper side of the lower image 56(n) generated by such division are horizontal.

Note that in the case where the lower side 53 of the combined base image data 51 is occasionally horizontal, even if the combined base image data 51 is divided by the horizontal line HL passing through the point 54 closest to the upper side 52 in the lower side 53, the lower image 56 is not substantially generated from the combined base image data 51, and the combined base image data 51 directly becomes the upper image 55. Although not specifically shown in fig. 7, when the lower image 56(n) is generated as a result of step S144, the print control unit 12d proceeds to save the lower image 56(n) in step S146. The lower image 56(n) is used for combination in step S148 of step S140 next time.

On the other hand, if the lower image 56(n) is not generated as a result of step S144, the print control unit 12d cannot shift to saving the lower image 56(n) in step S146. In this case, in step S148 of step S140, the images are not combined, and there is no problem in directly using the top image 55 at this time as the combined image data 60. This is because: the lower image 56 used in the step S148 for combining with the upper image 55 generated in the step S144 in the step S140 of a certain time does not shift from the step S140 of the previous time to the storage of the upper image 55, which is originally not only the lower horizontal but also the upper horizontal, and is in an appropriate shape at the time of printing in the step S150.

In step S148 of step S140, the print control unit 12d generates the combined image data 60(n) of the upper and lower horizontal sides by combining the lower sides of the upper side 52 of the upper image 55(n) and the lower side 56(n-1) of the upper horizontal side. The lower image 56(n-1) is the lower image of the upper level generated in step S144 of the n-1 st specific image processing, and is shifted to save in step S146 of the n-1 st specific image processing. In fig. 7, the range of the lower image 56(n-1) is shown in hatching, but the hatching does not indicate the color or pattern of the lower image 56 (n-1). The lower side of the lower image 56(n-1) and the upper side 52 of the upper image 55(n) are, as it were, the boundary lines between the corrected color image data adjacent in the Y-axis direction, and therefore coincide.

The combined image data 60(n) thus generated is printed on the fabric 30 in the nth step S150.

Each of both ends of the X axis of the combined image data 60(n) shown in fig. 7 is not parallel to the Y axis and has skew or curvature, but the print control unit 12d may adjust the whole of the combined image data 60(n) into a rectangle by adding blank data to both ends of the combined image data 60(n) and then advance the process to step S150.

In addition, in step S148 of the 1 st step S140, there is no lower image 56(0) for combination with the upper image 55 (1). Therefore, in step S148 of step S140 of the 1 st step, the print control unit 12d may add blank data of the upper side level to the upper side of the upper image 55(1) to generate combined image data 60(1) of the upper side and lower side levels, and advance the process to step S150.

3. Summary of the invention

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 includes: a control unit 11 that performs image processing (specific image processing) including division and combination of image data; and a printing unit 17 that prints on a print medium based on the image data after the image processing. The control unit 11 acquires image data to be subjected to the image processing for the nth time, generates an upper image at a lower side level and a lower image at an upper side level by dividing the image data by a horizontal line, generates combined image data at the upper side and the lower side level by combining the upper image at the upper side level generated by dividing the image data in the image processing for the (n-1) th time on the upper side of the upper image, and causes the printing unit 17 to perform printing based on the combined image data.

According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 repeats: image data is acquired, and a top image divided from the image data by a horizontal line is combined with a bottom image generated in the previous image processing to generate combined image data of top and bottom levels, which is supplied to the printing unit 17. Thus, even if the image data acquired by the control unit 11 is image data having a skew shape in which the upper and lower sides are not horizontal, the printing unit 17 can perform printing based on image data having a fixed shape suitable for printing at the upper and lower sides. Note that the control unit 11 stores the lower image generated by the division in the image processing of the nth time in the predetermined storage unit 18.

The printing unit 17 that performs printing by discharging ink from the printing head 19 that is moved in the width directions D2 and D3 by the carriage 20 preferably repeatedly acquires images (print data) having shapes parallel to the width directions D2 and D3 from the control unit 11 in units of processing on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction D1. According to the present embodiment, the combined image data of the upper and lower horizontal sides is such an image having the upper and lower sides parallel to the width directions D2, D3. Therefore, the printing unit 17 performs appropriate printing, that is, performs printing of good quality in which defects such as gaps and offsets of images are not easily generated. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to perform complicated conveyance control of the printing medium, etc., which is necessary to print image data in which the upper side and the lower side are inclined or skewed with respect to the width directions D2 and D3 for each pass (pass) of the printing head 19.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 may divide the image data by a horizontal line passing through a point closest to the upper side of the lower side of the image data.

According to the above configuration, even if the image data acquired as the target of the image processing has a shape in which the lower side is not horizontal, the image data can be appropriately separated into the upper image at the lower side level and the lower image at the upper side level and in which the lower side is not horizontal.

However, the control unit 11 may divide the image data by a horizontal line passing through a point closer to the upper side than a point closest to the upper side in the lower side of the image data.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 includes: a transport unit 16 that transports a cloth 30 as the printing medium on which a pattern is formed; and an imaging unit 15 that images the cloth 30 conveyed by the conveying unit 16. Then, the control unit 11 extracts a pattern region corresponding to the pattern in the second image data based on a comparison between the first image data (pattern image data) representing the pattern and the second image data (captured image data) generated by capturing the image of the fabric 30 by the image capturing unit 15, corrects the third image data (colored image data) representing the image to be printed in superimposition with the pattern so as to match the shape of the pattern region, and sets the corrected third image data as the target of the image processing (specific image processing). The regarding the corrected third image data as the object of the specific image processing includes regarding a set of the corrected third image data (combined base image data 51) as the object of the specific image processing.

According to the above configuration, the printing apparatus 10 corrects the coloring image data so as to match the shape of the pattern region extracted by comparing the pattern image data with the captured image data, and prints the corrected coloring image data on the cloth 30. Thus, the image represented by the color image data is printed without being shifted from the pattern of the cloth 30 in a manner matching the expansion and contraction and distortion of the pattern in the cloth 30. Further, by setting the color image data corrected so as to match the shape of the pattern region as the target of the specific image processing, it is possible to repeat printing in units of the combined image data of the upper and lower horizontal sides with respect to the cloth 30 being conveyed.

In addition, according to the description so far, the present embodiment discloses a printing method including: an image processing step of executing image processing including division and combination of image data; and a printing step of printing a printing medium based on the image data after the image processing, wherein in the image processing step, image data to be subjected to the image processing for the nth time is acquired, an upper image at a lower side level and a lower image at an upper side level are generated by dividing the image data by a horizontal line, and the upper image at the upper side level and the lower image at the lower side level generated by dividing the image data in the image processing for the (n-1) th time are combined with each other, thereby generating combined image data at the upper side and the lower side levels, and in the printing step, the printing is performed based on the combined image data.

The program 12 for causing the computer to execute the method and the memory storing the program 12 can be the invention.

In the example of fig. 2A, a configuration of a serial printer in which the print head 19 is mounted on the carriage 20 and moved is disclosed, but the print head 19 may be a so-called line head. That is, the printing head 19 may be a long printing head which is not mounted on the carriage 20 and can cover the width of the cloth 30 in the width directions D2 and D3.

In fig. 2A and 2B, the structure indicated by reference numeral 22 may be a platen serving as a base for supporting the cloth 30 from below, instead of the endless belt. That is, the cloth 30 conveyed by a roller, not shown, can be understood to move on the platen.

The specific image processing according to the present embodiment is not limited to the case of acquiring the color image data corrected so as to match the shape of the pattern region in the fabric 30, and is also effective in the case of acquiring image data having a large or small amount of skew and printing the image data. The printing medium is not limited to the cloth 30, and any printing medium such as paper can be used.