BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.
[0002] A printer is a typical computer peripheral output device for forming an image on
a recording medium. In particular, ink-jet printer are popular with users due to their
low price and high print quality.
[0003] Fig. 1 shows the structure of a conventional ink-jet printer. In Fig. 1, a sheet
of paper 11 is fed by a line feed motor and a carriage 13 in which an ink-cartridge
12 is mounted prints an image on the paper 11, while reciprocating across the paper
11. The ink in the ink-cartridge 12 is injected at specified time intervals, while
the carriage 13 is driven at constant speed. After completion of a line of printing,
a line feed is performed so that the paper 11 is moved to the correct position for
the next line. The driving of the carriage motor at constant speed and the ejection
of the ink from the ink-jet head are controlled by periodic distributed timing based
on a standard clock of the printer system. Thus, these operations of all part of the
ink-jet printer controlled by a timing value so that the printing operation can be
performed at maximum speed.
[0004] However, ink-jet printers cannot be used to print an image onto an object which does
not coincide with the structure of the printer. That is, if the size and structure
of the object is different from that of the paper, the printing operation cannot be
performed. For example, it is not possible to print the image directly onto a surface
of a box using the printer. Instead, after printing the image onto paper, the printed
paper must be attached to the surface of the box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose printing
apparatus which can print directly onto various kinds of objects.
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a multipurpose printing apparatus comprising:
a stationary part and a movable part including a printhead;
a position detector for detecting the position of the printhead relative to the stationary
part; and
control means for controlling the printhead to print from an output data store output
data corresponding to the position detected by the position detector.
[0007] Preferably, the multipurpose printing apparatus further comprises:
the output data store; and
means for receiving the output data from a computer into the output data store.
[0008] The means for receiving the output data may comprise a wireless communications interface.
[0009] Preferably, the stationary part comprises a base frame in which a linear gear is
mounted and the movable part comprises a main frame and a sensor, mounted on one side
of the main frame, and adapted to generate position information while reciprocating
along the linear gear.
[0010] Preferably, the printhead is an ink-jet printhead; the movable part further comprises
an ink-carriage, including the printhead, which is mounted on the other side of the
main frame; and the control means is adapted to control ink-ejection operations of
the ink-carriage according to the position information from the sensor.
[0011] The sensor may comprise a rotational gear which engages the linear gear of the base
frame, a circular encoder which is coupled to the rotational gear and a sensor element
for detecting the degree of rotation of the circular encoder. The circular encoder
may be a graduated transparent film or it may be formed with periodically spaced holes.
The sensor element my be an infrared sensor element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional ink-jet printer;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a left side view showing the printing apparatus according to the present
invention; and
Fig. 4 is the other side view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] In Fig. 2, the printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a
data storage part 21 for storing a data, position detecting part 22 for detecting
a variation of a print head, a printing control part 23 for controlling a printing
operation so that the data output from the data storage part 21 is printed on a position
corresponding to a position information from the position detecting part 22 and a
printing operation part 24 for performing the printing operation according to a signal
from the printing control part 23.
[0014] The data storage part 21 stores data output from a data generating apparatus or a
computer. The data to be stored in the data storage part 21 may be transmitted by
wire or wireless. In order for the printing control part 23 to perform the printing
operation, position information of the print head at present is needed. The information
is provided by the position detecting part 22. The printing operation part 24 is controlled
by the printing control part 23 so as to print the data output from the data storage
part 21 at a desired position according to the position information provided by the
position detecting part 22.
[0015] In Figs. 3 and 4, the multipurpose printing apparatus 200 comprises a base frame
32, a main frame 50 which slides in a guiding groove 41 formed in the base frame 32,
a sensing part 33 for generating a position information signal, an ink-cartridge 34
which is mounted on one side of the main frame 50 and a control circuit part 35 for
controlling an ejection operation of the ink-cartridge 34 according to the position
information from the sensing part 33. A linear gear 31 is horizontally disposed on
the base frame 32. The sensing part 33 is mounted on the other side of the main frame
50 and reciprocates along the linear gear 31. The control circuit part 35 is mounted
in the main frame 50.
[0016] The sensing part 33 comprises a rotational gear 36, a circular encoder 37 and a sensor
39 for detecting the degree of rotation of the circular encoder 37. The rotational
gear 36 engages the linear gear 31. The circular encoder 37 is coaxial with the rotational
gear 36 leaving a space in between, and a shaft 38 is fixed to the circular encoder
37 and the rotational gear 36 so that they rotate together.
[0017] The circular encoder 37 may be a transparent film which is marked with degrees or
a laminate which is formed with a plurality of holes, periodically. The sensor 39
may be an infrared sensor.
[0018] Further, a printing button 40 for controlling the printing operation is disposed
in the main frame 50.
[0019] To allow the printing operation to be performed, the printing apparatus 200 is placed
on an object 100 on which the printing operation is to be performed. The main frame
50 is moved by a user to a printing position on which an image is to be printed. Since
the sensing part 33 is fixed on the main frame 50, the sensing part 33 is also moved
to the printing position. Further, if the printing button 40 is not pressed during
movement of the main frame 50, the ink ejection operation is not performed.
[0020] If the printing button 40 is pressed during the movement of the main frame 50 by
the user, the rotational gear 36 of the sensing part 33 rotates while engaging with
the linear gear 31 of the base frame 32, and the main frame moves along the guiding
groove 41.
[0021] Rotational of the rotational gear 36 is transmitted to the encoder 37 through the
shaft 38. Therefore, the amount of rotation of the encoder 37 is the same as that
of the rotational gear 36. The amount of rotation of the encoder 37 is detected by
the infrared sensor 39. The detected signals are transmitted to the printing control
part 23.
[0022] The printing control part 23 supplies an ink ejection signal to the ink-cartridge
34 so that data from the data storage part 21 is printed on the object according to
the position information of the sensing part 33.
[0023] As described, the multipurpose printing apparatus according to the present invention
can directly perform the printing operation on the object. Therefore, it is possible
to perform the printing operation on various objects. Further, since it is not necessary
to use a carriage driving motor and a line feed motor, the structure of the printing
apparatus can be simplified.
1. A multipurpose printing apparatus comprising:
a stationary part and a movable part including a printhead;
a position detector for detecting the position of the printhead relative to the stationary
part; and
control means for controlling the printhead to print from an output data store output
data corresponding to the position detected by the position detector.
2. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
the output data store; and
means for receiving the output data from a computer into the output data store.
3. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to claim 2 in which the means for receiving
the output data comprises a wireless communications interface.
4. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to any preceding claim in which:
the stationary part comprises a base frame in which a linear gear is mounted; and
the movable part comprises a main frame and a sensor, mounted on one side of the main
frame, and adapted to generate position information while reciprocating along the
linear gear.
5. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to claim 4 in which:
the printhead is an ink-jet printhead;
the movable part further comprises an ink-carriage, including the printhead, which
is mounted on the other side of the main frame; and
the control means is adapted to control ink-ejection operations of the ink-carriage
according to the position information from the sensor.
6. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to claim 5 in which the sensor comprises
a rotational gear which engages the linear gear of the base frame, a circular encoder
which is coupled to the rotational gear and a sensor element for detecting the degree
of rotation of the circular encoder.
7. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to claim 6 in which the circular encoder
is a graduated transparent film.
8. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to claim 6 in which the circular encoder
is formed with periodically spaced holes.
9. The multipurpose printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6-8 in which the
sensor element is an infrared sensor element.
10. A multipurpose printing apparatus as described herein with reference to and as illustrated
in FIGs. 2-4 of the accompanying drawings.