JP2000025210A - Recorder, control method therefor and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent image quality from deteriorating significantly at the end part of a recording sheet by performing multipath recording of an image based on image information with the number of recording paths inputted from an input means depending on the carriage of a recording medium by a carrying means. SOLUTION: The number of recording paths of multipath recording is inputted to a multi-recording head 401 and, based on the inputted number of recording path, a recording sheet 406 is carried at a relatively small carrying amount as compared with normal paper feed amount between recording scans for a specified area from the end of the sheet 406 in the carrying direction and at a normal paper feed amount between recording scans for other areas. Depending on such a carriage of the recording sheet 406, multipath recording of an image based on image information is performed with the number of recording path inputted to a multipath recording head 401. Consequently, marginal area can be reduced without causing significant significant deterioration of image quality at the end part of the recording sheet 406 and recordable area can be maximized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in the direction of conveyance of a print medium, which scans the same print area of the print medium a plurality of times, thereby obtaining input image information. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and method for performing multi-pass printing for completing an image based on the printing medium, and a computer-readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, OA equipment such as a personal computer, a copying machine, and a word processor has become widespread. And as a kind of recording device of these devices,
2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus that performs image recording by an ink jet system has been rapidly developed and spread. In particular, as OA equipment has become more sophisticated and colorized, various color ink jet recording apparatuses have been developed.

In general, an ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which a recording step (recording head) and an ink tank are mounted, transport means for transporting recording paper, and control means for controlling these. Then, the recording head that discharges ink droplets from the plurality of discharge ports is directed in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to a recording paper conveyance direction (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-scanning direction).
Serial scanning in the main scanning direction), while the recording paper is intermittently conveyed by an amount equal to the recording width during non-printing. In the case of a color ink jet recording apparatus, a color image is formed by superimposing ink droplets ejected by recording heads of a plurality of colors on a recording medium.

As a method of performing recording by discharging ink of an ink jet recording apparatus, a heating element (electric / thermal energy converter) is provided near an ejection port, and an ink is locally applied by applying an electric signal to the heating element. There is a method of using an electric / thermal energy converter that discharges ink from a discharge port by causing a heating to generate a pressure change, and a method of using an electric / mechanical converter such as a piezoelectric element. In addition, a configuration in which an electric pressure converting unit such as a piezo element is used as a unit for discharging ink and a mechanical pressure is applied to the ink to discharge the ink has been conventionally known.

In such a method, characters and figures are recorded by discharging ink as fine droplets from a discharge port onto a recording medium in accordance with print data.
And because it is non-impact, there is little noise,
It has advantages such as low running cost, easy downsizing of the device, and relatively easy colorization, so that it is used in combination with a computer or a word processor. Also, copiers used alone,
It is widely used as a recording device mounted on a printer, a facsimile or the like.

According to such a method, characters and figures are recorded by discharging ink as fine droplets from a discharge port onto a recording medium in accordance with print data.
And because it is non-impact, there is little noise,
It has advantages such as low running cost, easy downsizing of the device, and relatively easy colorization, so that it is used in combination with a computer or a word processor. Also, copiers used alone,
It is widely used as a recording device mounted on a printer, a facsimile or the like.

In the conventional recording method of an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to obtain a high-colored color image without bleeding of ink on a recording medium, it is necessary to use a special coated paper having an ink absorbing layer. In recent years, a method has been put to practical use in which recording suitability for plain paper used in large quantities in printers, copiers, and the like is provided by improving inks. Further, it is desired to support various recording media having different ink absorption characteristics, such as OHP sheets, cloths, and plastic sheets. In order to meet such demands, recording apparatuses capable of performing the best recording irrespective of the type of recording medium have been developed and commercialized. Further, as for the size of the recording medium, it has been required to enable recording on a large-sized recording medium required for recording on posters for advertisements and woven fabrics such as clothes. The demand for such an ink jet recording apparatus has been increasing in a wide range of industrial fields as an excellent recording means, and it has been demanded to provide higher quality images, and the demand for higher speed has been further increased. I can say.

Generally, a recording method of a color ink jet recording apparatus uses three color inks of cyan (Cy), magenta (Mg) and yellow (Ye), and further adds black (Bk). Color printing is realized using the four colors of ink. In such a color ink jet recording apparatus, unlike a monochrome ink jet recording apparatus mainly used for recording a character, a color image image is recorded. Various elements are required.

However, the quality of an image to be printed largely depends on the performance of the print head alone. In other words, slight differences between the ejection ports, which occur during the printing head manufacturing process, such as variations in the shape of the ejection ports of the recording head and variations in the electric / heat converter (ejection heater), etc. This influences the orientation and causes image density degradation as density unevenness of the finally formed recorded image. As a result, there are "white" portions that cannot periodically satisfy the area factor of 100% in the main scanning direction, or dots overlap more than necessary,
Alternatively, white streaks may occur on the recording gastric medium. These phenomena are usually perceived by human eyes as density unevenness.

Therefore, a system called a multi-pass printing system has been proposed as a countermeasure against such density unevenness. This multi-pass printing method will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 11, for the sake of simplicity, a multi-pass printing method using a single ink color printing head having eight nozzles (ejection ports) will be described as an example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a conventional multi-pass printing method.

In the first scan of the print head in the main scanning direction, a staggered pattern is printed by using the first four nozzles of the eight nozzles of the print head. Next, after the paper is fed in the sub-scanning direction by a half of the recording width of the recording head (here, 4 dot width), in the second scanning of the recording head, all eight nozzles of the recording head are used, and the reverse staggering is performed. By recording the pattern 記録, the recording in the recording area of half the recording width of the recording head is completed. That is, by alternately performing paper feeding in units of four dots and recording in a staggered / inverted zigzag pattern, a recording area in units of four dots is completed for each scan. In this manner, by printing one line (printing area when one scan is performed with the print width of the print head) using two different nozzles, a high-quality image with suppressed density unevenness can be formed. it can. In addition, the multi-pass printing method has an effect of suppressing bleeding by printing while drying the ink, and an increase in the temperature of the print head which causes an ejection failure since the number of print dots for each scan is reduced. Can be achieved at the same time.

As a method of generating data (pass data) for not performing printing for each scan (not performing ink ejection), as described above, print data is formed using a staggered / reverse staggered pattern. A method of generating pass data by thinning out (fixed thinning method) or a random mask in which print dots and non-print dots are arranged in a random manner
By skipping recorded data using patterns,
There are known methods such as a method of generating data (random thinning method) and a method of generating pass data by thinning recording dots (data thinning method).

A recording operation at the end of a recording sheet cut to a fixed size in such multi-pass printing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 shows an example of four-pass printing in which an image is completed by four printing scans using a print head composed of eight nozzles.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state of a printing scan immediately after the start of printing at the starting end of the printing paper of the conventional printing apparatus.

First, in the first scan, effective print data is 1/4 from the bottom of the nozzles arranged in the print head.
, And the remaining six nozzles above are not used for printing. In the subsequent second scan, valid print data is input to four nozzles corresponding to the lower half, and the remaining upper four nozzles are not used here. Next, in the third scan, the lower six nozzles are used for printing,
Do not use the upper two nozzles. Then, after the fourth scan, a printing operation is performed using all eight nozzles.

The same applies to the end of the recording paper. Until the (n-3) th scan, printing is performed using all eight nozzles. Similarly to the recording paper start end, printing is performed using only the upper six nozzles in the (n-2) th scan, the upper four nozzles in the (n-1) th scan, and only the upper (2-a) nozzle in the nth scan. Do. Here, a is determined by the number of effective print data lines (print area where one nozzle prints by one scan of the print head). That is, in the conventional multi-pass printing, at the recording paper start end and the recording paper end end, the recording head scans beyond the actual recording area. The protruding width is の of the print head width in two-pass printing, ３ of the print head width in four-pass printing,
In eight-pass printing, it extends to ／ of the print head width.

As described above, the demand for an ink jet recording apparatus has been increasing in a wide range of industrial fields as an excellent recording means, and it has been spread as a higher quality and higher speed image forming means. Since an increase in the number of nozzles arranged in the print head leads to an improvement in print speed, a print head having 100 or more than 1000 nozzles for each color is mounted, particularly in an ink jet printing apparatus used for industrial use. Often. For example, 600dp
In the case of a print head in which 500 nozzles are arranged at i intervals, the width of the print head is approximately 21 mm.

[0021]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus, a paper holding mechanism is provided on the paper feeding side or on the opposite side thereof in order to avoid a recording failure or a paper feeding failure. For this reason, at the actual end of the recording sheet, there is an area where recording cannot be performed by a predetermined amount for scanning the recording head. In the conventional multi-pass printing,
At the recording paper start end and the recording paper end end, the recording head scans beyond the recording area. For this reason, when a print head equipped with a large number of nozzles is mounted and multi-pass printing is performed in multiple passes, the amount of protrusion of the print head becomes large, which becomes an obstacle and the margin becomes large, that is, printing is possible. There was a problem that the area was narrowed.

In order to avoid this, an ink jet recording apparatus which does not perform multi-pass printing only at the end of the recording paper has been proposed. In this case, multi-pass printing is not performed at the end of the recording paper. It is inevitable that the image quality deteriorates due to white streaks and density unevenness due to head skew, ink bleeding, and the like, and it is inevitable that the difference from other areas where multi-pass printing is performed appears remarkably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and reduces the margin area to maximize the recordable area without causing a significant deterioration in image quality at the edge of the recording paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can be secured, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0024]

The recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, a print head having a plurality of ejection portions arranged in the transport direction of the print medium is scanned a plurality of times with respect to the same print area of the print medium, and an image based on input image information is completed on the print medium. A printing apparatus for performing multi-pass printing, wherein input means for inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing, and from the end of the printing medium in the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input by the input means. Transport means for transporting a predetermined transport area with a second transport quantity smaller than the first transport quantity, and transporting the other area with the first transport quantity; transport of the recording medium by the transport means; Print control means for performing multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information with the number of print passes input by the input means.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises setting means for setting a margin area from an end of the recording medium, wherein the transport means includes a recording path number input by the input means and a margin area set by the setting means. Is transported by the second transport amount to a predetermined area from the end of the recording medium in the transport direction, and transported by the first transport amount to other areas.

Preferably, the recording control means includes:
Print data in each pass of the multi-pass printing is generated by thinning out image information corresponding to the same print area.

Preferably, the recording head is an ink jet recording head which performs recording by discharging ink.

Preferably, the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink.

A recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a print head having a plurality of ejection portions arranged in the transport direction of the print medium is scanned a plurality of times with respect to the same print area of the print medium, and an image based on input image information is completed on the print medium. A printing apparatus for performing multi-pass printing, wherein input means for inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing, and from the end of the printing medium in the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input by the input means. A print control unit for prohibiting the conveyance of the print medium in a predetermined area and performing multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information is provided.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises setting means for setting a margin area from an end of the recording medium, wherein the recording control means comprises: the number of recording passes inputted by the input means and the margin set by the setting means. Based on the area, the conveyance of the recording medium is prohibited in a predetermined area from the end of the recording medium in the conveyance direction, and an image based on the image information is multi-pass printed.

Preferably, the recording control means includes:
Print data in each pass of the multi-pass printing is generated by thinning out image information corresponding to the same print area.

Preferably, the recording head is an ink jet recording head which performs recording by discharging ink.

Preferably, the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink.

The control method of the recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a print head having a plurality of ejection portions arranged in the transport direction of the print medium is scanned a plurality of times with respect to the same print area of the print medium, and an image based on input image information is completed on the print medium. A method of controlling a printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing, wherein an input step of inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing, and the printing medium in the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input in the input step. From the end to the predetermined area, is transported by a second transport amount smaller than the first transport amount,
An image based on the image information with the number of recording passes input in the input step according to the transporting step of transporting the recording medium by the first transporting amount with respect to the other area and the transporting of the recording medium in the transporting step. And a printing control step of performing multi-pass printing.

A method for controlling a recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a print head having a plurality of ejection portions arranged in the transport direction of the print medium is scanned a plurality of times with respect to the same print area of the print medium, and an image based on input image information is completed on the print medium. A method of controlling a printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing, wherein an input step of inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing, and the printing medium in the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input in the input step. And a print control step of multi-pass printing an image based on the image information by prohibiting the conveyance of the printing medium from a predetermined area from an end of the printing medium.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A multi-head that scans a recording head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in the transport direction of a recording medium multiple times over the same recording area of the recording medium to complete an image based on input image information on the recording medium. A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a printing apparatus that performs pass printing, wherein a program code of an input step of inputting a print pass number of the multi-pass printing, and a print pass number input in the input step Is transported by a second transport amount smaller than the first transport amount from the end of the recording medium in the transport direction to a predetermined area, and is transported by the first transport amount to other areas. In accordance with the program code of the transporting step and the transport of the recording medium in the transporting step, an image based on the image information is multi-passed with the number of recording passes input in the inputting step. And a program code of a recording control step of recording.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A multi-head that scans a recording head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in the transport direction of a recording medium multiple times over the same recording area of the recording medium to complete an image based on input image information on the recording medium. A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a printing apparatus that performs pass printing, wherein a program code of an input step of inputting a print pass number of the multi-pass printing, and a print pass number input in the input step And a program code for a printing control step of multi-pass printing an image based on the image information by prohibiting the feeding of the printing medium to a predetermined area from an end of the printing medium in the feeding direction based on the .

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a recording section of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

Reference numeral 401 denotes a recording head, which has four colors (Bk,
It comprises an ink tank in which color inks of Cy, Mg, and Ye are respectively sealed, and a multi-recording head in which four corresponding recording heads are integrated. Reference numeral 402 denotes a carriage that supports the recording head 401 and moves them together with recording. Carriage 40
Numeral 2 is at the home position ◎ in the drawing during standby in a non-recording state or the like. Reference numeral 403 denotes a paper feed roller, which rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing while holding down the recording paper 406 together with the auxiliary roller 404, and feeds the recording paper 406 in the Y direction as needed. Reference numeral 405 denotes a paper feed roller, and the recording paper 406
And a role of suppressing the recording paper 406 in the same manner as the paper feed roller 403 and the auxiliary roller 404. Here, the recording head 401 is composed of Bk, Cy, Mg,
It is assumed that each of the four colors of Ye has 64 nozzles arranged in the paper feed direction. Further, it is assumed that nozzle numbers # 0 to # 63 are assigned to the respective nozzles.

The basic reciprocating printing operation in the above configuration will be described.

During standby, the carriage 402 at the home position ◎ discharges ink onto the recording paper 406 according to recording data by a plurality of nozzles of the recording head 401 while scanning (scanning) in the X direction according to a recording start command. And record. When the recording of the recording data is completed up to the end of the recording paper 406, the carriage 402 returns to the home position.
Return to position position ◎. By rotating the paper feed roller 403 in the direction of the arrow, the paper is fed by a predetermined width in the Y direction, and recording in the X direction is started again. Recording of print data is realized by repeating such a scanning operation and a paper feeding operation.

Although not shown, the ink jet recording apparatus of the first embodiment controls recording and image processing.
A control unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a dedicated circuit to be executed; an interface unit for exchanging image information and various control information with an external host computer; a carriage motor for driving a carriage; Motor driver for driving a paper feed motor for driving a paper roller, a paper conveyance motor for driving a paper conveyance, etc., and a recording head 4
And a control panel for inputting control information by a user.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment employs a multi-pass recording method in which the same recording area is scanned a plurality of times to form an image. As described above, the multi-pass printing is a printing method in which an image is formed on one line using a plurality of nozzles, thereby suppressing density unevenness due to a slight difference in an ink ejection amount or an ejection direction for each nozzle.

In the first embodiment, fixed-thinning multi-pass printing for generating pass data in accordance with the coordinates in the main scanning direction is executed. The number of recording passes can be selected from two-pass recording and four-pass recording, and the number of recording passes is set by, for example, an external host computer. Here, how dots are distributed to each pass in multi-pass printing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the distribution of print dots for each pass in multi-pass printing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, fixed thinning (fixed mask) processing by the fixed thinning method will be briefly described.

In the two-pass printing of the first embodiment, an even-numbered 2n-th dot (even-numbered dot) in the main scanning direction is printed in the first pass, and (2) -th dot in the main scanning direction in the second pass.
The (n + 1) th dot (odd dot) is recorded. Similarly, in the 4-pass printing, the 4n-th dot in the first pass, the (4n + 1) -th dot in the second pass,
In the third pass, the (4n + 2) th dot is printed, and in the fourth pass, the (4n + 3) th dot is printed.

Next, the multi-pass printing operation at the end of the printing paper according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In particular, in the first embodiment, the paper feed control is performed at the end of the recording paper with a small paper feed amount relative to the paper feed amount during the normal printing scan.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which recording is performed in the entire recordable area according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of recording when there is a margin area of 22 lines (with respect to the recording resolution) from the end of the recordable area according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of recording when there is a blank area of 50 lines from an area end.

In the following description, a printing operation in four-pass printing is taken as an example, and a printing area printed by one scan of each nozzle of the print head 401 is called a line.

FIG. 3 shows a case in which image data is recorded in the recordable area without a blank area, and all of the first scan, the second scan, the third scan, and the fourth scan are performed between the scans. Paper feed control for one line is performed. First
In scanning, the upper three nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 2) are not used, and printing is performed using only the next 16 nozzles (nozzle number # 4 to nozzle number # 18). In the second scan, the upper two nozzles (nozzle number #
Recording is performed using only the subsequent 32 nozzles (nozzles of nozzle numbers # 2 to # 33) without using only the nozzles of nozzle numbers 0 to # 1. In the third scan, printing is performed using only the following 48 nozzles (nozzle # 1 to nozzle # 48) without using only the upper one nozzle (nozzle # 0). In the fourth scan, printing is performed using all the nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 63). After the fifth scan, 1
The paper feed control for the equivalent of 6 lines is performed.
Nozzle (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle # 63)
4 pass printing using is performed.

FIG. 4 shows a case in which printing is performed with a blank area corresponding to 22 lines from the end of the printable area, and the distance from the end of the printing paper of the print head 401 at the start of printing scanning is the position in FIG. 1 line below the uppermost position where a proper printing scan is possible). First scan, second scan,
Between each of the third scans, the paper is fed by an amount equivalent to one line, as in FIG. In the first scan, the upper 24 nozzles (nozzle # 0 to nozzle # 23) are not used, and printing is performed using only the next 10 nozzles (nozzle # 24 to nozzle # 33). In the second scan, the upper 23 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number #
Recording is performed using only the following 26 nozzles (nozzle number # 23 to nozzle number # 49) without using 22 nozzles). In the third scan, printing is performed using the next 42 nozzles (nozzle # 22 to nozzle # 63) without using the upper 22 nozzles (nozzle # 0 to nozzle # 21). After the fourth scan, paper feed control for an amount equivalent to 16 lines is performed between print scans. Also, the fourth
In the scanning, printing is performed using not only the upper six nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 5) but all the remaining 58 nozzles (nozzle number # 6 to nozzle number # 63). After the fifth scan, four-pass printing using 64 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 63) is performed as usual.

FIG. 5 shows a case where printing is performed with a blank area equivalent to 50 lines from the end of the printable area. The distance from the end of the printing paper of the print head 401 at the start of the printing scan is the position in FIG. 53 lines below the uppermost position at which a proper recording scan is possible). In this case, the usual 4
The same recording operation and paper feed control as the recording paper start end in pass recording are performed. That is, only the lower 16 nozzles (nozzle number # 48 to nozzle # 63) in the first scan, and the lower 32 nozzles (nozzle number # 32 to # 32) in the second scan.
Only the nozzle of nozzle number # 63), the lower 4
Recording is performed using only eight nozzles (nozzle number # 16 to nozzle number # 63), and a total of 64 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 63) are used after the fourth scan. The paper feed amount during the printing scan is always equivalent to 16 lines. As described above, when the margin area exceeds 45 lines, the operation is the same as that of normal 4-pass printing except that the position of the print head 401 from the end of the printing paper at the start of printing is different.

As described above, in the first embodiment, a non-printable area corresponding to three nozzle widths (lines) from the uppermost end where normal printing scan is possible is allowed, and the margin setting in printing is set with respect to the end of the printable area. In the case of 0 to 14 lines, the paper feed amount between recording scans from the first scan to the fourth scan is changed to one line. In the case of 15 to 29 lines, the first
The paper feed amount between recording scans from the scan to the third scan is set to 1
Change to a line. In the case of 30 to 44 lines, only the paper feed amount between recording scans between the first scan and the second scan is 1
Change to a line. If the number of lines exceeds 45 lines, the paper feed control for the amount equivalent to 16 lines is always performed from the first scan. At the end of the recording paper, the paper feed control is executed according to the same procedure.

Therefore, within a predetermined amount range from the end of the recording paper, the paper feed for one line is exceptionally performed, so that the width of the nozzle is equivalent to three nozzle widths (lines) with respect to the uppermost end where normal recording scan is possible. Only by providing a blank area, four-pass printing can be performed on the entire printing area, and uniform high-quality image formation can be realized.

Finally, a flowchart of the processing executed in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S101, the number of recording passes is obtained. Next, in step S102, a margin area is set. In step S103, the paper feed amount within a predetermined range from the recording paper end is determined based on the acquired number of recording passes and the set margin area. Then, in step S104,
Based on the determined paper feed amount, multi-pass printing of the acquired number of print passes is executed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the ink jet printing apparatus for performing multi-pass printing, in a printing scan within a predetermined width from the end of the printing paper, the paper feed amount during the scanning is set to the normal multi-pass printing. Control is performed so that the paper feed amount is relatively small as compared with the time of recording. This makes it possible to perform multi-pass printing with a small paper feed amount at the end of the recording paper, and to minimize the non-printable area at the same time without deteriorating the image quality at the end of the recording paper. In other words, it is possible to realize an excellent ink jet recording apparatus that secures the maximum recordable area and forms a high-quality image over the entire image. (Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, in order to minimize the increase in the non-recordable area at the end of the recording paper due to multi-pass printing, the paper feed amount is changed to one line and the image at the end of the recording paper is changed. Has been described. However, it may not be easy to precisely control a very small amount of paper feed depending on the device. In such a case, the paper feed amount to be changed at the end of the recording paper must be larger than that corresponding to one line, and the effect of maximizing the recordable area accordingly decreases. Therefore, in the second embodiment, instead of making the paper feed amount at the end of the recording paper relatively smaller than the paper feed amount during normal multi-pass printing, an image is formed by a plurality of scans without paper feed. The formation minimizes the deterioration of the image quality at the edge of the recording paper and at the same time minimizes the non-recordable area.

The basic configuration (FIG. 1) of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
It is assumed that this is the same as

Next, the multi-pass printing operation at the end of the printing paper according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In particular, in the second embodiment, multi-pass printing without paper feed is performed at the end of the recording paper.

In the following description, a printing operation in 4-pass printing will be described as an example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which recording is performed in the entire recordable area according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a recording state when there is a margin area of 22 lines (with respect to the recording resolution) from the end of the recordable area according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of recording when there is a blank area of 50 lines from an area end.

FIG. 7 shows a case where image data is recorded without a blank area in a recordable area. In the first scan, the upper 16 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number #
In the second scan, only the upper 32 nozzles (nozzle # 0 to nozzle # 31) in the second scan, the third
In scanning, printing is performed using only the upper 48 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle # 47). From the fourth scan, a total of 64 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 63
Nozzle). No paper feed is performed between the recording scans so far. From the fourth scan onward, the paper feed control for the equivalent of 16 lines between the recording scans as usual is performed, and a total of 64 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 63)
No. 4 nozzle printing is performed.

FIG. 8 shows a case where printing is performed with a blank area equivalent to 22 lines from the end of the printable area, and the position of the print head 401 at the start of print scanning is six nozzles lower than the case shown in FIG. Becomes In the first scan, the upper 16 nozzles (nozzles of nozzle numbers # 0 to # 15) are not used, and the subsequent 16 nozzles (nozzle numbers # 16 to # 16) are not used.
Recording is performed using only the nozzle of nozzle number # 31).
Also in the second scan, the upper 16 nozzles (nozzles of nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 15) are not used, and the following 32 nozzles (nozzles of nozzle number # 16 to nozzle number # 47) are used. In the third scan, the upper 16 nozzles (nozzle number #
0 to nozzle # 15) and the remaining 4
Recording is performed using all eight nozzles (nozzles of nozzle numbers # 16 to # 63). No paper feed is performed between the recording scans so far. From the third scan onward, the paper feed control for 16 lines is performed as usual, and after the fourth scan, a total of 64 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number #
Four-pass printing is performed by using 63 nozzles).

FIG. 9 shows a case where printing is performed with a blank area corresponding to 50 lines from the end of the printable area, and the position of the print head 401 at the start of printing scan is two nozzles away from the case shown in FIG. It will be below. In this case, the usual 4
The same recording operation and paper feed control as the recording paper start end in pass recording are performed. That is, only the lower 16 nozzles (nozzle number # 48 to nozzle # 63) in the first scan, and the lower 32 nozzles (nozzle number # 32 to # 32) in the second scan.
Only the nozzle of nozzle number # 63), the lower 4
Recording is performed using only eight nozzles (nozzle number # 16 to nozzle number # 63), and a total of 64 nozzles (nozzle number # 0 to nozzle number # 63) are used after the fourth scan. During each printing scan, paper feed control is performed for an amount equivalent to 16 lines. As described above, when the margin area exceeds 48 lines, the operation is the same as that of normal 4-pass printing except that the print head position from the end of the printing paper at the start of printing is different.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the margin setting in printing is set to 0 to 15 lines with respect to the end of the printable area without taking any non-printable area from the uppermost end where normal print scanning is possible. In this case, the paper feed control between scans is performed from the first scan to the fourth scan, from the first scan to the third scan in the case of 16 to 31 lines, and only the first scan in the case of 32 to 47 lines. Not performed. When the number of lines exceeds 48 lines, the paper feed control for the amount equivalent to 16 lines is always performed from the first scanning. At the end of the recording paper, the paper feed control is executed according to the same procedure.

Accordingly, in a range of a predetermined amount from the end of the recording paper, the paper is not fed between the recording scans, so that an extra non-recordable area is provided at the uppermost end where the normal recording scan is possible. It is possible to perform 4-pass printing on the entire printing area without increasing the number. Also, in the area where an image is formed by multiple scans without performing paper feed, unlike the normal multi-pass print area, all the same lines are printed by the same nozzle, so white streaks and density unevenness due to the print head skew are recognized. Although there is a possibility that printing may be performed, printing defects due to ink bleeding or the like can be avoided by allocating printing dots to a plurality of scans, so that deterioration of image quality can be minimized.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the ink jet printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing, control is performed so that paper feeding is not performed during printing scanning within a predetermined width from the end of the printing paper. . As a result, multi-pass printing without paper feed is performed at the end of the recording paper, and image quality deterioration at the end of the recording paper is minimized.
At the same time, it is possible to minimize the unrecordable area. In other words, it is possible to realize an excellent ink jet recording apparatus that secures the maximum recordable area and forms a high-quality image over the entire image.

In the first embodiment, in order to minimize the increase in the non-recordable area at the end of the recording paper due to the multi-pass printing, the paper feed amount at the recording end is changed to one line and the recording paper end is changed. Although the case of forming an image of a set has been described,
The paper feed amount changed at the recording end is not limited to one line. Needless to say, as the resolution determined by the nozzles arranged in the recording head increases, the paper feed amount required for the same effect increases. As described above, the paper feed amount may be determined based on the accuracy, the rising cost, and the effect thereof.

In the first and second embodiments, the ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a recording head constituted by a multi-recording head in which four recording heads corresponding to four color inks are integrated has been described. The present invention is also applicable to a case where a multi-recording head composed of independent one-color heads is mounted. Further, the ink colors are not limited to four colors, but may be a configuration using a plurality of inks having different densities, or a configuration in which the same ink is overprinted. Also, the number of nozzles is not limited to 64.

The recording head has a structure in which the ink tank and the recording head are integrally formed and can be replaced.
The ink tank and the recording head may be configured to be separable so that only the ink tank can be replaced when the ink runs out. FIG. 10 shows an example.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing the structure of an ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the recording head can be separated.

In the ink cartridge IJC, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH can be separated at the position of the boundary line K. Ink cartridge I
The JC is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage 403 when the JC is mounted on the carriage 403, and the electric signal causes the recording head IJH to operate as described above. It is driven to eject ink. Note that in FIG.
Denotes an ink ejection port array. In addition, the ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.

Further, it has been described that the liquid droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and the liquid contained in the ink tank is ink. However, the contained matter is not limited to ink. . For example, an ink tank may contain a processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

The multi-pass printing using the fixed thinning method in which the printing dots are regularly distributed based on the coordinates of the printing data has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can be applied to any multi-pass printing method, such as a random thinning method that sorts print dots using a random mask pattern, a data thinning method that sorts print dots by thinning print dots, and a combination of these methods. it can.

The form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the one provided integrally or separately as an image output apparatus of an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a word processor, and may be combined with a reading apparatus. It may be a copying machine or a facsimile machine having a communication function.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type.
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, and may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine). Etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and CD.
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a recording apparatus, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory capable of reducing a margin area and maximizing a recordable area without causing a significant deterioration in image quality at a recording paper edge.

[0094]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state of distribution of print dots for each pass in multi-pass printing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which recording is performed on the entire recordable area according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of recording when only a line has a blank area.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a recording state when there is a blank area of a line.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which recording is performed on the entire recordable area according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state of recording when there is a blank area of 22 lines (with respect to the recording resolution) from the end of the recordable area according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which 50 is set from the end of the recordable area according to the second embodiment of the invention
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a recording state when there is a blank area of a line.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a recording head are separable.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a conventional multi-pass printing method.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a printing scan immediately after the start of printing at the start end of a printing sheet of a conventional printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 401 recording head 402 carriage 403 paper feed roller 404 auxiliary roller 405 paper feed roller 406 recording paper

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A printing head having a plurality of ejection units arranged in a conveying direction of a printing medium is scanned a plurality of times over the same printing area of the printing medium, and an image based on input image information is printed on the printing medium. A printing apparatus for performing multi-pass printing to be completed above, comprising: input means for inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing; and a printing medium in the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input by the input means. From the end to the predetermined area
A transport unit that transports by a second transport amount smaller than the transport amount, and transports the remaining area by the first transport amount, and inputs the input unit according to the transport of the recording medium by the transport unit. A printing control unit that performs multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information with the set number of printing passes. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set a margin area from an end of the recording medium, wherein the conveyance unit is configured to perform the operation based on the number of recording passes input by the input unit and the margin area set by the setting unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is conveyed by the second conveyance amount to a predetermined area from an end of the recording medium in the conveyance direction, and is conveyed by the first conveyance amount to other areas. The recording device according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control unit generates print data in each pass of the multi-pass printing by thinning out image information corresponding to the same printing area. . 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 5. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head discharges ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 2. The recording device according to Item 1. 6. A printing head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in a conveying direction of a printing medium is scanned a plurality of times over the same printing area of the printing medium, and an image based on input image information is printed on the printing medium. A printing apparatus for performing multi-pass printing to be completed above, comprising: input means for inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing; and a printing medium in the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input by the input means. A printing control means for prohibiting the conveyance of the printing medium from an end to a predetermined area and performing multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information. 7. A printing apparatus, further comprising: setting means for setting a blank area from an end of the printing medium, wherein the printing control means sets the number of printing passes input by the input means and the blank area set by the setting means. hand,
For a predetermined area from the end of the recording medium in the transport direction,
7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein conveyance of the printing medium is prohibited, and an image based on the image information is multi-pass printed. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the print control unit generates print data in each pass of the multi-pass printing by thinning out image information corresponding to the same print area. . 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 10. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 7. The recording device according to Item 6. 11. A recording head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in a conveying direction of a recording medium is scanned a plurality of times over the same recording area of the recording medium, and an image based on input image information is printed on the recording medium. A method of controlling a printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing to be completed above, comprising: an input step of inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing; and the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input in the input step. For a predetermined area from the end of the recording medium, the first
A transporting step of transporting by a second transporting amount smaller than the transporting amount, and transporting the remaining area by the first transporting amount, and inputting in the input step according to transporting of the recording medium in the transporting step. A printing control step of performing multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information with the set number of printing passes. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a setting step of setting a margin area from an end of the recording medium, wherein the transporting step is based on the number of recording passes input in the input step and the margin area set in the setting step. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the recording medium is conveyed by the second conveyance amount to a predetermined area from an end of the recording medium in the conveyance direction, and is conveyed by the first conveyance amount to other areas. 3. The control method of a recording device according to claim 1. 13. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the printing control step generates print data in each pass of the multi-pass printing by thinning out image information corresponding to the same printing area. Control method. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 15. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 12. The control method for a recording device according to item 11. 16. A recording head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in a conveying direction of a recording medium is scanned a plurality of times over the same recording area of the recording medium, and an image based on input image information is printed on the recording medium. A method of controlling a printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing to be completed above, comprising: an input step of inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing; and the transport direction based on the number of printing passes input in the input step. A printing control step of prohibiting the conveyance of the printing medium from an end of the printing medium to a predetermined area and performing multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information. . 17. The printing method according to claim 17, further comprising a setting step of setting a margin area from an end of the recording medium, wherein the recording control step is based on the number of recording passes input in the input step and the margin area set in the setting step. hand,
For a predetermined area from the end of the recording medium in the transport direction,
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein conveyance of the recording medium is prohibited, and an image based on the image information is multi-pass printed. 18. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the printing control step generates print data in each pass of the multi-pass printing by thinning out image information corresponding to the same printing area. Control method. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 20. The recording head, which ejects ink by using thermal energy, includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 17. A control method for a recording device according to Item 16. 21. A recording head having a plurality of ejection sections arranged in a conveying direction of a recording medium is scanned a plurality of times on the same recording area of the recording medium, and an image based on input image information is printed on the recording medium. A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing to be completed, wherein a program code of an input step of inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing is input. Based on the determined number of recording passes, the recording medium is conveyed by a second conveyance amount smaller than the first conveyance amount from the end of the recording medium in the conveyance direction to the predetermined region, and the first region is conveyed to the other region. A program code for a transporting step of transporting by a transport amount, and the number of recording passes input in the inputting step, based on the image information, in accordance with the transport of the recording medium in the transporting step. A computer-readable memory, characterized in that it comprises a program code of a recording control step of multipass printing an image. 22. A print head having a plurality of ejection portions arranged in a direction in which the print medium is conveyed is scanned a plurality of times on the same print area of the print medium, and an image based on input image information is printed on the print medium. A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a printing apparatus that performs multi-pass printing to be completed on the computer, the program code of an inputting step of inputting the number of printing passes of the multi-pass printing, and inputting in the inputting step. A print control step of prohibiting the conveyance of the recording medium to a predetermined area from an end of the recording medium in the conveyance direction based on the number of recording passes, and performing multi-pass printing of an image based on the image information. A computer-readable memory comprising program code.