JP2001113691A - Printing apparatus, printing method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To obtain a high-quality image without performing interlace printing in a printing apparatus including a nozzle block configured by combining a plurality of nozzle units. SOLUTION: A nozzle block includes k nozzle units having a nozzle pitch in the sub-scanning direction of k dots (k is an integer of 4 or more) and the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction of N (N is an integer of 2 or more). Constitute. Each of the nozzle units constituting the nozzle block has at least two nozzle units overlapping in the main scanning direction, and the nozzle of the first nozzle unit among the k nozzle units is the i-th nozzle (i is 2 or more, k The remainder obtained by dividing the distance Li of the nozzle unit in the sub-scanning direction from the nozzle of the nozzle unit by the nozzle pitch k takes different values of 1 to (k-1), and the difference between the nearest nozzles between the nozzle units They are arranged so that the distance in the sub-scanning direction is 2 dots or more. Then, the sub-scan is repeated for the nozzle block by the feed amount of kN dots, and printing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method, and more particularly to a printing apparatus and a printing method having a nozzle block formed by combining a plurality of nozzle units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as an output device of a computer,
2. Description of the Related Art A color printer that discharges several colors of ink from an ink head has become widespread, and is widely used for printing an image processed by a computer or the like in multiple colors and multiple gradations. In a conventional relatively small color printer, an ink head having a large number of nozzles is assigned to each color, and multicolor printing is performed.

[0003] Recently, large-sized print media have been used.
Due to a demand for an improvement in printing speed or the like, the necessity of “multiple nozzles” in which a larger number of nozzles are arranged in an ink head than before has been increasing. By increasing the number of nozzles, the number of scans of the ink head can be reduced, and the printing speed can be increased. However, it is difficult to stably form a large number of nozzles at a predetermined nozzle pitch on a single ink head. Therefore, in order to realize a so-called multi-nozzle, there has been proposed a type in which a plurality of nozzle units (conventional single ink head) are arranged in tandem in a sub-scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction to form a nozzle block. .

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-323978 discloses a so-called interlaced printing method using a print head (nozzle block) having a large number of dot forming elements (nozzles) even when the pitch of the dot forming elements is different on the way. And the like have been proposed for a printing device and the like that make it possible.

[0005]

However, arranging a large number of dot forming elements in tandem in the sub-scanning direction has a problem that the size of the print head is increased. Further, in interlaced printing in which sub-scanning is performed at a constant feed amount, rasters between rasters at nozzle pitch intervals recorded in one main scan are successively recorded in each main scan. There is a problem that color unevenness occurs at nozzle pitch intervals due to a difference in ink drying state. Further, when ink dots are formed on adjacent raster lines in the same main scan, the ink dots come into contact with each other on the print medium, causing the ink to bleed, thereby causing a problem of unevenness of ink and poor coloring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and in a printing apparatus having a nozzle block configured by combining a plurality of nozzle units, color unevenness can be achieved without performing interlace printing. The purpose was to prevent bleeding of ink and ink and to obtain a high quality printed image. It was also made to reduce the size of the nozzle block.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions / Effects To solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides:
The following configuration was adopted. In this specification, the minimum interval between ink dots that can be formed on a print medium is defined as one dot pitch. The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a nozzle block configured by combining a plurality of nozzle units. The nozzle block performs main scanning and sub scanning relative to a print medium in a direction intersecting with the main scanning, and discharges the nozzle block. A printing apparatus that forms an ink dot on a print medium by using the formed ink droplets and records an image, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle pitch in the sub-scanning direction that is the smallest of the ink dots that can be formed on the print medium. The interval is 1 dot pitch, k dot pitch (k is an integer of 4 or more), the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction is N (N is an integer of 2 or more), and the nozzle block is a combination of k nozzle units. Each of the nozzle units constituting the nozzle block has at least two nozzle units overlapping in the main scanning direction, and the k Of nozzle unit, the nozzle and the i-th first nozzle unit (i
Are integers of 2 or more and k or less) and the remainder obtained by dividing the distance Li from the nozzles of the nozzle unit in the sub-scanning direction by the nozzle pitch k takes different values from 1 to (k-1). That is the gist.

Further, the printing method of the present invention includes a nozzle block constituted by combining a plurality of nozzle units, and the nozzle block is relatively scanned with respect to the printing medium in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction. A printing method that performs printing using a printing apparatus that forms an ink dot on a print medium with an ejected ink droplet and records an image, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle pitch in the sub-scanning direction. A k dot pitch (k is an integer of 4 or more) with a minimum pitch of ink dots that can be formed on the print medium as 1 dot pitch, and N nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (N is an integer of 2 or more). , The nozzle block comprises:
It is configured by combining k nozzle units,
In each nozzle unit constituting the nozzle block, at least two nozzle units overlap in the main scanning direction,
The distance L in the sub-scanning direction between the nozzle of the first nozzle unit and the nozzle of the i-th nozzle unit (i is an integer of 2 or more and k or less) out of the k nozzle units.
The remainder after dividing i by the nozzle pitch k is 1 to (k-1)
The gist is that the nozzle blocks are scanned to form the ink dots on the print medium.

According to the printing apparatus and the printing method of the present invention, the nozzle block is constituted by the same number (k) of nozzle units as the nozzle pitch k (dot pitch) in the sub-scanning direction of the nozzle unit. Since the remainder obtained by dividing the distance Li of the nozzles in the sub-scanning direction between the nozzle units by the nozzle pitch k has different values of 1 to (k-1), the distance is high without performing interlaced printing. Printing at a resolution can be realized. Further, since the nozzle units are arranged so as to overlap in the main scanning direction, the length of the nozzle block in the sub-scanning direction can be shortened.

In the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the present invention, the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the nearest nozzles between the nozzle units may be equal to or more than 2 dot pitch.
By doing so, ink dots are not formed on adjacent raster lines in the same main scan, so that ink dots do not contact each other on the print medium and bleed, and unevenness of ink and poor coloring are prevented. Thus, a high-quality print image can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described printing apparatus and printing method, the sub-scan feed amount may be a k · N dot pitch. By doing so, it is possible to perform sub-scanning at a constant constant pitch feed amount of kN dot pitch without performing interlaced printing, and realize high-resolution printing without banding. Also, since ink dots are not formed on adjacent raster lines in the same main scan,
The ink dots do not come into contact with each other on the print medium, so that the ink does not bleed, and it is possible to prevent unevenness of the ink and poor coloring, thereby obtaining a high-quality print image.

Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the k nozzle units can be arranged so as to overlap in the main scanning direction. By doing so, the length of the nozzle block in the sub-scanning direction can be further reduced.

[0013] The printing method using the above-described printing apparatus includes the steps of:
Among the nozzle units, a nozzle unit that forms an adjacent raster can be a printing method in which ink dots are formed by different main scanning.

[0014] By doing so, ink dots are not formed on adjacent raster lines in one main scan, so that ink dots do not come into contact with each other on the print medium and bleed, and ink unevenness occurs. And defective coloring can be prevented, and a high-quality printed image can be obtained.

The recording medium of the present invention includes a nozzle block constituted by combining a plurality of nozzle units, and performs a main scan and a sub-scan in a direction intersecting the main scan with respect to the print medium relative to the print medium. A computer-readable recording medium for controlling a printing apparatus that records an image by forming ink dots on a printing medium using ejected ink droplets, and has a nozzle pitch in the sub-scanning direction. The minimum interval between ink dots that can be formed on the print medium is 1 dot pitch, k dot pitch (k is an integer of 4 or more), and the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction is N (N is an integer of 2 or more). K nozzle units are provided, at least two nozzle units overlap in the main scanning direction, and the first nozzle unit among the k nozzle units Nozzle and the i-th knit (i 2
The remainder obtained by dividing the distance Li in the sub-scanning direction from the nozzles of the nozzle unit of the above (an integer of k or less) by the nozzle pitch k is 1
Or a program for causing a computer to perform a function of sub-scanning nozzle blocks arranged so as to take different values from (k-1) with a sub-scanning feed amount of kN dot pitch. And

When the program recorded on the recording medium is executed by the computer, the printing apparatus of the present invention described above can be realized.

As storage media, flexible disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards,
Various media readable by a computer, such as a ROM cartridge, a punched card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device (memory such as RAM and ROM) and an external storage device of the computer can be used. The present invention also includes a mode as a program supply device that supplies a computer program for realizing the above-described control function to a computer through communication.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples. A. First Embodiment A-1. Device configuration: A-2. Schematic configuration of printer: A-3. Arrangement of nozzles and nozzle units: A-4. Discharge of ink droplet: A-5. Internal configuration of control circuit of printer: A-6. Printing method: B. Second embodiment: B-1. Arrangement of nozzles and nozzle units: B-2. Printing method:

A. First Embodiment A-1. Configuration of Apparatus: The configurations of an image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown, the computer 12 is connected to the scanner 12 and the printer 22. The computer 90 functions as an image processing device by loading and executing a predetermined program, and also functions as a printing device together with the printer 22. The computer 90 mainly includes a CPU 81 that executes various arithmetic processes for controlling operations related to image processing in accordance with a program.
The following components are connected to each other. ROM82
Stores in advance various programs and data necessary for the CPU 81 to execute various arithmetic processes.
Is a memory for temporarily reading and writing various programs and data necessary for the CPU 81 to execute various arithmetic processes. The input interface 84 is the scanner 1
The output interface 85 manages input of signals from the keyboard 2 and the keyboard 14, and outputs data to the printer 22. The CRTC 86 controls a signal output to the CRT 21 capable of color display. Disk controller (DDC)
87 is a hard disk 16 or a flexible drive 1
5 or a CD-ROM drive (not shown). The hard disk 16 has RA
Various programs loaded and executed by the M83, various programs provided in the form of device drivers, and the like are stored.

In addition, a serial input / output interface (SIO) 88 is connected to the bus 80. This S
The IO 88 is connected to the modem 18 and the modem 18
Through a public telephone line PNT. The computer 90 is connected to an external network via the SIO 88 and the modem 18, and by connecting to a specific server SV, it is also possible to download a program required for image processing to the hard disk 16. In addition, it is also possible to load a necessary program from a flexible disk FD or a CD-ROM, and cause the computer 90 to execute the program.

A-2. Schematic Configuration of Printer: The schematic configuration of the printer 22 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the drawing, the printer 22 includes a mechanism for transporting a sheet P by a paper feed motor 23, a mechanism for reciprocating a carriage 31 in the axial direction of a platen 26 by a carriage motor 24, and a nozzle block mounted on the carriage 31. 2
And a control circuit 40 for exchanging signals with the paper feed motor 23, the carriage motor 24, the nozzle block 28, and the operation panel 32. ing.

A mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 31 in the axial direction of the platen 26 is provided in parallel with the axis of the platen 26, and an endless mechanism is provided between the carriage shaft 24 and the slide shaft 34 for slidably holding the carriage 31. And a position detecting sensor 39 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 31.

The carriage 31 has a cartridge 71 for black ink (K) and a cartridge 71 for cyan ink (C).
1) Cartridge 72, light cyan ink (C2)
Cartridge 73, magenta ink (M1) cartridge 74, light magenta ink (M2) cartridge 75, and yellow ink (Y) cartridge 76 can be mounted. The light cyan ink and the light magenta ink are inks in which the content of the dye is reduced to 1/4 of the cyan ink and the magenta ink, and are for forming light dots. A total of six ink ejection heads 61 to 66 corresponding to these inks are formed in the collective head 30 below the carriage 31.
At the bottom of the carriage 31, an introduction pipe for guiding ink from the ink tank to each color head is provided upright. When the black ink cartridge 71 and the color ink cartridges 72 to 76 are mounted on the carriage 31 from above, the introduction pipes are inserted into the connection holes provided in each cartridge, and the ink cartridges are transferred from each ink cartridge to the ink discharge heads 61 to 66. Can be supplied. When the ink cartridge is mounted for the first time, the ink is discharged from the ink discharge head 6 by a dedicated pump.
An operation of sucking the image at 1 to 66 is performed.

A-3. Arrangement of nozzles and nozzle units: The arrangement of the nozzle blocks 28, nozzle units 29, and nozzles Nz in the collective head 30 will be described with reference to FIG. In the nozzle unit 29, 320 nozzles (160 nozzles × 2 rows) are arranged in a staggered manner at a nozzle pitch of 4 dot pitch.
, Two nozzle units 29 are arranged in the main scanning direction, and two nozzle units 29 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. As shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 3, the nozzle units 29 arranged in the main scanning direction are arranged at positions where the nozzle positions are shifted by two dot pitches in the sub-scanning direction. The nozzle units 29 arranged in the sub-scanning direction are arranged at positions shifted by 5 dot pitches. By arranging the nozzle units in this manner, the position of the nozzle Nz of each nozzle unit 29 can be set to an offset position having a different value from each other. Here, with reference to the offset of the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29a, the offset of the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29b is 2 dot pitch, the offset of the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29c is 1 dot pitch, and the offset of the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29d. Has a 3-dot pitch. Note that the offset of the nozzle units 29a to 29d is not limited to this, but may take different values, and the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the closest nozzles between the nozzle units may be 2 dot pitch or more. . In the present embodiment, the nozzles Nz on the nozzle unit 29 are arranged in a staggered manner so that the nozzle pitch can be easily set small in manufacturing. However, they may be arranged in a straight line.

A-4. Discharge of ink droplet: A piezo element, which is one of the electrostrictive elements and has excellent responsiveness, is arranged in each nozzle Nz. The piezo element is installed at a position in contact with an ink passage for guiding ink to the nozzle Nz. As is well known, a piezo element is an element that distorts the crystal structure due to application of a voltage and converts electric-mechanical energy at an extremely high speed. In this embodiment, by applying a voltage having a predetermined time width between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezo element, the piezo element expands by the voltage application time and deforms one side wall of the ink passage. As a result, the volume of the ink passage contracts in accordance with the expansion of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction becomes particles and is ejected at a high speed from the tip of the nozzle. The paper P on which the ink particles are mounted on the platen 26
Printing is performed by infiltrating into.

A-5. Internal Configuration of Printer Control Circuit, etc .: An internal configuration of the control circuit 40 of the printer 22 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and a method of controlling the driving of the nozzle block 28 including the plurality of nozzle units 29 shown in FIG. explain. CP inside the control circuit 40
PC interface 4 for exchanging data with computer 90 in addition to U41, PROM 42, RAM 43
4, a peripheral input / output unit (PIO) 45 for exchanging signals with the paper feed motor 23, the carriage motor 24, the operation panel 32, etc., a timer 46 for measuring time, and a drive for generating a drive voltage waveform for the piezo element. Waveform generation circuit 47
And an interface 49 for transmitting dot data and drive signals to the head drive circuit 51. These elements and circuits are interconnected by a bus 48. The drive waveform generation circuit 47 includes a D / A converter (DAC), an amplifier, and the like.
A drive voltage waveform for the piezo element is generated in synchronization with the 0 clock signal. The drive signal generated by the drive waveform generation circuit 47 is transmitted to the head drive circuit 51 via the interface 49.
Is input to the switch circuit.

The drive of the collective head 30 is controlled by a head drive circuit 51. The head drive circuit 51 includes a shift register, a latch circuit, a level shifter, a switch circuit, and the like. The dot data is stored in the oscillator 5
0 in synchronization with the clock signal from
To the shift register via This data is
The voltage is once held in a latch circuit, amplified by a level shifter to a voltage at which the switch circuit can operate, and input to the switch circuit. The drive signal from the drive waveform generation circuit 47 is input to the switch circuit via the interface 49 irrespective of whether or not an ink dot is formed. A piezo element is connected to the output side of the switch circuit, and only the switch that receives dot data supplies a drive signal to the piezo element, and ink droplets are ejected.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink ejection heads 61 to 66 are arranged along the transport direction of the carriage 31, so that each nozzle row is at the same position with respect to the paper P. The timing of reaching is shifted. Therefore, the CPU 41 controls the ink ejection head 6.
The dot data is output at a necessary timing in consideration of the deviation of the positions of the nozzles 1 to 66 in the main scanning direction. As a result, the ink dots of each color are formed at predetermined positions. In addition, the ink ejection head 6
For 1 to 66, the output of dot data is controlled in consideration of the fact that the nozzles Nz are formed in two rows.

In the printer 22 having the above-described hardware configuration, the carriage 31 is reciprocated by the carriage motor 24 while the paper P is conveyed by the paper feed motor 23, and at the same time, the resolution conversion and color correction performed by the computer 90 are performed. Based on image data generated by image processing such as halftoning and the like, the piezo elements of the ink ejection heads 61 to 66 are driven to eject ink droplets of each color, and ink dots are formed on the paper P to form ink dots. A multi-tone image is formed.

A-6. Printing method: 1280 (= k · N:
(k = 4, N = 320) Printing is performed by sub-scanning at a feed amount of a dot pitch. The state of sub-scanning and ink dot formation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For simplicity, each nozzle unit 29a to 29d
Nozzles Nz were arranged in six rows in one row. Symbols in the enlarged view (の,
□, ●, ■) indicate four nozzle units 29a, respectively.
To 29d nozzles (A1 to A6, B1 to B6, C1
To C6, D1 to D6), the numbers in the symbols indicate the nozzles formed by the nozzles. As shown in the figure, ink dots are formed using nozzles C1 to C6 and D1 to D6 in the first main scan (the number of sub-scan feeds is 0), and k · N (k = 4 in FIG. 5). From N = 6, KN =
24) After performing the sub-scanning at the dot pitch, A1 through A6 and B1 in the second main scanning (one sub-scan feed).
Ink nozzles B6 to B6 are used to form ink dots on the raster lines on which no ink dots were formed in the first main scan. Printing is performed by repeating such an operation. Although not shown, ink dots can be formed by using all the nozzles of the nozzle units 29a to 29d in the second and subsequent main scans.

Four nozzle units 29a to 29d
Since the nozzle positions have different offsets, by performing sub-scanning in this way, all rasters on the print area can be formed without performing interlaced printing, and high-resolution Printing can be realized. In addition, since ink dots are not formed on adjacent raster lines in one main scan, the ink dots do not contact each other on the print medium to prevent the ink from bleeding, thereby preventing ink unevenness and defective coloring. And a high quality printed image can be obtained.

B. Second Embodiment: This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the arrangement of the nozzle units 29 in the nozzle block 28 and the printing method. Therefore, only these will be described.

B-1. Arrangement of nozzles and nozzle units: The arrangement of the nozzle blocks 28, nozzle units 29 and nozzles Nz in the collective head 30 will be described with reference to FIG. In the nozzle unit 29, 320 nozzles (160 nozzles × 2 rows) are arranged in a staggered manner at a nozzle pitch of 4 dot pitch.
Has four nozzle units 29a 'to 29d' overlapping in the main scanning direction, and the nozzle position in the sub-scanning direction is one.
They are arranged so as to be shifted by the dot pitch. Here, with reference to the offset of the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29a ', the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29b'
Offset of 1 dot pitch, nozzle unit 29
The offset of the nozzle Nz of c ′ has a 2-dot pitch, and the offset of the nozzle Nz of the nozzle unit 29d ′ has a 3-dot pitch. The nozzle unit 29a '
The offsets 29d 'to 29d' are not limited to this, and may take different values. In the present embodiment, the nozzles Nz on the nozzle unit 29 are arranged in a staggered manner so that the nozzle pitch can be easily set small in manufacturing. However, they may be arranged in a straight line.

B-2. Printing method: 1280 (= k · N:
(k = 4, N = 320) Printing is performed by sub-scanning at a feed amount of a dot pitch. The state of ink dot formation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For simplicity, the arrangement of the nozzles Nz in each of the nozzle units 29a 'to 29d' is six in one row. The symbols (拡 大, □, ●,
{Circle around (3)} indicates the nozzles (A1 to A6, B1 to B6, C1 to C4) of the four nozzle units 29a 'to 29d', respectively.
6, D1 to D6), and the numbers in the symbols indicate the nozzles formed by the nozzles. As shown in the figure, since the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the nozzles of the four adjacent nozzle units 29a 'to 29d' is one dot pitch, no ink dots are formed on the adjacent raster lines in one main scan. As described above, in the first main scan, ink dots are formed using the nozzle units 29a 'and the nozzle units 29c' that are not adjacent to each other. Then, without performing sub-scanning, ink dots are formed by using the nozzle unit 29b 'and the nozzle unit 29d' which did not form ink dots in the first time in the second main scanning. Of course, ink dots may be formed by using the nozzle unit 29b 'and the nozzle unit 29d' in the first main scan and by using the nozzle unit 29a 'and the nozzle unit 29c' in the second main scan.

By performing printing in this manner, all rasters on the print area can be formed without performing interlaced printing, and high-resolution printing without banding can be realized. In addition, since ink dots are not formed on adjacent raster lines in one main scan, the ink dots do not contact each other on the print medium to prevent the ink from bleeding, thereby preventing ink unevenness and defective coloring. And a high quality printed image can be obtained. In addition, since the nozzle units are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction, the length of the nozzle block in the sub scanning direction can be shortened, whereby the width of the platen 26 of the printing apparatus in the sub scanning direction can also be reduced. .

C. Others: In the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, a printer having an ink head that discharges ink droplets using the piezo element PE is used as described above, but a printer that discharges ink droplets by another method is used. It is good. For example, the present invention can be applied to a printer of a type in which a heater disposed in an ink passage is energized and ink droplets are ejected by bubbles generated in the ink passage.

Since the printing apparatus of the present embodiment described above includes processing by a computer, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment may be implemented as a recording medium on which a program for realizing the processing is recorded. Examples of such a recording medium include a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punched card, a printed matter on which a code such as a bar code is printed, and an internal storage device of a computer (such as a RAM or ROM). Various computer-readable media such as a memory and an external storage device can be used. Also, on the computer,
A storage device in a program supply device that supplies a computer program and data for performing the processing described above via a communication path is also possible.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various embodiments can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is. For example, a so-called interlace or overlap printing method may be applied by changing the sub-scan feed amount of the nozzle block 28.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzle blocks 28, nozzle units 29, and nozzles Nz in the collective head 30 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a control circuit of the printer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of sub-scanning of a nozzle block and formation of ink dots in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzle blocks 28, nozzle units 29 and nozzles Nz in a collective head 30 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of sub-scanning of a nozzle block and formation of ink dots in a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Scanner 14 ... Keyboard 15 ... Flexible drive 16 ... Hard disk 18 ... Modem 21 ... CRT 22 ... Printer 23 ... Paper feed motor 24 ... Carriage motor 26 ... Platen 28 ... Nozzle block 29 ... Nozzle unit 30 ... Collecting head 31 ... Carriage 32 ... Operation panel 34 ... Sliding shaft 36 ... Drive belt 38 ... Pulley 39 ... Position detection sensor 40 ... Control circuit 41 ... CPU 42 ... Programmable ROM (PROM) 43 ... RAM 44 ... PC interface 45 ... Peripheral input / output unit (PIO) Reference numeral 46: Timer 47: Drive waveform generation circuit 48: Bus 49: Interface 50: Oscillator 51: Head drive circuit 61-66: Ink ejection head 71: Black ink cartridge 72-76: Color ink cartridge 8 0 bus 81 CPU 82 ROM 83 RAM 84 input interface 85 output interface 86 CRTC 87 disk controller (DDC) 88 serial input / output interface 90 computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA04 EA23 EC07 EC12 EC34 EC37 FA10 HA07 HA22 2C057 AG15 AG16 AG44 AG46 AM18 AM40 AN01 BA13 BA14 2C480 CA02 CA55 EC02 ED03

Claims (9)

[Claims] A nozzle block configured by combining a plurality of nozzle units, wherein the nozzle block performs main scanning and sub-scanning relative to a print medium in a direction intersecting with the main scanning and discharges the nozzle block. What is claimed is: 1. A printing apparatus for recording an image by forming ink dots on a print medium by ink droplets, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle pitch in a sub-scanning direction,
The minimum interval between ink dots that can be formed on the print medium is 1 dot pitch, k dot pitch (k is an integer of 4 or more), and the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction is N (N is an integer of 2 or more), The nozzle block is configured by combining k nozzle units, and each nozzle unit configuring the nozzle block has at least two nozzle units overlapping in the main scanning direction;
The distance L in the sub-scanning direction between the nozzle of the first nozzle unit and the nozzle of the i-th nozzle unit (i is an integer of 2 or more and k or less) out of the k nozzle units.
The remainder after dividing i by the nozzle pitch k is 1 to (k-1)
The printing devices that are arranged to take different values for each. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance in a sub-scanning direction between nearest nozzles between the nozzle units is equal to or more than a two-dot pitch. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the k nozzle units are arranged so as to overlap in the main scanning direction. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sub-scan feed amount is a kN dot pitch. 5. A printing apparatus, comprising: a nozzle block configured by combining a plurality of nozzle units. The nozzle block performs a main scan and a sub scan in a direction intersecting the main scan relative to a print medium, and discharges the nozzle block. A printing method for performing printing using a printing apparatus that records an image by forming ink dots on a print medium using ink droplets, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle pitch in a sub-scanning direction,
The minimum interval between ink dots that can be formed on the print medium is 1 dot pitch, k dot pitch (k is an integer of 4 or more), and the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction is N (N is an integer of 2 or more), The nozzle block is configured by combining k nozzle units, and each nozzle unit configuring the nozzle block has at least two nozzle units overlapping in the main scanning direction;
The distance L in the sub-scanning direction between the nozzle of the first nozzle unit and the nozzle of the i-th nozzle unit (i is an integer of 2 or more and k or less) out of the k nozzle units.
The remainder after dividing i by the nozzle pitch k is 1 to (k-1)
A printing method in which the nozzle blocks are scanned to form the ink dots on the print medium. 6. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein printing is performed using a printing apparatus in which a distance in a sub-scanning direction between nearest nozzles between the nozzle units is equal to or greater than a two-dot pitch. 7. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein the k nozzle units are arranged so as to overlap in the main scanning direction, and form an adjacent raster among the k nozzle units. Is a printing method in which ink dots are formed by different main scanning. 8. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein the sub-scan feed amount is a kN dot pitch. 9. A printing apparatus comprising a nozzle block configured by combining a plurality of nozzle units, wherein the nozzle block performs main scanning and sub-scanning relative to a print medium in a direction intersecting with the main scanning and discharges the nozzle block. What is claimed is: 1. A recording medium in which a computer is capable of reading a program for controlling a printing apparatus that records an image by forming ink dots on a printing medium by using ink droplets. The minimum interval of ink dots that can be formed in
K nozzle units having a dot pitch (k is an integer of 4 or more) and N nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (N is an integer of 2 or more) are provided, and at least two nozzle units overlap in the main scanning direction. And the nozzle of the first nozzle unit and the i-th nozzle (i is 2
The remainder obtained by dividing the distance Li in the sub-scanning direction from the nozzles of the nozzle unit of the above (an integer of k or less) by the nozzle pitch k is 1
And (k-1) a recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to perform a function of sub-scanning a nozzle block arranged so as to take different values with a sub-scanning feed amount of kN dot pitch is recorded.