JP2001205789A - Ink jet recorder and ink jet recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce positional shift of recording element in the direction orthogonal to raster. SOLUTION: A recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in correspondence with the maximum recording width of a recording medium and performing recording by ejecting an ink drop from each recording element is fixed at a specified angle traversing a plurality of raster regions (M-1, M, M+1), when the recording region of the recording medium is divided into a number of raster regions corresponding to the maximum recordable rasters. Recording data being transmitted to each recording element is selected such that recording data corresponding to one raster (M) of image data being recorded is recorded in the same raster region (M) on the recording medium and then each recording element is driven by time sharing thus performing recording.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method for performing recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an information output device in, for example, a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile, etc., there is a printer for recording desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or film.

[0003] Various types of printing methods are known for printers. However, ink-jet printing is possible because non-contact printing is possible on printing media such as paper, colorization is easy, and quietness is high. In recent years, the method has attracted much attention, and as a configuration, a carriage equipped with a recording head having a plurality of recording elements (nozzles) arranged in a predetermined direction is reciprocally scanned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the nozzles. There are known a serial recording method in which recording is performed while recording, and a method in which a so-called full-line type recording head having a nozzle array in an area corresponding to the recording width of a sheet and recording is performed while the sheet is conveyed.

In an ink jet printer that discharges ink droplets by using thermal energy, pressure vibrations generated during bubbling or defoaming propagate in a common liquid chamber, and ink is discharged from an adjacent nozzle or a nearby nozzle. The characteristics may deteriorate.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-112528 discloses that in order to prevent the deterioration of the ejection characteristics, the nozzles are driven in a time-divisional manner, not in an order according to the arrangement, but in a distributed manner. It is stated that the effect is reduced.

Therefore, when recording is performed using a full-line type recording head, it is necessary to mount the recording head at a predetermined angle with respect to the raster direction in order to increase the recording speed while performing time-division driving. Many.

Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional recording method when a full-line type recording head is mounted at a predetermined angle with respect to the raster direction will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a recording sheet to be recorded while being conveyed as viewed from above the sheet. In the drawing, an area indicated by ABCD indicates a recording sheet, and an arrow indicates a sheet conveying direction. Each area divided into strips in the recording paper ABCD in a direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction indicates one raster recording area corresponding to the resolution in the conveyance direction. Dotted lines obliquely drawn on the recording paper represent the nozzle rows of the recording head, and circles arranged on the dotted lines represent the positions of the nozzles of the recording head. Here, from 1 to 11 from the left end. No. 11 are shown.

The three diagonal lines represent the positions of the recording heads on the recording paper corresponding to the three recording cycles for recording one raster. That is, at the time point of n−1, L (n
-1), L (n) at time n, L (n +
This shows that the recording head is located at the position 1). Actually, the recording head is fixed and the recording paper is conveyed and moves. Here, the recording head is shown to move downward relative to the recording paper.

Here, the recording data corresponding to the raster of number M shown on the right side of FIG. 2 is recorded at the timing shown in Table 1.

[0011]

[Table 1]

That is, printing is performed for the nozzles of nozzle numbers 1 to 4 when the print head position is at L (n + 1), and for the nozzles of nozzle numbers 5 to 8, the print head position is at L (n). , Recording is performed, and the nozzles 9 through 11 have the recording head positions L (n−n).
It is recorded in the state of 1).

FIG. 3 is a view showing a printing result in a case where ink is discharged by distributed driving using the printing head shown in FIG. Here, the flight time of the ink droplets flying from the nozzle to the recording paper is almost the same for all the ink droplets. Only the influence of driving was considered.

The distributed driving is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-112528.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209, this is a method in which the ejection order of ink ejection is dispersed in one nozzle block including a plurality of nozzle groups. In the case of this conventional example,
Four nozzles form one block, and the first of each block
Nozzles (nozzle numbers 1, 5, 9) at a first timing, and second nozzles (nozzle numbers 2, 6, 10) at a second timing, a third nozzle (nozzle numbers 3, 7, 1).
1) is the third timing, and the fourth nozzle (nozzle numbers 4 and 8) is driven at the fourth timing.

Here, the above four timing intervals are equivalent, and are time intervals obtained by dividing the ink discharge cycle into four. The order of driving is the order of the first nozzle, the third nozzle, the second nozzle, and the fourth nozzle. When printing is performed under the above conditions, as shown in FIG. 3, the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from each nozzle is shifted with respect to the nozzle position shown in FIG. 2 until the nozzle is driven. It is a position moved by the downward arrow from each nozzle position in the figure, which is the distance to be performed. The expected landing positions of the ink droplets on the M raster are the positions of solid black circles.

[0016]

Therefore, the recording result of the eleven ink droplets originally ejected for recording on a straight line in the same M raster becomes a zigzag shape as shown in FIG. Ink droplets ejected from the fourth nozzle of the nozzle block land beyond the area of the M raster. An error of one raster or more occurs between the landing position of the ink droplet discharged from the fourth nozzle and the landing position of the ink droplet discharged from the first nozzle of the adjacent block. The dispersion of the ink droplet landing positions in the directions becomes significant.

That is, since the recording timing from the reference dot differs for each dot due to the dispersion driving, a positional deviation from the reference straight line occurs.

As a result, the linearity of the raster in the raster direction is not ensured, and the quality of the recorded image is reduced.

In particular, in a recording apparatus having a structure in which a full-line type recording head is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the raster direction, the positional deviation of the recording dots at the joint between the rasters becomes remarkable. There is.

When a color image is drawn by using a plurality of recording heads that eject inks of different colors, the above-mentioned distributed driving and the inclination of the recording head are different for each recording head, so that the dot registration does not match. A situation arises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method in which the displacement of a recording pixel in a direction orthogonal to a raster is small.

[0022]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of recording elements arranged corresponding to the maximum recording width of a recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording head that performs recording by discharging droplets, and performs recording while transporting a recording medium, wherein the recording head corresponds to the maximum number of rasters that can record a recording area of the recording medium. When divided into a number of raster areas, the raster elements are attached at a predetermined angle across the plurality of raster areas, and correspond to one raster of image data to be recorded, and a driving unit for driving the recording element in a time-division manner. As the recording data is recorded in the same raster area on the recording medium,
Data selection means for selecting print data to be transmitted to each printing element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording method comprising a plurality of recording elements arranged corresponding to a maximum recording width of a recording medium, and recording by ejecting ink droplets from each recording element. An ink jet recording method for performing recording while transporting a recording medium using a recording head that performs the recording, wherein the recording head is divided into a number of raster areas corresponding to a maximum number of recordable rasters in a recording area of the recording medium. Then, a drive step of attaching the plurality of raster areas at a predetermined angle across the plurality of raster areas and driving the recording element in a time-division manner, and recording data corresponding to one raster of image data to be recorded are recorded on the recording medium. A data selecting step of selecting print data to be transmitted to each print element so that the print data is recorded in the same raster area.

That is, a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arrayed corresponding to the maximum recording width of a recording medium and performing recording by discharging ink droplets from each recording element is used to record in a recording area of the recording medium. When the image is divided into a number of raster areas corresponding to the maximum possible number of rasters, it is attached at a predetermined angle across a plurality of raster areas, and recording data corresponding to one raster of image data to be recorded is the same on the recording medium. Recording data to be transmitted to each recording element is selected so as to be recorded in the raster area, and recording is performed by driving each recording element in a time-division manner.

In this way, the expected landing position of the ink droplet ejected from each recording element is calculated from the mounting angle of the recording head and the driving order of each recording element by time division driving, and each recording element is calculated according to the calculation result. And the recording data corresponding to one raster can be recorded in the same raster area on the recording medium.

Therefore, it is possible to improve the quality of the recorded image by reducing the displacement of the recording pixels in the recording medium transport direction orthogonal to the raster. This has an effect that color registration adjustment for forming a secondary color or the like can be easily performed particularly when color recording is performed using a plurality of recording heads that eject ink droplets of different colors.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a method of selecting print data for each nozzle in the printing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the landing position of the ink droplets discharged from each nozzle is calculated in advance from the discharge delay time from the reference nozzle due to the distributed driving of each nozzle, the paper transport speed, and the inclination of the print head. The print data assigned to each nozzle is controlled so that the print data for the same raster all land on the print area of one raster.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording result in the case where ink is ejected by distributed driving in the recording apparatus of the present invention, similarly to FIG. The difference from the conventional example shown in FIG. 3 is that the fourth nozzle (nozzle number 4,
8).

That is, as described above, in FIG. 3, L (n)
When printing by distributed driving is performed at the print head position, the landing point of the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle of nozzle number 8 is expected to move from the M raster area to the (M + 1) raster area. Therefore, when the recording head is at the position of L (n-1), the recording data of the M raster is printed so that the landing position of the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle of the nozzle number 8 is within the M raster. To nozzle number 8
, And the ink is ejected by distributed driving.

Similarly, print data for the nozzle of nozzle number 4 of the M raster is given to the print head at the position of the head position L (n), and ink is ejected during a series of distributed driving. All the ink droplets ejected corresponding to the print data to be printed on the M raster by the above process land in the print area corresponding to one raster in the paper transport direction.

Table 2 is a table showing print head positions when printing is performed by each nozzle when drawing M rasters.

[0034]

[Table 2]

As shown in Table 2, in order to draw the recording area of the M raster, the recording data of the nozzles of the nozzle numbers 1 to 3 are stored in the nozzle numbers 4 to 7 when the recording head position is in the L (n + 1) state. In the print data of the nozzle No., the print head position is L
In the state (n), the print data of the nozzles of the nozzle numbers 8 to 11 indicates that it is necessary to print when the print head position is in the L (n-1) state.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a printing result in a case where ink is discharged by eight dispersion driving to a printing head having 21 nozzles and each nozzle block including eight nozzles. In the example shown here, the driving order of the nozzles in each nozzle block is 1, 6, 3, 8, 5, 2,.
7 and 4.

In the distributed driving shown in FIG.
Since the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle numbers 12, 13, 15, and 16 at the position (n) is predicted to be the M + 1 raster, the recording head moves to the position L (n-1) at the position M (n-1).
The raster recording data is converted to nozzle numbers 12, 13, 15,
16 and perform recording in a series of distributed driving, so that nozzle numbers 12, 13, 15, 1
The ink droplet No. 6 lands. A similar phenomenon occurs in nozzle numbers 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, and 21.

Table 3A is a table showing print head positions when printing is performed by each nozzle in FIG. 4 when drawing M rasters.

[0039]

[Table 3A]

As described above, by performing the same recording data control as in the example shown in FIG. 1, the recording position is improved so that the recording position falls within the recording area of the same raster.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a printing result in a case where ink is ejected by eight dispersion driving different from FIG. 4 to a printing head having 21 nozzles and each nozzle block having eight nozzles. It is. In the example shown here, the driving order of the nozzles in each nozzle block is 1, 3, 5,
7, 2, 4, 6, and 8.

Table 3B is a table showing print head positions when printing is performed by each nozzle in FIG. 5 when drawing M rasters.

[0043]

[Table 3B]

As described above, by performing the same recording data control as in the example shown in FIG. 1, the recording position is improved so as to fall within the recording area of the same raster.

Hereinafter, a printer as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which controls the print data described above, will be described.

FIG. 18 is an external view partially showing the internal structure of the printer. The printer of the present embodiment is a printer that includes a so-called full-line type recording head having a nozzle row in an area corresponding to the recording width of a sheet, and performs recording according to an ink jet method while conveying the sheet.

This printer includes a paper feed unit 101 for taking out recording paper to be stored one by one and supplying it to a recording unit, and a transport unit 103 for transporting the recording paper taken out of the paper supply unit.
A recording unit 102 that performs recording by a plurality of recording heads 1206 that eject inks of different colors onto recording paper being transported, and a discharge unit 104 that discharges the recorded recording paper.

In the following, one print head will be described. In the printer of the present invention, the same control is performed for the other print heads, and the above-described position control of the ejected ink droplets is performed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the recording head 1206. FIG. 6A is a diagram of the recording head as viewed from above, and FIG. 6B is a diagram of the recording head as viewed from the ink ejection surface.
(C) is an enlarged view of the discharge surface of the IC.

At the edge of the base plate 601, 14 ICs each having a nozzle and a discharge control circuit are mounted side by side. Also, the upper part of the base plate 601 has 14
A PCB 602 for connecting control signals from the ICs to a recording control unit in the printer is provided. Each IC is 256
There are a total of 3584 discharge nozzles, and a total of 3584 discharge nozzles are arranged continuously so that ink is discharged from the side surface of the IC.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the IC. The recording data is supplied to the IC via the iDATA signal. The data transfer clock is I via the iSCLKS signal.
C is supplied. The iDATA signal synchronized with the rising timing of the iSCLKS signal is input to the shift register 701. The shift registers in the IC are connected in cascade, and all data are set by 256 clocks of iSCLKS.

In the IC, for each of the 256 nozzles,
A shift register 701, a data latch 702, a distribution control unit 703, a transistor 704, and a resistor 705 are provided. Also, the ICs are connected in a cascade with 14 ICs so that the recording data can be transferred.
Output signal oDATA and transfer clock signal oS from the 256th shift register in
CLKS is output.

When the transfer of the recording data is completed, iLATC
The H signal is asserted, and the recording data stored in the shift register 701 is latched by the data latch 702. Therefore, after the iLATCH signal is asserted, the recording data of the next line can be transferred. The recording data stored in the data latch 702 is distributed and driven by the distribution control unit 703.

[0054]

[Table 4]

Table 4 is a table showing nozzle numbers selected by the dispersion control unit 703 from combinations of three signal states iA, iB, and iC. When the ON signal is asserted for the nozzle selected according to this table, the transistor 704 is output.
Is driven, and the resistor 705 is energized. By the heat generation of the resistor due to the energization, ink is ejected according to a known principle described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-112528.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing connections between 14 ICs. IDATA and iSCLKS of IC1 are connected to a print data control unit (not shown) of the printer, and
DATA and oSCLKS are iDATA and SCL of IC2
KS connection. Also, oDATA and oSCL of IC2
KS is connected to iDATA of IC3 by iSCLKS.
The signals are cascaded from IC3 to IC14. iLATCH signal, iA signal, iB signal, i
The C signal is connected in parallel to terminals of the same signal name of each IC. The ON signal of each signal can be controlled independently for each IC.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of each signal in the IC connection state shown in FIG. iDATA and i
After 3584 pieces of data for each nozzle are transferred to the shift register by SCLKS, iLATCH is asserted and print data is latched. Thereafter, the iA, iB, and iC signals, which are dispersion control signals, are asserted. The nozzle numbers selected by the dispersion control signal are as shown in Table 4 above.
As shown in FIG.

In the timing chart shown in FIG. 9, first, the nozzle having the nozzle number 1 + 8 × N (N = 0 to 447) is selected. ICs selected in the selected nozzle group are sequentially driven. FIG. 9 shows that the ON signal of the IC is driven for each IC with a slight time delay from ON1 to ON14.

In FIG. 9, when ON1 is asserted,
Among the nozzles of the nozzle number of IC1 of 1 + 8 × N (N = 0 to 31), the driving is performed for the nozzle having the print data. Similarly, when the ON2 signal is asserted, the nozzle number of IC2 is 1 + 8 × N (N = 32 to 6
Of the nozzles in 3), the nozzles having print data are driven. When each IC is sequentially driven in this way and the ON14 signal is asserted, the nozzle number of the IC14 becomes 1 + 8
Of the nozzles of xN (N = 416 to 447), nozzles having print data are driven.

When the nozzle number is 1 + 8 × N (N = 0 to 44)
When the driving of the nozzle of 7) is completed, the nozzle number is 5 + 8
xN (N = 0 to 447) nozzles are driven. I
The driving order of C is such that the nozzle number is 1 + 8 × N (N = 0 to
447) The ON signal of each IC is ON1 in the same order as in the case of (447).
To ON14. 1 + 8x above work
N, 5 + 8xN, 2 + 8xN, 6 + 8xN, 3 + 8x
N, 7 + 8 × N, 4 + 8 × N, 8 + 8 × N (N = 0 to 4
By performing the operations in the order of 47), recording of all nozzles is completed, and data of one raster is recorded.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting print data to be transferred to the print head described above. 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining various parameters in FIG.

FIG. 11A shows the physical parameters. The inclination angle of the recording head from a line segment perpendicular to the paper transport direction is Δ, the nozzle interval is E, and Lr (k) is the distance from the first nozzle in the paper transport direction. Let V be the distance of the k-th nozzle and the paper transport speed. Further, M represents a raster whose value varies from 1 to the maximum number Mmax of recording sheets.
k represents a nozzle number, which varies from 1 to the maximum nozzle number kmax of the print head.

FIG. 11B shows time parameters, where T is the recording cycle of the recording head, tb is the distributed block interval of distributed driving, and tI is the driving time delay between adjacent ICs.
Defined as C. Further, FIG. 11C shows the maximum raster number Mm.
The configuration of an image memory that stores print data corresponding to the case where ax = 3300 and the maximum nozzle number kmax = 3584 is shown.

In FIG. 10, a function F (k) represents a dispersion control function for obtaining a drive order in the dispersion drive from the nozzle number k, and when k takes a value of 0 to 7, F8k).
Are the values shown in Table 5.

[0065]

[Table 5]

Further, the function QUAOTIENT () represents the quotient of the division, and mod () represents the remainder of the division. That is, when a = b × c + d, c = QUA
OTIENT (a, b), d = mod (a, b).

Here, the recording data selection process is performed as shown in FIG.
This will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, since the recording data is obtained from the first raster of the recording paper, an initial setting of M = 1 (Step S)
101), since data is generated from the first nozzle, k = 1
And the raster interval L indicating the resolution in the paper transport direction is initially set as the product of the paper transport speed V and the recording cycle T of the recording head (step S102).

Subsequently, the calculation of the ink landing position is performed by three equations (step S103). The first equation shown here indicates that the displacement Lr (k) from the reference nozzle due to the inclination of the recording head is obtained from the inclination angle of the recording head and the distance from the reference nozzle. The previous term in the second equation is
This is a formula for calculating a drive delay time due to block distributed driving, and includes a distributed block interval tb and a distribution order mod ((k−
By multiplying by 1) and σ), a drive delay time due to block dispersion driving is obtained. The latter term of the second expression is the inter-IC drive time delay interval tIC and QUAOTIENT ((k
-1), the inter-IC drive time delay is determined by multiplying the IC position calculated by Mn). The heat delay time Tkd of each nozzle is calculated by taking the sum of the preceding term and the following term of the second equation. In the third equation, the heat delay time Tkd and the sheet transport speed V calculated by the second equation are used.
, The heat delay displacement Ld (k) is obtained.

Next, a quotient m obtained by dividing the sum of the displacement Lr (k) due to the head tilt and the heat delay displacement Ld (k) by the width L of one raster is obtained (step S104). This quotient m means that it is m rasters away from the current raster position.

Then, the recording data is picked up from the image memory from the calculated quotient m (step S10).
5). Here, D (k, M + m) indicates that the recording data of the M + m raster at the position of the nozzle number k is to be picked up. Dp (k) indicates print data of the nozzle number k.

When the above processing is completed, the nozzle number is counted up (step S106). Then, it is determined whether or not the nozzle number is larger than the maximum value (step S1).
07), if k> kmax, it means that the recording data Dp (k) (K = 1 to kmax) for one raster has been obtained.

In this case, the recording data for one raster obtained by the above processing is recorded (step S108). Then, in order to perform a process for the next raster, M indicating the raster is counted up (step S10).
9). It is determined whether the raster number has exceeded the maximum value (step S110), and a determination is made as to the end of recording of one page. The process returns to step S102 and repeats the above processing until M> Mmax.

Tables 6B and 6C show some of the results calculated according to the processing of the above flowchart. The calculation conditions are shown in Table 6A.

[0075]

[Table 6A]

[0076]

[Table 6B]

[0077]

[Table 6C]

Hereinafter, a configuration relating to recording control of the printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

The printer according to the present embodiment has a CPU 120 for controlling the entire system as a configuration related to recording control.
1, a system memory 1202 for storing an operation program of the CPU 1201, an image memory 1203 for storing image data to be printed, a DMA controller 1204 for controlling access to the image memory 1203, and printing by discharging ink. A print head 1206 and a head transfer unit 120 that transfers print data to the print head 1206
7 and a data transfer control unit 1 for controlling transfer of recording data
205 and a video interface 12 for inputting image data as serial data to the data transfer control unit 1205
08.

The input raster data is input to the data transfer control unit 1205 as serial data from the video interface 1208, and is input to the data transfer control unit 1205.
In step 5, the data is converted into recording data. The converted recording data is transferred to the image memory 120 using the DMA controller 1204.
3 is sent to the head transfer unit 1207, subjected to parallel / serial conversion, and then transferred to the recording head 1206.

Next, the data transfer control section 1205 will be described. The data transfer control unit 1205 includes a data latch unit 12051, a data selection unit 12052, a raster memory unit 12053, and a read count control unit 12054.

When the raster data is transferred as serial data synchronized with the clock by the video interface 1208, the data latch unit 12051 changes the transferred serial data into parallel data for processing in the data transfer control unit 1205. I do. Each time parallel data is generated, the data latch unit 12501 informs the read number control unit 12054, and the read number control unit 12054 measures the number of generations and passes the information to the data selection unit 12052.

The data latch section 12053 has a memory for one raster and holds data of the previous raster. The previous raster data is stored in the data latch unit 12.
051 from the raster memory unit 12053
Is controlled by forwarding to Data latch unit 12
051 and the previous raster data stored in the raster memory unit 12053 are stored in the data selection unit 1205.
2 is input. The data selection unit 12052 selects data from the data latch unit and data from the raster memory unit 12053 based on information from the read count control unit 12054, and generates recording data for recording.

The data at the time of recording generated by the data selection unit 12052 is stored in the image memory 1203 using the DMA controller 1204. Image memory 12 during recording
03 is sent to the head transfer unit 1207 using the DMA controller 1204,
7 to the print head 1206, the print data is transferred in a format suitable for the configuration of the print head.
At 06, recording is performed using the data.

FIG. 13 shows the data selection unit 1 in FIG.
FIG. 209 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an example 2052 in detail.

The data selector 12052 collectively processes data for nozzles belonging to the same distribution group, that is, nozzles driven simultaneously. In FIG. 13, 8
32 bits are handled as one data unit by distributed driving. In the first distributed block selector, the data of the nozzles of the nozzle numbers 1, 9, 17, and 25 of the current raster data and the next raster data are input, and one of the data is selected and output.

Similar selection operations are performed in the second to eighth other distributed block selectors in the same manner as in the first distributed block selector. Information from the read count control unit 12054 is sent to each distributed block selector through a transfer counter. Since the transfer counter uses a data block as one unit, that is, in this example, a 32-bit data bus is used, information using 32 nozzles as one unit is distributed to each distributed block selector. . this,
The information to be distributed is called the number of data blocks. In other words, a value obtained by dividing a predetermined nozzle number by 32 and rounding up is given as the number of data blocks.

The configuration of the distributed block selector will be described with reference to FIG. Each of the distributed block selectors is divided into a comparison block 1402 to 1404, a selector 1405 to 1408, and a raster change point register 1
409.

Table 7 shows picked up nozzle positions at which the value of m changes.

[0090]

[Table 7]

As shown in Table 7, the raster and the nozzle to be used are uniquely determined by the inclination angle of the recording head for each dispersion group. For example, a 4-dispersion group is a nozzle group having nozzle numbers 4, 12, 20,.
These groups have the same distribution order (drive timing). The used raster number indicates a relative position of a raster number to which print data is distributed according to the inclination of the print head. In this example, the used raster number 0 indicates that the relative error is 0, and the used raster number 1 is 1.
The relative position shift of the raster, the used raster number 7 is
This indicates that the relative displacement is 7 rasters.
Therefore, it is necessary to generate print data in consideration of the relative positional deviation of the used raster number and store it in the image memory.

Therefore, in the 4-dispersion group, the raster number to be used is 0 for the nozzles having the nozzle numbers of 1 to less than 260 in the nozzle groups, and the relative displacement does not need to be considered. . The raster number to be used is 1 for nozzles having a nozzle number of 260 or more and less than 764, and it is necessary to store print data in the image memory in consideration of a relative positional shift of one raster. Hereinafter, in the same manner as described above, it is necessary to consider the relative positional shift of seven rasters for the nozzles having the nozzle numbers of 3292 or more.

From the above-described raster and nozzle numbers used,
The dispersion numbers at the changing points of the used raster are shown in the middle part of Table 7. The distribution number represents the order from the distribution start nozzle position, with one group of distribution as one unit (dispersion block). In this example, since the driving is performed in an 8-distributed manner,
It shows how many units apart from the initial dispersion position the nozzle is, with one nozzle as one unit. That is, the change point nozzle number in the use raster number 1 of the 4-dispersion group is 260 nozzles, and the dispersion number is 33, which indicates that the nozzle is at the 33rd position.

The distribution number described above is set in the raster change point register 1409. On the other hand, the value of the data block from the transfer counter is provided to input 1410. Since one data block is composed of four distributed blocks, it is input to the comparison block in consideration of the position of the distributed block in the block selector. The raster change point nozzle position is detected by comparing the value of the data block with the distribution number. In FIG. 14, the comparison result is output to the output terminal of A ≧ B from the comparison block. From the above result, the selector 1405 selects and outputs DTA or DTB. Match signal from comparison block (A = B)
Sets the next distribution number in the raster change point register 1409 at the time of the next comparison execution.

[First Modification] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a recording result according to a first modification of the recording data selection method for each raster in the recording apparatus of the present invention, in which recording control is performed using a plurality of nozzles as one unit. Is shown.

In FIG. 15, one block is composed of five nozzles, and ink discharge control can be performed in block units. Under the above conditions, the first to fifth nozzles, which are the first block, land ink in one raster. If the block ejects ink droplets at a constant cycle in accordance with the ink ejection cycle, the drawing data of the first nozzle to the fifth nozzle is not recorded in another raster portion. Further, since the ejection timing of the above blocks can be arbitrarily set according to the inclination of the recording head, it is possible to divide the reference ink ejection cycle within an optimum time. Therefore, the sixth block of the second block
From the nozzle to the tenth nozzle, the drive timing can be set completely independently of the drive timing of the first block.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of IC connection according to this modification. In each of (a), (b) and (c) of FIG. 16, the drive control terminals of each IC are all independently connected so as to be connectable to a drive control circuit (not shown).

[Second Modification] FIG. 17 shows a second modification of the recording data selection method for each raster in the recording apparatus of the present invention, in which the recording data is drawn in one raster by changing the driving order. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a recording result according to FIG.

In FIG. 17, the order of the distributed driving is the order of nozzle numbers 8, 7,...
This is a unit nozzle group. By controlling the temporal sequence in this manner, it is possible to drive the ink so that the ink landing points are in the same raster.

[0100]

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiments, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and that the liquid contained in the ink tank is ink. 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 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 causing ink ejection in the 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, for example, in 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 continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to recorded information and providing a sharp temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path in which 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 shrinkage 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 a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped driving 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 ejection 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, The configurations described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting surface is arranged in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge section of an electrothermal transducer for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, and an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy is discharged. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to each unit, may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, not only a cartridge type recording head having an ink tank provided integrally with the recording head itself, but also an electric connection with the apparatus main body and a connection from the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head capable of supplying ink 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.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, the ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. 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 a solid state to a liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
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 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). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowchart (shown in FIG. 10).

[0116]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the displacement of the recording pixels in the recording medium transport direction orthogonal to the raster and improve the quality of the recorded image.

In particular, when performing color recording using a plurality of recording heads that eject ink droplets of different colors,
This has an effect that color registration adjustment for forming a secondary color or the like can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording result when typical recording control according to the present invention is performed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between recording paper and nozzle positions.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a recording result by a conventional recording control.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a recording result by a first 8-dispersion driving recording control.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a recording result obtained by a second 8-distribution driving recording control.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording head.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an IC.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing connections between ICs.

9 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a print data selection process.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing physical parameters.

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing temporal parameters.

FIG. 11C is a diagram showing a configuration of an image memory.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a recording control configuration of the printer of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data selection circuit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a block selector.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a recording result of a first modified example of driving in block units.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing connection of an IC corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a recording result of a second modification in which the distribution order is changed.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of printing elements arranged corresponding to a maximum printing width of a printing medium; a printing head for performing printing by discharging ink droplets from each printing element; An inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording, wherein the recording head divides a recording area of the recording medium into a number of raster areas corresponding to a maximum number of recordable rasters, and traverses a plurality of the raster areas at a predetermined angle. Driving means for driving the recording element in a time-division manner, and recording data corresponding to one raster of image data to be recorded is recorded in the same raster area on the recording medium. An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: a data selecting unit that selects print data to be transmitted to each printing element. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data selection unit includes a calculation unit configured to calculate an expected landing position of the ink droplet ejected from each of the printing elements on the printing medium, based on the expected landing position calculated by the calculation unit. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording data to be transmitted to each recording element is selected. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculating unit calculates the expected landing position from the angle at which the recording head is attached and a driving order of the recording elements by the driving unit. Ink jet recording device. 4. The data selection means includes a plurality of memories each storing print data corresponding to a plurality of adjacent rasters, and selects print data to be transmitted to each print element from one of the plurality of memories. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the data selection unit includes a read number control unit that counts the number of times of processing of a predetermined amount of data, and refers to the count number to transmit a record from one of the plurality of memories to each recording element. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein data is selected. 6. The drive unit divides the print head into a plurality of blocks each including a plurality of adjacent print elements, and determines that the drive order of the print elements in each block is the same for all blocks. Claims 1 to 5 characterized by
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 7. The drive unit is configured to divide the print head into a plurality of blocks each including a plurality of adjacent print elements, and to be able to set the drive order of the print elements in each block for each block. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said driving means sequentially drives each block. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said driving means drives each block simultaneously. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head is composed of a plurality of substrates each including at least one of the blocks. 11. 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 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 10. 12. A printing head having a plurality of printing elements arranged corresponding to the maximum printing width of a printing medium and performing printing by discharging ink droplets from each printing element, while transporting the printing medium. An inkjet recording method for performing recording, wherein the recording head divides a recording area of the recording medium into a number of raster areas corresponding to a maximum number of recordable rasters, and a predetermined angle crossing a plurality of the raster areas. A driving step of driving the recording element in a time-division manner; and recording each image so that recording data corresponding to one raster of image data to be recorded is recorded in the same raster area on the recording medium. A data selecting step of selecting print data to be transmitted to the element. 13. The data selecting step includes a calculating step of calculating an expected landing position of an ink droplet ejected from each printing element on the printing medium, and based on the expected landing position calculated by the calculating step. 13. The ink jet recording method according to claim 12, wherein the recording data to be transmitted to each recording element is selected by using the method. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein in the calculating step, the expected landing position is calculated from the angle at which the recording head is attached and a driving order of each recording element in the driving step. Ink jet recording method. 15. The data selecting step includes a storing step of storing recording data corresponding to a plurality of adjacent rasters in a plurality of memories, respectively, and recording data transmitted from one of the plurality of memories to each recording element. The inkjet recording method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: 16. The data selection step includes a read number control step of counting the number of times of processing of a predetermined amount of data, and the recording transmitted from one of the plurality of memories to each recording element with reference to the count number. The method according to claim 15, wherein data is selected. 17. The driving step divides the print head into a plurality of blocks each including a plurality of adjacent print elements, and determines that the drive order of the print elements in each block is the same for all blocks. The ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein: 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein in the driving step, the print head is divided into a plurality of blocks each including a plurality of adjacent print elements, and a drive order of the print elements in each block can be set for each block. The ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein: 19. The ink jet recording method according to claim 17, wherein said driving step drives each block sequentially. 20. The ink jet recording method according to claim 17, wherein said driving step drives each block simultaneously.