JP2004098349A - Recorder and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance image quality by eliminating recording dot shift occurring in a multipass recording method having an enhanced recording speed and a high speed recording method. <P>SOLUTION: Recording is started while delaying a specified time from a conventional recording timing according to the driving block number of a dot being shot at first. Since the delay time T is determined by T=Tb×N/P assuming the driving block time is Tb, the number of passes is P and the driving block number of a dot being shot at first is N, a PRDLY signal can be delivered while being delayed by T from a PRINT signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for performing recording by driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in a time-division manner.
[Prior art]
At present, high-speed, high-definition printing is demanded of a recording apparatus of an ink jet type, and a recording head generally has a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink. Ink ejection methods include a method using foaming energy generated by driving a heater provided in a nozzle, and a method using contraction of a piezo element provided in a nozzle. However, driving both nozzles at the same time in either method causes disadvantages such as a decrease in recording quality due to crosstalk between the nozzles, and an increase in power supply capacity due to a temporary need for a large current. Therefore, all the nozzles are divided into blocks of several nozzles and driven while being sequentially shifted in time.
[0002]
On the other hand, there is a difference in the ejection amount between nozzles of the print head due to variations in nozzle formation, and if printing is performed as it is, some density unevenness may occur in the image. Therefore, when performing high-definition printing, instead of forming a print image in one scan, the image area is printed so as to be overlapped by multiple scans as in the related art, and various portions of the nozzle row are printed. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
However, the recent demand for higher recording speed, that is, higher throughput has been conventionally dealt with by shortening the block time of the division drive. However, there is a minimum time required to drive the discharge heater to obtain a sufficient foaming power, so that it is impossible to further reduce the block time. Furthermore, in multi-pass printing, the time required for the number of scans is further required, so that the printing speed is further reduced.
[0004]
Therefore, as in the conventional case, the multi-pass mask is determined depending on the block, the blocks of the nozzles thinned out by the multi-pass mask are not driven, and the blocks to be driven are changed for each column, and the multi-pass mask is sequentially circulated. Is a method of improving the printing speed by realizing high-definition printing and speeding up the carriage by up to several times the speed of one pass by the number of blocks to be driven simultaneously, that is, multi-pass. There has been proposed a method for achieving both image quality and printing speed in printing (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-61-120578
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-088288 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, depending on the combination of drive blocks as shown in FIG. 5B, the dots actually printed may be shifted from the original dot positions in the main scanning direction as shown in S1 to S3 in FIG. This shift amount is determined by the number of block divisions B of the print head and the number of passes P of multi-pass printing, and the shift amount is P / B [dot pitch] at the maximum. For this reason, when the number of block divisions is 16 or 32 and the number of passes is 4 as in the conventional case, the shift is 1/4 pitch or 1/8, respectively, so that there was no problem in image formation. However, recently, when the number of block divisions has increased to about 8 due to a further increase in recording speed, this deviation amount has been reduced to 1/2 dot at the maximum, and is no longer in an allowable range.
[0005]
In addition, such a problem occurs not only in the above-described multi-pass printing but also in so-called high-speed printing in which drive blocks are thinned out to shorten the printing time, when printing is performed by changing the combination of drive blocks for each column. .
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to eliminate the recording dot shift that occurs in the above-described multi-pass printing method and high-speed printing method with an improved printing speed, and to improve the image quality. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, a recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0008]
That is, a recording apparatus that performs recording by driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in a time-division manner,
Dividing means for dividing the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks;
Selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of blocks obtained by the dividing means, a block used for recording in each recording area,
Time-division driving means for sequentially and time-divisionally driving a plurality of printing elements included in the plurality of blocks selected by the selection means,
When the drive delay time between each recording area is determined by the time required to drive the plurality of blocks selected by the selection unit and the order of the plurality of blocks divided by the division unit in the time-division driving order. The time obtained by adding the time required to drive a block that is time-divisionally driven in an order prior to the time-division driving order of the first block driven by the time-division driving means is obtained. Control means for controlling the time-division driving means so as to perform time-division driving while delaying the driving timing by the set driving delay time.
It is characterized by having.
[0009]
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, a recording method of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0010]
That is, a recording method for performing recording by time-divisionally driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements,
A dividing step of dividing the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks;
From the plurality of blocks obtained in the dividing step, a selecting step of selecting a block used for recording in each recording area,
A time-division driving step of sequentially and time-divisionally driving a plurality of recording elements included in the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step,
When the drive delay time between each recording area is determined by the time required for driving the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step and the order of the plurality of blocks divided in the division step in the time-division driving order. And the time required to drive the block that is time-divisionally driven in an order prior to the time-division driving order of the first block driven in the time-division driving step. A control step of controlling the time-division driving step so that time-division driving is performed while driving timing is delayed by the set driving delay time.
It is characterized by having.
[0011]
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, a recording method of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0012]
That is, a program for executing a recording operation of a recording apparatus that performs recording by time-divisionally driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements divided into a plurality of blocks,
The program is
A dividing step of dividing the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks;
From the plurality of blocks obtained in the dividing step, a selecting step of selecting a block used for recording in each recording area,
A time-division driving step of sequentially and time-divisionally driving a plurality of recording elements included in the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step,
When the drive delay time between each recording area is determined by the time required for driving the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step and the order of the plurality of blocks divided in the division step in the time-division driving order. And the time required to drive the block that is time-divisionally driven in an order prior to the time-division driving order of the first block driven in the time-division driving step. A control step of controlling the time-division driving step so that time-division driving is performed while driving timing is delayed by the set driving delay time.
Is executed by the recording apparatus.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
In this specification, “print” (hereinafter also referred to as “record”) refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures, but also to human senses. Regardless of whether or not the surface is evident so that it can be perceived, a wide range of images, patterns, patterns, etc. can be formed by applying liquid onto the recording medium, or when processing the medium. And
[0015]
In addition, the term “printing medium” refers to not only paper used in general printing apparatuses, but also cloth, plastic films, metal plates, and other media that can accept ink ejected by a printing head. I do.
[0016]
Further, “ink” is to be widely interpreted as in the definition of “print”, and can be used for forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like, or processing a recording medium by being applied on a recording medium. Shall refer to liquid.
[0017]
<Schematic description of the device body>
FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction unit that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through an opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member that allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 which engages with the carriage, and controls the movement of the drive force from the drive motor by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.
[0018]
These capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If this operation is performed, any of the present embodiments can be applied.
[0019]
<Description of control configuration>
Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is various data (the recording signal and the recording supplied to the head). Data, etc.). A gate array 1704 controls supply of print data to the print head 1708, and also controls data transfer between the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1708, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.
[0020]
The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a print signal enters the interface 1700, the print signal is converted into print data between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven in accordance with the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform recording.
[0021]
It is apparent that the components of the present invention can be incorporated in the control configuration of the ink jet printer as described above, and that the present invention is not limited to the ink jet printer but can be applied to the laser beam printer and the like.
[0022]
[First Embodiment]
First, the recording head used in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a recording head according to the present embodiment, which is mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG. The recording head has four recording chips 1 of Y, M, C, and Bk arranged at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction to form one recording head 3. For all four chips, the number of nozzles (printing elements) is 192 nozzles, and the ejection frequency is 10 kHz in normal driving. YMC has the same discharge amount and Bk has approximately twice the discharge amount, but otherwise has exactly the same configuration. The configuration of this recording chip will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5A.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is an arrangement diagram of dots recorded by using the recording head, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording chip, and FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a timing chart of each signal at the time of recording. In FIG. 3, 48 nozzles and subsequent nozzles are omitted for the sake of simplicity. However, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the recording chip 1 includes 16 groups each including 12 continuous nozzles as one group. It has 192 nozzles. One nozzle is selected from 12 nozzles in one group by signals output from BE0-11 obtained by decoding signals input from BENB0-3 shown in FIG. Therefore, they are not driven at the same time and driven in a time-division manner.
[0024]
On the other hand, the image data is serially transferred in synchronization with DCLK at the timing of BENB0 to BENB3 by IDATA, temporarily stored at 16 bits S / R5, and then transferred to the 16-bit latch 6 at the rise of the LTCLK pulse. The output of the 16-bit latch 6 is logically ANDed with the drive pulse signal HEAT by the AND gate 7, and drives the heater 8 (8-1 to 8-192) of the nozzle selected by BE0 to BE11.
[0025]
The nozzle row 2 is divided into blocks every 12 nozzles from the upper side in FIG. 3, and is time-divisionally driven in the order of BE0 to BE as shown in FIG. 5A. BE0 to BE11 indicate drive block numbers, respectively, and are numbered from 0 to 11 in the order of time-division driving. Therefore, the blocks to be driven are selected by BE0 to BE11.
[0026]
However, in such time-division driving, when the recording chip 1 is recorded in a state where the recording chip 1 is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the vertical ruled line is inclined. Therefore, as shown in FIG. It is attached at a predetermined angle. As a result, when all the nozzles of the recording chip 1 complete ejection, separate columns are recorded for each group.
[0027]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a print dot arrangement in a certain pass when four passes of multi-pass printing are performed by the print head 1 by the method disclosed in the above-mentioned JP-A-2001-088288. FIG. 5B is a timing chart showing the drive timing when performing multi-pass printing for obtaining a dot array.
[0028]
In FIG. 5A showing the drive timing at the time of ordinary one-pass printing, all 12 blocks are driven in one column (one printing area), whereas in FIG. 5B, only three blocks are driven. The combination of the three blocks is changed one after another by changing the driving pattern to 0.4.8, 2.6.6, 3.7.11, 1.5.9, and all 12 blocks are driven four times. I have.
[0029]
That is, in FIG. 6, while the recording head 1 moves in the section (recording area) indicated by 601, the recording elements of the drive block numbers 0, 4, and 8 record dots (dots indicated by black circles in the section 601). I do. Next, while the recording head 1 moves in the section (recording area) indicated by 602, the recording elements of the drive block numbers 2, 6, and 10 record dots (dots indicated by black circles in the section of 602). Next, while the recording head 1 moves in the section (recording area) indicated by 603, the recording elements of the drive block numbers 3, 7, and 11 record dots (dots indicated by black circles in the section of 603). Next, while the recording head 1 moves in the section indicated by 604 (recording area), the recording elements of the drive block numbers 1, 5, and 9 record dots (dots indicated by black circles in the section of 604).
[0030]
As described above, FIG. 6 shows the print dot positions when the first pass of the four-pass multi-pass printing is performed, so that 25% random thinning is performed, and the remaining three-pass printing is performed. The image recording is completed by sequentially filling the thinned recording dots. In the figure, portions indicated by S1, S2, and S3 indicate the shift amounts of the recording dots. Assuming that the shift amount S is B, the number of block divisions is N, and the drive block number is N,
S = N / B
It is expressed as Therefore, in the case of this recording chip, since the number of block divisions is 12, S1 = 1/6 dot (N = 2), S2 = 1/4 dot (N = 3), and S3 = 1/12 dot (N = 1).
[0031]
Since the purpose is to correct the recording dot deviation, the method will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording chip driver when a recording dot shift correction function is added, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional recording chip driver without a correction function. As can be seen from a comparison of the two figures, FIG. 1 has exactly the same configuration except that a column synchronization delay circuit 11 is added to FIG.
[0032]
Therefore, first, the operation of the conventional recording chip driver will be described, and the operation of the recording chip driver according to the present embodiment will be described using the description of this operation.
[0033]
The operation of the conventional recording chip driver will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a timing chart when one-pass printing is performed by the print chip driver shown in FIG. The recording chip driver can be roughly classified into three functions of image data transfer, driving pulse generation, and driving block generation, and each function is realized by using a recording data memory 15, a driving pulse memory 16, and a driving block memory 17. Since the print data and the drive block change depending on the column position and the order of the output block, the higher bits of the address input of the print data memory 15 and the drive block memory 17 are output from the column counter 13 and the middle bits are output from the block counter. (BCOUNT) is connected. Therefore, as data output from the recording data memory 15 and the drive block memory 17, data corresponding to the column position and the block order at that time is always output.
[0034]
On the other hand, since the drive pulse is always fixed, the drive pulse memory 16 only needs to store one pulse waveform, and only the address selection from the drive pulse generation circuit 19 is connected to the address input. The data in these three memories is rewritten whenever necessary by the MPU 1701 of the printer body every time the driving method changes. The PRINT signal is a signal that generates a pulse when passing through the column position where the recording chip 1 records, and is usually generated based on a position signal from an encoder provided on the main scanning direction axis. The PRINT signal is input to the clock input of the column counter 13 and the scan recording start signal output from the MPU 1701 of the printer main body immediately before each scan recording is input to the clear input, so that the count output always indicates the column position. Will be.
[0035]
The PRINT signal also serves as a trigger signal for the drive synchronization circuit 12, as shown in FIG. 7 and 8 correspond to the respective signal names, and indicate that the drive synchronization circuit 12 generates signals below BSYNC with a PRINT pulse as a trigger. BSYNC is a block drive trigger signal, and the number of generated pulses (number of generated blocks) and the interval Tb between pulses (driving block time) are set by the MPU 1701 of the printer main body. By the generation of the BSYNC pulse, the image data transfer circuit 18 generates LTCLK, DCLK, and IDATA, and the drive pulse generation circuit 19 generates the HEAT signal.
[0036]
On the other hand, since BLKCLK and BLKCLR generated based on BSYNC are connected to the block counter 14 as a clock input and a clear input, the block order is always output to BCOUNT. In this manner, the data (BLKNO) corresponding to the column position and the block order at that time is output to the output of the drive block memory 17. The BLKNO is latched by the block generation circuit 20 at the timing of BSYNC and sent to the recording chip 1 as BENB0 to BENB3. As described above, the recording chip driver changes the contents of the drive block memory 17 and the setting of the number of generated blocks from the MPU 1701 of the printer main body, thereby not only the drive timing of one pass as shown in FIG. The drive timing of the four-pass multi-pass printing as shown in FIG.
[0037]
FIG. 10 shows an example of a table showing the setting contents. The data according to the table of FIG. 9 is stored in the drive block memory 17, and the drive timing according to the data set by the MPU 1701 can be realized. In the recording chip 1, one pass, two passes, three passes, and four passes can be selected. Here, timing charts for two cases of one pass and four passes are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively.
[0038]
The above is the description of the operation of the conventional recording chip driver. Next, a description will be given of how the column synchronization delay circuit 11 corrects recording dot deviation. FIG. 11 is a dot array diagram in which the recording dot shift described in FIG. 6 has been corrected. In order to correct the recording dot deviation from FIGS. 11 and 6, the recording is started after a predetermined time delay from the conventional recording timing in accordance with the drive block number of the first dot to be driven (driven first). I understand good things. Assuming that the drive block time is Tb, the number of passes is P, and the drive block number of the first dot to be printed is N, the delay time (delay time) T is as follows.
T = Tb · N / P
It becomes. T1 to T3 in the figure are N = 2, N = 3, and N = 1, respectively.
T1 = (1/2) Tb, T2 = (3/4) Tb, T3 = (1/4) Tb
It becomes. This indicates the time required to drive a block having a block number smaller than the first drive block number to be driven. In other words, it also indicates the time required to drive blocks driven in a sequence prior to the block driven first.
[0039]
Therefore, the column synchronization delay circuit 11 may output the PRDLY signal with a delay of T1, T2, and T3 from the PRINT signal as shown in the timing chart of FIG. As a result, when the drive delay time between the recording areas is set to the time required to drive one block (drive block time) and the order of driving all the blocks, the printing delay of The time is set to be the time obtained by adding the time required to drive the block that is time-divisionally driven in the order prior to the block that is driven first.
[0040]
Thus, it is possible to eliminate the shift of the recording dots caused in the high-speed printing while maintaining the high-speed printing by the multi-pass printing.
[0041]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the column synchronization delay circuit 11 for realizing this, and FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing the operation timing. When detecting the pulse of the PRINT signal, the delay clock generation circuit 32 starts oscillating at a cycle = Tb / P (Tb / 4 in this embodiment because P = 4). The output clock is supplied to the clocks of the 5-bit shift registers 33-1 to 33-5. Since the input of the shift register 33-1 is a PRINT signal, PRDLY0 to 3 are signals delayed by Tb / P from the PRINT signal pulse. That is, PRDLY0 is a signal not delayed from the PRINT signal pulse, PRDLY1 is a signal delayed by Tb / P from the PRINT signal pulse, PRDLY2 is a signal delayed by 2Tb / P from the PRINT signal pulse, and PRDLY3 is 3Tb / Pd from the PRINT signal pulse. The signal is delayed by P.
[0042]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the drive block number of the first dot to be printed is output in the BLKNO signal during the period from the pulse of PRINT to the pulse of PRDLY. This BLKNO signal is converted by the decoder 31, and only the output corresponding to the drive block number (that is, the output to any one of the AND circuits 1301 to 1303 that outputs the PRDLY signal corresponding to the drive block number of the first dot to be printed) is output. Becomes HIGH. Since each output of the decoder 31 is ANDed with the corresponding PRDLY 0 to 3 by the AND circuits (1301 to 1303), the PRDLY is delayed by T from the PRINT signal in accordance with the drive block number of the first dot to be printed. A signal will be obtained.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, a signal delayed by T from the PRINT signal is used as a trigger signal of the drive synchronization circuit 12 instead of the conventional PRINT signal.
[0044]
Note that, in the present embodiment, the 4-pass printing has been described as an example. However, if the settings are made in accordance with the table shown in FIG. 10 for the 2-pass and 3-pass, the shift of the printing dots can be similarly corrected. If the settings for one pass are made according to the table shown in FIG. As described above, the timing shown in FIG. 12 can be created only by adding the column synchronization delay circuit 11 to the conventional print chip driver, and the correction of the print dot shift can be realized in all pass printing.
[0045]
[Second embodiment]
In the above embodiment, the thinning printing in the multi-pass printing has been described as an example. However, it is not particularly limited to the multi-pass printing. Is effective and can be applied to all the thinned records.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, the PRINT signal giving the timing of column recording is generated based on a position signal from an encoder provided on the axis in the main scanning direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The above-described correction method is also effective in a case where a pulse is generated at the time interval of ## EQU1 ## and a PRINT signal is generated.
[0047]
Further, other than the recording chip, even in the case of a recording chip of a type in which the drive block number is serially transferred together with the image data as shown in FIG. 15, FIG. If it is taken out from the bit corresponding to the block number and used, it can be applied without changing the configuration of the column synchronization delay circuit 11.
[0048]
In the above embodiments, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and the liquid contained in the ink tank is ink, but the contained matter is limited to ink. Not something. 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 a recorded image or to improve the image quality.
[0049]
The above-described embodiment includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for causing ink to be ejected, particularly in an ink jet recording system. By using a method that causes a change in the state, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.
[0050]
Regarding the typical configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). Applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, to generate heat energy in the electrothermal transducer, thereby causing the recording head to emit heat energy. This is effective in that film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the liquid, and as a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. 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 in 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.
[0051]
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 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.
[0052]
As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid flow path or the right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting surface A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which is disposed in a bending region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, or an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is discharged. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to each unit, may be adopted.
[0053]
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 satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. Either the configuration or the configuration as one recording head integrally formed may be used.
[0054]
In addition, not only the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, but also the electric connection with the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus main body may be used.
[0055]
Further, 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 sucking 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.
[0056]
Further, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a printing head integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The device may be provided with at least one of the full colors.
[0057]
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 below, an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Alternatively, in the ink jet system, 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 if the ink is sometimes in a liquid state.
[0058]
In addition, to prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being used as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to prevent the ink from evaporating, the ink solidifies in a standing state. Alternatively, ink that liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches 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.
[0059]
In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may include, as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, an integrated or separate apparatus, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a transmission / reception function. It may take the form of a facsimile machine.
[0060]
Further, the present invention is not limited to only the apparatus and method for realizing the above-described embodiment, and supplies the recording device (CPU or MPU) with the program code of software for realizing the above-described embodiment. However, a case where the recording apparatus operates the various devices according to the program code to realize the above-described embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention.
[0061]
Further, in this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the recording device, specifically, the program code Is included in the scope of the present invention.
[0062]
As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.
[0063]
Further, not only when the recording apparatus controls the various devices according to only the supplied program code, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also when the program code operates on the OS ( Such a program code is also included in the scope of the present invention when the above embodiment is realized in cooperation with an operating system) or other application software.
[0064]
Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the recording device or the function expansion unit connected to the recording device, the function expansion board or the function storage is stored based on the instruction of the program code. The scope of the present invention also includes a case where a CPU or the like provided in the unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the recording dot shift that occurs in the multi-pass printing method and the high-speed printing method in which the printing speed is improved, and to improve the image quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print chip driver when a print dot shift correction function is added.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an array diagram of dots recorded by using the recording head shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording chip.
FIG. 5A is a timing chart of each signal when recording.
FIG. 5B is a timing chart showing drive timing when performing multi-pass printing for obtaining the print dot array shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a print dot arrangement in a certain pass when performing four-pass multi-pass printing by the print head 1 by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-088288.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional recording chip driver without a correction function.
FIG. 8 is a timing chart when one-pass printing is performed by the print chip driver shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a timing chart in a case where four-pass printing is performed by the print chip driver shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing contents of a drive block memory 17 and setting contents of the number of generated blocks.
FIG. 11 is a dot arrangement diagram in which the recording dot shift described in FIG. 6 is corrected.
FIG. 12 is a timing chart of the operation of the column synchronization delay circuit 11;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a column synchronization delay circuit 11;
14 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the column synchronization delay circuit 11 having the configuration shown in FIG.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording chip of a type that serially transfers a drive block number together with image data in another embodiment.
16A is a timing chart of the operation of the recorded data shown in FIG.
16B is a timing chart of the operation of the recording chip shown in FIG.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording chip driver that uses BLKNO from bits corresponding to the drive block number of the recording data memory 15 and uses the extracted bit.
FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit for executing printing control of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A recording apparatus that performs recording by driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in a time-division manner,
Dividing means for dividing the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks;
Selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of blocks obtained by the dividing means, a block used for recording in each recording area,
Time-division driving means for sequentially and time-divisionally driving a plurality of printing elements included in the plurality of blocks selected by the selection means,
The time delay required for driving one block and the time required for driving one block, and the time division driving means when the plurality of blocks divided by the division means are arranged in time division driving order. Is set to be the time obtained by adding the time required to drive the block that is time-divisionally driven in the order prior to the first block to be driven, and the drive timing is set by the set drive delay time And a control means for controlling the time-division driving means so as to perform the time-division driving while delaying the recording. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of printing element groups are provided for each color to be printed. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head performs recording according to an inkjet method. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording head uses thermal energy to discharge ink, and includes an electrothermal converter to generate the energy. A recording method for performing recording by time-divisionally driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements,
A dividing step of dividing the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks;
From the plurality of blocks obtained in the dividing step, a selecting step of selecting a block used for recording in each recording area,
A time-division driving step of sequentially and time-divisionally driving a plurality of recording elements included in the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step,
When the drive delay time between each recording area is determined by the time required for driving the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step and the order of the plurality of blocks divided in the division step in the time-division driving order. And the time required to drive the block that is time-divisionally driven in an order prior to the time-division driving order of the first block driven in the time-division driving step. And a control step of controlling the time-division driving step so as to perform time-division driving while delaying the drive timing by the set drive delay time. A program for performing a recording operation of a recording apparatus that performs recording by time-divisionally driving a recording head having a plurality of recording elements divided into a plurality of blocks,
The program is
A dividing step of dividing the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks;
From the plurality of blocks obtained in the dividing step, a selecting step of selecting a block used for recording in each recording area,
A time-division driving step of sequentially and time-divisionally driving a plurality of recording elements included in the plurality of blocks selected in the selection step,
When the drive delay time between the recording areas is determined by the time required to drive the plurality of blocks selected in the selecting step and the order of the plurality of blocks divided in the dividing step in the time-division driving order. And the time required to drive the block that is time-divisionally driven in an order prior to the time-division driving order of the first block driven in the time-division driving step. And a control step of controlling the time-division driving step so as to perform the time-division driving while delaying the drive timing by the set drive delay time. A storage medium for storing the program according to claim 6.

Images