JP2004122638A - Printing device and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a highly precise printing quality by suppressing a paper displacement when a paper rear end separates from a transfer roller without physically changing a paper feed control and the configuration of a paper transfer mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: All nozzles d1 of a nozzle part are brought in a usable state as a normal printing operation when the paper rear end has a distance x1 of α from a first sensor 602. It is so controlled that the number of usable nozzles is reduced when the paper rear end is from a point of the distance x1 to a point x2 of the first sensor 602, and at the same time a feed amount of the paper is reduced. In a section from the position x2 of the first sensor 602 to a position x3 of a second sensor 603, printing is interrupted for measuring a paper feed precision. The paper feed precision is measured until the paper rear end is detected by the second sensor 603 while the paper is sent by a minute amount. In a section at the downstream side from the point x3 where the paper rear end is detected by the second sensor 603, printing is resumed by a nozzle group d3 of the paper downstream side, whereby an image in the middle of printing is completed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method that suppress printing unevenness due to a positional shift of a sheet when, for example, a trailing edge of the sheet separates from a conveyance roller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A paper transport mechanism of a conventional printing apparatus includes one or more transport rollers, and the transport rollers transport the paper into the printing apparatus from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the paper. In this paper transport, when the transport roller is a drive system (gear configuration) composed of a plurality (for example, a pair) of rollers, especially when the rear end of the paper is separated from the transport roller, the other transport roller The sheet shift occurs due to the action of the conveying force. Conventionally, in order to avoid the occurrence of the sheet deviation, measures such as increasing the feed amount near the rear end of the sheet have been taken. That is, sheet feed control is performed such that printing is performed with a small amount of feed to the vicinity where a sheet shift occurs, the sheet is fed so as to jump over an area where the sheet shift is likely to occur, and the remaining printing is executed.
[0003]
As a means for suppressing the sheet shift, there is a method of controlling the plurality of sheet transport mechanisms to minimize the sheet shift (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-7286 [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
However, if the content of the paper feed control is physically changed largely in order to avoid the paper misalignment as in the above-described conventional case, printing unevenness occurs due to a change in the paper feed at the changed portion. Further, in the paper feed control of the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the configuration of the paper transport mechanism becomes complicated. In particular, on the downstream side in the paper feed direction, the paper transport mechanism is required to be miniaturized, and the shape of each transport roller is made different by the miniaturization, resulting in a difference in the transport force, which causes a paper shift.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to suppress the paper shift when the trailing edge of the paper separates from the transport rollers without physically changing the content of the paper feed control and the configuration of the paper transport mechanism, and achieve high precision. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method for realizing the above printing quality.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing device that prints on a print medium based on print data, and moves the print device relative to the print medium. In a printing apparatus that prints by moving the print medium, a transport unit that transports the print medium in a second direction that intersects a first direction in which the print device moves, and a first detection that detects a rear end position of the print medium Means, second detection means for detecting a rear end position of the print medium downstream of the first detection means, and data generation for generating the print data in accordance with the detection results by the first and second detection means Means.
[0007]
The printing method of the present invention includes a printing device that prints on a print medium based on print data, and a transport unit that transports the print medium in a second direction that intersects a first direction in which the print device moves. A printing method for printing by moving the printing device relative to a printing medium in a printing apparatus provided with the printing apparatus, wherein a first detection unit detects a rear end position of the printing medium by a first detection unit; A second detection step of detecting a rear end position of the print medium downstream of a detection position in the first detection step by a second detection means; and printing the print medium in response to the detection results of the first and second detection steps. And a data generation step of generating data.
[0008]
Further, preferably, in any one of the above apparatuses or methods, the first and second detecting means detect the trailing end of the print medium prior to the second detecting means, and And the second detection means is arranged to detect the rear end of the print medium.
[0009]
Preferably, in any one of the above apparatuses or methods, a distance between the first detection unit and the second detection unit is such that a distance between the first detection unit and the second detection unit is determined by printing on the print medium while the printing device moves in the first direction. It is smaller than the possible print width in the second direction.
[0010]
Also, preferably, in any one of the above apparatuses or methods, the data generation unit (in the step) is configured to perform the printing in a section where a rear end of the printing medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit. Stop generating data.
[0011]
Further, preferably, in any one of the above apparatuses or methods, the transporting unit is configured to reduce a transport amount of the print medium in a section where a rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit. Make it smaller than other sections.
[0012]
Preferably, in any one of the above apparatuses or methods, the data generation unit (in the step) is interrupted in a section where a rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit. The generation of the print data is resumed at the position of the second detecting means, and the printing is completed.
[0013]
Preferably, in any of the above apparatuses or methods, the printing device is an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink.
[0014]
Further, preferably, in any one of the above apparatuses or methods, the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Have.
[0015]
The present invention is also applicable to a form of a program for causing a computer of the printing apparatus itself or an external device to execute any one of the above-described methods of controlling an inkjet printing apparatus, and a form of a computer-readable storage medium storing the program. it can.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an ink jet printer in which various control parts for performing a printing operation are arranged on a base unit 101.
[0019]
A print medium (hereinafter, paper) 102 is taken into the printing apparatus main body by a pickup roller 103, is sent to the inside of the printing apparatus by a transport roller 104, and is subjected to printing, and then is subjected to a paper transport direction ( In the sub-scanning direction).
[0020]
During this printing operation, the carriage 106 on which the printing device (recording head) of the printing apparatus 100 is removably mounted receives power from the carriage drive motor 107 from the carriage drive belt 108, and is orthogonal to the paper transport direction. Drive control is performed by reciprocating movement in the main scanning direction.
[0021]
Print data is output from the flexible cable 109 to the recording head cartridge 110 in synchronization with the movement of the carriage unit 106, and the printing device forms an image by discharging ink supplied from the ink tank 111 onto the paper 102. .
[0022]
A first sensor 112 is provided near the upstream side of the transport roller 104 in the sub-scanning direction of the recording medium, and a second sensor 113 is provided near the downstream side of the transport roller 104. The first sensor 112 is provided by the second sensor 113. First, the leading edge of the sheet is detected to determine whether or not the sheet 102 is conveyed. The first sensor 112 detects the trailing end of the sheet 102 before the second sensor 113, and the second sensor 113 104 is arranged to detect the rear end.
[0023]
Next, a detailed configuration of the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the recording head cartridge of FIG. 1 as viewed from a printing surface of a sheet. The nozzle unit 202 of the recording head cartridge 201 includes B (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y ( A discharge port group 203 corresponding to each ink color (yellow) is arranged, and an ink of a corresponding color is discharged from the ink discharge port of each of the discharge port groups onto a sheet to form an image.
[0025]
Next, a cross-sectional configuration of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the XY direction of FIG. 1, and the printing apparatus main body 301 has a paper conveyance mechanism including a pickup roller 302, a conveyance roller 303, and a paper ejection roller 304 from the paper supply port side. The range of the nozzle portion 306 of the recording head cartridge 305 is the printable range for the paper transported by the transport mechanism.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the first sensor 307 disposed on the upstream side of the transport roller 303 and the second sensor 308 disposed on the downstream side allow the ink to be discharged by the nozzle unit 306 when the paper trailing end exists between these sensors. Discharge is interrupted.
[0028]
Note that, due to the configuration of the printing apparatus, it is necessary that the width D2 of the nozzle portion 306 is larger than the distance D1 between the first sensor 307 and the second sensor 308.
[0029]
Regarding the above conditions, the positional relationship between the position of the nozzle unit and the sensor will be described with reference to FIG.
[0030]
4, an interval 401 between the first sensor 307 and the second sensor 308 is indicated by the same reference numeral D1 as in FIG.
[0031]
When printing is performed at the position of the first sensor 307 at the rear end of the sheet, when printing is performed by the nozzle unit 306 on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, the distance 402 from the first sensor 307 is X0.
[0032]
On the other hand, if the same position of the sheet is printed at the position where the rear end of the sheet is the second sensor 308, the distance 403 from the first sensor 307 is X1. At this point, the following width X is required for printing with the same nozzle portion.
[0033]
X = X1-X0
This difference is equal to D1 (401).
[0034]
Therefore,
X = D1
Holds.
[0035]
If XX (406) is located at the most downstream side of the nozzle section, printing is possible,
XX-X0> D1
If the nozzle width is ΔD (404), it can be expressed by XX = D2 + X0−ΔD.
[0036]
Here, ΔD (404) is the minimum printable nozzle width that must be secured on the most upstream side.
[0037]
Therefore,
D2-ΔD> D1
Therefore, it is necessary that the nozzle width D2 is larger than the inter-sensor distance D1.
[0038]
Next, an electrical configuration of a printing apparatus for controlling printing in accordance with each position of a sheet in the transport mechanism that establishes the relationship between the nozzle width D2 and the sensor distance D1 described with reference to FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. explain.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 5, the printing apparatus 501 includes a reception processing section 504 for inputting information from the outside, an I / F control section 503 for controlling the information, and a reception data storage area 504 for storing data under control. Is performed. The control unit 505 generates print data from the data in the received data storage area 504 and stores the data in the print data storage area 506. The control unit 505 controls a paper feed device 507 and a printing device 508 represented by a recording head to execute printing.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, at the time of generating the print data, the control unit 505 generates the print data in consideration of the position information of the first sensor 509 and the second sensor 510.
[0041]
The position information from the first sensor and the second sensor referred to by the control unit 505 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, and the relationship between the position information and the nozzle used will be described with reference to FIG.
[0042]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in which a first sensor 602 is arranged on the upstream side of the conveying roller 601 and a second sensor 603 is arranged on the downstream side so that the nozzle 605 in the recording head 604 can be noted.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the normal printing operation is performed until the trailing edge of the sheet from the first sensor 602 to a distance x1 (606) of α, and all the nozzles d1 (607) of the nozzle portion are in a usable state.
[0044]
Next, from the point x1 (606) of the trailing edge of the sheet to the point x2 (608) of the first sensor 602, as shown in section 1 (701) in FIG. Is controlled so as to reduce the feed amount (702).
[0045]
In the section 1, the nozzle group is finally limited to the nozzle group on the upstream side of the sheet (in this example, 1/4 of the normal) d2 (609).
[0046]
Therefore, the distance α between x1 and x2 needs to be long enough to limit the nozzles used.
[0047]
In a section 2 (703) from the position x2 (608) of the first sensor 602 to the position x3 (609) of the second sensor 603, the printing is interrupted to measure the paper feeding accuracy, and the feeding (704) is performed in a small amount. While performing the measurement, the measurement is performed until the second sensor 603 detects the trailing edge of the sheet.
[0048]
In the section 3 (705) downstream from the point x3 (610) where the second sensor 603 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, printing is resumed by the nozzle group d3 (611) on the downstream side of the sheet, so that the image in the middle of printing is output. To complete. At this time, the paper feed amount (706) is set to the final form of the section 1 (701) (in this example, 1/4 of the normal size), and printing is continued with the subsequent feed amount set to the same value.
[0049]
A print control flow of the control unit in FIG. 5 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0050]
In FIG. 8, the normal feed amount N is initialized (S801) at the start of printing. Next, a page end condition is checked based on a command or a feed amount (S802), and if the end condition is satisfied, the printing process ends (S803). In the present embodiment, this page end condition is not particularly mentioned.
[0051]
If the end of the page has not been reached, it is checked whether or not the trailing edge position of the sheet has reached the first sensor position x1 (S804). If the position has not reached the position x1, the feed amount is normal N (S805) and printing is performed. The data is set in the N mask (S806), and printing is performed in the subsequent print data creation (S808) and print processing (S809). That is, the feeding process (S810) is performed according to the setting of the feeding amount, and the process is executed again from the page end check (S802). In the present embodiment, a method of printing the print data by using a mask (see S807 in FIG. 8B) to restrict the nozzles used by the printing device with respect to the print data mask is described. However, this point is not described in the present embodiment because it has a hardware configuration.
[0052]
If it is determined that the position x1 has been reached in the position x1 check (S804), a position x2 check (S811) is performed. As a result, if it has not reached the position x2, it is determined that the position is between the position x1 and the position x2, that is, the state of the section 1 (701) in FIG.
[0053]
Here, the feed amount N is reduced to N = 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 for each printing process in this section until N = 1 (S812) (S813). The print data mask during this section is the N / 4 mask (S814) (see S807 in FIG. 8B). With such settings, subsequent print processing and feed processing are executed.
[0054]
If it is determined that the position x2 has been reached in the position x2 check (S811), a position x3 check (S815) is performed. As a result, if the position has not reached the position x3, it is determined that the position is between the position x2 and the position x3, that is, the state of the section 2 (703) in FIG. Here, the minute feed is performed in order to increase the measurement accuracy of the position x3. As an example of setting the feed amount to a minute feed amount, in this example, the feed amount is set to N = 1/10 (S816), and only the feed process (S810) is performed without performing the printing process.
[0055]
If it is determined that the position x3 has been reached in the position x3 check (S815), it is checked whether the current position is the position X3 (S817). If it is on the position x3, the next feed amount is set to the distance D1 between the first sensor and the second sensor (S818), and the nozzle used is also the 1N / 4 mask on the downstream side in the transport direction (S821 in FIG. 8B). (See S819).
[0056]
If it is determined in the position x3 check (817) that the position exceeds the position x3, the next feed amount is set to N = 1 corresponding to the x2 point (S820), and the subsequent print processing and feed processing are performed. Complete the image during printing.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head as the printing device are ink, and the liquid stored in the ink tank is ink. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 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.
[0058]
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.
[0059]
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.
[0060]
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.
[0061]
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.
[0062]
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.
[0063]
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 electrical connection with the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus main body may be used.
[0064]
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 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.
[0065]
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.
[0066]
In the embodiment described above, 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, it may be used that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Alternatively, in the ink jet method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally 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.
[0067]
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 application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in a concave portion or a through hole of a 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.
[0068]
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.
[0069]
[Other embodiments]
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 device including one device (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.). May be applied.
[0070]
Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a storage medium) storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a CPU or a CPU) of the system or the apparatus. Needless to say, the present invention can also be achieved by an MPU) reading and executing a program code stored in a storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0071]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU included in the 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.
[0072]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes and various tables corresponding to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 described above.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by effectively arranging sensors for detecting the physical position of a sheet, high quality is achieved only by generating print data without performing complicated sheet feed control. Printing can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the recording head cartridge 110 of FIG. 1 as viewed from a printing surface of a sheet.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the XY direction of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a position of a nozzle unit and a sensor according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating relative control of a sheet position and a printing device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data mask state of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a control flowchart according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 printing device 112, 307, 602 first sensor 113, 308, 603 second sensor 110, 201, 305, 604 printing device 202, 306, 605 nozzle unit

Claims (17)

A printing apparatus that includes a printing device that performs printing on a print medium based on print data, and performs printing by moving the print device relatively to the print medium.
Conveying means for conveying the print medium in a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the printing device moves;
First detection means for detecting a rear end position of the print medium;
A second detection unit that detects a rear end position of the print medium downstream of the first detection unit;
And a data generation unit for generating the print data in accordance with a detection result by the first and second detection units. The first and second detecting means may be arranged such that the first detecting means detects the trailing end of the print medium before the second detecting means, and the second detecting means detects the trailing end of the print medium via the conveying means. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is arranged to detect. A distance between the first detection unit and the second detection unit is smaller than a print width in a second direction printable on the print medium while the printing device moves in the first direction. The printing device according to claim 1. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data generation unit interrupts generation of the print data in a section where a rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit. apparatus. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit makes the transport amount of the print medium smaller in a section where the rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit than in other sections. The printing device according to claim 1. The data generation unit restarts the generation of the print data interrupted in a section where the rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit at a position of the second detection unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing is completed by performing printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is an inkjet printhead that performs printing by discharging ink. The recording head according to claim 7, wherein the recording head is a recording head that ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Printing device. A printing device for performing printing on a print medium based on print data; and a transport device that transports the print medium in a second direction that intersects a first direction in which the print device moves. A printing method for printing by moving a device relatively to a print medium,
A first detection step of detecting a rear end position of the print medium by first detection means;
A second detection step of detecting a rear end position of the print medium downstream of the detection position in the first detection step by a second detection unit;
A data generation step of generating the print data in accordance with the detection results of the first and second detection steps. The first and second detecting means may be arranged such that the first detecting means detects the trailing end of the print medium before the second detecting means, and the second detecting means detects the trailing end of the print medium via the conveying means. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing method is arranged to detect. A distance between the first detection unit and the second detection unit is smaller than a print width in a second direction printable on the print medium while the printing device moves in the first direction. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing is performed. 10. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein in the data generation step, the generation of the print data is interrupted in a section where a rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit. Method. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit makes the transport amount of the print medium smaller in a section where the rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection unit and the second detection unit than in other sections. 10. The printing method according to item 9. In the data generation step, the generation of the print data interrupted in the section where the rear end of the print medium is located between the first detection means and the second detection means is resumed at the position of the second detection means. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing is completed by performing printing. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing device is an inkjet printhead that performs printing by discharging ink. 16. The recording head according to claim 15, wherein the recording head is a recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Printing method. A program for realizing a function of executing the printing method according to any one of claims 9 to 16.

Images