JP2004174791A - Ink jet recorder, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder in which ink is not consumed uselessly even in case of printing in the main scanning direction and the inside of the recorder is not contaminated when an ink drop is ejected. <P>SOLUTION: In an ink jet recorder performing specified printing on a recording medium through main scanning with a printable recording head and subscanning of the recording medium, the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined by the size of the recording medium or the size of a sheet feed cassette set by an operator and printing is not performed when the detected position of the recording head deviates from the range of the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention performs the functions of an ink jet recording apparatus that performs reciprocating movement of a carriage on which an ink jet recording head is mounted as a recording head in the recording width direction of a sheet to form dots on the sheet to perform printing, and an ink jet recording apparatus. And a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink jet printers that eject ink from nozzles of a recording head have become widespread as output devices of computers.
In this inkjet printer, paper is supported on a platen so as to face the recording head, and ink droplets are ejected from nozzles on the recording head at predetermined positions on the paper while moving the recording head in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction). When the main scanning is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is conveyed in the vertical direction (sub-scanning direction), and the main scanning and the sub-scanning are alternately repeated to perform predetermined printing.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-103587
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described ink jet printer, ink droplets may land on a transport belt or a platen without landing on paper.
In such a case, the ink that has landed on the transport belt or the platen will stain the paper that subsequently passes. In addition, unnecessary ink is ejected and wasteful ink is consumed.
[0005]
According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when printing is performed up to the edge of the printing paper using a print head including a plurality of nozzles, printing can be performed without margins without staining the platen. For this purpose, an extended area wider than the printing paper determined based on the type of printing paper is set, and for printing in the sub-scanning direction, ink droplets are ejected using only nozzles of the head on the printing paper. Dots are recorded.
In addition, since the nozzles that print the left and right edges of the printing paper in the main scanning direction are located on the left groove or the right groove, even if the ink drops come off the printing paper, the ink drops land on the center of the platen. Since the ink droplet lands on the left groove portion or the right groove portion without performing, the printing paper is not stained by the ink droplets.
[0006]
However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, in the printing in the main scanning direction, the ink is ejected even at a position deviating from the printing paper, so that the ink is wasted.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and in printing in the main scanning direction, without consuming unnecessary ink, an ink jet recording apparatus that does not stain the inside of the apparatus when ejecting ink droplets, It aims to provide programs and recording media.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, claim 1 of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs predetermined printing on a storage medium by causing a printable recording head to perform main scanning and sub-scanning a recording medium, Means for determining the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction, means for detecting the position of the recording head, and means for determining whether the detected position of the recording head is outside the range of the recording medium. And printing is not performed when the detected position of the recording head is outside the range of the recording medium.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the means for determining the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined based on a size of the recording medium set by an operator. Features.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the means for determining the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined based on the size of a sheet cassette.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the functions of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to the fourth aspect.
[0009]
With the above configuration, printing is not performed outside the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction, so that useless ink ejection is reduced and ink waste can be suppressed.
In addition, it is possible to prevent contamination caused by ejecting ink into the apparatus such as an electrostatic transport belt, and to prevent trouble of the apparatus caused by unnecessary ink ejection.
Further, since the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined by referring to predetermined information such as the recording medium size and the set size of the sheet cassette, the range of the main scanning direction of the recording medium is detected again. Since there is no need to provide a means (for example, a sensor that moves in the main scanning direction), a less expensive device can be provided.
[0010]
Further, since the range in the main scanning direction is determined from the size of the recording medium specified by the operator, the range can be determined together with the instruction of the printing operation even when printing a plurality of sheets continuously, and the productivity of the entire printing operation can be increased. .
[0011]
Also, since the range in the main scanning direction is determined from the set size of the sheet cassette, even if the operator mistakenly specifies a recording medium size larger than the recording medium set in the sheet cassette, the mask is correctly masked. can do.
In addition, only when the size of the sheet cassette changes, the size can be detected and held, so if the size does not change, the process of changing the control range need not be performed, and the productivity of the entire printing operation can be improved. Can be.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a print control mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the print control mechanism.
This ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage 13 movable in the main scanning direction inside the recording apparatus main body 1, a recording head 14 including an ink jet head mounted on the carriage 13, an ink tank 15 for supplying ink to the recording head 14, and the like. A paper feed cassette (or a paper feed tray) 4 capable of loading a large number of sheets of paper (recording medium) 3 from the front side in a lower portion of the recording apparatus main body 1. Can be freely inserted and removed. In the following description, “paper” refers not only to paper used in a general printing apparatus, but also to a wide range such as cloth, plastic film, and metal plate that can accept ink ejected by a recording head. Shall be.
In addition, the manual tray 5 for manually feeding the paper 3 can be opened, and the paper 3 fed from the paper feed cassette 4 or the manual tray 5 is taken in. Is recorded, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 6 mounted on the rear side.
[0013]
The print control mechanism 2 holds a carriage 13 slidably in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) by a main guide rod 11 which is a guide member which is laterally mounted on left and right side plates (not shown). Is mounted with a recording head 14 composed of an inkjet head for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk) with the ink droplet ejection direction facing downward, and a carriage. Above 13, each sub-tank 12 for supplying each color ink to the recording head 14 is mounted.
The sub-tank 12 corresponding to each color ink is connected via an ink supply tube 16 to an ink tank 15 which is mounted so as to be exchangeable, and the ink of the corresponding color is supplied from the ink tank 15.
[0014]
The carriage 13 is slidably fitted on the main guide rod 11 on the rear side (downstream side in the sheet conveying direction). In order to move and scan the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction, a timing belt 20 is stretched between a driving pulley 18 and a driven pulley 19 that are driven to rotate by a main scanning motor 17. It is fixed to.
[0015]
The ink jet head used as the recording head 14 presses ink through a vibration plate that forms a wall of a liquid chamber (ink flow path) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezoelectric element.
This inkjet head includes a piezo type, a bubble type in which bubbles are generated by film boiling by a heating resistor, and pressurizes ink, or a diaphragm forming an ink flow path wall surface and an electrode opposed thereto. An electrostatic type in which the diaphragm is displaced by the electrostatic force during this period to pressurize the ink can be used, but here, an electrostatic type ink jet head is used.
[0016]
Although the recording heads 14 corresponding to each color are used here as recording heads, a single head having a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets of each color may be used.
[0017]
On the other hand, in order to transport the paper 3 set in the paper feed cassette 4 to the lower side of the recording head 14, the paper feed roller 21 and the friction pad 22, which separate and feed the paper 3 from the paper feed cassette 4, and guide the paper 3 Guide member 23, a transport roller 24 that reverses and transports the fed paper 3, a transport roller 25 that is pressed against the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24, and a feed angle of the paper 3 from the transport roller 24. A tip roller 26 is provided. The transport roller 24 is driven to rotate by a sub-scanning motor 27 via a gear train.
[0018]
Further, an electrostatic transport belt 29 is provided to guide the sheet 3 sent from the transport roller 24 to the lower side of the recording head 14 in accordance with the moving range of the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction. The electrostatic transport belt 29 plays a role of adsorbing the transported paper 3 by being charged by the charger 30 and keeping the paper surface and the head surface parallel. On the downstream side of the electrostatic transport belt 29 in the paper transport direction, a paper discharge roller 33 that sends out the paper 3 to the paper discharge tray 6 is provided.
[0019]
A reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism (hereinafter, referred to as a subsystem) 37 for maintaining and recovering the reliability of the recording head 14 is disposed on the right end side in the moving direction of the carriage 13. The carriage 13 is moved to the subsystem 37 side during printing standby, and the recording head 14 is capped by capping means or the like.
In addition, when the sub-system 37 is located at the position on the subsystem 37 side (this position is referred to as a reliability maintenance recovery position), control is performed to generate meniscus vibration as part of the reliability maintenance recovery operation using the second drive waveform.
[0020]
Next, an operation related to the image mask will be described.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink jet recording apparatus. Two recording heads (101, 102) are mounted on the carriage 13, and the recording head 101 has two nozzle arrays (105, 106) and recording. Two nozzle rows (103, 104) are arranged on the head 102, and ink droplets are ejected from each of the nozzle rows.
[0021]
When the carriage 13 is at the capping position as shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 101 is covered with the cap 107, and the recording head 102 is covered with the suction / cap 108, which keeps the head surface moist and causes clogging of ink in the nozzle row. Protected to be difficult.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows the distance between the carriage and each nozzle row. The right end position of the carriage in the capped state is S, and the position of S is the coordinate origin in the main scanning direction.
S1 is the distance from the position of S to the nozzle row 106,
S2 is the distance from the position of S to the nozzle row 105,
S3 is the distance from the position of S to the nozzle row 104,
S4 indicates the distance from the position of S to the nozzle row 103, respectively.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the print control mechanism unit 2 of the ink jet recording apparatus.
In FIG. 5, a CPU 500 controls each unit of the print control mechanism unit 2 by giving a command.
When a command is given to the sub-scanning motor operation command circuit 509 and the paper feed clutch driver 511, the sub-scanning motor 27 and the paper feed clutch 512 are driven to feed the paper 3 from the paper feed cassette 4 (see FIG. 2). Carry out transportation.
[0024]
Further, when a command is given to the main scanning motor operation command circuit 506, the main scanning motor 17 is driven via the main scanning motor driver 507 to move the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction. At this time, the CPU 500 can know the position of the carriage 13 by reading the output signal of the main scanning encoder 513 via the main scanning motor operation command circuit 506.
[0025]
The operation unit 503 includes an LCD, an LED, and the like (not shown), and notifies an operator of a state of the apparatus according to a command from the CPU 500.
The nonvolatile memory 501 is a memory that can hold written data even when the power is turned off, and is configured by, for example, an SRAM or an E2PROM with a built-in battery.
[0026]
The image memory 502 is a memory in which image data to be printed is stored, and is configured by, for example, an SDRAM.
The image data read from the image memory 502 is expanded from the compressed state by the expansion circuit 520, and the image mask circuit 521 determines a mask as to which nozzle row the ink droplet is to be ejected. The ink is sent to the recording head 14 via the circuit 522, and ejects ink droplets from a nozzle row that is not masked.
Here, the expansion circuits 520, the image mask circuits 521, and the I / F circuits 522 are prepared by the number of nozzle rows, and process data of each nozzle row in parallel.
[0027]
Also, an output signal of the main scanning encoder 513 is input to the I / F circuit 522, and image data is sent to the recording head in synchronization with the main scanning position of the carriage 13.
Further, the CPU 500 can mask an output image at an arbitrary timing by giving a command to the image mask circuit 521.
[0028]
Next, an image mask operation in the image mask circuit 521 will be described.
First, a method of determining the right end and left end coordinates of a sheet will be described.
When instructing printing on a PC or the like, the operator displays a print setting screen as shown in FIG. 6, selects “print paper size”, sets the size of paper to be printed, and sets an image to be printed. The setting is transmitted to the ink jet recording apparatus together with the data. The ink jet recording apparatus stores the received image data in the image memory 502, and determines the paper width Sh from the received print paper size.
[0029]
Next, assuming that the center of the sheet passes through the sheet center passing position 109 shown in FIG. 7, the right end coordinate Pr and the left end coordinate Pl of the sheet are determined from the sheet center passing position 109 and the width of the sheet. It is recorded in the memory 501 (see FIG. 7). Here, the coordinate origin S in the main scanning direction is the position when the carriage 13 comes to the capping position.
[0030]
That is, each is calculated as follows.
Paper right end coordinate Pr = paper center passage position 109−paper width Sh / 2
Paper left end coordinate Pl = paper center passage position 109 + paper width Sh / 2
[0031]
Further, as described above, S1 = distance from the right end of the carriage to the nozzle row 106 S2 = distance from the right end of the carriage to the nozzle row 105 S3 = distance from the right end of the carriage to the nozzle row 104 S4 = distance from the right end of the carriage to the nozzle row 103 From these coordinates, the mask release start coordinates and end coordinates of each nozzle row are calculated as follows, and are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 501. Here, “unmasking” refers to a state in which ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle row.
[0032]
Mask release start coordinates Ps1 = Pr-S1 of the nozzle array 106
Mask release start coordinates Ps2 = Pr-S2 of the nozzle array 105
Mask release start coordinates Ps3 = Pr-S3 of the nozzle array 104
Mask release start coordinates Ps4 = Pr-S4 of the nozzle array 103
Unmasking end coordinates Pe1 = Pl-S1 of the nozzle array 106
Unmasking end coordinates Pe2 = Pl-S2 of the nozzle array 105
Unmasking end coordinates Pe3 = Pl-S3 of the nozzle array 104
Unmasking end coordinates Pe4 = Pl-S4 of the nozzle array 103
[0033]
Alternatively, the right end coordinates and left end coordinates of the sheet may be determined as follows.
When the operator inserts the paper feeding cassette into the ink jet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 8, the coordinates of the right end and the left end in the main scanning direction are set as the coordinates of the right end and the left end of the paper in the main scanning direction, and Pr and Pl, respectively. Is stored in the non-volatile memory 501. The coordinates of Pr and Pl are determined only when there is a change in the size of the cassette or the insertion or removal of the paper feed cassette.
[0034]
When the printing operation is started, the CPU 500 feeds and conveys the sheet 3 onto the electrostatic conveyance belt 29. After the conveyance operation is completed, after enabling the image masks of all the nozzle rows (103, 104, 105, and 106), The driving of the carriage 13 is started, and the carriage 13 is moved in the main scanning positive direction.
[0035]
Next, the CPU 500 reads the image data from the image memory 502, expands the compressed data from the compressed state by the expansion circuit 520 corresponding to each nozzle row, and further sets a mask indicating which nozzle row should eject the ink droplets. The image data is determined by the mask circuit 521 and sent to the recording head 14 via the I / F circuit 522, and ink droplets are ejected from an unmasked (released) nozzle row.
[0036]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the image masking operation of the image masking circuit 521 for one nozzle row 103. The image masking operation for the nozzle array 103 will be described, but the other nozzle arrays (104, 105, 106) operate in the same manner based on the corresponding release start coordinates and release end coordinates.
[0037]
The image mask for the nozzle array 103 is enabled (step S10).
If the coordinate position P of the carriage 13 has reached Ps4 from the output signal of the main scanning encoder 513 (YES in step S11), the image mask of the nozzle array 103 is released (step S12). On the other hand, when the coordinate position P does not reach Ps4 (NO in step S11), the image mask of the nozzle row 103 remains valid.
[0038]
Next, when the coordinate position P of the carriage 13 has reached Pe4 (YES in step S13), the image mask of the nozzle row 103 is returned to valid (step S14). On the other hand, when the coordinate position P has not reached Pe4 (NO in step S13), the image mask of the nozzle row 103 is released.
[0039]
When the mask is determined in this manner, in the section from the start to the end of the image mask release of each nozzle row, the image data given to the head is ejected from the nozzle row as an effective image. Conversely, in a section where the mask of each nozzle row is not released, white data is given to the head, and ink is not ejected from the nozzle row.
[0040]
In the above-described method, the CPU 500 controls the image mask circuit 521 in real time while monitoring the carriage position. However, the mask release start determination circuit 550 having the same configuration as the mask release start determination circuit 550 shown in FIG. , The processing load on the CPU can be reduced.
Since the mask release start determination circuit 550 and the mask release end determination circuit 560 are prepared in correspondence with the image mask circuit 521, they are required for each nozzle row. In the following description, the nozzle row 103 will be described, but the other nozzle rows (104, 105, and 106) operate similarly.
[0041]
The mask release start determination circuit 550 includes a main scanning counter 551, a register 552, and a comparator 553.
The register 552 stores the mask release start position Ps4 of the nozzle array 103 described above.
The main scanning counter 551 measures the carriage position from the input main scanning encoder signal and outputs the same to the comparator 553.
The comparator 553 compares the mask release start position Ps4 written in the register 552 at the timing of the CPU bus with the carriage position measured by the main scanning counter 551, and if the mask release start position Ps4 is smaller, the nozzle row 103 Is output to the image mask circuit 521. On the other hand, when the carriage position is smaller, a mask release end signal is output to the image mask circuit 521.
[0042]
Similarly, the mask release end determination circuit 560 includes a main scanning counter 561, a register 562, and a comparator 563.
The register 562 stores the mask release end position Pe4 of the nozzle array 103 described above.
The main scanning counter 561 measures the carriage position from the input main scanning encoder signal and outputs it to the comparator 563.
The comparator 563 compares the mask release end position Pe4 written in the register 562 at the timing of the CPU bus with the carriage position measured by the main scanning counter 561. If the mask release end position Pe4 is smaller, the nozzle row 103 Is output to the image masking circuit 521. On the other hand, when the carriage position is smaller, a mask release start signal is output to the image mask circuit 521.
[0043]
When using these determination circuits, the CPU 500 writes the mask release start position in the register 552 of the determination circuit corresponding to each nozzle row and the mask release end position in the register 562 in advance.
When the carriage 13 starts moving, the main scanning encoder signal is input to the main scanning counter 551 and the main scanning counter 561, and the carriage position is measured by the main scanning counter 551 and the main scanning counter 561. Here, when the carriage position measured by the main scanning counter 551 becomes larger than the position written in the register 552, the comparator 553 outputs a mask release start signal, and on the other hand, outputs a mask release end signal while it is smaller. This output signal is provided to the image mask circuit 521.
[0044]
On the other hand, when the carriage position measured by the main scanning counter 561 becomes larger than the position written in the register 562, a mask release end signal is output from the comparator 563. On the other hand, while it is smaller, a mask release start signal is output. This output signal is provided to the image mask circuit 521.
[0045]
When the output signals from the mask release start determination circuit 550 and the mask release end determination circuit 560 are both mask release start signals, the image mask circuit 521 interprets that the image mask has been released and outputs the image of the nozzle array 103. Release the mask. If the output signal is any other combination, the image mask is interpreted as valid and the image mask of the nozzle array 103 is valid.
[0046]
The present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiment. Each function constituting the print control mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus of the above-described embodiment is programmed, written in advance in a recording medium of a ROM, and the ROM is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, and these programs are executed by a microprocessor. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is achieved by executing the method.
In this case, the executed state read from the recording medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the program and the recording medium on which the program is recorded also constitute the present invention.
[0047]
Note that programs for realizing such functions include semiconductor media (for example, ROM, non-volatile memory, etc.), optical media (for example, DVD, MO, MD, CD, etc.), magnetic media (for example, magnetic tape, flexible disk, etc.). , Etc.).
Alternatively, a program stored in a storage device may be directly supplied from a server computer via a communication network such as a network. In this case, the storage device of the server computer is also included in the recording medium of the present invention.
[0048]
When provided on such a recording medium, the program is read from the recording medium, installed in an internal storage device or an external storage device, and the installed program is executed by a microprocessor, whereby the functions of the above-described embodiment are performed. Is realized. Alternatively, the program recorded on the recording medium may be directly executed.
[0049]
Further, in the above embodiment, the inkjet recording apparatus has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration. Any printing apparatus, such as a thermal type or a thermal transfer printing apparatus, is effective as long as printing is performed by transporting paper relative to the recording head.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, printing is not performed outside the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction, so that useless ink ejection is reduced and ink waste can be suppressed.
In addition, it is possible to prevent contamination caused by ejecting ink into the apparatus such as an electrostatic transport belt, and to prevent trouble of the apparatus caused by unnecessary ink ejection. Further, since the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined by referring to predetermined information such as the recording medium size and the set size of the sheet cassette, the range of the main scanning direction of the recording medium is detected again. Since there is no need to provide means (for example, a sensor that moves in the main scanning direction), a less expensive device can be provided.
[0051]
Further, since the range in the main scanning direction is determined from the size of the recording medium specified by the operator, the range can be determined together with the instruction of the printing operation even when printing a plurality of sheets continuously, and the productivity of the entire printing operation can be increased. .
[0052]
Also, since the range in the main scanning direction is determined from the set size of the sheet cassette, even if the operator mistakenly specifies a recording medium size larger than the recording medium set in the sheet cassette, the mask is correctly masked. can do.
In addition, only when the size of the sheet cassette changes, the size can be detected and held, so if the size does not change, the process of changing the control range need not be performed, and the productivity of the entire printing operation can be improved. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a print control mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the print control mechanism of FIG. 1;
3 is a cross-sectional view of the print control mechanism of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between nozzle arrays.
FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a print control mechanism.
FIG. 6 is an example of a display screen when setting a paper size.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining determination of mask release start coordinates and end coordinates.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining determination of mask release start coordinates and end coordinates.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an image mask operation.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a mask release start / end determination circuit of the print control mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording device main body, 2 ... Print control mechanism part, 3 ... Paper, 4 ... Paper feed cassette, 5 ... Manual feed tray, 6 ... Discharge tray, 11 ... Main guide rod, 12 ... Sub tank, 13 ... Carriage, 14, 101, 102: recording head, 15: ink tank, 16: ink supply tube, 17: main scanning motor, 18: drive pulley, 19: driven pulley, 20: timing belt, 21: paper feed roller, 22: friction pad, Reference numeral 23: guide member, 24: transport roller, 25: transport roller, 26: tip roller, 27: sub-scanning motor, 29: electrostatic transport belt, 30: charger, 33: discharge roller, 37: subsystem, 103, 104, 105, 106: nozzle row, 107: cap, 108: suction / cap, 109: paper passing center position, 500: CPU, 501: non-volatile Memory 502, image memory 503, operation unit 506, main scanning motor operation command circuit, 507 main scanning motor driver, 509 sub scanning motor operation command circuit, 510 sub scanning motor driver, 511 paper feed clutch Driver 512: paper feed clutch, 513: main scanning encoder, 520: expansion circuit, 521: image mask circuit, 522: I / F circuit, 550: mask release start determination circuit, 551: main scanning counter, 552: register, 553: comparator, 560: mask release end determination circuit, 561: main scanning counter, 562: register, 563: comparator.

Claims (5)

Means for determining a range of a recording medium in a main scanning direction in an ink jet recording apparatus for performing predetermined printing on a storage medium by causing a printable recording head to perform main scanning and sub-scanning the recording medium; and the recording head. Means for detecting the position of the recording head, and means for determining whether the detected position of the recording head is out of the range of the recording medium, and the position of the detected recording head is outside the range of the recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus wherein printing is not performed in some cases. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined by a size of the recording medium set by an operator. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the range of the recording medium in the main scanning direction is determined based on the size of a sheet cassette. A program for causing a computer to execute the functions of the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 4 is recorded.

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