JP2007021811A - Printer, computer program, printing system, and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress generation of uneven gloss to an image due to a difference of a drying time of ink. <P>SOLUTION: When the image is to be formed by a predetermined resolution to a medium by carrying out the moving operation for a nozzle to move back and forth by a plurality of times, the image is formed by either one image formation mode of a first image formation mode and a second image formation mode. In the first image formation mode, a time from a movement start in one moving operation to a movement start in the next moving operation is constant. In the second image formation mode, after the nozzle moved according to a region of the image formed by one moving operation stops, the nozzle is moved to a movement start position of the side shorter in movement time from the position where the nozzle stops, between movement start positions of both sides in a movement direction of a region of the image formed by the next moving operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a computer program, a printing system, and a printing method having nozzles for ejecting ink while moving in a moving direction to form an image.

As a printing apparatus having a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction to form an image, for example, an ink jet printer is known. The ink jet printer includes a transport operation for transporting a sheet on which an image is to be printed in the transport direction, and an ink discharge operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles while reciprocating the carriage provided with the nozzles in a moving direction intersecting the transport direction. The image is printed by repeating alternately. At this time, the carriage does not necessarily need to be moved over the entire width of the sheet in the moving direction. That is, when the image to be printed does not exist in the entire area of the paper, the carriage needs to move only in the area necessary for forming the image. For this reason, of the two ends of the section in which the carriage must move in order to form an image in the next movement operation performed to print a certain area of the image, the carriage is moved in the previous movement operation. The printing speed is increased by moving the carriage from the stopped position to the end side that can be moved in a shorter time (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-34469 A

  In the ink jet printer as described above, the distance that the carriage moves in one moving operation may be different in a plurality of moving operations, and in this case, the carriage moving time is different. At this time, if a dot formed by a certain movement operation and a dot formed by the next movement operation are adjacent to each other during a plurality of movement operations, the ink is discharged after the ink is discharged later. The drying time of the ink ejected to form dots is different. As described above, when the dry state of the ink ejected earlier is different in one image later, the gloss of the printed image surface is different, and the printed image is different. Depending on the angle at which the image is viewed, an image with uniform image quality cannot be seen due to the difference in reflection in some areas. For this reason, there is a problem that there is a possibility that a desired image cannot be printed when printing an image in which image quality is particularly important.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a computer program, and a printing system capable of suppressing occurrence of uneven glossiness on an image due to a difference in ink drying time. And to realize a printing method.

  The main invention is: (a) a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction to form an image; (b) a moving operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times to determine a predetermined medium. A first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant and the image to be formed in a certain movement operation After the nozzle moved in accordance with the area stops, the movement time from the position where the nozzle stops among the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the area of the image to be formed in the next movement operation. A controller (c) for forming an image in any one of the image forming modes of the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved at the movement start position on the short side; A printing apparatus for the.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  (A) Nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction to form an image, (b) A moving operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times at a predetermined resolution on the medium. When forming the image, depending on the first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in one moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation is constant and the area of the image to be formed in a certain moving operation After the moved nozzle is stopped, the movement of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is shorter than the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction. A printing apparatus comprising: a controller (c) for forming an image in any one of the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved at a start position; .

  According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to print an image with a predetermined resolution in any of the first image forming mode and the second image forming mode. At this time, in the first image formation mode, in the movement operation executed a plurality of times when forming an image, the time from the movement start in one movement operation to the movement start in the next movement operation is constant. Even in this case, since an image is formed under the same conditions, a uniform image is formed over the entire region. In other words, when dots are formed later between adjacent dots formed by different movement operations, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven glossiness on the image surface due to the difference in the dry state of the previously ejected ink. Is possible. In the second image forming mode, after the nozzle moved according to the area of the image to be formed by a certain movement operation stops, the area of the image to be formed by the next movement operation in the movement direction. Of the movement start positions on both sides, the nozzle is moved to a movement start position on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short, so printing can be performed in a shorter time than in the first image forming mode. .

In such a printing apparatus, in the first image formation mode, the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is set by making the movement region in which the nozzle is moved in the movement operation constant. It is desirable to keep it constant.
According to such a printing apparatus, the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation can be easily fixed by making the movement region in which the nozzle is moved in each movement operation constant. Is possible.

In such a printing apparatus, the moving area is an area that includes all areas in which the nozzles must move in order to form the image in a plurality of moving operations, and has a minimum distance in the moving direction. It is desirable that
According to such a printing apparatus, the moving area includes all the areas in which the nozzles must move in order to form an image in a plurality of moving operations. It is possible to print the entire area of the power image. In addition, since the moving area is set so that the distance in the moving direction is the shortest, it is possible to print a uniform image in a short time without missing an image.

In such a printing apparatus, in the first image forming mode, it is desirable that ink is ejected when moving in one of the forward path and the backward path.
According to such a printing apparatus, when ink is ejected from the nozzle, the nozzle moves in the same direction. That is, at any position on the medium in the moving direction of the nozzle, the time from when the nozzle passes through a certain moving operation to when the nozzle passes through the next moving operation is constant. For this reason, it is possible to print a more uniform image as compared with the case where ink is ejected during movement in either the forward path or the backward path.

In this printing apparatus, the nozzle has an ink discharge area for forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzle in an area outside the medium in the movement direction within the area where the nozzle can move, and for a predetermined time. In the moving operation after elapse of time, after the nozzle has moved to form the image, the nozzle is moved to the ink discharge region to forcibly eject ink, and the moving region is the ink discharge region. It is desirable to be a movement area in a movement operation including movement to the.
In order to stably eject ink, the nozzle that ejects ink may forcibly eject ink every predetermined time. However, the position where the ink is forcibly ejected is naturally outside the medium. It is an area. For this reason, when the ink is forcibly ejected from the nozzle, the nozzle is moved to the ink discharge area that is out of the medium on which the image is formed, and thus the movement distance becomes longer than other movement operations. For this reason, the movement area including the movement to the ink discharge area is set to a fixed area in which the nozzle moves in the first image forming mode, so that the movement operation includes the action of forcibly discharging ink from the nozzle. In addition, since the control for moving the nozzles is common in the moving operation that does not include the operation of forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles, the control can be easily performed.

In such a printing apparatus, in the moving operation in which the operation of forcibly discharging ink in the ink discharge area is not executed, the movement of the nozzle is stopped to stop the movement from the start of movement in a certain moving operation. It is desirable to make the time until the start of movement constant.
According to such a printing apparatus, only by stopping the movement of the nozzle, a moving operation including an operation of forcibly discharging ink from the nozzle, and a moving operation not including an operation of forcibly discharging ink from the nozzle, Even during the period, it is possible to make the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation constant.

In such a printing apparatus, the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is made constant by forcibly ejecting ink in the ink discharge area during all the movement operations. It is good to do.
According to such a printing apparatus, the same operation is repeated in any moving operation, so that the time from the start of movement in one moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation can be made constant. Is possible. Further, by forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles during each movement operation, the nozzles can always be kept in a state where ink can be favorably ejected, and a more uniform image can be printed.

In this printing apparatus, it is desirable to have an image formation mode selection unit for allowing the user to select the first image formation mode and the second image formation mode.
According to such a printing apparatus, the user can print an image in a desired image forming mode according to an image to be printed. For example, if it is desired to print an image with higher image quality, the first image formation mode is selected by the image formation mode selection unit, and if it is desired to print an image at a high speed, the second image is selected by the image formation mode selection unit. A formation mode can be selected.

Also, (a) a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction to form an image, and (b) a moving operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times to obtain a predetermined resolution on the medium. When forming the image, the first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant and the area of the image to be formed in a certain movement operation After the nozzle moved accordingly stops, the movement start position on the both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation is shorter on the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped. A controller (c) for forming an image in any one of the image forming modes of the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved at the movement start position, and (d) the first image In the forming mode, a moving region in which the nozzle is moved by the moving operation is fixed, and (e) the moving region has to move the nozzle to form the image in a plurality of moving operations. (F) In the first image forming mode, the ink is moved when moving in one of the forward path and the backward path. An ink discharge area for forcibly discharging ink from the nozzle is provided in an area outside the medium in the moving direction within the area in which the nozzle is movable, and a predetermined time has elapsed. In the subsequent movement operation, after the nozzle has moved to form the image, the nozzle is moved to the ink discharge area and ink is forcibly ejected. Is a movement area in a movement operation including movement to the ink discharge area, and the movement of the nozzles is stopped in the movement operation in which the operation of forcibly discharging ink in the ink discharge area is not executed. Thus, the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is made constant, and (g) image formation for allowing the user to select the first image formation mode and the second image formation mode. A printing apparatus including a mode selection unit.
According to such a printing apparatus, the effects of the present invention can be achieved more effectively because the above-described effects can be achieved.

  Further, in a printing apparatus having a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction to form an image, a moving operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times to obtain a predetermined resolution on the medium. When forming the image, the first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant and the area of the image to be formed in a certain movement operation After the nozzle moved accordingly stops, the movement start position on the both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation is shorter on the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped. A computer program for realizing a function of forming an image in any one of the second image forming modes in which the nozzle is moved to the movement start position It is possible to realize.

  (A) a computer; (B) connected to the computer; (a) a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction; and (b) the nozzle reciprocating in the moving direction. First image formation in which the time from the start of movement in one moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation is constant when the moving operation is executed a plurality of times to form the image on the medium at a predetermined resolution After the nozzles moved according to the mode and the area of the image to be formed in a certain movement operation are stopped, the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation are stopped. Among them, an image is formed in one of the image forming modes of the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved to the movement start position on the side where the moving time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is shorter Controller for a printing apparatus having a (c), the printing system is feasible, characterized in that it comprises a (C).

  Further, when forming the image on the medium with a predetermined resolution by performing a moving operation in which a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times. The first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in a certain movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant, and the nozzle moved according to the area of the image to be formed in a certain movement operation is stopped After that, among the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation, the nozzle is moved to the movement start position on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle stopped is short. A second image forming mode to be moved, a step of specifying an image forming mode selected by a user among the image forming modes, and forming an image in the specified image forming mode Printing method, comprising the steps, the can also be realized.

=== Overview of Printing Apparatus ===
As an example of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, an outline of a printing system having an inkjet printer and a computer connected to the inkjet printer will be described as an example. Here, the printing apparatus is a printing system, but the printing apparatus can be configured by a single inkjet printer.

<Printing system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing system 100. The printing system 100 is a system including at least the inkjet printer 1 and a print control device that controls the operation of the inkjet printer 1. The printing system 100 according to the present embodiment includes an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 1 that performs printing by ejecting ink to form an image on a medium, a computer 110, a display device 120, an input device 130, and a recording. And a playback device 140.

  The printer 1 prints an image on a medium such as paper, cloth, film, or OHP paper. The computer 110 is communicably connected to the printer 1. In order to cause the printer 1 to print an image, the computer 110 outputs print data corresponding to the image to the printer 1. Computer programs such as application programs and printer drivers are installed in the computer 110.

<Printer driver>
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of basic processing performed by the printer driver.
In the computer 110, computer programs such as the video driver 102, the application program 104, and the printer driver 111 are operating under an operating system installed in the computer 110. The video driver 102 has a function of displaying, for example, a user interface on the display device 120 in accordance with a display command from the application program 104 or the printer driver 111. The application program 104 has a function of performing image editing, for example, and creates data related to an image (image data). The user can give an instruction to print an image edited by the application program 104 via the user interface of the application program 104. When the application program 104 receives a print instruction, the application program 104 outputs image data to the printer driver 111.

  The printer driver 111 receives image data from the application program 104, converts the image data into print data, and outputs the print data to the printer 1. Here, the print data is data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 1 and includes various command data and unit area data. The command data is data for instructing the printer 1 to execute a specific operation. The “unit region” refers to a rectangular region virtually defined on a medium such as paper, and the size and shape are determined according to the print resolution. For example, when the printing resolution is 720 dpi (moving direction) × 720 dpi (conveying direction), the unit area has a square shape with a size of about 35.28 μm × 35.28 μm (≈ 1/720 inch × 1/720 inch). Become an area. When an ink droplet is ideally ejected, the ink droplet lands on the center position of the unit area, and then spreads to form dots in the unit area. The unit area data is data relating to the unit area constituting the image to be printed (printed image). For example, the data relating to the dot formed at the position on the paper S corresponding to a certain unit area (dot color) And data such as size).

  The printer driver 111 includes a resolution conversion processing unit 112, a color conversion processing unit 114, a halftone processing unit 116, and a rasterization processing unit 118 in order to convert the image data output from the application program 104 into print data. I have.

  The resolution conversion processing unit 112 performs resolution conversion processing for converting image data (text data, image data, etc.) output from the application program 104 into a resolution for printing on the paper S as a medium. With the resolution conversion process, for example, when the resolution when printing an image on paper is specified as 720 × 720 dpi, the image data received from the application program 104 is converted into image data with a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi. Note that the image data after the resolution conversion process is multi-gradation (for example, 256 gradations) RGB data represented by an RGB color space. Hereinafter, RGB data obtained by performing resolution conversion processing on image data is referred to as RGB image data.

  The color conversion processing unit 114 performs color conversion processing for converting RGB data into CMYK data represented by a CMYK color space. The color conversion process is performed by the printer driver referring to a table (color conversion lookup table LUT) in which the gradation values of RGB data and the gradation values of CMYK data are associated with each other. The CMYK data is data corresponding to the ink color of the inkjet printer 1. By this color conversion process, RGB data for each unit area is converted into CMYK data corresponding to ink colors. Hereinafter, CMYK data obtained by performing color conversion processing on RGB image data is referred to as CMYK image data.

  The halftone processing unit 116 performs a halftone process for converting high gradation number data into gradation number data that can be formed by the inkjet printer 1. The halftone processing is, for example, processing for converting data indicating 256 gradations into 1-bit data indicating 2 gradations or 2-bit data indicating 4 gradations.

  The rasterization processing unit 118 performs rasterization processing that changes the matrix-like image data in the order of data to be transferred to the inkjet printer 1. Thereby, the rasterized data is output to the ink jet printer 1.

<Setting by printer driver>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the user interface of the printer driver 111. The user interface of the printer driver 111 is displayed on the display device 120 via the video driver 102. A user can make various settings of the printer driver 111 by using the input device 130 through a user interface as an image forming mode selection unit.

  From this screen, the user can select various printing conditions such as the printing resolution (dot spacing of the image to be printed), the type and size of the medium to be printed, and the printing mode such as fine, high definition, and high quality. Can do. The printer driver 111 performs the data conversion process described above according to the selected printing condition, and converts the image data into print data.

<Printer>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of the overall configuration of the printer 1. Hereinafter, the basic configuration of the printer of this embodiment will be described.

  The printer 1 includes a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a head unit 40, a detector group 50, and a control unit 60. The printer 1 that has received print data from the computer 110 that is an external device controls each unit (the conveyance unit 20, the carriage unit 30, and the head unit 40) by the control unit 60. The controller 60 as a controller controls each unit based on the print data received from the computer 110 and prints an image on the paper S. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by the detector group 50, and the detector group 50 outputs the detection result to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the detector group 50.

  The transport unit 20 transports a medium such as paper in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a transport direction). The transport unit 20 includes a paper feed roller 21, a transport motor 22 (also referred to as a PF motor), a transport roller 23, a platen 24, and a paper discharge roller 25. The paper feed roller 21 is a roller for feeding the paper S inserted into the paper insertion slot into the printer. The transport roller 23 is a roller that transports the paper S fed by the paper feed roller 21 to a printable area. The platen 24 supports the paper S being printed. The paper discharge roller 25 is a roller for discharging the paper S to the outside of the printer 1 and is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printable area. The paper discharge roller 25 rotates in synchronization with the transport roller 23.

  The carriage unit 30 is for moving the head 41 in a predetermined movement direction. The carriage unit 30 includes a carriage 31 and a carriage motor 32 (also referred to as a CR motor). The carriage 31 can reciprocate along a guide portion 46 provided in the movement direction. Further, the carriage 31 detachably holds an ink cartridge that stores ink. The carriage motor 32 is a motor for moving the carriage 31 in the movement direction.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto the paper S. The head unit 40 has a head 41. The head 41 has a plurality of nozzles, and ejects ink intermittently from each nozzle. The head 41 is provided on the carriage 31. Therefore, when the carriage 31 moves in the movement direction, the head 41 also moves in the movement direction. Then, when the head 41 is moved in the moving direction, droplets of ink (hereinafter referred to as ink droplets) are ejected intermittently, whereby a dot row (raster line) along the moving direction is formed on the paper.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface of the head 41. On the lower surface of the head 41, a black ink nozzle row 411 (K), a cyan ink nozzle row 411 (C), a magenta ink nozzle row 411 (M), and a yellow ink nozzle row 411 (Y) are formed. . Each nozzle row includes a plurality of nozzles that are ejection ports for ejecting ink of each color. The plurality of nozzles in each nozzle row are aligned at a constant interval (nozzle pitch: k · D) along the transport direction. Here, D is a minimum dot pitch in the transport direction (that is, an interval at the highest resolution of dots formed on the paper S). K is an integer of 1 or more. For example, when the nozzle pitch is 180 dpi (1/180 inch) and the dot pitch in the transport direction is 720 dpi (1/720 inch), k = 4. The nozzles in each nozzle row are assigned a smaller number as the nozzles on the downstream side (# 1 to # 180). Each nozzle is provided with an ink chamber (not shown) and a piezo element (not shown). The ink chamber is expanded and contracted by driving the piezo element, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle.

  Further, the printer 1 is provided with an ink discharge portion 70 as an ink discharge region at a predetermined position outside the region where the paper S is transported, in which the carriage 31 is movable. The ink discharge unit 70 is a region where ink is ejected when an operation for forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles to prevent clogging of the nozzles provided in the head 41 is performed. The ink discharge unit 70 has a bowl shape, and an absorber for absorbing ink is provided inside. It has a cap function that covers the head 41 by moving up to the carriage side that has moved to a position facing the ink discharge section 70, and can be lowered in a direction away from the head 41 when the carriage 31 moves. Is formed. In a state where the printer 1 is not printing, the ink discharge unit 70 is lifted to cover the head 41 and prevent the ink in the nozzles from drying. For this reason, the ink discharge unit 70 is provided at a position where the carriage 31 waits when the printer 1 is not printing, that is, a so-called home position side.

  Further, the ink discharge unit 70 does not necessarily have a cap function. That is, for example, an ink discharge unit 70 is provided as a region for discharging ink in the case of so-called flushing, for example, for discharging ink to prevent nozzle clogging, and a cap mechanism for covering the head is provided separately from this region. May be. At this time, if the ink discharge portion is on the home position side, it is between the area where the paper S is transported and the cap mechanism, and if it is on the non-home position side, it is outside the area where the paper S is transported. It is desirable to provide it. By providing the ink discharge portion at such a position, it is possible to perform flushing without moving the carriage 31 to the cap mechanism, so that throughput can be improved.

In the following description, a case where the ink discharge unit 70 is on the home position side will be described.
The detector group 50 includes a linear encoder 51, a rotary encoder 52, a paper detection sensor 53, an optical sensor 54, and the like. The linear encoder 51 is for detecting the position of the carriage 31 in the moving direction. The rotary encoder 52 is for detecting the rotation amount of the transport roller 23. The paper detection sensor 53 is for detecting the position of the leading edge of the paper S to be printed. The optical sensor 54 is attached to the carriage 31. The optical sensor 54 detects the presence or absence of a sheet by the light receiving unit detecting reflected light of the light irradiated on the sheet S from the light emitting unit.

  The control unit 60 is a control unit for controlling the printer. The control unit 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 is for transmitting and receiving data between the computer 110 which is an external device and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and includes storage elements such as a RAM and an EEPROM. The CPU 62 controls each unit via the unit control circuit 64 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63.

=== Printing method ===
<About printing operation>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing during printing. Each process described below is executed by the control unit 60 controlling each unit in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63. This program has a code for executing each process.

  Print Command Reception (S001): First, the control unit 60 receives a print command from the computer 110 via the interface unit 61. This print command is included in the header of print data transmitted from the computer 110 together with information such as print conditions. Then, the control unit 60 analyzes the contents of various commands included in the received print data, and performs the following paper feeding process / conveying process / dot forming process using each unit. At this time, image data included in the print data received via the interface unit 61 is taken into the reception buffer in the memory 63. The image data captured in the reception buffer is sequentially stored in an image buffer provided in the memory 63 for each area to be printed in the moving operation in which the carriage 31 moves once.

  Paper Feed Process (S002): The paper feed process is a process for supplying the paper S to be printed into the printer and positioning the paper S at the print start position (also referred to as a cueing position). The controller 60 rotates the paper feed roller 21 and the transport roller 23 to position the paper S at the print start position.

  Dot Forming Process (S003): The dot forming process is a process for forming dots on the paper S by intermittently ejecting ink from the head 41 moving along the moving direction. The control unit 60 drives the carriage motor 32 to move the carriage 31 in the movement direction. During the movement of the carriage 31, the ink is transferred from the head 41 based on the unit area data for each unit area included in the image data of the image buffer. To discharge. When ink droplets ejected from the head 41 land on the paper S, dots are formed on the paper S. Since ink is intermittently ejected from the moving head 41, a dot row (raster line) composed of a plurality of dots along the moving direction is formed on the paper S.

  Transport Process (S004): The transport process is a process of moving the paper S relative to the head 41 along the transport direction. The control unit 60 rotates the transport roller 23 to transport the paper S in the transport direction. By this carrying process, the head 41 can form dots in the next dot forming process at a position different from the position of the dots formed by the previous dot forming process.

  Paper discharge determination (S005): The control unit 60 determines whether to discharge (discharge) the paper S being printed. If data to be printed remains on the paper being printed, no paper is discharged. Then, the controller 60 alternately repeats the dot formation process and the conveyance process until there is no more data to be printed, and gradually prints an image composed of dots on the paper.

  Paper Discharge Process (S006): When there is no more data to be printed on the paper being printed, the control unit 60 discharges the paper by rotating the paper discharge roller. The determination of whether or not to discharge paper may be based on a paper discharge command included in the print data.

  Determination of printing end (S007): Next, the control unit 60 determines whether or not to continue printing. If printing is to be performed on the next sheet, the printing is continued and the sheet feeding process for the next sheet is started. If printing is not performed on the next sheet, the printing operation is terminated.

=== Print mode ===
The printing system of the present embodiment has “fast mode”, “clean mode”, “high-definition mode”, and “high-quality mode” as print modes for printing an image. These print modes are designated by the user from the above-described user interface. The “fast mode” is a print mode in which an image is printed at a print resolution of, for example, 360 dpi × 360 dpi (resolution in the moving direction × resolution in the transport direction). The “fast mode” is a print mode suitable for printing text or the like because the image quality is somewhat inferior to other print modes but the print speed is high.

  The “high definition mode” is a print mode in which an image is printed at a print resolution of, for example, 1440 dpi × 720 dpi (resolution in the moving direction × resolution in the transport direction). The “high-definition mode” has a higher resolution than the “fast mode” and “beautiful mode” and is suitable for printing an image such as a photograph.

  The “clean mode” is a print mode for printing an image at a print resolution of, for example, 720 dpi × 720 dpi (resolution in the moving direction × resolution in the transport direction). “Pretty mode” does not have the same resolution as “High-definition mode”, and the printing speed is not as fast as “High-speed mode”. It is possible.

  The “high quality mode” is a print mode in which an image is printed at a print resolution of, for example, 1440 dpi × 720 dpi (resolution in the moving direction × resolution in the transport direction). “High-definition mode” has the same resolution as “high-definition mode”, but it is possible to print while suppressing the occurrence of uneven glossiness over the entire area of the image. Therefore, even when the image on which the image is printed is tilted and the image is viewed from an oblique angle, the difference in reflected light is smaller than that in the “high-definition mode”, and a better image can be printed. For this reason, it is used when it is desired to print an image such as a photograph with particularly high image quality.

  By the way, gloss unevenness that appears as a difference between images printed in the “high-quality mode” and the “high-definition mode” is caused by the drying time of the ink. One image is transferred from the nozzles while the carriage 31 provided with the head 41 having a predetermined width in the paper conveyance direction is reciprocated in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction while the paper S is intermittently conveyed. It is printed by ejecting. That is, the transport operation for transporting the paper S and the movement operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles while the carriage 31 is moved are repeatedly executed. At this time, in the “high-definition mode”, in order to increase the printing speed, an image area where an image is formed by one movement operation of the carriage 31 and an essential movement area where the carriage must move are calculated in advance. Here, the essential moving region is calculated based on, for example, the moving speed when the carriage 31 moves at a constant speed, the time for accelerating to the moving speed, the time for decelerating when stopping, the acceleration at that time, and the like. .

  Then, the movement from the position at which the carriage 31 stops in a certain movement operation to the movement start position with respect to the essential movement area that must be moved to form an image in the next movement operation is performed in a shorter time. Thus, the carriage 31 is moved. That is, in the “high-definition mode”, the required time for each movement operation of the carriage 31 that is executed a plurality of times may not always be constant. For this reason, when forming dots in each moving operation, when ink is ejected in a certain moving operation, the dry state of the dots already formed in the position adjacent to the position where the ink is landed is It may be different depending on each moving operation.

  Further, the printer 1 does not always eject ink from all the nozzles. That is, ink is ejected from a predetermined nozzle according to image data. For this reason, there are nozzles that do not eject ink for a while. If the time elapses without ejecting ink as described above, the nozzle may be clogged or the ink may harden around the nozzle. In such a case, the ink droplet may not be ejected satisfactorily. For this reason, the carriage 31 is moved to the ink discharge section 70 provided outside the area of the sheet S in the movement direction of the carriage 31 at predetermined time intervals to forcibly supply ink from all nozzles. A so-called periodic flushing is performed to discharge. For this reason, when printing an image on one image or one sheet of paper, flushing is executed when the time set as the threshold value for the execution interval of regular flushing elapses. The drying time of the raster line formed by the moving operation is greatly different from the drying time of the raster line formed by the other moving operation.

  When printing a high-quality image, an image is formed by forming a raster line between two raster lines adjacent to each other in the transport direction. The so-called interlace method is used for printing. For this reason, there are a case where ink is ejected to an adjacent position before ink of already formed dots is not dried and a case where ink is ejected to an adjacent position after being substantially dried. As described above, if the dried state of dots already formed at adjacent positions when forming dots is different, the uneven state of the image surface when the ink is dried is different, and the gloss of the printed image is uneven. May occur. That is, if the time required for the movement operation of the carriage 31 that is executed a plurality of times is different for each movement operation or flushing is performed while an image is formed on one image or one sheet of paper, Uneven gloss may occur. In order to suppress the occurrence of such gloss unevenness, a “high quality mode” is provided.

  In the high-definition mode, the time of all moving operations executed when an image is formed on one image or one sheet of paper is calculated in advance, and the moving operation that takes the longest time among the calculated moving operations The time of all moving operations is adjusted to the time of For this reason, in this embodiment, when flushing is performed when an image is formed on one image or a sheet of paper, the movement range is the widest including the distance that the carriage 31 moves for flushing. The carriage 31 is reciprocally moved, and at the time of a printing operation in which flushing is not performed, the ink discharge unit 70 is stopped for the same time as the time required for flushing for each moving operation. In addition, when flushing is not performed when forming an image on one image or a sheet of paper, it is an area that includes all areas where the nozzles must move and has the shortest distance. The carriage 31 is reciprocated.

  Here, the “high-definition mode” and the “high-definition mode”, which are the main features of the present invention, will be described in detail.

=== Printing operation in high quality mode ===
In the printing of the “high quality mode” as the first image forming mode, the printer 1 outputs a print command signal by designating the “high quality mode” from the user interface (see FIG. 3) and inputting a print command. Received and executed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a printing process when the high quality mode is set. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the processing of the regular interval movement operation. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the carriage in the high quality mode.

Upon receiving the print command signal (S100), the control unit 60 specifies the print mode to be printed as the “high quality mode” based on the information indicating the “high quality mode” included in the print command signal (S101). ).
Then, the control unit 60 calculates the required time required to print the image based on the image data stored in the reception buffer (S102). At this time, first, an essential movement region in which the carriage 31 must move in order to form an image in each movement operation of the movement operation of the carriage 31 that is executed a plurality of times when printing an image is calculated. . Next, an area including all of the calculated essential movement areas and having the shortest distance is specified, and a required time when the carriage 31 is reciprocated in all the specified movement areas is calculated. .

  Next, the calculated required time is compared with the time T set in the printer 1 as the above-described periodic flushing interval (S104). At this time, if the calculated required time is shorter than the time T set as the threshold value of the periodic flushing execution interval (Yes), it is not necessary to perform regular flushing while printing this image. The area including all the required movement areas and having the shortest distance is set as the movement area of the carriage 31 (S106). FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the carriage in the high quality mode in which the periodic flushing is not executed. As shown in the figure, in the set movement region of the carriage 31, the carriage 31 is reciprocated, and the image is printed by repeating the movement operation of ejecting ink from the nozzles based on the image data and the conveyance operation of the paper S. (S108).

  On the other hand, if the calculated required time is longer than the time T set as the threshold value of the periodic flushing execution interval (No), it is necessary to perform regular flushing while printing this image. In addition, an area that includes all the essential movement areas and an area that is necessary for the carriage 31 to move to the ink discharge unit 70 and that has the shortest distance in the movement direction is set as the movement area of the carriage 31 (S110). Then, in the set movement region of the carriage 31, the image is printed by repeating the movement operation of ejecting ink from the nozzles based on the image data and the transport operation of the paper S while reciprocating the carriage 31 (S 112). ). At this time, the flushing is performed in the moving operation immediately after the time T set for the regular flushing has elapsed, and in the other moving operations, the carriage is moved by the ink discharge unit 70 to the time required for the flushing. Stop as much as the same. The printing operation in which the time required for each moving operation is made constant in this way is hereinafter referred to as fixed interval moving printing.

  In the regular interval moving operation, the moving operation of the carriage 31 is executed at a constant cycle in order to suppress uneven glossiness that occurs when the ink drying time differs for each moving operation. For this reason, in the present embodiment, during the reciprocating operation of the carriage 31, only one direction is moved so that the drying time of the ink ejected to a predetermined position in the carriage moving direction becomes equal in each moving operation. Ink is discharged on the surface.

  In the printer 1 of this embodiment, the standby position where the carriage 31 waits when printing is not performed is the position of the ink discharge unit 70. Therefore, ink is ejected when the carriage 31 moves from the ink discharge unit 70 side to the anti-ink discharge unit 70 side in the carriage movement direction. That is, the movement start position of the carriage 31 is on the ink discharge unit 70. On the other hand, the movement end position of the carriage 31 is calculated based on the image data. That is, the movement end position of the carriage 31 is, as described above, the position closest to the anti-ink discharge portion 70 in the area including all the essential movement areas and having the shortest distance.

  When executing the fixed interval moving operation, the control unit 60 first resets and restarts a timer for measuring the time interval of the regular flushing (S200). Next, the paper S is moved to the initial position for starting printing based on the print data (S202). Then, the first movement operation is started (S204). That is, while the carriage 31 is moved from the home position above the ink discharge unit 70, ink is ejected based on the image data, and an image to be formed is started to be formed by the first movement operation. Thereafter, after reaching the set movement end position, the carriage 31 is moved to the home position, that is, the ink discharge unit 70 (S206).

  At this time, the control unit 60 detects whether there is image data to be printed in the image buffer (S208). As a result of the detection, if there is no image data to be printed, the paper S is discharged and the printer enters a standby state (S210). If there is image data to be printed as a result of the detection, the timer value is compared with the time T set as the period of the regular flushing (S212). If the timer value is smaller than the set time T as a result of the comparison, the ink discharging unit 70 is stopped for the time required for flushing (S214). As a result of the comparison, if the timer value is larger than the set time T, flushing is executed (S216), and then the timer is reset and restarted (S218). In other words, in the printer of this embodiment, the moving area is constant in all moving operations when forming an image and an image on one sheet S, and ink discharge is performed regardless of whether or not flushing is performed. Since the time spent on the unit 70 is made equal, the drying time of the image formed by each moving operation becomes constant, and the occurrence of uneven gloss on the image surface can be suppressed.

  Then, after flushing is performed or the carriage 31 is stopped for a time corresponding to flushing, the sheet S is transported by a predetermined amount (S220), and the next movement operation is started (S204). As described above, when image data exists in the image buffer, the processes of S204 to S220 are repeatedly executed.

=== Printing operation in high-definition mode ===
Printing in the “high-definition mode” as the second image forming mode is performed by designating the “high-definition mode” and inputting a print command from the above-described user interface (see FIG. 3). Received and executed.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a printing process when the high-definition mode is set. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the carriage in the high-definition mode.

When receiving the print command signal (S300), the control unit 60 specifies the print mode to be printed as the “high definition mode” based on the information indicating the “high definition mode” included in the print command signal (S301). ).
Then, the control unit 60 resets and restarts the timer for measuring the time interval of the regular flushing (S302). Next, the paper S is moved to the initial position for starting printing based on the print data (S304).

Next, based on the image data stored in the image buffer, an image area for forming an image in the first moving operation is calculated (S306). That is, the position of the edge of the image formed in the carriage movement direction is calculated. An essential movement area in which the carriage 31 must move to form an image in the calculated image area is calculated (S308). This essential moving distance is calculated based on, for example, the moving speed when the carriage moves at a constant speed, the time for accelerating to the moving speed, the time for decelerating when stopping, the acceleration at that time, and the like. Of the calculated end portions of the required movement area, the positions of the end portions far from the home position are stored in the memory (S310). The position of the end on the side far from the home position is the movement end position when the carriage 31 moves in the movement area in the first movement operation.
Then, an operation of ejecting ink is started while moving the carriage 31 (S312). At this time, while moving the carriage 31 from the home position above the ink discharge unit 70, ink is ejected based on the image data, and an image to be formed is formed by the first moving operation.

  During the image formation, the control unit 60 compares the timer value with the time T set as the threshold value of the periodic flushing execution interval (S314). As a result of the comparison, if the timer value is smaller than the set time T, it is detected whether there is image data to be printed in the image buffer (S324). As a result of the detection, if there is no image data to be printed, the paper S is discharged and the printer 1 enters a standby state (S344).

  If there is image data to be printed as a result of the detection, an image area for forming an image is calculated in the next moving operation based on the image data stored in the image buffer (S326). An essential movement area to which the carriage 31 must move in order to form an image in the calculated next image area is calculated (S328). Of the calculated positions of both ends of the next required movement area, the end that can be reached in a shorter time is identified from the movement end position stored in the memory (S330). The position of the identified end is the movement start position of the next movement operation, and the other end is the movement end position when the carriage 31 moves in the next movement area. Then, the movement end position when the carriage 31 moves in the next movement area is rewritten with the movement end position stored in the memory (S332).

  Next, the paper S is conveyed by a predetermined amount (S334), and the carriage 31 is moved to the specified movement start position (S336). Then, the operation of ejecting ink is started while moving the carriage in the next movement region (S312). Thereafter, the processing after S314 described above is executed.

If the timer value is larger than the set time T as a result of comparing the timer value with the time T set as the threshold value of the periodic flushing execution interval, the carriage is moved to the ink discharge section. 70 (S316), and flushing is executed (S318). Thereafter, the timer is reset and restarted (S320), and it is detected whether there is image data to be printed in the image buffer (S322).
As a result of the detection, if there is no image data to be printed, the paper S is discharged and the printer 1 enters a standby state (S344). If there is image data to be printed as a result of the detection, the paper S is conveyed by a predetermined amount (S338).

Next, based on the image data stored in the image buffer, an image area for forming an image in the next moving operation is calculated (S340). An essential movement area in which the carriage 31 must move to form an image in the calculated next image area is calculated (S342).
Of the calculated end portions of the required movement area, the positions of the end portions far from the home position are stored in the memory (S310). Thereafter, the processing after S312 described above is executed.

  As described above, according to the printing system of the present embodiment, it is possible to print an image with a predetermined resolution in any of the high-quality mode and the high-definition mode. At this time, in the high-quality mode, in the moving operation executed a plurality of times when forming an image, the time from the start of movement in one moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation is constant. However, since dots are formed under the same conditions, a uniform image is formed over the entire area. In particular, since the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant, the ink discharged in each movement operation and the ink discharged in the next movement operation are in the same condition. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven glossiness on the image surface formed by these inks.

  In the high-definition mode, after the nozzle moved according to the area of the image to be formed in a certain movement operation stops, the movement of both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation starts. Among the positions, the nozzle is moved to the movement start position on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short, so that printing can be performed in a shorter time than in the high quality mode.

  Further, in the high-quality mode, when the regular flushing is not performed while an image is formed on one image or one sheet, the moving region in which the nozzle is moved by the moving operation is made constant. Since the time from the start of movement in the movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is made constant, it is possible to form an image in a short time while suppressing the occurrence of uneven gloss.

  In addition, in a plurality of movement operations, an area that includes all of the essential movement areas that the nozzle must move to form an image and that has the shortest distance is set as the movement area. It is possible to print the entire area of the image to be printed.

  In each moving operation, ink is ejected from the nozzle only when the carriage 31 moves in one direction, so that the nozzle passes through the moving operation at any position on the paper in the nozzle moving direction. After that, the time until the nozzle passes in the next movement operation becomes constant. For this reason, it is possible to print a more uniform image as compared with the case where ink is ejected during movement in either the forward path or the backward path.

  As a matter of course, the position where the regular flushing is performed in order to discharge the ink satisfactorily is an area outside the sheet S. For this reason, during regular flushing, the carriage 31 moves to the ink discharge portion 70 that has been removed from the paper S on which an image is to be formed, and thus the movement distance is longer than other movement operations. For this reason, since the area including the movement to the ink discharge unit 70 is a fixed movement area in which the nozzle moves, the carriage 31 is moved in the movement operation including the regular flushing and the movement operation not including the regular flushing. The control is common. For this reason, control for moving the carriage 31 is easy.

  Furthermore, in the movement operation in which the periodic flushing is not executed, the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is made constant by stopping the movement of the nozzle for the time required for the periodic flushing. Therefore, just by stopping the movement of the nozzle, even if it is between the movement operation that includes regular flushing and the movement operation that does not include regular flushing, the next movement operation from the start of movement in a certain movement operation It is possible to make the time until the start of movement in the constant more accurately.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the carriage 31 is stopped for a time corresponding to the time required to execute the regular flushing in the movement operation without performing the regular flushing has been described. May be executed. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining processing when flushing is performed for each moving operation in the regular interval moving operation.

  As shown in the drawing, when flushing is performed for each moving operation in the fixed interval moving operation, the control unit 60 first moves the paper to the initial position for starting printing based on the print data (S400). Then, the first movement operation is started (S402). That is, while the carriage 31 is moved from the home position above the ink discharge unit 70, ink is ejected based on the image data, and an image to be formed is started to be formed by the first movement operation. Thereafter, after reaching the set movement end position, the carriage 31 is moved to the home position, that is, the ink discharge unit 70 (S404).

    At this time, the control unit 60 detects whether there is image data to be printed in the image buffer (S406). As a result of the detection, if there is no image data to be printed, the paper S is discharged and the printer enters a standby state (S408). If there is image data to be printed as a result of detection, flushing is executed (S410), a predetermined amount of paper S is conveyed (S412), and the next movement operation is started (S402). As described above, when image data exists in the image buffer, the processes of S402 to S412 are repeatedly executed.

  In this case, since the same operation is repeated in any moving operation, the time from the start of movement in a certain moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation can be surely made constant. Further, by performing flushing during each moving operation, the state of the nozzle can always be kept good, and a more uniform image can be printed.

  Further, although an example has been described in which the movement area in the movement operation in which the periodic flushing is not performed is equal to the movement area in the movement operation in which the periodic flushing is performed, the movement area is not necessarily equal. For example, in a movement operation that does not perform periodic flushing, the carriage 31 may be stopped so that the required time is equal to the movement operation that performs periodic flushing when the carriage 31 reaches the movement end position in the essential movement region. Good.

  In addition, since the printing system 100 of the present embodiment has a user interface for allowing the user to select the high-quality mode and the high-definition mode, the user can select a desired print mode according to the image to be printed. It is possible to print images. For example, if you want to print an image with higher image quality, you can select the high-quality mode on the user interface. If you want to print an image with higher image quality at a higher speed, you can select the higher-definition mode. It is.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above embodiments are mainly described for the printing system, but it goes without saying that the disclosure of the printer 1, the printing apparatus, the printing method, and the like is included therein. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus has been described as a printing system having the inkjet printer 1. However, if the inkjet printer 1 has, for example, an image forming mode selection unit that can set a printing mode, the printer alone Even if it exists, it is feasible. For example, the image forming mode selection unit is a liquid crystal display provided in the printer, an input button or a touch panel provided in the printer.

  In the present embodiment, part or all of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, part of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware.

  Further, part of the processing performed on the printing apparatus (inkjet printer 1) side may be performed on the host computer 110 side, and a dedicated processing apparatus is provided between the printing apparatus (inkjet printer 1) and the host computer 110. A part of the processing may be performed by this processing apparatus.

  Moreover, although the printing system etc. as one embodiment were demonstrated, said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

<About nozzle>
In the above embodiment, ink is ejected using a piezoelectric element. However, the method of ejecting ink is not limited to this. For example, other methods such as a method of generating bubbles in the nozzle by heat may be used.

<About ink>
In the above embodiment, dye ink or pigment ink is ejected from the nozzles of the printer 1 from the nozzles. However, the ink ejected from the nozzle is not limited to such ink.

<Ink colors used for printing>
In the above-described embodiment, multicolor printing in which dots are formed by ejecting four colors of ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) onto the paper S has been described as an example. However, the ink color is not limited to this. For example, in addition to these ink colors, ink such as light cyan (light cyan, LC) and light magenta (light magenta, LM) may be used. Conversely, monochrome printing may be performed using only one of the four ink colors.

<About the carriage moving direction for ejecting ink>
In the above-described embodiment, unidirectional printing in which ink is ejected only when the carriage 31 moves in the forward direction has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and so-called ink ejection is performed when the carriage 31 moves back and forth. Bidirectional printing may be performed.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a printing system. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of basic processing performed by a printer driver. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a user interface of a printer driver. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of a printer. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the printer. FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of the overall configuration of the printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence of the nozzle in the lower surface of a head. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the process at the time of printing. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a printing process when a high quality mode is set. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of a fixed interval movement operation | movement. It is a figure for demonstrating the movement of the carriage in high quality mode. It is a figure for demonstrating the movement of the carriage in the high quality mode which does not perform regular flushing. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing process when a high-definition mode is set. It is a figure for demonstrating the movement of the carriage in high definition mode. It is a figure for demonstrating the process at the time of flushing for every moving operation | movement by fixed interval moving operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

1 printer (inkjet printer), 20 transport unit, 21 paper feed roller,
22 transport motor, 23 transport roller, 24 platen, 25 discharge roller,
30 Carriage unit, 31 Carriage, 32 Carriage motor,
40 head units, 41 heads, 50 detector groups,
51 Linear encoder, 52 Rotary encoder, 53 Paper detection sensor,
54 optical sensor, 60 control unit, 61 interface unit,
62 CPU, 63 memory, 64 unit control circuit, 70 ink discharge unit,
100 printing system, 110 computer, 111 printer driver,
112 resolution conversion processing unit, 114 color conversion processing unit, 116 halftone processing unit,
118 rasterization processing unit, 120 display device, 130 input device,
140 recording / reproducing apparatus, 411 nozzle row, 411 (K) black ink nozzle row,
411 (M) magenta ink nozzle row, 411 (C) cyan ink nozzle row,
411 (Y) Yellow ink nozzle row, S paper

Claims (12)

(A) a nozzle for forming an image by ejecting ink while being moved in the moving direction;
(B) When forming the image on the medium with a predetermined resolution by performing a movement operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the movement direction a plurality of times,
A first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in a certain movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant;
Among the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation after the nozzle moved according to the image area to be formed in a certain movement operation is stopped, A controller for forming an image in any one of the image forming modes of the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved to the movement start position on the side where the moving time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short;
A printing apparatus comprising (c). The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
In the first image forming mode, the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is made constant by making the movement region in which the nozzle is moved in the movement operation constant. Characteristic printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The moving area is an area that includes all areas in which the nozzle must move in order to form the image in a plurality of moving operations, and is the area that has the shortest distance in the moving direction. A printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the first image forming mode, a printing apparatus is characterized in that ink is ejected when moving in one of the forward path and the backward path. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
An ink discharge area for forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzle in an area outside the medium in the movement direction within the area in which the nozzle is movable;
In the movement operation after a predetermined time has elapsed, after the nozzle has moved to form the image, the nozzle is moved to the ink discharge region and ink is forcibly ejected.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving area is a moving area in a moving operation including movement to the ink discharge area. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
In the moving operation in which the operation of forcibly discharging ink in the ink discharge area is not performed, the time from the start of movement in one moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation is stopped by stopping the movement of the nozzle. A printing apparatus characterized by maintaining a constant value. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is made constant by forcibly discharging ink in the ink discharge area during all the movement operations. Printing device to do. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A printing apparatus, comprising: an image forming mode selection unit for allowing a user to select the first image forming mode and the second image forming mode. (A) a nozzle for forming an image by ejecting ink while being moved in the moving direction;
(B) When forming the image on the medium with a predetermined resolution by performing a movement operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the movement direction a plurality of times,
A first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in a certain movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant;
Among the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation after the nozzle moved according to the image area to be formed in a certain movement operation is stopped, A controller for forming an image in any one of the image forming modes of the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved to the movement start position on the side where the moving time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short;
(C)
(D) In the first image forming mode, a moving region in which the nozzle is moved by the moving operation is fixed,
(E) The moving area is an area that includes all areas in which the nozzle has to move in order to form the image in a plurality of moving operations, and has the shortest distance in the moving direction. Yes,
(F) In the first image forming mode, ink is ejected when moving in one of the forward path and the backward path;
An ink discharge area for forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzle in an area outside the medium in the movement direction within the area in which the nozzle is movable;
In the movement operation after a predetermined time has elapsed, after the nozzle has moved to form the image, the nozzle is moved to the ink discharge region and ink is forcibly ejected.
The movement area is a movement area in a movement operation including movement to the ink discharge area,
In the moving operation in which the operation of forcibly discharging ink in the ink discharge area is not performed, the time from the start of movement in one moving operation to the start of movement in the next moving operation is stopped by stopping the movement of the nozzle. Is constant,
(G) A printing apparatus comprising an image forming mode selection unit for allowing a user to select the first image forming mode and the second image forming mode. In a printing apparatus having a nozzle for forming an image by ejecting ink while being moved in the moving direction, a moving operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times at a predetermined resolution on the medium. When forming the image,
A first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in a certain movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant;
Among the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation after the nozzle moved according to the image area to be formed in a certain movement operation is stopped, A second image forming mode for moving the nozzle to a movement start position on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short;
A computer program for realizing a function of forming an image in any one of the image forming modes. (A) a computer;
(B) connected to this computer,
(A) a nozzle for forming an image by ejecting ink while being moved in the moving direction;
(B) When forming the image at a predetermined resolution on a medium by performing a movement operation in which the nozzle reciprocates in the movement direction a plurality of times,
A first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in one movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant;
After the nozzle moved according to the area of the image to be formed in a certain movement operation stops, the movement start position on both sides in the movement direction of the area of the image to be formed in the next movement operation A controller for forming an image in any one of the image forming modes, the second image forming mode in which the nozzle is moved to the movement start position on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short;
A printing device having (c);
A printing system comprising (C). When forming the image at a predetermined resolution on a medium by executing a moving operation in which a nozzle for ejecting ink while moving in the moving direction reciprocates in the moving direction is executed a plurality of times.
A first image forming mode in which the time from the start of movement in a certain movement operation to the start of movement in the next movement operation is constant;
Among the movement start positions on both sides in the movement direction of the image area to be formed in the next movement operation after the nozzle moved according to the image area to be formed in a certain movement operation is stopped, A second image forming mode for moving the nozzle to a movement start position on the side where the movement time from the position where the nozzle is stopped is short;
Identifying the image forming mode selected by the user from among the image forming modes of
Forming an image in the specified image forming mode;
A printing method characterized by comprising:

Images