JP2007069574A - Recording method, recording device, and recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output a high-resolution image at high speed in a condition that texture due to a mask pattern used in multipulse recording is not noticeable even employing a multipulse recording method and a column thinning recording method. <P>SOLUTION: The mask patterns for odd number column and the mask patterns for even number column are separatedly provided. Consequently the pattern of the mask patterns appearing by the slippage between recording scannings is not accentuated between the odd number columns and the even number columns, so that the uniform image which enables the perception of no texture can be output at high speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dot matrix type recording method, a recording apparatus, and a recording system for forming an image by recording a colorant on a recording medium.

  Recording devices that record images on recording media such as paper and plastic thin plates based on image information, such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, etc., use inkjet, wire dot, thermal, and laser beams depending on the recording method. It can be classified into formulas and the like. In particular, the ink jet recording system has various advantages such as high speed, high resolution, high image quality, and low noise, and has been widely spread in recent years.

  In an inkjet recording apparatus, an image is obtained by intermittently repeating a recording main scan in which a recording head that discharges ink is scanned with respect to a recording medium and a sub-scan in which the recording medium is conveyed in a direction intersecting the recording main scan. The so-called serial type that forms the mainstream is the mainstream. In this serial type ink jet recording apparatus, it is known that unevenness of image unevenness occurs due to variations in ejection and transport amounts of a plurality of recording elements arranged in a recording head. Therefore, various countermeasures for dealing with this problem have been devised, and generally a recording method called a multi-pass recording method is often employed.

  In the multi-pass printing method, image data that can be printed by the printing head in one printing main scan is thinned out using a predetermined mask pattern, and divided into a plurality of printing main scans for printing. During each recording main scan, sub-scanning is performed at a distance shorter than the recording width of the recording head. With such a recording method, in the formed image, one dot row arranged in the main scanning direction is not recorded by one recording element, but of dots recorded by a plurality of recording elements. It becomes a combination. That is, the discharge variation of the individual recording elements is dispersed, and the feature is not noticeable. For the same reason, the connecting lines between the main scans appearing in each sub-scan are also alleviated, and the entire image becomes smooth.

  On the other hand, a serial type ink jet recording apparatus may employ a “column thinning recording method” as a method for outputting a high-resolution image as fast as possible. Hereinafter, the “column thinning recording method” will be briefly described.

  In the ink jet recording head, the frequency (drive frequency) at which each recording element ejects ink is set within a predetermined range in order to maintain stable ejection. The scanning speed of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted is set so that a desired recording density can be realized at an appropriate driving frequency within the predetermined range. However, when the dot row arranged in the main scanning direction is formed by a plurality of recording main scans as in the multi-pass recording described above, each recording element has two or more dots continuous in one recording main scanning. Can be set not to record. According to this, since the driving frequency of each printing element can be apparently increased, the scanning speed of the carriage can be increased and the printing speed can be improved.

  Here, the units of the recording pixels arranged in the main scanning direction will be specifically described as columns. For example, assume that control is performed so that recording is performed only in odd-numbered columns in odd-numbered recording main scanning, and recording is performed only in even-numbered columns in even-numbered recording main scanning. At this time, since it is known in advance that even-numbered recording main scanning does not perform printing on even-numbered columns, the drive frequency can be set only for odd-numbered columns. That is, the carriage speed can be set twice as compared with the case where recording in even columns is taken into consideration. Such a column thinning recording method is disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2.

  The column thinning recording method can be interpreted as a kind of multi-pass recording method using a mask pattern that divides into even and odd columns. However, when a high-resolution image that is the subject of the above patent document is output with high quality, each of the odd-numbered column image data and the even-numbered column image data is further thinned using a predetermined mask pattern. In many cases, the recording is divided into more recording scans. In other words, by performing multi-pass printing with at least four passes or more, with the odd number column divided into two and the even number column divided into two at a carriage speed twice as high as normal, image output with a balanced speed and quality can be realized. It is.

JP 2002-29097 A JP 2004-1560 A

  By the way, in the conventional recording method described above, image data is divided using the same mask pattern for both odd-numbered column image data and even-numbered column image data. However, according to the intensive studies by the present inventors, it has been confirmed that such an arrangement causes image defects such as texture to appear in the output image.

  As described above, the multi-pass printing has the effect of alleviating the image adverse effect caused by the discharge variation and the conveyance variation of the individual printing elements. However, the effect of multi-pass recording is not limited to this. Various characteristics of the image can be solved by giving a characteristic to the mask pattern to be applied. In recent years, mask patterns having various characteristics have been proposed and put into practical use according to the purpose.

  However, depending on the type of recording medium, the above characteristics of the mask pattern may appear as texture. According to the study by the present inventors, it has been confirmed that such a texture is amplified by applying the same mask pattern to the even-numbered columns and the odd-numbered columns, and becomes more conspicuous. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that this problem is particularly remarkable in an image in which the number of colors of ink used is small, such as a monochrome mode using only black ink.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to output a high-resolution image at a high speed while the texture is relaxed while adopting a column thinning recording method. Is to provide a simple ink jet recording method.

  Therefore, in the present invention, an image in the same area is recorded by scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording dots are arranged in a direction different from the arrangement direction with respect to the same area of the recording medium. A method of dividing recording data in which dot recording / non-recording is determined into odd-numbered column data positioned odd-numbered in the scanning direction and even-numbered column data arranged even-numbered; and dot recording Using a first mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas where permissible / non-permissible areas are arranged, and dividing the odd column data into a plurality of dots in a state different from the first mask pattern The even column data is divided into a plurality by using a second mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas where recording is permitted or not permitted. And that step, respectively of the divided odd and even column data, characterized by a step of recording in the same region at different scanning of the recording head.

  A recording apparatus for recording an image in the same area by scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording dots are arranged in a direction different from the direction of the arrangement with respect to the same area of the recording medium. , Means for dividing the recording data in which dot recording / non-recording is determined into odd-numbered column data positioned odd-numbered in the scanning direction and even-numbered column data arranged even-numbered, and whether dot recording is allowed / not allowed A means for dividing the odd-numbered column data into a plurality of parts using a first mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of defined areas, and dot recording allowed / non-permitted in a state different from the first mask pattern Means for dividing the even-numbered column data into a plurality of parts using a second mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of defined areas; and Respectively of odd and even columns data, characterized by comprising a means for recording the same area at different scan of the recording head.

  A recording apparatus that records an image of the same area by scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording dots are arrayed a plurality of times in a direction different from the direction of the array with respect to the same area of the recording medium; A recording system having a host device for processing data to be supplied to the recording device, wherein the recording data in which dot recording / non-recording is determined is divided into odd-numbered column data and even-numbered odd-numbered data in the scanning direction. The odd-numbered column data is divided into a plurality of parts by using a first mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of even-numbered column data to be arranged and a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted or not permitted. And a second array configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which permission / non-permission of dot recording is determined in a state different from the first mask pattern. Means for dividing the even-numbered column data into a plurality of parts using a mask pattern, and means for recording each of the divided odd-numbered and even-numbered column data in the same area by different scanning of the recording head. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, the feature of the mask pattern that appears due to a shift between recording scans is not emphasized between the odd-numbered columns and the even-numbered columns, so that a uniform image with no texture confirmed can be output at high speed. I can do it.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1. 1. Basic Configuration 1.1 Overview of Recording System FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the flow of image data processing in a recording system applied in an embodiment of the present invention. The recording system J0011 includes a host device J0012 for generating image data indicating an image to be recorded, setting a UI (user interface) for generating the data, and the like. Further, a recording device J0013 is provided which records on a recording medium based on the image data generated by the host device J0012. The printing apparatus J0013 includes cyan (C), light cyan (Lc), magenta (M), light magenta (Lm), yellow (Y), red (R), green (G), first black (K1), and second. Recording is performed with 10 color inks of black (K2) and gray (Gray). For this purpose, a recording head H1001 that discharges these 10 colors of ink is used. These 10 color inks are pigment inks containing a pigment as a coloring material.

  As programs that operate in the operating system of the host device J0012, there are applications and printer drivers. The application J0001 executes processing for creating image data to be recorded by the recording apparatus. This image data or data before editing or the like can be taken into a PC via various media. The host device according to the present embodiment can first take in, for example, JPEG format image data captured by a digital camera using a CF card. Also, for example, TIFF format image data read by a scanner or image data stored in a CD-ROM can be captured. Furthermore, data on the web can be taken in via the Internet. These captured data are displayed on the monitor of the host device, and are edited, processed, etc. via the application J0001, and for example, sRGB standard image data R, G, B are created. On the UI screen displayed on the monitor of the host device J0012, the user sets the type of recording medium used for recording, the quality of recording, and issues a recording instruction. In response to this recording instruction, the image data R, G, B are transferred to the printer driver.

  The printer driver includes a pre-stage process J0002, a post-stage process J0003, a γ correction J0004, a halftoning J0005, and a print data creation J0006. Hereinafter, each process J0002 to J0006 performed by the printer driver will be briefly described.

(A) Pre-processing The pre-processing J0002 performs color gamut mapping. In the present embodiment, data conversion is performed to map the color gamut reproduced by the image data R, G, B of the sRGB standard into the color gamut reproduced by the recording device J0013. Specifically, 256-gradation image data R, G, and B, each of which is represented by 8 bits, are converted into 8-bit data in the color gamut of the recording apparatus J0013 by using a three-dimensional LUT. Convert to R, G, B.

(B) Subsequent processing In the post-processing J0003, based on the 8-bit data R, G, and B on which the color gamut is mapped, 8-bit and 10-color colors corresponding to the combination of inks that reproduce the color represented by this data The decomposition data Y, M, Lm, C, Lc, K1, K2, R, G, and Gray are obtained. In the present embodiment, this process is performed by using a three-dimensional LUT together with an interpolation operation as in the previous process.

(C) γ Processing The γ correction J0004 performs density value (gradation value) conversion for each color data of the color separation data obtained by the subsequent processing J0003. Specifically, by using a one-dimensional LUT corresponding to the gradation characteristics of each color ink of the printing apparatus J0013, conversion is performed so that the color separation data is linearly associated with the gradation characteristics of the printer.

(D) Halftoning Halftoning J0005 is a quantum that converts 8-bit color-separated data Y, M, Lm, C, Lc, K1, K2, R, G, and Gray that have been γ-corrected into 4-bit data. Do. In the present embodiment, 256-bit 8-bit data is converted to 9-gradation 4-bit data using an error diffusion method. This 4-bit data is data serving as an index for indicating an arrangement pattern in the dot arrangement patterning process in the printing apparatus.

(E) Recording data creation process At the end of the process performed by the printer driver, the recording data creation process J0006 creates recording data in which recording control information is added to the recording image data containing the 4-bit index data. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of such recording data. The recording data is composed of recording control information for controlling recording and recording image data (the above-described 4-bit index data) indicating an image to be recorded. The recording control information includes “recording medium information”, “recording quality information”, and “other control information” such as a paper feed method. The recording medium information describes the type of recording medium to be recorded, and any one type of recording medium is defined among plain paper, glossy paper, postcard, and printable disc. The recording quality information describes the quality of the recording, and any one of “clean”, “standard”, “fast”, etc. is defined. The recording control information is formed based on the content specified by the user on the UI screen on the monitor of the host device J0012. Further, it is assumed that the recorded image data describes the image data generated by the above-described halftone process J0005. The recording data generated as described above is supplied to the recording device J0013.

  The recording device J0013 performs the following dot arrangement patterning processing J0007, column data decomposition processing J0020, and mask data conversion processing J0008 on the recording data supplied from the host device J0012.

(F) Dot arrangement patterning process In the above-described halftone process J0005, the number of gradation levels is reduced from 256-value multi-value density information (8-bit data) to 9-value gradation value information (4-bit data). . However, data that can be actually recorded by the printing apparatus J0013 is binary data (1 bit data) indicating whether or not ink dots are printed. Therefore, in the dot arrangement patterning process J0007, for each pixel represented by 4-bit data of gradation levels 0 to 8, which is an output value from the halftone process J0005, the gradation value (level 0 to 8) of that pixel is displayed. A dot arrangement pattern corresponding to is assigned. As a result, whether or not ink dots are recorded (dot on / off) is defined in each of a plurality of areas in one pixel, and 1-bit binary data of “1” or “0” is stored in each area in one pixel. Deploy. Here, “1” is binary data indicating dot recording, and “0” is binary data indicating non-recording.

  FIG. 3 shows output patterns for input levels 0 to 8 that are converted by the dot arrangement patterning processing of the present embodiment. Each level value shown on the left of the drawing corresponds to level 0 to level 8 which are output values from the halftone processing unit on the host device side. An area composed of 2 vertical areas × 4 horizontal areas arranged on the right side corresponds to an area of one pixel output by halftone processing. Each area in one pixel corresponds to a minimum unit in which dot on / off is defined. In this specification, the “pixel” is a minimum unit that can express gradation, and is a target of image processing of multi-bit multi-value data (processing such as the preceding stage, the latter stage, γ correction, and halftoning). Is the smallest unit.

  In the figure, the area filled with a circle indicates an area where dots are recorded, and the number of dots to be recorded increases by one as the number of levels increases. In the present embodiment, the density information of the original image is finally reflected in such a form.

  (4n) to (4n + 3) indicate pixel positions in the horizontal direction from the left end of the image data to be recorded by substituting an integer of 1 or more for n. Each pattern shown below indicates that a plurality of different patterns are prepared according to pixel positions even at the same input level. That is, even when the same level is input, four types of dot arrangement patterns shown in (4n) to (4n + 3) are cyclically assigned on the recording medium.

  In FIG. 3, the vertical direction is the direction in which the ejection ports of the recording head are arranged, and the horizontal direction is the scanning direction of the recording head. In this way, it is possible to perform recording with a plurality of different dot arrangements for the same level. This is because the number of ejections is distributed between the nozzles located at the upper and lower positions of the dot arrangement pattern, There is an effect to disperse various noises.

  When the dot arrangement patterning process described above is completed, all dot arrangement patterns for the recording medium are determined.

(G) Column division processing In this embodiment, each pixel shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to one pixel at a resolution of 600 ppi (pixel / inch; reference value), and has a width of about 42 μm in both vertical and horizontal directions. . In the recording apparatus of this embodiment, each pixel having such a resolution is divided into 2 vertical areas × 4 horizontal areas as shown in the figure, and dots can be recorded in each area. Therefore, the recording resolution in the recording apparatus is 1200 dpi (dot / inch; reference value) in the vertical direction and 2400 dpi in the horizontal direction.

  In realizing the recording resolution, the recording apparatus of this embodiment employs column thinning. Then, only odd-numbered columns are recorded during forward scanning, and only even-numbered columns are recorded during backward scanning. Since the horizontal direction of the area corresponds to the main scanning direction of the recording head, recording is performed at 1200 dpi in the main scanning direction in each recording scan. In the column data dividing process J0020, the 1-bit data output from the dot arrangement patterning process J0007 is divided into only odd-numbered column data and even-numbered column data, and transferred to the next mask data conversion process J0007 in the divided state. To do.

(H) Mask Data Conversion Processing Through the processing up to the column data division processing J0020 described above, the dot data to be recorded in the forward scan and the dot data to be recorded in the backward scan are determined. Therefore, if binary data indicating the dot arrangement is input to the drive circuit J0009 of the recording head H1001, a desired image can be recorded. However, this embodiment employs a multi-pass printing method in which each of odd-numbered column data and even-numbered column data located in the same scanning region is further divided into a plurality of scans.

  In the mask data conversion process J0008, an AND process is performed between the odd column data or even column data obtained by the column data dividing process and the prepared mask data, and binary data to be recorded in each recording scan. To decide. Thereafter, depending on whether the next recording scan is the forward scan or the backward scan, the binary data for the odd column is driven for the forward scan, and the binary data for the even column is driven for the backward scan. Transfer to circuit J0009. As a result, the recording head H1001 is driven and ink is ejected according to the binary data. Since the detailed contents of the mask data conversion processing are the characteristic configuration of the present invention, they will be described in detail in the section of the characteristic configuration described later.

  In FIG. 1, the pre-processing J0002, the post-processing J0003, the γ processing J0004, the halftoning J0005, and the recording data creation processing J0006 are described as being executed by the host device J0012. The embodiment in which the dot arrangement patterning process J0007, the column data dividing process J0020, and the mask data converting process J0008 are executed by the printing apparatus J0013 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, a part of the processes J0002 to J0005 executed by the host device J0012 may be executed by the recording device J0013, or all may be executed by the host device J0012. Or the form which performs all the processes mentioned above in the recording device J0013 may be sufficient.

1.2 Configuration of Mechanism Unit The configuration of each mechanism unit in the recording apparatus applied in the present embodiment will be described. The recording apparatus main body in the present embodiment can be generally classified into a paper feed unit, a paper transport unit, a paper discharge unit, a carriage unit, a flat path recording unit, a cleaning unit, and the like based on the role of each mechanism unit. Is housed in the exterior.

  6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13 are perspective views showing the external appearance of a recording apparatus applied in this embodiment. 6 is a state seen from the front when the recording apparatus is not used, FIG. 7 is a state seen from the rear when the recording apparatus is not used, and FIG. 8 is a state seen from the front when the recording apparatus is used. Each is shown. FIG. 12 shows a state seen from the front during flat pass recording, and FIG. 13 shows a state seen from the back during flat pass recording. FIGS. 9 to 11 and FIGS. 14 to 16 are diagrams for explaining the internal mechanism of the recording apparatus main body. 9 is a perspective view from the upper right part, FIG. 10 is a perspective view from the upper left part, and FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the recording apparatus main body. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view during flat pass recording. 15 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit, FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation of the wiping mechanism in the cleaning unit, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the wet liquid transfer unit in the cleaning unit. is there.

  Hereinafter, each part will be sequentially described with reference to these drawings as appropriate.

(A) Exterior part (FIGS. 6 and 7)
The exterior part is attached so as to cover the periphery of the paper feed part, paper transport part, paper discharge part, carriage part, cleaning part, flat path part and wet liquid transfer part. The exterior portion mainly includes a lower case M7080, an upper case M7040, an access cover M7030, a connector cover, and a front cover M7010.

  A lower discharge tray rail (not shown) is provided below the lower case M7080, and the divided discharge tray M3160 can be stored. Further, the front cover M7010 is configured to close the paper discharge port when not in use.

  An access cover M7030 is attached to the upper case M7040 and is configured to be rotatable. A part of the upper surface of the upper case has an opening, and the ink tank H1900 and the recording head H1001 (FIG. 21) can be exchanged at this position. In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the recording head H1001 is in the form of a unit in which a plurality of discharge units capable of discharging one color of ink are integrally configured. The ink tank H1900 is configured as a recording head cartridge H1000 that can be attached and detached independently for each color. The upper case M7040 is provided with a door switch lever (not shown) that detects opening and closing of the access cover M7030, an LED guide M7060 that transmits and displays LED light, a power key E0018, a resume key E0019, a flat pass key E3004, and the like. . Further, the multi-stage type paper feed tray M2060 is rotatably attached, and when the paper feed unit is not used, the paper feed tray M2060 is housed so that it also serves as a cover for the paper feed unit. Has been.

  The upper case M7040 and the lower case M7080 are attached with elastic fitting claws, and a connector cover (not shown) covers a portion where the connector portion is provided therebetween.

(B) Paper feed unit (FIGS. 8 and 11)
Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 11, the paper feed unit is configured as follows. That is, a pressure plate M2010 on which recording media are stacked, a paper feed roller M2080 for feeding recording media one by one, a separation roller M2041 for separating the recording media, a return lever M2020 for returning the recording media to the stacking position, and the like are provided on the base M2000. It is configured by being attached.

(C) Paper transport unit (FIGS. 8 to 11)
A conveyance roller M3060 for conveying a recording medium and a paper end sensor (hereinafter referred to as a PE sensor) E0007 are rotatably attached to a chassis M1010 made of a bent metal sheet. The conveying roller M3060 has a structure in which ceramic fine particles are coated on the surface of a metal shaft, and is attached to the chassis M1010 in a state where the metal portions of both shafts are received by bearings (not shown). The conveyance roller M3060 is provided with a roller tension spring (not shown), and by energizing the conveyance roller M3060, an appropriate amount of load is applied during rotation so that stable conveyance can be performed.

  A plurality of driven pinch rollers M3070 are provided in contact with the transport roller M3060. The pinch roller M3070 is held by the pinch roller holder M3000, but is urged by a pinch roller spring (not shown) to be brought into pressure contact with the conveyance roller M3060, and generates a conveyance force for the recording medium. At this time, the rotation shaft of the pinch roller holder M3000 is attached to the bearing of the chassis M1010 and rotates around this position.

  A paper guide flapper M3030 and a platen M3040 for guiding the recording medium are disposed at the entrance where the recording medium is conveyed. The pinch roller holder M3000 is provided with a PE sensor lever M3021, and the PE sensor lever M3021 plays a role of transmitting the detection of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the recording medium to the PE sensor E0007. The platen M3040 is attached to the chassis M1010 and positioned. The paper guide flapper M3030 can rotate around a bearing portion (not shown) and is positioned by contacting the chassis M1010.

  A recording head H1001 (FIG. 21) is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance roller M3060 in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  The conveyance process in the above configuration will be described. The recording medium sent to the paper transport unit is guided by the pinch roller holder M3000 and the paper guide flapper M3030, and is sent to the roller pair of the transport roller M3060 and the pinch roller M3070. At this time, the PE sensor lever M3021 detects the leading edge of the recording medium, and thereby the recording position with respect to the recording medium is obtained. A roller pair composed of a conveyance roller M3060 and a pinch roller M3070 is rotated by driving of the LF motor E0002, and the recording medium is conveyed on the platen M3040 by this rotation. The platen M3040 is provided with a rib serving as a conveyance reference surface, and a gap between the recording head H1001 and the recording medium surface is managed by the rib. At the same time, the ribs play a role of suppressing the undulation of the recording medium together with a paper discharge unit described later.

  The driving force for rotating the transport roller M3060 is transmitted, for example, to the pulley M3061 provided on the shaft of the transport roller M3060 via a timing belt (not shown) from the LF motor E0002 made of a DC motor. It is obtained by doing. A code wheel M3062 for detecting the amount of conveyance by the conveyance roller M3060 is provided on the axis of the conveyance roller M3060. The adjacent chassis M1010 is provided with an encode sensor M3090 for reading the marking formed on the code wheel M3062. The markings formed on the code wheel M3062 are formed at a pitch of 150 to 300 lpi (line / inch; reference value).

(D) Paper discharge section (FIGS. 8 to 11)
The paper discharge unit includes a first paper discharge roller M3100, a second paper discharge roller M3110, a plurality of spurs M3120, a gear train, and the like.

  The first paper discharge roller M3100 is configured by providing a plurality of rubber portions on a metal shaft. The first paper discharge roller M3100 is driven by transmitting the driving of the transport roller M3060 to the first paper discharge roller M3100 via an idler gear.

  The second paper discharge roller M3110 has a structure in which a plurality of elastomer elastic bodies M3111 are attached to a resin shaft. The second paper discharge roller M3110 is driven by transmitting the drive of the first paper discharge roller M3100 via an idler gear.

  The spur M3120 is formed by integrating a circular thin plate made of, for example, SUS, which has a plurality of convex shapes around the resin portion, and is attached to the spur holder M3130. This attachment is performed by a spur spring provided with a coil spring in a rod shape. At the same time, the spring force of the spur spring causes the spur M3120 to contact the discharge rollers M3100 and M3110 with a predetermined pressure. With this configuration, the spur M3120 can be rotated following the two discharge rollers M3100 and M3110. Some of the spurs M3120 are provided at the position of the rubber portion of the first paper discharge roller M3100 or the elastic body M3111 of the second paper discharge roller M3110, and mainly play a role of generating the conveyance force of the recording medium. Yes. In addition, some others are provided at positions where the rubber part or the elastic body M3111 is not present, and mainly play a role of suppressing the lifting of the recording medium during recording.

  Further, the gear train plays a role of transmitting the driving of the transport roller M3060 to the paper discharge rollers M3100 and M3110.

  With the above configuration, the recording medium on which an image has been formed is sandwiched between the nip between the first paper discharge roller M3110 and the spur M3120, conveyed, and discharged to the paper discharge tray M3160. The paper discharge tray M3160 is divided into a plurality of parts and can be stored in a lower part of a lower case M7080 described later. When used, pull out. Further, the discharge tray M3160 is designed such that its height increases toward the leading end, and both ends thereof are held at high positions, improving the stackability of the discharged recording medium, rubbing the recording surface, and the like. Is preventing.

(E) Carriage part (FIGS. 9 to 11)
The carriage unit has a carriage M4000 for mounting the recording head H1001, and the carriage M4000 is supported by a guide shaft M4020 and a guide rail M1011. The guide shaft M4020 is attached to the chassis M1010 and guides and supports the carriage M4000 to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide rail M1011 is formed integrally with the chassis M1010, and holds the rear end of the carriage M4000 and plays a role of maintaining a gap between the recording head H1001 and the recording medium. Further, a sliding sheet M4030 made of a thin plate of stainless steel or the like is stretched on the sliding side of the guide rail M1011 with respect to the carriage M4000 so as to reduce the sliding noise of the recording apparatus.

  The carriage M4000 is driven via a timing belt M4041 by a carriage motor E0001 attached to the chassis M1010. The timing belt M4041 is stretched and supported by an idle pulley M4042. Further, the timing belt M4041 is coupled to the carriage M4000 via a carriage damper made of rubber or the like, and the unevenness of the recorded image is reduced by attenuating the vibration of the carriage motor E0001 or the like.

  An encoder scale E0005 (described later with reference to FIG. 18) for detecting the position of the carriage M4000 is provided in parallel with the timing belt M4041. On the encoder scale E0005, markings are formed at a pitch of 150 lpi to 300 lpi. An encoder sensor E0004 (described later with reference to FIG. 18) for reading the marking is provided on a carriage substrate E0013 (described later with reference to FIG. 18) mounted on the carriage M4000. The carriage substrate E0013 is also provided with a head contact E0101 for electrical connection with the recording head H1001. In addition, a flexible cable E0012 (not shown) for transmitting a drive signal from the electric board E0014 to the recording head H1001 is connected to the carriage M4000.

  The following is provided as a configuration for fixing the recording head H1001 to the carriage M4000. That is, an abutting portion (not shown) for positioning the recording head H1001 while pressing the recording head H1001 and a pressing means (not shown) for fixing the recording head H1001 to a predetermined position are provided on the carriage M4000. The pressing means is mounted on the head set lever M4010, and is configured to act on the recording head H1001 by turning the head set lever M4010 about the rotation fulcrum when setting the recording head H1001.

  Further, the carriage M4000 is provided with a position detection sensor M4090 including a reflection type optical sensor for recording on a special medium such as a CD-R or for detecting the position of a recording result or a sheet edge. . The position detection sensor M4090 can detect the current position of the carriage M4000 by emitting light from the light emitting element and receiving the reflected light.

  When an image is formed on the recording medium in the above configuration, the roller pair including the conveyance roller M3060 and the pinch roller M3070 conveys and positions the recording medium with respect to the row position. For the row position, the carriage M4000 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction by the carriage motor E0001 to place the recording head H1001 at the target image forming position. The positioned recording head H1001 ejects ink to the recording medium in accordance with a signal from the electric substrate E0014. A detailed configuration and recording system for the recording head H1001 will be described later. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment alternately repeats recording main scanning in which the carriage M4000 scans in the column direction while recording is performed by the recording head H1001, and sub-scanning in which the recording medium is conveyed in the row direction by the conveyance roller M3060. Thus, an image is formed on the recording medium.

(F) Flat pass recording unit (FIGS. 12 to 14)
Paper feeding from the paper feeding unit is performed in a state where the recording medium is bent because the path through which the recording medium passes is bent until reaching the pinch roller as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, when a thick recording medium of about 0.5 mm or more is to be fed from the sheet feeding unit, a reaction force of the bent recording medium may be generated, and the sheet feeding resistance may increase to prevent sheet feeding. . Even if paper can be fed, the recording medium after being ejected may remain bent or bend.

  Flat-pass recording is performed on a recording medium that is not desired to be bent, such as a thick recording medium, or a recording medium that cannot be bent, such as a CD-R.

  Here, in flat pass recording, there is a type in which recording is performed by causing a recording medium to be nipped by a pinch roller of the main body from the opening on the slit on the back of the main body (under the paper feeding device) in a manual feed mode. However, the flat-pass recording according to the present embodiment is a mode in which recording is performed after a recording medium is fed from a paper discharge port on the front side of the main body to a recording position and switched back.

  The front cover M7010 is below the paper discharge unit to serve also as a tray for stacking about several tens of normally recorded recording media (FIG. 8). During flat-pass recording, the front tray M7010 is raised to the position of the paper discharge port in order to feed the recording medium horizontally from the paper discharge port in the direction opposite to the normal transport direction (FIG. 12). The front tray M7010 is provided with a hook or the like (not shown), and the front tray can be fixed at the flat path paper feed position. The presence of the front tray M7010 at the flat pass recording position can be detected by a sensor, and the flat pass recording mode can be determined according to the detection.

  In the flat pass recording mode, the flat pass key E3004 is first operated in order to place the recording medium on the front tray M7010 and insert the recording medium from the paper discharge outlet. Thus, the spur holder M3130 and the pinch roller holder M3000 are lifted by a mechanism (not shown) to a position higher than the assumed thickness of the recording medium. Further, the rear tray M7090 can be opened by pressing the rear tray button M7110, and the rear subtray M7091 can be opened in a V shape (FIG. 13). The rear tray M7090 and the rear sub-tray M7091 are trays for supporting a long recording medium also on the back of the main body, since the rear recording tray protrudes from the back of the main body when a long recording medium is inserted from the front of the main body. If a thick recording medium does not maintain a flat posture during recording, it may rub against the head face surface or the transport load may change, which may affect the recording quality. It is. However, if the recording medium has a length that does not protrude from the back of the main body, the rear tray M7090 or the like need not be opened.

  As described above, the recording medium can be inserted into the main body from the paper discharge port. The rear end of the recording medium (the end on the near side closest to the user) and the right end are aligned with the marker position of the front tray M7010 and placed on the front tray M7010.

  When the flat pass key E3004 is operated again here, the spur holder 3130 descends and the recording medium is nipped by the paper discharge rollers M3100 and M3110 and the spur 3120. Thereafter, the recording medium is pulled into the main body by a predetermined amount by the paper discharge rollers M3100 and M3110 (the direction opposite to the conveying direction during normal recording). When the recording medium is set for the first time, the front end (rear end) of the recording medium is aligned, so the front end of the short recording medium (end farthest from the user's end) is the transport roller M3060. May not reach. Accordingly, the predetermined amount is a distance until the rear end of the assumed shortest recording medium reaches the conveyance roller M3060. Since the recording medium fed by a predetermined amount reaches the conveying roller M3060, the pinch roller holder M3000 is lowered at that position, and the recording medium is nipped by the conveying roller M3060 and the pinch roller M3070. Then, the recording medium is further fed so that the rear end portion is nipped by the conveying roller M3060 and the pinch roller M3070. This completes the feeding of the recording medium for flat path recording (recording standby position).

  The nip force between the paper discharge rollers M3100 and M3110 and the spur M3120 is set to be relatively low so as not to affect the formed image during paper discharge during normal recording. Accordingly, there is a risk that the position of the recording medium may be shifted before recording is performed during flat pass recording. However, in the present embodiment, the recording medium is nipped by the conveying roller M3060 and the pinch roller M3070 having a relatively high nip force, so that the setting position of the recording medium is secured. Further, when the recording medium is fed into the main body by the predetermined amount, the rear end position of the recording medium (the front end position at the time of recording) is detected by the flat path paper detection sensor M3170 located between the platen M3040 and the spur holder M3130. be able to.

  When the recording medium is set at the recording standby position, a recording command is executed. In other words, the recording medium is transported by the transport roller M3060 to the recording position by the recording head H1001, and thereafter, recording is performed in the same manner as the normal recording operation, and the paper is discharged to the front tray M7010 after recording.

  If further flat pass recording is desired, the recorded recording medium is taken out from the front tray M7010, the next recording medium is set, and then the above-described processing is repeated. Specifically, it starts by pushing the flat pass key E3004 to lift the spur holder M3130 and the pinch roller holder M3000 and set the recording medium.

  On the other hand, when the flat pass recording is ended, the normal recording mode can be restored by returning the front tray M7010 to the normal recording position.

(G) Cleaning unit (FIGS. 15 and 16)
The cleaning unit is a mechanism for cleaning the recording head H1001. This includes a pump M5000, a cap M5010 for suppressing the drying of the recording head H1001, a blade M5020 for cleaning the discharge port forming surface of the recording head H1001, and the like.

  A dedicated cleaning motor E0003 is disposed in the cleaning unit. The cleaning motor E0003 is provided with a one-way clutch (not shown) that operates the pump M5000 by rotating in one direction, and moves the blade M5020 and moves the cap M5010 up and down by rotating in the other direction. Yes.

  The cap M5010 is driven from the motor E0003 so as to be lifted and lowered via a lift mechanism (not shown). Then, at the raised position, capping can be performed for each of the face surfaces of several ejection units provided in the recording head H1500 to protect it during non-recording operation or to perform suction recovery. Further, it is set at a lowered position that avoids interference with the recording head 9 during the recording operation, and it is possible to receive preliminary ejection by facing the face surface. For example, in the example shown in the figure, two caps M5010 are provided so that the recording head H1001 is provided with ten ejection units, and the face surfaces of the five ejection units can be collectively capped. .

  A wiper portion H5020 made of an elastic member such as rubber is fixed to a wiper holder H5021. The wiper holder H5021 is movable in the + Y and -Y directions (arrangement direction of the discharge ports in the discharge unit) in FIG. Then, when the recording head H1001 reaches the home position, the wiper holder 25 moves in the arrow -Y direction, so that wiping is possible. When the wiping operation is completed, the carriage is retracted out of the wiping area and then returned to a position where the wiper does not interfere with the face surface or the like. Note that the wiper unit M5020 of this example is provided with a wiper blade M5020A that wipes the entire surface of the recording head H1001 including the face surfaces of all ejection units. In addition, two wiper blades M5020B and M5020C for wiping in the vicinity of the nozzles are provided for each face surface of the five discharge units.

  Then, after wiping, the wiper portion M5020 abuts against the blade cleaner M5060, so that the ink attached to the wiper blades M5020A to M5020C itself can be removed. Further, a configuration (wet liquid transfer portion) is provided that improves the cleaning performance by wiping by transferring the wet liquid to the wiper blades M5020A to M5020C prior to wiping. The configuration of the wet liquid transfer unit and the wiping operation will be described later.

  The suction pump M5000 can generate a negative pressure in a state where a cap M5010 is joined to the face surface and a sealed space is formed therein. As a result, ink can be filled into the ejection portion from the ink tank H1900, and dust, sticking matter, bubbles, etc. existing in the ejection port or the ink path inside the ejection port can be removed by suction.

  As the suction pump M5000, for example, a tube pump type is used. This includes a member formed with a curved surface that holds at least a part of a flexible tube, a roller that can press the flexible tube toward the member, and a roller that supports the roller. And a rotatable roller support portion. That is, by rotating the roller support portion in a predetermined direction, the roller rolls while crushing the flexible tube on the curved surface forming member. Along with this, a negative pressure is generated in the sealed space formed by the cap M5010, the ink is sucked from the discharge port, and is drawn from the cap M5010 into a tube or a suction pump. The drawn ink is further transferred toward an appropriate member (waste ink absorber) provided in the lower case M7080.

  Note that an absorber M5011 is provided in an inner portion of the cap M5010 in order to reduce ink remaining on the face surface of the recording head H1001 after suction. Further, by sucking the ink remaining in the cap M5010 or the absorber M5011 with the cap M5010 opened, consideration is given to preventing the remaining ink from sticking and the subsequent adverse effects. Here, an air release valve (not shown) is provided in the middle of the ink suction path, and when the cap M5010 is released from the face surface in advance, the negative pressure does not act on the face surface. It is preferable to keep it.

  The suction pump M5000 can be operated not only for suction recovery, but also for discharging ink received in the cap M5010 by a preliminary ejection operation performed with the cap M5010 facing the face surface. That is, by operating the suction pump M5000 when the pre-discharged ink held in the cap M5010 reaches a predetermined amount, the ink held in the cap M5010 is transferred to the waste ink absorber through the tube. can do.

  A series of operations continuously performed such as the operation of the wiper unit M5020, the raising and lowering of the cap M5010, and the opening and closing of the valve are performed by a main cam (not shown) provided on the output shaft of the motor E0003 and a plurality of cams driven by the main cam. It can be controlled by an arm or the like. That is, a predetermined operation can be performed by operating the cam portions, arms, and the like of the respective portions by the rotation of the main cam in accordance with the rotation direction of the motor E0003. The position of the main cam can be detected by a position detection sensor such as a photo interrupter.

(H) Wet liquid transfer part (FIGS. 17 and 16)
Recently, for the purpose of improving the recording density, water resistance, light resistance and the like of recorded matter, an ink containing a pigment component (hereinafter referred to as “pigment ink”) is increasingly used as a coloring material. The pigment ink is obtained by dispersing a solid color material in water by introducing a functional group on the surface of the pigment or the pigment. Therefore, the dried pigment ink dried by evaporation of moisture in the ink on the face surface is more damaging to the face surface than the dry fixed matter of dye-based ink in which the colorant itself is dissolved at the molecular level. . In addition, there is a property that the polymer compound used for dispersing the pigment in the solvent is easily adsorbed to the ejection surface. This is a problem that occurs other than the pigment ink when a high molecular compound exists in the ink as a result of adding a reaction liquid to the ink for the purpose of adjusting the viscosity of the ink, improving light resistance, or the like.

  In this embodiment, the liquid is transferred to and attached to the blade M5020, and wiping is performed by the wet blade M5020. Thereby, the face surface is prevented from being deteriorated by the pigment ink, the wear of the wiper is reduced, and the accumulated matter is removed by dissolving the ink residue accumulated on the face surface. In the present specification, such a liquid is referred to as a wet liquid, and wiping using the liquid is referred to as wet wiping.

  In the present embodiment, the wet liquid is stored inside the recording apparatus main body. M5090 is a wet liquid tank, which stores a glycerin solution or the like as the wet liquid. M5100 is a wet liquid holding member, which is a fibrous member having an appropriate surface tension so that the wet liquid does not leak from the wet liquid tank M5090, and is impregnated and held with the wet liquid. M5080 is a wet liquid transfer member, which is made of, for example, a porous material having an appropriate capillary force, and has a wet liquid transfer portion M5081 in contact with the wiper blade. The wet liquid transfer member M5080 is also in contact with the wet liquid holding member M5100 soaked with the wet liquid, so that the wet liquid also soaks into the wet liquid transfer member M5080. The wet liquid transfer member M5080 is made of a material having a capillary force that can supply the wet liquid to the wet liquid transfer portion M5081 even when the remaining wet liquid is low.

  The operation of the wet liquid transfer unit and the wiper unit will be described.

  First, the cap M5010 is set to the lowered position, and the carriage M4000 is retracted to a position where it does not touch the blades M5020A to M5020C. In this state, the wiper part M5020 is moved in the −Y direction, passes through the part of the blade cleaner M5060, and is brought into contact with the wet liquid transfer part M5081 (FIG. 17). By maintaining the contact state for an appropriate time, an appropriate amount of wet liquid is transferred to the blade M5020.

  Next, the wiper part M5020 is moved in the + Y direction. Since the blade touches the blade cleaner M5060 on the surface where the wet liquid is not attached, the wet liquid remains held by the blade.

  After returning the blade to the wiping start position, the carriage M4000 is moved to the wiping position. By moving the wiper unit M5020 in the −Y direction again, the face surface of the recording head H1001 can be wiped with the surface with the wet liquid.

1.3 Electrical Circuit Configuration Next, the configuration of the electrical circuit in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram for schematically explaining the overall configuration of the electrical circuit in the recording apparatus J0013. The recording apparatus applied in the present embodiment is mainly configured by a carriage substrate E0013, a main substrate E0014, a power supply unit E0015, a front panel E0106, and the like.

  Here, the power supply unit E0015 is connected to the main board E0014 and supplies various driving powers.

  The carriage substrate E0013 is a printed circuit board unit mounted on the carriage M4000, and functions as an interface for exchanging signals with the recording head H1001 and supplying head drive power through the head connector E0101. As a portion for controlling the head drive power supply, a head drive voltage modulation circuit E3001 having a plurality of channels for the respective color ejection portions of the recording head H1001 is provided. Then, a head drive power supply voltage is generated according to a specified condition from the main board E0014 through a flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E0012. Further, a change in the positional relationship between the encoder scale E0005 and the encoder sensor E0004 is detected based on the pulse signal output from the encoder sensor E0004 as the carriage M4000 moves. Further, the output signal is output to the main board E0014 through a flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E0012.

  As shown in FIG. 20, an optical sensor E3010 including two light emitting elements (LEDs) E3011 and a light receiving element E3013 is connected to the carriage substrate E0013. A thermistor E3020 for detecting the ambient temperature is also connected (hereinafter, these sensors are referred to as a multi-sensor E3000). Information obtained by the multi-sensor E3000 is output to the main board E0014 through a flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E0012.

  The main substrate E0014 is a printed circuit board unit that controls driving of each part of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and has a host interface (host I / F) E0017 on the substrate. The recording operation is controlled based on data received from a host computer (not shown). Further, it is connected to various motors such as a carriage motor E0001, an LF motor E0002, an AP motor E3005, and a PR motor E3006 to control driving of each function. Here, the carriage motor E0001 is a drive source for main-scanning the carriage M4000, and the LF motor E0002 is a drive source for transporting the recording medium. Further, the AP motor E3005 serves as a driving source for the recovery operation of the recording head H1001 and the recording medium feeding operation, and the PR motor E3006 serves as a driving source for the flat-pass recording operation. Furthermore, it connects to the sensor signal E0104 for transmitting and receiving control signals and detection signals to various sensors that detect the operating state of each part of the printer, such as PE sensors, CR lift sensors, LF encoder sensors, and PG sensors. Is done. The main board E0014 is connected to each of the CRFFC E0012 and the power supply unit E0015, and further has an interface for exchanging information with the front panel E0106 via a panel signal E0107.

  The front panel E0106 is a unit provided in front of the recording apparatus main body for the convenience of user operation. This has a resume key E0019, LED E0020, power key E0018, and flat pass key E3004 (FIG. 6), and also has a device I / F E0100 used for connection with peripheral devices such as a digital camera.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the main board E1004.

  In the figure, reference numeral E1102 denotes an ASIC, which is connected to the ROM E1004 through the control bus E1014 and performs various controls according to a program stored in the ROM E1004. Note that ASIC is an abbreviation of “Application Specific Integrated Circuit”. For example, the sensor signal E0104 related to various sensors and the multi-sensor signal E4003 related to the multi-sensor E3000 are transmitted and received. In addition, the output state from the encoder signal E1020, the power key E0018 on the front panel E0106, the resume key E0019 and the flat pass key E3004 is detected. Also, according to the connection and data input state of the host I / F E0017 and the device I / F E0100 on the front panel, various logical operations and condition judgments are performed, each component is controlled, and drive control of the ink jet recording apparatus is performed. I am in charge.

  E1103 is a driver reset circuit. This generates a CR motor drive signal E1037, an LF motor drive signal E1035, an AP motor drive signal E4001 and a PR motor drive signal E4002 in accordance with the motor control signal E1106 from the ASIC E1102, and drives each motor. Further, the driver / reset circuit E1103 has a power supply circuit, and supplies necessary power to each part such as the main board E0014, the carriage board E0013, and the front panel E0106. Further, a decrease in power supply voltage is detected, and a reset signal E1015 is generated and initialized.

  E1010 is a power supply control circuit that controls power supply to each sensor having a light emitting element in accordance with a power supply control signal E1024 from the ASIC E1102.

  The host I / F E0017 transmits a host I / F signal E1028 from the ASIC E1102 to a host I / F cable E1029 connected to the outside, and transmits a signal from the cable E1029 to the ASIC E1102.

  On the other hand, power is supplied from the power supply unit E0015. The supplied power is supplied to each part inside and outside the main board E0014 after voltage conversion as necessary. A power supply unit control signal E4000 from the ASIC E1102 is connected to the power supply unit E0015, and controls a low power consumption mode and the like of the recording apparatus main body.

  The ASIC E1102 is a one-chip semiconductor integrated circuit with a processing unit, and outputs the motor control signal E1106, the power supply control signal E1024, the power supply unit control signal E4000, and the like described above. Then, signals are exchanged with the host I / F E0017, and signals are exchanged with the device I / F E0100 on the front panel through the panel signal E0107. Further, the state is detected by each sensor such as a PE sensor and an ASF sensor through a sensor signal E0104. Further, the multi-sensor E3000 is controlled through the multi-sensor signal E4003 and the state is detected. Further, the state of the panel signal E0107 is detected, the driving of the panel signal E0107 is controlled, and the LED E0020 on the front panel blinks.

  Further, the ASIC E1102 detects the state of the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 to generate a timing signal, and controls the recording operation by interfacing with the recording head H1001 using the head control signal E1021. Here, the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 is an output signal of the encoder sensor E0004 inputted through the CRFFC E0012. The head control signal E1021 is connected to the carriage substrate E0013 through the flexible flat cable E0012. Then, the information is supplied to the recording head H1001 via the head drive voltage modulation circuit E3001 and the head connector E0101, and various information from the recording head H1001 is transmitted to the ASIC E1102. Among these, the head temperature information for each ejection unit is amplified by the head temperature detection circuit E3002 on the main substrate, and then input to the ASIC E1102 to be used for various control determinations.

  In the figure, E3007 is a DRAM, which is used as a data buffer for recording, a data buffer received from the host computer, etc., and also as a work area necessary for various control operations.

1.4 Recording Head Configuration The configuration of the head cartridge H1000 applied in this embodiment will be described below. The head cartridge H1000 in this embodiment has a recording head H1001, means for mounting the ink tank H1900, and means for supplying ink from the ink tank H1900 to the recording head. Then, it is detachably mounted on the carriage M4000.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the ink tank H1900 is attached to the head cartridge H1000 applied in the present embodiment. The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes cyan (C), light cyan (Lc), magenta (M), light magenta (Lm), yellow (Y), first black (K1), second black (K2), red ( An image is formed with 10 colors of R), green (G), and gray (Gray). These 10 color inks are all pigment inks. Accordingly, the ink tank T0001 is also prepared for 10 colors independently. As shown in the figure, each ink tank is detachable from the head cartridge H1000. The ink tank H1900 can be attached and detached while the head cartridge H1000 is mounted on the carriage M4000.

1.5 Ink Configuration The 10 color inks used in the present invention will be described below.

  The ten colors used in the present invention are cyan (C), light cyan (Lc), magenta (M), light magenta (Lm), yellow (Y), first black (K1), second black (K2), Gray (Gray), Red (R) and Green (G). All of the colorants used for each color are preferably pigments. Here, in order to disperse the pigment, a known general dispersant may be used, or the pigment surface may be modified by a known general method to impart self-dispersibility. In the gist of the present invention, the colorant used for at least some of the colors may be a dye. Further, the colorant used for at least some of the colors may be in the form of toning pigments and dyes, and a plurality of types of pigments may be included. Further, the 10-color ink used in the present invention may contain at least one selected from water-soluble organic solvents, additives, surfactants, binders, and preservatives within the scope of the present invention. .

2. Characteristic Configuration The characteristic multi-pass recording method of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a recording head and a recording pattern in order to explain a basic multi-pass recording method. The recording head H1001 applied to this embodiment actually has 768 nozzles, but here it will be described as having 16 nozzles for simplicity. Here, a description will be given by taking 4-pass multi-pass printing as an example.

  In the case of 4-pass multi-pass printing, the 16 nozzles are divided into first to fourth four nozzle groups as shown in the figure, and each nozzle group includes four nozzles. The mask pattern P0002 includes first to fourth mask patterns P0002 (a) to P0002 (d). The first to fourth mask patterns P0002 (a) to P0002 (d) define areas where the first to fourth nozzle groups can be recorded. The black painted area in the mask pattern indicates a print allowable area, and the white painted area indicates a non-permitted area. The first to fourth mask patterns P0002 (a) to P0002 (d) are complementary to each other, and when these four mask patterns are overlapped, recording of a region corresponding to a 4 × 4 area is completed. Each pattern indicated by P0003 to P0006 indicates a state in which an image is completed by overlapping recording scans.

  When such multi-pass printing is executed, the image area of the printing medium is printed in order by four nozzle groups. Therefore, even if, for example, one nozzle does not eject, the recording dots from the nozzle do not continue in the main scanning direction, and adverse effects such as white stripes are unlikely to appear. In addition, even if it is not non-ejection, there are variations in the ejection amount and ejection direction of individual nozzles, and if dots formed by characteristic nozzles are continuously arranged in the main scanning direction, problems such as streak and density unevenness will occur. There is a concern that this will occur. However, even in such a case, the entire image can be smoothed by executing multi-pass printing.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a mask pattern that is actually applied. Since the print head H1001 applied in this embodiment has 768 nozzles, when performing 4-pass printing, 192 nozzles belong to each of the four nozzle groups. The mask pattern size is 768 areas in the vertical direction equivalent to the number of nozzles and 256 areas in the horizontal direction, and the four mask patterns corresponding to each of the four nozzle groups maintain a complementary relationship with each other. It has become.

  FIG. 22 shows the positions of recording pixels (areas) and conventional mask pattern configurations when performing two-pass multi-pass printing for odd and even columns while performing column thinning recording as in the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram in order to explain. Here, an area corresponding to one pixel of 2 areas in the vertical direction × 4 areas in the horizontal direction is shown, and an area shown in gray means an odd column, and an area shown in white means an even column. Odd columns are recorded in the forward direction in odd scans, and even columns are recorded in the backward direction in even scans. Conventionally, one type of mask pattern 2201 has been prepared in order to further decompose an area corresponding to each column into a plurality of recording scans. Here, 2201 is a mask pattern for two passes for thinning out image data to about 50%. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, a mask pattern that decomposes each odd-numbered column and even-numbered column into two recording scans is used, and the recording of the same image area is completed by a total of four recording scans for the odd-numbered and even-numbered columns. In the following description, it is assumed that the multi-pass recording method is adopted.

  FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining the adverse effects that appear when an image is recorded using the mask pattern 2201. The figure shows a state where recording is performed on the same image region on the recording medium by four recording scans. Here, the pattern recorded by the first recording scan for a predetermined image area is shown as plane A1, the second time plane A2, the third time plane A3, and the fourth time plane A4. The predetermined image area is completed by overlapping the planes A1 to A4. Among these, the plane A1 and the plane A3 are planes for odd columns, and are two planes that are divided by the mask pattern 2201 and have a complementary relationship with each other. That is, by overlapping the plane A1 and the plane A3, all areas corresponding to odd columns are recorded. On the other hand, the plane A2 and the plane A4 are even-column planes, and are two planes that are also divided by the mask pattern 2201 and have a complementary relationship with each other.

  As already explained, multi-pass printing is a printing method adopted to smooth the output image. However, in order to actively solve various harmful effects, mask patterns having various characteristics have been devised. Yes. However, no matter what mask pattern is used, if there is a shift in the printing position between a plurality of printing scans for some reason, the complementary relationship becomes insufficient, and the pattern of the mask pattern appears as a texture. In the figure, the plane A1 and the plane A3 are displaced, and a texture as indicated by 2301 appears.

  In such a situation, it is assumed that a similar shift occurs between the plane A2 and the plane A4. That is, the complementary relationship between the plane A2 and the plane A4 is insufficient, and the pattern of the mask pattern 2201 appears as the texture 2301. At this time, since the same mask pattern 2201 is used for both the odd and even columns, the texture 2301 generated in the image has a similar or similar pattern. As a result, the texture 2301 appears as a more emphasized texture 2302.

  Such textures are often less noticeable if there are only odd columns or even columns. However, as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, when the same texture is generated in the odd-numbered column and the even-numbered column, the two textures overlap each other, thereby interfering and enhancing each other. Periodic unevenness that is more conspicuous is generated. Therefore, in this embodiment, a mask pattern is set so as to have a texture that does not interfere with or emphasize each other.

  FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram for explaining a position of a recording pixel (area) and a mask pattern configuration when performing multipass printing according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, a mask pattern 2401 is prepared for image data of odd columns, and a mask pattern 2402 is prepared for image data of even columns. In the mask patterns 2401 and 2402, the distribution of the recording allowable area and the non-recording allowable area is different from each other. The mask data for odd columns and the mask data for even columns are stored in different areas of the memory in the recording apparatus main body.

  FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram for explaining a recording state between each plane when an image is recorded using the mask patterns 2401 and 2402 of the present embodiment. Here, the pattern recorded in the first recording scan for a predetermined image area is shown as plane A1, the second time plane B2, the third time plane A3, and the fourth time plane B4. Of these, the plane A1 and the plane A3 are planes for odd columns, and are two planes that are divided by the mask pattern 2401 and have a complementary relationship with each other. On the other hand, the plane B2 and the plane B4 are even-column planes, and are two planes that are divided by the mask pattern 2402 and have a complementary relationship with each other.

  In this state, when a deviation occurs between the plane A1 and the plane A3 and between the plane B2 and the plane B4, the texture depends on the pattern of the mask pattern to be applied, so that textures 2501 and 2502 having different characteristics are generated. To do. Since textures having different characteristics do not emphasize each other even if they are overlapped, conventional image problems are reduced. The operation of the present embodiment described above is particularly effective in a recording mode using a single color ink having a high contrast such as a monochrome mode.

  Next, some characteristic mask patterns applicable to the present invention and this embodiment will be described.

(1) Adjacent Prohibition Mask It has already been described that the use of the column thinning recording method has the effect of reducing the recording time by increasing the carriage speed during main scanning. For the same reason, it is possible to further increase the carriage speed by adopting a mask pattern in which the printable areas do not continue in the main scanning direction for each of the odd and even columns.

  FIG. 26 is an enlarged view showing an example of the adjacency prohibition mask using a 4-pass multi-pass as an example. FIGS. 26A to 26D show four types of patterns recorded in a predetermined image area divided into four recording scans. In the figure, the complementary relationship is satisfied for all the patterns while maintaining the state where the print allowable area is not continuous in the main scanning direction.

  FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a 2-pass adjacent prohibition mask pattern in 40 areas × 40 areas. In a two-pass mask pattern, the print allowance area in the mask pattern occupies 50%. Therefore, if it is randomly generated while prohibiting adjacent in the main scanning direction, there are many areas that are continuous in the sub-scanning direction as shown in the figure. become. In such a case, it can be said that the texture due to the shift between the planes which is a concern of the present invention is easily noticeable.

  However, in this embodiment, two types of adjacent prohibition masks having different arrangements are prepared and applied as an odd column mask and an even column mask. As a result, the two types of textures generated by the displacement between the planes overlap each other without interfering with each other, and there is an effect of making each texture inconspicuous. That is, it is possible to output an image in a short time without degrading the image quality while recording at a higher carriage speed.

(2) Blue noise mask Generally, when an image is recorded by a dot matrix as in the ink jet recording method, it is known that the dispersion state of dots affects the feeling of roughness. Roughness is a sense that depends on the sensitivity of the human eye, and the sensitivity of the eye is generally more sensitive to the low frequency region than to the high frequency region. That is, when a power spectrum of a certain amount or more exists in the low frequency region, a person feels rough. Therefore, in order to reduce the roughness and obtain a smooth image, it is effective to suppress the power spectrum in the low frequency region and output an image concentrated in the high frequency region.

  As a means for realizing such a power spectrum by using a dot matrix, a technique that employs a blue noise quantization mask for halftoning during image processing is known. A lot of literatures disclose methods for generating blue noise patterns and their characteristics. “Digital Halftoning” Robert Ulchney (The Mit Press Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England) is one of them. By adopting such halftoning, it is possible to realize a highly dispersive dot arrangement in which low frequency components are suppressed.

  In the present invention, the blue noise pattern thus created can be applied as a mask pattern. Since the blue noise pattern itself is a preferable arrangement pattern in terms of human visual characteristics, even when the texture which is a problem of the present invention occurs, the texture itself can be made unobtrusive. In the present embodiment, two types of blue noise masks having different arrangements are prepared and applied as an odd column mask and an even column mask. As a result, the texture caused by the deviation between the planes can be made even less conspicuous.

(3) Multilayer mask As a further developed form of the above-described blue noise mask, there is a multilayer mask. When performing multi-pass printing using multiple colors of ink, the layer mask maintains the blue noise characteristics even when the dispersed state of dots recorded in the same main scan is viewed as the sum of the dots of each color. It is characterized by being. When a color photographic image is to be output on a glossy recording medium with high quality as in recent years, the laminated mask functions effectively.

  In the present invention, two types of laminated masks prepared in consideration of a plurality of ink colors are prepared as described above, and can be applied as a mask for odd columns and a mask for even columns. As a result, a high-resolution color photographic image can be output at high speed without a texture.

  As described above, three types of mask patterns have been described as examples of mask patterns applicable to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to using the above mask patterns. For example, a mask pattern having a bias in the recording rate distribution as shown in FIG. 5 may be adopted, or a mask pattern having another characteristic may be used. Further, while using the above three mask patterns, mask patterns having different characteristics may be applied to the odd column mask pattern and the even column mask pattern. In any case, if different mask patterns are prepared as the odd-numbered column mask pattern and the even-numbered column mask pattern, and the respective column images are recorded by multi-pass printing, they are included in the scope of the present invention.

  By the way, preparing a plurality of mask patterns used at the time of recording as in the present embodiment leads to an increase in processing contents during recording, and there is a concern that the processing time may be affected. In particular, when many ink colors are mounted as in the ink jet recording apparatus used in the present embodiment, a mask pattern is often prepared for each ink color. In this state, if the present invention is further adopted, the processing related to the mask data conversion processing is doubled. As a result, the memory of the printing apparatus may be over, or there may be a problem that the carriage stops during printing. In such a situation, in the present embodiment, the mask pattern to be prepared can be switched according to the number of ink colors used for recording.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart for explaining processing steps performed by the CPU of the recording apparatus when an image recording command is received.

  When the process is started, in step S2801, the CPU determines the number of ink colors used for image output. If it is determined that the number of ink colors to be used is greater than the threshold value N, the process proceeds to step S2802, and the same mask pattern for odd columns and the mask pattern for even numbers are prepared for each color.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2801 that the number of ink colors to be used is less than the threshold value N, the process proceeds to step S2802, and different mask patterns for odd columns and mask patterns for even numbers are prepared for each color.

  In step S2804, mask data conversion processing is performed using the plurality of mask patterns set in step S2802 or step S2803, and an image is recorded according to the obtained binary data. This process is complete | finished above.

  By executing the steps described above, the processing load can be maintained in an appropriate state. In this case, if the number of colors to be applied is large, the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained. Generally, however, as the number of ink colors used increases, the periodic texture that the present invention has a problem is less likely to be confirmed. Even if it is a single image, it can be expected to form a high-quality image. Therefore, in this embodiment, the processing load on the memory is emphasized and the flowchart of FIG. 28 is adopted. However, performing such a process does not limit the present invention.

  In the example shown in FIG. 28, the number of ink colors used by the CPU is confirmed in step S2801, but the same effect can be obtained by determining the recording mode, for example. This is because the recording mode can be set in the printer driver when the user inputs a recording command, and the number of ink colors to be used is almost uniquely determined by this recording mode. For example, when the monochrome recording mode is set, the ink to be used is only black or only black and gray. Therefore, the mask for odd columns and the mask for even columns are prepared separately. On the other hand, when the color recording mode is set, the mask to be used is multicolored and different mask patterns are prepared for each color, so the mask for odd columns and the mask for even columns are the same.

  In the above embodiment, the image data of the odd-numbered column and the image data of the even-numbered column are each divided into two, and the four-pass multi-pass printing in which an image is formed by a total of four printing scans has been described as an example. Is not limited to this. The odd column image data and the even column image data may be divided into three or more passes.

  In the above embodiment, the odd number column is recorded by forward scanning and the even number column is recorded by backward scanning. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. While adopting the column thinning recording method, if the odd-numbered column and even-numbered column image data are recorded by multipass, and different mask patterns are prepared for the odd-numbered column and even-numbered column, the present invention The effect of can be sufficiently obtained.

It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the image data process in the recording system applied by embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the recording data. It is a figure which shows the output pattern with respect to the input levels 0-8 converted by dot arrangement patterning process. It is a figure for demonstrating the multipass recording method. It is the figure which showed an example of the mask pattern applicable to this invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording apparatus applied in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording apparatus applied in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording apparatus applied in an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording apparatus applied in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording apparatus applied in an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal mechanism of the recording device main body applied with embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for schematically explaining an overall configuration of an electric circuit in the recording apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the main board | substrate E1004. It is a figure which shows the connection state of an optical sensor. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where an ink tank is attached to a head cartridge. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the positions of recording pixels (areas) and a conventional mask pattern configuration when performing two-pass multi-pass printing on odd and even columns while performing column thinning recording. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the harmful effect which appears when an image is recorded using a mask pattern. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the position and mask pattern structure of a printing pixel (area) at the time of performing multipass printing. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the recording state between each plane at the time of recording an image using a mask pattern. It is the enlarged view which showed an example of the adjacency prohibition mask for the multipass of 4 passes. It is the figure which showed the example of the adjoining prohibition mask pattern for 2 passes by 40 area x 40 area. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing steps performed by a CPU of a recording apparatus when an image recording command is received.

Explanation of symbols

2201, 2401, 4022 Mask pattern 2301, 2302, 2501, 2502, 2503 Texture J0001 Application J0002 Previous stage J0003 Rear stage J0004 Gamma correction J0005 Halftoning J0006 Print data creation J0007 Dot arrangement patterning process J0008 Mask data conversion process J0009 Head drive circuit H1001 Recording head J0011 Recording system J0012 Host device J0013 Recording device J0020 Column data division processing P0002 Mask pattern P0002 (a) to P0002 (d) First mask pattern to fourth mask pattern M1010 Chassis M1011 Guide rail M2000 Base M2010 Pressure plate M2012 Pressure plate Spring M2013 Separation sheet M20 0 return lever M2021 return lever spring M2030 movable side guide M2040 separation roller holder M2041 separation roller M2044 separation roller release shaft M2060 paper feed tray M2061 paper feed sub-tray M2070 drive unit M2080 paper feed roller M3000 pinch roller holder M3021 PE sensor lever M3030 paper guide 30 Platen M3041 Paper press M3060 Carrying roller M3061 Pulley M3062 Code wheel M3070 Pinch roller M3100 First paper discharge roller M3110 Second paper discharge roller M3111 Elastic body M3120 Spur M3130 Spur holder M3160 Paper discharge tray M4000 Carriage M4010 20 Head set lever M404 Timing belt M4042 Idle pulley M4090 Position detection sensor M5000 Pump M5010 Cap M5011 Cap absorber M5020 Blade M5060 Blade cleaner M5070 Wet liquid transfer member M5080 Wet liquid holding member M5081 Wet liquid transfer part M5090 Wet liquid tank M7010 Front cover M7010 M7060 LED guide M7080 Lower case M7090 Rear tray M7091 Rear subtray E0001 Carriage motor E0002 LF motor E0004 Encoder sensor E0005 Encoder scale E0012 CRFFC (flexible flat cable)
E0013 Carriage board E0014 Main board E0015 Power supply unit E0017 Host I / F
E0018 Power key E0019 Resume key E0020 LED
E0100 Device I / F
E0101 Head connector E0104 Sensor signal E0106 Front panel E0107 Panel signal E1004 ROM
E1010 Power supply control circuit E1014 Control bus E1015 RESET (Reset signal)
E1020 ENC (encoder signal)
E1021 Head control signal E1024 Power supply control signal E1028 Host I / F signal E1029 Host I / F cable E1035 LF motor drive signal E1037 CR motor drive signal E1100 Device I / F signal E1102 ASIC
E1103 Driver reset circuit E1106 Motor control signal E3000 Multi sensor E3001 Head drive voltage modulation circuit E3002 Head temperature detection circuit E3004 Flat pass key E3005 AP motor E3006 PR motor E3007 RAM
E4000 Power supply unit control signal E4001 AP motor drive signal E4002 PR motor drive signal E4003 Multi-sensor signal H1000 Head cartridge H1001 Recording head H1900 Ink tank

Claims (9)

A recording method for recording an image of the same area by scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording dots are arranged in a direction different from the direction of the arrangement with respect to the same area of the recording medium,
Dividing the recording data in which dot recording / non-recording is determined into odd-numbered column data positioned odd-numbered in the scanning direction and even-numbered column data arranged evenly;
A step of dividing the odd-numbered column data into a plurality by using a first mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted or not permitted; and
A step of dividing the even-numbered column data into a plurality of portions using a second mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted or not permitted in a state different from the first mask pattern; ,
And recording each of the divided odd-numbered and even-numbered column data in the same area by different scanning of the recording head.   2. The divided odd column data is recorded by forward scanning of the recording head, and the divided even column data is recorded by backward scanning of the recording head. Recording method.   The at least one of the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern has an area where dot recording is allowed not arranged adjacent to the scanning direction. Recording method.   3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern has a blue noise characteristic in an arrangement of areas where dot recording is allowed. Recording method.   2. The recording method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of discriminating a designated recording mode, and when the discriminating step determines that the recording mode is a specific recording mode. 5. The recording method according to any one of 4 to 4.   The recording method according to claim 5, wherein the specific recording mode is a mode in which recording is performed using a predetermined number or less of colorants.   The recording method according to claim 5, wherein the specific recording mode is a mode in which recording is performed using a black colorant. A recording apparatus for recording an image of the same region by scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording dots are arrayed a plurality of times in a direction different from the direction of the array with respect to the same region of the recording medium,
Means for dividing recording data in which dot recording / non-recording is determined into odd-numbered column data positioned odd-numbered in the scanning direction and even-numbered column data arranged even-numbered;
Means for dividing the odd-numbered column data into a plurality by using a first mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted or not permitted; and
Means for dividing the even-numbered column data into a plurality of parts using a second mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted / non-permitted in a state different from the first mask pattern; ,
A recording apparatus comprising: means for recording the divided odd-numbered column data and even-numbered column data in the same area by different scanning of the recording head. A recording apparatus for recording an image in the same area by scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording dots are arrayed a plurality of times in a direction different from the direction of the array with respect to the same area of the recording medium; A recording system having a host device for processing data to be supplied to
Means for dividing recording data in which dot recording / non-recording is determined into odd-numbered column data positioned odd-numbered in the scanning direction and even-numbered column data arranged even-numbered;
Means for dividing the odd-numbered column data into a plurality by using a first mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted or not permitted; and
Means for dividing the even-numbered column data into a plurality of parts using a second mask pattern configured by arranging a plurality of areas in which dot recording is permitted / non-permitted in a state different from the first mask pattern; ,
A recording system comprising: means for recording each of the divided odd-numbered column data and even-numbered column data in the same region by different scanning of the recording head.

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