JP2008030205A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent streaks from being generated in a scanning direction of a head at a joint of printing data of an image printed. <P>SOLUTION: The printing data composed of a lot of dot information are supplied to the printing head where a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along a sub-scanning direction. The printing head and a printing medium relatively move each other in a main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, whereby the image is printed on a surface of the printing medium. A deformed data part with, e.g., a wavy uneven shape which prevents dots from being continuously arranged in the main scanning direction of the printing head at the joint of ends of the sub-scanning direction is formed in the printing data supplied for every main scanning operation of the printing head. The deformed data part includes a part where a printing rate changes in the sub-scanning direction. Deleted and thinned dot data of the deformed data part are complemented by data of a complementary amount printed by overlapping with the deformed data part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention supplies print data consisting of a large number of dot information to a print head in which a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scanning direction, and the print head and the print medium are relative to each other in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method of a system in which a head is moved in a scanning direction in an inkjet printer that moves and prints an image on the surface of a printing medium.

As a printing apparatus, there is a proposal for making a printing position complicated in order to make printing unevenness in a joint portion inconspicuous (see Patent Document 1, for example). Further, a method of controlling the amount of ink in order to reduce density unevenness such as black stripes is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, there is known an ink jet recording apparatus that performs dot thinning processing or overlapping printing processing to suppress deterioration in image quality due to a connecting stripe at a band-to-band boundary (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In addition, a recording method is known in which lines are overlapped to make the joints inconspicuous, and the recording density of overlapping lines is recorded at a lower density than other non-overlapping lines (see, for example, Patent Document 4). A printer that prints obliquely and prevents banding is known (see, for example, Patent Document 5).
JP 2003-34017 A JP 2002-200755 A JP 2000-238935 A JP 09-99550 A JP 2000-52595 A

The streak-like phenomenon in the scanning direction of the head is due to problems such as mechanical errors such as paper conveyance accuracy of the printing device, subtle deviations in the head mounting position, and slight print position of ink ejected from the head. It can be influenced by various complex factors such as misalignment and print data problems. However, considering that streaks appear in the scanning direction of the head, the biggest cause is that the print head moves in the scanning direction of the head and performs printing for a certain printing width after the paper is conveyed. it is conceivable that. Also, depending on the print head, when the ink discharge nozzle discharges ink continuously, if there are a large number of nozzles that discharge side by side among these nozzles, the nozzles located at the ends of the nozzles The print position accuracy may not be achieved. The ink ejection control of this end nozzle and the other nozzles is the same, but the accuracy of the position of the ink ejected from the end nozzle may not be achieved, so this is connected in the horizontal direction, It may be one of the causes of streaks.
The present invention prevents the phenomenon that stripes appear in the scanning direction of the head at the joints even if the print head is moved in the scanning direction, so that the scanning direction of the head does not appear. The purpose is to make the streaks inconspicuous.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention supplies print data comprising a large number of dot information to a print head in which a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scanning direction, and performs main scanning on the print head and the print medium. A printing apparatus that prints an image on the surface of a print medium by relatively moving in the sub-scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and the end side in the sub-scanning direction of the main data portion of the print data supplied for each main scanning operation of the print head In addition, a deformation data portion having a concavo-convex portion so that dots are not arranged continuously in the main scanning direction of the print head is formed at the end portion, and the printing rate of the deformation data portion is changed. .
In the invention, it is preferable that the printing rate of the deformation data portion is changed in the sub-scanning direction.
Further, the invention is characterized in that the dot arrangement of the uneven portion of the deformation data portion has a waveform shape.
According to the present invention, an area with a printing rate of 100% is provided on a side of the deformation data portion that contacts the main data portion, and an area with the printing rate of 100% and an area in which the printing rate of the deformation data portion changes. It is characterized in that is in contact with the concavo-convex shape.
Further, the invention is characterized in that the uneven shape is a wave shape.
According to the present invention, complementary data that complements the deleted and thinned dot data of the deformation data portion is generated, and the deleted dot data of the deformation data portion is complemented by the complementary data. Features.
Further, according to the present invention, the printing of the image is performed in such a manner that N (N is a positive number) scanning of the print head with respect to the print medium is sequentially completed, and the print rate is changed in the print head. Print data having the deformation data portion and print data having the complement data and / or print data having both the deformation data portion and the complement data are supplied. And
According to the present invention, the deformation data portion is formed at the rear end in the sub-scanning direction of the print data including the front end of the print data supplied to the print head for each scan, and the intermediate portion of the image The deformation data portion is formed at the rear end portion of the print data in the sub-scanning direction, and complementary data that complements the deformation data portion of the print data adjacent thereto is generated at the front end portion. It is characterized in that complementary data that complements the deformation data portion of the print data in contact with the front end portion of the data in the sub-scanning direction is generated.
Further, according to the present invention, when printing of the image including the deformation data portion is completed, the deleted portion of the image of the deformation data portion is added to the end portion of the print data supplied to the print head in the next print head scanning. It is characterized by being supplemented by the supplemented data.
Further, the present invention is a printing method for printing on a print medium by sequentially moving the print head in the main scanning direction and transporting the print medium in the sub-scanning direction with print data of n (n is a positive number) as print units. In order to prevent the predetermined number of lines on the joint side of the print data from being continuously arranged in the main scanning direction, the line at the end on the joint side repeats a concavo-convex shape, and the printing rate in a predetermined range in the vicinity of the joint side It is characterized by having changed.
In the invention, it is preferable that the printing rate on the joint side of the print data is changed in the sub-scanning direction.
According to the present invention, an area in which the print rate on the joint side of the print data is changed is a modified data part, and complementary data that complements the deleted and thinned dot data of the modified data part is generated, and the complementary data Is printed by overlapping the deformation data portion.
Further, the present invention provides complementary data that complements the deleted and thinned dot data of the deformation data portion on the joint side of the other print data in contact with the print data including the deformation data portion. The minute data is printed so as to overlap the deformation data portion.
According to the present invention, the uneven shape of the deformation data portion is a waveform.

  According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus that moves the print head in the scanning direction, it is possible to easily realize a printing result in which a phenomenon that looks like a streak in the scanning direction of the head is not noticeable simply by changing data. .

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic overall configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. The ink jet printer 2 is controlled by a controller 4 including a computer circuit, and the controller 4 is connected to an external computer 8 via a connector 6. The controller 4 incorporates a program for performing conversion processing of the end portions before and after the printing data conveyance direction. The computer 8 transmits print data to the controller 4 mounted on the printer 2. As will be described later, the controller 4 analyzes the received data and controls the drive unit of the printer 2. The printer 2 includes a sub-scan feed mechanism that transports the print medium 10 such as roll paper in the arrow direction B by a paper feed motor, and a main scan feed mechanism that reciprocates the carriage 12 in the axial direction of the drive roller 14 by a carriage motor. have.

Here, the feed direction B of the print medium 10 by the sub-scan feed mechanism is called a sub-scan direction, and the movement direction A of the carriage 12 by the main scan feed mechanism is called a main scan direction. The term “print” does not mean simply writing characters, but is used in a broad concept including images, symbols, and the like. A print unit 16 having a plurality of print heads is mounted on the carriage 12. The carriage 12 is reciprocally driven in the main scanning direction A along a Y-axis rail (not shown) by a head driving belt 22 stretched around belt driving rollers 18 and 20. The print medium 10 is driven in the sub-scanning direction by the drive roller 14 and the pinch roller 24 and slides on the platen 26. As the print medium 10, roll paper is usually used. The position of the carriage 12 is detected by a timing fence signal from a linear encoder including a sensor provided in the printing unit 16 and a linear scale 28 provided to face the sensor.

  In the above configuration, when the printing operation starts, the carriage 12 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction along the Y-axis rail under the control of the controller 4, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the print head mounted on the print unit 16. Discharge. When the printing unit 16 reaches the end in the main scanning direction, the controller 4 moves the printing medium 10 by a predetermined pitch in the sub-scanning direction and executes a printing operation in the next main scanning direction. The printer 2, the controller 4, and the computer 8 constitute a printing apparatus as a whole.

Next, the printing operation of the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The computer 8 generates print data such as signature characters, figures and patterns to be printed out. The print data generated by the computer 8 is transferred to the controller 4 via the connector 6 (steps 1 and 2). The controller 4 receives print data from the computer 8 based on the program stored in the memory, and analyzes this print data (step 3). The CMYK conversion unit of the controller 4 converts the color of each pixel into an ink color that can be output by the printer 2. Next, the print data is converted into print data corresponding to the ink jet print head (step 4). The print head 30 is shown in FIG.

The print unit 16 is equipped with a plurality of print heads that eject inks of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). For convenience of explanation, one print head 30 among the plurality of print heads will be described. The configuration and operation of other print heads are the same as those of the print head 30 described below. In the present embodiment, the print head 30 has 256 nozzles 32 arranged in the sub-scanning direction. In the drawing, not all nozzles are shown for the convenience of drawing. Of course, various resolutions of the print head 30 can be employed, and the number of nozzles is not particularly limited to 256.

Among the 256 nozzles, for example, in the case where printing is completed by four scans, when the paper transport distance for one time is 50 nozzles, the end part is equivalent to 200 nozzles, which is four times 50 nozzles. 54 nozzles for data printing are assigned as nozzles used for printing, and printing is performed while using the 254 nozzles. Therefore, the remaining two nozzles are unused. Of the 54 nozzles for printing the end data, as shown in FIG. 5, 18 nozzles are used for printing the region a including the wavy portion w of the deformation data portion 36, which will be described later, with a printing rate of 100%. The 36 nozzles are used for printing in the printing rate changing area b in which the printing rate having the uneven portions is changed. The number of nozzles to be used, the transport distance, the number of scans, etc. can be changed as necessary.

5 to 8 disclose print data A, B, C, and D corresponding to the first four scans of the print head 30. As shown in FIG. 8, printing of the image corresponding to the scanning region 34 for 50 nozzles is completed by scanning the print head 30 four times. The print data A corresponds to the 104 nozzles of the print head in the size of the data in the sub-scanning direction. When the transport direction of the print medium 10 is used as a reference, the print data A comes into contact with the rear end portion 34 of the main data portion e, and 54 A waveform deformation data portion 36 for the nozzle is formed. The deformation data portion 36 is formed at the rear end portion 34 of all the main data portions of the print data A, B, C, and D. Here, the front end portion or the rear end portion is based on the conveyance direction of the print medium, that is, the sub-scanning direction in the printing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the deformation data portion 36 includes a waveform area w with a printing rate (density) of 100%, a printing rate change area c with a printing rate of 50%, and a printing rate of 0%. And a waveform region d. As a result, the deformation data portion 36 formed in each print data has a configuration in which the print rate changes in the sub-scanning direction, that is, the print rate is 0%, 50% or 0%, 50, as shown in FIG. %, 100%, 50%, and 100%. Here, the printing rate means the rate of printing of data that needs to be printed in one scan, and the printing rate of 100% means that all of this data is printed (100%).

FIG. 1 shows a method for generating the deformation data section 36. The controller 6 stores a basic mask pattern 38 for creating a deformation data portion in a memory in advance. The basic mask pattern 38 includes an area with a printing rate of 0%, an area with 50%, and an area with 100%. The boundary between the printing rate of 0% and the printing rate of 50% and the region of the printing rate of 50% and the printing rate of 100% are in contact with each other. In this embodiment, the concavo-convex line L1 formed at the boundary between the printing rate 0% and the printing rate 50% and the concavo-convex line L2 formed at the boundary between the printing rate 50% and the printing rate 100% are waveforms. In addition to the waveform pattern, a triangular waveform pattern, a convex pattern, a saw blade pattern, or any other irregular shape may be used as long as dots are not continuously arranged in the main scanning direction.

The height, length, etc. of the waveform pattern may be arbitrarily set as necessary, and are not limited to a specific shape. In order to generate the deformation data portion 36 at the end portion of the print data A, the data corresponding to the 54 nozzle width adjacent to the rear end portion of the main data portion e of the print data A is used as the change portion data 40. 1B is developed so that the basic mask pattern 38 is connected to the waveform, and the data 40 of the changed portion is changed to the masked portion, that is, the portion d where no dot exists, and the density is changed to 50%. The print rate changing portion c and the portion w having a print rate of 100% are generated.

The printing rate changing area c of the basic mask pattern with a printing rate of 50% is not particularly limited to a printing rate of 50%, and is not limited to a single printing rate. As shown in FIG. 14, the basic mask pattern 38 is provided with a plurality of areas with a printing rate of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, and the data 40 is stored with a plurality of areas with different printing rates, for example, 0%. , 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and so forth, may be configured by areas in which the printing rate changes in the sub-scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the deformation data portion 36 of each print data deletes the dot information of the area d and thins out the dot information of the area c according to the printing rate, as shown in FIG. The deleted and thinned dot information needs to be complemented when printing of the deformation data portion of each print data is completed.

Therefore, the controller generates complementary data for each modified data portion as data that complements the deleted and thinned dot information of the modified data portion of the print data and stores it in the memory. As will be described later, in the fifth and subsequent printing operations, the deformation data portion 36 is printed with the complementary data including the deleted and thinned dot information overlapped, and the deformation data portion 36 is complemented. The For example, the 50% printing rate portion of the deformation data portion is complemented by the 50% printing rate portion of the complement data. That is, the distribution of the density of the deformation data portion 36 and the complementary data that complements the deformation data portion 36 is set to be 100% by addition. In this case, the supplement data is not limited to a configuration that is supplemented by one printing, but may be a configuration that is supplemented by a plurality of printings. For example, the density changing portion c of the deformation data portion 36 printed at a printing rate (density) of 50% may be supplemented by two printing operations with two supplemental data of density 30% and 20%. Considering the point of drying of the ink by the heater on the printing surface, it is also effective to distribute the printing rate by first printing at a density of 80% and then complementing with supplementary data with a density of 20%.

With such a configuration, when drying the ink with a heater, there is a margin for drying because the drying time is long even if the amount of ink is increased at the beginning, but in the later printing, drying is performed. Since the application time is short, the problem that the ink is difficult to dry can be solved. Also, it is not a factor of this time, it is difficult to dry because the total amount of ink ejected to the place is larger than the first printed, so it is hard to dry. There is also a point. Note that the technology for changing the printing rate of the deformation data portion and the supplementary data in the sub-scanning direction is not particularly limited to the configuration using the mask pattern, and it is reproduced by simply thinning out dot information by calculation by the controller. You may make it utilize a technique with a characteristic. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the change rate portion other than the print rate 0% of the deformation data portion 36 and the complementary data is changed finely and continuously by the gradation technique. The complement data A ″ of the deformation data portion 36 shown as the print change portion A ′ in FIG. 5 of the print data A is on (print) off (delete) dot information of the basic mask pattern 38 shown in FIG. Is generated by a mask pattern (not shown) obtained by inverting the above, and the other complementary data B ″, C ″, D ″, E ″ described later are also the same.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the print data A, B, C, and D including the front end portion 46 of the original image, that is, the print start end, are included in the deformation data portion at the rear end portion 34 in the transport direction. 36, that is, A ′, B ′, C ′, and D ′ are formed. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the print data F, G, H, and I including the rear end portion 48 of the original image, that is, the print end end, are formed. , Complementary data B ″, C ″, D ″, E ″ are formed at the front end portion 44 in the transport direction, and as shown in FIG. 9, the print data E of the intermediate portion not including the front and rear end portions of the original image is formed. Is formed with complementary data A ″ at the front end in the transport direction, and a deformation data portion E ′ is formed at the rear end. Each print data A, B, C having the deformation data portion and the complementary data formed therein. , D, E, F, G, H, and I have a waveform shape.

As described above, when the change processing of the front and rear ends of the print data is performed (step 5), the controller 4 next transfers the print data to the print head 30 (step 6), and the head unit. 16 (step 7), the printing medium 10 is conveyed (step 8), and the original image is printed on the printing medium 10. The operation of steps 7 and 8 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows the first scan by the print head 30. When the first scanning by the group of 104 nozzles of the print head 30 is completed, the print data A having a waveform at the joint side is printed on the print medium 10. Next, the print medium 10 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by 50 nozzles. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the print head 30 moves in the main scanning direction, the second printing is performed, and the print data B having a length corresponding to 154 nozzles and having a waveform on the joint side is printed. . When the second printing by the print head 30 is completed, the print medium 10 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by 50 nozzles. In this way, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the third and fourth printing are performed.

When the fourth printing is completed, the printing of the first area 50 corresponding to the length of 50 nozzles of the printing medium 10 is completed. In this area 50, as indicated by A + B + C + D in FIG. 8, four scans are performed by the print data A, B, C, D, and printing is completed. In the area 52 for 54 nozzles adjacent to the first area 50 of the print medium 10, the deformation data portion A ′ of the print data A and the print data B, C, and D are printed as indicated by A ′ + B + C + D. This area has not yet been supplemented with the printing of the dot information deleted and thinned out by the deformation data portion A ′. Therefore, it is necessary to complement the deformation data portion A ′ with the supplement data A ″ including the supplement data with the density of 50%.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the print medium 10 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by 50 nozzles, the print head 30 is moved in the main scanning direction, the fifth printing is performed, and an intermediate portion of the original image is printed. Print data E having a length of 254 nozzles is printed. At this time, the data deletion thinned portion of the change data portion of the area 52 is supplemented by the supplement data A ″ of the print data A. That is, the print data E is printed at the front end portion 44 (joint side). Complementary data A ″ composed of the complementary data A ″ of A is generated.

As described above, the print data E having a length corresponding to 254 nozzles in the intermediate portion of one original image is complementary data that complements the deformation data portion A ′ of the adjacent region 50 at the front end portion 44. A ″ is created as the supplement data portion A ″. The complementary data A ″ of the print data E, that is, the waveform uneven shape on the joint side is closely fitted with the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data A. As a result, the first area 50 and the second area of the print medium 10 are fitted. Lines that continuously extend in the main scanning direction are not formed at the joints (boundaries) of the area 54, and a phenomenon of appearing as stripes in the scanning direction of the head does not occur. The sixth printing is executed by print data F having a length of 254 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 of the original image, as shown in FIG. Is formed with complementary data B ″ for complementing the deformation data portion 36 (B ′) of the print data B at the front end thereof.

The waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data F fits exactly with the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data B, and the complement data B ″ is printed overlapping the deformation data portion B ′. 11, the second printing is executed by print data G having a length of 204 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 of the original image, which is printed at the front end of the print data C. Complement data C ″ for complementing the deformation data portion 36 (C ′) is formed. The waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data G fits exactly with the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data C, and the complementary data C ″ is printed overlapping the deformation data portion C ′. The deformation data portion C ′ of C is complemented by the supplement data C ″.

As shown in FIG. 12, the eighth printing is executed by print data H having a length of 154 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 of the original image. The print data H is formed with complementary data D ″ that complements the deformation data portion 36 (D ′) of the print data D at the front end. The waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data H is the print data. It fits snugly with the corrugated uneven shape on the joint side of D. The ninth printing is executed by the print data I having a length of 104 nozzles including the rear end portion 48 (print end end) of the original image. In the print data I, a complementary data portion E ″ that complements the deformation data portion 36 (E ′) of the print data E is formed at the front end portion 44 thereof.

The waveform uneven shape of the deformation data portion 36 on the joint side of the print data I is closely fitted to the waveform uneven shape on the joint side of the print data E, and the deformation data portion 36 (E ′) of the print data E is the complementary data. E ”is supplemented to complete the printing of the original image. Note that this embodiment only explains the concept as an explanation, and when data continues, data portions corresponding to E are sequentially created. (Step 9) Needless to say, data after F is finally created.
In the above-described embodiment, by providing a deformation data portion in which the printing rate is changed at the joint of the print data, the printing regularity is eliminated at the joint of the print data, and randomness is generated. Due to the synergistic effect with the streak prevention effect, the streak is prevented from occurring at the joints. In addition, it is also effective that printing from nozzles with poor printing accuracy located at the end when the nozzles from which ink is ejected are arranged do not continue in the horizontal direction.

  In the present embodiment, the conveyance of the print medium is set to be performed at equal intervals of 50 nozzles as described above, but may be changed for each conveyance. This is for printing dots between the nozzle pitches when printing finer than the nozzle pitch, and the regular interval is for 50 nozzles. For example, 49 nozzles are fed or 51 nozzles are fed. It may be changed for each conveyance. Also, regarding the relationship between printing medium (paper) transport and print head scanning, printing and paper feeding may occur when the print head moves forward, and printing and paper feeding may occur when the head moves backward. In some cases, the same line is printed by movement, and in the practice of the present invention, the scanning of the head and the conveyance of the paper are not particularly limited to the illustrated system.

The controller 4 determines whether or not the print data has been completed in step 9, and ends the printing if it determines affirmative. In the above embodiment, an inkjet printer having a head for ejecting ink using a piezo element is used. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to an inkjet printer using a piezo element. Can be used for an ink ejection type printing apparatus in which the head unit moves in the lateral direction, such as a system for ejecting ink and other systems.

It is explanatory drawing of this invention. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a print head. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Printer 4 Controller 6 Connector 8 Computer 10 Print medium 12 Carriage 14 Drive roller 16 Print unit 18 Belt drive roller 20 Belt drive roller 22 Belt 24 Pinch roller 26 Platen 28 Linear scale 30 Print head 32 Nozzle 34 Rear end 36 Deformation data section 38 basic mask pattern 40 data 42 part 44 front end part 46 front end part 48 rear end part 50 area 52 area 54 area

Claims (14)

Print data consisting of a large number of dot information is supplied to a print head in which a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged along the sub-scan direction, and the print head and print medium are moved relative to each other in the main scan direction and the sub-scan direction for printing. A printing apparatus for printing an image on the surface of a medium, wherein the main scanning of the print head is performed at the end of the main data portion of the print data supplied for each main scanning operation of the print head in the sub scanning direction. A printing apparatus comprising: a deformation data portion having a concavo-convex portion that prevents dots from being arranged continuously in a direction; and the printing rate of the deformation data portion is changed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing rate of the deformation data portion is changed in the sub-scanning direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dot arrangement of the uneven portion of the deformation data portion has a waveform shape. A region with a printing rate of 100% is provided on the side of the deformation data portion that contacts the main data portion, and the region with the printing rate of 100% and the region in which the printing rate of the deformation data portion changes are in an uneven shape. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is configured as described above. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the uneven shape is a wave shape. The complement data for complementing the deleted and thinned dot data in the deformation data portion is generated, and the deleted dot data in the deformation data portion is complemented with the complement data. The printing apparatus according to 1 or 2. The printing of the image is performed in such a manner that N (N is a positive number) scanning of the print medium of the print head is sequentially completed as one unit, and the print head is provided with a deformation data portion in which the print rate is changed. The print data including the print data of the image and the complementary data and / or the print data including both the deformation data portion and the complementary data are supplied. The printing device described in 1. Of the print data supplied to the print head for each scan, the deformation data portion is formed at the rear end portion in the sub-scan direction of the print data including the leading end of the image, and the sub-scan of the print data in the intermediate portion of the image Forming the deformation data portion at the rear end of the direction, generating complementary data for complementing the deformation data portion of the print data adjacent thereto at the front end, and sub-scanning direction of the print data including the rear end of the image 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein complementary data for complementing a deformation data portion of print data in contact with the front end portion is generated. When printing of the image including the deformation data portion is completed, the supplementary data added to the end portion of the print data supplied to the print head in the next print head scan by the deleted portion of the image of the deformation data portion The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus is supplemented by: A printing method for printing on a print medium by sequentially moving the print head in the main scanning direction and transporting the print medium in the sub-scanning direction with print data of n lines (n is a positive number) as a print unit, and connecting the print data In order not to line up a predetermined number of lines on the side in the main scanning direction, the line at the end on the joint side repeats an uneven shape, and the printing rate of the predetermined range in the vicinity of the joint side is changed. A printing method characterized by. The printing method according to claim 10, wherein a print rate on a joint side of the print data is changed in a sub-scanning direction. An area in which the print rate on the joint side of the print data is changed is used as a modified data part, and complementary data that complements the deleted and thinned dot data of the modified data part is generated, and the supplemented data is used as the modified data part. The printing method according to claim 10, wherein printing is performed so as to overlap with each other. Complement data for complementing deleted and thinned dot data of the deformation data portion is provided on the joint side of other print data where the joint is in contact with the print data including the deformation data portion, and the complement data is converted into the deformation data. 13. The printing method according to claim 12, wherein printing is performed so as to overlap the data portion. The printing method according to claim 10, wherein the uneven shape of the deformation data portion is a waveform.

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