JP2011131492A - Recorder and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve throughput by shortening the cutting time for a recording medium while corresponding to the margin amount which may be variously established in front and rear ends of page without needing a special design and mechanism in a recorder equipped with a cutter for cutting the recording medium near the rear end of a formed image while performing the recording by operating a recording head in which recording elements are arranged. <P>SOLUTION: When performing an image formation continuously to the following page, the cutting operation for the rear end of the previous page is suspended, and the image formation for the following page is started. At this time, the amount of at least one time transfer among n times transfers and the range of the recording element used for at least one time recording operation among n times recording scannings are adjusted so that the position for performing the cutting when n times transfers have been performed in the image formation process may coincide with the cutter position. Then, when the cutting position coincides with the cutter position, the scanning of the recording head and the cutting operation with the cutter are made to be performed in parallel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention repeats a recording operation in which recording is performed while moving a recording head having an array of recording elements with respect to the recording medium, and an operation of transporting the recording medium in a direction intersecting the direction of the array. The present invention relates to a so-called serial type recording apparatus that performs formation and a control method thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique suitable for application to a configuration having a mechanism (cutter) for cutting a recording medium in the vicinity of the rear end of a formed image, and reducing the cutting time of the recording medium. is there. In the present specification, “image” refers to what is formed on one page of a recording medium portion separated by being cut, and includes the contents of characters, symbols, figures, graphs, tables, pictures, and the like. It includes images in a broad sense such as photographs.

  Consider a case in which images of a plurality of pages are continuously formed on a recording medium in the form of a continuous paper such as a roll paper using the serial type recording apparatus. In this case, after the image for one page is formed, the recording medium is conveyed to a position corresponding to a cutter provided downstream in the recording medium conveying direction from the recording head, and the recording medium is cut in the vicinity of the rear end of the image. Here, depending on the relationship between the cutting position and the leading edge position of the image to be formed on the recording medium portion to be the next page, the recording medium is transported in the reverse direction (reverse feeding) and set to a desired recording start position. Therefore, the recording throughput is reduced.

  In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses recording in the recording medium conveyance direction so that a distance obtained by adding a predetermined length to n times (n is a natural number) of the width (band) of the arrangement range of recording elements is set. A configuration of a recording apparatus in which the positional relationship between the head and the cutter is predetermined is disclosed. Then, the cutting operation after the image formation on the previous page is suspended, the recording medium conveyance corresponding to the predetermined length is performed, and the image formation operation for the next page is started, and n times conveyance (n band conveyance) Describes a technique for performing a cutting operation on the trailing edge of the previous page (the leading edge of the next page) after the end of the above. In other words, in Patent Document 1, the expected cut position and cutter position at the end of conveyance of n bands are calculated from the band size, the trailing edge margin of the previous page and the leading edge of the next page. The cutter position is designed in advance so as to match. According to this, it is said that the throughput can be improved as much as the reverse feeding of the recording medium is not required.

  However, the margins provided at the leading and trailing edges of the page are not uniform and are generally different depending on the content of the image to be recorded and the user's request. Therefore, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, depending on the amount of margin set at the leading and trailing edges of the page, there may be a case where the intended cut position and the cutter position do not match after the completion of conveyance for n bands. In recent years, a recording head in which recording elements are arranged over a wide range has been used for the purpose of improving the recording speed, and therefore the band size tends to increase. For this reason, in Patent Document 1 in which the cutter position is designed with the band size as a unit, the degree of freedom is greatly limited in the arrangement of the cutter.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration of a recording apparatus provided with a mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the cutter in the recording medium conveyance direction with respect to the recording head. Then, the cutting operation after the image formation for the previous page is suspended, the image forming operation for the next page is started, and adjustment is performed so that the cutter position matches the intended cutting position at the end of the predetermined conveyance. The technology is described. However, in Patent Document 2, a configuration for adjusting the cutter position itself to be variable requires a mechanism for making the recording apparatus complicated, large, and expensive.

JP-A-4-355171 Japanese Patent No. 0395675

  Therefore, the present invention is capable of realizing an improvement in throughput by shortening the cut time of the recording medium while corresponding to the margin amount that can be variously set at the leading and trailing edges of the page without requiring a special design or mechanism. Objective.

For this purpose, the present invention includes a recording operation for performing recording while moving a recording head having an array of recording elements relative to the recording medium, and an operation for transporting the recording medium in a direction crossing the moving direction of the recording operation. In a recording apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium by repeating,
The recording head is a cutter that is provided with a certain distance in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and cuts the recording medium;
A movement amount with respect to a position where the cut by the transport operation is performed, and a transport amount of at least one transport operation in a certain region upstream or downstream in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the position where the cut is performed by the transport operation; Control means for adjusting the use range of the recording elements used for the recording operation in the array of the recording elements so as to coincide with each other by the recording operation.

Further, the present invention repeats a recording operation for performing recording while moving a recording head having an array of recording elements relative to the recording medium, and an operation for transporting the recording medium in a direction crossing the moving direction of the recording operation. Thus, in the control method of a recording apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium and uses a cutter that is provided with a certain distance in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and cuts the recording medium.
A movement amount with respect to a position where the cut by the transport operation is performed, and a transport amount of at least one transport operation in a certain region upstream or downstream in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the position where the cut is performed by the transport operation; The range of use of the recording elements used for the recording operation in the array of the recording elements is adjusted by any of the recording operations so that the values coincide with each other.

  According to the present invention, the throughput can be improved by shortening the cut time of the recording medium while dealing with the margin amount that can be variously set at the leading and trailing edges of the page without requiring any special design or mechanism.

1 is a schematic front view for explaining an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. 1 is a schematic side view for explaining an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions executed by the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and a data flow. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in the page rear end which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic top view of the principal part of the inkjet recording device for demonstrating in detail the cutting operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic top view of the principal part of the inkjet recording device for demonstrating in detail the cutting operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic top view of the principal part of the inkjet recording device for demonstrating in detail the cutting operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic top view of the principal part of the inkjet recording device for demonstrating in detail the cutting operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic top view of the principal part of the inkjet recording device for demonstrating in detail the cutting operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating other embodiment of this invention.

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

(Mechanical structure)
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view for explaining an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and shows a state in which the main part of the apparatus is viewed from the downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction. FIG. 2 is also a schematic side view showing a state in which the main part of the apparatus is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction.

  A recording head 107 is mounted on the carriage 105. For example, the recording head 107 discharges black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks in order to perform full-color recording on a roll paper-like recording medium 109. 107K, 107C, 107M and 107Y. These ejection units 107K, 107C, 107M, and 107Y are configured by arranging nozzles over a predetermined range in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the carriage 105, for example, in the recording medium conveyance direction. Needless to say, the number of ejection units provided in the recording head 107, the type of color (color, density), the type of liquid to be ejected, and the like are merely examples. Unless otherwise specified, the term “nozzle” is a generic term for an ejection port, a liquid path communicating with the ejection port, and an element for generating energy used for ink ejection.

  The carriage 105 is supported so as to reciprocate in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 along a guide (not shown). The carriage 105 is reciprocated by a belt 103 suspended on a pulley 102 that is rotationally driven by a motor 101. An optical sensor unit 108 that measures the left and right end portions of the recording medium 109 is mounted on the carriage 105. A linear scale 104 is arranged along the moving direction of the carriage 105, and a linear scale sensor 106 mounted on the carriage 105 detects a slit formed in the scale 104. The position of the carriage 105 or the ink discharge timing of the recording head 107 is managed mainly based on the output of the linear encoder including the linear scale 104 and the linear scale sensor 106. For example, ink discharge control is started when the carriage 105 passes a certain position on the linear scale 104, and control is performed so that each color ink is discharged at a timing when the carriage 105 passes a specific slit of the linear scale 104. Is done. Further, when the carriage 105 passes a certain position on the linear scale 104, control such as termination of ink ejection control is performed. The ink discharge start and end positions are limited by the position and margin amount of the recording medium side detected by the optical sensors 108 and 111, respectively, and are based on image data created in advance for recording. Is set. Reference numeral 110 denotes a platen for maintaining the recording surface of the recording medium 109 in a flat state during a recording operation (hereinafter also referred to as recording scanning) performed in the process of moving the recording head 107.

  The recording apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with a cutter unit 114, which can reciprocate in the width direction of the recording medium (left and right direction in FIG. 1) along a guide (not shown). The blade of the cutter unit 114 cuts (cuts) the recording medium 109 when moving to at least one of the reciprocating movements. To allow the platen 110 to pass through the tip of the blade of the cutter unit 114 protruding from the back surface of the recording surface of the recording medium 109 during cutting (to prevent interference between the blade and the recording medium support surface of the platen 110). The cutter groove 115 is provided in the width direction of the recording medium. That is, the position of the blade of the cutter unit 114 in the recording medium conveyance direction with respect to the recording head 107, that is, the position of the cutter groove 115 is fixed.

(Control system configuration)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, an ink jet recording apparatus 301 whose main part is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a host apparatus (host computer) 302 such as a computer that supplies image data to the main part are respectively connected to a common network 303. It is connected. That is, the recording apparatus 301 in the form of an inkjet recording apparatus receives image data transmitted from the host computer 302 via the network 303, analyzes this, and performs image forming processing.

  Data and commands transmitted from the host computer 302 are received by the CPU 306 via the interface (host I / F) 305. The CPU 306 is an arithmetic processing unit that performs overall control such as data reception of the recording apparatus 301, recording scanning, and handling of the recording medium 109. After analyzing the received command, the CPU 306 expands the image data in the RAM 308 via the memory controller 308A. Further, data to be recorded by the recording head 107 (respective color ejection units 107K, 107C, 107M, and 107Y) is developed in the print buffer 309. The RAM 308 has an area that is also used as a working memory in the course of processing by the CPU 306. The CPU 306 reads out the processing program stored in the ROM 307 via the interface (ROM I / F) 307A, and controls each unit based on this. The ROM 307 stores a processing program corresponding to a processing procedure described later with reference to FIG. 5, a table for storing required fixed data, and the like.

  The recording device 301 is provided with a sensor group 313 for detecting a state that is a prerequisite for performing a required operation. The sensor group 313 includes a sensor unit 108 that measures the left and right ends of the recording medium, a linear scale sensor 106 that detects the position of the carriage 105, and a sensor that detects the conveyance amount and margin amount of the recording medium. Sensors for detection (LF sensor and the like are included. In addition to the carriage motor 101 described above, the recording apparatus 301 also includes a transport motor 312 that serves as a drive source for transporting the recording medium 109 and a drive source for movement of the purchased unit 314. A cutter motor 314 or the like is provided.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions executed by the control unit 401 configured to include the CPU 306, the ROM 307, the RAM 308, and the like on the hardware. The control unit 401 includes a data reception unit 403, an image data analysis unit 404, an image information management unit 405, a recording control unit 406, a head control unit 407, a carriage drive control unit 409, a recording medium conveyance control unit 411, and a recording medium cut. And a control unit 413.

  The image data receiving unit 403 receives external input data such as the image data 402 supplied from the host computer 302, the input data is analyzed by the image data analyzing unit 404, and the data group can be controlled on the recording apparatus side. Is converted.

  From the data analyzed and converted by the image data analysis unit 404, the image information management unit 405 performs image formation such as image data size, information on the type of recording medium, information on multi-pass recording, correction value of the recording medium conveyance amount, and the like. Manages information associated with processing. In multi-pass printing, the nozzle array width (band width) is not transported for each recording scan of the recording head, and transport is performed after performing a plurality of recording scans on one recording area. Is included. In addition, after recording the data thinned out by a predetermined mask every recording scan, the conveyance of less than one band is performed, and the recording scanning is performed again, so that the nozzles involved in the recording are recorded in one recording area. The case where a plurality of different printing scans and conveyances are performed is also included. In other words, multi-pass printing is printing by applying ink to the same printing area in a plurality of times. In the following, in principle, an image is formed while repeating the recording scan for completing the same recording area on the recording medium 109 by one movement of the recording head 107 and the conveyance of the recording medium 109 for the bandwidth. One-pass recording will be described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to multi-pass printing.

  The recording control unit 406 is a part that controls the basic operation of the recording apparatus. Based on the data managed by the image information management unit 405, signal processing for recording and driving processing of the recording scanning mechanism are performed. Take control. If the recording control unit 406 determines that the data of the next page exists based on the management information of the image information management unit 405 after the completion of image formation for one page, the cutting operation is suspended. The next page is set so that the intended cut position and the cutter position at the rear end of the previous page coincide with each other when n times (n is a natural number) of conveyance in the image forming process of the next page and thereafter are performed. Nozzle use range in the first recording scan is set. That is, after performing n times of conveyance, control is performed so that the cutting operation and the recording scan are performed in parallel.

  The head control unit 407 is a part that controls the recording head 107, and performs temperature management of the recording head 107 or ink as needed in addition to ink ejection processing based on a command from the recording control unit 406. A carriage drive control unit 409 controls the carriage motor 101 that controls the position of the recording head 107 based on a command from the recording control unit 406. The conveyance control unit 411 controls the conveyance of the recording medium 109 by driving the conveyance motor 312 based on a command from the recording control unit 406. The recording medium cut control unit 413 drives the cutter motor 314 based on a command from the recording control unit 406 to cause the recording medium to be cut.

(Cut operation)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure at the trailing edge of the page executed by the recording control unit 406. First, in step S1, the presence or absence of image data to be formed for the next page is confirmed based on management information by the image information management unit 405. In step S2, it is determined whether or not the image data exists. If the determination is affirmative, the process branches to step S3. If the determination is negative, the process branches to step S7.

  In steps S3 to S5, calculation processing is performed so that the intended cut position and the cutter position at the rear end of the previous page coincide with each other when n times of conveyance in the bandwidth unit in the image forming process for the next and subsequent pages are completed. I do. That is, in step S3, the required number n of conveyances from the start of image formation on the next page is calculated. In step S4, a nozzle use range to be applied to the first print scan on the next page is set from the entire nozzle array range of each ejection unit. Here, the nozzle use range can be set by designating the number of nozzles on the downstream side or the upstream side from the nozzle located on the most upstream side in the transport direction or the nozzle located on the most downstream side in the range. In step S5, a position where the first recording scan at the time of image formation of the next page is to be calculated is calculated. By performing these calculation processes, it is possible to perform the cutting operation and the recording scan in parallel as will be described later.

  In step S6, the recording medium is conveyed to the position calculated in step S5. This is a process performed according to the case where it is determined in step S2 that there is image data to be formed for the next page. Thereafter, printing is performed by applying the nozzle use range set in step S4 to the first print scan of the next page, and at the end of n times of conveyance calculated in step S3, the cutting operation is performed as described later. The recording scan is performed in parallel. Accordingly, when image formation is continuously performed for the next page, it is not necessary to reversely feed the recording medium, so that it is possible to improve the recording throughput. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that there is no image data to be formed for the next page, the process proceeds to step S7, and the recording medium is transported based on the margin amount set at the rear end of the previous page, and the desired data is obtained. After performing the cutting operation at the cutting position, the process proceeds to step S6. In this case, the recording medium is reversely fed based on the margin amount set at the leading edge of the next page in step S6. However, since the image formation for the next page is not continuously performed, A decrease in throughput is not a problem.

  6 to 10 are schematic top views of the main part of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the cutting operation according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to these drawings. In these drawings, C indicates the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and for the sake of convenience, the upstream side and the downstream side are shown facing the lower side and the upper side, respectively. Further, nozzles 603 are arranged in each ejection portion of the recording head 107 at a density of 1200 dpi (number of dots / inch) over a range of 1 inch (reference value, about 25.4 mm) in the conveyance direction C of the recording medium. It shall be. Furthermore, the amount of conveyance of the recording medium performed between recording scans in the image forming process of one page is basically 25.4 mm corresponding to the nozzle arrangement width. Further, the cutter groove 115 is located 100 mm further downstream than the nozzle located on the most downstream side in the nozzle arrangement range (hereinafter, the distance between the cutter groove 115 and the nozzle located on the most downstream side of the arrangement range). Is called the cutter distance).

  The recording head 107 mounted on the carriage 105 can reciprocate in the left-right direction in FIGS. Then, in the process of moving to at least one of them, recording is performed for the bandwidth (25.4 mm) by selectively ejecting ink from the nozzles 603 according to the image data. Thereafter, the recording medium is conveyed by the bandwidth and stopped. By repeating these operations, image formation for one page is performed. Here, when image formation is performed for the next page, the cutting operation at the rear end of the page on which image formation has been completed is suspended by the above-described processing. In addition, by the processing in steps S4 and S5 described above, the position where the first recording scan of the next page is performed so that the cut position and the cutter position coincide when n times of conveyance are performed in the image forming process of the next page. The carry amount up to and the nozzle use range are set. Then, the recording medium is transported to the position where the first recording scan is performed, and the set nozzle use range is applied to the first recording scan on the next page to perform recording. Thereafter, the recording scan and transport in band units are performed. Repeatedly, the cutting operation and the recording scan are performed in parallel at the end of n times of conveyance.

FIG. 7 shows a recording medium immediately after the last recording scan for the current page (hereinafter referred to as the first page) that was the object of image formation, the trailing edge cut position, and the page (hereinafter referred to as the first page) that is the object of image formation. 2) shows the image head position (image drawing position). Here, when the trailing edge margin of the first page is 5 mm and the final recording scan is performed using the entire nozzle arrangement range, the cutting position of the trailing edge of the first page is on the most upstream side. It exists further 5 mm upstream from the position of the nozzle. At this time, the distance from the position of the cutter groove 115 (hereinafter referred to as the cutter position) 605 to the cutting position at the rear end of the first page is:
Cutter distance (100 mm) + Nozzle range used for final printing scan (25.4 mm) + Rear margin (5 mm) = 130.4 mm
It becomes. The image drawing position of the second page is obtained by adding the leading edge margin of the second page to the distance (130.4 mm) from the cutter position 605 to the trailing edge cutting position of the first page. Is 55.4 mm, it is 135.4 mm.

FIG. 8 shows that the intended cutting position at the rear end of the first page and the cutter position 605 are set to coincide with each other when the conveyance in the bandwidth unit in the image forming process of the second page is performed. The range of nozzles used in the first print scan on page 2 is shown. At this time, the cutting position of the trailing edge of the first page coincides with the cutter position 605 by n times of recording medium conveyance, and the image drawing position of the second page is the position between the most downstream nozzle and the most upstream nozzle in the nozzle arrangement range. Located between. When the basic conveyance amount performed between recording scans is 25.4 mm and the distance from the cutter position 605 to the cut position at the rear end of the first page in FIG. 8 is expressed as 25.4 × n (mm), the cutter position 605 The distance to the image drawing position on the second page is 25.4 × n + 5 (mm). Since the distance (cutter distance) from the cutter position 605 to the most downstream nozzle is 100 mm, the distance from the cutter position 605 to the most upstream nozzle is 125.4 mm, which is a distance obtained by adding the width of the nozzle arrangement range. Therefore,
100 ≦ 25.4 × n + 5 <125.4
Thus, since n = 4, the positional relationship of FIG. 8 is derived by substituting n = 4.

  Accordingly, the range of nozzles used in the first print scan of the second page is obtained as follows. That is, the distance (125.4-106.mm) from the image drawing position (101.6 + 5 = 106.6 (mm) from the cutter position) to the most upstream nozzle position (100 + 25.4 = 12.5 (mm) from the cutter position). 6 = 18.8 (mm)) is converted into a nozzle arrangement density (1200 dpi) (888 nozzles).

  The above corresponds to the processing of step S3 (calculation of the number of conveyances), the processing of step S4 (setting of the used nozzle range), and the processing of step S5 (calculation of the image drawing position) in the flowchart of FIG. Based on these calculated values, the first recording scan of the second page is performed according to the positional relationship of FIG. 8, and the intended cutting position at the rear end of the first page and the cutter position 605 coincide with the fourth recording medium conveyance. FIG. 9 shows this state. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the cutter unit 114 and the carriage 105 are simultaneously driven from the state of FIG. 9, and the cutting operation and the recording operation are executed in parallel.

  As described above, the time required for the cutting process can be reduced. The cutting process includes conveyance of the recording medium to the intended cutting position at the rear end of the first page, actual cutting operation by driving the cutter unit 114, and reverse feeding of the recording medium to the second page image drawing position. In this case, a recording apparatus having a scale corresponding to this embodiment requires 1.5 to 2 seconds. That is, according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the throughput of 1.5 seconds to 2 seconds per page. In addition, the present embodiment can flexibly cope with the margins at the rear end of the page that can be set in various amounts, and does not cause complication, increase in size, and increase in price of the recording apparatus for the correspondence. There is an advantage.

(Other)
In the above embodiment, the nozzle use range of the first recording scan on the next page is adjusted so that the cut position and the cutter position coincide when n times of conveyance are performed in the image forming process of the next page. However, the recording scan for adjusting the nozzle use range can be appropriately determined in one or more of n recording scans performed corresponding to n times (one time or more) of conveyance.

  FIGS. 11A to 11D show some examples, and SC1 to SC5 are the numbers of recording scans from the front end side which is the cut position of the second page P2. These are examples corresponding to the case of n = 4 as described above, and the fifth and subsequent recording scans SC5 and after are performed after the recording medium is cut, and the basic transport amount is adopted. FIG. 11A corresponds to the above-described embodiment, in which the nozzle use range is adjusted in the first recording scan. (B) is an example in which the nozzle use range is adjusted in any one print scan, and here, the print scan performed third is the object of adjustment. (C) is an example in the case where the nozzle use range is adjusted in any two print scans. Here, the second and fourth print scans are targeted for adjustment. In (d), all four printing scans are targeted for adjustment.

  Needless to say, the adjustment amount of the nozzle use range can be set as appropriate in accordance with the number of target print scans. In the case where two or more recording scans are targeted, the adjustment amount may not be uniform, but may be different from each other. In particular, for example, when all the n scanning scans are to be adjusted, it is possible to make adjustments such that the number of nozzles used is gradually increased or decreased, or is quarreled randomly. This is because, when there is a concern about uneven image density on the tip side due to the adjustment of the number of nozzles used, it may be effective to appropriately select any one of the above embodiments. In any case, the conveyance amount can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the adjustment of the number of used nozzles.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the numerical value required in order to adjust the number of used nozzles is an illustration to the last. That is, the numerical value is appropriately calculated from parameters such as the trailing edge margin amount of the previous page, the size of the nozzle range used for the final recording scan, the cutter position, and the leading edge margin amount of the second page. Of course, these parameters are not limited to the above example.

  Further, depending on the size of the page (dimension in the transport direction), the other part of the recording medium to be adjusted is not the next page (second page) but the subsequent page, and the image forming process The cutting operation of the rear edge of the first page can also be performed. Further, the recording medium is not limited to the above-described roll paper as the object of image formation. A continuous paper such as fanfold paper may be used, or a recording medium in the form of a cut sheet may be appropriately cut.

  In addition, in the above example, the cutter unit 114 is driven by a mechanism different from the carriage 105. However, for example, the cutter unit 114 is provided on the carriage 105, and the blade is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract in a timely manner, so that the discharge operation and the cutting operation can be performed simultaneously when the timing of the cutting operation is reached. is there. However, if there is a concern about the disturbance of the ejection due to the vibration caused by the cutting operation on the carriage, the recording scan and the cutting operation may be performed at different timings at the same position in the same transport direction. In this case, the original cut operation time is not shortened, but the recording medium is not reversely fed, so that the time can be shortened.

  In addition, in the above example, the cutter moving along the cutter groove 115 is used. However, any cutter can be used as long as the cutting operation is performed while the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped. . For example, a guillotine type cutter may be used.

  In the above example, a configuration using a recording head having an ejection unit for ejecting a plurality of colors of ink has been described. However, the number of ejection units, the type of color tone (color, density), the type of liquid to be ejected, etc. It can be determined as appropriate. Furthermore, the recording apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention are not intended to be applied only to such an inkjet recording apparatus type recording apparatus. In other words, if a serial type recording apparatus that forms an image by repeating a recording scan of a recording head in which recording elements are arranged and a conveying operation in a direction crossing the direction of the arrangement, the recording method is used. It can be applied to anything.

105 Carriage 107 Recording Head 109 Recording Medium 114 Cutter Unit 115 Cutter Groove 401 Control Device 406 Recording Control Unit 413 Cut Control Unit 605 Cutter Position

Claims (4)

By repeating a recording operation for performing recording while moving a recording head having an array of recording elements with respect to the recording medium, and an operation for transporting the recording medium in a direction crossing the moving direction of the recording operation, the recording medium In a recording apparatus for forming an image on
The recording head is a cutter that is provided with a certain distance in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and cuts the recording medium;
A movement amount with respect to a position where the cut by the transport operation is performed, and a transport amount of at least one transport operation in a certain region upstream or downstream in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the position where the cut is performed by the transport operation; And a control unit that adjusts the use range of the recording elements used for the recording operation in the array of the recording elements so that they coincide with each other by the recording operation.   The cutter moves in the intersecting direction separately from the recording head and operates to perform the cutting, and when the position where the cutting is performed and the position of the cutter coincide with each other, the recording head The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording operation by the cutting and the cutting operation by the cutter are performed in parallel.   The control means includes the adjustment in the conveyance direction, the position where the cutting is performed, the position of the cutter, the margin amount at the rear end of the portion, the margin amount at the tip end of the other portion, and the adjustment. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment is performed based on a parameter including a conveyance amount when performing the conveyance operation. By repeating a recording operation for performing recording while moving a recording head having an array of recording elements with respect to the recording medium, and an operation for transporting the recording medium in a direction crossing the moving direction of the recording operation, the recording medium In the control method of a recording apparatus using a cutter that is provided with a certain distance in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and cuts the recording medium
A movement amount with respect to a position where the cut by the transport operation is performed, and a transport amount of at least one transport operation in a certain region upstream or downstream in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the position where the cut is performed by the transport operation; A method for controlling a recording apparatus, comprising: adjusting a use range of the recording elements used for a recording operation in the array of the recording elements so as to coincide with each other by the recording operation.

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