JP2014008660A - Inkjet recorder, and method for generating mask pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder preventing a deterioration of image quality which is recorded in an overlapping area.SOLUTION: In a plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in line, an attribute of an image, which is recorded on an overlapping area in which an end side nozzle of an each head chip overlaps an end side nozzle of an adjacent head chip, or a pixel array for a predetermined length, in which an image is not recorded, is detected. Based on the detected attribute or pixel array, a boundary between an area which is recorded by a first head chip of two adjacent head chips and an area which is recorded by a second head chip of the two adjacent head chips is determined in the overlapping area. Based on the determined boundary, a mask pattern, which allocates recording data so that an area of the first head chip side from the boundary is recorded by the first head chip and an area of the second head chip side is recorded by the second head chip, is generated.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a full line recording head, and a mask pattern generation method.

  In an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a line-type recording head, a plurality of recording heads are connected in a nozzle arrangement direction, a recording medium is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction, and a plurality of nozzles provided in the recording head are used. An image is recorded on a recording medium by ejecting ink. In the line-type recording head, the recording heads are connected so that a plurality of nozzles at the ends of the adjacent recording heads overlap so that no image loss or image deterioration occurs at the end of the recording head. Patent Document 1 describes that halftone processing is performed with a dither mask pattern in the overlap region in order to reduce image deterioration due to positional deviation of each recording head.

JP 2009-18479 A

  However, it is generally difficult to arrange a plurality of recording heads with high accuracy. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the nozzle pitch is not shifted between the recording head 1 and the recording head 2 as shown in FIG. There is. If halftone processing is performed on the overlap area in the state shown in FIG. 16 and image data is recorded, the image is printed out of alignment in the overlap area. For example, where the image should be like a thin line (2 nozzle width) shown in FIG. 15, the image becomes thick (2 nozzle width or more), and the quality of the image is degraded. When the above thin line is a barcode, it becomes a particularly remarkable problem.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems. In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a mask pattern generation method that prevent deterioration in image quality recorded in an overlap region.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row, a nozzle at an end of each head chip, and an end of an adjacent head chip. An inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using a full-line recording head formed in a staggered arrangement so as to overlap with the nozzles of the image, the attribute of the image recorded in the overlap region In accordance with the attribute detected by the detecting means and the attribute detected by the detecting means, in the overlap area, the area to be recorded by the first head chip and the second head chip of the two adjacent head chips A determining means for determining a boundary with a recording area; and the overlap region based on the boundary determined by the determining means. The first head chip side from the boundary is recorded using the first head chip, and the second head chip side from the boundary is recorded using the second head chip. Generating means for generating a mask pattern for distributing data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality recorded in the overlap area.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a configuration of a recording head and a recording result. 1 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of each command. It is a figure for demonstrating the mask pattern process of the conventional overlap area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating the mask pattern process of a barcode object. It is a figure for demonstrating the mask pattern process of a figure object. It is a figure for demonstrating the mask pattern process of a character object. It is a figure which shows the state which performed the mask pattern process for every object. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of mask pattern processing in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the mask pattern process of each object. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image in the vicinity of an overlap region in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mask pattern in a present Example. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating recording in a state where there is no nozzle pitch deviation between recording heads. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating recording in a state where there is a nozzle pitch shift between recording heads.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. . The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a host computer 101. The image forming apparatus 100 performs recording (printing) on the roll paper or a label attached to the roll paper based on the image data received from the host computer 101 while conveying the roll paper as a recording medium. The image forming apparatus 100 is a recording apparatus that performs recording by an inkjet recording method, for example. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described as an ink jet recording apparatus. The image forming apparatus 100 and the host computer 101 are connected via a printer cable 102 so that they can communicate with each other.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 records an image on a continuous label sheet 210 that is a recording medium. The roll unit 205 is loaded with a continuous label sheet 210 having a label piece temporarily attached to the mount, and supplies the continuous label sheet 210 to the transport unit. The transport unit includes a transport motor 206 and a transport belt 207, and transports the continuous label sheet 210 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing during recording. Here, the roll unit 205 side (right side in FIG. 2) on the conveyance path of the continuous label sheet 210 is defined as a conveyance inlet, and the opposite side (left side in FIG. 2) is defined as a conveyance outlet.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, a plurality of recording head units 203A to 203D (four units in the present embodiment) are arranged. Each of the recording head units 203A to 203D is mounted with a recording head for discharging black ink, a recording head for discharging cyan ink, a recording head for discharging magenta ink, and a recording head for discharging yellow ink. Each recording head ejects black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) ink, and as a result, can record an image in full color. The respective color inks ejected from the respective recording head units 203A to 203D are supplied from corresponding ink cartridges 204Y, 204M, 204C, and 204K by a pump (not shown). The ink cartridge 204K contains black ink, and the ink cartridge 204C contains cyan ink. The ink cartridge 204M stores magenta ink, and the ink cartridge 204Y stores yellow ink.

  The roll unit 205 includes a roll drive shaft 208 on which the continuous label paper 210 is mounted, a roll sensor lever 209 whose position changes due to the slack of the continuous label paper 210, and a roll motor (not shown) that drives the roll drive shaft 208. By driving and stopping the roll motor according to the position of the roll sensor lever 209, the continuous label sheet 210 can be stably supplied to the transport unit.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the configuration of the recording head and the recording result. As described above, the recording head units (head chips) 203 </ b> A to 203 </ b> D are mounted on the image forming apparatus 100. Each of the recording head units 203A to 203D includes a group of four recording heads each having an array of nozzle arrays that eject black, cyan, yellow, and magenta inks. Here, for example, in the recording head unit 203A, a recording head that discharges black ink is a recording head 203A-K, and a recording head that discharges cyan ink is a recording head 203A-C. The recording head that discharges magenta ink is referred to as recording head 203A-M, and the recording head that discharges yellow ink is referred to as recording head 203A-Y.

  Each recording head unit is connected to the end of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a line between adjacent recording head units as shown in FIG. 3 in a direction (nozzle arrangement direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The sections are arranged in a staggered manner so that they overlap, and constitute a full-line recording head as a whole. The image 301 is formed on the label by performing recording based on the image data corresponding to the position where each recording head is arranged. The print data for ink ejection corresponding to the region 302 where the nozzle rows overlap is distributed at a predetermined ratio between adjacent print head units by mask pattern processing for the image data.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The host computer 101 transfers the image data to be recorded to the image forming apparatus 100 and instructs the start of the recording process. At the same time, the host computer 101 also transmits to the image forming apparatus 100 a sheet setting command for instructing the number of label pieces to be recorded by the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet type and size of the continuous label sheet 210, and the like. The command will be described later.

  The control unit 400 in the image forming apparatus 100 receives image data from the host computer 101 via the communication driver 401. The image forming apparatus 100 renders the received image data as image data of each color component by developing a bitmap on each of the image memories 404K, 404C, 404M, and 404Y. The image memories 404K, 404C, 404M, and 404Y store image data of each color component corresponding to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink, respectively. On the other hand, the command received from the host computer 101 is stored in the RAM 403.

  At the time of recording, a mask pattern for designating pixels for which recording is not performed is generated on the mask pattern memory 405 for each recording head in each recording head unit. The recording head units 203 </ b> A to 203 </ b> D are moved to a recordable position by the recording head drive mechanism control motor 407. Then, the CPU 411 sequentially reads image data from the image memories 404K to 404Y in units of recording heads in synchronization with the conveyance of the continuous label sheet 210. At that time, the CPU 411 reads out the mask pattern of each recording head from the mask pattern memory 405 and superimposes the mask pattern on the image data stored in the image memory 404 to generate mask recording data. Then, the CPU 411 outputs the mask print data via the print head drive circuit 406 to the print heads 203K to 203Y that discharge the corresponding color ink. Each of the recording heads 203K to 203Y ejects ink of each corresponding color according to the input mask recording data, and records an image in full color. The control unit 400 also includes a recording head driving circuit 406 that drives the recording heads 203A to 203D. The control unit 400 also controls a motor driver 408 that drives various motors 407 for realizing a recovery operation and a recording operation of the recording head, and a control unit (I / I) that controls a sensor 409 that is a sensor used for paper conveyance. O) 410 is also included.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a command transmitted from the host computer 101 to the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 5, a paper setting command 501, a format command 502, data commands 503 to 506, and a job start command 510 are transmitted from the host computer 101. As shown in FIG. 5, in all commands, an identification code for identifying the type of the command is arranged at the head of the command. Following the identification code, an operand for setting an incidental instruction related to the command is provided. It is configured. Further, the CPU 411 can identify attributes (barcode, graphic, character, etc.) of the image data received from the host computer 101 by referring to the identification code. Note that there are cases where there are no operands and only the identification code, as in the job start command.

  The paper setting command 501 is a command for setting the size of the recording medium, for example, the continuous label paper 210. As shown in FIG. 5, items of paper type, paper vertical size, and paper horizontal size are configured. A format command 502 is a command for setting a reference of an image to be recorded. As shown in FIG. 5, the effective recording area and the recording reference position on the recording medium are designated by coordinate information or the like. The data commands 503 to 506 include actual data and detailed information of characters, figures, lines, and barcodes. The image data received by the image forming apparatus 100 from the host computer 101 refers to actual data included in the data commands 503 to 506.

  The data command 503 includes data items including actual data in addition to detailed information such as drawing coordinates, font type, character size, character color, character modification, character spacing, rotation, and data length. The data command 504 includes data items including actual data in addition to detailed information such as drawing coordinates, image types, vertical and horizontal sizes, drawing colors, and data lengths. The data command 505 includes drawing start coordinates, drawing end coordinates, line width, drawing color, and line modification as detailed line information. The data command 506 includes data items including actual data in addition to detailed information such as drawing coordinates, barcode type, barcode size, drawing color, rotation, and data length. The data commands 503 to 506 may include information other than the detailed information shown in FIG. A job start command 510 indicates the end of image data to be recorded and instructs the start of recording.

  Mask pattern processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining conventional mask pattern processing for an overlap region. Hereinafter, only image data corresponding to black stored in the image memory 404 will be described, but the same applies to other cyan, magenta, and yellow. It is assumed that a character object 603, a graphic object 602, and a barcode object 601 corresponding to the data commands 503, 504, and 506 are expanded on the image memory 404. Of the recording head units 203A to 203D, images recorded by the recording heads corresponding to black are shown as images 610A to 610D. Also, among the recording head units 203A to 203D, mask patterns applied to the recording heads corresponding to black are shown as mask patterns 620A to 620D. Each mask pattern 620A to 620D includes an area where masking is not performed and an area where halftone processing is performed in an overlapping area with an adjacent recording head unit. In each of the mask patterns 620A to 620D, the region represented by the pattern of the region 621A is a region where masking is not performed, and the region represented by the pattern of the region 622A is a region where halftone processing is performed in the overlap region.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining mask pattern processing of the barcode object 701 in the present embodiment. An image 702 is an image obtained by enlarging a portion of the barcode object 701 that covers the overlap region 302. A mask pattern 703 indicates a mask pattern corresponding to the image 702.

  In this embodiment, the CPU 411 of the image forming apparatus 100 detects each black bar, space size, and recording coordinates from the barcode data received from the host computer 101, and draws the barcode object 701. Then, the CPU 411 detects the coordinates of the largest space among the spaces in the overlap region 302, and sets the pixel column at one end thereof as the specific pixel column. For example, as shown in an image 702, the space widths in the overlap region 302 are “2” and “5”. That is, since the maximum space width in the overlap region 302 is “5”, the pixel column at one end in the space width “5” is set as the specific pixel column.

  In the present embodiment, in the overlap region 302, the specific pixel column is determined as a boundary, and a mask pattern 703 is generated so that the barcode object 701 is shared by the left and right adjacent print heads. That is, in FIG. 7, in the overlap region 302, the recording head unit 203A side (first head chip side) is recorded from the specific pixel row by the recording head unit 203A, and the recording head unit 203B side (first head) from the specific pixel row. 2 is recorded by the recording head unit 203B.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining mask pattern processing of the graphic object 801 in the present embodiment. The image 803 is an image obtained by enlarging a portion of the graphic object 801 that covers the overlap region 302. A mask pattern 804 indicates a mask pattern corresponding to the image 803. Further, the image 805 is an image obtained by enlarging a portion where one end of the graphic object 801 is over the overlap region 302. A mask pattern 806 indicates a mask pattern corresponding to the image 805.

  As shown in the mask pattern 804, when one end of the graphic object 801 does not cover the overlap region 302, a conventional halftone mask is used. However, as shown in the mask pattern 806, when one end of the graphic object 801 covers the overlap region 302, the pixel column at one end of the graphic object 801 in the overlap region 302 is set as a specific pixel column.

  In this embodiment, in the overlap region 302, a mask pattern 806 is generated so that the graphic data is shared between the right and left adjacent print heads with the specific pixel column as a boundary. That is, in FIG. 8, in the overlap region 302, the recording head unit 203B side (first head chip side) is recorded from the specific pixel row by the recording head unit 203B, and the recording head unit 203C side (first head) from the specific pixel row. 2 is recorded by the recording head unit 203C.

  Although the figure object 801 has been described with reference to FIG. 8, the same mask pattern processing is performed for the line object. In FIG. 7, one graphic object 801 is shown. However, when one end of the graphic object covers the overlap region 302, the same processing is performed for the corresponding one end.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining mask pattern processing of the character object 901 in the present embodiment. The image 902 is an image obtained by enlarging a portion of the character object 901 that covers the overlap region 302. A mask pattern 903 indicates a mask pattern corresponding to the image 902.

  As shown in the mask pattern 903, when one end of the character object 901 is over the overlap area 302, the CPU 411 uses the coordinates of one end of the character object in the overlap area 302 as a drawing coordinate item of the data command 503. Detect based on. Then, the CPU 411 sets the pixel column corresponding to the detected coordinates of the one end as the specific pixel column. In FIG. 9, the pixel column on the right side of the coordinates of one end of the character “A” is the specific pixel column.

  In this embodiment, in the overlap region 302, the mask pattern 903 is generated so that the character object 901 is shared between the left and right adjacent print heads with the specific pixel column as a boundary. That is, in FIG. 9, in the overlap region 302, the recording head unit 203A side (first head chip side) is recorded from the specific pixel row by the recording head unit 203A, and the recording head unit 203B side (first head) from the specific pixel row. 2 is recorded by the recording head unit 203B.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which mask pattern processing for each object is performed in the overlap region 302 in this embodiment. In FIG. 10, a region represented by the pattern of the region 621A is a region where masking is not performed, and a region represented by the pattern of the region 622A is a region where halftone processing is performed in the overlap region. In particular, in the present embodiment, there is a region represented by the pattern of the region 623A, and there is a region where all pixels are masked even in the overlap region.

  As shown in FIG. 10, with respect to the barcode object 601, in the overlap region 302, the print data is distributed between the right and left adjacent print heads with one end of the maximum width space as a boundary. As for the graphic object 602, in the overlap area 302, the print data is distributed between the left and right adjacent print heads with one end of the graphic object as a boundary in the overlap area 302. However, when one end of the graphic object is not included in the overlap area 302, the print data is distributed between the right and left adjacent print heads in the overlap area 302 as shown in FIG. For the character object 603, in the overlap region 302, the print data is distributed between the left and right adjacent print heads with one end of the character object as a boundary.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of mask pattern processing in the present embodiment. The processing in FIG. 11 is realized, for example, by executing a program stored in the RAM 403 by the CPU 411 of the image forming apparatus 100. In step S <b> 1101, the CPU 411 receives a print job transmitted from the host computer 101. The print job includes various commands as described with reference to FIG. In step S <b> 1102, the CPU 411 analyzes the print job and develops image data in the image memory 404. The image data developed in the image memory 404 is as shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1103, the CPU 411 generates a halftone mask pattern corresponding to each of the recording head units 203 </ b> A to 203 </ b> D on the mask pattern memory 405. The mask patterns at this time are as shown in mask patterns 620A to 620D in FIG. In step S <b> 1104, the CPU 411 corrects the mask pattern for each object related to the overlap area 302. In step S1105, the CPU 411 records an image by ejecting ink from the nozzles of each recording head based on the developed image data and the corrected mask pattern. The image data recorded at that time is the barcode object 601, the graphic object 602, and the character object 603 in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of mask pattern generation processing for each object related to the overlap region 302 in the present embodiment. The process of FIG. 12 is realized by executing a program stored in the RAM 403 or the like by the CPU 411 of the image forming apparatus 100, for example. In the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the bar code object, the graphic object, and the character object are received from the host computer 101 by the data commands 503 to 506. The process shown in FIG. 12 is performed for each overlap region covered by one object. When all overlap areas are processed for one object, the process of FIG. 12 is performed for the next new object.

  First, in step S <b> 1201, it is determined whether a target object has one end of a graphic object in the target overlap area 302. The determination is made based on, for example, the drawing coordinates of the data command 504. If it is determined that one end of the graphic object is within the overlap region 302, the pixel column corresponding to the coordinates of the one end of the graphic object is set as the specific pixel column in S1202. The specification of the specific pixel column at this time is as described with reference to FIG. In step S1203, the CPU 411 corrects the mask pattern generated in step S1103 with the specific pixel column as a boundary. The mask pattern corrected at this time is a mask pattern 806.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1201 that one end of the object is not in the overlap area 302, the CPU 411 determines whether or not there is a barcode object in the overlap area 302. The determination is made based on the drawing coordinates of the data command 506, for example. If it is determined that there is a barcode in S1204, a specific pixel row in the overlap region 302 is specified in S1205. The specification of the specific pixel column at this time is as described with reference to FIG. In step S1206, the CPU 411 corrects the mask pattern generated in step S1103 with the specific pixel column as a boundary. The mask pattern corrected at this time is a mask pattern 703.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1204 that there is no barcode, it is determined in S1207 whether there is a character object in the overlap area 302 or not. The determination is made based on the drawing coordinates of the data command 503, for example. If it is determined in S1207 that there is a character object, a specific pixel row in the overlap region 302 is specified in S1208. The specification of the specific pixel column at this time is as described with reference to FIG. In step S1209, the CPU 411 corrects the mask pattern generated in step S1103 with the specific pixel column as a boundary. The mask pattern corrected at this time is a mask pattern 903.

  When correction of the mask pattern is performed in S1203, S1206, or S1209, in S1210, the CPU 411 determines whether or not all the overlap regions 302 have been subjected to the processing in S1201 to S1209. If it is determined that not all the overlap areas 302 are to be processed, the process proceeds to S1211, and the process from S1201 is repeated for the next overlap area 302 as a target.

  If all overlap areas are targeted in S1210, the CPU 411 determines in S1212 whether all objects are targeted. If it is determined that not all objects are targeted, the process from S1201 is repeated for the next object in S1213. On the other hand, if it is determined that all objects have been targeted, the present process in FIG. 12 ends.

  As described above, even if a barcode object or character object exists in the overlap area, each bar and character of the barcode is always recorded by the recording head on one side. Can be prevented. Similarly, when one end of a graphic object exists in the overlap area, recording is always performed by one recording head, so that it is possible to prevent image quality from being deteriorated due to the recording head misalignment. As described above, by using an appropriate mask pattern in accordance with the type of image data in the overlap region, it is possible to prevent a reduction in image quality even when a positional deviation occurs between the recording heads.

[Example 2]
In the first embodiment, image data to be recorded (barcode object, graphic object, character object) is received as each data command, and is generated for each object. However, the bar code object, the graphic object, and the character object may be received with one command. In this embodiment, a case where a data command 504 including a bar code object, a graphic object, and a character object is received will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating image data stored in the image memory 404 for, for example, black and an image 1301 in the vicinity of the overlap region 302 in this embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a mask pattern 1401 in the present embodiment. The image data received from the host computer 101 is developed for each color in the image memory 404, and further, a logical sum of the developed image data of each color is generated in the image memory 404.

  The CPU 411 detects a transverse non-recording line 1302 that traverses the overlap region for the image 1301 near the overlap region 302 in the image data generated in the image memory 404. The recording line refers to a pixel row from which no color ink is ejected. Further, the CPU 411 detects a recording line 1303 that runs vertically from the transverse recording line to the next transverse recording line 1302. Here, when there is a barcode in the overlap area 302, a plurality of longitudinal recording lines 1303 are detected. In this case, the longitudinal recording line having the largest width is specified. Then, the CPUP 411 generates a mask pattern 1402 so that the pixel row at one end of the longitudinal recording line 1303 is a specific pixel row and the print data is distributed between the left and right adjacent print heads with the specific pixel row as a boundary. To do.

  When the graphic object occupies the entire width of the overlap area 302, the vertical recording line 1303 cannot be detected. In such a case, a halftone mask 1403 that performs recording with both adjacent recording heads is used as in the conventional case.

100 Image forming apparatus 101 Host computer 102 Printer cable 203A, 203B, 203C, 203D Recording head unit

Claims (9)

A plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row are formed in a staggered arrangement so that the nozzles at the end of each head chip overlap the nozzles at the end of the adjacent head chip. An inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using the full line recording head,
Detecting means for detecting an attribute of an image recorded in the overlap area;
In accordance with the attribute detected by the detection means, in the overlap area, a boundary between an area recorded by the first head chip and an area recorded by the second head chip among two adjacent head chips is defined. A decision means to decide;
Based on the boundary determined by the determining means, the first head chip side is recorded from the boundary using the first head chip in the overlap region, and the second head chip side from the boundary is recorded. Generating means for generating a mask pattern for allocating recording data so as to record using the second head chip,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute includes at least one of a barcode, a graphic, and a character.   The said determination means determines the said boundary based on the largest space width in the said overlap area | region, when the said attribute detected by the said detection means is a barcode, The said boundary is characterized by the above-mentioned. Inkjet recording device.   The said determination means determines the said boundary based on the end of the said figure in the said overlap area | region when the said attribute detected by the said detection means is a figure, The Claim 2 or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The ink jet recording apparatus described.   The said determination means determines the said boundary based on the end of the said character in the said overlap area | region when the said attribute detected by the said detection means is a character, The Claims 2 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the above. A plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row are formed in a staggered manner so that the nozzles at the end of each head chip overlap the nozzles at the end of the adjacent head chip. An inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using the full line recording head,
Detecting means for detecting a pixel row not recorded for a predetermined length in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction in the overlap region;
Based on the pixel column detected by the detection means, in the overlap region, a boundary between a region recorded by the first head chip and a region recorded by the second head chip among two adjacent head chips. A determination means for determining
Based on the boundary determined by the determining means, the first head chip side is recorded from the boundary using the first head chip in the overlap region, and the second head chip side from the boundary is recorded. Generating means for generating a mask pattern for allocating recording data so as to record using the second head chip,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit detects the pixel row having a predetermined width. A plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row are formed in a staggered manner so that the nozzles at the end of each head chip overlap the nozzles at the end of the adjacent head chip. A mask pattern generation method executed in an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using a full line recording head,
A detection step in which the detection means of the ink jet recording apparatus detects an attribute of an image recorded in the overlap region;
In accordance with the attribute detected in the detection step, the determination unit of the ink jet recording apparatus records the first head chip and the second head among the two adjacent head chips in the overlap region. A determination step for determining a boundary with an area to be recorded by the chip;
Based on the boundary determined in the determination step, the generation unit of the ink jet recording apparatus records the first head chip side from the boundary in the overlap region using the first head chip, and Generating a mask pattern for allocating print data so as to record the second head chip side from the boundary using the second head chip;
A mask pattern generation method characterized by comprising: A plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row are formed in a staggered manner so that the nozzles at the end of each head chip overlap the nozzles at the end of the adjacent head chip. A mask pattern generation method executed in an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using a full line recording head,
A detecting step in which the detecting means of the ink jet recording apparatus detects a pixel row that is not recorded by a predetermined length in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction in the overlap region;
Based on the pixel row detected in the detection step, the determination unit of the ink jet recording apparatus includes a first head chip recording region and a second head chip among the two adjacent head chips in the overlap region. A determination step for determining a boundary with an area to be recorded by the head chip;
Based on the boundary determined in the determination step, the generation unit of the ink jet recording apparatus records the first head chip side from the boundary in the overlap region using the first head chip, and Generating a mask pattern for allocating print data so as to record the second head chip side from the boundary using the second head chip;
A mask pattern generation method characterized by comprising: