JP2017105018A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device capable of achieving improvement of throughput of recording processing while taking a transportation distance of a medium from a current pass to a next pass into account.SOLUTION: A controller executes constant-speed printing in accompaniment with movement at a constant speed of a carriage at both of an end edge of current printing operation and a start end of next printing operation when paper feed time Tpf (transportation distance) of a sheet from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to a threshold A or more, and executes deceleration printing in accompaniment with deceleration of a carriage or acceleration printing in accompaniment with acceleration of the carriage at least at one of the end edge of the current printing operation and the start end of the next printing operation when the paper feed time Tpf (transportation distance) of the sheet from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is below the threshold A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a medium from a recording unit that moves under a speed condition including an acceleration / deceleration area and a constant speed area.

  Patent Document 1 discloses not only constant speed printing which is a recording operation in a constant speed region in which the carriage moves at a predetermined speed, but also accelerated printing which is a recording operation in an acceleration region in which the carriage accelerates from a stopped state to a predetermined speed, and There is described a recording apparatus that also performs decelerating printing, which is a recording operation in a decelerating region in which the carriage decelerates from a predetermined speed to a stop state.

  In this recording apparatus, the movement of the carriage is started in the middle of stopping the conveyance of the medium and the conveyance of the medium is stopped. At the same time, the recording on the medium is started, and the medium is moved to the medium before the movement of the carriage is stopped. The conveyance of the medium is started simultaneously with the end of the recording. As a result, the carriage moving process and the medium transporting process partially overlap each other, so that the throughput of the recording process on the medium can be improved.

  Further, in this recording apparatus, in the transition process from the current pass to the next pass, if there is a situation where the carriage waits with the movement stopped until the medium conveyance is completed, at the end of the current pass The rate of accelerated printing at the beginning of the next pass is reduced. As a result, the moving distance to the carriage stop position is extended to shorten the carriage standby time.

JP 2013-223978 A

  However, in the recording apparatus described in the above document, although the ratio of the deceleration printing at the end of the current pass and the acceleration printing at the start of the next pass is suppressed in order to shorten the carriage waiting time, the throughput of the recording process is reduced. There was still room for improvement in terms of improvement.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a recording apparatus capable of improving the throughput of recording processing.

  A recording apparatus that solves the above problems includes a transport unit that transports a medium, a recording unit that records on the medium based on recording data, and the recording unit that intersects the transport direction of the medium during recording on the medium. A moving unit that moves the medium, a conveying unit, the recording unit, a control unit that controls the operation of the moving unit, and the conveyance distance of the medium by the conveying unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording A transport distance acquisition unit that acquires the recording distance when the transport distance of the medium acquired by the transport distance acquisition unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. In both cases, the recording unit is moved at a constant speed and the recording unit is moved at a constant speed, and when the conveyance distance of the medium acquired by the conveyance distance acquisition unit is less than the predetermined distance, Performing accelerated recording of the recording unit accompanied by acceleration of deceleration recording or the moving portion of the recording portion with a deceleration of the moving part at least one of the recording end and the beginning of the next recording.

  According to the above configuration, when the transport distance of the medium is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, constant speed recording is executed at both the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording. Therefore, compared with the case where deceleration recording or acceleration recording is performed at least one of the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording, the ratio of constant speed recording as recording on the medium is increased, and the recording process Throughput can be improved. Further, when the transport distance of the medium is less than the predetermined distance, the deceleration recording or the acceleration recording is executed at at least one of the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording. Therefore, even if the period until the completion of the conveyance of the medium is limited, the moving part is sufficiently accelerated at the beginning of the next recording when the conveyance of the medium is completed, thereby improving the throughput of the recording process. can do.

  In the recording apparatus, the control unit starts the acceleration recording after starting the acceleration of the moving unit when the transport distance of the medium acquired by the transport distance acquisition unit is less than the predetermined distance. It is preferable that the moving distance of the moving unit until or the moving distance of the moving unit from the start of deceleration of the moving unit to the end of the deceleration recording is defined as a fixed value.

  According to the above configuration, when the transport distance of the medium is less than the predetermined distance, the speed condition of the moving section at the time of acceleration recording or deceleration recording is fixed. For example, the moving speed of the moving section for each transport distance of the medium As compared with the case of performing the recording control of the recording unit according to the above, it is possible to contribute to the simplification of the recording control.

  In the recording apparatus, the control unit does not involve recording following the constant speed recording at the end of the current recording when the transport distance of the medium acquired by the transport distance acquisition unit is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance. It is preferable that acceleration of the conveyance speed of the medium for the next recording is started during the movement of the moving unit at a constant speed.

  According to the above configuration, in a situation where the transport distance of the medium is a predetermined distance or more and a transition process from the current recording to the next recording requires a long time, the recording following the constant speed recording at the end of the current recording In the middle of the movement at a constant speed without accompanying, the acceleration of the conveyance speed of the medium for the next recording is started immediately. Thereby, the throughput of the recording process on the medium can be further improved.

  In the recording apparatus, when the conveyance distance of the medium acquired by the conveyance distance acquisition unit is equal to or more than the predetermined distance, the control unit does not accompany the recording prior to the constant speed recording at the start of the next recording. It is preferable to start decelerating the conveyance speed of the medium for the next recording while the moving unit is moving at a constant speed.

  According to the above configuration, in a situation where the transport distance of the medium is a predetermined distance or more and a transition process from the current recording to the next recording requires a long time, the recording prior to the constant speed recording at the start of the next recording is performed. The start timing of the reduction of the conveyance speed of the medium for the next recording is delayed until the movement at the constant speed without accompanying. Thereby, the throughput of the recording process on the medium can be further improved.

  In the recording apparatus, when the end position of the current recording is located behind the start position of the next recording in the moving direction of the moving unit in the current recording, the control unit determines that the end position of the current recording is The stop position of the moving unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording is extended as compared with the case where the moving unit is positioned ahead of the moving direction in the current recording from the start position of the next recording. It is preferable to do.

  According to the above configuration, since the moving time of the moving unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording is shortened based on the positional relationship between the current recording end position and the next recording start position, the next time Recording start timing can be advanced.

  In the recording apparatus, when the end position of the current recording is located behind the start position of the next recording in the moving direction of the moving unit in the current recording, It is preferable to perform constant speed recording.

  According to the above configuration, when the start position of the next recording is ahead of the moving direction of the moving part in the current recording from the end position of the current recording, the constant speed recording is maintained until the end of the current recording. Thus, the moving unit can be quickly moved to the start position of the next recording. Therefore, the moving time of the moving unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording is shortened, and the start timing of the next recording can be advanced.

  In the recording apparatus, when the end position of the current recording is positioned on the front side in the moving direction of the moving unit in the current recording from the start position of the next recording, the control unit It is preferable to perform deceleration recording.

  According to the above configuration, when the start position of the next recording is located behind the current recording end position in the moving direction of the moving part in the current recording, the deceleration recording is started before the end of the current recording is reached. By doing so, the moving unit can be quickly moved to the start position of the next recording. Therefore, the moving time of the moving unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording is shortened, and the start timing of the next recording can be advanced.

  In the recording apparatus, when the maximum width recording is performed on the medium, the control unit preferably executes the deceleration recording at the end of the current recording and the acceleration recording at the start of the next recording. .

  According to the above configuration, when recording the maximum width on the medium, the apparatus in the moving direction of the moving unit is shortened by shortening the moving distance to the stop position of the moving unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording. This can contribute to miniaturization of the main body.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating a recording head and a transport mechanism. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer. (A), (b) is a wave form diagram which shows the pulse of each encoder. (A) is a graph showing the speed profile of the CR motor during constant speed printing, and (b) is a graph showing the speed profile of the CR motor during acceleration / deceleration printing. The figure which shows CR acceleration table and CR deceleration table. (A)-(c) is a graph explaining CR stop position extension processing in a 1st embodiment. The graph explaining CR stop position extension processing. The graph explaining the overlay calculation of a PF motor and a CR motor. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation processing routine. The flowchart which shows CR stop position extension processing routine in 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing a print drive control routine. The flowchart which shows a timer interruption process routine. (A), (b) is a graph explaining CR stop position extension processing in a 2nd embodiment. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the printing end position of this printing operation in the moving direction of a carriage, and the printing start position of the next printing operation. The flowchart which shows CR stop position extension processing routine in 2nd Embodiment. (A), (b) is a graph explaining CR stop position extension processing in a 3rd embodiment. The flowchart which shows CR stop position extension processing routine in 3rd Embodiment. (A), (b) is a graph explaining CR stop position extension processing in another embodiment. (A), (b) is a graph explaining CR stop position extension processing in another embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus with an outer case removed. As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer 11) as a recording apparatus includes a main body case 12 having a substantially square box shape with an upper opening, and a guide installed in the main body case 12. A carriage 14 (moving portion) is provided on the shaft 13 so as to be reciprocally guided in the main scanning direction (X direction in FIG. 1). An endless timing belt 15 to which the carriage 14 is fixed on the back side is wound around a pair of pulleys 16 and 17 disposed on the inner surface of the back plate of the main body case 12. The carriage 14 is configured to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X by driving a carriage motor (hereinafter referred to as a “CR motor 18”) in which one pulley 16 and the drive shaft are coupled to each other in the forward and reverse directions. .

  A recording head 19 (recording unit) that ejects ink is provided below the carriage 14, and the recording head 19 and a sheet P as a medium are positioned in a lower position facing the recording head 19 in the main body case 12. The support base 20 that defines the interval is arranged in a state extending in the X direction. In addition, on the carriage 14, black and color ink cartridges 21 and 22 are detachably loaded. The recording head 19 ejects (discharges) ink of each color supplied from the ink cartridges 21 and 22 from nozzles for each color.

  On the back side of the printer 11, an automatic feeding is performed in which only the topmost sheet among the paper feeding tray 23 and the many sheets P stacked on the paper feeding tray 23 is separated and supplied in the sub-scanning direction Y. A paper device (Auto Sheet Feeder) 24 is provided.

  1 is driven to drive a transport roller 31 (paper feed roller) and a paper discharge roller 32 (hereinafter referred to as “PF motor 25”). (See FIG. 2 for all), and the paper P is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y. Then, a printing operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles of the recording head 19 toward the paper P while reciprocating the carriage 14 in the main scanning direction X, and paper feeding for transporting the paper P by a predetermined transport amount in the sub-scanning direction Y. By repeating the operation substantially alternately (however, each operation timing partially overlaps), printing of characters, images, and the like is performed on the paper P.

  Further, a linear encoder 26 that outputs a number of pulses proportional to the moving distance of the carriage 14 is installed in the printer 11 so as to extend along the guide shaft 13, and is obtained using the output pulse of the linear encoder 26. Based on the movement position, movement direction, and movement speed of the carriage 14, speed control and position control of the carriage 14 are performed. Note that nozzle clogging or the like of the recording head 19 is prevented immediately below the carriage 14 when the printer 11 is positioned at the home position (one end (the right end position in FIG. 1) outside the printing area on the carriage movement path). A maintenance device 28 that performs cleaning or the like to eliminate the problem is disposed. In addition, a waste liquid tank 29 is provided below the support 20 to discard ink sucked from the nozzles of the recording head 19 by the maintenance device 28.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the recording head and the transport mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2, on the transport path of the paper P, the transport roller 31 and the discharge roller that constitute the transport unit are positioned before and after the recording position of the recording head 19 (that is, the support base 20) is sandwiched in the transport direction. 32 are arranged in a rotatable state. The transport roller 31 includes a pair of a driving roller 31A and a driven roller 31B, and the paper discharge roller 32 includes a pair of a driving roller 32A and a driven roller 32B. The paper P is transported in the left direction (sub-scanning direction Y) in FIG. 2 when the driving force of the PF motor 25 (see FIG. 1) is transmitted and the drive rollers 31A and 32A are rotationally driven. Note that the paper P is fed by the paper feed roller 33 provided on the upstream side of the transport roller 31 in the paper transport direction being rotated by the power transmitted from the PF motor 25 via the clutch means (not shown).

  A paper detection sensor 35 is provided at a position slightly upstream of the transport roller 31 in the transport direction. The paper detection sensor 35 includes, for example, a contact sensor (switch type sensor). The paper detection sensor 35 is turned on when the leading edge of the fed paper P hits the detection lever and is displaced, and the trailing edge of the paper P passes through the detection lever. Turns off when the spring returns to the original standby position. The paper detection sensor 35 only needs to be able to detect the paper edge of the paper P, and a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor can also be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the position of the sheet P shown in FIG. 2 that has reached the position corresponding to the most upstream nozzle position (most upstream nozzle position) in the conveyance direction of the recording head 19 is the conveyance of the sheet. It is set as the origin when managing the position of the direction. After the leading edge of the paper P is detected by the paper detection sensor 35, the paper P is conveyed by a predetermined amount, and when the leading edge reaches the origin position corresponding to the most upstream nozzle position, a PF counter 84 described later (see FIG. 3). Is reset. The PF counter 84 counts a count value corresponding to the length from the leading edge of the paper to the origin, and the position (paper position) in the transport direction of the paper P can be grasped from this count value.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer 11. The printer 11 includes a controller 40 (control unit), an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F 41), a CR motor 18, a PF motor 25, a linear encoder 26, a paper detection sensor 35, a rotary encoder 42, a PF motor drive circuit 43, a CR. A motor drive circuit 44 and a head drive circuit 45 are provided.

  The controller 40 receives print data from the host device 80 (for example, a personal computer) via the I / F 41. The controller 40 includes a buffer 46, a main control unit 47, and a sequence control unit 48. The main control unit 47 interprets commands in the print data fetched from the host device 80 via the I / F 41 and makes various requests including a paper feed request and a print request to the sequence control unit 48 in accordance with the command instructions. The main control unit 47 sends raster data (bitmap data) other than commands to the sequence control unit 48 (specifically, the print control unit 53).

  Based on a request from the main control unit 47, the sequence control unit 48 performs a paper feed operation, a printing operation / paper feed operation, and a paper discharge operation in accordance with a predetermined sequence and a PF motor drive circuit 43 and a CR motor drive. Command values are output to the circuit 44 and the head drive circuit 45. The sequence control unit 48 includes a paper feed control unit 51 that controls the driving of the PF motor 25 via the PF motor driving circuit 43, a CR control unit 52 that controls the driving of the CR motor 18 via the CR motor driving circuit 44, and a head driving circuit. And a print control unit 53 for driving and controlling the recording head 19 via 45.

  The paper feed control unit 51 sets the start-up and travel schedule (drive schedule) of the PF motor 25, and controls the drive of the PF motor 25 via the PF motor drive circuit 43, thereby feeding the paper P, feeding paper, Eject paper.

  Also, the CR control unit 52 sets the activation and travel schedule (drive schedule) of the CR motor 18 and controls the drive of the CR motor 18 via the CR motor drive circuit 44 during printing, thereby moving the carriage 14 in the main scanning direction. Move to X.

  The paper feed control unit 51 and the CR control unit 52 perform motor drive control including control (PF / CR superposition control) that partially superimposes the operation timing of the paper feed operation and the carriage operation. In the PF / CR superposition control, the start timing of the CR motor 18 is controlled so that the printing operation (ink ejection) is started at the same time as the paper feeding operation is finished, and at the same time as the printing operation (ink ejection) is finished. The start timing of the PF motor 25 is controlled so that the paper feeding operation is started. Among these, the start timing of the CR motor 18 is controlled by the paper feed control unit 51 that has received a CR start request from the CR control unit 52 calculating the paper feed position at the CR start timing. This is performed by notifying the controller 52 of CR activation permission. The activation timing of the PF motor 25 is controlled when the CR control unit 52 notifies the paper feed control unit 51 of the PF activation permission when the carriage 14 reaches the print end position.

  The print control unit 53 sets a print schedule and drives and controls the recording head 19. Further, the print control unit 53 determines various calculation processes necessary for determining the ejection timing for ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 19 and further determines a print region (printing operation region in FIG. 5) that permits ejection of ink droplets. Process.

  The linear encoder 26 includes a tape-shaped code plate 26a in which a large number of slits are formed at a constant pitch (for example, 1/180 inch (= 2.54 / 180 cm)), a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided on the carriage 14. The sensor 26b which has these. When the carriage 14 moves, the light receiving element receives the light emitted from the light emitting element and transmitted through the slit, so that the sensor 26b has a phase difference of 90 degrees as shown in FIG. Two linear encoder pulses ES1 and ES2 (pulse signals) of the phase are output.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary encoder 42 includes a disk-shaped code plate 42a and a sensor 42b. The code | symbol plate 42a is being fixed to the edge part of the axial part (for example, axial part of 31 A of drive rollers) connected with PF motor 25 so that power transmission was possible. The sensor 42b receives the light transmitted through the slit of the code plate 42a and outputs two encoder pulses ES3 and ES4 (pulse signals) that are 90 degrees out of phase as shown in FIG. 4B.

  Based on the print data (record data) for one line (one pass), the main control unit 47 prints a print start position (ink ejection start position) as a print start position and a print end position (record end position). Ink ejection end position) is calculated and stored in the memory 49. When the main control unit 47 finishes preparing the print processing for the current line, the main control unit 47 notifies the paper feed control unit 51 and the CR control unit 52 of the paper feed request and the carriage drive request, respectively.

  The paper feed control unit 51 executes a paper feed sequence when receiving a paper feed request, while the CR control unit 52 executes a carriage operation sequence when receiving a carriage drive request. The paper feed control unit 51 and the CR control unit 52 can access the memory 49 and acquire information necessary for sequence execution from the memory 49.

When the carriage control sequence is started, the CR control unit 52 first makes a CR activation request with information such as the next print start position and the print end position added to the paper feed control unit 51.
The CR control unit 52 includes a calculation unit 61, a storage unit 62, a print calculation unit 63, a logical seek unit 64, a request unit 65, a CR stop position extension processing unit 66, a CR counter 67, and a CR drive command unit 68. . The paper feed control unit 51 includes a calculation unit 81, a storage unit 82, an overlay calculation unit 83, a PF counter 84, a remaining step counter 85, and a PF drive command unit 86.

  The CR control unit 52 acquires print start position and print end position data from the memory 49. Then, the print calculation unit 63 calculates the start position and the stop position of the carriage 14 using the print start position and the print end position. 5A and 5B are graphs showing the speed profile of the carriage 14. In this graph, the horizontal axis is the carriage position x and the vertical axis is the carriage speed V. FIG. The CR speed profile of the present embodiment includes an acceleration region in which the carriage 14 accelerates from the CR starting position Xs to the constant speed Vcr, a constant speed region held at the constant speed Vcr, and a CR stop position Xe from the constant speed Vcr. It consists of a deceleration area that decelerates to In the CR speed profile shown in FIG. 5A, printing (ink ejection) is started from the middle of the constant speed area of the carriage 14, and constant speed printing is performed in which printing is performed to the middle of the constant speed area. Therefore, the print start position Xps is set in the middle of the constant speed area of the carriage 14, and the print end position Xpe is set in the middle of the constant speed area of the carriage 14. On the other hand, in the CR speed profile shown in FIG. 5B, acceleration / deceleration printing is performed in which printing (ink ejection) is started from the middle of the acceleration area of the carriage 14 and printing is performed to the middle of the deceleration area. Therefore, the print start position Xps is set in the middle of the acceleration area of the carriage 14, and the print end position Xpe is set in the middle of the deceleration area.

The print calculation unit 63 calculates the CR start position Xs and the CR stop position Xe when performing printing.
The logical seek unit 64 acquires the next print start position Xps based on the next (next line) print data while the carriage 14 is moving. When the carriage 14 stops at the current CR stop position Xe calculated by the print calculation unit 63, the next print start position Xps is reached in the next carriage operation using the CR stop position Xe as the CR start position. It is determined whether or not an approaching distance (an approaching driving amount of the PF motor 25) that can reach the minimum speed necessary for printing is secured. When it is determined that the approaching distance cannot be secured, the logical seek unit 64 extends the CR stop position Xe to a position where the approaching distance can be secured. Thus, after the carriage 14 is stopped at the CR stop position Xe, a useless operation for moving the carriage 14 to a position where printing can be performed in the next pass becomes unnecessary.

  The CR controller 52 determines whether the other linear encoder pulse ES2 is Hi or Low when detecting the rising edge of one linear encoder pulse ES1 input from the linear encoder 26 when the carriage is driven, and grasps the carriage movement direction. . The CR counter 67 counts the number of edges of the two-phase linear encoder pulses ES1 and ES2 shown in FIG. 4A input from the linear encoder 26. The CR counter 67 increments the count value when the carriage 14 moves in the moving direction away from the home position (forward movement), and decrements the count value when the carriage 14 moves in the movement direction approaching the home position (reverse movement). Thus, the carriage position with the home position as the origin is managed. Specifically, the CR counter 67 is a first counter that counts the position of the carriage 14 in the main scanning direction with the home position as the origin, for example, and a carriage position (CR position with the CR starting position Xs as the origin in the movement process of the carriage 14. ).

  The PF counter 84 counts the number of edges of the two-phase encoder pulses ES3 and ES4 shown in FIG. 4B input from the encoder 42. Specifically, the PF counter 84 includes a first counter that counts the position in the paper transport direction and a second counter that counts the paper feed position with the paper feed start position as the origin in the paper feed process.

  In both the CR counter 67 and the PF counter 84, the first counter is for grasping the paper position or the carriage position, and the second counter is relative to the end of the operation with the starting point of the operation in one operation as the origin. This is for grasping the position, and the count value is used for speed control of the CR motor 18 and the PF motor 25, respectively. In the motor control, the count value of the second counter is used. In the following, the CR counter 67 and the PF counter 84 will be described without particularly distinguishing between the first counter and the second counter.

  FIG. 6 shows an acceleration / deceleration table used for speed control of the CR motor. The storage unit 62 shown in FIG. 3 stores the acceleration / deceleration table shown in FIG. The acceleration / deceleration table includes a CR acceleration table Dcrα used in the acceleration region and a CR deceleration table Dcrβ used in the deceleration region. The CR acceleration table Dcrα is table data showing the relationship between the carriage position x counted by the CR counter 67 (second counter) with the CR starting position Xs as the origin and the cycle t of the linear encoder pulses ES1 and ES2. The CR deceleration table Dcrβ is table data indicating the relationship between the carriage position x counted by the CR counter 67 with the deceleration start position Xd as the origin and the cycle t of the linear encoder pulses ES1 and ES2. The cycle t is a value proportional to the reciprocal of the carriage speed V, and the CR drive command unit 68 outputs a current command value corresponding to the cycle t to the CR motor drive circuit 44 to control the speed of the CR motor 18. Yes.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing a CR speed profile and a PF speed profile. Here, FIG. 7A shows a graph of the CR speed profile and the PF speed profile when acceleration / deceleration printing is performed at the end of the current printing operation or the start of the next printing operation. 7B shows the CR speed profile and the PF speed profile when the carriage 14 acceleration end timing and the carriage 14 deceleration start timing are shifted to the constant speed region from the state shown in FIG. 7A. The graph is shown. Then, the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P in the state shown in FIG. 7B is used as a reference for whether or not constant speed printing is performed at both the end of the current print operation and the start of the next print operation. The threshold value A of the time Tpf is set. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the paper feed time Tpf started after the end of the current printing operation is shorter than the threshold A, the end of the current printing operation and the next printing operation are performed as described above. Acceleration / deceleration printing is performed at least at one of the start end. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7C, when the paper feed time Tpf started after the end of the current print operation is longer than the threshold A, both at the end of the current print operation and at the start of the next print operation. Perform constant speed printing. Here, the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P is equal to the paper feed distance of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation (corresponding to the area of the PF speed profile in FIGS. 7A to 7C). Is shown. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A, the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P is less than the threshold A because the paper feed distance of the paper P is less than a predetermined distance (paper feed distance corresponding to the threshold A). It corresponds to a certain thing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7C, the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P is greater than or equal to the threshold value A. It corresponds to a certain thing. In the present embodiment, the conveyance speed of the paper P is decelerated on the condition that the acceleration of the carriage 14 for the next printing operation is completed. That is, as shown in FIG. 7C, the conveyance speed of the paper P for the next printing operation is started to be reduced while the carriage 14 is moving at a constant speed without printing before the next printing operation. .

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the paper feeding operation of the paper P is started simultaneously with the end of the printing operation (ink ejection) and simultaneously with the end of the paper feeding operation of the paper P. In order to start the printing operation (ink ejection), it is necessary to make the printing interval time Tint and the paper feed time Tpf equal. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to satisfy this condition, the stop position (CR stop position) of the carriage 14 is set as follows. That is, when the paper feed time Tpf is longer than the print interval time Tint, the CR stop position Xe is extended in the direction of progress of the printing operation (carriage advance direction) so that the print interval time Tint falls within the paper feed time Tpf. Extend CR stop position. In this CR stop position extension process, the print interval time Tint and the paper feed time Tpf are calculated every time the CR stop position Xe is extended by one step of the CR position, and Tpf> Tint. As long as this condition is satisfied, the CR stop position extension process is repeated.

  The CR stop position extension processing unit 66 that performs this CR stop position extension process includes an instruction unit 71, a print interval time calculation unit 72, a paper feed time calculation unit 73, a comparison unit 74, and a CR stop position determination unit 75.

The instructing unit 71 gives data of the CR stop position Xe (initial value) calculated by the logical seek unit 64 to the print interval time calculation unit 72 when performing the CR stop position extension process.
The print interval time calculation unit 72 uses the data of the current CR stop position Xe given from the instruction unit 71, and the interval time between the current print operation and the next print operation (empty time during which the print operation is not performed). The printing interval time Tint is calculated. That is, the print interval time Tint corresponds to the elapsed time from when the carriage 14 reaches the current print end position Xpe until it reaches the next print start position Xps.

  The paper feed time calculation unit 73 calculates a paper feed time Tpf that is a time required for the paper feed operation started after the end of the current printing operation. As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the speed profile of the paper feeding operation has a trapezoidal waveform including, for example, an acceleration region, a constant speed region, and a deceleration region. The storage unit 82 of the paper feed control unit 51 stores a plurality of PF speed data having different target speeds (constant speeds in the constant speed region). In the PF speed data, the higher the target speed, the longer the transport distance (transport amount) between the acceleration area and the deceleration area. The calculation unit 81 selects one of the PF speed data that satisfies the condition that the given paper feed amount is larger than the sum of the distances of the acceleration area and the deceleration area, and has the highest target speed (constant speed). To do. The paper feed time Tpf shows a positive correlation with the transport distance of the paper P between the current printing operation and the next printing operation. At this point, the paper feed time calculation unit 73 This corresponds to a transport distance acquisition unit that acquires the paper feed time Tpf as the transport distance.

  Further, the storage unit 82 stores an acceleration / deceleration table used for speed control of the PF motor 25 for each PF speed data. As shown in FIG. 7A, the acceleration / deceleration table includes a PF acceleration table Dpfα and a PF deceleration table Dpfβ. The PF acceleration table Dpfα is table data indicating the relationship between the paper position y counted by the PF counter 84 with the PF activation position Ys as the origin and the cycle T of the encoder pulses ES3 and ES4. The PF deceleration table Dpfβ is table data indicating the relationship between the sheet position y counted by the PF counter 84 with the deceleration start position Yd as the origin and the cycle T of the encoder pulses ES3 and ES4. The period T is a value proportional to the reciprocal of the paper feed speed, and the PF drive command unit 86 outputs a current command value corresponding to the period T to the PF motor drive circuit 43 to control the speed of the PF motor 25.

  When the paper feed control unit 51 determines the acceleration / deceleration table to be used for the next paper feed, the CR control unit 52 acquires the paper feed amount and information on the acceleration / deceleration table from the paper feed control unit 51. Then, the paper feed time calculation unit 73 calculates the paper feed time Tpf for the next paper feed operation using the acquired information. This paper feed time Tpf is calculated as the sum of an acceleration time Tpfα that is a required time in the acceleration region, a constant speed time Tpfc that is a required time in the constant velocity region, and a deceleration time Tpfβ that is a required time in the deceleration region. Is done.

  Specifically, the paper feed time calculation unit 73 refers to the PF acceleration table Dpfα shown in FIG. 7A, and accelerates by accumulating periods T11 to T1n corresponding to all paper positions y11 and y1n belonging to the acceleration region. Time Tpfα is calculated. In addition, referring to the PF deceleration table Dpfβ shown in FIG. 7A, the deceleration time Tpfβ is calculated by integrating the periods T21 to T2n corresponding to all the paper positions y21, to y2n belonging to the deceleration region. Then, the conveyance distance in the constant speed area is calculated by subtracting the conveyance distance traveling in the acceleration area and the conveyance distance proceeding in the deceleration area from the paper feed amount Spf, and the constant speed is obtained for all the paper positions y in the constant speed area. The constant speed time Tpfc (= conveyance distance (counter count value) × constant speed period To) of the constant speed region is obtained by integrating the period To (period corresponding to the constant speed). The paper feed time Tpf (= Tpfα + Tpfβ + Tpfc) is calculated by adding the acceleration time Tpfα, the deceleration time Tpfβ, and the constant speed time Tpfc. The constant speed time Tpfc, which is the paper feed time in the constant speed range, is obtained by subtracting the paper feed amount Sα in the acceleration process and the paper feed amount Sβ in the deceleration process from the current paper feed quantity Spf. It can also be calculated by dividing the paper feed amount Spfc (= Spf−Sα−Sβ) in the area by the constant speed Vpf (Tpfc = Spfc / Vpf).

  The comparison unit 74 compares the printing interval time Tint calculated by the printing interval time calculation unit 72 with the paper feeding time Tpf calculated by the paper feeding time calculation unit 73, and when Tpf> Tint is satisfied, the instruction unit 71 Is output to the CR stop position determination unit 75. On the other hand, if Tpf> Tint is not established as a result of the comparison processing by the comparison unit 74, the comparison unit 74 outputs OFF to the instruction unit 71 and outputs ON to the CR stop position determination unit 75.

  When the instruction unit 71 inputs an ON signal from the comparison unit 74, the CR stop position Xe is extended by one step (Xe = Xe + 1), and the CR stop position Xe extended by that one step is given to the print interval time calculation unit 72. . The print interval time calculation unit 72 calculates the print interval time Tint based on the CR stop position Xe extended by one step, and the calculated print interval time Tint and the paper feed time Tpf are input to the comparison unit 74, and the comparison unit 74. A comparison process of Tpf> Tint is performed. In this way, until Tpf> Tint1 is established in the comparison unit 74 and ON is input from the comparison unit 74 to the CR stop position determination unit 75, the CR stop position Xe is extended by one step in the instruction unit 71 (Xe = Xe + 1). ).

  When the CR stop position determination unit 75 inputs ON from the comparison unit 74, the CR stop position Xe acquires data of the CR stop position Xe at that time from the instruction unit 71, and determines this as the current CR stop position Xe.

  FIG. 8 is a graph for explaining extension processing in the CR stop position extension processing unit 66. When the instruction unit 71 extends the CR stop position Xe by one step, as shown in FIG. 8, the deceleration start position is extended by one step, and the print end position Xpe in the deceleration region is shifted to the high speed side by one step. . As described above, every time the CR stop position Xe is extended by one step, the print end position Xpe is shifted by one step toward the high speed side, and the run distance of the next pass (the distance from the CR start position to the print start position Xps). ) Increases by one step (see FIG. 7), the print start position Xps of the next pass is shifted to the high speed side by one step.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the paper feed control unit 51 receives a CR activation request from the CR control unit 52 during the paper feed operation, the paper feed control unit 51 performs a PF / CR superposition calculation and a carriage start permission position (hereinafter referred to as a calculation result). When the paper P reaches the “CR activation permission position Ycr”), a CR drive permission notification is sent to the CR control unit 52. When receiving the CR drive permission notification, the CR control unit 52 starts driving the CR motor 18 to activate the carriage 14.

  Hereinafter, a PF / CR overlay calculation method in which the overlay calculation unit 83 calculates the CR activation permission position Ycr will be described. FIG. 9 is a graph schematically showing the speed profile of the PF motor 25 (PF speed profile) and the speed profile of the CR motor 18 (CR speed profile). The upper PF speed profile in FIG. 9 shows an example of the position when the print start position Xps reaches the constant speed region. Here, the CR activation permission position Ycr represents the activation timing of the carriage 14 at which the carriage 14 can reach the print start position Xps at the end of the paper feeding operation (PF position Ye) by the PF position (number of remaining steps). Is. Therefore, the time required for the carriage 14 to reach the print start position Xps from the CR start position Xs (hereinafter referred to as “CR movement time Tcr”) is calculated, and this CR movement time Tcr is calculated from the target stop position Ye of the paper feed operation. The PF position when only going back is the CR activation permission position Ycr. In the present embodiment, the CR moving time Tcr calculated by the calculation unit 61 of the CR control unit 52 is sent to the paper feed control unit 51 together with the CR activation request.

  Here, a method of calculating the CR movement time Tcr will be described. The calculation unit 61 reads the next print start position Xps from the memory 49, obtains the current position (the next CR start position Xs) of the carriage 14 that is stopped from the CR counter 67, and starts the next start from the next CR start position Xs. The distance Lc to the print start position Xps is calculated. Then, referring to the CR acceleration table Dcrα in FIG. 6, the cycle t is set by 1 step (for 1/4 encoder pulse) from the CR start position Xs (x11) to the print start position Xps (for example, x1n corresponding to the distance Lc). Addition is performed to obtain a CR movement time Tcr (= t11 + t12 +... + T1n) (see FIG. 9). Note that the next CR movement time Tcr, which is an estimated calculation time, may be corrected using the CR movement time Tcr actually measured last time.

  Then, using the next CR movement time Tcr, the overlay calculator 83 calculates the CR activation permission position Ycr as follows. As shown in FIG. 9, in the PF speed profile, the cycle T obtained by referring to the PF deceleration table Dpfβ (FIG. 7 (a)) in order from the target stop position Ye side is incremented by one step (1/4 encoder pulse). Addition processing to add is performed. At this time, the number of additions Spfs (that is, the number of steps) is counted while repeating the addition until the added value Tpfs (= T2n + T2n-1 +...) Exceeds the CR movement time Tcr. Then, the number of additions Spfs when the addition value Tpfs exceeds the CR movement time Tcr for the first time is obtained as the paper feed amount from the CR activation permission position Ycr to the target stop position Ye (that is, the CR activation remaining step number Scr start). . Note that when the CR activation remaining step number Scr start is obtained, the number of additions Spfs is multiplied by a conversion coefficient G considering a difference in clock frequency used for driving control of the CR motor 18 and the PF motor 25.

  The remaining step counter 85 shown in FIG. 3 includes a subtraction counter, and the current paper feed amount is set as the initial value Sto before the current paper feed operation is started (before the PF motor is started). After the paper feeding operation is started, the remaining step counter 85 decrements the count value by “1” every time a pulse edge from the encoder 42 is input. Then, when the remaining step number St (count value) reaches the remaining CR activation step number Scr start, the paper feed control unit 51 notifies the CR control unit 52 of the CR activation permission. When the count value of the remaining step counter 85 reaches “0”, it is recognized that the paper P has been fed to the target stop position Ye. In this embodiment, the remaining step number St corresponds to the transport position, and the CR activation remaining step number Scr start corresponds to the start position where the movement of the recording unit should start.

  The print control unit 53 calculates the print start position Xps and the print end position Xpe based on the print data. When the count value of the CR counter 67 reaches the print start position Xps, the print control unit 53 performs the ejection control of the recording head 19 based on the print data via the head drive circuit 45, so that the ink from the nozzles of the recording head 19 is supplied. A printing operation for ejecting droplets is performed. When the count value of the CR counter 67 reaches the print end position Xpe, the print operation is ended.

  The main control unit 47 and the sequence control unit 48 constituting the controller 40 may be realized as software by a CPU that executes a control program, or may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. Furthermore, it can be configured by cooperation of software and hardware.

  Next, the processing operation of the sequence control unit 48 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. First, CR stop position extension processing will be described with reference to FIGS. This CR stop position extension process is executed by the CR control unit 52.

  In step S10, the current CR drive amount Dcr and CR stop position Xe are calculated. That is, the calculation unit 61 reads the print start position Xps and the print end position Xpe previously calculated by the main control unit 47 from the memory 49, and in the CR speed profile, the positions Xps and Xpe match the print start position and the print end position. As such, the current CR speed profile is determined. Then, the calculation unit 61 calculates the CR drive amount from this determined CR speed profile. The calculation end 61 may calculate the print end position Xpe.

  In step S20, printing drive is started. That is, the CR drive command unit 68 instructs to start driving the CR motor 18. After starting the printing drive, the CR drive command unit 68 refers to the CR acceleration / deceleration tables Dcrα and Dcrβ, and commands a current command value corresponding to the cycle t corresponding to the carriage position x, thereby determining the previously determined CR. The speed of the carriage 14 is controlled along the speed profile. For example, the print data of the next pass is stored in the buffer 46 after the start of the current print drive.

  In step S30, the CR activation position Xs of the next pass (next time) is calculated. In this example, after starting the printing drive, the main control unit 47 calculates the next-pass CR activation position Xs based on the next-pass print data read from the buffer 46 and stores it in the memory 49.

  In step S40, it is determined whether or not the next CR start position Xs is greater than the current CR stop position Xe (Xs> Xe). If Xs> Xe is established, the process proceeds to step S50 to perform a logical seek. That is, the logical seek unit 64 performs a logical seek process to extend the current CR stop position Xe to the next CR start position Xs. It should be noted that the Xs and Xe values are values that are always increased as the position in the carriage traveling direction is changed even when the traveling direction of the carriage 14 is switched.

  In step S60, the paper feed time Tpf is calculated. That is, the paper feed control unit 51 defines a PF speed profile for the next paper feed operation determined in advance from the next paper feed amount. Then, the paper feed time calculation unit 73 refers to the PF acceleration / deceleration tables Dpfα and Dpfβ in accordance with the PF speed profile acquired from the paper feed control unit 51, integrates all the periods T of the paper feed section, and feeds the paper. A time Tpf is calculated (see FIG. 7A).

  In step S70, a printing interval time Tint between the end of the current printing and the start of the next printing is calculated. That is, the printing interval time calculation unit 72 calculates the printing interval time Tint. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the deceleration time Tcrβ is calculated by integrating the period t with reference to the CR deceleration table Dcrβ in the section from the current print end position Xpe to the CR stop position Xe. . Further, the acceleration time Tcrα is calculated by accumulating the period t with reference to the CR acceleration table Dcrα in the section from the next CR start position Xs to the print start position Xps. Then, the print interval time Tint is calculated by the equation Tint = Tcrβ + Tcrα.

  In step S80, it is determined whether or not the paper feed time Tpf is longer than the current print interval time Tint (whether Tpf> Tint is satisfied). That is, it is determined whether or not an extra waiting time occurs after the carriage 14 is stopped this time before it is started next time. When Tpf> Tint is satisfied, CR stop position extension processing for extending the CR stop position Xe of the current pass is performed. On the other hand, if Tpf> Tint is not established, the CR stop position Xe determined in step S10 or S50 is determined, and the process ends. The CR stop position extension processing is performed by the CR stop position extension processing unit 66 executing the CR stop position extension processing routine shown in FIG. The CR stop position extension processing is performed by the CR stop position extension processing unit 66 after Tpf> Tint is established in the first comparison processing of the comparison unit 74 (Yes in S80) and ON is input to the instruction unit 71. It corresponds to processing.

In the CR stop position extension process, first, in step S110, the current CR stop position Xe is incremented (Xe = Xe + 1).
In the next step S120, the printing interval time Tint is recalculated. That is, the print interval time calculation unit 72 calculates the print interval time Tint based on the CR stop position Xe extended by one step (see FIGS. 7B and 7C). In this case, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, by extending the CR stop position Xe by one step, the print end position Xpe in the deceleration region of the current CR speed profile is increased by one step to the high speed side. As a result, the deceleration time Tcrβ is increased by the period t corresponding to the shifted one step. Further, the print start position Xps in the acceleration region of the next CR speed profile is shifted to the high speed side by one step, and the acceleration time Tcrα is increased by the period t corresponding to the shifted one step.

  In step S130, it is determined whether the paper feed time Tpf is longer than the current printing interval time Tint (whether Tpf> Tint is satisfied). When Tpf> Tint is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S140, and it is determined whether or not both the current print end position Xpe and the next print start position Xps are in the constant speed region. If either the current print end position Xpe or the next print start position Xps is in the acceleration region or the deceleration region, the process returns to step S110, the current CR stop position Xe is incremented, and the processing in steps S120 and S130 is the same. To do. Then, the processes in steps S110 to S140 are repeated, and if Tpf> Tint is not established, the current CR stop position Xe is decremented (Xe = Xe-1) in step S150, and the current CR stop position Xe is determined. (Step S160). When the CR stop position extension processing unit 66 extends the CR stop position Xe, the CR control unit 52 sets an extension flag (not shown).

  On the other hand, if both the current print end position Xpe and the next print start position Xps belong to the constant speed region in step S140 before Tpf> Tint is not satisfied (step S140 = YES), the CR at that time The stop position Xe is determined as the current CR stop position Xe. In this way, the current CR stop position Xe is determined by the CR stop position extension process.

In response to the print drive start instruction in step S20 of FIG. 10, the CR control unit 52 executes the print drive control routine shown in FIG. 12 and performs CR drive control.
That is, when the CR motor 18 is driven, acceleration control is first performed (step S210), and it is determined whether or not the CR stop position is extended (step S220). That is, if the extension flag is “1”, it is determined that the CR stop position is extended, and if the extension flag is “0”, it is determined that the CR stop position is not extended. If the CR stop position is extended (extension flag = “1”), the deceleration start position is recalculated (step S230). That is, the calculation unit 61 calculates a deceleration start position that is a position before the extended CR stop position Xe by a distance corresponding to the deceleration region. Whether or not the CR stop position is extended and the CR stop position Xe in the case of extension are determined during the acceleration process of the carriage 14.

  Then, the CR control unit 52 determines whether or not the position of the carriage 14 has reached the constant speed region based on the count value of the CR counter 67 (step S240). The processes of S210 to S240 are repeated until the constant speed region is reached.

  When the constant speed region is reached (positive determination in S240), constant speed control is performed (step S250). Then, constant speed control is continued until the deceleration start position is reached, and if it is determined that the deceleration start position has been reached (positive determination in step S260), deceleration control of the CR motor 18 is performed (step S270). That is, the CR control unit 52 refers to the CR deceleration table Dcrβ, and causes the CR drive command unit 68 to command the command value of the cycle t according to the relative position x with the deceleration start position Xd as the origin. Take control. When the carriage 14 reaches the CR stop position, stop control is performed (step S280). As a result, the carriage 14 stops at the present CR stop position Xe after extension, for example.

  In this print driving process, when the carriage 14 reaches the print start position Xps, the print control unit 53 drives the recording head 19 to start a print operation for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles, and the carriage 14 reaches the print end position Xpe. When it reaches, the printing operation is terminated.

  When the CR control unit 52 determines that the carriage 14 has reached the print end position Xpe from the count value of the CR counter 67 during the printing driving (CR driving), the paper feeding control unit 51 performs paper feeding. Start activation notification. As a result, the paper feeding operation is started simultaneously with the end of the printing operation.

  Upon receiving the paper feed activation permission notification, the paper feed control unit 51 executes the program shown in FIG. 13 with a timer interrupt. By executing the timer interruption process, the paper feeding operation and the CR-PF overlay control are performed.

  In step S310, a PF command value is output. That is, the calculation unit 81 performs a feedback calculation of the paper feed speed control (PID control calculation in this example), and outputs the obtained PF command value from the PF drive command unit 86 to the PF motor drive circuit 43 to perform the paper feed control. Do. By outputting this PF command value at predetermined time intervals by timer interruption, the paper feeding operation is advanced along the PF speed profile.

In step S320, it is determined whether there has been a CR activation request. If there is a CR activation request, the process proceeds to step S330, and if there is no CR activation request, the process proceeds to step S340.
In step S330, CR-PF overlay calculation (CR activation timing calculation) is performed. That is, the overlay calculation unit 83 calculates the CR activation permission position Ycr (that is, the CR activation remaining step number Scr start). This calculation is performed only once when a CR activation request is received.

  In step S340, it is determined whether or not the CR activation timing has come. That is, it is determined that the CR activation timing has been reached when the count value of the remaining step counter 85 that counts (subtracts) the number of remaining steps up to the paper feed target stop position Ye is equal to or less than the CR activated remaining step count Scr start. To do. When the CR activation timing is reached, the paper feed control unit 51 sends a CR activation permission notification to the CR control unit 52 in step S350.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold value A, it is determined both at the end of the current printing operation and at the beginning of the next printing operation. Perform fast printing. Therefore, as compared with the case where deceleration printing or acceleration printing is performed at least one of the end of the current printing operation and the beginning of the next printing operation, the rate at which constant speed printing is performed as printing on the paper P is increased, Throughput of the printing process can be improved. When the paper feed time Tpf (conveyance distance) from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is less than the threshold A, at least one of the end of the current printing operation and the start of the next printing operation. Deceleration printing or acceleration printing is executed. Therefore, even if the period until the conveyance of the paper P is completed, the carriage 14 is sufficiently accelerated at the start of the next printing operation at the time when the conveyance of the paper P is completed, and the printing process is performed. Throughput can be improved.

  (2) When the paper feed time Tpf (conveyance distance) from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold value A, the carriage does not involve printing following the constant speed printing at the end of the current printing operation. In the middle of movement at a constant speed of 14, acceleration of the conveyance speed of the paper P for the next printing operation is started. That is, in a situation where the paper feed time Tpf (conveyance distance) of the paper P is greater than or equal to the threshold value A and a transition process from the current printing operation to the next printing operation requires a long time, the fixed value at the end of the current printing operation is required. In the middle of the movement at a constant speed without printing following the high speed printing, the acceleration of the conveyance speed of the paper P for the next printing operation is started immediately. Thereby, the throughput of the printing process for the paper P can be further improved.

  (3) When the paper feed time Tpf (conveyance distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold A, the carriage without printing prior to the constant speed printing at the start of the next printing operation During the movement at a constant speed of 14, the conveyance speed of the sheet P being conveyed is decelerated for the next printing operation. That is, in a situation where the paper feed time Tpf (conveyance distance) of the paper P is greater than or equal to the threshold value A and a long time is required for the transition process from the current printing operation to the next printing operation, the fixed value at the beginning of the next printing operation is required. The deceleration start timing of the conveyance speed of the paper P for the next printing operation is delayed until the middle of the movement at a constant speed without printing prior to the high speed printing. Thereby, the throughput of the printing process for the paper P can be further improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of a recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the stop position of the carriage 14 is extended based on the positional relationship between the end position of the current printing operation and the start end position of the next printing operation. . Therefore, in the following description, a configuration that is different from the first embodiment will be described, and a redundant description of the same or corresponding configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a graph showing the CR speed profile and the PF speed profile when the paper feed time Tpf started after the end of the current printing operation is longer than the threshold A in the present embodiment. Here, FIG. 14A shows that the print end position Xpe (end position) of the current print operation is closer to the movement direction of the carriage 14 in the current print operation than the print start position Xps (start end position) of the next print operation. The graph when located on the rear side (Xpe <Xps, see FIG. 15A) is shown. FIG. 14B shows a case where the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is located at the same position or the front side in the carriage movement direction of the current print operation from the print start position Xps of the next print operation ( Xpe ≧ Xps, see FIG. 15B).

  FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the CR stop position extension processing routine of the present embodiment. Since other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, only the CR stop position extension process routine will be described in this embodiment.

  First, in step S100A, the positional relationship between the print end position Xpe (end position) of the current print operation in the movement direction of the carriage 14 and the print start position Xps of the next print operation is determined. Then, when the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is located behind the print start position Xps of the next print operation (step S100A = YES), FIG. 11 in the first embodiment described above. The process for extending the CR stop position is performed through the same processes as in steps S110 to S160. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14A, when the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold value A, the CR stop position is extended. Thus, constant speed printing is performed both at the end of the current printing operation and at the beginning of the next printing operation.

  On the other hand, when the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is located at the same position or the front side as the print start position Xps of the next print operation (step S100A = NO), the CR stop position extension process described above. The processing routine shown in FIG. 16 is terminated without being performed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, even if the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold value A, the CR stop position is extended. Is not performed, and decelerated printing is performed at the end of the current printing operation.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1) to (3) of the first embodiment.
(4) When the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is located behind the print start position Xps of the next print operation in the movement direction of the carriage 14 in the current print operation (Xpe <Xps), The stop position of the carriage 14 in the transition process from the printing operation to the next printing operation is extended. That is, based on the positional relationship between the print end position Xpe of the current print operation and the print start position Xps of the next print operation, the movement time of the carriage 14 in the transition process from the current print operation to the next print operation is shortened. Therefore, it is possible to advance the start timing of the next printing operation.

  (5) When the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is positioned behind the print start position Xps of the next print operation, the paper feed time Tpf from the current print operation to the next print operation Tpf ( If the transport distance is equal to or greater than the threshold value A, constant speed printing is executed at the end of the current printing operation. That is, when the print start position Xps of the next print operation is ahead of the print end position Xpe of the current print operation in the moving direction of the carriage 14 in the current print operation, the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is reached. By maintaining the constant speed printing, the carriage 14 can be quickly moved to the printing start position Xps of the next printing operation.

  (6) When the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is located at the same position or the front side as the print start position Xps of the next print operation, the paper feed time of the paper P from the current print operation to the next print operation Even if Tpf (conveyance distance) is equal to or greater than the threshold A, the decelerated printing is executed at the end of the current printing operation. That is, when the print start position Xps of the next print operation is located behind the print end position Xpe of the current print operation in the rearward direction of the carriage 14 in the current print operation, the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is set. By starting decelerated printing before reaching, the carriage 14 can be quickly moved to the printing start position Xps of the next printing operation. Therefore, the movement time of the carriage 14 in the transition process from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is shortened, and the start timing of the next printing operation can be advanced.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of a recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that when the maximum width printing is performed on a sheet, the stop position of the carriage is not extended. Therefore, in the following description, a configuration that is different from the first embodiment will be described, and a redundant description of the same or corresponding configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 17 is a graph showing a CR speed profile and a PF speed profile in the present embodiment. Here, FIG. 17A shows that the paper feed time Tpf started after the end of the current printing operation when performing the maximum width printing on the paper P is shorter than the threshold A, and the end of the current printing operation or the next time 6 shows graphs of a CR speed profile and a PF speed profile when performing acceleration / deceleration printing at the start end of the printing operation. Further, FIG. 17B shows that the end of the current printing operation and the end of the current printing operation and the paper feeding time Tpf started after the current printing operation is longer than the threshold A when performing the maximum width printing on the paper P. The graph of CR speed profile and PF speed profile at the time of performing acceleration / deceleration printing at the start end of the next printing operation is shown.

  FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of the CR stop position extension processing routine of the present embodiment. Since other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, only the CR stop position extension process routine will be described in this embodiment.

  First, in step S100B, it is determined whether or not to perform maximum width printing on the paper P. When the maximum width printing is not performed on the paper P (step S100B = NO), the CR stop position extending process is performed through the same processes as in steps S110 to S160 in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment described above. Done. As a result, when the paper feeding time Tpf (conveyance distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold A, the end of the current printing operation and the next time are accompanied by the extension of the CR stop position. Constant speed printing is performed at both the start ends of the printing operation.

  On the other hand, when the maximum width printing is performed on the paper P (step S100B = YES), the processing routine shown in FIG. 18 is terminated without performing the above-described CR stop position extension processing. As a result, even if the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold A, the CR stop position is extended from the state shown in FIG. No speed reduction is performed at the end of the current printing operation. Further, although the paper feed time Tpf from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is longer than that in the state shown in FIG. 17A, the waiting time of the carriage 14 at the CR stop position is ensured by that amount. . Therefore, at the beginning of the next printing operation, accelerated printing is performed in the same manner as in the state shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1) to (3) of the first embodiment.
(7) When performing maximum width printing on the paper P, even if the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold A, the current printing operation Deceleration printing is executed at the end, and accelerated printing is executed at the start of the next printing operation. That is, when the maximum width printing is performed on the paper P, the movement distance of the carriage 11 to the stop position of the carriage 14 in the transition process from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is shortened. This can contribute to downsizing.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, each said embodiment can also be implemented with the following forms or these combinations.

  In the third embodiment, even when the maximum width printing is performed on the paper P, the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P from the current printing operation to the next printing operation is greater than or equal to the threshold A. In this case, constant speed printing may be executed both at the end of the current printing operation and at the beginning of the next printing operation.

  In the second embodiment, even if the print end position Xpe of the current print operation is located at the same position or the front side as the print start position Xps of the next print operation, When the paper feed time Tpf (transport distance) of the paper P until the printing operation is equal to or greater than the threshold value A, constant speed printing may be executed at the end of the current printing operation.

  In each of the above embodiments, since the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P and the paper feed distance of the paper P show a positive correlation, the size comparison between the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P and the threshold A is performed. In addition, it is indirectly determined whether or not the paper feed distance of the paper P is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Alternatively, the paper feed distance of the paper P may be calculated, and it may be directly determined whether or not the paper feed distance of the paper P is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance by comparing the calculation result with a threshold value.

  In the third embodiment, even when the maximum width is printed on the paper P, the CR stop position may be extended as long as it is within the range up to the maximum movement position of the carriage 14.

  In the second embodiment, when the end position of the current printing operation is located at the same position or the rear side in the movement direction of the carriage 14 in the current printing operation from the start position of the next printing operation, Regardless of the paper feeding time Tpf from the printing operation to the next printing operation, constant speed printing may be performed at the end of the current printing operation.

  In the second embodiment, when the end position of the current printing operation is located at the same position or the rear side in the movement direction of the carriage 14 in the current printing operation from the start position of the next printing operation, the carriage 14 The CR stop position may be extended by reducing the deceleration.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the conveyance speed of the paper P for the next printing operation may be started during the deceleration of the carriage after the current printing operation, or accompanied by printing before the next printing operation. The acceleration of the conveyance speed of the paper P for the next printing operation may be started while the carriage 14 is not accelerated.

  In the first embodiment, when accelerated printing is performed at the beginning of the next printing operation, the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P extends from the state shown in FIG. 19A to the state shown in FIG. 19B. Even so, the waiting time of the carriage 14 at the CR stop position may be set. In this case, the moving distance a of the carriage 14 from the start of acceleration of the carriage 14 to the start of accelerated printing is fixed. Similarly, when decelerating printing is performed at the end of the current printing operation, even if the paper feed time Tpf of the paper P is extended from the state shown in FIG. 20A to the state shown in FIG. You may set the waiting time of the carriage 14 in a stop position. In this case, the moving distance b of the carriage 14 from the start of deceleration of the carriage 14 to the end of the deceleration printing is fixed. According to these configurations, the speed condition of the carriage 14 at the time of acceleration printing or deceleration printing is fixed. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the print control of the recording head 19 corresponding to the moving speed of the carriage 14 is performed every paper feed time Tpf, it is possible to contribute to the simplification of the print control.

  The recording apparatus may be any recording method that forms dots by ejecting liquid while the recording unit moves. The recording apparatus is not limited to a serial printer, and may be a lateral printer. In the lateral printer, a carriage having a recording head can move in both a main scanning direction intersecting the nozzle row direction and a sub-scanning direction parallel to the nozzle row direction. In this case, the relative movement of the medium and the recording unit in the sub-scanning direction is realized by the movement of the recording unit (recording head) in the sub-scanning direction, not the conveyance of the medium.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as an example of a recording apparatus, 14 ... Carriage as an example of a moving part, 19 ... Recording head as an example of a recording part, 31 ... Conveyance roller which comprises a conveyance part, 32 ... Paper discharge which comprises a conveyance part Roller, 40... Controller as an example of control unit, 73... Paper feed time calculation unit as an example of conveyance distance acquisition unit.

Claims (8)

A transport unit for transporting the medium;
A recording unit for recording on the medium based on recording data;
A moving unit that moves the recording unit in both directions intersecting the conveyance direction of the medium when recording on the medium;
A control unit that controls operations of the transport unit, the recording unit, and the moving unit;
A transport distance acquisition unit that acquires the transport distance of the medium by the transport unit in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording;
When the conveyance distance of the medium acquired by the conveyance distance acquisition unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the control unit is at a constant speed of the moving unit at both the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording. When the recording unit is moved at a constant speed and the conveyance distance of the medium acquired by the conveyance distance acquisition unit is less than the predetermined distance, the end of the current recording and the start of the next recording At least one of the recording apparatuses is configured to perform deceleration recording of the recording unit accompanied by deceleration of the moving unit or acceleration recording of the recording unit accompanied by acceleration of the moving unit. When the conveyance distance of the medium acquired by the conveyance distance acquisition unit is less than the predetermined distance, the control unit starts the acceleration of the movement unit and starts the acceleration recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving distance of the moving part or the moving distance of the moving part from the start of the deceleration of the moving part to the end of the deceleration recording is defined as a fixed value. When the transport distance of the medium acquired by the transport distance acquisition section is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, the control section determines the movement section without performing recording following the constant speed recording at the end of the current recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein acceleration of the conveyance speed of the medium for the next recording is started during the movement at a high speed. When the conveyance distance of the medium acquired by the conveyance distance acquisition unit is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, the control unit determines the moving unit without recording prior to the constant speed recording at the start of the next recording. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a deceleration of the conveyance speed of the medium for the next recording is started during the movement at a high speed. The control unit determines that the end position of the current recording is the start end of the next recording when the end position of the current recording is located behind the start position of the next recording in the moving direction of the moving unit in the current recording. The stop position of the moving part in the transition process from the current recording to the next recording is extended as compared with the position of the moving part in the current recording direction ahead of the position. 5. The recording device according to any one of 4. The control unit executes the constant speed recording at the end of the current recording when the end position of the current recording is located behind the start position of the next recording in the moving direction of the moving unit in the current recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 5. The control unit executes the decelerating recording at the end of the current recording when the end position of the current recording is positioned ahead of the start position of the next recording in the moving direction of the moving unit in the current recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6. 8. When performing the maximum width recording on the medium, the control unit executes the decelerated recording at the end of the current recording and executes the accelerated recording at the start of the next recording. The recording device according to one item.