JP2019171824A - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recording device that performs recording by allotting a recording region using plural heads, and that improves throughput of recording, while making less conspicuous a difference in recording density between regions due to an influence of concentration change of ink of the recording heads respectively.SOLUTION: When a difference based on first information related to an ink concentration in a first storage part and second information related to an ink concentration in a second storage part is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the width of an overlapping region is set to a predetermined width, whereas, when the difference is greater than the predetermined value, the width of the overlapping region is set to a width that is longer than the predetermined width.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for performing recording by relative scanning of a plurality of recording heads and a recording medium.

  Recording in which an image is recorded by repeatedly executing a recording scan for ejecting ink while moving a recording unit having an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged relative to a unit area of a recording medium. The device is known.

  Such a recording apparatus is required to reduce the recording time for the recording medium. In order to achieve such a reduction in the recording time, Patent Document 1 stores a recording head having a plurality of ejection port arrays that eject a plurality of colors of ink on each of the left and right sides in the scanning direction as a recording unit. The use of a recording unit provided with an accommodating portion is described. In this document, the recording unit as described above is used, and the left side in the scanning direction on the recording medium is only the left side recording head, the right side in the scanning direction is only the right side recording head, and In the area, dots are formed by ejecting ink from the left and right recording heads. As a result, recording can be completed without having to scan one recording unit over the entire area from the position facing the left end on the recording medium to the position facing the right end, thereby reducing the recording time. Is possible.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44518

  In the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the left and right areas are recorded by different recording heads, there may be a difference in image density between the areas. In such a case, the central area is divided and recorded by the left and right recording heads. In this way, by providing an overlapping area where both the left and right recording heads perform recording, the difference in density between the left and right is less visible. On the other hand, in order to increase the throughput of recording, it is necessary to shorten the distance scanned by the recording unit. For this purpose, it is desirable that the overlapping region is short.

  However, if the overlapping region is shortened, there is a concern that the density difference between the regions becomes conspicuous in the following cases. This will be specifically described.

  Since the ink in the storage portion evaporates and concentrates as time elapses after it is attached to the recording apparatus, the recording density increases. This is because the container before opening is sealed so that the ink is not exposed to the atmosphere as much as possible, but the recording head that is opened and attached to the recording apparatus has ink at the discharge port and the atmosphere communication port that discharges ink. This is to touch the atmosphere.

  In most cases, the images recorded by the left and right recording heads are not the same, and the ink of the recording head using a large amount of ink comes first to be replaced.

  However, as described above, the ink newly installed by replacement does not touch the atmosphere as much as the ink that is continuously installed, and therefore the ink concentration has not progressed so much. In such a case, since the ink density differs between the left and right recording heads, the difference in image density between the areas recorded by the left and right recording heads becomes conspicuous in a short overlapping area.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the throughput of recording while making the difference in recording density between regions less noticeable due to the influence of ink density change.

  According to the present invention, a first recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the first ink stored in the first accommodation unit are arranged in a predetermined direction is stored in the second accommodation unit. And a second recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the second ink of the same color as the first ink are arranged in the predetermined direction, and the first recording unit And a recording unit in which the second recording unit is spaced apart from each other in an intersecting direction intersecting the predetermined direction, and a recording scan is performed by moving the recording unit relative to the recording medium in the intersecting direction. Scanning means for performing recording on the first area on the recording medium using the first recording section without using the second recording section, and the first recording section on the second area. Recording is performed using the second recording unit without using the first recording unit, and the first recording unit is used in the crossing direction. In the third area between the area and the second area, ink is scanned while scanning by the scanning means so that recording is performed using both the first recording section and the second recording section. And a control unit configured to control a recording operation so as to discharge, the first information relating to the ink density in the first storage part, and the second information relating to the ink density in the second storage part, , And the control means, based on the first information and the second information acquired by the acquisition means, the density of the first ink and the second information indicated by the first information. When the difference between the density of the second ink indicated by is not greater than a predetermined value, the length of the third region in the intersecting direction is the first length, and when the difference is greater than the predetermined value. Sets the length of the third region to the first Characterized by second length longer than the length.

  According to the present invention, in a recording apparatus that performs recording by sharing a recording area by a plurality of heads, it is difficult to notice a difference in recording density between areas due to the effect of ink density change of each recording head, and the recording throughput Can be improved.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the image formation in the head structure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the head concerning one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the density | concentration difference and connection width which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the connecting width which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the scanning distance of a head. It is a figure which shows the density | concentration change with respect to the elapsed time after mounting the ink which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention to a printer. 5 is a process flowchart for performing printing by setting a joint width between left and right recording heads according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a connecting width and a recording ratio of left and right recording heads according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a connection width with respect to a mounting time difference between right and left recording heads according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connecting width of the left and right recording heads with respect to an elapsed time after the head according to the embodiment of the invention is mounted on the printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a connection width with respect to a mounting time difference between right and left recording heads according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connecting width of the left and right recording heads with respect to an elapsed time after the head according to the embodiment of the invention is mounted on the printer. It is a figure which shows the connection width | variety with respect to the elapsed time after mounting | wearing with the mounting time difference of the right-and-left head based on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a setting process flowchart of the joint width of the right-and-left head which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the connection width | variety with respect to the left-right head density difference which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
Details of the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same function may be given the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof may be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal structure of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. The printer 100 includes a first recording head 101L and a second recording head 101R as recording units on a frame that forms a structural material of the printer. Each has one ejection port array for ejecting black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink. Details will be described later.

  The first recording head 101L, the second recording head 101R, and the scanner 107 are relative to the recording medium in the X direction (crossing direction, scanning direction) along a guide rail 104 that extends in the X direction. Thus, reciprocal movement (scanning) is possible. The first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R are attached to the guide rail 104 at a predetermined distance in the X direction, and scan while maintaining the predetermined distance. In the first recording head 101L, a plurality of ejection ports that eject the same color in order to eject ink are arranged in the Y direction (predetermined direction), and the ejection port array of each color is orthogonal to the width direction of the recording medium 106. Are arranged in the direction (X direction). The discharge ports 102LK, 102LC, 102LM, and 102LY mounted on the first recording head 101L are discharge ports that discharge black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively. Similarly, in the second recording head 101R, 102RK, 102RC, 102RM, and 102RY are ejection ports that eject black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. In each ink color, the discharge ports are arranged at an interval of 1/1200 inch. In addition, each ejection port is provided with an electrothermal conversion element (not shown) as a recording element for dot formation. By driving this electrothermal conversion element, thermal energy is generated and ink is ejected from the ejection port. Is done. Moreover, a piezoelectric element, an electrostatic element, and a MEMS element can be used instead of the electrothermal conversion element. In the scanner 107, reading elements are arranged at a predetermined pitch in parallel with the ejection port array of the recording head.

  The recording medium 106 is conveyed in the + Y direction (arrow direction in the figure) by the conveyance roller 105 (and other unillustrated rollers) being rotated by the driving force of a motor (not illustrated). After the recording medium 106 is conveyed to a position facing the recording head, ink is ejected from the ejection ports of the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R in accordance with the recording data, so that the recording head 106 An image for one scanning width corresponding to the ejection port array is recorded. After recording, the recording medium 106 is conveyed again in the direction of the arrow in the figure by the width corresponding to the ejection port array, and an image for one scanning width is recorded again.

  By performing such a recording operation that repeats the transport operation of the recording medium and the ink ejection operation from each recording head to the recording medium, the recording on the entire area of the recording medium 106 is completed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating how the printer 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 forms a recorded image on the recording medium 106 using the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R. Reference numerals 103LK, 103LC, 103LM, and 103LY are black, cyan, magenta, and yellow storage units mounted on the first recording head 101L, respectively. Each color container is connected to a corresponding color ejection port and serves to supply ink to the ejection port. Similarly, 103RK, 103RC, 103RM, and 103RY are black, cyan, magenta, and yellow storage units mounted on the second recording head 101R, respectively. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a recording head in which a storage unit is also incorporated in the recording head as shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 110 denotes an air communication port, and the inside of the housing portion is released to the atmosphere through this air communication port. When ink is reduced from the storage portion by printing, the amount of ink is reduced, so that air enters the storage portion from the communication port, so that the pressure in the storage portion can be kept constant. The ink is replaced by replacing the recording head. As another form, it is possible to adopt a form in which a storage unit separate from the recording head is detachable from the recording head, and when the ink runs out, only the mounted storage unit is replaced with a new storage unit. The straight lines X1, X2, X3, and X4 in FIG. 2 represent the X direction positions on the recording medium 106,
X1 = Left edge of the area where the first recording head 101L can record X2 = Left edge of the area where the second recording head 101R can record X3 = Right edge of the area where the first recording head 101L can record X2 = Second The recording head 101R is the right end of the recordable area.

Also, areas A1 to A5 in FIG. 2 represent X direction areas on the recording medium 106, and
A1 = area where the first recording head 101L can record A2 = area where the second recording head 101R can record A3 = area where only the first recording head 101L can record A4 = first recording head 101L and the first recording head 101L The area A5 that can be recorded by both of the two recording heads 101R = the area where only the second recording head 101R can record.

  The printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 records the area A3 with the first recording head 101L, the area A5 with the second recording head 101R, and the area A4 with the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R. Use both to record.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the recording system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the recording system includes the printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 and a personal computer (PC) 300 as its host device.

  The host PC 300 mainly includes the following elements. The CPU 301 executes processing according to programs stored in the HDD 303 and the RAM 302. The RAM 302 is a volatile storage, and temporarily stores programs and data. The HDD 303 is a non-volatile storage and similarly holds programs and data. In this embodiment, a data transfer I / F (interface) 304 controls data transmission / reception with the printer 100. As a connection method for this data transmission / reception, USB, IEEE 1394, LAN, or the like can be used. A keyboard / mouse I / F 305 is an I / F that controls an HID (Human Interface Device) such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a user can input via the I / F. A display I / F 306 controls display on a display (not shown).

  On the other hand, the printer 100 mainly includes the following elements. The CPU 311 executes processing of each embodiment to be described later with reference to FIG. 5 and subsequent drawings according to programs stored in the ROM 313 and the RAM 312. The RAM 312 is a volatile storage, and temporarily stores programs and data. The ROM 313 is a non-volatile storage, and can hold table data and programs created by the processing of each embodiment described later.

  The data transfer I / F 314 controls data transmission / reception with the host PC 300. The left head controller 315L supplies print data to the first print head 101L shown in FIG. 1 and controls the ejection operation of the first print head 101L. Specifically, the left head controller 315L can be configured to read control parameters and print data from a predetermined address in the RAM 312. When the CPU 311 writes the control parameter and print data at the predetermined address in the RAM 312, the left head controller 315 </ b> L starts processing, and ink is ejected from the first print head 101 </ b> L. Similarly, the right head controller 315R supplies print data to the second print head 101R shown in FIG. 1 and controls the ejection operation of the second print head 101R.

  The image processing accelerator 316 is configured by hardware, and executes image processing at a higher speed than the CPU 311. Specifically, the image processing accelerator 316 can be configured to read parameters and data necessary for image processing from a predetermined address in the RAM 312. When the CPU 311 writes the parameters and data to the predetermined address in the RAM 312, the image processing accelerator 316 is activated and predetermined image processing is performed. It should be noted that a table parameter creation process and an image process performed by the image processing accelerator 316 may be performed by the CPU 311 in accordance with the printer specifications, and the image processing accelerator 316 may be omitted.

  The scanner controller 317 can optically read an image recorded on the recording medium 106 by controlling individual reading elements of the scanner 107. The RGB data obtained from the scanner controller 317 is output to the RAM 312.

  Timer 318 is timed and operates with a small amount of power. Since there is a configuration that can be charged when the power is turned on, the timer 318 can continue to operate even when the power is turned off.

  The main body controller 319 drives the conveyance roller 105 (and other rollers (not shown)) by controlling the motor, and conveys the recording medium 106.

  Here, although a mode in which only one CPU 311 is provided in the printer 100 is described, a plurality of CPUs may be provided to share the role of the CPU 311.

<Relationship between left and right recording density difference and connecting width>
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating the density difference according to the position in the main scanning direction. A solid line 402 in FIG. 5A represents the recording density when the second recording head 101R is attached to the printer and the first recording head is attached to the printer after a while. In FIG. 5A, the density is D2 in the section Q1-Q3 recorded by only the first recording head 101L. Similarly, in the section Q4-Q6 recorded by only the second recording head 101R, the density is D3, and a density difference of D2-D3 is generated.

  In order to make the difference in density difficult to see, a connection area (overlapping area) where recording is performed by both the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R is provided. The length in the X direction of the connection region is defined as a connection width, and the connection width at this time is WWM1. In FIG. 5A, the connection width WWM1 is between Q3 and Q4, and recording is performed by both recording heads so that the density changes smoothly as indicated by the solid line 402.

  However, if the time from when the second recording head 101R is attached to the printer to when the first recording head 101L is attached to the printer is further increased, ink concentration in the second recording head 101R proceeds. For this reason, the density of the image recorded by the second recording head 101R increases. On the other hand, immediately after the first recording head 101L is mounted on the printer, the ink concentration in the first recording head 101L hardly occurs. The recording density in this state is indicated by a broken line 401 in FIG. A density difference of D1-D4 is generated in the area recorded by the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R.

  In this state, even if the connecting region having the connecting width WWM1 is provided, the density change becomes abrupt as shown by the broken line between Q3 and Q4 in FIG. Since a sudden density change is easy to be visually recognized, there is a possibility that a density difference is visually recognized in the case of a broken line 401.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a long connection width is set. A broken line 403 represents a change in recording density in the case of the same mounting conditions and a connecting width as the broken line 401 in FIG. A solid line 404 is the same as the case where the ink density of each of the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R is shown by the broken line 401 in FIG. 5A, and the recording density change when the connection width is set long. Represents. When the density change indicated by the broken line 401 is compared with the density change indicated by the solid line 404, the density difference D1-D4 is the same. However, while the density change appears at the joint width of the width WWM1 in the broken line 403, the density change appears at the joint width of the width WWM2 in the solid line 404, and the density change is more gradual than the case of the broken line 403. When the recording density difference between the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R is large, the connection width is set to the connection region (connection width WWM2) of the section Q2-Q5 as shown by the solid line 404 in FIG. > WWM1). By doing so, it is possible to suppress an increase in the density change rate and make it difficult to perceive the density difference.

<Relationship between stitch width and recording speed>
FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the connection width and the head scanning width. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are the same as FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). FIGS. 6C and 6D illustrate the scanning range of the recording head in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R are arranged with a predetermined distance on the guide rail, and scan with a predetermined distance.

  In this embodiment, the size of the recording medium is A4 size. Assume that Q1 to Q6 correspond to the width of A4.

  The upper WLM1 in FIG. 6C illustrates the scanning distance of the first recording head 101L, and the lower WRM1 illustrates the scanning width of the second recording head 101R. When the connecting width is WWM1, the scanning distance of the first recording head 101L is WLM1 indicated by an arrow. Similarly, the scanning width of the second recording head 101R is WRM1 indicated by an arrow. As shown in the figure, the optimum distance HW (distance A3 in FIG. 2) between the ejection port arrays of the same color of the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R in this scanning width is HW = ( (Section Q1-Q6) -WWM1) / 2. Here, when WWM1 = 20 [mm], HW = (210−20) / 2 = 95 [mm]. The scanning width of each recording head is WLM1 = WRM1 = HW + WWM1 = 95 + 20 = 115 [mm]. If the carriage speed is 20 [inch / sec] = 508 [mm / sec], the moving time of the first recording head 101L per pass is 115/508 = 0.226 [sec].

  6D illustrates the scan width of the first recording head 101L, and the lower section illustrates the scan width of the second recording head 101R. In order to overlap the scanning areas of the two heads with WWM2 having a width greater than WWM1, the scanning width of the first recording head 101L is WLM2 indicated by an arrow. WWM2 = 50 [mm], and HW is 95 [mm] as in the case of FIG. The scanning width of each recording head is WLM2 = WRM2 = HW + WWM2 = 95 + 50 = 145 [mm]. If the carriage speed is 20 [inch / sec] = 508 [mm / sec], the moving time of the first recording head 101L per pass is 145/508 = 0.285 [sec]. That is, the movement time of the recording head per pass is increased by about 27% as compared with the case of FIG. 6C where the overlap width is shorter than that of FIG.

  As described above, a printing area that does not contribute to recording but needs to be scanned is generated, and the printing speed is lowered.

<Elapsed time and recording density change>
As described above, when a time elapses after the recording head is mounted on the printer, the moisture contained in the ink evaporates, and the ratio of the amount of the color material component contained in the ink increases. appear. Before opening, the recording head is sealed so that it is not exposed to the atmosphere as much as possible. This is because moisture easily evaporates.

  FIG. 7 shows the recording density when a predetermined number of dots are recorded per unit area with respect to the elapsed time since the housing portion was mounted on the printer. Initially, a substantially constant amount of water evaporates from the ink, but as the time elapses, the amount of water in the ink decreases, and accordingly, the amount of evaporation does not decrease. As a result, when the elapsed time becomes longer, the change in density becomes smaller and the density becomes almost constant. In FIG. 7, A is an elapsed time when the density is almost constant.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 8A is a flowchart of the process according to the first embodiment.

  When the accommodating portion for the first recording head 101L and the accommodating portion for the second recording head 101R are attached to the printer, the CPU 311 senses the attachment after the attachment. The date and time at that time is acquired from the timer 318 and stored in the ROM 313. Here, since the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R are integrated with the accommodating portion, the accommodating portion is replaced when the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R are mounted. . It can be identified that the storage unit to be attached is exchange and not reattached by the CPU 311 acquiring and authenticating a code individually assigned to each storage unit via an electrical contact unit (not shown). . When a storage unit with a different cord from the storage unit that has been mounted up to that point is mounted, it is recognized that the storage unit has been replaced, and a new mounting date and time is acquired and stored. Since the same code is authenticated when the user re-installs the same accommodating portion without intending to replace it, it can be recognized that it is the same as the accommodating portion that has been mounted so far. In that case, the installation date and time already stored is used. It should be noted that the replacement of the storage unit (in this case, replacement of the recording head) is performed when the printer 100 is turned on.

  From the mounting date and time acquired as described above and the current date and time read from the ROM 313 and the timer 318, the elapsed time TL after mounting the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R to the printer, respectively. , TR is calculated (S7001).

  Next, a difference Tdif (= | TL−TR |) between the elapsed time TL and the elapsed time TR is calculated by the CPU 311 (S7002).

  The connection width corresponding to each Tdif is stored in the ROM 313 in advance. The connection width corresponding to Tdif calculated in S7002 is read from the ROM 313, and the connection width is set (S7003). The setting of the connecting width will be described in detail later.

  Subsequently, the CPU 311 calculates and sets the recording scan areas of the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R according to the connection width set in S7003 (S7004).

  In step S <b> 7005, the image processing accelerator 316 acquires the original RGB data read from the RAM 312.

  In step S7006, the image processing accelerator 316 performs color conversion processing for converting the original RGB data acquired in step S7005 into ink color data (CMYK data) corresponding to each ink amount used for recording on the recording medium. First, the CPU 311 performs a color matching process for converting the RGB data into a device RGB unique to the printer on the acquired original RGB data. Thereafter, multi-tone image data of each ink color data is generated by performing color separation processing for converting into ink color data of the printer, output γ conversion processing for performing γ correction of each ink color, and the like.

  Next, in S7007, for the multi-tone image data of each ink color generated in S7006, the CPU 311 records the image data with the first recording head 101L and the image with the second recording head 101R. And split. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the connecting width and recording ratio of the left and right recording heads. FIG. 9A shows a case where the connecting width is medium, FIG. 9B shows a case where the connecting width is long, and FIG. 9C shows a case where the connecting width is short. The dotted line in FIG. 9 indicates the recording ratio of the first recording head 101L, and the solid line indicates the recording ratio of the second recording head 101R. The left end area (first area) connected from the left end of the recording area performs 100% recording with the first recording head 101L, and the second recording head 101R performs recording with 0%. In the connection area (third area), the first recording head 101L smoothly increases the recording ratio from 100% to 0% from the connection left end (first area side) to the connection right end (second area side). Change. The second recording head 101R smoothly changes the recording ratio from 0% to 100% from the left end of the connection to the right end of the connection. At this time, the recording ratio is set so that the sum of the recording ratio of the left recording head and the recording ratio of the right recording head is about 100% in each recording area. In the area from the right end of the connection to the right end of the recording area (second area), the recording ratio of the first recording head 101L is 0%, and the recording ratio of the second recording head 101R is 100%. In this way, image division processing is performed on the left image recorded by the first recording head 101L and the right image recorded by the second recording head 101R. In FIG. 9, the recording ratio is linearly changed from the left end of the joint to the right end of the joint. However, the recording ratio is not necessarily linear, and may be a curved shape or a shape in which the recording ratio changes stepwise.

  In step S7008, the image processing accelerator 316 performs quantization processing on the multi-tone image data of each ink color divided into the left and right images, and generates binary data indicating the presence or absence of ink ejection.

  Each data subjected to the quantization processing is sent to the left and right recording heads to perform printing processing (S7009).

  In this flowchart, after the multi-tone image data of each ink color after color correction processing is divided into left and right images, quantization processing is performed on the left and right images respectively. As another form, a quantization process may be performed before the left and right division, and a division process for dividing the quantized data into left and right images may be performed.

<Elapsed time and width setting>
The setting of the connecting width in S7003 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10 shows the “elapsed time from when one of the recording heads is mounted to when the other recording head is mounted”, that is, the connection width setting value corresponding to Tdif. It is a figure which shows the setting value of the initial joining width | variety at the time of mounting | wearing of the recording head mounted | worn later. The connection width is set to be the shortest when the left and right recording heads are mounted simultaneously, and the connection width setting value is set to be longer as the mounting time difference increases.

  Here, when the left and right heads are mounted at the same time, although there is almost no difference in the degree of ink concentration between the left and right recording heads, a slightly connected area is provided. This is because the boundary between the left and right images is made difficult to be recognized between the left and right recording heads in consideration of the difference in the ink application position of the recording medium even if there is no difference in the ink density. It is.

  In the present embodiment, the connecting width is determined by “the elapsed time from the mounting of one of the recording heads to the mounting of the other recording head”. FIG. 12 shows an LUT (Look Up Table) in which the value of the connection width with respect to the elapsed time since the recording head was mounted on the printer. When the threshold value of the predetermined elapsed time (Tdif) is exceeded, the connection width is switched from 10 mm to 20 mm, for example.

  The numerical value in the figure shows the value of the connection width in mm, and the larger the value, the longer the connection width. The smaller the time difference between mounting the left and right recording heads, the smaller the difference in ink concentration between the left and right recording heads, so a smaller value is set as the value of the connecting width. On the other hand, the larger the time difference between mounting the left and right recording heads, the greater the difference in ink concentration between the left and right recording heads, so a larger value is set as the value of the connecting width.

  In this way, when the time difference between the left and right recording heads is large, recording is performed so that the density difference between the left and right recording heads is difficult to visually recognize by setting a long connection width. As the mounting time difference becomes smaller, the recording throughput can be increased by setting the connecting width shorter.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8B, 11, and 13.

  In the first embodiment, the mode in which the connection width is set according to the difference in time when the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R are mounted has been described. In the present embodiment, the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment in which the connection width is set according to the elapsed time after mounting the recording head mounted on the printer later will be omitted.

  FIG. 8B shows a flowchart of processing in the present embodiment.

  In S7101, as in S7001 of the first embodiment, elapsed times TL and TR after the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R are mounted on the printer are calculated.

  Next, based on the elapsed time TL and the elapsed time TR, a shorter time Tmin (= min (TL, TR)) is calculated (S7102).

  The connection width corresponding to Tmin calculated in S7102 is read from the ROM 313 and obtained, and the connection width is set (S7103). The setting of the connecting width will be described in detail later.

  S7104 to S7109 perform the same processing as S7004 to S7009 of the first embodiment.

<Elapsed time and width setting>
The connection width setting in S7103 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 13A.

  FIG. 11A shows the connection width when the left and right recording heads are mounted at different times. An example is shown in which when a new recording head is mounted, the connecting width is set long, and the connecting width is shortened after a predetermined time has elapsed. In the present embodiment, the elapsed time becomes longer and the tether width is not made zero. This is because the increase in recording density due to ink concentration tends to be suppressed according to the elapsed time, but the difference in recording density does not disappear.

  In the present embodiment, the connection width is determined by “the elapsed time since the newly mounted recording head is mounted on the printer”. FIG. 11A shows an LUT in which the value of the connection width with respect to the elapsed time since the recording head was mounted on the printer.

  The numerical value in the figure shows the value of the connection width in mm, and the larger the value, the longer the connection width. As shown in FIG. 7, as the elapsed time after mounting the recording head is short, the increase in the recording density is large with respect to the elapsed time. For this reason, the difference in the degree of ink concentration between the recording head newly installed in the printer and the recording head previously installed in the printer tends to increase. When the degree of ink concentration is large, the difference in recording density also increases, so a large value is set as the value of the connecting width. On the other hand, as the elapsed time after mounting the recording head becomes longer, the ink concentration of the mounted head proceeds and the recording density increases. As the elapsed time increases, the increase in the recording density decreases, so the difference from the recording density by the head previously mounted on the printer decreases. In the present embodiment, the connecting width is set to a small value when the elapsed time becomes A or more in FIG.

  In this way, the connection width is set according to the elapsed time since the recording head of the left and right recording heads that has a lower density ink (low density ink) and is newly mounted on the printer. During periods when the elapsed time is short, recording is performed so that it is difficult to visually recognize the density difference between the left and right recording heads by setting the connection width long.After a certain amount of time has elapsed, the connection width can be set short. Recording throughput can be increased.

  In the present embodiment, the connection width is set to 50 mm until the elapsed time Tmin reaches A in FIG. 7, and 10 mm if it is greater than or equal to A. However, it is only necessary that the difference in density between the left and right regions is less visible. Not limited to. That is, the connecting width may be a value smaller than 50 mm or a larger value until Tmin reaches A, and may be a length different from 10 mm even when A is equal to or larger than A.

(Modification 1 of Embodiment 2)
FIG. 11B shows an example in which the left and right recording heads are attached to the printer at different times, and the connection width is updated step by step as the predetermined time elapses. In this embodiment, the elapsed time becomes longer and the tether width is not set to zero. As the elapsed time increases, the increase in recording density due to ink concentration tends to decrease, but the difference in recording density of inks with different installation times does not become zero. For this reason, in order to make it difficult to visually recognize the density difference between the left and right images, the connecting region is set when the elapsed time is long.

  In the present embodiment, the connection width is determined by “elapsed time since a new recording head is mounted on the printer”. FIG. 13B shows an LUT in which the value of the connection width with respect to the elapsed time since the recording head was mounted on the printer.

  The numerical value in the figure shows the value of the connection width in mm, and the larger the value, the longer the connection width. If the elapsed time since the recording head is installed is short, the difference in ink concentration with the recording head already installed in the printer is large and the difference in recording density is large. ing. As described with reference to FIG. 7, the increase in recording density decreases as the elapsed time increases. For this reason, since the difference from the recording density by the head previously mounted on the printer becomes smaller, a shorter value is set stepwise as the connection width value as the elapsed time becomes longer.

  In this way, during a period in which the elapsed time is short after a new recording head is mounted, recording is performed so that it is difficult to visually recognize the density difference between the left and right recording heads by setting a long connection width. As the elapsed time becomes longer, the throughput can be increased by setting the connection width to be shorter step by step.

(Modification 2 of Embodiment 2)
FIG. 11C shows the connection width when the left and right recording heads are simultaneously mounted on the printer. Since the timing when the left and right recording heads are attached to the printer is the same, the degree of ink concentration between the left and right heads is almost the same. Since the ink concentration proceeds in the same way for both the left and right heads, it is not necessary to change the stitch width after a lapse of time after mounting the printer. Further, the connecting width is shorter than the state in which a sufficient time has elapsed since the attachment to the printer shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. Here, even though there is almost no difference in the degree of ink concentration between the left and right recording heads, the connection width is set slightly so that there is no step at the boundary between the left and right images due to misalignment of the dot landing of the left and right recording heads. It is to make it.

  The connection width calculation method can be calculated by using the LUT shown in FIG. 12 described in the first embodiment.

  As for the timing when the ink of the left and right heads is installed in the printer at the same time, the printer is used for the first time after purchase. It can be considered.

  As described above, when the left and right recording heads are simultaneously mounted, it is possible to increase the recording throughput by setting the connecting width to the minimum width.

  In the above, the case of simultaneous mounting has been described, but in determining the initial value of the joint width in other cases, the elapsed time from mounting one of the recording heads to mounting the other recording head can be used. it can. According to the determined initial value, the subsequent connection width is changed according to the elapsed time after the new recording head is mounted.

(Third embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the connection time is determined based on the elapsed time from the mounting of one of the recording heads to the mounting of the other recording head, and in the second embodiment, the elapsed time from the mounting of the newly mounted recording head. Set the width. In the present embodiment, a connection width is set in consideration of both. Description of the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

  As described above, FIG. 10 showing the first embodiment shows a connection width setting value corresponding to “elapsed time from mounting one of the recording heads to mounting the other recording head”. . That is, the setting value of the joint width when the newly mounted recording head is mounted is shown. When the left and right recording heads are mounted simultaneously, the connection width is the shortest, and the connection width setting value is set to be longer as the mounting time difference increases.

  FIG. 11 showing the second embodiment shows a connection width setting value corresponding to “elapsed time since a new recording head is mounted on the printer”. FIG. 11B shows the connection width when the left and right recording heads are mounted at different dates and times. The connection width when the recording head is mounted on the printer is set to be long, and the connection width is gradually increased as a predetermined time elapses. It shows an example of updating so that becomes shorter.

  In this embodiment, the joint width is “elapsed time from when one of the recording heads is mounted to when the other recording head is mounted” and “after the new recording head is mounted on the printer. Time ". FIG. 14 shows an LUT for calculating a joint width from the two elements, and shows an LUT in the case where the joint width is updated in stages according to the elapsed time since the recording head was mounted on the printer. Yes. The numerical value in the figure shows the value of the connection width in mm, and the larger the value, the longer the connection width. For example, in the rightmost column in FIG. 14, Tdif is maximum, but as the value of Tmin increases, the connection width changes from 50 [mm] to 40, 30,. Since the difference in ink concentration between the left and right recording heads is smaller as the time difference between mounting of the recording heads is smaller, the connection width can be shortened. Also, the longer the elapsed time from mounting the recording head, the smaller the increase in recording density due to ink concentration, so the difference between left and right density becomes smaller and the joint width can be shortened.

  In the above description, the elapsed time since the recording head is mounted on the printer is acquired as information for estimating the ink concentration value, and the connection width is set. However, another method may be used. For example, the ink concentration value may be estimated from the number of dots recorded after the head is mounted on the printer, or the ink concentration value is estimated from the number of printed sheets after the head is mounted on the printer. It may be configured to set.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the connection width is set by estimating the ink concentration value based on the elapsed time since the head was mounted on the printer, the number of recording dots, and the number of printed sheets has been described. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the recording density of the left head and the right head is measured and the connection width is set according to the difference in recording density obtained from the result will be described with reference to FIGS. A description of the same parts as those in the above embodiment will be omitted.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of processing for setting the connecting width of the left and right heads in the present embodiment.

  First, it is detected that one of the right and left recording heads has been replaced (S12001).

  Next, a patch having a predetermined pattern is printed by the left and right recording heads (S12002). At this time, the ink amount of the patch printed by the first recording head 101L on the left side and the ink amount of the patch printed by the second recording head 101R on the right side are configured with the same amount of digital signal values. .

  Next, the patch printed in S12002 is read by the scanner 107 (S12003). Then, the RGB values of the respective patches printed by the first recording head 101L and the second recording head 101R obtained by scanning are converted into density values (S12004). In this case, the correspondence between the RGB values read by the scanner 107 and the density values obtained by measuring the patches with a densitometer is held as an LUT, and the density values of the left and right patches can be calculated using the LUT.

  Next, based on the density values of the left and right patches obtained by scanning, the CPU 311 calculates the density difference between the left and right first recording heads 101L and 101R (S12005).

  Then, based on the density difference between the left and right recording heads calculated in S12006, the connecting width of the left and right recording heads is calculated. FIG. 16 shows an example of an LUT in which the value of the connecting width of the left and right heads corresponding to the density difference between the left and right heads is stored. This LUT is stored in the ROM 313, and a connection width corresponding to the density difference between the left and right recording heads calculated in S12005 is set. Similar to the above-described embodiment, the connecting width is set so that it is long when the density difference is large and is short when the density difference is small.

  According to the connecting width set in S12006, the recording scanning areas of the left and right recording heads are calculated and set (S12007).

  When printing is actually performed, printing processing is executed in accordance with the joint width and recording scan area set in S12006 and S12007.

  Further, the density difference may be obtained by measuring the concentration value of the ink in the container. As a method of measuring the concentration value, there is a method of measuring the concentration value by passing a current through the ink in the container and measuring the resistance value. A metal rod (not shown) through which current flows is installed in the container so that current flows through the ink. The metal bar is connected to a contact pad (not shown). The contact pad sends signals and electric power to the recording head, and current flows from the inside to the accommodating portion. The ink concentration value can be measured by the resistance value when an electric current is passed through the ink.

  The connecting width can be set by the difference in the enrichment value obtained by the above method.

101L recording head 101R recording head 104 guide rail 107 scanner

Claims (13)

A first recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the first ink stored in the first storage unit are arranged in a predetermined direction, and a first ink stored in the second storage unit And a second recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the second ink of the same color as those arranged in the predetermined direction are provided, and the first recording unit and the second recording unit And a scanning unit that performs recording scanning by moving the recording unit relative to the recording medium in the intersecting direction. The first area on the recording medium is recorded using the first recording section without using the second recording section, and the first recording section is not used in the second area. Recording is performed using the second recording unit, and the first area and the previous area are crossed in the crossing direction. In the third area between the second area and the second area, the ink is ejected while performing scanning by the scanning means so as to perform recording using both the first recording section and the second recording section. A recording device comprising: a control means for controlling the recording operation;
The information processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire first information related to the ink density in the first storage unit and second information related to the ink density in the second storage unit, and the control unit is acquired by the acquisition unit. Based on the first information and the second information, when the difference between the density of the first ink indicated by the first information and the density of the second ink indicated by the second information is not greater than a predetermined value, The length of the third region in the intersecting direction is a first length, and when the difference is greater than the predetermined value, the length of the third region is a second length longer than the first length. A recording apparatus characterized by having a length.   The acquisition means acquires information on an elapsed time since the first storage portion is mounted on the recording unit as the first information, and an elapsed time since the second storage portion is mounted on the recording unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is acquired as the second information.   The acquisition means acquires, as the first information, the number of dots ejected by the first recording unit after the first storage unit is mounted on the recording unit, and the second storage unit is stored in the recording unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of dots ejected by the second recording unit after mounting is acquired as the second information.   The acquisition means acquires, as the first information, the number of recording media recorded by the first recording unit after the first storage unit is attached to the recording unit, and the second storage unit is used as the recording unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of recording media recorded by the second recording unit after being mounted on the recording medium is acquired as the second information.   2. The recording according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit obtains the first information and the second information by measuring densities of the first ink and the second ink measured by the measuring unit. apparatus.   The acquisition unit is configured to output the first information and the second information based on a reading result of a density of a predetermined pattern formed by the first recording unit and the second recording unit ejecting ink onto a recording medium. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is means for acquiring information.   In the third area, the control means uses the first recording section at a higher rate than the second recording section for recording on the first area side, and the second area. The first recording unit and the second recording unit are controlled so that the second recording unit is used at a higher rate than the first recording unit for recording on the side portion. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   In the third area, the control means records the first recording section and the second recording section by the first recording section as it approaches the first area from the second area. The ratio increases, and the ratio recorded by the second recording unit increases between the first recording unit and the second recording unit as the first region approaches the second region. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein recording is performed as described above.   The control means is such that the value of the difference between the density of the first ink indicated by the first information and the density of the second ink indicated by the second information is not greater than a second predetermined value greater than the predetermined value. In this case, the length of the third region in the intersecting direction is the second length, and when the difference is greater than the second predetermined value, the length of the third region is the second length. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus has a third length that is longer than the length of the recording apparatus.   The control means further determines the length of the third region according to information relating to the density of the low density ink having the lower density among the ink densities indicated by the first information and the second information, When the difference is the predetermined value, if the density of the low density ink is not higher than the predetermined value, the length of the third region is set to the first length, and the density of the low density ink is set to the predetermined value. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the value is higher than the value, the length of the third region is a fourth length shorter than the first length. 11.   11. The communication port according to claim 1, wherein the first storage portion and the second storage portion are each provided with a communication port for releasing the first ink and the second ink to the atmosphere. The recording apparatus according to claim 1. A first recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the first ink stored in the first storage unit are arranged in a predetermined direction, and a first ink stored in the second storage unit And a second recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the second ink of the same color as those arranged in the predetermined direction are provided, and the first recording unit and the second recording unit And a scanning unit that performs recording scanning by moving the recording unit relative to the recording medium in the intersecting direction. The first area on the recording medium is recorded using the first recording section without using the second recording section, and the first recording section is not used in the second area. Recording is performed using the second recording unit, and the first area and the previous area are crossed in the crossing direction. In the third area between the second areas, ink is ejected while scanning by the scanning means so as to perform recording using both the first recording unit and the second recording unit. A recording device comprising a control means for controlling a recording operation,
The information processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire first information related to the ink density in the first storage unit and second information related to the ink density in the second storage unit, and the control unit is acquired by the acquisition unit. Based on the first information and the second information, when the density of the low density ink, which is the lower of the ink density indicated by the first information and the second information, is not higher than a predetermined value, the crossing direction If the density of the low density ink is higher than the predetermined value, the length of the third area is shorter than the first length. 2. A recording apparatus having a length of 2. A first recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the first ink stored in the first storage unit are arranged in a predetermined direction, and a first ink stored in the second storage unit And a second recording unit provided with an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the second ink of the same color as those arranged in the predetermined direction are provided, and the first recording unit and the second recording unit A scanning step in which recording scanning is performed by moving recording units in which the recording units are spaced apart from each other in a crossing direction intersecting the predetermined direction with respect to the recording medium, and the recording medium In the upper first area, recording is performed using the first recording section without using the second recording section, and in the second area, the second recording section is used without using the first recording section. Recording is performed using a recording unit, and the first area and the second area in the crossing direction The recording operation is controlled so that ink is ejected while performing the scanning in the scanning step so that the recording is performed using both the first recording unit and the second recording unit in the third region in between. A recording method in a recording apparatus having a control step,
The method further comprises an acquisition step of acquiring first information relating to the ink density of the first storage portion and second information relating to the ink concentration of the second storage portion, wherein the control step is acquired by the acquisition step. Based on the first information and the second information, when the difference between the density of the first ink indicated by the first information and the density of the second ink indicated by the second information is not greater than a predetermined value, The length of the third region in the intersecting direction is the first length, and when the difference is greater than the predetermined value, the length of the third region is the second length longer than the first length. A recording method for a recording apparatus.

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