JP2020138416A - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

To avoid a situation in which a user is more likely to misunderstand as a failure of a device.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: a recording head which discharges ink to a recording medium; a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which can execute the movement in a first direction and the movement in a second direction to be an opposite direction of the first direction; and a control section which controls the recording head and the carriage achieves to achieve single direction recording by a first path to be the movement of the carriage in the first direction accompanying ink discharge by the recording head and a second path to be the movement of the carriage in the second direction without accompanying ink discharge by the recording head. The control section makes a stopping time between the movement and the movement of the carriage as a prescribed value or below by changing movement speed of the second path according to an amount of ink discharged from the recording head in the first path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a recording device and a recording method.

When the inkjet printer records a region in the recording medium with a plurality of passes of the recording head, the next pass is executed after the time required for drying the ink recorded by the previous pass has elapsed. As a result, the recording quality in the area is maintained.

As a related technique, an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by scanning the recording head against the same area of the recording medium a plurality of times, and the recording head performs the image in a predetermined area composed of the same area. A control means for controlling the waiting time provided between the previous scan and the next scan in the plurality of scans is provided, and the control means is a device for controlling the waiting time based on the recorded data in the predetermined area. Is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-119793

If the waiting time as a result of control based on the recorded data as in Document 1, that is, the stop time of the carriage becomes longer than a certain level, the user may mistakenly recognize that the device has failed.

The recording device is equipped with a recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium and the recording head, and can perform movement in the first direction and movement in the second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction. By controlling the carriage, the recording head, and the carriage, the first pass, which is the movement of the carriage in the first direction with ink ejection by the recording head, and the said without ink ejection by the recording head. A second pass, which is a movement of the carriage in the second direction, and a control unit that realizes unidirectional recording by the second pass are provided, and the control unit responds to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass. By changing the movement speed of the second pass, the stop time between the movements of the carriage is set to a predetermined value or less.

A block diagram showing a simple device configuration. The figure which shows an example of the arrangement of the nozzle row which a recording head has. The flowchart which shows the recording process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the example of the allocation of a nozzle array and print data for each recording path. The figure which shows the relationship between the amount of ink and the drying time. The figure for briefly explaining the unidirectional recording according to 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the recording process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the recording process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure for briefly explaining the bidirectional recording which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to each figure. Each figure is merely an example for explaining the present embodiment. Since each figure is an example, they may not be consistent with each other or some parts may be omitted.

1. 1. Schematic description of the device:
FIG. 1 simply shows the configuration of the recording device 10 according to the present embodiment. The recording device 10 may be described as a liquid ejection device, a printing device, a printer, or the like. The recording device 10 executes the recording method according to the present embodiment. The recording device 10 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 13, an operation receiving unit 14, a transport unit 15, a carriage 16, a carriage (CR) motor 17, a recording head 18, and the like. The control unit 11 includes one or more ICs having a CPU 11a, a ROM 11b, a RAM 11c, etc. as a processor, another non-volatile memory, and the like.

In the control unit 11, the processor, that is, the CPU 11a controls the recording device 10 by executing arithmetic processing according to a program stored in the ROM 11b or other memory or the like using the RAM 11c or the like as a work area. The control unit 11 executes, for example, a process according to the firmware 12 which is a kind of program. The processor is not limited to one CPU, and may be configured to perform processing by a plurality of CPUs or a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the CPU and the hardware circuit cooperate with each other. It may be configured to perform the processing.

The display unit 13 is a means for displaying visual information, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 13 may be configured to include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display. The operation receiving unit 14 is a means for receiving an operation by the user, and is realized by, for example, a physical button, a touch panel, a keyboard, or the like. Of course, the touch panel may be realized as one function of the display unit 13. The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 can be referred to as an operation panel of the recording device 10.

The transport unit 15 is a mechanism for transporting the recording medium. As is known, the transport unit 15 includes a roller (not shown) for transporting the recording medium from upstream to downstream of the transport path, a motor (not shown) for rotating the roller, and the like. The recording medium is typically paper, but a medium other than paper may be used as long as it is a medium that can be recorded by receiving a liquid discharge.

The recording head 18 discharges a liquid such as ink by an inkjet method to perform recording. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the recording head 18 includes a plurality of nozzles 19 capable of ejecting ink, and ejects ink from each nozzle 19 to the recording medium 30 conveyed by the conveying unit 15. The ink droplets ejected by the nozzle 19 are called dots. However, in the following description, the expression "dot" is appropriately used not only in the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle 19 but also in the image processing by the control unit 11 before the ink droplets are ejected by the nozzle 19. The control unit 11 controls the application of the drive signal to the drive element (not shown) included in the nozzle 19 according to the print data, so that the dots are ejected or not ejected from the nozzle 19.

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement example of a plurality of nozzle rows included in the recording head 18. Further, FIG. 2 simply shows the relationship between the recording head 18 and the recording medium 30. The recording head 18 may be described as a liquid discharge head, a print head, a print head, or the like. The recording head 18 is mounted on a carriage 16 that can reciprocate in parallel with a predetermined direction D1 by receiving power from a CR motor 17, and moves together with the carriage 16. The movement of the carriage 16 is also referred to as a path or scanning. The control unit 11 controls the direction and speed of movement of the carriage 16 by controlling the rotation direction and rotation speed of the CR motor 17. Controlling the movement of the carriage 16 as a result of the control unit 11 controlling the CR motor 17 is simply expressed as control of the carriage 16.

Direction D1 corresponds to the "first direction". Further, the direction D2, which is the opposite direction of the direction D1, corresponds to the "second direction". The direction D1 may be referred to as the main scanning direction D1. Hereinafter, the movement of the carriage 16 in the direction D1 is referred to as “outward movement”, and the movement of the carriage 16 in the direction D2 is referred to as “return movement”.

The transport unit 15 transports the recording medium 30 in the direction D3 that intersects the direction D1 and the direction D2. The direction D3 is also referred to as a sub-scanning direction D3 or a transport direction D3. The term "intersection" as used herein means orthogonality, but may include not only strict orthogonality but also an error to the extent that it occurs due to actual component mounting accuracy and the like.

Reference numeral 21 indicates a nozzle surface 21 in which the nozzle 19 of the recording head 18 opens. FIG. 2 shows an example of arranging a plurality of nozzle rows on the nozzle surface 21. The recording head 18 includes nozzle rows for each ink color in a configuration in which ink of each color is supplied from an ink holding means (not shown) called an ink cartridge, an ink tank, or the like mounted on the recording device 10 and discharged from the nozzle 19. .. The nozzle row is composed of a plurality of nozzles 19 having a constant nozzle pitch, which is an interval between the nozzles 19 along the direction D3.

The recording head 18 ejects, for example, a nozzle row 20c composed of a plurality of nozzles 19 for ejecting cyan (C) ink, a nozzle row 20 m composed of a plurality of nozzles 19 for ejecting magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink. It has a nozzle row 20y composed of a plurality of nozzles 19 and a nozzle row 20k composed of a plurality of nozzles 19 for ejecting black (K) ink. Of course, the number of nozzle rows included in the recording head 18 is not limited to the four rows as shown in FIG. 2, and the color of the ink ejected by the recording head 18 is not limited to CMYK. According to the example of FIG. 2, the recording device 10 repeatedly conveys the recording medium 30 by the conveying unit 15 to a predetermined conveying distance and ejects ink by the recording head 18 accompanying the movement of the carriage 16 to the recording medium 30. Achieve the record of.

The configurations described so far may be realized not only by one independent device but also by an information processing device and a printer that are communicably connected to each other. The information processing device is, for example, a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a server, or a device having a processing capacity equivalent to those. That is, the recording device 10 may be realized by an information processing device as a recording control device including a control unit 11 and the like, and a printer including a transport unit 15, a carriage 16, a CR motor 17, a recording head 18, and the like. ..
Some embodiments using the above-described configuration will be described below.

2. 2. First Embodiment:
In the first embodiment, the control unit 11 performs "unidirectional recording" by controlling the carriage 16, the recording head 18, and the transport unit 15. The unidirectional recording is a recording process in which the recording head 18 ejects ink only in one of the outward movement and the return movement of the carriage 16. In the unidirectional recording of the first embodiment, the control unit 11 causes the recording head 18 to eject ink in the outward movement, and does not cause the recording head 18 to eject ink in the return movement.

In the first embodiment, the outward movement of the carriage 16 accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18 is the “first pass”, and the return path movement of the carriage 16 not accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18 is the “second pass”. ". Further, the movement of the carriage 16 with ink ejection by the recording head 18 is also referred to as a “recording path”, and the movement of the carriage 16 without ink ejection by the recording head 18 is also referred to as an “empty path”. In the first embodiment, the first pass is a recording pass and the second pass is an empty pass.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a recording process executed by the control unit 11 according to the firmware 12 in the first embodiment.

In step S100, the control unit 11 acquires print data which is image data expressing an image to be recorded. The recording target is some object such as characters, CG, and a photograph. The print data is bitmap data in which dot ejection (dot on) or non-ejection (dot off) for each ink color such as CMYK is defined for each pixel. The control unit 11 acquires print data from, for example, a memory inside or outside the recording device 10 accessible to the recording device 10, a PC outside the recording device 10 accessible to the recording device 10, or the like.

Alternatively, the control unit 11 may acquire the print data by generating the print data. That is, the control unit 11 acquires image data that expresses the object in multiple gradations (for example, 256 gradations) in RGB (red, green, blue) or CMYK, and colors the such image data. Print data may be generated by performing a known process such as a conversion process or a halftone process.

In step S110, the control unit 11 identifies one data for each recording path from the print data. In this case, the print data for one page is decomposed in correspondence with a plurality of recording paths for recording the print data, and one of the decomposed data is specified in one step S110. The control unit 11 decomposes the print data for one page in order from the downstream end (page upper end) of the transport direction D3 toward the upstream end (page lower end) of the transport direction D3 in correspondence with the recording path. Then, specify one in order from the data closest to the upper end.

In step S120, it is determined whether or not the data of the recording path unit specified in step S110 is the data of the final recording path. The final recording path is the last recording path of a plurality of recording paths for recording one page of print data. When the data of the recording path unit specified in step S110 is the data of the final recording path, the control unit 11 proceeds from the determination of “Yes” in step S120 to step S140. On the other hand, when the data of the recording path unit specified in step S110 is not the data of the final recording path, the control unit 11 proceeds from the determination of "No" in step S120 to step S130.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of allocating the nozzle array and the print data for each recording path. Reference numeral 40c indicates a part of the print data 40c in which the dot-on or dot-off of the C ink is defined for each pixel in the print data acquired in step S100. Each rectangle constituting the print data 40c represents each pixel. FIG. 4 also shows the correspondence between the print data 40c and the directions D1, D2, and D3.

Further, FIG. 4 also shows how the positional relationship between the nozzle row 20c for ejecting C ink and the print data 40c changes for each recording path. That is, the transport unit 15 repeatedly transports the recording medium 30 downstream of the transport direction D3 in units of a predetermined transport distance FL, so that the nozzle row 20c and the print data 40c for each recording path are relative to each other as shown in FIG. Position change is realized.

In FIG. 4, the numbers 1, 2, 3 ... In parentheses together with the reference numeral “20c” indicating the nozzle row 20c are pass numbers indicating the order of the recording paths. In the first embodiment, the recording device 10 performs unidirectional recording. Therefore, the pass number of the recording path in the path including the recording path and the empty path is originally an odd number every other. In FIG. 4, empty paths are ignored and pass numbers are given only to recorded paths.

The control unit 11 allocates the print data 40c to each nozzle 19 basically in pixel line units. The pixel row is a region in which pixels are continuously arranged in parallel with the directions D1 and D2, and is also called a raster line. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, nozzle numbers # 1, # 2, # 3 ... # 12 are sequentially added to each nozzle 19 constituting the nozzle row 20c from the downstream side to the upstream side in the transport direction D3. Of course, the number of nozzles that make up one nozzle row is only one example.

In the example of FIG. 4, the print data 40c includes the path corresponding areas 40c1, 40c2, and 40c3. For convenience of explanation, a pass number to which each pixel is assigned is described in each pixel constituting the print data 40c. That is, each pixel on which the number "1" is described is assigned to each nozzle 19 of the nozzle row 20c corresponding to the first recording pass (pass number 1) for recording the print data 40c. Similarly, each pixel on which the number "2" is described is assigned to each nozzle 19 of the nozzle row 20c corresponding to the second recording pass (pass number 2) for recording the print data 40c, and the number "2" is described. Each pixel described with "3" is assigned to each nozzle 19 of the nozzle row 20c corresponding to the third recording pass (pass number 3) for recording the print data 40c.

The path corresponding areas 40c1, 40c2, 40c3 are data corresponding to each recording path. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the path-corresponding regions 40c1 and 40c2 partially overlap each other in the direction D3, and similarly, the path-corresponding regions 40c2 and 40c3 partially overlap each other in the direction D3. There is. The control unit 11 performs unidirectional recording in such a manner that at least a part of the area to be recorded in the previous recording path and the area to be recorded in the next recording path overlap. According to the example of FIG. 4, the control unit 11 provides the transport unit 15 with a predetermined transport distance FL corresponding to 10 times the nozzle pitch between the end of the previous recording pass and the start of the next recording pass. The recording medium 30 is conveyed. Therefore, the area recorded by each nozzle 19 of nozzle numbers # 11 and # 12 in the previous recording pass is recorded by each nozzle 19 of nozzle numbers # 1 and # 2 in the next recording path.

An area in which the previous recording path and the next recording path are recorded in duplicate is called an overlapping area. The control unit 11 allocates each pixel row constituting the overlapping region to the previous recording path and the next recording path for each pixel row constituting the overlapping region. In the example of FIG. 4, the pixels forming the pixel row forming the overlapping area where the path corresponding areas 40c1 and 40c2 overlap are the nozzle 19 in the recording path of pass number 1 and the nozzle 19 in the recording path of pass number 2. Alternately assigned. Further, the pixels forming the pixel row forming the overlapping area where the path corresponding areas 40c2 and 40c3 overlap are alternately assigned to the nozzle 19 in the recording path of pass number 2 and the nozzle 19 in the recording path of pass number 3. ..

In step S110, the control unit 11 specifies the data for each recording path based on the relationship between the nozzle array for each recording path and the print data as described above. That is, referring to the example of FIG. 4, in the first step S110, the control unit 11 sets the area consisting of the pixels of the number “1” in the path corresponding area 40c1 of the print data 40c as the recording path of the pass number 1. Specify as the corresponding data. Further, in the second step S110, the area consisting of the pixels of the number "2" in the path corresponding area 40c2 is specified as the data corresponding to the recording path of the pass number 2. Further, in the third step S110, the area consisting of the pixels of the number "3" in the path corresponding area 40c3 is specified as the data corresponding to the recording path of the pass number 3.

In step S130, the control unit 11 determines the moving speed of the empty path according to the amount of ink calculated from the data specified in step S110. In this case, the control unit 11 determines the moving speed of the empty path so that the stop time of the carriage 16 between the recording path and the empty path is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

First, the control unit 11 calculates the amount of ink to be ejected to the recording head 18 from the data corresponding to one recording path specified in step S110. The control unit 11 uses, for example, the number of dots defined by the data specified in step S110 as the ink amount. When the control unit 11 specifies in step S110 an area consisting of pixels of the number “1” which is data corresponding to the recording path of path number 1 shown in FIG. 4, in step S130, in the specified area, The number of pixels in which the dot-on of C ink is specified is defined as the amount of ink of C ink ejected by the recording head 18.

Although FIG. 4 shows only the allocation relationship between the print data 40c related to the C ink and the nozzle row 20c, the same allocation relationship is applied to other MYK inks and the like. Therefore, the print data 40c is regarded as print data in which each pixel defines the dot on / off of each CMYK ink. Then, for example, when the control unit 11 specifies an area consisting of pixels of the number "1" which is data corresponding to the recording path of the path number 1 in step S110, in step S130, CMYK ink in the specified area is specified. The total number of dots may be calculated as the amount of ink ejected by the recording head 18.

The control unit 11 may calculate the amount of ink for the above-mentioned overlapping region. That is, when the control unit 11 specifies the area consisting of the pixels of the number “1” which is the data corresponding to the recording path of the pass number 1 in step S110, in step S130, among the specified areas, the path corresponding area The total number of dots of CMYK ink in the pixel of the number "1" in the overlapping region of 40c1 and 40c2 may be calculated as the amount of ink ejected by the recording head 18.
Similarly, when the control unit 11 specifies an area consisting of pixels of the number “2”, which is data corresponding to the recording path of the pass number 2 in step S110, in step S130, the path corresponding to the specified area. The total number of dots of CMYK ink in the pixel of the number "2" in the overlapping region of the regions 40c2 and 40c3 may be calculated as the amount of ink ejected by the recording head 18.

The control unit 11 converts the amount of ink calculated as described above into the drying time T1. The drying time T1 is a time to be secured from the end of the previous recording pass to the start of the next recording pass in order to maintain the quality of the recording result including the overlapping region. The conversion from the amount of ink to the drying time T1 may be performed using a predetermined function, table, or the like.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the amount of ink obtained from the table and the drying time T1. The drying time T1 increases linearly as the amount of ink increases, for example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. Alternatively, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, the drying time T1 may be increased stepwise with each increase in the predetermined amount of ink. Alternatively, the drying time T1 may increase non-linearly as the amount of ink increases, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Generally speaking, the drying time T1 tends to increase as the amount of ink increases.

The control unit 11 determines the moving speed V1 of the empty pass by the drying time T1 derived from the amount of ink and the following equation (1).
V1 = W / (T1-2 × T2)… (1)
W is the moving distance W of the path by the carriage 16, and is a predetermined distance. The time T2 is the above-mentioned predetermined value, and is the stop time of the carriage 16 during the recording process so that the user does not feel uncomfortable. The time T2 is, for example, 2 seconds. However, a number of seconds other than 2 seconds may be adopted as the time T2.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for simply explaining unidirectional recording. Reference numeral P1 indicates the position (first position P1) of the carriage 16 at which the outward movement is started. On the other hand, reference numeral P2 indicates the position (second position P2) of the carriage 16 at which the return path movement is started. The first position P1 is also the position of the carriage 16 that ends the return path movement. The second position P2 is also the position of the carriage 16 that ends the outward movement. The recording medium 30 is transported in the transport direction D3 in the inner region sandwiched between the first position P1 and the second position P2. The distance between the first position P1 and the second position P2 in the direction D1 or the direction D2 corresponds to the moving distance W.

In FIG. 6, the carriage 16 is described at a plurality of places, but the carriage 16 described at the plurality of places is the same one carriage 16. The reference numerals 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d shown in parentheses together with the reference numeral “16” indicating the carriage 16 indicate the carriage 16 at different timings.

The dashed arrow A1 indicates the outbound movement performed by the carriage 16 (16a) at the first position P1. The outbound movement A1 is a recording path. The carriage 16 that has finished the outward movement A1 and stopped at the second position P2 is the carriage 16b.
The broken line arrow A2 indicates the return route movement executed by the carriage 16 (16b) at the second position P2 after finishing the outward route movement A1. The return trip A2 is an empty pass.

The dashed arrow A3 indicates the outward movement performed by the carriage 16 (16c) at the first position P1 after the return movement A2. The outbound movement A3 is a recording path. The carriage 16 that has finished the outward movement A3 and stopped at the second position P2 is the carriage 16d.
The dashed arrow A4 indicates the return movement performed by the carriage 16 (16d) at the second position P2 after finishing the outward movement A3. The return trip A4 is an empty pass. The carriage 16 after the return movement A4 is completed is omitted in FIG.

Reference numeral OB indicates an object OB recorded on the recording medium 30 by the ink ejected from the recording head 18 in the outward movement A1 and the outward movement A3. In FIG. 6, the positions of the carriages 16c and 16d are shifted upstream from the carriages 16a and 16b in the transport direction D3, whereby the relative position change of the carriage 16 and the recording medium 30 in the transport direction D3 is described. Is shown. Although the same matter has been described in FIG. 4, during the period from the end of the outward movement A1 to the start of the outward movement A3, the transport unit 15 transports the recording medium 30 downstream of the transport direction D3 by a predetermined transport distance FL. Transport to. Since the carriage 16 does not move upstream in the transport direction D3, the positions of the carriage 16a and the carriage 16c are actually the same, and the positions of the carriage 16b and the carriage 16d are the same.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the control unit 11 identifies the data corresponding to the outward movement A1 from the print data in step S110, and then in step S130, the ink is ejected to the recording head 18 in the outward movement A1. Then, the movement speed V1 of the return movement A2 is determined. That is, the control unit 11 obtains the drying time T1 from the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the outward movement A1, and determines the moving speed V1 of the return movement A2 by using the above equation (1). In the unidirectional recording of the first embodiment, the control unit 11 performs before and after the empty path, that is, the second position P2 and the first position between the end of the previous recording path and the start of the next recording path. In each of P1, the carriage 16 is stopped for a maximum of time T2. Therefore, according to the above equation (1), the required drying time T1 can be secured between the end of the previous recording pass and the start of the next recording pass, and the first position P1 and the second position P2 can be secured. The moving speed V1 can be calculated so that the stop time of the carriage 16 in each is set to the time T2 or less.

Similarly, in step S130 after the control unit 11 identifies the data corresponding to the outward movement A3 from the print data in step S110, the return movement A4 The moving speed V1 is determined.
When it is determined as "Yes" in step S120, the control unit 11 executes an empty path between the recording path and the recording path for recording the page represented by the print data acquired in step S100 on the recording medium 30. It means that each movement speed V1 for each is determined.

In step S140, the control unit 11 executes recording control on the carriage 16, the recording head 18, and the transport unit 15, including speed control of the empty path based on the moving speed V1 of the empty path determined as described above. In this case, the control unit 11 causes the carriage 16 to execute each outward movement at a predetermined movement speed, and sets the movement speed V1 for each return movement determined in step S130 according to the amount of ink for each outward movement. Then, each return trip is executed. More specifically, the control unit 11 starts the next outbound movement after the elapse of the drying time T1 according to the amount of ink in the outbound movement after finishing the outbound movement of the carriage 16, and within the period of the drying time T1. The carriage 16 is made to move in the return path at the moving speed V1. As described above, the control unit 11 stops the carriage 16 for a maximum of time T2 before and after the return movement at the movement speed V1, that is, at the second position P2 and the first position P1 respectively.

Further, the control unit 11 turns on / off the dots of each pixel constituting the print data according to the timing of each outbound movement based on the relationship between the nozzle array and the print data as illustrated in FIG. Information is transferred to each nozzle 19 constituting the nozzle row. As a result, ink is ejected by the recording head 18 as the carriage 16 moves on the outward path, that is, a recording path is executed. Further, the control unit 11 controls the transport unit 15 to carry out the transport of the recording medium 30 at a predetermined transport distance during the period from the end of the outward movement to the start of the next outward movement. As a result of such recording control, unidirectional recording on the recording medium 30 is realized.

As can be seen from the above description, the moving speed V1 of the empty path determined in step S130 is changed according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the recording path which is the path before the empty path. That is, the moving speed V1 of the empty pass can change for each empty pass. Further, as the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the recording pass increases, the required drying time T1 tends to become longer. According to the above formula (1), the longer the drying time T1, the slower the moving speed V1. Therefore, from the first embodiment, when the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass is the first ink amount, the moving speed V1 of the second pass is set as the first speed, and the recording head in the first pass. It is possible to capture an example in which the moving speed V1 of the second pass is set to a second speed slower than the first speed when the amount of ink discharged to 18 is a second ink amount larger than the first ink amount. it can.

The control unit 11 repeatedly executes the cycle of steps S110, S120, and S130 after step S100, and the rest of steps S110, S120, and S130 are at a timing earlier than determining "Yes" in step S120. Step S140 may be started in parallel with the number of cycles. That is, after the print data is acquired in step S100, the control unit 11 executes steps S110 and S130 one or more times, and then in step S140, the recording path, the carriage 16 stop, the empty path, the carriage 16 stop, and the recording medium. Recording control including various controls such as transportation of 30 is started. At this time, the control unit 11 causes the movement speed V1 to be executed by the determined movement speed V1 for the determined empty path. According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the time required to complete the recording of one page represented by the print data.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the recording device 10 mounts the recording head 18 for ejecting ink to the recording medium 30 and the recording head 18, and moves in the first direction (direction D1) and the first. By controlling the carriage 16 capable of performing movement in the second direction (direction D2), which is the opposite direction of the direction, and the recording head 18 and the carriage 16, the first carriage 16 accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18. It includes a first pass that moves in a direction, a second pass that moves the carriage 16 in a second direction without ink ejection by the recording head 18, and a control unit 11 that realizes unidirectional recording. .. Then, the control unit 11 determines the stop time between the movements of the carriage 16 by changing the movement speed V1 of the second pass according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass. Set to the value (time T2) or less.

The control unit 11 calculates the moving speed V1 of the second pass according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass. In the first embodiment, the stop time between the movement of the carriage 16 is the stop time from the end of the first pass to the start of the second pass and the stop time from the end of the second pass to the start of the first pass. Refers to each of the downtime. According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 sets the stop time of the carriage 16 to a predetermined value or less. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from misunderstanding that the stop between the paths of the carriage 16 is a failure because it is long. That is, the recording device 10 can execute unidirectional recording without causing the user to feel anxiety or discomfort.

Further, according to the first embodiment, when the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass is the first ink amount, the control unit 11 sets the moving speed V1 of the second pass as the first speed. When the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass is a second ink amount larger than the first ink amount, the moving speed V1 of the second pass is set to a second speed slower than the first speed. ..
According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 ejects the ink to the recording head 18 in the first pass by slowing the moving speed V1 of the second pass as the amount of ink ejected to the recording head 18 in the first pass increases. Regardless of the amount of ink, the stop time between movements of the carriage 16 can be set to a predetermined value or less.

When the speed obtained by the above formula (1) is adopted as it is as the moving speed V1 of the second pass, the stop times of the carriages 16 before and after the second pass are predetermined values (time T2), respectively. However, the stop time may be a predetermined value or less. Therefore, the control unit 11 may adopt a speed slower than the speed obtained by the above equation (1) as the moving speed V1 of the second pass. With such a configuration, a drying time T1 is secured between the first pass and the next first pass, and the stop times of the carriages 16 before and after the second pass are set to be shorter than the predetermined values. can do.

Further, the concept of setting the stop time of the carriage 16 to a predetermined value or less includes setting the stop time of the carriage 16 to substantially 0. When the carriage 16 is switched from the outward movement to the return movement, or when the carriage 16 is switched from the return movement to the outward movement, the speed of the carriage 16 becomes 0 for at least a moment. Therefore, the stop time of the carriage 16 does not become truly 0 between the previous pass and the next pass, but the movement direction of the carriage 16 is immediately switched at the first position P1 and the second position P2. As a user's feeling, that is, substantially, the stop time of the carriage 16 can be set to zero.
For example, the control unit 11 may determine the movement speed V1 of the second pass by the following equation (2) or equation (3) and adopt it for the movement of the second pass.
V1 = W / T1 ... (2)
V1 = W / (T1-T2) ... (3)

According to the above equation (2), the control unit 11 secures a drying time T1 between the first pass and the next first pass, and substantially sets the stop time of the carriage 16 before and after the second pass. Can be 0. Further, according to the above equation (3), the control unit 11 secures a drying time T1 between the first pass and the next first pass, and determines the stop time of the carriage 16 before and after the second pass. Of these, the stop time of one can be set to substantially 0, and the stop time of the other can be set to a predetermined value (time T2).

Further, according to the first embodiment, the recording head 18 for ejecting ink to the recording medium 30 and the recording head 18 are mounted, and the movement in the first direction (direction D1) is in the opposite direction of the first direction. A recording method for controlling a carriage 16 capable of moving in a second direction (direction D2) is disclosed. According to the recording method, the first pass is the movement of the carriage 16 with ink ejection by the recording head 18 in the first direction, and the movement of the carriage 16 with ink ejection by the recording head 18 in the second direction. When unidirectional recording is performed by the second pass, the carriage 16 is moved and moved by changing the moving speed V1 of the second pass according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass. Set the stop time during the period to a predetermined value (time T2) or less.

3. 3. Second embodiment:
Next, the second embodiment will be described. Also in the second embodiment, the recording device 10 performs unidirectional recording. The second embodiment is premised on the first embodiment, and the contents different from those of the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recording process executed by the control unit 11 according to the firmware 12 in the second embodiment. Steps S200, S210, S220, and S230 are the same processes as steps S100, S110, S120, and S130 in FIG.

In step S240 following step S230, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the moving speed V1 of the empty path determined in step S230 is at least the lower limit speed of the carriage 16. The lower limit speed of the carriage 16 is a speed predetermined for the design and control of the CR motor 17, and the control unit 11 moves the carriage 16 at a speed equal to or higher than the lower limit speed. Therefore, if the moving speed V1 determined in step S230 is less than the lower limit speed, the moving speed V1 cannot be adopted, and the control unit 11 determines "No" in step S240 and proceeds to step S250. If the moving speed V1 determined in step S230 is equal to or higher than the lower limit speed, the moving speed V1 can be adopted, and the control unit 11 determines “Yes” in step S240 and proceeds to step S210.

In step S250, the control unit 11 sets the “empty path reciprocating operation”. The empty pass reciprocating operation is a reciprocating operation by the second pass, the outbound movement (third pass) which is an empty pass, and the return movement (fourth pass) which is an empty pass. The second pass and the fourth pass, which are empty passes, are both return trips, and there is no substantial difference between them. Therefore, the fourth pass may be referred to as the second pass. However, in the second embodiment, for the sake of clarity, the names such as the second pass and the fourth pass are intentionally used. As described in the first embodiment, the unidirectional recording is a repetition of an outward movement (first pass), which is a recording path, and a return movement (second pass), which is an empty path. However, in the unidirectional recording of the second embodiment, when the moving speed V1 determined in step S230 is less than the lower limit speed, a necessary drying time is secured between the first pass and the next first pass. In order to do so, the carriage 16 is made to perform an empty path reciprocating operation.

As the setting of the empty path reciprocating operation, the control unit 11 sets the moving speed of the empty path reciprocating operation and the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. The moving speed of the empty pass reciprocating operation may be any speed as long as the carriage 16 at or above the lower limit speed can be realized. The control unit 11 sets some speed such as a predetermined speed equal to or higher than the lower limit speed as the moving speed of the empty path reciprocating operation. The control unit 11 sets, for example, the drying time T1 converted from the amount of ink based on the data of the recording path specified in step S210 as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may set the drying time T1-2 × time T2 as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may set a time longer than the drying time T1-2 × time T2 and shorter than the drying time T1 as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. When the empty path reciprocating operation is set in step S250, the control unit 11 cancels the determination of the moving speed V1 in the latest step S230. After step S250, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S210.

Until it is determined as "Yes" in step S220, the control unit 11 determines the moving speed V1 of the empty path in step S230, or sets the empty path reciprocating operation in step S250 after determining "No" in step S240. Or something. The control unit 11 determines, after the first pass, whether to execute the second pass at the moving speed V1 or the empty pass reciprocating operation as in the first embodiment, in association with the first pass of each time. The movement speed V1 and the setting of the empty path reciprocating operation are also stored.

In step S260, which proceeds from the determination of "Yes" in step S220, the control unit 11 includes the carriage 16, the recording head 18, and the transport unit, including the control of the empty path based on the moving speed V1 of the empty path and the setting of the empty path reciprocating operation. The recording control for 15 is executed. In this case, it is the same as in step S140 of FIG. 3 that the carriage 16 executes the outward movement (first pass) as the recording pass each time at a predetermined movement speed. Further, based on the allocation relationship between the nozzle array and the print data as illustrated in FIG. 4, the dot on / off information of each pixel constituting the print data is provided according to the timing of the first pass of each time. The point of transferring to the nozzle 19 and causing the recording head 18 to eject ink is also the same as in step S140. Further, the same as in step S140, the transfer unit 15 is controlled to execute the transfer of the recording medium 30 at a predetermined transfer distance during the period from the end of the first pass to the start of the next first pass.

In step S260, the second pass at the moving speed V1 is executed or the empty pass reciprocating operation is executed as in the first embodiment by the time the first pass ends and the next first pass starts. That is, when the control unit 11 remembers to execute the second pass at the moving speed V1 in association with the first pass of a certain number of times, the carriage 16 is connected to the carriage 16 after completing the first pass. The second pass with the moving speed V1 is executed. In this case, the control unit 11 provides a stop time of the carriage 16 having a time T2 or less before and after the second pass, and secures a drying time T1 before starting the next first pass.

On the other hand, when it is stored that the empty path reciprocating operation is executed in association with the first pass of a certain time, the control unit 11 sets the empty path reciprocating operation after completing the first pass. The carriage 16 is made to perform an empty path reciprocating operation based on the above. That is, after the control unit 11 finishes the first pass, the carriage 16 has the second pass and the second pass at the movement speed of the set empty pass reciprocating operation during the set empty path reciprocating operation. An empty pass reciprocating operation consisting of 3 passes and a 4th pass is performed. In this case, the control unit 11 has a time T2 or less before and after the empty path reciprocating operation period according to the length of the empty path reciprocating operation period (drying time T1 or less, drying time T1-2 × time T2 or more). A stop time for the carriage 16 of the above is provided to secure a drying time T1 before starting the next first pass. It should be noted that the fact that the empty pass reciprocating operation is performed from the end of the first pass to the start of the next first pass means that at least the second pass, the next third pass, and the next fourth pass, a total of 3 An empty pass reciprocating operation consisting of one empty pass will be performed. Of course, the number of empty passes constituting the empty pass reciprocating operation may be 5 times, 7 times, or more.

The control unit 11 may move at least a part of each empty pass constituting the empty path reciprocating operation by a distance shorter than the moving distance W. This is because if the movement distance W is moved in all the empty paths constituting the empty path reciprocating operation, it may be rather difficult to start the next recording path after the drying time T1 elapses after the end of the previous recording path. .. Further, the control unit 11 sets the stop time of the carriage 16 between each empty pass constituting the empty pass reciprocating operation to be substantially zero. In any case, the control unit 11 causes the carriage 16 to perform the empty path reciprocating operation at the set moving speed of the empty path reciprocating operation over the set period of the empty path reciprocating operation, thereby before and after the empty path reciprocating operation. Each stop time of the carriage 16 in the carriage 16 is set to a predetermined value (time T2) or less, and a drying time T1 is secured from the end of the previous recording path to the start of the next recording path.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the moving speed calculated according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass is equal to or higher than the predetermined lower limit speed of the carriage 16. , The moving speed V1 of the second pass is defined as the calculated moving speed. On the other hand, when the calculated movement speed is less than the lower limit speed, the control unit 11 performs the first pass, the second pass, and the first direction (direction) of the carriage 16 without ink ejection by the recording head 18. The reciprocating operation is executed by the third pass, which is the movement to D1), and the fourth pass, which is the movement in the second direction (direction D2) of the carriage 16 without ink ejection by the recording head 18.
According to the above configuration, even if the moving speed for the second pass calculated by the control unit 11 according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass is less than the lower limit speed of the carriage 16, the following Before starting the first pass, the empty pass reciprocating operation is executed at a speed equal to or higher than the lower limit speed. Therefore, the user can see the carriage 16 that reciprocates in the empty path between the end of the first pass and the start of the next first pass, and the user misunderstands that the device is out of order. It can be avoided.

4. Third Embodiment:
Next, the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the recording device 10 performs "bidirectional recording". The contents different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described with respect to the third embodiment. The bidirectional recording is a recording process in which the recording head 18 ejects ink in both the outward movement and the return movement of the carriage 16.

In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the outward movement of the carriage 16 which is a recording path is referred to as a “first pass”. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, unlike the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the return path movement of the carriage 16 which is a recording path is referred to as a "second pass". Further, in the bidirectional recording of the third embodiment, an empty path reciprocating operation is performed between the first pass and the second pass, which are recording paths. That is, the recording device 10 executes an empty pass reciprocating operation between the end of the first pass and the start of the second pass, and is empty between the end of the second pass and the start of the first pass. Performs a path reciprocating operation. In the third embodiment, the outward movement of the carriage 16 which is an empty pass is called a "third pass", and the return movement of the carriage 16 which is an empty pass is called a "fourth pass". That is, the empty pass reciprocating operation of the third embodiment is a reciprocating operation by the third pass and the fourth pass.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the recording process executed by the control unit 11 according to the firmware 12 in the third embodiment. Steps S300, S310, and S320 are the same processes as steps S100, S110, and S120 of FIG. However, the interpretation of FIG. 4 is partially different between the first embodiment and the second embodiment and the third embodiment. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, which are premised on unidirectional recording, each nozzle row 20c in which the pass number of the recording path is added with the numbers 1, 2, 3 ... In parentheses in FIG. 4 moves on the outward route. The nozzle row 20c, which is a part of the recording head 18 that executes the recording path of the above, is shown. On the other hand, when referring to FIG. 4 in the third embodiment, each nozzle row 20c to which the pass number of the recording path is added is a recording path for the outward movement, a recording path for the return movement, a recording path for the outward movement, and the like. Is interpreted as a nozzle row 20c that is a part of the recording head 18 that sequentially executes the above.

In step S330, which proceeds from the determination of "No" in step S320, the control unit 11 sets the empty path reciprocating operation. Step S330 is substantially the same process as step S250 of FIG. That is, the control unit 11 sets the moving speed of the empty path reciprocating operation and the period of the empty path reciprocating operation as the setting of the empty path reciprocating operation. As described above, the moving speed of the empty path reciprocating operation may be any speed as long as the carriage 16 at or above the lower limit speed can be realized.

The control unit 11 sets the period of the empty pass reciprocating operation to be executed after the recording pass according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the recording pass. For example, the control unit 11 sets the drying time T1 converted from the amount of ink based on the data of the recording path specified in step S310 as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may set the drying time T1-2 × time T2 as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may set a time longer than the drying time T1-2 × time T2 and shorter than the drying time T1 as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation. After step S330, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S310. Since the length of the drying time T1 changes according to the amount of ink, the period of the empty pass reciprocating operation also changes according to the amount of ink.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for simply explaining bidirectional recording. The description of the reference numerals common to FIGS. 9 and 6 will be omitted as appropriate. In FIG. 9, the carriage 16 is described in a plurality of places as in FIG. 6, but the carriages 16 described in these plurality of places are all the same carriage 16. That is, the reference numerals 16e, 16f, 16g, and 16h shown in parentheses together with the reference numeral “16” indicating the carriage 16 indicate the carriage 16 at different timings.

The dashed arrow A5 indicates the outbound movement performed by the carriage 16 (16e) at the first position P1. The outbound movement A5 is a recording path. The carriage 16 that has finished the outward movement A5 and stopped at the second position P2 is the carriage 16f.
The dashed arrow A6 indicates the return movement performed by the carriage 16 (16g) at the second position P2 after the outward movement A5. The return trip A6 is a recording pass. The carriage 16 that has finished the return path movement A6 and stopped at the first position P1 is the carriage 16h. The carriage 16 having a timing after the carriage 16h is omitted in FIG.

Reference numeral OB indicates an object OB recorded on the recording medium 30 by the ink ejected from the recording head 18 in the outward movement A5 and the return movement A6. In FIG. 9, the positions of the carriages 16g and 16h are shifted upstream from the carriages 16e and 16f in the transport direction D3, whereby in the transport direction D3 between the carriage 16 and the recording medium 30 as in FIG. It shows a relative position change. During the period from the end of the outward movement A5 to the start of the return movement A6, the transport unit 15 transports the recording medium 30 downstream of the transport direction D3 by a predetermined transport distance FL. Of course, in reality, the positions of the carriage 16e and the carriage 16h are the same, and the positions of the carriage 16f and the carriage 16g are the same.

After the control unit 11 identifies the data corresponding to the outward movement A5 from the print data in step S310, in step S330, after the completion of the outward movement A5, the control unit 11 determines the amount of ink to be ejected to the recording head 18 in the outward movement A5. Therefore, the period of the empty path reciprocating operation to be executed before the start of the return route movement A6 is set. Similarly, in step S330 after the control unit 11 identifies the data corresponding to the return path movement A6 from the print data in step S310, the control unit 11 of the return path movement A6 according to the amount of ink ejected to the recording head 18 in the return path movement A6. Set the period of the empty pass reciprocating operation to be executed after the end and before the start of the next first pass.

In FIG. 9, each empty path constituting the empty path reciprocating operation is not shown by a broken line arrow or the like.
When it is determined as "Yes" in step S320, the control unit 11 executes an empty path between the recording path and the recording path for recording the page represented by the print data acquired in step S300 on the recording medium 30. This means that the settings have been made for each reciprocating operation.

In step S340, which proceeds from the determination of "Yes" in step S320, the control unit 11 performs recording control on the carriage 16, the recording head 18, and the transport unit 15, including control of the empty path reciprocating operation based on the setting of the empty path reciprocating operation. Execute. In this case, the control unit 11 causes the carriage 16 to execute the outward movement (first pass) as the recording path and the return movement (second pass) as the recording path each time at a predetermined movement speed. Further, based on the allocation relationship between the nozzle array and the print data as illustrated in FIG. 4, each nozzle provides dot-on / off information of each pixel constituting the print data according to the timing of each recording pass. The data is transferred to 19 and the recording head 18 is made to eject ink. Further, by controlling the transport unit 15, the transport of the recording medium 30 at a predetermined transport distance is executed in the period from the end of the recording path to the start of the next recording path.

In step S340, the empty path reciprocating operation is executed until the previous recording path ends and the next recording path starts. That is, after completing a certain number of recording passes, the control unit 11 causes the carriage 16 to execute the empty path reciprocating operation based on the setting of the empty path reciprocating operation to be executed after the recording path. That is, after the recording pass is completed, the control unit 11 makes the third pass and the fourth pass to the carriage 16 at the movement speed of the set empty pass reciprocating operation during the set empty path reciprocating operation. An empty path consisting of paths is reciprocated. In this case, the control unit 11 determines the carriage 16 having a time T2 or less before and after the period of the empty path reciprocating operation according to the period of the empty path reciprocating operation (drying time T1 or less, drying time T1-2 × time T2 or more). A stop time of is provided to ensure a drying time T1 before the start of the next recording pass.

When the control unit 11 performs an empty pass reciprocating operation from the end of the first pass to the start of the second pass, the control unit 11 is composed of at least two empty passes, that is, the fourth pass and the next third pass. Performs empty path reciprocating operation. On the other hand, in the case of performing an empty pass reciprocating operation from the end of the second pass to the start of the first pass, an empty pass reciprocation consisting of at least two empty passes, the third pass and the next fourth pass, is performed. Do the action. In any case, the control unit 11 causes the carriage 16 to perform the empty path reciprocating operation at the set moving speed of the empty path reciprocating operation over the set period of the empty path reciprocating operation, thereby before and after the empty path reciprocating operation. Each stop time of the carriage 16 in the above is set to a predetermined value (time T2) or less, and a drying time T1 is secured from the end of the previous recording pass to the start of the next recording pass.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the recording device 10 mounts the recording head 18 for ejecting ink to the recording medium 30 and the recording head 18, and moves in the first direction (direction D1) and the first. By controlling the carriage 16 capable of performing movement in the second direction (direction D2), which is the opposite direction of the direction, and the recording head 18 and the carriage 16, the first carriage 16 accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18. A control unit 11 that realizes bidirectional recording by means of a first pass that moves in a direction and a second pass that moves the carriage 16 in a second direction accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18 is provided. Then, the control unit 11 executes ink by the third pass and the recording head 18 which is a movement in the first direction of the carriage 16 without ink ejection by the recording head 18, which is executed between the first pass and the second pass. The amount of ink to be ejected to the recording head 18 in the first pass or the second pass executed before the reciprocating operation during the reciprocating operation period with the fourth pass, which is the movement of the carriage 16 in the second direction without ejection. By changing the carriage 16 according to the above, the stop time between the movements of the carriage 16 is set to a predetermined predetermined value (time T2) or less.

According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 causes the carriage 16 to perform an empty path reciprocating operation within the period from the end of the previous recording path to the start of the next recording path, so that the carriage within the period can be used. Each stop time of 16 is set to a predetermined value or less. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from misunderstanding that the stop between the paths of the carriage 16 is a failure or the like. That is, the recording device 10 can execute bidirectional recording without causing the user to feel anxiety or discomfort.

Further, as the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the recording pass increases, the required drying time T1 tends to become longer. Therefore, from the third embodiment, the control unit 11 is empty when the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass or the second pass executed before the empty pass reciprocating operation is the first ink amount. The period of the pass reciprocating operation is set as the first period, and the amount of ink discharged to the recording head 18 in the first pass or the second pass executed before the empty pass reciprocating operation is a second ink amount larger than the first ink amount. In some cases, it is possible to capture a case where the period of the empty pass reciprocating operation is a second period longer than the first period.
According to the above configuration, the larger the amount of ink ejected to the recording head 18 in the recording pass, the longer the period of the subsequent empty pass reciprocating operation is, so that the control unit 11 ejects ink to the recording head 18 in the recording pass. Regardless of the amount, the stop time between movements of the carriage 16 can be set to a predetermined value or less.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the recording head 18 for ejecting ink to the recording medium 30 and the recording head 18 are mounted, and the movement in the first direction (direction D1) is in the opposite direction of the first direction. A recording method for controlling a carriage 16 capable of moving in a second direction (direction D2) is disclosed. According to the recording method, the first pass is the movement of the carriage 16 accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18 in the first direction, and the second pass is the movement of the carriage 16 accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head 18 in the second direction. A third pass, which is a movement of the carriage 16 in the first direction without ink ejection by the recording head 18, which is executed between the first pass and the second pass when bidirectional recording is performed by the two passes. The recording head takes a period of reciprocating motion with the fourth pass, which is the movement of the carriage 16 in the second direction without ink ejection by the recording head 18, in the first pass or the second pass executed before the reciprocating motion. By changing the amount of ink to be ejected to 18, the stop time between the movements of the carriage 16 is set to a predetermined value (time T2) or less.

5. Other explanation:
The mode of changing the period of the empty path reciprocating operation described in the second embodiment and the third embodiment will be supplemented. The control unit 11 sets the moving speed of the carriage 16 for the empty pass reciprocating operation slower as the period of the empty path reciprocating operation set according to the amount of ink in the recording path is longer, or the number of reciprocating empty paths. It is sufficient to realize the empty path reciprocating operation by increasing the number of.

Needless to say, the mode in which the area recorded by the previous recording path and the area recorded by the next recording path are overlapped is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, the control unit 11 associates the pixels constituting the print data with each recording path so that all the raster lines constituting the page represented by the print data are recorded in two or more recording passes, and each nozzle. It may be assigned to 19.

The control unit 11 may calculate the amount of ink ejected by the recording head 18 in the recording path based on information other than the number of dots. The control unit 11 may estimate the amount of ink for each recording pass, for example, based on the image data expressed in multiple gradations before the halftone processing is performed.

One movement of the carriage 16 that receives power from the CR motor 17 generally includes an acceleration period in which the vehicle accelerates from a speed of 0, a constant speed period in which the speed is substantially stabilized at some target value after the acceleration, and a constant speed. It consists of a deceleration period that decelerates from the speed of the period to speed 0. The acceleration period and deceleration period are shorter than the constant speed period, and the carriage speed simply refers to the target value. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the moving speed of the carriage 16 described so far refers to the speed of the carriage 16 in the constant speed period.

10 ... Recording device, 11 ... Control unit, 12 ... Firmware, 13 ... Display unit, 14 ... Operation reception unit, 15 ... Transport unit, 16 ... Carriage, 17 ... CR motor, 18 ... Recording head, 19 ... Nozzle, 20c, 20m, 20y, 20k ... Nozzle row, 21 ... Nozzle surface, 30 ... Recording medium, 40c ... Print data

Claims (9)

A recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium,
A carriage equipped with the recording head and capable of moving in the first direction and moving in the second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction.
By controlling the recording head and the carriage, the first pass, which is the movement of the carriage in the first direction with ink ejection by the recording head, and the carriage of the carriage without ink ejection by the recording head. It is equipped with a second pass that moves in the second direction and a control unit that realizes unidirectional recording by.
The control unit changes the moving speed of the second pass according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass, thereby setting a predetermined value of the stop time between the movements of the carriage. A recording device characterized by: The control unit
When the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass is the first ink amount, the moving speed of the second pass is defined as the first speed.
When the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass is a second ink amount larger than the first ink amount, the moving speed of the second pass is defined as a second speed slower than the first speed. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording device is provided. The control unit
The moving speed of the second pass is calculated according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass.
When the calculated moving speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined lower limit speed of the carriage, the moving speed of the second pass is set as the calculated moving speed.
When the calculated movement speed is less than the lower limit speed, the first pass is followed by the second pass and the movement of the carriage in the first direction without ink ejection by the recording head. The recording according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the three passes and the fourth pass, which is the movement of the carriage in the second direction without ink ejection by the recording head, are executed. apparatus. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined value is set to 2 seconds. A recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium,
A carriage equipped with the recording head and capable of moving in the first direction and moving in the second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction.
By controlling the recording head and the carriage, a first pass, which is a movement of the carriage in the first direction accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head, and the first path of the carriage accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head. It is equipped with a second pass that moves in two directions and a control unit that realizes bidirectional recording by.
The control unit is executed by the third pass and the recording head, which is a movement of the carriage in the first direction without ink ejection by the recording head, which is executed between the first pass and the second pass. The period of the reciprocating operation with the fourth pass, which is the movement of the carriage in the second direction without ink ejection, is performed on the recording head in the first pass or the second pass executed before the reciprocating operation. A recording device characterized in that the stop time between movements of the carriage is set to a predetermined value or less by changing the amount of ink to be ejected. When the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass or the second pass executed before the reciprocating operation is the first ink amount, the control unit sets the period of the reciprocating operation as the first period. When the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass or the second pass executed before the reciprocating operation is a second ink amount larger than the first ink amount, the reciprocating operation is performed. The recording device according to claim 5, wherein the period is a second period longer than the first period. The recording device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the predetermined value is set to 2 seconds. A recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium,
A recording method in which the recording head is mounted and a carriage that can perform movement in the first direction and movement in the second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction, is controlled.
A first pass, which is a movement of the carriage in the first direction with ink ejection by the recording head, and a second pass, which is a movement of the carriage in the second direction without ink ejection by the recording head. When performing unidirectional recording with,
By changing the moving speed of the second pass according to the amount of ink discharged to the recording head in the first pass, the stop time between the movements of the carriage is set to a predetermined value or less. A recording method characterized by. A recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium,
A recording method in which the recording head is mounted and a carriage that can perform movement in the first direction and movement in the second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction, is controlled.
A first pass, which is a movement of the carriage in the first direction accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head, and a second pass, which is a movement of the carriage in the second direction accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head. When performing bidirectional recording with
The third pass, which is the movement of the carriage in the first direction without ink ejection by the recording head, which is executed between the first pass and the second pass, is not accompanied by ink ejection by the recording head. The period of the reciprocating operation with the fourth pass, which is the movement of the carriage in the second direction, is set to the amount of ink to be ejected to the recording head in the first pass or the second pass executed before the reciprocating operation. A recording method characterized in that the stop time between movements of the carriage is set to a predetermined value or less by changing the carriage accordingly.