JP2024143753A - Recording device and recording system equipped with the recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] When only monochrome images are printed in a printing device having multiple print heads, if the image is printed using only one print head for black ink, it is necessary to frequently replace only one ink tank that supplies ink to the print head, which may reduce usability.
The ink jet recording apparatus includes a plurality of ejection sections, each of which has at least two ejection sections that eject black ink, and an image is recorded on a recording medium using one of the plurality of ejection sections that is different from the ejection section used in the previous recording.
[Selected figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device and a printing system including the printing device. In particular, the present invention relates to a printing device equipped with a full-line printhead that performs printing according to an inkjet method, and a printing system including the printing device and a host device.

Generally, a recording device using an inkjet recording head (hereinafter, recording head) that ejects ink to record records a color image using four colors of ink: black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink. Therefore, a recording device is provided with four recording heads for ejecting these four colors of ink, and records on a recording medium using the four recording heads (Patent Document 1).

JP 2022-111598 A

In recent years, there are cases where a recording device that records color images is desired to record only monochrome images. In such cases, the device continues to record monochrome images using only the recording head that ejects black ink out of the four recording heads.

Therefore, in the past, only one ink tank that supplies ink to the black ink recording head among the multiple recording heads had to be replaced frequently, which could reduce usability.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems with the conventional printing apparatus, and aims to provide a printing apparatus having multiple print heads that can suppress a decrease in usability even when printing only monochrome images. It also aims to provide a host device that provides image data to the printing apparatus, and a printing system that includes the host device and the printing apparatus.

A recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a recording device that records on a recording medium based on image data, and includes a first ink tank that contains black ink and is detachable from the recording device, a second ink tank that contains black ink and is detachable from the recording device, a transport means that transports the recording medium, a receiving means that receives image data, a first ejection unit that ejects black ink supplied from the first ink tank, and a second ejection unit that ejects black ink supplied from the second ink tank, and includes a plurality of ejection units that record an image on the recording medium transported by the transport means based on image data received via the receiving means, and the plurality of ejection units record an image on the recording medium transported by the transport means using one of the first and second ejection units that is different from the ejection unit used during the previous recording.

The present invention provides a printing device and a printing system that can suppress a decrease in usability even when printing only monochrome images using a printing device with multiple print heads.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an outline of the configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the printing apparatus. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the recording device receives a plurality of data. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for calculating a life count value of a recording head. 5 is a flowchart showing control when an image is recorded on a recording medium. 6 is a flowchart showing a method for selecting a recording head to be used for recording an image from among a plurality of recording heads. 11 is a flowchart showing a method for calculating a dot count.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Note that in this embodiment, the same or similar components will be described with the same reference numerals.

In this specification, "recording" refers not only to the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures on a recording medium, but also to both meaningful and insignificant information. Furthermore, it broadly refers to the formation of images, designs, patterns, etc. on a recording medium, or the processing of a medium, regardless of whether the information is visible to humans or not.

In addition, "recording medium" refers not only to the paper used in typical recording devices, but also broadly to anything that can accept ink, such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc.

Furthermore, "ink" should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of "print" above. Therefore, it refers to a liquid that can be applied to a recording medium to form an image, design, pattern, etc., or to process the recording medium, or to process the ink (for example, to solidify or insolubilize the coloring matter in the ink applied to the recording medium).

Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the term "recording element" refers collectively to the ejection port, the liquid path connected to it, and the element that generates the energy used to eject ink.

<Overall Overview of Recording Device>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the internal structure of a printing apparatus 100 equipped with an inkjet printhead.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 100 and an external device 101 such as a PC are connected via a USB cable. The recording device 100 has four full-line recording heads (hereinafter, recording heads) 102-105, each of which has a plurality of nozzles arranged across the entire width of the recording medium, aligned in the conveying direction of the recording medium. The arrangement width of the nozzles provided in each of the recording heads 102-105 is equal to or greater than the maximum recording width of the recording medium that can be conveyed in the recording device 100. By making the nozzle width larger relative to the recording medium, it is possible to eject ink from the nozzles to form an image without moving (scanning) each of the recording heads. In this embodiment, each of the four recording heads 102-105 ejects black ink to record an image. The four recording heads 102-105 are replaceable for each recording head depending on the usage status of the nozzles provided in each head. In this embodiment, the recording heads 102-105 are an example of a plurality of ejection units including a first ejection unit and a second ejection unit.

The external device 101 transmits image data to be recorded on a recording medium by the image forming device 100. Here, the image data transmitted by the external device 101 includes information such as the image to be recorded by the recording device, the number of labels on which the same image will be recorded (copied), and the life count value of the recording head calculated when the image is recorded (information regarding the number of ejections of each nozzle). For example, if the image data includes information to record (copied) a first image on three labels and information to record (copied) a second image on two labels, the recording device 100 accepts the information regarding the first image as information on the first page and the information regarding the second image as information on the second page.

The recording device 100 receives the image data, feeds a roll-shaped recording medium 106 including the label, and conveys it by clamping it between a pressure roller 107 and a conveyor belt 108, while recording is performed by each of the recording heads 102 to 105. Here, the conveyor belt 108 is an example of a conveying means. The recording heads 102 to 105 record by ejecting ink onto the recording medium according to a recording timing determined based on the movement distance of the leading edge of the recording medium detected by a leading edge detection sensor 109. For example, in this embodiment, the leading edge of the label to be recorded is determined by detecting the difference in transmittance between the label attached to the backing paper at a specified interval and the backing paper using the leading edge detection sensor 109.

When not recording on the recording medium or when the nozzle cleaning operation is not being performed (standby), the recording heads 102-105 wait in a position where the nozzles are sealed with caps (described later) that prevent the nozzles from drying out. When recording on the recording medium, the recording heads 102-105 move from the standby position to a recording position where they are spaced a predetermined distance from the conveyor belt 108. At this time, the distance between the recording heads 102-105 and the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyor belt 108 is set so that the behavior of the ink droplets ejected onto the recording medium does not vary.

The recording device 100 is also provided with ink tanks 112-115, which are tanks that store ink to be supplied to the recording heads 102-105. In this embodiment, black ink is stored in all of the ink tanks 112-115. The ink tanks 112-115 and recording heads 102-105 are paired and connected to each other by tubes (not shown). The heights of the recording heads 102-105 and the ink tanks 112-115 are set so that the capillary force at the nozzles is greater than the head differential pressure, so that the amount of ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording heads 102-105 is automatically supplied from the ink tanks 112-115.

Ink supplied from ink tanks 112-115 is stored inside the print heads 102-105, and the amount of ink inside is detected by a sensor provided in each of the print heads 102-105. If the amount of ink inside the print head is less than a predetermined amount, a pump (not shown) creates negative pressure inside the print head, and ink is sucked from the ink tank and supplied into the print head.

The recording device 100 is provided with a waste liquid tank 24 that stores waste ink consumed during the cleaning operation of the recording heads 102 to 105. Cleaning is performed when the nozzles of the recording heads 102 to 105 become clogged with foreign matter such as dirt, causing problems with ink ejection. The cleaning operation involves driving a pump while the nozzles of the recording heads 102 to 105 are sealed with caps (not shown) to forcibly suck ink out of the nozzles, thereby restoring the state of ink ejection from the nozzles.

Next, the flow of ink in the recording device 100 will be explained using FIG. 2. Note that there are four flow paths between the recording heads 102-105 and the ink tanks 112-115, corresponding to each combination. Below, the configuration of the recording head 102 and ink tank 112 will be explained as an example, and explanations of the configurations of other combinations will be omitted as they are similar.

The recording head 102 is connected to an ink tank 112 by a supply flow path 42, and is configured to receive ink from the ink tank 112. Although we will not go into detail here, the recording head 103 is connected to an ink tank 113 by another supply flow path, and is configured to receive ink from the ink tank 113. The recording head 104 is connected to an ink tank 114 by another supply flow path, and is configured to receive ink from the ink tank 114. The recording head 105 is connected to an ink tank 115 by another supply flow path, and is configured to receive ink from the ink tank 115.

A cap 29 is provided at a position facing the nozzle surface of the recording head 102 on which the nozzles are provided. The cap 29 abuts against the nozzle surface of the recording head 15K to form a sealed space. An air release valve 30 for releasing air and an opening/closing valve 31 for suction are connected to the cap 29. Although explanation is omitted in this embodiment, caps with a configuration similar to that of the cap 29 are also provided on each of the recording heads 103 to 105.

The end of the on-off valve 31 to which the cap 29 is not connected is connected to a pressure reduction chamber 35. The pressure reduction chamber 35 is provided with a pressure sensor 46 that measures the pressure inside the pressure reduction chamber, and an atmospheric release valve 36 that releases the pressure inside the pressure reduction chamber. A pump 37 is also connected to the pressure reduction chamber 35, and a gas-liquid separation chamber 38 is provided at the end of the pump 37 to separate the waste liquid discharged from the pump 37 into gas and liquid.

The gas-liquid separation chamber 38 is connected to the pressure chamber 44 via a pressure transmission path 45, and is connected to the waste liquid tank 24 via a waste liquid valve 38. The supply path 42 corresponding to the black ink is provided with an in-flow path buffer 43K, which is a volume change section made of a flexible material, and the pressure chamber 44 forms a closed space that covers the in-flow path buffer 43K. The in-flow path buffer 43K can deform the flexible material by changing the pressure in the pressure chamber 44 using a pump 37 connected to the pressure chamber 44 via the gas-liquid separation chamber 38.

The ink tanks, in-flow path buffers, recording heads, and caps are provided in the same number as the number of ink tanks. That is, in this embodiment, four of each are provided. Also, in FIG. 2, there is only one flow path from the on-off valve 31 to the waste liquid tank 24 in the recording device 100, regardless of the number of ink tanks.

When refilling the recording head 102 with ink, the nozzle surface of the recording head 15K is covered with the cap 29, and the atmosphere release valve 30 of the cap 29 and the release valve 31 connected to the pump 37 are closed to seal the space inside the cap 29. Meanwhile, the atmosphere release valve 36 connected to the reduced pressure chamber 35 is closed, and the reduced pressure chamber 35 is reduced using the pump 37. At this time, the pressure inside the reduced pressure chamber 35 can be reduced to a predetermined pressure by controlling the operation of the pump 37 while detecting the pressure inside the reduced pressure chamber 35 with the pressure sensor 46. When the reduced pressure chamber 35 reaches the predetermined pressure, the operation of the pump 37 is stopped and the opening and closing valve 31 is opened, thereby reducing the pressure inside the recording head 102 through the nozzle, and ink from the ink tank 112 is supplied to the recording head 112 through the supply flow path 42.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the recording device 100. The CPU 201 provided in the controller 200 of the recording device 100 executes the control program stored in the ROM 202 and controls each component. The controller 200 also uses the RAM 203 as a work area for various data processing and a receiving buffer, and uses the image buffer memories (hereinafter, memories) 204 to 207 as image development units to store image data for four black images (black (1) to (4)) corresponding to the recording heads 102 to 105. In this embodiment, the memory 204 stores image data to be recorded by the recording head 102, the memory 205 stores image data to be recorded by the recording head 103, the memory 206 stores image data to be recorded by the recording head 104, and the fold 207 stores image data to be recorded by the recording head 105.

The controller 200 further includes a head drive circuit 208 that drives the print heads 102 to 105, and a motor driver 210 that drives various motors 209 that control the cleaning operation and printing operation to keep each print head in an optimal state for printing. The controller 200 also includes an ASIC control circuit 220 that controls a sensor 211 for controlling various operations and detecting the printing medium.

The recording device 100 also has a receiving unit 212 that receives image data and cleaning commands sent from the external device 101 via a USB cable, and operates according to the various received command instructions. However, the interface is not limited to USB, and the recording device 100 may be connected to the external device 101 via a wired or wireless network. In this embodiment, the controller 200 is an example of a control means, and the receiving unit 212 is an example of a receiving means.

As described above, this embodiment is configured so that black ink can be ejected from each of the four print heads 102 to 105. Therefore, black ink is stored in the four ink tanks 112 to 115. In this case, if a black image is formed by continuing to use only one of the four ink tanks and the print head until the ink tank is empty, it will be the same as recording an image using only black out of the four ink tanks (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). In other words, when forming only a black image, if the same print head is used to record an image until one ink tank is used up, the time between when the user starts using the printing device 100 and when the first ink tank is replaced will be short, which could reduce usability.

Therefore, in this embodiment, an image is recorded on a recording medium using a recording head different from the recording head used the previous time of recording. This causes the remaining amount of ink in the multiple ink tanks that supply ink to the multiple recording heads to be reduced approximately evenly. This prevents the time from increasing between when a user starts using a new ink tank and when the ink tank is replaced, and prevents a decrease in usability. Below, we will explain how to change the recording head when recording an image on a recording medium using the recording device 100 of this embodiment.

Here, using FIG. 4, we will explain the change of print head when the recording device 100 receives image data from the external device 101 and records it on the recording medium. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the recording device 100 receives multiple pieces of data in sequence. As shown in FIG. 4, when the recording device 100 receives multiple pieces of image data from the external device 101, it records the image using a print head different from the print head used during the previous recording.

For example, when the recording device 100 uses the recording head 105 to record image data (1) received via the receiving unit 212, the image data (1) is stored in the memory 207. The recording head 105 then records an image on the recording medium based on the image data (1) stored in the memory 207.

For image data (2) sent (to be processed) after image data (1), an image is formed using a recording head 103 different from the recording head 105 used previously. Therefore, the recording device 100 stores the image data (2) received via the receiving unit 212 in the memory 205. The recording head 103 then records an image on the recording medium based on the image data (2) stored in the memory 205. Subsequent control is similar, recording an image on the recording medium using a recording head different from the recording head used previously. In this way, the recording device 100 records an image using a recording head different from the recording head used during the previous recording.

In FIG. 4, image data (3) sent from external device 101 after image data (2) is recorded using recording head 104, and image data (4) sent from external device 101 after image data (3) is recorded using recording head 102. Note that FIG. 4 shows an example in which all recording heads 102 to 105 are used when four pieces of image data are received, but this is not limited to the above, as long as a different recording head from the one used last time is used. For example, when four pieces of image data are received, images may be recorded using only two or three of recording heads 102 to 105.

As described above, when recording an image, the recording device 100 forms an image on the recording medium using one of the multiple recording heads that is different from the recording head used last time. Therefore, in this embodiment, when selecting a recording head, the life count value of the recording head is used to control the use of a recording head that is actually different from the recording head used last time. The control for selecting a recording head based on the life count value is described in detail below.

<About the life count value of the recording head>
Each of the print heads 102 to 105 has a plurality of nozzles arranged in a width direction of the print medium that intersects with the transport direction of the print medium. In this embodiment, each print head has 5,184 nozzles, of which 5,124 nozzles are used to print an image on the print medium.

Whether or not each of the nozzles can eject ink is determined according to the image data being formed. Therefore, the frequency with which each of the nozzles is used varies depending on the image data. In this embodiment, the 5,124 nozzles are divided into 40 blocks, and for each block, the largest life count value of the nozzles contained within the block is calculated. Furthermore, the largest of the life count values for each block is set as the life count value of the print head.

Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for calculating the life count value of a print head in this embodiment. The bar graph in Figure 5 shows the largest life count value among the life counts of the nozzles contained in each print head block, with a larger value meaning a larger life count value. The life count value is incremented each time the print head is used to print an image, and is a judgment criterion used to prompt the user to replace the print head when it reaches a predetermined value. The method for calculating the life count value will be described later.

In FIG. 5, the nozzles of each print head 102-105 are divided into 40 blocks, and the life count values of blocks a, b, c, x, and y are used as an example for explanation. When comparing the largest life count value for each block in print head 102, block c has the highest life count value and block a has the lowest life count value. Since block c has the largest life count value among the blocks, the life count value of print head 102 is the life count value of block c. Similarly, the life count value of print head 103 is the life count value of block x, which has the largest life count value, the life count value of print head 104 is the life count value of block c, and the life count value of print head 105 is the life count value of block y.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, of the print heads in the recording device 100, the print head with the largest life count value is print head 102, and the print head with the smallest life count value is print head 105. In other words, of the print heads in the recording device 100, the print head with the most frequently used nozzles is print head 102. Therefore, when the recording device 100 receives image data from the external device 101, in the state shown in FIG. 5, it executes a process of recording an image on a recording medium using print head 105.

When an image is recorded on a recording medium using the recording head 105, the life count value of the recording head 105 is updated. Then, when image data is next received from the external device 101, the image is again recorded on the recording medium using the recording head with the smallest life count value among the recording heads 102 to 105 of the recording device 100. This ensures that the life count value of the recording head is always up to date, and when an image is recorded on a recording medium based on image data sent from the external device 101, it becomes possible to select a recording head according to its life count value (frequency of use).

This makes the remaining amount of ink in the multiple ink tanks that supply ink to the multiple print heads roughly uniform, and the life count of the print heads is also added up uniformly. This prevents the time between when a user starts using a new ink tank and when the ink tank needs replacing from becoming too long, which reduces usability.

Next, the overall control when the recording device 100 records an image on a recording medium will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process when the recording device 100 records an image on a recording medium. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 starts when a print command including image data is received from the external device 101.

When the CPU 201 receives a print command from the external device 101 via the receiving unit 212, it executes a print head selection process (S601). The print head selection process will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

Then, the CPU 201 transmits image data to the memory corresponding to the print head selected in S601. (S602) For example, if the print head 102 is selected, the image data is transmitted to the memory 204. The print command received from the external device 101, which is the trigger for starting the process in FIG. 6, contains, in addition to the image data, dot count information (information regarding the number of ejections) for each block of each nozzle of each print head related to the image data contained in the print command. The process performed by the external device 101 will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.

Then, the CPU 201 records an image on the recording medium using the recording head selected in S601 via the ASIC control circuit 220 (S603). If images based on all image data received from the external device 101 have not been recorded on the recording medium (S604 no), the process returns to S603 and continues recording images.

When an image based on all image data received from the external device 101 has been recorded on the recording medium (S604 yes), the CPU 201 adds the dot count data for each block of each nozzle of the recording head selected in S601 from among the recording heads 102 to 105 to the dot count data received from the external device 101, stores the added data in a non-volatile memory (not shown) provided in the recording head (S605), and ends the flow of FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the non-volatile memory provided in the recording head is an example of a storage means for storing information regarding the number of nozzle discharges.

Next, the print head selection process in S601 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the process of selecting a print head to be used for printing an image from print heads 102-105. First, for all print heads 102-105, CPU 201 obtains the largest life count value from the nozzles contained in each block into which the nozzles of each print head are divided (S701).

Then, the CPU 201 sets the life count Max value of each block acquired in S701 to the life count value of each print head (S702). After that, the print head with the smallest life count value among the print heads set in S702 is acquired (S703), and the acquired print head is selected as the print head to be used for printing the image (S704).

Next, the method of calculating the dot count used in S603 in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the method of calculating the dot count performed by an external device 101 such as a PC. A control unit provided in the external device 101 performs binarization processing of the image data to generate data indicating the presence or absence of ink ejection from each nozzle based on the image data (S801).

Then, the number of pixels of the data binarized in S801 is calculated (S802). After that, the control unit sets N=0 (S803) and calculates the Max pixel number of the pixels for the nozzles included in block n (S804). Here, in this embodiment, the 5124 nozzles are divided so that each block contains approximately 128 nozzles. As a result, blocks 1 to 39 are composed of 128 nozzles per block, and block 40 is composed of 132 nozzles. Therefore, the largest pixel number of the pixel numbers corresponding to the 128 nozzles in blocks 1 to 39 is calculated, and the largest pixel number of the pixel numbers corresponding to the 132 nozzles in block 40 is calculated.

Then, the control unit stores the Max pixel count of block n calculated in S804 as the life count value of block n (S805). Thereafter, it is determined whether N=40, and if N is not 40 (S806 no), it returns to S804 as N+1 (S807) and stores the life count values for all blocks. If N=40 (S806 yes) and the life count values for all blocks have been stored, the data is sent to the recording device 100 as the life count value of each block (S808).

Note that while FIG. 8 shows an example in which the process is performed by the external device 101, the process may also be performed by the recording device 100 when executing the flow in FIG. 6.

As described above, in this embodiment, the print head with the least frequently used nozzle is selected based on the life count value of the print heads 102 to 105 to print an image. This makes the frequency of use of each of the multiple print heads roughly uniform, which in turn makes the ink in the multiple ink tanks run out in roughly uniform ways. Therefore, by determining which print head to use depending on the frequency of use of the nozzles of the print head, the print head is essentially determined depending on the frequency of use of the ink tank. This makes it possible to provide a printing device and printing system that can suppress a decrease in usability even when only monochrome images are printed in a printing device 100 that has multiple print heads.

In this embodiment, the recording device 100 is provided with ink tanks 112-115 that store black ink, and ink heads 102-105 that eject black ink, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, even in a recording device equipped with multiple ink heads that eject the four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, the ink tanks may be replaced with black ink tanks after cleaning the ink heads and ink flow paths, thereby replacing the recording head with one that supports black ink. In this case, the above-mentioned control may be configured to operate in a black-only mode. The determination to operate in the black-only mode may also be made by detecting the type of ink tank.

In this embodiment, a configuration has been shown in which all four of the four print heads are used as print heads that eject black ink, but this embodiment can be applied to any configuration in which two or more print heads are used to print black images. Even with this configuration, usability can be improved compared to when an image is printed using one print head and ink tank.

In this embodiment, the print head is selected based on the life count of the print head, but the print head may also be selected based on the amount of ink consumed in each ink tank.

In addition, in this embodiment, the recording head is switched for each image data received from the external device 100, but the recording head may be switched for each page included in the image data. Also, the recording head may be switched for each label. Even with this configuration, the recording head can be used uniformly and the amount of ink consumed can be roughly uniform, improving usability.

In addition, in this embodiment, the print head is selected when printing an image using print heads 102 to 105, but the above-mentioned control does not need to be executed when printing a test pattern, for example, when adjusting the print head.

In the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which the recording head is always switched to record an image, but the above-mentioned control may be performed after the life count of the recording head reaches a predetermined value. For example, when the life count value of any of the recording heads reaches a predetermined value, the above-mentioned control may be executed as a usability improvement mode.

In either case, if the configuration executes the above-described control at least once between the time the recording head is new and the time the recording head is replaced, the control shown in this embodiment is considered to be executed.

In the present embodiment, the recording device 100 and the external device 101 are connected by wire, but they may be connected wirelessly. Image data may be transmitted using Wi-Fi, BlueTooth (registered trademark), or NFC (near field communication).

100 Recording device 101 External device 102 to 105 Recording head 106 Recording medium 107 Pressing roller 108 Conveyor belt 112 to 115 Ink tank 200 Controller 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 to 207 Image memory

Claims (5)

A recording device that records on a recording medium based on image data,
a first ink tank containing black ink and detachable from the recording device;
a second ink tank containing black ink and detachable from the recording device;
A conveying means for conveying a recording medium;
A receiving means for receiving image data;
a first ejection unit that ejects black ink supplied from the first ink tank, and a second ejection unit that ejects black ink supplied from the second ink tank, and a plurality of ejection units that record an image on a recording medium transported by the transport unit based on image data received via the receiving unit,
a recording device characterized in that the plurality of ejection sections record an image on the recording medium transported by the transport means using an ejection section among the first ejection section and the second ejection section that is different from the ejection section used during the previous recording. a storage unit that stores information regarding the number of times each nozzle is discharged from the first discharge unit and the number of times each nozzle is discharged from the second discharge unit;
a control means for controlling, based on the information stored in the storage means, one of the first and second discharge units which has a smaller number of discharges from the plurality of nozzles as a discharge unit different from the discharge unit used in the previous recording, so as to record an image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means;
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third ink tank containing black ink and detachable from the recording device;
a fourth ink tank that contains black ink and is detachable from the recording device;
the plurality of ejection sections further include a third ejection section that ejects black ink supplied from the third ink tank, and a fourth ejection section that ejects black ink supplied from the fourth ink tank,
2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ejection sections print an image on the recording medium transported by the transport means using an ejection section different from an ejection section used during a previous recording among the first ejection section, the second ejection section, the third ejection section, and the fourth ejection section. The recording device according to claim 1 ;
an external device that transmits image data to be recorded on a recording medium by the recording device to the recording device;
A recording system comprising: the external device generates information regarding the number of times of ejection of a plurality of nozzles provided in the ejection section based on image data to be transmitted to the recording device, and transmits the information regarding the number of times of ejection to the recording device;
5. The recording system according to claim 4.

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