JP3054248B2 - Recording method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method and an apparatus for performing printing on a printing medium by scanning a printing head having nozzle rows for ejecting ink in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, using a recording device such as a printer,
When two or more pieces of recording data having different resolutions are recorded so that they have the same size when recorded, the density conversion of the recording data having the different resolutions is performed in a process before recording in advance, and these recordings are performed. Recording was performed after the size became the same. For example, 200 dpi (dot /
In the case of printing image data of inches in a printer with a resolution of 400 dpi, the image data is printed twice in the vertical and horizontal directions (that is, overlapped twice in the vertical and horizontal directions).
At this time, if the time required for the recording process in the printer is the same as the time required for recording the image data of 400 dpi, the time required for recording the image data of 200 dpi is also the same. That is, even if the amount of image data to be recorded is small, the recording time is not shortened.

[0003]

In general, when the amount of image data is small, the transfer time required to transfer the image data to the printer is shortened. It is desirable to be shorter. For example, when a facsimile-received 200 dpi image data is recorded by a recording apparatus capable of recording at a resolution of 400 dpi, if the recording is performed at a recording processing speed corresponding to a resolution of 400 dpi, the recording speed is reduced with respect to the reception speed. Is slower. Thus, if the difference between the receiving speed and the recording speed is large, it is inefficient. Therefore, it is desirable that the recording device also performs recording at a resolution of 200 dpi and adjusts the recording speed to the receiving speed. However, separately providing such recording devices having different resolutions leads to an increase in size and cost of the device. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the printing speed by changing the printing processing speed of the printing apparatus (for example, the scanning speed of the printing head and the discharge cycle). Because there are many,
It is difficult to change the ejection cycle of the nozzle, and there is no simple method for increasing the recording speed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and when printing low-resolution image data, the scanning speed and ink ejection cycle of the recording head are increased, and interpolation is performed according to the ejection cycle and scanning speed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method and apparatus capable of printing low-resolution image data at a high speed by increasing the ejection period of nozzles by masking the image data.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head having a nozzle array for ejecting ink in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the nozzle array. Interpolating means for interpolating the image data in the nozzle row direction, scanning means for increasing the scanning speed of the recording head for scanning when recording the image data, and scanning the recording head by the scanning means. At the time of recording, a recording unit for performing recording by increasing the cycle of image data output to the recording head according to the scanning speed of the recording head, and at the time of recording by the recording unit, the image data interpolated by the interpolation unit. Mask means for masking and outputting to the recording head.

In order to achieve the above object, the recording method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, a recording method in which a recording head having a nozzle array for ink ejection is scanned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the nozzle array to perform recording on a recording medium. Interpolating and enlarging the image data in the nozzle row direction, determining a scanning speed of a recording head for recording the interpolated image data, and discharging ink from the recording head according to the scanning speed. Determining a cycle, masking the interpolated image data according to the scanning speed and the ink ejection cycle, and scanning the recording head at the scanning speed during recording of the image data, Outputting the image data to the recording head and performing recording at the ink ejection cycle.

[0007]

In the above arrangement, when low-resolution image data is input, the image data is interpolated and enlarged in the nozzle row direction of the recording head, and the scanning speed of the recording head for recording the interpolated image data is determined. I do. The ink ejection cycle from the recording head is determined according to the determined scanning speed, and the interpolated image data is masked according to the scanning speed and the ink ejection cycle. And
At the time of recording image data, the recording head is caused to scan at the determined scanning speed, and is output to the masked image data recording head to perform recording at the determined ink ejection cycle.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

This system comprises a host 1, a printer 2, an external device 3 storing image data and the like, and the host 1 performs image data communication with the external device 3 and a keyboard (not shown). Document data and the like are created according to the information input from. Host 1
The image data sent from the printer 2 to the printer 2 is formed on the recording paper by the printer 2. In this embodiment, the data density of the image data sent from the external device 3 is 200 dpi both vertically and horizontally, and the density of the image data created by the document creation function stored in the host 1 is 4 dpi.
00 dpi.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal configuration of the printer 2 of the embodiment.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 9 denotes a head cartridge having an ink jet recording head (91), which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 4, and reference numeral 11 denotes a state in which the cartridge 9 is mounted and scans in the S (sub-scanning) direction in the drawing. Carriage. Reference numeral 13 denotes a hook for attaching the head cartridge 9 to the carriage 11, and reference numeral 15 denotes a lever for operating the hook 13. Reference numeral 19 denotes a support plate that supports an electrical connection to the head cartridge 9. Reference numeral 21 denotes a flexible cable for connecting the electrical connection unit and the main body control unit. Reference numeral 23 denotes a guide shaft for guiding the carriage 11 in the S direction.
5 is inserted. Reference numeral 27 denotes a timing belt to which the carriage 11 is fixed and which transmits power for moving the carriage 11 in the S direction, and is stretched around pulleys 29A and 29B arranged on both sides of the apparatus. The driving force is transmitted to the one pulley 29B from the carriage motor 31 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a platen roller for regulating the recording surface of a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter, referred to as recording paper) and transporting the recording medium during recording or the like. . Reference numeral 37 denotes a paper pan for guiding the recording paper from the paper feed tray (not shown) to the recording position. Reference numeral 39 is disposed in the middle of the recording paper feeding path and presses the recording paper toward the platen roller 33. It is a feed roller for transporting this. Reference numeral 41 denotes a discharge roller which is disposed downstream of the recording position in the recording paper transport direction and discharges the recording paper toward a discharge port (not shown).
Reference numeral 42 denotes a spur provided corresponding to the paper discharge roller 41, which presses the roller 41 via the recording paper, and
1 is generated. Reference numeral 43 denotes a release lever for releasing the urging of the feed roller 39, the pressing plate 45, and the spur 42 when the recording paper is set.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a pressing plate for suppressing the floating of the recording paper in the vicinity of the recording position and ensuring the state of close contact with the platen roller 33. Since the distance between the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper is relatively small, and the distance must be strictly controlled to avoid contact between the recording paper and the discharge port forming surface. The arrangement of the holding plate 45 is effective.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a cap formed of an elastic material such as rubber which faces the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head at the home position.
It is supported so that it can be separated. The cap 51 is used for protection of the recording head at the time of non-recording or the like, and for ejection recovery processing of the recording head. This ejection recovery process is a process in which an energy generating element provided inside the ink ejection port and used for ink ejection is driven to eject ink from all the ejection ports, thereby causing bubbles, dust, thickening and recording. This is a process (preliminary ejection) for removing the cause of ejection failure such as ink that is no longer suitable for printing, or a process for removing the cause of ejection failure by forcibly ejecting ink from the ejection port.

Numeral 53 denotes a pump used for applying a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink and for sucking the ink received in the cap 51 during the discharge recovery process by the forced discharge and the discharge recovery process by the preliminary discharge. is there. A tube 55 communicates with the waste ink tank 55 sucked by the pump 53. Reference numeral 59 denotes a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head. The blade 59 projects to the recording head side to perform wiping in the process of moving the head, and a retracted position that does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. It is movably supported. Reference numeral 61 denotes a recovery motor, and reference numeral 63 denotes a cam device for receiving power transmitted from the motor 61 to drive the pump 53 and move the cap 51 and the blade 59, respectively.

Next, the details of the above-described head cartridge 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a head cartridge 9 used as recording means of a printer used in the present embodiment, which is of a disposable type in which an ink storage unit as an ink supply source is integrated.

The recording head 91 of the cartridge 9
Is provided with a heater board (not shown) in which an electrothermal conversion element (ejection heater) and a wiring such as Au for supplying electric power are formed on a Si substrate by a film forming technique.
The recording head 91 has a supply tank, receives ink supply from an ink storage unit 92 serving as an ink supply source, and functions as a sub tank that guides ink to a common liquid chamber formed by joining a heater board and a top plate. This ink storage section 9
2, a suction body for impregnating the ink is provided inside, and is disposed in the ink tank body. Reference numeral 93 denotes an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge 9 with the atmosphere. A liquid-repellent material is disposed inside the air communication port 93, and thereby, the air communication port 9 is provided.
3 is prevented from leaking.

Then, the ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge 9 to the supply tank constituting the recording head 91 from the supply port, passes through the inside, and then is supplied from the outlet to the appropriate supply pipe and the ink introduction port of the top plate. Through the common liquid chamber. Then, based on a predetermined print signal, the discharge heater is caused to generate heat, and the energy is used to discharge ink to obtain a desired print image.

This printer uses a recording head and a recording apparatus of an ink jet system using thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems as described above. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher recording density and higher precision.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding a liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to a liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Cause
As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed, which is effective. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the ejection port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal conversion pairs,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of heat energy corresponds to a discharge portion. A configuration based on JP-A-138461 can also be adopted. That is, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of recording paper that can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration in which the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as a single recording head integrally formed. in addition,
A replaceable chip-type recording head or a recording head that can be electrically connected to the device main body or supplied with ink from the device main body even when the serial type is mounted on the device main body as in the above example. It is also possible to use a cartridge type recording head provided integrally with the head itself. In this example, the example of the cartridge type is shown.

Also, provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus,
It is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means,
Pressurizing or suctioning means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and performing a predischarge mode in which discharge is performed separately from recording performs stable recording. It is effective for.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the arrangement of nozzles of the recording head 91 of the printer 2 of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 5, 64 nozzles from (64) to (64) are arranged in a row. Each nozzle interval a is 1/400 inch (400 dpi), that is, it corresponds to a recording density of 400 dpi. Then, by the rotation driving of the carriage motor 31 shown in FIG.
That is, two-dimensional image formation is enabled by moving in the sub-scanning direction.

The conveyance amount of the recording paper for each row by the paper conveyance motor 35 corresponds to the length of the nozzle row.
That is, the paper is conveyed by an amount corresponding to a 64 dot pitch in which an image is formed using 64 nozzles, that is, 64/400 inches, thereby preparing for recording of the next line. The relationship between the driving amount of the carriage motor 31 and the moving amount of the recording head 91 is such that the recording head 91 is 6/400 inches, that is, six times the nozzle interval a for one pulse applied to the carriage motor 31. It is set to be conveyed by a corresponding distance. As a result, 400 dp
When recording the image data of i, the carriage motor 31
Each time is driven by one pulse, the ink is ejected from the recording head 91 six times.

The home position photosensor 64 of the carriage 11 (FIG. 3) emits a signal when it is shielded from light by a light-shielding plate (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the carriage 11. Based on this signal, it is detected that the carriage 11 has reached the home position, and the pulse count value for detecting the position of the carriage 11 is reset to a "0" pulse.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer 2 of the embodiment.

Reference numeral 65 denotes a printer controller, which controls each section based on image data from the host 1 and performs printing. Reference numeral 66 denotes a head drive circuit, which controls a voltage applied to each ejection heater corresponding to the 64 nozzles of the recording head 91. Reference numeral 67 denotes a mask processing circuit which performs data conversion by applying a mask pattern consisting of "0" or "1" to image data. This mask processing circuit 67 is a circuit mainly composed of an AND gate. Reference numeral 68 denotes a data interpolation circuit, for example, when image data of 200 dpi is sent from the host 1, the image data is interpolated and doubled in the nozzle row direction so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement of the recording head 91. This is a circuit for enlargement. The data interpolation circuit 68 inputs and latches one line of image data from the printer controller 65 in the sub-scanning direction, for example.
The one line data is output twice for each line,
It is doubled in the column direction.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are timing charts showing the relationship between the drive pulse of the carriage motor 31 and the ink ejection timing of the recording head 91. FIG.

In this embodiment, two types of image data from the host 1 are set. That is, one is image data of mode A (resolution 400 dpi) and the other is image data of mode B (resolution 200 dpi), and ejection timing pulses A and B for controlling ink ejection from the recording head 91 correspond to each of them. Is set. The ejection timing pulse B is obtained by dividing the ejection timing pulse A by two. As described above, six ejection timing pulses A are output for one driving pulse of the carriage motor 31.

The drive timing of the carriage motor 31 shown in FIG. 6 indicates the print timing in the print mode A. Here, the carriage motor 31 is 500 pps.
(Pulses / second), and ink ejection (drive of the recording head 91) is performed at a frequency of 3 KHz. This ink ejection control is performed in accordance with printing at a resolution of 400 dpi (print mode A).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the driving of the carriage motor 31 and the ink ejection timing in the recording mode B.

Here, the carriage motor 31 is 200
It is driven at 0 pps, and the frequency of the ejection timing pulse B is 6 KHz.

Here, as shown in FIG.
The recording head 91 designed to be driven by
When driven at a frequency of 6 KHz as shown in (1), it is not possible to continuously discharge ink due to the limit of the heat cycle of the heating element in the recording head 91 (for example, refilling of ink). Therefore, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the mask processing circuit 67 makes the print data output to each nozzle valid once every two scans in the S direction.
So that the voltage application cycle to the nozzle is halved,
The driving of the recording head 91 at a frequency of 3 KHz is realized.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a mask pattern included in the mask processing circuit 67 in the printer 2 of this embodiment.

This mask pattern is a pattern in which "0" and "1" are alternately arranged in the main scanning direction which is the nozzle direction, and "0" and "1" are alternately arranged also in the sub-scanning direction. is there. Note that it is not necessary to prepare all of these pattern data. For example, patterns in column C and column D may be prepared and used alternately.

Thus, for the input image data,
By applying this mask pattern, the recording head 9
That is, the ejection from one nozzle is performed only once in two times. That is, even when the recording head 91 is driven at a frequency of 6 kHz, each nozzle is equivalent to driving at 3 kHz.

In this manner, the mode B (2000 pps) is selected when recording image data with a resolution of 200 dpi, as opposed to the mode A (500 pps) when recording image data with a resolution of 400 dpi. The moving speed is increased four times. This can greatly reduce the recording time. For example, in the printer 2 of the present embodiment, the time required for the carriage 11 to move at 500 pps over an A4 size paper width of 210 mm is about 1.1 seconds. On the other hand, the speed of the carriage 11 is set to 2000
When moving at pps, it takes about 0.28 seconds. In other words, when the carriage 11 moves by one line of the A4 size recording paper, the recording time in the mode B is reduced by about 0.82 seconds. In one page of the A4 size, this is repeated about 70 lines. The shortening time per page is about 0.82 × 70 = 57.4 (seconds).

The operation of the printer 2 of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the recovery motor 61 is operated to perform recovery processing of the recording head 91 to prepare for the start of recording. Next, in step S2, the paper transport motor 35 is operated to transport the recording paper to a predetermined position. In step S3, the recording data from the host 1 is received, and in step S4
Then, based on the resolution of the print data, it is determined whether the print mode is B (image data with a resolution of 200 dpi). It is not recording in mode B, that is, the resolution is 40
If the print data is 0 dpi, the process proceeds to step S5, and shifts to printing in print mode A in which printing is performed by driving the carriage motor 31 at 500 pps.

On the other hand, if the recording is not in the mode B in step S4, the flow advances to step S6 to perform data interpolation and
The image data of 00 dpi is converted into image data of 400 dpi. Then, the process proceeds to a step S7, at which a mask process for applying the mask pattern shown in FIG. 8 to the interpolated image data is performed. Next, in step S8, the carriage motor 31 is driven at 2000 pps (mode B) to scan the carriage 11.

In step S7, 400 dpi image data is output to the head drive circuit 66, and the recording head 91 is driven to eject ink to perform recording. At this time, when printing in mode A, the ink ejection timing of the print head 91 is every (1/3000) second, and
In the case of the recording in (1), it is every (1/6000) seconds. In step S10, the print head 91 is driven until the carriage 11 reaches the printing end of the row. When the printing end is reached, the process proceeds to step S11, in which the driving of the printing head 91 (ink ejection) is stopped. Next, step S
In step S13, the carriage motor 31 is reversed to return the recording head 91 to the home position.
To feed a predetermined amount of paper (an amount corresponding to the length of the nozzle row of the recording head 91).

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the recording of one page has been completed. If the recording has not been completed, the process returns to step S3, and the above-described operation is repeatedly executed. 1 in step S14
When the recording of the page is completed, the process proceeds to step S15, in which the recovery motor 61 is driven to perform a recovery operation.
To eject the recorded recording paper.

FIGS. 10A to 10C show that the resolution is 200.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a recording example of a recording state of image data of dpi.

FIG. 10A shows a recording example of the alphabet letter "D" represented by a dot density with a resolution of 200 dpi. In the drawing, a portion indicated by 100 indicates one dot. If the image data having a resolution of 200 dpi is directly recorded at a dot density of a resolution of 400 dpi, the length of the recorded character becomes half both vertically and horizontally.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the character pattern is doubled in the vertical direction (nozzle direction) by the data interpolation circuit 68. 400 dpi based on this enlarged pattern
FIG. 10B shows a recording example in the case where the recording is performed by using.
When recording is performed at 400 dpi in this way, the recorded 1
The size of the dot is half the length and width of the dot recorded at 200 dpi (the size of 1/4) as indicated by 101, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the recorded character "D" Is shrunk in half-width.

Further, FIG. 10C shows that after the mask processing is performed on the image data by the mask processing circuit 67, the scanning speed of the carriage 11 is quadrupled and the driving of the recording head 91 is doubled. The results obtained at speed are shown. Here, the dot 101 in FIG. 10B corresponds to the dot 201 in FIG. Also, the dots 102 in FIG. 10B are missing during the mask processing and are not recorded in FIG. 10C. Further, since the ejection frequency of the recording head 91 is twice and the scanning speed of the carriage 11 is four times,
The recording pitch in the sub-scanning direction (S direction) is doubled. That is, the interval between the column 103 and the column 104 in FIG. 10B is doubled as shown by 203 and 204 in FIG. 10C, and the shape of the resulting recorded character “D” is It returns to the original character size (FIG. 10A).

In FIG. 10 (C), it is conceivable that each dot is recorded at every other dot and the dot quality is reduced because the dots are scattered. However, in actuality, due to the characteristics of the ink discharge type printer, the recorded dots spread in a circular shape, so that the dots are almost connected. For this reason, deterioration in image quality due to generation of a gap between dots does not occur. FIG. 11 schematically shows this state.

Also, considering the recording density of 400 dpi, only one dot is recorded in the four-dot area in FIG. 10C, but this recording density is 200 dpi of the original image data. It is the dot density itself, and there is no loss of information.

As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the ink ejection frequency from the recording head is doubled,
Further, by masking the image data to be recorded to compensate for the heat timing of the recording head and quadrupling the scanning speed of the recording head, the recording time of image data with low resolution can be greatly reduced. Further, the quality of the image recorded in such a manner does not cause a particularly large decrease because there is no data loss.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the interval between the nozzle rows is set to 400 dpi, and the resolution of image data is set to 400 dpi and 200 dpi.
In particular, it is not an integral multiple, and for example, the resolution of image data is 20
It is applicable even if the nozzle interval is 360 dpi at 0 dpi.

In this case, in order to allocate two nozzles of the nozzle row to one image data, the nozzles are substantially 180 dpi.
Becomes In this case, the recording pitch in the sub-scanning direction is 200 d
Since it is possible to set the recording speed to 180 dpi, the vertical direction becomes 180 dpi and the horizontal direction becomes 200 dpi, and some data loss occurs. However, the recording speed can be increased up to four times as in this embodiment.

For example, if the recording density of image data is 1
20 dpi, the print head nozzle spacing is 360 dpi
, N = 3 and 1 for 3 pitches in the sub-scanning direction.
It can be processed so as to perform two ejections. FIG. 12 shows an example of a mask pattern in that case. FIG. 13 shows a recording position when recording is performed using this mask pattern.

In FIG. 13, the positions indicated by black circles are positions where recording is effective, and are positions corresponding to "1" of the mask pattern. Here, the recording pitch in the sub-scanning direction is three times the nozzle interval. The recording speed in this case will be described in association with the above-described embodiment apparatus. The period for discharging the dots 301 and 302 corresponds to 1/3000 second, and during this period, 9 dots of sub-scanning are performed. Therefore, the moving speed of the carriage in the sub-scanning direction is 40
This can be 9 times that in the case of recording 0 dpi image data.

The present embodiment can of course also be used for enlarging an image. For example, when 400 dpi image data is enlarged twice, if a sequence for recording 200 dpi image data is applied, the image data can be enlarged and recorded twice vertically and horizontally.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the moving speed in the sub-scanning direction can be greatly increased.
Recording time can be shortened. In particular, the recording speed when recording low-resolution image data can be increased as compared with the recording speed when recording high-resolution image data.

Further, when printing low-resolution image data, the amount of ink consumption is reduced because the amount of ink discharged is limited, which is economical.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, when printing low-resolution image data, the scanning speed of the recording head and the ink ejection cycle are increased, and interpolation is performed according to the ejection cycle and the scanning speed. By masking the image data, there is an effect that low-resolution image data can be printed at a high speed by increasing the ejection cycle of the nozzles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer connected to a printer system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal configuration of the printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge used in the printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of nozzle arrays of a recording head of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing drive timings of a carriage motor and a print head when printing is performed at 400 dpi in the printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing drive timings of a carriage motor and a print head when printing is performed at 200 dpi in the printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mask pattern used to mask print data in a mask processing circuit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process in the printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which image data having a resolution of 200 dpi is recorded at 400 dpi by the printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing each dot of the character “D” recorded by the inkjet method.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mask pattern according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a recording position of each dot recorded based on the recording data masked by the mask pattern of FIG. 12 according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host 2 Printer 9 Ink Cartridge 31 Carriage Motor 35 Paper Transport Motor 61 Recovery Motor 64 Photo Sensor 65 Printer Controller 66 Head Drive Circuit 67 Mask Processing Circuit 68 Data Interpolation Circuit 91 Recording Head

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head having a nozzle array for ejecting ink in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the nozzle array is arranged, comprising: When input is input, an interpolating unit that interpolates the image data in the nozzle row direction, a scanning unit that scans by increasing the scanning speed of the recording head when recording the image data, When recording by scanning, a recording unit that performs recording by increasing the cycle of image data output to the recording head according to the scanning speed of the recording head, and at the time of recording by the recording unit, is interpolated by the interpolation unit. A masking means for masking image data and outputting the masked image data to the recording head. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask unit enables one of the image data to be scanned in n scan directions of the print head, and a print pitch in the scan direction is substantially n times a nozzle interval of the print head. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A recording method for recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head provided with a nozzle array for ink ejection in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the nozzle arrays are arranged, comprising: When input is input, a step of interpolating and enlarging the image data in the nozzle row direction, a step of determining a scanning speed of a recording head that records the interpolated image data, and a step of determining a scanning speed of the recording head according to the scanning speed Determining the ink ejection cycle of the above, masking the interpolated image data according to the scanning speed and the ink ejection cycle, and scanning the recording head at the scanning speed when recording the image data. A step of outputting masked image data to the recording head to perform recording at the ink discharge cycle. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head discharges ink. 5. The recording head is provided for each of a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink and a corresponding ejection port, and causes a state change due to heat in the ink, and causes the ink to exit from the ejection port based on the state change. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a thermal energy generating unit configured to discharge and form flying droplets.