JP3293707B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and, more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles is mounted on a carriage which moves relatively to a recording medium and prints.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus has low noise,
Since high-speed printing and high resolution are easy, the use thereof is increasing year by year. In an ordinary printer mode, the head has a plurality of nozzles arranged in a line, mounted on a carriage, and performs printing by scanning the carriage by the number of nozzles. In carriage scanning printing, in the case of printing such as color, since the color tone changes depending on how the colors are superimposed, in general, color printing is performed in one direction with respect to the carriage scanning direction, and monochrome printing is performed with respect to monochrome printing. Performs two round-trip printings to achieve high-speed processing.

In driving such nozzles, in order to reduce the size of the power supply, it is general to divide all the nozzles into several nozzles and to sequentially perform the divided simultaneous driving with a predetermined time delay. It is. Therefore, when printing is performed from one direction of the nozzle group, there is a disadvantage that a printed image is inclined. As a method for reducing such a problem on an image, JP-A-3-132355 and JP-A-3-234668.
As shown in the publication, the driving order of the nozzle group is
A method has been proposed in which the determination is made according to the carriage scanning direction. Here, print width recording corresponding to the range of the number of nozzles is performed by two reciprocating scan prints. In the forward and reverse printing, the drive order of the nozzle groups is switched to arrange the rows of print dots formed in the forward and reverse printing in the raster direction.

As shown in JP-A-57-1389563 and JP-A-3-208656, this nozzle row is set at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction of the print scanning direction of the carriage on which the head is mounted. There is a printer provided with θ ° within a predetermined angle or a predetermined angle θ °. This θ ° is
The driving cycle of the nozzles is determined based on the relationship between the printing cycle of the adjacent nozzle group that simultaneously drives every several nozzles and the scanning speed of the carriage. By providing the angle of θ ° in this manner, the printed image is not tilted, and good image quality Was obtained.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
No. 5, JP-A-3-234668, by switching the drive sequence of the nozzle groups in accordance with the carriage print scanning direction, to arrange the rows in the raster direction of the image formed by two reciprocal printings. Can be done. However, in the case of such a drive sequence, there is a problem that a print shift occurs at a print boundary portion for each carriage print scan.
In this case, in order to eliminate the printing displacement at the boundary, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-138953, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-15064 proposes to reduce the printing deviation by providing a nozzle row direction at a predetermined angle θ ° with respect to a vertical direction of the carriage scanning direction.

However, the part for mounting the head is
Due to the mechanical configuration, a tolerance always occurs with respect to the predetermined angle θ °. Further, when the nozzle groups are not sequentially driven in accordance with the variation of the set angle θ °, or when a detachable head cartridge is used, the above-mentioned tolerance is further increased, and the image quality is reduced. Was.

[0007] Furthermore, if a high-resolution head is used, the tolerance that can be tolerated becomes very small, and the electrical printing timing can be corrected or the mechanical angle can be changed so that the set angle θ ° can be changed. It is necessary to have a simple adjustment mechanism, and unless it has such a correction function,
The above-mentioned printing misalignment cannot be reliably improved. In the case where a mechanical adjustment mechanism is provided, the adjustment mechanism is required for each head, and there is a disadvantage that the carriage component is large and expensive.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem. The present invention recognizes an angle between a nozzle arrangement direction of a recording head and a carriage scanning direction, sets an optimal nozzle driving sequence, and sets a print timing in accordance with the angle. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reliably reducing print deviation at a print boundary portion and improving print quality by generating and controlling print.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems For this purpose, the present invention is described in claim 1.
The inkjet recording apparatus is equipped with a recording head on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a row on a carriage that moves relative to a recording medium, and divides the plurality of nozzles into several nozzle groups. Ink jet recording in which each nozzle in the group is simultaneously driven, and each nozzle group is sequentially driven with a predetermined time delay and then sequentially driven to discharge ink from the nozzles and print one line in the nozzle arrangement direction. In the device, printing in one direction only,
The nozzle arrangement direction is perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction.
If the nozzle group is not
Set the drive sequence so that printing displacement does not occur at the printing boundary.
It is characterized by switching in the reverse direction .

[0010] The invention according to claim 2 provides a recording medium and
Multiple rows of nozzles on a relatively moving carriage
Equipped with a recording head,
Each nozzle group is divided into individual nozzle groups.
The nozzles are driven simultaneously, and each nozzle group is sequentially turned on for a predetermined time.
By sequentially driving the nozzles,
Prints one line in the nozzle array direction by discharging ink
In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording,
Nozzle printing in the carriage scanning direction
If the direction is not a right angle, all scans
To fix the driving sequence of the nozzle group in one direction.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that it is relatively
Arrange multiple nozzles in a row on the moving carriage.
Equipped with a recording head, and a plurality of nozzles
Divide into nozzle groups, and each nozzle in each nozzle group
Simultaneously driven, each nozzle group is sequentially delayed by a predetermined time.
And successively drive the nozzles to eject ink from the nozzles.
And prints one line in the nozzle array direction.
In an ink jet recording device,
The nozzle arrangement direction is perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction.
In all scan printing scans, the nozzle
Characterized by fixing the driving sequential group in one direction, the invention described in claim 4, it moves relative to the recording medium carry
Print head with multiple nozzles arranged in a row
Mounted and divides the multiple nozzles into several nozzle groups
And each nozzle in each nozzle group is driven simultaneously,
Each nozzle group is sequentially driven by a predetermined time delay.
By discharging ink from the nozzles,
An ink jet that prints one line in the nozzle array direction
In the recording device, the carriage scans by printing in both directions.
If the nozzle array direction is not perpendicular to the
Scan Prints the drive sequence of the nozzle group for each scan
Switch in the reverse direction to prevent print misalignment at the boundary
It is characterized by

[0011]

According to the present invention, for example, the printing head mounting status is recognized from test printing, and based on the information, the nozzle drive in one-way / two-way printing is performed, and printing timing is corrected in two-way printing. It is possible to reduce the printing deviation at the boundary.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an ink jet recording apparatus, 2 is a host computer, 3 is a CP.
U, 4 a work RAM, 5 a font ROM, 6 a program ROM, 7 an EEPROM, 8 an interface, 9 an operation panel, 10 a memory control unit, 11 an image RAM, 12 a head control unit, 13 a recording head,
14 is a motor control unit, 15 is a motor, 16 is an I / O control unit, 17 is a sensor, and 18 is a common bus.

The ink jet recording apparatus 1 is connected to a host computer 2 and exchanges data between the two. CPU3 is work RAM4, font ROM
5. It is connected to the program ROM 6 and the EEPROM 7 and operates according to the program stored in the program ROM 6 while referring to the set values stored in the EEPROM 7, for example, correction data for improving image quality. Further, it is also connected to a common bus 18 and controls each unit in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 through the common bus 18.

The work RAM 4 is used as a work storage area for the CPU 3, and is also used to store information in various systems. The font ROM 5 stores image data of characters to be printed. A program for instructing the operation of the CPU 3 is stored in the program ROM 6. Since the EEPROM 7 is a non-volatile memory and retains its contents even when the power is turned off,
Correction data for improving image quality, various set values such as an operation mode of the system, and the like are stored. These data are
The setting may be made using the operation panel 9.

The interface 8 is connected to the common bus 18 and the host computer 2, and
Send and receive data directly with The operation panel 9 is connected to the common bus 18 and receives various inputs from a user and displays various states and messages to the user. The memory controller 10 has an image RAM
11, connected to the common bus 18 and the head controller 12, and controls the image RAM 11.

The image RAM 11 stores data to be recorded in the form of an image. This image RAM
The area inside 11 can be divided into areas corresponding to each recording head. The head controller 12 is connected to the recording head 13, the common bus 18, and the memory controller 10, and controls the recording head 13. Recording head 1
The control of No. 3 includes at least control of the ejection timing of ink from each nozzle of each recording head, the temperature of ink, and the like.

The recording head 13 is composed of a plurality of heads having N nozzles. For example, in the case of color printing, the recording head includes four recording heads of black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y.

The motor controller 14 controls the motor 1
5 and the common bus 18 to control the motor 15. The motor 15 performs a relative movement between a carriage on which the recording head 13 is mounted and a recording medium, for example, recording paper. The I / O controller 16 includes various sensors 17
Further, it is connected to a common bus 18 and controls various sensors 17 and acquires sensor data. The sensor 17 includes:
For example, there are sheet edge detection, sheet width detection, ink amount detection, and the like. The common bus 18 connects the CPU 3, the interface 8, the operation panel 9, the memory controller 10, the head controller 12, the motor controller 14, and the I / O controller 16, and transmits various data and control signals.

Although the above-described configurations are functionally divided, the image RAM 11 and the work RAM 4 are shared by the same RA.
Modifications such as M are also possible.

The operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. CPU
3 operates according to the program stored in the program ROM 6 while referring to the set values and the like stored in the EEPROM 7. At that time, the work RAM 4 is used as needed. The set values and the like stored in the EEPROM 7 are set using the operation panel 9. Also, C
PU3 is connected to the sensor 1 via the I / O controller 16.
7 to check whether recording is possible or not, and instruct the motor controller 14 to move the carriage, convey the recording paper, etc., and perform recording position adjustment and the like.

When data to be recorded, for example, image information and character codes are sent from the host computer 2, the information is received by the interface 8 and the received data is transferred to the CPU 3. In the CPU 3, image data capable of recording received data according to the print format,
For example, it is converted to a bitmap. For example, if the received data is a character code, using the font ROM 5,
Convert to the image data of the character. The converted image data is stored in the image RAM 11 via the memory controller 10.

When the image data is stored, the head drive pulse width and the drive operation mode are determined based on the temperature detected by the printer body and the temperature detection element built in each head, and various set values are set. Is set to the head controller 12. In particular, if the head temperature is low immediately before printing, the ink ejection characteristics are adversely affected. Therefore, the operation of raising the temperature of the head to an optimum temperature range where the ink ejection characteristics are relatively stable is performed.

Next, the CPU 3 requests the motor controller 14 to move the carriage, and performs scanning. An encoder for generating print timing is attached to a carriage on which the recording head 13 is mounted.
Print timing according to the scanning speed of the carriage is CPU
3 and the head controller 12. CP
U3 determines the printing position based on the printing timing,
A print enable gate signal is supplied to the head controller 12.

The head controller 12 outputs a head drive signal to the recording head 13 according to the print permission gate signal and the print timing signal. This operation is continuously performed, and when printing of one scan is completed, an interrupt is generated from the memory controller 10 and input to the CPU 3. Upon receiving this interrupt signal, the CPU 3 requests the motor controller 14 to convey the recording medium for the print recording width and rescan the carriage. In this manner, one-scan printing is performed a plurality of times until the print recording operation in the transport direction of the recording medium is completed. Here, the head temperature and the environmental temperature are detected each time before the start of printing of one scan, and the head drive pulse and the drive operation mode are determined each time.

When the printing operation on one recording medium is completed as described above, the CPU 3 requests the motor controller 14 to discharge the recording medium, and a cap covering the nozzle portion for preventing the ink from drying. The carriage is moved to the position where the member is located, the cap operation is further performed, and the apparatus stands by until the next printing operation. With the above series of operations, the printing operation on one recording medium is completed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and is a schematic configuration diagram around a carriage. In the figure, 21 is a recording head unit, 22 is a carriage, 23 is a recording medium, 24 is a transport roller, 25 is a cap mechanism, X is a carriage scanning direction,
Y is the recording medium feed direction. The carriage 22 has 1
One or a plurality of recording head units 21 are mounted. Each of the recording heads 21 or a plurality of the recording heads 21 is configured to be detachably attached to the carriage 22. The recording head unit 21 is provided with a plurality of nozzles. While scanning the carriage 22 right and left, ink is ejected from nozzles to perform printing. In this printing, when a plurality of recording head units 21 are mounted on the carriage 22, ink is ejected from each recording head unit 21 and ink dots are superimposed to form an image. .

A color image can be formed by using, for example, four recording heads of black, cyan, magenta and yellow as the plurality of recording head units 21. When one scan operation of the carriage 22 is completed, the transport medium 24 conveys the recording medium 23 by a predetermined amount. This operation is repeated, and printing on one recording sheet is completed. When printing on one recording medium 23 is completed, the carriage 22 moves to the position of the cap mechanism 25 again, caps the recording head unit 21, and waits for the next printing.

In this example, the recording medium is moved in the vertical direction on the side of the recording medium. However, the recording medium may be moved by moving the carriage 22. Also, this movement amount is
It can be performed only for one printing width or a predetermined line feed width, or can be collectively stored for scanning only for blanks.
Further, for example, at the time of feeding the recording medium or at the time of positioning the recording medium at the time of recording according to a predetermined format, the recording medium can be transported in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 3 and the host computer 2 can send the recording medium. It is also possible to change the movement amount according to the instruction.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the recording head drive control section of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 31 is an adjacent nozzle group print cycle value storage means, 3
2 is an adjacent nozzle group print cycle setting counter, 33 is a print timing controller, 34 is a print drive pulse generator, 35 is a print dot number counter, 36 is a print drive pulse width set counter, and 37 is a print drive pulse width set value storage. Means, 38
Denotes a print data processing unit. This recording head drive control unit constitutes a part of the head controller 12 in FIG. In the present invention, the driving of the plurality of nozzles provided in the print head divides the plurality of nozzles into several nozzle groups, and drives each nozzle in each nozzle group at the same time. , A method of sequentially driving from one end side is adopted. In the following description,
This group of nozzles will be referred to as a group of divided simultaneous driving nozzles.

The adjacent nozzle group printing cycle value storage means 31
An adjacent nozzle group print cycle value corresponding to the time for driving between the group of simultaneously driving nozzles is held. This value is set by a signal WR from the data sent from the CPU 3 or the like. The adjacent nozzle group print cycle setting counter 32 is configured to output a cycle time signal between adjacent nozzle groups based on the adjacent nozzle group print cycle value stored in the adjacent nozzle group print cycle value storage unit 31 in accordance with an instruction from the print timing control unit 33. Is generated and input to the print timing control unit 33 and the print dot number counter 35. The print dot number counter 35 receives the cycle time signal from the adjacent nozzle group print cycle setting counter 32,
The number of nozzle groups is counted, and when the total number of nozzles is reached, the print timing control unit 33 is notified of this.

The print timing control section 33 generates various timing signals. A clock signal and a gate signal from another control unit, a cycle time signal from an adjacent nozzle group printing cycle setting counter 32, a printing dot number counter 3
5 and receives a count value instruction and supplies a count clock to the adjacent nozzle group print cycle setting counter 32 and the print drive pulse width setting counter 36. 34
To start driving, and print data processing unit 3
8 supplies a print data transfer clock and outputs the same signal to the recording head.

The print drive pulse generator 34 receives a drive start instruction from the print timing controller 33 and a count end signal of the print drive pulse width setting counter 36, and performs on / off control of a drive pulse for the print head. The print drive pulse width setting counter 36, based on the count clock supplied from the print timing control unit 33,
The count is performed until the drive pulse width data is reached, and an end signal is supplied to the print drive pulse generator 34.

The print drive pulse width setting value storage means 37 stores drive pulse width data set in the print drive pulse width setting counter 36. This data is sent from the CPU 3 or the like and is stored by the signal WR.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the timing of the printing drive pulse supplied to the recording head 13 with the above configuration. Here, the printing cycle of the adjacent nozzle group is t _c (sec), and the nozzle drive pulse width is t _p (sec). At the H level of the drive pulse, the head heater is energized to form a bubble in the nozzle and eject ink. Then, the power supply to the head heater is terminated at the L level, and one divided simultaneous nozzle group is driven. Such drive pulses are generated by the number of divided nozzle groups, and drive all the nozzles. FIG. 4 shows a case where the nozzle is driven from one end, but it is also possible to drive from the opposite end. By performing such nozzle driving, image recording in the nozzle arrangement direction is performed.

Next, since the carriage is moving while the nozzles are being driven in a divided manner as described above, at the beginning and end of the divided drive, the amount of movement of the carriage within the time required for driving the recording head is obtained. Only the print will be tilted. FIG.
(A) shows this printing example. When Y is the ink discharge sequential direction of the recording head 13 and X is the carriage scanning direction, a print shift d occurs at a print boundary portion, leading to image quality deterioration. To improve this, as shown in FIG.
By making the nozzle arrangement direction Y have a predetermined angle θ with respect to the carriage scanning direction X, the printing displacement at the printing boundary is eliminated. However, in the case of high-speed printing and high-resolution recording heads, the set value of the predetermined angle becomes a very small value, and very high accuracy is required. For this reason, there is a problem that the cost of the carriage component cannot be avoided.

The present invention has been particularly invented in connection with the above-mentioned points, and reduces the accuracy of the carriage constituting portion, does not increase the cost even if the set value of the predetermined angle deviates, and uses a simple driving method. This is to improve image quality deterioration.

Next, a specific example of printing will be described. FIG.
(A), (b), (c) shows the case of unidirectional printing,
The angle formed by the nozzle arrangement direction Y and the carriage scanning direction X is changed, and in these states, three printing scan operations are performed to print three vertical ruled lines of three scan widths. In each of them, the carriage is driven in the direction A in the figure, and the nozzle groups are sequentially driven in the direction B.

As can be seen from FIG. 6A, the vertical ruled line 1,
In No. 3, the printing quality is degraded because printing misalignment occurs at the printing boundary. The vertical ruled line 2 causes the printed image in one scan to be inclined in the same manner as the vertical ruled lines 1 and 3, but since there is no printing displacement at the print boundary portion, the connection of the images is smooth and the image quality deterioration can be improved. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the angle between the nozzle arrangement direction and the carriage scanning direction is 90 °, the nozzle driving sequence is reverse in the case of one-way printing in each scan printing scan. The driving method is optimal.

FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c) show the nozzle drive scanning direction and the carriage scanning direction when the angle between the perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction has an angle of ± θ °.
Here, ± θ ° indicates the printing cycle of the adjacent nozzle group as t _c (se
The optimum angle at which no tilt occurs in the printed image when driven in c) is taken as an example. As can be seen from FIG. 6B, in the case of one-way printing, the nozzle driving sequence for generating the vertical ruled line 1 is the optimal method. Here, driving is performed in the recording medium feed direction, that is, from the lower nozzle group in the drawing to the upper nozzle direction. Similarly, in (c), in the case of one-way printing, the nozzle driving sequence for generating the vertical ruled line 3 can be said to be the optimal method. Here, the recording medium is driven in the direction opposite to the feeding direction, that is, sequentially from the upper nozzle group in the drawing to the lower nozzle direction. From the above three methods, the mounting state of the head on the carriage and the driving operation mode can be determined depending on which vertical ruled line is selected.

FIG. 7 shows an example of test printing. In this case, the three vertical ruled lines are in the same nozzle driving order as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C. Here, “2” which is considered optimal is selected and input from the control panel 9. In this case, it is determined that the head is mounted as in FIG. 6A, and the driving operation mode can be easily determined.

In the above-described embodiment, the nozzle angle at ± θ ° has been described. However, even within this range or at a larger angle, the value of the printing cycle of the adjacent nozzle group is further changed and adjusted to obtain the optimum image quality. It is also possible. Also, the nozzle drive sequence for bidirectional printing can be determined from the test printing result described above.

FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c) show the case of bidirectional printing, and show the same head mounted state as in FIG. 6 and the nozzle driving sequential direction. Also in this case, the nozzle drive sequence is selected so as to minimize the printing deviation at the printing boundary.
As shown in FIG. 8A, when the angle between the nozzle arrangement direction and the carriage scanning direction is 90 °, the method of fixing the driving sequence in one direction in all scan printing scans is optimal. In the case of (a), the nozzle driving order in the opposite direction may be used, or one of the driving orders may be selected.

FIGS. 8B and 8C show the nozzle drive scanning direction and the carriage scanning direction in the case where the angle formed by the perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction has an angle of ± θ °.
In any case, the nozzle drive sequence is one-way printing,
The method of driving in the reverse direction for each scan printing scan is optimal.

In the case of the bidirectional printing shown in FIG. 8, it is necessary to correct the print start timing in the states (a) to (c) with respect to the reference timing in the forward pass and the return pass.

FIG. 9 shows the case of the bidirectional printing shown in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 9A, when the print start timing is the same at the forward path and the return path, a print shift d occurs. . This shift occurs due to the time required to simultaneously drive all the nozzles. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in (b), when the print start timing is generated before the print reference timing for the forward pass and is supplied to the head controller, the print deviation can be reduced. In addition, the print timing during the
A similar result can be obtained if it is generated before the reference timing.

FIG. 10 shows the case of bidirectional printing shown in FIG. 8B. As shown in FIG. 10A, if the timing of starting printing is the same at the forward path and the return path as described above, the printing shift will occur. e occurs. This shift is a shift between both ends in the carriage scanning direction caused by tilting the nozzle row. In this case, similarly, as shown in FIG.
The print start timing may be generated before the return print timing before the print reference timing in the forward pass. In this case, the time e may be set to the time required for the scan scanning. In the same manner as described above, the print timing at the time of forward movement may be set earlier than the reference timing by this time.

FIG. 11 shows the case of the bidirectional printing shown in FIG. 8 (c). As shown in FIG. 11 (a), if the start timing of printing is the same at the forward path and the return path, a print shift e occurs. . In this case, the timing may be generated in the same manner as in FIG. In this case, the time e may be set to the time required for the scan scanning.

As described above, the print head mounting status is recognized from the test printing, and based on the information, the nozzle driving in one direction / two directions is performed, and the printing timing correction in both directions is performed at the printing boundary part. It has become possible to reduce the printing misalignment.

[0049]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the angle between the nozzle arrangement direction and the carriage scanning direction is recognized, the optimal nozzle scanning sequence is set, and the printing timing corresponding to each is set. By generating and controlling the printing, it is possible to surely reduce the printing deviation at the printing boundary portion and improve the printing quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vicinity of a carriage showing one example of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a head drive control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a drive timing chart of a nozzle group in the head of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a printing example in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a printing example in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a printing example in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a printing example in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining print timing in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining print timing in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining print timing in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink-jet recording apparatus, 2 ... Host computer, 3 ... CPU 4 ... Work RAM, 5 ... Font ROM, 6 ... Program ROM 7 ... EEPROM, 8 ... Interface part, 9 ... Operation panel 10 ... Memory controller, 11 ... Image RAM DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Head controller, 13 ... Recording head 14 ... Motor controller, 15 ... Motor 16 ... I / O controller, 17 ... Sensor, 18 ... Common bus 21 ... Recording head unit, 22 ... Carriage, 23 ...
Recording medium 24: Transport roller, 25: Cap mechanism unit 31: Adjacent nozzle group print cycle value storage means 32: Adjacent nozzle group print cycle setting counter, 33: Print timing control unit 34: Print drive pulse generation unit, 35: Printing Dot number counter 36: print drive pulse width setting counter 37: print drive pulse width set value storage means 38: print data processing unit

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row is mounted on a carriage that moves relatively to a print medium, and the plurality of nozzles are divided into several nozzle groups.
The nozzles in each nozzle group are simultaneously driven, and each nozzle group is sequentially driven with a predetermined delay in order to discharge ink from the nozzles and print one line in the nozzle array direction. In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs printing, only one-way printing
When the array direction is right angle, one scan print scan
An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the driving sequence of the nozzle group is switched in the reverse direction every time . 2. A carriage which moves relative to a recording medium.
Equipped with a recording head with multiple nozzles arranged in a row
Dividing the plurality of nozzles into several nozzle groups,
Each nozzle in each nozzle group is driven simultaneously, and each nozzle
The spill group is sequentially driven with a delay of a predetermined time.
By discharging ink from the nozzle, the nozzle
Ink jet recording that prints one line in the array direction
The recording device only prints in one direction, and the noise in the carriage scanning direction
If the array direction is not a right angle, all scan print scans
In the above, the driving sequence of the nozzle group is indicated by a mark at a printing boundary portion.
Characteristically fixed in one direction to prevent misalignment
Inkjet recording apparatus. 3. On a carriage which moves relatively to a recording medium.
Equipped with a recording head with multiple nozzles arranged in a row
Dividing the plurality of nozzles into several nozzle groups,
Each nozzle in each nozzle group is driven simultaneously, and each nozzle
The spill group is sequentially driven with a delay of a predetermined time.
By discharging ink from the nozzle, the nozzle
Ink jet recording that prints one line in the array direction
In the recording device, the nozzle arrangement in the carriage scanning direction
If the column direction is perpendicular, all scans
And the driving order of the nozzle group is fixed in one direction.
An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. On a carriage that moves relatively to a recording medium.
Equipped with a recording head with multiple nozzles arranged in a row
Dividing the plurality of nozzles into several nozzle groups,
Each nozzle in each nozzle group is driven simultaneously, and each nozzle
The spill group is sequentially driven with a delay of a predetermined time.
By discharging ink from the nozzle, the nozzle
Ink jet recording that prints one line in the array direction
In the recording device, the nozzle arrangement in the carriage scanning direction
If the column direction is not a right angle, every single scan print scan
Next, the driving sequence of the nozzle group is changed to a printing shift at a printing boundary.
Characterized by switching in the reverse direction so that no
Inkjet recording device. 5. In bidirectional printing, printing is started before the reference printing position by a time required for ejecting ink from all the nozzles at the time of forward movement, or by the time required by the reference printing position at the time of backward movement. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the control is performed so that printing is started beforehand. 6. In printing in both directions, whether to start printing before the reference printing position on the outward path by the time required for scan scanning by the time of the shift between both ends in the scan scanning direction generated in the nozzle arrangement direction. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein control is performed such that printing is started before the reference printing position by the time when returning. 7. A nozzle arrangement method in a carriage scanning direction.
If the direction is not a right angle, make it perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction.
If the angle is -θ ° to the carriage scanning direction,
The carriage is driven sequentially from the nozzle group in the recording medium feed direction,
In the case of + θ ° with respect to the scanning direction,
Is characterized by driving sequentially from the nozzle group in the reverse direction
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2.