JP4779746B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

  Inkjet printers are widely used as printing apparatuses that print images on paper as a medium. This printer forms dots by ejecting ink droplets from its nozzles onto the paper while moving the print head in the movement direction with respect to the paper, thereby printing an image. Recently, photographic images are often printed by this printer, and most models have a borderless printing function.

Borderless printing is performed without providing a margin at the edge of the paper, and is achieved by ejecting ink droplets to the edge of the paper. For this reason, since there are ink droplets that do not land on the paper and can be removed from the end of the paper, the ink droplets that are discarded are usually placed in an area inside the printer corresponding to the outside of the edge of the paper. An ink recovery unit for receiving and holding the ink is provided.
However, some of the ink droplets to be discarded are not received by the ink recovery unit, but mist-like and fly in the air, adhere to the surroundings at the end of the floating, and deface them.

In view of this, a method has been proposed in which ink droplets to be ejected in the vicinity of the edge of the paper are appropriately thinned and ejected, thereby preventing the occurrence of dots that may occur at the edge of the paper while suppressing the occurrence of mist. The image defect caused by the formation portion is made inconspicuous (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2005-138499 A JP 2005-225194 A

By the way, as a result of investigating the tendency of mist generation, it has been found that the amount of mist generated at both ends of the paper has a causal relationship with the moving direction of the print head. That is, when the print head moves from one end side of the paper to the other end side, it becomes clear that the amount of mist generated at the end portion on the one end side is larger than that on the other end side. It was.
Therefore, if the discharge amount of the ink droplets discharged toward the edge of the paper is reduced by thinning out or the like, the ink droplets are discharged onto the one end side in preference to the other end side. It is considered that the amount of mist can be efficiently reduced by reducing the amount.

 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a printing apparatus and the like that can efficiently reduce the amount of mist generated when printing by ejecting ink droplets. .

The main invention for achieving the object is as follows:
A print head that performs an ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on image data during a movement operation along the movement direction from one end side of the medium to the other end side;
A controller for setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. A controller configured to increase the number of discharge unit areas ,
A memory for storing a reference area corresponding to the size of the medium;
An ejection area where ink droplets are ejected based on the image data is wider in the movement direction than the reference area,
The non-ejection unit area is set for a range outside the reference area in the ejection area,
By the setting of the non-discharge unit area, the start and end of the discharge operation in the moving operation is defined,
The discharge operation is started from a unit area that is outside the first predetermined width from the edge on the one end side of the reference area as a starting point, and at a second predetermined width outside the edge on the other end side of the reference area Ended with the unit area as the end point,
The first predetermined width is smaller than the second predetermined width;
This is a printing apparatus.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

 At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A print head that performs an ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on image data during a movement operation along the movement direction from one end side of the medium to the other end side;
A controller for setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. And a controller configured to increase the number of discharge unit areas.

 According to such a printing apparatus, the number of the non-ejection unit areas is set to be larger on the one end side than on the other end side. Accordingly, the discharge amount of the ink droplets on the one end side where the discharged ink droplets are likely to become mist can be preferentially reduced, so that the mist amount can be efficiently reduced.

 The “unit area” referred to here is a so-called concept similar to a pixel, and is virtually determined to define a position where dots can be formed on a medium such as paper by ejecting ink droplets. One area of the square grid is shown, that is, the unit area indicates a virtual space and does not necessarily indicate an area on the medium. For example, when the printing resolution is 720 dpi (moving direction) × 720 dpi (conveying direction), it becomes a square-shaped virtual area having a size of about 35.28 μm × 35.28 μm (≈ 1/720 inch × 1/720 inch). . When the print resolution is 360 dpi × 720 dpi, the area is a rectangular area having a size of about 70.56 μm × 35.28 μm (≈ 1/360 inch × 1/720 inch). When an ink droplet is ideally ejected for each unit region on the medium, the ink droplet lands on the center position of this unit region, and then the ink droplet spreads on the medium to form a dot in the unit region. Is done. In addition, although it is possible to eject ink droplets to a unit area located outside the medium, it is needless to say that in this case, dots are not formed on the medium and are collected by an appropriate ink collection unit. Yes.

In such a printing apparatus,
A memory for storing a reference area corresponding to the size of the medium;
An ejection area where ink droplets are ejected based on the image data is wider in the movement direction than the reference area,
It is desirable that the non-ejection unit area is set for a range outside the reference area in the ejection area.
According to such a printing apparatus, since ink droplets are reliably ejected to the edge of the medium, borderless printing can be reliably performed.

In such a printing apparatus,
By the setting of the non-discharge unit area, the start and end of the discharge operation in the moving operation is defined,
The discharge operation is started from a unit area that is outside the first predetermined width from the edge on the one end side of the reference area as a starting point, and at a second predetermined width outside the edge on the other end side of the reference area. Ended with the unit area as the end point,
The first predetermined width is preferably smaller than the second predetermined width.
According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to reliably reduce the ejection amount on the one end side where the ejected ink droplets are likely to become mist. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently reduce the mist amount.

In such a printing apparatus,
The print head reciprocates in the direction of movement;
It is desirable that the discharge operation is performed in each of the movement operations in the forward direction and the return direction in the movement direction.
According to such a printing apparatus, the end portion that reduces the ejection amount of ink droplets is alternately switched between both end portions of the medium. For example, assuming that the direction in which the print head moves from the left side to the right side is the forward path, and vice versa, in the forward path ejection operation, the ink droplet ejection amount in the vicinity of the left end of the medium is the right end. On the other hand, the discharge amount in the vicinity of the right end of the medium is preferentially reduced in the return path. Therefore, the end portion that reduces the ink droplet discharge amount is alternately switched between the forward discharge operation and the backward discharge operation. The dot non-formed part which may be generated can be scattered on both ends, and as a result, the dot non-formed part can be made inconspicuous.

In such a printing apparatus,
The movement operation and the conveyance operation for conveying the medium in the conveyance direction intersecting the movement direction may be alternately performed.

Further, during the movement operation along the movement direction from one end side to the other end side of the medium, a print head that performs an ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on image data;
A controller for setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. A controller configured to increase the number of discharge unit areas,
A memory for storing a reference area corresponding to the size of the medium, and an ejection area in which ink droplets are ejected based on the image data is wider in the movement direction than the reference area, and the ejection area in the ejection area The non-ejection unit area is set for a range outside the reference area,
The start and end of the discharge operation in the moving operation is defined by the setting of the non-discharge unit region, and the discharge operation is performed by a unit region outside the first predetermined width from the edge on the one end side of the reference region. Is started from the edge of the other end side of the reference region and the end is a unit region outside the second predetermined width, the first predetermined width is smaller than the second predetermined width,
The print head reciprocates in the movement direction, and the ejection operation is performed in the movement operation in the forward path and the return path in the movement direction, respectively.
A printing apparatus that alternately executes the movement operation and a conveyance operation of conveying the medium in a conveyance direction that intersects the movement direction.
According to such a printing apparatus, since almost all the effects described above are exhibited, the object of the present invention is achieved most effectively.

During the movement operation along the movement direction from one end side of the medium to the other end side, when performing the ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on the image data,
A step of setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. It is also possible to realize a printing method characterized by comprising a step of setting so that the number of discharge unit areas is increased.

=== Configuration of Printing System 100 ===
<Printing system 100>
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the printing system 100. The printing system 100 is a system including at least a printing apparatus and a printing control apparatus that controls the operation of the printing apparatus. The printing system 100 includes a printer 1, a computer 110, a display device 120, an input device 130, and a recording / reproducing device 140.

  The printer 1 prints an image on a medium such as paper, cloth, film, or OHP paper. Hereinafter, the paper S will be described as an example of the medium. The computer 110 is communicably connected to the printer 1. In order to cause the printer 1 to print an image, the computer 110 outputs print data corresponding to the image to the printer 1. Computer programs such as application programs and printer drivers are installed in the computer 110. The printer driver is a program that converts image data in a bitmap format or the like created by an application program or the like into print data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 1. In the print data, data (unit area data) constituting an image to be printed is recorded for each unit area.

<Printer 1>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1 as a printing apparatus. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view of the overall configuration of the printer 1. Hereinafter, a basic configuration of the printer 1 will be described.

  The printer 1 includes a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a head unit 40, a detector group 50, and a controller 60. The printer 1 that has received print data from the computer 110, which is an external device, controls each unit (the conveyance unit 20, the carriage unit 30, and the head unit 40) by the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the print data received from the computer 110 and prints an image on the paper S. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by a detector group 50, and the detector group 50 outputs a detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the detector group 50.

  The transport unit 20 transports the paper S in the transport direction. The transport unit 20 includes a paper feed roller 21, a transport motor 22, a transport roller 23, a platen 24, and a paper discharge roller 25. The paper feed roller 21 is a roller for feeding the paper S inserted into the paper insertion slot into the printer. The transport roller 23 is a roller that transports the paper S fed by the paper feed roller 21 to a printable area, and is driven by the transport motor 22. The platen 24 supports the paper S being printed. The paper discharge roller 25 is a roller for discharging the paper S to the outside of the printer 1 and is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printable area. The paper discharge roller 25 rotates in synchronization with the transport roller 23.

  The carriage unit 30 is for moving a head 41 as a print head in a predetermined movement direction. The carriage unit 30 includes a carriage 31 and a carriage motor 32. The carriage 31 can reciprocate in the moving direction. Further, the carriage 31 detachably holds an ink cartridge that stores ink. The carriage motor 32 is a motor for moving the carriage 31 in the movement direction.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto the paper S. The head unit 40 has a head 41. The head 41 has a plurality of nozzles, and ejects ink intermittently from each nozzle. Since the head 41 is provided on the carriage 31, when the carriage 31 moves in the movement direction, the head 41 also moves in the movement direction. Then, by intermittently ejecting droplet-like ink (hereinafter referred to as ink droplets) while the head 41 is moving in the moving direction, a row of dots (hereinafter also referred to as a dot row or a raster line) along the moving direction. ) Is formed on the paper S.

  The detector group 50 includes a linear encoder 51, a rotary encoder 52, a paper detection sensor 53, an optical sensor 54, and the like. The linear encoder 51 is for detecting the position of the carriage 31 in the moving direction. The rotary encoder 52 is for detecting the rotation amount of the transport roller 23. The paper detection sensor 53 is for detecting the position of the leading edge of the paper S to be printed. The optical sensor 54 is attached to the carriage 31. The optical sensor 54 detects the presence or absence of the paper S when the light receiving unit detects reflected light of the light irradiated on the paper S from the light emitting unit.

  The controller 60 is a control unit for controlling the printer 1. The controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 is for transmitting and receiving data between the computer 110 which is an external device and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and includes storage elements such as a RAM and an EEPROM. The CPU 62 controls each unit via the unit control circuit 64 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63.

=== Discharging mechanism of the head 41 ===
FIG. 4 is an arrangement diagram of nozzles provided on the lower surface of the head 41. As shown in the drawing, nozzle rows 411 are provided on the lower surface of the head 41 for each of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) colors.

Each nozzle row 411 includes a plurality of nozzles # 1 to #n. The plurality of nozzles # 1 to #n are arranged at a constant interval (nozzle pitch: k · D) on a straight line along the transport direction of the paper S. Here, D is the minimum dot pitch in the carrying direction (that is, the interval at the highest resolution of dots formed on the paper S). K is an integer of 1 or more. The nozzles in each nozzle row 411 are assigned a smaller number toward the downstream nozzle (# 1 to #n). Further, the nozzle rows 411 are arranged in parallel with a space therebetween along the movement direction of the carriage 31 that is the movement direction of the head 41.
In addition, in the description to be described later, there is a place where the nozzle row 411 is described as a single row, but this is because the manner of ejection of ink droplets by the other nozzle rows 411 is the same. This is because the description is made by using the single row as a representative.

  Each nozzle # 1 to #n is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for ejecting ink droplets. When a voltage having a predetermined time width is applied between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands according to the voltage application time and deforms the side wall of the ink flow path. As a result, the volume of the ink flow path contracts in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction is ejected from the nozzles # 1 to #n of the respective colors as ink droplets.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a drive circuit for driving the nozzles # 1 to #n. In FIG. 5, the number in parentheses at the end of each signal name indicates the number of the nozzle to which the signal is supplied.
This drive circuit is provided for every four nozzle rows in the unit control circuit 64 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive circuit includes an original drive signal generation unit 221, a plurality of mask circuits 222, and a mask signal generation unit 224.

 The original drive signal generator 221 generates an original drive signal ODRV that is used in common by the nozzles # 1 to #n. As shown in the lower part of the figure, the original drive signal ODRV is generated within the movement period for one unit area (within the period in which the carriage 31 crosses the interval for one unit area). It is a signal including two pulses of the pulse PW2. The generated original drive signal ODRV is output to each mask circuit 222.

  The mask circuit 222 is provided corresponding to a plurality of piezoelectric elements that drive the nozzles # 1 to #n of the head 41, respectively. Each mask circuit 222 receives the original drive signal ODRV from the original drive signal generator 221 and the print signal PRT (i) based on the print data. The print signal PRT (i) is unit area data corresponding to a unit area, and is a serial signal having 2-bit information for one unit area. Each bit of the print signal PRT (i) includes a first pulse PW1 and a second pulse PW2. And correspond to each. The mask circuit 222 blocks or passes the original drive signal ODRV according to the level of the print signal PRT (i). That is, when the print signal PRT (i) is 0 level, the pulse of the original drive signal ODRV is cut off so as not to eject ink droplets, and when the print signal PRT (i) is 1 level, the original drive signal ODRV The corresponding pulses are passed as they are and output as drive signals DRV (i) to the piezo elements, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles.

  The mask circuit 222 receives a mask signal SIG from a mask signal generation unit 224 (corresponding to a controller) in addition to the print signal PRT (i). This mask signal SIG is used for mist reduction processing during borderless printing, which will be described later, and is a signal composed of 0 or 1 level. Whether the drive signal DRV (i) after passing through the mask circuit 222 is a signal for ejecting ink droplets is determined by a logical product of the print signal PRT (i) and the mask signal SIG (so-called It is determined by the operation result of AND operation. As shown in FIG. 5, a common signal is input to all the nozzles in the nozzle row 411 as the mask signal SIG. Accordingly, the positions in the movement direction in which ink droplets are not ejected based on the mask signal SIG are consistent over all nozzles. The mask signal SIG is generated for each unit region in the moving direction so as to perform a mist reduction process described later, and is input to the mask circuit 222 in correspondence with each print signal PRT (i).

=== About the printing method ===
<Print processing>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the printing process. Here, “bidirectional printing” will be described as an example. Each operation described below is executed by the controller 60 controlling each unit in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63. This program has code for executing each operation.

  When the controller 60 receives print data from the computer 110 via the interface unit 61, the controller 60 first performs a paper feeding operation to execute printing based on the print data (S102). The paper feeding operation is an operation of supplying the paper S to be printed into the printer 1 and transporting it to a printing start position (so-called cueing position). The controller 60 rotates the paper feed roller 21 to send the paper S to be printed to the transport roller 23. The controller 60 rotates the transport roller 23 to position the paper S sent from the paper feed roller 21 at the print start position.

  Next, the controller 60 executes a dot forming operation for printing on the paper S while moving the carriage 31 relative to the paper S in the movement direction. Since bidirectional printing is performed, first, while performing a movement operation of moving the carriage 31 in the forward direction of the movement direction, an ejection operation of ejecting ink droplets from the head 41 is performed to perform a forward dot formation operation (hereinafter referred to as forward dot formation). The operation is called (S104). That is, the controller 60 drives the carriage motor 32 to move the carriage 31 and, during the movement of the carriage 31, ejects ink droplets from the head 41 based on the unit area data for each unit area included in the print data. Discharge. At this time, since ink droplets are intermittently ejected from the moving head 41, a dot row (raster line) composed of a plurality of dots along the moving direction is formed on the paper S.

  After printing is performed in this manner, a transport operation for transporting the paper S by a predetermined transport amount is executed (S106). In this transport operation, the controller 60 drives the transport motor 22 to rotate the transport roller 23 to transport the paper S by a predetermined transport amount relative to the head 41 in the transport direction. By this transport operation, the head 41 can print in an area different from the previously printed area.

  After carrying out the transport operation in this way, a paper discharge determination is made as to whether or not paper should be discharged (S108). If there is no other data to be printed on the paper S being printed, a paper discharge operation is executed (S116). On the other hand, if there is other data to be printed on the paper S being printed, a return pass dot formation operation (hereinafter referred to as a return pass dot formation operation) is executed without performing the paper discharge operation (S110). In this backward dot forming operation, the above-described dot forming operation is performed for the backward path in the direction opposite to the above-described forward path, that is, printing is performed by moving the carriage 31 in the backward path direction of movement. Here, the controller 60 rotates the carriage motor 32 in the reverse direction to move the carriage 31 and, during the movement, drives the head 41 based on the print data to eject ink and perform printing. .

  After executing the backward dot forming operation, a carrying operation is executed (S112), and then a paper discharge determination is made (S114). Here, if there is other data to be printed on the paper S being printed, the paper discharge operation is not performed, the process returns to step S104, and the forward pass dot forming operation is executed again (S104). On the other hand, if there is no other data to be printed on the paper S being printed, a paper discharge operation is executed (S116).

  After performing the paper discharge operation, next, a print end determination is performed to determine whether or not the print is complete (S118). If printing is to be performed on the next paper S, the process returns to step S102, the paper feeding operation is executed again, and printing is started. On the other hand, if printing is not performed on the next paper S, the printing process is terminated.

<Printing method>
The printer 1 can execute band printing, interlace printing, or the like as a printing method. “Band printing” is a printing method in which an image is printed while completing a print area corresponding to the head height (= number of nozzles × nozzle pitch) for each dot forming operation. The carrying amount of the carrying operation is equal to the head height. On the other hand, “interlaced printing” means printing in which a unit area where no raster line is recorded is included between raster lines recorded in one pass.
Here, interlaced printing will be described in detail. The term “pass” used in the following description refers to the dot formation operation described above, and “pass n” means the nth dot formation operation.

 7A shows the position of the head 41 (or nozzle array) in pass 1 to pass 4 and how dots are formed, and FIG. 7B shows the position of the head 41 in pass 1 to pass 6 and how dots are formed. ing.

 For convenience of explanation, only one nozzle row of a plurality of nozzle rows is shown, and the number of nozzles in the nozzle row is also reduced (here, 8). The nozzles indicated by black circles in the figure are nozzles that can eject ink droplets. On the other hand, nozzles indicated by white circles are nozzles that cannot eject ink droplets. For convenience of explanation, the head 41 (or nozzle row) is depicted as moving with respect to the paper S, but this figure shows the relative positional relationship between the head 41 and the paper S. Actually, the paper S is moved in the transport direction. In addition, each nozzle is shown as forming only a few dots (circles in the figure), but in reality, ink droplets are ejected intermittently from nozzles that move in the direction of movement. A large number of dots are arranged in the direction to form a dot row that is a row of dots. This dot row is a raster line. Of course, the dot may not be formed depending on the pixel data.

 The dots indicated by black circles are dots formed in the last pass, and the dots indicated by white circles are dots formed in the previous pass. Each pass is alternately performed with a transport operation for transporting the paper S in the transport direction. For each transport operation, each nozzle forms an adjacent raster line immediately above the raster line formed in the immediately preceding pass, that is, on the downstream side in the transport direction.

 In this interlaced printing, the paper S is repeatedly transported in the transport direction with a constant transport amount f. In order to perform printing without overlapping dots while keeping the carry amount f constant in this way, (a) the number N of nozzles that can eject ink (integer) is relatively prime to k of the nozzle pitch k · D. And (b) the transport amount f is set to N · D. The above “without overlapping dots” means that the nozzle is not positioned again at the position in the transport direction in which the raster line has already been formed.

  In the figure, the nozzle row has 8 nozzles arranged in the carrying direction, and when k is 4, the condition for performing this interlaced printing is “N and k are relatively prime. In this example, not all the nozzles are used and seven nozzles (nozzle # 1 to nozzle # 7) are used because “relationship” is not satisfied. Further, since seven nozzles are used, the paper S is transported with a transport amount of 7 · D. As a result, for example, in the case of a nozzle row having a nozzle pitch of 180 dpi (= 4 · D), dots are formed on the paper S at a dot pitch of 720 dpi (= D). When the number of nozzles is 180, 179 nozzles can eject ink, and the carry amount is set to 179 · D.

  In the case of interlaced printing, k passes are required to form a raster line at a dot pitch D in the transport direction with respect to an area corresponding to the nozzle pitch k · D. For example, in order to complete four raster lines with a dot pitch D of 720 dpi using a nozzle row with a nozzle pitch k · D of 180 dpi, four passes are required. According to the figure, a continuous raster line is formed at a dot pitch D upstream of the raster line (raster line indicated by the arrow in the figure) formed by nozzle # 2 in pass 3 in the transport direction. It has been shown.

=== Borderless printing ===
<About borderless printing>
“Borderless printing” is a method of printing so that no margin is formed at the edge of the paper S.
FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the area where ink droplets are ejected during borderless printing (corresponding to the ejection area, hereinafter referred to as the printing area A) and the size of the paper S. As shown in the drawing, a printing area A is set for an area (hereinafter referred to as a discarding area Aa) that protrudes from the front and rear edge portions and the left and right side edge portions of the paper S, and ink is also applied to this area. Drops are ejected. As a result, even if the paper S is slightly displaced with respect to the head 41 due to positioning accuracy during paper conveyance, etc., ink droplets are reliably ejected toward the edge of the paper S to form dots. Therefore, no margin is formed at the end.

  When performing borderless printing, the above-described printer driver generates print data such that the print area A protrudes from the paper S by a predetermined width based on the image data given from the application program. For example, when processing image data in which the print area A becomes smaller than the paper S, the image is enlarged so that the print area A extends over the entire paper S and protrudes by the predetermined width W2. On the other hand, when processing image data in which the print area A protrudes greatly from the paper S, the image is reduced so that the protrusion margin from the paper S becomes the predetermined width W2.

  Briefly explaining the enlargement / reduction adjustment, an area having the same size as the standard size of the paper S is stored in the memory 63 of the printer 1 as the reference area As. Then, the printer driver refers to the reference area As and generates print data by enlarging the image data to a size that protrudes outward by the predetermined width W2 with respect to the movement direction and the conveyance direction. The portion having the predetermined width W2 is a discarding area Aa where ink droplets are discarded.

The reference area As and the predetermined width W2 are stored in the memory 63 for each paper size such as a postcard size or A4 size, and are read out based on the paper size information input by the user. Used for scaling.
Incidentally, when the paper is transported accurately and the paper S is properly positioned at a predetermined design position, the reference area As and the paper S coincide with each other and an image of the reference area As is printed on the paper S. Is done. However, when the position is shifted, an image of the discard area Aa is printed on the edge of the paper S.

<Treatment of discarded ink drops>
In borderless printing, ink droplets that come off the paper S and are discarded without landing may adhere to the platen 24 and contaminate it. For this reason, the platen 24 of the printer 1 is provided with ink recovery units 82 and 83 for recovering ink droplets that have come off the paper S.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ink collection units 82 and 83. FIG. 10A and 10B, the ink recovery unit 82 shown in the vertical cross-sectional view is used when borderless printing is performed on the front and rear end portions of the paper S, while the ink recovery unit 83 shown in the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. It is used when borderless printing is performed on the left and right side edges of the paper S.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, both of these ink collection portions 82 and 83 are formed on the platen 24 as grooves having a concave cross section. An absorbing material 84 such as a sponge that absorbs ink droplets is provided in the groove. The ink droplets that have not landed on the paper S reach the absorber 84 and are absorbed by the absorber 84.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10A, the groove portion of the ink recovery portion 82 is linearly provided along the moving direction, and the position of the groove portion in the transport direction is opposed to the substantially central portion of the head 41. That is, it faces the nozzles #k to # k + 4. Therefore, when printing without a border at the leading edge as shown in FIG. 10A, ink droplets are ejected from only the nozzles #k to # k + 4 before the leading edge of the paper S reaches the ink collecting portion 82. On the other hand, in the case where borderless printing is performed on the trailing edge, as shown in FIG. 10B, ink droplets from only the nozzles #k to # k + 4 even after the trailing edge of the paper S passes over the ink recovery part 82. Is discharged. During printing of the leading edge and the trailing edge, the ink droplets that have not landed on the paper S among the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles #k to # k + 4 are applied to the absorbent 84 of the ink recovery unit 82. Because of the landing, ink droplets that have not landed on the paper S do not stain the upper surface of the platen 24.

  9 and 11 are provided at positions facing the left and right side edges of the paper S, and both of these grooves are linear along the transport direction of the paper S. Is formed. When borderless printing is performed on the left and right side edges, the ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzles only when the carriage 31 is moving on the paper S, but the side edges of the paper S are not ejected. Ink droplets are also ejected while moving in the abandoned area Aa outside the area. Here, since the ink droplets ejected in the discarding area Aa land on the absorber 84 of the ink recovery unit 83, the platen 24 is not soiled by the discarded ink droplets.

=== Regarding Mist Generated in Discarded Area Aa at Left and Right Side Edges of Paper S ===
In order to perform borderless printing, the above-described discarding area Aa must be set. However, the distance from the nozzle of the head 41 to the ink recovery units 82 and 83 is farther than that of the paper S. Some of the ink droplets ejected toward the discarding area Aa may stall and mist before landing on the ink collection units 82 and 83, and may adhere to surrounding in-flight devices and contaminate them. . For this reason, it is desirable to reduce the ejection amount of the ink droplets ejected toward the discarding area Aa as long as the missing portion of the image that can be visually recognized as a margin is not formed at the edge of the paper S.

 By the way, as a result of investigating the mist generation tendency, it has recently been found that the generation amount of the mist has a causal relationship with the moving direction of the head 41 with respect to the discarding area Aa at the left and right side edges of the paper S. It became clear.

 FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are explanatory diagrams of the tendency of mist generation. In short, in the case of the forward dot forming operation in which the head 41 moves from the right side to the left side as shown in FIG. 12A, the amount of mist generated in the right-side discard area Aar is discarded on the left side. On the other hand, in the case of the backward dot forming operation, that is, when the head 41 moves from the left side to the right side as shown in FIG. 12B, the amount of mist generated in the left-side discarding area Aal is greater. This is larger than the right-hand discard area Aar. That is, in the dot forming operation in which the head 41 moves from one end side to the other end side of the paper S, the amount of mist generated in the discard area Aa on the one end side where the head 41 always comes first regardless of the forward path and the return path. This is larger than the amount of mist generated in the abandoned area Aa on the other end side.

 Therefore, if the discharge amount of ink droplets to the discard area Aa is reduced for the purpose of reducing the mist amount, priority is given to the discharge amount to the discard area Aa on the one end side where mist is more likely to occur than on the other end side. It is desirable to reduce the amount of mist because the amount of mist reduction can be increased.

 Therefore, in the mist reduction process of the first embodiment described below, in each dot forming operation, the width of the discard area Aa on the one end side is changed to be smaller than the width of the discard area Aa on the other end side. As a result, the ejection amount of ink droplets discarded to the one-side discarding area Aa is preferentially reduced. As a result, the amount of mist is efficiently reduced.

 Incidentally, although the reason for the above-mentioned tendency to generate mist is not yet known, it can be considered as follows, for example. The case of the forward dot forming operation will be described as an example. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13A, first, the head 41 performs the ink droplet ejection operation while moving on the right dumping area Aar. At this time, the air pressure behind the head 41 in this moving direction is lowered by a so-called slip stream phenomenon. For this reason, some of the ink droplets ejected toward the right dumping area Aar are pulled behind the head 41 and soar upward, and as a result, they tend to become mist.

 On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13B, the ink droplets ejected to the left dumping area Aal are also drawn behind the head 41, but here the paper S is placed on the right side of the dumping area Aa. And the platen 24 and the like, which obstruct the air flow that draws ink droplets behind the head 41. Therefore, it is considered that the ink droplets ejected toward the left disposal area Aal hardly rise upward and remain in the disposal area Aal, and as a result, are supplemented by the ink recovery unit 83 and hardly become mist. However, this is a hypothesis, and it is not certain as true or false, but the above-described tendency of mist generation is actually confirmed.

=== Mist Reduction Processing of First Embodiment ===
<Mist processing of the first embodiment>
14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams of the mist reduction process according to the first embodiment.
According to the mist reduction process of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14A, in the forward dot forming operation, the width of the right disposal area Aar that the head 41 first encounters is equal to the width that is left after that. The width is adjusted to be narrower than the width W2 of the discard area Aal. Also, in the case of the backward dot forming operation shown in FIG. 14B, the width of the left-hand discard area Aal that the head 41 first encounters is adjusted so as to be narrower than the width W2 of the right-hand discard area Aar that subsequently encounters Is done.

 That is, regardless of whether the dot forming operation is the forward pass or the return pass, the width of the discard area Aa that the head 41 first encounters in the dot formation operation is narrower than the width W2 of the discard area Aa that subsequently arrives. It is adjusted. As a result, the number of non-ejection unit areas in the first disposal area Aa is increased in preference to the number of non-ejection unit areas in the disposal area Aa. As a result, the discharge amount is greatly reduced, and as a result, the mist amount is efficiently reduced.

  Such mist reduction processing is performed by the mask circuit 222 and the mask signal generation unit 224 of FIG. That is, as described above, in the dot formation operation, the print signal PRT (i) of the print data is input to the mask circuit 222 in FIG. Ink droplets corresponding to i) are ejected to each unit area. Here, the mask circuit 222 of the printer 1 further receives a mask signal SIG corresponding to the print signal PRT (i) for each unit area. Is done. Then, the mask circuit 222 calculates the logical product of the print signal PRT (i) and the mask signal SIG and outputs the drive signal DRV (i) to the piezo element.

 Therefore, if the mask signal SIG output from the mask signal generation unit 224 is 1 level, the ink droplet corresponding to the print signal PRT (i) is ejected as it is in the unit area, but the 0 level mask signal In the case of SIG, ink droplets are not ejected to the unit area regardless of the print signal PRT (i). That is, the mask signal SIG makes it possible to make the ink droplets for a predetermined unit area non-ejection irrespective of the print data.

  FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams showing the change in the output level of the mask signal SIG in correspondence with the reference area As and the discard areas Aar and Aal. The areas indicated by the dotted lines in both figures are the abandoned areas Aar, Aal where ink drops are ejected based on the print signal PRT (i) of the print data, that is, ink drops are ejected when mist reduction processing is not performed. Discarded areas Aar and Aal (hereinafter referred to as design discarded areas). The design discarding areas Aar and Aal are set with the same width W2 on the left and right sides of the reference area As.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, in the forward dot forming operation, the output level of the mask signal SIG is 0 level on the right side of the right design discarding area Aar, and the first level from the right edge Esr of the reference area As. At the switching position Pc separated by the predetermined width W1, the signal rises from the 0 level to the 1 level, and the 1 level is output as it is from the left to the left. Here, the first predetermined width W1 is set to a value smaller than the width W2 of the design discard area Aar. Therefore, the width of the right discard area Aar that is first reached in the forward dot forming operation is the design discard. The width W1 is changed to be narrower than the width W2 (corresponding to the second predetermined width) of the area Aar. On the other hand, in the left-hand discard area Aal that comes after this forward dot forming operation, the 1-level mask signal is output as it is, so the width of the left-hand discard area Aal is equal to the print signal PRT (i) of the print data. Based on this, the width W2 of the design discarding area Aal is maintained as it is. Therefore, in the forward dot forming operation, the ejection amount of the ink droplets in the right-hand discard area Aar that comes first is preferentially reduced over the left-hand discard area Aal that comes after that.

  In the backward dot forming operation shown in FIG. 15B, the output level of the mask signal SIG is 0 level on the left side of the left design discarding area Aal, and the first level from the left edge Esl of the reference area As. 1 The level rises to 0 level or 1 level at the switching position Pc separated by a predetermined width W1, and 1 level is output as it is from there to the right side. Here, the first predetermined width W1 is set to a value smaller than the width W2 of the design discard area Aal. Therefore, the width of the left discard area Aal that is first reached in the backward dot forming operation is the design discard. The width W1 of the area Aal is changed to be narrower than the width W2 (corresponding to the second predetermined width). On the other hand, since the one-level mask signal is output as it is in the right-hand discard area Aar that comes after this return dot forming operation, the width of the right-hand discard area Aar is equal to the print signal PRT (i) of the print data. Based on this, the width W2 of the design discarding area Aar is maintained as it is. Therefore, in the forward dot forming operation, the ejection amount of the ink droplet in the left-hand discard area Aal that is first approached is preferentially reduced over the right-hand discard area Aar that is approaching thereafter.

  The level of the mask signal SIG at the switching position Pc is switched by, for example, the mask signal generation unit 224 counting the number of unit regions that the head 41 has passed based on the print signal PRT (i). Done. For example, in the dot formation operation, when the input of the print signal PRT (i) to the mask circuit 222 is started, first, the input start position is regarded as the edges Esr and Esl of the design discarding areas Aar and Aal. After that, the count is incremented every time the print signal PRT (i) is input to the mask circuit 222 thereafter. Here, the count value resulting from the count-up represents the number of unit regions that have passed after the end edges Esr and Esl. Therefore, the level of the mask signal SIG may be switched from 0 level to 1 level when the count value reaches the count corresponding to the switching position Pc. The count number corresponding to the switching position Pc is recorded in the memory 63 in advance, and it goes without saying that the mask signal generation unit 224 reads out from the memory 63 and uses it.

<Application Example of Mist Reduction Process of First Embodiment>
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram when the mist reduction processing of the first embodiment is applied to interlaced printing. The left side of FIG. 16 shows the position of the head 41 (nozzle row) in each pass, and the number in each cell is the nozzle number. Further, on the right side in the figure, ink droplet ejection states in the left and right design discarding areas Aal and Aar are shown. Each cell is a unit area. The numerical value in the square is a nozzle number for forming a dot by ejecting an ink droplet to the unit area, and the blank square without the nozzle number is a unit area where the ink droplet is not ejected.
Since this application example is bidirectional printing, the forward dot forming operation and the backward dot forming operation are alternately performed for each transport operation. In the drawing, the raster lines from which ink droplets are ejected in the forward dot forming operation are shown in light color, and the raster lines formed in the backward dot forming operation are shown in dark color.
Here, the case where the number N of nozzles capable of ejecting ink is 3 and the nozzle pitch k · D is 4 will be described as an example. Incidentally, the carry amount f (= N · D) is 3 · D.

  As described above, in this interlace printing, each time the paper S is transported in the transport direction by a constant transport amount f, each nozzle is positioned immediately above the raster line recorded in the immediately preceding pass, that is, in the transport direction. Record adjacent raster lines on the downstream side. Further, since bidirectional printing is performed, the forward dot forming operation and the backward dot forming operation are alternately performed for each transport operation.

 Accordingly, in the right and left design abandoned areas Aar and Aal, the discharge amount of ink droplets is reduced every other raster line in the transport direction, so that one raster line having a narrow discharge range in the moving direction is provided. Appears every other time. For example, in the design discard area Aar on the right side, a raster line having a narrow width W1 of the discard area Aar is formed at the position of the odd-numbered raster line in the transport direction, and discarded at the position of the even-numbered raster line. A raster line in which the width of the area Aar is wide W2 is formed. On the other hand, with respect to the left design discard area Aal, a raster line having a narrow width W1 of the discard area Aal is formed at the position of the even-numbered raster line in the transport direction, and discarded at the position of the odd-numbered raster line. A raster line in which the width of the area Aal is wide W2 is formed.

 Therefore, it is possible to disperse the dot non-formed portions that may be generated at the side edge of the paper S by reducing the ejection amount of the ink droplets at the left and right side edges, and as a result, the dot non-formed portion. It is possible to make the image defect caused by the inconspicuous.

  In addition, if the mist reduction process of the first embodiment is applied to bidirectional printing, the following effects can be obtained in comparison with unidirectional printing. FIG. 17 is a comparative diagram for explanation, and shows a case where the mist reduction process is applied to unidirectional printing. The only difference from FIG. 16 is that FIG. 17 is unidirectional printing, and the other points are the same. Here, “unidirectional printing” means that ink is ejected only during the forward movement operation, and no ejection operation is performed during the backward movement operation.

  Since this unidirectional printing only performs the forward dot forming operation, the width of the right discard area Aar is the width W1 across all raster lines, that is, the print data is included in all raster lines. It is narrower than the width W2 of the design discarding area Aar. In other words, in the case of unidirectional printing, the margin amount for borderless printing on the right side is W1, which is smaller than the margin amount W2 based on the print data.

  On the other hand, according to the bi-directional printing in FIG. 16, both the right and left discarded areas Aar and Aal are every other raster line, but ink drops are generated at the width W2 of the designed discarded areas Aar and Aal. Since the ink is discharged, the width W2 based on the print data is substantially secured in the left and right design discarding areas Aar and Aal. In other words, the mist reduction process of the first embodiment is preferably applied to bidirectional printing rather than unidirectional printing in that a large margin amount can be secured.

=== Mist Reduction Processing of Second Embodiment ===
In the mist reduction process of the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the width of the discard area Aa on the one end side in each dot forming operation is made smaller than the width W2 of the design discard area Aa. In this case, the discharge amount of the ink is reduced, but the design discarding area Aa is obtained by thinning and discharging the ink droplets discharged to the design discarding area Aa without narrowing the width of the discarding area Aa on the one end side. The amount of ink droplets discharged to the ink may be reduced.
That is, for example, in the case of the forward dot forming operation shown in FIG. 14A, the ink droplet ejection operation is started from the right edge Ear of the right design discard area Aar, and then the design discard area Aar. In contrast, for example, ink droplets may be thinned and ejected such that ink droplets are ejected every other or every second unit region in the moving direction.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of the output of the mask signal SIG for discharging ink droplets by thinning out in this way. In FIG. 18, the mask signal SIG is moved to the right side of the design discarding area Aar with respect to the position in the moving direction. And correspondingly.
The example of FIG. 18 is an example in which ink droplets are thinned and discharged every other unit region. Therefore, the mask signal SIG in the design discarding area Aar on the right side is a rectangular pulse whose pulse width is the size of the unit area, and this rectangular pulse is generated with a period of 2 unit areas. In the reference area As, the mask signal SIG rises to 1 level, and this 1-level state is maintained in the left-side discard area Aal (not shown) as in the first embodiment. The same.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above embodiments are mainly described with respect to the printing system, but it goes without saying that the disclosure includes a printing apparatus, a printing method, and the like.
Moreover, although the printing system etc. as one embodiment were demonstrated, said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 1 has been described as the printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, color filter manufacturing apparatus, dyeing apparatus, fine processing apparatus, semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, surface processing apparatus, three-dimensional modeling machine, liquid vaporizer, organic EL manufacturing apparatus (particularly polymer EL manufacturing apparatus), display manufacturing apparatus, film formation The same technology as that of the above-described embodiment may be applied to various recording devices to which inkjet technology is applied such as a device and a DNA chip manufacturing device. These methods and manufacturing methods are also within the scope of application.

  In the above embodiment, dye or pigment ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the printer 1 from the nozzles. However, the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle are not limited to such ink droplets.

  In the above-described embodiment, ink droplets are ejected using a piezoelectric element. However, the method of ejecting ink droplets is not limited to this. For example, other methods such as a method of generating bubbles in the nozzle by heat may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, multicolor printing in which dots are formed by ejecting ink droplets of four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) onto the paper S will be described as an example. However, the ink color is not limited to this. For example, in addition to these ink colors, six colors may be used by using inks such as light cyan (light cyan, LC) and light magenta (light magenta, LM), or eight colors may be used by using light black LK and lighter black LLK. good. Conversely, monochrome printing may be performed using only one of the four ink colors.

 In the above-described embodiment, the width of the abandoned area on the other end side (Aal in the forward dot forming operation and Aar in the backward dot forming operation) should not be narrower than the width W2 of the design discarded area. In addition, the ink droplets were not thinned and ejected. However, the number of unit regions that do not eject ink droplets is larger in the discard region on the one end side (Aar in the forward pass dot formation operation and Aal in the return pass dot formation operation) than the discard region on the other end side. If so, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mask signal SIG may appropriately make the width of the discard area on the other end side smaller than the width W2, or the discard area on the other end side. The ink droplets may be thinned and discharged.

1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a printing system 100. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of a printer 1 as a printing apparatus. 3A is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view of the overall configuration of the printer. 4 is an arrangement diagram of nozzles provided on the lower surface of the head 41. FIG. It is a block diagram of a drive circuit for driving each nozzle # 1 to #n. It is a flowchart of a printing process. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the position of the head 41 and how dots are formed in pass 1 to pass 4, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the position of the head 41 and how dots are formed in pass 1 to pass 6. is there. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a printing area A and a size of paper S during borderless printing. FIG. 6 is a plan view of ink collection units 82 and 83. 10A and 10B are longitudinal sectional views of the ink recovery unit 82. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ink collection unit 83. FIG. 12A and 12B are explanatory diagrams of the tendency of mist generation. FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are explanatory diagrams of the reason for the occurrence tendency of mist. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams of the mist reduction process according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams showing changes in the level of the mask signal SIG in association with the discarding areas Aar, Aal, and the like. It is explanatory drawing at the time of applying the mist reduction process of 1st Embodiment to the bi-directional printing of interlaced printing. It is explanatory drawing at the time of applying the mist reduction process of 1st Embodiment to the unidirectional printing of interlaced printing. It is explanatory drawing of the mist reduction process of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 printer,
20 transport unit, 21 paper feed roller, 22 transport motor,
23 transport roller, 24 platen, 25 discharge roller,
30 Carriage unit, 31 Carriage, 32 Carriage motor,
40 head units, 41 heads, 50 detector groups,
51 Linear encoder, 52 Rotary encoder,
53 paper detection sensor, 54 optical sensor, 60 controller,
61 interface unit, 62 CPU, 63 memory,
64 unit control circuit,
82 Ink collection unit, 83 Ink collection unit, 84 Absorber,
100 printing system, 110 computer, 120 display device,
130 input device, 140 recording / reproducing device,
221 original drive signal generator, 222 mask circuit,
224 mask signal generation unit, 411 nozzle row,
S paper,
Aa dumping area, Aar right dumping area, Aal left dumping area,
As reference area,
Esr right edge, Esl left edge, Ear right edge,

Claims (5)

A print head that performs an ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on image data during a movement operation along the movement direction from one end side of the medium to the other end side;
A controller for setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. A controller configured to increase the number of discharge unit areas ,
A memory for storing a reference area corresponding to the size of the medium;
An ejection area where ink droplets are ejected based on the image data is wider in the movement direction than the reference area,
The non-ejection unit area is set for a range outside the reference area in the ejection area,
By the setting of the non-discharge unit area, the start and end of the discharge operation in the moving operation is defined,
The discharge operation is started from a unit area that is outside the first predetermined width from the edge on the one end side of the reference area as a starting point, and at a second predetermined width outside the edge on the other end side of the reference area. Ended with the unit area as the end point,
The first predetermined width is smaller than the second predetermined width;
A printing apparatus characterized by that. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The print head reciprocates in the direction of movement;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection operation is performed in each of the movement operations in the forward path and the backward path in the movement direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A printing apparatus that alternately executes the movement operation and a conveyance operation of conveying the medium in a conveyance direction that intersects the movement direction. A print head that performs an ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on image data during a movement operation along the movement direction from one end side of the medium to the other end side;
A controller for setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. A controller configured to increase the number of discharge unit areas,
A memory for storing a reference area corresponding to the size of the medium, and an ejection area in which ink droplets are ejected based on the image data is wider in the movement direction than the reference area, and the ejection area in the ejection area The non-ejection unit area is set for a range outside the reference area,
The start and end of the discharge operation in the moving operation is defined by the setting of the non-discharge unit region, and the discharge operation is performed by a unit region outside the first predetermined width from the edge on the one end side of the reference region. Is started from the edge of the other end side of the reference region and the end is a unit region outside the second predetermined width, the first predetermined width is smaller than the second predetermined width,
The print head reciprocates in the movement direction, and the ejection operation is performed in the movement operation in the forward path and the return path in the movement direction, respectively.
A printing apparatus that alternately executes the movement operation and a conveyance operation of conveying the medium in a conveyance direction that intersects the movement direction. During the movement operation along the movement direction from one end side of the medium to the other end side, when performing the ink droplet ejection operation for each unit region toward the medium based on the image data,
A step of setting a non-ejection unit area in which ink droplets are not ejected from the print head regardless of the image data, in the vicinity of the edge of the medium, wherein the one end side is less than the other end side. Comprising a step of setting so that the number of discharge unit areas is increased ,
An ejection area where ink droplets are ejected based on the image data is wider in the movement direction than a reference area corresponding to the size of the medium,
The non-ejection unit area is set for a range outside the reference area in the ejection area,
By the setting of the non-discharge unit area, the start and end of the discharge operation in the moving operation is defined,
The discharge operation is started from a unit area that is outside the first predetermined width from the edge on the one end side of the reference area as a starting point, and at a second predetermined width outside the edge on the other end side of the reference area. Ended with the unit area as the end point,
The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined width is smaller than the second predetermined width .