JP5744825B2 - Recording system, recording apparatus, image processing apparatus, and recording control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording system, a recording apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a recording control method, and more particularly to a recording system having a recording apparatus equipped with a recording head and an image processing apparatus connected thereto, and a recording control method used in the system. .

  Generally, in a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head), if the number of ink ejections from the nozzles of the recording head exceeds a predetermined number, normal recording may not be possible.

  For example, in the case of a recording head equipped with an electrothermal converter (heater) as ink ejection energy generating means, the ink is rapidly heated by the heat generated by the electrothermal converter to generate bubbles, and the pressure of the bubbles is reduced. Ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles. A recording head employing such a thermal system is subjected to stress such as heat, pressure, or a chemical reaction with ink due to long-term use. As a result, the resistance value of the heater increases or the ink is burnt due to the rapid heat generation of the heater, the ink discharge amount decreases, the ink cannot be discharged normally, and the image quality of the recorded image may deteriorate. There is.

Conventionally, in order to avoid such a situation, for example, a method as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. That is, when an image having ruled lines or the like is frequently recorded, the number of ink ejections from the local nozzles of the recording head for recording the images increases, and the nozzles may reach the end of their lives locally. In order to prevent this, it has been proposed to prevent the nozzles used for recording from concentrating on specific nozzles by shifting the image to be recorded for each form to be recorded in the paper width direction. Such a technique, particularly in a recording apparatus using a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the paper width direction, prevents localized concentration of nozzles due to recording of ruled lines and the like, thereby extending the life of the recording head. It is an effective technique for lengthening.
On the other hand, in a recording apparatus using a recording head that discharges ink from an ink flow path that forms a plurality of nozzles, the influence of minute variations in the shape of the ink flow path that forms the nozzles and the ink as a recording agent Density unevenness occurs in the recorded image due to a change in the discharge amount.

  Such density unevenness is referred to as head shading (HS) as one of correction methods for making the density uniform by correcting image signals and correcting parameters during image processing, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example. Technology has been proposed.

Japanese Patent No. 3294008 JP-A-10-000764

F Tsu To perform by applying the de shading techniques to finer correction, when generating the image data at the host, the ink has to correction processing performed by assuming the position of the nozzles to be ejected. For this reason, for example, when a situation in which the amount of movement of the image shift changes suddenly, such as when the job is interrupted, there is a problem that the image shift that cannot be recognized by the head shading process is performed and the correction is not reflected correctly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example. A recording system, a recording apparatus, and an image that achieve high-quality image recording by head shading while efficiently reducing the load on a specific nozzle of the recording head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing device and a recording control method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording system of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a recording apparatus that performs a recording operation with a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, and an image processing apparatus that is separate from the recording apparatus and that transmits data to be recorded by the recording apparatus to the recording apparatus. In the recording system, the use range of the recording elements is shifted in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head so that a plurality of recording ranges can be selectively used, and data relating to the selected recording range is stored in the recording system. The recording apparatus has shift means for transmitting to the image processing apparatus, and performs head shading correction processing on the image data based on the data relating to the recording range transmitted from the recording apparatus, and the head shading Head shading correction means for transmitting image data subjected to correction processing to the recording apparatus side, the image processing The recording apparatus has control means for causing the recording elements in the recording range to perform a recording operation based on the image data subjected to the head shading correction process transmitted from the image processing apparatus. It is characterized by.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a recording operation is performed by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, and a use range of the recording elements is shifted in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head. An image processing apparatus that transmits data to be recorded to a recording apparatus that can selectively use the recording range, and is an image processing apparatus that is separate from the recording apparatus, and the data relating to the recording range transmitted from the recording apparatus. Data acquisition means to be acquired, head shading correction means for performing head shading correction processing on image data based on data relating to the recording range acquired by the data acquisition means, and head shading correction processing by the head shading correction means The recording element of the recording range of the recording device by the image data subjected to To perform a recording operation, an image processing apparatus characterized by a transmission means for transmitting the image data to the head shading correction processing is performed on the recording apparatus side.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention is a recording apparatus separate from the image processing apparatus that receives data to be recorded from the image processing apparatus and performs a recording operation with a recording head having a plurality of recording elements. Then, by shifting the use range of the recording elements in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head, a plurality of recording ranges can be selectively used, and data relating to the selected recording range is stored in the image. Shift means for transmitting to the processing apparatus; and receiving means for receiving image data on which the image processing apparatus has performed head shading correction processing based on data relating to the recording range transmitted to the image processing apparatus by the shift means; , Based on the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing received by the receiving means, A recording apparatus characterized by a control means for causing the recording operation recording element.

The Looking further present invention from another aspect, transmits a record device for recording operation by the recording head having a plurality of recording elements, the data to be the recording apparatus recording to the recording device, said recording device Is a recording control method in a recording system including a separate image processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of use ranges of the recording elements are shifted in the arrangement direction of the recording elements in the recording head on the recording apparatus side. A shift step for selectively enabling a recording range and transmitting data relating to the selected recording range from the recording device to the image processing device, and the image processing device side transmitting the data from the recording device. based on the data relating to the recording range, line head shading correction process on the image data, Gana the head shading correction processing A head shading correction step of transmitting before recording system the image data, in the recording apparatus, on the basis of the head image data shading correction processing has been performed, the row Align the recording operation in the recording elements of the recording range a recording control method characterized by having a that control step.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when image data subjected to head shading correction is recorded by the information processing apparatus, it is possible to perform image-shifted recording in accordance with a shift instruction on the information processing apparatus side. As a result, for example, even when a print job is transmitted from a plurality of information processing apparatuses and the image shift amount at the time of actual recording cannot be estimated, a high-quality image reflecting the result of correct density unevenness correction is recorded. Can do.

1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a recording system that is a typical embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating an outline of a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus included in the recording system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a recording paper feed operation of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the inkjet recording device and information processing apparatus which comprise a recording system. It is a figure explaining the image shift performed normally. It is a figure explaining the head shading (HS) process performed as standard. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating data stored in RAMs of the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus in order to execute the recording operation according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the image process performed by the information processing apparatus side. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording operation executed on the recording apparatus side. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating data stored in RAMs of the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus in order to execute the recording operation according to the second embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording operation executed on the recording apparatus side.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically and in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In this specification, “recording” (sometimes referred to as “printing”) is not limited to the case of forming significant information such as characters and graphics, but may be significant. Furthermore, it also represents a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or a medium is processed regardless of whether or not it is manifested so that a human can perceive it visually.

  “Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.

  Further, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) should be interpreted widely as in the definition of “recording (printing)”. Therefore, by being applied on the recording medium, it is used for formation of images, patterns, patterns, etc., processing of the recording medium, or ink processing (for example, solidification or insolubilization of the colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium). It shall represent a liquid that can be made.

  Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the “recording element” collectively refers to an ejection port or a liquid path communicating with the ejection port and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection.

<Overview of recording system (FIGS. 1 to 4)>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a recording system that is a typical embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording system 300 includes a recording apparatus 301 equipped with an inkjet recording head and a personal computer (PC) 310 connected by a USB cable 340 or the like. The personal computer (PC) 310 is called a host or an information processing apparatus in the following description.

  Connected to the host 310 are a display 320 for displaying various information and an instruction unit 330 including a keyboard and a pointing device for giving instructions to the host. The host 310 includes a CPU 311 for executing various programs and a memory 312 for storing these programs and data. The memory 312 includes a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a RAM, a hard disk, and the like.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 301 is controlled by the host 310. Accordingly, a printer driver (a kind of control program) for operating the ink jet recording apparatus 301 to perform recording control and an application for generating image data are installed in the host 310. When this printer driver is executed by the CPU 311 during recording, various menu screens related to the recording operation are displayed on the display 320 of the host. As a matter of course, the host generates a print job, generates image data for printing, and supplies the image data to the inkjet recording apparatus 301 as a print job. At this time, the host 310 converts the image data generated using the printer driver into a format that can be interpreted by the inkjet recording apparatus 301, and transmits this to the inkjet recording apparatus 301.

  On the other hand, the inkjet recording apparatus 301 records an image on a recording medium based on image data and a control signal from the host 310.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the host and the inkjet recording apparatus are connected by a USB cable. However, the connection method is not limited to this. For example, it can be connected by a LAN cable or a wireless interface. Note that the overall configuration of the recording system shown here is merely an example. For example, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 310 and a plurality of recording apparatuses 301 may be provided to form a recording system. Other devices may be connected to the recording system.

  2 is an internal side view showing an outline of the configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus) included in the recording system shown in FIG.

  The recording apparatus 301 includes four full-line recording heads (hereinafter referred to as recording heads) 305 that respectively discharge yellow (Y) ink, magenta (M) ink, cyan (C) ink, and black (K) ink. The recording head 305 has a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, which are arranged in a direction crossing the recording sheet conveyance direction. Further, the recording apparatus 301 includes a print buffer memory (hereinafter referred to as VRAM) for temporarily storing image data for each color sent from the host 310, and when the bitmap development of the image data is finished in the VRAM, The recording operation is performed. That is, the roll holder 302 and the conveyance unit 303 are operated to run the recording paper 304 which is a roll-like continuous paper, and according to the contents of the VRAM, YMCK inks are ejected to perform recording.

  Note that the VRAM of the recording apparatus has a capacity for storing image data sufficient to record an image having a predetermined length in the conveyance direction of the recording paper. For example, when the recording width of the recording head 305 is 210 mm, the capacity is a capacity necessary for developing 297 mm (that is, A4 size) of image data into a bitmap in the transport direction. Therefore, it can be said that the VRAM is a page memory or a frame memory.

  The recording apparatus 301 receives various setting data such as a paper type, an ink type, and an image data size from the host 310.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the recording paper feed operation of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  According to FIG. 3, the recording paper 304 is inserted from the roll holder 302 into the transport unit 303, and the recording paper 304 is transported in the direction in which an image is recorded (the arrow direction in FIG. 3) by the transport force of the transport unit 303. This operation is called a feed operation.

  When the development of the image data on the VRAM is completed, the recording head 305 is driven in synchronization with the feed operation, thereby recording on the recording paper 304 based on the image data developed on the VRAM.

  1 to 3, the recording medium is a roll-shaped recording sheet, but a cut sheet may be used as the recording medium. When roll-shaped recording paper is used, recording of a predetermined length in the transport direction is set to one page. However, if cut paper is used, the literal paper length can be counted as one page.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of each of the recording apparatus and the information processing apparatus constituting the recording system. Note that FIG. 4 does not show all the components of the recording device and the information processing device, but only the components related to the present invention.

  In the information processing apparatus 310, the CPU 311 executes various programs under the control of an operating system (OS). As shown in FIG. 4, the system bus of the CPU 311 has a hierarchical bus via a host / PCI bridge 221 and a PCI / ISA bridge 228, respectively, as a PCI bus as a local bus and an ISA bus. Connected.

  Note that the system bus of the CPU 311 includes a high-speed memory (not shown) called an L2 cache, and stores codes, data, and the like that the CPU 311 always accesses.

  The main memory (RAM) 312a is used as a temporary storage area for operating system (OS), application programs (hereinafter referred to as applications), printer drivers, etc., and also as a work area for executing each program. Further, RGB image data generated by the application, multi-value density image data of each color component corresponding to each recording head of the recording apparatus 301 from the RGB image data, and the like are also stored. In this embodiment, the image data is composed of cyan image data, magenta image data, yellow image data, and black image data.

  Further, the image data corrected based on the acquired head shading correction data, the image data binarized by the error diffusion method, and the like are all expanded in the RAM 312a, and the recording device 301 is connected via the communication interface (I / F) 223. Forwarded to

The communication interface (I / F) 223 is connected to the PCI bus, and the interface used is, for example, a USB or a LAN network.
The video controller (DPC) 224 continuously reads display bitmap data written in the VRAM 312d by the CPU 311 and continuously transfers it to a display 320 such as an LCD or PDP.

  The ROM 312b stores a BIOS program for controlling input / output devices such as the keyboard / pointing device 232 and the USB memory 231, initialization at power-on, a self-diagnosis program, and the like. The EEPROM 312c stores various parameters used permanently, for example, print characteristic data of the print head.

  An operating system (OS), various application programs, and a printer driver for the recording apparatus are read from the hard disk (HDD) 227 to the RAM 312a and executed.

  The recording apparatus 301 is controlled by the CPU 201 executing a control program described later stored in the ROM 203. The recording apparatus 301 includes a RAM 202 that stores image data, a communication interface (I / F) 204 for communicating with the information processing apparatus 310, and a head controller 205 that drives and controls the recording head 305. Furthermore, the recording apparatus 301 includes an apparatus driving unit 206 that drives and controls an actuator or the like that conveys the recording medium.

  Furthermore, the recording apparatus 301 includes a recording head 305 including four recording heads 305C, 305M, 305Y, and 305K that discharge cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink, respectively. The recording heads 305C, 305M, 305Y, and 305K include EEPROMs (nonvolatile memories) 307C, 307M, 307Y, and 307K, respectively, and store head shading correction data. These head shading (HS) data are read / written by a memory control (R / W) circuit 207. A recording head ID and HS correction data are written in advance in these EEPROMs. The print head ID is an ID that does not overlap with print heads that eject ink of other colors.

  In the above description, the RAM is used as the main memory and the HDD is used as the mass storage device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other devices such as FeRAM and MRAM may be used. Instead of the HDD, an SDD (semiconductor magnetic storage medium) or an optical disk (a magneto-optical disk such as MO or PD, CD-RW, DVR-RAM, DVD) -RW, DVD + RW) or the like may be used.

  Also, the communication interface is not limited to the USB or LAN interface, and for example, a serial interface such as IEEE1394 or a parallel interface such as IEEE1284 may be used.

<Description of Image Shift and Head Shading Processing (FIGS. 5 to 6)>
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining image shift that is normally performed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the paper position 401 for each page does not change as long as the recording paper is properly conveyed in the recording apparatus 301, but the image print start positions (recording positions) 402 and 403 for each page are the pages. It changes every time. This is image shift.

  When the image is shifted and recorded, as shown in FIG. 5, the image is recorded while being shifted left and right (in the nozzle arrangement direction of the recording head) in the recording paper.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a head shading (HS) process that is normally performed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the density 501 of the image recorded by the ink ejected from all the nozzles of the recording head varies in the nozzle arrangement direction due to the difference in the characteristics of each nozzle. The image density 501 is also referred to as density unevenness information. When a density fluctuation correction parameter 502 having a value in the opposite direction to such density fluctuation is generated and applied to an image 503 with density unevenness, an image 504 without density unevenness is obtained.

  Processing for performing correction corresponding to each nozzle in the nozzle array of the recording head is referred to as head shading processing or head shading (HS) correction. In the HS process, a correction parameter 502 is added to the original image data as shown in FIG. In the recording apparatus, since the characteristics of the recording head change over time, the density of the recorded image is measured periodically, and a correction parameter 502 is generated from the measurement, and this is stored in the recording apparatus as nozzle density unevenness information. Store. It can be said that the density unevenness information of the nozzle is information reflecting the recording characteristics of the recording head.

  Next, an example of a recording operation with head shading correction and image shift executed in the recording system configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating data stored in the RAMs of the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus in order to execute the recording operation according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the RAM 312a of the information processing apparatus acquires image data 121 used for recording, nozzle density unevenness information 122 of the recording apparatus, a determination flag 123 for determining whether or not to perform head shading (HS) processing, and the recording apparatus. The shift amount 124 of the image to be stored is stored. On the other hand, the RAM 202 of the recording apparatus stores nozzle density unevenness information 131, a printed page count value 132, an image shift threshold 133, an image shift value table 134 in which a plurality of image shift amounts are defined, and the like. . It goes without saying that the RAM 202 stores image data used for recording in addition to these.

  Here, the image shift threshold is the number of printed pages that the recording head has to shift the image with a new image shift amount. For example, a value such as 1000 sheets is set. This is because, if a new image shift amount is not set, for example, ink ejection from the same recording element (nozzle) is concentrated in the continuous recording of ruled lines, etc., preventing nozzle deterioration and recording failure. It is defined as a threshold for

  Since the head shading process itself is normally performed in the recording system, the detailed description of the process is omitted.

  On the other hand, the information processing apparatus acquires the density unevenness information of the nozzles stored in the recording apparatus, and stores this in the RAM 312a. If the information processing apparatus determines that head shading correction should be performed based on the nozzle density unevenness information obtained from the recording apparatus, a determination flag indicating whether or not to perform head shading (HS) processing. 123 is turned on. If the information processing apparatus determines that density unevenness occurs in the recorded image based on the nozzle density unevenness information, the determination flag 123 is set to ON. On the other hand, if it is determined that density unevenness does not occur, the determination flag 123 is set to OFF. In any case, this flag setting is performed prior to generation of image data and transmission to the recording apparatus. In this way, the density unevenness information of the nozzles of the recording apparatus is reflected in the head shading process executed by the information processing apparatus.

  Next, image processing and recording operations according to this embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts. First, processing on the information processing apparatus side will be described, and then processing on the recording apparatus side will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing image processing executed on the information processing apparatus side.

  First, when an application is executed to generate image data, and image processing is performed in the printer driver based on the data, a determination flag 123 as to whether or not to perform head shading (HS) processing is acquired in step S201. In step S202, it is determined whether to perform HS processing according to the value of the determination flag 123.

  If it is determined that the HS process is to be performed based on the value of the flag, the process proceeds to step S203, the image shift amount 124 is acquired from the recording device 301, and is stored in the RAM 312a. In step S204, the processing start position for performing the HS processing is set according to the shift amount 124, and the storage address position of the density unevenness information 131 of the nozzle to be referenced is determined based on the start position. That is, the use range of the nozzle corresponding to the recording position when the image is shifted by the recording apparatus 301 is associated with the image data. The nozzle use range is a range of nozzles used at the time of image shift in the nozzles arranged in the recording head 305, and the position of the nozzles in the arrangement direction changes depending on the shift amount. The density unevenness information of the nozzle is acquired from the recording apparatus 301 in advance and stored in the RAM 312a. In step S205, the unevenness of the target image data is corrected. That is, the HS process is performed on the image data corresponding to the use range of the nozzle.

  In step S206, it is checked whether there is image data to be subjected to HS processing, and the processing in step S205 is continued until there is no image data to be processed. Then, after correcting all the image data to be processed, the process transmits the image shift information (shift amount) used in the current correction to the recording apparatus 301 as shift amount designation information together with the image data in step S207. .

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S202 that the HS process is not performed, the process proceeds to step S208, and the image data generated by the application is transmitted to the recording apparatus 301 as it is.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a recording operation executed on the recording apparatus side.

  First, in step S301, image data transmitted from the information processing apparatus side is received, and in step S302, it is checked whether or not shift amount designation information is included in the received image data.

  If it is determined that the shift amount designation information is included, the process proceeds to step S303, and the image shift amount used at the time of recording is rewritten with the value of the image shift amount designated by the received image data. In this way, the recording with the designated image shift amount from the information processing apparatus is prioritized over the recording with the image shift amount set by the recording apparatus.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the shift amount designation information is not included and the image shift is not designated, the process proceeds to step S304, and the current page counter count value is compared with the image shift threshold. Then, it is determined whether or not the count value exceeds the image shift threshold value. Note that the image shift threshold (STH) is read from the ROM 203 and stored in the RAM 202 in advance.

  As a result of the comparison, if the current page counter value (PCNT) exceeds the image shift threshold (PCNT> STH), the process proceeds to step S305, and the image shift amount used during recording is set in the image shift value table. Change to the next value that is specified. In step S306, the value of the page counter is reset. On the other hand, if the current page counter value (PCNT) does not exceed the threshold value (PCNT ≦ STH), the process proceeds to step S307, and the image shift amount is not updated.

  In step S308, recording is performed while shifting the image recording position according to the newly set image shift amount or the previous image shift amount. In step S309, the value of the page counter is set by the number of recorded pages. Update (count up).

  Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, the recording apparatus can perform image shift and record an image according to the image shift amount transmitted together with the image data from the information processing apparatus.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating data stored in the RAMs of the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus in order to execute the recording operation according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 10, the same data as already described in FIG. 7 is denoted by the same reference numeral, and the description thereof is omitted. Here, only data unique to the second embodiment will be described.

  As can be seen by comparing FIG. 10 and FIG. 7, the data stored in the RAM 312a of the information processing apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment. On the other hand, the printing device number value 132a is stored in the RAM 202 of the recording apparatus.

  The processing on the information processing apparatus side in the second embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Here, only the processing related to the recording operation on the recording apparatus side is shown in the flowchart. The description will be given with reference. However, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus transmits the image data together with information on the number of recording pages indicating how many pages are recorded.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording operation executed on the recording apparatus side. In FIG. 11, the same processing steps as those already described with reference to FIG. 9 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same step reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Here, only processing unique to this embodiment will be described.

  When the image data transmitted from the information processing apparatus is received in step S301, in step S302 ', the number of pages corresponding to how many pages of the received image data are recorded is confirmed. In step S303 ', the page number is stored in the RAM 202 as the print page number value 132a.

  Steps S304 to S306 execute the same processing as in the first embodiment.

  If the current page counter value (PCNT) exceeds the image shift threshold value in step S304 (PCNT> STH), or after the page counter value is reset in step S306, the process proceeds to step S306 ′. move on. In step S306 ', as in step S302 of the first embodiment, it is checked whether the received image data includes shift amount designation information.

  If it is determined that the shift amount designation information is included, the process advances to step S307 'to rewrite the image shift amount used during recording to the value of the image shift amount designated by the received image data. On the other hand, if it is determined that the shift amount designation information is not included and no image shift designation is made, the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S308, recording is performed while shifting the image recording position in accordance with the newly set image shift amount or the previous image shift amount.

  Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, the page counter is updated by pre-reading the number of printed pages, so that the image shift information notified to the information processing apparatus can be updated to the latest value as compared with the first embodiment. .

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus executes the program. It is a process to read and execute.

Claims (16)

A recording system comprising: a recording apparatus that performs a recording operation using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements; and an image processing apparatus that is separate from the recording apparatus and that transmits data to be recorded by the recording apparatus to the recording apparatus In
The use range of the recording elements is shifted in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head so that the plurality of recording ranges can be selectively used, and data relating to the selected recording range is sent to the image processing apparatus. A shift means for transmitting is provided on the recording device side,
A head that performs head shading correction processing on image data based on data relating to the recording range transmitted from the recording apparatus side, and transmits the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing to the recording apparatus side. A shading correction means on the image processing apparatus side;
A recording system having control means on the recording apparatus side for causing a recording element in the recording range to perform a recording operation based on the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing transmitted from the image processing apparatus. .   The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the head shading correction unit transmits data related to the recording range to the recording apparatus along with the image data on which the head shading correction processing has been performed.   The recording system according to claim 2, wherein the recording apparatus gives priority to the recording range transmitted from the head shading correction unit over the recording range selected by the shift unit. Recording apparatus capable of selectively using a plurality of recording ranges by performing a recording operation with a recording head having a plurality of recording elements and shifting a use range of the recording elements in an arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head An image processing device that is separate from the recording device,
Data acquisition means for acquiring data relating to the recording range transmitted from the recording device;
Head shading correction means for performing head shading correction processing on image data based on the data relating to the recording range acquired by the data acquisition means;
In order to cause the recording element of the recording range of the recording apparatus to perform a recording operation with the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing by the head shading correction means, the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing is recorded in the recording An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit to the apparatus side.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transmission unit transmits data relating to the recording range to the recording apparatus along with the image data on which the head shading correction processing has been performed.   The transmission means transmits the data related to the recording range used with priority over the recording range designated by the recording apparatus to the recording apparatus side together with the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. Density unevenness information acquisition means for acquiring density unevenness information reflecting the characteristics of the recording head transmitted from the recording apparatus;
Determination means for determining whether to perform the head shading correction processing based on the density unevenness information;
The image according to claim 4, wherein the head shading correction unit performs the head shading correction process when the determination unit determines to perform the head shading correction process. Processing equipment. A recording apparatus that receives data to be recorded from the image processing apparatus and performs a recording operation with a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, and is separate from the image processing apparatus,
The use range of the recording elements is shifted in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head so that the plurality of recording ranges can be selectively used, and data relating to the selected recording range is stored in the image processing apparatus. Shifting means for transmitting to,
Receiving means for receiving image data on which the image processing apparatus has performed head shading correction processing based on data relating to the recording range transmitted to the image processing apparatus by the shift means;
A recording apparatus comprising: control means for causing a recording element in the recording range to perform a recording operation based on the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing received by the receiving means.   The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the receiving unit receives data relating to the recording range from the image processing apparatus side together with the image data on which the head shading correction processing has been performed.   The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording apparatus gives priority to a recording range received by the receiving unit from the image processing apparatus side over a recording range selected by the shift unit. Counting means for counting the number of pages of the recording medium recorded by the recording head;
Comparing means for comparing the number of pages counted by the counting means with a predetermined threshold,
11. The comparison means according to claim 8, wherein when the counted number of pages exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the comparison means causes the shift means to set the recording range to another recording range. The recording apparatus according to claim 1.   12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the receiving unit further receives the number of pages of the recording medium recorded based on the image data from the image processing apparatus before starting the recording. The recording head is composed of a plurality of ink jet recording heads that discharge a plurality of colors of ink,
The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of inkjet recording heads includes a non-volatile memory that stores head shading correction data that reflects a characteristic of the head. . A recording system comprising: a recording apparatus that performs a recording operation using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements; and an image processing apparatus that is separate from the recording apparatus and that transmits data to be recorded by the recording apparatus to the recording apparatus A recording control method in
The recording apparatus shifts the use range of the recording elements in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head so that the plurality of recording ranges can be selectively used, and data relating to the selected recording range is obtained. A shift step of transmitting from the recording device to the image processing device;
The image processing apparatus performs head shading correction processing on the image data based on the data regarding the recording range transmitted from the recording apparatus, and the image data subjected to the head shading correction processing is recorded on the recording apparatus. A head shading correction process to be transmitted to
And a control step of causing the recording element in the recording range to perform a recording operation based on the image data on which the head shading correction processing has been performed on the recording apparatus side.   The recording control method according to claim 14, wherein the head shading correction step transmits data relating to the recording range to the recording apparatus along with the image data on which the head shading correction processing has been performed.   16. The recording control method according to claim 15, wherein the recording apparatus gives priority to the recording range transmitted in the head shading correction step over the recording range set in the shift step.