JP6878522B2 - Inkjet recording device, control method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to inkjet recording devices, control methods and programs.

Recording scanning in which ink is ejected while moving a recording head having an ejection port row in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged relative to a unit region on a recording medium in the scanning direction, and scanning direction. There is known an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image by repeatedly performing a sub-scanning that transports a recording medium in a transport direction that intersects with the above.

In such an inkjet recording device, the power consumption for driving the recording element differs depending on the number of discharges in a short time during recording scanning for one unit area, that is, the number of times the recording element provided inside the discharge port is driven. It becomes a thing. Here, if the power supply is designed according to the maximum amount of the expected power consumption, the size becomes large and the cost also increases.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 describes that when recorded data having a large number of discharges in a short time is input, the recording mode is switched to a recording mode in which the power consumption per unit time is small. Specifically, one unit area is divided into a plurality of divided areas, the total value of the number of times each ink is ejected is calculated for each divided area, and when the maximum total value is lower than a predetermined threshold value, per unit time. It is described that recording is performed by selecting a recording mode that consumes a relatively large amount of power, and a recording mode that consumes a relatively small amount of power per unit time when the threshold value is higher than a predetermined threshold value. In the same document, as a recording mode in which power consumption per unit time is relatively low, a recording mode in which the number of recording scans performed on a unit area is smaller than that in a recording mode in which power consumption per unit time is relatively high, or A recording mode in which the scanning speed of the recording scan is slow is used. According to the same document, the extension of the time required for recording is suppressed when there is no divided region having a large number of discharges in a short time, and the power consumption is increased when a divided region having a large number of discharges in a short time exists. It is stated that the suppression of the above can be achieved at the same time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-7759

However, depending on the method described in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the determination of the magnitude of power consumption for recording in a certain unit area may not be accurate.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a process for determining the magnitude of power consumption according to the prior art. Note that FIG. 1 schematically shows the state at the timing t0 before the start of the recording scan.

Here, as an example, a case where the unit area 900 for which recording is performed by a certain scan on the recording medium 912 is divided into 10 divided areas 901 to 910 will be described. In this case, in the divided regions 901 to 910, the number of ejections Sc1 to Sc10 from the ejection port row 913 for ejecting cyan ink in the recording head, the number of ejections Sm1 to Sm10 from the ejection port row 914 for ejecting magenta ink, and yellow ink. The number of discharges Sy1 to Sy10 from the discharge port row 915 for discharging black ink and the number of discharges Sk1 to Sk10 from the discharge port row 916 for discharging black ink are calculated, respectively.

In the prior art, the sum of the number of times each ink is ejected in one divided region is calculated, and the value is set as the total value Sn (n = 1 to 10) of the number of times the ink is ejected in the divided region. Specifically, the total value Sn is calculated by (Equation 1).
(Equation 1)
Sn = Scn + Smn + Syn + Skn (n = 1-10)

Then, the maximum value among the calculated total values S1 to S10 is used as a representative value for determining the magnitude of the power consumption in the unit region 900, and when the representative value is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the power consumption is large. When the recording mode is higher than a predetermined threshold value, a recording mode with low power consumption is selected as the recording mode to be executed in recording to the unit area 900.

However, in reality, since the discharge port rows 913 to 916 are arranged at a certain distance from each other in the recording head, an error may occur in the determination of the magnitude of the power consumption as described above in the prior art. This point will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically showing a state at a certain timing t1 during recording scanning. Further, FIG. 2B is a diagram schematically showing a range that needs to be monitored in order to calculate the power consumption associated with the discharge from each discharge port row 913 to 917 at the timing t1.

As can be seen from FIG. 2A, at the timing t1, the discharge port rows 913 to 917 are located at positions corresponding to different division regions. Specifically, the cyan ink ejection port row 913 is in the division region 902, the magenta ink ejection port row 914 and the yellow ink ejection port row 915 are in the division region 903, and the black ink ejection port row 916 is in the division region 904. They are in the corresponding positions. That is, at timing t1, ink is not ejected from the ejection port rows 913 to 916 into the same divided region.

Therefore, in order to calculate the total value St1 of the number of times each ink is ejected at the timing t1, it is actually necessary to follow (Equation 2). This equation is not derived from the above-mentioned (Equation 1) which is a prior art.
(Equation 2)
St1 = Sc2 + Sm3 + Sy3 + Sk4

Further, even if the total value St1 at the timing t1 is calculated according to (Equation 2), the magnitude of the power consumption cannot be determined with sufficient accuracy based on the total value St1.

In order to accurately determine the magnitude of power consumption, it is necessary to calculate not only the number of discharges at a certain timing but also the total number of discharges in the time range from that timing until a predetermined time elapses. This is because the magnitude of power consumption depends not only on the number of discharges at each timing but also on the number of times of continuous discharge within a predetermined time.

For example, in the ejection of cyan ink from the ejection port row 913, in the range 917 from the position of the ejection port row 913 at the timing t1 to the position of the ejection port row 913 after the above-mentioned predetermined time has elapsed. It is necessary to monitor the number of discharges. Similarly, the number of ejections in the range 918 when ejecting magenta ink from the ejection port row 914, the range 919 when ejecting from the yellow ink ejection port row 915, and the number of ejections in the range 920 when ejecting from the black ink ejection port row 916. Must be monitored.

Here, the monitor range 917 of the cyan ink exists over the divided region 902 and the divided region 903. Therefore, in reality, the magnitude of the power consumption associated with the ejection of the cyan ink cannot be determined without considering not only the number of times Sc2 of the cyan ink is ejected with respect to the divided region 902 but also the number of times Sc3 of the cyan ink ejected with respect to the divided region 903. The same applies to magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink.

As described above, for various reasons, it has not been possible to accurately determine the magnitude of power consumption by the prior art.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to accurately determine the magnitude of power consumption, thereby preferably suppressing an increase in power consumption while recording at as high a speed as possible. Is what you do.

Therefore, in the present invention, the first ejection port row and the second ejection port row in which a plurality of ejection ports for applying ink to the recording medium are arranged in the first direction intersect the first direction. A plurality of unit regions that can be recorded in one relative scan between the recording heads arranged at a predetermined distance in the direction and the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction are formed in the second direction. among the divided regions obtained by dividing said for each of the plurality of divided regions which the first ejection opening array is included in the first divided area group you face the first time within a predetermined time a number of ink is ejected from the first ejection opening array, divided from the first time of the plurality of the second ejection opening array within the predetermined time is included in the second divided area group you face obtaining means for obtaining the number of ink is ejected from the second ejection opening array for the respective regions, and records selected from a plurality of recording modes based on the results of acquisition by the acquisition means Among the divided regions included in the first divided region group, the control means for controlling the image recording operation by relative scanning between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction according to the mode is provided. At least one is not included in the second divided region group, and the control means receives ink from the first ejection port row for each of the plurality of divided regions included in the first divided region group. Recorded based on the maximum value of the number of ejected inks and the maximum value of the number of ink ejected from the second ejection port row for each of the plurality of divided regions included in the second divided region group. It is characterized by selecting a mode.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine the magnitude of power consumption, thereby preferably suppressing an increase in power consumption while recording at as high a speed as possible.

It is a figure for demonstrating the method of determining the magnitude of power consumption in the prior art. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of determining the magnitude of power consumption in the prior art. It is a perspective view of the inkjet recording apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the recording head applied in embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the recording control system in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data processing process in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation process of the typical value of the number of discharges in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation process of the typical value of the number of discharges in an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the recorded data in the division area in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation process of the typical value of the number of discharges in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the selection process of the recording mode in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording mode which can be set in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording mode which can be set in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording mode which can be set in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording mode which can be set in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording mode which can be set in an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation process of the typical value of the number of discharges in an embodiment.

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings below.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 3 shows the appearance of the inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as a printer) according to the present embodiment. This is a so-called serial scanning type printer, which scans a recording head in an intersecting direction (X direction) orthogonal to a conveying direction (Y direction) of a recording medium P and records an image.

The configuration of this inkjet recording apparatus and the outline of the operation at the time of recording will be described with reference to FIG. First, the recording medium P is conveyed in the Y direction from the spool 6 holding the recording medium P by a transfer roller driven via a gear by a transfer motor (not shown). On the other hand, at a predetermined transport position, a carriage motor (not shown) scans the carriage unit 2 along a guide shaft 8 extending in the X direction. Then, in the process of this scanning, the discharge operation is performed from the discharge port of the recording head (described later) that can be attached to the carriage unit 2 at the timing based on the position signal obtained by the encoder 3, and the discharge operation corresponds to the arrangement range of the discharge port. Record a certain unit area. In the present embodiment, the scanning speed is 40 inches per second, and the ejection operation is performed at a resolution of 600 dpi (1/600 inches). After that, the recording medium P is conveyed, and further recording is performed for the next unit area.

A carriage belt can be used to transmit the driving force from the carriage motor to the carriage unit 2. However, instead of the carriage belt, for example, a lead screw that is rotationally driven by a carriage motor and extends in the X direction, and an engaging portion provided in the carriage unit 2 that engages with the groove of the lead screw, etc. It is also possible to use other drive methods.

The fed recording medium P is sandwiched and conveyed between the paper feed roller and the pinch roller, and is guided to the recording position (main scanning area of the recording head) on the platen 4. Since the face surface of the recording head is capped in the normal hibernation state, the cap is opened prior to recording so that the recording head or the carriage unit 2 can be scanned. After that, when the data for one scan is accumulated in the buffer, the carriage unit 2 is scanned by the carriage motor and recording is performed as described above.

Here, a flexible wiring board 19 for supplying a drive pulse for discharge drive, a head temperature control signal, and the like is attached to the recording head. The other end of the flexible substrate is connected to a control unit (not shown) provided with a control circuit such as a CPU that executes control of the printer. Further, a thermistor (not shown), which is a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature in the inkjet recording device, is provided in the vicinity of the control unit.

FIG. 4 shows a recording head used in this embodiment.

The recording head 7 has four ejection port rows 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22K (hereinafter, these) capable of ejecting cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) inks, respectively. One of the discharge port rows (also referred to as a discharge port row 22) is arranged in this order in the X direction. These ejection port rows 22 are configured such that 1280 ejection ports (hereinafter, also referred to as nozzles) 30 for ejecting each ink are arranged in the Y direction (predetermined direction) at a density of 1200 dpi.

An electric heat conversion element is provided at a position facing the discharge port 30, and by applying a drive pulse to the electric heat conversion element, heat energy for ejecting ink from the discharge port is generated. Can be done. Although the case where an electric heat conversion element is used as the recording element is described here, a piezoelectric element or the like can also be used.

The discharge ports 30 that are adjacent to each other in the Y direction are arranged at positions that are offset from each other in the X direction. Here, the amount of ink ejected from one ejection port 30 in the present embodiment at one time is about 4.5 ng.

These ejection port rows 22 are connected to ink tanks (not shown) for storing the corresponding inks, and ink is supplied. The recording head 7 and the ink tank used in the present embodiment may be integrally configured or may be separable from each other.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system according to the present embodiment. The main control unit 300 includes a CPU 301 that executes processing operations such as calculation, selection, discrimination, and control, a ROM 302 that stores a control program or the like to be executed by the CPU 301, a RAM 303 that is used as a buffer for recorded data, and input / output. It is provided with a port 304 and the like. The memory 313 stores image data, a mask pattern, ejection failure nozzle data, and the like, which will be described later. The input / output ports 304 are connected to drive circuits 305, 306, 307, and 308 such as a transfer motor (LF motor) 309, a carriage motor (CR motor) 310, a recording head 7, and an actuator in a cutting unit. .. Further, the main control unit 300 is connected to the host computer PC 312 via the interface circuit 311.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of processing image data executed by the CPU according to the control program in the present embodiment.

When the recording device receives the image data corresponding to the image to be recorded from the host computer 312 via the interface (S101), the main control unit 300 receives the image data in the color conversion process S102, the γ correction process S103, and 2 The digitization process S104 is executed respectively.

In the color conversion process S102, color gamut conversion is performed to convert the color gamut (R, G, B) of the display of the host computer 312 into the color gamut (C, M, Y, K) of the ink. As a result, ink color data which is 8-bit data C, M, Y, and K is generated from the image data which is 8-bit data R, G, and B. In the γ correction process S103, γ correction is performed for each of the ink color data obtained in the color conversion process S102. Here, conversion is performed so that each of the ink color data is linearly associated with the gradation characteristics of the inkjet recording device. In the binarization process S104, each of the ink color data, which is the 8-bit data obtained in the γ correction process S103, is converted into 1-bit data, and a quantization process for generating the binary data is performed. As the quantization means, a concentration pattern method, a dither method, an error diffusion method, or the like is preferably used.

In this way, the recorded data is generated by executing the color conversion process S102, the γ correction process S103, and the binarization process S104 on the image data (S105).

(Method of calculating the representative value of the number of times ink is ejected in each unit area)
The method of calculating the number of times of ink ejection in each unit area, which is used to determine the magnitude of power consumption when recording in each unit area in the present embodiment, will be described in detail below. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the size of each unit region in the Y direction will be described as 32 pixels, that is, the discharge port rows 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22K are configured from the 32 discharge ports.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of calculating a representative value of the number of times of ink ejection in each unit area executed by the CPU according to the control program in the present embodiment.

First, in step S201, the unit area is divided into a plurality of small areas composed of 16 pixels × 16 pixels, and the number of times each of cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink is ejected for each small area is calculated. Then, the sum of the number of times the ink is ejected for a plurality of small regions continuous in the Y direction within each unit region is calculated for each ink, and the value is used as the number of times each ink is ejected for each divided region.

FIG. 8A is a diagram schematically showing the above-mentioned small region within one unit region. Although the area of the unit area consisting of 96 pixels in the X direction is shown here, there are actually more pixels in the X direction.

The unit area shown in FIG. 8A is a small area 61-1, 62-1, 63-1, 64-1, 65-1, 66-1, 61-2, 62 consisting of 16 pixels × 16 pixels, respectively. It is divided into -2, 63-2, 64-2, 65-2, 66-2. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the number of times each ink is ejected in each small area is calculated.

For the sake of simplicity in the following description, as shown in FIG. 8B, the number of times cyan ink is ejected to the small region 61-1 is Sc (1-1), and the number of magenta ink ejections is Sm (1-1). , The number of times of ejection of yellow ink is described as Sy (1-1), and the number of times of ejection of black ink is described as Sk (1-1). Further, the number of cyan ink ejections to the small area 61-2 is Sc (1-2), the number of magenta ink ejections is Sm (1-2), the number of yellow ink ejections is Sy (1-2), and black ink. The number of discharges is described as Sk (1-2). The same applies to other small areas.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a method of calculating the number of times each ink is ejected for each small area. Here, in FIG. 9, the black-filled pixels indicate the pixels whose ink ejection is determined by the recorded data, and the pixels shown in white indicate the pixels whose ink non-ejection is determined by the recorded data. ing.

For example, when the recording data corresponding to the cyan ink as shown in FIG. 9A is input in the small area 61-1, the number of pixels for which the ink ejection is determined is 16, so Sc (1) -1) = 16 is calculated. Further, for example, when magenta ink recording data as shown in FIG. 9B is input in the small area 62-1, the number of pixels for which ink ejection is determined is 249, so Sm (2-1). ) = 249.

After the number of ink ejections for each small region is calculated in this way, the number of ink ejections is calculated in each of the divided regions that are continuous in the Y direction, that is, are composed of a plurality of regions that are at the same position in the X direction. The total is calculated. Here, one divided region is composed of two small regions adjacent to each other in the Y direction. For example, one divided region 61 is composed of a small region 61-1 and a small region 61-2. Further, one divided region 62 is formed by the small region 62-1 and the small region 62-2. Similarly, the divided regions 63 to 66 are configured.

Here, one divided region is a region where discharge is performed at close timing. Therefore, in order to see the magnitude of power consumption in a short time, it is first necessary to calculate the total number of times each ink is ejected for one divided region.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8C, the sum of the number of times the ink is ejected for two small regions continuous in the Y direction is calculated. For example, the number of cyan ink ejections Sc (1) with respect to the divided region 61 is the number of cyan ink ejections Sc (1-1) with respect to the small region 61-1 and the number of cyan ink ejections Sc (1-2) with respect to the small region 61-2. Is calculated according to the formula of Sc (1) = Sc (1-1) + Sc (1-2). Similarly, the number of times the cyan ink is ejected Sc (2) to Sc (6) for each of the divided regions 62 to 66 is also calculated. Further, in the same manner, the number of times magenta ink is ejected Sm (1) to Sm (6) for each of the divided regions 61 to 66, the number of times yellow ink is ejected Sy (1) to Sy (6), and the number of times black ink is ejected Sk ( 1) to Sk (6) are also calculated.

Next, in step S202, it is determined for each ink which division region is included in the monitor frame for determining the magnitude of power consumption. The size of the monitor frame in the X direction can be appropriately set depending on the power capacity in the recording device, etc., but here, if the size of 16 pixels is provided in the X direction, the magnitude of power consumption can be suitably measured.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining which division region of each ink is used for the number of ejections in order to determine the magnitude of power consumption when the recording head 7 is located at a certain position in the X direction.

When the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, the cyan ink ejection port row 22C is in the division region 61, the magenta ink ejection port row 22M is in the division region 62, and the yellow ink ejection port row 22Y is in the division region 64. In addition, the black ink ejection port rows 22K are located at positions corresponding to the divided regions 65, respectively. At this position, as can be seen from FIG. 10, the cyan ink monitor frame 51C is in the division area 61 and the division area 62, the magenta ink monitor frame 51M is in the division area 62 and the division area 63, and the yellow ink monitor frame 51Y is in the division area 62 and the division area 62. The black ink monitor frame 51K straddles the divided area 64 and the divided area 65, respectively.

Therefore, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times the cyan ink is discharged from the discharge port row 22C, the number of times the cyan ink is discharged Sc (1) with respect to the divided region 61 is used. It is necessary to check the number of times the cyan ink is ejected Sc (2) with respect to the divided region 62. On the other hand, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times the magenta ink is discharged from the discharge port row 22M, the number of times the magenta ink is discharged Sm (2) with respect to the divided region 62. And the number of times magenta ink is ejected Sm (3) with respect to the divided region 63. Further, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times the yellow ink is discharged from the discharge port row 22Y when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, the number of times the yellow ink is discharged Sy (4) with respect to the divided region 64 is used. The number of times the yellow ink is ejected to the divided region 65 Sy (5) is examined. Further, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times of ejection of black ink from the ejection port row 22K when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, the number of times of ejection of black ink Sk (5) with respect to the divided region 65 is used. The number of times the black ink is ejected with respect to the divided region 66 Sk (6) is examined.

Next, in step S203, the maximum value of the number of ejections for the divided region included in each monitor frame is acquired for each ink. For example, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, since the divided regions included in the cyan ink monitor frame 51C are the divided regions 61 and 62, the maximum value of the number of times the cyan ink is ejected with respect to the divided regions 61 and 62. Max (Sc (1), Sc (2)) is acquired. Similarly, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 10, the maximum value Max (Sm (2), Sm (3)) of the number of times the magenta ink is ejected with respect to the divided areas 62 and 63 and the divided area 64 Max (Sy (4), Sy (5)), which is the maximum number of yellow ink ejected with respect to 65, and Max (Sk (5), Sk (6)), which is the maximum number of black ink ejected with respect to the divided regions 65 and 66. ) And get.

Then, in step S204, the total value of the number of times of ejection of the plurality of types of ink acquired in step S203 is calculated. For example, the total value Sum (1) corresponding to the monitor frames 51C, 51M, 51Y, 51K shown in FIG. 10 is Sum (1) = Max (Sc (1), Sc (2)) + Max (Sm (2), It can be obtained by the formula of Sm (3)) + Max (Sy (4), Sy (5)) + Max (Sk (5), Sk (6)). This total value Sum (1) is a value corresponding to the power consumption when recording only 16 pixels in the X direction when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG.

After that, the monitor frame corresponding to each ink is shifted in the X direction by 16 pixels in the same manner, and the total value Sum (n) is calculated at each position as schematically shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the size of the monitor frame in the X direction and the size of the divided region in the X direction are equal to 16 pixels, so the total value Sum (n) at each position can be calculated according to (Equation 3). ..
(Equation 3)
Sum (n) = Dc1 (n) + Dm1 (n) + Dy1 (n) + Dk1 (n)
Dc1 (n) = Max (Sc (n), Sc (n + 1))
Dm1 (n) = Max (Sm (n + 1), Sm (n + 2))
Dy1 (n) = Max (Sy (n + 3), Sy (n + 4))
Dk1 (n) = Max (Sk (n + 4), Sk (n + 5))
Finally, in step S205, the maximum value of the total value Sum (n) for each monitor frame divided by a predetermined position interval obtained in step S204 is acquired, and the value is set with respect to the unit area. Acquired as a representative value D for determining power consumption.

Using the representative value D in each unit area calculated in this way, recording is executed by selecting the recording mode described later for each unit area.

(Recording mode)
In the present embodiment, one of the five recording modes is selected as the recording mode to be executed in the unit area according to the representative value D in each unit area calculated as described above.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a recording mode executed by the CPU according to the control program in the present embodiment.

When the recording mode selection process for a certain unit area is executed, first, in step S301, it is determined whether or not the representative value D in the unit area is smaller than the first threshold value Th1. When it is determined that the representative value D is smaller than the first threshold value Th1, the process proceeds to step S305, and the unit is the first recording mode in which the power consumption per unit time is large but the time until recording is completed is short. Selected as the recording mode when recording to the area. If it is determined that the representative value D is larger than the first threshold value, the process proceeds to step S302.

Next, in step S302, it is determined whether or not the representative value D in the unit region is smaller than the second threshold value Th2. Here, the second threshold value Th2 is a value larger than the first threshold value. When it is determined that the representative value D is smaller than the second threshold value Th2, the process proceeds to step S306, and the power consumption per unit time is relatively large, but the time until the recording is completed is relatively short. The mode is selected as the recording mode when performing recording in that unit area. If it is determined that the representative value D is larger than the second threshold value, the process proceeds to step S303.

Next, in step S303, it is determined whether or not the representative value D in the unit region is smaller than the third threshold value Th3. Here, the third threshold value Th3 is a value larger than the second threshold value. When it is determined that the representative value D is smaller than the second threshold value Th3, the process proceeds to step S307, and the unit is the third recording mode in which the power consumption per unit time and the time until recording is completed are medium. Selected as the recording mode when recording to the area. If it is determined that the representative value D is larger than the third threshold value, the process proceeds to step S304.

Then, in step S304, it is determined whether or not the representative value D in the unit region is smaller than the fourth threshold value Th4. Here, the fourth threshold value Th4 is a value larger than the third threshold value. If it is determined that the representative value D is smaller than the fourth threshold value Th4, the process proceeds to step S306, and although it takes a relatively long time to complete the recording, the power consumption per unit time is relatively low. The recording mode is selected as the recording mode when recording in that unit area. On the other hand, when it is determined that the representative value D is larger than the fourth threshold value, in step S309, the fifth recording, which consumes less power per unit time, although it takes a longer time to complete the recording. The mode is selected as the recording mode when performing recording in that unit area.

Details of the first to fifth recording modes in the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the number of scans and the scan speed to be executed for a unit area are different in each of the first to fifth recording modes. Specifically, in each recording mode, the number of scans and the scan speed are set as shown in FIG.

In the first recording mode and the second recording mode, recording is performed with only one scan for a certain unit area 70. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a state when an image is recorded in the unit area 70 according to the first recording mode and the second recording mode. In the following description, the black-painted portion in the recording head 7 schematically shows the position of the ejection port for ejecting ink by the scanning.

As described above, the size of the unit region 70 in the Y direction is the same as the length of the discharge port row 22 in the Y direction. Therefore, in the first and second recording modes, ink is ejected from all the ejection ports in the ejection port row 22 in one scan to perform recording. This makes it possible to record an image for the unit area 70 with only one scan.

Here, in the first recording mode and the second recording mode, the number of scans performed on the unit area 70 is the same as one, but the scanning speeds are different from each other. In the second recording mode, the scanning speed is slower than that in the first recording mode for recording. Therefore, although the second recording mode takes a longer time to complete recording than the first recording mode, the number of times the recording element is driven per unit time decreases as the scanning speed decreases, so that the power consumption is reduced. Is less than in the first recording mode.

The third recording mode records by two scans on a unit area 70. The scanning speed in the third recording mode is the same as the scanning speed in the second recording mode. FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a state when an image is recorded in the unit area 70 according to the third recording mode.

In the third recording mode, in the first scan of the two scans for the unit area 70, as shown in FIG. 14A, from the half discharge port on the upstream side in the Y direction in the discharge port row 22. Ink is not ejected, and ink is ejected only from the half ejection port on the downstream side in the Y direction in the ejection port row 22. As a result, in the first scan, the image is recorded in the half area on the downstream side in the Y direction in the unit area 70. Next, the second scan is performed without transporting the recording medium. In the second scan, as shown in FIG. 14B, ink is not ejected from the discharge port on the downstream side in the Y direction in the discharge port row 22, and the ink is not discharged from the discharge port on the upstream side in the Y direction in the discharge port row 22. Ink is ejected only from the ejection port of. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, recording can be performed in the unit area 70 by two scans.

Here, the third recording mode has the same scanning speed as the second recording mode, but the number of scans performed for the unit area 70 is increased, and the number of ink ejections per scan (recording element). The number of times of driving) is decreasing. Therefore, the third recording mode takes a longer time to complete recording than the second recording mode, but the power consumption can be reduced as the number of discharges per scan decreases.

In the fourth recording mode, recording is performed by scanning a certain unit area 70 four times. The scanning speed in the fourth recording mode is the same as the scanning speed in the second recording mode. FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a state when an image is recorded in the unit area 70 according to the fourth recording mode.

In the fourth recording mode, in the first scan of the four scans for the unit area 70, as shown in FIG. 15A, a 1/4 discharge port on the downstream side in the Y direction in the discharge port row 22 Ink is ejected only from. As a result, in the first scan, an image is recorded in a 1/4 area on the downstream side in the Y direction in the unit area 70. After that, without transporting the recording medium, the discharge port used for recording is shifted by 1/4 toward the downstream side in the Y direction, and the second to fourth scans are performed on the unit region 70. 15 (b) to 15 (d) show the process of recording an image when the unit region 70 is scanned for the second to fourth times, respectively. As can be seen from FIG. 15D, according to the fourth recording mode, recording can be performed in the unit area 70 by four scans.

In the fifth recording mode, recording is performed by scanning eight times for a certain unit area 70. The scanning speed in the fifth recording mode is the same as the scanning speed in the second recording mode. FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a state when an image is recorded in the unit area 70 according to the fifth recording mode.

In the fifth recording mode, in the first scan of the eight scans with respect to the unit area 70, 1/8 of the discharge port on the downstream side in the Y direction in the discharge port row 22 as shown in FIG. 16A. Ink is ejected only from. As a result, in the first scan, an image is recorded in a 1/8 area on the downstream side in the Y direction in the unit area 70. After that, without transporting the recording medium, the discharge port used for recording is shifted by 1/8 toward the downstream side in the Y direction, and the second to eighth scans are performed on the unit region 70. 16 (b) to 16 (h) show the process of recording an image when the unit region 70 is scanned for the second to eighth times, respectively. As can be seen from FIG. 16 (h), according to the fifth recording mode, recording can be performed in the unit area 70 by eight scans.

The fourth recording mode has a larger number of scans per unit area than the third recording mode, and the fifth recording mode has a smaller number of ink ejections per scan than the fourth recording mode. There is. Therefore, it can be seen that the power consumption is smaller in the fourth recording mode than in the third recording mode, and further smaller in the fifth recording mode than in the fourth recording mode.

From the above description, it takes time to complete recording for the unit area in the order of the first recording mode, the second recording mode, the third recording mode, the fourth recording mode, and the fifth recording mode. It can be seen that the length becomes longer and the power consumption becomes smaller. Therefore, by using the representative value D in each unit area calculated as described above, comparing the threshold values Th1 to Th4, and selecting the recording mode to be executed for each unit area, the time required for recording is selected. It is possible to perform recording in which both the suppression of the increase in power consumption and the suppression of the increase in power consumption are suitably compatible.

(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, the case where the allowable power load is larger than that in the first embodiment will be described.

The description of the same part as that of the first embodiment described above will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, a power supply is used so that a power problem does not occur even when a solid image is recorded from all four discharge port rows for one divided region. However, a system in which a power problem occurs when the total number of discharges for two continuous divided regions in the X direction is large will be described.

In the present embodiment, the monitor frame is extended twice in the X direction as compared with the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining which division region of each ink is used for the number of ejections in order to determine the magnitude of power consumption when the recording head 7 in the present embodiment is located at a certain position in the X direction. Is. Although omitted in FIG. 10, FIG. 17 also describes the division region 60 adjacent to the upstream side of the division region 61 in the X direction and the division region 67 adjacent to the downstream side of the division region 66 in the X direction.

When the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, the cyan ink ejection port row 22C is in the divided region 61, the magenta ink ejection port row 22M is in the divided region 62, and the yellow ink is in the divided region 62, as in the first embodiment. The discharge port row 22Y of the above is located at a position corresponding to the division region 64, and the black ink discharge port row 22K is located at a position corresponding to the division region 65.

Here, as described above, since the permissible power load is larger in this embodiment than in the first embodiment, the monitor frame is expanded in the X direction as compared with that shown in FIG. As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 17 and 10, the monitor frames 52C, 52M, 52Y, and 52K in the present embodiment are twice as large as the monitor frames 51C, 51M, 51Y, and 51K in the first embodiment in the X direction. have.

At this position, as can be seen from FIG. 17, the cyan ink monitor frame 52C is in the division area 61, the division area 62, and the division area 63, and the magenta ink monitor frame 52M is in the division area 62, the division area 63, and the division area 64. The yellow ink monitor frame 52Y straddles the divided area 64, the divided area 65, and the divided area 66, and the black ink monitor frame 52K straddles the divided area 65, the divided area 66, and the divided area 67, respectively.

Therefore, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times the cyan ink is discharged from the discharge port row 22C, the number of times the cyan ink is discharged Sc (1) with respect to the divided region 61 is used. In addition to the cyan ink ejection count Sc (2) for the divided region 62, it is also necessary to look at the cyan ink ejection count Sc (3) for the divided region 63. On the other hand, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times the magenta ink is discharged from the ejection port row 22M when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, the number of times the magenta ink is discharged Sm (2) with respect to the divided region 62. In addition to the magenta ink ejection count Sm (3) for the divided region 63, it is also necessary to see the magenta ink ejection count Sm (4) for the divided region 64. Further, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times the yellow ink is discharged from the discharge port row 22Y when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, the number of times the yellow ink is discharged Sy (4) with respect to the divided region 64 is used. In addition to the number of yellow ink ejections Sy (5) for the divided region 65, it is also necessary to look at the number of yellow ink ejections Sy (6) for the divided region 66. Further, in order to determine the power consumption associated with the number of times of ejection of black ink from the ejection port row 22K when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, the number of times of ejection of black ink Sk (5) with respect to the divided region 65 is used. In addition to the black ink ejection count Sk (6) for the divided region 66, it is also necessary to look at the black ink ejection count Sk (7) for the divided region 67.

In the present embodiment, in step S203, a plurality of divided regions that are continuous with each other in the X direction among the plurality of divided regions included in the monitor frame are regarded as one large divided region, and the number of discharges for the large divided region ( That is, the total value of the number of ejections for the plurality of divided regions constituting the large division region) is calculated, and the maximum value of the number of ejections for the large division region included in each monitor frame is acquired for each ink. For example, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, the divided regions included in the cyan ink monitor frame 52C are the divided regions 61, 62, and 63. Therefore, the monitor frame 52C has two large division areas, one is a large division area consisting of the divided areas 62 and 63, and the other is a large division area consisting of the divided areas 63 and 64. Therefore, in step S203, the maximum value Max (Sc (1) + Sc (2), Sc (2) + Sc (3)) of the number of discharges is acquired. In the same manner, when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, the maximum value Max (Sm (2) + Sm (3), Sm) of the number of times the magenta ink is ejected corresponding to the divided regions 62, 63, 64 (3) + Sm (4)) and Max (Sy (4) + Sy (5), Sy (5) + Sy (6)), which is the maximum number of times yellow ink is ejected with respect to the divided areas 64, 65, 66, and the divided area. The maximum value Max (Sk (5) + Sk (6), Sk (6) + Sk (7)) of the number of times of ejection of black ink with respect to 65, 66, and 67 is acquired.

Here, the monitor frame 52C contains three divided areas (M pieces), and a set of divided areas continuous in the X direction (divided areas constituting the large divided area) is two (K pieces). Therefore, in order to calculate the maximum value of the number of times of ejection of cyan ink, the maximum value among 2 (M-K + 1) values (Sc (1) + Sc (2) and Sc (2) + Sc (3)) Was obtained as the maximum value for the divided regions 61, 62, 63. Further, the monitor frame 52M contains three divided areas (N), and a set of divided areas (divided areas constituting the large divided area) continuous in the X direction is two (L). Therefore, in order to calculate the maximum value of the number of times the magenta ink is ejected, the maximum value among 2 (NL + 1) values (Sm (2) + Sm (3) and Sm (3) + Sm (4)) is divided. Obtained as the maximum value for regions 62, 63, 64. Needless to say, in this embodiment, N = M and L = K.

Then, in step S204, the total value of the number of times of ejection of the plurality of types of ink acquired in step S203 is calculated. For example, the total value Sum (1) corresponding to the monitor frames 52C, 52M, 52Y, 52K shown in FIG. 10 is Sum (1) = value Max (Sc (1) + Sc (2), Sc (2) + Sc (3). )) + Max (Sm (2) + Sm (3), Sm (3) + Sm (4)) + Max (Sy (4) + Sy (5), Sy (5) + Sy (6)) + Max (Sk (5) + Sk () 6), Sk (6) + Sk (7)) can be obtained. This total value Sum (1) is a value corresponding to power consumption when recording only 16 × 2, that is, 32 pixels in the X direction when the recording head 7 is located at the position shown in FIG.

After that, the monitor frame corresponding to each ink is shifted in the X direction by 32 pixels in the same manner, and the total value Sum (n) is calculated at each position as schematically shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the size of the monitor frame in the X direction is 32 pixels, which is an integral multiple of 16 pixels, which is the size of the divided region in the X direction. Therefore, the total value Sum (n) at each position is (Equation 4). ) Can be calculated.
(Equation 4)
Sum (n) = Dc2 (n) + Dm2 (n) + Dy2 (n) + Dk2 (n)
Dc2 (n) = Max (Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1), Sc (n + 1) + Sc (n + 2))
Dm2 (n) = Max (Sm (n + 1) + Sm (n + 2), Sm (n + 2) + Sm (n + 3))
Dy2 (n) = Max (Sy (n + 3) + Sy (n + 4), Sy (n + 4) + Sy (n + 5))
Dk2 (n) = Max (Sk (n + 4) + Sk (n + 5), Sk (n + 5) + Sk (n + 6))

Finally, in step S205, the maximum value of the total value Sum (n) obtained in step S204 is acquired, and that value is acquired as the representative value D for determining the power consumption for the unit area. To do.

Using the representative value D in each unit area calculated in this way, recording is executed by selecting the recording mode described later for each unit area.

According to the above configuration, even when the allowable power load is larger than that of the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain a record in which the increase in the time required for recording and the increase in the power consumption are suppressed. It becomes possible to do.

(Third Embodiment)
The description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments described above will be omitted.

As disclosed in JP-A-11-240146 or JP-A-2007-331315, in order to obtain an image without displacement, a reference for the distance between the ink ejection part of the recording head and the recording medium in the opposite direction. When the ink ejection timing is controlled based on the displacement information regarding the displacement of the recording medium from the value, the ejection timing may be shifted even if the scanning speed of the recording head is constant.

That is, when the discharge timing is shifted as described above, the position in the X direction for recording using each recorded data also shifts, so that the outside of the monitoring range must be monitored due to electrical restrictions. It is not possible to control in consideration of the shift of the discharge timing of.

For example, if the recording head is located at the position shown in FIG. 17, ink is ejected from the ejection port row 22C with the recorded data corresponding to the divided region 61 if the ejection timing is not shifted, but the ink is ejected in the direction of delaying the ejection timing. In this case, the ink is ejected with the recorded data corresponding to the divided region 60.

In view of this point, in the present embodiment, for example, in the case of the monitor frame 52C that straddles the divided areas 61, 62, 63 of FIG. 17, the divided areas 60 adjacent to the outside of the monitor frames 52C are also monitored.

In the present embodiment, (Equation 4) of the second embodiment is modified as follows (Equation 5).
(Equation 5)
Sum (n) = Dc3 (n) + Dm3 (n) + Dy3 (n) + Dk3 (n)
Dc3 (n) = Max (Sc (n-1) + Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1), Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1) + Sc (n + 2))
Dm3 (n) = Max (Sm (n) + Sm (n + 1) + Sm (n + 2), Sm (n + 1) + Sm (n + 2) + Sm (n + 3))
Dy3 (n) = Max (Sy (n + 2) + Sy (n + 3) + Sy (n + 4), Sy (n + 3) + Sy (n + 4) + Sy (n + 5))
Dk3 (n) = Max (Sk (n + 3) + Sk (n + 4) + Sk (n + 5), Sk (n + 4) + Sk (n + 5) + Sk (n + 6))

For example, in (Equation 4) in the second embodiment, Dc2 (n) = Max (Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1), Sc (n + 1) + Sc (n + 2)), whereas in the present embodiment (n + 2). In the formula 5), Dc3 (n) = Max (Sc (n-1) + Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1), Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1) + Sc (n + 2)). As can be seen from this, in this embodiment, since the divided region outside the monitor frame 52c is also taken into consideration, the item Sc (n-1), which is not in the second embodiment, is added. Therefore, even if the discharge position fluctuates in the X direction due to the shift of the discharge timing, the fluctuation can be covered.

In this embodiment, the control range for controlling the discharge timing is considered to be ± several pixels. Therefore, it was judged that it would fit within one division area, and the number of division areas to be considered was increased by one. If the range for controlling the discharge timing is increased, it can be dealt with by increasing the number of division areas to be considered.

In this embodiment, the outer division region on the upstream side in the X direction is used in consideration of the case where the discharge timing is shifted in the direction of delaying the discharge timing. Regions may be used. The total value Sum (n) can be calculated according to the following (Equation 6) when considering the case of shifting the discharge timing in the direction of delaying the discharge timing and the case of shifting the discharge timing in the direction of increasing the discharge timing.
(Equation 6)
Sum (n) = Dc4 (n) + Dm4 (n) + Dy4 (n) + Dk4 (n)
Dc4 (n) = Max (Sc (n-1) + Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1), Sc (n) + Sc (n + 1) + Sc (n + 2), Sc (n + 1) + Sc (n + 2) + Sc (n + 3)) Dm4 ( n) = Max (Sm (n) + Sm (n + 1) + Sm (n + 2), Sm (n + 1) + Sm (n + 2) + Sm (n + 3), Sm (n + 2) + Sm (n + 3) + Sm (n + 4))
Dy4 (n) = Max (Sy (n + 2) + Sy (n + 3) + Sy (n + 4), Sy (n + 3) + Sy (n + 4) + Sy (n + 5), Sy (n + 4) + Sy (n + 5) + Sy (n + 6))
Dk4 (n) = Max (Sk (n + 3) + Sk (n + 4) + Sk (n + 5), Sk (n + 4) + Sk (n + 5) + Sk (n + 6), Sk (n + 5) + Sk (n + 6) + Sk (n + 7))

In each embodiment, a so-called thermal jet type inkjet recording device and a recording method in which ink is ejected by the energy of foaming generated by heating are described. However, the present invention is not limited to the thermal jet type inkjet recording device. For example, it can be effectively applied to various image recording devices such as a so-called piezo type inkjet recording device that ejects ink by using a piezoelectric element.

Further, although the image recording method using the image recording device is described in each embodiment, the image processing device or image processing method for generating data for performing the image recording method described in each embodiment, or the computer is described above. It can also be applied to a form in which a program for functioning as an image processing device is prepared separately from the image recording device. Needless to say, it can be widely applied to a form provided in a part of an image recording device.

The "recording medium" includes not only paper used in general recording devices, but also a wide range of materials such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather that can accept ink. ..

Further, "ink" is applied on a recording medium to form an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc., process the recording medium, or process the ink (for example, a colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium). It shall represent a liquid that can be subjected to coagulation or insolubilization).

7 Recording head 22 Discharge port row 30 Discharge port 61-66 Division area 301 CPU

Claims (12)

A predetermined distance is set in the second direction in which the first discharge port row and the second discharge port row in which a plurality of discharge ports for applying ink to the recording medium are arranged in the first direction intersect the first direction. With the recording head placed with
Of the divided regions obtained by dividing the unit region that can be recorded in one relative scan between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction into a plurality of divided regions in the second direction, a predetermined time is determined from the first time. The number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row to each of the plurality of divided regions included in the first divided region group facing the first ejection port rows within the time specified in Ink is ejected from the second ejection port row to each of the plurality of divided regions included in the second divided region group in which the second ejection port row faces each other within the predetermined time from the time of 1. Number, acquisition method to acquire,
Control to control image recording operation by relative scanning between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction according to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes based on the acquisition result by the acquisition means. Means and
With
At least one of the divided regions included in the first divided region group is not included in the second divided region group.
The control means sets the maximum value of the number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row for each of the plurality of divided regions included in the first divided region group and the second divided region group. An inkjet recording apparatus, characterized in that a recording mode is selected based on a maximum value of the number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row for each of a plurality of included divided regions. The plurality of recording modes according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of recording modes include a first recording mode and a second recording mode that consumes less power per unit time than the first recording mode. Inkjet recording device. The first recording mode records an image while scanning at a first speed, and the second recording mode records an image while scanning at a second speed slower than the first speed. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2. The control means includes the maximum value of the number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row for each of the divided regions included in the first divided region group, and the second divided region group. Any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording mode is selected based on the total value of the maximum number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row for each of the divided regions. The inkjet recording apparatus according to the section. The recording head includes a plurality of discharge port rows including the first discharge port row and the second discharge port row.
The acquisition means ejects ink from each of the plurality of ejection port rows to each of the plurality of divided regions facing each other of the plurality of ejection port rows within the predetermined time from the first time. Get the number that will be
4. The control means according to claim 4, wherein the control means selects a recording mode based on a total value obtained by summing up the maximum values of the number of inks ejected for each of the plurality of ejection port rows. Inkjet recording device. The plurality of recording modes include a first recording mode and a second recording mode that consumes less power per unit time than the first recording mode.
The acquisition means acquires the total value for each unit time with the predetermined time as a unit time.
The control means selects the first recording mode when the maximum value of the total value acquired by the acquisition means is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and the second recording mode is larger than the predetermined threshold value. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a recording mode is selected. The present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the color of the ink ejected from the first ejection port row and the color of the ink ejected from the second ejection port row are different. The inkjet recording apparatus described. The inkjet recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recording head is a recording head in which ink is ejected from a plurality of ejection ports by the energy of foaming generated by heating. A predetermined distance is set in the second direction in which the first discharge port row and the second discharge port row in which a plurality of discharge ports for applying ink to the recording medium are arranged in the first direction intersect the first direction. With the recording head placed with
Of the divided regions obtained by dividing the unit region that can be recorded in one relative scan between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction into a plurality of divided regions in the second direction, a predetermined time is determined from the first time. The number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row and the first time for each of the M (M ≧ 2) divided regions facing the first ejection port rows within the time To obtain the number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row for each of the K (K ≧ 2) divided regions facing the second ejection port rows within the predetermined time. Acquisition method and
Control to control image recording operation by relative scanning between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction according to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes based on the acquisition result by the acquisition means. Means and
With
At least one of the M divided regions is not included in the K divided regions.
The control means is the maximum value of the total number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row with respect to a predetermined number of divided regions continuous in the scanning direction among the M divided regions. And the maximum value of the total number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row with respect to the predetermined number of divided regions continuous in the scanning direction among the K divided regions. An inkjet recording apparatus characterized in that a recording mode is selected based on. A predetermined distance is set in the second direction in which the first discharge port row and the second discharge port row in which a plurality of discharge ports for applying ink to the recording medium are arranged in the first direction intersect the first direction. A control method for an inkjet recording device that includes a recording head that is held and arranged.
Of the divided regions obtained by dividing the unit region that can be recorded in one relative scan between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction into a plurality of divided regions in the second direction, a predetermined time is determined from the first time. The number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row to each of the plurality of divided regions included in the first divided region group facing the first ejection port rows within the time specified in Ink is ejected from the second ejection port row to each of the plurality of divided regions included in the second divided region group in which the second ejection port row faces each other within the predetermined time from the time of 1. And the acquisition process to acquire
Control to control image recording operation by relative scanning between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction according to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes based on the acquisition result in the acquisition step. Process and
With
At least one of the divided regions included in the first divided region group is not included in the second divided region group.
The maximum value of the number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row for each of the plurality of division regions included in the first division region group, and the plurality of divisions included in the second division region group. A control method characterized in that a recording mode is selected based on a maximum value of the number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row for each region. A predetermined distance is set in the second direction in which the first discharge port row and the second discharge port row in which a plurality of discharge ports for applying ink to the recording medium are arranged in the first direction intersect the first direction. A control method for an inkjet recording device that includes a recording head that is held and arranged.
Of the divided regions obtained by dividing the unit region that can be recorded in one relative scan between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction into a plurality of divided regions in the second direction, a predetermined time is determined from the first time. The number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row and the first time for each of the M (M ≧ 2) divided regions facing the first ejection port rows within the time To obtain the number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row for each of the K (K ≧ 2) divided regions facing the second ejection port rows within the predetermined time. Acquisition process and
Control to control image recording operation by relative scanning between the recording head and the recording medium in the second direction according to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes based on the acquisition result in the acquisition step. Process and
With
At least one of the M divided regions is not included in the K divided regions.
The maximum value of the total number of inks ejected from the first ejection port row with respect to a predetermined number of divided regions continuous in the scanning direction among the M divided regions, and the K pieces. The recording mode is based on the maximum value of the total number of inks ejected from the second ejection port row with respect to the predetermined number of divided regions continuous in the scanning direction. A control method characterized in that is selected. A program comprising operating a computer to perform each step of the control method according to claim 10 or 11.

Images