JPH07195745A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep high printing quality even if a paper conveying accuracy is lowered. CONSTITUTION:A scanning control part 812 is constituted so that an action of a conveyor belt motor 383 is controlled by the scanning control part 812 at the time of a broad mode, through which paper conveyance is performed by dimensions obtained by adding dimensions of the first and second spheres and overlapped printing is performed by nozzles of the second sphere of a nozzle part 511. On the one hand, a recording control part 811 operates the nozzles by thinning out the nozzles every other piece to the nozzles of the second sphere of the nozzle part 511 and the nozzles of every other piece are operated alternately in accordance with serial scanning to a rightward direction. Then image signals are applied to the nozzles of the second sphere by overlapping and an ordinary image printing is constituted so that normal image printing is performed by the overlap printing by reversing the nozzles which are operated alternately in the (N+1)st time serial scanning to the Nth time serial scanning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus used as an output device of a facsimile, a copying machine, a printer or a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet type image recording apparatus for ejecting ink from a nozzle of a recording head to print on a sheet has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-27949), and is provided with such an image recording apparatus. An image forming apparatus has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-129667), and at present, an apparatus capable of printing on A0 size paper has been put into practical use. In such an image recording apparatus, the conveyance and the stop of the paper are alternately repeated, and the print head is serially scanned in the width direction of the paper during the stop to perform printing with a predetermined print width of the print head. There is. In this case, the paper is conveyed by the print width. On the other hand, in order to print at high speed, the print width is increased by using a recording head that is elongated by increasing the number of nozzles.

[0003]

However, as the print width of the recording head increases, the amount of paper conveyed for each printing also increases, making it difficult to maintain the accuracy of the amount of paper conveyed. If this accuracy decreases, white streaks (dots are vacant) or black streaks (dots overlap) occur during printing by two serial scans, and print quality deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an image recording apparatus which maintains high print quality even if the accuracy of sheet conveyance is lowered.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention makes a recording head for printing with a predetermined width serially scan in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and alternates the paper transport and the serial scan. In the image recording apparatus for performing printing on a sheet by performing the above, the recording head includes a first area having a first width, and second areas provided at both ends of the first area and each having a minute second width. For carrying out dot printing, and carrying control means for carrying the paper by a size obtained by adding the first width and the second width, and recording for printing an image by outputting an image signal to the recording head. A control means is provided, and the recording control means outputs image signals that overlap with each other in the serial scanning to the second area (claim 1).

Further, the recording control means outputs, as the overlapping image signals, image signals thinned out in comparison with the first area (claim 2).

Further, the second area is adapted to perform dot printing which is reduced as compared with the first area (claim 3).

The recording head is composed of a large number of ink ejection nozzles arranged in the width direction, and the area of each nozzle in the second area is larger than the area of each nozzle in the first area. And small (claim 4).

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the third aspect, the recording head is composed of a large number of ink ejection nozzles arranged in the width direction, and the recording control means is provided in each of the second areas. The amount of ink ejected from the nozzles is reduced as compared with the amount of ink ejected from each nozzle in the first region (claim 5).

Further, the dot printing in the second area is gradually reduced from the first area side toward the edge (claim 6).

Further, the recording head is composed of a large number of nozzles for ejecting ink arranged in the width direction, and the area of each nozzle in the second region is from the first region side toward the end. It is gradually decreasing (claim 7).

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the recording head comprises a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink arranged in the width direction, and the recording control means is provided in each of the second areas. The amount of ink ejected from the nozzles is gradually reduced from the first region side toward the end (claim 8).

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording head is serially scanned in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and the sheet conveying and the serial scanning are alternately performed. Since the sheet is conveyed by a size obtained by adding the first width and the second width, the sheet is overlapped by the second area of the recording head, and the overlapping image signals are output to the second area. Printing is performed in duplicate for two areas.

According to the invention described in claim 2,
Image signals decimated as compared with the first region are output as overlapping image signals to the region, and the second region is printed in the same manner as the first region.

According to the invention of claim 3, the second aspect is provided.
The area is printed with dots reduced in size as compared with the first area, and the printing of the second area in which overlapping printing is performed is performed in the same manner as the first area.

According to the invention of claim 4, the second
The area of each nozzle of the region is smaller than the area of each nozzle of the first region, and the printing of the second region in which overlapping printing is performed is performed in the same manner as the first region.

According to the invention of claim 5, the second aspect is provided.
The amount of ink ejected from each nozzle in the area is reduced as compared with the amount of ink ejected from each nozzle in the first area, and printing is performed in the second area in the same manner as in the first area. Be seen.

According to the invention of claim 6, the second
The dot printing of the area is gradually reduced from the first area side toward the edge, and the printing of the second area where overlapping printing is performed is performed in the same manner as the first area.

According to the invention of claim 7, the second aspect
The area of each nozzle in the region gradually decreases from the first region side toward the end, and the printing of the second region in which overlapping printing is performed is performed in the same manner as the first region.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the second
The amount of ink ejected from each nozzle in the region is gradually reduced from the first region side toward the end, and the printing of the second region in which overlapping printing is performed is performed in the same manner as the first region.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic internal structure of the apparatus of the embodiment, (a) is a front view,
(B) is a right side view. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the printing unit.

This device is, for example, a printer that prints image data or the like input from an external device. In FIG. 1 (a),
First recording unit 1 for printing in wide-width mode described later on the right side
1. A second recording unit 12 for printing in a high speed mode, which will be described later, is provided on the left side, a printing unit is provided at an upper portion, and a paper storage unit is provided at a lower portion, and paper is conveyed between a lower portion and an upper portion between them. It has a system. A display unit 85 is provided at an appropriate place on the surface of the apparatus to display the presence / absence of paper in each paper feed cassette, the shortage of the remaining ink amount, and the like. In FIG. 2, P1 and P2 are respectively the first
The paper conveyance directions of the recording unit 11 and the second recording unit 12 are shown.

Paper feed cassettes 21, 22 and 23 to 25 having different sizes capable of accommodating cut sheets are provided in the respective sheet accommodating portions.
Are arranged in a laminated manner. The paper feed cassettes 21 to 25 include, for example, a paper feed cassette 21 of A4 size, a paper feed cassette 22 of B5 size, and a paper feed cassette 23.
B4 size, A3 size is stored in the paper feed cassette 24, and A2 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 25.

In each sheet conveying system, sheet feeding rollers 31 to 35, which are provided corresponding to the respective sheet feeding cassettes 21 to 25, which feed sheets, and a register which conveys sheets in accordance with the timing of image recording. A pair of rollers 41, 43 is provided,
Further, at the printing position of the first recording unit 11, the conveyor belt 38,
A conveyor belt 36 is arranged at the printing position of the second recording unit 12.

The conveyor belt 38 is provided at the front and rear ends of the drive roller 3.
81 and the driven roller 382 are endlessly stretched. A pinch roller 384 is disposed directly above the driven roller 382 so as to be in contact with the conveyor belt 38. Drive roller 381, driven roller 382 and pinch roller 384
Is rotatably supported by the side plates 58a and 59a.

The conveyor belt motor 383 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor, and a motor gear 383a is meshed with a gear 381a fixed to the shaft of the drive roller 381. The drive roller 381 is rotationally driven to drive the conveyor belt 38. It is a thing. Then, the transport belt 38 is fed from the paper feed cassettes 23 to 25 to the upper portion of the apparatus, and the paper nipped between the driven roller 382 and the pinch roller 384 is adsorbed and transported by static electricity or air suction force. The amount of rotation of the drive roller 381, that is, the amount of paper conveyed is set by the drive pulse supplied to the conveyor belt motor 383.

Further, the conveyor belt 36 has an endless shape stretched around the conveyor rollers 361 and 362 at the front and rear ends, and is rotated by a conveyor belt motor 363, which is, for example, a stepping motor, and is fed from the paper feed cassettes 21 and 22. The paper fed to the upper part is adsorbed and conveyed by static electricity, air suction force, or the like.

The discharge roller pair 37 guides and discharges the sheet conveyed by the conveyance belt 36 along the conveyance guide 371 to the side of the discharge tray 19. Discharge roller pair 3
9 is for guiding the paper conveyed by the conveyor belt 38 to the discharge tray 29 side and discharging it.

Next, the structure of the printing unit will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the recording head array 51 and the carriage 52, (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a right side view.

The printing section comprises a scanning system for reciprocating the recording head array 51, an ink supply system for supplying ink to the recording head array 51, and an ejection recovery mechanism for maintaining the ink ejection performance of the recording head array 51. .

The recording head array 51 is provided with a nozzle portion 511 in which a large number of small diameter nozzles are arranged, and ink is ejected by an ink ejection mechanism which is provided in each nozzle and which is composed of, for example, a piezoelectric element, and a paper sheet. The image is printed on top. The home position of the recording head array 51 is set to the position shown by the solid line in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the nozzle portion 511 ejects yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) ink, and the nozzle portions 51Y and 51Y.
Four rows of M, 51C and 51K are arranged in parallel. Nozzle part 5
1Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K are, for example, nozzle rows of size D in which minute diameter nozzles are arranged in a row at a predetermined pitch, and these are sequentially discharged by scanning in the right direction in FIG. 3A. Then, color printing is performed.

Further, the nozzle portions 51Y, 51M, 51C,
51K is composed of a first region of dimension D1 and second regions of dimension D2 provided at both ends thereof. This first
The nozzle diameters of the area and the second area are the same.

The nozzle row may be a matrix arrangement in which small-diameter nozzles are arranged in a checkerboard pattern or a zigzag pattern. Further, the nozzle unit 511 includes only a nozzle unit 51K that ejects black (K) ink,
It may be capable of black and white printing.

The dimension D has a length equal to the short side of A4 size, for example, and the dimension D2 is 1 mm or less.

The drive circuit 512 has a latch portion, and temporarily latches, for example, a serial binary or multi-valued image signal for one line sent through the signal line 513, converts it into a parallel signal, and then the nozzle. The pulse output signal is synchronously output to the corresponding piezoelectric element of the section 511.

For example, in the case of a binary signal of "0" and "1", a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element during the pulse width of the signal of "1" and the hydraulic pressure is rapidly increased. A fixed amount of ink is ejected from the nozzle.

The image signal for one line is sequentially transmitted at a predetermined cycle, whereby a two-dimensional image recording is performed.

The carriage 52 is a recording head array 51.
The stays 54 and 55 arranged side by side in the width direction of the conveyor belt 38 have through holes 520a and fitting grooves 520.
b is fitted and reciprocally movable.

The stay 54 is made of a male screw and has a carriage drive motor 56 having a stepping motor or the like at one end.
And the other end of the stay 55 is rotatably supported by the side plate 59 of the apparatus main body.
It is supported by 9.

In the carriage 52, the fitting groove 520b slides on the stay 55, while the through hole 5
The female screw 20a has a so-called ball screw structure in which a female screw is formed.
The carriage 52 is moved according to the rotation of 4.

The movement amount and speed of the carriage 52 can be set by the drive pulse supplied to the carriage drive motor 56. A position sensor, such as a reflection type optical sensor, may be disposed near the home position to detect the return of the carriage 52, that is, the recording head array 51 to the home position.

By reducing the width of the carriage 52 to the same dimension as the width of the recording head array 51, the space required for the movement of the carriage 52 can be minimized, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

Next, the ink supply system and the ejection recovery mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. Ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 61 to the recording head array 51 via the ink supply tube 60.

The ink cartridge 61 is composed of a cartridge 61C, a cartridge 61M, a cartridge 61Y, and a cartridge 61K, and contains cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, respectively, and is attached to the base end of the ink supply tube 60. Ink is supplied from the needle.

The ink supply tube 60 is composed of a bundle of four cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks. In the case of black only, the number is one.

The ink supply tube 60a from the point A (FIG. 1A) to the recording head array 51 is made of, for example, soft synthetic resin, and is connected to a signal line 513 which is wired on a flexible substrate having the same length. It is constructed as one. In addition, the length is such that the reciprocating width of the recording head array 51 from the home position, that is, the size at which the ink can be supplied at the printing position of the second recording unit 12 shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. It is set.

The ink remaining amount detecting portion 62 detects the remaining amount of each ink in the ink cartridge 61, and when the remaining amount falls below a predetermined level, it is displayed on the display portion 85 (FIG. 1A). It has become. The filter 63 prevents foreign matter in the ink cartridge 61 and foreign matter from entering from the ink needle when the ink cartridge is replaced.

The damper 64 is arranged above the carriage 52 and absorbs a large pressure fluctuation caused by the inertial force of the ink in the ink supply tube 60 during the reciprocating movement of the carriage 52. It is intended to prevent variations.

The discharge recovery mechanism is composed of a capping member 65, a pump 66 and the like. Capping member 65
Is disposed at the home position of the recording head array 51, and a rubber cap, for example, is formed on the surface facing the nozzles so as to closely adhere to the recording head array 51 and cover the nozzles. It is intended to prevent invasion of the nozzle into the nozzle.

When printing is performed, the cap driving member 84 is lowered by the cap drive motor 84 (see FIG. 4), the carriage 52 starts moving after retracting from the recording head array 51, printing is completed, and the carriage 5 is stopped.
When 2 returns to the home position, it rises and is mounted on the recording head array 51, and serves as a lid for preventing solidification of ink at the nozzle tip.

During printing, by returning the recording head array 51 to the home position at a required interval and performing idle ejection of ink from all nozzles toward the capping member 65, it may be used during printing. Or, it is designed to prevent clogging of nozzles that are rarely used. The blank discharge may be performed by mounting the capping member 65 on the recording head array 51.

The pump 66 is communicated with the cap of the capping member 65 and generates a suction force in a state of being attached to the recording head array 51 to return the meniscus formed at the nozzle tip of the recording head array 51 to a normal position. Or
The bubbles and foreign substances in the nozzle are removed together with the ink to eliminate the defective ejection of the ink. The ink sucked by the pump 66 is absorbed by the ink absorber inside the waste ink tank 68 via the waste ink tube 67.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the control configuration of this apparatus.
This will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In this device, each part operates based on an operation signal and an image signal input from an external device such as a personal computer.

The control section 81 is composed of a microcomputer or the like and controls the operation of the entire apparatus. In addition, a storage unit 82 including a ROM in which a control program is stored and a RAM for temporarily storing data is built in.

An image signal is sent from the external device to the recording controller 8
In FIG. 11, an operation signal such as a paper size and a recording mode including a wide-width mode and a high-speed mode, which will be described later, is input to the scan control unit 812.
Entered in. The scan control unit 812 outputs a required instruction signal to the print control unit 811 according to the input print mode. Then, the recording control unit 811 and the scanning control unit 812
And are designed to perform control operations in synchronization with each other.

The recording controller 811 serially transmits the input image signal to the drive circuit 512 via the signal line 513. In addition, the parallel signal converted by the drive circuit 512 is synchronized with the scan control unit 812 to synchronize with the nozzle unit 5.
It outputs to the piezoelectric element provided in each of the 11 nozzles to control the ejection of ink. It should be noted that the cycle of ink ejection, that is, the cycle of signal output to the piezoelectric element is suitably set according to the recording mode.

Based on the input operation signal, the scan control section 812 drives the paper feed system such as the paper feed roller and the discharge system 86 through the drive circuit 83 so that the paper is fed from the predetermined cassette. A drive pulse is supplied to drive each motor such as the conveyor belt motor 383.

The display control section 813 detects the presence / absence of paper in each paper feed cassette, the shortage of remaining ink, etc., and displays the detection result on the display section 85.

The width of the input paper size is A
4 is shorter than the short side, that is, the paper feed cassette 23 to
When using 25 sheets, the conveyor belt motor 383
Repeatedly conveys and stops the paper, and during the stop, the carriage drive motor 56 moves the carriage 52 to the first recording unit 1.
The image is printed line by line by performing serial scanning within the range of 1 print position (wide width mode).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing dot positions when all nozzles eject ink in the wide mode, the solid line indicates the Nth serial scan, and the dotted line indicates the (N + 1) th serial scan.

In the wide mode, the scanning control section 812
By controlling the operation of the conveyor belt motor 383, the sheet is conveyed by the dimension (D1 + D2), and the overlapping printing can be performed by the nozzles in the second areas of the nozzle portions 51Y, 51M, 51C and 51K.

On the other hand, the recording control section 811 has the nozzle section 51.
For the nozzles in the second region of Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K, every other nozzle is thinned to operate, and every other nozzle is operated alternately according to the serial scanning in the right direction. ing. In addition, the image signals are output to the nozzles in the second area in a duplicated manner, and the (N + 1) th time of the serial scanning of the Nth time is performed by reversing the nozzles that operate alternately and the normal printing is performed by the overlapping printing. Image printing is performed.

However, the nozzles in the second area at the front end are not used at the first line when image printing is started, and the nozzles in the second area at the rear end are used at the last line when image printing is finished. Not done. The first line and the final line may be performed only by the nozzles in the first area.

As described above, since the nozzles in the second area are thinned out to eject ink and the normal image printing is performed by the overlapping printing, the white streak and the black streak due to the change of the sheet carrying amount are extremely conspicuous. Disappear. Therefore, an image recording apparatus with high print quality can be realized.

In this wide-width mode, since the recording head array 51 prints while the recording head array 51 is scanning,
The scanning speed is set so as to be preferably maintained without being affected by the change in the ink pressure in the ink supply tube 60a.

On the other hand, the width of the input paper size is A4.
When the length is shorter than the short side, that is, when the sheets in the paper feed cassettes 21 and 22 are used, the carriage drive motor 56 moves the carriage 52 to a predetermined print position of the second recording unit 12, and the carriage is stopped. At 363, the image is printed while the sheet is conveyed without stopping (high-speed mode).

In the high speed mode, if the paper conveyance speed is the same as the wide width mode, the printing speed can be increased as compared with the wide width mode during the scanning of the recording head array 51, that is, for the time when the paper is stopped. . In addition, the recording head array 51 is in a stopped state, and the ink supply tube 60 is
Since it is not affected by the change in the ink pressure in a, the ink discharge cycle and the paper transport speed are set correspondingly. Therefore, by shortening the discharge cycle within its capability, the paper transport speed is also increased. As a result, the printing speed can be further increased.

Next, a second embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the configuration of the second embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and only the control in printing in the wide width mode will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the ink ejection amount of the nozzles in the wide width mode of the second embodiment. The solid line shows the Nth serial scan and the dotted line shows the (N + 1) th serial scan.

In the wide mode, the scan control section 812
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, by controlling the operation of the conveyor belt motor 383, the paper is conveyed by the dimension (D1 + D).
2) each, and the nozzle parts 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51
Overlapping printing is performed by the nozzles in the second area of K.

On the other hand, the recording control section 811 has the nozzle section 51.
For each nozzle in the second region of Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K, the ink ejection mechanism is controlled to set the ink ejection amount to 1.
It is operated at / 2. Further, the image signals are output to the nozzles in the second area in an overlapping manner, and the ink ejection amount becomes equal to that in the first area due to overlapping printing in the Nth and (N + 1) th serial scans. Image printing is performed.

The ink ejection amount may be halved by reducing the area of each nozzle. In this case, control of the ink ejection mechanism by the recording control unit 811 is unnecessary, but since the printable range in the high-speed mode is only the nozzles in the first area, the dimension D1 is made equal to the short side of A4 size. There is a need.

Next, a third embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the configuration of the third embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, only the control in wide-width mode printing will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the ink discharge amount of the nozzles in the wide width mode of the third embodiment. The solid line shows the Nth serial scan and the dotted line shows the (N + 1) th serial scan.

In the wide mode, the scan controller 812
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, by controlling the operation of the conveyor belt motor 383, the paper is conveyed by the dimension (D1 + D).
2) each, and the nozzle parts 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51
Overlapping printing is performed by the nozzles in the second area of K.

On the other hand, the recording control section 811 has the nozzle section 51.
For each of the nozzles in the Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K second regions, the ink ejection mechanism is controlled so that the ink ejection amount is gradually reduced from the first region side toward the end. . Further, the image signals are output to the nozzles in the second area in an overlapping manner, and the ink ejection amount becomes equal to that in the first area due to overlapping printing in the Nth and (N + 1) th serial scans. Image printing is performed.

The same effect may be obtained by gradually reducing the area of each nozzle. In this case, control of the ink ejection mechanism by the recording control unit 811 is unnecessary, but as in the case of the second embodiment, the printable range in the high speed mode is only the nozzles in the first area, so D1 needs to be equal to the short side of A4 size.

The nozzles in the second region eject ink by alternately thinning out the ink as described in the first embodiment, and the ink ejection amount of each nozzle as described in the second or third embodiment. You may make it reduce.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the size of the nozzle array of the recording head array 51 is equal to the short side of the A4 size. However, the size is not limited to this, and the length is equal to the short side of the B5 size, for example. The paper cassettes 21 and 22 may store A5 or B5 size sheets. As described above, the paper feed cassettes 21 and 22 only need to store the paper having a width equal to or smaller than the dimension of the nozzle row.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the apparatus provided with the second recording section 12 for performing high speed printing has been described.
An apparatus having only the recording unit 11 may be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the ink jet type image recording apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a device other than the ink jet type is used to alternately perform sheet conveyance and serial scanning to perform dot printing. The printing quality can be improved even when applied to a printing material.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The paper is conveyed by the size obtained by adding the first width and the second width,
Since the overlapping image signals are output to the second area of the recording head and the second area is overlapped and printed,
The boundary of printing for each serial scan becomes extremely inconspicuous,
It is possible to maintain high print quality even if the paper conveyance accuracy decreases.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the image signals which are thinned out as compared with the first area are output to the second area as the overlapping image signals, the overlapping printing is performed. By performing the above, it is possible to make the printing in the second area the normal printing similar to the first area.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the second area is printed with dots reduced in size as compared with the first area, the second area can be printed by overlapping printing. The normal printing can be performed in the same manner as the first area.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, the dot printing in the second area is performed from the first area side toward the end, respectively.
Since the size is gradually reduced, it is possible to make the boundary of printing for each serial scan even less noticeable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printing unit.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a recording head array 51 and a carriage 52, FIG. 3A is a plan view, and FIG. 3B is a right side view.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main control configuration of the apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing dot positions in the case where all nozzles eject ink in the wide mode, the solid line shows the Nth serial scan, and the dotted line shows the (N + 1) th serial scan.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the ink ejection amount of the nozzles in the wide mode of the second embodiment, in which the solid line indicates the Nth serial scan and the dotted line indicates the (N + 1) th serial scan.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the ink discharge amount of the nozzles in the wide mode of the third embodiment, where the solid line shows the Nth serial scan and the dotted line shows the (N + 1) th serial scan.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 1st recording part 12 2nd recording part 21-25 Paper feed cassette 31-35 Paper feed roller 36,38 Conveying belt 41,43 Registration roller pair 51 Recording head array 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K, 511 Nozzle part 52 Carriage 54, 55 stay 56 carriage drive motor 58, 59 side plate 61 ink cartridge 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K cartridge 65 capping member 66 pump 67 waste ink tube 81 control unit 82 storage unit 83, 512 drive circuit 84 cap drive motor 85 display unit 363, 383 Conveyor belt motor 371 Conveyor guide 513 Signal line 811 Recording controller 812 Scan controller 813 Display controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location B41J 2/485 B41J 3/10 106 P 3/12 M (72) Inventor Koichi Baba Chuo-ku, Osaka City Tamazo 1-228 Sanda Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiko Kawauchi 1-2-22 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Setsuo Hori 1 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka 2-28 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Eiichi Tone 1-22-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for serially scanning a recording head for printing with a predetermined width in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, and alternately performing the sheet conveying and the serial scanning to perform printing on the sheet. Is for performing dot printing including a first region having a first width and second regions provided at both ends of the first region and each having a minute second width. A conveyance control unit that conveys the sheet by a size obtained by adding the two widths and a recording control unit that outputs an image signal to the recording head to print an image are provided, and the recording control unit includes the second area. On the other hand, the image recording apparatus is characterized in that it outputs an overlapping image signal for each serial scan. 2. The image recording according to claim 1, wherein the recording control means outputs, as the overlapping image signals, image signals thinned out in comparison with the first area. apparatus. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second area is adapted to perform dot printing which is reduced as compared with the first area. 4. The recording head comprises a large number of nozzles for ejecting ink arranged in the width direction.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the area of each nozzle in the area is smaller than the area of each nozzle in the first area. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3,
The recording head is composed of a large number of ink ejection nozzles arranged in the width direction, and the recording control means determines the ink ejection amount from each nozzle in the second area by the first ink ejection amount.
An image recording apparatus, which reduces the amount of ink discharged from each nozzle in a region. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the dot printing in the second area is gradually reduced from the first area side toward the edge. 7. The recording head comprises a large number of nozzles for ejecting ink, which are arranged in the width direction.
7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the area of each nozzle in the region gradually decreases from the first region side toward the end. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6,
The recording head is composed of a large number of ink ejection nozzles arranged in the width direction, and the recording control means determines the ink ejection amount from each nozzle in the second area from the first area side. An image recording apparatus, which gradually reduces toward an edge.