JPH07237321A - Method and device for recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform high-speed printing by a multipath operation by a method wherein a plurality of (n) recording elements of a recording head are divided into (n) blocks, recording data is outputted per block in synchronism with the scanning of the recording head, and recording is made by performing the scan ning of the recording head two or more times. CONSTITUTION:A printing head 6 of an ink jet head or the like with a plurality of nozzles (recording elements), e.g. 64 nozzles, arranged in a straight line approximately orthogonally to the direction of scanning is provided on a carriage 9 to be reciprocated in a direction F. With the travel of the carriage 9, an encoder 10 generates pulse signals of two phases shifted from each other by 90 degrees. In this case, a plurality of nozzles are divided into (n) blocks, and the scanning of the recording head 6 is performed (n) times. Recording data is outputted to the head 6 per block in synchronism with the scanning of the head 6. At the time of recording, at every (n)-th scanning, recording paper is fed by a distance substantially corresponding to a recording width determined by the block.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording method and apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements relative to a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional ink jet printers and the like,
In order to prevent deterioration of the recorded image quality due to variations in the nozzles of the inkjet head, the nozzles of the inkjet head are divided into multiple blocks, and the same image area is scanned multiple times while outputting image data for each block. The so-called multi-pass printing for recording is performed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining two-pass printing in a conventional ink jet printer, in which the nozzles of the ink jet head 1520 are arranged in the upper half (1/2 head area) and the lower half (2/2 head area). Divide into two blocks, 1500 at the bottom half of row 1510 (2/2
The data area) and the upper half of the row 1511 (1/2 data area) are printed at the same time. However, regarding the print data output to each block of the head at this time, the data of the second pass is output to the 1/2 head area and the data of the first pass is output to the 2/2 head area. Then, in 1501, the recording paper is conveyed by 1/2 line, and in 1502, the upper half of the line 151 (the second pass of the 1/2 data area) and the line 1511.
The lower half (first pass of the 2/2 data area) is printed at the same time.

FIG. 16 shows a case of a 4-pass system in which printing is performed by scanning four times. Here, as in the case of 2-pass, the nozzles of the head are divided into four blocks and row 16 is used.
Line 1600 in the first pass to print 00
1/4 data area of 4/4 head area is used for printing, and 1/4 data area and 2/4 data area of the second pass are used for 4/4 and 3/4 head area, respectively. Thus, recording is performed by scanning each data area four times while feeding the recording paper one quarter line at a time.

[0005]

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the state of a conventional print head and recording paper when changing from 2-pass printing to 4-pass printing.

In this case, first, in 1700 and 1701, after completing the 2-pass printing which is already in the middle of printing, the recording paper is returned by 3/4 of one line and the 4-pass printing is started. In this example, since the position of the recording sheet at the time of completing the 2-pass printing is too advanced with respect to the position of the recording sheet at the time of starting the 4-pass printing, 170
The position of the recording paper must be returned in step 2.

As described above, conventionally, even when the number of times of multi-pass printing is changed, or even when the same pass printing is performed, when the printing method, data, etc. are changed, the recording paper is returned. Behavior is added. Such a returning operation of the recording paper causes a decrease in the paper feeding accuracy, which causes a deviation of the recording position, which causes a striped pattern in the printed image. or,
There is a problem in that noise is generated by performing such a recording paper returning operation, and the printing time is increased by the recording paper returning operation time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording method and apparatus capable of performing high-speed multi-pass recording.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording method and apparatus capable of enhancing the quality of recorded images.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a recording method and apparatus for suppressing the generation of noise during recording.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following constitution. That is,
A recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements relative to a recording medium,
A scanning means for scanning the recording head a plurality of (n) times on a predetermined recording position of the recording medium, and a plurality of recording elements divided into n blocks, which are synchronized with the scanning of the recording head by the scanning means. And recording means for outputting the recording data to the recording head for recording in the block unit,
And a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium in a forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head by a distance substantially corresponding to the recording width of the block each time the predetermined recording position is scanned n times.

In order to achieve the above object, the recording method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a recording method of recording an image by relatively scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements with respect to a recording medium, and dividing the plurality of recording elements into n blocks. In synchronization with the above scanning, the print data is output to the print head in units of the blocks and printed by a plurality of (n) scans of the print head, and every time a predetermined print position is scanned n times. And conveying the recording medium in a forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head by a distance substantially corresponding to the recording width of the block.

[0013]

In the above structure, a plurality of recording elements of the recording head are divided into n blocks, and the recording data is output to the recording head in units of the blocks in synchronization with the scanning of the recording head to output the recording data from the recording head. Printing is performed by scanning a plurality of times (n). Each time n scanning is performed on a predetermined recording position, the recording medium is conveyed in a forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head by a distance substantially corresponding to the recording width of the block. The recording width at the predetermined recording position is almost equal to the maximum recording width of the block.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of the ink jet printer of this embodiment. In this embodiment, an ink jet printer will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to, for example, a thermal printer or a wire dot printer.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, which has a CPU 101 such as a microprocessor, a timer, and various circuits such as an input / output circuit.
Reference numeral 2 is a ROM that stores various data such as a control program for the CPU 101 and font data. Reference numeral 3 is the CPU 101.
It is a RAM used as a work of.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a print head such as an ink jet head, which is mounted on the carriage 9 and is reciprocally scanned in the F direction shown by the arrow. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the print head 6 has 64 nozzles (recording elements) linearly arranged in a direction (sub-scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the head 6. A carriage motor 9 such as a DC motor is rotationally driven by a motor driver 7 in accordance with a signal output from the control unit 1 to scan the carriage 9 in the arrow F direction. An encoder 10 generates a two-phase pulse signal whose phase is shifted by 90 degrees as the carriage 9 moves. The encoder 9 includes, for example, a magnetic type encoder and an optical type encoder.

The magnetic encoder has a member magnetized at regular intervals and a two-phase magnetic detector whose phase is shifted by 90 degrees. For example, the magnetized member is fixed to the immovable encoder body side, while the other member is fixed. Is fixed to the movable member side such as the carriage 9, and two-phase pulse signals are generated as the carriage 9 moves. Further, in the optical encoder, slits having a shielding portion and a transmitting portion are provided at regular intervals in the encode body, and the passage of the slits is detected by a two-phase photo interrupter (for example, provided in the carriage 9) whose phases are shifted by 90 degrees. As a result, a two-phase pulse signal is generated.

A belt 11 is fixed to the carriage 9 and wound around the roller of the carriage motor 8 and the pulley 12. As the carriage motor 8 rotates in this way, the carriage 9 is scanned in the direction of the arrow F, and the slit of the encoder 10 is detected by, for example, a photo interrupter attached to the carriage 9, and an encoder (two-phase signal) signal 100 is output. It

Reference numeral 13 denotes a direction detecting section, which is an encoder signal (two-phase signal) 10 output in cooperation with the encoder 10.
0 is input, the moving direction of the carriage 9 is determined, and the direction signal 130 is output (see FIG. 3). A position detection unit 14 receives one of the two-phase signals output in cooperation with the encoder 10 and the direction signal 130 obtained by the direction detection unit 13 and inputs the position signal indicating the position of the carriage 9. 140 is output (see FIG. 5). Reference numeral 15 denotes a speed detection unit, which inputs one of the two-phase signals output in cooperation with the encoder 10 and outputs a speed signal 152 indicating the speed of the carriage 9 (see FIG. 7). The direction detecting unit 13, the position detecting unit 14, and the speed detecting unit 15 can be configured by only an electric logic circuit, or by combining an electric logic circuit and software like a microcomputer. Can also be configured.

Reference numeral 16 is a paper feed motor for recording paper and OH.
A recording medium such as a film such as a P sheet or cloth is conveyed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the carriage 9. 17
Is a motor driver for rotating the paper feed motor 16 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 1. The motor drivers 7 and 17 have a forward rotation driving function, a reverse rotation driving function, a braking function for short-circuiting the motor terminals, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input signal and the output signal of the direction detecting section 13 of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows an example of the timing. Here, the encoder signal 100
Includes an A-phase signal and a B-phase signal, and these two phase signals are 90 degrees out of phase with each other.

The direction determining logic in the direction detecting section 13 is as follows: [{A phase (B phase ↑) = 1} ∪ {A phase (B phase ↓) = 0} ∪
If {B phase (A phase ↑) = 0} ∪ {B phase (A phase ↓) = 1}] is true, it is in the positive direction [{A phase (B phase ↑) = 0} ∪ {A phase (B phase ↓) = 1} ∪
If {B phase (A phase ↑) = 1} ∪ {B phase (A phase ↓) = 0}] is true, it is determined to be in the opposite direction. However, here, A phase (B phase ↑) is B
The value of the A phase at the rising of the phase signal is shown, and the A phase (B phase ↓) shows the value of the A phase at the falling of the B phase signal. In addition, “∪” indicates a logical sum.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input signal and the output signal of the position detector 14 of this embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows an example of the timing of the input signal. The position detection unit 14 has, for example, a pulse number adjuster and counter, and when the direction signal 130 indicates the forward direction (outward path) (for example, low level), every time the A-phase (or B-phase) clock signal rises. When the direction signal 130 indicates the reverse direction (return path) (for example, high level), A is counted up to
The count value is counted down each time the phase (or B phase) clock signal rises.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the speed detector 15 of this embodiment and the relationship between its input signal and output signal.
Shows an example of the timing of the input signal.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 150 denotes a cycle counter, which counts the cycle of the encoder signal 100 (FIG. 8) based on the cycle of the clock signal, and outputs the cycle signal obtained as a result to the divider 151. The divider 151 divides this periodic signal by the reference periodic signal to obtain the moving speed of the carriage 6, and outputs the speed signal 152. In this way, the direction signal 130, the position signal 140, and the speed signal 15 output from the direction detecting unit 13, the position detecting unit 14, and the speed detecting unit 15.
Each of the two is output to the control unit 1 and used for various controls described later.

Next, the operation of the ink jet printer of this embodiment based on the above construction will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the print head 6 and the recording paper when changing from 2-pass printing to 4-pass printing in this embodiment.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes a 2-pass printing state, in which the upper half nozzles of the print head 6 are used to complete the printing of the print row 91 of the second pass which is in the middle of printing. Thereafter, the recording paper is moved by ½ line (902), and after 903, 4-pass printing is started from line 90. Hereinafter, description will be made focusing on the line 90. In the 4-pass printing, the nozzles of the print head 6 (64 nozzles in this embodiment) are arranged in four blocks 61 to 6
It is divided into 4 (1 block 16 nozzles), and 4-pass printing is performed in units of these blocks. Here, one row is divided into four data areas (1/4 data area to 4/4 data area), and each data area is printed by using the corresponding nozzle block (61 to 64). ing.

At 903, 1 in line 90 of 4-pass printing
The nozzle block 61 of the print head 6 is used to print 1/4 data (data to be printed in the first pass) of the / 4 data area. Next, at 904, 1/4 data of the 2/4 data area of the 4-pass print row 90 is transferred to the nozzle block 62 of the print head 6 by 1 / of the row 90.
Of the four data areas, 2/4 data (data to be printed in the second pass) is printed by the nozzle block 61 of the print head 6. Next, in 905, 1/4 data of the 3/4 data area of the row 90 is the nozzle block 63 of the print head 6, and 2/4 data of the 2/4 data area of the row 90 is the nozzle block of the print head 6. At 62, the nozzle block 61 of the print head 6 prints 3/4 data (data to be printed in the third pass) of the 1/4 data area of the row 90. Then, at 906, 1 in the 4/4 data area of line 90
Nozzle block 64 of print head 6 for / 4 data
Then, the 2/4 data of the 3/4 data area of the row 90 is set to 2/4 of the row 90 by the nozzle block 63 of the print head 6.
The nozzle block 62 of the print head 6 uses 3/4 of the data area for 4/4 of the 1/4 data area of the row 90.
The nozzle block 61 of the print head 6 prints the data (the data to be printed in the fourth pass). In this way, the printing of the quarter data area of the row 90 is completed.

Next, at 907, the paper feed motor 16 is rotationally driven to advance the recording paper by ¼ of one line in the sub-scanning direction.

Next, at 908, 4/4 data of the 2/4 data area of row 90 is printed by the nozzle block 61 of the print head 6, and 3/4 data of the 3/4 data area of row 90 is printed by the print head 6. In nozzle block 62 of row 4 of row 90
The 2/4 data portion of the / 4 data area is printed by the nozzle block 63 of the print head 6, and the 1/4 data portion of the 1/4 data area of the row 92 is printed by the nozzle block 64 of the print head 6. And at 909, 907
Similarly, the recording paper is advanced by a quarter of one line.

Further, in 910, 4/4 data of the 3/4 data area of the row 90 is converted into the nozzle block 61 of the head 6.
Then, the 3/4 data portion of the 4/4 data area of the row 90 is the head 6 nozzle block 62, and the 2/4 data portion of the 1/4 data area of the row 92 is the nozzle block 63 of the print head 6 and the row 92 The nozzle block 64 of the print head 6 prints 1/4 data of the 2/4 data area. Then, at 911, the recording paper is advanced by a quarter of one line in the same manner as described above.

Similarly, at 912, 4/4 data of the 4/4 data area of the row 90 is printed by the nozzle block 61 of the print head 6, and 3/4 data of the 1/4 data area of the row 92 is printed by the print head 6. Nozzle block 62 of row 92
2/4 data area of 2/4 data area of the head 6 in the nozzle block 63, and 1 of the 3/4 data area of the row 92.
The / 4 data portion is printed by the nozzle block 64 of the head 6. Next, in 913, the recording paper is printed in a row of 4
Advance only one part.

At 914, the 4/4 data of the 1/4 data area of the row 92 is converted into the nozzle block 6 of the print head 6.
1, the 3/4 data portion of the 2/4 data area of the row 92 is transferred to the nozzle block 62 of the print head 6 and
In the nozzle block 63 of the print head 6, 1/4 of the 4/4 data area of the row 92 is divided into 2/4 data of the 4 data area.
Nozzle block 64 of print head 6 for 4 data
And print each. Then, at 915, the recording paper is advanced by a quarter of one line.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, an operation example in the case of changing the recording method from 4-pass printing to 2-pass printing will be described. The configuration of the printer device of this embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG.

Similar to the case of changing from the 2-pass printing to the 4-pass printing, the data division and the print area by the head are defined as shown in FIG.

First, in 921 to 926, the printing of the row 93 currently being printed by the 4-pass printing is completed. This 4-pass print processing is performed in the above-described steps 908 to 913 of FIG.
Since it is performed in the same manner as shown in, the description thereof will be omitted. Then, after that, the two-pass printing is started after 927. In this two-pass printing, the nozzles of the print head 6 are divided into two blocks 65 and 66, and one row of print data is divided into an upper half 1/2 data area and a lower half 2/2 data area. Further, the data in each data area is divided into 1/2 data and 2/2 data according to the number of times of head scanning (pass). Then, the first scan of the print head 6 prints 1/2 data and 2
The second head scan prints 2/2 data.

First, at 927, 1 in 2-pass print row 94
The nozzle block 65 of the print head 6 prints 1/2 data of the / 2 data area (data to be printed in the first head scan). In the next 928, 2/2 data (data to be printed by the second head scan) of the 1/2 data area of the row 94 is printed by the nozzle block 65 of the print head 6 in the 2/2 data area of the row 94. 1
/ 2 data for the nozzle block 66 of the print head 6
And print each. Thereafter, at 929, the recording paper is advanced by one half of one line.

Next, at 930, 2/2 data of the 2/2 data area of the row 94 is printed by the nozzle block 65 of the print head 6, and 1/2 data of the 1/2 data area of the row 95 is printed by the print head 6. The nozzle blocks 66 are used for printing. Then, at 931, the recording paper is halved of one line.
Just advance. 2/2 of 1/2 data area of line 95
The data for the nozzle block 65 of the print head 6
Half of the 2/2 data area of the row 95 is printed by the nozzle block 66 of the print head 6. Then, at 933, the recording paper is conveyed by half of one line in the sub-scanning direction.

As another embodiment, in the multi-pass printing, a plurality of printing methods can be provided according to the way of dividing the data for each pass. Therefore, as an example thereof, FIG. 11 shows an operation example when changing from one 4-pass print to another 4-pass print. The structure of this device is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment.

Here, when the switching of the 4-pass printing is instructed, the printing of the line 96 currently being printed is completed at 941 to 946. This is 921 to 92 in FIG. 10 described above.
It is performed in the same manner as 6.

Then, at 947 to 959, another 4-pass printing is executed, which is basically 90 at the above-mentioned FIG.
Since the procedure is the same as that shown in Nos. 3 to 915, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 12 shows 4 from the 2-pass print shown in FIG.
In the flow chart showing switching to pass printing, a control program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 101.

First, in step S1, the two-pass printing is completed, and in step S2, the paper feed motor 16 is rotationally driven to convey the recording paper by 1/2 line. In step S3, the data for one line is divided into four, and the data to be printed is determined corresponding to each scan (pass). In step S4, the print indicated by 903 in FIG. 9 is performed, and in step S5, the print processing indicated by 904 is executed. Similarly, in steps S5 to S7, 9 in FIG.
The printing indicated by 04 to 906 is performed. When the ¼ data area of the row 90 is printed in this way, the process proceeds to step S8, the paper feed motor 16 is rotationally driven, and the recording paper is moved to 1
/ 4 lines are conveyed.

During the printing operation by the scan of the print head 6, the position signal 14 from the position detector 14 is detected.
The data to be output to the head 6 is switched according to 0,
Further, the output cycle of the print data is determined according to the speed detected by the speed detecting unit 15. In this way, printing can be performed according to the scanning speed of the print head 6.

Then, the process proceeds to step S9, and 908 in FIG.
Is printed, and in step S10, step S
As in the case of 8, the recording paper is conveyed for 1/4 line. Further, the process advances to step S9 to print up to the 2/4 data area of the current row, and the 1/4 data area of the next row is printed in the nozzle block 64.
To print (908 in FIG. 9). Then, in step S10, the recording paper for 1/4 line is conveyed, and in step S1
In 1, the target data area of each nozzle block is changed to the next data area, the nozzle block 61 is always in the fourth pass, the nozzle block 62 is in the third pass, and the nozzle block 63 is in the second pass.
The pass 64, and the block 64 to which the pass is applied, always prints the first pass. That is, for example, the previous nozzle block 61 has 3
When the / 4 data area is printed in the third pass, the target data of the next nozzle block 61 is the 4/4 data area, and the number of passes is the third pass.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the process of changing from the 4-pass print to the 2-pass print shown in FIG. 10, and the control program for executing this process is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 101.

When the change from the 4-pass print to the 2-pass print is instructed, in step S21, the 4-pass print currently being printed is completed (921 to 921 in FIG. 10).
925). Then, in step S22, the recording paper is conveyed by 1/4 line, and in step S23, the data for one line is transferred to 2 lines.
Data to be printed in each scan (pass). Then, in step S24, the nozzle block 65 (upper half) of the print head 6 prints the first pass of the data in the 1/2 data area (92 in FIG. 10).
7). Then, in step S25, the print head 6
Nozzle block 65 of 2 of the data of 1/2 data area
The first pass is printed, and the first pass of the data in the 2/2 data area is printed by the nozzle block 66 (lower half) (928 in FIG. 10). Then, the process proceeds to step S26, and the recording paper is conveyed by 1/2 line in the sub-scanning direction (92).
9).

Next, in step S27, the nozzle block 65 prints the second pass of the 2/2 data area, and the nozzle block 66 prints the first pass of the 1/2 data area of the next row (see FIG. 10). 930). And step S
In step 28, the recording paper is conveyed by 1/2 line as in step S26. Then, the process proceeds to step S29, the target data of the nozzle block is advanced by one, the second pass is printed using the upper half nozzles, and the first pass data is printed using the lower half nozzles. This process is repeatedly executed until the print data is completed.

Although the two-pass printing and the four-pass printing have been described in the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, when the number of nozzles of the print head is 64, the maximum is obtained. Up to 64 passes can be implemented. That is, generally, the method can be applied from 2 passes to a printing method with the same number of passes as the number of nozzles. <Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an example of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. Here, it is shown in the case of an apparatus for scanning the carriage 9 by rotating the lead screw 5005 instead of the belt 11. ing.

In the figure, the spiral groove 500 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with the forward and reverse rotations of the carriage motor 8.
The carriage 9 that engages with 4 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage 9. 10 is an encoder that doubles as a paper pressing plate,
The paper is pressed against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage, and the carriage 9 is pressed as described above.
It has a slit for outputting the encoder signal 100 with the movement of the. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage 9 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the carriage motor 8. 5
Reference numeral 016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the print head 6, and reference numeral 5015 is a suction unit that sucks the inside of the cap, which is an opening 5023 in the cap.
The suction recovery of the print head 6 is performed via. 5017
Is a cleaning blade, and 5019 is a member for moving this blade in the front-back direction.
These are supported by 18. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Reference numeral 5012 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage 9, and the driving force from the driving motor moves by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Controlled.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage 9 comes to the area on the home position side. Any desired operation can be applied to the present example if the desired operation is performed at the timing.

The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the thermal energy The printing apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of ink has been described. According to such a method, the recording density is increased,
High definition can be achieved.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740 are applicable.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the liquid crystal is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding film boiling. Since the electrothermal converter is caused to generate heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. It is valid. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal in a pulse shape, because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat-acting surface is arranged in a bending region. In addition, for multiple electrothermal converters,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-63, which discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is associated with the discharge portion. A configuration based on Japanese Patent No. 138461 may be used.

Furthermore, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, by being attached to the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. . Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full-color mixed colors.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, or one that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or In the inkjet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It is sufficient that the ink is liquid.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent the ink from evaporating, an ink that solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further transmission / reception. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a function.

The present invention may be applied to either a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is not necessary to return the storage paper even if the printing method is changed by a plurality of passes, so that the following effects can be obtained. (1) Noise caused by the operation of returning the recording paper can be eliminated. (2) It is possible to print more quickly without wasting print time due to the operation of returning the recording paper. (3) Since it is possible to prevent the displacement of the recording sheet due to the returning of the recording sheet, it is possible to obtain a better print quality. (4) Since high-speed and high-quality printed matter can be obtained, the productivity of printed matter can be improved.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, multi-pass recording can be performed at high speed.

Further, according to the present invention, the quality of the recorded image can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise during recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a nozzle array of the inkjet head of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating input / output signals of a direction detection unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram showing a timing example of input / output signals of the direction detection unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating input / output signals of the position detection unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing a timing example of an input signal of the position detection unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an input / output signal of the speed detection unit of the embodiment and its configuration.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an example of the timing of the encoder signal of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation of changing from 2-pass printing to 4-pass printing in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation of changing from 4-pass printing to 2-pass printing in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows other four than the four-pass printing in the present embodiment.
It is a figure explaining the operation which changes to pass printing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of changing from 2-pass printing to 4-pass printing in this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of changing from 4-pass printing to 2-pass printing in this embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an example of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating conventional 2-pass printing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating conventional 4-pass printing.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change operation from conventional 2-pass printing to 4-pass printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Section 2 ROM 3 RAM 6 Print Head (Inkjet Head) 8 Carriage Motor 9 Carriage 10 Encoder 13 Direction Detection Section 14 Position Detection Section 15 Speed Detection Section 100 Encoder Signal 101 CPU 130 Direction Signal 140 Position Signal 152 Speed Signal

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having a plurality of recording elements,
A recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning relative to a recording medium, the scanning device causing the recording head to scan a predetermined recording position of the recording medium a plurality of (n) times, and the plurality of recordings. Recording means for dividing the element into n blocks and outputting the recording data to the recording head for recording in units of the blocks in synchronization with the scanning of the recording head by the scanning means; Each time n times are scanned, a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium in a forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head by a distance substantially corresponding to the recording width of the block, the predetermined recording position The recording width of the recording device is substantially equal to the maximum recording width of the block. 2. When the value of n is changed to m (n ≠ m), the print data currently being printed is scanned by n times and printed, and then the n-th direction of the print medium is moved forward by the conveying means.
The recording unit is conveyed by almost the recording width of one of the blocks, the recording head is conveyed m times by the scanning unit, the plurality of recording elements are divided into m blocks, and the recording is performed in block units. Every time the predetermined recording position is scanned m times, the recording medium is controlled so as to be conveyed in the forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head by the recording width by the block of the recording head. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink to perform recording. 4. The recording head is a recording head for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 5. The recording device according to item 3. 5. A recording head having a plurality of recording elements,
A recording method of recording an image by scanning relative to a recording medium, wherein the plurality of recording elements are divided into n blocks, and recording is performed in block units in synchronization with scanning of the recording head. Outputting data to the print head to print by a plurality of (n) scans of the print head; a distance corresponding to a print width of the block every n scans on a predetermined print position; And a step of transporting the recording medium in a forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head. 6. When the n is changed to m (n ≠ m), a step of scanning the print data currently being printed n times to print the print data, and recording the print medium in the forward direction of the n blocks. One of them
And a step of conveying the recording head by m times, dividing the plurality of recording elements into m blocks, recording in block units, and performing recording on a predetermined recording position. transporting the recording medium in a forward direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head by the recording width of the block of the recording head every scanning m times. The recording method described in 5.