JPH0776088A - Ink jet recording method and apparatus and data processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sharply output the input data of a character or image generating a white stripe to a medium to be recorded. CONSTITUTION:In an ink jet recording method using a recording head having a plurality of nozzles arranged thereto and emitting ink from respective nozzles corresponding to input data to form dots on the medium to be recorded to execute the recording of input data, the pitch (Pd) of dots, the pitch (Pn) (Pd<Pn) of a plurality of nozzles and the number (n) of nozzles satisfy a relational expression of 0<3(n-1) (Pn/Pd-1)/2<=1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method capable of performing high-density, high-speed and high-quality image formation, a recording apparatus based on the method, and a character and image for the recording apparatus. The present invention relates to an information processing system used as means for outputting input information such as the above on a recording medium, for example, a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a word processor, a personal computer and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The ink jet recording system is a non-impact recording system in which characters, images, etc. are input by directly depositing (dot forming) ink on a recording medium (paper, cloth, plastic sheet, etc.). Record the information. This inkjet system is classified into several types described later, depending on the method of forming ink droplets ejected onto the recording medium and the method of generating ejection energy.
A recording apparatus having such an ink jet recording head (inkjet recording head) has attracted attention as a recording apparatus that meets requirements such as high-speed recording, high resolution, high image quality, and low noise, and is used in copiers, facsimiles, printers, word processors. It is used in these information processing systems as a printer as an output terminal of a workstation or the like, or as a handy or portable printer provided in a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk device, a video device, or the like.

Image formation (image recording) by a conventional ink jet recording apparatus will be briefly described.

(Image Recording by Inkjet Recording Apparatus) In a serial type recording apparatus which adopts a recording system in which main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording medium, the recording medium is recorded at a predetermined recording position. Image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves along the recording medium, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). Image scanning is performed on the entire recording medium by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus which records a recording medium only in the sub-scanning direction in which it is fed in the transport direction, the recording medium is set at a predetermined recording position, and after one line of recording is performed, By performing a fixed amount of paper feed (pitch feed) and further performing the operation of collectively recording the next row, image recording is performed on the entire recording medium.

(Structure of Inkjet Recording Head) In the inkjet recording head, a substrate on which a plurality of electrothermal conversion elements for generating thermal energy used for ink ejection and a drive circuit for driving the same are formed, and this substrate. And a discharge port (nozzle) and a liquid path corresponding to each of the plurality of electrothermal conversion elements, and a top plate for forming a common liquid chamber that communicates with each liquid path. Is provided with an electrical contact for applying a signal from the recording apparatus main body to the drive circuit. The recording head thus configured is mounted on the recording apparatus so that the nozzle surface on which the nozzles are arranged faces the recording medium.

As the energy generating means for generating the heat energy, an electromagnetic wave such as a laser is radiated to generate heat and droplets are ejected by the action of this heat generation, or a liquid is formed by an electrothermal conversion element having a heating resistor. There is something that heats.

In the recording head of the type which ejects liquid by utilizing thermal energy, the liquid ejection ports can be arranged at high density, and therefore high resolution recording is possible. Among them, a recording head using an electrothermal conversion element (heat generating resistance element) as an energy generating means can be easily made compact, and IC technology and microfabrication, which have been remarkably improved in technological progress and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. This is advantageous because the advantages of the technology can be fully utilized, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

(Means for stabilizing ink ejection) An ink jet recording apparatus generally includes a head recovery device and a wiping device as means for stabilizing ink ejection.

The head recovery device is arranged at one end of the moving path of the recording head, for example, at a position facing the home position. The head recovery device is operated by the driving force of the motor via the transmission mechanism, and the recording head is capped. In association with the capping of the recording head by the cap portion of the head recovery device, ink is absorbed (suction recovery) by an appropriate suction means (for example, a suction pump) provided in the head recovery device, and the ink is thus ejected to the nozzles. A discharge recovery process such as removing the thickened ink in the nozzle by forcibly discharging from the nozzle is performed. Further, the recording head is protected by capping at the end of recording. Such an ejection recovery process is performed when the power is turned on, when the recording head is replaced, or when the recording operation is not performed for a certain period of time.

On the other hand, the wiping device is arranged on the side surface of the head recovery device and has a blade as a wiping member made of silicon rubber. The blade is held by the blade holding member in the form of a cantilever, and similarly to the head recovery device, is operated by the motor and the transmission mechanism and can be engaged with the ejection surface of the recording head. As a result, the blade is projected into the moving path of the recording head at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the recording head or after the ejection recovery processing using the head recovery device, and the ejection surface of the head is accompanied by the movement operation of the head. Wipe off condensation, wetness, dust, etc.

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus is intended to stabilize ink ejection by the head recovery device and the wiping device.

(Recording Operation) Here, a general recording operation of the conventional recording apparatus will be briefly described.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting with a conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording medium, the recording medium is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording medium is set. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves along, and a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scanning) after one line of recording is completed, and then the next By repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the row, image recording of the entire recording medium is performed. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus which records a recording medium only in the sub-scanning direction in which it is fed in the transport direction, the recording medium is set at a predetermined recording position, and after one line of recording is performed, By carrying out a fixed amount of paper feed (pitch feed) and then recording the next line all at once,
Image recording is performed on the entire area of the recording medium.

(Recording Method Using Multi-Nozzle Type Ink Jet Recording Head) By increasing the number and density of nozzles formed in the ink jet recording head configured as described above, the recording speed and resolution can be increased. It is possible and high quality recording is achieved. Therefore, a multi-nozzle type in which a large number of nozzles are densely arranged in parallel (for example, 256 nozzles, resolution 400DP
The recording head (multi-nozzle head) of I model is also commercialized. Conventionally, in an inkjet recording method using a multi-nozzle head, a dot pitch (P _d ) that is generally recorded is equal to a pitch (P _n ) of nozzles that perform recording (P _d = P _n ).

[0015]

However, there are cases where a high-quality image cannot be obtained even if a means for stabilizing the ink ejection is provided or a multi-nozzle type recording head is used. When P _d = P _n , for example, on the recording medium due to an error in moving (conveying or feeding) the recording medium, an error in the ejection direction of the nozzles located at the end of the nozzle array composed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel There may be a slight gap at the recording boundary before and after the movement of the recording medium due to the deviation of the landing position, the mounting position accuracy of the recording head, and the like. Therefore, there is a problem in that white streaks (white streaks) are generated in the image recorded on the recording medium, which leads to deterioration in recording quality. In order to prevent such a problem from occurring, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, an attempt has been made to set the amount of movement of the recording medium to be slightly smaller than the width printed by one scan. For ease of explanation, a case where printing is performed by three scans will be described.

The print width printed on the paper (recording medium) by one scan is denoted by W, and the paper feed distance (movement amount) performed for each printing operation is denoted by T. The recording head used here has n nozzles arranged at a predetermined interval (pitch) P _n in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the recording width W of the image obtained by the recording head scanning once
Is

[0017]

## EQU4 ## W = P _n × n (4) Strictly speaking, the above equation (1) is W = P _n ×
It should be (n-1) + D (D represents a dot diameter), but since the difference between the two is extremely small, no contradiction occurs in the following description. Further, when the scan is performed once and the line 61 is recorded, the paper is conveyed (moved) by a predetermined amount once. The amount T of movement of the sheet in this case is set to be smaller than the recording width W by an arbitrary value m as shown in the following equations (5) and (6).

[0018]

[Equation 5] T = P _d × n−m (5) T <P _n × n = W (6) Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent white lines caused by an error or the like. This is because the line 62 printed by the next scan is the line 6 printed by the first scan.
This is because the line 63 partially overlaps with the line 1, and the line 63 similarly printed by the third scan partially overlaps with the line 62 of the second time.

As a result of such line-to-line overlap, from the equations (4) and (6) above, the width W'of the entire image printed by three scans is:

[0020]

## EQU6 ## W '= 2T + P _n × n (7) From the above equations (2) and (3), the relationship between the total print width W ′ and the print width W by one scan is

[0021]

[Equation 7] W '<3W (8), and the width to be printed by three scans is 3 W rather than 3 W.
The print width W'that can be printed by one scan becomes smaller.

For example, a recording head having a nozzle density of 360 DPI (nozzle pitch 70.5 μm) and 64 nozzles is used, and the amount of one movement of the paper is 9 nozzle pitches.
When recording is performed with 9.5% (70 μm) set and a straight line of 25 cm is drawn in each of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the actual length of the straight line recorded on the paper is 25 cm, 24.875 cm (25
X 0.995). Therefore, printing is performed under different printing conditions in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and for example, in the case of the straight line, the length thereof varies depending on the scanning direction. In other words, the printing information cannot be faithfully reproduced in the sub-scanning direction, the printing range in the sub-scanning direction becomes relatively narrow, and the margin on the final printing side becomes relatively large at the end of printing. There was a problem of being lost.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an ink jet recording method capable of achieving high-density and high-quality recording without white streaks, and a recording apparatus for performing the recording operation based on the method. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system including the device.

[0024]

In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording method according to the present invention uses a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, and ink is ejected from each nozzle according to input information. In an inkjet recording method for recording input information by forming dots on a recording medium, a dot pitch (P _d )
(P _d <P _n ), a plurality of nozzle pitches (P _n ) (P _d
<P _n ) and the number (n) of the plurality of nozzles are

[0025]

## EQU8 ## It is characterized in that the relational expression of 0 <3 (n-1) ( _Pn / _Pd- 1) / 2≤1 (1) is satisfied. Further, preferably, the amount T of paper feeding of the recording medium once per scanning of the recording head is

[0026]

Equation 9] satisfies T = P _d × n ... relational expression (2), on the other hand, if the recording head is a color recording compliant recording head is configured to satisfy the above formula (1), further one The distance (G _d ) from a group consisting of a plurality of nozzles corresponding to a color to a nozzle group corresponding to another adjacent color is

[0027]

[Equation 10] _Gd > n × P _n (3) The relational expression is satisfied.

Further, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by performing a recording operation based on the above-described ink jet recording method according to the present invention. Preferably, this recording head has an electrothermal converter that uses thermal energy as ink ejection energy as a recording element.

Further, an information processing system according to the present invention is characterized by including a recording device according to the present invention for carrying out the above recording method as an output means.

[0030]

The dot pitch (P _d ), the plurality of nozzle pitches (P _n ) (P _d <P _n ), and the plurality of nozzle numbers (n) are

[0031]

By satisfying the relational expression of 0 <3 (n−1) (P _n / P _d −1) / 2 ≦ 1 (1), white streaks appear on the image recorded on the recording medium. The same printing is performed in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

[0032]

EXAMPLES The ink jet recording method according to the present invention, the nozzles a plurality of nozzles using a serial scan type recording apparatus having a (multi-nozzle), the pitch of the dot to be recorded the configuration of the recording apparatus (P _d) Pitch of (P
_n ) is set to be slightly larger (P _d <P _n ), and the one-time recording width W of the recording medium is set to P _n × n. In this case, the number of nozzles is n,

[0033]

## EQU12 ## Recording is performed so that the relationship of 0 <3 (n-1) ( _Pn / _Pd- 1) / 2≤1 (1) is satisfied. Each time the recording head scans once, the recording medium is fed once. The paper feed amount (movement amount) T at that time is

[0034]

[Equation 13] T = P _d × n (2)

In the case of an ink jet recording apparatus for performing color recording, the distance (G) from the nozzle group corresponding to one color to the nozzle group corresponding to another color is satisfied while satisfying the relationship of the expression (5). _d )

[0036]

[Expression 14] G _d > n × P _n (3)

The above inequality (1) is set for the following reasons.

For example, the nozzle of the recording head is constructed so that P _n is increased by 0.5% of P _d . The difference ΔT between the print width W and the movement amount T for one scan depends on the number n of nozzles. That is, when the number of nozzles n increases, T / W
The relationship of 0.995 is maintained, but ΔT gradually increases.

In the case of 360 DPI and 64 nozzles, ΔT = 2
Although it is 2.5 μm, it exceeds 90 μm with 256 nozzles, the overlapping width in the next scanning becomes large, and streaks with high density (hereinafter referred to as black streaks) occur, which causes a problem in recording quality.

Therefore, in order to provide an ink jet recording method in which P _n is determined irrespective of the number of nozzles and stable and high-quality recording is always provided, in the present invention, the ΔT is set substantially regardless of the number of nozzles. It can be kept constant (see Figure 1). If ΔT is too small, white streaks as in the conventional case occur, and if too large, the black streaks occur. As a result of careful repeated experiments, it was found that the range of the above formula (1) is appropriate.

Example 1 FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a schematic structure of a recording head included in an inkjet recording apparatus to which an inkjet recording method according to the present invention is applied. This recording head 100 is an electrothermal converter (heating resistor) that utilizes a film boiling phenomenon due to thermal energy as an energy generating means for ejecting ink.
Bubble jet type recording head using
The number of nozzles is 60 DPI and the number of nozzles is 64.

In this figure, reference numeral 101 is a substrate, and a Si wafer was used. The substrate 101 is adhered to an Al support substrate (not shown). Reference numeral 102 is a heat generating resistance element that generates heat for heating ink to obtain ejection energy, and 103 is an electrode for electrically connecting the heat generating resistance element. Ink is the ink supply pipe 10
7 is supplied to the common liquid chamber 105, is discharged by the pressure of the vaporized vapor in the nozzle 104, and reaches the recording medium.

In this embodiment, P _d = 70.5 μm, P _n
= 71.0 μm. In this case, the above formula (1) is

[0044]

Equation 15] 3 (n-1) (P n / P d -1) / 2 = 3 (64-1) (71 / 70.5-1) / 2 = 0.67, the recording width 4473 + D Is. Further, the movement amount T of the recording medium is 70.5 × 64 = 4512 μm. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the above problems could be solved without the occurrence of white streaks.

<Embodiment 2> FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the schematic constitution of a second embodiment of a recording head provided in an ink jet recording apparatus to which an ink jet recording method according to the present invention is applied. . In this figure, the recording head is a bubble jet type ink jet head (360 DPI, 24 nozzles) 100 'for a color image and corresponds to each color of black (B), cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y). Common ink chambers 105a (corresponding to B), 105b (corresponding to C), 105c
(Corresponding to M) and 105d (corresponding to Y) and nozzles 104a (corresponding to B) and 104b (C corresponding to the ink common liquid chamber).
Correspondence), 104c (M correspondence) and 104d (Y correspondence)
And ink supply ports 106a (corresponding to B), 106b (corresponding to C), 106c for supplying ink to the ink liquid chamber.
(Corresponding to M) and 106d (corresponding to Y), and ink supply pipes 107a (corresponding to B), 107b (corresponding to C), 107c (corresponding to M) and 107d (corresponding to Y) connecting the ink supply port and the ink tank, respectively. A plurality of heating resistors 1 which are ejection energy means for ejecting ink from the nozzles.
02 and an electrode 1 for driving and controlling the resistor
03 and a substrate 101 provided with a drive control circuit (not shown) connected thereto.

In this embodiment, P _{n of} each nozzle group is
Was 70.75 μm. Therefore, the above equation (1) is

[0047]

Equation 16] 3 (n-1) (P n / P d -1) / 2 = 3 (24-1) (70.75 / 70.5-1) / 2 = 0.12. Further, the distance between the nozzle groups was set by the distance G _d from the first nozzle of one nozzle group to the first nozzle of the next nozzle group, which was P _d × (24 + 8). That is, if the interval of the nozzle groups is set by P _d, which is the basis for determining T, printing is performed without causing any inconvenience (such as deterioration of quality due to different center positions of dots for each color) at positions where dots of respective colors overlap. Can be done. In this embodiment, P _d = 70.5 μm, and the nozzle group interval is set to 8 dots corresponding to P _d .

As can be seen from the present embodiment, when a three- or four-color integrated type head in which nozzles are arranged in the moving direction of the recording medium is constructed according to the present invention, n × nozzles are arranged between nozzle groups.
There must be a gap larger than P _n . That is, the 24 × 4 = 96 nozzles of this embodiment are arranged at the pitch P _n.
You can't line up without any gaps. That is, the gap is an important constituent feature of the present invention.

<Embodiment 3> FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the schematic constitution of a third embodiment of a recording head provided in an ink jet recording apparatus to which an ink jet recording method according to the present invention is applied. .

This embodiment is a four-color integrated type head as in the second embodiment, but the number of black ink nozzle groups is six.
The recording speed of only black was increased by using four nozzles.
Since P _n = 71 μm in this embodiment, the color nozzle is

[0051]

Equation 17] 3 (n-1) (P n / P d -1) / 2 = 3 (24-1) (71 / 70.5-1) / 2 = 0.49 black nozzle

[0052]

Equation 18] 3 (n-1) (P n / P d -1) / 2 = 3 (64-1) (71 / 70.5-1) / 2 = 0.67. In Example 2, P _n = 70.75 μm.
That is, when color recording is performed in this embodiment, ΔT is slightly larger than that in Embodiment 2, but black streaks do not appear,
The recording quality was sufficiently satisfactory.

The recording head is connected to an ink tank corresponding to each ink to form an ink cartridge IJC, and the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA shown in FIG.
The carriage HC is detachably attached and fixedly supported. The configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus main body IJRA will be briefly described below.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA having a mechanism for the above processing.

In the figure, numeral 20 (corresponding to 100 and 100 'in the first to third embodiments) comprises nozzle groups for ejecting ink in opposition to the recording surface of the recording paper fed onto the platen 24. Inkjet head cartridge I
This is a JC inkjet head (recording head). 1
A carriage HC for holding the recording head 20 is connected to a part of the drive belt 18 for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor 17, and slides with two guide shafts 19A and 19B arranged in parallel with each other. By making it possible, the reciprocating movement of the recording head 20 over the entire width of the recording paper becomes possible. During this reciprocating movement, the recording head 20 records an image according to the received data on the recording paper. Each time this main scanning is completed, the recording paper is conveyed by a predetermined amount and sub-scanning is performed.

A head recovery device 26 is arranged at one end of the movement path of the recording head 20, for example, at a position facing the home position. Motor 2 via transmission mechanism 23
The head recovery device 26 is operated by the driving force of 2 to cap the recording head 20. The recording head 20 by the cap portion 26A of the head recovery device 26
Head recovery device 26 in connection with the capping part to the
Ejection such as removal of thickened ink in the ejection port by performing ink absorption (suction recovery) by an appropriate suction means (for example, a suction pump) provided inside, and thereby forcibly ejecting the ink from the ejection port Perform recovery processing. Further, the recording head is protected by capping at the end of recording. This kind of discharge recovery process is
This is performed when the recording head is replaced or when the recording operation is not performed for a certain period of time or the like.

Reference numeral 31 is a blade as a wiping member which is disposed on the side surface of the head recovery device 26 and is made of silicon rubber. The blade 31 is a blade holding member 31.
The head recovery device 26 is held by A in a cantilever form.
Similarly to the above, the motor 22 and the transmission mechanism 23 operate to enable engagement with the ejection surface of the recording head 20. As a result, the blade 31 is projected into the movement path of the recording head 20 at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the recording head 20 or after the ejection recovery process using the head recovery device 26, and the movement operation of the head 20 is accompanied. The dew condensation, wetness, dust or the like on the ejection surface of the head 20 is wiped off.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the case of the serial type recording apparatus in which the recording head is mounted on the carriage has been described as an example, but the present invention covers the whole or a part of the width of the recording medium. The same can be applied to a recording apparatus using a line type recording head having a length, and the same effect can be obtained. In addition, in the above-described Examples 1 to 3, the case of recording with one recording head and the case of recording with a color inkjet recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads for recording with different colors have been exemplified. The present invention can be widely applied to an inkjet recording apparatus for gradation recording using a plurality of recording heads recording with different inks, regardless of the number of recording heads and recording colors, and similar effects can be obtained.

(Others) In particular, 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, especially in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the 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 straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus, or the ink from the main body of the apparatus can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus by being mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal 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 this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. 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, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used 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 a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may be a form or the like.

[0068]

As described above, the recording method according to the present invention uses a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, and ink is ejected from each nozzle according to input information to form dots on a recording medium. In an inkjet recording method for recording input information by forming the same, in a dot pitch (P _d ), a plurality of nozzle pitches (P _n ) (P
_d <P _n ) and the number of nozzles (n) are

[0069]

[Equation 19] 0 <3 (n−1) (P _n / P _d −1) / 2 ≦ 1 (1) is satisfied, and preferably the recording head scans once. Each time, the amount T of feeding the recording medium once is

[0070]

[Equation 20] T = P _d × n (2) It is assumed that the relational expression is satisfied. On the other hand, when the recording head is a recording head compatible with color recording, a plurality of nozzles corresponding to one color are used. The distance (G _d ) from the nozzle group to the nozzle groups corresponding to other adjacent colors is

[0071]

Since it is characterized by satisfying the relational expression of G _d > n × P _n (3), the recording device and the device based on the method are used for receiving input information such as characters and images. An information processing system as a means for outputting on a recording medium, such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a word processor, a personal computer, etc., can record an image on a recording medium without producing white streaks. It is possible to achieve high density and high quality recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a recording head included in an inkjet recording apparatus to which an inkjet recording method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of a recording head included in an inkjet recording apparatus to which an inkjet recording method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of a recording head included in an inkjet recording apparatus to which an inkjet recording method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an image recorded by a recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an image recorded by a conventional recording method.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 recording head 100 recording head 100 'recording head (color inkjet recording head) 101 substrate 102 heating resistor 103 electrode 104 nozzle (ejection port) 105 ink common liquid chamber 106 ink supply port

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location B41J 2/51 B41J 3/04 103 X 3/10 101 T (72) Inventor Tadashi Yamamoto Ota, Tokyo 3-30-2 Maruko Shimota, Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. The recording of the input image information is performed by using an ink jet type recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged and ejecting ink from each nozzle according to the input information to form dots on a recording medium. In the ink jet recording method to be performed, the dot pitch (P _d ), the plurality of nozzle pitches (P _n ) (P _d <P _n ), and the number of the plurality of nozzles (n) are as follows: <3 (n-1) ( _Pn / _Pd- 1) / 2≤1 (1) An ink jet recording method characterized by satisfying the relational expression. 2. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the amount T of paper feed of the recording medium once per scanning of the recording head is: T = P _d × n ( An inkjet recording method characterized by satisfying the relational expression (2). 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a recording head compatible with color recording, and a group including a plurality of nozzles corresponding to one color while satisfying the condition of the expression (1). An inkjet recording method characterized in that a distance (G _d ) from a nozzle group to another nozzle group corresponding to another adjacent color satisfies a relational expression of G _d > n × P _n (3). 4. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a recording operation is performed based on the ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording head has an electrothermal converter that uses thermal energy as ink ejection energy, as a recording element. 6. An information processing system comprising the recording device according to claim 4 as output means.