JPH08150735A - Recording data transmitting method, recording apparatus and recording mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve consumption memory efficiency and to average the use frequency of recording elements by offsetting recording data corresponding to a plurality of colors on the basis of altered offset quantity to transmit the same to a recording apparatus and receiving the transmitted recording data corresponding to a plurality of colors. CONSTITUTION: In a recording apparatus offsetting recording elements recording a plurality of colors to use a recording head and a system transmitting recording data, a using nozzle uniformizing means 107 offsetting the image processed by a host computer 100 in offset quantity at every page so as not to make BK using nozzles always same to form transmission data and an offset data receiving means 104 receiving data 101 offset by respective colors from the host computer 100 through an interface 103 are provided. An MPU 105 converting the received offset data 101 to printing output data, a gate array 106 and a printing buffer storing output data are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a recording data transfer method,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording system, and particularly to a recording data transfer method suitable for a recording apparatus having a vertically arranged recording head in which recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged in the nozzle array direction, and recording using the recording head. The present invention relates to a recording device and a recording system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, OA devices such as personal computers and word processors have become widespread, and various recording methods and recording devices have been developed as methods for printing out information input by these devices. The information to be printed out has been colorized with the improvement of OA equipment, and accordingly, an inexpensive color recording device or a recording head is replaced to perform visual color recording and high-speed Bk recording. 2. Description of the Related Art Recording devices have been developed that can be used by both depending on the purpose.

A method of transferring color data when performing color recording will be described by taking a serial recording apparatus that performs recording while scanning a recording head as an example. Image information for each color is transferred for each raster in the main scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as the raster direction) of the recording head or for each line in a unit of a plurality of rasters. That is, image data of Y, M, C, Bk in the same raster or the same row is transmitted and received,
Then the next raster or row Y, M, C, Bk
Image data is transmitted and received.

As the data transmission / reception specification at this time, the most general method is a method called the Centro specification, in which data is transmitted / received in parallel.

On the other hand, in the case of recording a plurality of colors such as color recording, a recording device is generally used for recording in a horizontal arrangement in which recording colors are arranged in parallel in the raster direction. In the side-by-side method, the size of the recording device in the raster direction becomes large, and the overlapping order of the recording colors in the forward and backward printing of the recording head is reversed and If the recording method is an inkjet recording method, or if the recording method is an inkjet recording method, the recording liquid of the next color will land before the recording liquid of the first recording is fixed. Problems such as the occurrence of bleeding may occur.

As a countermeasure against this, the boundary of the images recorded in the different colors is detected, and when there is a boundary, printing is performed while paused, or one dot at the boundary is skipped and printed, or When the boundary portion is a boundary with the Bk image, the Bk boundary portion is converted into another color image combination (PCBk conversion) and recorded, and the like, a countermeasure against bleeding is taken.

There is also a method of reducing the image blurring at the boundary by recording the recording means for each color in the sub-scanning direction (in a vertical arrangement). In this method, the time until the dots of different printing colors printed on the same raster are recorded is extended, so that the blurring of the image at the boundary can be reduced. In this method, since each color is offset in the sub-scanning direction, the order of overlapping recording liquids does not change during forward printing and backward printing of the recording head, and even if bidirectional printing is performed, the tint of the recorded image will not change. There is also an advantage that the problem of deviation does not occur, and the vertical head configuration is increasingly adopted.

In the vertically aligned recording head, Y in the sub-scanning direction,
Since the recording elements such as M, C, and Bk are lined up, the size in the sub-scanning direction becomes large. Therefore, the Bk recording element, which is often used for character printing in which high-speed printing is strongly desired, has a large number of nozzles, and the high-quality recording is emphasized. In Y, M, and C recording elements mainly used in, the number of recording elements to be arranged is reduced to balance specifications such as specifications, price, and size.

[0009]

However, in the above-described vertically aligned head, a memory area of a bitmap in which image data is developed (hereinafter referred to as a print buffer)
However, it required much more area than the side-by-side head. How much print buffer area is required in the case of a vertically aligned head will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a print buffer area of a vertically arranged head. Here, as the recording head 1708, there are 24 recording elements for recording the recording colors of Y, M, C, 64 recording elements for recording the recording color of Bk, and 8 elements between the recording colors ( The case where there is a gap between colors corresponding to (pixel) will be described. Further, the recording elements of each color are arranged in the order of Y, M, C, Bk in the main scanning direction.

In the above recording head 1708, when the recording element for recording Y records in the range of (n) raster to (n + 23) raster, the recording element for recording M is (n + 32) raster to (n + 55) raster. Is the recording range, and the recording element for recording C is (n + 6
4) The recording range is from the raster to the (n + 87) raster, and the recording element for recording Bk is the recording range from the (n + 96) raster to the (n + 159) raster.

As described above, since the recording pixel data transferred from the external device such as the host to the recording device is the data of each color in raster units or line units,
Y, M, C, at least up to (n + 159) raster
The recording data of Bk has been transferred, and at least B
The recording operation cannot be started until the recording data of k has been expanded to the print buffer up to the raster of (n + 159). At this time, for example, in the Y recording element, the image signal is (n)
Recording from the raster is possible if the print buffer of the (n + 23) raster is completed, but (n + 15)
9) Recorded information up to the raster must be retained, and a memory equivalent to 160 rasters is required as shown in FIG.

Here, the recording resolution of the recording device is set to 360DP.
I, if the recorded image is of A4 size and the number of pixels of one raster is 2880, it is 46080 for 160 rasters.
A memory capacity of 0 (= 160 raster * 2880 pixels) bits is required. Similarly, in the M recording element, 368,640 bits (= 128 raster * 288)
0 pixels), C recording element has 276480 bits (= 96 rasters * 2880 pixels), and Bk recording element has 184320 bits (= 64 rasters * 2880 pixels).
Pixel), Y, M, C, and Bk require a minimum memory area of 1290240 bits.

On the other hand, as print buffer areas referred to during one recording scan, Y, M, and C recording elements each have 69120 bits (= 24 rasters * 2880 pixels), and Bk recording elements have 184320 bits (= 64 rasters). * 2880 pixels), 39 in total of Y, M, C, Bk
1680 bits, which is the minimum required 129024
It can be seen that it is less than half of 0 bits.

Further, as described above, the Bk recording element has more recording elements than the Y, M, and C recording elements for Bk character printing which requires high-speed printing. However, when performing color printing, since only 24 Y, M, and C recording elements are provided, only 24 Bk elements are used, and 24 nozzle printing is performed for Y, M, C, and Bk. The recording is repeated in which the paper is fed by the amount corresponding to 24 nozzles. Since there are 64 Bk nozzles, it is possible to use any recording element, but in order to reduce bleeding between images of different colors, the Bk image uses the recording element farthest from the Y, M, and C images. It is often seen.

On the other hand, 64 Bk recording elements can use all 64 nozzles when only a Bk image is used, but since only 24 specific nozzles are used when a color recording image is used, there is a variation in the frequency of use between nozzles. Becomes noticeable.
Since the recording element deteriorates with time depending on the frequency of use, a difference in image recording density occurs between the overused nozzles and the less frequently used nozzles, and high image quality cannot be obtained. Further, if the life of one nozzle is extended, the life of the recording head is reached, and deviation of the usage frequency shortens the life of the head.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention can improve the memory consumption efficiency in the case of using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged offset in a predetermined direction. Possible recorded data transfer method,
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device and a recording system.

Further, the present invention provides a recording data transfer method, a recording apparatus and a recording system which can achieve equalization of the frequency of use of recording elements, prolong the life of the recording head, and enable high speed and high quality recording. With the goal.

[0019]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording apparatus having a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction. In a recording data transfer method for transferring recording data, an acquisition step of acquiring an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of another recording element of the plurality of colors based on a recording element of any of the plurality of colors, A changing step of changing a position of a printing element to be used by changing an offset amount, an offset step of offsetting print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the changed offset amount, and an offset And a transfer step of transferring the recorded recording data corresponding to the plurality of colors to the recording device.

The present invention also provides a print data transfer method for transferring print data to a printing apparatus having a print head in which a plurality of print elements for printing a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction. An acquisition step of acquiring an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of other recording elements of the plurality of colors with reference to any one of the recording elements of the plurality of colors; and recording data of at least one color by a plurality of scanning recordings. A thinning-out step of complementing and completing, an offsetting step of offsetting print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the acquired offset amount, and a corresponding offsetting of the plurality of colors A transfer step of transferring print data to the printing apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, in a recording apparatus for recording using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, the recording elements of the plurality of colors are recorded. In the sub-scanning direction based on a storage unit that stores corresponding print data, and an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of other print elements of the plurality of colors with reference to a print element of any of the plurality of colors. Receiving means for receiving the print data offset and corresponding to the plurality of colors; and at least one received by the receiving means.
And thinning-out means for thinning out so as to complete the color recording data by complementing it with a plurality of scanning recordings.

Further, according to the present invention, a recording apparatus for recording using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, and recording data is transferred to the recording apparatus. In the printing system having a host computer, the host computer acquires an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of another printing element of the plurality of colors with reference to the printing element of any of the plurality of colors. Changing means for changing the position of the printing element to be used by changing the obtained offset amount; and offsetting the print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the changed offset amount. Transfer means for transferring to the recording device, wherein the recording device receives the recording data corresponding to the plurality of colors transferred by the transferring device. Characterized in that it has a receiving means.

Further, according to the present invention, a recording apparatus for recording by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, and recording data is transferred to the recording apparatus. In the printing system having a host computer, the host computer acquires an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of another printing element of the plurality of colors with reference to the printing element of any of the plurality of colors. Thinning means for thinning out the print data of at least one color to be completed by a plurality of scan prints, and offset the print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the acquired offset amount. And transfer means for transferring the data to the recording device, and the recording device is configured to transfer the recording data corresponding to the plurality of colors transferred by the transferring means. Characterized in that it has a receiving means for receiving.

The means for solving the above-mentioned problems is to implement a method of subscanning in which image data transferred for each color is used in a vertically arranged head having nozzles for ejecting inks of a plurality of colors in the subscanning direction. It is characterized in that it has an offset data receiving means for receiving offset data respectively offset, and a used nozzle equalizing means that does not bias the used nozzles.

[0025]

According to the above construction, the frequency of use of the recording elements can be dispersed and uniformized, so that the effect of the vertically-arranged head in which the order of color overlap does not change during bidirectional printing, and adjacent recording is possible. While providing the effect of delaying the time until pixels are recorded, waste of the memory used, which is a drawback of the vertically aligned head, and reduction of recording density unevenness by not concentrating the nozzles used, and further as a recording head It is possible to extend the durable life of the.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA) to which the present invention can be applied.

In the figure, a spiral groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005 that rotates via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with forward and reverse rotations of a drive motor 5013.
The carriage HC that engages with is a pin (not shown)
And is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which function as home position detection means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that indicates a cap member 5022 that caps the entire surface of the recording head, and 5015 is a suction unit that sucks the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 5017 is a cleaning blade, which is a member 5
019 enables movement in the front-back direction. Reference numeral 5018 denotes a main body support plate that supports the above 5017 and 5019. Fifty
Reference numeral 12 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured such that when the carriage comes to the home position side area, desired processing can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005. It suffices if it is configured so as to perform the desired operation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control structure of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

In the figure, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701 and host print information, etc., 1703 is a DRAM for storing various data (the above-mentioned recording signal, The recording data supplied to the head) is saved. A gate array 1704 controls the supply of output data to the recording head 1708, and includes an interface 1700, an MPU 1701, and a DRAM 17.
It also controls the transfer of data between 03. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 1708, and 17
Reference numeral 09 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying recording paper, 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head, 1706 denotes a motor driver for driving the conveyance motor 1709, 17
A motor driver 07 drives the carrier motor 1710.

When input information is input from the host computer 300, which will be described later, via the interface 1700 in the recording apparatus thus configured, the input information is output between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701 for printing. Is converted to. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the output information sent to the head driver 1705 to execute printing.

The recording heads used in this embodiment are Y, M,
This is a recording head in which 24 recording elements for recording the C recording color and 64 recording elements for recording the Bk recording color are configured in one chip, and 8 elements (pixels) are provided between the colors between the recording colors.
There is a considerable gap between colors. FIG. 4 shows this recording head 170.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating 8 and, as shown in FIG.
Nozzles n1 to n160 are formed in the order of Y, M, C, and Bk from the top. Further, FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining the chip of the recording head having the above-mentioned configuration, and Y, M, and
A heating element H as a recording element for C and Bk is arranged, and a gap corresponding to 8 pixels (nozzle interval) is formed between groups of recording elements for each color. Although this gap is not always necessary in the present invention, it is easier to form the gap between the colors when the ink chamber for each color is formed on the chip of the recording head. There is.

In this embodiment, the ink chambers for each color, the nozzles, the ink injection paths, etc. are composed of mold members formed by molding, and the molded members are pressed against the recording head chip by springs (not shown). It is configured by sealing with a sealing material including the spring. The means for forming the ink chambers and nozzles by a dry film or the means for forming the nozzles by other methods can be applied to the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When recording is performed using a so-called vertical array head in which nozzles of each color are arrayed in the nozzle array direction as in the above configuration, the print buffer is wasted more than necessary, as described with reference to FIG. Therefore, there is a concern that an inexpensive recording device cannot be provided.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, since the data of the recorded image is transferred from the host computer 300 to the printer 150 in the same raster unit, Bk is from the (n + 96) raster as described with reference to FIG. (N + 15
9) When printing the raster part, C is (n + 64)
From (n + 85) raster, M from (n + 32) to (n + 55) raster, Y from (n) to (n + 23)
The raster must be printed. The raster used for printing at the same time is 136 raster (64 + 24 *)
Despite 3), data for 400 rasters must be accumulated. If you look at C (n + 86)
Data from raster to (n + 159) raster, M
The data from (n + 56) raster to (n + 159) raster and the data from (n + 24) raster to (n + 159) raster are unnecessary data when printing this print area. .

Since the recording resolution of the recording apparatus of this embodiment is 360 DPI and the recorded image is A4 size,
The number of pixels of one raster is 2880 pixels, and the unnecessary storage raster 264 raster (400-136) has a total of 7 pixels.
This is 60320 bits, which means that a very large memory efficiency is lost.

However, in this embodiment, the Y, M, C, and Bk image data are transferred with an offset, so that
The loss of memory efficiency as described above can be reduced.

Specifically, the host computer 300
When transferring the (n) raster of the Y image as shown in FIG. 6, the (n + 32) raster of M and the (n + 6) of C
4) Raster, Bk (n + 96) raster is transferred, that is, data is offset and the printer 150
To (offset transfer). Here, n is -96 or more, and when the transfer raster is less than 0 or exceeds the maximum raster, the data of that color is not transferred.

As a result, the data corresponding to the arrangement of the color nozzles of the recording head can be transferred, so that it is not necessary for the memory of the recorded image to store rasters that are not printed at the same time, as shown in FIG. The efficiency can be improved.

Of course, it is also possible to read image data up to several rasters ahead of the raster being printed at the same time as necessary and perform bit expansion, but even in such a case, some The use efficiency of the memory is greatly improved as compared with the conventional method in which only the image data of the color of 10 must be greatly accumulated.

The offset transfer of the image data from the external device is realized by software in the external device, especially by a printer driver. As shown in FIG. 8, the external device (host computer 300) exchanges data with the recording device and exchanges a recorded image with the image input device through the interface 301. Interface 3
The data input via 01 is operated by the control unit 302. When outputting to the recording device (printer 150), the image data after the operation is processed into transfer data according to the specifications of the recording device by the printer driver 303 that is unique to the recording device, that is, set corresponding to the recording device. After that, the data is offset and transferred to the recording device via the interface 301 as described above.

The processing of the transfer data according to the specifications of the recording apparatus is, for example, color correction or output γ correction according to the recording apparatus, 2
This is a value conversion process, a resolution conversion, a transfer encoding process of image data, and the like. After these processes, the printer driver 303 also performs offset transfer of data to the recording device.

In the present embodiment, in the color recording mode (recording of data in which color and black are mixed), the nozzles used for Bk are shifted in page units to obtain B.
k The use frequency of each nozzle is made uniform, and unevenness in recording density is reduced.

The structure of the recording head used in this embodiment is Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), B.
It is assumed that k (black) has 24, 24, 24, and 64 nozzles, respectively, and that there is a gap of 8 nozzles between the colors, and the above-described vertical arrangement is adopted.

Further, the capacity of the print buffer for holding the recording data is 69120 (24 ×) for color (Y, M, C).
2880) bits and black is 184320 (64
× 2880) bits.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a recording system constituting this embodiment. FIGS. 10A to 10F are diagrams showing the memory configuration of the recording apparatus main body and the developed data of each color.

In the recording system of this embodiment, the image processed by the host 100 is offset by a predetermined offset amount for each page so that the Bk nozzles are not always the same, and the transfer data is created. Nozzle uniformizing means 107, offset data receiving means 104 for receiving the data 101 of each color offset from the host 100 through the interface 103, MPU 105 for converting the received offset data 101 into output data for printing, and gate array 106. And a print buffer 108 for storing output data.

The host 100 includes the nozzle uniformizing means 107.
The transfer data is created by taking into account the offset amount corresponding to the usage status and configuration of the print head, and the offset data is transferred to the printing apparatus. Here, the nozzle uniformizing means 107 is generally realized by the printer driver 303 shown in FIG.

For example, when Bk (black) printing is performed by using the 24 nozzles farthest from the C (cyan) nozzles (FIG. 10A), the offset amount between Bk data and C data is 64 + 8 = 72 rasters. And the offset amount between Bk data and M data is 64 + 8 + 24 + 8 = 10.
4 rasters, offset amount between Bk data and Y data is 6
Since 4 + 8 + 24 + 8 + 24 + 8 = 136 rasters, the host 100 transfers each color data by offsetting each color data by the amount of rasters. The transfer amount at one time may be any raster.

The transferred print data for one line is expanded in the print buffer 108, and as shown in FIG. 10A, the 64 rasters corresponding to the Bk nozzles are filled with 24 data from the bottom.
There is data to be recorded in the nozzles, and null data exists in the upper 40 nozzles. Therefore, during the recording operation of one page, the lower 24 nozzles are always used for recording.

When the recording of one page is completed, the host 10
In 0, the number of prints for the recording device that has currently recorded is written in an external memory or the like. When the recording is again instructed by the same recording device, the number of prints in the external memory is read and the offset amount of the recording data to be recorded this time is determined.

For example, if the number of prints read is 1, the second print data to be recorded this time is B
The offset amount of k data is 8 rasters, the offset amount of C data is (64-8) + 8 = 64 rasters, the offset amount of M data is (64-8) + 8 + 24 + 8 = 96 rasters, and the offset amount of Y data is (64- 8) +8 +24
Offset data of + 8 + 24 + 8 = 128 rasters is created and transferred to the recording device. The transferred recording data for one line is expanded in the print buffer as shown in FIG.

Since the Bk data in the print buffer is the raster for the lower 8 rasters and the raster for the 32 rasters from the top is null data, 8 pages from the bottom corresponding to the data indicated by diagonal lines are always printed on the currently recorded page. Recording will be performed with 24 nozzles left open.

When the above operation is repeated, 64 nozzles are used after printing 6 sheets. When 6 sheets have been printed, 0 is written in the external memory and the above operation is repeated, so that the frequency of use of the Bk nozzles is made uniform.

Of course, the timing of switching the nozzles used for Bk does not have to be in page units, and may be switched at a timing when a predetermined null raster amount exists or after printing a specified number of sheets. Further, the shift amount of the Bk used nozzle may not be every 8 nozzles.

The processing by the host computer 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the printer driver is set, and in step S2, the offset amount of each color of the recording head mounted on the recording apparatus is acquired. In this embodiment, C is 72, M is 104, and Y is 13 with Bk as a reference.
It is 6. In step S3, the number of printed sheets is acquired. In step S4, data processing is performed, and the data processed according to the offset amount and the number of printed sheets acquired in step S5 is transferred to the recording device. The above process is repeated until the transfer of one sheet of data is completed (step S6), the number of printed sheets is added (step S7), and the process is completed.

In the printer, when the transferred data is accumulated in the memory by the amount required for one main scan (24 rasters in this embodiment), the main scan is performed and one line is printed. It should be noted that, at the start and end of recording, according to the arrangement of the offset nozzles, the sequential recording starts from Bk and the sequential recording ends from Bk in this embodiment.

The recording device 102 uses the offset data 101 sent from the host 100 side as the interface 1
The data is received by the offset data receiving means 104 via 03, expanded into recording data by the MPU 105 and the gate array 106, and stored in the print buffer 108.
When the development of the data for one line (Y, M, C24 raster, Bk64 raster) is completed, the recording operation is started. After the recording for one line is completed, the paper for 24 rasters is fed and the recording is sequentially performed. The main body of the recording device is the offset data 1 sent from the host without any special control.
When 01 is received and expanded for one line, it is recorded and 24
Only the operation of feeding the raster paper is repeated.

Further, in the present embodiment, the print buffer for 64 rasters is reserved for the Bk nozzles, but it is also possible to provide only the print buffer for 24 nozzles actually used. In this case, the current offset amount is transferred from the host 100 and the offset data receiving means 10 in the recording device is transferred.
4 recognizes that, the data in the print buffer and Bk
The data sent from the print buffer to the print head may be offset in association with the correlation with the nozzles used and sent so as to correspond to the predetermined nozzles.

As described above, by making the used nozzles of the Bk nozzle uniform, it is possible to perform high-quality recording without density unevenness, and it is possible to extend the life of the recording head.

As the nozzle structure of the recording head,
Y, M, C, and Bk may all have the same number of nozzles.
For example, a vertically arranged head having a nozzle configuration of Y = 48, M = 48, C = 48, and Bk = 48 may be used. To prevent color mixture between colors by using all 48 nozzles when performing multi-pass printing and using only 24 nozzles when performing one-pass printing, when using 1-pass printing, set the nozzle positions used for each color. It may be configured to be used evenly by shifting at a predetermined timing.

(Embodiment 2) As Embodiment 2, as shown in Embodiment 1, yellow has 24 nozzles, magenta has 24 nozzles,
There are 24 nozzles for cyan, 64 nozzles for black, and 8 nozzles for each color, which are offset in the sub-scanning direction. An example of eliminating is explained.

In this embodiment, all 24 color nozzles are used for recording and the black nozzles are used for 48 nozzles to perform multi-pass printing for completing a recorded image in a plurality of passes.

Printing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Ypass 1 to 4 in FIG. 12 are raster areas completed by each scan of the yellow nozzle. See also Bpa
ss1 to 5 are raster areas completed by each scan of the black nozzle. Ypass1 to Ypass4 complete the image of the data in the print buffer as it is by one scanning. Black is Bpass2 in the first and second scans.
Complete the image of Bpass3 in the second and third scans.
Complete the image of Bpass4 in the 3rd and 4th scans.
Complete the image of Bpass5 in the 4th and 5th scans.
Complete the image.

How to use the data in the print buffer for performing the above-mentioned print control will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a recording buffer 108 having a storage capacity of 24 rasters for yellow, 24 rasters for magenta, 24 rasters for cyan, and 64 rasters for black.
Indicates. In the figure, each color buffer is constructed in units of 8 rasters for convenience.

In each of the yellow, magenta, and cyan print buffers, the print image data of each color offset to Y1 to Y3, M1 to M3, and C1 to C3 which is 24 rasters between the print scans is developed.

In the black print buffer,
The data on the print buffer is first shifted by 24 rasters between the recording scans. That is, the storage data of the print buffers B1 to B3 are discarded, the storage data of the print buffer B4 is stored in the print buffer B1, B5 to B2, B6 to B3, B7 to B4, B
8 is stored in B5. Next, the offset black recording image data is developed in B6 to B8 which are print buffer areas for 24 rasters.

Next, the raster data stored in the print buffer is recorded using the recording head. The recording elements having 24 nozzles for each of yellow, magenta, and cyan have the print buffers Y1 to Y3, M1 to M3,
Recording is performed using the raster data of C1 to C3 as they are. Black uses the raster data of B3 to B8,
The printing elements n113 to n160 shown in FIG. 1 are driven. At this time, pixel data is thinned out for the print buffers B3 to B5 using the specific mask pattern 1, and the driving elements of the printing elements n113 to n136 are driven by the thinned out data. Further, print buffers B6 to B8
On the other hand, the driving elements of the printing elements n137 to n160 are driven using the mask pattern 2 which complements the specific mask pattern 1. The mask pattern 1 and the mask pattern 2 may be any patterns as long as they complement each other.

FIG. 14 shows a typical mask pattern.
When the mask pattern 1 is shown in FIG. 14A, the mask pattern 2 is shown in FIG. When the mask pattern 1 shown in FIG.
(D). When the mask pattern 1 is shown in FIG. 14E, the mask pattern 2 is shown in FIG.

By using the mask pattern as described above, the recorded image is completed using the recording elements of n113 to n160.

By using the method of using the data in the print buffer and the method of using the recording element described above, it is possible to diffuse what was conventionally performed with 24 nozzles for black recording to 48 nozzles, which is a cause of deterioration of the recording element. You can improve the leaning.
Further, since the image areas overlap between the scans, the seam of the images between the scans can be improved. Further, since the same raster of the recorded image is completed by a plurality of recording elements, it is possible to eliminate the deviation of the recorded image characteristics due to the image characteristics of each recording element at the same time.

(Embodiment 3) When the deviation of the nozzles used is diffused by using a specific mask for the recorded image as in the case of Embodiment 2, there arises a problem that the mask pattern and the recorded image are synchronized.

For example, as shown in FIG.
Mask pattern 1 for the same image pattern as 4 (a)
If the mask of FIG. 14A is used as
Recording using 13 to n136 is the same as that in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15B, when the mask of FIG. 14B is used as the mask pattern 2, the recording element n
No recording is made using 137-n160. That is, the printing elements n113 to n136 print all images, and the printing elements n137 to n160 are not used at all.

Similarly, when the mask of FIG. 14C is used as the mask pattern 1 for the image pattern shown in FIG. 14A, recording using the recording elements n113 to n136 is performed as shown in FIG. 15C. 14D, when the mask of FIG. 14D is used as the mask pattern 2, the recording element n
Recording using 137 to n160 is as shown in FIG. In this case, unlike the case where the mask patterns of FIGS. 14A and 14B are used, the printing elements to be used are the printing elements n113 to n136 and the printing elements n137 to.
It is divided into n160. That is, when the image pattern is shown in FIG. 14A, it is better to use the mask patterns shown in FIGS. 14C and 14D.

However, it is difficult to judge the synchronization between the image pattern and the mask pattern to be printed by the printing apparatus main body.

Therefore, the present embodiment provides a recording system in which the recording image is masked on the recording image transfer side and transferred to the recording apparatus main body side.

In this embodiment, the print buffers Y1 to Y
3, M1 to M3, C1 to C3, and B1 to B8 are all updated by the print image data received for each print scan. All the print elements n1 to n160 in each print scan drive corresponding to the print image data developed in the print buffer. Further, the carry amount of the recording medium between each scan is determined by the data sent from the image data transfer side.

Image data transfer processing on the recorded image transfer side in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in S2401, recording image data offset by each color is acquired for 24 rasters. Then S
At 2402, yellow image data for all 24 rasters is transferred. In step S2403, all 24 rasters of magenta image data are transferred. In S2404, cyan image data for all 24 rasters is transferred. S24
In 05, the blank data for 16 rasters is transferred.

Next, in S2406, an appropriate mask pattern 1 and an appropriate mask pattern 2 are selected from the image data. In step S2407, the image data obtained by thinning out the image data for 24 rasters of black acquired in step S2401 with the selected mask pattern 1 is transferred. In step S2408, the image data obtained by thinning out the image data of 24 rasters of black acquired in step S2401 by the selected mask pattern 2 is stored.

Further, in step S2409, all the image data for 24 rasters thinned out by the mask pattern 2 stored in the previous routine processing is transferred. Here, in the case of the first time of this routine processing, the transfer data of S2409 is 2
Blank data for 4 rasters. Next, in S2410, an instruction to transfer the recording medium for 24 rasters is transferred.

According to this embodiment, the recording image transfer side can judge the degree of synchronization between the recording data and the mask pattern when the recording image is acquired. Therefore, it is possible to perform printing by optimal multiple scanning (multi-pass printing) without imposing a processing burden on the printing apparatus main body side.

Further, the main body of the printing apparatus develops the image sent in the print buffer as it is, drives the printing element in accordance with the data in the print buffer, and receives the carry amount of the printing medium between each printing scan. Transfer only the amount of feed. This makes it possible to simplify the judgment at the time of printing processing of the recording apparatus main body.

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in a recording apparatus using an inkjet recording head for recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the inkjet recording methods.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, 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 that corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) that is generated and eventually responds to this drive signal as a single unit
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. 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 into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection 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, other than the combination constitution (straight liquid passage or right-angled liquid passage) of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44, which disclose 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.

Furthermore, 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 apparatus main body or the electrical connection to the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body 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 the 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 and number of recording heads to be mounted, two or more recording heads may be provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. 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 adjust 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 from the solid state of the ink 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 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 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 a form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0096]

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the memory consumption in the recording apparatus main body using the vertically arranged recording heads and average the frequency of use of the recording elements.
In addition, it is possible to achieve the improvement of the recorded image by the recording element.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional arrangement of print heads and a memory configuration of print images.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inkjet recording apparatus applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the logic of a recording head applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording head according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating conventional print data transfer.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating data transfer in which print data according to the first embodiment is offset for each color.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a memory configuration when performing offset for each color according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host computer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a recording system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a memory usage status of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing recording scanning and image formation in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a print buffer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a typical mask pattern referred to in Example 2;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing synchronization with a recorded image when a mask pattern is used.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing offset data transfer processing according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100,300 Host computer 102,150 Recording apparatus 107 Nozzle uniformizing means 1708 Recording head

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location B41J 5/30 C G06F 3/12 A B41J 3/12 M (72) Inventor Kei Iwasaki Ota, Tokyo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko-ku, Canon Inc. (72) Inventor, Kiichiro Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printing data transfer method for transferring printing data to a printing apparatus having a printing head in which a plurality of printing elements for printing a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the plurality of colors An acquisition step of acquiring an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of the other recording elements of the plurality of colors based on any one of the recording elements, and changing the offset amount to change the position of the recording element to be used. An offset step of offsetting print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the changed offset amount; and a print data corresponding to the offset color of the printing apparatus. And a transfer step of transferring to a recording data transfer method. 2. The recording head has at least one recording element for one color more than recording elements for other colors, and all the recording elements are not used in one scan for recording elements having a large number of recording elements. The recording data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein in the changing step, the position of the recording element in which the recording element is used is changed according to a prescribed rule. 3. The recording head comprises:
3. The recording data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the number of recording elements used for recording at least one color is larger than the number of recording elements recording another color. 4. A print data transfer method for transferring print data to a print apparatus having a print head in which a plurality of print elements for printing a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction. An acquisition step of acquiring the offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of the other recording elements of the plurality of colors based on any one of the recording elements of, and completion by complementing the recording data of at least one color with a plurality of scanning recording A thinning-out step, an offset step of offsetting the print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the obtained offset amount, and a print data corresponding to the offset plurality of colors. And a transfer step of transferring to a recording device. 5. The recording data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink onto a recording medium by using thermal energy. 6. A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for recording a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, and recording data corresponding to the recording elements of the plurality of colors. A storage means for storing, and offset in the sub-scanning direction based on an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of the other printing elements of the plurality of colors with reference to any one of the plurality of color printing elements, A receiving unit for receiving print data corresponding to a plurality of colors; and a thinning-out unit for thinning out the print data of at least one color received by the receiving unit so as to be complemented by a plurality of scan prints. A recording device characterized by. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head ejects ink onto a recording medium by using thermal energy. 8. A printing apparatus for printing using a print head in which a plurality of printing elements for printing a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, and a host computer for transferring print data to the printing apparatus. In the recording system having the acquisition means, the host computer acquires an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of another recording element of the plurality of colors with reference to a recording element of any of the plurality of colors. Changing means for changing the position of the printing element to be used by changing the offset amount, and offsetting the print data corresponding to the plurality of colors in the sub-scanning direction based on the changed offset amount and transferring the print data to the printing device. The recording device includes a receiving unit that receives the recording data corresponding to the plurality of colors transferred by the transferring unit. Recording system characterized by Rukoto. 9. A printing apparatus for printing using a print head in which a plurality of printing elements for printing a plurality of colors are arranged offset in the sub-scanning direction, and a host computer for transferring print data to the printing apparatus. In the recording system, the host computer may acquire an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of another recording element of the plurality of colors with reference to the recording element of any of the plurality of colors, and at least one. The thinning-out means for thinning out the color print data by complementing it with a plurality of scan prints, and the print data corresponding to the plurality of colors on the basis of the acquired offset amount in the sub-scanning direction to offset the print data. And a transfer unit that transfers the print data corresponding to the plurality of colors transferred by the transfer unit. Recording system characterized by having means.