JPH0839865A - Image recording method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the throughput of recording operation by performing the bidirectional recording bordering on a blank part containing a predetermined number or more of blank rasters and enabling recording scanning effectively using the recording width of a recording head. CONSTITUTION:A recording head 9 having a plurality of recording elements in a vertical direction is subjected to recording scanning in a horizontal direction to record scanning images and an image is recorded on the basis of a plurality of the scanning images. A judge means 4 judges whether a blank part constituted of a predetermined number of more of blank rasters is present between respective images in continuous first and second recording scannings and, when the blank part is judged to be present, the recording means 9 performs the first and second scannings in both directions holding the blank part therebetween. Further, the judge means 4 judges whether the lowermost end of the image data of the first recording scanning is a blank raster and, in the case of the blank raster, the first recording scanning is executed and, thereafter, the judge means 4 and the recording means 9 are executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording method and apparatus for performing recording by horizontally scanning a recording head mounted on a carriage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a serial type recording apparatus for performing recording by horizontally scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in the vertical direction. In such a printing apparatus, printing is performed in both forward and backward directions of carriage scanning in order to improve throughput.

However, when a vertically continuous image such as a vertically long ruled line, that is, a content requiring a plurality of carriage scans for recording is bidirectionally recorded, the recording position accuracy is the same. Since it is inferior to the case of 1, the ruled line is deviated for each scanning line. In order to remedy this drawback, a method has been implemented in which an optical or magnetic linear encoder is provided along the scanning path of the carriage, and the recording operation is performed in synchronization with the carriage movement based on the information obtained from the encoder. However, there is a problem that the recording resolution is increased and the accuracy of the encoder is required to be improved, which leads to an increase in cost.

Therefore, as a method that does not use an encoder as described above, a method has been proposed in which a horizontal blank portion (called a blank cluster) on an image, that is, a discontinuous portion of the image is detected and recording is performed with the detected portion as a boundary. ing. this is,
If the print contents scanned by the head have blank clusters that are continuous in the horizontal direction, only the upper part is recorded with the blank part as the boundary, and valid data below the blank part is not recorded in that scan and is recorded in the next scan. It is to record according to the direction. Further, in order to use the recording element of the head as effectively as possible, the detection of the blank portion is performed only in a certain number of areas or less counted from the bottom of the head (referred to as a detection area).

Now, let us consider a case where the above method is applied to an apparatus equipped with a recording element having a relatively high resolution, that is, a unit element having a small size. In this case, 1
When bi-directional recording is performed with a blank cluster of rasters as the blank portion, the distance between images is only 1 raster, so it cannot be said that the images have discontinuity, and the positional deviation due to the difference in the recording direction is visible. However, it may be a problem.

In order to prevent such a situation, it has been proposed to perform bidirectional recording only when the blank portion continues for a certain number of rasters or more. This enables bidirectional recording in the upper and lower parts with the blank part as a boundary only when continuous blank clusters of a predetermined number of rasters or more are detected within a certain range from the lower end of the head. is there. In such a method, when receiving text information as an image, it is assumed that there is a space corresponding to the number of rasters between lines. Therefore, the height of the recording head corresponds to the height of a character that is normally used. This is an effective method for a recording device that is installed.

[0007]

However, if the control described in the above-mentioned conventional example is applied to a recording head having a high resolution and having a number of recording elements capable of recording two or more lines in one scan, the following result is obtained. Such an inconvenience may occur. That is, in the case of recording text information using characters having a relatively small number of points with a space between lines, even if the image can record two lines simultaneously by one scanning,
There are cases in which printing is performed separately in two scans. For example, if there is a blank cluster at the lower end of the head, but this has not reached the specified number, and if there is a portion where more blank clusters than the specified number continue in the detection area above this, only the first row is recorded. Then, although the next line is bidirectional, it will be recorded in the next scan. in this way,
Although printing is performed in both directions, a portion that can be printed by one scan is divided into two scans, which may rather result in a decrease in throughput.

FIG. 6 shows this example. In FIG. 6, reference numerals 1 to 4 show the scanning range of the head, the portion surrounded by the solid line shows the forward scanning, and the portion surrounded by the broken line shows the trajectory of the head scanning in the reverse direction. As is clear from the figure, although the conventional head has a width of two lines, the number of blank clusters at the bottom of the character string on the second line has not reached the specified number.
This means that scanning is performed once for each line to be printed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and bidirectional recording is performed with a blank portion including a predetermined number of blank clusters as a boundary, and the recording width of the recording head is effectively used. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing method and apparatus that enable printing scanning and improve the throughput of printing operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a continuous blanking cluster of a prescribed number or more including a boundary portion between the two printing scanning areas in two consecutive printing scanning areas,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method and apparatus for recording these scan images bidirectionally.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording method and apparatus capable of appropriately determining unidirectional or bidirectional recording scanning by sequentially using image data for one recording scanning. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to appropriately determine the scanning direction of the recording scan and the next recording scan by using the image data of one recording scan and the image data of a predetermined raster number following the image data. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording method and apparatus that enable the above.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

The image recording apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object records a scanning image by horizontally recording and scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in the vertical direction, and records an image by the plurality of scanning images. An image recording device for recording
In the continuous first and second print scans, it is determined whether or not there is a blank portion composed of a predetermined number or more of blank clusters between the image in the first print scan and the image in the second print scan. The determination unit includes a determination unit and a recording unit that, when the determination unit determines that a blank portion is present, executes the first and second recording scans bidirectionally with the blank unit interposed therebetween.

According to the above arrangement, when there are a predetermined number or more of blank clusters between the image in the first printing scan and the image in the second printing scan, it is determined that both images are discontinuous. Then, the images in both print scans are printed by bidirectional print scans.

Preferably, the image data for the first recording scan further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not the lowermost end portion is a blank cluster, and the judging means determines the image data. When the bottom edge is a blank cluster, the first recording scan is executed, and then the determining unit and the recording unit are executed. For example, in the case of a character image or the like, blank clusters in the print scan area are likely to be between lines, and there is a high possibility that a predetermined number or more of blank clusters exist in this portion. Therefore, if there is a blank cluster at the lowermost end of the printing scan area, there is a high possibility that bidirectional printing can be performed with this blank cluster portion interposed therebetween, and it is prompt to determine whether or not the printing scan is to be executed for the entire area. I can decide.

Further, preferably, when the bottom end of the image data is not a blank cluster in the judging means, a detecting means for detecting a blank portion in which a predetermined number or more blank clusters are continuous in a predetermined range of the image data is further provided. The recording means carries out bidirectional recording with the blank portion obtained by the judging means or the detecting means being sandwiched therebetween. This is because, when the lowermost end of the print scanning area is not a blank cluster, it is possible to detect a blank portion in a predetermined range of the print scanning area and perform bidirectional printing with the blank portion as a boundary, thereby improving the printing speed. .

Another image recording apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object records a scan image by horizontally recording and scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in the vertical direction to record a plurality of scan images. An image recording apparatus for recording an image by using the image data in a first recording scan and at least a part of the image data in a second recording scan following the image recording, the image is recorded in the first recording scan. Determining means for determining whether or not there is a blank portion composed of a predetermined number or more of blank clusters between the image to be printed and the image printed by the second printing scan; If it is determined that the blank area is present, the first printing scan and the printing unit that bidirectionally prints an image by the second printing scan are provided.

By using the image data of the first printing scan and at least a part of the image data of the second printing scan following the first printing scan, it is determined whether or not there is a blank portion between the printed images of the two printing scans. Therefore, the blank portion can be detected more reliably.

Preferably, the image data of the first recording scan area and the storage means for storing raster data for a predetermined number of rasters following the image data as additional data are further provided, and the determining means includes the additional data. A blank part in which a predetermined number or more of blank clusters are formed between the lower end of the first printing scan and the upper end of the image printed by the second printing scan depending on whether all are blank clusters. Or it exists.

Further, preferably, when it is judged by the judging means that a blank portion does not exist between the image of the first recording scan area and the image of the second recording scan area, within the predetermined range of the image data. The recording means further comprises a detecting means for detecting a blank portion in which a predetermined number or more blank clusters are continuous, and the recording means performs bidirectional recording with the blank portion obtained by the determining means or the detecting means being sandwiched therebetween.

Preferably, the image forming apparatus further comprises storage means for storing the image data of the first print scan area and the raster data for a predetermined number of rasters following the image data as additional data, and the determining means is the storage means. Based on the stored data, it is determined whether or not there is a blank portion including a continuous blank cluster of a predetermined raster number or more, including the lower end portion of the first print scan area.

[0022]

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

<Embodiment 1> In this embodiment, an example of application to an ink jet printer will be described as an example of a recording apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied.

In the figure, the lead screw 5005
Rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotations of the CR motor 5013. The carriage HC has a spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005.
Has a pin (not shown) that engages with, and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b with the rotation of the lead screw 5005. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC.

A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage in this area and switching the rotation direction of the CR motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head, and 5015 is suction means that sucks the inside of the cap.
The suction recovery of the recording head is performed through the opening 5023 in the cap.

5017 is a cleaning blade,
Reference numeral 19 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by the main body support plate 5018.
Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Also, 50
Reference numeral 21 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the drive motor is controlled to move by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

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

Next, the control configuration of the above ink jet printer will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control arrangement of the ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a recording device) of this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a host system for sending data to the recording apparatus. An interface control unit 2 receives print data and the like from the host system 1. 3 is a RAM, and the interface control unit 2
Is used for temporarily accumulating the data received from the host system 1 or for dot expansion of the data to be recorded.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a microcontroller (hereinafter referred to as MCU), which has a CPU, a RAM, a timer, which controls all of the recording apparatus.
Built-in I / O port etc. 5 is ROM, MCU
4 and a printer engine control program, font data, and the like.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a device control logic section, which is an MC
The movement control of the carriage HC, the paper feed control, the ejection of the head and the like are controlled by the command of U4. The device control logic unit 6 has a print buffer 61 that stores image data for one recording scan. 7 is a CR motor (Fig. 1
Corresponding to the CR motor 5013), which drives the head carriage HC mounted with the recording head 9 based on the signal generated by the device control logic unit 6 when being attacked by the stepping motor. Reference numeral 8 denotes a PF motor, which is composed of a stepping motor and performs a paper feeding operation. Reference numeral 9 denotes a recording head, in which 128 dot driving elements having a resolution of 360 dpi are arranged in the vertical direction, and recording is performed by an inkjet method.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus of the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, the host system 1 sends the image data to be printed to the printing apparatus for each one dot row in the horizontal direction (this is referred to as one raster) according to the rules of a predetermined printer language. Interface control unit 2
Performs an image data receiving operation according to the protocol defined in the interface specifications, and the received image data is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 3.

The MCU 4 reads out the image data stored in the RAM 3 and stores it in the print buffer 61 until the image data for the number of recording elements are prepared. In this example, since there are 128 recording elements, 1
Image data for 28 rasters is printed in the print buffer 61.
Is stored. In the print buffer 61, the head 9
The image data is stored in an order corresponding to the order of sending the image data to. Therefore, when the image data stored in the RAM 3 is read and stored in the print buffer 61, horizontal / vertical conversion is executed.
The control of this embodiment described below is performed by the print buffer 6
Although the data in 1 is referred to, the image data stored in the RAM 3 may be referred to.

Next, the recording operation of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the recording operation of the first embodiment.

First, in step S1, the image data to be printed in the next scan is read from the RAM 3 and stored in the print buffer 61. At this time, the image data is stored such that the top of the unrecorded effective image coincides with the top of the element. In other words, the blank cluster is removed from the upper portion of the image data stored in the print buffer 61, and the blank cluster is packed and stored.

Next, in S2, the print buffer 6
The image data stored in 1 is checked to determine whether the bottom edge of the image data is a blank cluster. If the bottom edge is a blank cluster, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, after the sheet is conveyed to the print scan position, all the images stored in the print buffer 61 are printed using all the print elements stored in the print buffer 61. The recording head 9 at this time
The recording scanning direction of is set in step S9 or step S10 described later.

Next, in step S4, the image data to be recorded next is read from the RAM 3 and stored in the print buffer 61. At this time, as in step S1, the image data is stored in the print buffer 61 by matching the uppermost part of the unrecorded effective image with the uppermost part of the recording element. In step S5, the number of blank clusters between the effective image printed in the printing scan of step S3 and the effective image to be printed in the next printing scan is counted,
It is determined whether there are blank clusters of a predetermined number (4 rasters in this example) or more. If there are four or more blank clusters, the process advances to step S9 to set the printing scan of the next row to bidirectional printing. In the bidirectional recording, it is possible to record with the scanning direction in the opposite direction to the previous row, and the shortest distance recording is performed. On the other hand, when there are no more than four blank clusters between the effective image in the previous recording scan and the effective image in the next recording scan, the process proceeds to step S10.
In step S10, the print scanning direction of the next row is set to the same direction as the previous row.

On the other hand, if the bottom edge of the image data in the print buffer 61 is not a blank cluster in step S2, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6,
It is checked whether or not there is a blank portion having continuous blank clusters of 4 rasters or more in the lower 48 elements of the recording head 9. If such a blank portion exists, the process proceeds to step S7, and after the sheet is conveyed to the recording scanning position, the image above the blank portion is recorded.
Then, in step S8, the image data to be recorded next is read from the RAM 3 and stored in the print buffer. At this time, similarly to step S1 and step S4,
The image data is stored in the print buffer 61 with the top of the unrecorded effective image and the top of the recording element aligned. When an effective image exists below the blank portion, the uppermost portion of the effective image is stored so as to match the uppermost portion of the recording element. In this way step S
When the image data is stored in step 8, the process proceeds to step S9.

On the other hand, if there is no blank part having four or more continuous blank clusters in the 48 elements at the lower end of the head in step S6, the process proceeds to step S3, and all the image data stored in the print buffer 61 is recorded. Is done.

When the recording direction is set in step S9 or step S10, the processing from step S2 onward is repeated for the image data currently stored in the print buffer 61. In this way, steps S2 to S10 described above are performed until the image recording for one page is completed.
Is repeated and one page is recorded.

As described above, according to the procedure shown in FIG. 3, if the bottom end of the image data stored in the print buffer 61 is a blank cluster, the print scan is first performed on all the image data. Then, between the recorded valid image and the next recorded valid image, 4
It is determined whether or not there are continuous blank clusters (blanks) of raster or more. If there is a blank portion, the paper is fed in the vertical direction so that the position of the recording head is aligned with the upper end of the image to be recorded next, and then the shortest distance printing is performed in both directions. Further, if there is no blank portion between the recorded effective image and the effective image to be recorded next, the same direction recording is executed to prevent the recorded image from being displaced.

On the other hand, when the bottom end of the print buffer 61 is not a blank cluster, an image area corresponding to within 48 elements from the bottom (hereinafter referred to as a detection area)
, It is checked whether or not there are continuous blank clusters (blanks) of a prescribed number (here, 4 rasters) or more. When there is such a blank portion, the print scanning is executed without printing the portion corresponding to the lower portion with the blank portion as a boundary, and the image above the blank portion is printed. And
The next recording scan including the effective image existing under the blank portion is set to be executed bidirectionally.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the blank cluster exists at the lowermost end of the element in the print scanning area, this blank cluster does not reach the predetermined number of rasters (here, 4 rasters), and the blank area is detected in the detection area. Even if there are more blank clusters than the raster number that reaches the specified number, data recording up to the lower end of the head is executed. Then, the direction of the next scan is determined by the number of blank data from the uppermost data in the data to be printed next and the lowermost data printed by the previous scan.

FIG. 4 shows the result of executing the control of the first embodiment described above. In FIG. 4, the numbers in parentheses are the number of scans,
Arrows 101 and 102 indicate the recording scan direction. Further, a portion surrounded by a solid line and a portion surrounded by a broken line indicate a region for recording scanning by the recording head 9. The image recorded in FIG. 4 is the same as that in FIG. 6, but with two recording scans,
Moreover, it is possible to record in both directions, and it is clear that the recording speed will be improved. In this way, the effect of the present embodiment becomes remarkable especially when the recording width is such that two or more lines of characters can be recorded.

<Second Embodiment> In the above first embodiment,
The content of the image data to be printed by the print scan and the print scan direction are determined by the content of the image data to be printed next. However, even if there is no blank at the lowermost end, it does not necessarily mean that there is not more than a predetermined number of blank clusters with the next row. In the second embodiment, it is possible to determine the print content and the print scanning direction by referring to the next image data, and further optimize the print area and the scan direction.

The configuration of the recording apparatus of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2), and therefore the explanation is omitted here. However, the print buffer 61 is used for the recording head 9
It has a capacity capable of storing image data by at least 4 rasters more than the recording scan of the first floor.

In the first embodiment, the print buffer 6
The number of elements to be used is determined by checking whether or not there is a blank cluster at the lowermost end by analyzing the image data in 1. On the other hand, in the second embodiment,
The image data for one recording scan + 4 rasters is stored in the print buffer 61, and this is analyzed. The outline of the operation is as follows.

First, regardless of the presence or absence of blank clusters at the bottom of the image to be printed, it is determined whether or not there are 4 or more blank clusters between the current printing scan and the next printing scan. . That is, it is determined whether the last four rasters of the image data stored in the print buffer 61 are all blank clusters. here,
In the case of all blank clusters, the current print scan and the next print scan are executed bidirectionally.

When four or more blank clusters do not exist between the current print scan and the next print scan, a total of four rasters are provided between the effective image of the current print scan and the effective image of the next print scan. Check whether the above continuous blank clusters exist. If it exists, the current printing is performed using all the elements, and the next printing scan is set to be bidirectional.

If neither of the above two is true, it is checked whether there are continuous blank clusters (blanks) of 4 rasters or more within the range of 48 elements from the lowermost end. When such a blank portion exists, the data below the blank portion is not printed in the current printing scan, but by performing the next bidirectional printing scan, it is possible to perform more efficient printing control. Becomes

If none of the above three conditions is met, printing is performed using all elements, and the next printing scan is performed in the same direction as the previous printing scan.

The above control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the recording operation of the second embodiment. In step S20, the image data to be recorded next is read from the RAM 3 and stored in the print buffer 61. The mode of storing the image data for one recording scan here is the same as that in step S1 described above. At this time, in the second embodiment, the image data for the next four rasters is further stored in the print buffer 61.

In step S21, by checking the image data stored in the print buffer 61, it is determined whether or not there are continuous blank clusters of four rasters or more between the current print scan and the next print scan. . This determination can be performed by checking whether or not the images for four rasters stored in addition to the image for one recording scan in the print buffer 61 are all blank. If there are four rasters or more between both print scans, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, after the sheet is conveyed to the recording scan position, all the image data for one recording scan stored in the print buffer 61 is recorded. The recording scanning direction at this time is as described in steps S23, S27, and
The scanning direction set in any of S29 is followed.
Further, the printing scan of the next row can be printed in both directions. Therefore, in step S23, the direction of the next print scan is set to be bidirectional with the previous print scan, and step S20
Return to.

On the other hand, in step S21, if there is no blank portion between the effective images of both recording scans, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, it is determined whether there is a blank cluster (blank portion) of 4 rasters or more between the effective image to be printed in the next printing scan and the effective image printed in the current printing scan. For example, when the lower one raster is a blank cluster in the print scan this time, if the upper three rasters are blank clusters among the four rasters additionally stored in the print buffer 61, there is four between the effective images. It can be judged that there are more rasters. If there is such a blank portion, step S22
Go to. If there is no blank part, step S25.
Go to.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not there is a blank cluster (blank portion) of 4 rasters or more in the image formed by the 48 elements below the head.
If there is a blank portion, the process proceeds to step S25, the sheet is conveyed to the recording scanning position, and then the upper image is printed with the blank portion as a boundary. The recording scanning direction at this time is the above-described step S23, and later-described steps S27 and S2.
The scanning direction set in any one of 9 is followed. Then, in step S27, the recording of the next line is set to be performed bidirectionally with respect to the previous line, and the process returns to step S20.

If the determination is negative in step S25, the flow advances to step S28 to convey the sheet to the recording scanning position, and then recording is performed by all the elements. The recording scanning direction at this time follows the scanning direction set in any one of steps S23 and S27 described above or step S29 described below. Next, in step S29, it is set to perform the print scan in the same direction as the previous print scan, and the process returns to step S20.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the first embodiment
When compared with, even if the bottom end of the image data stored in the print buffer 61 is not a blank cluster, optimized recording can be performed. Incidentally, the recording result when this method is actually applied is the same as that in FIG.

Further, since the image of the recording scanning area and the next four rasters are referred to, the entire scanning area is recorded because the bottom edge of the scanning area is the blank cluster as in the first embodiment. Compared with the case, it is possible to perform more appropriate print scanning.

As described above, according to the bidirectional recording judgment method of this embodiment, the optimum recording width and recording direction can be judged even when a recording head having a recording width of two or more lines is used. As a result, it is possible to improve the throughput of the recording process.

In the above embodiment, blank clusters are detected on the condition that four blank clusters are continuous, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it goes without saying that the appropriate number of rasters changes depending on the resolution of the recording head.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the application example to the ink jet type printer is shown, but it is also applicable to other serial printers such as thermal recording.

In the above embodiment, the case where the image data is received from the host system and recorded is explained.
The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a case where a character code is received from the host system and recording is performed. In this case, RAM3 is input from the host system.
The MCU4 stores the character code stored in the ROM5.
After the image is formed by the information of the character generator stored therein and the image is developed in the print buffer 61, the same processing as described above may be performed. By doing so, it is clear that the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

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

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to perform bidirectional printing with a blank portion including a predetermined number or more of blank clusters as a boundary, and to perform printing scanning effectively using the printing width of the printing head, thus improving the throughput of printing operation.

[0064]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an inkjet recording apparatus I to which the present invention can be applied.
It is a general view of JRA.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the inkjet printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation procedure according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which recording control according to an embodiment is performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation procedure according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a recording operation based on general recording control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host system 2 Interface control unit 3 RAM 4 MCU 5 ROM 6 Device logic unit 7 CR motor 8 PF motor 9 Recording head 61 Print buffer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording a scanning image by recording and scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction, and recording the image by the plurality of scanning images, the first continuous image recording apparatus. And a determination unit that determines whether or not there is a blank portion composed of a predetermined number or more of blank clusters between the image in the first printing scan and the image in the second printing scan in the second printing scan. And an image recording device that executes the first and second recording scans bidirectionally across the blank part when the determination part determines that a blank part exists. . 2. The image data for the first print scan further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not the lowermost end portion is a blank cluster, and the judging means further comprises a lowermost end portion of the image data. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recording scan is executed when is a blank cluster, and then the determining unit and the recording unit are executed. 3. The determining means further comprises a detecting means for detecting a blank portion in which a predetermined number or more blank clusters are consecutive in a predetermined range of the image data when the lowermost end portion of the image data is not a blank cluster. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording unit performs bidirectional recording with the blank portion obtained by the determination unit or the detection unit being sandwiched therebetween. 4. An image recording apparatus for recording a scanning image by recording and scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction, and recording the image by the plurality of scanning images, the first recording. An image recorded in the first recording scan and an image recorded in the second recording scan are used by using image data in the scanning and at least a part of image data in the second recording scan subsequent thereto. Determination means for determining whether or not there is a blank portion composed of a predetermined number or more of blank clusters, and when the determination portion determines that there is a blank portion, the first blank portion is sandwiched between the first and second portions. Image recording apparatus, and a recording unit that bidirectionally records an image by the second recording scan. 5. The image data of the first print scan area and a storage unit for storing raster data of a predetermined number of rasters following the image data as additional data are further provided, and the determining unit is configured to store all of the additional data in a blank. Depending on whether it is a cluster or not, there is a blank portion in which a predetermined number or more of blank clusters are formed between the lower end of the first printing scan and the upper end of the image printed by the second printing scan. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein whether or not it is determined. 6. A predetermined number or more in a predetermined range of the image data when the determination unit determines that there is no blank portion between the images of the first print scanning area and the second print scanning area. Further comprising a detecting means for detecting a blank portion having continuous blank clusters, wherein the recording means performs bidirectional recording by sandwiching the blank portion obtained by the judging means or the detecting means. Item 5. The image recording device according to item 4. 7. The storage device further comprises storage means for storing, as additional data, image data of the first print scan area and raster data of a predetermined number of rasters following the image data, and the determination means is stored in the storage means. 5. It is determined based on the data whether or not there is a blank portion composed of continuous blank clusters of a predetermined raster number or more including the lower end portion of the first recording scan area. The image recording device described in 1. 8. An image recording method for recording a scanning image by horizontally recording and scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in the vertical direction, and recording the image by the plurality of scanning images, the first continuous recording method. And a determination step of determining, in the second print scan, whether or not there is a blank portion composed of a predetermined number or more of blank clusters between the image in the first print scan and the image in the second print scan. And a recording step of performing the first and second recording scans bidirectionally with the blank portion interposed therebetween when it is determined by the determination step that a blank portion exists. . 9. An image recording method for recording a scanned image by horizontally scanning and recording a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in the vertical direction, and recording the image by the plurality of scanned images. And in the second print scan, there is a blank portion composed of a predetermined number or more of blank clusters between the lower end of the first print scan and the upper end of the image printed by the second print scan. And a determination step of determining whether or not there is a blank portion in the determination step, both of the first recording scan and the image recording by the second recording scan across the blank portion. And a recording step to be performed on a recording medium.