JPH09150551A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To faithfully record image data of various resolving powers by making the relative angle of the arranging direction of the respective recording elements of a recording head and the transfer direction of a recording medium variable corresponding to a selected recording mode and allowing the recording dot pitch in a sub-scanning direction to coincide with the selected recording mode. SOLUTION: A recording head 1 is fixed on an operation stand 17 and the operation stand 17 is supported on a carriage 2 in a revolvable manner through a shaft 17 and a bearing 17b and revolved by a mode changeover pulse motor 18 being a dot pitch adjusting means to be positioned at a predetermined angle. That is, in the recording head 1, a predetermined number of recording elements are arranged at a predetermined interval along a sub-scanning direction Y and the relative angle of the arranging direction of the recording elements and the transfer direction of recording paper 4 is made variable to allow the recording dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction to coincide with a selected recording mode. By this constitution, image data of various resolving powers can be faithfully recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image suitable for performing plural kinds of recording having different recording dot pitches, for example, in a case where an ink jet recording head is relatively scanned on a recording medium to record in a dot matrix format. Recording device

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a facsimile machine is 200d.
pi (main scanning direction) x 100 dpi (sub scanning direction) (or 200 dpi or 400 dpi in the sub operation direction)
While the image data of the resolution is recorded, the printer records the image data of the resolution of 300 dpi × 300 dpi. Therefore, the recording head of the facsimile machine is ½ in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction on the recording medium.
The recording elements are arranged at a pitch of 00 inches, while the recording head of the printer is 1/3 in the same direction as above.
The recording elements are arranged at a pitch of 00 inches.

In recent years, devices having a plurality of image recording functions, such as a facsimile device having a printer function and a printer having a facsimile function, have been on the market. When recording image data of a resolution other than the fixed resolution uniquely determined by the recording head, the input image data is converted into image data approximated to the fixed resolution by a software algorithm, and based on the data. I am recording.

[0004]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention For example, 300 dpi
When printing 200 dpi x 200 dpi facsimile image data with a printer for printing, the moving speed and output energy of the print head are controlled so that the dot pitch and dot diameter are 200 dpi in the main scanning direction of the print head. There is. However, since the dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction is determined by the arrangement pitch of the recording elements of the recording head, it cannot be controlled. Therefore, the dot data of 200 dpi is subjected to an addition process for every two dots to approximately create 300 dpi image data, and recording is performed based on the created image data. Therefore, there is a problem in that the original image cannot be faithfully recorded, moire (striped pattern bleeding) occurs, and the image quality deteriorates.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, an apparatus provided with a plurality of types of recording heads and recording image data by selecting a recording head corresponding to the resolution of input image data (for example, JP-A-3-2596
No. 57), or an apparatus for faithfully recording input image data of various resolutions by switching the inclination angle of the recording head with respect to the sub-scanning direction so as to match the dot pitch according to the input image data (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10 (1999) -242242) 6 or -2
No. 86140) is proposed.

However, the former apparatus has the drawbacks that the number of recording heads increases as the number of types of image data to be recorded increases, resulting in an increase in size and cost. On the other hand, in the latter device, the recording position of the image data in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction changes depending on the inclination of the recording head, which complicates the data conversion process and limits the types of image data that can be recorded. There is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and its object is to require a complicated image data conversion process with a relatively simple structure. Another object is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of faithfully recording image data of various resolutions.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, in an image recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of recording elements are arranged at a predetermined interval in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to a main scanning direction with respect to a recording medium. A recording head for recording in a dot matrix format, a data supply means for supplying dot data corresponding to the arrangement of the recording elements to the recording elements, and recording on the recording medium by scanning the recording head in the main scanning direction. Recording means for recording data; transfer means for moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction relative to the recording head; mode selecting means for selecting a plurality of recording modes having different recording dot pitches; Relative angle between the arrangement direction of the recording elements of the recording head and the transfer direction of the recording medium according to the recording mode selected by the mode selection means. And a dot pitch adjusting means for adjusting the recording dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction so as to match the selected recording mode. When the recording mode corresponding to the recording data is selected by the selection means, the relative angle between the arrangement direction of the recording elements of the recording head and the transfer direction of the recording medium is changed, and the recording dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction is selected. The image data is adjusted to match the mode, and with a relatively simple configuration, it is possible to faithfully record image data of various resolutions without requiring a complicated image data conversion process.

An image recording apparatus according to a second aspect is the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect.
In the above, when the mode selecting means selects a recording mode having a recording dot pitch that is twice or more as large as the arrangement pitch of the recording elements of the recording head, control is performed to drive at least every other recording head. Then
When a recording mode having a recording dot pitch smaller than the arrangement pitch of the recording elements of the recording head is selected by the mode selection means, further dot rows are recorded between the dot rows recorded by the recording elements. The configuration is such that a control means for controlling the transfer means is provided, and thereby, image data of various resolutions can be faithfully recorded by a relatively simple process.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged at predetermined intervals in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a main scanning direction with respect to a recording medium, and a recording head for recording in a dot matrix format, and the recording head Data supplying means for supplying dot data corresponding to the arrangement of elements to the recording element, scanning means for recording the recording data on the recording medium by scanning the recording head in the main scanning direction, and the recording medium An array of recording elements of each of the recording heads is provided, which includes a transfer unit that relatively moves in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the recording head, and a mode selection unit that selects a plurality of recording modes having different recording dot pitches. By arranging the portion and at least the recording portion of the recording medium by the recording head in an arc shape concentric with each other with a gap. And a control means for arranging the entire portions of the recording head and the recording medium opposite to each other at equal intervals and for variably controlling the distance between the recording head and the recording medium so as to match the recording dot pitch of the recording mode selected by the mode selecting means. With the configuration, similarly to the first aspect, it is possible to faithfully record image data of various resolutions without requiring a complicated image data conversion process with a relatively simple configuration.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the mechanical structure of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a recording head 1 is mounted on a carriage 2 and is reciprocally scanned by a scanning means 3 in a main scanning direction X along a row direction of recording on a recording medium, for example, a recording sheet 4, and the recording sheet 4 is scanned for each scanning. It is transferred by the transfer means 7 in the sub-scanning direction Y orthogonal to the main scanning direction X.

The scanning means 3 drives the guide shaft 8 and the guide rail 9 for slidably supporting the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction X, and the carriage 2 for reciprocating the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction X via the belt 10. It is composed of a power source, for example, a CR motor 11, and a control unit described later for controlling the CR motor 11. The transport means 7 includes four paper feed drive rollers 12 which are rotated around an axis parallel to the recording paper 4.
2, a paper feed driven roller 13 respectively opposed to the paper feed drive roller 12, and a drive source for rotationally driving the paper feed drive motor 12, for example, the LF motor 1 shown in FIG.
4 and a control unit described later that controls the LF motor 14.

The recording head 1 is fixed on an operating table 17. The operating table 17 is rotatably supported by the carriage 2 via a shaft 17a and a bearing 17b. Therefore, the operating table 17 is rotated by the mode switching pulse motor 18 and accurately positioned at a predetermined angle. That is, the recording head 1 has a predetermined number of recording element elements arranged at predetermined intervals along the sub-scanning direction Y as described later, and the arrangement direction of the recording elements is set at a predetermined angle with respect to the recording sheet 4. It is rotated by the pulse motor 18.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block configuration diagram showing an electrical control configuration of the above-mentioned image recording apparatus. In this embodiment, an ink jet printer which normally records recording data of 300 dpi × 300 dpi will be described. In the figure, the recording head 1 is a sub-scanning direction Y in FIG.
A large number of recording elements 1s are arranged at equal intervals along the line. Since the image recording apparatus in this embodiment is an ink jet printer for recording the recording data of 300 dpi × 300 dpi as described above, the recording elements 1s are They are arranged at a pitch of 1/300 inch. Further, the array length of a large number of recording elements 1s is set to one line of a normal character string, and the recording element 1s is a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets toward the recording paper 4 in this embodiment. Is. In addition, as the recording head 1, a recording head such as a thermal head that records in a dot matrix format can be used.

In FIG. 2, image data transmitted from a facsimile machine, a computer or the like (not shown) or image data created by a data creating unit (not shown) is recorded by the data array circuit 19 in the recording element of the recording head 1. It is arranged in dot map data in which the number of 1s is a vertical row and one line is a horizontal row, and is stored in the buffer memory 20. The buffer memory 20 has a storage area corresponding to the same number of rows as the number of recording elements 1s.

The data supply means for supplying the dot data from the buffer memory 20 to the recording head 1 is composed of a read circuit 21 including an odd row read section 21a and an even row read section 21b, a shift register 22 and a latch circuit 23. ing. The read circuit 21 receives a command from the central processing unit 29, which is a control unit of the entire device, reads data from the buffer memory 20 bit by bit and outputs the data to the shift register 22. Shift register 2
2 has a storage area of a plurality of bits in each of the same number of rows as the recording elements 1s. The latch circuit 23 is
Store one bit from each row of the shift register 22,
The data is output to the head drive circuit 27 corresponding to each recording element 1s in synchronization with the recording timing signal of the recording timing circuit 24.

The head drive circuit 27 includes a central processing unit 29.
Is controlled by the head drive timing circuit 32, which drives each recording element 1s at a predetermined timing. That is, the head drive circuit 27 drives each recording element 1s at a predetermined timing at the same timing, a first timing, or a second timing described later. Each recording element 1s operates based on the recording data and ejects ink droplets toward the recording paper 4.

In the mode selecting means 33, a recording mode in which recording dot pitches are different from each other is selectively selected by an operator's manual operation or automatic operation. Since an ink jet printer is exemplified in this embodiment, for example, when printing the print data of the facsimile, the normal mode (200 dpi × 100 dpi) is used.
i), fine mode (200 dpi x 200 dpi)
And super fine mode (200 dpi x 400
Any of the recording modes of (dpi) is selected by the mode selection means 33 according to the data of the facsimile on the transmission side.

In the microcomputer 28, based on the recording mode selected by the mode selecting means 33,
The central processing unit 29 reads out control data stored in advance in the RAM 30 and controls the entire device according to the software program in the ROM 31. That is, the central processing unit 29 controls the rotation of the mode switching pulse motor 18 via the pulse motor drive circuit 34 in accordance with the selected recording mode, and tilts the recording head 1 to an angle corresponding to the recording mode. At the same time, the drive timing of each recording element 1s by the head drive circuit 27 is set via the head drive timing circuit 32, and further, the scanning speed data of the recording head 1 or the carriage 2 corresponding to the recording mode is read from the RAM 30. The CR motor speed switching circuit 37 is switched based on the data.

The CR motor speed switching circuit 37 controls the rotation speed of the CR motor 11 to either the normal speed or the high speed via the CR motor drive circuit 38 based on the switched set speed, and the moving speed of the recording head 1 is controlled. Is controlled so that recording can be performed at a dot pitch that matches the resolution of the input image data. That is, each recording element 1s of the recording head 1
Image data of a resolution other than the resolution set at the array pitch of (facsimile recording data in this embodiment)
In the case of recording, in the main scanning direction X, by controlling the moving speed of the recording head 1, recording is performed at a recording dot pitch corresponding to the above-described selected recording mode.

On the other hand, the sub-scanning direction Y when recording image data of a resolution other than the resolution determined by the recording head 1 is selected by variably adjusting the angle of the recording head 1 with respect to the recording paper 4. It is designed to match the recording dot pitch of the recording mode. These data are calculated in advance and set in the RAM 30,
The central processing unit 29 reads out and controls the data corresponding to the selected recording mode. Further, the central processing unit 2
Reference numeral 9 sets the specific transfer pitch read from the RAM 30 to the LF motor pitch switching circuit 39 only when the mode selection means 3 selects the super fine mode. The LF motor pitch switching circuit 39 controls the rotation of the LF motor 14 via the LF motor drive circuit 40 so as to rotate by an angle corresponding to the set pitch.

Next, the operation of the above image recording apparatus will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 3 and 4 and the explanatory view of FIG. First, in the central processing unit 29, the recording mode selected by the mode selecting means 33 is 300 dp.
It is determined whether or not it is i (step S1). here,
The mode selection means 33 is not operated when recording image data of a fixed resolution corresponding to the recording head 1, and is operated so as to select the resolution of the image data only when recording image data other than the fixed resolution. Shall be done. If the mode selecting means 33 is not operated, the central processing unit 29 judges that the resolution is fixed at 300 dpi × 300 dpi, and instructs the data array circuit 19 to array the data for one line of the image data. (Step S2). Data array circuit 19 that received the command
Indicates that the resolution of the input image data corresponds to the arrangement pitch of the recording elements 1s of the recording head 1, so that the number of the recording elements 1s of the recording head 1 is a vertical column, and one line is required in a row at an interval of 300 dpi. It is only arranged in the dot map data, and this data is stored in the buffer memory 20.
To be stored.

Subsequently, the central processing unit 29 commands both reading units 21a and 21b of the reading circuit 21 to read the data for one column in the column of the buffer memory 20 (step S3). As a result, the read circuit 20 reads the data of one column bit by bit from the buffer memory 19 and outputs the data to the shift register 22, and the data stored in the shift register 22 is output bit by bit to the latch circuit 23. Is stored. The latch circuit 23 outputs data to the head drive circuit 27 corresponding to each recording element 1s in synchronization with the recording timing signal from the recording timing circuit 24. Each recording element 1s operates based on the data and ejects an ink droplet toward the recording paper 4. In this case, since the image data has a fixed resolution, the pulse motor 18 is not driven, and the array of the recording elements 1s is positioned parallel to the recording paper 4 as shown in FIG. The recording paper 4 is recorded with a fixed resolution of 1/300 inch dot pitch. Further, since the surface of the recording element of the recording head 1 and the recording paper 4 are parallel to each other, the timings from the recording timing circuit 24 are also simultaneous.

The central processing unit 29, at the same time as instructing the reading of the above-mentioned recording data, reads the speed data of the CR motor 11 corresponding to 300 dpi from the RAM 30 and sets it in the CR motor speed switching circuit 37. 38 controls the rotation speed of the CR motor 11 based on the speed data set above. Therefore, the recording head 1 is moved by the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction X at the normal speed (step S4), and
Since the resolution of the input image data corresponds to the arrangement pitch of the recording elements 1s, each time the carriage 2 moves by 300 dpi, the head driving timing circuit 32 causes the recording elements 1s to have the same timing via the head driving circuit 27. And the ink droplets are ejected (step S
5). It is determined that the operations of steps 2 to 5 have completed the recording of the data for one line (step S
Repeated until 6).

When the movement of the recording head 1 in the main scanning direction X is completed, the recording data for one line is 300 dpi × 3.
It is recorded at the resolution of 00 dpi. After that, the central processing unit 29 causes the LF motor pitch switching circuit 39
Is instructed to rotate the LF motor 14 at a normal pitch (step S7). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the recording operation is completed, that is, whether or not there is input image data (step S8), and the same operation as described above is repeated until there is no input image data.

Next, when the image data from the facsimile is input, when the central processing unit 29 determines that the mode selecting means 33 selects the normal mode having the resolution of 200 dpi × 100 dpi (step S9). Based on the control data read from the RAM 30, the pulse motor drive circuit 34 is instructed to rotate the pulse motor 18 by an angle of 41 ° (step S10). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5B, the recording head 1 is tilted by 41 ° with respect to the recording sheet 4. Subsequently, the central processing unit 29 instructs the data array circuit 19 to array the data for one line of the image data (step S11). Here, the data array circuit 19
Arranges the image data into dot map data with dummy data interposed between each bit, and stores this data in the buffer memory 20.

Subsequently, the central processing unit 29 controls the buffer memory 2 for the odd number reading section 21a of the reading circuit 21.
An instruction is issued to read the data for one column of 0 columns (step S12). As a result, the read circuit 20 outputs 1 bit at a time from the buffer memory 19 with dummy data interposed.
The column data is read and output to the shift register 22, and the data stored in the shift register 22 is output bit by bit and stored in the latch circuit 23. The latch circuit 23 outputs data to the head drive circuit 27 in synchronization with the recording timing signal from the recording timing circuit 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, since only the recording elements 1s in the odd rows operate based on the data and eject ink droplets toward the recording paper 4, the recording paper 4
Is recorded at a dot pitch of 1/100 inch with respect to the sub-scanning direction Y.

At the same time when the recording head 1 is driven, the central processing unit 29 controls the CR motor 1 corresponding to 200 dpi.
The high speed data of 1 is read from the RAM 30 and C
Since it is set in the R motor speed switching circuit 37, the CR motor drive circuit 38 controls the rotation speed of the CR motor 11 based on the high speed data set above. Therefore,
The recording head 1 is moved at high speed in the main scanning direction X by the carriage 2 (step S13), and each time the carriage 2 is moved by 200 dpi, the head drive timing circuit 32 performs each recording via the head drive circuit 27. The element 1s is driven at the first timing to eject ink droplets (step S14).

At the first timing, when the recording head 1 is tilted 41 degrees with respect to the recording paper 4 as shown in FIG. 5B, the ink droplets ejected from the recording elements 1s are almost at the same time. Each recording element 1s to reach 4
The timing data is stored and set in the RAM 30 in advance. The central processing unit 29 reads this timing data and sets it in the head drive timing circuit 32, whereby each recording element 1s is driven at the first timing. The operations from step 11 to step 14 are repeated until it is determined that the recording of the data for one line is completed (step S15).
When the recording for one line is completed, the central processing unit 29
After instructing the F motor pitch switching circuit 39 to rotate the LF motor 14 at the normal pitch (step S16), it is determined whether or not there is input image data (step S17), and the same as above. The operation is repeated until there is no input image data.

Further, when the central processing unit 29 determines that the fine mode having the resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi is selected by the mode selecting means 33 (step S18), the pulse motor driving circuit is read based on the control data read from the RAM 30. A command is issued via 34 to rotate the pulse motor 18 by an angle of 48 ° (step S10). As a result, as shown in FIG.
The recording head 1 is tilted by 48 ° with respect to the recording sheet 4. Subsequently, the central processing unit 29 determines that the data array circuit 19
The data array for one line of image data is instructed (step S20). The data array circuit 19 which has received the command sets the number of the recording elements 1s of the recording head 1 in a column,
The necessary one line is arranged in a row in the dot map data at intervals of 200 dpi, and this data is stored in the buffer memory 20.

Subsequently, the central processing unit 29 uses the odd number reading section 21a and the even number reading section 2 of the reading circuit 21.
1b is instructed to read the data for one column in the buffer memory 20 (step S21). Thereby, similarly to the above, the latch circuit 23 outputs the data to the head drive circuit 27 in synchronization with the recording timing signal from the recording timing circuit 24. Therefore, each recording element 1s operates based on the data and ejects ink droplets toward the recording sheet 4, so that the recording sheet 4 has the same structure as that shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), 1/200 in the sub-scanning direction Y
It is recorded at a dot pitch of inch.

At the same time when the recording head 1 is driven, the central processing unit 29 controls the CR motor 1 corresponding to 200 dpi.
CR motor speed switching circuit 37
The CR motor drive circuit 38 controls the rotation speed of the CR motor 11 based on the high speed data.
The recording head 1 is moved at high speed in the main scanning direction X by the carriage 2 (step S22), and each time the carriage 2 is moved by 200 dpi, the head drive timing circuit 32 causes each recording operation via the head drive circuit 27. The element 1s is driven at the second timing, and ink droplets are ejected (step S23).

At the second timing, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the recording head 1 is tilted by 48 degrees with respect to the recording sheet 4, the ink droplets ejected from the respective recording elements 1s are almost at the same time. Each recording element 1s to reach 4
The timing data is also stored and set in the RAM 30 in advance. The central processing unit 29 reads this timing data and sets it in the head drive timing circuit 32, whereby each recording element 1s is driven at the second timing. The operations from step 20 to step 23 are repeated until it is determined that the recording of the data for one line is completed (step S24).
When the recording for one line is completed, the central processing unit 29
After instructing the F motor pitch switching circuit 39 to rotate the LF motor 14 at the normal pitch (step S25), it is determined whether or not there is input image data (step S26), and the same as above. The operation is repeated until there is no input image data.

Further, when the central processing unit 29 determines that the mode selection means 33 selects the super fine mode having the resolution of 200 dpi × 400 dpi (step S18), it drives the pulse motor based on the control data read from the RAM 30. The pulse motor 18 is instructed via the circuit 34 to rotate by an angle of 48 ° similarly to the above (step S27). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5C, the recording head 1 is tilted by 48 ° with respect to the recording sheet 4. Then, the central processing unit 29
Instructs the data array circuit 19 to array the data for one line of the image data (step S28). In response to the command, the data array circuit 19 arranges dot map data in which the number of the recording elements 1s of the recording head 1 is a vertical column, and one line required at an interval of 200 dpi is a horizontal column, and this data is arranged in the buffer memory 20. To store.

Subsequently, the central processing unit 29 controls the buffer memory 2 for the odd number reading section 21a of the reading circuit 21.
The reading of the data for one column in the column of 0 is instructed (step S29). Thereby, by the same operation as described above, the latch circuit 23 outputs the data of only the odd-numbered rows to the head drive circuit 27 in synchronization with the recording timing signal from the recording-timing circuit 24. Only operates based on the data and ejects ink drops toward the recording paper 4. The recording paper 4 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the recording is performed with a dot pitch of 1/200 inch in the sub-scanning direction Y.

At the same time when the recording head 1 is driven, the central processing unit 29 controls the CR motor 1 corresponding to 200 dpi.
CR motor speed switching circuit 37
The CR motor drive circuit 38 controls the rotation speed of the CR motor 11 based on the high speed data.
The recording head 1 is moved by the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction X at high speed (step S30), and each time the carriage 2 is moved by 200 dpi, the head drive timing circuit 32 causes each recording operation via the head drive circuit 27. The element 1s is driven at the second timing to eject ink droplets (step S31).

The operations from step 28 to step 31 are repeated until it is judged that the recording of the data for one line of only the odd rows is completed (step S32). When the recording for one line is completed, the central processing unit 29 commands the LF motor pitch switching circuit 39 to rotate the LF motor 14 by a specific angle, whereby the recording paper 4 is moved by 1/400 inch pitch. (Step S3
3). As a result, each recording element 1s is positioned so as to face the recorded dots on the recording paper 4.

Next, the central processing unit 29 controls the buffer memory 20 for the even number reading section 21b of the reading circuit 21.
An instruction is issued to read the data for one column in the column (step S34). Thereby, by the same operation as described above,
Since the latch circuit 23 outputs the data of only the even rows to the head drive circuit 27 in synchronization with the recording timing signal from the recording timing circuit 24, each of the recording elements 1 of the even rows.
Only s operates based on the data, and ejects ink droplets toward the recording paper 4. On the recording paper 4, as shown in FIG. 5C, new dots are recorded between the recorded dots, and as a result, recording is performed at a dot pitch of 1/400 inch in the sub-scanning direction Y. It will be.

At the same time that the recording head 1 is driven, the CR
The motor drive circuit 38 controls the rotation speed of the CR motor 11 based on the high speed data, and the recording head 1 is moved at high speed by the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction X (step S35), and the carriage 2 is moved at 200 dpi. Each time the print head 1s is moved by a distance, the head drive timing circuit 32 drives each recording element 1s via the head drive circuit 27 at the second timing to eject an ink droplet (step S).
36).

The operations from step 34 to step 36 are repeated until it is judged that the recording of the data for one line of only the even rows is completed (step S37). When the recording for one line is completed, the central processing unit 29
Is L at a normal pitch with respect to the LF motor pitch switching circuit 39.
Command to rotate the F motor 14 (step S38)
After that, it is determined whether or not there is input image data (step S29), and the same operation as described above is repeated until there is no input image data.

In this image recording apparatus, the dot arrangement in the main scanning direction X corresponds to the resolution of the image data and is CR.
Since it is controlled by the moving speed of the motor 11 and the drive timing of the recording element 1s, no complicated data conversion process is required, and the dot arrangement in the sub-scanning direction Y can be handled by the inclination angle of the recording head 1. Therefore, it is possible to faithfully record image data of various resolutions with an extremely simple configuration. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the recording medium is moved in the sub-operation direction with respect to the recording head has been described, but the recording head may be moved in the sub-operation direction with respect to the recording medium.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic configuration diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the recording head 1 is curved in a convex arc shape, and the recording elements 1s are radially arranged at equal intervals in this position, and the recording position of the recording sheet 4 by the recording head 1 is the recording head. The recording paper 4 and the recording head 1 are arranged in an arc shape concentric with the recording paper 1.
Of the recording elements 1s are arranged concentrically. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the inclination of the recording head 1 with respect to the recording sheet 4 is changed, whereas the apparatus of this embodiment only displaces the recording sheet 4 so that the interval with respect to the recording head 1 is changed, and the sub-scanning is performed. The recording dot pitch in the direction Y can be arbitrarily changed. FIG.
Is arranged so that the ink droplets of the recording element 1s are converged at one point, and the recording dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction Y can be changed by merely displacing the recording paper 4 so that the interval with respect to the recording head 1 changes. It can be changed arbitrarily.

[0043]

As described above, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, when recording the recording data having different recording dot pitches, if the recording mode corresponding to the recording data is selected by the mode selecting means, By changing the relative angle between the arrangement direction of each recording element and the transfer direction of the recording medium,
Since the recording dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction is adjusted to match the selected recording mode, the relatively simple structure of adjusting the tilt angle of the recording head or the recording medium allows complicated image data Image data of various resolutions can be faithfully recorded without the need for conversion processing.

The image recording apparatus according to the second aspect can faithfully record image data of various resolutions by a relatively simple process.

The image recording apparatus according to claim 3 is the image recording apparatus according to claim 1.
Similarly, in addition to the effect that image data of various resolutions can be faithfully recorded without requiring complicated image data conversion processing, the configuration can be further simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a mechanical droplet structure of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block configuration diagram showing an electrical configuration of the same apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control process of the same apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process of the above apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the same device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image recording apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Recording Head 3 Scanning Means 4 Recording Paper (Recording Medium) 7 Transfer Means 18 Mode Switching Pulse Motor (Dot Pitch Adjusting Means) 29 Central Processing Unit (Control Means) 33 Mode Selecting Means X Main Scanning Direction Y Sub-scanning Direction

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of recording elements are arranged at predetermined intervals in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a main scanning direction with respect to a recording medium,
A recording head for recording in a dot matrix format, a data supply unit for supplying dot data corresponding to the arrangement of the recording elements to the recording elements, and recording data on the recording medium by scanning the recording head in the main scanning direction. A scanning means for recording the recording medium, a transfer means for moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction relative to the recording head, a mode selecting means for selecting a plurality of recording modes having mutually different recording dot pitches, and the mode Recording in which the recording dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction is selected by changing the relative angle between the arrangement direction of the recording elements of the recording head and the transfer direction of the recording medium according to the recording mode selected by the selection unit. An image recording apparatus comprising: a dot pitch adjusting unit that adjusts to match a mode. 2. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein when the mode selecting means selects a recording mode having a recording dot pitch that is twice or more as large as the arrangement pitch of the recording elements of the recording head, Between the dot rows recorded by the recording elements when the recording mode is controlled to drive every other and the recording mode of the recording dot pitch smaller than the arrangement pitch of the recording elements of the recording head is selected by the mode selection means. An image recording apparatus further comprising a control means for controlling the transfer means so as to record a dot row. 3. A plurality of recording elements are arranged at a predetermined interval in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a main scanning direction with respect to a recording medium,
A recording head for recording in a dot matrix format, a data supply unit for supplying dot data corresponding to the arrangement of the recording elements to the recording elements, and recording data on the recording medium by scanning the recording head in the main scanning direction. A scanning means for recording the recording medium, a transfer means for moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction relative to the recording head, and a mode selecting means for selecting a plurality of recording modes having different recording dot pitches. Along with the arrangement of the recording elements of each recording head and the recording portion of at least the recording head of the recording medium arranged in concentric arcs with a gap, the entire portion of each is equally spaced. And the distance between the recording head and the recording medium is recorded in the recording mode selected by the mode selecting means. The image recording apparatus characterized by comprising: a control means for variably controlled to match the dot pitch, the.