JPH09286124A - Ink-jet recording system, ink-jet head tank used therefor, ink-jet recording method and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a density substantially the same as the case using a high density coloring material in recording with a thin density coloring material without the risk of overflowing on a recording medium. SOLUTION: A host computer 100 recognizes the kind of an ink cartridge mounted in a recording device 200, determines whether color data to represent image data are expressed in binary data or multi-value data of CMYBk according to the kind of the ink to be used, and encodes the determined data and transmits them to the recording device 200. In the recording device 200, data of each color are developed to a print buffer of each color based on the recording code, and in the case of multi-value data where the maximum amount of the ink dots is determined, a color image is recorded with plural dots by the multi-pass of a recording head or by superimposing dots.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method for performing recording by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a recording material, its apparatus, a recording system including the apparatus, and an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device such as a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile is constructed to record an image consisting of a dot pattern on a recording material such as paper or a plastic thin plate based on image information. The recording method in such a recording apparatus can be divided into an inkjet method, a wire dot method, a thermal method, a laser beam method, and the like, and the inkjet method (inkjet recording apparatus) among them is
An ink (recording liquid) droplet is ejected and ejected from the ejection port of the recording head, and the ink droplet is adhered to a recording material for recording.

In recent years, a large number of recording apparatuses have been used, and high-speed recording, high resolution, high image quality, low noise, and the like are required for these recording apparatuses. An ink jet recording apparatus can be cited as a recording apparatus that meets such a demand. In such an inkjet recording apparatus, since recording is performed by ejecting ink from the recording head, recording can be performed in a non-contact manner, and thus a very stable recorded image can be obtained.

In recent years, with the development of various digital cameras, digital videos, CD-ROMs, etc., pictorial image data can be easily handled on an application of a host computer. Therefore, a printer that is the output device is required to have a performance capable of outputting a pictorial image. Conventionally, such a pictorial image output is a high-grade silver-salt recording device for inputting and recording digital image data, or an expensive sublimation recording device limited to photographic output using a sublimable dye. Was done in.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the recording device dedicated to recording photographic images and the like was very expensive. One of them is that the process is very complicated because the silver salt method is used, and the device is too large to be a desktop. Also in a recording device of the type using a sublimation dye, as is well known, as the size of the recording medium becomes larger, both the manufacturing cost of the main body and the running cost become very expensive, and it is very easy to use at home. There was no The biggest drawback of these recording devices is that they are designed on the premise of a special recording medium. That is, the use is very limited, and like a home environment or general business use, various recording media, especially plain paper, are usually used to record word processors, graphics, etc. It was completely impossible to use pictorial recording on paper with a single recording device.

Further, in an improved recording apparatus, particularly an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to solve these problems, image processing is improved, coloring agents, recording media are improved, and the like.
In recent years, the image quality of a photographic image drawn by an inkjet recording apparatus has been greatly improved.

Further, as is well known, a single recording apparatus can be used as a monochrome recording apparatus or a color recording apparatus by replacing an ink cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated. Structured ones are becoming common. These are the most desired by the user at the present time, the enhancement of the monochrome function for high-speed word processing output and the function for outputting color graphics, each with the resources of one limited recording device. Was devised to be achieved in. In this function, the recording cartridge is recognized, and optimization such as switching between control for monochrome cartridge and control for color cartridge is performed. At the present time, the ink cartridge is replaced only to replace the color ink and the monochrome ink.

In addition, various studies have been made for a long time in order to improve the gradation of the color graphics output among the color outputs. For example, the recording resolution for drawing is set higher than that in the normal color recording mode to increase the drawing ability, or the recording resolution of the recording device is increased to send multi-valued data as recording data to the recording device, Improvements such as multi-value output using pixels have been proposed for a long time in these devices, and have been put to practical use in recent years.

Further, in order to perform a pictorial image output by an ink jet recording apparatus, a method of recording on a recording medium by simultaneously using coloring agents having plural kinds of dye concentrations has been proposed. Usually C, M, Y, K or C,
Whereas 4 or 3 colorants such as M and Y are used,
2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus has been proposed for a long time, in which two types of color materials having different dye concentrations are simultaneously attached and drawn on C, M, Y, K or C, M, Y color materials. According to such a recording method, the color reproduction range can be remarkably widened, and an area having a high lightness (recording dots are discretely present on a recording medium) in an image has a low color density. By using a recording agent, the granularity can be greatly reduced. On the other hand, it is possible to obtain a highly colored image by recording a portion with low lightness and high saturation with little graininess, and recording such a portion using a coloring agent with a high dye concentration. Has become.

However, the above-mentioned method requires a large number of types of colorants to be simultaneously incorporated in one recording device, and thus becomes a very complicated system as a recording device. In addition, since a general user often prints in a single color, it is often wasteful to always prepare a coloring agent with a low dye concentration, which is rarely used, at the same time in the printing apparatus. Since it cannot be increased more than a certain amount, the recordable capacity is lowered, and the capacity of the ink tank for each colorant must be reduced, which causes problems.

The colorant concentration of the colorant such as ink is determined from the maximum required concentration in the system to be designed. When determining the colorant concentration, it is necessary to use the maximum amount of printing in that system. It is determined so that a high optical reflection density can be obtained. Normally, if the maximum saturation of the primary color can be obtained by 100% ink ejection,
Inevitably, the maximum saturation is obtained even in the secondary color which is the sum of 100% of the primary color. Therefore, when trying to widen the color reproduction range, the pigment concentration of the coloring agent must be determined so as to further increase the concentration of the coloring agent so that the maximum saturation of the primary color can be obtained by 100% driving. For that reason, in a pictorial image, on the contrary, the graininess is very noticeable, which is incompatible with the method of using a graphics image used in business.

As another example, the maximum concentration of primary color may be set to 200% and the maximum concentration of secondary color may be set to 400% by lowering the dye concentration. However, in the case of a general inkjet recording apparatus, since the upper limit of the maximum colorant amount that can be received is determined depending on the type of recording medium,
The type of recording medium that can be used is limited. As a result, the versatility of the inkjet recording apparatus is lost and the running cost becomes high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and a cartridge or an ink tank accommodating inks having different color developing properties can be exchanged and used in one recording device, and these can be exchanged. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording system capable of recording a high-quality image, an inkjet head / tank used for the same, an inkjet recording method, and an information processing apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to record a high-quality image of photographic tone by changing the color developability of the ink to be used, thereby increasing the number of gradations and greatly reducing the graininess. To provide what you can.

The object of the present invention is to change the amount of the colorant applied so that the density of the dye applied to the recording medium is approximately the same, depending on the color developability of the ink used for recording, and to change the type of the recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording system capable of recording an image by setting an optimum ink ejection amount, an inkjet head / tank used therefor, an inkjet recording method, and an information processing apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording system and an ink jet recording system which can efficiently obtain an image having a density substantially equal to that when a high density ink is used when recording with a low density ink. An object is to provide an inkjet head / tank used, an inkjet recording method, and an information processing apparatus.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, the ink jet recording system of the present invention has the following constitution. That is, an ink jet recording system for recording an image on a recording medium using ink, the ink having a color developing property relatively inferior to the first ink jet recording head ejecting an ink having a relatively excellent color developing property. A mounting portion on which a second inkjet recording head for ejecting ink can be exchangeably mounted, and a driving condition corresponding to the color developing property of ink of the recording head mounted on the mounting portion is set to the recording head. And setting means for setting the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the ink jet recording method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is,
An ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium using a recording head for recording using ink,
A data changing step of changing the format of print data corresponding to each ink according to the color developability of the ink of the print head, and driving a print element corresponding to each ink according to the print data changed by the data changing step. Recording an image on a recording medium.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The features of the present embodiment will be described below before the description of the present embodiment. (1) At least one of the ink ejection amount and the maximum ejection amount is changed according to the combination of the dye densities by the identification or setting input of the cartridge ID. In this way, there is provided a means for changing at least one of the amount of the color material discharged onto the recording medium and the maximum value thereof. (2) As a further improved form, when a colorant having a relatively low dye concentration is used, the maximum implantation amount is not simply increased in accordance with the ratio of the dye concentrations, but is increased for each pixel. Color separation is performed into primary colors and secondary colors, and the maximum amount of colorant applied is determined for each of these n-order colors. At the time of this determination, the maximum driving amount is not simply increased, but is increased while independently limiting the driving amount, and is increased to the maximum driving amount obtained for each n-th color. As a result, even if a colorant having a relatively low dye concentration is used, an optical reflection density is almost the same as that when a colorant having a relatively high dye concentration is used in both the primary color and the secondary color. Can get
Moreover, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of ink to be ejected and to suppress the ranking cost. (3) Regarding the output from a color processing module represented by a printer driver or the like, according to the pigment concentration of the colorant used for recording, whether the recording data of each color is binary data or multi-valued data Can be switched. Further, it has a function of outputting multi-value data or high-resolution data for a mode requiring more gradation.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a host computer 100 and a recording apparatus (inkjet printer) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a recording system including a recording medium 200.

In FIG. 1, the host computer 100
In general, the OS (operating system) 10
1 and applications that run on the OS 101
Various data is exchanged and controlled with the software 102, and the recorded data is stored in the OS 101 and the application.
The recording device 2 is exchanged between the software 102 and the printer driver 103, and is transmitted via the printer driver 103.
Transmitted to 00.

The flow of data when the printing apparatus 200 prints out a color image using the application software 102 that handles pictorial images will be described below.

If the image data created / edited on the application software 102 is a pictorial image,
It is sent to the printer driver 103 as a multi-valued RGB signal. The printer driver 103 color-processes the multi-valued RGB signal received from the application software 102 and further performs half-tone processing, and normally, binary C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K
It is converted into a (black) signal and sent to the interface of the host computer 100 for the recording device 200 or the interface of a file storage device or the like.

In the present embodiment, a signal is output to the interface to the recording apparatus 200 and data is sent to the controller software 201 of the recording apparatus 200 to check the recording mode and the consistency with the head cartridge 203,
After that, the case where the data is transferred to the engine software 202 is shown. The engine software 202 receives the received data as a recording mode or data structure designated by the controller software 201, converts the recording data into ejection pulses, and sends the ejection pulses to the head cartridge (recording head) 203. As a result, the color material is ejected from the head cartridge 203 to perform recording. On the contrary, the ID information of the head cartridge 203, the ink tank ID information, and the like are sent to the engine software 202. As a result, the engine software 202 executes memory allocation and various optimizations based on the information of the head cartridge 203. Further, the information is sent to the controller unit and used as information for decoding the data sent from the printer driver 103 with reference to the recording mode and the like.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a mechanical structure of a preferable cartridge exchange type ink jet recording apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The front cover of the ink jet recording apparatus is removed so that the inside of the apparatus can be seen. It shows the state of being set to.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a replaceable head cartridge (corresponding to 203 in FIG. 1).
Is provided with an ink tank portion for storing ink and a recording head. Reference numeral 2 denotes a carriage unit, which performs recording by mounting the head cartridge 1 and moving in the left-right direction. 3
Is a holder for fixing the head cartridge 1, and operates in conjunction with the cartridge fixing lever 4. That is, after the head cartridge 1 is mounted in the carriage unit 2, the head cartridge 1 is pressed against the carriage unit 2 by operating the cartridge fixing lever 4. Thus, the positioning of the head cartridge 1 and the electrical contact between the head cartridge 1 and the carriage unit 2 are obtained. Reference numeral 5 denotes a flexible cable for transmitting an electric signal to the carriage unit 2. A carriage motor 6 reciprocates the carriage unit 2 in the main scanning direction by its rotation. Reference numeral 7 denotes a carriage belt, which is driven by a carriage motor 6 to move the carriage unit 2 in the left-right direction. Reference numeral 8 denotes a guide shaft for slidably supporting the carriage unit 2. 9 is a carriage unit 2
Is a home position sensor including a photocoupler for determining the home position of the camera. Reference numeral 10 denotes a light-shielding plate for detecting the home position. When the carriage unit 2 reaches the home position, the carriage unit 2 reaches the home position by shielding the photocoupler provided on the carriage unit 2 from light. Is detected. A home position unit 12 includes a recovery mechanism for the recording head of the head cartridge 1 and the like. 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a discharge roller for discharging the recording medium, which is used to sandwich the recording medium with a spur unit (not shown) and discharge the recording medium out of the recording apparatus. 14 is L
The F unit is a unit that conveys a recording medium by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the head cartridge 1 used in the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 15 is a replaceable black (Bk) ink tank. Reference numeral 16 denotes a replaceable ink tank which stores inks of C, M, and Y colorants. 1
A connection port (color material supply port) 7 of the ink tank 16 is connected to the head cartridge 1 and supplies a color material. 18
Denotes a connection port (color material supply port) of the ink tank 15. The color material supply ports 17 and 18 are connected to a supply pipe 20 and configured to supply a color material to the recording head unit 21. 19
Is a contact portion of an electric signal, which is connected to the flexible cable 5 and configured to transmit various signals to the head cartridge 1.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the contact portion 19 of the head cartridge 1.

The contact portion 19 is provided with a plurality of electrode pads. Through the electrode pad of the contact portion 19, a signal relating to ink ejection, an ID signal for recognizing the head cartridge 1, and the like are supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus. It is connected and exchanged with the main body.

Another method for detecting the type of the ink tank in the head cartridge 1 used in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting the type of ink tank in the head cartridge 1 used in this embodiment.

The ink tanks 15 and 16 are mounted on the head cartridge 1, and the hook 70 and the protrusion 73 of the tank are engaged with each other to fix the ink tank on the cartridge 1. A contact portion 71 for detecting the type of the attached ink tank is provided in the direction in which the force of the hook 70 acts. The tank detecting contact portion 71 is provided on the side of the head cartridge 1 and the ink tank 1.
It is provided on both the 5 and 16 sides. Reference numeral 72 is an enlarged view of the contact portion 71, and three electrode pads, that is, an electrode pad 1, an electrode pad 2, and an electrode pad 3 are provided. Although not shown in this figure, the same number of electrode pads are provided on the side of the head cartridge 1 as well, and they are electrically connected at the contact portion 71. Here, in the contact parts on the ink tanks 15 and 16 side, the electrode pad 1 and the electrode pad 2 are in a conductive state, but the electrode pad 3 is assumed to be insulated. For example, such a state is defined as an ink tank into which normal ink is injected. Through the contact portion on the cartridge 1 side, which is in contact with these electrode pads,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment can detect what kind of ink the attached ink tank contains by energizing these electrode pads.

That is, in the example of FIG. 7, current flows between the electrode pads 1 and 2, but no current flows between the electrode pads 1 and 3 and between the electrode pads 2 and 3. . In this state, the main body of the ink jet storage device is set to the R
It is stored in the OM or the like. On the other hand, in the ink tank filled with the light ink, for example, by setting the electrode pad 3 in the energizable state, it is possible to identify the difference from the normal ink tank.

Further, in the present embodiment, the number of electrode pads for identifying the ink tank is three, but by increasing the number of these electrode pads, more kinds of ink tanks can be identified. Is possible.

Further, it is possible to detect whether or not the head cartridge 1 has been replaced by checking the conduction state through the contact portion 19 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of image processing in the image processing module in the printer driver 103 of this embodiment.

First, in step S101, for a luminance signal of RGB, that is, each of RGB is 8 bits, and for a total of 24 bits of an input signal, a CMY signal, that is, each of CMY is 8 bits, for a total of 24 bits, or CMYK. Total of 32
A luminance / density conversion for converting into a bit density signal is performed. Next, in step S102, a masking process is performed, and a correction process for unnecessary color components of the dye in each of the CMY colorants is performed. Next, the process proceeds to step S103, in which UCR / BGR processing is performed, and background color removal and black component extraction are performed. Then, in step S104, the driving amount for each pixel is limited to the primary color and the secondary color. Here, the primary color is limited to 300% and the secondary color is limited to 400%.

Next, in step S105, output gamma correction is performed so that the output characteristic is linear. Up to this point, an 8-bit multi-value output for each color is performed. Next, in step S106, halftone processing is performed on the 8-bit signal to convert the data of each color of CMYK into a 1-bit or 2-bit signal. At this time, in step S106, halftone processing is performed using an error diffusion method, a dither method, or the like.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing classified control contents executed by the control unit of the recording apparatus in accordance with the head identification signal from the contact portion 19 of the head cartridge 1 or the identification signal (ID signal) of the ink tank. is there.

In this embodiment, there are four types of identification by ID, and only three types (in the case of color) are shown. ID = 0 (not shown) indicates a monochrome cartridge, and ID = 1, 2, 3 indicates a color cartridge. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the color cartridges are classified. Here, the setting is such that the larger the ID number, the lower the density of at least one dye in each colorant.

In this embodiment, the cartridge of ID = 1 is the head cartridge of the dye density (high density) used in the conventional color printer. ID = 2 is
It shows a case of a head cartridge or an ink tank in which a dye concentration of a coloring agent other than yellow used in the present embodiment is low. ID = 3 indicates the case of a head cartridge or an ink tank that contains ink having a lower dye concentration, which is used in the present embodiment to record a full-scale pictorial image.

First, it is recognized that the dye density differs depending on the ID values thus defined. The difference in the dye density here is a difference in the maximum optical reflection density in each primary color, and may involve a change in the dye itself. In that sense, the value of these IDs can be said to be the difference in the maximum optical reflection densities of the color materials of the primary colors or the difference in the maximum value of the saturation. In the present embodiment, the difference in dye concentration is used for the sake of simplicity.

When ID = 1 and ID = 2, yellow has the same dye density (2.5%), and the magenta dye density of ID = 2 is 1/3 that of ID = 1. Is 1/3, and the dye density of K (Bk) is about 1/2. In the case of ID = 1 and ID = 3, yellow has the same dye density (2.5%), and the magenta dye density of ID = 3 is about ４ of that in the case of ID = 1. The density is about 1/4 and the dye density of K (Bk) is about 1/4.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, when the dye density is halved, the optical reflection density becomes about 76%,
If the dye concentration is reduced to 1/3, it will be about 60%, and the dye concentration will be reduced to 1 /
A value of 4 gives about 53%, and a dye concentration of 3/4 gives about 9%.
There is a relationship that an optical reflection density of 0% can be obtained. This relationship was almost the same regardless of the type of color.

In FIG. 7, the portion indicated by "data" is
The printer driver 103 to the recording device 2 for each ID
00 indicates the depth of the structure of data transmitted. This is a change for further changing the maximum ejection amount while increasing the number of gradations of the print data in accordance with the change in the dye concentration in the colorant. At this time, a change that involves changing the discharge amount of the color material by the head cartridge may be added. Also in this case, basically, how much colorant per unit area,
Furthermore, it is determined by whether or not the dye is injected, and this is also within the scope of the present invention. In this embodiment,
A case where the ink ejection amount is constant will be described. In this embodiment, the resolution is 360 × 360 dp regardless of the value of ID.
i is binary data when ID = 1, quaternary data when ID = 2, and quinary data when ID = 3.

Another embodiment for increasing the number of gradations is as follows.
Even if the number of gradations of data is fixed to binary and the resolution is increased for each ID, substantially the same effect can be obtained.

Next, "corresponding medium" in FIG. 7 indicates a medium (recording medium) that can correspond to the head cartridge 1 of each ID.

The standard for selecting the corresponding medium can be considered from various angles, but here, the selection is made by the difference in the maximum colorant absorption amount. In the present embodiment, the pictorial medium (pictorial paper) has a maximum colorant absorption amount of about 500%, and the coated paper has the next largest amount of about 40%.
0%. Plain paper is the smallest, at about 200%.

Furthermore, the "maximum driving amount" in FIG.
Are different for CMYK and RGB, respectively. This number indicates the maximum ejection amount for each pixel limited in the printer driver 103. That is, the area density of the colorant is changed for each density so that the dye amount is made substantially equal in the portion showing the same density. The feature of this embodiment (when ID = 2, 3) is that the primary color (CMY) is different from the conventional case (ID = 1).
There is also a point that the maximum impact amount of the secondary color (RGB) is not double that of K).

As is clear from FIG. 7, the relationship between the change of the "dye density" and the "maximum injection amount" has the following relationship.

In the chromatic colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow (hereinafter, C, M, and Y), when the dye concentrations of the coloring agents having substantially the same hue (approximately the same color) are compared between different IDs, at least one pigment is used. The ratio between the colorant having a high density and the colorant having a low dye density is obtained, and the maximum amount of printing is changed to a value equal to or more than the sum of the maximum value and the minimum value of the ratio.

For example, a cartridge with ID = 1 and an ID = 2
When compared with the cartridges of No. and C, the colorants having substantially the same hue and the largest ratio of the dye concentration are C and M. This ratio is "3" for M, and also "3" for C (maximum value). The minimum value is "1" in the case of Y. Therefore, when the sum of the maximum value and the minimum value is obtained, it becomes “4”. Therefore, in this case, the maximum driving amount is 4 (= 3
+1) times or more, that is, 400% or more. Specifically, when ID = 2, the primary color (CMY) is tripled to “300%” and for the secondary color (RGB) is quadrupled to “400%” compared to the case of ID = 1. I do.

By determining the maximum ejection amount in this way, in the case of the primary colors C and M, the case of using the head cartridge containing the ink having the high dye density as in the case of ID = 1 is used. It is possible to obtain an image having an optical reflection density substantially equal to. In the case of Y, since it is the same as the case of ID = 1, "100%" may be left as it is. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, when the ink having a dye concentration of 1/3 is ejected and printed three times, the amount of the ejected dye becomes about three times, and the water such as the diluent is absorbed by the recording medium. It is considered that the optical reflection density is almost tripled as a result of the evaporation or evaporation. As is clear from FIG. 6, when the dye density value is ／ or more, the reflection density is “0.
Since it is 9 "or more and becomes almost saturated, the difference in reflection density due to the dye density becomes almost inconspicuous.

Next, consider the case of secondary colors such as red, green and blue (hereinafter R, G, B). The maximum ejection amount indicated by the secondary color corresponds to the ink absorption of the corresponding medium (recording medium). That is, in the example of FIG. 7, plain paper has the lowest absorption (200%), coated paper (400%), and the highest ink absorption is pictorial paper (500%).

First, regarding R, R is expressed by (M + Y) using the dye of the ink. Here, as described above, since Y has a high dye concentration (high lightness), the maximum ejection amount is 100%. Further, the maximum driving amount of M is set to 300%. Therefore, R, that is, (M + Y) is represented by 400%, and an optical reflection density substantially equal to the value of R when ID = 1 can be obtained. Similarly, for G, (C + Y), C becomes 400% at which the maximum driving amount is set to 300%, and ID = 1.
In this case, an image having an optical reflection density substantially equal to that of G can be obtained. Further, in the case of B, (C + M) is changed to (300% +
300% =) 600%, but in this case, the optical reflection density does not increase even though the ink ejection amount increases. Therefore, practically, (C + M = 200% + 200
%) Is appropriately set to 400%. As a result, the optical reflection density of the recorded pixel is about 90% of that when the head cartridge with ID = 1 is used.

The same calculation is performed when the head cartridge of ID = 3 is used. That is, from the relationship between ID = 1 and ID = 3, the primary color (C, M) 400% and the secondary color (R
GB) 500% or more. In this case, for the secondary colors other than B, an optical reflection density substantially equal to ID = 1 can be obtained, but in the case of B, the optical reflection density at 500% is slightly lower than that of ID = 1. Therefore, it may be 600%.
In any case, by changing the maximum ejection amount in this way, the "supportable media" are limited as shown in FIG. Here, if you want to obtain a more pictorial image, lower the dye density, change the maximum ejection amount according to the dye density, and use `` corresponding media '' optimized for the pictorial image. I just need.

By performing as described above, the maximum effect can be obtained by changing the maximum implantation amount. Actually, even if the maximum amount of printing of the medium cannot be changed ideally, as shown in FIG. 23, the data output with respect to the input is the data of the upper gradation (higher density). Image design (ID = 2-a) may be performed at a level slightly below the ideal curve of the output data by clipping (ID = 2-b) or using a higher-order curve.

Even when clipping is performed to suppress an increase in the maximum driving amount as described above, the same effect can be obtained up to a certain level of gradation. In this case,
Up to before clipping, the density of the dye per unit area can be maintained at substantially the same level regardless of the coloring agent.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views for explaining the arrangement of dots to be printed.

In FIG. 8A, the binary data is 360 dpi.
8B shows the arrangement of dots on the recording medium in the case of recording at × 360 dpi, and FIG. 8B shows the arrangement of dots on the recording medium in the case of recording 4-level data or 5-level data at 360 dpi × 360 dpi. Is shown.

In FIG. 8 (A), in the case of the impact rate in which one dot is arranged in each pixel, this state is defined as 100%. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 8B, it becomes 200%. In the case of binary data, 4-valued data, and 5-valued data, if the ink ejection amount is changed for each cartridge, even if all the dots corresponding to each pixel exist, the value is 100%. You may operate with the value which multiplied the changed rate.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing the relationship between the dot arrangement and the data format in the case of actually recording on the recording medium in the ink jet recording apparatus 200 of the present embodiment. .

FIG. 9A shows binary data of 360 dpi, FIG. 9B shows an example of 4-value data of 360 dpi, and FIG. 9C shows an example of 5-value data of 360 dpi. Here, the binary data of FIG.
It is recorded using the dot arrangement shown in (A). In this case, since the data of each pixel and the recorded dot correspond one-to-one, there is no recording dot when the data is “0”, and at each pixel position of 360 dpi × 360 dpi when the data is “1”. One dot is recorded. In this embodiment, such a recording method is used for the head cartridge 1 with ID = 1.
This is executed when is mounted and used for recording.

FIG. 9B shows recording with 4-value data executed when the head cartridge 1 with ID = 2 is mounted. In this case, the address (700 in FIG. 8) corresponding to 360 dpi × 360 dpi and 720 dpi ×
The address corresponding to 360 dpi (70 in FIG. 8B)
It is recorded as a sub-dot recorded in 1). The data in this case is given as a 2-bit signal. That is, "0
No dot if 0, 360 dp if 01
One dot is arranged at an address corresponding to i × 360 dpi. In the case of "10", decoding is performed in the ink jet recording apparatus, and one dot is arranged at each of the address (700) corresponding to 360 dpi x 360 dpi and the address (701) corresponding to 720 dpi x 360 dpi. This state is 360 dpi × 360 dpi (see FIG. 8).
The ink ejection state is 200% of (A)). Furthermore, in the case of “11”, 360 dpi × 360 d
Two dots are overlapped and recorded at the pi address (700), and one dot is arranged at the address (701) corresponding to 720 dpi × 360 dpi. Thus, FIG. 8 (A)
In comparison with the above, ink ejection of 300% is achieved.

In the case of FIG. 9C, the case where five values are output by 4-bit data is shown as an example, but other methods are also possible. In the recording of FIG. 9 (C),
The difference from the recording in (B) is that the 5-valued data is “11.
When recording 11 ″, the address (700) corresponding to 360 dpi × 360 dpi and 720 dpi × 360 d
Two dots are overlaid at both the address (701) corresponding to pi. As a result, in the case of 5-value data,
Ink can be ejected up to 400% with the primary color.
Of course, the dots may be arranged by decoding as shown in FIG.

In order to perform the above-described printing method with an increased number of gradations, it is necessary to overprint two dots at one pixel position, and thus known multi-pass printing is essential.

As another embodiment, it is also possible to increase the density in which the recording elements are arranged for each cartridge so that the number of passes is the same or multiple passes are used for recording. For example, a cartridge having a recording element interval of 360 dpi pitch may be used, and a cartridge of 720 dpi pitch may be used to increase the number of gradations.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus 200 of this embodiment, and the portions common to the above drawings are designated by the same numbers.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, which includes a CPU 310 and a CPU 3 such as a microprocessor.
The ROM 311 stores a control program executed by the CPU 10 and various data, a RAM 312 used as a work area when the CPU 310 executes various processes, and temporarily holding various data. This R
The AM 312 stores print data (image data) corresponding to the reception buffer for storing the print code received from the host computer 100 and the print heads 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1B for printing in each color of YMCBk.
A print buffer corresponding to each color of M, C and B is provided.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a head driver, which is a control unit 301.
The yellow recording head 1Y, the magenta recording head 1M, the cyan recording head 1C, and the black recording head 1B are driven according to the print data of each color output from the printer. 30
Reference numerals 3 and 304 denote motor drivers, which respectively correspond to the carriage motor 6 or the paper feed motor 305.
Is driven to rotate. 306 is an interface (I /
In section F), the inkjet recording device 20 of the present embodiment
0 and the host computer 100 are controlled. An operation unit 307 includes various keys operated by a user and a display device such as a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a recording code creating process executed by the host computer 100 of this embodiment. This process is executed by the printer driver 103, for example.

First, in step S1, the medium used in the recording device 200 is designated, and in step S2, the type (ID) of the head cartridge 1 mounted in the recording device 200 is determined based on the signal from the recording device 200. To judge. The determination of the cartridge or the instruction of the medium is instructed by setting the mode or the like of the recording apparatus 200 on the window displayed by the OS 101 of the host computer 100, for example. Next, in step S3, depending on the type of the head cartridge 1 mounted in the recording apparatus 200, if the cartridge has ID = 1, for example, the process proceeds to step S4, and the image data of each color component is set to 2 as well known in the related art. Quantify.

On the other hand, in step S3, when the cartridge 1 of ID = 2 is mounted, the process proceeds to step S5 and Y
The data is binarized, and the print data corresponding to the other colors is converted into quaternary data. In step S3, ID = 3
When the cartridge 1 of No. 1 is mounted, the process proceeds to step S6, the Y data is binarized, and the print data corresponding to the other colors is converted into the five-value data. Thus step S
A recording code is created in step S7 based on the recording data converted in any one of S4, S5, and S6, and is transmitted to the recording device 200 via the interface 306.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a recording process in the ink jet recording apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, and the control program for executing this process is the ROM 311.
Is stored in

First, in step S11, the recording code received from the host computer 100 and stored in the reception buffer is read, and in step S12, the read recording code is analyzed. Next, the process proceeds to step S13, where the data is converted into print data corresponding to each color according to the analysis result. In this way, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined based on the received data whether or not recording with the currently mounted head cartridge 1 is possible. If not possible, an error display or the like is performed on the operation unit 307 in step S15. Ends the process.

If the recording using the mounted cartridge 1 is possible, the process proceeds to step S16 to check whether the cartridge ID is "1". Convert it to print data of the value, expand it in the print buffer, and then step S
At 18, a normal 1-pass recording is performed.

On the other hand, in step S16, the cartridge I
If D is not "1", the process proceeds to step S19, where only the Y data is converted to binary data, and the other color data is converted to 4 data.
Convert to value or quinary data. Note that this processing may be uniquely determined by the recording code, or may be independently performed by the recording apparatus based on the ID of the mounted cartridge. In this way, the process proceeds to step S20, and the print data in which the pattern is developed for each color is stored in the print buffer corresponding to each color. And step S21
Then, the multi-valued data is printed by multi-pass as described above with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the recording process by such multi-pass (step S21).

First, in step S31, the drive of the carriage motor 6 is started, and in step S32, the print data of each color to be recorded next is read out from the print buffer corresponding to each color and recorded at a resolution of 360 dpi (FIG. 8). Position 700) Check to see if the print timing has come. When the print timing comes, step S33
The print data corresponding to each color is output to each of the heads 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1B via the head driver 202 to record a dot at the position 700 in FIG. 8 (data is "0"). Or if it is not "00").
Next, in step S34, it is determined whether multi-valued data other than yellow includes data of "10" or more. If there is no data of "10" or more, the print is only one dot as shown in FIG. 9, and therefore the process proceeds directly to step S37.

If there is more than "10" data, step S
In step 35, it is checked whether or not it is time to record the 720 dpi dot 701 shown in FIG. If so, the process proceeds to step S36, and the print data is output to the heads 1M, 1C and 1B of the corresponding color for recording. In this way, the process proceeds to step S37 to check whether the printing process for one scan is completed, and if not completed, returns to step S32 to execute the above-described process.

When the recording for one scan is completed in step S37, the process proceeds to step S38, and carriage return for returning the head to the home position is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S39, and the carriage motor 6 is rotationally driven in the forward direction again,
In step S40, as in step S32, 360 dp
It is checked whether or not the print position at i has been reached, and if so, the process proceeds to step S41, and it is checked whether or not there is print data of "11" or more. If there is, print dot data at that position in step S42 . Also in step S4
3, the print data is checked to see if there is data of "1000" (maximum value of 5 values), and if there is, step S
Proceed to 44 to see if the recording timing has reached 720 dpi. When the recording timing comes, the process proceeds to step S45, and one dot is recorded at that position.

In this way, when the recording for one scan is completed in step S46, the process proceeds to step S47 to execute a carriage return for returning the carriage unit 2 to the home position.
The paper feed motor 305 is driven to convey the recording paper by the recording element of the head of each color. As a result, an image corresponding to the recording width of the recording head of each color is recorded.
In this way, the process proceeds to step S48 to check whether the recording of one page is completed, and if not completed, the process returns to step S1.
The print data for the next printing scan is created and stored in the print buffer for each color. When the image recording of one page is completed, the process proceeds to step S49, where the recorded recording paper is discharged, and the process is terminated.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 15, the type of the head cartridge mounted at the time of printing is determined, and the recording mode according to the type of the head cartridge is automatically determined. Specifically, the driver of the host computer sets and the color processing in the driver and the processing in the controller are controlled in conjunction with each other.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the user can arbitrarily set the recording mode on the display screen of the host computer so that the recording mode can be surely selected according to the use of the user.

The operation of FIG. 15 will be briefly described. The host computer 100 inquires of the recording apparatus 200 about the type of the mounted cartridge (S300). As a result, the recording apparatus 200 reads the ID of the mounted cartridge to determine the type of the mounted cartridge (S310), and returns the ID to the host computer 100 (S320). When the host computer 100 receives this ID (S330), the driver performs color processing on the image data according to the color of the cartridge (S340), and the color signal thus created is used as a CMYK signal and a mode signal recording device. It transmits to 200 (S350). The recording device 200 receives this signal, performs image development by the controller (S370), and records (S380).

Since the configurations of the host computer and the recording device in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 16 shows a flow chart of the recording mode setting process in the second embodiment.

When the power of the recording apparatus 200 is turned on and when the head cartridge is mounted, the type of the head cartridge is confirmed based on the ID of the head cartridge as in the first embodiment (S200). The host is notified of the ID signal indicating the confirmation result in S200 (S21).
0). These S200 and S210 are processes on the recording device side. The following processing is performed by the host computer 100.

Based on the ID signal received from the recording device 200, the type of the head cartridge currently mounted in the recording device 200 is registered as the state of the recording device together with the type of the recording device 200 (S220). And
The print mode is designated by the user (S230).
For this, the user manually sets a recording mode according to the purpose based on a user interface (UI) displayed on the display screen of the host computer 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 17 (S240).

In the second embodiment, the recording mode corresponds to the head cartridge shown in FIG. The normal mode corresponds to ID1, the pictorial mode 1 corresponds to ID2, the pictorial mode corresponds to ID3, and the monochrome mode corresponds to ID0.

As described in the first embodiment, each head cartridge corresponds to the recording mode. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the head cartridge corresponding to the set recording mode is installed by checking the type of the head cartridge registered in S220 (S250).

When the head cartridge corresponding to the set recording mode is mounted, the user is instructed to set the recording medium corresponding to the recording mode. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the normal mode can correspond to any of plain paper, coated paper, and pictorial paper. Therefore, when the normal mode is set, it is shown to the user as shown in FIG. 18, for example.

On the other hand, if the head cartridge corresponding to the set recording mode is not mounted, it indicates that the head cartridge corresponding to the recording mode is switched to (S270). For example, when the current head cartridge is for the normal mode (ID = 1), but the pictorial mode 1 is set as the recording mode, as shown in FIG. It is urged to switch to the head cartridge of ID = 2). Whether the type of the head cartridge has been switched to one corresponding to the recording mode is determined in S20 described above.
This is confirmed by repeating 0, S210, S220, and S250 (S280). When the head cartridge and the recording medium corresponding to the thus set recording mode are set, the color processing of the driver shown in FIG. 5 is started (S290). Then, the processing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to reliably perform image formation in the recording mode according to the user's application, and it is possible to suppress erroneous recording caused by a setting error in the recording mode. .

When the normal mode and the black and white mode are set, the recording medium is not limited, so that the process of S260 may be skipped. By doing so, the number of times of warning display can be reduced, so that a more user-friendly UI can be provided.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing an example of image processing in the image processing module in the printer driver 103 corresponding to the above-mentioned FIG. 5, and the processing common to FIG. In this process,
The recording mode is set by the UI described above (S10
0), image processing is performed according to the set recording mode.

When the host computer 100 and the recording apparatus 200 are connected by a unidirectional communication line, the driver of the host computer 100 sets the recording mode using a predetermined head cartridge based on the user's manual instruction. To be done. On the other hand, the controller of the printer device automatically discriminates the type of the cartridge as in the first embodiment, and automatically sets the recording mode based on the discriminated type of the head cartridge. Then, the image data is received from the driver via the unidirectional communication line, which indicates the recording mode based on the manual instruction of the user. When the received recording mode matches the recording mode automatically set by the controller,
The print process is executed. However, if they do not match, an error is displayed on the operation unit of the recording apparatus to notify the user. As a result, the user confirms the recording head mounted on the recording apparatus and resets the recording mode again. By doing so, it is possible to prevent image recording in a recording mode in which the consistency cannot be obtained. Therefore,
Misprints can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the processing in the host computer and the processing in the recording device are separately described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and such a function can be performed by one device or one device. It may be executed in a unit.

In the recording element separating means, the achromatic color component is separated, and the portion of the achromatic color component having a high lightness is yellow,
It is expressed by process black by mixing magenta and cyan, and the low lightness part of the achromatic component is expressed by black. As a result, a gradation can be obtained with the process black and the black ink for recording with respect to the achromatic color component, and an image with a low graininess can be obtained by the process black in the expression of a portion having high lightness. That is, it is sufficient that the graininess of black dots becomes inconspicuous at the transition portion from process black to black, and the graininess and gradation are not impaired even if ink having a dye concentration higher than that of magenta or cyan is used.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, in the case of an image having a small number of gradations such as a document or a bar graph, the effect of improving the gradation property by the diluted ink does not appear. Since the diluted ink hits the recording medium with three ink droplets for recording a high-density image, the ink overflows depending on the recording medium. Therefore, a means for allowing the user to select the ink to be used in the recording element is provided according to the stored image and the recording medium.

FIG. 21 shows a recording head cartridge and a recording apparatus main body in which inks used for recording elements are different, and FIG. 22 is a block diagram thereof.

An ID that can be recognized by the recording device is attached to this recording cartridge. The dye density of the ink of the recording head with ID “1” is composed of 2.5% for yellow, 3.0% for magenta, 2.7% for cyan, and 2.6% for black. Further, the dye density of the ink of the recording head with ID “2” is 2.5% for yellow and 1.
It is composed of 0%, cyan 0.9%, and black 1.3%. The dye density of the ink of the recording head with ID "3" is composed of 2.5% for yellow, 0.8% for magenta, 0.7% for cyan, and 0.9% for black.

In the present embodiment, for the ink of ID = 1, one pixel is binary for yellow, binary for magenta, and binary for cyan.
Value and black binary gradation. Also ID
In the case of the ink of = 2, one pixel can be expressed satisfactorily with the gradations of yellow for binary, magenta for four, cyan for four, and black for two. Furthermore, for the ink of ID = 3, 1 pixel is 2 for yellow
Values and magenta can be expressed well with gradations of 5 values, 5 values of cyan, and 3 values of black.

That is, in the ink of ID = 1, the recording data of one pixel is handled with 1 bit for yellow, 1 bit for magenta, 1 bit for cyan, and 1 bit for black. ID = 2
In the ink of 1), the recording data of 1 pixel is handled with 1 bit for yellow, 2 bits for magenta, 2 bits for cyan, and 2 bits for black. Further, with the ink of ID = 3, the recording data of one pixel is handled with 1 bit for yellow, 3 bits for magenta, 3 bits for cyan, and 2 bits for black.

In the recording apparatus, the I of this recording head is
The configuration of the print buffer is changed according to D, and ID =
When one print head is mounted, all print data has a print buffer configuration corresponding to a 1-bit configuration. When the print head of ID = 2 is mounted, the print buffer for yellow data is made to correspond to the 1-bit configuration, and the print buffers for print data of other colors are set to the 2-bit configuration. Further, ID = 3
When the recording head of No. 1 is mounted, the print buffer for yellow data is made to correspond to a 1-bit structure, both magenta and cyan are made to correspond to a 3-bit structure, and the print buffer for black is made to be a 2-bit structure.

As described above, the number of gradations of the recorded image can be changed by the user selecting the recording cartridge according to the recorded image and the recording medium. Also in the case of a drum, it is possible to suppress an increase in the capacity of the print buffer by suppressing the gradation of yellow with high lightness in the recording data.

In the above-described embodiments, particularly in the ink jet recording system, means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink (for example, electrothermal converter or laser light) is provided, and High density and high definition recording can be achieved by using a method of causing a change in the state of ink by thermal energy.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path in which Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

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

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angle liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 or US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which the heat-acting surface is arranged in a bending region, may be used. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 59-59 discloses a configuration in which a common slot for a plurality of electrothermal converters is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converters.
JP-A-123670 and JP-A-59-5959, which disclose a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion.
The configuration may be based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461.

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

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc. to the construction of the recording apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment because the recording operation can be made more stable. If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means,
For example, a pressurizing or sucking means, an electrothermal converter, a heating element other than the electrothermal converter, or a preheating means using a combination thereof may be provided, and a preejection mode for performing ejection different from recording may be provided.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode only for the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. An apparatus having a multi-type ink jet recording head having at least one of color or full color by color mixture can be used.

Further, the concept of the color developing property in the present embodiment indicates the intensity of the color developing property of the ink itself or the degree of the color developing property when it is drawn on the recording medium. In the case of, it represents the degree of brightness. In that sense, when the same dye or pigment is used, it is the dye concentration of the ink. Further, when the comparison is performed in the state of being recorded on the recording medium, the optical reflection density may be used, or the maximum saturation may be compared with substantially the same hue. The so-called high-coloring material is positioned as excellent color developing property.

In the above-described embodiments, the explanation is made on the premise that the ink is a liquid, but even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or below, one that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. Or, in the ink jet method, it is general that the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature can be positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. 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, the form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a computer, or in the form of a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like. It may be one.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

In the above-described embodiment, the host computer divides the multi-valued image data into data corresponding to each color, and binarizes or multi-values the data according to the color. The invention is not limited to this, and the recording apparatus main body may be provided with such a function. Further, instead of outputting the recording code from the host computer to the recording device, the host computer may transmit the data developed into print data to the recording device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the recording apparatus, by exchanging the head cartridge or the ink tank, it is possible to exchange and print with the inks having different dye concentrations. Also, by changing the ink dye concentration by replacing the cartridge, by changing the ink ejection amount or maximum ejection amount at the time of recording according to the combination of the ink dye concentration of the cartridge,
The maximum value of the amount of coloring material discharged onto the recording medium is determined. Thereby, it is possible to perform recording according to the type of recording medium used for recording.

Further, in the present embodiment, when recording is performed using a coloring agent having a low dye concentration, the maximum ejection amount of the ink having a low dye concentration is not simply increased in accordance with the ratio of the dye concentrations. Color separation is performed for each pixel into primary colors and secondary color components, and the maximum amount of colorant applied is determined for each nth color according to the type of recording medium used.

By utilizing this function, even if a coloring agent having a low dye concentration is used, both the primary color and the secondary color have an optical reflection density substantially equal to that when recording is performed using a coloring agent having a high dye concentration. The recorded image of is obtained. Basically, the feature is that the amount of the dye per unit area on the recording medium can be changed by replacing the cartridge or the ink tank even if the coloring agents of different dyes are used. Specifically, by setting the dye densities to be substantially the same, the maximum density can be made substantially the same while reducing the graininess.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink ejected onto the recording medium to reduce the burden on the recording medium and to reduce the ranking cost. In this way, the amount of ejected ink can be changed according to the amount of pigment concentration of the ink used, and the amount of ejected ink can be finely controlled for each color. It is particularly effective for a general-purpose ink jet recording apparatus for recording by performing the recording.

[0126]

As described above, according to the present invention, cartridges containing inks having different color developing properties can be exchanged for use, and high quality images can be recorded by exchanging these cartridges. effective.

According to the present invention, by changing the color developability of the ink used for recording, it is possible to significantly reduce the graininess and record a higher quality image.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that an image can be recorded by setting an optimum ink ejection amount according to the color developability of the ink used for recording and the type of recording medium.

Further, according to the present invention, when recording is performed by using an ink having a low density, the amount of the ink used is controlled,
There is an effect that an overflow is not caused on the recording medium, and an image having a density substantially equal to that when a high density ink is used can be obtained.

[0130]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a recording system including a host computer and a recording device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a mechanical section of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, with a front cover removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a head cartridge and an ink tank of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a contact portion of a head cartridge in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a color processing module of the printer driver according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a dye (color) concentration of ink and a reflection density according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between ink dye density and data, recording medium, and maximum ejection amount in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an arrangement of dots printed on a printing medium in the inkjet printing apparatus of the present embodiment,
(A) shows recording dots at 360 dpi, and (B) shows recording dot positions based on multivalued data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing print data and dot arrangement in the present embodiment, where (A) is binary data, and (B) is
Shows the case of 4-value data, and (C) shows the case of 5-value data.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing recording encoding processing in the printer driver of the host computer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a multi-pass printing process in the inkjet printing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when an ink tank is attached to a recording head in which an ink tank is removable.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing data exchange between a host computer and a recording apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a recording mode setting process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17

FIG. 18

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when manually setting a recording mode in the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image processing performed by an image processing module in the printer driver according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a recording head cartridge and a recording apparatus body in which different inks are used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship between the identification code of the head cartridge and the ink ejection amount. .

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Hitoshi Nishikori, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor, Masaru Iwasaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Daigoro Kanematsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Hidehiko Kanda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording system for recording an image on a recording medium using ink, the color being relatively inferior to that of a first inkjet recording head for ejecting an ink of relatively excellent color developing property. Of the second ink jet recording head for ejecting an ink having a positive polarity, and a driving condition corresponding to the color developing property of the ink of the recording head mounted on the above-mentioned placing part. An inkjet recording system, comprising: a setting unit configured to set the recording head. 2. The ink jet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the setting means has an identification means for identifying the color developability of the ink of the ink jet recording head mounted on the mounting portion. And 3. The ink jet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the setting means has an instruction means for instructing a color developing property of ink of the ink jet recording head mounted on the mounting portion. Characterize. 4. The ink jet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the recording medium of the recording medium according to the color developability of the ink of the ink jet recording head mounted on the mounting unit. It is characterized in that the amount of ink applied per unit area is changed. 5. The ink jet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a driving condition corrected according to a difference in superiority or inferiority of the color developability of the ink to the ink poor in the color developability. It is characterized by giving. 6. The ink jet recording system according to claim 5, wherein the setting unit corresponds to the optical reflection density when the color developing properties are compared at the same areal density. . 7. The ink jet recording system according to claim 6, wherein the setting unit associates the color developing property with a dye concentration in inks having substantially the same hue. 8. The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inkjet recording systems are provided.
The inkjet recording heads of 1 are first and second multi-type inkjet recording heads having a plurality of ejection portions for ejecting inks having different hues, and both are heads capable of ejecting inks of substantially the same brightness, It is characterized in that the setting means does not set the driving condition according to the color developing property only for inks having substantially the same lightness. 9. The ink jet recording system according to claim 5 or 8, wherein the setting unit sets substantially the same density based on a ratio set according to the difference in the color developability of the ink. It is characterized in that the number of discharges of the ink having poor color developing property is changed from the ink jet recording head. 10. The ink jet recording system according to claim 9, wherein the setting unit has a regulation unit that regulates an upper limit of an ink application amount per unit area, and the ejection is changed based on the ratio. The number is regulated according to the regulation means. 11. The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein in the second inkjet recording head, the first inkjet recording head has a plurality of inks having distinctly different hues. In contrast to the first multi-ink jet recording head for ejecting ink, the ink having the same brightness as that of the ink of the first ink jet recording head and the ink of the first ink jet recording head It is characterized by having an ink having a color developing property which is inferior to the excellent color developing property. 12. An ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium using a recording head for recording with ink, comprising recording data corresponding to each ink according to the color developability of ink of the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a data changing step of changing the format of the step (1); and a step of driving a recording element corresponding to each ink according to the recording data changed by the data changing step to record an image on a recording medium. Recording method. 13. The ink jet recording method according to claim 12, wherein in the data changing step, a color corresponding to the ink is printed based on a ratio of the color developing property of the ink and a predetermined color developing property. It is characterized in that multi-valued print data for one pixel is determined. 14. A recording system including an inkjet recording device for recording an image on a recording medium using ink and a host device, wherein the host device is a color developer of the ink mounted on the inkjet recording device. Identifying means for identifying the sex, data changing means for changing the expression format of the color data representing the image data according to the color developability identified by the identifying means, and color data changed by the data changing means. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the inkjet recording apparatus to the inkjet recording apparatus, the inkjet recording apparatus transmitting the color data transmitted by the transmitting unit and a notification unit configured to notify the color developing property of the ink mounted on the host device. Inputting means for inputting, and recording means for recording using each color material according to the color data inputted by the inputting means Recording system characterized by having,. 15. An information processing device for transmitting data to a recording device for recording an image on a recording medium using ink, comprising: identification means for identifying the color developability of ink mounted on the recording device. A data changing unit that changes an expression format of color data representing image data according to the color development identified by the identifying unit; and a transmission that transmits the color data changed by the data changing unit to the recording device. An information processing apparatus comprising: 16. An ink container used for implementing the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink container has information indicating the color developability of the ink contained therein. 17. The ink container according to claim 16, wherein the ink container contains ink. 18. A combination of an ink container and a recording head used for implementing the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, and providing information indicating the color developability of the ink contained in the ink container. Head cartridge characterized by. 19. The head cartridge according to claim 18, wherein ink is contained in the ink container. 20. An ink having a color developing property, which is used for implementing the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1.