WO2015098496A1 - 画像形成装置 - Google Patents
画像形成装置 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2015098496A1 WO2015098496A1 PCT/JP2014/082522 JP2014082522W WO2015098496A1 WO 2015098496 A1 WO2015098496 A1 WO 2015098496A1 JP 2014082522 W JP2014082522 W JP 2014082522W WO 2015098496 A1 WO2015098496 A1 WO 2015098496A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- recording
- recording element
- ejection
- short head
- elements
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/145—Arrangement thereof
- B41J2/155—Arrangement thereof for line printing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
- B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
- B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
- B41J2/0451—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
- B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
- B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
- B41J2/04586—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
- B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
- B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
- B41J2/2139—Compensation for malfunctioning nozzles creating dot place or dot size errors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
- B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
- B41J2/2146—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding for line print heads
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
- B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
- B41J2/2135—Alignment of dots
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/20—Modules
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
- an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image on recording paper (recording medium) by discharging ink (recording material) from a plurality of nozzles (recording elements) is known.
- Some of such image forming apparatuses use a long line head that covers the main scanning direction of the recording paper.
- recording in the main scanning direction is performed with the line head fixed, and an image is formed at high speed by conveying the recording paper in a direction (sub scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction.
- a long line head that covers the width of the recording paper has a higher manufacturing cost, a lower yield during manufacturing, a lower reliability, and a part of the recording element compared to a short head. Even if it is broken, it is necessary to replace the entire expensive line head, and there is a disadvantage that the cost for repair is high.
- a plurality of short heads in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in the main scanning direction are subjected to main scanning in a state where the recording elements have overlapping regions at adjacent ends. What is arranged in the direction and configured as a long head is known.
- JP 2012-131110 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-253383 JP 2011-255594 A
- An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can make uneven stripes in an overlapping region of short heads less noticeable.
- a first short head and a second short head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in one direction are arranged in the one direction in a state where the recording elements have overlapping regions at adjacent ends.
- a line head configured as a head, In the image forming apparatus in which the recording material is ejected from the first short head and the second short head to form a dot row along a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the recording elements.
- a dot row is formed in the overlapping region by the recording material discharged from the recording element of the first short head and the recording material discharged from the recording element of the second short head, and
- the first short head in the overlap region from the recording element side adjacent to the overlap region is set to the ejection share ratio of the recording material discharged from the recording elements of the first short head and the second short head in the overlap region.
- an ejection control unit that performs overlap control for ejecting the recording material by the first short head and the second short head so as to gradually change toward an end side of the second short head;
- An ejection failure recording element identifying unit that identifies a recording element that is an ejection failure of a recording material in the overlapping region;
- a plurality of overlapping areas configured by continuous printing element arrays not including the printing elements specified by the defective ejection printing element specifying unit are specified, and the overlapping areas among the specified overlapping areas are overlapped.
- An overlapping area specifying unit for specifying an overlapping area having the largest number of recording elements; With The discharge control unit performs the overlap control within a range of the overlapping area specified by the overlapping area specifying unit.
- the ejection control unit performs the overlap control with the predetermined number of continuous printing elements when the number of overlapping printing elements formed by the overlapping area specified by the overlapping area specifying unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. It is characterized by that.
- the ejection control unit When the ejection control unit forms dots at a position corresponding to the recording element that is the ejection failure, the ejection control unit complements the ejection of the recording material from the recording element adjacent to the recording element specified by the ejection failure recording element specifying unit. It is characterized by performing processing.
- the ejection control unit causes the recording material to be ejected from a recording element that is not a target of the overlap control among recording elements adjacent to the recording element specified by the defective ejection recording element specifying unit in the complementing process.
- the invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
- the ejection control unit is more than the recording element that is the target of the overlap control among the plurality of recording elements specified by the ejection failure recording element specifying unit.
- the complementing process is performed only by a recording element adjacent to the recording element arranged on the recording element side adjacent to the overlapping region.
- the ejection control unit increases the amount of the recording material ejected from the recording element that ejects the recording material by the complementing process by a predetermined amount.
- 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement
- 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining an output head distribution table creation process. It is a figure explaining the discharge share rate between the set short heads. It is a figure explaining the discharge share rate between the set short heads. It is a figure explaining the discharge share rate between the set short heads. It is a figure explaining the discharge share rate between the set short heads. It is a figure explaining the discharge share rate between the set short heads. It is a figure explaining the discharge share rate between the set short heads.
- 5 is a flowchart for explaining an overall schematic operation during image formation. It is a flowchart explaining a data distribution process. It is a flowchart explaining an output head selection process. It is a figure explaining a supplement process.
- an inkjet recording apparatus 100 as an image forming apparatus includes a control unit 101, a storage unit 105, a rasterization processing unit 110, a halftone processing unit 120, a distribution processing unit 130, and a driving unit 140. And a line head 150 and a defective ejection nozzle detection unit 160.
- the control unit 101 performs various types of image formation control.
- a dot row is formed in the overlapping region by the recording material ejected from the recording element of the first short head and the recording material ejected from the recording element of the second short head.
- the discharge share of the recording material discharged from the recording elements of the first short head and the second short head in the overlapping region is changed from the recording element side adjacent to the overlapping region to the first short head in the overlapping region, and Overlap control is performed in which the recording material is discharged by the first short head and the second short head so as to gradually change toward the end side of the second short head, and the overlap specified by the overlap region specifying unit is performed.
- Discharge control unit that performs overlap control within the range of the overlapping area where the number of recording elements is the largest, and a recording element that has a recording material discharge failure in the overlapping area.
- a plurality of overlapping areas composed of continuous recording element arrays not including the recording elements that are identified as defective discharging are specified, and the plurality of specified overlapping areas Among these, it functions as an overlapping area specifying unit that specifies an overlapping area having the largest number of overlapping printing elements.
- the storage unit 105 is a storage unit that holds various data such as an output head distribution table and a threshold matrix described later.
- the rasterization processing unit 110 is image processing means for converting image data of various formats such as vector data given from the outside such as a computer into raster data such as a bitmap. If the input data resolution is different from the print resolution, enlargement / reduction processing is performed at this point, and the data resolution after rasterization is made the same as the print resolution.
- the halftone processing unit 120 is a halftone processing unit that generates dots in a state where a halftone is expressed by multi-level data by area gradation based on the number of dots based on a predetermined halftone processing rule.
- the halftone processing unit 120 performs threshold processing on the rasterized data using a matrix value such as a blue noise matrix or a green noise matrix stored in the storage unit 105 as a predetermined halftone processing rule. Then, halftone data corresponding to the dot to be recorded is generated. That is, in the halftone processing unit 120, as a predetermined halftone processing rule, halftone is obtained by comparing multivalued input image data with a threshold value read from a position corresponding to the input image data in a threshold matrix held in advance. Then, halftone data corresponding to dots to be recorded is generated by ejecting ink from the nozzles.
- the distribution processing unit 130 refers to an output head distribution table, which will be described later, stored in the storage unit 105, and in accordance with the discharge sharing ratio indicated there, halftone data in any adjacent short head in the overlapping area of the short heads. It is a distribution processing means for executing a process of distributing whether to record.
- the drive unit 140 is a drive unit (driver) that drives each recording element (nozzle) included in each short head, which will be described later, to eject ink as a recording material.
- the first drive unit 140A is driven.
- the second drive unit 140B is driven.
- the line head 150 is configured as a long head in which a plurality of short heads in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in one direction are arranged in one direction in a state where the recording elements overlap with each other at adjacent ends.
- the line head 150 includes a first short head 150A and a second short head 150B.
- the first short head 150A is driven by the first drive unit 140A
- the second short head 150B is driven by the second drive unit 140B.
- the line head 150 in the present embodiment is composed of two short heads as shown in FIG. 1, and the state is shown in FIG.
- a region where dots are formed only by the first short head 150A during image formation is defined as a region aa.
- a region where dots are formed only by the second short head 150B during image formation is defined as a region bb.
- An overlapping region where dots are formed by both the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B is defined as a region ab.
- FIG. 2 shows a state of the line head 150 as viewed from the ink ejection side.
- the number of recording elements included in each short head is schematically shown. In actuality, a larger number of recording elements are arranged in accordance with the density of image recording.
- the line head 150 is configured by arranging more short heads in a zigzag manner, for example.
- the short head may be configured by combining a plurality of heads each having a low recording density.
- the ink jet recording apparatus 100 transports the recording paper P by the driving rollers M1 and M2 in a direction (sub scanning direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (main scanning direction) of the line head 150. Meanwhile, ink is ejected from the recording elements of the line head 150 to the recording paper P.
- the line head 150 and the recording paper P may be relatively moved in the transport direction (sub-scanning direction), for example, by moving the line head 150.
- the ink on the recording paper P is irradiated with heat or ultraviolet rays from the fixing unit 170 to fix the image formed by the ink.
- the defective ejection nozzle detection unit 160 is a sensor that detects a defective ejection recording element from which ink is not normally ejected among a plurality of recording elements of each short head.
- the ejection failure nozzle detection unit 160 includes, for example, a line scanner and is configured to detect an ejection failure recording element by reading an image on the recording paper P with the line scanner. It is not limited to.
- a sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is arranged at a position where the ink discharge can be detected (for example, both ends in the arrangement direction of the recording elements) regardless of which nozzle ejects the ink.
- Ink may be ejected sequentially from each recording element at a predetermined timing, and the presence or absence of the ejection may be detected by reflection or blocking of light using an optical sensor.
- This output head sorting table creation process is a process executed in an initial process executed when the power of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 is turned on, for example.
- the output head sorting table is a table used to sort which adjacent short heads record halftone data in the overlapping area of the short heads.
- the control unit 101 based on the detection signal from the defective ejection nozzle detection unit 160, the control unit 101 identifies a defective ejection recording element in the overlapping area (area ab) of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B (step a). S101).
- control unit 101 determines whether or not there is a defective printing element in the overlapping region (step S102).
- the control unit 101 does not determine that there is a recording element that has an ejection failure (step S102: N)
- the ejection sharing ratio gradually increases in a range of a predetermined number (a constant z) of recording elements in the overlapping region.
- the ejection sharing ratio between the recording elements of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B is set so as to change (step S103).
- the number of recording elements of the first short head 150A included in the overlapping area (area ab) is 32, a01 to a32.
- the recording element a00 is a recording element adjacent to the overlapping region.
- the number of recording elements of the second short head 150B included in the overlapping area (area ab) is 32, b01 to b32.
- the recording element b33 is a recording element adjacent to the overlapping region.
- the recording elements a01 to a32 overlap with the recording elements b01 to b32 and the direction in which the recording elements are arranged, that is, in the sub-scanning direction.
- the constant z is set to 10, for example, but is not limited thereto, and an appropriate number can be set. That is, in the first short head 150A, the recording elements a23 to a32 are allocated as recording elements constituting the overlap portion, and in the second short head 150B, the recording elements b23 to b32 are allocated.
- the position where the overlap portion is set is not limited to that described above, and can be set to an appropriate position.
- each corresponding recording element is evaluated in a range of recording elements having a constant z, and a recording element having a small amount of positional deviation in the arrangement direction of each recording element is selected, and the recording elements included in the selected range You may make it comprise an overlap part.
- the amount of positional deviation in the arrangement direction of each recording element may be, for example, the maximum value of the deviation amount in the arrangement direction of each recording element in the range of recording elements having a constant z.
- the total amount of positional deviations in the arrangement direction of the recording elements in the element range may be used.
- the ejection share ratio of each recording element of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in the overlap region is set.
- the first short head 150A is set so that the ejection sharing ratio is 100% from the recording element a01 to the recording element a22 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the solid line S indicates the ejection share ratio of the first short head 150 ⁇ / b> A.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to be gradually decreased in the range of 100% to 0%.
- the ejection share rate is changed linearly, but it may not be changed linearly, and a change with monotonicity is preferable. Further, for example, an upward convex curve, a downward convex curve, a curve that changes discontinuously, and the like can be employed.
- the second short head 150B is set such that the ejection sharing ratio is 0% from the recording element b01 to the recording element b22 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the discharge share of the second short head 150B is indicated by a broken line T.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to gradually increase in the range of 0% to 100%.
- the overlap control can be performed by changing the ejection sharing ratio in the range of the recording elements a23 to a32 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b23 to b32 of the second short head 150B.
- control unit 101 sets the discharge sharing ratios of the recording elements a01 to a32 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b01 to b32 of the second short head 150B, respectively.
- An output head sorting table for ejecting ink from the recording elements of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B is created (step S104), and this process is terminated.
- control unit 101 determines in step S102 that there is an ejection failure recording element (step S102: Y), it sets the ejection failure recording element (step S105).
- control unit 101 sets an overlapping area composed of continuous printing element arrays that do not include defective printing elements (step S106).
- control unit 101 specifies an overlapping area where the number of overlapping recording elements (the number of overlapping recording elements) is maximum (step S107).
- step S108 determines whether or not the number of continuous overlapping recording elements in the overlapping area where the number of overlapping recording elements is the maximum is smaller than the constant z described above (step S108).
- step S108: Y the control unit 101 determines that the number of continuous overlapping recording elements in the overlapping area where the number of overlapping recording elements is the maximum is smaller than the constant z (step S108: Y)
- step S104 after setting the discharge share ratio for each recording element of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B so that the discharge share ratio gradually changes in the range of the number of continuous printing elements in step S109. Execute the process.
- step S108 N
- the first short head 150A and the second short length so that the ejection sharing ratio gradually changes in a range of a predetermined number of continuous printing elements (constant z) in the overlapping area where the number of overlapping printing elements is the maximum.
- the discharge share ratio is set as follows.
- the recording element a08 in the overlapping region of the first short head 150A is detected as a defective ejection recording element
- the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A is detected in step S105.
- the recording element N1 with defective ejection is set.
- an overlapping region is set based on the set ejection failure recording element N1.
- the overlap region constituted by the continuous print element arrays not including the defective print element N1 includes the print elements a01 to a07 and the second short head of the first short head 150A. Since there are an overlapping region R1 composed of the recording elements b01 to b07 of 150B and an overlapping region R2 composed of the recording elements a09 to a32 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b09 to b32 of the second short head 150B, These two overlapping regions R1 and R2 are set.
- step S107 an overlapping area with the maximum number of overlapping recording elements is specified from these set overlapping areas R1 and R2.
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R1 is 7, and the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R2 is 24. Therefore, the set overlapping region is the overlapping region R2. .
- the constant z continuous from the end side of the first short head 150A in the overlapping region R2. are set as an overlap portion. That is, the recording elements a23 to a32 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b23 to b32 of the second short head 150B are assigned as recording elements that constitute the overlap portion, respectively.
- the ejection share rate of each recording element of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in the overlapping region is set.
- the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A is an ejection failure recording element
- the ejection share rate of the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A and the recording element b08 of the second short head 150B is both 0%.
- no ink is ejected from either the recording element a08 or the recording element b08, but as will be described later, the recording element a08 is adjacent to the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A, which is an ejection failure recording element.
- the example shown in FIG. 7 is an example when the recording element a25 in the overlapping region of the first short head 150A is detected as an ejection failure.
- the recording element a25 in the overlapping area of the first short head 150A is detected as a defective ejection recording element, the recording element a25 of the first short head 150A is ejected defective in step S105. Is set as the recording element N1.
- an overlapping region is set based on the set ejection failure recording element N1.
- the overlapping region constituted by the continuous recording element arrays not including the defective ejection recording element N1 includes the recording elements a01 to a24 and the second short head of the first short head 150A. Since there are an overlapping region R1 composed of the recording elements b01 to b24 of 150B and an overlapping region R2 composed of the recording elements a26 to a32 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b26 to b32 of the second short head 150B, These two overlapping regions R1 and R2 are set.
- step S107 an overlapping area with the maximum number of overlapping recording elements is specified from these set overlapping areas R1 and R2.
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R1 is 24, and the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R2 is 7, so that the set overlapping region is the overlapping region R1. .
- step S110 since the number of recording elements overlapping in the overlapping region R1 is equal to or greater than the constant z, first, in step S110, the constant z continuous from the end side of the first short head 150A in the overlapping region R1. Are set as an overlap portion. That is, the recording elements a15 to a24 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b15 to b24 of the second short head 150B are assigned as recording elements that constitute the overlap portion, respectively.
- the discharge share ratio of each recording element of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in the overlap region is set as described above.
- the first short head 150A is set so that the ejection sharing ratio is 100% from the recording element a01 to the recording element a14 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to be gradually reduced in the range of 100% to 0%.
- the ejection share ratio is set to 0% from the recording element a25 adjacent to the overlap portion to the recording element a32 at the end of the first short head 150A.
- the recording element a25 of the short head 150A is a recording element that is defective in ejection, but since the ejection sharing rate is originally set to 0%, the ejection sharing rate is not changed.
- the second short head 150B is set so that the ejection sharing ratio is 0% from the recording element b01 to the recording element b14 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to gradually increase in the range of 0% to 100%. Then, the ejection share ratio is set to 100% from the recording element b25 adjacent to the overlap portion to the recording element b32.
- the example shown in FIG. 8 is an example in which the recording element a08 and the recording element a27 in the overlapping region of the first short head 150A are detected as ejection defects.
- the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A is detected in step S105. Is set as the ejection defective recording element N1, and the recording element a27 is set as the ejection defective recording element N2.
- step S106 an overlapping area is set based on the set ejection failure recording elements N1, N2.
- the overlapping region constituted by the continuous recording element rows not including the recording elements N1 and N2 that are defective in ejection includes the recording elements a01 to a07 and the second short length of the first short head 150A.
- An overlapping region R1 composed of the recording elements b01 to b07 of the head 150B
- an overlapping region R2 composed of the recording elements a09 to a26 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b09 to b26 of the second short head 150B
- this is an overlapping region R3 composed of the recording elements a28 to a32 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b28 to b32 of the second short head 150B
- these three overlapping regions R1, R2, and R3 are set.
- step S107 an overlapping area with the maximum number of overlapping recording elements is specified from these set overlapping areas R1, R2, and R3.
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R1 is 7
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R2 is 18,
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R3 is 5. Therefore, the set overlapping area is the overlapping area R2.
- the constant z continuous from the end side of the first short head 150A in the overlapping region R2. are set as an overlap portion. That is, the recording elements a17 to a26 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b17 to b26 of the second short head 150B are assigned as recording elements that constitute the overlap portion, respectively.
- the ejection share rate of each recording element of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in the overlapping region is set.
- the first short head 150A is set so that the ejection sharing ratio is 100% from the recording element a01 to the recording element a16 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the ejection sharing ratio of the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A is set to 0%.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to be gradually reduced in the range of 100% to 0%.
- the ejection share ratio is set to 0% from the recording element a27 adjacent to the overlap portion to the recording element a32 at the end of the first short head 150A.
- the recording element a27 of the short head 150A is a recording element that is defective in ejection, but since the ejection sharing rate is originally set to 0%, the ejection sharing rate is not changed.
- the second short head 150B is set so that the ejection sharing ratio is 0% from the recording element b01 to the recording element b16 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to gradually increase in the range of 0% to 100%. Then, the ejection share ratio is set to 100% from the recording element b27 adjacent to the overlap portion to the recording element b32.
- the example shown in FIG. 9 is an example when the recording element a04, the recording element a12, the recording element a18, the recording element a24, and the recording element a30 in the overlapping region of the first short head 150A are detected as ejection defects.
- a step is performed when the recording element a04, the recording element a12, the recording element a18, the recording element a24, and the recording element a30 in the overlapping region of the first short head 150A are detected as defective recording elements.
- the recording element a04 of the first short head 150A is set as a defective ejection recording element N1
- the recording element a12 is set as a defective ejection recording element N2
- the recording element a18 is set as a defective ejection recording element N3.
- the recording element a24 is set as a recording element N4 with defective ejection
- the recording element a30 is set as a recording element N5 with defective ejection.
- step S106 an overlapping area is set based on the set ejection failure recording elements N1 to N5.
- the overlapping region constituted by the continuous recording element arrays not including the defectively ejecting recording elements N1 to N5 includes the recording elements a01 to a03 and the second short length of the first short head 150A.
- An overlapping region R1 composed of the recording elements b01 to b03 of the head 150B, an overlapping region R2 composed of the recording elements a05 to a11 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b05 to b11 of the second short head 150B, and a first
- the overlapping region R3 composed of the recording elements a13 to a17 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b13 to b17 of the second short head 150B, the recording elements a19 to a23 of the first short head 150A, and the recording of the second short head 150B.
- the overlapping region R4 composed of the elements b19 to b23, the recording elements a25 to a29 and the first elements of the first short head 150A.
- an overlapping area with the maximum number of overlapping recording elements is specified from these set overlapping areas R1 to R6.
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R1 is 3, the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R2 is 7, and the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R3 is 5.
- the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R4 is 5, the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R5 is 5, and the number of overlapping recording elements in the overlapping region R6 is 2.
- the overlapped area is the overlapped area R2.
- the first in the overlapping region R2 is the first.
- a number ⁇ of recording elements continuous from the end side of the short head 150A is set as an overlap portion. That is, the recording elements a05 to a11 of the first short head 150A and the recording elements b05 to b11 of the second short head 150B are assigned as recording elements that constitute the overlap portion, respectively.
- the ejection share rate of each recording element of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in the overlapping region is set.
- the first short head 150A is set so that the ejection sharing ratio is 100% from the recording element a01 to the recording element a04 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the ejection sharing rate of the recording element a04 of the first short head 150A is set to 0%.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to be gradually decreased in the range of 100% to 0%.
- the ejection sharing ratio is set to 0% from the recording element a12 adjacent to the overlap part to the recording element a32 at the end of the first short head 150A.
- the recording element a12, the recording element a18, the recording element a24, and the recording element a30 of the short head 150A are ejection defective recording elements.
- the ejection sharing rate is originally set to 0%, the ejection sharing rate No change is made. As will be described later, in the example shown in FIG.
- the complementary process is performed by the recording element adjacent to the recording element a04 of the first short head 150A, which is an ejection failure recording element, but the end of the first short head 150A Since the recording elements a05 and a06 adjacent to the side constitute an overlap portion, the complementary processing by the recording elements a05 and a06 is not performed, and the recording elements a05 and a06 are adjacent to the side opposite to the end side of the first short head 150A. Complementary processing is performed only by the recording elements a02 and a03.
- the second short head 150B is set such that the ejection sharing ratio is 0% from the recording element b01 to the recording element b04 adjacent to the overlap portion.
- the discharge sharing ratio is set to gradually increase in the range of 0% to 100%. Then, the ejection share ratio is set to 100% from the recording element b12 adjacent to the overlap portion to the recording element b32.
- control unit 101 uses the rasterization processing unit 110 to convert image data of various formats such as vector data given from the outside such as a computer into raster data such as a bitmap format (step S201).
- rasterization processing unit 110 uses the rasterization processing unit 110 to convert image data of various formats such as vector data given from the outside such as a computer into raster data such as a bitmap format (step S201).
- external vector format data and converted bitmap format raster data are stored in the storage unit 105 as necessary.
- step S202 halftone processing is performed (step S202).
- the halftone processing unit 120 generates dots in a state in which halftones are expressed from multi-valued data by area gradation based on a predetermined halftone processing rule.
- a low-frequency component of a halftone pattern generated by threshold processing such as a blue noise matrix and a green noise matrix stored in the storage unit 105 as a predetermined halftone processing rule.
- the rasterized data is subjected to threshold processing using a threshold matrix value designed to suppress the occurrence of halftone data corresponding to dots to be recorded.
- control unit 101 uses the distribution processing unit 130 to determine which of the first short head 150 ⁇ / b> A and the second short head 150 ⁇ / b> B included in the line head 150 is to record with respect to the overlapping region (the region ab in FIG. 2).
- a data distribution process for determination is executed to determine a short head in charge of recording for each dot (step S203).
- the distribution processing unit 130 refers to the output head distribution table created as described above, and executes processing to distribute which short head is used for recording in the overlapping area of the short heads. Details of the data distribution process will be described later.
- control unit 101 uses the first short head 150A for the area aa in FIG. 2, the second short head 150B for the area bb, and the short head determined by the sorting process for the area ab.
- Ink is ejected onto the paper P to form an image (step S204).
- the x-axis direction is the recording element array direction
- the y-axis direction is the recording paper P conveyance direction.
- the control unit 101 determines whether or not the coordinate y of the target pixel is equal to or less than the maximum coordinate value y_max of the image data in the y-axis direction (step S302).
- step S302 determines that the coordinate y of the target pixel is equal to or less than the maximum coordinate value y_max of the image data in the y-axis direction (step S302: Y)
- the coordinate x of the target pixel is changed in the x-axis direction. It is determined whether or not the maximum coordinate value x_max of the image data is below (step S303).
- the coordinate x of the target pixel is the first short head. It is determined whether or not the maximum coordinate value in the x-axis direction (that is, the maximum coordinate value in the x-axis direction within a range that does not become the overlapping region ab) x (aa) _max is less than or equal to 150a. (Step S304).
- step S304 When the control unit 101 determines that the coordinate x of the target pixel is equal to or less than the maximum coordinate value x (aa) _max in the x-axis direction of the area aa (step S304: Y), the control unit 101 uses dots within the area aa. Therefore, a flag indicating that the output is performed by the first short head 150A is stored in the storage unit 105 in association with the dot (step S305).
- the control unit 101 does not determine that the coordinate x of the target pixel is equal to or less than the maximum coordinate value x (aa) _max in the x-axis direction of the area aa, that is, the maximum coordinate value x in the x-axis direction of the area aa.
- the coordinate x of this pixel of interest is the minimum coordinate value in the x-axis direction of the region bb in which dots are formed only by the second short head 150B (that is, It is determined whether or not the minimum coordinate value in the x-axis direction in a range that does not become the overlapping region ab) x (bb) _min (step S306).
- step S306 When the control unit 101 determines that the coordinate x of the target pixel is equal to or greater than the minimum coordinate value x (bb) _min in the x-axis direction of the region bb (step S306: Y), the control unit 101 uses dots within the region bb. Therefore, a flag indicating that the second short head 150B outputs is associated with the dot and stored in the storage unit 105 (step S307).
- step S306 N
- step S306 N
- the output head selection process is executed, Whether the first short head 150A or the second short head 150B outputs the dot is determined, and a flag indicating the result is stored in the storage unit 105 in association with the dot. Details of the output head selection process will be described later.
- step S309 the process of step S303 is executed.
- step S303 When the control unit 101 does not determine in step S303 that the coordinate x of the target pixel is equal to or less than the maximum coordinate value x_max of the image data in the x-axis direction, that is, the image in which the coordinate x of the target pixel is the x-axis direction.
- step S303: N When it is determined that the maximum coordinate value x_max of the data has been exceeded (step S303: N), the coordinate y of the target pixel is incremented by one pixel in the y-axis direction, and the coordinate x is set to 0 (step S310). The process of step S302 is executed.
- step S302 When the control unit 101 does not determine in step S302 that the coordinate y of the target pixel is equal to or less than the maximum coordinate value y_max of the image data in the y-axis direction, that is, the image in which the coordinate y of the target pixel is the y-axis direction.
- step S302: N When it is determined that the maximum coordinate value y_max of the data has been exceeded (step S302: N), this process ends.
- control unit 101 determines whether or not at least one of the recording elements of the first short head 150A and the recording elements of the second short head 150B corresponding to the coordinate x of the target pixel is set as a defective recording element. Determination is made (step S401).
- Step S401: Y whether or not the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element set as an ejection failure is the end side of the short head Is determined (step S402).
- Step S ⁇ b> 402: N of the recording elements adjacent to the recording elements set as ejection defective recording elements, the two recording elements on the side where the overlap portion is not set are set as the recording elements for performing the complementing process.
- control unit 101 determines whether or not a recording element on the side where the overlap part is set is included in the overlap part among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element set as a defective ejection recording element. Is determined (step S404).
- Step S404: N the two recording elements on the side where the overlap portion is set among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element set as the ejection failure recording element are used as the recording elements for performing the complementary processing. Set (step S405).
- step S401 the control unit 101 sets at least one of the recording elements of the first short head 150A and the recording elements of the second short head 150B corresponding to the coordinate x of the target pixel as a recording element having a defective ejection. If it is not determined that it is present (step 401: N), the process of step S406 is executed without performing the processes of steps S402 to S405.
- step S402 the control unit 101 determines that the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set among the recording elements that are adjacent to the recording element that is set as an ejection failure is the end side of the short head.
- step S406 the process of step S406 is executed without performing the processes of steps S403 to S405.
- step S ⁇ b> 404 the control unit 101 includes the recording element on the side where the overlap part is set among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element set as the defective ejection recording element in the overlap part. If it is determined that the process is present (step S404: Y), the process of step S406 is executed without performing the process of step S405.
- the recording element set as the defective ejection recording element is the recording element a08 of the first short head 150A, and therefore the recording element adjacent to the recording element a08.
- the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set is the recording element a07. Since the recording element a07 is not on the end side of the first short head 150A, two of the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a08 set as a defective ejection recording element are on the side where the overlap portion is not set.
- the recording elements a06 and a07 are set as the recording elements C1 and C2 that perform the complement processing.
- the recording element a09 on the side where the overlap portion is set among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a08 set as the ejection failure recording element is not included in the overlap portion, the ejection failure recording is performed.
- the two recording elements a09 and a10 on the side where the overlap portion is set are set as the recording elements C3 and C4 for performing the complementing process.
- the complement processing is performed by complementing the recording elements that do not eject ink by increasing the amount of ink ejected to form one dot and increasing the dot diameter.
- the recording element a08 is a defectively ejected recording element, no ink is ejected from both the recording element a08 and the recording element b08. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
- the recording element By increasing the dot diameter by increasing the amount of ink discharged from the recording elements a06, a07, a09, and a10 adjacent to the recording element a08 to be larger than the amount of ink discharged from the other recording elements, the recording element It is possible to reduce unevenness caused by the fact that ink is not ejected from a08.
- the dot diameters of the dots formed by the recording elements a06, a07, a09, and a10 are the same.
- the recording element that performs the complementary processing and is located on the side away from the recording element a08.
- the dot diameter of the dots formed by a06 and a10 may be made smaller than the dot diameter of the dots formed by the recording elements a07 and a09 adjacent to the recording element a08.
- the complementing process may be performed only by the recording elements a07 and a09 adjacent to the recording element a08.
- the complement process is performed by increasing the ink discharge amount, but the complement process may be realized by any known method.
- the complement process is performed by increasing the number of dots. May be performed.
- the dot rate to be printed by the recording element a08 with defective ejection may be distributed to the recording elements a06, a07, a09, and a10 adjacent to the recording element a08, and there are not enough distribution positions. Sometimes, it may be combined with a process for increasing the ink discharge amount.
- the recording element set as the defective ejection recording element is the recording element a25 of the first short head 150A. Therefore, among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a25, the overlap portion The recording element on the side where is not set is the recording element a26. Since the recording element a26 is on the end side of the first short head 150A, the setting of the complementary process is not performed for the recording element adjacent to the recording element a25 that is set as the recording element having the ejection failure.
- the recording elements set as defective ejection recording elements are the recording element a08 and the recording element a27 of the first short head 150A.
- the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set is the recording element a07. Since the recording element a07 is not on the end side of the first short head 150A, two of the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a08 set as a defective ejection recording element are on the side where the overlap portion is not set.
- the recording elements a06 and a07 are set as the recording elements C1 and C2 that perform the complement processing.
- the recording element a09 on the side where the overlap portion is set among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a08 set as the ejection failure recording element is not included in the overlap portion, the ejection failure recording is performed.
- the two recording elements a09 and a10 on the side where the overlap portion is set are set as the recording elements C3 and C4 for performing the complementing process.
- the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set is the recording element a28.
- the recording element a28 is on the end side of the first short head 150A, the setting of the complementary process is not performed for the recording element adjacent to the recording element a27 set as the recording element with defective ejection.
- the recording elements set as defective ejection recording elements are the recording element a04, the recording element a12, the recording element a18, the recording element a24, and the recording element a30 of the first short head 150A.
- the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set is the recording element a03. Since the recording element a03 is not on the end portion side of the first short head 150A, two of the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a04 set as the defective ejection recording element are on the side where the overlap portion is not set.
- the recording elements a02 and a03 are set as the recording elements C1 and C2 that perform the complement processing.
- the recording element a05 on the side where the overlap portion is set among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element a04 set as the ejection failure recording element is included in the overlap portion, the recording element a05 is concerned.
- the setting of the complementary process is not performed for the printing element a06 adjacent thereto.
- the recording element adjacent to the recording element a12 the recording element on the side where the overlap portion is not set is the recording element a13. Since the recording element a13 is on the end side of the first short head 150A, the setting of the complementary process is not performed for the recording element adjacent to the recording element a12 that is set as a recording element having an ejection failure. The same applies to the recording elements a18, a24, and a30.
- control unit 101 After the setting of the recording element for performing the complementing process as described above, the control unit 101 refers to the output head sorting table created as described above in step S406 and the first short head 150A and After determining which of the second short heads 150B is used to output a dot and storing a flag indicating this in the storage unit 105 in association with the dot (step S406), this process is terminated.
- the line head 150 includes the end portions where the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in one direction are adjacent to each other.
- the recording element is arranged in one direction in a state having an overlapping region, and is configured as a long head.
- the control unit 101 causes a dot row to be formed in the overlapping region by the recording material ejected from the recording element of the first short head 150A and the recording material ejected from the recording element of the second short head 150B.
- the ejection share ratio of the recording material ejected from the recording elements of the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B in the overlapping area is set to the first short head 150A and the second short length in the overlapping area from the recording element side adjacent to the overlapping area.
- Overlap control is performed in which the recording material is ejected by the first short head 150A and the second short head 150B so as to gradually change toward the end of the head 150B.
- the control unit 101 identifies a recording element that has a recording material ejection failure in the overlapping region.
- the control unit 101 identifies a plurality of overlapping regions composed of continuous printing element arrays that do not include the printing elements identified as defective ejection in the overlapping region, and among the identified plurality of overlapping regions, An overlapping area having the largest number of overlapping recording elements is identified.
- the control unit 101 performs overlap control within the overlapping area where the number of overlapping printing elements is the largest. As a result, overlap control can be performed in the area as long as possible in the overlapping area, so that unevenness due to a sudden change in the ejection share of the recording material can be reduced, and as a result, the overlapping area of the short heads It is possible to make the non-striking pattern invisible.
- control unit 101 continues the number of constants z when the number of overlapping storage elements that constitute the overlapping region having the largest number of overlapping recording elements is equal to or greater than the constant z. Overlap control is performed with the recording element. As a result, the range in which the overlap control is performed can be made constant, so that variations in image quality at each connecting portion of the short head can be suppressed.
- the control unit 101 when forming a dot at a position corresponding to a recording element that is defective in ejection, the control unit 101 is adjacent to the recording element that is identified as the recording element that is defective in ejection. Complementary processing for discharging the recording material from is performed. As a result, even when an ejection failure recording element is generated, it is possible to make the uneven stripe generated in the region corresponding to the ejection failure recording element less noticeable.
- the control unit 101 performs recording from recording elements not subject to overlap control among the recording elements adjacent to the recording element identified as the ejection failure.
- the material is discharged.
- the control unit 101 when there are a plurality of recording elements that are defective in ejection, the control unit 101 is the target of overlap control among the plurality of recording elements that are identified as defective recording elements. Complementary processing is performed only by the recording element adjacent to the recording element disposed on the side of the recording element adjacent to the overlapping area rather than a certain recording element. As a result, it is possible to minimize the implementation of the complementing process, and it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality.
- control unit 101 increases the amount of the recording material ejected from the recording element that ejects the recording material by the complementing process by a predetermined amount, and thus performs the complementing process by a simple method. be able to.
- the description in the embodiment of the present invention is an example of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.
- the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each functional unit constituting the ink jet recording apparatus can be appropriately changed.
- an overlap portion is set in the overlapping area even when the number of recording elements constituting the overlapping area where the number of overlapping recording elements is the largest among the plurality of overlapping areas is smaller than a constant z.
- the ejection sharing is set.
- a predetermined error notification may be performed without setting the rate.
- the overlap control is performed by the recording elements having a constant z among the recording elements constituting the overlapping area having the maximum number of overlapping recording elements among the plurality of overlapping areas. You may make it perform overlap control in the whole recording element which comprises an area
- the complementing process is performed by the recording element adjacent to the ejection defective recording element, but the complementing process may not be performed.
- a hard disk, a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like is used as a computer-readable medium of the program according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
- a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied.
- a carrier wave is also used as a medium for providing program data according to the present invention via a communication line.
- the present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus.
- control unit ejection control unit, defective ejection recording element specifying unit, overlapping area specifying unit
- Line head 150A First short head
- Second short head 150B Second short head
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Abstract
Description
このような画像形成装置において、記録紙の主走査方向をカバーするような長尺のラインヘッドを用いたものがある。このような画像形成装置では、ラインヘッドを固定した状態で主走査方向の記録を行い、主走査方向と直交する方向(副走査方向)に記録紙を搬送することで高速で画像を形成することができる。
そのため、従来の画像形成装置において、吐出不良の記録素子を避けて短尺ヘッド間での記録素子からの記録材の吐出分担率を漸次変化させるようにしたものがある(例えば、特許文献3)。
複数の記録素子が一方向に配列されている第1の短尺ヘッドと第2の短尺ヘッドとが、互いに隣接する端部において記録素子が重なり領域を有する状態で前記一方向に配置されて長尺ヘッドとして構成されたラインヘッドを備え、
前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドから記録材を吐出させて記録素子の配列方向と交差する方向に沿ったドット列を形成させる画像形成装置において、
前記第1の短尺ヘッドの記録素子から吐出される記録材と、前記第2の短尺ヘッドの記録素子から吐出される記録材とによって前記重なり領域にドット列が形成されるようにするとともに、前記重なり領域における前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドの記録素子から吐出される記録材の吐出分担率を前記重なり領域に隣接する記録素子側から前記重なり領域における前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドの端部側にかけて漸次変化するようにして前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドによる記録材を吐出するオーバーラップ制御を行う吐出制御部と、
前記重なり領域において記録材の吐出不良である記録素子を特定する吐出不良記録素子特定部と、
前記重なり領域において、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部で特定された記録素子を含まない連続する記録素子列で構成される複数の重複領域を特定し、該特定した複数の重複領域のうち、重複する記録素子の数が最も多い重複領域を特定する重複領域特定部と、
を備え、
前記吐出制御部は、前記重複領域特定部によって特定された重複領域の範囲内で前記オーバーラップ制御を行うことを特徴とする。
前記吐出制御部は、前記重複領域特定部によって特定された重複領域が構成する重複する記録素子の数が所定数以上であるときは、前記所定数の連続する記録素子で前記オーバーラップ制御を行うことを特徴とする。
前記吐出制御部は、前記吐出不良である記録素子に対応する位置にドットを形成するときは、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部によって特定された記録素子に隣接する記録素子から記録材を吐出させる補完処理を行うことを特徴とする。
前記吐出制御部は、前記補完処理において、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部によって特定された記録素子に隣接する記録素子のうちの前記オーバーラップ制御の対象とならない記録素子から記録材を吐出させることを特徴とする。
前記吐出制御部は、前記吐出不良である記録素子が複数であるときは、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部によって特定された複数の記録素子のうち前記オーバーラップ制御の対象である記録素子よりも前記重なり領域に隣接する記録素子側に配置された記録素子に隣接する記録素子のみにより前記補完処理を行うことを特徴とする。
前記吐出制御部は、前記補完処理による記録材の吐出を行う記録素子から吐出される記録材の量を所定量だけ多くすることを特徴とする。
記憶部105は、後述する出力ヘッド振り分けテーブルや閾値マトリクス等の各種データを保持する記憶手段である。
例えば、何れのノズルからインクが吐出されても、そのインクの吐出を検知できる位置(例えば、記録素子の配列方向の両端)に発光部と受光部とを備えたセンサーを配置し、短尺ヘッドの各記録素子から所定のタイミングで順次インクを吐出させて、この吐出の有無を、光センサーを用いて、光の反射や遮断で検出するようにしてもよい。
図7に示すように、第1短尺ヘッド150Aの重なり領域における記録素子a25が吐出不良の記録素子として検出された場合には、ステップS105により、第1短尺ヘッド150Aの記録素子a25が、吐出不良の記録素子N1として設定される。
図8に示すように、第1短尺ヘッド150Aの重なり領域における記録素子a08及び記録素子a27が吐出不良の記録素子として検出された場合には、ステップS105により、第1短尺ヘッド150Aの記録素子a08が吐出不良の記録素子N1として設定され、記録素子a27が吐出不良の記録素子N2として設定される。
図9に示すように、第1短尺ヘッド150Aの重なり領域における記録素子a04、記録素子a12、記録素子a18、記録素子a24及び記録素子a30が吐出不良の記録素子として検出された場合には、ステップS105により、第1短尺ヘッド150Aの記録素子a04が吐出不良の記録素子N1として設定され、記録素子a12が吐出不良の記録素子N2として設定され、記録素子a18が吐出不良の記録素子N3として設定され、記録素子a24が吐出不良の記録素子N4として設定され、記録素子a30が吐出不良の記録素子N5として設定される。
なお、このハーフトーン処理部120では、所定のハーフトーン処理規則として、記憶部105に記憶してあるブルーノイズマトリクス、グリーンノイズマトリクス等の閾値処理をすることで発生するハーフトーンパターンの低周波成分が抑制されるように設計された閾値マトリクス値を用いてラスタライズ後のデータを閾値処理し、記録すべきドットに対応するハーフトーンデータを発生させる。
なお、本実施の形態では、記録素子a06,a07,a09,a10により形成されるドットのドット径を同じにしたが、補完処理を行う記録素子であって記録素子a08から離れた側の記録素子a06,a10により形成されるドットのドット径を、記録素子a08に隣接する記録素子a07,a09により形成されるドットのドット径よりも小さくするようにしてもよい。
また、記録素子a08に隣接する記録素子a07,a09のみで補完処理を行うようにしてもよい。
また、本実施の形態では、インクの吐出量を多くして補完処理を行うようにしたが、補完処理は公知のいずれの方法によって実現してもよく、例えば、ドット数を多くして補完処理を行うようにしてもよい。また、例えば、吐出不良の記録素子a08にて印字すべきドット率を当該記録素子a08に隣接する記録素子a06,a07,a09,a10に分配するようにしたり、さらには、分配する位置が足りないときにインクの吐出量を多くする処理とを組み合わせるようにしてもよい。
101 制御部(吐出制御部、吐出不良記録素子特定部、重複領域特定部)
150 ラインヘッド
150A 第1短尺ヘッド
150B 第2短尺ヘッド
Claims (6)
- 複数の記録素子が一方向に配列されている第1の短尺ヘッドと第2の短尺ヘッドとが、互いに隣接する端部において記録素子が重なり領域を有する状態で前記一方向に配置されて長尺ヘッドとして構成されたラインヘッドを備え、
前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドから記録材を吐出させて記録素子の配列方向と交差する方向に沿ったドット列を形成させる画像形成装置において、
前記第1の短尺ヘッドの記録素子から吐出される記録材と、前記第2の短尺ヘッドの記録素子から吐出される記録材とによって前記重なり領域にドット列が形成されるようにするとともに、前記重なり領域における前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドの記録素子から吐出される記録材の吐出分担率を前記重なり領域に隣接する記録素子側から前記重なり領域における前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドの端部側にかけて漸次変化するようにして前記第1の短尺ヘッド及び前記第2の短尺ヘッドによる記録材を吐出するオーバーラップ制御を行う吐出制御部と、
前記重なり領域において記録材の吐出不良である記録素子を特定する吐出不良記録素子特定部と、
前記重なり領域において、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部で特定された記録素子を含まない連続する記録素子列で構成される複数の重複領域を特定し、該特定した複数の重複領域のうち、重複する記録素子の数が最も多い重複領域を特定する重複領域特定部と、
を備え、
前記吐出制御部は、前記重複領域特定部によって特定された重複領域の範囲内で前記オーバーラップ制御を行うことを特徴とする画像形成装置。 - 前記吐出制御部は、前記重複領域特定部によって特定された重複領域が構成する重複する記録素子の数が所定数以上であるときは、前記所定数の連続する記録素子で前記オーバーラップ制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項1に記載の画像形成装置。
- 前記吐出制御部は、前記吐出不良である記録素子に対応する位置にドットを形成するときは、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部によって特定された記録素子に隣接する記録素子から記録材を吐出させる補完処理を行うことを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載の画像形成装置。
- 前記吐出制御部は、前記補完処理において、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部によって特定された記録素子に隣接する記録素子のうちの前記オーバーラップ制御の対象とならない記録素子から記録材を吐出させることを特徴とする請求項3に記載の画像形成装置。
- 前記吐出制御部は、前記吐出不良である記録素子が複数であるときは、前記吐出不良記録素子特定部によって特定された複数の記録素子のうち前記オーバーラップ制御の対象である記録素子よりも前記重なり領域に隣接する記録素子側に配置された記録素子に隣接する記録素子のみにより前記補完処理を行うことを特徴とする請求項3又は4に記載の画像形成装置。
- 前記吐出制御部は、前記補完処理による記録材の吐出を行う記録素子から吐出される記録材の量を所定量だけ多くすることを特徴とする請求項3~5の何れか一項に記載の画像形成装置。
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