JP3782610B2 - Recording apparatus and recording method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method, and more particularly to a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of shortening the entire recording time including the moving time of a recording head in a serial recording method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, as an information output device in a word processor, personal computer, facsimile, or the like, there is a printer that records information such as desired characters and images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or film.
[0003]
Various types of recording methods are known for printers, but inkjet methods have recently been used for reasons such as non-contact recording on recording media such as paper, easy colorization, and high quietness. It has attracted particular attention, and as its configuration, a serial head that performs recording while mounting a recording head that ejects ink according to desired recording information and reciprocating scanning in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a recording medium such as paper In general, the recording method is widely used because it is inexpensive and easy to downsize.
[0004]
Generally, a printer develops data received from a host into recording data, but is configured to perform recording sequentially each time recording data corresponding to one scan is obtained. Therefore, the moving distance of the recording head in the next scan is not normally managed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since a general printer does not manage the start position and end position of the next scan as described above, the recording head moving distance and moving sequence in the recording operation are wasted, resulting in a long recording time. Problem arises.
[0006]
In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording apparatus configured to perform a recovery process each time a discharge operation is performed a certain number of times or for a certain period of time and maintain the recording quality during continuous recording. Even in such a recording apparatus, the start position and the end position of the next scan are not managed, and the movement sequence of the recording head including the recovery process is not optimized.
[0007]
For example, when the next recording data is received, the number of seconds or minutes after which recovery processing is required can be calculated by reverse calculation at the present time, but the required recovery processing is performed in the middle of which sequence In order to accurately predict whether or not the recording data has not been received up to the point in time when the recovery process is predicted to be performed, it is impossible.
[0008]
In order to do this, it is necessary to greatly increase the capacity of the reception buffer and the recording buffer so that the amount of data corresponding to a large number of scans can be received and expanded and stored in the recording data. Is impossible. In addition, when this is done, the recording operation cannot be performed for a time until a large amount of recording data corresponding to a large number of scans is obtained, and thus another problem is that waiting time after instructing recording increases. Arise.
[0009]
Accordingly, the recovery process is configured to be executed after the recording operation for one scan is performed, but the predetermined position at which the recovery process is performed by accelerating the recording head once stopped after the recording operation of one scan is completed. The operation of moving to a stop is performed, and the movement sequence is not efficient considering the entire recording time.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a recording apparatus capable of moving the recording head more efficiently and reducing the entire recording time including the moving time of the recording head. The purpose is to do.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a recording apparatus of the present invention, based on the information transmitted from the external device, by scanning the recording head on the recording medium it has line recording, the recording of the plurality of scan speeds with recording different A recording apparatus having a mode, wherein recovery positions for performing preliminary ejection while moving the recording head are provided on both sides of the recording medium in the scanning direction ,
Data conversion means for converting information transmitted from the external device into recording data adapted to the configuration of the recording head;
Recording area calculation means for obtaining positions of both ends of the area to be recorded on the recording medium from an amount of recording data corresponding to one scan converted by the data conversion means;
The combination of the parameters was varied with the recovery position at which the preliminary ejection processing should be performed for each predetermined number of scans, the moving direction of the scan with recording, and the moving speed of the recording head as parameters of the moving path of the recording head. A recording time having a plurality of recording patterns and calculating a recording time including a moving time of the recording head for each recording pattern based on the positions of the both ends obtained by the recording area calculating means and the designated recording mode A calculation means;
Selecting means for selecting a recording pattern to be executed next based on the recording time calculated by the recording time calculating means from the plurality of recording patterns;
Control means for controlling to perform recording by moving the recording head according to the recording pattern selected by the selecting means ,
When an amount of print data corresponding to one scan for the next scan is received, calculation by the print area calculation means, calculation by the print time calculation means, and selection by the selection means are performed .
[0012]
The recording method of the present invention to achieve the above object, based on the information transmitted from the external device, by scanning the recording head on the recording medium have line recording, the recording of the plurality of scan speeds with recording different A recording method in which a recovery position for performing preliminary ejection while moving the recording head is provided on both sides of the recording medium in the scanning direction ,
A data conversion step of converting the information transmitted from the external device into recording data that matches the configuration of the recording head;
A recording area calculation step for obtaining positions of both ends of the area to be recorded on the recording medium from an amount of recording data corresponding to one scan converted by the data conversion step;
The combination of the parameters was varied with the recovery position at which the preliminary ejection processing should be performed for each predetermined number of scans, the moving direction of the scan with recording, and the moving speed of the recording head as parameters of the moving path of the recording head. A recording time for calculating a recording time including a moving time of the recording head for each recording pattern based on the positions of both ends obtained in the recording area calculating step and the designated recording mode. A calculation process;
A selection step of selecting a recording pattern to be executed next based on the recording time calculated by the recording time calculation step from the plurality of recording patterns;
A control step for controlling to move the recording head according to the recording pattern selected by the selection step, and to perform recording .
When the amount of print data corresponding to one scan for the next scan is received, the print area calculation step, the print time calculation step, and the selection step are performed .
[0013]
That is, when print data corresponding to one scan is obtained, the positions of both ends of the print area are obtained from the print data, and a recovery position to be subjected to preliminary ejection processing every predetermined number of scans is accompanied by printing. calculating the movement direction of the scan, and the moving speed of the recording head as a parameter of the moving path of the recording head, for each of a plurality of recording patterns having different combinations of parameters, the recording time including travel time of the recording head Then, a recording pattern to be executed next is selected, and a recording operation is performed according to the recording pattern.
[0014]
As a result, a recording operation is performed according to a recording pattern selected from a plurality of types of recording patterns, so that the recording head is moved more efficiently and the entire recording time including the moving time of the recording head is shortened. be able to.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of an ink jet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the carriage HC engaged with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5009 to 5011 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). It is supported by the guide rail 5003 and reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b. On the carriage HC, an integrated ink jet cartridge IJC incorporating a recording head IJH and an ink tank IS is mounted.
[0018]
A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the recording paper P against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage HC. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photo-couplers which are home position detectors for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013.
[0019]
Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head IJH. Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction unit that sucks the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the cap opening 5023. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade, and reference numeral 5019 denotes a member that enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by a main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, the blade is not in this form, and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example.
[0020]
Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 engaged with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching. Is done.
[0021]
These capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side region. As long as the above operation is performed, any of these can be applied to this example.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, as a recovery process of the print head, a process of performing preliminary discharge while moving the print head (hereinafter referred to as “flow preliminary discharge”) can be executed on both sides of the printable area. Yes.
[0023]
Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.
[0024]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the inkjet printer IJRA. In the figure showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, 1703 is various data (the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). Etc.). Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array (GA) that controls supply of recording data to the recording head 1708, and also performs data transfer control among the interface 1700, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for conveying the recording head 1708, and 1709 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.
[0025]
The operation of the control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701. The motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform recording.
[0026]
Here, the control program executed by the MPU 1701 is stored in the ROM 1702. However, the control program can be changed from a host computer connected to the recording apparatus by further adding an erasable / writeable storage medium such as an EEPROM. It can also be configured as follows.
[0027]
As described above, the ink tank IS and the recording head IJH may be integrally formed to constitute a replaceable ink cartridge IJC. However, the ink tank IS and the recording head IJH can be separated from each other. Then, only the ink tank IS may be exchanged when the ink runs out.
[0028]
FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of the ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the head can be separated. As shown in FIG. 9, the ink cartridge IJC can separate the ink tank IS and the recording head IJH at the position of the boundary line K. When the ink cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC, an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side is provided, and by this electric signal, the recording head IJH as described above is provided. Is driven to eject ink.
[0029]
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink discharge port array. The ink tank IS is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.
[0030]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording system using the ink jet printer of the present embodiment, in which an ink jet printer IJRA and a personal computer PC are connected via a predetermined interface so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. Data to be recorded is transmitted in raster format from the personal computer PC as the host, and the ink jet printer IJRA converts the received raster format data into column format recording data according to the configuration of the recording head, and performs recording. .
[0031]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the movement path of the recording head in the present embodiment. In the figure, HP indicates the current position of the recording head IJH, and here it is in the vicinity of the home position. Further, P1 and P2 indicate positions where the preliminary discharge of the flow outside the recordable area is performed. S1 to S3 are recording areas recorded in the first to third scans, and the left end of each recording area is indicated by L1, L2, L3, and the right end is indicated by R1, R2, R3, respectively.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, assuming that the widths of the areas S1 to S3 recorded in the first to third scans are the same, a recording pattern that minimizes the entire recording time including the moving time is obtained. At this time, each recording pattern is set so as to flow through either position P1 or P2 and perform preliminary ejection each time scanning is performed once.
[0033]
FIG. 3 shows a table of speed parameters necessary for calculating the recording time. The ink jet printer IJRA according to the present embodiment corresponds to three recording modes (high-speed, fine, ultra-fine, etc.) that can be designated by the user as scan speeds that are moving speeds when recording and executing pre-discharge. There are three speeds. Further, there are three types of speeds corresponding to the moving distance as return speeds which are moving speeds when the recording operation is not performed.
[0034]
Basically, the scanning speed is slower than the return speed, and the return speed has a characteristic that the constant speed of the carriage increases as the moving distance becomes longer.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for determining at which speed of the speed parameters the movement is performed. First, it is determined whether or not the speed to be obtained is the scan speed (step S401). When the scan speed is to be obtained, the moving speed is set according to the currently designated recording mode. That is, it is determined whether or not the designated recording mode is the recording mode A (step S402). If the recording mode is A, the scan speed 1 is set as the moving speed (step S403). It is determined whether or not the designated recording mode is the recording mode B (step S404). If the recording mode is B, the scan speed 2 is set as the moving speed (step S405). Otherwise, the scan speed 3 is set as the moving speed (step S406).
[0036]
On the other hand, when calculating the return speed, it is determined whether the distance to be moved belongs to one of the long distance, the medium distance, and the short distance by comparing with two threshold values, and the moving speed is set according to the determination result. That is, it is determined whether or not the moving distance is longer than any threshold (step S407). If the moving distance is long, the return speed 4 is set as the moving speed (step S408). It is determined whether or not the distance is a medium distance between two threshold values (step S409). If the distance is medium, the return speed 5 is set as the moving speed (step S410). Otherwise, the return speed 6 is set as the moving speed because the distance is short (step S411).
[0037]
FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change with respect to time of the moving speed of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted. A time t1 from the start of movement until reaching the set speed V is called an acceleration time, and a distance moved during that time is shown as an acceleration distance. The time (t2-t1) for moving at the set speed V is called a constant speed moving time, and the distance moved during that time is shown as the constant speed moving distance. In addition, the time (T-t2) from the speed V to decelerating and stopping is called a deceleration time, and the distance traveled during that time is shown as the deceleration distance.
[0038]
The total movement time T from the start of movement to the stop is the sum of the acceleration time, the constant speed movement time, and the deceleration time, and the acceleration time and the deceleration time are obtained from the speed parameter table of FIG. 3 described above. Therefore, if the constant speed travel time is known, the total travel time T is obtained.
[0039]
Here, the speed V is set from the current recording mode if it is a movement for recording or pre-discharge, and if it is any other movement, it is set from a given moving distance.
(Travel distance) = (speed) x (time)
From this relationship, the constant speed travel time can be obtained by calculating the constant speed travel distance. Therefore, the constant speed travel distance is calculated by subtracting the acceleration distance and the deceleration distance obtained from the speed parameter table of FIG. 3 from the known travel distance, and dividing the value by the speed V to obtain the constant speed travel time. It is done.
[0040]
FIG. 6 shows four types of recording patterns of the recording head when recording three recording areas S1 to S3 each recorded in one scan. In any pattern, the movement start position HP of the recording head IJH is the same, and each time a recording area is recorded, the preliminary discharge is performed at either P1 or P2. The circles in the figure indicate the implementation of this preliminary discharge.
[0041]
Note that the movement path of the recording head is shown as accompanying the movement in the sub-scanning direction from the top to the bottom in the figure, but in reality, the recording paper is conveyed from the bottom to the top in the figure, and the recording head is reciprocated in the scanning direction. Only exercise.
[0042]
The first pattern shown in FIG. 6A is a pattern in which the recording head IJH moves while alternately recording in the reciprocating direction in the three recording areas S1 to S3. Before recording the recording area S2, P2 And pre-discharge is performed at P1, and pre-discharge is performed at P1 before recording the recording area S3.
[0043]
The recording time according to this pattern is a series of movement time from the start of movement from HP to recording in the area S1, moving to P2 at the scanning speed and stopping (hereinafter, the time taken for movement to perform recording or pre-discharge) (Referred to as scan time) T1 and P2 for pre-discharge and recording in region S2, scan time T2 until moving to P1 at the scan speed and stopping, and P1 for pre-discharge and recording in region S3 To the sum of the scan time T3 until stopping at the right end L3 of the recording area S3.
[0044]
The second pattern shown in FIG. 6 (b) is a pattern in which recording is performed only when the recording head IJH moves in the three recording areas S1 to S3 in the forward direction, and returns to the vicinity of P1 after recording. Before recording the recording areas S2 and S3, both are flown at P1 and preliminary discharge is performed.
[0045]
The recording time according to this pattern includes a series of movement times T1 from the start of movement from HP to recording to the area S1 and stopping, return time T2 returning from the right end R1 to P1 at the return speed, and reserve flow at P1. A scan time T3 from the discharge to recording in the region S2 until the stop, a return time T4 to return from the right end R1 to P1 at the return speed, a flow at P1, the preliminary discharge to perform recording in the region S3, and the recording in the recording region S3 This is the sum of the scan time T5 until stopping at the right end R3.
[0046]
The third pattern shown in FIG. 6C performs recording only when the recording head IJH moves in the three recording areas S1 to S3 in the forward direction, and performs pre-discharge by flowing at P2 at the scan speed. This pattern returns to the vicinity of the left end of the area, and in the case of forward direction designation recording, etc., before recording S2 and S3, it flows in the backward direction and performs preliminary discharge to move to the left end position of the recording area.
[0047]
The recording time according to this pattern is a series of movement times T1 from the start of movement to the start of recording after recording from the area S1 to the stop, and P2 at the scan speed obtained from the current recording mode. Thus, a return time T2 for returning to the vicinity of the left end L2 of the recording area, a scanning time T3 until recording is stopped after recording in the area S2, and a pre-discharge is performed at P2 at the scan speed obtained from the current recording mode. This is the sum of the return time T4 for returning to the vicinity of the left end L3 of the recording area and the scanning time T5 for recording the area S3 and stopping at the right end R3 of the recording area S3.
[0048]
In the fourth pattern shown in FIG. 6D, the recording head IJH is temporarily moved from HP to the vicinity of P2 before recording, and when the recording head IJH moves in the recording area in the backward direction, S3 to S3-3. This is a pattern for recording in one recording area, and before recording the recording areas S2 and S3, both are pre-discharged at P2.
[0049]
The recording time by this pattern is from return time T1 until moving from HP to P2 at the return speed and stopping, scanning time T2 from recording to the area S1 at the scan speed until stopping at the left end L1, and up to P2. Return time T3 until moving at the return speed and stopping, and scanning time T4 until moving at the scanning speed to the left end L2 after recording at the area S2 by pre-discharging at P2 and stopping, and return speed to P2 This is the sum of the return time T5 until moving and stopping, and the scan time T6 until flowing and stopping at P2 and recording in the region S3 and moving to the left end L3 at the scanning speed and stopping.
[0050]
The recording times of the four types of patterns as described above are calculated, the pattern with the shortest recording time is selected, and recording is performed according to the patterns. In addition, these processes are performed every time when the recording data corresponding to the next scan is obtained and the scanning of each recording area is completed, and when the recording area width changes, the recording time becomes shorter. Allows changes to the pattern.
[0051]
Here, the recording pattern selection processing in this embodiment will be described again with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0052]
When the recording operation is started, data received from an external device such as a host computer is converted into recording data that matches the configuration of the recording head. When the recording data corresponding to one scan is obtained (step S101), the recording time for recording with some preset recording patterns as shown in FIG. 6 is calculated (step S102). . The movement time of each movement process of the recording pattern is obtained as described with reference to FIGS.
[0053]
When the recording time of each recording pattern is calculated, the recording pattern with the shortest recording time is selected (step S103), and recording for one scan is performed according to the selected recording pattern (step S104).
[0054]
When the recording for one scan is completed, it is determined whether or not the recording for one page has been completed (step S105). If not, the process returns to step S101 again. If the recording of one page has been completed, it is determined whether or not all the recording has been completed (step S106). If not, the process returns to step S101 again. If all the recordings have been completed, the process ends.
[0055]
The four types of recording patterns described with reference to FIG. 6 have the positions where the preliminary discharge is performed on both sides as the recovery process, and the flow preliminary discharge is performed every time each recording area is recorded. It is not limited to the sink preliminary discharge, and it is not necessary to provide the execution position on both sides.
[0056]
Furthermore, the types of recording patterns are not limited to the four types described above, and it is a matter of course that various recording patterns that can be considered according to the configuration of the recording head and the driving mechanism can be selected. In this case, the number of scans of the print pattern is not limited to three, and it is sufficient that the print patterns are the same for a plurality of types of print patterns to be selected. Obtainable.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, the liquid droplets ejected from the recording head have been described as ink, and the liquid stored in the ink tank has been described as ink. However, the storage is limited to ink. It is not a thing. For example, a treatment liquid discharged to the recording medium may be stored in the ink tank in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.
[0058]
The above embodiment includes means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) that generates thermal energy as energy used for performing ink discharge, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the ink is generated by the thermal energy. By using a system that causes a change in the state of recording, it is possible to achieve higher recording density and higher definition.
[0059]
As its typical configuration and principle, for example, those performed using the basic principle disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 are preferable. 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, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and applying a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer, the thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head This is effective because film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the liquid, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed.
[0060]
By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable that the drive signal has a pulse shape, since the bubble growth and contraction is performed immediately and appropriately, and thus it is possible to achieve discharge of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness.
[0061]
As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by employing the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface.
[0062]
As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (straight liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal transducer as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, the heat acting surface The configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which is disposed in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-123670, which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal transducer, or an opening that absorbs a pressure wave of thermal energy is discharged to a plurality of electrothermal transducers. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-138461 disclosing a configuration corresponding to each part may be adopted.
[0063]
Furthermore, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. Either a configuration or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used.
[0064]
In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus body by being attached to the apparatus body. A replaceable chip type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus main body may be used.
[0065]
In addition, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary means, etc. to the configuration of the recording apparatus described above, since the recording operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include a capping unit for the recording head, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit, an electrothermal converter, a heating element different from this, or a preheating unit using a combination thereof. In addition, it is effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording in order to perform stable recording.
[0066]
Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrated or may be a combination of a plurality of colors. An apparatus having at least one of full colors can also be provided.
[0067]
In the embodiment described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink is solidified at room temperature or lower, it may be softened or liquefied at room temperature. Alternatively, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable discharge range by adjusting the temperature within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower. It is sufficient if the ink sometimes forms a liquid.
[0068]
In addition, it is solidified in a stand-by state in order to actively prevent temperature rise by heat energy as energy for changing the state of ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to prevent ink evaporation. Ink that is liquefied by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy according to the application of thermal energy according to the recording signal, the ink is liquefied and liquid ink is ejected, or when it reaches the recording medium, it already starts to solidify. The present invention can also be applied to the case of using ink having the property of being liquefied for the first time.
[0069]
In such a case, the ink is held as a liquid or solid in a porous sheet recess or through-hole as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, It is good also as a form which opposes with respect to an electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-described inks is to execute the above-described film boiling method.
[0070]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile device) including a single device. You may apply to.
[0071]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0072]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0073]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above (shown in FIGS. 4 and 10).
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since the recording operation is performed according to the recording pattern having the shortest recording time including the moving time of the recording head among a plurality of types of recording patterns, the recording head can be made more efficient. The total recording time including the moving time of the recording head can be shortened.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording system using an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a moving path of a recording head according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a speed parameter table used in the embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart showing a process for obtaining a moving speed from the speed parameter table of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between carriage movement speed and time.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing examples of several recording patterns in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing a configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the ink jet printer of FIG. 7. FIG.
9 is an external perspective view showing a configuration of an ink cartridge used in the ink jet printer of FIG. 7. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a recording pattern selection process in the embodiment of the invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
IJH recording head HP Current positions P1 and P2 of the recording head Flow preliminary ejection execution positions S1 to S3 Recording areas T1 to T2 Recording head moving path

Claims (7)

Based on the information transmitted from the external device, by scanning the recording head on the recording medium have line recording by having a plurality of recording modes that the scanning speed is different with the recording, preliminary ejection while moving the recording head A recovery device in which recovery positions are provided on both sides of the recording medium in the scanning direction ,
Data conversion means for converting information transmitted from the external device into recording data adapted to the configuration of the recording head;
Recording area calculation means for obtaining positions of both ends of the area to be recorded on the recording medium from an amount of recording data corresponding to one scan converted by the data conversion means;
The combination of the parameters was varied with the recovery position at which the preliminary ejection processing should be performed for each predetermined number of scans, the moving direction of the scan with recording, and the moving speed of the recording head as parameters of the moving path of the recording head. A recording time having a plurality of recording patterns and calculating a recording time including a moving time of the recording head for each recording pattern based on the positions of the both ends obtained by the recording area calculating means and the designated recording mode A calculation means;
Selecting means for selecting a recording pattern to be executed next based on the recording time calculated by the recording time calculating means from the plurality of recording patterns;
Control means for controlling to perform recording by moving the recording head according to the recording pattern selected by the selecting means ,
When the amount of print data corresponding to one scan for the next scan is received, calculation by the print area calculation means, calculation by the print time calculation means, and selection by the selection means are performed. apparatus. The scanning and the speed for moving said recording head during the recovery process, the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said speed different from moving the recording head in the other. 3. The recording according to claim 2 , comprising a plurality of recording modes having different recording densities, and a speed at which the recording head is moved during the scanning and the recovery processing is determined according to the recording mode. apparatus. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a speed at which the recording head is moved at other times is determined according to a distance at which the recording head is moved. The recording head, recording device according to claim 1, wherein in any one of the four that the ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink. The recording head utilizes thermal energy to a recording head for ejecting the ink, according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a thermal energy converter for generating heat energy applied to the ink Recording device. Based on the information transmitted from the external device, by scanning the recording head on the recording medium have line recording by having a plurality of recording modes that the scanning speed is different with the recording, preliminary ejection while moving the recording head Is a recording method in which recovery positions are provided on both sides of the recording medium in the scanning direction ,
A data conversion step of converting the information transmitted from the external device into recording data that matches the configuration of the recording head;
A recording area calculation step for obtaining positions of both ends of the area to be recorded on the recording medium from an amount of recording data corresponding to one scan converted by the data conversion step;
The combination of the parameters was varied with the recovery position at which the preliminary ejection processing should be performed for each predetermined number of scans, the moving direction of the scan with recording, and the moving speed of the recording head as parameters of the moving path of the recording head. A recording time for calculating a recording time including a moving time of the recording head for each recording pattern based on the positions of both ends obtained in the recording area calculating step and the designated recording mode. A calculation process;
A selection step of selecting a recording pattern to be executed next based on the recording time calculated by the recording time calculation step from the plurality of recording patterns;
A control step for controlling to move the recording head according to the recording pattern selected by the selection step, and to perform recording .
A recording method comprising: performing the recording area calculating step, the recording time calculating step, and the selecting step when receiving an amount of recording data corresponding to one scanning for the next scanning .

Images