JP2002347286A - Image recorder and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time for recording images without overlapping images to be recorded and lowering the image quality in an image recorder to which a paper feed motor having a resolution different from the resolution of a recording head is loaded. SOLUTION: When an (i) image data 502 (for recording elements 1-10) is received, the image data is stored into a memory. When a paper feed order amount 503 showing a transfer amount L is received then, an amount L1 (first paper feed amount 501) of the amount 503 by which the recording head (for recording elements 11-16) is filled is replaced with Null data showing no recording and stored. Thereafter, a paper feed controllable amount (L2) of the motor is calculated by L-L1. L3=L-L1-L2 is set to be a second paper feed amount, replaced with the Null data and stored. This process can limit what is replaced with the Null data among the paper feed order amount 503 to L1 and L3, and the paper feed controllable amount (L2) can be used as it is. Therefore, a total number of scanning times can be reduced. The recording time can be shortened as compared with conventional methods of replacing the whole paper feed order amount with the Null data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a serial scan type image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements in a sub-scanning direction (conveying direction) of the recording medium, and a serial scanning type image recording apparatus. Regarding the control method and the storage medium, for example, when converting input data in the main scanning direction (carriage scanning direction) into data in the sub-scanning direction and recording an image, the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the recording head Are related to an image recording apparatus and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as an information output device in a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile or the like, there is an image recording device for recording desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or film.

Various methods are known as a recording method for an image recording apparatus. However, non-contact recording is possible on a recording medium such as paper, colorization is easy, and quietness is high. Ink jet systems have attracted particular attention in recent years, and as a configuration, a recording head that ejects ink in accordance with desired recording information is mounted, and reciprocating scanning is performed in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of a recording medium such as paper. A serial recording system for performing recording is generally widely used because it is inexpensive and easy to miniaturize.

In the serial system, an operation is performed in which a recording head (specifically, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted) is moved in a scanning manner on a recording medium to eject ink to perform recording of one line,
This method forms an image by repeating the operation of transporting the recording medium by the line width in the direction perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction (main scanning direction) and the direction perpendicular to the carriage (transport direction, sub-scanning direction).

[0005] The amount of conveyance of the recording medium by the line width is determined by the resolution of a paper feed motor mounted on the image recording apparatus. On the other hand, the resolution of an image recorded by the image recording apparatus is determined by the resolution of the recording head, and the image recording apparatus is equipped with recording heads having various different resolutions.

However, if the resolution of the paper feed motor is different from the resolution of the printhead, the image to be printed will be different because the paper feed conveyance amount and the resolution of the printhead are different when printing an image using the printhead. Overlap, image quality is degraded.

Therefore, when selecting a paper feed motor, it is desirable to use a paper feed motor having the same resolution as that of the recording head.

[0008] Therefore, until now, for example, a resolution of 6
When a 00 dpi recording head is used, the same resolution (600 dpi) as the recording head or a multiple thereof (12 dpi) is used.
00 dpi) and a paper feed motor having a resolution of
The printer driver side has the same resolution (for example, 600d
In pi), image recording is controlled by transmitting image data and a paper feed command.

However, if the paper feed motor having a resolution different from the resolution of the recording head is inexpensive, the image recording apparatus can be provided to the user at a lower price. However, in this case, it is necessary to solve the problem that the recording pixels overlap when recording is performed based on the mismatch between the resolution of the recording head and the resolution of the paper feed motor, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

The following method can be considered as a method for solving this problem.

An example of an image recording apparatus equipped with a paper feed motor and a recording head having different resolutions has a resolution of 400.
An image recording apparatus equipped with a dpi paper feed motor and a recording head having a resolution of 600 dpi will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 10, the resolution is 400 dp.
The conveyance amount of two pulses of the paper feed control of the motor i is 63.5 ×
2 = 127 μm, and an image of three pixels to be recorded using three consecutive recording elements of the recording head is 42.3 × 3 =
127 μm.

That is, the transport amount for two pulses of the paper feed control of the motor coincides with the recording amount for three pixels recorded using three recording elements.

Therefore, the number of recording elements used in one scan in one-pass printing is set to a multiple of 3, and the paper feed control amount of the motor is set to a multiple of two pulses. Control becomes possible.

[0015]

However, the recording command instructing the paper feed control amount sent from the printer driver is not suitable for the paper feed control of the motor having the resolution of 400 dpi described above. If the print data and the paper feed command are configured at the same resolution of 600 dpi as the print head, the above control cannot be performed.

In the case described above, conventionally, in order to match the paper feed command with the resolution of the recording head, 600 d
Null (Nu) indicating no recording for all pi resolution paper feed commands
11) The data was replaced and handled. for that reason,
It was possible to match the paper feed command to the resolution of the recording head.

However, when all the paper feed commands are replaced with null data indicating no recording, the recording element of the recording head corresponding to the null data is not used.
The number of scans required for image recording increased, and the image recording time increased.

As a result, in the above-described method, the total number of scans for one page becomes larger than the number intended by the printer driver, and there is a problem that the image recording time increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus equipped with a paper feed motor having a resolution different from that of a recording head. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of reducing the image recording time without reducing the image quality due to overlapping images to be produced and being manufactured at a low cost, and a control method therefor.

[0020]

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, an image recording apparatus that scans a recording medium having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction on a recording medium in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction and records an image, and is transmitted in a raster format from an external device. A receiving buffer for storing the converted data, a conversion unit for sequentially converting the image data by a predetermined number into a format adapted to the arrangement of the recording elements when the data is image data; Storage means for sequentially storing in a memory divided into regions, transport means for transporting the recording medium in units of a predetermined transport amount, and, if the data is a transport instruction for transporting the recording medium, the image It is checked whether or not there is a vacant area in the predetermined area where data is stored. If there is a vacant area, only the carry amount corresponding to the vacant area in the transfer command is ignored. Is converted into null data indicating the record and stored in the empty area, and then the transportable amount that can be transported by the transport unit is determined from the difference between the transport amount specified by the transport command and the transport amount corresponding to the empty area. And a transport amount adding means for adding the transportable amount to the transport amount corresponding to the predetermined area, and subtracting the transportable amount from the difference and, if there is a residue, the null data as the null data. And null data storage means for converting the null data into a predetermined area next to the area where the null data is stored in the memory.

For example, the present invention is characterized in that the recording resolution differs from the predetermined transport amount.

Also, for example, the transportable amount is a multiple of the predetermined transport amount.

Further, for example, the image recording of each recording area can be completed by one scan of the recording head.

Further, for example, the predetermined area is an area for storing the image data necessary for one-time scanning using the recording head.

Further, for example, the image recording of each recording area can be completed by scanning the recording head a plurality of times.

Further, for example, the predetermined area is an area for storing the image data necessary for each one of the plurality of scans.

Further, for example, the recording head is an ink jet recording head which performs recording by discharging ink.

Also, for example, the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy,
It is characterized by having a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy given to the ink.

An image forming apparatus control method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, it has a memory for storing data transmitted from an external device, and prints an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction on a recording medium in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction. A method for controlling an image recording apparatus, wherein the data is image data,
A conversion step of sequentially converting the image data by a predetermined number into a format adapted to an array of recording elements; a storage step of sequentially storing the converted image data in a memory divided into predetermined areas; and a predetermined conveyance amount. A transport step of transporting the recording medium in units of, and if the data is a transport command for transporting the recording medium, check whether there is an empty area in the predetermined area where the image data is stored. If there is the empty area, only the transport amount corresponding to the empty area in the transport instruction is converted into null data indicating no recording and stored in the empty area, and then the transport specified by the transport instruction is performed. Calculating a transportable amount that can be transported by the transporting step from the difference between the transport amount corresponding to the empty area and the transportable amount, and adding the transportable amount to the transport amount corresponding to the predetermined area; Null data storage step of subtracting the transportable amount from the difference and, if there is a remainder, converting the remainder to the null data and storing the null data in a predetermined area next to the area where the null data is stored in the memory; , Is characterized by having.

[0030] A computer-readable storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. 19. A computer-readable storage medium that is executed by a computer device connectable to an image recording apparatus and stores a program for driving the image recording apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the program is a computer-readable storage medium. And a control method of the image recording apparatus according to any one of the above.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus will be described using an ink jet printer equipped with an ink jet type recording head. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described examples.

[First Embodiment] First, an ink jet printer equipped with an ink jet recording head according to a first embodiment will be described.

[Schematic Description of Inkjet Printer] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of an inkjet printer IJRA which is an inkjet printer according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the helical groove 5 of the rotating lead screw 5005 is rotated via the driving force transmission gears 5009 to 5011 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013.
The carriage HC that engages with 004 has a pin (not shown), and reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b while being supported by the guide rail 5003.

On the carriage HC, an integrated ink jet cartridge IJC having a recording head IJH and an ink tank IT is mounted.

Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which applies a recording paper P to the platen 500 in the moving direction of the carriage HC.
Press against 0.

Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers.
This is a home position detector for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013.

Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head IJH.
A suction unit 015 sucks the inside of the cap, and recovers the suction of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap.

Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 019 denotes a member which enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 5018. The blade is not limited to this embodiment,
It goes without saying that a well-known cleaning blade can also be applied to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, and a cam 5020 which engages with the carriage.
The driving force from the driving motor is controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. It is needless to say that the present example can be applied to any setting if the desired operation is set at the timing.

[Ink Cartridge] FIG. 2 shows an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a head can be separated.
1 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge IJC is positioned at the boundary K (black).
T and the recording head IJH can be separated. When the ink cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC, the ink cartridge IJC is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side. Is driven to eject ink. In FIG. 2, 5
Reference numeral 00 denotes an ink ejection port array. In addition, ink tank IT
Is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink.

[Description of Recording Control Configuration] Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described inkjet printer IJRA will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an ink jet printer IJRA.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of FIG.

In FIG. 3, a CPU 1 is a central processing unit, and according to, for example, a control procedure program shown in the flowchart of FIG. Perform control.

RAM (random access memory) 3
Is the work area of the CPU 1 and the host I / F unit 1
0 is used as a memory area for storing data received or a memory area for storing recording data.

The CR control unit 4 controls the drive of the carriage motor, and the LF control unit 5 controls the drive of the line feed motor.

The head control unit 6 is electrically connected to the print head, detects the temperature of the print head with a temperature sensor, and controls the drive of the print head by performing appropriate temperature control with a temperature heater or the like.

The recording control section 7 performs a CR control section 3, an LF control section 4,
A control command necessary for recording is issued to each control unit of the head control unit 5.

The data analysis unit 8 analyzes the data received by the host I / F unit 10 and sends the analyzed data to the recording control unit 7 or the recording buffer control unit 9.

The recording buffer controller 9 includes a data analyzer 8
RAM (random access
The memory 3 controls the size and quantity of a memory area for storing print data.

The host I / F unit 10 receives data sent from a host computer or the like.

The data analysis section 8 analyzes the data received by the host I / F section 10 and sends the data to the recording control section 7.

The system bus 11 is a bus that connects the above-described components and the CPU 1.

[Print Control Operation] In the ink jet printer of the present embodiment described above, even if the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the print head are different, the difference between the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the print head is overcome. However, since the total number of scans for one page can be made closer to the number intended by the printer driver, the total number of scans for one page can be reduced.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the image quality due to the overlapping of the ink ejected from the recording elements, and to shorten the recording time as compared with the conventional control in which all the paper feed commands are replaced with Null data.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, image recording using one color ink tank will be described. However, in the present embodiment, color image recording using a plurality of ink tanks will be described. Needless to say, it can be applied to records.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, image recording performed using a case in which the resolution of the motor is 400 dpi and the resolution of the recording head is 600 dpi is an example in which the resolution of the motor is different from that of the recording head. However, it is needless to say that the concept described in the present embodiment can be applied to an ink jet printer having a resolution of a motor and a resolution of a recording head other than those described above.

Hereinafter, the recording control operation in the ink jet printer of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The procedure of these flowcharts is as follows.
This is realized by the CPU 1 executing a program stored in the ROM 2.

First, in step S200, the host I / F unit 10 stores the received data in the reception data storage area of the RAM 3, and then the data analysis unit 8
The received data in the received data storage area of No. 3 is analyzed, and it is determined whether or not the received data is image data.

In step S201, if the received data is image data, the process proceeds to step S201, where the recording control unit 7 sequentially stores the received image data in the main scanning direction sequential data storage memory in the RAM 3, and then proceeds to step S201. S
Go to 203. The received image data is data arranged so as to be sequentially recorded in the main scanning direction.

On the other hand, in step S201, if the received data is image data, nothing is performed.
Go to 02.

Next, in step S203, the data analyzer 8 analyzes the received data in the received data storage area of the RAM 3 and determines whether the received data is a paper feed command.

If it is determined in step S203 that the received data is not a paper feed command, the flow returns to step S201.
The received image data is continuously stored in the data storage memory in the main scanning direction in the RAM 3.

On the other hand, in step S203, if the received data is a paper feed command, the data analysis unit 8 proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, it is determined whether image data is stored in the main scanning direction sequential data storage memory. If image data is not already stored in the main scanning direction sequential data storage memory, nothing is performed. In step S206, if image data has already been stored in the data storage memory in the main scanning direction,
After performing the processing in step S205, the process proceeds to step S206.

Next, regarding the processing in step S205,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which illustrate an example of a sequential data storage memory in the main scanning direction and a diagram illustrating image recording by the recording head illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows an example of a data storage area when one-scan printing is performed using a print head (having 16 print elements), and stores data used for the i-th scan. FIG. 4B is an example of a main scanning direction sequential data storage memory that stores data used for the (i + 1) th scan.

That is, in FIG. 4A, image data 502 is stored in storage areas 1 to 10, and storage areas 11 to 16 are changed from the paper feed command amount 503 (FIG. 5) to null data indicating no recording. This shows a state where the converted first paper feed amount 501 is stored.

The storage areas 1 to 4 in FIG.
The second paper feed amount 506 converted from the paper feed command amount 503 (FIG. 5) to null data indicating no recording indicates a state where the image data 508 is stored in the storage area of 5 to 16.

FIG. 5 shows an image recording based on the i-th data and the (i + 1) -th data stored in FIGS. 4A and 4B by a recording head (one scan width with 16 recording elements). FIG.

That is, the recording head 509 of FIG. 5 receives the i-th image data 502 and the paper feed command amount 503.
(L) is the first data converted to null data indicating no recording.
4 shows an image recording performed based on the paper feed amount 501 (L1) (stored in FIG. 4A) and the recording result.

The paper feed controllable amount 505 (L
2) The paper feed controllable amount 505 of the paper feed command amount L
(L2), the recording head 510 outputs the second paper feed amount 506 (L3) converted into null data indicating no recording in the paper feed command amount L and the received (i + 1) th 4 shows a method of performing image recording based on the image data (stored in FIG. 4B) and a recording result.

Reference numeral 507 denotes the amount of paper actually fed.

In step S205, the image data 502 is stored in the storage areas 1 to 10 of the main scan direction sequential data storage memory for storing the i-th data (for one scan width) shown in FIG. 4A. In this case, the paper feed command amount 503 (conveyance amount L) transmitted from the printer drive
Is analyzed, and the first paper feed amount 501 which is a part of the paper feed command amount 503, that is, the amount until the i-th data shown in FIG. 4A is filled (corresponding to the storage areas 11 to 16). Quantity) is replaced with Null data, and then step S
Proceed to 206.

Next, in step S206, the controllable paper feed amount 505 is calculated by the following method.

That is, of the paper feed command amount 505 (conveyance amount L) transmitted from the printer drive, an amount (L-L1) obtained by subtracting the first paper feed amount 501 replaced with Null data in step S205. The controllable amount of paper feed control (L2) of the motor is calculated based on

Here, an example of a method of calculating L2 will be described by taking as an example a case where the resolution of the motor is 400 dpi and the resolution of the recording head is different from 600 dpi.

Under the above conditions, the unit paper feed amount is 1 inch /
Since it is 400, the paper feed amount can be controlled at a multiple of 1 inch / 400. On the other hand, when the resolution of the recording head is 600 dpi, the length of one pixel is 1 inch / pixel.
600, the number of continuous recording pixels in the transport direction is 1
It is a multiple of inches / 600.

Therefore, if the amount L-L1 obtained by subtracting the first paper feed amount 501 from the above-mentioned paper feed command amount 505 is a multiple of 1 inch / 400, L-L1 is controlled by the motor paper feed control. What is necessary is just to make it possible amount (L2).

If L-L1 is not a multiple of 1 inch / 400, a multiple of 1 inch / 400 close to L-L1 is set to L2, and the remaining L3 = L-L1-L2 (1 inch / 600 of 1 inch / 600). Null) as the second paper feed amount
After the data is replaced with data, the data is stored in the first portion of the data storage memory in the main scanning direction in which the (i + 1) th image data (for one scan width) is stored.

For example, if the second paper feed amount (L3) is
In the case of four printing elements as shown in an example in (b), the data is sequentially stored in the data storage memories 1 to 4 in the main scanning direction.

By performing the above-described processing, the paper feed command amount 505 is replaced with null data only.
Only the first and second paper feed amounts (L1 and L3),
The paper feed controllable amount (L2) does not need to be replaced with Null data and can be used as it is as the motor paper feed controllable amount.

As a result, even when the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the print head are different, the difference between the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the print head is overcome, and the total number of scans for one page is reduced by the printer driver's intention. Since the number of scans can be approached, the total number of scans for one page can be reduced as compared with the conventional method.

Therefore, the recording time can be reduced as compared with the conventional recording control method in which all the paper feed commands are replaced with null data.

Next, in step S207, the above-described FIG.
The image data 502 and the first paper feed amount 501 shown in FIG.
, The image recording and the paper feed amount L1 are controlled, and then the process proceeds to step S208.

Next, in step S208, step S2
The controllable paper feed amount (L2) calculated in step 06 is added to one scan width to obtain the actual paper feed amount 507, and the paper feed control is performed.

Next, in step S209, the first sheet feed amount 501 (L) obtained in step S205 from the sheet feed command amount 503 (conveyance amount L) received from the printer driver.
1) and the second paper feed amount 506 (L3) obtained by subtracting the paper feed controllable amount 505 (L2) calculated in step S206.
= L−L1−L2) is determined to be 0, and if the second paper feed amount 506 is 0, nothing is performed and step S is performed.
The sequence proceeds to step 211 to complete the series of operations, and the second
If 6 is not 0, the process proceeds to step S210.

Next, in step S210, the second paper feed amount 506 is replaced with Null data,
After storing the data in the scanning direction sequential data storage memory accommodating the (i + 1) -th data shown in FIG.
To end a series of operations. To summarize the above description, the i-th image data 502 (recording element 1) shown in FIG.
After receiving the paper feed command amount 503 indicating the carry amount L, the amount L1 (the first amount) until the print head (for the print elements 11 to 16) is filled is received. Null indicating no recording of paper feed amount 501)
Replace with 1 data and store. Next, the controllable paper feed amount (L2) of the motor is calculated from L-L1, and L3 = L-L
1-L2 is replaced with Null data and stored as the second paper feed amount. By this processing, the paper feed command amount 505
Of these, L1 and L3 are replaced with Null data.
And the paper feed controllable amount (L2) can be used as it is, so that the total number of scans can be reduced. Therefore, the recording time can be shortened as compared with the conventional method in which all the paper feed command amounts are replaced with Null data.

As described above, by using this recording control method, the difference between the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the recording head can be overcome even if the printer driver controls image data of the same resolution and paper feed command. However, the total number of scans for one page can be made closer to the number intended by the printer driver.

Further, the conversion of the paper feed amount into Null data is to minimize the necessary amount as described above.
The image recording time can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where all paper feed amounts are converted into Null data.

For this reason, when a paper feed motor having a resolution different from that of the recording head is less expensive than using a paper feed motor having the same resolution as the resolution of the recording head, the user can use an inexpensive paper feed motor. It is possible to provide the products that have been used.

When a paper feed motor having high resolution and high accuracy can be used, a high-quality product can be provided.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a control method of an ink jet printer equipped with an ink jet recording head according to a second embodiment will be described.

The hardware configuration of the ink jet printer according to the second embodiment described below is the same as the hardware configuration of the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

Therefore, in the following description of the second embodiment, the description of the hardware configuration of the ink jet printer will be omitted, and the second embodiment using the above ink jet printer will be omitted.
In the control method according to the second embodiment, only differences from the control method according to the first embodiment will be described.

The difference between the ink jet printer of the first embodiment and the ink jet printer of the second embodiment is that, in the ink jet printer of the first embodiment, the image recording for the recording width of the recording head is performed by one scan. On the other hand, in the inkjet printer of the second embodiment, the multi-pass in which the image recording for the recording width of the recording head is performed not by one scan but by a plurality of scans is performed. The point is that the record is adopted.

Therefore, the second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the recording head is scanned a plurality of times in order to complete image recording in an area corresponding to the recording width of the recording head.

In the first embodiment, the paper feed amount is constant, but in the second embodiment, the paper feed amount can take a different value for each of a plurality of scans. The points are different.

Hereinafter, the recording control operation in the ink jet printer of the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S2000, the host I / F unit 10 stores the received data in the reception data storage area of the RAM 3, and then the data analysis unit 8
Analyze the reception data in the reception data storage area of M3,
It is determined whether the received data is image data.

In step S2010, if the received data is image data, the flow advances to step S2020. The recording control unit 7 sequentially stores the received image data in the main scanning direction sequential data storage memory in the RAM 3, and then proceeds to step S2020. The process proceeds to S2030. The received image data is data arranged so as to be sequentially recorded in the main scanning direction.

On the other hand, in step S2010, if the received data is image data, no operation is performed.
Proceed to 2020.

Next, in step S2030, data analysis section 8 analyzes the received data in the received data storage area of RAM 3 and determines whether the received data is a paper feed command.

If it is determined in step S2030 that the received data is not a paper feed command, the process returns to step S2010, and the received image data is continuously stored in the main scanning direction sequential data storage memory in the RAM 3.

On the other hand, in step S2030, if the received data is a paper feed command, data analysis unit 8 proceeds to step S2040.

In step S204, the controllable paper feed amount and the paper feed amount to be replaced with Null data are calculated.

Here, the controllable paper feed amount and the paper feed amount to be replaced with Null data will be described by way of an example of multi-pass printing in which three-pass printing (paper feed of paper feed amounts 3N, 3M, and 3L) is performed.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, in three-pass printing,
In the case of multi-pass printing in which the paper feed amount is 3N, the paper feed amount is 3M, and the paper feed amount is 3L, the paper feed command amount 601 (P), which is the paper feed command from the printer drive, stores the received data. For the image data stored in the area, the paper feed amount (the amount from the print head position A to the print head position 3M + 3L: Null conversion condition 602) required to complete the image printing by the multi-pass printing is equal to or less. If there is, the paper feed command amount 601 (P) is all N
Converted as ull data.

As shown in FIG. 8, a paper feed command amount 603 (Q) which is a paper feed command from the printer drive is provided.
Is larger than the paper feed amount (3M + 3L: Null conversion condition 602) required to complete image recording by multi-pass printing with respect to the image data stored in the reception data storage area up to that time. Data area 604 of paper feed command amount 603 that is less than the read unit of print data
(Q1) is converted into Null data, and the difference (Q-Q
The paper feedable amount (Q2) is counted from 1).

Subsequently, in step S205, step S
Paper feed control is performed by the paper feedable amount (Q2) calculated in 204.

Subsequently, recording control is performed in step S206, and the recording position of the received data storage area is returned to the head in step S207.

Next, in step S208, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining paper feed amount 606 (Q3 = Q-Q1-Q2). If there is a remaining paper feed amount 606 (Q3), step S2090 Then, the remaining paper feed amount 606 (Q3) in the main scanning direction sequential data storage memory is replaced with Null data, and the process proceeds to step S2100 to end a series of processes.

On the other hand, if there is no remaining paper feed amount 606 (Q3) in step S2080, the process advances to step S2100 without any operation to end a series of operations.

As described above, by using this recording control method, the difference between the resolution of the paper feed motor and the resolution of the recording head can be overcome even if the printer driver controls the image data and the paper feed command having the same resolution. It is possible to do.

The conversion of the paper feed amount into Null data is performed as described above in order to minimize the necessary amount.
The image recording time can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where all paper feed amounts are converted into Null data.

For this reason, when a paper feed motor having a resolution different from that of the recording head is less expensive than using a paper feed motor having the same resolution as the resolution of the recording head, a user can use an inexpensive paper feed motor. It is possible to provide the products that have been used.

When a paper feed motor having high resolution and high accuracy can be used, a high-quality product can be provided.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and that the liquid stored in the ink tank is ink. It is not limited. For example, an ink tank may contain a processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path in which Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid.

The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

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

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The configurations described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting surface is arranged in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge section of an electrothermal transducer for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, and an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy is discharged. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to each unit, may be adopted.

Further, 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 determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head that allows for easy connection and supply of ink from the apparatus body may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, and may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used.

In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5
No. 6,847, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided not only as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer but also integrally or separately, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, etc. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

[0136]

[Other Embodiments] The present invention relates to a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader,
The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by an image recording apparatus or the like, or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium (or a recording medium) on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Or CPU and MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium,
It goes without saying that this is achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code,
The operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts (shown in FIGS. 6 and 9).

[0140]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an image recording apparatus equipped with a paper feed motor having a resolution different from the resolution of the recording head, the image to be recorded can be formed without overlapping and deteriorating the image quality. Reduce recording time,
An image recording apparatus that can be manufactured at low cost and a control method thereof can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a main part of an inkjet image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge in which an ink tank and a head according to an embodiment of the present invention are separable.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the inkjet image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a recording control operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a main scan direction sequential data storage memory according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating image recording by a recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of multi-pass printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of multi-pass printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where the resolution of a paper feed motor and the resolution of a printing element are different.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central processing unit (CPU) 2 Read-only memory (ROM) 3 Random access memory (RAM) 4 CR control unit 5 LF control unit 6 Head control unit 7 Recording control unit 8 Data analysis unit 9 Recording buffer control Unit 10 Host I / F unit 11 System bus

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction on a recording medium in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction. A receiving buffer for storing the data transmitted in step (a), when the data is image data, a conversion unit for sequentially converting the image data into a format adapted to an array of recording elements by a predetermined number at a time, and the converted image A storage unit for sequentially storing data in a memory divided into predetermined regions, a conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium in units of a predetermined conveyance amount, and in a case where the data is a conveyance command for conveying the recording medium, It is checked whether or not there is an empty area in the predetermined area in which the image data is stored. Is converted to null data indicating no recording and stored in the empty area, and subsequently, a transport that can be transported by the transport unit is determined from a difference between the transport amount specified by the transport command and the transport amount corresponding to the empty area. A transportable amount adding unit that calculates a possible transportable amount and adds the transportable amount to a transportable amount corresponding to the predetermined area, and subtracts the transportable amount from the difference and, if there is a residual, the residual An image recording apparatus, comprising: null data storage means for converting the data into the null data and storing the null data in a predetermined area next to the area where the null data is stored in the memory. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording resolution is different from the predetermined transport amount. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transportable amount is a multiple of the predetermined transport amount. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image recording of each recording area can be completed by one scan of the recording head. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined area is an area for storing the image data necessary for performing one scan using the recording head. 6. The printing head scans a plurality of times.
4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image recording of each recording area can be completed. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined area is an area for storing the image data necessary for one of the plurality of scans. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 9. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 10. An image recording apparatus according to Item 8. 10. A print head having a memory for storing data transmitted from an external device and having a plurality of print elements arrayed in a predetermined direction scanned on a print medium in a direction intersecting the array direction. A method of controlling an image recording apparatus for recording an image, wherein, when the data is image data, a conversion step of sequentially converting the image data into a format adapted to an array of recording elements by a predetermined number, and A storage step of sequentially storing image data in a memory divided into predetermined regions, a transport step of transporting the recording medium in units of a predetermined transport amount, and a transfer command for transporting the recording medium when the data is a transport command. Checks whether there is a vacant area in the predetermined area where the image data is stored. Converted to null data indicating no recording, stored in the empty area, and subsequently, from the difference between the transport amount specified by the transport command and the transport amount corresponding to the empty area, transportable by the transport step is possible. Calculating a transfer amount, and adding the transferable amount to the transfer amount corresponding to the predetermined area; and, if there is a residue after subtracting the transferable amount from the difference, the residue is replaced with the null data. And storing the null data in a predetermined area next to the area where the null data is stored in the memory. 11. The control method for an image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a recording resolution is different from the predetermined transport amount. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transportable amount is a multiple of the predetermined transport amount. 13. A single scan of the recording head,
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein image recording of each recording area can be completed. 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined area is an area for storing the image data necessary for performing one-time scanning using the recording head. 13. The method for controlling an image recording apparatus according to item 13. 15. The image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein image recording of each recording area can be completed by scanning the recording head a plurality of times. Control method. 16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined area is an area for storing the image data required for each one of the plurality of scans. 2. The method for controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 18. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head discharges ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 18. A method for controlling an image recording apparatus according to Item 17. 19. A computer-readable storage medium that is executed by a computer device connectable to an image recording apparatus and stores a program for driving the image recording apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the program is a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium that implements the method for controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 18.