JP3869974B2 - Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording method and a recording apparatus in which adverse effects associated with an increase in speed in high image quality recording by multi-scan recording are suppressed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, OA office equipment such as personal computers and word processors has become widespread, and various recording devices that print out information input by these devices, high image quality technology, and high speed technology have been developed at a rapid pace. It is coming. Hereinafter, these techniques will be briefly described.
[0003]
(1) High image quality technology
An example of a high image quality technology is multi-scan recording.
[0004]
When recording is performed using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, the quality of the recorded image largely depends on the performance of the recording head alone. Slight differences that occur during the recording head manufacturing process, such as the shape of the discharge port of the recording head and the variation of the electrothermal transducer (discharge heater), affect the direction and direction of the discharged ink. As a result, the image quality is deteriorated as the density unevenness of the image formed automatically.
[0005]
A specific example will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 201 denotes a recording head, which is assumed to be composed of eight multi-nozzles 202 for simplicity. Reference numeral 203 denotes ink droplets ejected by the multi-nozzles 202, and it is ideal that ink is ejected in the uniform direction, usually with uniform discharge amounts as shown in this figure. If such ejection is performed, dots of uniform size aligned on the paper surface are landed as shown in FIG. 1 (b), and the overall density is also as shown in FIG. 1 (c). A uniform image without unevenness can be obtained.
[0006]
However, in practice, the recording head 201 has a variation in the ejection characteristics of each nozzle as described above, and when recording is performed in the same manner as described above, as shown in FIG. Variations occur in the size and direction of ink drops ejected from the respective nozzles, and the ink drops are landed on the paper surface as shown in FIG. As is apparent from this figure, there is a white background portion where the area factor of 100% cannot be periodically satisfied in the head main scanning direction, that is, the area coverage of 100% on the paper surface by ink does not exist, and vice versa. In addition, dots may overlap more than necessary, or white streaks as seen in the center of FIG. 2B may occur. The density distribution due to the collection of dots landed in such a state becomes a density distribution as shown in FIG. 2C with respect to the nozzle arrangement direction. The phenomenon is perceived as density unevenness.
[0007]
Therefore, the following method has been devised as a countermeasure against this density unevenness. The method will be described with reference to FIGS. According to this method, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 201 is scanned three times to complete the print area shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but the area of 4 pixel units which is half of the print area is 2 It is completed in 1 scan. In this case, the 8 nozzles of the recording head are divided into groups of upper 4 nozzles and lower 4 nozzles, and dots printed by one nozzle in one scan are defined image data in accordance with a predetermined image data array. It is thinned out to about half. Then, based on the remaining half of the image data during the second scan, the dots are embedded in the places where dots were not formed in the first scan, and printing of the 4-pixel unit area is completed. Such a recording method is hereinafter referred to as a multi-scan recording method.
[0008]
When such a recording method is used, even if the same recording head as shown in FIG. 2 is used, the influence on the print image specific to each nozzle is reduced by half, so that the printed image is shown in FIG. Thus, the black and white stripes as shown in FIG. 2B are not so noticeable. Therefore, the density unevenness is considerably reduced as compared with the case of FIG. 2C as shown in FIG.
[0009]
When performing such recording, in the first and second scans, the image data is divided so as to be compensated for each other according to a certain arrangement (mask). Usually, this image data arrangement (decimation pattern) is shown in FIG. As shown in a) to (c), it is most common to use a pixel that is exactly in a staggered pattern for each vertical and horizontal pixel. In the unit printing area (in this case, 4 pixel unit), the first scan for printing the staggered pattern as shown in FIG. 4A and the reverse staggered pattern as shown in FIG. 4B. Printing is completed by the second scan.
[0010]
In general, the amount of movement of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction during each main scan is set to be constant, and in the case of FIGS. 3 and 4, the nozzles are evenly moved by four nozzles.
[0011]
(2) High-speed technology
As an example of high speed technology, an increase in the number of nozzles of a multi-nozzle can be considered. In the case of serial recording in which recording is performed by one recording scan using all the nozzles of the recording head, there is no proportional relationship because there is time for paper feeding, paper discharging, etc., but the recording speed is the number of nozzles used. It rises with increasing. For example, when a recording head with a recording density of 360 dpi and a 64-nozzle recording head is used, printing on a recording medium of A4 size can be completed in about 60 recording scans, but a 256-nozzle recording head with the same recording density. When is used, printing is completed in about 15 recording scans, the recording speed is increased, and recording can be performed at a speed close to about 4 times.
[0012]
In this case, the former has a nozzle row length of about 4.52 mm (= 25.4 mm / 360 dpi × 64 nozzles), whereas the latter has a length of about 18.06 mm (= 25.4 mm / 360 dpi × 256 nozzles). It will be 4 times longer.
[0013]
Here, the generation of the connecting stripe will be described. Note that the ejection state of the recording head, the landing position of the ink droplet, and the like are in an ideal state.
[0014]
In the ink jet recording method, when another dot is overlapped with the previously recorded dot, the dot printed after the previously recorded dot is in the depth direction of the paper at the overlapped portion. It tends to sink.
[0015]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the state when ink droplets are applied to the recording medium P from the top in time series. This is because a dye such as a dye in the ejected ink physically and chemically binds to the recording medium P. At this time, since the bond between the recording medium and the dye is finite, the binding force is large depending on the type of the dye. As long as there is no difference, the combination of the ink dye ejected earlier and the recording medium is given priority, so a large amount remains on the surface of the recording medium, and the ink dye hit afterwards is difficult to bond on the surface of the recording medium, and the depth of the paper surface It is thought that it sinks in the direction and dyes. Further, when considering the behavior of the ink at the fiber level inside the recording medium, the fiber once bonded to the dye or the like in the ink has a stronger hydrophilicity than the state where it is not bonded at all. For this reason, the ink droplets landed adjacent to a strongly hydrophilic portion tend to be drawn in the direction in which the previously ejected ink droplets land.
[0016]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when a print area adjacent to a print area that has already been recorded is printed, the dots that land on the boundary of the area are adjacent to the already recorded print area. It will be attracted. As a result, the amount of ink partially increases at the boundary of the print area where recording has already been completed, resulting in an increase in density. If this occurs in a part, it will not be so noticeable, but if a high density part is connected in the raster direction, this will be visually recognized as a connecting stripe.
[0017]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, when considering the compatibility between the high image quality technology and the high speed technology, the connecting stripe between the print areas becomes a problem.
[0018]
For example, when recording is completed by four recording scans using a recording head having a recording density of 360 dpi and 64 nozzles, the width of one printing area is about 1.13 mm (16 nozzles × 25.4 mm / 360 dpi). On the other hand, when recording is completed by four recording scans using a 256-nozzle recording head, the width of one printing area is about 4.52 mm (64 nozzles × 25.4 mm / 360 dpi). It becomes. Therefore, in the human vision, the latter is more easily recognized as a connecting streak, which is detrimental in terms of improving image quality.
[0019]
The width of the connecting stripe is less noticeable as the period is shorter. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the width of the print area by increasing the number of recording scans for one print area using conventional multi-scan printing. However, in spite of increasing the number of nozzles for speeding up, simply increasing the number of recording scans induces a decrease in speed, and it is impossible to achieve both high image quality and high speed.
[0020]
Therefore, the present invention pays attention to the ink drawing that is the fundamental cause of the connecting stripe, and suppresses the drawing itself and controls the interval, that is, the cycle, thereby reducing the connecting stripe problem. It is. That is, the present invention makes it difficult to recognize the occurrence of connecting stripes between print areas in multi-scan recording by shortening the period, and further, in one print area, features of the conventional multi-scan recording. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method and a recording apparatus that control ink pulling, which is a cause of occurrence of a connecting stripe itself, by utilizing it.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording head on which a plurality of recording elements are arranged while scanning the recording medium in a direction different from the arrangement direction of the recording elements relative to the recording medium. An inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on a plurality of unit recording areas,
The recording head with respect to the unit recording area (for example, the area including the first to fourth printing areas in FIG. 13) whose width in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction is smaller than the array width of the plurality of recording elements. Scanning means for scanning a plurality of times (for example, the first to fourth scans in FIG. 13);
During each scanning by the scanning means, the recording medium is moved in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction by an amount smaller than the array width of the plurality of recording elements (for example, movement in the vertical direction in FIG. 13). Moving means to cause
Recording control means for controlling a recording operation by the recording head so that recording on the unit recording area is completed by the plurality of scans;
The recording control means includes (A) a plurality of continuous rasters recorded in the preceding scanning (for example, the first and second scanning in FIG. 13) of the plurality of scannings and extending in the scanning direction. A belt-like preceding recording area (for example, the second and fourth printing areas in FIG. 13) and a continuous raster of the same number as the number of rasters that are not recorded in the preceding scanning and constitute the preceding recording area. The preceding scanning (for example, the first and third printing areas in FIG. 13) alternately appear in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction in the unit recording area (for example, In the first and second scans in FIG. 13, recording is performed on the preceding recording area (for example, the second and fourth printing areas in FIG. 13), and (B) recording is completed after the recording on the preceding recording area is completed. Subsequent scans (eg Third 13, in the fourth scanning), the succeeding recording area (e.g., and performs recording with respect to the first, third print area) in FIG. 13.
[0022]
Further, the present invention provides a plurality of units on the recording medium while the recording head in which the plurality of recording elements are arranged is scanned relative to the recording medium in a second direction different from the arrangement direction of the recording elements. An inkjet recording method for recording on a recording area,
The unit recording area (for example, the area including the first to fourth printing areas in FIG. 13) whose width in the first direction orthogonal to the second direction is smaller than the array width of the plurality of recording elements. Scanning the recording head in the second direction a plurality of times (for example, the first to fourth scans in FIG. 13);
A movement step of moving the recording medium in the first direction by an amount equal to the width of the unit recording area in the first direction during each scan (for example, moving in the vertical direction in FIG. 13);
A recording step of performing a recording operation by the recording head during the scan so that recording on the unit recording area is completed by the plurality of scans,
In the recording step, (A) a plurality of continuous rasters recorded in the preceding scan (for example, the first and second scans in FIG. 13) of the plurality of scans and extending in the second direction. A belt-like preceding recording area (for example, the second and fourth printing areas in FIG. 13) and a continuous raster of the same number as the number of rasters that are not recorded in the preceding scanning and that constitute the preceding recording area. The preceding scan (for example, the first print in FIG. 13) such that the belt-like subsequent print areas (for example, the first and third print areas in FIG. 13) alternately appear in the first direction in the unit print area. , The second scan) performs recording on the preceding recording area (for example, the second and fourth printing areas in FIG. 13), and (B) subsequent scanning (for example, performed after the recording on the preceding recording area is completed) , Third and fourth in FIG. In 査), the succeeding recording area (e.g., the first, third feature of performing recording with respect to the print area) in FIG. 13.
[0025]
According to the above configuration, in order to complete printing for each print area, the width of each print area becomes a cycle of connecting stripes, and by reducing the number of rasters constituting each print area, Shortening of connecting stripes can be achieved. Further, in one print area, there is an operation similar to that of conventional multi-scan recording, and since recording is performed with a plurality of nozzles for one raster, image deterioration due to deviation of the nozzle solid is suppressed. be able to. In addition, after the adjacent print areas are completed, in order to start printing in the print area between them, it is also possible to suppress the ink pull-in that is the cause of the connecting stripe. In the present specification, “raster” refers to one line on which recording can be performed by ejecting ink while one recording element (nozzle) moves in the main scanning direction.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
7 to 12 are explanatory diagrams for explaining each of the suitable ink jet head IJH, ink tank IT, ink jet cartridge IJC, ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, carriage HC, and their relationship, to which the present invention is implemented or applied. It is. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part will be described with reference to these drawings.
[0028]
(I) General description of the device body
FIG. 7 is an example of an overview diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA applied to the present invention. In FIG. 7, the carriage HC engaged with the spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). And is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate that presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photo-couplers, which are home position detection means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013 or the like. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking ink in 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.
[0029]
Reference numeral 5024 denotes a temperature or humidity sensor, which can detect the temperature and humidity of the environment where the ink jet recording apparatus is located. It is also possible to predict the temperature of the ink recording head. The temperature or humidity sensor 5024 may be attached to the ink jet cartridge IJC or may be directly attached to the ink jet head IJH for detection.
[0030]
Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 engaged with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled to move by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .
[0031]
These capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured such that when the carriage comes to the home position side region, desired processing can be performed at the corresponding position by the action of the lead screw 5004. Any operation can be applied to this example as long as the operation is performed.
[0032]
As apparent from the perspective view of FIG. 7, the ink jet cartridge IJC in this example has a large ink storage ratio, and the front end of the ink jet head IJH is slightly smaller than the front surface of the ink tank IT. It has a protruding shape. This ink jet cartridge IJC is a type that is fixedly supported by positioning means (to be described later) and electrical contacts of a carriage HC mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and is detachable from the carriage HC.
[0033]
(Ii) Inkjet head IJH configuration description
The ink jet head IJH is a recording head including an electrothermal transducer that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to the ink in accordance with an electrical signal.
[0034]
(Iii) Explanation of heater board
FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the heater board 100 of the head used in this embodiment. The positional relationship as shown in the figure is the temperature control (sub) heater 8d for controlling the temperature of the head, the ejection section row 8g provided with the ejection (main) heater for ejecting ink, and the drive element 8h. Are formed on the same substrate. Thus, by arranging each element on the same substrate, the head temperature can be detected and controlled efficiently, and the head can be made more compact and the manufacturing process can be simplified. The figure also shows the positional relationship of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate that separates the heater board into a region filled with ink and a region that is not. The discharge section row 89 side of the outer peripheral wall section 8f of the top plate functions as a common liquid chamber. In addition, a liquid path is formed by the groove part formed on the discharge part row | line | column 8g of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of a top plate.
[0035]
(Vi) Description of control configuration
Next, a control configuration for executing recording control of each part of the above-described apparatus configuration will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, showing a control circuit, 10 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 11 is an MPU which is an arithmetic processing unit, 12 is a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 11, and 13 is various data (the above-mentioned recording signals and heads). Recording data supplied to the printer), and the number of print dots and the number of ink recording head replacements can be stored. Reference numeral 14 denotes a gate array that controls the supply of print data to the print head 18, and also controls the transfer of data among the interface 10, the MPU 11, and the RAM 13. Reference numeral 20 denotes a carriage for transporting the recording head 18 and a carrier motor for driving the recording head 18, and 19 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 15 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and reference numerals 16 and 17 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 19 and the carrier motor 20, respectively.
[0036]
FIG. 10 is an example of a circuit diagram illustrating details of each unit in FIG. 9. The gate array 14 includes data 140, a data latch 141, a segment (SEG) shift register 142, a multiplexer (MPX) 143, a common (COM) timing generation circuit 144, and a decoder 145. The recording head 18 has a diode matrix configuration, and a drive current flows through the ejection heaters (H1 to H64) where the common signal COM and the segment signal SEG coincide with each other, whereby ink is heated and ejected.
[0037]
The decoder 145 decodes the timing generated by the common timing generation circuit 144 and selects any one of the common signals COM1 to COM1-8. The data latch 141 latches the recording data read from the DRAM 13 in units of 8 bits, and the multiplexer 143 outputs the recording data as segment signals SEG 1 to 8 according to the segment shift register 142. The output from the multiplexer 143 can be variously changed according to the contents of the segment shift register 142, such as 1 bit unit, 2 bit unit, or all 8 bits as will be described later.
[0038]
The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 10, the recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the gate array 14 and the MPU 11. The motor drivers 16 and 17 are driven, and the recording head is driven in accordance with the recording data sent to the head driver 15 to perform printing.
[0039]
Here, the case of driving a recording nozzle having 64 nozzles has been described, but drive control can be performed with the same configuration with other numbers of nozzles.
[0040]
Next, FIG. 11 shows a configuration diagram for explaining the flow of recording data in the recording apparatus. The recording data sent from the host computer is stored in a reception buffer inside the recording apparatus via the interface (IF). The reception buffer has a capacity of several k to several tens of k bytes. The command analysis is performed on the recording data stored in the reception buffer by the command analysis unit and then sent to the text buffer. In the text buffer, recording data is held as an intermediate format for one line, and processing for adding the print position, modification type, size, character (code), font address, etc. of each character is performed. The capacity of the text buffer varies depending on each model. The serial printer has a capacity of several lines, and the page printer has a capacity of one page. Further, the recording data stored in the text buffer is expanded and stored in a binarized state in the print buffer, a signal is sent to the recording head as recording data, and recording is performed. In this embodiment, the binarized data stored in the print buffer is applied with a thinning mask pattern at a specific rate, and then a signal is sent to the recording head. Therefore, the mask pattern can be set after looking at the data stored in the print buffer. Depending on the type of recording apparatus, there is a type that does not have a text buffer but develops the recording data stored in the reception buffer simultaneously with command analysis and writes it to the print buffer.
[0041]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data transfer circuit embodying the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 101 is connected to a memory data bus, a data register for reading out print data stored in the print buffer 130 in the memory and temporarily storing it, and 102 a serial data stored in the data register 101. A parallel-serial converter for converting data, 103 is an AND gate for masking serial data, and 104 is a transfer counter for managing the number of data transfers.
[0042]
A register 105 is connected to the CPU data bus and stores a mask pattern. A selector 106 selects a digit position of the mask pattern. A selector 107 selects a row position of the mask pattern. is there. Reference numeral 111 denotes a column counter for managing digit positions.
[0043]
The data transfer circuit shown in FIG. 12 serially transfers 128-bit print data to the print head in response to a print signal sent from the MPU 11. The print data stored in the print buffer in the memory is temporarily stored in the data register 101 and converted into serial data by the parallel-serial converter 102. The converted serial data is masked by the AND gate 103 and then transferred to the print head. The transfer counter 104 counts the number of transfer bits and ends the data transfer when it reaches 128.
[0044]
The mask register 105 includes four mask registers A, B, C, and D, and stores a mask pattern written by the MPU 11. Each register stores a mask pattern of vertical 4 bits × horizontal 4 bits. The selector 103 selects mask pattern data corresponding to the digit position by using the value of the column counter 111 as a selection signal. The selector 107 selects mask pattern data corresponding to the row position by using the value of the transfer counter 104 as a selection signal. The transfer data is masked using the AND gate 103 by the mask pattern data selected by the selectors 106 and 107.
[0045]
Although this embodiment has been described with four mask register configurations, other mask register numbers may be used.
[0046]
In this embodiment, the masked transfer data is directly supplied to the recording head, but may be temporarily stored in the print buffer.
[0047]
Specific examples of the present invention will be described below using such an apparatus.
[0048]
Example 1
As a first embodiment, a recording head in which a plurality of image recording elements are arranged in a first direction that is a conveyance direction of a recording medium is arranged in a main scanning direction that is a second direction different from the first direction. Multi-scan recording method in which all pixels in an area that can be printed by one moving scan are printed by different nozzles on the same raster extending in the second direction by a plurality of recording scans according to a predetermined division thinning mask. In this case, a plurality of rasters are set as one print area. First, a recording scan is performed on one print area, and after the recording is completed, a next print area adjacent to the print area after the recording is completed. An example of performing recording scanning will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0049]
An example of a process in which the present invention is carried out and recording is performed is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a multi-scan printing method using a print head having 32 printing elements will be described, and a case where printing is completed by four printing scans will be described. It is not limited. In this embodiment, recording of 8 × 4 pixels is described.
[0050]
In FIG. 13, a recording head composed of 32 recording elements (nozzles) is used. The recording head is divided into four, and each recording scan uses each recording element of the recording head divided into four to complete recording in four recording scans. Between each scan Covered The movement of the recording medium is set to a movement amount corresponding to 1/4 of 32 nozzles. Further, in this embodiment, the print area in which the recording is completed by four recording scans is divided into four divided recording areas of the first print area, the second print area, the third print area, and the fourth print area. Is going. First, in the first scan, recording is performed on the second and fourth printing areas, and recording is not performed on the first and third printing areas. The recording at this time is thinned to 50%. That is, it is equivalent to the recording thinned out to 25% of the whole as a whole. Next, even in the second scan, recording is performed on the second and fourth printing areas, and recording is not performed on the first and third printing areas. The recording at this time is thinned out to 50%, and this scanning recording completes the recording of the second and fourth print areas. Next, in the third scan, recording is performed on the first and third print areas. Here, the record is thinned out to 50%, which is equivalent to the record thinned to 25% of the whole. Finally, in the fourth scan, the first and third print areas are thinned to 50%, and recording is completed. In this embodiment, one print area is divided into four, and print areas that are not adjacent to each other, that is, in this example, after recording of the second and fourth print areas are completed, the print areas that are adjacent to each other. In this example, the recording of the first and third print areas is completed. The width of the print area becomes the width of the connecting stripe, but in this embodiment, since the print area is divided into 1/4, the width of the connecting stripe is shortened and the period is shortened.
[0051]
Here, when the conventional multi-scan recording method is used, the process of completing the recording will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 illustrates recording of 8 × 4 pixels.
[0052]
The recording head is the same as that used in FIG. Covered Similarly, the movement of the recording medium is set to a movement amount corresponding to 1/4 of 32 nozzles. Further, the recording is completed by four recording scans by thinning out to 25% in each recording scan. 25% (that is, 8 pixels) is recorded in the first scan, 25% is recorded in each of the second, third, and fourth scans, and finally 100% is recorded in four scans. Has been completed. In this case, the width of the connecting stripe is 8 pixels, that is, the width of the print area. This is four times the case of using the multi-scan recording method described with reference to FIG. 13, and it is apparent that the connecting stripes are easier to see when the conventional multi-scan recording method is used.
[0053]
Next, ink drawing of the landed dots in each scan of the multi-scan recording method shown in FIG. 13 will be described. FIG. 15 shows dots recorded in the second scan in FIG. Adjacent to the dots printed in the first scan, dots are applied in the second scan. In this case, the dot ink recorded in the second scan is attracted to the already recorded dots as indicated by the arrows. However, since the ink drawing of the first scanning dot and the second scanning dot here is a mutual drawing, even if this is continuous in the recording scanning direction, it can be a cause of the occurrence of a connecting stripe. Absent. Next, FIG. 16 shows dots recorded by the third scan in FIG. Recording has already been completed in the second print area and the fourth print area. The dot ink recorded in the third scan is drawn to the second print area and the fourth print area. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17, the dot ink recorded in the fourth scan is not only drawn to the dots recorded in the third scan in the same print area, but also in the second print area and the fourth print area. The dots are also attracted, albeit slightly. That is, the dots recorded in the third scan and the dots recorded in the fourth scan are both drawn to the second print area and the fourth print area adjacent to it. When ink is attracted in the same direction and continues in the scanning direction, this becomes a connecting stripe. However, since the generation cycle of the connecting stripe is the cycle of the width of each divided print area, in this embodiment, the width is two pixels. At 360 dpi, it is about 0.14 mm (2 nozzles × 25.4 mm / 360 dpi) and is hardly noticeable.
[0054]
Further, in this embodiment, each divided printing area is given a certain width, and the multi-scan recording is further performed in the divided printing area, thereby having an effect of suppressing the ink drawing itself which is a cause of the connecting stripe. For example, in FIG. 17, the dot ink recorded in the fourth scan is attracted to the dots in the second print area and the fourth print area, but the dots in the same print area, that is, the dots recorded in the third scan. Also drawn to. As a result, it is possible to reduce ink drawing to the second print area and the fourth print area, which are the factors causing the connecting stripes.
[0055]
Next, a sequence for carrying out this embodiment will be described.
[0056]
FIG. 18 shows a sequence for executing the multi-scan recording method of this embodiment. First, recording data is taken in at Step-1. Here, not only the image data to be recorded but also the recorded data is recorded. Covered In general, information necessary for recording, such as information on a recording medium and information on a recording method, is mostly accompanied. Various settings of various recording device bodies can be made. Next, the number of recording scans is set at Step-2. The number of recording scans for one printing area can be switched by using the recording head used, information on data to be printed, setting of the main body, utility software, or the like. Next, in Step-3, how many print areas are divided, that is, each print area having the width of the connecting stripe period is set. Next, a thinning mask is set in Step-4. This uses a mask corresponding to the width of each print area. Normally, if 100% printing is performed, the thinning rate is made to correspond to the number of printing scans, but the number of dots to be printed can be increased by setting this mask in order to increase the density. Next, in Step-5 Covered The amount of movement of the recording medium between each scan is set. In the multi-scan recording method, the movement amount is generally obtained by dividing the length corresponding to the number of recording elements of the recording head by the number of recording scans. Next, recording is performed under each condition set in Step-6. Next, in Step-7, it is determined whether or not there is recording data. If there is recording data, the process returns to Step-1 to capture the recording data and repeats each step. If there is no recording data in Step-7. This sequence is finished. In this sequence, one printing area is divided into a plurality of areas, and the width of each divided printing area is set, whereby the generation period of the connecting stripe can be controlled. In addition, the width of the print area can be set in various ways. Covered It can also be set according to other factors such as the recording medium and ambient temperature.
[0057]
As described above, by setting the width of each divided print area to be recorded in each scan in one print area, it is possible to control the generation cycle of the connecting stripe. Further, each divided print area has the same effect as that of a normal multi-scan recording method, and ink pulling that is a cause of occurrence of the connecting stripe itself can be controlled. This makes it difficult to recognize the occurrence of streaks between print areas in multi-scan recording by shortening the period, and further, in one print area, takes advantage of the features of conventional multi-scan recording. Therefore, it is possible to reduce ink pulling, which is a cause of splicing stripes, and to provide a recording method and a recording apparatus that can achieve both high-quality recording and high-speed recording.
[0058]
(Example 2)
As a second embodiment, a multi-scan recording method for preventing the use of only specific recording elements in consideration of the durability of the recording elements of the recording head will be described.
[0059]
This embodiment is a modification of the multi-scan recording method of the first embodiment, and the use frequency of a specific printing element is prevented from increasing by changing the printing element to be used by setting a thinning mask for each printing scan. is doing.
[0060]
FIG. 19 shows an example when the multi-scan recording method is carried out with the same thinning mask. FIG. 19 illustrates from the first scan to the eighth scan. In this embodiment, a case where printing is completed by four printing scans is described. When the recording head to be used is divided into four areas and the use state of each recording element is seen, first, in the divided area 1, the areas 11 and 13 are always used, and the areas 12 and 14 are used. There is no. Similarly, only the areas 21 and 23 are used in the divided area 2, only the areas 32 and 34 are used in the divided area 3, and only the areas 42 and 44 are used in the divided area 4. In this case, since a specific recording element is used, it is preferable to further improve in view of durability.
[0061]
Therefore, a method for setting a thinning mask performed in this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 20 shows an example when the multi-scan recording method of this embodiment is implemented. When the recording head to be used is divided into four regions and the use state of each recording element is viewed, first, in the divided region 1, the region 11 and the region 13 are used in the first scan, but in the second scan, the region 12 is used. And region 14 are used. Thereafter, the region 11 and the region 13 are used in the odd scan, and the region 12 and the region 14 are used in the even scan. Similarly, in the divided region 2, scanning using the region 21 and the region 23 and scanning using the region 22 and the region 24 are alternated. Further, in the divided area 3 and the divided area 4, similarly used areas change for each scanning. As a result, a specific recording element is not used, which is advantageous in terms of durability of the recording head.
[0062]
Next, a sequence for carrying out this embodiment will be described. FIG. 21 shows a thinning mask setting sequence for a multi-scanning recording method in which recording scanning is performed four times. The overall sequence is the same as that shown in FIG. 18, and in this embodiment, setting of a thinning mask will be described.
[0063]
In FIG. 21, first, at Step-21, it is determined whether or not the next scan is an odd number. If it is an odd number, proceed to Step-22, and in Step 23, the thinning mask 11 is set in the divided region 1, in Step 23, the thinning mask 21 is set in the divided region 2, and in Step 24, the thinning mask 31 is set in the divided region 3. At -25, the thinning mask 41 is set for each of the divided areas 4, and this sequence is completed. If the number of scans is an even number, the process proceeds to Step-26, where the thinning mask 12 is set in the divided area 1, the thinning mask 22 is set in the divided area 2 in Step-27, and the divided area 3 is set in Step-28. The thinning mask 32 and the thinning mask 42 are respectively set in the divided areas 4 in Step-29, and this sequence is completed. In this way, it is possible to independently set a mask for each divided region for each scan.
[0064]
In this embodiment, the case where printing is completed by four printing scans has been described. However, even if the number of scans is another number, it is possible to perform the same mask setting and use the same sequence. it can.
[0065]
Next, an example of the thinning mask to be set is shown in FIG. The thinning mask shown in FIG. 22 is a thinning mask corresponding to the sequence of FIG. This is a thinning mask corresponding to 8 × 4 pixels, and black dots indicate dots to be recorded. By using these thinning masks, the multi-scan recording method shown in FIG. 20 can be implemented.
[0066]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set a thinning mask for each divided area of the print head for each print scan, thereby preventing only a specific print element from being used. be able to. This makes it possible to extend the life of the recording head. In addition, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with respect to the connecting stripe, and a recording method and a recording apparatus that can achieve both high-quality recording and high-speed recording can be provided.
[0067]
(Example 3)
Next, as a third embodiment, a multi-scan recording method for changing a thinning mask to be used according to the state of recording data to be recorded will be described. This embodiment prevents the use of only a specific recording element as in the second embodiment.
[0068]
In this embodiment, by detecting the null raster, the setting of the thinning mask is changed according to the presence or absence of the null raster. FIG. 23 shows an example of the multi-scan recording method of this embodiment. In the scan before the null raster exists, only the region 11 and the region 13 are used in the divided region 1, and the region 12 and the region 14 are not used. Similarly, only the areas 21 and 23 are used in the divided area 2, only the areas 32 and 34 are used in the divided area 3, and only the areas 42 and 44 are used in the divided area 4. However, in the scan after the null raster, the divided region 1 uses the region 12 and the region 14. Similarly, the divided region 2 uses the region 22 and the region 24, the divided region 3 uses the region 31 and the region 33, and the divided region 4 uses the region 41 and the region 43. In this way, by changing the thinning mask at a certain timing with the null raster, it is not necessary to set the thinning mask for each scan, so that the processing speed is improved, and a specific printing element is provided as in the second embodiment. Only that can be prevented.
[0069]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by detecting a null raster and changing the setting of the thinning mask before and after the null raster, the processing speed of the thinning mask setting is improved, and only a specific printing element is used. Can be prevented from being used. This makes it possible to extend the life of the recording head. In addition, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with respect to the connecting stripe, and a recording method and a recording apparatus that can achieve both high-quality recording and high-speed recording can be provided.
[0070]
Example 4
Next, as a fourth embodiment, Covered A multi-scan recording method in which the amount of movement of the recording medium is not constant but irregular will be described. In this embodiment, only a specific recording element is prevented from being used. Furthermore, with respect to the divided print areas, a plurality of recording elements that perform recording use recording elements that are close to each other. This suppresses the adverse effects of the multi-scan recording method in a recording head in which the number of recording elements is increasing.
[0071]
Here, the adverse effects of the recording head that increases the number of recording elements to increase the speed will be described.
[0072]
For example, when a recording head having a recording density of 360 dpi and having 64 recording elements (nozzles) is used, the nozzle row length is about 4.52 mm (= 25.4 mm / 360 dpi × 64 nozzles), whereas A recording head having 256 recording elements having the same recording density has a length of about 18.06 mm (25.4 mm / 360 dpi × 256 nozzles), which is four times as long. Ideally, the landing position accuracy of the recording dots does not change depending on the nozzle row length. However, in actuality, since mass production is performed, accuracy in manufacturing must be taken into consideration, as shown in FIG. In addition, the landing position is deviated depending on the tolerance of the mounting angle of the recording head. For example, when the mounting angle of the recording head is inclined by 0.3 ° with respect to the column direction on the reference image, a recording head having 64 recording elements has a maximum of about 23.6 μm (= 4.52 mm × While a deviation of sin 0.3 ° occurs, a recording head having 256 recording elements produces a displacement of about 94.6 μm (= 18.06 mm × sin 0.3 °) at the maximum. In a 360 dpi image, the pixel interval is about 70 μm, and a recording head having 64 recording elements is not a big image problem, but a recording head having 256 recording elements is shifted by one pixel or more, which is fatal. It becomes a problem.
[0073]
Also, as shown in FIG. 25, when the recording head itself is curved or the ejection direction is bent, the landing position is similarly shifted, which causes a great image problem.
[0074]
In such a situation, in order to prevent density unevenness, when the above-described multi-scan printing is performed, the same raster is formed with different printing elements, but the original landing position accuracy is used. Therefore, a texture (pattern) resulting from the deviation of the landing position is generated. That is, when the speed is increased and the number of recording elements is further increased, texture due to the landing position of the recording head is generated.
[0075]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the divided print area is recorded by a nearby recording element. That is, the same raster is formed by different recording elements, but recording is performed by combining adjacent recording elements. FIG. 26 shows an example of a multi-scan recording method implementing this embodiment. FIG. 26 shows a multi-scan recording method that uses a recording head having 32 recording elements and completes recording by four recording scans. Here, the recording head is divided into 16 areas, that is, the width of one divided area is two recording elements. In odd scanning, recording is performed in region 1, region 3, region 5, region 7, region 9, region 11, region 13, and region 15, and in even scanning, region 2, region 4, region 6, region 8, region 10, and region 15 are recorded. 12, area 14 and area 16 are recorded. First, after recording in the first scan, the recording medium is moved by the width of one divided area, and recording is performed in the second scan. Next, the recording medium is moved by a width 6 times as large as that of one divided area, printing is performed in the third scan, and then the recording medium is moved by the width of one divided area. Recording is performed with four scans. Then, the recording medium is moved by a width that is eight times the divided one area, and recording is performed to the fifth scan. Here, focusing on one print area, the recording elements used in the same print area are adjacent areas such as area 1 and area 2, area 3 and area 4, and the like. That is, since the recording elements in the area closer to the recording head can be used to perform recording in the same printing area, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of deviation in the landing position due to the accuracy of the recording head. Further, since the recording is performed by different recording elements, the same effect as the original multi-scan recording method can be obtained.
[0076]
Further, in this embodiment, the moving amount of the recording medium is not constant and varies between scans. However, it can be implemented by setting each scan in Step-5 of the sequence shown in FIG. .
[0077]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of recording elements that perform recording can use recording elements close to each other for one printing area. This prevents the deviation of the landing position, which is a detrimental effect of the multi-scan recording method with a recording head in which the number of recording elements is increasing, and suppresses the occurrence of texture due to this. Furthermore, it can be prevented that only a specific recording element is used. As a result, the life of the recording head can be extended, and a multi-scan recording method with a recording head corresponding to high-speed recording becomes possible. In addition, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with respect to the connecting stripe, and a recording method and a recording apparatus that can achieve both high-quality recording and high-speed recording can be provided.
[0078]
(Example 5)
As a fifth embodiment, in a recording method in which a recording head in which a plurality of image recording elements are arranged prints all pixels in an area that can be printed by one moving scan by a plurality of recording scans. Using a plurality of rasters as one printing area, first, a recording scan is performed on one printing area, and after the recording is completed, a recording scanning is performed on the next printing area adjacent to the printing area after the recording is completed. An example of performing this will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0079]
An example of the process in which the present invention is implemented and recording is performed is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a multi-scan printing method using a print head having 32 printing elements will be described, and a case where printing is completed by two printing scans will be described. It is not limited. In this embodiment, recording of 8 × 4 pixels is described.
[0080]
In FIG. 27, a recording head composed of 32 recording elements (nozzles) is used. The recording head is divided into four, and recording is completed in two recording scans using each recording element of the recording head divided into four in each recording scan. Between each scan Covered The movement of the recording medium is set to a movement amount corresponding to 1/2 of 32 nozzles. Further, in this embodiment, the print area in which the recording is completed by two recording scans is divided into four divided recording areas of the first print area, the second print area, the third print area, and the fourth print area. Is going. First, in the first scan, recording is performed on the second and fourth printing areas, and recording is not performed on the first and third printing areas. Recording in each printing area is performed without thinning out. That is, it is equivalent to the recording thinned out to 50% as a whole. Next, in the second scan, recording is performed on the first and third print areas. Also in this case, the recording of each print area is performed without thinning out, and is equivalent to the recording thinned out to 50% as a whole. In this way, the recording is completed. In this embodiment, one print area is divided into four, and print areas that are not adjacent to each other, that is, in this example, after recording of the second and fourth print areas are completed, the print areas that are adjacent to each other. In this example, the recording of the first and third print areas is completed. The width of the print area becomes the width of the connecting stripe, but in this embodiment, since the print area is divided into 1/4, the width of the connecting stripe is shortened and the period is shortened.
[0081]
According to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to obtain an image in which stripe unevenness is reduced by shortening the width of the connecting stripe. On the other hand, according to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, in addition to the effects of the fifth embodiment, the same recording area is divided into a plurality of scans, whereby the ink applied later is attracted to the previously applied ink. By using the effect, it is possible to further reduce the generation of connecting stripes.
[0082]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a unit recording area whose width in the direction (first direction) orthogonal to the scanning direction (second direction) of the recording head is smaller than the recording element array width of the recording head. In completing the recording by a plurality of scans, (A) a band-shaped preceding recording area composed of a plurality of rasters recorded in the preceding scan and extending in the second direction among the plurality of scans and recording in the preceding scan In the preceding scan, the preceding recording area is recorded so that the band-like subsequent recording area composed of a plurality of rasters alternately appear in the first direction in the unit recording area, and (B) In the subsequent scanning performed after the recording on the recording area is completed, the recording on the subsequent recording area is performed, so that the period of generation of the connecting stripe generated between the recording areas is shortened. Door can be, can be made to the banding is not conspicuous.
[0088]
The present invention includes means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) that generates thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system, and the state of ink by the thermal energy. A printing apparatus that causes a change has been described, but according to such a system, higher recording density and higher definition can be achieved.
[0089]
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. By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is pulse-shaped, the bubble growth and contraction is performed immediately and appropriately, and thus it is possible to achieve the discharge of liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness.
[0090]
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.
[0091]
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.
[0092]
In addition, the ink is integrated into the replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself, which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. A cartridge type recording head provided with a tank may be used.
[0093]
In addition, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means for the recording head, preheating means using a heating element different from this, or a combination thereof, or recording is used. Performing a preliminary discharge mode for performing another discharge is also effective for performing stable recording.
[0094]
In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, even if the ink is solidified at room temperature or lower, the ink softened or liquefied at room temperature may be used. It is sufficient if the ink sometimes forms a liquid.
[0095]
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 liquefying for the first time. 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.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an ideal recording state in an ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a recording state with density unevenness.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating recording in which density unevenness is suppressed according to a conventional example of a multi-scan recording method.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating divided recording in a multi-scan recording method.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing how ink droplets ejected continuously are fixed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the generation of a connecting stripe at a boundary portion of a recording area.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a heater board constituting a recording head used in the recording apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit in the recording apparatus.
10 is a block diagram showing details of the gate array and the like shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a flow of recording data in the recording apparatus.
12 is a block diagram showing a data transfer circuit configured in the gate array shown in FIG. 9. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process in which recording is performed by the multi-scan recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process in which recording is performed by a conventional multi-scan recording method.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of ink drawing in the multi-scan recording method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of ink drawing in the multi-scan recording method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of ink drawing in the multi-scan recording method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a recording operation setting process of the multi-scan recording method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-scan recording method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-scan recording method according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a thinning mask setting process of the multi-scan recording method according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a thinning mask for the multi-scan recording method of the second embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-scan recording method according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a case where printing is performed in a state where the recording head is bent depending on the mounting angle of the recording head and the like.
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a case where printing is performed by a recording head having a curved nozzle portion.
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-scan recording method according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a process of recording by the recording method of the fifth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Interface
11 MPU
12 ROM
13 DRAM
14 Gate array
15 Head driver
16 Motor driver
17 Motor driver
18 Recording head
19 Transport motor
20 Carrier motor
101 Data register
102 Parallel-serial converter
103 AND gate
104 Transfer counter
105 Mask register
106 Selector
107 selector
111 galam counter
130 Print buffer
140 Transfer data
141 Data latch
142 SEG shift register
143 MPX
144 COM timing generation circuit
145 decoder

Claims (8)

Recording is performed on a plurality of unit recording areas on the recording medium while a recording head on which a plurality of recording elements are arranged is scanned relative to the recording medium in a direction different from the arrangement direction of the recording elements. An inkjet recording apparatus,
Scanning means for scanning the recording head a plurality of times with respect to the unit recording area whose width in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction is smaller than the array width of the plurality of recording elements;
Moving means for moving the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction by an amount smaller than the array width of the plurality of recording elements during each scan by the scanning means;
Recording control means for controlling a recording operation by the recording head so that recording on the unit recording area is completed by the plurality of scans;
The recording control means includes: (A) a belt-shaped preceding recording area composed of a plurality of continuous rasters recorded in the preceding scanning of the plurality of scannings and extending in the scanning direction; The band-like subsequent recording areas that are not recorded and are composed of the same number of continuous rasters as the number of rasters constituting the preceding recording area appear alternately in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction in the unit recording area. In addition, the recording in the preceding recording area is performed in the preceding scanning, and (B) the recording in the subsequent recording area is performed in the subsequent scanning performed after the recording in the preceding recording area is completed. Inkjet recording device.   2. The recording control unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the preceding recording areas are completed by a plurality of the preceding scans, and a plurality of the subsequent recording areas are completed by a plurality of the subsequent scans. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 1.   2. The recording control unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the preceding recording areas are completed by one preceding scanning, and a plurality of the succeeding recording areas are completed by one subsequent scanning. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 1.   The recording control means includes a recording element that can be used for recording on the preceding recording area in the first unit recording area, and the preceding in the second unit recording area adjacent to the first unit recording area. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording operation by the recording head is performed so that recording elements usable for recording on the recording area are the same.   The recording control means includes a recording element that can be used for recording on the preceding recording area in the first unit recording area, and the preceding in the second unit recording area adjacent to the first unit recording area. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording operation is performed by the recording head so that recording elements usable for recording on the recording area are different. The moving means moves the recording medium by a fixed moving amount,
6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the constant movement amount is an amount equal to a width of the unit recording area in the movement direction.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the recording medium by a plurality of different movement amounts. Recording is performed on a plurality of unit recording areas on the recording medium while a recording head on which a plurality of recording elements are arranged is scanned relative to the recording medium in a second direction different from the arrangement direction of the recording elements. An inkjet recording method for performing
Scanning the recording head a plurality of times in the second direction with respect to the unit recording area whose width in the first direction orthogonal to the second direction is smaller than the array width of the plurality of recording elements; A moving step of moving the recording medium in the first direction by an amount equal to the width of the unit recording area in the first direction;
A recording step of performing a recording operation by the recording head during the scan so that recording on the unit recording area is completed by the plurality of scans,
In the recording step, (A) a band-shaped preceding recording area composed of a plurality of continuous rasters recorded in the preceding scan of the plurality of scans and extending in the second direction, and recording in the preceding scan. The preceding recording area is formed in such a manner that the belt-like subsequent recording areas composed of the same number of continuous rasters as the number of rasters constituting the preceding recording area appear alternately in the first direction in the unit recording area. An inkjet recording method characterized in that recording is performed on the preceding recording area in scanning, and (B) recording is performed on the subsequent recording area in subsequent scanning performed after the recording on the preceding recording area is completed.

Images