JPH0747695A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ink jet recorder which can record a high quality image having no fluctuation in the density and color by ensuring the time required for a recording medium to be permeated with ink and fixed. CONSTITUTION:A single line is printed through reciprocal scanning of a recording head wherein the carriage is waited for a predetermined time at the stop position between going and returning operations of the recording had.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium for recording by using an ink jet recording head provided with an ink ejection port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, office automation equipment such as computers, word processors and copying machines have become widespread, and many recording systems for these recording apparatuses have been developed. The ink jet recording apparatus has the excellent features that it is easy to achieve high definition, high speed, excellent quietness, and low cost as compared with other recording methods. There is a growing need for recording color images with multicolor inks, and many inkjet recording apparatuses for recording color images have been developed. An ink jet recording apparatus records an image by adhering ink ejected from nozzles to a recording sheet. However, in order to improve a recording speed, a recording head (hereinafter, referred to as “recording head” in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in an array are integrated. A multi-nozzle head), which uses a plurality of ink ejection ports and liquid paths integrated as the multi-nozzle head, and further includes a plurality of the multi-nozzle heads for recording a color image. Is common.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic structure of an ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a paper surface by using the above multi-nozzle head. In this figure, 701 is a total of four inkjet cartridges. Each of these four ink cartridges 701 is composed of an ink tank filled with black, cyan, magenta, and yellow color inks, and a multi-nozzle head 702. FIG. 12 shows the multi-nozzle head 70.
FIG. 12 is a view showing the multi-nozzle arranged on the multi-nozzle 2 viewed from the z direction in FIG. 11, and 801 in the figure is the multi-nozzle arranged on the multi-nozzle head 702. Figure 11
703 is a paper feed roller, which is an auxiliary roller 7
The recording paper P is fed in the y direction at any time by rotating the recording paper P together with 04 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing while pressing the recording paper P. Further, reference numeral 705 denotes a paper feed roller, which not only feeds the recording paper P but also holds down the recording paper P similarly to the rollers 703 and 704. Reference numeral 706 denotes a carriage that supports the four ink cartridges 701 and moves them with recording. The carriage 706 stands by at the home position h at the position shown by the dotted line in the figure when recording is not performed or when ink ejection of the multi-nozzle head 702 is recovered.

Before the start of the printing operation, the carriage 706 at the home position h moves in the x direction in response to a print start command, and ink is ejected from the n multi nozzles 801 on the multi nozzle head 702 at the same time. On the paper surface of the recording paper P, one line of a width corresponding to the multi-nozzle head width L is recorded. When the recording of one line of data is completed up to the end of the paper, the carriage 706 returns to the original home position h, moves in the x direction again, and records the next line. In addition, after the recording of one line is completed and before the recording of the next line is started, the paper feed roller 703 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
By rotating in the direction of the arrow in 1, the recording paper P is moved to the width L
Paper is fed in the y direction by the amount. In this way, each time the carriage 706 makes one reciprocation in the x direction, recording for the width of the multi-nozzle head and paper feeding are repeated, whereby recording of an image with multicolor ink on the paper surface of the recording paper P is completed. To do.

However, such a recording apparatus for recording a color image with multicolor ink is different from the one for printing only characters with a single color ink in recording an image image. , Various factors such as uniformity are important. Especially regarding the uniformity of the printed image, a slight manufacturing variation in the nozzle unit that occurs in the multi-nozzle head manufacturing process affects the ink ejection amount of each nozzle and the direction of the ejection direction. This causes deterioration in image quality as uneven density of the image.

13 and 14 are diagrams for explaining a concrete example of density unevenness when a monochrome image is recorded. FIG.
In (a), 91 is a multi-nozzle head, which is similar to that of FIG. 12, but here it is assumed to have eight multi-nozzles 92 for simplification of description. In FIG. 13A, 93 is each multi-nozzle 92.
Ink droplets ejected from
Ideally, the discharge amount is uniform as shown in FIG. 9A, and the discharge is performed in the uniform direction. If such ejection is performed, as shown in FIG. 13B, dots 10 of uniform size are landed on the paper surface of the recording paper P, and FIG.
As shown in, a uniform image without density unevenness is obtained as a whole. However, in reality, as described above, each nozzle has variations in manufacturing, and when the same recording operation as above is performed with the variations occurring, the nozzles shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14A, the size and the ejection direction of the ink drop 93 ejected from each nozzle vary, and the ink drop 93 is landed on the recording paper P as shown in FIG. 14B. It will be.
In the case of the example of this figure, the head main scanning direction (see FIG.
(In the left-right direction in (b)), a white paper portion that cannot periodically satisfy an area factor of 100%, that is, a portion in which pixels are not completely formed by dots 10 may occur, or conversely, dots may overlap more than necessary. Alternatively, a white streak portion as seen in the center of FIG.

A collection of dots landed in the state shown in FIG. 14B is shown in FIG.
The density distribution as shown in (c) is shown, and as a result, these phenomena are perceived as density unevenness as viewed by human eyes. In addition, due to the variation in the paper feed amount, a streak-shaped portion in which the unrecorded portion extends in the width direction of the recording paper P may be conspicuous.

Therefore, as a measure for preventing the occurrence of density unevenness and streak-like portions, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-107975 proposes the following recording method for an inkjet recording apparatus for a single color image. The method will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. According to this proposed method, in order to complete the recording of the area of the multi-nozzle head width L shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the multi-nozzle head 9
1 is scanned in the head main scanning direction three times in total, and an area of 4 pixels, which is half the width L of the multi-nozzle head, is completed in each of two scans. In this case, the eight nozzles 92 of the multi-nozzle head are divided into two groups of four nozzles on the upper side and four nozzles on the lower side, and the dots recorded by one nozzle 92 in one scan are image data. It corresponds to the thinned-out approximately half according to a predetermined image data array. Then, at the time of the second scan, the dots corresponding to the remaining half of the image data are recorded,
Recording is performed on a 4-pixel unit area by the four nozzles 92.
Hereinafter, the recording method as described above will be referred to as a “divided recording method”.

When such a divided recording method is used, FIG.
Even if the same one as the multi-nozzle head 91 shown in is used, the influence on the recorded image due to the variation unique to each nozzle is halved, and the recorded image becomes as shown in FIG. Black streaks and white streaks as shown in FIG. 14 (b) become less noticeable. Therefore, the density unevenness is also shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), it is considerably alleviated as compared with the case of FIG.

When such recording is performed, in the first scan and the second scan, the image data divided according to a predetermined image data array are recorded so as to complement each other. As an image data array (also referred to as a “thinning pattern”) for dividing data, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, a pattern in which a vertical and horizontal pixel is just a houndstooth check pattern. The most common one is to use. Then, in the unit recording area (here, in units of four pixels by four nozzles), dots corresponding to image data thinned out based on a houndstooth check pattern as shown in FIG. 21A are scanned for the first time. Then, the dots corresponding to the image data thinned out based on the inverted houndstooth check pattern as shown in FIG. 21B are printed by the second scan to complete the image of the unit recording area. To be done. FIG.
(A), (b), (c) are explanatory views of the recording method when using the image data array of the zigzag and inverse zigzag patterns, respectively. Here, FIG. A description will be made assuming that a nozzle having eight nozzles 92 similar to that of nozzle 15 is used. First, in the first scan of the unit recording area of 4 pixels, the lower four nozzles 92 are used to record the image data thinned out based on the staggered pattern as shown in FIG. next,
After feeding the recording paper P by 4 pixels (1/2 of the head length), as shown in FIG. 16B, the second scan records the image data thinned based on the reverse zigzag pattern. To do. Further, after the recording paper P is fed by 4 pixels (1/2 of the multi-nozzle head width L),
As shown in (c), the image data thinned by the staggered pattern is recorded again by the third scan.
In this way, paper feeding in units of 4 pixels, zigzag,
By alternately repeating the recording of the image data based on the inverted zigzag pattern, the recording area of 4 pixels is completed for each scan. As described above, by completing the recording in the unit recording area by the two different types of nozzles, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image without density unevenness.

On the other hand, as another technical problem in the ink jet recording apparatus, dot shape defects formed by the ink landed on the recording paper P and inadvertent dot connection (these are the inks on the recording paper P). (Influenced by absorption characteristics and evaporation characteristics), and in a color inkjet recording device that sequentially deposits inks of different colors overlapping and adjacent to each other, image quality due to color mixture due to inadvertent ink bleeding, etc. Suppression of deterioration is mentioned. In the above-described divisional printing method, the amount of ink ejected by one scan of the multi-nozzle head is reduced, so there is an effect of improving such a point.
Further, unlike the above-described divided recording method, for example, a special paper feed control of 1/2 each of the multi-nozzle head width L is not performed, and simply, for example, a plurality of scans is performed on an image area of the multi-nozzle head width. A so-called multi-pass printing method in which print data that is executed and divided and thinned for each scan or print data that is divided by color is printed is also proposed as a countermeasure for the above-mentioned problem.

[0012]

In the above-mentioned conventional divisional recording method, the landing accuracy is deteriorated due to the deviation (deviation) of the ink ejection direction, and the density unevenness due to the variation in the ink ejection amount is reduced. In addition, although it is possible to improve the image problem caused by the defective shape of the landed dots, when performing the above-described divided recording method while performing reciprocal recording to improve the recording speed, As will be described later, when a predetermined recording area is scanned a plurality of times, the scanning time interval varies depending on the recording point in the recording area, and the density change (hereinafter referred to as “time interval density unevenness” due to it) ))
Was found to happen.

Time interval density unevenness will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the occurrence of the difference in the time intervals of the printing scans, in which a single-color multi-nozzle head 91 is used as the print head and printing of one line for the width L of the multi-nozzle head is performed twice. An example of a case where a divided recording method completed by the recording scanning (also referred to as “scan”) is performed will be described. In FIG. 17, first, printing is performed by forward scanning from left to right in FIG. The portion where printing is performed by the forward scan is shown by a diagonally upward-sloping portion in FIG. After that, the recording paper P is fed by ½ of the length L of the row of the ejection ports of the recording head 91 (sub-nozzle head sub-recordable at one time), and then the recording is performed by the backward scanning. The portion printed by this backward scanning is indicated by a diagonally upward-sloping portion in FIG. In the area in which the oblique lines rising to the right and the oblique lines rising to the left in FIG. 17 overlap, recording is completed by such two scans. The left end and the right end of the area where this recording is completed are referred to as "point A" and "point B", respectively. At the point A, the time interval of the print scan from the first print performed by the forward scan to the second print performed by the backward scan is roughly the print head 91 to the right end of the print line. It takes a time that is a combination of the time for performing the printing by the forward scanning, the time for feeding the paper for the length of L / 2 minutes, and the time for the printing by the backward scanning starting from the right end to reach point A. Compared to that, 2 after the first recording at point B
The time interval before the second recording is roughly L
It is only a paper feed time of / 2 minutes, which is shorter than point A.

Next, with reference to FIG. 18, the occurrence of density unevenness due to the difference in the time intervals of the printing scans at the points A and B will be described. FIG. 18 shows a case where the time interval of the print scan is long in the divided print method in which the print of the predetermined print area is completed by two print scans ((a) in the figure).
3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views showing how ink permeates and is fixed in a case where the time interval is short (also referred to as “recording material” in the drawing (b) in the drawing). The ink droplets (also referred to as “ink droplets”) 93-1 landed on the recording material P during the first scan penetrate in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface and a direction along the paper surface, and dyes such as dyes in the ink are recorded. It is physically and chemically bonded to the medium P. Next, a case will be described in which the next dot is hit adjacent to the previously landed dot in this way at short time intervals (FIG. 18B).
reference). The ink droplets 93-2 ejected afterward also permeate in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface and in the direction along the paper surface, but they do not permeate or fix much in the area where the ink droplets 93-1 ejected earlier have permeated. The cause is that the previously ejected ink droplet 93-1 is still penetrating, and the physical and chemical bond between the recording medium P and the pigment such as dye in the ink is finite. Can be mentioned. Therefore, the ink droplet 93-2 ejected later is permeated and fixed further below the region where the ink droplet 93-1 ejected earlier has permeated.

When the next ink drop 93-2 is fired at a long time interval after the previous ink drop 93-1 has been fired, as shown in FIG. The area 93-2 is permeated and fixed in a relatively large amount in the area where the previously ejected ink droplet 93-1 is permeated and fixed.
This is because the previously ejected ink droplet 93-1 has sufficiently penetrated and spread, or the volatile component thereof has evaporated, so that the amount of the ink droplet 93-1 per unit volume decreases,
It is considered that this is because it becomes possible for the ink droplet 93-2 ejected afterwards to penetrate.

Actually, the print density becomes higher when the time interval of the reciprocal recording scan is longer as shown in FIG. 18 (a). That is, in FIG. 18, the state in which the ink droplets 93-1 and 93-2 ejected twice are infiltrated and fixed (see the lowermost diagram in FIG. 18) is the case where the time interval of the print scan is long and the case where the time interval is short. In comparison, when the time interval is longer, the amount of ink fixed near the surface of the recording material P, that is, the amount of pigment such as dye is larger, while the print density is near the surface of the recording material P. The longer the time interval, the higher the recording density, because it corresponds to the amount of light absorption by the dye or the like that has been fixed and developed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, a description will be given of the adverse effect of changing the time interval of the printing scan in the multicolor printing. In the case of color recording as well, the above-mentioned adverse effect of the time interval density unevenness similarly occurs. further,
In addition to that, color unevenness occurs due to the time interval difference between recording scans. In FIG. 19, four recording heads 91 for ejecting yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (Cy), and black (Bk) inks are arranged in the carriage scanning direction (left and right direction in FIG. 19) from the right. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a divided printing method is completed in which printing of a predetermined printing area is completed by two printing scans by an inkjet printing apparatus arranged side by side. Similarly to the case where the printing is performed in a single color in FIG. 17, the printing is performed for the points A and B by the forward scanning and the backward scanning subsequent to the paper feeding of the half of the nozzle width L. To complete. The left end and the right end of the recording area completed by the paper feeding after recording at the points A and B and the next forward scanning are designated as point C and point D, respectively. Now, for example, green dots are formed by cyan (hereinafter referred to as “Cy”) and yellow (hereinafter referred to as “Y”) on all the pixels of the image data thinned out according to the above-described staggered and reverse zigzag patterns. In this case, as can be seen from the positional relationship in FIG. 19, at the points A and B, the first recording is the forward scan, so the Y ink droplet is ejected after the ejection of the Cy ink droplet, and conversely, 2 Since the second printing is the backward scan, the Cy ink droplet is ejected after the Y ink droplet is ejected. On the other hand, at points C and D, the Y ink droplet is ejected after the Y ink droplet is ejected in the first recording, and the Y ink droplet is ejected after the Cy ink droplet is ejected in the second recording. Will be ejected. Further, as described above, the time interval of the print scan is long at points A and D, and short at points B and C.

When multi-color printing is performed by such a printing apparatus, ink droplets of a plurality of colors are ejected to the same pixel by one forward or backward printing scan. In such a case, The state of ink penetration and fixing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 shows a Y ink drop 93-
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a state of ink penetration and fixing when a Cy ink droplet 93-2 is ejected after 1 is ejected. First, by ejecting the Y ink droplet 93-1 onto the recording material P, the ink permeates and fixes on the recording material P. Next, a Cy ink drop 93-2 is ejected onto it. Each ink drop 93-1 and 9
Since 3-2 is ejected from each of the recording heads 91, 91 mounted on the same carriage, the time interval between the landing of the Y ink droplet 93-1 and the landing of the Cy ink droplet 93-2 is very short. Therefore, for the reason described above in the example of recording a single-color image, the ink droplet 9 of Cy ejected after is printed.
It is difficult for 3-2 to permeate and fix in the region where the Y ink droplet 93-1 has permeated. The ink droplet 93-2 of Cy partially penetrates the region where the ink droplet 93-1 of Y has penetrated.
Although it is fixed, a considerable part of the ink penetrates outside the area where the Y ink droplet 93-1 has penetrated and is fixed. Figure 20
Is shown in the bottom diagram of. The Y ink is mainly fixed in the vicinity of the surface of the recording material P, and since the color-developed area is wider, the color develops a green color close to yellow as a whole. When the two color ink droplets 93-1 and 93-2 are landed on the same position of the recording material P in this way, the recording material P develops a color close to the color of the ink droplet previously landed.

Therefore, point A in FIG.
At point B, ink is ejected in the order of Cy → Y in the first forward scan, so that it is colored in green close to cyan, and ink is ejected in the order of Y → Cy in the second backward scan, so that it is close to yellow. Develops. Moreover, as shown in the previous example of recording a single-color image, the ink droplets that are ejected in the second recording (recording at a position adjacent to the position where the ink droplets are first ejected) are the ink droplets that are first ejected. Of the first recording, the color of the first recording occupies a large amount of the surface of the recording material P.
It develops green color close to cyan. Further, comparing the colors of point A and point B, since the printing time interval of point B is relatively short, the color of the first printing is strong, and the remaining color develops green closer to cyan. Point C and point D develop a green color close to yellow by the same mechanism. Also, at point C where the printing time interval is shorter
Compared to point D, the color develops green closer to yellow.

As described above, when the multi-color image is recorded by the divided recording method at a time interval shorter than the time required for the ink droplet to penetrate and fix, not only the density unevenness in one recording line but also the unevenness of the tint is obtained. In addition, color unevenness occurs between recording lines.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording a high quality image free from uneven density and uneven color by ensuring a time for permeation and fixing of ink on a recording medium. To do.

[0022]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage sequentially completes recording for each recording line by reciprocal recording scanning. Alternatively, it is provided with means for holding the carriage for a predetermined time from the end of the backward print scan to the next print scan.

[0023]

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the carriage is allowed to stand by for a predetermined time between each recording scan by the ink jet recording head, thereby ensuring the time for the ink to penetrate and fix on the recording medium. Records high-quality images without uneven density or uneven color.

Further, after the recording of one line is completed, the unevenness of the reciprocal scanning time interval is reduced by keeping the carriage on standby until the ink permeation of the final recording portion is completed within the range where the speed-up effect of reciprocal recording is not lost. be able to.

Further, recovery operations such as wiping of the ink ejection port of the recording head and preliminary ejection of ink are performed during the waiting time of the carriage, and after the recording at the final recording position of one line is completed, the position is changed to that position. On the other hand, by making the carriage stand by so that the time until the next scanning is performed becomes a predetermined time, it is possible to suppress the decrease of the recording speed due to the waiting time of the carriage as much as possible.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the ink jet recording apparatus has the same mechanical structure as that shown in FIG. 11, and the carriage 706 on which the recording head 702 (corresponding to the multi-nozzle head 91 in FIG. 13) is mounted. An image can be recorded on the recording paper P by repeating the reciprocal scanning of the above and repeating the paper feed of the recording paper P.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control section of an ink jet recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1A, the CPU 100 executes control processing of operations of each part of the apparatus, data processing and the like. R
The processing procedure and the like are stored in the OM 100A, and
The RAM 100B is used as a work area for executing the above processing.

Ink ejection from the recording head 702 is
The CPU 100 supplies the drive data and drive control signal of the electrothermal converter to the head driver 702A. Further, the CPU 100 controls the waiting time of the carriage 706 as described later. Further CPU1
00 controls the rotation of the carriage motor 20 for moving the carriage 706 and the paper feed (PF) motor 50 for rotating the conveying rollers 703, 705 via motor drivers 20A and 50A, respectively.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The present embodiment is an example of recording a single-color image.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the recording method in this embodiment. In the figure, shaded areas are recording papers (recording materials) P and L.
Indicates the length of the ejection port array of the recording head 91 (that is, the head width that can be recorded by one scan). First, by the first scan (forward scan) of (I), the lower half of the recording head 702 is used to record the image data thinned in the recording range P-1 in accordance with the zigzag pattern of FIG. I do. Next, after feeding L / 2, the recording range P-
Image data thinned out according to the reverse zigzag pattern of FIG. 21B is recorded on the first and P-2 by the second scan (reverse scan) of (II). In FIG. 2, the print portion of the forward scan is shown by a diagonal line rising to the right, and the print portion of the backward scan is shown by a diagonal line rising to the left. The printing range P-1 by the first scan is image data (reverse image) that complements the image data (the image data thinned according to the staggered pattern) in the first scan by using the upper half of the print head 91 in the second scan. Image data thinned according to the staggered pattern) is recorded, and the recording is completed. Further, after the second scan, L / 2 paper feed is performed, and then the third scan (forward scan) of (III) is performed. In the third scan, as in the first scan, the image data thinned according to the zigzag pattern is recorded.
The print ranges in the third scan are P-2 and P-3, and the print in the print range P-2 is completed by this scan. In Figure 2,
Indicates the first scan, and indicates the second scan.

In this embodiment, an example in which the image data on the screen is thinned out in a zigzag pattern like a zigzag pattern and an inverted zigzag pattern for recording is shown. However, the number of dots for each reciprocal recording scan is almost the same. It suffices if the data can be thinned out so as to be the same, and it is not limited to the houndstooth check. That is, the recording head 91
When the first recording area recorded by the upper half of the recording head and the second recording area recorded by the lower half of the recording head 91 are in a mutually complementary relationship, and the image data is divided and recording is performed. It suffices that the number of dots for each of the divided prints is even. Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the recording is divided into two and the printing is performed is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.

In the configuration in which a monochrome image is printed by reciprocal scanning by using the above-mentioned "divided printing method" as in the present embodiment, as described above, "due to a change in the time interval of printing scanning". "Time interval density unevenness" occurs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as will be described below, after the forward or backward print scan, the effect of speeding up the print by the reciprocating scan does not disappear until the penetration of ink in the final print portion is completed, The carriage 706 is made to stand by for a predetermined time.

First, the operation and effect of waiting the carriage 706 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the correlation between the time interval of reciprocal print scanning and the print density. For the reason described above, the recording density becomes higher as the scanning time interval becomes longer. The degree of increase in the recording density by increasing the scanning time interval becomes gentler as the scanning time interval becomes longer, and then becomes almost constant. The difference (difference) in the reciprocal scanning time interval between the both ends of the recording line due to the reciprocal scanning is twice the time required for the recording scanning between the both ends, as described above with reference to FIG. The time is constant. For example, if the time intervals of the reciprocal print scan at points A and B in FIG. 19 are A and B on the horizontal axis in FIG. 3, respectively, the carriage 70
By waiting 6 and lengthening the scanning time interval,
The scanning time interval changes like A'and B'in FIG.
Since the increasing rate of the recording density is smaller for A'and B ', the time interval density unevenness is also smaller. FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the waiting time of the carriage 706 and the time interval density unevenness in this embodiment.
It shows in (b). As shown in this figure, when the waiting time of the carriage 706 is increased, the time interval density unevenness decreases.

FIG. 4 shows a carriage 70 in this embodiment.
An example of the printing speed when 6 is made to stand by at each recording scan is shown. In the recording apparatus of this embodiment, the printing speed is 100 cp
s, the moving speed of the carriage 706 without printing is 150 cps, and the carriage 706 is set to 1
When moving at a speed of 00 cps, it takes 0.06 seconds for acceleration and braking, and carriage 706 is
When moving at a speed of 0 cps, it takes 0.09 seconds for acceleration and control. In addition, the recording paper P is halved
It takes 0.10 seconds to send a line (L / 2). The length of the print line is 10 inches including the length of the carriage 706. FIG. 4A shows an example of unidirectional printing in which one line of recording is performed by moving the carriage 706 in two reciprocations, and FIG. 4B shows a case of bidirectional printing by reciprocal scanning in this embodiment. For example: The time required to complete the recording for one line by these printing methods is calculated by the following calculation. In FIG. 4, the moving speed of the carriage 706 during forward scanning is “+”, the moving speed in the opposite direction is “−”, and in the case of one-way printing in FIG. It is assumed that there is no waiting time for 706, and the return speed of the carriage 706 is a speed equivalent to 150 cps.

"In case of one-way printing" Time required for forward scanning: 0.06 + 1.00 + 0.06 = 1.12
(Sec) Time required for carriage return: 0.09 + 0.67 + 0.09 = 0.
85 (sec) Time required to feed 1/2 line of paper: 0.01 (sec) Therefore, time required to record one line: (1.12 + 0.85 +
0.01) × 2 = 4.41 (sec) “For bidirectional printing” Carriage standby time: (X) Time required for forward scan: 0.06 + 1.00 + 0.06 + (X) Time required for backward scan: 0.06 + 1 .00 + 0.06 + (X) Therefore, the time required to record one line: 2.44 + 2
(X) As described above, in the case of one-way printing, the time required to record one line is 4.14 seconds. If the carriage 706 has no waiting time and reciprocal printing is performed,
It takes 2.44 seconds to complete the recording for one line, and the carriage waiting time X is 0.2 seconds, 0.4 seconds, and 0.8 seconds.
By setting 2 seconds and 0.9 seconds, the time required to complete the recording for one line is 2.84 seconds, 3.24 seconds, 4.
It will be 04 seconds and 4.24 seconds. From this, if the carriage standby time X is 0.8 seconds or less, there is an effect of speeding up printing by performing reciprocal printing. Therefore, in this embodiment, the carriage standby time is set to 0.8 seconds.

Further, in order to speed up the recording as much as possible while suppressing the color unevenness at the end of the recording line due to the change of the time interval of the reciprocal recording scanning, the wiping of the ink ejection port of the recording head 91 and the recording head are performed. Recovery processing such as preliminary ejection of ink from 91 may be performed during the carriage waiting time. As a result, not only the printing speed is increased, but also the carriage waiting time is maintained at a predetermined time, and the printing unevenness caused by the print pause caused by the print recovery operation which is a conventional problem (hereinafter,
It can be eliminated. In this embodiment, since the carriage waiting time is 0.8 seconds, wiping (0.6 seconds) and preliminary ejection (0.2
Seconds).

In this way, the carriage 7 is provided for each recording line.
By holding 06 for a predetermined time, while suppressing unevenness in time interval density at the end of the recording line due to reciprocal printing with color difference,
We were able to realize high-speed recording.

The carriage standby time capable of suppressing the time interval density unevenness to a certain level or less is a condition that influences the fixing property of ink, that is, environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, ink composition, characteristics of recording material, It changes depending on the amount of ink ejected. The carriage waiting time may be changed or selected according to these conditions.

When a multicolor color image is recorded by repeating monochromatic recording with inks of different colors several times, even a slight density unevenness appears as color unevenness. Higher accuracy of density uniformity is required than when performing. In such a case, the present invention is particularly effective.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is an example in the case of reciprocally recording a multicolor image by the division recording method. Here, similarly to the example of FIG. 19 described above, the carriage 70
4 inkjet cartridges 70 mounted in 6
1 includes black ink (hereinafter abbreviated as "Bk"), cyan ink (hereinafter abbreviated as "Cy"), magenta ink (hereinafter abbreviated as "M"), yellow ink (hereinafter
"Y" is abbreviated), and the inks are stacked in this order. The intermediate colors are Cy,
This can be realized by appropriately overlapping the ink dots of M and Y colors. That is, red is M and Y, blue is C
y and M, and green can be realized by superimposing Cy and Y. In general, black can be realized by superimposing three colors of Cy, M, and Y, but in that case, the coloration of black is poor, and it is difficult to superimpose it with high precision, so that framing of chromatic colors occurs, and moreover, it takes a unit time. Since the hitting density of the hit ink is too high, only black is shot separately as Bk.

FIG. 5 shows a recording method in this embodiment. In this embodiment, since multicolor color recording is performed by reciprocating scanning,
The odd-numbered scans are forward scans, and the even-numbered scans are backward scans. In this case, the order in which ink is ejected in each print scan is determined according to the arrangement direction of the print heads 91 of each color.
Bk → Cy → M → Y in the forward scan, and Y → M in the reverse scan.
→ Cy → Bk. First, by the first scan (forward scan) of (I), the lower half of each recording head 91 is used to thin out the recording range P-1 according to the zigzag pattern of FIG. 21A described above. Record image data. As a result, dot images are formed in the recording range P-1 in the order of Bk → Cy → M → Y. Next, the L / 2 width paper feed is performed. Then, in the second scan (reverse scan) of (II), the print heads 91 thin out the image data according to the above-described inversely staggered pattern of FIG. 21B into the print ranges P-1 and P-2. Record. The recording range P-1 is recorded by the upper half of each recording head 91, and the recording range P-
2 is recorded by the lower half of each recording head 91. In addition, in FIG. 5, the print portion by the forward scan is shown by a diagonal line rising to the right, the print portion by the backward scan is shown by a diagonal line rising to the left, and the images thinned according to the zigzag pattern are shown as “thousand” and reverse. Images decimated according to the staggered pattern are shown as "reverse".

In this second scan, the image data thinned out according to the reverse zigzag pattern is printed in the order of Y → M → Cy → Bk, and the printing on the printing range P-1 is completed. Here, the dot image recorded in the recording range P-1 has Bk → Cy → M in the portions of the recording pixels located in a staggered pattern.
→ Y is recorded in the landing order, so that Y → M → Cy → Bk is recorded in the portion of the recording pixels located in an inverted zigzag pattern so as to complement it.
Records are made in the order of impact.

After that, in the third scan (forward scan) after the L / 2 width paper is fed, the image data thinned according to the zigzag pattern is printed in the recording range P-2 as in the first scan. , P-3. By this third scan,
The recording of the portion of the recording range P-2 is completed.

Here, the dot image recorded in the recording range P-2 is Y in the portion of the recording pixel located in the reverse zigzag shape first.
→ M → Cy → Bk Bk → C is added to the portion of the recording pixels located in a staggered manner so as to complement the content recorded in the landing order.
It is recorded in the landing order of y → M → Y. Hereinafter, by repeating the same operation, 1 / of each recording head 91
Recording areas divided into two widths (L / 2 width) are sequentially recorded, and recording of all image data is completed. Note that FIG.
The display in the parentheses in the second and third scans indicates the portion recorded in the past.

In this embodiment, the image data is zigzag,
Also, an example of thinning out in a simple zigzag pattern like reverse zigzag was shown, but it is only necessary to thin out so that the number of dots for each printing scan is almost the same, and it is not limited to a zigzag pattern. Absent. That is, the first recording area recorded by the upper half of the recording head 91 and the second recording area recorded by the lower half of the recording head 91 are in a mutually complementary relationship, and the image data is divided. It suffices that the number of dots for each of the divided prints when printing is performed in a uniform manner.

In the configuration of reciprocal recording of a multicolored color image by the division recording method as in the present embodiment, not only the time interval density unevenness caused by the change of the scanning time interval occurs, but also As described above, the tint unevenness in one recording line and the tint unevenness between lines may occur. Such color unevenness is particularly remarkable when solid printing is performed in which all pixels are formed by an intermediate color formed by appropriately overlapping and adjoining a plurality of inks of different colors. Therefore, according to the present invention, after the recording of one line is completed, the carriage 70 does not lose the effect of speeding up the printing by the reciprocal printing until the permeation of the ink in the final printed portion of the recorded line is completed.
Wait 6

By waiting for the carriage 706, it is possible to reduce not only the density unevenness at time intervals but also the tint unevenness within and between recording lines due to changes in the scanning time intervals. The reason will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 7
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the scanning time interval and the degree of color development in the configuration of the present embodiment. The degree of color development at the points corresponding to the points A, B, C, and D in FIG. 19 described above is shown by A, B, C, and D in FIG. 7, respectively. At point A and point B, since the first scan is the forward scan, ink is ejected in the order of Cy → Y for Cy and Y, and in the second print, Y → by the backward scan.
Ink is ejected in the order of Cy. Therefore, at points A and B, due to the reason described above, the color develops to green (G) close to cyan (Cy). Further, since the time interval of the reciprocal scanning is longer at the point A than at the point B, the point A develops a color relatively close to green (G) between Cy and Y as shown in FIG. Points C and D are
Since the first scan is the backward scan, ink is ejected in the order of Y → Cy with respect to Cy and Y, and in the second record, the ink is ejected in the order of Cy → Y by the forward scan. Therefore, at the points C and D, due to the reason described above, the color develops to green (G) close to yellow (Y). Since the point D has a longer reciprocal scanning time interval than the point C, the point D develops a color relatively close to green (G) between Cy and Y as shown in FIG. The color unevenness in the recording lines of point A and point B is shown in FIG.
The difference in color formation between A and B in the figure is the difference in color formation between C and D in the drawing, and the color unevenness in the recording lines at points C and D is the difference in color formation between C and D in FIG. Further, the difference in color tone between the lines of point A and point C is the difference in the color development between A and C in FIG. 7, and the color unevenness between the lines of point B and point D is the difference in the color development between B and D in the figure. It is the difference. When the waiting time of the carriage 706 is provided, FIG.
Inside point A, point B, point C, point D
Points are shifted to A ', B', C ', D'in the figure. As is clear from this figure, the difference in tint within a recording line and the difference in tint between lines are small.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the correlation between the carriage waiting time and the color difference between lines. If the carriage waiting time is lengthened, the color difference tends to decrease.

In this embodiment, since the scanning time of the recording apparatus and the time required for fixing the ink are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, the carriage waiting time is 0.8 seconds as in the first embodiment. Set to.

Further, in order to speed up recording as much as possible while suppressing color unevenness at the end of the line due to changes in the time interval of reciprocal scanning, wiping of the ink ejection port of the recording head 91 and ink from the recording head 91. The recording recovery operation such as preliminary ejection may be performed during the carriage waiting time. As a result, not only the printing speed can be increased, but also the carriage waiting time can be maintained at a predetermined time to eliminate the printing unevenness caused by the print suspension accompanying the recovery operation, which has been a conventional problem.

In this embodiment, since the carriage waiting time is 0.8 seconds, wiping (0.6 seconds) and preliminary ejection (0.2 seconds) for each of the recording heads 91 are performed at each waiting time. I do. Blades for wiping the ink ejection ports of the recording head 91 are provided at positions on the left and right sides of the carriage 706 in the left and right scanning directions.
Wiping and preliminary ejection of the recording heads 91 of M and M are performed when the carriage 706 is located at the home position on the left side, and wiping and preliminary ejection of the two recording heads 91 of Cy and Bk on the right side are performed on the home of the carriage 706 on the right side. You may make it perform when it is located in a position. By doing so, the distance for moving the carriage 706 at low speed for wiping can be shortened, and the time required for wiping can be shortened.

In this way, the carriage 7 is provided for each recording line.
By making 06 wait, it was possible to realize high-speed recording while suppressing unevenness in time interval density at the end of the line due to reciprocal recording with color difference.

The carriage standby time capable of suppressing the density unevenness at time intervals below a certain value is a condition that influences the fixability of the ink, that is, environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, the composition of the ink, the characteristics of the recording material, It changes depending on the amount of ink ejected. The carriage waiting time may be changed or selected according to these conditions.

(Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, the amount of alcohol added to the ink used in the first embodiment is larger than that of the ink used in the first embodiment to improve the quick-drying property of the ink and the permeability of the recording paper P. At the same time, recording is performed using a recording head 91 having a small ink ejection amount. In the present embodiment, the solid line in FIG. 8 shows the density unevenness of the time interval due to the time interval of the reciprocal scanning when the carriage waiting time is changed. Compared with the case of the first embodiment (dotted line in FIG. 8), in this embodiment, the time interval density unevenness decreases largely when the carriage waiting time is increased. Therefore, the carriage 7
If the same effect as that of the first embodiment is to be obtained by making 06 wait, the carriage waiting time can be set shorter. It is considered that this is because the amount of ink ejected from the recording head 91 is small and the solvent of the ink ejected in the first scan evaporates faster than in the case of the first embodiment. In this embodiment,
The carriage standby time was set to 0.5 seconds.

Further, in this embodiment, since the carriage waiting time is short, the wiping is performed after the printing of one page is completed and the preliminary ejection (0.2 seconds) is performed during the printing of one page.
Only decided to do.

With this structure, it is possible to realize high-speed recording as much as possible while suppressing time interval density unevenness to the same extent as in the first embodiment.

By the way, in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, as the recording material, it is assumed that coated paper, plain paper, and transparency film, which will be described later, are used. Penetrate ink quickly,
Comparing coated paper, which is coated with a material that fixes and dyes pigments in ink more vividly on the surface of the paper, with non-coated paper, which is generally called plain paper, Fixing is slow and bleeding is severe (ink that has been ejected later easily penetrates into the area where ink has already penetrated), so it is less likely that time interval density unevenness or tint unevenness will occur due to changes in the scanning time interval. .
In addition, the transparency film for overhead projectors generally has a much slower ink penetration and fixing than paper, so that unevenness in time interval density and uneven tint due to changes in scanning time intervals are less likely to occur. for that reason,
In the present embodiment, the carriage 706 may be made to stand by only when the recording apparatus is in a mode for recording on coated paper.

In the printing apparatus used in this embodiment, the divided printing method was used in which the width of the row of nozzle openings of the print head 91 (printing width that can be printed by one printing scan) was divided into two, but four divisions were made. It is also possible to record by a divided recording method of 8 divisions. When printing is performed using the 8-division recording method, the period of the tint unevenness between lines becomes short, so the unevenness is not very noticeable when viewed from a distance of about 30 cm from the printed matter. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait for the carriage in the recording mode of the recording apparatus that performs the 8-division recording method.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a management means for managing the carriage standby time for waiting for ink penetration in the final printing portion of the recording line is provided, and the carriage standby time is changed as necessary, so that the time interval density unevenness and color The printing speed is increased as much as possible while suppressing unevenness. That is, when the carriage 706 moves in the non-printing state in the blank portion of one line after printing is completed at the middle position of the maximum print width of one line, the final print portion of that line is scanned by the first time. The time from printing to the next second scan of the final printing area is the time required for ink penetration in the final printing area (apparatus environment, ink composition, recording material, head The carriage standby time is changed so that it is not shorter than the discharge amount) and is not as long as possible.

In this embodiment, the same ink jet recording apparatus, recording paper, ink and recording head as those in the first and second embodiments were used. A print pause timer is newly provided to measure the time required for the carriage 706 to move from the final printing unit to the carriage stop position, and the carriage standby time is optimally set according to the measurement time to speed up printing. .

In practice, as will be described below, the print pause is set from the time when the printing of the final printing portion N of the recording area M is completed by the first scanning to the time when the carriage 706 moves to the braking position where deceleration is started. Measure with a timer. Then, the time required for the carriage 706 to move from the final printing unit N to the braking position from the predetermined reference carriage waiting time, and the carriage 7 by the next second scanning.
The carriage 706 is made to stand by at the stop position for a time period obtained by subtracting the time period until the print portion N scans the printing unit N. Also,
The time required for the carriage 706 to move from the printing unit N to the braking position for deceleration start by the first scanning and the time until the carriage 706 scans the printing unit N in the next second scanning is more than the reference time. If the carriage standby time is shorter, the carriage standby time is set to "0". As a result, the speed can be increased as much as possible while suppressing the unevenness of the time interval of the reciprocal scanning regardless of the print data such as the print layout on the recording paper P. In addition,
The carriage 706 is not made to wait on a blank line where printing is not performed.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. The first scan of the recording area (M) on the recording paper P is forward scan, and the second scan is backward scan. Recording area (M + 2), (M +
As in 3), when one line is fully printed, the carriage waiting time of 0.8 seconds is provided as shown in the first embodiment. In the recording area (M), it takes time for the carriage 706 to decelerate to the stop position P ₀ from the end of printing by the final printing unit N until the start of the next backward scan from the printing unit N. In addition to the time, the waiting time of the carriage 706, and the time for the carriage 706 to accelerate from the stop position P ₀ , the time taken for the carriage 706 to move from the printing unit N to the deceleration start braking position by forward scanning, and It takes extra time for the carriage 706 to move to the printing unit N in the backward scan. Therefore, the carriage 70
The time required for the carriage 6 to move from the printing unit N to the braking position by the forward scan and the time for the carriage 706 to move to the printing unit N by the forward scan in the next backward scan are
By subtracting from the waiting time of the carriage 706 in the first embodiment and setting it as the carriage waiting time, it is possible to realize high speed while suppressing unevenness in time interval density at the end of the line.

A more specific description will be given below. First, the carriage 706 performs forward scanning from the position shown in FIG. The recording area (M-1) is a blank line. Since the final print portion of the recording area (M) is N, the print pause timer is started from the end of the print, and the time is counted until the carriage 706 reaches the braking position for deceleration start. Here, it is assumed that N is at the midpoint of the left-right printing area in FIG. 9, and the width of the printing area in the left-right direction in FIG. 9 includes the width of the carriage 706, as in the first embodiment described above. If the total is 100 characters, the count time of the print pause timer is 0.5 seconds. In this embodiment, the carriage standby time is basically set to 0.4 seconds, and the carriage 706
The carriage standby time between the forward scan from the position of 1 and the next backward scan is changed to 0 second. That is, the carriage standby time is adjusted according to the count time of the print pause timer. In the printing of the printing area (M + 1) and thereafter, one line is printed completely, so the final printing area of the first scanning (reverse scanning) of the printing area (M + 1) is B in the figure, and the time counted by the pause timer is It is 0 second, and the carriage standby is performed for 0.4 second as set in advance. Hereinafter, 0.4 seconds of carriage standby is similarly performed in the print areas (M + 2) and (M + 3).

FIG. 10 shows time intervals of reciprocal scanning at points N and A to G in FIG. At point A, the scanning time interval from the first scan (forward scan) to the second scan (reverse scan) is the carriage 7
0.06 for each braking and acceleration of 06
Approximately 2.12 when calculated by adding 0.10 second for paper feed
Seconds. At point N, it is 1.12 seconds. Points D, C, and B are 2.92 seconds, 1.92 seconds, and 0.92 seconds, respectively, because the carriage waiting time is 0.4 seconds, and points E, F, and G are 2. 9
They are 2 seconds, 1.92 seconds, and 0.92 seconds. Points B and E
, C, F, D, G, respectively, the difference in scanning time intervals is 2.0 seconds, 0.0 seconds, 2.0 seconds, while points A, B, N, C. 1.20 seconds for each
0.80 seconds. Considering that if the carriage waiting time is constant as in the first embodiment, the scanning time intervals at the points A and N are the same as the points E and F, the carriage waiting time is set as in the present embodiment. It can be seen that by changing the speed, recording can be speeded up and unevenness of the time interval of reciprocal scanning can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the print pause timer is used as the carriage standby time management means, but as another means, the carriage standby time is determined based on the print data such as the print layout on the recording paper P. The method of is also conceivable.

(Others) The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (straight liquid passage or right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electrical connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add the ejection recovery means of the recording head, the preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. 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, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0076]

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention makes the carriage stand by for a predetermined time between each recording scan by the recording head.
It is possible to secure a time for the ink to permeate and fix the recording medium, and to record a high-quality image without density unevenness or color unevenness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between density unevenness and carriage standby time.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a recording method in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a scanning time interval and print density in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a scanning time of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a recording method in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a color difference and a carriage standby time according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a scanning time interval and color development in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between density unevenness and carriage standby time in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a recording method in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of scanning time intervals according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

12 is a partial explanatory diagram of the recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an ideal recording state of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a recording state with uneven density of the inkjet recording apparatus.

15 is an explanatory diagram of a divided recording method of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

16 is an explanatory diagram of a divided recording method of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of monochrome recording by the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the influence of scanning time intervals on ink penetration and fixing.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining tint unevenness in multicolor recording.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a state of permeation and fixing when ink droplets of different colors are hit in the same area.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining thinning patterns of zigzag and reverse zigzag.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Carriage Motor 20A, 50A Motor Driver 50 Paper Feed Motor 100 CPU 100A ROM 100B RAM 701 Ink Cartridge 702, 91 Multihead (Recording Head) 702A Head Driver 703 Paper Feed Roller 704 Auxiliary Roller 705 Paper Feed Roller 706 Carriage

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication location H04N 1/23 101 A 9186-5C (72) Inventor Miyuki Matsubara 3-30 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Sugimoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shigetasu Nagoshi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kya Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Masaya Uezuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Norifumi Koitabashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. In the company

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which sequentially completes printing by one printing line by reciprocating printing scanning of an ink jet printing head mounted on a carriage, after the forward or backward printing scan of the ink jet printing head is completed, An ink jet recording apparatus comprising means for holding the carriage for a predetermined time before recording scanning. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a standby time management unit that adjusts a standby time of the carriage according to a final recording position of a recording line. 3. The waiting time management means measures the time from the end of recording at the final recording position of a recording line to the movement of the carriage to a predetermined stop position according to a measurement time of a print pause timer. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the standby time of the carriage is adjusted. 4. A recovery processing means for performing recovery processing of an ink ejection port of the ink jet recording head during a waiting time of the carriage.
Alternatively, the inkjet recording device described in 3. 5. A means for changing the waiting time of the carriage according to a condition that influences the characteristics of ink permeation into a recording medium and the fixing property of the recording medium is provided. 4. The inkjet recording device according to item 4. 6. The ink jet recording head has an electrothermal conversion element for generating heat energy that causes film boiling in the ink, as energy used for ejecting the ink. , 2,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to 3, 4, or 5.