JP2018111265A - Recording device, recording system, recording method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recording device that can sufficiently disperse the frequency of use of nozzles.SOLUTION: A recording device has a recording head having a plurality of nozzles that discharges ink. The recording device also has setting means. According to at least the size of a recorded image in arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles, recorded with the plurality of nozzles, the setting means sets a shiftable range of, in the arrangement direction, the nozzles for use in recording the same recorded image, of the plurality of nozzles. Thus, the setting means averages the frequency of use of the plurality of nozzles.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording system, a recording method, and a program that perform recording by moving a recording medium relatively in a direction intersecting a nozzle arrangement direction of a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged.

  Currently, there is a full-line type ink jet recording apparatus as an ink jet recording apparatus capable of high speed recording. This full-line type ink jet recording apparatus continuously moves a recording medium to be used and uses a recording head having a nozzle row longer than the width of the recording medium, and discharges ink from the nozzles of the recording head according to the recording data. By doing so, an image is recorded for each raster.

  The nozzles provided in the recording head have a predetermined life, and if the number of ink ejection exceeds a certain number, the corresponding nozzle may reach the life and ink ejection may become impossible. Therefore, when an image such as a ruled line configured in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the recording medium is recorded, the frequency of ejecting ink using the same nozzle is increased. As a result, the cumulative value of the ink discharge number of a specific nozzle increases in a shorter period than the cumulative value of the ink discharge number of other nozzles, and only a specific nozzle tends to reach the end of its life early. When a specific nozzle reaches the end of its life, even if the other nozzles have not reached the end of their life, the function of the entire recording head is impaired, and as a result, it is necessary to replace the entire recording head.

  In order to avoid the occurrence of such a situation, the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 shifts the recording position of the image on the recording medium in the nozzle row direction by a predetermined number of times to thereby reduce the number of nozzle ejections (usage frequency). ) Is distributed.

JP 7-47714 A

  However, in the process disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which the number of nozzle ejections is dispersed, a shift amount for shifting the image recording position in the nozzle row direction is determined in advance, and the size of the recorded image is changed. The shift amount is not changed. Therefore, in the case of a wide recording medium, or when there are large blank areas on the left and right sides of the recorded image, only nozzles in an area corresponding to a certain shift amount can be used even though there are many nozzles that do not eject ink. It is not used, and the frequency of use of the nozzles is not sufficiently distributed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet recording method, and a program that can sufficiently disperse the frequency of use of nozzles.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium with a plurality of nozzles that eject ink, and at least a size of a recording image in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles that are recorded by the plurality of nozzles. Setting means for averaging the frequency of use of the plurality of nozzles by setting a shiftable range in the arrangement direction of the nozzles used for recording the same recorded image among the plurality of nozzles. This is a characteristic recording apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, and an information processing apparatus that generates data of a recording image to be supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus. The information processing apparatus records the same recorded image among the plurality of nozzles according to at least the size of the recorded image in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles recorded by the plurality of nozzles. Setting means for averaging the frequency of use of the plurality of nozzles by setting a shiftable range in the arrangement direction of the nozzles used for the recording, and a recording image shifted stepwise within the range of the shiftable range Recording data generating means for generating data, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus supplies the recording supplied from the information processing apparatus. And having a control means for performing recording by said plurality of nozzles based on the data of the image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently disperse the usage frequency of the nozzles of the recording head.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the internal block structure of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement relationship between a recording medium conveyance direction and a plurality of recording heads, and an arrangement of nozzles that eject ink in the recording head. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the recording apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed in the recording system of this embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation according to a third embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the recording medium and image in 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the recording medium and image in 3rd Embodiment.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording system includes an information processing apparatus 100 and an inkjet recording apparatus 200 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) connected to the information processing apparatus 100. The information processing apparatus 100 creates image data, receives image data from an external apparatus, processes as recording data generation means for converting the image data into data (recording data) that can be recorded by the recording apparatus 200, and recording Performs data and control command transmission processing. On the other hand, the recording apparatus 200 forms an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium based on the recording data and control commands transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100. The recording apparatus 200 ejects ink to a recording unit 210A that continuously conveys the recording medium along a predetermined conveyance direction (direction A (see FIG. 2)) and a recording medium that is conveyed by the conveyance unit 210A. A plurality of recording heads 220 (220K, 220C, 220M, 220Y) for forming an image are mounted in a replaceable manner. In this embodiment, a conveyance belt that moves around by driving a conveyance motor (not shown) is used as a conveyance unit that moves the recording medium relative to the recording head 220. However, the conveyance force is applied to the recording medium by a roller. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the recording medium conveyance direction and a plurality of recording heads. In the present embodiment, a plurality of recording heads 220K, 220C, 220M, and 220Y are arranged in parallel along the transport direction. Here, the recording head 220K discharges black (K) ink, the recording head 220C discharges cyan (C) ink, 220M discharges magenta (M) ink, and 220Y discharges black (K) ink. In the following description, when each recording head is generically shown without distinction, it is referred to as a recording head 220.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically illustrating the arrangement of nozzles that eject ink in the recording head 220. In each recording head 220 shown in the drawing, a plurality of nozzles n are arranged along a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction (A direction) of the recording medium (B direction orthogonal to the A direction in this embodiment). The plurality of nozzles n provided in each recording head 220 form a nozzle array na, and the length of the nozzle array na of each recording head is the maximum width P1 of the recording medium P to be used (in the main scanning direction). Length) or more. The recording apparatus of the present embodiment records an image on a continuously conveyed recording medium using a recording head (line type recording head) having the long nozzle row na as described above. It is a line type recording device.

  The nozzle in this specification refers to an ink flow path (not shown) formed independently of the recording head 220, and a discharge port e formed at the front end of the ink flow path with liquid present in the flow path. A portion including a discharge energy generating element that generates energy for discharging from the nozzle. In FIG. 3B, a discharge port formed at the tip of a flow path constituting a part of the nozzle is shown as a nozzle n. As the discharge energy generating element, an electrothermal conversion element (heater) or an electromechanical conversion element (piezo) that generates thermal energy as discharge energy is used.

  In the information processing apparatus, print data that can be printed by the print head 202, that is, binary print data that indicates whether or not to eject ink from the nozzles is generated for the image data created here or received image data. . The recording apparatus 200 records an image by ejecting ink onto the recording medium P based on the recording data generated by the information processing apparatus 100. As the interface 101 between the information processing apparatus 100 and the recording apparatus 200, not only a USB cable but also other network cables, other communication standards (for example, RS-232C, IEEE 1394), etc. may be used.

  4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Connected to the information processing apparatus 100 are a display 110 for displaying various information, and an instruction unit including a keyboard and a pointing device (mouse) for giving instructions to the information processing apparatus 100. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU 102 for executing various programs and a memory for storing these programs and data. The memory includes a semiconductor memory such as RAM 103 and ROM 104, a hard disk 113, and the like.

  The information processing apparatus 100 is installed with a control program for generating a control command for controlling the recording operation of the recording apparatus 200 and an application for generating image data. At the time of recording, the control program is executed by the CPU 102, whereby various menu screens related to the recording operation are displayed on the display 110 of the information processing apparatus 100. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 generates a recording job including image data for recording and setting information regarding recording, and supplies the recording job to the recording apparatus 200. At this time, the information processing apparatus 100 converts the created image data into a format that can be interpreted by the recording apparatus 200 using a printer driver stored in the RAM 103 or the like, and transmits this to the recording apparatus 200. In addition, the recording apparatus 200 records an image on a recording medium by controlling driving of each unit including a recording head and a conveyance mechanism based on image data and control data included in the received reception job.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the recording apparatus 200 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 also shows the information processing apparatus 100. The CPU 210 is connected to the memory controller 212, the interface controller 213, the ROM 214, the RAM 215, the EEPROM 216, the recording head control circuit 219, and the I / O port 221 through the system bus 109. The CPU 210 performs various operations such as calculation, determination, and control, and functions as a control unit that controls the overall operation of the recording apparatus 200. The memory controller 212 is connected to the VRAM 211 and writes recording data to the VRAM 211 under the control of the CPU 210, and reads out from the VRAM 211 in synchronization with an output signal from the synchronization circuit 217. The synchronization circuit 217 generates a signal to the memory controller 212 in synchronization with the recording medium conveyance state in the medium conveyance device 218. The interface controller 213 performs data communication with the information processing apparatus 100 via a communication interface under the control of the CPU 210. The ROM 214 stores a computer program for realizing the operation of the recording apparatus 200, and the work RAM 215 is used as a work area used by the CPU 210 and a temporary storage area for data. The EEPROM 216 is used for storing user setting data, for example.

  The recording apparatus 200 includes a print buffer memory (hereinafter referred to as “VRAM”) that temporarily stores image data for each color sent from the information processing apparatus 100, and develops a bitmap of the recording data in the VRAM 211. Thereafter, the recording head control circuit 219 is controlled in accordance with the contents of the recording data developed in the VRAM 211, and each color ink of Y, M, C, K is ejected from each recording head to form a color image. In other words, the recording head control circuit 219 receives the recording data sent from the memory controller 212 under the control of the CPU 210, and each head has four recording heads 220 (220K, 220C, 220M, 220Y). The recording data of the color component corresponding to the color of the ink to be ejected is transferred.

  The I / O port 221 gives a control signal to the motor driving unit 222 under the control of the CPU 210 to control a driving source used for recording such as the capping motor 223 and the pump motor 224. The capping motor 223 is a power source that drives a capping mechanism (capping unit) 225 that caps the head to prevent ink drying at times other than the recording operation. It is assumed that capping in this embodiment is performed on all the recording heads of the recording apparatus. The pump motor 224 is a power source for driving a pump 226 that applies pressure to the ink in the nozzles of the recording head to perform a recovery operation of the recording head. As many capping motors 223, capping mechanisms 225, pump motors 224, and pumps 226 as the recording heads 220 are provided.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the recording system of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 determines a later-described shift amount for moving the image formation position on the recording medium P, and the recording apparatus 200 transfers the recording medium to the recording medium every certain number of sheets according to the shift amount determined by the information processing. The image recording position is shifted. Hereinafter, a recording operation in which the image recording position on the recording medium is shifted in the nozzle arrangement direction is referred to as AIS (Auto Image Shift). A recording operation peculiar to the present embodiment performed by moving the image forming position for every fixed number of recording sheets (each recording operation amount) is referred to as dynamic AIS.

  Next, an AIS recording operation performed according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When performing the recording operation, the user selects whether to enable or disable the dynamic AIS in advance through a user interface (which may be a check box, a radio box, a message box, or the like). Next, when recording is instructed, the CPU 102 of the information processing apparatus 100 generates recording data for each page (step S501). Thereafter, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the selection for enabling the dynamic AIS has been made (step S502). Always record at a certain position. Here, the image is formed so that the center of the image to be formed coincides with the center of the recording medium in the nozzle arrangement direction. That is, an image is formed at a position where a margin is formed evenly on the left and right of the formed image. Note that an image forming position where the center of the image to be formed coincides with the center of the recording medium is defined as an initial recording position. On the other hand, if the dynamic AIS is selected to be valid, an AIS process unique to the present embodiment is executed.

If the selection for enabling the dynamic AIS has been made, the CPU 102 reads the recording data (step S503), and then obtains the shift amount Y in the AIS from the recording data and the width of the recording medium (step S504). This shift amount Y is
Y = (PW−IW) × 1/2 It is obtained by the calculation of (Equation 1).

  Here, PW is the size (width) in the nozzle arrangement direction of the recording medium P to be used. IW indicates the maximum value (maximum width) of the size (distance) of the image formed on the recording medium P in the nozzle arrangement direction. The maximum width IW of this image is obtained based on the recording data. The recording data includes null data instructing non-formation of dots in addition to ejection data instructing formation of dots on the recording medium. When the null data is present at both ends of the ejection data, the maximum width of the print data in the nozzle arrangement direction indicates the width from the left end to the right end of the null data. On the other hand, the maximum width IW of the image described above is an interval between the leftmost dot and the rightmost dot, and is a value obtained based only on the ejection data. That is, the maximum width IW of the image is obtained based on the ejection data excluding the null data when null data exists at the left end and the right end of the formation data. Therefore, the maximum shift amount (allowable shift amount) Y obtained by Equation 1 is the distance between the leftmost dot of the image and the left end of the recording medium. Here, since the initial recording position of the image is set in accordance with the center of the recording medium, the maximum shift amount on the right side of the image is the same as the maximum shift amount on the right side of the image. As described above, the CPU 102 functions as the shift amount calculation means in the present invention.

  Thereafter, data representing the shift amount Y in the AIS calculated in step S504 is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 to the recording apparatus 200 together with the recording data and the control signal (step S505). In the recording apparatus 200, the CPU 210 receives a control signal, recording data, the maximum shift amount Y, and the like via the interface controller 213, and temporarily writes the received recording data in the VRAM 211. Next, the CPU (shift means) 210 performs a recording operation on the recording medium based on the received recording data, the AIS shift amount Y and the control information (S506). In this recording operation, first, an image is recorded at an initial recording position where the center of the image coincides with the center of the recording medium, and the image is recorded at the initial recording position. Here, when the number of recorded images reaches a predetermined number, thereafter, the recording operation is performed while gradually shifting the image recording position in the nozzle arrangement direction for each predetermined number of recording operations. The image shift amount at each stage is set to a shift amount equal to or less than the maximum shift amount (allowable shift amount) set in step 505 described above. For example, if the maximum shift amount Y is 50 dots and the recording operation to the initial recording position is performed for a predetermined number of sheets, the recording position is shifted by 10 dots to the right in the next recording operation. Records a predetermined number of sheets. Further, when performing the recording operation, the recording position is further shifted to the right by 10 dots, and recording for a predetermined number of sheets is performed. In this way, it is possible to finally record by shifting the recording position to the maximum shift amount. When the total shift amount in the right direction reaches the maximum shift amount (for example, 50 dots) and the recording operation is further performed, the recording operation is performed while gradually shifting the recording position from the initial recording position to the left side. It is also possible to do so. When performing dynamic AIS that performs recording by shifting the recording position of an image step by step, the shift amount at each step is changed for each step even if the shift amount is a constant value. May be. Further, the shift amount at each stage may be changeable by user selection or input.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the initial recording position for forming an image on the recording medium is set to a position where the center of the image and the center of the recording medium coincide with each other has been described. It is not limited to. In other words, a position where the center of the image is shifted from the center of the recording medium can be determined as the initial recording position for forming the image. In this case, the maximum shift amount Y differs between the left side and the right side of the image formed at the initial recording position. However, in this case, the image recording position may be shifted stepwise to the left side and the right side within the range of each maximum shift amount.

  By performing the dynamic AIS as described above, it is possible to average the use frequency of the nozzles in the recording head. This makes it possible to equalize the life of the nozzles of the print head even when printing an image that forms dots continuously in the transport direction, such as ruled lines, etc. It becomes possible to improve.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment, after reading print data and the like, the maximum shift amount Y is calculated based on the width of the print medium in the nozzle arrangement direction and the width of the discharge data, and the shift at each stage is performed. Image recording can be executed until the total amount reaches the maximum shift amount. That is, in the first embodiment, it is possible to form an image up to the end of the recording medium by AIS. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, in the nozzle arrangement direction, certain recording prohibition areas R1, R2 are provided inside from the end of the recording medium, and the recording prohibition areas R1, R2 are provided. The image is recorded by dynamic AIS inside (see FIG. 9). Accordingly, margins can always be formed at both ends of the recording medium in the nozzle arrangement direction, and an image is formed at the end of the recording medium by setting the widths of the recording prohibited areas R1 and R2. It can be avoided. In the second embodiment, the position (initial recording position) at which the image is first formed is an area other than the left and right recording prohibited areas set on the recording medium as shown in FIG. The case where it is set to an arbitrary position is assumed. That is, assuming that the center of the image does not coincide with the center of the recording medium at the initial recording position, the dynamic AIS is performed as follows.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recording operation in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the selection for enabling the dynamic AIS has been made in step S602 after the recording data is generated. If it is determined that the dynamic AIS is selected, the recording data is read (step S603). Thereafter, the left maximum shift amount Y1 in the dynamic AIS is determined based on the ejection data in the recording data and the preset sizes (widths) a1 and a2 in the nozzle arrangement direction of the recording prohibited areas R1 and R2. A right maximum shift amount Y2 (allowable shift amount) is obtained (step S604).

  The left maximum shift amount Y1 is obtained as follows. First, for each raster of the image, the number of dots from the leftmost dot of the image formed at the initial recording position to the rightmost of the left prohibited area a1 is calculated, and then, among the calculated number of dots corresponding to all rasters The minimum value is selected from the above, and this is set as the left maximum shift amount Y1. Similarly, the right maximum shift amount Y2 is calculated by calculating the number of dots from the left end dot of the image formed at the initial recording position to the right end of the left prohibition area, and the minimum number of dots in all the calculated rasters. Find by choosing a value. The left side maximum shift amount Y1 and the right side maximum shift Y2 obtained in this way are stored in the RAM 103 of the information processing apparatus 100, respectively. Thereafter, information representing the maximum shift amounts Y1 and Y2 obtained in step S605 is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 to the recording apparatus 200 (step S605).

  In response to the recording data, control information, data representing the maximum shift amount, and the like transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100, the recording apparatus 200 performs the recording operation by the AIS by the control operation of the CPU 210 as in the first embodiment. Execute (step S606). That is, after executing the recording operation for a predetermined number of sheets at the initial recording position, the recording operation is performed while gradually shifting the image recording position in the nozzle row direction for each predetermined number of sheets within the range of the maximum shift amount obtained in step 604. Do. For example, if the left maximum shift amount is set to 50 dots, the image recording position is shifted to the right by 10 dots in the first shift, and a predetermined number of sheets or more are recorded in this state. Thereafter, the recording position of the image is shifted 10 dots to the left in the second shift, and the recording operation for a predetermined number of sheets is performed again. The recording operation by the dynamic AIS can be performed until the total value of the shift amounts at each stage finally reaches the maximum shift amount (50 dots). Further, after the ASD to the left side is completed, it is possible to perform the recording operation while gradually shifting the image recording position from the initial recording position to the right side. In this case, when the initial recording position is biased to the left as shown in FIG. 9 and the widths of the left and right recording prohibited areas are the same, the maximum shift amount on the right side is larger than the maximum shift amount on the left side. For this reason, when the recording position is shifted stepwise by the same shift amount as that on the left side, the image recording position can be shifted in more stages. Note that one shift amount may be a fixed value or changeable by user selection or input.

  By performing the dynamic AIS as described above, it is possible to average the use frequency of the nozzles in the recording head also in the second embodiment. For this reason, it is possible to make the life of the nozzles of the recording head uniform and improve the life of the entire recording head. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, an image can be recorded in a state where margins (recording prohibited areas) are provided at the left and right ends of the recording medium P.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, the interval (margin) from the end of the recording medium P or the inner end of the prohibited area to the image in the nozzle arrangement direction is the maximum shift amount in the dynamic AIS. For this reason, when one of the margins formed on the left and right sides of the image is very large, the recording position of the image is extremely shifted to one end side of the recording medium P, and the user feels uncomfortable. There is also a possibility of recording results. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed in order to average the frequency of use of the nozzles of the recording head 220 and to equalize the image forming positions.

  That is, in the third embodiment, after generating the recording data in S701, if it is selected to enable the dynamic AIS in S702, the recording data is read (step S703). . Thereafter, the interval (left margin s1) between the left end of the image recorded at the initial recording position of the recording medium P and the left end of the recording medium P, the right end of the image recorded at the initial recording position, and the recording medium P An interval from the left end (right margin s2) is obtained (step S704). For each raster of the image, the number of dots from the edge (right end, left end) of the image formed at the initial recording position to the end (left end, right end) of the recording medium is calculated. This is done by selecting the minimum value from the number of dots corresponding to the raster. The left margin s1 and the right margin s2 determined here are stored in the RAM 103 of the information processing apparatus 100.

Next, the information processing apparatus 100, based on the left margin s1 and the right margin s2 stored in the RAM 103, and a predetermined ratio (m%), the maximum left shift amount Y11 in the AIS, the right margin The maximum shift Y12 is calculated (step S705). That is,
Y11 = s1 × m%
Y12 = s2 × m%
By calculating the above, the left and right maximum shift amounts Y11 and Y12 in the dynamic AIS are obtained. Note that the ratio (m%) may be determined according to visual measurement evaluation, questionnaire survey, or calculation by an algorithm. However, since the shift amount must be within the margin, the range of m is between 0 and 100%.

Next, the limit value YL of the AIS shift amount is calculated from the lateral width of the recording medium (step S706). The limit value is an index indicating how much the recording position of the image is shifted with respect to the width of the recording medium to cause a sense of incongruity in the recording result. This limit value YL is
YL = PW × n%
It is obtained by performing the operation of Here, PW is the width of the recording medium in the nozzle arrangement direction. Further, n% may be determined in accordance with a visual measurement evaluation, a questionnaire survey, or an algorithm calculation based on the recorded result. Since the shift amount must be within the range of the width PW in the nozzle row direction of the recording medium, the range of n is between 0 and 100 (%).

  Next, in steps S707 and S709, it is determined whether the left and right maximum shift amounts Y11 and Y12 calculated from the left margin s1 and the right margin s2 of the recording medium are equal to or less than the limit value YL of the AIS shift amount, respectively. Do. As a result of the determination, if Y11 ≦ YL, the left allowable shift amount is set to Y11 (step 708a), and if Y1> YL, the left allowable shift amount is set to YL (step 708b). Similarly for the right side, if Y2 ≦ YL, the allowable shift amount on the left side is Y12 (step 710a), and if Y12> YL, the allowable shift amount on the left side is YL (step S710b). Any of the processes in steps S707 and S708a and S708b and the processes in steps S709 and S710a and S710b may be executed first.

  Data representing the allowable shift amount (shiftable range) in the AIS determined in steps S708a, S708b, S710a, and S710b is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 to the recording apparatus 200 together with the recording data and control data (step S711). . When receiving data instructing AIS, the recording apparatus 200 records a predetermined number of images at the initial recording position, and then performs recording while gradually shifting the recording position in the nozzle arrangement direction. For example, when the allowable shift amount on the right side of the left and right allowable shift amounts is 50 dots, after recording at the initial recording position on a predetermined number of recording media, the recording position is shifted to the right by 10 dots, A predetermined number of sheets are recorded. Thereafter, when the same image is further recorded, the image recording position is further shifted to the right by 10 dots, and recording is performed up to a predetermined number. In this way, it is possible to record the same image while shifting the recording position step by step until the total value of the shift amount finally reaches the allowable shift amount. The shift amount at each stage may be a constant value or may be changed for each stage. Further, the shift amount at each stage may be changeable by user selection or input.

  Further, if the image formed at the initial recording position is biased to the left or right, the left allowable shift amount and the right allowable shift amount are different. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the image is biased to the left at the initial recording position, the right allowable shift amount Y12 is larger than the left allowable shift amount Y11. In such a case, in dynamic AIS, the larger the allowable shift amount, the higher the degree of freedom in shifting the recording position, and the image recording position can be shifted in more stages. The above AIS operation, that is, the function as a shift means for shifting the image forming position is achieved by the CPU 210 and the recording head control circuit 219.

  As described above, also in the third embodiment, it is possible to average the use frequency of the nozzles in the recording head, and the life of the nozzles of the recording head can be made uniform. Further, according to the third embodiment, since the limit value is set for the maximum shift amount, the recording position of the image is extremely biased to the left and right of the recording medium even when the dynamic AIS is executed. It is possible to avoid this, and it is possible to obtain a natural recording result without a sense of incongruity.

(Other embodiments)
In the embodiment described above, the example in which the processing for obtaining the allowable shift amount is performed on the information processing apparatus side among the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus configuring the recording system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing for obtaining the allowable shift amount may be executed on the recording apparatus side. Whether the information processing apparatus or the recording apparatus performs the process for obtaining the allowable shift amount may be determined based on the processing performance of the components in the recording system, the processing load balance, and the like.

  Further, when the width of the recorded image in the nozzle array direction is narrower than the upper limit value, the recording medium mounting position may be shifted in the nozzle array direction to increase the degree of freedom to shift the recording position.

100 Information processing apparatus 102 CPU (shift amount calculation means)
200 Recording device 210 CPU (shift means)
219 recording head control circuit 220 recording head n nozzle P recording medium

Claims (10)

A recording head for recording on a recording medium by a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink;
A shiftable range in the arrangement direction of nozzles used for recording the same recorded image among the plurality of nozzles is set according to at least the size of the recorded image in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles recorded by the plurality of nozzles. Setting means for averaging the usage frequency of the plurality of nozzles;
A recording apparatus comprising:   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the shiftable range based on a size of the recording medium in the arrangement direction.   3. The shift range according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the shiftable range based on a margin width in which the recorded image is not recorded when the shift in the arrangement direction is not performed. Recording device.   The said setting means sets the said shift possible range based on the width | variety of the recording prohibition area | region set to the both ends of the said nozzle arrangement direction of the said recording medium, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Recording device.   5. The shiftable range according to claim 1, wherein the setting means sets the shiftable range by multiplying a predetermined ratio by a width of the margin in which the recording image is not recorded on the recording medium in the nozzle arrangement direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 1.   6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit shifts the recording position of the recording image with respect to the recording medium in multiple stages within the shiftable range.   The shift means can shift the recording position of the recording image with respect to the recording medium in either a first direction along the nozzle arrangement direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: A recording system including an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, and an information processing apparatus that generates data of a recording image to be supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A shiftable range in the arrangement direction of nozzles used for recording the same recorded image among the plurality of nozzles is set according to at least the size of the recorded image in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles recorded by the plurality of nozzles. Setting means for averaging the usage frequency of the plurality of nozzles;
Recording data generating means for generating data of a recording image shifted stepwise within the shiftable range;
Have
The ink jet recording apparatus includes a control unit that performs recording by the plurality of nozzles based on data of the recording image supplied from the information processing apparatus. A recording method for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the nozzle based on recording image data using a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged,
A shiftable range in the arrangement direction of nozzles used for recording the same recorded image among the plurality of nozzles is set according to at least the size of the recorded image in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles recorded by the plurality of nozzles. A setting step for averaging the use frequency of the plurality of nozzles;
A shift step of shifting the recording position of the recording image with respect to the recording medium stepwise within the shiftable range by changing nozzles used for recording the image at predetermined intervals;
A recording method comprising: A program for controlling a recording apparatus that records an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from the nozzle based on recording image data using a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged,
A shiftable range in the arrangement direction of nozzles used for recording the same recorded image among the plurality of nozzles is set according to at least the size of the recorded image in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles recorded by the plurality of nozzles. A setting step for averaging the use frequency of the plurality of nozzles;
A shift step of shifting the recording position of the recording image with respect to the recording medium stepwise within the shiftable range by changing the nozzle used for recording the image every predetermined number of recording operations;
A program that causes a computer to execute.

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