JPH11245384A - Device and method for recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce stripe-shaped uneven density between recording areas extending in the adjoining main scanning direction and form an image of high quality level. SOLUTION: F in the sectional figure (a) represents the movement amount of a medium 3 to be printed in the scanning operation, and the movement amount F is equivalent to the portion of deducing the length of an area A from the length N of a nozzle. In the case the printing medium is fed by the movement amount F in the scanning operation after one image band is printed, the area A is overlapped with an area B of a foregoing image band, and as a result, the area A and the area B are interpolated each other to provide the 100% total ink feed amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for mainly recording a natural image, and more particularly to a recording apparatus having a recording head having a predetermined number of nozzles for ejecting ink by performing main scanning on a medium and then recording. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing by repeating sub-scanning of a medium to be printed so that printing can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of a recording apparatus which performs recording by causing a print head having a finite number of nozzles to perform main scanning on a medium and sub-scanning a medium to be printed will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a print head, and 2 denotes a nozzle array provided in the print head for discharging ink, which is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the main scanning direction I.

[0004] Reference numeral 3 denotes a printing medium.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which printing is being performed, and a state in which three main scans are completed and a fourth sub-scan is performed. Arrow II indicates the sub-scanning direction.

In FIG. 6, the portion indicated by a is an image printed in the first main scan, the portion indicated by b is an image printed in the second main scan, and the portion indicated by c is the third The image printed in the main scanning, and the portion indicated by d is the image being printed in the fourth main scanning.

Each image forms an image band having an image width exactly equal to the length of the nozzle row of the print head.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 6 for exaggerating the amount of ink to be printed on the printing surface during printing to make it easier to visually recognize.
FIG.

In FIG. 7, the x-axis indicates the main scanning direction, the y-axis indicates the sub-scanning direction, and the thickness in the z-axis direction indicates the ink ejection amount.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which solid printing is performed, that is, printing is performed while uniformly ejecting the same amount of ink. The height in the z-axis direction is the same, but actually, Since the amount of ink to be ejected differs depending on the image to be printed, the height in the z-axis direction is not always the same.

[0011]

In such a printing apparatus in which printing is performed in main scanning and sub-scanning, the accuracy of sub-scanning becomes a problem.

The sub-scanning is performed by either a method in which the print head moves with respect to the medium or a method in which the medium to be printed moves with respect to the print head. In many cases, a configuration is adopted in which a medium is moved.

There is no problem if the amount of movement at this time is exactly equal to the length of the nozzle row, that is, the image band width. However, in general, there is an error and the length does not become exactly equal to the length of the nozzle row.

A problem that occurs in this case will be described.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a case where the medium to be printed is less than a target feed amount in an apparatus configured to feed a print medium in the sub-scanning.

In FIG. 8, 1 is a print head, 3 is a print medium, 4 is a transport roller for transporting a medium to be printed as a sub-scan, and 5 is a pinch roller for pressing the medium against the transport roller.

FIG. 8 also shows the ink ejection amount in a three-dimensionally thickened shape.

In FIG. 8, N is the length of the nozzle row to be realized,
F indicates the amount of movement of the medium to be printed in the sub-scan;
When F and F are equal, there is no error and an ideal state.

If the feed amount is insufficient, N> F, and the error E at this time is E = NF.

The portion E is generated at the period of the feed pitch F, and the portion E has a smaller amount of ink ejection than other portions because the printed image band partially overlaps. Is doubled in the thickness direction as shown in the figure, and the ink density unintentionally increases in that portion.

This phenomenon is schematically shown in the figure in a state where the thickness of the ink is increased.

This portion is observed as a sharp black streak even if the overlapping portion is a small area, and the image quality is significantly impaired.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a case where the medium to be printed exceeds the target feed amount in the sub-scanning, contrary to FIG.

The constituent members are the same as those in FIG. 8, and are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

FIG. 9 also shows the ink ejection amount in a three-dimensionally thickened shape. When the feed amount exceeds a predetermined amount, N <F, and the error E at this time is E = F−N.

The portion E is generated at the period of the feed pitch F in the same manner as in the case of the shortage, and in this case, since the image band of the portion E is separated without being connected,
There is a blank state where no ink is applied compared to other parts, and in that part, the background color (generally white) appears as horizontal stripes.

This phenomenon is schematically shown in the figure in a state where the thickness of the ink is lost.

In this case as well, even if the distant portion of the image band is a small area, it is observed as a sharp streak, and the image quality is significantly impaired.

The above problems can be avoided by increasing the sub-scanning accuracy. However, increasing the sub-scanning accuracy requires high precision processing of the transport rollers.
It affects the manufacturing cost. In any case, the accuracy of the sub-scanning is limited and cannot be a complete measure.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, to reduce a streak-like density unevenness between adjacent recording regions extending in the main scanning direction, and to obtain a high-quality image. It is to provide a recording method.

[0031]

According to the present invention, a recording head for applying ink to a recording medium is scanned in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium. Is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by moving the recording medium relative to the recording head in different sub-scanning directions, wherein an image area formed by main scanning of the recording head and an image area Control means for controlling the driving of the recording head so that an adjacent image area formed by another main scanning of the recording head overlaps at a boundary portion, and the control means controls the driving of each image area. At the time of formation, the amount of ink per unit area at the boundary is controlled so as to decrease toward the edge.

Further, according to the present invention, a recording head for applying ink to a recording medium is scanned in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium, and the recording medium is moved in a sub-scanning direction different from the main scanning direction. A recording method for performing recording by moving the recording head relative to a recording head, comprising: an image area formed by main scanning of the recording head; and an image area adjacent to the image area formed by another main scanning of the recording head. The other image area to be overlapped at the boundary portion, and the recording is performed such that the amount of ink per unit area at the boundary portion at the time of forming each image region decreases toward the edge portion. A recording method is provided.

In the present invention, first, the setting such that the image bands overlap or separate from each other, or depending on the case, is stopped, and a certain amount of overlapping area is provided.

As a result, first, the occurrence of a blank portion having no ink ejection amount is prevented.

Next, the following measures are taken so that even if the overlapping area is increased or decreased to some extent from the center position due to an error in the sub-scanning, a sharp line is not observed.

That is, when printing an image band, a portion overlapping with an adjacent image band is gradually shifted from a state where 100% printing is performed to a state where no printing is performed from the nozzle center position toward the nozzle end position. Setting.

As a result, even if the portion where the image band overlaps fluctuates due to the error in the sub-scanning, the density unevenness due to the error in the sub-scanning can be dispersed throughout the overlapping region.

As a result, local density unevenness does not occur, and even when a sub-scanning error similar to that in the conventional example occurs, it is possible to avoid a sharp deterioration in image quality.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the controller 15 receives print data corresponding to each pixel from the host 14 via the interface 12, converts the print data into dot data corresponding to the discharge port of the print head 9, and performs one main scan of the print head 9. Every time, that is, 1 recorded on the recording medium
RAM 15C for each line (array of one main scan of one pixel)
Store in the data buffer in. The stored dot data is transferred to the head drive system 90 at a predetermined timing accompanying the main scanning of the print head 9, and the print head 9 is driven.

The controller 15 is a CPU for controlling the operation of each unit and data processing in the recording apparatus 11.
15A, a ROM 15B, a RAM 15C and the like.

The recording apparatus 1 described above operates in accordance with a recording command transmitted from a host 14 such as a personal computer using this apparatus as a recording output apparatus.
Performs processing necessary for a recording operation and a recording mode based on the recording data transferred in the same manner.

Various commands to the recording apparatus 1 and setting of recording conditions can also be performed by a panel 16 attached to the recording apparatus 1. The panel 16 has a display for displaying the state of the recording apparatus and A switch for inputting various commands is provided.

The controller 15 includes a mechanical drive system 7.
0 is connected, and a drive system such as a carriage motor for moving the head in the main scanning direction and a print medium transport motor is controlled.

The print head 9 has a discharge port array composed of a plurality of discharge ports, and causes a film boiling in the ink by heat energy generated from the electrothermal converter corresponding to each discharge port.
Ink is ejected by utilizing rapid bubble formation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a print head (recording head) of a recording apparatus according to the present invention and the ink usage ratio of an image band to be printed while the print head performs one main scan.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a print head, and 2 denotes a nozzle array provided in the print head for discharging ink, which is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the drawing). I have.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a printing medium.

In FIG. 1, N is the actual length of the nozzle row,
M is a central area of the nozzle N where printing is performed without overlapping part of an adjacent image band.

From the outer edge of M to the end of the nozzle, a transition area is set so that the ejection amount is gradually decreased from a state where the ink is printed by 100% to a state where the ink is not printed at all. In FIG. 1, A is a left area of the corresponding transition area, and B is a right area of the corresponding transition area.

This phenomenon is schematically shown on the print medium 3 as the thickness of the ink increases. In the M region, printing is performed with 100% ink amount, so that the thickness of the ink is uniform.

The thickness of the ink gradually decreases from the boundary between the area A and the area M to the end of the nozzle, and the thickness of the ink disappears at the end of the nozzle.

Similarly, the thickness of the ink gradually decreases from the boundary between the B region and the M region to the end of the nozzle, and disappears at the end of the nozzle.

In FIG. 1, for ease of understanding, 100
Although the 0% position is connected to the 0% position by a straight line, the number of actual nozzles decreases stepwise because a finite number of nozzles are arranged at predetermined intervals.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which ink is applied as a result of the fact that main scanning and sub-scanning are repeatedly performed by the method of the present invention, and the cross section of the ink layer is drawn by oblique lines.

In FIG. 2A, the contents of each of the areas N, M, A, and B are the same as the contents of each of the areas N, M, A, and B in FIG. 1, and A and B have the same length. With.

F is the amount of movement of the medium to be printed in the sub-scan, and the amount of movement F corresponds to the length obtained by subtracting the length of the area A from the length N of the nozzle.

When the printing medium is fed by the sub-scanning amount F after printing one image band, the area A overlaps the area B of the previous image band. As a result, the areas A and B are mutually In a complementary manner, the ink ejection amount in this area is set to 100% in total.

FIG. 2B is a diagram obtained by redrawing FIG. 2A so that the appearance of the total amount of ink ejection being 100% can be easily understood visually. FIG.
From (b), it can be seen that the thickness of the ink is uniform over the entire screen.

The above is one embodiment of the printing method of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. Next, how effective this method is for the shift in the sub-scan will be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the medium to be printed does not reach a target feed amount in a recording apparatus configured to feed the print medium without moving the print head in the sub-scan direction in the sub-scan. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 3 denotes a print medium, 4 denotes a transport roller for transporting a medium to be printed as a sub-scan, and 5 denotes a pinch roller for pressing the medium against the transport roller.

FIG. 3 also shows the ink ejection amount in a three-dimensionally thickened shape.

In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the actual moving amount of the medium in the sub-scanning is smaller than the ideal moving amount F of the medium by an error D by a feed amount.

At this time, the portion of the image band A and the portion B of the previously printed image band correspond to each other as shown in FIG.
Deviate by minutes.

Considering the ink ejection amount in the portion where the A region and the B region overlap, the ink ejection amount increases from the original ejection amount by the ratio of the length of the D region to the length of the A region. I do.

In FIG. 3, the portion where the area A and the area B overlap with each other is thicker than the other inks so that the thickness of the ink rises as compared with the other inks. . If the length of the area A is set long enough for the feed error expected to occur in the sub-scan,
The swelling portion, that is, the absolute amount of over-inking can be dispersed over a wide range and kept low.
According to this, even when the feed amount is slightly insufficient as described in the section of the conventional example, there is no occurrence of a region where the ink ejection amount is doubled, and the image quality is extremely deteriorated. Is no longer observed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the medium to be printed exceeds the target feed amount in a printing apparatus configured to feed the print medium in the sub-scan.
In the figure, 3 is a print medium, 4 is a transport roller for transporting a medium to be printed as a sub-scan, and 5 is a pinch roller for pressing the medium against the transport roller.

FIG. 4 also shows the amount of ink applied in a three-dimensionally thick state.

In FIG. 4, it is assumed that the actual medium feeding amount in the sub-scanning exceeds the ideal medium moving amount F by an error D.

At this time, the portion of the image band A and the portion B of the previously printed image band are shifted by D as shown in FIG.

Considering the amount of ink ejection in the portion where the A and B regions overlap, the amount of ink ejection is smaller than the original amount by the ratio of the length of the D region to the length of the A region. I do.

In FIG. 4, the thickness of the ink at the portion where the area A and the area B overlap overlaps with the thickness of the other inks. is there. If the length of the area A is set long enough for the feed error expected to occur in the sub-scan,
It is possible to disperse the part to be cut out, that is, the absolute amount of insufficient ink ejection, in a wide range and to keep it low. According to this, even when the feed amount slightly exceeds as described in the conventional section, an area where the ink ejection amount becomes zero does not occur, and the extreme deterioration of the image quality does not occur. , Not observed.

The specific examples of N, M, A and B are as follows.

In the first example, the number of nozzles N is 256 nozzles,
The ejection amount is gradually reduced from 128 nozzles, a state in which ink is printed by 100%, to a state in which no ink is printed at all, as a central area M where printing is performed without overlapping with a part of an adjacent image band. A and B from the outer edge of the area M to the end of the nozzle row
And 64 nozzles respectively.

In the second example, the number of nozzles N is 64 nozzles, and 32 nozzles are used for printing 100% of the ink, assuming a central area M where printing is performed without overlapping part of an adjacent image band. Region M, which is a region where the discharge amount is gradually reduced from a state where the printing is not performed at all to a state where the printing is not performed at all.
Are 16 nozzles as areas A and B from the outer edge to the end of the nozzle row.

In the third example, the number of nozzles N is set to 32 nozzles, and an area M of a central portion where printing is performed without overlapping part of an adjacent image band is performed. Region M, which is a region where the discharge amount is gradually reduced from a state where the printing is not performed at all to a state where the printing is not performed at all.
Are 8 nozzles each as areas A and B from the outer edge to the end of the nozzle.

In the overlapping portion indicated by the regions A and B, the ink is gradually discharged from a state where the ink is printed by 100% to a state where the ink is not printed at all from the M side end to the other end. As a way to reduce the amount,
For example, when printing each of A and B, the printing can be performed by applying a mask for each column and discharging ink while performing main scanning of the recording head. At this time, the masks of A and B are configured so as to complement each other, and all the dots are printed by overlapping the area of A and the area of B. That is, the ink ejection portion of the mask A and the ink non-ejection portion of the mask B complement each other, and B
The ink ejection portion of the mask A and the non-ejection portion of the mask A have a complementary relationship, and the ejection amount of A is gradually reduced from the M-side end of A to the other end. A mask may be set, and a mask for B may be set so that the ejection amount gradually decreases from the M-side end of B to the other end.

Next, an application example in which the printing method according to the present invention is used for multi-pass printing in which an image in a predetermined area is created by main scanning more than once will be described.

Next, FIG. 5A shows that the printing is carried out by conveying the print medium having a length of half the length of the nozzle row in the sub-scanning, and the printing is performed by overlapping the ink in a plurality of scans. Done 2
6A, 6B, 7C, 8C, 9D, and 10D show the amount of ink applied to the image band printed by each main scan, and the thickness of the ink band, respectively. This is schematically represented as

Now, the printing operation in two passes is considered separately for the image band by the odd-numbered main scanning and the image band by the even-numbered main scanning.

In FIG. 5A, a portion indicated by α is an image band group by odd-numbered main scanning, and a portion indicated by β is an image band group by even-numbered main scanning.

In the multi-pass printing of the two-pass system, 50% of the target image is set in the image band group by the odd-numbered main scanning.
Is performed, and the remaining 50% of the ink is applied in the image band group by the even-numbered main scanning, so that 100% of the target image as a whole is applied.

Here, when attention is paid to the image band group by the odd-numbered main scanning, which is the portion indicated by α in FIG. 5A, the ink ejection amount is 50% of the target image.
Except for this, the structure is exactly the same as the conventional printing method which does not employ the multi-pass printing method described above.

Therefore, the printing method according to the present invention can be used to print the image band group by the odd-numbered main scanning, which is the portion indicated by α. As described above, even if the overlapping portion of the image band varies due to the sub-scanning error, the density unevenness due to the sub-scanning error can be dispersed throughout the overlapped region.

For this reason, there is no occurrence of local density unevenness which is observed as a sharp streak, and the image quality is rapidly deteriorated even when a sub-scan error similar to that of the conventional example occurs. The result can be avoided.

When attention is paid to the image band group by the even-numbered main scanning, which is the portion indicated by β in FIG. 5A, except that the ink ejection amount is 50% of the target image, The structure is exactly the same as the conventional printing method which does not employ the multi-pass printing method described above.

Therefore, the printing method according to the present invention can be used to print the image band group by the even-numbered main scanning, which is the portion indicated by β, and if it is used, the same applies to this image band group. As described above, even if the overlapping portion of the image band varies due to the sub-scanning error, the density unevenness due to the sub-scanning error can be dispersed throughout the overlapped region.

For this reason, there is no occurrence of local density unevenness which is observed as a sharp streak, and the image quality is rapidly deteriorated even when a sub-scanning error as large as that of the conventional example occurs. The result can be avoided. In this way, the present invention is applied to the multi-pass printing method shown in FIG. 5A, and it is visually confirmed that the total ink ejection amount is 100% as shown in FIG. 2B. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram drawn for easy understanding.
(B).

The printing method according to the present invention can be adopted in a case other than the multi-pass with two passes, for example, in the case of four-pass or eight-pass, by similarly dividing.

(Others) The present invention is suitable as an ink-jet recording apparatus, and particularly, among ink-jet recording methods, means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ink ejection (for example, electrothermal conversion). Body, laser light, etc.), and provides an excellent effect in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which a change in the state of ink is caused by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body is mounted on 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 provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

It is preferable to add ejection recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

Further, as for the type and number of the recording heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to the recording head having only one corresponding to a single color ink, it corresponds to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also for a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0097]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the edge portions between the image bands by a plurality of scans overlap or separate, or, depending on the case, stop setting that can be any of them, have a certain amount of overlap area, and print the image band. The portion overlapping with the adjacent image band is set so that the amount of ink is gradually reduced from a state where the ink amount is printed at 100% to a state where the ink amount is not printed at all from the center to the edge of the image band.

As a result, even if the portion where the image band overlaps fluctuates due to the sub-scanning error, the density unevenness due to the sub-scanning error can be dispersed throughout the overlapping region. Therefore, a high-quality image can be obtained without causing local density unevenness which is observed as a sharp streak.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a print head of a recording apparatus according to the present invention and an ink application ratio of an image band to be printed while the print head performs one main scan.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams for explaining a state in which main scanning and sub-scanning are performed by the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a case where a medium to be printed is less than a target feed amount in a recording apparatus configured to feed a print medium in sub-scanning.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a case where a medium to be printed exceeds a target feed amount in a recording apparatus configured to feed a print medium in sub-scanning.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state of printing in a conventional technique of two-pass multi-pass printing in which a sub-scan is performed by performing a sub-scan of half the length of a nozzle row in the sub-scan and performing printing. And FIG.
(B) is a schematic diagram for explaining a case where the present invention is applied to this printing method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which printing is being performed in the related art, and a state in which three main scans have been completed and a fourth sub-scan has been performed;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing FIG. 6 in a three-dimensional manner in order to make it easy to visually recognize the amount of ink to be printed on a printing surface when printing is performed by a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a case where the medium to be printed is less than a target feed amount in a recording apparatus configured to feed a print medium by sub-scanning in the related art.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a case in which a medium to be printed in a sub-scan exceeds a target feed amount in the sub-scanning in the related art, contrary to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 print head 2 nozzle array provided in print head for discharging ink 3 print medium 4 transport roller for transporting a medium to be printed as sub-scanning 5 pinch roller 9 for pressing the medium against transport roller 9 head DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Recording device 12 Interface 14 Host 15 Controller 16 Panel 70 Mechanical drive system 90 Head drive system

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsuneichi Arai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording head for applying ink to a recording medium is scanned in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium, and the recording medium is moved relative to the recording head in a sub-scanning direction different from the main scanning direction. A printing apparatus that performs printing by relatively moving the printing head, wherein an image area formed by main scanning of the printing head and another image formed by another main scanning of the printing head adjacent to the image area. Control means for controlling the driving of the recording head so that an image area overlaps a boundary portion, wherein the control section controls the amount of ink per unit area at the boundary portion when forming each of the image regions at an edge portion. A recording device for controlling the recording device to decrease as it moves toward the recording device. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head is an ink jet recording head. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inkjet recording head includes a thermal energy generator that generates thermal energy used for discharging ink. 4. A recording head for applying ink to a recording medium is scanned in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium, and the recording medium is moved relative to the recording head in a sub-scanning direction different from the main scanning direction. A printing method in which printing is performed by relatively moving the printing head, and an image area formed by the main scanning of the printing head and another image formed by another main scanning of the printing head adjacent to the image area. A recording method, wherein an image area overlaps at a boundary portion, and recording is performed such that the amount of ink per unit area at the boundary portion decreases toward the edge when forming each image region.