Recording device, control method, storage medium, and program

Abstract

To prevent deterioration of a recording performance of each recording head.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: movement means that individually moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position at which liquid is discharged to a recording medium and a retreat position of being retreated from the recording medium further than the recording position; conveyance means that conveys the recording medium; and control means that controls the movement means such that a recording head that discharges liquid of a type used for recording among the plurality of recording heads is located at the recording position and a recording head that discharges liquid of a type not used for recording among the plurality of recording heads is located at the retreat position. The control means controls the movement means such that a recording head to be moved moves during conveyance of the recording medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a recording device that records an image by ejecting ink from a recording head. In a recording device having multiple recording heads, depending on the image to be recorded and the recording settings, some recording heads may not need to eject ink. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for moving color heads that do not need to eject ink to a maintenance position when monochrome printing is selected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-59559 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, when color printing is selected, the color heads are placed on standby at the printing position. The color heads are equipped with a yellow head, a magenta head, and a cyan head, and even when there is no need to eject cyan ink, for example, the cyan head is placed on standby at the printing position. This can result in a decrease in the recording performance of the cyan head.

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for preventing a decrease in the recording performance of each recording head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, a moving means for moving a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium; A conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a control means for controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, the control means controls the moving means so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A recording device is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for preventing a decrease in the recording performance of each recording head. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams of a mobile unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are flowcharts showing an example of processing executed by a control unit. [Diagram 5] 1A is a diagram showing an example of the results of identifying the type of ink for each page, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of the printing section of a printing medium, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an example of the results of identifying the type of ink for each printing section. [Figure 6] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a movement schedule, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of the movement of a print head. [Figure 7] 6A and 6B are flowcharts showing another example of processing executed by the control unit. [Figure 8] 6A and 6B are flowcharts showing another example of processing executed by the control unit. [Figure 9] 13A is a diagram showing another example of a movement schedule, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of the movement and operation of a print head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] First Embodiment <Recording device configuration> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording device 1 is a device that ejects liquid ink onto a recording medium P to record an image. Note that "recording" does not only include the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also includes the formation of images, patterns, and the like on a recording medium, whether meaningful or unmeaning, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether it is manifested in a way that can be visually perceived by humans. In addition, in this embodiment, a sheet of paper is assumed as the "recording medium", but it may also be cloth, plastic film, etc.

[0011] The recording apparatus 1 includes a feeding device 104, an image forming apparatus 100, and a discharging device 105. In this embodiment, a continuous sheet (roll sheet) is used as the recording medium P. The recording medium P is passed from the feeding device 104 through the image forming apparatus 100 to the discharging device 105. Note that the present invention is also applicable to a recording apparatus that records an image on a cut sheet.

[0012] The feeding device 104 is a device that supplies the recording medium P, which is a roll sheet, to the image forming apparatus 100. The feeding device 104 rotates the roll-shaped recording medium P around a rotation shaft 117 to pull out the recording medium P, and feeds the recording medium P to the image forming apparatus 100 at a constant speed via a plurality of conveying rollers 104a. The recording medium P is conveyed in the order of the feeding device 104, the image forming apparatus 100, and the discharge device 105.

[0013] The discharge device 105 is a device that discharges the recording medium P, which is a product on which an image has been recorded, from the image forming apparatus 100. The discharge device 105 transports the recording medium P transported from the image forming apparatus 100 at a constant speed via a plurality of transport rollers 105a. The recording medium P, which is a product, is wound into a roll by a rotating shaft 118.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 100 includes an overprinting device 115 and a preprinting device 116. The transport device 101 includes a plurality of transport rollers 101a, and transports the recording medium P fed from the feeding device 104 at a constant speed so that the recording medium P passes through the preprinting device 116 and the overprinting device 115 in this order.

[0015] The pre-printing device 116 performs spot color recording as pre-printing. In spot color recording, for example, a base of a predetermined pattern is recorded. The overprinting device 115 performs base color recording as overprinting. In base color recording, for example, a predetermined pattern is recorded. In other words, the recording device 1 can be said to be a digital recording device that performs pre-printing and overprinting.

[0016] The pre-printing device 116 includes a skew correction unit 110, a recording unit PT1, a drying unit 112, and a cooling unit 113, which are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium P. The skew correction unit 110 corrects the skew of the recording medium P. The recording unit PT1 includes a recording head 2WP, a recording head 2W, and a moving unit 3A. In the case of this embodiment, the recording head 2W ejects white ink, and the recording head 2WP ejects primer ink for fixing. The recording head 2WP is located upstream of the recording head 2W in the transport direction of the recording medium P. The moving unit 3A is a mechanism that moves the recording head 2WP and the recording head 2W individually between a recording position and a retracted position. The drying unit 112 heats the recording medium P to promote drying of the ink ejected on the recording medium P. The cooling device 113 cools the recording medium P heated by the drying unit 112.

[0017] The overprinting device 115 includes a recording unit PT2, a drying unit 106, a cooling unit 108, and an inspection unit 107, which are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium P.

[0018] The recording unit PT2 includes a recording head 2P, a recording head 2B, a recording head 2Y, a recording head 2M, and a recording head 2C, which are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium P. In this embodiment, the recording head 2P ejects primer ink for fixing. The recording head 2B ejects black ink. The recording head 2Y ejects yellow ink. The recording head 2M ejects magenta ink. The recording head 2C ejects cyan ink. The recording unit PT2 also includes a moving unit 3B. The moving unit 3B is a mechanism that moves the recording head 2P, the recording head 2B, the recording head 2Y, the recording head 2M, and the recording head 2C individually between a recording position and a retracted position.

[0019] In addition, when referring to the recording heads 2WP, 2W, 2P, 2B, 2Y, 2M, and 2C collectively, any one of the recording heads may be called the recording head 2. In addition, when referring to the moving units 3A and 3B collectively or any one of the moving units, it may be called the moving unit 3.

[0020] The drying unit 106 heats the recording medium P to promote drying of the ink ejected onto the recording medium P. The cooling device 108 cools the recording medium P heated by the drying unit 106. The inspection unit 107 is a device that reads and inspects the image recorded on the recording medium P, and includes, for example, a scanner device. The contents of the inspection can include, for example, inspection of color shift of the recorded image, inspection of ejection defects of the recording head 2, and inspection of the color of the recorded image. These inspections may be performed by recording a test pattern on the recording medium P with the recording head 2 and reading the test pattern in the inspection unit 107.

[0021] The recording device 1 also includes an operation unit 401 and a control unit 402. The operation unit 401 accepts instructions from a user. The control unit 402 is an electronic circuit (for example, a personal computer) that controls the recording device 1.

[0022] <Recording head and moving unit> The recording head 2 and the moving unit 3 will now be described. The recording head 2 in this embodiment is a full-line head, capable of ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank (not shown) across the entire width of the recording medium P. One recording head 2 ejects one type of ink. For example, recording head 2B ejects only black ink. A total of seven recording heads 2 are provided: two in the pre-printing device 116 and five in the overprinting device 115. When recording basic colors, four or more recording heads 2 (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) are sufficient.

[0023] In such an apparatus equipped with multiple recording heads 2, depending on the image to be recorded, during the recording operation, some recording heads 2 may eject ink and some may not eject ink. Moisture vapor from the ink floats on the recording medium P, and if the vapor adheres to a recording head 2 that is not ejecting ink, the recording performance may be reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the moving unit 3 makes it possible to move the recording head 2 between the recording position and the retracted position.

[0024] 2(A) and 2(B) illustrate the configuration of the recording unit PT2. FIG. 2(A) shows the case where the recording head 2 is located at the recording position, and FIG. 2(B) shows the case where the recording head 2 is located at the retracted position. The recording head 2 has an ejection surface 20 on its lower surface. The ejection surface 20 is provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink. At the recording position, the ejection surface 20 faces the recording medium P in close proximity. At the retracted position, the recording head 2 is retracted from the recording medium P more than at the recording position, and more specifically, the recording head 2 is farther away from the recording medium P than at the recording position, and there is a large gap between the ejection surface 20 and the recording medium P. The retracted position is a position where steam floating above the recording medium P is less likely to adhere to the ejection surface 20. In addition, in order to prevent the ejection surface 20 from drying, the ejection surface 20 may be capped with a cap member at the retracted position.

[0025] The moving unit 3B includes moving mechanisms 30P, 30B, 30Y, 30M, and 30C for each recording head 2. The moving mechanism 30P moves the recording head 2P. The moving mechanism 30B moves the recording head 2B. The moving mechanism 30Y moves the recording head 2Y. The moving mechanism 30M moves the recording head 2M. The moving mechanism 30C moves the recording head 2C. Each of the moving mechanisms 30P, 30B, 30Y, 30M, and 30C includes a driving source 31 such as a motor, and an operating mechanism 32 that moves the recording head 2 by the driving force of the driving source 31. The operating mechanism 32 is, for example, a ball screw mechanism, a belt transmission mechanism, a link mechanism, or the like. In this embodiment, the operating mechanism 32 raises and lowers the recording head 2 between a lower recording position and an upper retracted position.

[0026] By controlling the moving unit 3B, the recording head 2 that ejects ink used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and the recording head 2 that ejects ink not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, and then the recording operation can be performed. By preventing steam from adhering to the recording head 2 that ejects ink not used for recording, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the recording performance. Although Figures 2(A) and 2(B) show an example of the recording unit PT2, the recording heads 2W, 2WP and moving unit 3A in the recording unit PT1 have the same configuration.

[0027] <Control unit> 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the recording apparatus 1. The control unit 402 includes a processor represented by a CPU, and a storage device. The storage device includes, for example, a plurality of semiconductor memories such as RAM and ROM. The processor controls the recording apparatus 1 by executing a program deployed in the storage device. For example, the control unit 402 controls the transport unit 101, the recording head 2, the moving unit 3, the inspection unit 107, the operation unit 402, the feeding device 104, and the discharge device 105.

[0028] The communication device 403 is configured with a communication controller such as a LAN (Local Area Network) card, etc. The communication device 403 receives, for example, a recording job from an external device (for example, a user's terminal), and the control unit 402 executes recording of the received recording job.

[0029] The storage device 404 is an external storage device of the control unit 402, and is composed of, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory (so-called flash memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. The storage device 404 can store various programs executed by the control unit 402 and various data required for executing these programs.

[0030] The operation unit 402 is, for example, a touch panel, and includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and an input device that recognizes touch operations. The display device displays various information on a display screen in accordance with a display control signal transmitted from the control unit 402. The input device accepts various input operations by a user via various operation keys such as buttons displayed on the display device, and transmits operation signals to the control unit 402. The operation unit 402 is used, for example, when a user sets job information when executing a recording job.

[0031] <Processing flow of the recording device> The process flow of the recording device 1 will be described. The recording medium P is passed in advance from the feeding device 104 to the discharging device 105 via the image forming device 100. The user creates pre-printing data (base data) and overprinting data for the recording job, for example, in an external device, sets the recording conditions, and creates the recording job. The recording job is then transmitted to the control unit 402 via a communication network. When the user performs a start operation on the operation unit 402, the recording operation begins. The recording medium P is transported at a constant speed, and ink is ejected from the recording head 2 onto the recording medium P to record an image.

[0032] <Recording head movement control> The following describes the movement control of the print head 2 by the movement unit 3. In this embodiment, a movement schedule for the print head 2 is generated in advance, and after the start of a printing operation, the print head 2, which is the object to be moved, is moved according to the movement schedule.

[0033] 4A is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the control unit 402, and in particular, an example of a process for generating a movement schedule. This process is started when a recording job is received. Here, it is assumed that the recording data (image data) to be recorded in the recording job is data in PDF format, but it may also be in a data format such as TIFF or JPEG.

[0034] At S1, the print data of the received print job is rasterized. This converts the print data in PDF format into print data in raster file format. At S2, image processing is performed on the print data in raster file format, and data for each ink type is generated for each page.

[0035] The data for each type of ink generated in S2 makes it possible to specify which type of ink is to be used or not to be used. Note that it is sufficient to specify at least one of the inks to be used and the inks not to be used. Therefore, in S3, the type of ink to be used for recording and the type of ink not to be used for recording are specified for each page based on the data generated in S2.

[0036] 5(A) shows an example of the identification result, where ◯ indicates ink used in printing and × indicates ink not used in printing. For example, it is specified that cyan ink, yellow ink, and black ink will be used on the first page, but magenta ink and white ink will not be used. Also, it is specified that cyan ink and black ink will be used on the 1000th page, but magenta ink, yellow ink, and white ink will not be used. This identification result is stored in the storage device 404.

[0037] Note that Fig. 5(A) does not show whether or not primer ink is used. This is because whether or not it is used is determined by other types of ink. Specifically, the primer ink ejected from the recording head 2P is used when any one of cyan ink, yellow ink, and black ink is used, and is not used when none of them are used. The primer ink ejected from the recording head 2WP is used when white ink is used, and is not used when white ink is not used.

[0038] In S4 of FIG. 4, a movement schedule is generated based on the identification result of S3. It is possible to determine whether the recording head 2 should be positioned at the recording position or the retreat position based on the information of the identification result in FIG. 5(A). On the other hand, it takes time to move the recording head 2. The recording head 2 may be moved on a page-by-page basis, but this may result in a decrease in the efficiency of the recording operation. Therefore, in this embodiment, multiple recording sections are set on the recording medium P in the conveying direction, and the recording head 2 that should be positioned at the recording position is identified for each recording section, and the movement of the recording head 2 is controlled based on the identification result.

[0039] Fig. 5B shows an example of how the recording sections are set. The recording sections are set based on a predetermined unit length. In the example shown, it is assumed that one section is 100m in the conveying direction of the recording medium P, and five sections are set: a section from 0 to 100m, a section from 100m to 200m, a section from 200 to 300m, a section from 300 to 400m, and a section from 400 to 420m. The last section, 400 to 420m, is set to a length of less than 100m due to consideration of the total number of pages of the recording data.

[0040] For example, assume that the length of the recording medium P in the transport direction for each page of the recording data is 300 mm. The transport distance of the recording medium P is 0.3 m for the first page, 0.6 m for the second page, 0.9 m for the third page, and 1.2 meters for the fourth page. Approximately 333 pages of images are recorded in a 100-m recording section. If the total number of pages of the recording data is 1,400, the total transport distance of the recording medium P is 420 m.

[0041] In the process of S4, first, the type of ink to be used for printing and the type of ink not to be used for printing are specified for each printing section based on the information in FIG. 5(A). FIG. 5(C) shows an example. In the illustrated example, it is specified that in the printing section from 0 to 100 m, cyan ink, yellow ink, and black ink are used, but magenta ink and white ink are not used. In other words, in the printing section from 0 to 100 m, there are pages that use any of cyan ink, yellow ink, and black ink, but there are no pages that use magenta ink and white ink. Also, it is specified that in the printing section from 100 m to 200 m, cyan ink and black ink are used, but magenta ink, yellow ink, and white ink are not used. In other words, in the printing section from 100 to 200 m, there are pages that use any of cyan ink and black ink, but there are no pages that use magenta ink, yellow ink, and white ink. This specification result is stored in the storage device 404.

[0042] In the process of S4, a movement schedule is then generated based on the identification results of Fig. 5(C). Fig. 6(A) shows an example of the movement schedule for the print heads 2P, 2B, 2Y, 2M, and 2C. The movement schedule for the print heads 2W and 2WP is also generated based on the same concept.

[0043] The movement schedule indicates the timing for moving the recording head 2 while the recording medium P is being transported, based on the time from the start of the recording operation. In the illustrated example, the transport speed of the recording medium P is assumed to be 40 mpm (meters per minute). Also, the movement time for the recording head 2 to move from the recording position to the evacuation position, and from the evacuation position to the recording position, are both assumed to be 20 seconds. In FIG. 6(A), "cyan head", "magenta head", "yellow head", "black head", and "fixing primer head" refer to the recording heads 2C, 2M, 2Y, 2B, 2P, 2W, and 2WP, respectively.

[0044] In this embodiment, the print head 2 that ejects the type of ink used in a certain printing section is positioned at the printing position at the start of that printing section, and the print head 2 that ejects the type of ink not used in that printing section is positioned at the retracted position after the start of that printing section.

[0045] The contents of FIG. 6(A) will be explained with reference to FIG. 5(C). In the example of FIG. 5(C), the types of ink used in the printing section from 0 to 100 m are cyan, yellow, and black. As a result, primer ink is also used. For this reason, in the movement schedule of FIG. 6(A), the initial positions of the print heads 2 at the start of printing are set to the printing positions for print heads 2C, 2Y, 2B, and 2P, and to the retracted position for print head 2M. Each print head is moved to its initial position before printing starts, and waits for the start of printing.

[0046] Next, in the example of FIG. 5(C), the types of ink used in the 100-200m printing section are cyan and black. As a result, primer ink is also used. Comparing the 0-100m printing section with the 100-200m printing section, the only type of ink that changes whether it is used or not is yellow, and yellow changes from being used to not being used. For this reason, in the movement schedule of FIG. 6(A), it is set that the recording head 2Y that ejects yellow ink is moved to the retracted position at the timing of 150 seconds (the timing when the 0-100m printing section ends). There is no change in the positions of the other recording heads 2.

[0047] 6B shows the initial position and the change in position of each recording head 2 after 150 seconds. Only the recording head 2Y has moved from the recording position to the retracted position.

[0048] Next, in the example of FIG. 5(C), the types of ink used in the 200-300m printing section are cyan, yellow, and black. As a result, primer ink is also used. Comparing the 100-200m printing section with the 200-300m printing section, the only type of ink whose use changes is yellow, and yellow changes from not being used to being used. For this reason, in the movement schedule of FIG. 6(A), it is set that the recording head 2Y that ejects yellow ink is moved to the recording position at 280 seconds (20 seconds before the end of the 100-200m printing section). There is no change in the positions of the other recording heads 2.

[0049] In this manner, the travel schedule is generated. The generated travel schedule is stored in the storage device 404.

[0050] 4B shows an example of processing executed by the control unit 402, and in particular, shows an example of controlling the moving unit 3 using the generated movement schedule. Based on the movement schedule read from the storage device 404, the processing in the figure is repeatedly executed during recording operation.

[0051] In S11, it is determined whether the movement timing of any of the recording heads 2 has arrived. If there is a recording head 2 for which the movement timing has arrived, the process proceeds to S12, and if not, the process ends. In S12, the movement process is executed. Here, the movement unit 3 is controlled to move the recording head 2 for which the movement timing has arrived to the recording position or the evacuation position. This ends the process.

[0052] In this embodiment, the movement schedule from the first page to the last page is generated in one go before the start of the recording operation, but the movement schedule may be created while the recording operation is being performed. For example, a movement schedule corresponding to a recording section of 0 to 200 m may be generated first, the recording operation may be started, and before the recording section of 0 to 100 m is completed, a movement schedule corresponding to the next recording section of 200 to 300 m may be generated.

[0053] In this embodiment, the movement schedule is created after the specification process of S3 is performed for all pages, but these processes may be performed in parallel. In that case, the specification process of S3 may not be performed for all pages. For example, if the use of all types of ink in the printing section of 0 to 100 m is determined in the section of 0 to 10 m, the specification process of S3 can be omitted for pages corresponding to the remaining printing section of 10 to 100 m.

[0054] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the unit length of the recording section is 100 m, but the unit length may be changed according to the transport speed of the recording medium P. For example, when the transport speed is 10 mpm, the unit length may be 25 m. The length may also be changed according to the recording section. For example, the first recording section may be 0 to 80 m, and the next recording section may be 80 to 200 m.

[0055] The shortest distance of the recording section can be set taking into consideration the movement time of the recording head 2. For example, if it takes 20 seconds to move the recording head 2 from the recording position to the evacuation position and also 20 seconds to move from the evacuation position to the recording position, it takes 40 seconds to move from the recording position to the evacuation position and back to the recording position again. Therefore, the distance that the recording medium P can be transported in 40 seconds can be set as the minimum distance of the recording section.

[0056] Also, a printing section may be set for each type of ink. For example, the first printing section for cyan ink may be 0 to 80 m, and the first printing section for magenta ink may be 0 to 120 m.

[0057] <Third embodiment> An example of how to deal with a case where a page straddles a recording section will be described. In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the length of the recording medium P of each page in the transport direction is 300 mm, and the unit length of the recording section is 100 m. In such a case, an image of about page 333 is recorded in the 100 m recording section, but the image of page 334 straddles the 0 to 100 m recording section and the 100 to 200 m recording section.

[0058] Here, it is assumed that yellow ink is required to print the image on page 334, but there are no other images that use yellow ink in the printing section from 100 to 200 m. In this case, the timing of moving the printing head 2Y that ejects yellow ink to the retracted position may be delayed until after the image on page 334 has been printed.

[0059] Also, assume that yellow ink is needed to print the image on page 334, and that yellow ink is also needed in the printing section from 100 to 200 m, but that there are no other images in the printing section from 0 to 100 m that use yellow ink. In this case, the timing of moving print head 2Y, which ejects yellow ink, to the printing position may be advanced to before printing the image on page 334.

[0060] Furthermore, when there is a page that spans a printing section like this, the movement of the print head 2 may be uniformly delayed or accelerated by the amount of that page without checking the ink to be used for that page.

[0061] <Fourth embodiment> When the same record data is repeatedly recorded, a movement schedule may be generated using information created when the first record data was recorded, thereby reducing processing time and computation load.

[0062] Fig. 7A shows an example of processing executed by the control unit 402, and in particular shows processing for saving the result of the specific processing in S3 in Fig. 4A. The illustrated example is executed, for example, after the execution of a recording job is completed.

[0063] In S21, the user is asked whether or not to save. For example, a display is displayed on the operation unit 401 asking whether or not to save. If the user selects save, the process proceeds to S22. In S22, the result of the identification process in S3 in FIG. 4A (information in FIG. 5A) is associated with the recording data and stored in the storage device 404. For example, the identification result is associated with the file name specified in the recording job and stored as identification information. This ends the process.

[0064] Fig. 7(B) shows a processing example of this embodiment that replaces the processing example of Fig. 4(A). Processing different from Fig. 4(A) will be described below. After the processing of S2, in S31, the recorded contents of the storage device 404 are referenced to determine whether or not specific information is saved for the recording data of the current recording job. If saved, the specific information is read out in S32, and the processing of S4 is executed. Previously created specific information can be utilized. If not saved, the processing of S4 is executed after the specification processing of S3.

[0065] It is also possible to utilize a movement schedule that has been generated in the past. Fig. 8(A) shows an example of a process executed by the control unit 402, and in particular shows a process of saving the movement schedule generated in S4 of Fig. 4(A). The example shown in the figure is executed, for example, after the completion of the execution of a recording job.

[0066] In S41, the user is asked whether or not to save. For example, a display is displayed on the operation unit 401 asking whether or not to save. If the user selects save, the process proceeds to S42. In S42, the transfer schedule generated in S4 in FIG. 4A is associated with the recording data and saved in the storage device 404. For example, the transfer schedule is saved in association with the file name specified in the recording job. This ends the process.

[0067] Fig. 8(B) shows a processing example of this embodiment that replaces the processing example of Fig. 4(A). Below, processing different from Fig. 4(A) will be explained. After the processing of S2, in S51, the recorded contents of the storage device 404 are referenced to determine whether or not a transfer schedule is saved for the recording data of the current recording job. If saved, the transfer schedule is read out in S52 and the processing ends. A transfer schedule created in the past can be used. If not saved, the processing of S4 is executed after the identification processing of S3.

[0068] In the examples of FIG. 7(A) and FIG. 8(A), the user is asked whether or not to save the information, but the information may be saved without asking the user.

[0069] <Fifth embodiment> If the recording head 2 is kept in the retracted position for a long time, the nozzles may dry out and the ink ejection performance may deteriorate. Therefore, when the recording head 2 is moved from the retracted position to the recording position, the recording head 2 may perform preliminary ejection.

[0070] Fig. 9(A) shows an example of a movement schedule generated in this embodiment based on the information in Fig. 5(C). In the illustrated example, the transport speed of the recording medium P is assumed to be 40 mpm (meters per minute). Also, the movement time for the recording head 2 to move from the recording position to the evacuation position, and from the evacuation position to the recording position, are both assumed to be 20 seconds. And the time for the recording head 2 to perform preliminary ejection at the recording position is assumed to be 30 seconds.

[0071] Comparing the example of Fig. 9(A) with the example of Fig. 6(A), when the recording head 2 is moved from the retracted position to the recording position, the timing of starting the movement is advanced by 30 seconds, which is the time it takes to perform preliminary ejection. For example, the timing at which the recording head 2Y, which ejects yellow ink, is moved from the retracted position to the recording position before the 100-200 m recording section is 280 seconds in the example of Fig. 6(A), but 250 seconds in the example of Fig. 9(A). By starting the movement 30 seconds earlier, time for preliminary ejection is secured.

[0072] 9A shows a schematic diagram of an operation in which a recording head 2Y that ejects yellow ink is moved from a retracted position to a recording position and then preliminary ejection is performed. In the preliminary ejection, for example, ink is ejected toward the space between pages on the recording medium P. In addition, in the case of ink of an inconspicuous color such as yellow ink, preliminary ejection may be performed onto an image on the recording medium P. Note that although preliminary ejection is given as an example in this embodiment, other maintenance such as color registration adjustment during recording may also be performed. In addition, when multiple maintenance operations are performed, the movement schedule of the recording head 2 may be set taking into consideration the time required for all of the maintenance operations to be completed.

[0073] <Other embodiments> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0074] <Summary of the embodiment> The above-described embodiments disclose the following inventions.

[0075] Item 1. a moving means for moving a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium; A conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a control means for controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, the control means controls the moving means so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0076] Item 2. Item 1. The recording device according to item 1, the control means specifies at least one of a type of liquid to be used for recording and a type of liquid not to be used for recording from recording data that is a recording target, and controls the moving means based on the specification result. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0077] Item 3. Item 2. The recording device according to item 2, the control means specifies at least one of a type of liquid to be used for recording and a type of liquid not to be used for recording on a page-by-page basis from the recording data; A recording apparatus comprising:

[0078] Item 4. Item 2. The recording device according to item 2, The control means storing the identification result in association with the record data; When recording data that is the same as previously recorded data, the stored identification result is used. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0079] Item 5. A recording device according to any one of items 1 to 4, the control means generates a movement schedule for the plurality of recording heads and controls the movement means in accordance with the movement schedule. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0080] Item 6. Item 6. The recording device according to item 5, The control means storing the travel schedule in association with the record data; When recording data that is the same as previously recorded data, the stored movement schedule is used. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0081] Item 7. 7. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the control means specifies at least one of a type of liquid to be used for recording and a type of liquid not to be used for recording for each of a plurality of recording sections arranged in a transport direction of the recording medium, and sets a recording head to be moved and a movement timing based on the specified result. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0082] Item 8. Item 7. The recording device according to item 7, Each recording section has a length that allows multiple pages to be recorded. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0083] Item 9. Item 7. The recording device according to item 7, Each recording section is set based on a predetermined unit length. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0084] Item 10. A recording device according to any one of items 1 to 9, The recording medium is a roll sheet. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0085] Item 11. The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 10, Each recording head is a full-line head, One type of liquid is assigned to one print head. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0086] Item 12. a moving means for moving each of the four or more recording heads between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position where the recording heads are retracted from the recording medium relative to the recording position; A conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a control means for controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, the control means controls the moving means so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A recording apparatus comprising:

[0087] Item 13. A control method for a recording device including a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium, comprising: a control step of controlling said moving means so that among said plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at said recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at said retracted position, In the control step, the moving means is controlled so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A control method comprising:

[0088] Item 14. In order to control a recording apparatus including a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position where the recording heads are retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium, a computer is provided with: a storage medium storing a program for executing a control step of controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, In the control step, the moving means is controlled so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A storage medium comprising:

[0089] Item 15. In order to control a recording apparatus including a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position where the recording heads are retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium, a computer is provided with: a program for executing a control step of controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head that ejects a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head that ejects a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, In the control step, the moving means is controlled so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A program characterized by:

[0090] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1 recording device, 2 recording head, 3 moving unit, 402 control unit

Claims

1. a moving means for moving a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium; A conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a control means for controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, the control means controls the moving means so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A recording apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the control means specifies at least one of a type of liquid to be used for recording and a type of liquid not to be used for recording from recording data that is the subject of recording, and controls the moving means based on the specified result. A recording apparatus comprising:

3. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, the control means specifies at least one of a type of liquid to be used for recording and a type of liquid not to be used for recording on a page-by-page basis from the recording data; A recording apparatus comprising:

4. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, The control means storing the identification result in association with the record data; When recording data that is the same as previously recorded data, the stored identification result is used. A recording apparatus comprising:

5. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the control means generates a movement schedule for the plurality of recording heads and controls the movement means in accordance with the movement schedule. A recording apparatus comprising:

6. 6. The recording device according to claim 5, The control means storing the travel schedule in association with the record data; When recording data that is the same as previously recorded data, the stored movement schedule is used. A recording apparatus comprising:

7. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the control means specifies at least one of a type of liquid to be used for recording and a type of liquid not to be used for recording for each of a plurality of recording sections aligned in a transport direction of the recording medium, and sets a recording head to be moved and a movement timing based on the specified result. A recording apparatus comprising:

8. 8. The recording device according to claim 7, Each recording section has a length that allows multiple pages to be recorded. A recording apparatus comprising:

9. 8. The recording device according to claim 7, Each recording section is set based on a predetermined unit length. A recording apparatus comprising:

10. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, The recording medium is a roll sheet. A recording apparatus comprising:

11. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, Each recording head is a full-line head, One type of liquid is assigned to one print head. A recording apparatus comprising:

12. a moving means for moving each of the four or more print heads between a print position where the print heads eject liquid onto a print medium and a retracted position where the print heads are retracted from the print position and away from the print medium; A conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a control means for controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, the control means controls the moving means so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A recording apparatus comprising:

13. A control method for a recording device including a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium, comprising: a control step of controlling said moving means so that among said plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at said recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at said retracted position, In the control step, the moving means is controlled so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A control method comprising:

14. In order to control a recording apparatus including a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position where the recording heads are retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium, a computer is provided with: a storage medium storing a program for executing a control step of controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head ejecting a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head ejecting a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, In the control step, the moving means is controlled so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A storage medium comprising:

15. In order to control a recording apparatus including a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads provided for each type of liquid between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position where the recording heads are retracted from the recording position and away from the recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the recording medium, a computer is provided with: a program for executing a control step of controlling the moving means so that, among the plurality of recording heads, a recording head that ejects a type of liquid used for recording is positioned at the recording position, and a recording head that ejects a type of liquid not used for recording is positioned at the retracted position, In the control step, the moving means is controlled so that the recording head to be moved moves during the conveyance of the recording medium. A program characterized by:

Images