Recording device, control method, storage medium, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique of increasing productivity of a recording object.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: movement means that individually moves a plurality of recording heads between a recording position at which liquid is discharged to a recording medium and a retreat position of separating from the recording medium further than the recording position; and control means that controls the movement means. The recording device can perform first movement control of moving a recording head used in a second recording job after a first recording job from the retreat position to the recording position during execution of the first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs.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 retracted position when monochrome printing is selected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-201132 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, each recording head is moved before the execution of a recording job. When the execution of multiple recording jobs is requested, the recording operation is stopped between recording jobs and the recording head is moved. As a result, the productivity of the recorded material decreases.

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for improving the productivity of recorded matter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, a moving means for moving each of the plurality of recording heads between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position; A control means for controlling the moving means; A recording device comprising: a first movement control is executed to move a recording head to be used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs; A recording device is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for improving the productivity of recorded matter. [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] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation unit. [Diagram 5] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the control unit 402. [Figure 6] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the control unit 402. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the control unit 402. [Figure 8] 4A to 4C are diagrams showing examples of positions of the recording head 2. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another display example of the operation unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another display example of the operation unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another display example of the operation unit. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of processing by the control unit 402. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of processing by the control unit 402. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of processing by the control unit 402. [Figure 15]11A and 11B are diagrams showing an example in which a waiting period changes depending on the execution order of a plurality of recording jobs. [Figure 16] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing an example in which a waiting period changes depending on the execution order of a plurality of recording jobs. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another example of a recording device. 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 a conveying device 101. The conveying device 101 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 101a, and conveys the recording medium P fed from a feeding device 104 at a constant speed. The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a recording unit PT, 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.

[0015] The recording unit PT includes a recording head 2A, a recording head 2B, a recording head 2C, and a recording head 2D, which are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium P. One recording head 2 ejects one type of ink. In the present embodiment, the recording heads 2A to 2D eject different types of ink. The recording head 2A ejects A ink, the recording head 2B ejects B ink, the recording head 2C ejects C ink, and the recording head 2D ejects D ink. For example, one of the A to D inks is a black ink, another is a yellow ink, yet another is a magenta ink, and the remaining one is a cyan ink. When the recording heads 2A to 2D are collectively referred to, any one of the recording heads may be referred to as a recording head 2.

[0016] The recording unit PT includes a moving unit 3. The moving unit 3 is a mechanism for moving the recording head 2A, the recording head 2B, the recording head 2C, and the recording head 2D individually between a recording position and a retracted position.

[0017] 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.

[0018] The recording device 1 also includes an operation unit 40 and a control unit 402. The operation unit 401 receives instructions from a user. The control unit 402 is an electronic circuit (such as a personal computer) that controls the recording device 1.

[0019] <Recording head and moving unit> The following describes the recording head 2 and the moving unit 3. The recording head 2 of this embodiment is a full-line head, and is capable of ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank (not shown) across the entire width of the recording medium P.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 2(A) and 2(B) illustrate the configuration of the recording unit PT. 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 farther away from the recording medium P than at the recording position, and more specifically, 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 unlikely to adhere to the ejection surface 20. In order to prevent the ejection surface 20 from drying out, the ejection surface 20 may be capped with a cap member at the retracted position.

[0022] The moving unit 3 includes moving mechanisms 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D for each recording head 2. The moving mechanism 30A moves the recording head 2A. The moving mechanism 30B moves the recording head 2B. The moving mechanism 30C moves the recording head 2C. The moving mechanism 30D moves the recording head 2D. Each of the moving mechanisms 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D 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.

[0023] By controlling the moving unit 3, 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 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.

[0024] <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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] <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 recording data, for example, in an external device, sets recording conditions, and creates a recording job. Then, the user transmits the recording job to the control unit 402 via the communication network.

[0029] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a list of recording jobs displayed on the operation unit 401, which is a list of unexecuted recording jobs sent from an external device to the recording device 1. The job list includes job information such as a document name that distinguishes the recording job, the number of pages to be recorded, the size of one page, and the color mode. The size of one page is indicated by length x width, where length is the length in the transport direction of the recording medium P and width is the length in the width direction of the recording medium P. The color mode indicates the type of ink used for recording. A is A ink, B is B ink, C is C ink, and D is D ink.

[0030] For example, the color mode of Document1 is A. This means that the A ink is used to record Document1, and the B to D inks are not used. When Document1 is executed, it is necessary to position the recording head 2A that ejects the A ink at the recording position. Furthermore, the color mode of Document2 is ABC. This means that the A ink, B ink, and C ink are used to record Document2, and the D ink is not used. When Document2 is executed, it is necessary to position the corresponding recording heads 2A, 2B, and 2C at the recording positions. Furthermore, the color mode of Document3 is ABD. This means that the A ink, B ink, and D ink are used to record Document3, and the C ink is not used. When Document3 is executed, it is necessary to position the corresponding recording heads 2A, 2B, and 2D at the recording positions.

[0031] When the user selects a recording job on the list, the display of the selected recording job changes. In the example of Fig. 4, four recording jobs, Document1 to Document4, are selected. When the user operates the delete button 410, the selected recording job is deleted from the list.

[0032] When the user operates the start button 411, execution of the selected recording job begins. If multiple recording jobs are selected, the recording operations are executed successively in order starting from the recording job displayed at the top of the list. During execution of multiple recording jobs, the recording medium P is transported continuously at a constant speed. Ink is ejected from the recording head 2 onto the recording medium P to record an image.

[0033] <Recording head movement control> The movement control of the recording head 2 by the moving unit 3 will be described. The initial position of the recording head 2 is the retracted position. The movement control of the recording head 2 is based on moving the recording head 2 corresponding to the color mode of the recording job to be executed to the recording position, and moving the recording head 2 not corresponding to the color mode (not used) to the retracted position. For example, when executing a recording job of Document 1 in FIG. 4, the color mode is A, so the recording head 2A is moved to the recording position, and then the recording operation is performed. The recording heads 2B to 2D are maintained at the retracted positions. Also, for example, when executing a recording job of Document 4 in FIG. 4, the color mode is AC, so the recording heads 2A and 2C are moved to the recording positions, and then the recording operation is performed. The recording heads 2B and 2D are maintained at the retracted positions.

[0034] When execution of multiple recording jobs is selected, stopping the recording operation between recording jobs to move the recording head 2 reduces productivity. For this reason, in this embodiment, the productivity of the recorded material is improved by moving the recording head 2 in parallel with the recording operation. Since moving the recording head 2 takes a certain amount of time, the movement timing of the recording head 2 is controlled while taking the movement time into consideration.

[0035] In the movement control of this embodiment described below, for example, based on the relationship between the recording time of a recording job and the movement time of the recording head 2 to be moved from the retracted position to the recording position, whether or not to control the movement of the recording head 2 is determined. If the recording time of a first recording job among multiple recording jobs satisfies the condition for moving the recording head 2 added in the second recording job, the movement of the additional recording head 2 used in the second recording job may be started before the ejection of ink is completed in the first recording job.

[0036] However, if the recording time of the first recording job does not satisfy the above-mentioned control conditions, for example, the recording heads 2 used for the first recording job and the second recording job will be moved before ink ejection for the first recording job begins. In this way, the second recording job begins ejection after ink ejection for the first recording job is completed. Since the recording head 2 used for the second recording job has already been moved, ink is not ejected after recording begins, and the time spent only transporting the recording medium P can be reduced, allowing the first recording job and the second recording job to be recorded consecutively.

[0037] <Start control> 5 shows an example of processing executed by the control unit 402, and in particular shows an example of movement control of the print head 2 at the start of execution of a print job. Before the start of execution of a print job, each print head 2 is located in an initial position (retracted position). When a user instructs the start of execution of a print job, the print head 2 corresponding to the color mode of the print job to be executed is moved to a print position, and after the movement, the print operation is started.

[0038] When execution of multiple recording jobs is selected as illustrated in FIG. 4, depending on the content of the recording job, control can be executed to move the recording head 2 used in the first recording job and the recording head 2 used in subsequent recording jobs from the retracted position to the recording position in advance.

[0039] 4, if the time required for the recording operation of Document 1, which is executed first, is short, the recording heads 2B and 2C required for recording Document 2 may not be able to move to their recording positions in time during the recording operation of Document 1. In such a case, before the execution of Document 1, in addition to the recording head 2A required for recording Document 1, the recording heads 2B and 2C required for recording Document 2 are also moved to their recording positions. This makes it possible to execute the recording jobs of Document 1 and Document 2 consecutively.

[0040] The contents of Fig. 5 will now be described. In S401, job information of the print job instructed to be executed is obtained. When print jobs of Document1 to Document4 are instructed to be executed as in the example of Fig. 4, job information of Document1, which is the first (top) print job, is obtained.

[0041] The acquired color mode of the recording job is saved as ColorMode_J. The contents of ColorMode_J are also saved as ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N. In other words, ColorMode_P = ColorMode_N = ColorMode_J. In the example of Figure 4, the color mode of Document1 is A, so ColorMode_J = A, and ColorMode_P = ColorMode_N = A.

[0042] Also, in S401, the total recording length (Length_J) of the recording job is calculated based on the number of pages and page size of the acquired job information according to the following formula, and is saved as Length_P.

[0043] Length_J = Number of pages x Length in the transport direction For example, in the example of FIG. 4, the number of pages in Document 1 is 50, the length of one page in the conveying direction is 100 [mm], and Length_P = Length_J = 50 × 100 [mm] = 5000 [mm].

[0044] In S402, the calculated Length_P is compared with Length_T. Length_T is the transport amount of the recording medium P until the recording head 2 is moved from the retracted position to the recording position (or from the recording position to the retracted position).

[0045] Length_T = Travel time x recording medium transport speed In this embodiment, as an example, the moving time is 5 seconds, the conveying speed is 60 mpm (meters per minute), Length_T=5[s]×60[mpm]=5000[mm] If LengthP>LengthT, the process proceeds to S405. If LengthP≦LengthT, the process proceeds to S403. In the case of Document1 in FIG. 4, Length_P=5000 [mm] (=Length_T), so the process proceeds to S403.

[0046] In S403, it is determined whether or not there is a next recording job scheduled to be executed. If there is a next recording job, the process proceeds to S404, and if there is a next recording job, the process proceeds to S405. In the example of FIG. 4, Document 2 follows Document 1, so the process proceeds to S404.

[0047] In S404, the job information of the next recording job is obtained, and its color mode is ColorMode_J and its total recording length is Length_J. Also, ColorMode_P, ColorMode_N, and Length_P are ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ColorMode_P+ColorMode_J Length_P=Length_P+Length_J After that, the process returns to S402.

[0048] In the example of Figure 4, for Document 2, which is the next document to Document 1, ColorMode_J=ABC Length_J=100×1000[mm]=100000[mm] It is.

[0049] Updates to ColorMode_P, ColorMode_N, and Length_P are ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=A+ABC=ABC Length_P=5000[mm]+100000[mm]=105000[mm] Thereafter, when the process returns to S402, since Length_P=105000 [mm] (>Length_T), the process proceeds to S405.

[0050] In S405, the recording heads 2 are moved in accordance with ColorMode_P. In the example of FIG. 4, since ColorMode_P=ABC, the corresponding recording heads 2A-2C are moved to their recording positions. FIG. 8(A) illustrates the position of each recording head 2 after movement. In addition to recording head 2A required for the recording job of Document1, recording heads 2B and 2C required for the recording job of Document2 are also moved to their recording positions in advance. Recording head 2D remains in the retracted position.

[0051] <Control after start> The movement control of the recording head 2 after the start of execution of a recording job will be described. In this embodiment, while a recording job is being executed, it is possible to execute control to move the recording head 2 used for a recording job subsequent to the recording job from the retracted position to the recording position. In this case, too, the movement time of the recording head 2 is taken into consideration, and the recording head 2 is moved before the start of the recording job using that recording head 2.

[0052] In this embodiment, the print head 2 that is not used in a print job starts moving from the print position to the retract position when the print job preceding that print job ends. At that time, the print head 2 may be used again in the subsequent print job. For this reason, the print head 2 may be maintained at the print position without being moved to the retract position. This is called standby of the print head 2.

[0053] 6 and 7 show an example of processing executed by the control unit 402, and in particular, an example of movement control of the print head 2 during execution of a print job. The processing in these figures is executed each time printing of one page of an image is completed.

[0054] In S501, the transport direction length Length_S of the page on which printing has been completed is obtained from the job information, and Length_P is updated according to the following formula. LengthP = Length_P - Length_S For example, in the example in Figure 4, when recording of the first page of Document1 is completed, LengthP=105000[mm]―100[mm]=104900[mm] It becomes.

[0055] In S502, Length_P calculated in S501 is compared with Length_T, and if Length_P>Length_T, the process proceeds to S505, and if Length_P≦Length_T, the process proceeds to S503. In the example of Fig. 4, when recording of the first page of Document1 is completed, Length_P is 104900 [mm] and Length_T is 5000 [mm], so Length_P>Length_T and the process proceeds to S505.

[0056] In S505, the necessity of moving the recording head 2 is determined by comparing ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N. If they do not match, it is determined that moving the recording head 2 is necessary, and the process proceeds to S506. If they match, it is determined that moving the recording head 2 is not necessary, and the process proceeds to S507 (FIG. 7). In the example of FIG. 4, when recording of the first page of Document1 is completed, both ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are ABC, so the process proceeds to S507.

[0057] In S506, ColorMode_P is updated to ColorMode_N, and the print head 2 corresponding to the ink type determined to be inconsistent in S505 is moved.

[0058] In S503, it is determined whether there is a recording job following the currently running recording job, and if it is determined that there is a next recording job, the process proceeds to S504, and if not, the process proceeds to S505. In the example of Fig. 4, when the currently running recording job is Document1, Document2 is scheduled to be executed next, so it is determined that there is a next recording job.

[0059] In S504, ColorMode_N and Length_P are ColorMode_N=ColorMode_P+ColorMode_J Length_P=Length_P+Length_J and will be updated.

[0060] 7, it is determined whether the page on which printing has been completed is the last page of the printing job being executed. If it is determined in S507 that it is the last page, the process proceeds to S508. If it is determined in S507 that it is not the last page, the process ends and the process waits for the completion of printing of the next page.

[0061] In S508 to S510, the following processing is performed for the print head 2 being used in the current print job. In S508, it is determined whether the print head 2 currently in the print position will be used in any of the subsequent print jobs (called a subsequent job), and if it is determined that it will be used, the processing proceeds to S509, and if it is determined that it will not be used, the processing proceeds to S511.

[0062] In S509, Length_TJ is calculated, and it is determined whether Length_TJ<2·Length_T. Length_TJ is the distance from the last page to the subsequent job (the amount of recording medium P transported). 2·Length_T is twice the value of Length_T, and is the time it takes for the recording head 2 to travel back and forth from the recording position → the evacuation position → the recording position. If Length_TJ<2·Length_T, processing proceeds to S510, and if Length_TJ≧2·Length_T, processing proceeds to S511.

[0063] In S510, ColorMode_P is updated with ColorMode_N. In S511, ColorMode_N is updated with ColorMode_N=ColorMode_N-ColorMode_TJ ColorMode_TJ is the color mode (inks A to D) of the print head 2 currently in the print position that will be used in the subsequent print job.

[0064] In S513, the print head 2 is moved in accordance with ColorMode_P. This completes the process.

[0065] A specific example based on the example of FIG. 4 will be described below.

[0066] (Example 1: When recording of the last page of Document1 is completed) In S501, Length_P becomes 100000 [mm]. In S502, it is determined that Length_P is 100000 [mm], which is greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]). The process proceeds to S505.

[0067] In S505, it is determined that both ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are ABC, and the process proceeds to S507. In S507, it is determined that this is the last page, and the process proceeds to S508.

[0068] If it is determined in S508 that the recording head 2 corresponding to ColorMode_J will be used for the remaining job, the process proceeds to S509. It is determined that the recording head 2A used in recording Document1 will also be used in recording Document2, and the process proceeds to S509. In S509, Length_TJ is calculated and compared with twice Length_T. If it is determined that Length_TJ is smaller than twice Length_T, the process proceeds to S510. The distance from Document1 to Document2: Length_TJ is 0 [mm]. It is determined that Length_TJ is smaller than twice LengthT, 10000 [mm], and the process proceeds to S510.

[0069] In the S510, ColorMode_P is ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ABC It becomes.

[0070] In this way, when multiple recording jobs are being executed, if the movement of the recording head 2 to be used (recording position → standby position → recording position) cannot be completed in time due to the relationship between the color mode and recording length (transport amount) of the subsequent recording job, it is possible to control the recording head 2 to wait at the recording position.

[0071] (Example 2: When recording of page 95 of Document2 is completed) Here, an example will be described in which the print head 2 is moved from the retracted position to the printing position.

[0072] In S501, Length_P is 5000 [mm]. In S502, Length_P is 5000 [mm], which is determined to be the same as Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S503. In S503, it is determined whether there is a next print job. After Document2, a print job for Document3 is scheduled. Therefore, the process proceeds to S504.

[0073] In S504, the job information of Document 3 is obtained. ColorMode_J=ABD Length_J=200×500[mm]=100000[mm] Then, ColorMode_N and Length_P are ColorMode_N=ABC+ABCD=ABCD Length_P=105000[mm] and will be updated.

[0074] Returning to S502, it is determined that Length_P is 105000 [mm], which is greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]). The process proceeds to S505. In S505, ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are compared. Since ColorMode_P is ABC and ColorMode_N is ABCD, it is determined that they do not match, and the process proceeds to S506. In S506, it is determined that ColorMode_P is ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ABCD Then, in the updated ColorMode_P, the additional print head D is moved from the retracted position to the print position. Fig. 8B shows an example of the position of each print head 2 after the movement. In S507, it is determined that the page on which printing has been completed is not the final page, and the process ends.

[0075] In this way, while a print job for Document 2 is being executed, it is possible to control the movement of the print head 2 used in the print job for Document 3 to the print position.

[0076] (Example 3: When recording of the last page of Document2 is completed) Here, an example will be described in which the print head 2 is moved from the print position to the retreat position.

[0077] In S501, Length_P becomes 100000 [mm]. In S502, it is determined that Length_P is 100000 [mm], which is greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S505.

[0078] In S505, it is determined that ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are both ABCD and therefore match, and the process proceeds to S507. In S507, it is determined that this is the last page, and the process proceeds to S508.

[0079] In S508, it is determined that the recording heads 2A and 2B used in the recording job of Document2 will also be used in the recording job of the subsequent Document3, and the process proceeds to S509. In S509, the distance from the last page of Document2 to the first page of Document3 is calculated, and the value is Length_TJ=0 [mm]. It is determined that Length_TJ is smaller than twice Length_T, and the process proceeds to S510.

[0080] Also, in S508, it is determined that the recording head 2C used in Document2 will be used in the subsequent job, Document4, and the process proceeds to S509. In S509, the distance from the last page of Document2 to page 1 of Document4 is calculated as Length_TJ=150000 [mm]. It is determined that Length_TJ is greater than twice Length_T, and the process proceeds to S511.

[0081] In S511, ColorMode_N is ColorMode_N=ColorModeN―ColorMode_TJ=ABCD―C=ABD In S510, ColorMode_P is updated to ColorMode_N. In S513, in accordance with ColorMode_P=ABD, the recording head 2C is moved from the recording position to the evacuation position.

[0082] In this way, when multiple recording jobs are being executed, if the movement of the recording head 2 scheduled to be used (recording position → standby position → recording position) is possible in time due to the relationship between the color mode and recording length (transport amount) of the subsequent recording job, it is possible to control the recording head 2 to be moved to the evacuation position.

[0083] (Example 4: When recording of page 190 of Document3 is completed) Here, an example will be described in which the print head 2 is moved from the retracted position to the printing position.

[0084] In S501, Length_P is 5000 [mm]. In S502, Length_P is 5000 [mm], which is determined to be the same as Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S503. In S503, it is determined whether there is a next print job. After Document 3, a print job for Document 4 is scheduled. Therefore, the process proceeds to S504.

[0085] In S504, the job information of Document 4 is obtained. ColorMode_J=AC Length_J=200×1000[mm]=200000[mm] Then, ColorMode_N and Length_P are ColorMode_N=ABD+AC=ABCD Length_P=205000[mm] and will be updated.

[0086] Returning to S502, it is determined that Length_P is 205000 [mm], which is greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]). The process proceeds to S505. In S505, ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are compared. Since ColorMode_P is ABD and ColorMode_N is ABCD, it is determined that they do not match, and the process proceeds to S506. In S506, ColorMode_P is ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ABCD Then, in the updated ColorMode_P, the additional print head C is moved from the retracted position to the print position. In S507, it is determined that the page on which printing has been completed is not the last page, and the process ends.

[0087] (Example 5: When recording of the last page of Document3 is completed) Here, an example will be described in which the print head 2 is moved from the print position to the retreat position.

[0088] In S501, Length_P becomes 200000 [mm]. In S502, it is determined that Length_P is 200000 [mm], which is greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S505.

[0089] In S505, it is determined that ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are both ABCD and therefore match, and the process proceeds to S507. In S507, it is determined that this is the last page, and the process proceeds to S508.

[0090] In S508, it is determined that the recording head 2A used in the recording job of Document 3 will also be used in the recording job of the subsequent Document 4, and the process proceeds to S509. In S509, the distance from the last page of Document 3 to the first page of Document 4 is calculated, and the value is Length_TJ=0 [mm]. It is determined that Length_TJ is smaller than twice Length_T, and the process proceeds to S510.

[0091] Also, in S508, it is determined that the recording heads 2B and 2D used in Document3 will not be used in the subsequent job, Document4, and the process proceeds to S511.

[0092] In S511, ColorMode_N is ColorMode_N=ColorModeN―ColorMode_TJ=ABCD―BD=AC In S510, ColorMode_P is updated to ColorMode_N. In S513, in accordance with ColorMode_P=AC, the recording heads 2B and 2D are moved from the recording positions to the retracted positions. Fig. 8C shows an example of the position of each recording head 2 after the movement.

[0093] (Example 6: When recording of the last page of Document4 is completed) Here, an example will be described in which all recording jobs have been completed.

[0094] In S501, Length_P becomes 0 [mm]. In S502, it is determined that Length_P is 0 [mm] and is smaller than Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S503. In S503, it is determined that there is no next printing job, and the process proceeds to S505.

[0095] In S505, it is determined that ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are both AC and therefore match, and the process proceeds to S507. In S507, it is determined that this is the last page, and the process proceeds to S508.

[0096] In S508, since there is no recording job after the recording job of Document 4, it is determined that the recording heads 2A and 2C used for Document 4 will not be used for the remaining recording jobs. The process proceeds to S511. In S511, ColorMode_N is set to ColorMode_N=ColorMode_N―Color_TJ=AC―AC=0 In S513, in accordance with ColorMode_P=0, the print heads 2A and 2C are moved from the print positions to the retract positions.

[0097] Second Embodiment During standby, the print head 2 is located at the printing position even though it is not used for printing, and is therefore susceptible to the effects of vapor on the printing medium P. It is also possible to minimize the standby time by changing the execution order of multiple printing jobs. In this embodiment, the control unit 402 calculates the standby time for each of multiple types of execution orders, and outputs the calculation results of the standby time to the operation unit 401. Then, the multiple printing jobs are executed in the execution order selected by the user.

[0098] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing another example of a job list displayed on the operation unit 401. Compared to the example in Fig. 4, a plan generation button 412 is added. The example in Fig. 9 shows a state in which Document1, Document2, and Document3 are selected as recording jobs.

[0099] The plan generation button 412 is a button for instructing presentation of waiting times when the execution order of multiple selected recording jobs is changed. The plan generation button 412 is enabled only when multiple recording jobs are selected.

[0100] 10 shows an example of the calculation result of the waiting time displayed on the operation unit 401 when the user operates the plan generation button 412. In the example shown in the figure, six types of execution orders are shown, pattern 1 to pattern 6. The execution order of the recording jobs for each pattern is as follows:

[0101] Pattern 1: Document1 → Document2 → Document3 Pattern 2: Document1 → Document3 → Document2 Pattern 3: Document2 → Document1 → Document3 Pattern 4: Document2 → Document3 → Document1 Pattern 5: Document3 → Document1 → Document2 Pattern 6: Document3 → Document2 → Document1 Also, the total waiting time (seconds) of the recording heads 2A to 2D is shown for each pattern.

[0102] Time A is the standby time of print head 2A. Time B is the standby time of print head 2B. Time C is the standby time of print head 2C. Time D is the standby time of print head 2D. In the illustrated example, pattern 4 has the shortest total standby time of each print head 2.

[0103] The back button 414 is a button that the user uses to instruct to return to the display in FIG. 9. The select button 413 is a button that confirms the selection of a pattern. When the user selects one of the patterns and operates the select button 413, a job list is displayed in which the execution order has been changed to the pattern selected by the user, as shown in FIG. 11. The illustrated example illustrates a case where pattern 4 has been selected. When the user then operates the start button 411, the recording jobs for Documents 1 to 3 are executed consecutively in the displayed execution order.

[0104] Next, the calculation process of the waiting time will be described. Figures 12 to 14 are flowcharts of this process, which is executed by the control unit 402. A plurality of recording jobs are virtually executed in the execution order of each pattern, and the waiting time is calculated from the results.

[0105] When the plan generation button 412 is operated in the display of Fig. 9, the process of S701 is executed. Here, a pattern of the execution order of the multiple selected recording jobs is generated. Patterns 1 to 6 in Fig. 10 are examples. Next, the processes of S702 to S707 are executed for each pattern.

[0106] The processes in S702 to S705 are similar to those in S401 to S404 in Fig. 5. Therefore, the flow of each process will be described while applying it to the example in Fig. 9.

[0107] In S702, the job information of the first print job of Pattern 1: Document 1 is obtained, and ColorMode_P and Length_P are identified. ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ColorMode_J=D Length_P=Length_J=50×100[mm]=5000[mm] It becomes.

[0108] In S703, the calculated Length_P is compared with Length_T. Since Length_P and Length_T are the same, the process proceeds to S704. In S704, it is determined that the next recording job (Document2) exists, so the process proceeds to S705.

[0109] In S705, the job information of the next recording job (Document2) is obtained, and ColorMode_P and Length_P are ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=D+ABC=ABCD Length_P=105000[mm] and will be updated.

[0110] In S706, the color mode is set to ColorMode_P and virtual printing is started. In S707, the page-by-page processing shown in Figs.

[0111] The processes in S803 to S812 are similar to those in S502 to S511 in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. The flow of each process will be described while continuing to apply it to the example in Fig. 9.

[0112] In S801, it is determined whether a page for virtual recording exists. If the page does not exist, the process ends. A case where virtual recording of the first page of Document1 is completed will be described. In S802, the length of the page in the conveying direction, Length_S, is obtained, and Length_P is calculated as follows: Length_P = Length_P - Length_S Length_P=105000[mm]―100[mm]=104900[mm] and will be updated.

[0113] Furthermore, ColorMode_J and ColorMode_P in the page where virtual recording has been completed are compared to identify the standby recording head 2. Specifically, since ColorMode_J of Document1 is D and ColorMode_P is ABCD, the standby recording heads are 2A, 2B, and 2C.

[0114] The standby period of the standby print head is calculated using the following formula.

[0115] Time = Time + Length_S ÷ Speed_P Here, Length_S is 100 [mm] and Speed_P is 60 mpm.

[0116] The waiting time for each recording head is Time A=0+100[mm]÷60[mpm]=0.1[s] Time B=0+100[mm]÷60[mpm]=0.1[s] Time C=0+100[mm]÷60[mpm]=0.1[s] Time D=0 It is calculated as follows.

[0117] In S803, it is determined that Length_P is greater than Length_T, and the process proceeds to S806. In S806, it is determined that ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are both ABCD and match, and the process proceeds to S808. In S808, it is determined that this is not the last page, and the process proceeds to S813. In S813, information on the next page is obtained, and the process proceeds to S801, where the same process is repeated.

[0118] Next, a description will be given of the processing of the last page of Document 1. In S801, it is determined that there is a last page for virtual recording, and in S802, Length_P is updated to 100000 [mm].

[0119] From the number of pages, the cumulative waiting time of each recording head 2 is Time A=5[s] Time B=5[s] Time C=5[s] Time D=0 It is.

[0120] In S803, Length_P is 100000 [mm], which is determined to be greater than LengthT (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S806. In S806, it is determined that ColorMode_P and ColorMod_eN are both ABCD, and the process proceeds to S808. In S808, it is determined that this is the last page, and the process proceeds to S809.

[0121] In S809, it is determined that the print head D used in Document1 will be used in the subsequent job, Document3, and the process proceeds to S810. In S810, the distance from the last page of Document1 to the first page of Document3 is calculated as Length_TJ=100000 [mm]. It is determined that Length_TJ is greater than twice Length_T, and the process proceeds to S812.

[0122] In S812, ColorMode_N is updated according to the following formula, and the process proceeds to S811.

[0123] ColorMode_N=ColorMode_N―ColorMode_TJ=ABCD―D=ABC In S811, ColorMode_P is ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ABC Then, the process proceeds to S813. Then, the virtual recording of Document2 is performed.

[0124] Next, a description will be given of the virtual recording of page 95 of Document 2. In S801, it is determined that there is a page for virtual recording, and in S802, Length_P is set to 5000 [mm].

[0125] The cumulative waiting time for each recording head 2 is Time A=5[s] Time B=5[s] Time C=5[s] Time D=0 It is.

[0126] In S803, Length_P is 5000 [mm], which is determined to be the same as Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S804. In S804, it is determined that the next print job (Document3) exists, and the process proceeds to S805. In S805, the job information of the next print job is obtained, and ColorMode_N and Length_P are determined to be: ColorMode_N=ABC+ABD=ABCD Length_P=105000[mm] and will be updated.

[0127] In S803, Length_P is 105000 [mm], which is determined to be greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S806. In S806, ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are compared. In S806, ColorMode_P is ABC and ColorMode_N is ABCD, which is determined to be a mismatch, and the process proceeds to S807.

[0128] In S807, ColorMode_P is as follows: ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ABCD In S808, it is determined that the page is not the last page, and the process proceeds to S813. In S813, the next page information is obtained, and the process proceeds to S801.

[0129] Next, the processing of the last page of Document2 will be described. In S801, it is determined that there is a last page to perform virtual recording, and in S802, Length_P is updated to 100000 [mm]. Since ColorMode_J of Document2 is ABC and ColorMode_P is ABCD, the standby recording head is 2D. The cumulative standby time of each recording head 2 is calculated by adding up the standby times from the 95th page to the 100th page of Document2, as follows: Time A=5[s] Time B=5[s] Time C=5[s] Time D=5[s] It is.

[0130] In S803, Length_P is 100000 [mm], which is determined to be greater than Length_T (5000 [mm]), and the process proceeds to S806. In S806, it is determined that ColorMode_P and ColorMode_N are both ABCD, which means they match, and the process proceeds to S808. In S808, it is determined that this is the last page, and the process proceeds to S809.

[0131] In S809, it is determined that the recording heads 2A and 2B used in Document2 will be used in the subsequent recording job (Document3), and the process proceeds to S810. In S810, the distance from the last page of Document2 to the first page of Document3 is calculated as Length_TJ=0 [mm]. It is determined that Length_TJ is smaller than twice Length_T, and the process proceeds to S511.

[0132] In S809, it is determined that the recording head 2C used for Document2 will not be used for the subsequent recording job (Document3), and the process proceeds to S812.

[0133] In S812, ColorMode_N is ColorMode_N=ColorMode_N―ColorH=ABCD―C=ABD and the process proceeds to S811.

[0134] In S811, ColorMode_P is ColorMode_P=ColorMode_N=ABD and the process proceeds to S813. In S813, the next page information is obtained, and the process proceeds to S801. Since Document3 is the final job and there is no difference between ColorMode_Jo and ColorMode_P of Document3, the description of the subsequent processes will be omitted.

[0135] From the above, the standby time of each recording head 2 in pattern 1 is Time A=5[s] Time B=5[s] Time C=5[s] Time D=5[s] The standby times of the print heads for patterns 1 to 6 are as shown in the display example of FIG.

[0136] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the period (standby period) during which each print head 2 is in a standby state at the print position and the period (use period) during which it is used in pattern 1. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the standby period and use period of each print head 2 in pattern 3. It can be seen that while pattern 1 and pattern 3 have the same total print length and use period of print head 2, the standby period differs depending on the execution order of print jobs.

[0137] In this way, according to the present embodiment, the user can select an execution order that minimizes the waiting time among multiple jobs. Note that the execution order that minimizes the waiting time may be automatically executed without a selection instruction from the user.

[0138] <Third embodiment> The type of ink ejected by each recording head 2 and the arrangement of each recording head 2 are appropriately designed. For example, the recording heads 2 can be arranged in a plurality of groups. For example, a first recording unit composed of one or more recording heads 2 including a recording head 2 ejecting white ink and a second recording unit composed of one or more recording heads 2 including a recording head 2 ejecting other color inks (yellow, magenta, cyan, black, etc.) not including white ink may be arranged apart from each other in the conveying direction of the recording medium P. In this configuration, for example, the first recording unit may be arranged upstream of the second recording unit in the conveying direction of the recording medium P. In addition, a drying unit and a cooling unit may be further arranged between the first recording unit and the second recording unit along the conveying path of the recording medium P.

[0139] In a configuration in which the first recording unit and the second recording unit are disposed at a distance from each other in the transport direction of the recording medium P, the recording job may be a recording job that uses only the recording head 2 included in the second recording unit. Note that the control described in the first and second embodiments may be, for example, control for the second recording unit.

[0140] In a configuration in which the first recording unit and the second recording unit are disposed at a distance from each other in the transport direction of the recording medium P, the recording job may be one that manages the first recording unit and the second recording unit as a whole. Alternatively, the recording job may be one that manages the first recording unit and the second recording unit separately, or one that manages each recording head 2. When managing recording jobs for each recording head 2, the recording head 2 for white ink on the upstream side in the transport direction may be the second recording job, and the recording head 2 for color ink on the downstream side may be the first recording job.

[0141] In the movement control of this embodiment, for example, whether or not to control the movement of the print head 2 is determined based on the relationship between the print time of the print job and the movement time of the print head 2 to be moved from the retracted position to the print position. If the print time of a first print job among multiple print jobs satisfies the condition for moving the print head 2 added in the second print job, the movement of the additional print head 2 used in the second print job may be started before the ink ejection in the first print job is completed.

[0142] However, if the recording time of the first recording job does not satisfy the above-mentioned control conditions, for example, the recording heads 2 used for the first recording job and the second recording job will be moved before ink ejection for the first recording job begins. In this way, the second recording job begins ejection after ink ejection for the first recording job is completed. Since the recording head 2 used for the second recording job has already been moved, ink is not ejected after recording begins, and the time spent only transporting the recording medium P can be reduced, allowing the first recording job and the second recording job to be recorded consecutively.

[0143] 17 is a schematic diagram of a recording apparatus 1A as an example of this embodiment. The following mainly describes the configuration that differs from the recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.

[0144] The recording apparatus 1A includes a feeding device 104, an image forming device 100, and a discharge device 105. The image forming device 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.

[0145] 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 1A can be said to be a digital recording device that performs pre-printing and overprinting.

[0146] The pre-printing device 116 includes a skew correction unit 110, a recording unit PT1, a drying unit 112, and a cooling unit 113, arranged in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium P. The skew correction unit 110 corrects 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 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.

[0147] The moving unit 3A is a mechanism for moving the recording head 2WP and the recording head 2W between the recording position and the retracted position individually. A mechanism similar to the moving mechanism 3 described in Figures 2(A) and 2(B) can be used.

[0148] The drying unit 112 heats the recording medium P to promote drying of the ink ejected onto the recording medium P. The cooling device 113 cools the recording medium P heated by the drying unit 112.

[0149] The overprinting device 115 has the same configuration as the image forming device 100 of the first embodiment. 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.

[0150] 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 a primer ink for fixing. The recording head 2B ejects a black ink. The recording head 2Y ejects a yellow ink. The recording head 2M ejects a magenta ink. The recording head 2C ejects a cyan ink. The recording unit PT2 also includes a moving unit 3B. The moving unit 3B is a mechanism for moving 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, and a mechanism similar to the moving mechanism 3 described in FIG. 2(A) and FIG. 2(B) can be used.

[0151] 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.

[0152] Each of the recording heads 2WP, 2W, 2P, 2B, 2Y, 2M, and 2C is a full-line head and is capable of ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank (not shown) across the entire width of the recording medium P. Each recording head 2 ejects one type of ink.

[0153] The control described in the first and second embodiments may be, for example, control for the recording unit PT2.

[0154] <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.

[0155] <Summary of the embodiment> The above-described embodiments disclose the following inventions. Item 1. a moving means for moving each of the plurality of recording heads between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position; A control means for controlling the moving means; A recording device comprising: a first movement control is executed to move a recording head to be used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs; A recording device comprising:

[0156] Item 2. Item 1. The recording device according to item 1, the print head moved by the first movement control is a print head that ejects a type of liquid that is not used during execution of the first print job; A recording device comprising:

[0157] Item 3. The recording device according to item 1 or 2, the start of movement of the print head in the first movement control is performed before the ejection of liquid onto the print medium in the first print job is completed; A recording device comprising:

[0158] Item 4. A recording device according to any one of items 1 to 3, a first recording unit including a recording head that ejects a white liquid; a second recording unit that is disposed downstream of the first recording unit in a conveying direction of a recording medium and is configured with a recording head that does not include a recording head that ejects a white liquid; the first movement control is control over a recording head and a recording job included in the second recording unit; A recording device comprising:

[0159] Item 5. Item 1. The recording device according to item 1, The control means and a second movement control is executed to move a recording head used in the first recording job and a recording head used in a recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position before the first recording job of the plurality of recording jobs is executed. A recording device comprising:

[0160] Item 6. Item 4 or 5. The recording device according to item 4 or 5, The control means a third movement control is executable to start a movement of a recording head not used for a third recording job among the plurality of recording jobs from the recording position to the evacuation position when a recording job preceding the third recording job is ended; A recording device comprising:

[0161] Item 7. Item 7. The recording device according to item 6, The control means When the recording head not used for the third recording job is used for a fourth recording job subsequent to the third recording job, control can be executed to make the recording head wait at the recording position for the third recording job. A recording device comprising:

[0162] Item 8. Item 5. The recording device according to item 4, A conveying means for conveying the recording medium is provided, The control means a transport amount of the recording medium transported while the recording head moves; and a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed by executing the remaining recording of the first recording job, executing the first movement control based on a result of the comparison; A recording device comprising:

[0163] Item 9. Item 6. The recording device according to item 5, A conveying means for conveying the recording medium is provided, The control means a transport amount of the recording medium transported while the recording head moves; and a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed by executing the first recording job, and executing the second movement control based on a result of the comparison. A recording device comprising:

[0164] Item 10. Item 7. The recording device according to item 6, A conveying means for conveying the recording medium is provided, The control means When the recording head not used in the third recording job is used in a fourth recording job that is subsequent to the third recording job, a transport amount of the recording medium transported while the recording head reciprocates between the recording position and the retracted position; and a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed until the fourth recording job is executed, and executing the third movement control based on a result of the comparison. A recording device comprising:

[0165] Item 11. The recording device according to any one of items 8 to 10, the plurality of recording jobs are executed consecutively; The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport means transports the recording medium continuously during execution of the plurality of recording jobs.

[0166] Item 12. A recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The control means calculating a standby time during which each print head is positioned at the print position in a print job that does not use the print head for each of a plurality of execution orders of the plurality of print jobs; outputting the calculation result of the waiting time; A recording device comprising:

[0167] Item 13. Item 13. The recording device according to item 12, the control means executes the plurality of recording jobs in an execution order selected by a user from the plurality of execution orders. A recording device comprising:

[0168] Item 14. A method for controlling a recording device having a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads individually between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position, comprising the steps of: a control step of controlling the moving means so as to move a recording head used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs; A control method comprising:

[0169] Item 15. In order to control a recording apparatus having a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads individually between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position, a computer is provided with: A storage medium storing a program for executing a control process for controlling the moving means so as to move a recording head used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs.

[0170] Item 16. In order to control a recording apparatus having a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads individually between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position, a computer is provided with: A program that executes a control process for controlling the moving means so as to move a recording head used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs.

[0171] 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]

[0172] 1 Recording device, 2 Recording head, 3 Moving unit, 402 Control unit

Claims

1. a moving means for moving each of the plurality of recording heads between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position; A control means for controlling the moving means; A recording device comprising: a first movement control is executed to move a recording head to be used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs; A recording apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the print head moved by the first movement control is a print head that ejects a type of liquid that is not used during execution of the first print job; A recording apparatus comprising:

3. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the start of movement of the print head in the first movement control is performed before the ejection of liquid onto the print medium in the first print job is completed; A recording apparatus comprising:

4. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, a first recording unit including a recording head that ejects a white liquid; a second recording unit arranged downstream of the first recording unit in a conveying direction of the recording medium, the second recording unit being configured with a recording head that does not include a recording head that ejects a white liquid; the first movement control is control over a recording head and a recording job included in the second recording unit; A recording apparatus comprising:

5. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, The control means and a second movement control is executed to move a recording head used in the first recording job and a recording head used in a recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position before the first recording job of the plurality of recording jobs is executed. A recording apparatus comprising:

6. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, The control means a third movement control is executable to start a movement of a recording head not used for a third recording job among the plurality of recording jobs from the recording position to the evacuation position when a recording job preceding the third recording job is ended; A recording apparatus comprising:

7. 7. The recording device according to claim 6, The control means When the recording head not used for the third recording job is used for a fourth recording job subsequent to the third recording job, control can be executed to make the recording head wait at the recording position for the third recording job. A recording apparatus comprising:

8. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, A conveying means for conveying the recording medium is provided, The control means a transport amount of the recording medium transported while the recording head moves; and a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed by executing the remaining recording of the first recording job, executing the first movement control based on a result of the comparison; A recording apparatus comprising:

9. 6. The recording device according to claim 5, A conveying means for conveying the recording medium is provided, The control means a transport amount of the recording medium transported while the recording head moves; and a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed by executing the first recording job, and executing the second movement control based on a result of the comparison. A recording apparatus comprising:

10. 7. The recording device according to claim 6, A conveying means for conveying the recording medium is provided, The control means When the recording head not used in the third recording job is used in a fourth recording job that is subsequent to the third recording job, a transport amount of the recording medium transported while the recording head reciprocates between the recording position and the retracted position; and a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed until the fourth recording job is executed, and executing the third movement control based on a result of the comparison. A recording apparatus comprising:

11. 9. The recording device according to claim 8, the plurality of recording jobs are executed consecutively; The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport means transports the recording medium continuously during execution of the plurality of recording jobs.

12. 5. The recording device according to claim 4, The control means calculating a standby time during which each print head is positioned at the print position in a print job that does not use the print head for each of a plurality of execution orders of the plurality of print jobs; outputting the calculation result of the waiting time; A recording apparatus comprising:

13. 13. The recording device according to claim 12, the control means executes the plurality of recording jobs in an execution order selected by a user from the plurality of execution orders. A recording apparatus comprising:

14. A method for controlling a recording device having a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads individually between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position, comprising the steps of: a control step of controlling the moving means so as to move a recording head used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs; A control method comprising:

15. In order to control a recording apparatus having a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads individually between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position, a computer is provided with: A storage medium storing a program for executing a control process for controlling the moving means so as to move a recording head used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs.

16. In order to control a recording apparatus having a moving unit that moves a plurality of recording heads individually between a recording position where the recording heads eject liquid onto a recording medium and a retracted position that is farther away from the recording medium than the recording position, a computer is provided with: A program that executes a control process for controlling the moving means so as to move a recording head used for a second recording job subsequent to the first recording job from the retracted position to the recording position during execution of a first recording job among a plurality of recording jobs.

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