Recording device, control method and program

Abstract

To suppress density unevenness in an interlocked part, during tiling-recording, even when interrupting recording operation during image recording and executing predetermined maintenance control.SOLUTION: A recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises conveying means that conveys a recording medium in a conveying direction and a recording head that discharges liquid, and can execute maintenance control to the recording head while temporarily pausing recording operation, and executes tiling-recording where an image in which a plurality of recorded matters obtained by recording are assumed to be adjacently arranged is divided into a plurality of pages including at least a first page and a second page and the pages are recorded. In executing the tiling-recording, when recording the respective plurality of pages, the recording device controls whether the maintenance control should be executed or not, on the basis of a distance in a conveying direction along the conveying direction from a top of a page with respect to the page being recorded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for reducing density unevenness in a tiling print. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a recording device that records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a recording head onto the recording medium. In recent years, the uses of recording devices have expanded, from personal documents and photographs to commercial posters and sign displays. For sign displays, there is a demand for larger images to be recorded, and as a result, recording devices are becoming larger. As a method for meeting the demand for larger image sizes, a recording method called "tiling" is known that can stitch together recorded images to obtain an image larger than the size of the recording medium set in the recording device.

[0003] While density unevenness is difficult to see when tiling is not performed, when tiling is performed, density unevenness may become noticeable at the joints when the recorded images are joined together. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for suppressing density unevenness, which is a problem that occurs when density fluctuations occur due to a rise in temperature of the recording head during recording, causing visible density unevenness at the joints. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2004-122637 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, even if the technology of Patent Document 1 can suppress density fluctuations or density unevenness caused by an increase in temperature of the print head, density unevenness at the joints may be noticeable due to other factors. For example, when a predetermined maintenance control is performed by interrupting the print operation during image recording, the interruption of print scanning causes fluctuations in image quality, and as a result, density unevenness may be noticeable.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure aims to suppress density unevenness in seams during tiling recording, even when the recording operation is interrupted during image recording to perform specified maintenance control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is a recording device that has a transport means for transporting a recording medium in a transport direction and a recording head for ejecting liquid, is capable of temporarily pausing recording operations to perform maintenance control on the recording head, and performs tiling recording in which an image, which is expected to have multiple recorded objects obtained by recording arranged adjacently, is divided into multiple pages including at least a first and second page and recorded.The recording device is characterized in that when performing the tiling recording, when recording each of the multiple pages, it controls whether or not to perform the maintenance control based on the transport direction distance along the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being recorded. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, even if a recording operation is interrupted during image recording to perform a predetermined maintenance control, it is possible to suppress density unevenness in joints during tiling recording. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a recording device [Diagram 2] Side view of the recording device [Diagram 3]Schematic diagram of a recording head [Figure 4] Side view of the recovery processing device [Diagram 5] Side view of the recovery processing device [Figure 6] A block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of a printing apparatus. [Figure 7] Schematic diagram showing multi-pass printing [Figure 8] Schematic diagram showing mask pattern [Figure 9] Image processing flow chart [Figure 10] Schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface screen [Figure 11] Schematic diagram showing print scan pause irregularities [Figure 12] Schematic diagram showing tiling records [Figure 13] Schematic diagram showing print scan pause irregularities [Figure 14] Flowchart of page recording process [Figure 15] Flowchart of page recording process [Figure 16] Schematic diagram showing the position where recording pause is performed [Figure 17] Schematic diagram showing tiling records [Figure 18] Schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface screen [Figure 19] Flowchart of page recording process [Figure 20] Schematic diagram showing the position where recording pause is performed [Figure 21] Schematic diagram showing tiling records [Figure 22] Schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface screen [Figure 23] Schematic diagram showing print scan pause irregularities [Figure 24] Flowchart of page recording process [Diagram 25] Flowchart of page recording process [Figure 26] Schematic diagram showing the position where recording pause is performed [Figure 27]Schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface screen DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] [First embodiment] <Configuration of Inkjet Printing Apparatus> The configuration and printing operation of an inkjet printing apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a printing apparatus or printer) according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the printing apparatus. This printing apparatus is a so-called serial scanning type printer, and prints an image by scanning a print head in an X direction perpendicular to the direction in which a printing medium P is transported (Y direction in the figure, defined as the transport direction). The X direction in which the print head scans is defined as the scanning direction, and the Z direction is defined as the height direction.

[0012] In the recording operation, first, a conveying roller driven by a conveying motor (not shown) via a gear rotates, and the recording medium P is conveyed in the Y direction by a take-up spool 12 holding the recording medium P. When the recording medium P reaches a predetermined conveying position, a carriage motor (not shown) causes the carriage unit 2 to move back and forth along a guide shaft 8 extending in the X direction (the scanning performed by this reciprocating movement is called "reciprocating scanning"). Then, during this reciprocating scanning, an ejection operation is performed from the ejection ports of the recording head mounted on the carriage unit 2 at a timing based on a position signal obtained by a linear encoder 7, and an image of a certain bandwidth corresponding to the arrangement range of the ejection ports is recorded. In this example, the scanning speed is 45 inches per second, and the ejection operation is performed at a resolution of 1200 dpi (1 / 1200 inch). After recording an image of the certain bandwidth, the recording medium P is conveyed, and the next bandwidth is recorded, and thereafter, the movement of the recording medium P and the recording of an image of the certain bandwidth are repeated. In addition, the carriage unit 2 can also scan at a speed of 45 inches per second or more.

[0013] A carriage belt is used to transmit the driving force from the carriage motor to the carriage unit 2. Note that instead of a carriage belt, it is also possible to adopt other driving methods, such as one that includes a lead screw that is rotationally driven by the carriage motor and extends in the X direction, and an engagement portion that is provided on the carriage unit 2 and engages with a groove in the lead screw.

[0014] The fed recording medium P is sandwiched between a feed roller and a pinch roller and guided to a recording position on the platen 4 (a position within the scanning area of ​​the recording head where the recording head can record). Normally, the face of the recording head is capped when in a resting state, so prior to recording, the cap is opened to make the recording head or carriage unit 2 ready for scanning. After that, when data for one scan has been accumulated in the buffer, the carriage unit 2 is scanned by the carriage motor, and recording is performed as described above.

[0015] 2 is a schematic side view of the recording device. A heater 10 supported by a frame (not shown) is disposed in a curing area located downstream in the recording medium transport direction (Y direction) from the position where a recording head 9 mounted on a carriage unit 2 scans back and forth in the main scanning direction (X direction). The heater 10 dries the liquid ink on the recording medium P by heat. The heater 10 is covered by a heater cover 11, which has the functions of efficiently irradiating the heat of the heater 10 onto the recording medium P and protecting the heater 10. After recording is performed by the recording head 9, the recording medium P is wound up by a take-up spool 12 downstream in the recording medium transport direction to form a roll-shaped wound medium 6.

[0016] The heater 10 is, for example, a sheath heater or a halogen heater. The heating temperature of the heating section in the curing region is set taking into consideration the film-forming properties and productivity of the resin emulsion, and the heat resistance of the recording medium P. The heating means of the heating section in the curing region may be a hot air heater from above, or a contact-type heat conduction heater that contacts the recording medium from below. In this embodiment, the heating section in the curing region has one heating means, but two or more heating means may be provided and used in combination as long as the temperature measured by a radiation thermometer (not shown) on the recording medium P does not exceed the set value of the heating temperature.

[0017] 3 is a plan view showing a recording head 9 according to this embodiment. The recording head 9 includes an ejection port array that ejects ink containing a coloring material. Specifically, the recording head 9 includes an ejection port array 22K that ejects black ink (K), an ejection port array 22C that ejects cyan ink (C), an ejection port array 22M that ejects magenta ink (M), and an ejection port array 22Y that ejects yellow ink (Y). Since the black ink (K), cyan ink (C), magenta ink (M), and yellow ink (Y) each contain a coloring material, in the following description, these inks will be referred to as color inks or color inks.

[0018] The recording head 9 also includes an ejection port array 22RCT that ejects a reactive liquid (RCT) that does not contain a coloring material. This reactive liquid does not contain a coloring material, but contains a reactive component that reacts with the coloring material contained in the color ink, and can suppress bleeding of the color ink by contacting the color ink on the recording medium. When it is not necessary to consider the difference in color between the ejection port array 22K, the ejection port array 22C, the ejection port array 22M, and the ejection port array 22Y, these ejection ports are collectively referred to as "22COL." When it is not necessary to consider the difference in color between the ejection port array 22K, the ejection port array 22C, the ejection port array 22M, the ejection port array 22Y, and the ejection port array 22RCT and the presence or absence of a coloring material, these ejection port arrays are collectively referred to as "ejection port array 22."

[0019] In the recording head 9, these ejection port arrays are arranged in the order of the ejection port array 22K, the ejection port array 22C, the ejection port array 22M, the ejection port array 22Y, and the ejection port array 22RCT from the upstream side to the downstream side in the X direction. These ejection port arrays are configured by arranging 1280 ejection ports 30 that eject liquid (ink or reaction liquid) in the Y direction at a density of 1200 dpi. In this embodiment, the ejection amount of liquid (ink or reaction liquid) ejected from one ejection port 30 at one time is about 4.5 pl. The ejection port array 22K, the ejection port array 22C, the ejection port array 22M, the ejection port array 22Y, and the ejection port array 22RCT are each connected to a liquid tank (not shown) that stores the corresponding liquid, and the liquid is supplied from the liquid tank. The recording head 9 and the liquid tank may be integrally configured, or each may be separable.

[0020] <Maintenance Department> The maintenance unit will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is a side view of the recovery processing device according to this embodiment. The recovery processing device is installed in a position facing the ejection port surface of the print head 9 when the carriage 2 supported by the guide shaft 8 moves to the recovery processing area adjacent to the printing area based on the signal of the linear encoder 7. By moving the cap 62 to a higher position by a lifting mechanism (not shown), the cap 62 comes into close contact with the ejection port surface 403 of the print head 9, and the ejection port array 22 can be covered by the cap 62. The aforementioned printing area is a part of the scanning area of ​​the print head, and refers to an area where the print head can print. The print head 9 can move through the printing area and the recovery processing area arranged side by side in the X direction.

[0021] The cap 62 is provided with a discharge path 70 and a discharge pump 71 for discharging liquid, air, and the like that have entered the cap 62. By generating negative pressure in the cap 62 using the discharge pump 71, liquid (e.g., thickened ink), air, foreign matter, and the like inside the recording head 9 are forcibly discharged, and the recording head 9 is brought into a state where it can eject ink satisfactorily. The liquid and air discharged by suction are collected in a waste liquid tank 72 via the discharge path 70.

[0022] In addition to suction by the discharge pump 71, control is performed during various controls to preliminarily discharge ink from the recording head 9 for purposes other than recording an image, to improve the discharge state, and this discharge is called "preliminary discharge." Preliminary discharge can be performed inside the cap 62, onto the recording medium P, or onto the platen 4.

[0023] Fig. 5 is a side view of a recovery processing device according to this embodiment, which is different from the recovery processing device shown in Fig. 4. The recovery processing device shown in Fig. 5 is installed in a position facing the ejection port face of the recording head 9 when the carriage 2 supported by the guide shaft 8 moves to a recovery processing area adjacent to the recording area based on a signal from the linear encoder 7. This recovery processing device has a sheet member 64 capable of wiping off ink adhering to the ejection ports of the recording head 9. The sheet member 64 is biased by a spring 67.

[0024] An unused sheet member 64 (before the ink has been wiped off) is wound around a rotating member 65a. A rotating member 65b is disposed upstream of the rotating member 65a in the Y direction. The leading end of the sheet member 64 is attached to the rotating member 65b, and the used sheet member 64 (from which the ink has been wiped off) is taken up by the rotating member 65b, which is driven by a transport motor. This allows the vicinity of the ejection ports of the recording head 9 to be neatly wiped, and ink droplets can continue to be ejected from the ejection ports without any problems.

[0025] <Control system> 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system in the recording device 100 according to this embodiment. The main control unit 300 has a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an input / output port 304, and a memory 313. The CPU 301 controls various processes such as calculation, selection, and discrimination, thereby executing a recording operation. The ROM 302 stores a control program executed by the CPU 301, etc. The RAM 303 is used as a buffer for recording data, etc., and temporarily stores volatile data such as the recording data.

[0026] The input / output port 304 has a function of transmitting and receiving data between the inside and outside of the main control unit 300. Drive circuits 305, 306, 307, and 308 are connected to the input / output port 304. The drive circuit 305 drives a transport motor (LF motor) 309, the drive circuit 306 drives a carriage motor (CR motor) 310, the drive circuit 307 drives the print head 9, and the drive circuit 308 drives the heater 10.

[0027] The main control unit 300 is also connected to an information processing device (PC) 312 serving as a host terminal via an interface circuit 311. The main control unit 300 receives a print job sent by the PC 312 via the interface circuit 311 and the input / output port 304.

[0028] <Multi-pass recording> In this embodiment, an image is printed by so-called multi-pass printing, in which printing is performed by multiple scans on a unit area on a print medium using each ink. Note that the following describes an example in which printing is completed by performing eight scans on a unit area.

[0029] 7 is a diagram for explaining multi-pass printing performed in this embodiment. Here, ink is ejected from each of eight ejection port groups A1 to A8 formed by dividing the ejection post-array 22 in the Y direction in each of eight scans of a unit area. In reality, the printing medium P is transported downstream in the Y direction (in the +Y direction) between scans of the printing head 9, but for simplicity, FIG. 7 shows the printing head 9 moving upstream in the Y direction (in the -Y direction) between scans.

[0030] First, in the first scan (first scan), the recording head 9 scans in the X direction in a Y direction positional relationship in which the unit area 80 on the recording medium P and the ejection port group A1 in the ejection post-row 22 face each other. In addition, ink is ejected from the ejection port group A1 to the unit area 80 according to the recording data corresponding to the first scan. After the first scan is completed, the recording medium P is transported in the Y direction by a distance corresponding to one ejection port group. Thereafter, a second scan (second scan) is performed, and ink is ejected from the ejection port group A2 to the unit area 80 according to the recording data corresponding to the second scan. Thereafter, the transport of the recording medium P and the ink ejection from the recording head 9 are alternated, and ejection from the ejection port groups A3 to A8 is performed on the unit area 80 in the third to eighth scans. In this manner, multi-pass recording on the unit area 80 is completed.

[0031] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing mask patterns used in this embodiment. In the mask patterns shown in Fig. 8, black pixels indicate pixels that allow ink ejection when the ink ejection is determined by the quantized data. On the other hand, white pixels indicate pixels that do not allow ink ejection even when the ink ejection is determined by the quantized data. Fig. 8(a) or Fig. 8(b) shows eight mask patterns, each having a size of 4 pixels x 8 pixels, and by repeatedly applying these mask patterns in the X direction and Y direction, a distribution process is performed for all of the quantized data corresponding to each unit area.

[0032] FIG. 8(a) shows a group of mask patterns applied to quantized data corresponding to each of the color ink ejection port arrays, that is, the ejection port arrays 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22K. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the ejection port groups A1 to A8 of the color ink ejection port array 22COL correspond to the first to eighth scans, and print permitting pixels are arranged in the mask patterns corresponding to the ejection port groups A2 to A8 corresponding to the second to eighth scans. On the other hand, print permitting pixels are not arranged in the mask pattern corresponding to the ejection port group A1 corresponding to the first scan. Therefore, in this example, the color ink is not ejected in the first scan of the eight scans, but is ejected in the second to eighth scans.

[0033] FIG. 8(b) shows a group of mask patterns applied to the quantized data corresponding to the reaction liquid ejection port array 22RCT. As shown in FIG. 8(b), the ejection port groups A1 to A8 of the reaction liquid ejection port array 22RCT correspond to the 1st to 8th scans, and print permitting pixels are arranged in the mask patterns corresponding to the ejection port groups A1 to A7 corresponding to the 1st to 7th scans. On the other hand, print permitting pixels are not arranged in the mask pattern corresponding to the ejection port group A8 corresponding to the 8th scan. Therefore, in this example, the reaction liquid is ejected in the 1st to 7th scans out of the 8 scans, and is not ejected in the 8th scan.

[0034] As described above, in this embodiment, the reaction liquid is applied onto the recording medium prior to application of the color ink. Therefore, the color ink comes into contact with the reaction liquid instantly when applied to the recording medium, and the aggregation of the pigments begins immediately. As a result, bleeding of the color ink can be suitably reduced.

[0035] When the recording medium on which the color inks and the reaction liquid are recorded is conveyed and passes the heater 10, the ink on the recording medium is heated and dried by the heater 10. This fixes the ink on the recording medium and completes the recording.

[0036] <Recording Media> The recording device 100 of this embodiment is capable of recording on multiple types of recording media, and the recording media that can be recorded on by the recording device 100 are classified into two types: recording media that have low absorbency of the moisture contained in the ink, and recording media that have high absorbency of the moisture.

[0037] Examples of low absorbency recording media include recording media with a plastic layer formed on the outermost surface of a substrate, recording media without an ink receiving layer formed on a substrate, and sheets, films, banners, etc. of glass, YUPO, plastic, etc. Specific examples of the aforementioned (coated) plastics include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. These low absorbency recording media are excellent in water resistance, light resistance, and abrasion resistance, and are therefore generally used when recording materials for outdoor exhibition.

[0038] On the other hand, recording media with high absorbency are recording media in which an ink-receiving layer is formed on the surface of a substrate, such as plain paper and glossy paper. Although these recording media are inferior to recording media with low absorbency in terms of water resistance, light resistance, and abrasion resistance, they are capable of absorbing ink applied to the ink-receiving layer, and therefore have excellent color development and are capable of recording with high image quality. Therefore, these recording media are generally used when recording records for indoor exhibition.

[0039] <Image processing> Image processing according to this embodiment, specifically, processing for generating print data used for printing by the print head, will be described below with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart of image processing according to this embodiment. Note that the processing of each step in Fig. 9 is performed by the CPU 301 of the printing device 100 expanding a control program stored in the ROM 302 into the RAM 303 and executing the expanded program.

[0040] First, in step S901, the CPU 301 acquires image data input from the host terminal PC 312. In this embodiment, the image data acquired in this step is bitmap image data in which each pixel is expressed by an RGB value (i.e., three channels). In addition, hereinafter, "step S~" will be abbreviated to "S~" for simplicity.

[0041] In S902, the CPU 301 acquires recording medium information, specifically, information regarding the type of recording medium to be used for recording. In this embodiment, the user selects the recording medium to be used for recording, and the CPU 301 acquires information regarding the type of recording medium as information based on an input by the user.

[0042] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a graphical user interface screen (hereinafter, referred to as GUI screen) displayed on the display of PC 312 when the user inputs information about the type of recording medium. The CPU of PC 312 functions as a display control means for displaying the GUI screen on the display. Eight types of recording media are displayed on the GUI screen shown in FIG. 10: "PVC film", "PVC banner", "PP film", "YUPO", "plain paper", "glossy paper", "art paper", and "coated paper". The user selects one recording medium to be used for recording from among a plurality of recording media including at least these eight types. Then, PC 312 transmits information about the selected recording medium to recording device 100, and the information is input to recording device 100 and acquired in S902.

[0043] Here, the embodiment has been described in which the user inputs information about the type of recording medium on which recording is to be performed via a GUI screen, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the recording device may be provided with a sensor for determining the type of recording medium, and information about the type of recording medium may be automatically acquired according to the result of the determination by the sensor. In addition, the recording device may be configured to allow the user to register a new type of recording medium in addition to the eight types of recording medium that are registered in advance.

[0044] In S903, the CPU 301 selectively sets one of a plurality of recording conditions based on the information on the type of recording medium acquired in S902. Of the eight types of recording medium described above, "vinyl chloride film" and "vinyl chloride banner" are recording media in which a polyvinyl chloride layer is formed on a base material. In addition, "PP film" is a film formed of polypropylene, and "Yupo" is a synthetic paper made of polypropylene. Since these four types of recording media have low absorbency, if information indicating any of the four types is acquired in S902 as information on the recording medium to be used for recording, then in S903, recording conditions for a recording medium with low absorbency are set. On the other hand, "plain paper", "glossy paper", "art paper", and "coated paper" generally have high absorbency. Therefore, if information indicating any of the four types of recording media is acquired in S902 as information on the recording medium to be used for recording, then in S903, recording conditions for a recording medium with high absorbency are set.

[0045] In S904, the CPU 301 executes a color conversion process to convert image data (three-channel image data) expressed by values ​​(RGB values) indicated by RGB signals into multi-value data corresponding to each ink and reaction liquid used in image recording. The color conversion process in this step generates multi-value data represented by 8-bit 256-value information that defines the gradation of each ink in each pixel of a pixel group consisting of a plurality of pixels. In this color conversion process, a lookup table (referred to as LUT) is used that specifies the correspondence between the RGB values ​​before conversion, the values ​​(CMYK values) indicated by CMYK signals corresponding to each color of color ink after conversion, and the values ​​(RCT values) indicated by the signal of the reaction liquid. In this embodiment, the color conversion process is executed using different LUTs depending on the recording conditions set in S903.

[0046] In S905, the CPU 301 executes a quantization process to quantize the multi-value data acquired in S904. The quantization process in this step generates quantized data represented by 1-bit binary information that determines whether each ink is ejected (1) or not ejected (0) for each pixel. As a quantization method, a dither process, an error diffusion process, or the like can be used.

[0047] In S906, the CPU 301 executes a distribution process to distribute the quantized data acquired in S905 to multiple scans of the print head in the multi-pass printing described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The distribution process in this step generates print data represented by 1-bit binary information that determines whether or not to eject each ink to each pixel in each of the multiple scans to a unit area on the print medium.

[0048] Note that, although the embodiment has been described above in which all of the processes from S901 to S906 are executed by the CPU 301 in the recording device 100, this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, some or all of the processes from S901 to S906 may be executed by a CPU in the PC 312. For example, the PC 312 may execute up to the color conversion process (S1804), and the recording device 100 may execute the quantization process (S1805) and thereafter.

[0049] <Maintenance control and tiling recording performed by interrupting recording operation> Hereinafter, the maintenance control according to the present embodiment and the unevenness during tiling recording will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The maintenance control is a control for maintaining or recovering the ejection performance of the recording head, and can be performed before or during the recording operation. When the maintenance control is performed during the recording operation, the recording operation is interrupted. The tiling recording refers to dividing an image that is assumed to be arranged and displayed adjacently in a plurality of output objects (recorded objects) obtained by recording into a plurality of pages including at least a first page and a second page, and recording the divided images. Whether or not to perform the tiling recording is determined according to the user's selection. The recorded object of the second page has an assumed side that is arranged in contact with one side of the recorded object of the first page. When the tiling recording is performed, the maintenance control may be performed before the start of the page recording operation, or may be performed during the page recording operation.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the maintenance control performed by interrupting the printing operation according to the present embodiment and unevenness that occurs in a printed image.

[0051] The left side of Fig. 11(a) is a graph showing the relationship between the distance in the transport direction from the top of the page and the scanning pause time. From this graph, it can be seen that a predetermined scanning pause time occurs at a position that is a distance A from the top of the page. This means that during page recording, the print scan is temporarily stopped at the position of the distance A, and a predetermined maintenance control is performed. This maintenance control includes at least one of suction control for sucking ink from the print head 9, discharge control for discharging ink that has been pre-ejected and accumulated in the cap 62, and wiping control for wiping the ejection port surface of the print head 9 with a sheet member 64.

[0052] The right side of Figure 11(a) corresponds to the graph on the left, and shows the unevenness that occurs in the printed image (this unevenness is defined as "print scan pause unevenness" because it occurs due to a pause in the print scan). It can be seen that the density of the printed image is slightly darker at a position a distance A from the top of the page.

[0053] The left side of FIG. 11(b) shows that, in the scan at the position of distance A from the top of the page, a scan pause of a predetermined time occurs, as in FIG. 11(a), and that the scan pause (the scan pause time of the scan pause is shorter than the predetermined time) is also performed in two scans before and after the scan. In the scan at the position of distance A, a scan pause for maintenance control is performed, whereas in two scans before and after the scan, a scan pause without maintenance control is performed, and the scan pause time gradually decreases from a peak at the position of distance A. It is known that by providing a scan pause time that gradually decreases in the scans before and after the scan that causes a scan pause for maintenance control, the print scan pause unevenness occurring in the print image can be suppressed (see the right side of FIG. 11(a) and the right side of FIG. 11(b)). Note that, in FIG. 11, the print scan pause unevenness is described as a density unevenness where the density becomes thicker at the position where the scan pause for maintenance control is performed, but the unevenness is not limited to this. For example, depending on the characteristics of the ink or print medium, the density may become thin, or the gloss characteristics may change and appear uneven.

[0054] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a recorded matter obtained by tiling recording according to this embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as a tiling recorded matter). The first page on the left and the second page on the right are recorded matters printed in the width of the recording medium P set in the recording device 100 according to this embodiment, and when they are posted side by side as shown in Fig. 12, one image is completed.

[0055] Here, for reference, a conventional technique to which this embodiment is not applied will be described. In the conventional technique, the maintenance control performed by interrupting the recording operation for recording the first page and the second page may be performed at different positions on each page (i.e., at different distances from the top of the page). As shown in FIG. 13(b), when the maintenance control is performed at a position distance A from the top of the page for recording the first page and the maintenance control is performed at a position distance B from the top of the page for recording the second page, unevenness is visible in the adjacent portion between the first page and the second page. That is, FIG. 13(b) shows that the unevenness that is difficult to see when the first page is posted alone as shown in FIG. 13(a) becomes noticeable unevenness when the first page and the second page acquired as tiling recorded matter are posted adjacent to each other. The present embodiment aims to suppress such unevenness.

[0056] Hereinafter, the maintenance control according to this embodiment, which is performed to suppress print scan pause unevenness in tiling printing, will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0057] First, as a premise, a page recording operation accompanied by maintenance control performed by interrupting the recording operation in the case of normal recording, not tiling recording, will be described with reference to FIG.

[0058] In the following, a case will be described in which there are two types of predetermined maintenance control that cause recording scan pause unevenness. Specifically, the first maintenance control is a discharge control that discharges ink that has been preliminarily discharged and accumulated in the cap 62. This maintenance control calculates the number of ink droplets preliminarily discharged into the cap by dot counting the discharge signal, and pauses the recording scan and performs discharge when the accumulated value exceeds a predetermined threshold, and is defined as a "first maintenance control." The second maintenance control is a wiping control that wipes the discharge port surface of the recording head 9 with a sheet member 64. This maintenance control counts the time that has elapsed since the previous wiping control was performed, and pauses the recording scan and performs wiping when the counted value exceeds a predetermined threshold, and is defined as a "second maintenance control."

[0059] The page recording process of FIG. 14 begins when the recording device 100 receives a recording command sent by the PC 312 .

[0060] In S1401, the CPU 301 conveys the recording medium P. By the conveyance in this step, the recording medium P is guided to a recording position on the platen 4, facing the recording head 9.

[0061] In S1402, CPU 301 acquires dot count value C, which is a count value related to the first maintenance control, and timer count value T, which is a count value related to the second maintenance control.

[0062] In S1403, the CPU 301 determines whether the dot count value C is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value c1. If the result of the determination in this step is true, the process proceeds to S1404. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in this step is false, the process proceeds to S1406.

[0063] In S1404, the CPU 301 performs a first maintenance control.

[0064] In S1405, the CPU 301 resets the dot count value C (to zero).

[0065] In S1406, the CPU 301 determines whether the timer count value T is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value t1. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S1407. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S1409.

[0066] In S1407, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0067] In S1408, the CPU 301 resets the timer count value T (to zero).

[0068] In S1409, the CPU 301 executes a print scan.

[0069] In S1410, the CPU 301 determines whether the page recording is completed. If the determination result in this step is true, the page recording process ends. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process returns to S1401 and the page recording process continues.

[0070] The above is the content of the page recording operation accompanied by the maintenance control performed by interrupting the recording operation in the case of normal recording, not tiling recording.

[0071] Next, a page printing operation accompanied by maintenance control performed by interrupting the printing operation in the case of tiling printing will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Note that, as in Fig. 14, the following will be described by taking as an example a case in which there are two types of predetermined maintenance control (first maintenance control, second maintenance control) that cause printing scan pause unevenness.

[0072] The page recording process of FIG. 15 begins when the recording device 100 receives a recording command sent by the PC 312 .

[0073] In S1501, the CPU 301 performs a first maintenance control.

[0074] In S1502, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0075] In S1503, the CPU 301 sets to 1 a parameter N1 indicating the number of times the first maintenance control is to be performed on the page being recorded, and also sets to 1 a parameter N2 indicating the number of times the second maintenance control is to be performed on the page being recorded.

[0076] In S1504, the CPU 301 conveys the recording medium P. By the conveyance in this step, the recording medium P is guided to a recording position on the platen 4, facing the recording head 9.

[0077] In S1505, the CPU 301 acquires the distance D in the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being printed.

[0078] In S1506, CPU 301 determines whether D≧N1×d1 is satisfied. Here, d1 is a parameter indicating how much the transport direction distance advances at which the first maintenance control is performed. In this manner, in this embodiment, it is determined whether to perform maintenance control based on the magnitude relationship between the transport direction distance D and a predetermined distance with the leading edge of the page as the reference (zero). If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S1507. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S1509.

[0079] In S1507, the CPU 301 performs the first maintenance control.

[0080] In S1508, the CPU 301 increments (counts up) N1 by 1.

[0081] In S1509, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧N2×d2 is satisfied. Here, d2 is a parameter indicating how much the transport direction distance is increased at which the second maintenance control is performed, and the relationship is d2>d1. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S1510. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S1512.

[0082] In S1510, the CPU 301 performs second maintenance control.

[0083] In S1511, the CPU 301 adds 1 to N2 (counts up).

[0084] In S1512, the CPU 301 executes recording scanning.

[0085] In S1513, the CPU 301 determines whether page recording has ended. If the determination result of this step is true, a series of page recording processes ends. On the other hand, if the determination result of this step is false, it returns to S1501 and continues the page recording process.

[0086] In this embodiment, at the time of tiling recording, the recording operation shown in FIG. 15 is performed. As a result, the relationship between the distance from the page head that causes unevenness in recording scan suspension of the first maintenance control and the distance from the page head that causes unevenness in recording scan suspension of the second maintenance control, which are implemented at the time of each page recording, is as shown in FIG. 16.

[0087] Regarding FIG. 16, FIG. 16(a) shows that when the length of the recording image in the conveyance direction is L, the first maintenance control is implemented at positions where the conveyance direction distances in each page are d1, 2d1, 3d1, or 4d1. Also, FIG. 16(b) shows that when the length of the recording image in the conveyance direction is L, the second maintenance control is implemented at positions where the conveyance direction distances in each page are d2 or 2d2. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, d1 < d2 is satisfied.

[0088] As described above, in this embodiment, when printing any page during tiling printing, a predetermined maintenance control that causes print scan pause unevenness is performed based on the distance from the top of the page. This makes it possible to align the conveyance direction positions where print scan pause unevenness occurs between adjacent pages when posting. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the unevenness caused by print scan pauses, which was easily visible at the seams in conventional technology, less visible.

[0089] [Second embodiment] This embodiment has a similar configuration to the first embodiment, but the tiling recording method is different, which will be described with reference to Fig. 15 and Figs. 17 to 20.

[0090] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a tiling record according to this embodiment. The first page on the left and the second page on the right are records printed with the width of the recording medium P set in the recording device 100 according to this embodiment, and one image is completed by displaying them side by side as shown in FIG. 17. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) is that the even-numbered pages are recorded in a 180-degree inverted state. This recording method is a method that assumes a case where the density of the image differs depending on the position in the scanning direction of the recording device, and the user can select whether or not to perform inverted printing via a GUI screen such as that shown in FIG. 18.

[0091] The printing operation during tiling printing of odd-numbered pages is the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described (see FIG. 15). The printing operation of even-numbered pages according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0092] The page recording process of FIG. 19 begins when the recording device 100 receives a recording command sent by the PC 312.

[0093] In S1901, the CPU 301 performs a first maintenance control.

[0094] In S1902, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0095] In S1903, the CPU 301 calculates a parameter X1 corresponding to the number of times related to the first maintenance control according to the formula (1). That is, the quotient is calculated by dividing the length L of the recorded image by d1, and the calculated quotient is set as X1.

[0096] X1=QUOTIENT(L,d1)...Formula (1) In S1904, the CPU 301 calculates a parameter X2 corresponding to the number of times related to the second maintenance control according to the formula (2). That is, the quotient is calculated by dividing the length L of the recorded image by d2, and the calculated quotient is set as X2.

[0097] X2=QUOTIENT(L,d2)...Formula (2) In S1905, the CPU 301 conveys the recording medium P. By the conveyance in this step, the recording medium P is guided to a recording position on the platen 4, facing the recording head 9.

[0098] In S1906, the CPU 301 acquires the distance D in the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being printed.

[0099] In S1907, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧L−X1*d1 is satisfied. In this manner, in this embodiment, it is determined whether to perform maintenance control based on the magnitude relationship between the transport direction distance D and a predetermined distance with the rear end of the page as the reference (zero). If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S1908. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S1910.

[0100] In S1908, the CPU 301 performs the first maintenance control.

[0101] In S1909, the CPU 301 subtracts 1 from X1 (counts down).

[0102] In S1910, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧L−X2*d2 is satisfied. If the result of the determination in this step is true, the process proceeds to S1911. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in this step is false, the process proceeds to S1913.

[0103] In S1911, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0104] In S1912, the CPU 301 subtracts 1 from X2 (counts down).

[0105] In S1913, the CPU 301 executes a print scan.

[0106] In S1914, the CPU 301 determines whether the page recording is completed. If the determination result in this step is true, the page recording process ends. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process returns to S1905 and the page recording process continues.

[0107] In this embodiment, during tiling printing corresponding to inversion, the printing operation shown in Fig. 15 is performed for odd-numbered pages, and the printing operation shown in Fig. 19 is performed for even-numbered pages. As a result, the relationship between the distance from the top of the page at which printing scan pause unevenness occurs in the first maintenance control performed during printing of each page and the distance from the top of the page at which printing scan pause unevenness occurs in the second maintenance control becomes as shown in Fig. 20.

[0108] Referring to Fig. 20, Fig. 20(a) shows that the first maintenance control is performed at a position on an odd-numbered page where the transport direction distance is d1, 2d1, 3d1, or 4d1 when the transport direction length of the recorded image is L. Fig. 20(c) shows that the second maintenance control is performed at a position on an odd-numbered page where the transport direction distance is d2 or 2d2 when the transport direction length of the recorded image is L.

[0109] Fig. 20(b) shows that the first maintenance control is performed at a position on an even-numbered page where the transport direction distance is L-4d1, L-3d1, L-2d1, or L-d1, when the transport direction length of the recorded image is L. Fig. 20(d) shows that the second maintenance control is performed at a position on an even-numbered page where the transport direction distance is L-2d2 or L-d2, when the transport direction length of the recorded image is L.

[0110] As described above, in this embodiment, when tiling printing corresponding to inversion is performed, a predetermined maintenance control that causes print scan pause unevenness is performed based on the distance from the top of the page, and the contents of the execution are switched between odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages. This makes it possible to align the conveying direction position where print scan pause unevenness occurs between adjacent pages when posting. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the unevenness caused by print scan pause, which was easily visible at the joint part in the conventional technology, less visible.

[0111] [Third embodiment] This embodiment has a similar configuration to the first and second embodiments, but the tiling recording method is different, which will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0112] Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a tiling record according to this embodiment. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment (Fig. 12) or the second embodiment (Fig. 17) is that the record pages are also arranged in the transport direction (vertical direction in the figure) to complete one image. In other words, the record of the first page and the record of the second page are arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction (horizontal direction in the figure), and the record of the odd page including the first page and the record of the even page including the second page are each arranged adjacent to each other in the second direction (vertical direction in the figure) perpendicular to the first direction.

[0113] A user can select the arrangement of multiple recording pages to be tiled via a GUI screen such as that shown in Fig. 22. As shown in the figure, in this example, it is possible to select between arranging 2, 3, and 4 pages horizontally, and arranging 4, 6, and 9 pages vertically and horizontally. Note that in this embodiment, as explained in the second embodiment (Fig. 17), horizontally adjacent pages are recorded in a reversed state.

[0114] 23 shows a case where unevenness is visible in adjacent upper and lower pages when the method described in this embodiment is not applied. This scan pause unevenness occurs when maintenance control involving interruption of printing operation is performed near the leading or trailing edge of a page.

[0115] Hereinafter, the page printing operation performed in this embodiment to suppress the above-mentioned scanning pause unevenness will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0116] First, the recording operation when tiling recording odd-numbered pages will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 24. The page recording process of Fig. 24 starts when the recording device 100 receives a recording command transmitted by the PC 312.

[0117] In S2401, the CPU 301 performs a first maintenance control.

[0118] In S2402, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0119] In S2403, the CPU 301 sets to 1 a parameter N1 indicating the number of times the first maintenance control is to be performed on the page being recorded, and also sets to 1 a parameter N2 indicating the number of times the second maintenance control is to be performed on the page being recorded.

[0120] In S2404, the CPU 301 conveys the recording medium P. By the conveyance in this step, the recording medium P is guided to a recording position on the platen 4, facing the recording head 9.

[0121] In S2405, the CPU 301 acquires the distance D in the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being printed.

[0122] In S2406, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧N1×d1 is satisfied. If the result of the determination in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2407. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2410.

[0123] In S2407, CPU 301 determines whether D≦F or D≧LF is satisfied. Here, F represents a predetermined distance from the leading edge (page top) or trailing edge (page trailing edge), and execution of this step means that execution of a predetermined maintenance control that causes print scan pause unevenness is prohibited within the range of distance F from the leading edge (or trailing edge). If the determination result of this step is true, proceed to S2409. On the other hand, if the determination result of this step is false, proceed to S2408.

[0124] In S2408, the CPU 301 performs the first maintenance control.

[0125] In S2409, the CPU 301 increments (counts up) N1 by 1.

[0126] In S2410, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧N2×d2 is satisfied. If the result of the determination in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2411. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2414.

[0127] In S2411, the CPU 301 determines whether D≦F or D≧LF is satisfied. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2413. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2412.

[0128] In S2412, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0129] In S2413, the CPU 301 increments (counts up) N2 by 1.

[0130] In S2414, the CPU 301 executes a print scan.

[0131] In S2415, the CPU 301 determines whether the page recording is completed. If the determination result in this step is true, the page recording process ends. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process returns to S2404 and the page recording process continues.

[0132] The above is the content of the printing operation when tiling printing odd-numbered pages.

[0133] Next, the printing operation when tiling printing even-numbered pages will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0134] The page recording process of FIG. 25 begins when the recording device 100 receives a recording command sent by the PC 312 .

[0135] In S2501, the CPU 301 performs a first maintenance control.

[0136] In S2502, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0137] In S2503, the CPU 301 calculates a parameter X1 corresponding to the number of times related to the first maintenance control according to the above-mentioned formula (1). That is, the CPU 301 calculates a quotient by dividing the length L of the recorded image by d1, and sets the calculated quotient as X1.

[0138] In S2504, the CPU 301 calculates a parameter X2 corresponding to the number of times related to the second maintenance control according to the above-mentioned formula (2). That is, the quotient is calculated by dividing the length L of the recorded image by d2, and the calculated quotient is set as X2.

[0139] In S2505, the CPU 301 conveys the recording medium P. By the conveyance in this step, the recording medium P is guided to a recording position on the platen 4, facing the recording head 9.

[0140] In S2506, the CPU 301 acquires the distance D in the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being printed.

[0141] In S2507, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧L−x1*d1 is satisfied. If the result of the determination in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2508. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2511.

[0142] In S2508, the CPU 301 determines whether D≦F or D≧LF is satisfied. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2510. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2509.

[0143] In S2509, the CPU 301 performs the first maintenance control.

[0144] In S2510, the CPU 301 subtracts 1 from x1 (counts down).

[0145] In S2511, the CPU 301 determines whether D≧L−X2*d2 is satisfied. If the result of the determination in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2512. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2515.

[0146] In S2512, the CPU 301 determines whether D≦F or D≧LF is satisfied. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S2514. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S2413.

[0147] In S2513, the CPU 301 performs the second maintenance control.

[0148] In S2514, the CPU 301 subtracts 1 from X2 (counts down).

[0149] In S2515, the CPU 301 executes a print scan.

[0150] In S2516, the CPU 301 determines whether the page recording is completed. If the determination result in this step is true, the page recording process ends. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process returns to S2505 and the page recording process continues.

[0151] The above is the content of the printing operation when tiling printing even-numbered pages.

[0152] In this embodiment, during tiling printing in which the printed pages are also arranged vertically, the printing operation shown in Fig. 24 is performed for odd-numbered pages, and the printing operation shown in Fig. 25 is performed for even-numbered pages. As a result, the relationship between the distance from the top of the page at which printing scan pause unevenness occurs in the first maintenance control performed during printing of each page and the distance from the top of the page at which printing scan pause unevenness occurs in the second maintenance control becomes as shown in Fig. 26.

[0153] Fig. 26(a) shows that when the transport direction length of a recorded image is L, first maintenance control is performed on an odd-numbered page at a transport direction distance of d1, 2d1 or 3d1, and the first maintenance control is not performed within a range from the leading and trailing ends to F. Fig. 26(c) shows that when the transport direction length of a recorded image is L, second maintenance control is performed on an odd-numbered page at a transport direction distance of d2, and the second maintenance control is not performed within a range from the leading and trailing ends to F.

[0154] Fig. 26(b) shows that when the transport direction length of a recorded image is L, first maintenance control is performed on an even-numbered page at a transport direction distance of L-3d1, L-2d1 or L-d1, and the first maintenance control is not performed within a range from the leading and trailing ends to F. Fig. 26(d) also shows that when the transport direction length of a recorded image is L, second maintenance control is performed on an even-numbered page at a transport direction distance of L-d2, and the second maintenance control is not performed within a range from the leading and trailing ends to F.

[0155] According to this embodiment, even if tiling prints are arranged vertically as well, it is possible to align the transport direction positions where print scan pause unevenness occurs between vertically adjacent pages. This makes it possible to make the unevenness caused by print scan pauses, which was easily visible at the seams in conventional technology, less visible.

[0156] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the recording operation is interrupted during tiling recording to perform predetermined maintenance control based on the distance from the top of the page, but the content of the maintenance control may be switched according to the user's selection even during tiling recording. For example, the user may select image quality priority or speed priority via a GUI screen such as that shown in FIG. 27. When image quality priority is selected, the predetermined maintenance control is performed based on the distance from the top of the page. On the other hand, when speed priority is selected, the predetermined maintenance control can be performed based on parameters other than the distance from the top of the page, such as ejection dot count and timer count.

[0157] When performing a predetermined maintenance control based on the distance from the top of the page depending on the image to be recorded, it is expected that the number of predetermined maintenance controls performed within a page will be greater than when the maintenance control is performed based on parameters other than the distance. Also, depending on the image to be recorded, even if tiling recording is performed, unevenness may not be noticeable at the joints when the image is posted. As described above, by allowing the user to switch between maintenance controls as appropriate, it is possible to perform tiling recording with optimal image quality and speed according to the image to be recorded.

[0158] The present disclosure can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more 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. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0159] [Technical Features of the Disclosure] The present disclosure includes the following configurations.

[0160] (Configuration 1) A recording device having a transport means for transporting a recording medium in a transport direction and a recording head for ejecting liquid, capable of temporarily pausing recording operations to perform maintenance control on the recording head, and performing tiling recording in which an image in which multiple recorded objects obtained by recording are expected to be arranged adjacent to one another is divided into multiple pages including at least a first page and a second page and recorded, characterized in that when performing the tiling recording, when recording each of the multiple pages, the recording device controls whether or not to perform the maintenance control based on the transport direction distance along the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being recorded. (Configuration 2) The recording device according to configuration 1, wherein the second page of the recorded material has an imaginary side that is positioned adjacent to one side of the first page of the recorded material. (Configuration 3) A recording device as described in configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that in the tiling recording, when recording an even page including the second page that is expected to be placed adjacent to an odd page including the first page, reverse printing is possible in which the image of the even page is reversed and recorded relative to the image of the odd page. (Configuration 4) A recording device described in any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that when performing the reverse printing, when recording the odd pages, the maintenance control is carried out based on the transport direction distance and a predetermined distance based on the beginning of the page, while when recording the even pages, the maintenance control is carried out based on the transport direction distance and a predetermined distance based on the rear end of the page. (Configuration 5) A recording device described in any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that the first page and the second page are arranged adjacent to each other in a first direction, the odd-numbered pages including the first page are arranged adjacent to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the even-numbered pages including the second page are arranged adjacent to each other in the second direction. (Configuration 6) A recording device described in any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that for each of the multiple pages, the maintenance control is not performed within a predetermined distance range along the transport direction from the beginning of the page, and the maintenance control is not performed for each of the multiple pages within a predetermined distance range along the transport direction from the rear end of the page. (Configuration 7) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein, when the tiling recording is performed, the maintenance control is performed before starting a page recording operation. (Configuration 8) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the scanning pause time at the position where the maintenance control is performed is longer than the scanning pause times at the scanning positions before and after the scanning corresponding to that position. (Configuration 9) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the maintenance control includes at least one of suction control for sucking the liquid from the recording head, discharge control for discharging the liquid that has been pre-ejected and accumulated in a cap, and wiping control for wiping the nozzle surface of the recording head with a sheet member. (Configuration 10) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, further comprising an information processing device connected thereto, the information processing device having a display control means for displaying a graphical user interface screen. (Configuration 11) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein a user can select whether or not to perform the tiling recording via the graphical user interface screen. (Configuration 12) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, wherein when performing the tiling recording, a user can select whether or not to perform the reverse printing via the graphical user interface screen. (Configuration 13) The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, wherein when performing the tiling recording, a user can select the arrangement of the multiple pages via the graphical user interface screen. (Control Method 1) A control method for a recording device that has a transport means for transporting a recording medium in a transport direction and a recording head for ejecting liquid, is capable of temporarily pausing recording operations to perform maintenance control on the recording head, and performs tiling recording in which an image in which multiple recorded objects obtained by recording are expected to be arranged adjacent to one another is divided into multiple pages including at least a first page and a second page and recorded, the control method being characterized in that when performing the tiling recording, when recording each of the multiple pages, the control method has a control step for controlling whether or not to perform the maintenance control based on the transport direction distance along the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being recorded. (Program 1) A control method for a recording device that has a transport means for transporting a recording medium in a transport direction and a recording head for ejecting liquid, is capable of temporarily pausing recording operation to perform maintenance control for the recording head, and performs tiling recording in which an image in which multiple recorded objects obtained by recording are expected to be arranged adjacent to each other is divided into multiple pages including at least a first and second page and recorded, the control method being characterized in that when performing the tiling recording, the control step includes a control step for controlling whether or not to perform the maintenance control when recording each of the multiple pages based on the transport direction distance along the transport direction from the top of the page for the page being recorded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0161] 9. Recording Head 100 Recording device 300 Main control unit 309 Transport motor (LF motor)

Claims

1. A recording device that has a conveying means for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction and a recording head for ejecting a liquid, is capable of performing maintenance control for the recording head by temporarily pausing a recording operation, and performs tiling recording in which an image in which a plurality of recorded objects obtained by recording are expected to be arranged adjacent to each other is divided into a plurality of pages including at least a first page and a second page and recorded, when performing the tiling recording, when recording each of the plurality of pages, controlling whether or not to perform the maintenance control based on a transport direction distance along the transport direction from a top of a page for a page being recorded. A recording apparatus comprising:

2. the second page of the recording has an imaginary edge disposed adjacent to one edge of the first page of the recording; 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,

3. In the tiling recording, when an even-numbered page including the second page that is expected to be arranged adjacent to an odd-numbered page including the first page is recorded, reverse printing is possible in which an image of the even-numbered page is reversed and recorded relative to an image of the odd-numbered page.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a recording medium.

4. When performing the reverse printing, the maintenance control is performed based on the transport direction distance and a predetermined distance based on the top of the page when recording the odd-numbered pages, while the maintenance control is performed based on the transport direction distance and a predetermined distance based on the rear end of the page when recording the even-numbered pages.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The first page of the recorded material and the second page of the recorded material are disposed adjacent to each other in a first direction, the odd-numbered pages of the recording material including the first page are arranged adjacent to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The even-numbered pages of the recorded material including the second page are arranged adjacent to each other in the second direction.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3.

6. for each of the plurality of pages, the maintenance control is not performed within a range of a predetermined distance from the top of the page along the transport direction; not performing the maintenance control within a range of a predetermined distance from a rear end of each of the plurality of pages along the transport direction; 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5.

7. When the tiling recording is performed, the maintenance control is performed before starting a page recording operation.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a recording medium.

8. a scanning pause time at a position where the maintenance control is performed is longer than a scanning pause time at a scanning position before or after the scanning corresponding to the position; 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a recording medium.

9. the maintenance control includes at least one of a suction control for suctioning the liquid from the recording head, a discharge control for discharging the liquid that has been preliminarily discharged and accumulated in a cap, and a wiping control for wiping the discharge port surface of the recording head with a sheet member.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a recording medium.

10. Connected to an information processing device, The information processing device has a display control means for displaying a graphical user interface screen.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5.

11. a user can select whether or not to perform the tiling recording via the graphical user interface screen; 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10.

12. When performing the tiling recording, the user can select whether or not to perform the reverse printing via the graphical user interface screen.

12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11.

13. When performing the tiling recording, a user can select an arrangement of the multiple pages via the graphical user interface screen.

13. The recording apparatus according to claim 12.

14. A control method for a recording device that has a conveying means for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction and a recording head for ejecting a liquid, is capable of performing maintenance control for the recording head by temporarily pausing a recording operation, and performs tiling recording in which an image in which a plurality of recorded objects obtained by recording are expected to be arranged adjacent to each other is divided into a plurality of pages including at least a first page and a second page and recorded, a control step of controlling whether or not to perform the maintenance control based on a transport direction distance along the transport direction from a top of a page to a page being recorded when recording each of the plurality of pages in the case where the tiling recording is performed, A control method comprising:

15. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 14.

Images