Recording device, control method, recording medium and program

Abstract

To improve throughput when double-sided recording is continuously performed on a plurality of sheets.SOLUTION: A recording device includes conveyance means for conveying a sheet fed by feeding means, recording means for performing recording on the sheet to be conveyed, inversion means for inverting the front and rear of the sheet and conveying the sheet to the feeding means, and conveyance control means, where the conveyance control means executes a conveyance operation selected among a plurality of conveyance operations in the continuous double-sided recording, and the plurality of conveyance operations include: a first conveyance operation of conveying a preceding sheet and a subsequent sheet so that recording is performed in order of a first surface of the preceding sheet, a first surface of the subsequent sheet, a second surface of the preceding sheet, and a second surface of the subsequent sheet, and overlapping the tip of the subsequent sheet on the preceding sheet, before performing recording on the first surface of the subsequent sheet; and a second conveyance operation of conveying the sheets so that recording is performed in order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the subsequent sheet, and the second surface of the subsequent sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] When performing double-sided recording continuously on a plurality of sheets, throughput may be improved by devising the recording order and conveyance order of each side of the preceding sheet and the subsequent sheet. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of performing recording in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the subsequent sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the subsequent sheet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When recording the first side of the subsequent sheet after the first side of the preceding sheet, if it takes time until the recording of the subsequent sheet is completed, the recording of the second side of the preceding sheet also becomes slow, and the throughput may decrease as a whole.

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for improving the throughput when performing double-sided recording continuously on a plurality of sheets.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to the present invention, feeding means for feeding a sheet, conveying means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means, recording means for performing recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, When recording on the first side and the second side of the sheet, an inversion means for inverting the front and back of the sheet on which the first side has been recorded and transporting it to the feeding means, A transport control means for controlling the feeding and transport of the sheet, A recording apparatus comprising: When recording on the first side and the second side of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet respectively, the transport control means executes a transport operation selected from a plurality of transport operations, The plurality of transport operations are: A first transport operation of transporting the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading edge of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before recording the first side of the succeeding sheet; A second transport operation of transporting the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for improving the throughput when performing double-sided recording continuously on a plurality of sheets.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, not all of these plurality of features are essential for the invention, and the plurality of features may be arbitrarily combined. Further, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0010] <Schematic of the recording device> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording device 1 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a serial type inkjet recording device will be described, but the present invention is also applicable to other types of recording devices. In the figure, arrow X and arrow Y indicate horizontal directions orthogonal to each other, and arrow Z indicates the vertical direction. Also, when referring to the downstream side and the upstream side, it is based on the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

[0011] Note that "recording" includes not only the case of forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also the case of forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc. on a recording medium regardless of whether it is significant or not, or performing processing on the medium, regardless of whether it is made apparent so that it can be visually perceived by humans. In the present embodiment, a sheet-like paper is assumed as the "recording medium", but it may be cloth, plastic film, or the like.

[0012] The recording device 1 is a device that performs recording on a sheet SH, which is a recording medium loaded on a feeding tray (loading unit) 2, and discharges it to a discharge tray 17. A main conveyance path RT1 for guiding the conveyance of the sheet SH is formed from the feeding tray 2 to the discharge tray 17, and the sheet SH on the feeding tray 2 is introduced one by one into the main conveyance path RT1 by a pickup roller 3. The pickup roller 3 rotates by the driving force of a feeding motor 22. Note that, among the main conveyance paths RT1 schematically shown in each figure, although there is one path between the feeding unit 4 and the conveyance unit 5, upper and lower paths along the upper and lower conveyance guides are shown.

[0013] The recording apparatus 1 also has a sub-conveying path RT2 that branches off from the main conveying path RT1 at a branch point BP. The sub-conveying path RT2 is a path that reverses the front and back of the sheet SH and returns the sheet SH to the main conveying path RT1, and is used when performing double-sided recording of the sheet SH.

[0014] The recording apparatus 1 includes a feeding unit 4 and a plurality of conveying units 5 to 10. The feeding unit 4 and the conveying units 5 to 8 are arranged along the main conveying path RT1. The feeding unit 4, the conveying unit 5, the conveying unit 6, the conveying unit 7, and the conveying unit 8 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet SH in the main conveying path RT1. The conveying units 9 and 10 are arranged along the sub-conveying path RT2, and are arranged in the order of the conveying unit 9 and the conveying unit 10 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet SH in the sub-conveying path RT2.

[0015] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, when referring to the upstream side and the downstream side, it means the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet SH in the main conveying path RT1. Also, the leading end and the trailing end of the sheet SH mean the downstream end and the upstream end of the sheet SH.

[0016] The feeding unit 4 feeds the sheet SH introduced into the main conveying path RT1 by the pickup roller 3 or the sheet SH returned from the sub-conveying path RT2 to the main conveying path RT1 to the conveying unit 5. The feeding unit 4 includes a feeding roller 4a and a driven roller 4b that is pressed against the feeding roller 4a by a spring or the like (not shown). The feeding roller 4a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the feeding motor 23, and the driven roller 4b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the feeding roller 4a.

[0017] The sheet SH is sandwiched at the nip portion between the driving roller 4a and the driven roller 4b, and is conveyed by the rotation of the driving roller 4a and the driven roller 4b. Note that the pickup roller 3 is a one-way roller, and after the sheet SH is conveyed to a position beyond the nip portion of the feeding unit 4, the conveyance by the feeding unit 4 can be continued even if the driving of the pickup roller 3 is stopped.

[0018] The sensor 31 is a sensor that detects the passage of the leading and trailing ends of the sheet SH, and is, for example, an optical sensor. The detection position of the sensor 31 is set at a position downstream of the nip portion of the feeding unit 4.

[0019] The conveying unit 5 is disposed upstream of the recording head 12 and conveys the sheet SH fed by the feeding unit 2 to the recording head 12. The sheet SH is conveyed downstream between the recording head 12 and the platen 15 facing the recording head 12 by the conveying unit 5. The conveying unit 5 includes a conveying roller 5a and a driven roller (pinch roller) 5b that is pressed against the conveying roller 5a by a spring (not shown) or the like. The conveying roller 5a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the conveying motor 24, and the driven roller 5b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the conveying roller 5a. The sheet SH is sandwiched at the nip portion between the conveying roller 5a and the driven roller 5b and is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller 5a and the driven roller 5b.

[0020] The conveying unit 6 is disposed downstream of the recording head 12 and conveys the sheet SH conveyed by the conveying unit 5 downstream. The conveying unit 6 includes a conveying roller 6a and a booster 6b that is pressed against the conveying roller 6a by a spring (not shown) or the like. The conveying roller 6a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the conveying motor 24, and the booster 6b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the conveying roller 6a. In the present embodiment, the driving source (motor 24) is shared by the conveying unit 5 and the conveying unit 6.

[0021] The conveying unit 7 is disposed on the downstream side of the recording head 12 and the conveying unit 6, and conveys the sheet SH conveyed by the conveying unit 6 downstream. The conveying unit 7 includes a conveying roller 7a and a driven roller 7b that is pressed against the conveying roller 7a by a spring or the like (not shown). The conveying roller 7a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the conveying motor 25, and the driven roller 7b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the conveying roller 7a. The sheet SH is nipped at the nip portion between the conveying roller 7a and the driven roller 7b, and is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller 7a and the driven roller 7b.

[0022] The conveying unit 8 is a discharging unit that is disposed on the downstream side of the recording head 12, the conveying unit 6, and the conveying unit 7, and discharges the sheet SH conveyed by the conveying unit 7 to the discharge tray 17. The conveying unit 8 includes a conveying roller 8a and a driven roller 8b that is pressed against the conveying roller 8a by a spring or the like (not shown). The conveying roller 8a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the conveying motor 25, and the driven roller 8b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the conveying roller 8a. The sheet SH is nipped at the nip portion between the conveying roller 8a and the driven roller 8b, and is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller 8a and the driven roller 8b. In the present embodiment, the conveying unit 7 and the conveying unit 8 share a drive source (motor 25).

[0023] A flapper 16 is disposed at the branch point BP. The flapper 16 switches the conveyance path of the sheet SH between the main conveyance path RT1 and the sub-conveyance path RT2. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the flapper 16 maintains the conveyance path of the sheet SH as the main conveyance path RT1, and the sheet SH is discharged to the discharge tray 17 via the conveying unit 8. The flapper 16 is provided rotatably, and is rotated by an actuator 27 such as an electromagnetic solenoid to switch the path.

[0024] The conveying unit 9 is an inversion unit that conveys the sheet SH that has entered the sub-conveying path RT2 from the branch point BP. The sub-conveying path RT2 includes an inversion path RT21 that extends upward from the branch point BP via the branch point BP', and a return path RT22 that extends from the branch point BP' to the feeding unit 4. The conveying unit 9 is disposed on the inversion path RT21.

[0025] The conveying unit 9 includes a conveying roller 9a and a driven roller 9b that is pressed against the conveying roller 9a by a spring or the like (not shown). The conveying roller 9a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the conveying motor 26, and the driven roller 9b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the conveying roller 9a.

[0026] The sheet SH that has entered the sub-conveying path RT2 from the branch point BP moves along the inversion path RT21. The conveying roller 9a rotates in both the R2 direction opposite to the R1 direction. When the conveying roller 9a rotates in the R1 direction, the sheet SH is conveyed in the direction of arrow F. When the rear end of the sheet SH passes through the branch point BP', the rotation direction of the conveying roller 9a is switched to the R2 direction. The sheet SH is conveyed in the reverse direction. The front and back of the sheet SH are inverted and introduced from the branch point BP' into the return path RT22.

[0027] The conveying unit 10 is an intermediate unit disposed on the return path RT22. The conveying unit 10 includes a conveying roller 10a and a driven roller 10b that is pressed against the conveying roller 10a by a spring or the like (not shown). The conveying roller 10a is a rotating body that rotates by the driving force of the conveying motor 26, and the driven roller 10b is a rotating body that rotates following the rotation of the conveying roller 10a. The sheet SH is clamped at the nip portion between the conveying roller 10a and the driven roller 10b and is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller 10a and the driven roller 10b. In this embodiment, the conveying unit 9 and the conveying unit 10 share a drive source (motor 26). Note that the conveying roller 10a is a one-way roller, and the conveying by the feeding unit 4 can continue even if the driving of the conveying roller 10a is stopped after the sheet SH has been conveyed to a position beyond the nip portion of the feeding unit 4.

[0028] The recording head 12 is disposed in the middle of the main conveyance path RT1. In the present embodiment, the recording head 12 is disposed at a position on the downstream side of the conveyance unit 5 and on the upstream side of the conveyance unit 6. The recording head 12 performs recording on the sheet SH. In the vicinity of the recording head 12, the sheet SH is conveyed in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the recording head 12 is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink to perform recording on a recording medium. The recording head 12 is supported by the carriage 11.

[0029] The carriage 11 reciprocates in a direction crossing the sheet SH (a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the sheet SH in the vicinity of the recording head 12) by the drive unit 14. In the present embodiment, the carriage 11 reciprocates in the Y direction under the guidance of a guide shaft 13 extending in the Y direction.

[0030] The drive unit 14 is a mechanism having a carriage motor 21 as a drive source, and is, for example, a belt transmission mechanism including drive pulleys and driven pulleys spaced apart in the Y direction and an endless belt wound around these pulleys. The carriage 11 is connected to the endless belt. When the carriage motor 21 rotates the drive pulley, the endless belt runs and the carriage 11 moves. The recording head 6 may be detachably mounted on the carriage 7.

[0031] As described above, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a serial type recording apparatus in which the recording head 12 is mounted on the carriage 11. By alternately repeating an intermittent conveyance operation (intermittent conveyance operation) of conveying a predetermined amount of the recording medium by the conveyance unit 5 and / or the conveyance unit 6 and a recording scan during the conveyance stop of the conveyance unit 5 and / or the conveyance unit 6, a recording operation on the sheet SH is performed. The recording scan is an operation of ejecting ink from the recording head 12 while moving the carriage 11 on which the recording head 12 is mounted.

[0032] <Control Unit> Figure 2 is a block diagram of the control unit 40 of the recording apparatus 1. The MPU 41 is a processor that controls operations of the recording apparatus 1 and processes data. The MPU 41 executes a program stored in the storage device 42 to control the entire recording apparatus 1. The storage device 42 is composed of, for example, a ROM and a RAM. The storage device 42 stores various types of data necessary for processing, such as the program executed by the MPU 41 and data received from the host computer 100.

[0033] The MPU 41 controls the recording head 12 via the driver 44a. The MPU 41 controls the carriage motor 21 via the driver 44b. The MPU 41 also controls the feed motors 22 and 23, the conveyance motors 24 to 26, and the actuator 27 via the drivers 44c to 44i.

[0034] The sensor group 30 includes, in addition to the sensor 31, a sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the carriage 11 in the Y direction, and sensors (not shown) that detect the rotation amounts of the feed motors 22 and 23 and the conveyance motors 24 to 26. By detecting the rotation amounts of the respective motors, the rotation amounts of the corresponding feed rollers and conveyance rollers can be specified, and the conveyance amount of the sheet SH can be calculated.

[0035] The host computer 100 is, for example, a personal computer or a mobile terminal (such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal) used by the user. A printer driver 100a for communicating between the host computer 100 and the recording apparatus 1 is installed in the host computer 100. The recording apparatus 1 includes an I / F (interface) unit 43, and communication between the host computer 100 and the MPU 41 is executed via the interface unit 43.

[0036] For example, when an execution of a recording operation is input from the user to the host computer 100, the printer driver 100a collects data of an image to be recorded and recording conditions (various types of information such as the quality of the recorded image), generates a recording job, and transmits it to the recording apparatus 1.

[0037] <Control Example> A control example of the recording apparatus 1 executed by the MPU 41 will be described. Here, an example of conveyance control in the case of continuously performing double-sided recording on a plurality of sheets SH (double-sided continuous recording) will be described. In double-sided continuous recording, a conveyance operation is selected from among a plurality of conveyance operations regarding the conveyance of the sheet SH. The plurality of conveyance operations are roughly classified into an alternating conveyance operation and a simple conveyance operation.

[0038] In the alternating conveyance operation, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet. In the simple conveyance operation, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet. Here, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are determined to be before and after in the order in which they are fed from the feed tray 2.

[0039] Hereinafter, specific examples of the conveyance operation will be described. Here, it is assumed that double-sided recording is performed on two sheets SH, namely, a preceding sheet SH1 and a succeeding sheet SH2. P1 to P4 are page numbers. Images of the first and second pages are recorded on the front and back surfaces of the preceding sheet SH1, and images of the third and fourth pages are recorded on the front and back surfaces of the succeeding sheet SH2. In addition, even in the case of recording five or more pages (the number of sheets SH is three or more), the basic operation is the same. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that recording is performed on each sheet SH so that the lower surface of the recorded sheet SH stacked on the discharge tray 17 is an odd page. For this reason, in the recording on the front and back surfaces of each sheet SH, recording of even pages is performed first.

[0040] FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of an alternating conveyance operation. State ST01 indicates the stage at which recording by the recording head 12 starts on the leading sheet SH1. First, the image on the second page is recorded on the leading sheet SH1. State ST02 indicates the stage at which the recording of the image on the second page for the leading sheet SH1 is completed and the recording of the image on the fourth page for the subsequent sheet SH2 starts. State ST03 indicates the stage at which the recording of the image on the fourth page for the subsequent sheet SH2 is completed and the leading sheet SH1 is being conveyed through the return path RT22 via the reverse path RT21.

[0041] State ST04 indicates the stage at which the leading sheet SH1 is being conveyed to the recording unit 12 via the feeding unit 4 and the subsequent sheet SH2 is being conveyed through the return path RT22 via the reverse path RT21. Recording of the image on the first page starts on the leading sheet SH1 with its front and back reversed. State ST05 indicates the stage at which the recording of the image on the first page for the leading sheet SH1 is completed and the subsequent sheet SH2 is being conveyed to the recording unit 12 via the feeding unit 4. The leading sheet SH1 is discharged to the discharge tray 17. Recording of the image on the third page starts on the subsequent sheet SH2 with its front and back reversed. When the recording is completed, the subsequent sheet SH2 is discharged to the discharge tray 17. Thus, double-sided recording for two sheets SH is completed.

[0042] When the alternating conveyance operation is selected, if a predetermined condition (referred to as the stacking condition) is satisfied, stacking continuous conveyance is executed. Therefore, the alternating conveyance operation is subdivided into a conveyance operation with stacking continuous conveyance and a conveyance operation without stacking continuous conveyance. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example thereof, and shows the case where stacking continuous conveyance is executed at the stages of state ST01 and state ST02 in FIG. 3. State ST01' indicates the stage at which the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 is stacked on the leading sheet SH1 before recording the image on the fourth page for the subsequent sheet SH2. The leading sheet SH1 is in the middle of recording the image on the second page.

[0043] The leading sheet SH1 and the trailing sheet SH2 are conveyed while maintaining an overlapping state, and as shown in state ST02’, the fourth page image is recorded on the trailing sheet SH2. By overlapping the leading edge of the trailing sheet SH2 on the leading sheet SH1 and conveying them together, throughput can be improved. After state ST02’, the conveyance speed of the leading sheet SH1 is increased, and the overlapping state between the leading sheet SH1 and the trailing sheet SH2 is eliminated. The leading sheet SH1 is conveyed to the return path RT22 via the inversion path RT21.

[0044] In the example of Fig. 4, at the stages of states ST01 and ST02 in Fig. 3, that is, during the recording of the second page image on the leading sheet SH1, the leading edge of the trailing sheet SH2 was overlapped on the leading sheet SH1. However, the stages where overlapping continuous conveyance can be executed are not limited to this stage. At the stages of states ST04 to ST06 in Fig. 3, overlapping continuous conveyance can also be executed if the overlapping conditions are met. Specifically, the leading sheet SH1 can be overlapped during the recording of the fourth page image on the trailing sheet SH2. Also, the leading edge of the trailing sheet SH2 can be overlapped on the leading sheet SH1 during the recording of the first page image on the leading sheet SH1.

[0045] Fig. 5 schematically shows an example of a simple conveyance operation. State ST11 indicates the stage where recording by the recording head 12 on the leading sheet SH1 starts. First, the second page image is recorded on the leading sheet SH1. The trailing sheet SH2 is waiting in the feed tray 2. State ST12 indicates the stage where, after the recording of the second page image on the leading sheet SH1 is completed, the leading sheet SH1 is being conveyed to the return path RT22 via the inversion path RT21. The trailing sheet SH2 is waiting in the feed tray 2.

[0046] State ST13 indicates the stage where the preceding sheet SH1 has been conveyed to the recording unit 12 via the feeding unit 4. The subsequent sheet SH2 is waiting in the feeding tray 2. Recording of the first-page image is started on the front-and-back reversed preceding sheet SH1. State ST14 indicates the stage where the recording of the first-page image for the preceding sheet SH1 is completed and the subsequent sheet SH2 is conveyed to the recording unit 12. The preceding sheet SH1 is discharged to the discharge tray 17. Recording of the fourth-page image is started on the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0047] State ST15 indicates the stage where, after the recording of the fourth-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2 is completed, the subsequent sheet SH2 is being conveyed through the return path RT22 via the reverse path RT21. State ST16 indicates the stage where the subsequent sheet SH2 has been conveyed to the recording unit 12 via the feeding unit 4. Recording of the third-page image is started on the front-and-back reversed subsequent sheet SH2. When the recording of the third-page image is completed, the subsequent sheet SH2 is discharged to the discharge tray 17. Thus, double-sided recording for two sheets SH is completed.

[0048] In this embodiment, when a simple conveyance operation is selected, superimposed continuous feeding is not performed. However, for example, during the recording of the first-page image for the preceding sheet SH1, that is, at the stages of states ST13 and ST14 in FIG. 5, the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 may be superimposed on the preceding sheet SH1.

[0049] <Specific operation example> An operation example of the recording apparatus 1 in the case of superimposed continuous feeding in the above-described alternating conveyance operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 6(A) to 16(B). Here, an operation example in the case of performing double-sided recording for two sheets SH will also be described.

[0050] Refer to Fig. 6(A). Since the recording condition is double-sided recording, the flapper 16 is moved in advance so as to guide the sheet SH to the sub-carriage path RT2. The feeding motor 22 is driven at a low speed. As a result, the pickup roller 3 rotates, for example, at 7.6 inches / sec (the conveyance speed of the sheet SH. Hereinafter, the same expression has the same meaning). When the pickup roller 3 rotates, the topmost sheet loaded on the feeding tray 2, that is, the preceding sheet SH1 is picked up.

[0051] The preceding sheet SH1 picked up by the pickup roller 3 is conveyed on the main conveyance path RT1 by the feeding roller 4a that rotates in the same direction as the pickup roller 3. The feeding roller 4a is driven by the feeding motor 23 at the same speed as the pickup roller 3. When the pickup roller 3 conveys the preceding sheet SH1 to a position beyond the feeding roller 4a, it stops so as not to pick up the next succeeding sheet SH2. As described above, the pickup roller 3 is a one-way roller, and even if the pickup roller 3 stops, the feeding by the feeding roller 4a can continue.

[0052] When the tip of the preceding sheet SH1 is detected by the sensor 31 provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the feeding roller 4a, the feeding motor 23 is switched to high-speed drive. The feeding roller 4a rotates, for example, at 20 inches / sec.

[0053] Refer to Fig. 6(B). When the feeding of the preceding sheet SH1 by the feeding roller 4a continues, the tip of the preceding sheet SH1 hits the nip portion formed by the conveying roller 5a and the pinch roller 5a. At this time, the conveying roller 5a is in a stopped state. After the tip of the preceding sheet SH1 hits the nip portion, by rotating the feeding roller 4a by a predetermined amount, the entire width direction of the tip of the preceding sheet SH1 hits the nip portion, and skew correction of the preceding sheet SH1 can be performed (skew correction operation).

[0054] When the skew correction operation of the leading sheet SH1 is completed, the conveyance motor 24 is driven, causing the conveyance roller 5a to start rotating. The conveyance roller 5a conveys the leading sheet SH1, for example, at 15 inches / second. When the leading sheet SH1 protrudes to a position facing the recording head 12, the recording operation can be started. The recording operation of the second-page image is started with respect to the upper surface of the leading sheet SH1.

[0055] Note that when the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 abuts against the nip portion of the conveyance unit 5, the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 is temporarily positioned at the position of the conveyance roller 5a. Based on this position, the positions of the leading end and the trailing end of the leading sheet SH1 can be calculated according to the rotation amount of the conveyance roller 5a thereafter. Also during the head-out, the leading sheet SH1 is conveyed to a position facing the recording head 12 by this position control.

[0056] As described above, the recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a serial type recording apparatus in which the recording head 12 is mounted on the carriage 11. The recording on the leading sheet SH1 is performed by repeating a conveyance operation of intermittently conveying the recording medium by a predetermined amount by the conveyance roller 5a and a recording operation of discharging ink from the recording head 12 while moving the carriage 11. When the leading sheet SH1 is head-out, the feeding motor 23 is switched to low-speed drive. That is, the feeding roller 4a rotates, for example, at 7.6 inches / second. When the leading sheet SH1 is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveyance roller 5a, the feeding roller 4a is also intermittently driven by the feeding motor 23. That is, when the conveyance roller 5a is rotating, the feeding roller 4a is also rotating, and when the conveyance roller 5a is stopped, the feeding roller 4a is also stopped. The rotation speed of the feeding roller 4a is lower than that of the conveyance roller 5a. Therefore, the sheet SH is in a tensioned state between the conveyance roller 5a and the feeding roller 4a. Also, the feeding roller 4a is rotated around by the leading sheet SH1 conveyed by the conveyance roller 5a.

[0057] As the recording progresses on the leading sheet SH1, the leading edge of the leading sheet SH1 reaches the conveying unit 6. Since the conveying roller 6a shares the conveying motor 24 which is also the drive source with the conveying roller 5a, they are synchronously controlled. Fig. 7(A) shows the stage where the leading edge of the leading sheet SH1 has passed through the conveying roller 6a.

[0058] Next, the feeding of the subsequent sheet SH2 is started following the leading sheet SH1. Here, due to factors such as the responsiveness of the sensor 31, a predetermined interval is required between consecutive sheets SH to detect the end of the sheet SH. Therefore, the pickup operation of the subsequent sheet SH2 starts after the trailing edge of the leading sheet SH1 is detected by the sensor 31 and it is determined that the leading sheet SH1 has passed through the sensor 31. Also, the rotation of the pickup roller 3 during the feeding of the subsequent sheet SH2 is controlled such that the distance between the trailing edge of the leading sheet SH1 and the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. In this embodiment, the positions of the leading and trailing edges of each sheet SH are calculated from the rotation amounts of various rollers, but a separate sensor may be provided for calculation.

[0059] Refer to Fig. 7(B). The trailing edge of the leading sheet SH1 passes through the paper feed roller 4a and hangs slightly downward. The subsequent sheet SH2 picked up by the pickup roller 3 is conveyed by the paper feed roller 4a. At this time, the recording operation is being executed in parallel on the leading sheet SH1. When the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31, the feed motor 23 is switched to high-speed drive. That is, the paper feed roller 4a rotates at, for example, 20 inches / sec.

[0060] When the leading sheet SH1 is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveying rollers 5a and 6a, the conveying rollers 7a and 9a are intermittently driven by the conveying motors 25 and 26 in the same rotation direction and at the same speed as the conveying roller 5a.

[0061] Refer to Fig. 8(A). By feeding the subsequent sheet SH2 at a high speed with respect to the conveyance speed of the preceding sheet SH1, an overlapping state is formed in which the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 overlaps the rear end portion of the preceding sheet SH1 by the conveyance roller 5a. Since a recording operation is being performed on the preceding sheet SH1, the preceding sheet SH1 is intermittently conveyed by the conveyance roller 5a. On the other hand, after the trailing edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31, the subsequent sheet SH2 can catch up with the preceding sheet SH1 by continuously rotating the feed roller 4a at 20 inches / sec. Thereafter, the subsequent sheet SH2 is conveyed until its leading end reaches a predetermined position slightly in front of the nip portion of the conveyance unit 5. The position of the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is calculated from the rotation amount of the feed roller 4a after the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31 and is controlled based on this calculation result. The preceding sheet SH1 enters the sub-conveyance path RT2 under the guidance of the flapper 16.

[0062] Next, an oblique correction operation of the subsequent sheet SH2 is performed. When the conveyance roller 5a is stopped for the recording scan of the preceding sheet SH1, the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is abutted against the nip portion by driving the feed roller 4a. In this embodiment, in order to minimize the influence on the recording quality of the preceding sheet SH1, the oblique correction operation of the subsequent sheet SH2 is performed when the conveyance roller 5a is stopped for the recording scan of the last line of the preceding sheet SH1.

[0063] Refer to Fig. 8(B). When the recording scan of the last line of the preceding sheet SH1 is completed, the conveyance roller 5a can be rotated by a predetermined amount to maintain the state where the subsequent sheet SH2 overlaps the preceding sheet SH1 and perform the leading-out of the subsequent sheet SH2. Note that the overlapping portion of the preceding sheet SH1 and the subsequent sheet SH2 is nipped by the nip portion of the conveyance unit 5 and conveyed.

[0064] When the subsequent sheet SH2 starts to protrude, the feeding motor 23 is switched to low-speed driving. That is, the feeding roller 4a rotates at, for example, 7.6 inch / sec. When the subsequent sheet SH2 is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveying roller 5a, the feeding roller 4a is also intermittently driven by the feeding motor 23. The recording operation of the image on the fourth page is started with respect to the upper surface of the subsequent sheet SH2. When the subsequent sheet SH2 is intermittently conveyed for the recording operation, the preceding sheet SH1 is also intermittently conveyed.

[0065] Refer to Fig. 9(A). Based on the rotation amount of the conveying roller 5a from the start of the leading-out operation of the preceding sheet SH1 and the length of the preceding sheet SH1, it is determined whether the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 has passed through the conveying roller 6a. As illustrated in Fig. 9(A), when the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 passes through the conveying roller 6a, the preceding sheet SH1 that precedes with the conveying roller 7a can be conveyed, and it becomes the timing when the subsequent sheet SH2 can be conveyed by the conveying rollers 5a and 6a. At this timing, the conveying rollers 5a and 6a do not affect the conveyance of the preceding sheet SH1, and the conveying roller 7a does not affect the conveyance of the subsequent sheet SH2. Therefore, independently of the conveying rollers 5a and 6a, the conveying roller 7a is continuously rotated by the conveying motor 25. Note that the conveying roller 9a is also rotated by the conveying motor 26 at the same speed as the conveying roller 7a in the R1 direction (see Fig. 1). Due to the relative speed difference between the preceding sheet SH1 and the subsequent sheet SH2, as shown in Fig. 9(B), the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 can be separated from the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0066] Refer to Fig. 10(A). The preceding sheet SH1 is continuously conveyed by the conveying roller 9a until its rear end passes through the branch point BP'. When the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 passes through the branch point BP', the conveying motor 26 is reversed in the R2 direction (see Fig. 1) and switched to high-speed driving. The preceding sheet SH1, when viewed in its conveying direction, has its front end and rear end swapped. The conveying rollers 9a and 10a rotate at, for example, 18 inch / sec. The preceding sheet SH1 enters the return path RT22 and is conveyed to the feeding roller 4a as shown in Fig. 10(B).

[0067] When the conveyance of the leading sheet SH1 proceeds and the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 is detected by the sensor 31, the conveyance motor 26 and the feeding motor 23 are driven at low speed. As a result, the conveyance roller 10a and the feeding roller 4a rotate at, for example, 7.6 inch / sec. Then, the leading sheet SH1 is conveyed from the return path RT22 to the main conveyance path RT1 by the conveyance roller 10a and the feeding roller 4a.

[0068] Refer to FIG. 11(A). A recording operation of the image on the fourth page is being performed on the subsequent sheet SH2. When the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31, the conveyance motor 26 and the feeding motor 23 are switched to high-speed driving. That is, the conveyance roller 10a and the feeding roller 4a rotate at, for example, 20 inch / sec. By moving the leading sheet SH1 at high speed, an overlapping state is formed in which the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 overlaps the rear end portion of the subsequent sheet SH2. Since the subsequent sheet SH2 is being subjected to a recording operation based on the recording data, the subsequent sheet SH2 is intermittently conveyed by the conveyance roller 5a. On the other hand, after the rear end of the leading sheet SH1 is detected by the sensor 31, the leading sheet SH1 can catch up with the subsequent sheet SH2 by continuously rotating the feeding roller 4a at 20 inch / sec. Thereafter, the leading sheet SH1 is conveyed until the leading end thereof reaches a predetermined position slightly before the nip portion of the conveyance unit 5. The position of the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 is calculated from the rotation amount of the feeding roller 4a after the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 is detected by the sensor 31, and is controlled based on this calculation result. The subsequent sheet SH2 enters the sub-conveyance path RT2 under the guidance of the flapper 16.

[0069] Next, an oblique correction operation of the leading sheet SH1 is performed. When the conveyance roller 5a is stopped for performing the recording scan of the subsequent sheet SH2, the leading end of the leading sheet SH1 is abutted against the nip portion by driving the feeding roller 4a. In the present embodiment, in order to minimize the influence on the recording quality of the subsequent sheet SH2, the oblique correction operation of the leading sheet SH1 is performed when the conveyance roller 5a is stopped for the recording scan of the last line of the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0070] Refer to FIG. 11(B). When the recording scan of the last line of the subsequent sheet SH2 is completed, by rotating the conveying roller 5a by a predetermined amount, the leading sheet SH1 can be advanced while maintaining the state where the leading sheet SH1 overlaps the subsequent sheet SH2. Note that the overlapping portion of the leading sheet SH1 and the subsequent sheet SH2 is nipped by the nip portion of the conveying unit 5 and conveyed.

[0071] When the leading sheet SH1 is advanced, the feeding motor 23 is switched to low-speed drive. That is, the feeding roller 4a rotates at, for example, 7.6 inch / sec. When the subsequent sheet SH2 is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveying roller 5a, the feeding roller 4a is also intermittently driven by the feeding motor 23. The recording operation of the first-page image is started on the leading sheet SH1. When the leading sheet SH1 is intermittently conveyed for the recording operation, the subsequent sheet SH2 is also intermittently conveyed.

[0072] Next, the subsequent sheet SH2 is introduced into the sub-conveying path RT2, while the leading sheet SH1 is discharged while maintaining conveyance in the main conveying path RT1. Refer to FIG. 12(A). Based on the rotation amount of the conveying roller 5a from the start of the leading operation of the subsequent sheet SH2 and the length of the subsequent sheet SH2, it is determined whether the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 has passed the conveying roller 6a. As illustrated in FIG. 12(A), when the rear end of the leading sheet SH1 passes the conveying roller 6a, the subsequent sheet SH2 that precedes with the conveying roller 7a can be conveyed, and it becomes the timing when the subsequent leading sheet SH1 can be conveyed by the conveying rollers 5a and 6a. At this timing, the conveying rollers 5a and 6a do not affect the conveyance of the subsequent sheet SH2, and the conveying roller 7a does not affect the conveyance of the leading sheet SH1. Independently of the conveying roller 5a and the conveying roller 6a, the conveying roller 7a is continuously rotated by the conveying motor 25. Note that the conveying roller 9a is also rotated by the conveying motor 26 in the R1 direction (see FIG. 1) at the same speed as the conveying roller 7a. Due to the relative speed difference between the subsequent sheet SH2 and the leading sheet SH1, as shown in FIG. 12(B), the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 can be separated from the leading sheet SH1.

[0073] Refer to FIG. 13(A). The subsequent sheet SH2 is continuously conveyed by the conveying roller 9a until the rear end thereof passes through the branching point BP'. When the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 passes through the flapper 16, the flapper 16 is rotated in accordance with the discharge of the preceding sheet SH1 that next passes through the flapper 16. The flapper 16 moves to a position that maintains the conveyance path of the preceding sheet SH1 as the main conveyance path RT1. The determination as to whether the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 has passed through the flapper 16 may be made based on the rotation amounts of various rollers, or may be made by providing a separate sensor.

[0074] When the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 passes through the branching point BP', the conveyance motor 26 is reversed in the R2 direction (see FIG. 1) and switched to high-speed drive. The subsequent sheet SH2 has its front end and rear end swapped when viewed in its conveyance direction. The conveying roller 9a and the conveying roller 10a are rotated, for example, at 18 inches / sec. The subsequent sheet SH2 enters the return path RT22 and is conveyed to the feeding roller 4a as shown in FIG. 13(B).

[0075] As the conveyance of the subsequent sheet SH2 proceeds and the front end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31, the conveyance motor 26 and the feeding motor 23 are driven at low speed. As a result, the conveying roller 10a and the feeding roller 4a are rotated, for example, at 7.6 inches / sec. Then, the subsequent sheet SH2 is conveyed from the return path RT22 to the main conveyance path RT1 by the conveying roller 10a and the feeding roller 4a.

[0076] Refer to FIG. 12(A). The recording operation of the image on the first page is being performed on the preceding sheet SH1. When the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 is detected by the sensor 31, the conveyance motor 26 and the feeding motor 23 are switched to high-speed driving. That is, the conveyance roller 10a and the feeding roller 4a rotate at, for example, 20 inches / sec. By moving the subsequent sheet SH2 at high speed, an overlapping state is formed in which the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 overlaps the rear end portion of the preceding sheet SH1. Since the recording operation of the image on the first page is being performed on the preceding sheet SH1, the preceding sheet SH1 is intermittently conveyed by the conveyance roller 5a. On the other hand, after the rear end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31, the subsequent sheet SH2 can catch up by continuously rotating the feeding roller 4a at 20 inches / sec. Thereafter, the subsequent sheet SH2 is conveyed until the leading end thereof reaches a predetermined position slightly before the nip portion of the conveyance unit 5. The position of the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is calculated from the rotation amount of the feeding roller 4a after the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is detected by the sensor 31 and is controlled based on this calculation result. The leading end of the preceding sheet SH1 passes through the branch point BP and is heading toward the conveyance roller 8a.

[0077] Next, the skew correction operation of the subsequent sheet SH2 is performed. When the conveyance roller 5a is stopped for performing the recording scan of the preceding sheet SH1, the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 is abutted against the nip portion by driving the feeding roller 4a. In the present embodiment, in order to minimize the influence on the recording quality of the preceding sheet SH1, the skew correction operation of the subsequent sheet SH2 is performed when the conveyance roller 5a is stopped for the recording scan of the last line of the preceding sheet SH1.

[0078] Refer to FIG. 14(B). When the recording scan of the last line of the preceding sheet SH1 is completed, the conveyance roller 5a is rotated by a predetermined amount to maintain the state in which the subsequent sheet SH2 overlaps the preceding sheet SH1 and the subsequent sheet SH2 can be advanced. Note that the overlapping portion of the preceding sheet SH1 and the subsequent sheet SH2 is nipped by the nip portion of the conveyance unit 5 and conveyed.

[0079] When the subsequent sheet SH2 starts to protrude, the feeding motor 23 is switched to low-speed drive. That is, the feeding roller 4a rotates at, for example, 7.6 inch / sec. When the subsequent sheet SH2 is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveying roller 5a, the feeding roller 4a is also intermittently driven by the feeding motor 23. The recording operation of the image on the third page of the subsequent sheet SH2 is started. When the subsequent sheet SH2 is intermittently conveyed for the recording operation, the preceding sheet SH1 is also intermittently conveyed.

[0080] Refer to FIG. 15(A). Based on the rotation amount of the conveying roller 5a from the start of the leading-out operation of the preceding sheet SH1 and the length of the preceding sheet SH1, it is determined whether the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 has passed through the conveying roller 6a. As illustrated in FIG. 15(A), when the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 passes through the conveying roller 6a, the preceding sheet SH1 that precedes with the conveying roller 7a can be conveyed, and it becomes the timing when the subsequent sheet SH2 can be conveyed by the conveying rollers 5a and 6a. At this timing, the conveying rollers 5a and 6a do not affect the conveyance of the preceding sheet SH1, and the conveying roller 7a does not affect the conveyance of the subsequent sheet SH2. Independently of the conveying rollers 5a and 6a, the conveying roller 7a is continuously rotated by the conveying motor 25. The conveying roller 8a that shares the conveying motor 25 also rotates continuously.

[0081] Due to the relative speed difference between the preceding sheet SH1 and the subsequent sheet SH2, as shown in FIG. 15(B), the rear end of the preceding sheet SH1 can be separated from the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0082] Refer to FIG. 16(A). Since the recording on both sides of the preceding sheet SH1 is completed, it is discharged to the discharge tray 17. When the recording of the last line of the subsequent sheet SH2 is completed, the double-sided recording of the last subsequent sheet SH2 in this job is also completed. By rotating the conveying rollers 8a, 7a, 6a, and 5a in the same direction, the subsequent sheet SH2 is discharged to the discharge tray 17 as shown in FIG. 16(B). Thus, the double-sided recording operation of the two sheets SH is completed.

[0083] <Selection Process of Conveying Operation> The selection process of the conveyance operation executed by the MPU 41 in double-sided continuous recording will be described. In the selection process, either an alternating conveyance operation or a simple conveyance operation is selected. In the alternating conveyance operation, it is appropriately selected whether to perform superposed continuous conveyance based on the recording data.

[0084] Regarding the relationship between the conveyance operation and the throughput, when ignoring the analysis time of the recording data, in the case of this embodiment, the alternating conveyance operation is more advantageous than the simple conveyance operation. In particular, the alternating conveyance operation using superposed continuous conveyance is more advantageous. However, when the analysis time of the recording data is prolonged, the simple conveyance operation may result in better throughput. For example, in the alternating conveyance operation, when it takes time to analyze the recording data on the fourth page of the subsequent sheet SH2, the preceding sheet SH1 on which the recording of the image on the second page is completed waits for the recording of the image on the first page and stays in the apparatus. In this case, it may be possible to achieve better throughput by recording the image on the first page of the preceding sheet SH1 before recording the image on the fourth page of the subsequent sheet SH2. In this embodiment, the throughput is improved by selecting a conveyance operation that is presumed to be able to complete double-sided recording faster based on the recording data.

[0085] In the case of this embodiment, the selection process of the conveyance operation can select one selection mode from a plurality of types of selection modes. The selection of the selection mode may be performed by the user or by the apparatus side. When selecting on the apparatus side, it may be selected according to the attributes of the image to be recorded. The attributes may be, for example, attributes related to color such as black-and-white images and color images. Alternatively, the attributes may be, for example, the types of images such as characters and photos.

[0086] In the case of this embodiment, as a plurality of types of selection modes, there are three types of selection modes: a superposed continuous conveyance reference mode, a resolution reference mode, and a user reference mode. The superposed continuous conveyance reference mode may be the default selection mode. Note that the number and types of selection modes can be appropriately designed and are not limited to these.

[0087] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the selection process of the conveyance operation in the overlapping continuous conveyance reference mode. Here, the case where images for four pages are recorded on two sheets SH will be described as an example. When the MPU 41 receives a recording request from the host computer 100, it stores the job data of the recording job in the storage device 42 and starts analyzing the job data. Based on the analysis result, the recording operation is executed.

[0088] The analysis of the job data includes the process of analyzing the recording data for each page. The analysis process of the recording data includes the process of converting the format of the data received from the host computer 100 into data for recording in the apparatus. For example, when a PDF image is received, the conversion process to the BMP format can be cited. The analysis of the recording data for each page is performed in page order. That is, when recording images for four pages, the analysis process of the recording data is executed in the order of page 1, page 2, page 3, and page 4.

[0089] When the analysis of the recording data for two pages is completed to a certain degree, the preceding sheet SH1 is fed to the recording head 12, and the recording operation of the second-page image by the recording head 12 is started (S1). At this time, in the case of this embodiment, the subsequent sheet SH2 is on the feed tray 2. When the recording operation of the image for the preceding sheet SH1 is started, it is determined whether or not the analysis of the recording data for the fourth page to be recorded on the subsequent sheet SH2 has started (S2).

[0090] If the analysis has not started (in the case of not yet executed), it is considered that the overall recording speed is faster with the simple conveyance operation than waiting for data analysis and selecting the alternate conveyance operation, and the simple conveyance operation is selected (S8). Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the process proceeds in the order of recording the second-page image for the preceding sheet SH1, recording the first-page image for the preceding sheet SH1, recording the fourth-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2, and recording the third-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0091] When it is determined that the analysis has started at S2, the process proceeds to S3, and it is determined whether the analysis of the recording data on the fourth page is complete. If the analysis is complete, it is considered that the overall recording speed is faster with the alternating conveyance operation than with the simple conveyance operation, and the alternating conveyance operation is selected (S7). Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the process proceeds in the order of recording the second-page image on the leading sheet SH1, recording the fourth-page image on the subsequent sheet SH2, recording the first-page image on the leading sheet SH1, and recording the third-page image on the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0092] When it is determined that the analysis has not been completed at S3, the process proceeds to S4, and it is determined whether the overlapping condition is satisfied. The determination here is whether to perform overlapping continuous feeding by overlapping the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2, on which the fourth-page image is to be recorded, with the leading sheet SH1, on which the second-page image is being recorded. In the case of this embodiment, the overlapping condition is whether the overlapping amount by which the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 can be overlapped with the leading sheet SH1 exceeds a predetermined overlapping amount threshold. If the overlapping amount exceeds the overlapping amount threshold, it is determined that the overlapping condition is satisfied, and if the overlapping amount is equal to or less than the overlapping amount threshold, it is determined that the overlapping condition is not satisfied.

[0093] The overlapping amount is estimated from the analysis results of the recording data of the second-page image and the recording data of the fourth-page image. Specifically, the margin amount at the rear end of the leading sheet SH1 when the recording data of the second-page image is recorded and the margin amount at the leading end of the subsequent sheet SH2 when the recording data of the fourth-page image is recorded are calculated, and the overlapping amount is estimated from the calculation results. The overlapping amount threshold is set in advance from the viewpoint of throughput. The overlapping amount threshold may be made freely changeable by the user.

[0094] Note that in this embodiment, the overlapping condition is based on whether the overlapping amount exceeds the overlapping amount threshold, but other conditions may be used, or it may be determined that the overlapping condition is satisfied when other conditions are also satisfied in addition to whether the overlapping amount exceeds the overlapping amount threshold. Examples of other conditions include the position of the leading edge of the leading sheet SH1 at the time of overlapping and the type of image to be recorded on the leading sheet SH1.

[0095] If the determination result of S4 is that the stacking condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S6. Considering that the overall recording speed is faster with the simple conveyance operation than waiting for data analysis and selecting the alternating conveyance operation, the simple conveyance operation is selected. Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the process proceeds in the order of recording the second-page image for the leading sheet SH1, recording the first-page image for the leading sheet SH1, recording the fourth-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2, and recording the third-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2. Note that if the stacking amount cannot be estimated, it is also determined that the stacking condition is not satisfied.

[0096] If the determination result of S4 is that the stacking condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S5. Considering that the overall recording speed is faster with the alternating conveyance operation than the simple conveyance operation, the alternating conveyance operation is selected. Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the process proceeds in the order of recording the second-page image for the leading sheet SH1, recording the fourth-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2, recording the first-page image for the leading sheet SH1, and recording the third-page image for the subsequent sheet SH2.

[0097] Also, when the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S5, as described with reference to FIG. 4, superimposed continuous feeding is executed by superimposing the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 for which the fourth-page image is to be recorded on the leading sheet SH1 on which the second-page image is being recorded. The throughput can be improved. Superimposed continuous feeding can also be performed as appropriate thereafter. That is, superimposed continuous feeding in which the leading edge of the leading sheet SH1 for which the first-page image is to be recorded is superimposed on the subsequent sheet SH2 on which the fourth-page image is being recorded, or superimposed continuous feeding in which the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 for which the third-page image is to be recorded is superimposed on the leading sheet SH1 on which the first-page image is being recorded. Whether to execute each of these superimposed continuous feedings can be determined in the same manner as the determination of whether the stacking condition of S4 is satisfied.

[0098] When the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S5, the differences from the case where the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S7 will be described. When the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S5, superimposed continuous feeding in which the leading edge of the subsequent sheet SH2 on which the image on the second page is to be recorded is overlapped with the leading sheet SH1 during image recording on the second page is always executed. However, when the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S7, superimposed continuous feeding is not always executed. Whether or not to execute each superimposed continuous feeding can be determined in the same way as the determination of whether or not the superimposing condition in S4 is satisfied. Note that when the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S7, a process of not executing superimposed continuous feeding uniformly may be performed.

[0099] Next, FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the selection process of the conveyance operation in the resolution standard mode. The processes of S11 to S13, S17, and S18 are the same as the processes of S1 to S3, S7, and S8 in FIG. 17, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0100] In S14, it is determined whether or not the resolution of the recording data on the fourth page is equal to or higher than the progress threshold value. The progress threshold value is a value selected from, for example, 50% or more and 90% or less, for example, 70%, assuming that the completion of the analysis of the recording data is 100%. The progress threshold value may be freely changed by the user.

[0101] If it is determined in S14 that the resolution of the recording data on the fourth page is less than the progress threshold value, the process proceeds to S16, and it is considered that the overall recording speed is faster with the simple conveyance operation than waiting for data analysis and selecting the alternating conveyance operation, and the simple conveyance operation is selected. If it is determined in S14 that the resolution of the recording data on the fourth page is equal to or higher than the progress threshold value, the process proceeds to S15, and it is considered that the overall recording speed is faster with the alternating conveyance operation than the simple conveyance operation, and the alternating conveyance operation is selected.

[0102] Note that when the alternating conveyance operation is selected in S15 or S17, superimposed continuous feeding may be performed. Whether or not to execute each superimposed continuous feeding can be determined in the same way as the determination of whether or not the superimposing condition in S4 is satisfied.

[0103] Next, FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the selection process of the conveyance operation in the user reference mode. The processes of S21 to S23, S27, and S28 are the same as the processes of S1 to S3, S7, and S8 in FIG. 17, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0104] In S24, it is determined whether there is a user setting regarding the selection of the conveyance operation. In the case of this embodiment, the user settings are of two types: Setting 1: prioritize the alternating conveyance operation; Setting 2: prioritize the simple conveyance operation. If the user setting is Setting 1, the process proceeds to S25, and if it is Setting 2, the process proceeds to S26. In S25, the alternating conveyance operation is selected, and in S26, the simple conveyance operation is selected. The user's preference can be reflected in the control.

[0105] Note that the user setting may not be limited to the above two options of Setting 1 and Setting 2, but may be other conditions set by the user. For example, it may be a threshold time regarding the waiting time from the completion of the recording of the third page of the preceding sheet SH1 to the start of the recording of the first page when the alternating conveyance operation is selected. Specifically, in the MPU 41, the waiting time is estimated. If the estimated waiting time exceeds the threshold time set by the user, the simple conveyance operation is selected, and if it is less than or equal to the threshold time, the alternating conveyance operation is selected. The waiting time can be estimated, for example, based on the size of the recording data on the third page.

[0106] <Example of the total recording time according to the type of conveyance operation> Taking the case of recording images for four pages on two sheets SH as an example, an example of the difference in the total recording time due to the difference in the conveyance operation will be described. FIGS. 20 and 21 are timing charts showing the transition of each process due to the difference in the conveyance operation. In each figure, P1 to P4 indicate page numbers. The images of pages 1 and 2 are recorded on the preceding sheet SH1, and the images of pages 3 and 4 are recorded on the subsequent sheet SH2. "Analysis", "Conveyance / Recording", and "Inversion" indicate the content of the process, and the arrows indicate the process timing and the required time. "Analysis" means the analysis of the recording data for each page, and "Conveyance / Recording" means the conveyance (feeding) of the sheet SH and the recording operation. "Inversion" indicates the stage of conveying the sheet SH to the feeding unit 4 via the inversion path RT21 and the return path RT22. The black dots of the arrows indicate the start timing of the process, and the right ends of the arrows indicate the end timing of the process.

[0107] FIG. 20 is a diagram comparing the case of non-overlapping continuous conveyance and the case of overlapping continuous conveyance for the alternating conveyance operation. In both cases, when the recording on one side of the preceding sheet SH1 is completed and the recording data of the image to be recorded on the subsequent sheet SH2 is being analyzed, it is an example of a process of waiting for the preceding sheet SH1 on the return path RT22. It is assumed that for pages 1 to 3, the time taken for "Conveyance / Recording" is longer than the time taken for "Analysis", and for page 4, the time taken for "Analysis" is longer than the time taken for "Conveyance / Recording".

[0108] In the case of overlapping continuous conveyance, the overlapping continuous conveyance is performed only at one location. Specifically, during the recording of the image of page 2 on the preceding sheet, the leading edge of the subsequent sheet on which the recording of the image of page 4 is scheduled is overlapped with the preceding sheet. In other cases, overlapping continuous conveyance is not performed.

[0109] The analysis of the recording data is performed in page order. For this reason, first, the analysis of the recording data of P1 is performed. Subsequently, the analysis of the recording data of P2, P3, and P4 is sequentially performed. During the analysis of the recording data of P2, the recording of the image of P2 on the preceding sheet SH1 is started.

[0110] In the case of no superposed continuous feeding, after the recording of the image of P2 on the leading sheet SH1 is completed, the recording of the image of P4 on the subsequent sheet SH2 is started. On the other hand, in the case of superposed continuous feeding, before the recording of the image of P2 on the leading sheet SH1 is completed, the "transport and recording" of P4 on the subsequent sheet SH2 is started. Due to this difference, the timing of the completion of the overall recording (the timing of the "transport and recording" of P3) is earlier in the case of superposed continuous feeding than in the case of no superposed continuous feeding.

[0111] FIG. 21 is a diagram comparing the case where the alternating transport operation is selected and the case where the simple transport operation is selected when the recording data of P4 is not being performed at the stage when the recording of P2 is started. It is assumed that, for each page, the time taken for "analysis" is equal to the time taken for "transport and recording".

[0112] The analysis of the recording data is performed in page order. The analysis of the recording data of P4 is not performed at the stage when the recording of P2 is started. In the case where the alternating transport operation is selected, the "transport and recording" of P4 is performed after the analysis of the recording data of P4 has progressed to a certain extent. During that time, since the leading sheet SH1 is made to wait on the return path RT22, the overall recording time becomes longer. On the other hand, in the case where the simple transport operation is selected, the recording of the image of P1 on the leading sheet SH1 is performed without waiting for the analysis of the recording data of P4, so that the wasted waiting time is eliminated. As a result, the timing of the completion of the overall recording is earlier in the case of the simple transport operation than in the case of the alternating transport operation.

[0113] <Disclosure of Embodiment> The above embodiment discloses the inventions of the following respective items.

[0114] Item 1. Feeding means for feeding a sheet, Transport means for transporting the sheet fed by the feeding means, Recording means for performing recording on the sheet transported by the transport means, When recording is performed on the first side and the second side of the sheet, an inversion means for inverting the front and back of the sheet on which recording has been performed on the first side and transporting it to the feeding means, A conveyance control means for controlling the feeding and conveyance of the sheet, A recording apparatus comprising: When performing recording on the first side and the second side of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, respectively, the conveyance control means executes a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations, The plurality of conveyance operations are: A first conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading end of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before performing recording on the first side of the succeeding sheet; A second conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0115] Item 2. The recording apparatus according to Item 1, wherein The conveyance control means Determines whether or not a predetermined condition for overlapping the leading end of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet is satisfied based on the recording data on the first side of the preceding sheet and the recording data on the first side of the succeeding sheet, If the predetermined condition is satisfied, the first conveyance operation is selected, If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the second conveyance operation is selected. A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0116] Item 3. The recording apparatus according to Item 1, wherein The conveyance control means Based on the recording data on the first surface of the preceding sheet and the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet, estimate the overlapping amount by which the leading end of the succeeding sheet can be overlapped with the preceding sheet. When the overlapping amount is less than or equal to a threshold value, select the second conveyance operation. A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0117] Item 4. The recording apparatus according to Item 1, wherein the conveyance control means Based on the recording data on the first surface of the preceding sheet and the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet, estimate the overlapping amount by which the leading end of the succeeding sheet can be overlapped with the preceding sheet. When the overlapping amount exceeds the threshold value, select the first conveyance operation. A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0118] Item 5. The recording apparatus according to Item 2, wherein the plurality of conveyance operations include a third conveyance operation in which the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the succeeding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, and the second surface of the succeeding sheet, and the leading end of the succeeding sheet is not overlapped with the preceding sheet. the conveyance control means When the analysis process of the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet is completed, select the first conveyance operation or the third conveyance operation. When the analysis process regarding the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet has not been executed, select the second conveyance operation. When the analysis process regarding the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet is in progress, based on the determination result of whether the predetermined condition is satisfied, select the first conveyance operation or the second conveyance operation. A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0119] Item 6. The recording apparatus according to Item 2, wherein There are a plurality of selection modes regarding the selection of the conveying operation, and the plurality of selection modes are, a first selection mode for determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied, and a second selection mode for selecting a conveying operation based on the degree of analysis of the analysis process regarding the recording data on the first surface of the subsequent sheet, and includes. A recording apparatus characterized by this.

[0120] Item 7. The recording apparatus according to Item 6, wherein the plurality of conveying operations are, conveying the preceding sheet and the subsequent sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the subsequent sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, and the second surface of the subsequent sheet, and including a third conveying operation in which the leading end of the subsequent sheet is not overlapped with the preceding sheet, and the conveying control means is, in the second selection mode, when the degree of analysis is equal to or greater than a threshold value, selecting the first conveying operation or the third conveying operation, and when the degree of analysis is less than the threshold value, selecting the second conveying operation. A recording apparatus characterized by this.

[0121] Item 8. The recording apparatus according to Item 2, wherein there are a plurality of selection modes regarding the selection of the conveying operation, and the plurality of selection modes are, a first selection mode for determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied, and a second selection mode for selecting a conveying operation based on user settings, and includes. A recording apparatus characterized by this.

[0122] Item 9. The recording apparatus according to Item 8, wherein the plurality of conveying operations are, The preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the succeeding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, and the second surface of the succeeding sheet, and a third conveying operation is included in which the leading end of the succeeding sheet is not overlapped with the preceding sheet. The conveyance control means In the second selection mode When the user setting is the first setting, the first conveyance operation or the third conveyance operation is selected. When the user setting is the second setting, the second conveyance operation is selected. A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

[0123] Item 10. A feeding means for feeding a sheet, A conveyance means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means, A recording means for recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance means, When recording is performed on the first surface and the second surface of the sheet, an inversion means for inverting the sheet on which recording has been performed on the first surface and conveying it to the feeding means, A control method for a recording apparatus including: A conveyance control step for controlling the feeding and conveyance of the sheet, When recording on the first surface and the second surface is performed on the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, respectively, in the conveyance control step, a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations is executed. The plurality of conveyance operations include: A first conveyance operation in which the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the succeeding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, and the second surface of the succeeding sheet, and before recording on the first surface of the succeeding sheet, the leading end of the succeeding sheet is overlapped with the preceding sheet. A second conveyance operation in which the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the succeeding sheet, and the second surface of the succeeding sheet. A control method characterized by the following.

[0124] Item 11. A feeding means for feeding a sheet, A conveying means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means, A recording means for recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, When recording is performed on the first side and the second side of the sheet, an inverting means for inverting the sheet on which the first side has been recorded and conveying it to the feeding means, A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a recording apparatus having the above, The control method includes A conveyance control step for controlling the feeding and conveyance of the sheet, When recording on the first side and the second side is performed on the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet respectively, in the conveyance control step, a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations is executed, The plurality of conveyance operations include A first conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading end of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before recording on the first side of the succeeding sheet, A second conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, A storage medium characterized by the above.

[0125] Item 12. A feeding means for feeding a sheet, A conveying means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means, A recording means for recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, When recording on the first side and the second side of a sheet, an inversion means for inverting the front and back of the sheet on which recording has been performed on the first side and transporting it to the feeding means, A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a recording apparatus including: The control method includes: A conveyance control step of controlling the feeding and conveyance of a sheet, When recording on the first side and the second side of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet respectively, in the conveyance control step, a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations is executed, The plurality of conveyance operations are: A first conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading end of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before recording on the first side of the succeeding sheet; A second conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, A program characterized by the above.

[0126] Further, the present invention can also be realized by supplying a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) for realizing one or more functions.

[0127] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, claims are attached to disclose the scope of the invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0128] 1 Recording device, 4 Feeding unit, 5 - 10 Conveying units, 12 Recording head, 40 Control unit

Claims

1. A sheet feeding means for feeding a sheet; A conveying means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means; A recording means for recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; When recording is performed on the first side and the second side of the sheet, an inversion means for inverting the sheet on which recording has been performed on the first side and conveying it to the feeding means; A conveyance control means for controlling the feeding and conveyance of the sheet; A recording apparatus comprising: When recording on the first side and the second side is performed on the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, respectively, the conveyance control means executes a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations, The plurality of conveyance operations are: A first conveyance operation for conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading edge of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before recording on the first side of the succeeding sheet; A second conveyance operation for conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, including: A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, The conveyance control means: Based on the recording data on the first side of the preceding sheet and the recording data on the first side of the succeeding sheet, determines whether a predetermined condition for overlapping the leading edge of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet is satisfied, Selects the first conveyance operation when the predetermined condition is satisfied, Selects the second conveyance operation when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, The conveyance control means: Based on the recording data on the first side of the preceding sheet and the recording data on the first side of the succeeding sheet, estimates an overlapping amount by which the leading edge of the succeeding sheet can be overlapped on the preceding sheet, Selects the second conveyance operation when the overlapping amount is equal to or less than a threshold value, A recording apparatus characterized by the above.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, The conveyance control means: Based on the recording data on the first side of the preceding sheet and the recording data on the first side of the succeeding sheet, estimates an overlapping amount by which the leading edge of the succeeding sheet can be overlapped on the preceding sheet, When the overlapping amount exceeds the threshold value, select the first conveying operation. A recording apparatus characterized by the above. **Claim 5** The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of conveying operations include a third conveying operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the succeeding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, and the second surface of the succeeding sheet, and not overlapping the leading end of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet. The conveyance control means selects the first conveying operation or the third conveying operation when the analysis process of the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet is completed. selects the second conveying operation when the analysis process regarding the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet has not been executed. selects the first conveying operation or the second conveying operation based on the determination result of the establishment of the predetermined condition when the analysis process regarding the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet is in progress. A recording apparatus characterized by the above. **Claim 6** The recording apparatus according to claim 2, where there are a plurality of selection modes regarding the selection of the conveying operation, and the plurality of selection modes include a first selection mode for determining the establishment of the predetermined condition, and a second selection mode for selecting a conveying operation based on the degree of analysis of the recording data on the first surface of the succeeding sheet. A recording apparatus characterized by the above. **Claim 7** The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of conveying operations include a third conveying operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the preceding sheet, the first surface of the succeeding sheet, the second surface of the preceding sheet, and the second surface of the succeeding sheet, and not overlapping the leading end of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet. The conveyance control means in the second selection mode, selects the first conveying operation or the third conveying operation when the degree of analysis is equal to or greater than the threshold value. selects the second conveying operation when the degree of analysis is less than the threshold value. A recording apparatus characterized by the above. **Claim 8** The recording apparatus according to claim 2, where there are a plurality of selection modes regarding the selection of the conveying operation, and the plurality of selection modes include a first selection mode for determining the establishment of the predetermined condition, and a second selection mode for selecting a conveying operation based on user settings. A recording apparatus characterized by the above. **Claim 9** The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of conveying operations include a third conveying operation of conveying the leading sheet and the trailing sheet such that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the leading sheet, the first surface of the trailing sheet, the second surface of the leading sheet, and the second surface of the trailing sheet, and not overlapping the leading edge of the trailing sheet on the leading sheet, the conveyance control means in the second selection mode, when the user setting is the first setting, selects the first conveying operation or the third conveying operation, when the user setting is the second setting, selects the second conveying operation, characterized in that it is a recording apparatus.

10. A feeding means for feeding a sheet, a conveying means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means, a recording means for performing recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, an inversion means for inverting the sheet on which recording has been performed on the first surface and conveying it to the feeding means when recording is performed on the first surface and the second surface of the sheet, A control method for a recording apparatus comprising: including a conveyance control step of controlling the feeding and conveyance of the sheet, when performing recording on the first surface and the second surface of the leading sheet and the trailing sheet, in the conveyance control step, executing a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations, the plurality of conveying operations include a first conveying operation of conveying the leading sheet and the trailing sheet such that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the leading sheet, the first surface of the trailing sheet, the second surface of the leading sheet, and the second surface of the trailing sheet, and overlapping the leading edge of the trailing sheet on the leading sheet before performing recording on the first surface of the trailing sheet, and a second conveying operation of conveying the leading sheet and the trailing sheet such that recording is performed in the order of the first surface of the leading sheet, the second surface of the leading sheet, the first surface of the trailing sheet, and the second surface of the trailing sheet, characterized in that it is a control method.

11. A feeding means for feeding a sheet, a conveying means for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding means, a recording means for performing recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, an inversion means for inverting the sheet on which recording has been performed on the first surface and conveying it to the feeding means when recording is performed on the first surface and the second surface of the sheet, A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for a recording apparatus, wherein the control method including a conveyance control step for controlling the feeding and conveyance of sheets, when performing recordings on the first side and the second side of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet respectively, in the conveyance control step, a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations is executed, the plurality of conveyance operations are, a first conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recordings are performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading edge of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before performing the recording on the first side of the succeeding sheet, a second conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recordings are performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, a storage medium characterized by the above.

12. a feeding means for feeding sheets, a conveyance means for conveying the sheets fed by the feeding means, a recording means for performing recordings on the sheets conveyed by the conveyance means, when performing recordings on the first side and the second side of a sheet, an inversion means for inverting the front and back of the sheet on which the recording on the first side has been performed and conveying it to the feeding means, a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a recording apparatus including the above, the control method includes, a conveyance control step for controlling the feeding and conveyance of sheets, when performing recordings on the first side and the second side of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet respectively, in the conveyance control step, a conveyance operation selected from a plurality of conveyance operations is executed, the plurality of conveyance operations are, a first conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recordings are performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, and overlapping the leading edge of the succeeding sheet on the preceding sheet before performing the recording on the first side of the succeeding sheet, a second conveyance operation of conveying the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet so that recordings are performed in the order of the first side of the preceding sheet, the second side of the preceding sheet, the first side of the succeeding sheet, and the second side of the succeeding sheet, a program characterized by the above.

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