Recording apparatus, recording method, and program

Abstract

To suppress the occurrence of smear in recording.SOLUTION: A time required for print scanning is estimated from the width of image data and information on a printing method, and a delay time is set based on the estimated print scanning time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device, a recording method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet recording devices are well known as a type of recording device, and many of them use aqueous liquid ink as the recording material. Liquid ink requires time to fixate in order to penetrate the recording medium and dry. However, if sufficient time is not ensured, poorly fixed ink can cause ink stains known as "smears" on the recording surface (the surface on which the image is recorded) and its backside.

[0003] To mitigate such problems, Patent Document 1 discloses controlling the delay time (wait) of the printing operation until the subsequent printing medium makes contact based on the amount of ink applied to the printing medium on which the previous image has been printed and the width of the printing medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-65753 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the width of the image data is narrow compared to the width of the recording medium, a method is known in which the recording time is shortened by limiting the scanning width of the recording head to the image data width. In this method, if the delay time is set according to the width of the recording medium, the actual scanning time of the recording head will be shorter than the scanning time of the recording head relative to the recording medium width, which may result in a lack of the required fixing time and the occurrence of smears.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to suppress the occurrence of smears during printing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is characterized by comprising a recording means that records an image on a recording medium by applying a recording material while scanning in a scanning direction that intersects with the transport direction in which the recording medium is transported in accordance with an instruction to record an image, a transport means that transports the recording medium, and a plurality of paper discharge units for discharging the recording medium, and is characterized by scanning the recording means so that the time from the start of the recording scan to the start of the next recording scan is a predetermined value based on the width of the recording data in the scanning direction and the recording scanning speed of the recording scan. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] With the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of smears during recording. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed / discharge mechanism of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams for explaining inter-scan wait control during serial scanning printing according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a table showing an example of setting the wait control according to the paper discharge port according to the embodiment; [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a delay time in a conventional example. [Figure 7] 4 is a setting example of a delay time in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a wait control process procedure in the present embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is an example of delay time setting in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is an example of delay time setting in the third embodiment. [Figure 11] 13 is an example of delay time setting in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] 13 is an example of delay time setting in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] 13 is an example of delay time setting in the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The recording apparatus of this embodiment is a so-called inkjet recording apparatus that records an image by forming dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of ejection ports each provided with an energy generating element. Note that, although this embodiment uses ink containing colorant as the recording material, the present invention can also be applied to configurations that use other recording materials that may rub off and cause smearing before being fixed to the recording medium. Hereinafter, in this specification, the paper ejection method in which paper is ejected to a stacker (described below) will be referred to as "top-surface ejection," and the paper ejection method in which paper is ejected to a basket will be referred to as "basket ejection."

[0011] (First embodiment) (Device configuration) 1(a) to 1(c) are perspective views showing an inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 1(a) is a schematic perspective view showing a state during top-side discharge in which recording media are discharged to a stacker 28. Two recording media 14 wound in roll form can be set in the inkjet recording apparatus 100. Two recording medium supply devices 110 are provided, one above the other, and one of the two recording media 14 set in each is selectively drawn out. The recording media are then fed and transported to a recording position, where a recording operation is performed to record an image.

[0012] The recording medium 14 on which the image has been recorded is discharged to a stacker 28 provided at the top of the inkjet recording apparatus 100. The stacker 28 is located above the recording position where the image is recorded. Using various switches provided on the operation panel 15, the user can input various commands to the inkjet recording apparatus 100, such as specifying the size of the recording medium 14, switching between online and offline, and setting the discharge destination.

[0013] 1(b) is a schematic perspective view showing the state during basket discharge, in which the recording medium is discharged into the basket 29. The basket 29 is not shown in this figure, but will be shown in Fig. 2, which will be described later. The recording medium 14 on which an image has been recorded passes through a basket discharge port 23 provided on the front part of the inkjet recording device 100 and is discharged into the basket 29 provided at the bottom.

[0014] FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating the internal mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 at a recording position where an image is recorded. As shown in this figure, a recording medium 14 is transported in the transport direction indicated by arrow F as a sub-scanning motor (not shown) is driven. Hereinafter, the transport direction F will also be referred to as the sub-scanning direction. A guide shaft 13 is disposed so as to extend in a direction intersecting the transport direction F of the recording medium 14. A carriage 12 carrying a recording head 11 is supported by the guide shaft 13 and moves back and forth in the direction indicated by arrow S (hereinafter referred to as the main scanning direction) as a main scanning motor (not shown) is driven. The recording head 11 mounted on the carriage 12 ejects ink droplets based on recording data while the carriage 12 moves (scans), forming dots on the recording medium. This ink ejection operation is repeated during the reciprocating scan, thereby recording an image on the recording medium.

[0015] The inkjet recording apparatus 100 of this embodiment employs a so-called bidirectional recording method in which the recording head 11 ejects ink both when scanning in the main scanning direction (forward direction) along a forward path and when scanning in the direction opposite to the main scanning direction (return direction) along a return path. First, when a recording operation command is input from an externally connected host computer, the recording medium 14 is fed to a position where it can be recorded by the recording head 11 mounted on the carriage 12. Then, the recording head 11 performs at least one main scan while ejecting ink in response to a recording signal, and the recording medium 14 is transported a predetermined distance by a sub-scan motor (not shown). By repeating these recording and transport operations multiple times, an image is recorded in a unit area on the recording medium.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper feed / discharge mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the recording medium 14 is transported in the transport direction F by a transport roller (not shown). A cutter 21 is located downstream of the carriage 12 in the transport direction F and operates to cut the recording medium 14 when recording is completed. A paper discharge switching flap 22 is located downstream of the cutter 21 and operates in the vertical direction in the figure. In this embodiment, the inkjet recording apparatus 100 is equipped with a stacker 28 and a basket 29 as a paper discharge unit for stacking the recording medium after transport. When a transport direction instruction command is input, in the case of top-side paper discharge, the paper discharge switching flap 22 is set to the top-side paper discharge position as shown by the dashed line in the figure. In the case of basket paper discharge, the paper discharge switching flap 22 is set to the basket paper discharge position as shown by the dashed line in the figure. In the case of basket paper discharge, the recording medium 14 is transported toward the basket-side paper discharge outlet 23 and discharged into the basket 29 installed at the bottom of the inkjet recording apparatus 100. In the case of top-surface discharge, the recording medium 14 is transported to the top-surface discharge unit 200 side and discharged to a stacker 28 installed on the top of the inkjet recording apparatus 100 .

[0017] The internal mechanism of top-surface paper ejection unit 200 has multiple guide rollers 24 arranged as transport auxiliary members, in sliding contact with the recording surface of recording medium 14 on which an image is recorded. These members prevent jams and the like when the recording medium 14 is being transported. Furthermore, a clamping section 210 including a paper ejection roller 25 and a nip roller 26 is provided at paper ejection outlet 27 to stacker 28. The nip roller 26 of clamping section 210 is biased against paper ejection roller 25 with a predetermined force. Guide rollers 24 and nip rollers 26 are arranged at multiple locations in the main scanning direction inside top-surface paper ejection unit 200. In this embodiment, nip roller 26 is biased with a load of approximately 200 g per location, but the load value is not limited to this. When top-surface ejection, in which the recording medium 14 is ejected to stacker 28, is set by the transport direction instruction command, the recording medium 14 is clamped between paper ejection roller 25 and nip roller 26 after the recording operation is completed. After the recording medium 14 is cut by the cutter 21, the discharge rollers 25 are operated to transport the recording medium 14 and discharge it into the stacker .

[0018] 3 is a block diagram showing the control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 100. The control system of this embodiment includes a control unit 30, an interface 31, an operation panel 15, a driver 37 for driving various motors, and a head driver 38 for driving the recording head 11. The control unit 30 includes a CPU 30a such as a microprocessor, a ROM 30b for storing control programs and various data for the CPU 30a, and a RAM 30c used as a work area for the CPU 30a and for temporarily storing various data such as recording data. The driver 37 controls the driving of a carriage driving motor 33, a paper feed roller driving motor 34, a first transport system driving motor 35 used in the top-surface paper discharge transport system, and a second transport system driving motor 36 used in the basket paper discharge transport system.

[0019] The control unit 30 performs processing for inputting and outputting data such as recording data to and from the host 300 via the interface 31, and processing for inputting various information (e.g., character pitch, character type, etc.) from the operation panel 15. The control unit 30 also outputs ON or OFF signals for driving the motors 33 to 36 via the interface 31. It also outputs ejection signals and the like to a head driver 38 to control the ink ejection operation of the recording head 11.

[0020] (About smear) The mechanism by which smearing occurs when top-surface paper ejection is performed will be explained using Figure 2. After ink is applied from recording head 11 and an image is recorded, recording medium 14 is transported in transport direction F and enters top-surface paper ejection unit 200. At this time, if the ink applied to recording medium 14 is transported in an incompletely fixed state, the poorly fixed ink will adhere to components such as guide rollers 24, paper ejection rollers 25, and nip rollers 26, as well as the walls inside top-surface paper ejection unit 200. When the recording medium is then transported further in transport direction F, the poorly fixed ink that has adhered to the components will re-adhere to recording medium 14, causing ink stains (smears). In particular, when top-surface paper ejection is performed, stress concentrates in the areas where guide rollers 24, paper ejection rollers 25, and nip rollers 26 are located, increasing the contact pressure with recording medium 14 and making these areas more susceptible to smearing.

[0021] Furthermore, smearing is more likely to occur with top-surface discharge than with basket discharge. There are two reasons for this. First, when comparing the time it takes for the recording medium 14 to reach the discharge unit after an image is recorded by the recording head 11, top-surface discharge is overwhelmingly shorter than basket discharge. For this reason, it is more difficult to ensure sufficient ink fixation time with top-surface discharge than with basket discharge. Second, with top-surface discharge, the recording medium 14 is transported by being pulled up against gravity toward the top surface of the inkjet recording device 100. This causes stress to concentrate on the clamping section 210 and the rollers and rollers within the top-surface discharge unit 200, resulting in greater contact pressure at the contact points between each component and the recording medium 14 than with basket discharge, making smearing more likely. Meanwhile, with basket discharge, the recording medium 14 is discharged from the basket-side discharge section 23 under its own weight, and the contact pressure between the basket 29 and the recording medium 14 is approximately the same as the weight of the recording medium 14.

[0022] As described above, since the contact pressure with the recording medium 14 is high during top-side paper discharge, stricter conditions must be set to prevent poor ink fixation than during basket paper discharge.

[0023] Furthermore, if recording media that have already been recorded are loaded in stacker 28, the front surface of the next recording medium that reaches discharge outlet 27 will rub against the back surface of the stacked recording media as it is discharged. As a result, the back surface of the stacked recording media will become dirty, or the recording surface of the recorded recording media will become dirty, resulting in smearing and image degradation due to the recording media rubbing against each other.

[0024] To prevent the occurrence of smears as described above, it is sufficient to provide a sufficient pause time for the ink to set. In this embodiment, the ink is set by executing a delay operation that provides a delay time (wait time) between printing operations. However, if the wait time is too long, throughput will decrease and productivity will decrease, so it is necessary to perform minimal control to prevent smears.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating inter-scan wait control. In inter-scan wait control, a predetermined wait time is set when the carriage 12 completes a main scan or reverses during a printing operation, ensuring time for the ink to set. The inkjet printing apparatus of this embodiment is a so-called serial-type inkjet printing apparatus that scans the carriage 12 in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the printing medium 14. Specifically, the carriage carrying the print head 11 scans the printing medium 14 one or more times in the main scanning direction S in the figure. The printing medium 14 is then moved in the sub-scanning direction F. By repeating this process, an image is printed on the printing medium. The right side of the figure is called the home position (HP), and the left side is called the back position (BP). Movement of the print head 11 from the HP side to the BP side is called the forward scan (forward movement), and movement from the BP side to the HP side is called the reverse scan (return movement). This type of control that sets a pause between scans is called inter-scan wait control.

[0026] In the inter-scan wait control of this embodiment, a predetermined wait time is provided only in the return movement. The wait standby position during the return movement of the print head 11 is on the HP side. Note that the inter-scan wait control is not limited to this method, and may be, for example, a double-sided inter-scan wait control in which a pause time is provided in both the forward and return movements. The inter-scan wait time is the time from the end of one print scan to the start of the next print scan.

[0027] Figure 5 shows a wait control setting table in which the wait time is set for each type of recording medium and each output unit. The parameters for the wait control between scans are set according to the setting information for the output unit, whether it is a basket or a stacker. Note that, because the ink fixability differs depending on the type of recording medium, the pause time as a parameter for the wait control is set for each type of recording medium.

[0028] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example. Figure 6(a) shows the image data to be printed, the printing medium, and the printing method, and illustrates an example of printing scans in two-pass mode without a sub-scan between the first and second passes. Figure 6(b) illustrates the printing scan time, inter-scan wait time, and the total time, as well as whether or not smearing occurs, when printing on printing medium B with top-side paper ejection and the inter-scan wait time shown in Figure 5 is set using the conventional method. The total time is the time from the start of a printing scan to the start of the next printing scan.

[0029] The inter-scan wait time set in Fig. 5 is set assuming the time it takes to print across the print medium width. Therefore, in the case of image data such as that shown in Fig. 6, in area 1, there is almost no difference between the print scan width and the image data width, so the total time required for the print scan and the set inter-scan time is 1.3 seconds. This 1.3 seconds is set to the minimum value at which smearing does not occur, taking into account the printing speed, and since area 1 is equivalent to this 1.3 seconds, the smear level is good.

[0030] On the other hand, in areas 2 and 3, the image data width is narrower than the recording medium width, so the time required for print scanning is shorter. Also, the inter-scan wait time is set to a uniform 0.3 seconds regardless of the image data width, so the total of the print scan time and inter-scan time is less than 1.3 seconds, and the smear level in areas 2 and 3 is worse than in area 1.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method for setting the wait between scans in this embodiment when recording medium B is ejected top-side, as in FIG.

[0032] This embodiment is characterized by estimating the print scan time and setting the inter-scan time so that the total time of the estimated scan time and the inter-scan wait time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, as shown in the table in Fig. 7(b). The total time is the time from the start of a print scan to the start of the next print scan.

[0033] In this embodiment, it is known in advance that the smear level is good if the total of the print scan and the wait between scans is 1.3 seconds or more, and the wait between scans is set so that it is equal to or longer than that time.

[0034] For example, in area 2, the time required for a print scan is 0.8 seconds, so the wait time between scans is set to 0.5 seconds. As a result, the total time is 1.3 seconds, which is sufficient to maintain a good smear level. Similarly, in area 3, the print scan is 0.6 seconds, so the wait time between scans is set to 0.7 seconds, ensuring an interval of at least the specified time. It goes without saying that, from the standpoint of productivity, it is preferable to minimize the set time for the wait between scans, provided that the smear level meets the good standard.

[0035] Here, the time required for the print scan (estimated scan time) can be easily estimated by dividing the image data width by the print scan speed, based on the print scan speed and the image data width information. For example, if the print scan speed is 48 inches / second and the print medium width is 24 inches, then the time required for one print scan is 24 / 48=0.5 seconds.

[0036] In this embodiment, because a wait is performed once every two scans, the print scan time to be considered is the sum of the two scans (forward and backward movements) and the print head reversal time. Therefore, the print scan time to be considered is calculated by doubling the time required for one print scan (calculated above) to 1 second, plus the reversal time. For simplicity's sake, this embodiment shows an example in which the reversal time is not included in the print scan time, and this amount is reflected in the time set for the wait between scans. However, it is also possible to include the reversal time in the print scan time, and set the total time for the wait between scans. Regardless of which method is used, it is sufficient that the total time for the print scan and the wait between scans is set to be equal to or longer than the time required for satisfactory smearing.

[0037] Also, for convenience of explanation, an example has been shown in which the inter-scan time setting is 0.3 seconds when the printing scan takes 1.0 second, but when implementing this embodiment, the total time of 1.3 seconds can be stored as information in the ROM of the main body, and the time obtained by subtracting the estimated scanning time can be set as the inter-scan wait time as appropriate.

[0038] 8 is a flowchart showing the wait control process of this embodiment. A program for executing this process is stored in advance in the ROM 30b and is executed by the control unit 30. The process of FIG. 8 starts when the control unit 30 receives a recording instruction.

[0039] First, type information indicating the type of recording medium is acquired (S801). Next, wait control setting table information for each paper output unit shown in FIG. 5 is acquired (S802). Wait control table information may be stored in advance in ROM 30b as information for each recording medium type. Next, the control unit 30 acquires current paper output unit setting information, print mode information, and image data width information from ROM 30b (S803-805). In this embodiment, print modes include fine mode, normal mode, eco mode, and fast mode, which differ in image quality and print speed. The number of print passes and density vary depending on the mode. From the acquired information, an estimated scan time required for print scanning is estimated (S806). The estimated scan time is calculated from the estimated scan time, and the required inter-scan wait time is transmitted to each driver 37, 38 via interface 31 and reflected in the printing operation (S807). Finally, it is determined whether printing is complete. If not, the process returns to S805 to set the inter-scan wait time for the next scan. If printing is complete, i.e., if it was the final scan, the process ends.

[0040] As described above, in this embodiment, the delay time is optimally set for top-side paper ejection even when the image data width is narrower than the recording medium width, making it possible to reduce smear while suppressing a decrease in throughput.

[0041] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, a configuration was shown in which smear can be reduced regardless of the data width by setting the wait time between scans according to the image data width. In this embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the optimal wait time between scans is set according to various printing conditions in addition to the image data width. Note that a description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0042] Fig. 9 shows an example of setting the wait time between scans in this embodiment. Fig. 9(a) shows an example of switching the delay time setting depending on the priority image quality setting set for the recording job. The priority image quality setting is used to set the main purpose of recording for the recording job. In this example, it is assumed that there is a "line drawing" mode intended for applications where many lines are used, such as architectural drawings, and a "photo" mode intended for applications such as natural images of landscapes and people, or posters to be displayed indoors or outdoors.

[0043] In line drawing mode, it is thought that there are few areas with high ink usage that would worsen smearing, so here, emphasis is placed on printing productivity, and the delay time is set to 0 seconds. In photo mode, because of its intended use, it is thought that there will be areas with high ink usage that would worsen smearing, so the normal inter-scan wait can be set, just like in the first embodiment.

[0044] 9(b) shows a more specific example of setting the wait time between scans according to the printing duty of the ink that smears most severely (easily soils the printing surface of the printing medium) among ink types. In this example, since MBK (matte black) ink is the ink that causes the most severe smearing, the wait time between scans is set above a certain duty, and is not set below that duty.

[0045] Furthermore, Figure 9(c) shows an example in which an inter-scan wait is set if there is one or more sheets stacked in the paper output stacker when paper is ejected from the top, but no inter-scan wait is set if there are no sheets stacked. This assumes that, of the causes of smear mentioned above, dirt caused by friction between sheets of paper is more significant than dirt on the transport path. When there are no sheets stacked in the paper output stacker, friction between sheets of paper does not occur, so the inter-scan wait is set to zero.

[0046] As described above, by setting an inter-scan wait only when smear is severe, and not setting an inter-scan wait when smear is not severe, it is possible to set an inter-scan wait with an optimal balance, without sacrificing productivity, while suppressing smear.

[0047] For simplicity, an example has been shown in which no wait between scans is performed when the smear level is good, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to set the wait time to 0.7 seconds when the smear level is bad and 0.3 seconds when the smear level is good. In addition, although the present embodiment has described a case in which the wait time is set in two stages, good and bad, it goes without saying that it is more preferable to set the wait time in more stages depending on the actual level of smear. It is preferable to set the wait time appropriately by weighing the load of setting the wait between scans parameter, the complexity of the specifications, and the number of stages required depending on the level of smear.

[0048] (Third embodiment) In the first embodiment, the delay time is set by an inter-scan wait, which provides a delay time (wait time) between printing operations, but this example shows how to set the delay time by other methods. Note that a description of the same configuration as in the above embodiment will be omitted.

[0049] FIG. 10 shows examples of delay parameter settings in this embodiment. Setting Example 1 is an example in which the delay time is set by the inter-scan wait, as described in the first embodiment. Setting Example 2 is an example in which the delay time is set by changing the print scan speed and the inter-scan wait. In Setting Example 1, the total print scan time and inter-scan wait time is 1.2 seconds. In Setting Example 2, compared to Setting Example 1, the print scan speed is changed from 24 inches / second to 12 inches / second, reducing the time required for the print scan from 0.5 seconds to 1.0 seconds. Accordingly, the inter-scan wait time is set to 0.2 seconds. As a result, by setting the total print scan time and inter-scan wait time to the same time as Setting Example 1, a delay time that can reduce smear is set, just like Setting Example 1.

[0050] When the amount of ink applied increases, power consumption per second increases, so control may be implemented to reduce power consumption by slowing down the print scan speed. Even in such cases, as shown in this embodiment, by estimating the print scan time taking into account the changed scan speed, it is possible to reduce smear and set an appropriate delay time that suppresses a decrease in throughput. For the same reason, it goes without saying that power consumption can be reduced and delay time can be increased by controlling the number of print passes to increase the number of print passes.

[0051] (Fourth embodiment) In this embodiment, the setting of the delay time when the print scan is performed uniformly up to the width of the print medium regardless of the width of the image data will be described. Note that the description of the same configuration as in the above embodiment will be omitted.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the width of the print scan differs depending on the width of the image data, and therefore the total time between print scans and inter-scan waits varies depending on the image data width. In this embodiment, the print scan width is uniformly set to the width of the print medium, so the operation of the main body is the same as storing inter-scan wait time parameters for each print medium width and setting the inter-scan wait time for each print medium width. However, as shown in the first embodiment, smear can be reduced by setting the total time between print scans and inter-scan waits to a predetermined time or more. Therefore, rather than storing delay time settings for each of the many different print medium widths, storing the lower limit of the total time between print scans and inter-scan waits as a threshold value allows smear to be reduced regardless of the print medium width. Therefore, this embodiment has the advantage of reducing storage space compared to conventional examples.

[0053] 11 and 12 show examples of inter-scan time settings when scanning is performed uniformly across two different print medium widths. In FIG. 11, the print scan takes 1.0 second, and the inter-scan wait is set to 0.3 seconds, for a total of 1.3 seconds. This is an example where the time is longer than the time required for satisfactory smear reduction. In FIG. 12, the print medium width is narrower than in FIG. 11, so the print scan takes 0.8 seconds. However, by setting the inter-scan wait to 0.5 seconds, the total can be set to 1.3 seconds, the same as the example in FIG. 11. In this way, even when print scans are performed uniformly across the print medium width, applying the concept of setting the sum of the print scan and inter-scan wait time to a predetermined value or more can appropriately reduce smear and save memory compared to storing thresholds for each print medium width.

[0054] (Fifth embodiment) In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a longer delay time is set for areas that are more susceptible to smearing, even in the top-surface paper ejection configuration described in Fig. 2. Note that a description of the same configuration as in the above-described embodiment will be omitted.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 13(a), the leading edge of the paper that first contacts the stack of paper has a steeper angle of contact than the remaining portion, resulting in a relatively severe level of smear. Therefore, this embodiment is characterized by setting a longer delay time for region 1, indicated by the dashed lines in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), from when the leading edge of the paper contacts the stack of paper. As shown in FIG. 13(c), the delay time of 1.0 seconds in region 1 is set longer than the delay time of 0.7 seconds in region 2, after the leading edge of the paper contacts the stack of paper. This naturally increases the time from when the paper is recorded until it reaches the stack of paper, thereby reducing smear. After the leading edge of the paper contacts the stack of paper, the contact angle becomes gentler as the paper being recorded is ejected, resulting in a relatively better level of smear. Therefore, a shorter delay time is sufficient in region 2 than in region 1, and a shorter delay time is set from a throughput perspective.

[0056] As described above, by setting different delay times for the area before the leading edge of the paper comes into contact with the stacked paper and the area after contact, it is possible to set optimal delay times for each area, thereby suppressing smear while minimizing the reduction in throughput.

[0057] (Other embodiments) In addition to the above-described embodiment, the delay time may be changed according to the temperature and humidity at the time of recording. For example, when the temperature is high, the ink tends to fix easily, so the delay time can be shortened. When the humidity is low, the ink tends to fix easily, so the delay time can be shortened. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 11 Recording head 12 Carriage 14 Recording media 28 Stacker 29 Basket 30 Control Unit 30b ROM 100 Inkjet recording device 200 Top paper delivery unit 210 Clamping part

Claims

1. a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium by applying a recording material while scanning the recording medium in a scanning direction intersecting a conveying direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, in accordance with an instruction to record an image; a conveying means for conveying the recording medium; and a plurality of paper discharge units for discharging the recording medium; and A printing apparatus characterized in that the printing means is scanned so that the time from the start of a printing scan to the start of the next printing scan is a predetermined value based on the width of the printing data in the scanning direction and the printing scanning speed of the printing scan.

2. a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium by applying a recording material while scanning the recording medium in a scanning direction intersecting a conveying direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, in accordance with an instruction to record an image; a conveying means for conveying the recording medium; and a plurality of paper discharge units for discharging the recording medium; a control means for controlling the recording means based on the width of the recording medium and the recording scanning speed of the recording scan so that the recording scan is performed for the width of the recording medium regardless of the width of the recording data; and A printing apparatus characterized in that the control means causes the printing means to scan so that, in printing an image, the time from the start of a printing scan to the start of the next printing scan is a predetermined value.

3. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing means is scanned so that the time from the start of a printing scan to the start of the next printing scan is the predetermined value, based on an estimated scanning time obtained by estimating the time required for the printing scan of the printing data from the width of the printing data in the scanning direction and the printing scan speed of the printing scan.

4. a setting means for setting a parameter of a delay operation relating to the image recording operation by said recording means based on said estimated scanning time so that the time from the start of the current recording scan to the start of the next recording scan becomes said predetermined value; 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said recording means is scanned in accordance with the parameters set by said setting means.

5. The recording device according to claim 4, characterized in that the setting means sets a delay operation parameter for the image recording operation by the recording means based on information indicating which of the multiple paper discharge sections will discharge the recording medium on which the image has been recorded in accordance with the instruction and the estimated scanning time, so that the time from the start of the current recording scan to the start of the next recording scan becomes the specified value.

6. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the parameter of the delay operation is a delay time provided after the end of a printing scan.

7. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the parameter of the delay operation is a scanning speed during printing scanning.

8. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the parameter of the delay operation is the number of printing passes during printing scanning.

9. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the delay operation parameters are a combination of a delay time provided after the end of a print scan, a scan speed during the print scan, and the number of print passes during the print scan.

10. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delay time is made shorter as the amount of ink applied in the scan decreases.

11. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delay time is increased as the amount of ink applied that is likely to stain the recording surface of the recording medium increases.

12. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein when the recording purpose set in the recording job is a line drawing, the delay time is set to be shorter than when the recording purpose set in the recording job is a photograph.

13. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delay time is changed in accordance with the temperature and humidity at the time of recording.

14. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the delay time is not set when no recording medium is loaded in the paper discharge section.

15. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delay time until the leading edge of the recording medium comes into contact with the stacked recording medium is set longer than the delay time after the contact.

16. A recording method for a recording device including: a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium by applying a recording material while scanning the recording medium in a scanning direction intersecting a conveying direction in which the recording medium is conveyed in accordance with an instruction to record an image; a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium; and a plurality of paper discharge units that discharge the recording medium, a printing step of causing the printing means to perform an image printing operation so that the time from the start of a printing scan to the start of the next printing scan is a predetermined value based on the width of the printing data in the scanning direction and the printing scanning speed of the printing scan.

17. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the recording method according to claim 16.

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