Recording device and recording method

Abstract

To suppress satellite that is generated when ink is discharged.SOLUTION: A recording device can execute: a first recording mode as a mode of recording on a recording medium by consecutively driving adjacent recording elements in a block; and a second recording mode in which driving cycle of the recording elements is longer than the first recording mode, where the second recording mode has a high ratio of a non-driving period in which a driving signal is not set to the multiple recording elements and which is provided between a driving period of the multiple recording elements and the next driving period of the multiple recording elements, relative to the driving cycle, as compared to that of the first recording mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet recording devices are primarily used for photo printing and postcard printing, and are characterized by high speed recording, high quality, low noise, and the ability to record on a variety of media. Inkjet technology is expanding into a variety of applications, and the recording heads used in inkjet recording devices are becoming more and more sophisticated and innovative.

[0003] There are two main types of inkjet methods known: thermal inkjet and piezoelectric. The thermal inkjet method applies thermal energy to ink, causing a change in state that is accompanied by a sudden change in volume (the generation of air bubbles), and the ink is ejected from the nozzle by the action force based on this state change. The piezoelectric method applies a voltage to the electrodes on both sides of the piezoelectric element to deform the element, and the ink is ejected from the nozzle by the volume change.

[0004] Inkjet recording devices form images by ejecting ink from ejection ports onto a recording medium using the above method. In recent years, in order to meet market needs for higher resolution images and faster recording and expectations for industrial applications, technological developments have been made to eject smaller droplets than before in inkjet recording devices. In addition, technological developments have been made to solve the problem of suppressing satellite droplets, which are smaller than the main droplets and occur behind the main droplets.

[0005] Satellites cause various problems. For example, smaller ink droplets are more susceptible to air resistance, so when the main droplet passes through the air, it is affected by the air currents, and the satellites that follow land in unexpected places, degrading image quality.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that reduces satellites by ejecting ink in a state where the ink meniscus is convex relative to the nozzle face due to ejection from adjacent nozzles. To achieve this state, Patent Document 1 presents a method in which the ejection time interval between adjacent nozzles is set to a predetermined value, and as a means for achieving this, it drives adjacent nozzles in sequence. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-23259 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in order to reduce the occurrence of satellites by ejecting ink with a convex ink meniscus, it is desirable to eject ink at a predetermined time interval relative to the ejection of adjacent nozzles, but it is assumed that this alone is not sufficient. Since the ejection interval between adjacent nozzles varies depending on the drive cycle, it may not be possible to sufficiently suppress the occurrence of satellites by simply ejecting adjacent nozzles in sequence. This embodiment has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to perform printing while suppressing satellites more than ever before. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a recording device comprising a printhead having a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a predetermined direction for ejecting ink, a plurality of printing elements used for ejecting ink from the plurality of ejection ports provided so as to correspond to the plurality of ejection ports, respectively, and a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of ejection ports, and a drive means for dividing a plurality of printing elements among the plurality of printing elements arranged consecutively in the predetermined direction into a plurality of blocks, and driving the printing elements for each block so that adjacent printing elements are continuously driven, and performing printing by relatively moving the printhead and a printing medium in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording device being capable of executing a first printing mode and a second printing mode in which the driving cycle of the printing elements is longer than that of the first printing mode, as modes in which the plurality of printing elements divided into a plurality of blocks are continuously driven by the drive means to perform printing on the printing medium, the second printing mode having a longer driving cycle of the plurality of printing elements than that of the first printing mode, The period from the first drive to the last drive in the block. The driving period and the next The period from the first drive to the last drive in the block. The present invention is characterized in that the ratio of non-driving periods in which no driving signals are set to the plurality of printing elements provided between driving periods is high. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the above configuration, recording can be performed while suppressing the occurrence of satellites. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a recording device [Diagram 2] A block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit of a printing apparatus. [Diagram 3] A perspective view of a recording head [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a nozzle driving sequence. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing the relationship between scanning speed, recording resolution, and drive signal [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a nozzle driving sequence. [Figure 7]A diagram showing the drive interval between adjacent nozzles and the number of satellites [Figure 8] A diagram showing the width of the drive signal relative to the scanning speed and recording resolution. [Figure 9] A diagram showing the relationship between scanning speed, recording resolution, and drive signal [Figure 10] 1 is a table showing block margins and their block lengths according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] Flowchart for explaining the first embodiment [Figure 12] Flowchart for explaining the second embodiment [Figure 13] Flowchart for explaining the third embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (First embodiment) In this specification, "recording" (hereinafter also referred to as "printing") refers not only to the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also to the formation of images, patterns, designs, etc., on a recording medium, regardless of whether they are meaningful or not, or to the processing of the medium. In addition, it does not matter whether they are manifested in a way that can be perceived by humans visually.

[0014] In addition, the term "recording medium" refers not only to paper used in general recording devices, but also broadly to anything capable of receiving ink, such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather.

[0015] The term "ink" should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of "recording" above, and refers to a liquid that can be applied to a recording medium to form an image, design, pattern, etc., or to process the recording medium, or to treat the ink. Examples of ink treatment include solidifying or insolubilizing the coloring material in the ink applied to the recording medium.

[0016] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the term "nozzle" collectively refers to an ejection port and a liquid path communicating therewith.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of the configuration of an inkjet printing apparatus according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, an inkjet recording device (hereinafter, referred to as a recording device) is equipped with a recording head 3 that performs recording by ejecting ink according to an inkjet method. A driving force generated by a carriage motor M1 is transmitted to a carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted via a transmission mechanism 4, and the carriage 2 is moved back and forth (reciprocating scanning) in the direction of the arrow A, which is the main scanning direction. For example, a recording medium P such as a recording paper is fed via a paper feed mechanism 5, transported to a recording position, and at the recording position, ink is ejected from the recording head 3 onto the recording medium P along with reciprocating scanning, thereby performing recording. The scanning of the recording head 3 and the transport of the recording medium in the transport direction (here, the direction intersecting with the direction of the arrow A) are alternately performed, and this is repeated to perform recording. The recording head 3 may be scanned multiple times on the same area of ​​the recording medium to perform recording. The relative movement between the recording head 3 and the recording medium is performed in a direction intersecting with the nozzle arrangement direction, but this is not limited to the form in which the recording head 3 scans. The recording head 3 may be moved under the stationary recording head 3 in a direction intersecting with the nozzle arrangement direction to perform printing by applying ink to the recording medium that passes through.

[0019] The carriage 2 of the recording apparatus not only carries the recording head 3, but also has an ink tank 6 that contains ink to be supplied to the recording head 3. The recording head 3 and the ink tank 6 are detachable from the carriage 2.

[0020] The recording device shown in FIG. 1 is capable of color recording, and therefore the carriage 2 is equipped with four ink tanks containing magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K) inks, respectively. The carriage 2 and the recording head 3 are arranged so that the joint surfaces of both members are in proper contact with each other to achieve and maintain the required electrical connection. The recording head 3 selectively ejects ink from a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a predetermined direction (here, a direction intersecting with the direction of the arrow A) by applying energy in response to a recording signal, and records. The recording head 3 is provided with liquid chambers for ink supplied within the head corresponding to each color of ink, and ink is supplied to the plurality of ejection ports through channels branching from a common liquid chamber. In particular, the recording head 3 of this embodiment employs an inkjet method that ejects ink using thermal energy, and is equipped with an electrothermal converter, which is a recording element for generating thermal energy. Electrical energy applied to the electrothermal converter is converted into thermal energy, and the thermal energy is applied to the ink, which causes film boiling, which causes bubbles to grow and shrink, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port by utilizing the pressure change caused by this. The electrothermal transducers are provided corresponding to the respective ejection ports, and ink is ejected from the corresponding ejection ports by applying a pulse voltage to the corresponding electrothermal transducers in response to a recording signal.

[0021] 1, the carriage 2 is connected to a part of a drive belt 7 of a transmission mechanism 4 that transmits the driving force of a carriage motor M1, and is guided and supported so as to be slidable along a guide shaft 13 in the direction of arrow A. Therefore, the carriage 2 scans back and forth along the guide shaft 13 by the forward and reverse rotation of the carriage motor M1. Also, a scale 8 is provided for indicating the position of the carriage 2 along the main scanning direction of the carriage 2 (the direction of arrow A).

[0022] The recording device is also provided with a platen (not shown) facing the ejection port surface on which the ejection ports (not shown) of the recording head 3 are formed, and the carriage 2 carrying the recording head 3 is scanned back and forth by the driving force of a carriage motor M1. At the same time, a recording signal is given to the recording head 3 to eject ink, thereby performing recording over the entire width of the recording medium P conveyed onto the platen.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 600 of the printing apparatus has an MPU 601, a ROM 602 that stores necessary tables and other fixed data. It also has an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 603 that generates control signals for controlling the carriage motor M1, the conveyance motor M2, and the print head 3. It also has a RAM 604 that provides an area for developing image data and a work area for executing programs, and a system bus 605 that connects the MPU 601, the ASIC 603, and the RAM 604 to each other and transmits and receives data. It also has an A / D converter 606 that converts analog signals input from a group of sensors 630 of the printing apparatus, such as a position sensor 631 and a temperature sensor 632, into digital signals and supplies the digital signals to the MPU 601. The controller 600 also drives a plurality of printing elements of the print head 3 so as to achieve a predetermined time interval during preliminary ejection and during printing. Also, 610 is a computer or the like that serves as a source of image data and is collectively called a host. Image data, commands, status signals, etc. are transmitted and received between the host 610 and the printing apparatus via an interface (I / F) 611. Furthermore, reference numeral 640 denotes a carriage motor driver that drives the carriage motor M1, and 642 denotes a transport motor driver that drives the transport motor M2. The printing apparatus also includes a group of switches 620, such as a power switch 621, a print switch 622, and a recovery switch 623.

[0024] Fig. 3(a) is an external perspective view showing the print head unit of this embodiment. An ink tank 6 is detachably attached to the print head 3, and ink is supplied to the print head 3 via an ink supply path (not shown). As shown in Fig. 3(b), when the print head is mounted on the carriage 2, electrodes 301 are provided for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage 2 side, and the print head 3 is driven by this electric signal to selectively eject ink from each ejection port of the ejection port array 302.

[0025] The inkjet recording device uses a block division drive method for driving the recording head 3, in which multiple ejection ports are divided into multiple blocks and the ejection ports of each block are driven simultaneously. The time width for which the signal for driving each block can be set is set to be equal, and this time width is called the block length, which is tb in this case.

[0026] In this embodiment, a printhead is used in which nozzles arranged in a row are divided into 16 blocks and driven in a time-division manner. Fig. 4 shows a drive diagram of 16 adjacent nozzles of this printhead during printing. Reference numeral 401 indicates 16 adjacent nozzles (black circles in the figure), and drive signals corresponding to each nozzle are input in a predetermined order from left to right in the figure. Then, ejection operation from each ejection port is started in response to the ON state of a drive signal having a drive waveform as shown by 402.

[0027] The possible range of block lengths for setting drive signals corresponding to each nozzle is limited by the relationship between the scanning speed of the printhead and the printing resolution.

[0028] FIG. 5(a) illustrates these relationships in this embodiment. The correspondence between adjacent nozzles 401 (black circles in the figure) and the waveform of the drive signal is the same as that described in FIG. 4. As shown in 501, if the scanning speed of the print head is V [inch / sec] and the print resolution is R [dot / inch], the drive period for each nozzle is 1 / (V·R) [sec / dot]. In order to fit the drive signal of the nozzles divided into 16 blocks in each print scan into this drive period, the block length for each nozzle is determined so as to satisfy 16tb ≦ 1 / (V·R). This is because when a time of 1 / (V·R) has elapsed since the drive of the first print element of the block, the time for printing the next column (1 / (V·R)) is reached. The amount of ink ejected from the nozzle varies depending on the ejection characteristics of each ink and the real-time temperature change of the print head, and in order to absorb these variations, it is necessary to modulate the drive signal according to each condition, and in order to maintain this degree of freedom, it is preferable to set the block length tb assigned to each nozzle to as large a value as possible. However, if the maximum value tb = 1 / (16·V·R) is used, it will not be possible to fit all the drive signals within the drive cycle when fluctuations occur in the scanning speed of the printhead, so a certain margin tm (hereafter referred to as block margin) is set as shown in 502 of Fig. 5(b) as tb = {1 / (V·R)-tm} / 16, where tm is set as small as possible within the range that does not cause problems in the device configuration, thereby achieving the above-mentioned requirement. This block margin is the non-drive period between the drive periods of the blocks of arranged print elements.

[0029] The order of driving the print elements can be set appropriately, and by setting it discretely as shown in FIG. 4, the interval between driving adjacent print elements can be increased to eject the print elements. Conversely, by setting the order to drive adjacent nozzles continuously as shown in FIG. 6(a), the interval between driving adjacent print elements can be narrowed. In this case, for any nozzle, the interval between the drive times of the adjacent nozzles is the same as the block length, tb. The drive order shown in FIG. 6(b) drives the print elements corresponding to a nozzle that is one different from the print elements corresponding to adjacent nozzles, resulting in continuous printing of adjacent print elements. Compared to the discrete drive order shown in FIG. 4, the drive interval between print elements corresponding to adjacent nozzles can be narrowed. In this case, the drive interval between print elements corresponding to adjacent nozzles is 2tb. However, the drive interval between the print elements corresponding to the nozzles one position above in the figure for the nozzle shown in 601 is greater than 2tb.

[0030] It is known that satellites can be reduced by driving the recording elements corresponding to adjacent nozzles in a continuous order. Normally, when an ink droplet is ejected, it is separated into a main droplet and a trailing droplet that follows it, and the trailing droplet splits and merges to become a small droplet called a satellite. If the ink meniscus is ejected in a convex shape in the ejection direction, the ink tip tends to break off quickly, and the trailing droplet becomes relatively short. By driving the ink in a continuous order and vibrating the meniscus, the above state can be achieved, and as a result, the occurrence of satellites is suppressed.

[0031] The print head 3 of this embodiment is a print head with an ejection volume of 5pl. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the number of satellites at 50 microseconds after the start of ejection and the time interval for driving adjacent print elements. The horizontal axis represents the time interval for driving adjacent print elements, and the vertical axis represents the number of satellites. In FIG. 7, it can be seen that the number of satellites changes by changing the time interval for driving adjacent print elements. The dotted line in the figure indicates the number of satellites by the drive method shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen that the number of satellites is significantly reduced when the time interval for driving adjacent print elements is 5.0 microseconds or less. In this way, by making the drive order continuous and shortening the drive time interval between adjacent nozzles, the number of satellites can be reduced and image quality can be improved.

[0032] However, even if the block length and block interval are adjusted by making the block order continuous, satellites may not be sufficiently reduced depending on the scanning speed and recording resolution of the print head 3. Figure 8 shows the block length values ​​for each scanning speed and recording resolution of the print head 3 used in this embodiment. Here, the block margin is set to 10% of 1 / (V·R), and the value after the first decimal point is rounded down. As is clear from this table, as described above, it is desirable to set the block interval tb to 5.0 microseconds in order to reduce the number of satellites, but this value is exceeded under the conditions of the shaded area in Figure 8.

[0033] In consideration of this point, in this embodiment, among the executable printing modes, a printing mode in which the driving period between printing elements corresponding to nozzles determined by the scanning speed and printing resolution of the print head is long is configured to set the value of the block margin larger than that of a printing mode in which the driving period is short. FIG. 9 shows driving diagrams of two modes with different scanning speeds and printing resolutions. The correspondence between the nozzles and the driving waveforms in each of the diagrams (a) to (c) is the same as that described in FIG. 4. FIG. 9(a) is a driving diagram in the case of the first printing mode according to this embodiment in which the scanning speed of the print head is 30 [inch / sec] and the printing resolution is 600 [dot / inch], and the driving period is 55.56 microseconds. In this case, the driving interval (block interval) between elements corresponding to adjacent nozzles is 3.1 microseconds, which is sufficient to obtain the effect of reducing satellites, whereas in a printing mode in which the printing resolution is 300 [dot / inch] (see FIG. 9(b)), the driving interval between adjacent nozzles is 6.2 microseconds. Therefore, in order to obtain the effect of reducing satellites, the block margin is increased from 11.11 microseconds, which is 10% of the drive cycle, to 33.33 microseconds, which is 30%, as in the second recording mode according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 9(c). This results in a drive interval (block interval) of 4.8 microseconds, which obtains the effect of reducing satellites. In this way, if the block interval at which satellites can be reduced is td, the block margin may be set to satisfy tm > 1 / (V·R)-16td. As described above, it is desirable to shorten the block margin so that the drive interval can be set as long as possible in order to ensure the freedom of the ejection signal, but it is possible to optimize image quality by setting the drive interval and block margin in consideration of the characteristics of the recording mode, the purpose, or the freedom of the ejection signal.

[0034] Figure 10 is a table in which the block margin and block length are set to obtain the effect of satellite reduction. In Figure 10(a), the print mode with a relatively low scanning speed and print resolution of 300 dpi, i.e., a print mode with a relatively long drive cycle, is set so that the ratio of the block margin to the drive cycle is higher than in a print mode with a print resolution of 600 dpi. This allows the block interval to be set to a value below td at which the effect of satellite suppression is obtained, as shown in Figure 10(b).

[0035] 11 is a flow chart showing the control process of the inkjet recording apparatus in this embodiment. This control process is mainly performed by the controller 600.

[0036] First, when image data is received from a host computer, in step S1110, the recording mode of the received image data is acquired. Since the received image data also includes the parameters of the recording mode, mode information is acquired. If the received image data does not include the parameters of the recording mode, the recording mode set on the operation unit of the recording device is acquired, or the host computer or the recording device displays on the operation unit to prompt the user to set the recording mode. Next, in S1120, the scanning speed and recording resolution of the recording head associated with the recording mode acquired in S1110 are acquired, and in the following S1130, a block margin that matches the conditions of the scanning speed and recording resolution is set. Next, in S1140, an image is recorded according to the parameters set in S1120 and S1130.

[0037] As described above, the longer the drive cycle for each nozzle, which is determined by the scanning speed and printing resolution of the print head, the greater the block margin ratio can be set to suppress the occurrence of satellites, making it possible to obtain a high-quality printed image.

[0038] Second embodiment In the first embodiment, the ratio of the block margin is set to a larger value in a print mode in which the drive cycle for each nozzle, which is determined from the print head scanning speed and print resolution, is longer than in the second embodiment, in which the ratio of the block margin is changed depending on the distance between the print head and the print medium.

[0039] When ink is ejected from a nozzle, satellites that occur behind the main droplets deteriorate image quality, so a configuration for suppressing the generation of satellites and improving image quality has been described. However, the degree to which the generated satellites deteriorate image quality strongly depends on the distance between the print head and the print medium. Since the volume of the satellites is smaller than that of the main droplets, they are more susceptible to the influence of air resistance and the image quality deteriorates when they land at a position different from the main droplets. However, if the distance between the print head and the print medium is small, the flight time is shortened and the deviation from the landing position of the main droplet is reduced. Therefore, if the distance between the print head 3 and the print medium P at the print position is sufficiently small, the effect of the satellites on image quality is small. As described in the first embodiment, the satellites can be suppressed by setting the ratio of the block margin to a large value, while setting the block length to a long value makes it easier to deal with density fluctuations. When the distance between the print head and the print medium is relatively small, it is desirable to select the latter. In this embodiment, the distance between the print head and the platen and the thickness of the print medium that the device can handle are stored in advance in the ROM 602 as distance information between the print head and the print medium. The distance between the print head and the print medium is calculated from the type of print medium set together with the print mode, and a preset value is compared with the distance to the print medium to determine whether or not to select a table that increases the ratio of the block margin.

[0040] 12 is a flow chart showing the control process of the inkjet recording apparatus in this embodiment. This control process is mainly performed by the controller 600.

[0041] Steps S1210 and S1220 are the same as steps S1110 and S1120 in the first embodiment. In the following step S1230, the type of recording medium to be printed and its thickness are acquired, and the distance between the recording head and the recording medium is calculated. Next, in S1240, the calculated distance is compared with a preset value. If it is greater than the preset value, in S1250, a table is used in which a block margin is set such that the block interval tb is smaller than td, and a block margin that matches the conditions of the scanning speed and recording resolution is set. If it is equal to or less than the preset value, in S1260, the block margin is set to a preset margin required for the configuration. In the case of the same resolution and the same scanning speed, the block margin set in step S1260 is longer than the block margin set in step S1250. Next, in S1270, an image is recorded according to the set parameters.

[0042] In this embodiment, the thickness of the recording medium is stored in advance in the ROM, but a sensor that detects the distance between the recording head and the recording medium may be provided, and the control may be determined based on the value. Also, the calculated distance is compared with a predetermined value, but it is preferable that the predetermined value is appropriately set for each ink, head, etc. configuration and recording mode.

[0043] As described above, by varying the ratio of the block margin depending on the distance between the print head and the print medium, it is possible to appropriately suppress the effect of satellites on image quality and obtain a high-quality printed image.

[0044] (Third embodiment) In the third embodiment, an example in which the ratio of the block margin is changed depending on the ink color will be described.

[0045] As mentioned above, the occurrence of satellites degrades image quality, but the amount of satellites that occur varies depending on the characteristics of the ink. For inks that generate a lot of satellites, suppressing satellites contributes to improving image quality, but for inks that do not generate satellites easily, control to suppress satellites does not contribute to improving image quality. Therefore, image quality can be optimized by varying the block margin ratio described above depending on the ink.

[0046] 13 is a flow chart showing the control process of the inkjet recording apparatus in this embodiment. This control process is mainly performed by the controller 600.

[0047] Steps S1310 and S1320 are the same as steps S1110 and S1120 in the first embodiment. In the following step S1330, the settings for the blocks are determined for each ink. It is determined in advance whether or not to perform satellite reduction control for each ink, and in the case of an ink that is the target of satellite reduction, in S1340, a table is used in which a block margin is set so that the block interval tb is smaller than td, and a block margin that meets the conditions of the scanning speed and recording resolution is set. In the case of an ink that is not the target of satellite reduction, in S1350, a block margin is set so as to be a predetermined margin required for the configuration. In S1360, it is determined whether the settings for all inks have been completed, and if not, the process returns to S1330 and continues the settings. If the settings have been completed, in S1370, an image is recorded according to the parameters that have been set.

[0048] As described above, by varying the ratio of the block margin in accordance with the characteristics of the ink, it is possible to appropriately suppress deterioration in image quality due to the occurrence of satellites, and to obtain a high-quality printed image.

[0049] (Other embodiments) In the second and third embodiments, the block margin is set according to the printing conditions and the ink used, and satellites are suppressed as necessary. However, the following conditions can be considered as conditions for whether or not to suppress satellites. In a printing mode with a large number of printing passes between different printing modes, the number of nozzles ejecting simultaneously is small in a mode with a large number of printing passes, so the probability that adjacent nozzles are continuously driven is relatively low, and the satellite reduction effect due to ink meniscus vibration is small. Therefore, it is desirable to prioritize the effect of suppressing density fluctuations by setting the block length long. It is also possible to differ the control depending on the attributes of the image to be formed, such as whether the image contains many natural images or many lines and characters. When the image contains many lines and characters, image quality degradation such as line distortion and character crushing is easily noticeable when many satellites occur, but while such degradation is relatively less noticeable in natural images, unevenness due to density fluctuations is easily noticeable in images with continuous gradations. Therefore, it is desirable to control the block margin according to the characteristics of the image. The printer may have a means for determining the characteristics of the image, or the user may set them in advance.

[0050] Although the embodiment has been described above, the block margin may be set not only to be located at the rear of the drive cycle as described above, but also to be arranged separately at the front and rear. Also, the sequential drive in which the nozzles are continuously arranged and divided into blocks are driven in the order from the recording element corresponding to the nozzle at one end to the opposite end has been described. However, such a completely sequential drive order is not necessarily required. Even in a drive method in which the drive order is not continuous between some adjacent nozzles, satellites can be suppressed by adjusting the drive interval of some adjacent nozzles that are continuously driven by adjusting the block margin as described above. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the drive time interval of adjacent nozzles is controlled, but it is also possible that the vibration of the ink meniscus affects not only adjacent nozzles but also adjacent nozzles next to them. Therefore, based on the above embodiment, it is also possible to control the drive time interval of nozzles at discrete positions that are considered to be affected by the influence, that is, adjacent nozzles, not limited to adjacent nozzles on both sides.

Claims

1. a printhead having a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a predetermined direction for ejecting ink, a plurality of printing elements used for ejecting ink from the plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to the plurality of ejection ports, respectively, and a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of ejection ports; and a drive means for dividing a plurality of printing elements among the plurality of printing elements that are arranged consecutively in the predetermined direction into a plurality of blocks, and driving the printing elements for each block so that adjacent printing elements are continuously driven, wherein the printing device performs printing by relatively moving the printhead and a printing medium in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the printhead is capable of executing a first printing mode and a second printing mode in which a driving cycle of the printing elements is longer than that of the first printing mode, A printing apparatus characterized in that, compared to the first printing mode, the second printing mode has a higher ratio of non-driving periods, in which no driving signals are set for the multiple printing elements, that are provided between a driving period that is the period from the first driving to the last driving of the multiple printing elements in the block and a driving period that is the period from the first driving to the last driving of the multiple printing elements in the block, relative to the driving cycle.

2. a recording head having a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a predetermined direction for ejecting ink, a plurality of recording elements used for ejecting ink from the plurality of ejection ports provided so as to correspond to the plurality of ejection ports, respectively, and a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of ejection ports; and a driving means for dividing a plurality of recording elements arranged consecutively in the predetermined direction among the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks and driving the recording elements for each block so that adjacent recording elements are driven consecutively, the recording device performing recording by relatively moving the recording head and a recording medium in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording device having a driving means for driving the recording elements in a state in which the meniscus of the ink of the plurality of ejection ports is convex in the ejection direction a first recording mode and a second recording mode in which the driving cycle of the recording element is longer than that of the first recording mode; A printing apparatus characterized in that, compared to the first printing mode, the second printing mode has a higher ratio of non-driving periods, in which no driving signals are set for the multiple printing elements, that are provided between a driving period that is the period from the first driving to the last driving of the multiple printing elements in the block and a driving period that is the period from the first driving to the last driving of the multiple printing elements in the block, relative to the driving cycle.

3. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acquisition unit that acquires distance information relating to a distance between the ejection port and the printing medium, and sets the non-driving period based on the distance information acquired by the acquisition unit.

4. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printhead performs printing using a plurality of colors of ink, and the non-driving period is set for a plurality of printing elements respectively corresponding to the respective colors of ink according to the type of ink.

5. 5. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of printing elements are divided into a plurality of blocks, and the plurality of nozzles arranged in succession in the blocks are driven in the order in which the corresponding printing elements are arranged from the nozzles at one end to the nozzles at the opposite end.

6. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the relative movement is higher in the first recording mode than in the second recording mode.

7. A recording device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first recording mode has a higher recording resolution than the second recording mode.

8. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink while moving in a direction intersecting a conveying direction of the recording medium to perform recording.

9. a recording device including a recording head having a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a predetermined direction for ejecting ink, a plurality of recording elements used for ejecting ink from the plurality of ejection ports provided corresponding to each of the plurality of ejection ports, and a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of ejection ports; and a driving means for dividing a plurality of recording elements that are continuously arranged in the predetermined direction among the plurality of recording elements into a plurality of blocks, and driving the recording elements for each block so that adjacent recording elements are continuously driven, the recording device performing a recording method by relatively moving the recording head and a recording medium in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, the recording method being characterized in that, when recording is performed by a first recording method, a non-drive period in which no drive signal is set for the plurality of recording elements provided between a drive period that is a period from the first drive to the last drive in the block of the plurality of recording elements and a drive period that is a period from the first drive to the last drive in the block of the next plurality of recording elements, is provided for a predetermined period, and when recording is performed by a second recording method in which the drive cycle of the recording elements is longer than that of the first recording method, the ratio of the non-drive period to the drive cycle of the recording elements is higher than that of the first recording method.

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