Recording device

Abstract

To provide a technique for appropriately suppressing reduction in cutting accuracy of a slitter even when rigidity of a recording medium changes.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: first conveyance means for conveying a recording medium; recording means for imparting ink to the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance means and recording an image; cutting means that is provided on the downstream side in a recording medium conveyance direction by the first conveyance means, and cuts the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance means in the conveyance direction; and second conveyance means provided on the cutting means, and has correction means for correcting a parameter related to at least one conveyance of the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means on the basis of information on the recording medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus capable of cutting a sheet-like recording medium to be conveyed. position It relates thereto.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a recording apparatus including a slitter that cuts a recording medium after recording along the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Specifically, in the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the recording medium to be conveyed is inserted into the blade portion of the slitter from its leading end and is cut along the conveyance direction as the recording medium is conveyed.

[0003] Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, among the rollers that convey the recording medium, the roller located downstream of the slitter has a configuration in which its rotation speed is faster by a certain amount than the roller located upstream of the slitter. Thereby, tension is applied to the recording medium cut by the slitter, and it is said that a decrease in the cutting accuracy by the slitter is suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the rigidity of the recording medium changes depending on various conditions such as the type of the recording medium, the amount of ink applied, external environments such as temperature and humidity. Due to such a change in the rigidity of the recording medium, it becomes impossible to obtain the tension necessary for maintaining good cutting accuracy, and floating and bending may occur in the recording medium, and there is a risk that the cutting accuracy by the slitter may decrease.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of appropriately suppressing a decrease in cutting accuracy of a slitter even when the rigidity of a recording medium changes.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention includes a first conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium, a recording unit that applies ink to the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance unit to record an image, and a recording unit that is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit and cuts the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance unit along the conveyance direction. A cutting unit, and a second conveyance unit provided in the cutting unit, wherein the recording apparatus includes correction means for correcting parameters related to the conveyance of at least one of the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit based on information of the recording medium, and the information is information related to the change in rigidity Information obtained by reading a detection pattern recorded together with an image recorded based on image data.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to appropriately suppress a decrease in cutting accuracy of a slitter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an example of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the present invention. Also, the relative positions and shapes of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and unless otherwise specified, they are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those. positional

[0011] ​ In the following description, "recording" includes not only the case of forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also the case of forming images, patterns, patterns, etc. on a recording medium regardless of whether they are significant or not, or performing processing on the medium. Further, it does not matter whether or not it is manifested so that it can be perceived visually by humans. Furthermore, in the embodiment, although a recording medium is assumed as the "recording medium", it may be cut paper, cloth, a plastic film, or the like.

[0012] (First Embodiment) First, a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0013] <Overall Configuration of the Recording Apparatus> The recording apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 is an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by applying ink to a long sheet-like recording medium based on job data output from a host apparatus (not shown). In the present embodiment, in the recording apparatus 100, a roll formed by winding a long sheet-like recording medium 1 is held. The recording medium 1 unwound from the roll passes through a conveyance path formed by an upper guide 6 and a lower guide 7 and is sent downstream. Thereafter, the recording medium 1 is sandwiched between a conveyance roller 8 and a pinch roller 9 and conveyed to an image recording unit. The image recording unit includes a recording head 2, a carriage 3 on which the recording head 2 is mounted, and a platen 10 disposed at a position facing the recording head 2. The recording medium 1 is conveyed onto the platen 10 by the conveyance roller 8. In the image recording unit, ink ejected from the recording head 2 is applied to the recording medium 1 conveyed onto the platen 10, and an image is recorded.

[0014] The carriage 3 is slidably supported by a guide shaft 4 extending in the X direction intersecting (orthogonal in this embodiment) the Y direction which is the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1, and a guide rail (not shown) provided in parallel with the guide shaft 4. Further, the carriage 3 is provided with a reflection type detection sensor 12 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1 with respect to the recording head 2 so as to face the platen 10.

[0015] As a result, the carriage 3 is configured to be able to scan, that is, reciprocate in the X direction along the guide shaft 4 while holding the recording head 2. Then, when the carriage 3 is scanning in the X direction, ink is ejected from the recording head 2 to apply ink to the recording medium 1 for recording. Thus, in this embodiment, the recording head 2 functions as a recording means for performing recording on the recording medium.

[0016] After the recording device 100 performs recording on the recording medium 1 by scanning the recording head 2 in the X direction via the carriage 3, the recording medium 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveyance roller 8, and the recording head 2 is scanned again via the carriage 3 to perform recording on the recording medium 1. Thus, in the recording device 100, by repeatedly executing the recording operation of scanning the recording head 2 in the X direction for recording and the conveyance operation of conveying the recording medium 1 by a predetermined amount in the conveyance direction, a recorded image based on the image data is recorded on the recording medium 1.

[0017] The detection sensor 12 is configured to be able to detect the reflectance of the spot position, details of which will be described later. Therefore, when the platen 10 is black and the recording medium 1 is white, since the reflectances of the two are greatly different, the leading end portion of the conveyed recording medium 1 in the conveyance direction can be detected based on the detection result of the detection sensor 12. Further, since the detection sensor 12 is mounted on the carriage 3, the position of the end portion in the width direction (X direction) of the recording medium 1 can be detected by the reciprocating movement of the carriage 3 in the X direction.

[0018] Downstream of the carriage 3 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1, a cutter 5 for cutting the recording medium 1 in the X direction is provided. Further downstream of the cutter 5 in the conveyance direction, a slitter 13 for cutting the recording medium 1 along the conveyance direction is provided. Downstream of this slitter 13 in the conveyance direction, a discharge guide 11 for discharging the cut recording medium 1 is provided.

[0019] <Configuration of the recording head> FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a nozzle surface of the recording head 2 on which nozzles for discharging ink are formed. The recording head 2 is configured to be able to discharge six colors of ink: black (Bk), light cyan (LC), cyan (C), light magenta (LM), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). The recording head 2 includes, for each color, a nozzle row 20 in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink are arranged side by side along the Y direction. This nozzle row 20 is formed by an EVEN row and an ODD row provided at a predetermined interval in the X direction.

[0020] In each of the EVEN row and the ODD row, 640 nozzles are arranged in the Y direction, which is the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1, at a resolution of 600 dpi. And the EVEN row is arranged with a shift of 1 / 1200 inch in the Y direction with respect to the ODD row. For this reason, in each nozzle row 20, the resolution in the Y direction when recording is performed using both the EVEN row and the ODD row is 1200 dpi.

[0021] Regarding the ink that can be discharged from the recording head 2, the type and number thereof are not limited to the above six colors. Also, in the following description, the recording head 2 in which the nozzle row 20 for discharging ink of each color is composed of an EVEN row and an ODD row will be used for explanation. However, even in a recording head in which the nozzle row 20 for discharging ink of each color is composed of a single nozzle row, the present embodiment can be applied by regarding the odd-numbered nozzles and the even-numbered nozzles as the EVEN row and the ODD row, respectively.

[0022] <Configuration of the detection sensor> FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the detection sensor 12. FIG. 3(a) is a schematic configuration diagram of the detection sensor 12, and FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram including the control configuration of the detection sensor 12.

[0023] The detection sensor 12 includes an LED 401 that irradiates light onto the recording surface 400 of the recording medium 1 to which the ink ejected from the recording head 2 is applied, and a photodiode 402 that receives the reflected light from the recording surface 400. The irradiation area of the irradiation light by the LED 401 and the detection area by the photodiode 402 overlap on the reflection surface (that is, the recording surface 400) to form a detection spot 403. The size of the detection spot 403 is, for example, 5 mm × 5 mm. When the pattern 404 recorded on the recording surface 400 is irradiated with light from the LED 401, the level of the reflection intensity reflecting the recording density of the pattern 404 can be detected via the photodiode 402. The reflection intensity becomes stronger on a white recording medium and weaker on a pattern with a high recording density.

[0024] In the recording apparatus 100, an ASIC 603 provided in a control unit 410 (described later) controls the operation of the detection sensor 12. The LED 401 can selectively emit light of the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and is controlled by an LED driver 12a according to the color of the pattern to be detected.

[0025] The light reception signal from the photodiode 402 is subjected to signal amplification processing, low-pass filter processing for noise removal, etc. in an analog processing unit (AFE: analog front end) 12b. The processed analog signal is input to the ASIC 603 as a digital signal via an ADC (A / D converter) 603a of the ASIC 603. Also, the processed analog signal is input to a comparator 408, and the comparator output is input to an interrupt port 603b of the ASIC 603 as an interrupt signal.

[0026] In the recording device 100, a carriage encoder 407 for detecting the position of the carriage 3 is provided, and a signal from this carriage encoder 407 is input to the ASIC 603. The ASIC 603 synchronizes the output signal from the detection sensor 12 and the position signal from the carriage encoder 407 in cooperation with the CPU 411 of the control unit 410, and processes the signal from the detection sensor 12 as a density detection signal corresponding to the position of the carriage 3. Further, a RAM 413 (described later) is connected to the ASIC 603, and data of the read pattern, the count value output from the carriage encoder 407, etc. are stored in this RAM 413.

[0027] <Configuration of the cutter> FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram near the cutter 5 and the slitter 13 of the recording device 100. In this specification, the endings "L" and "R" of the reference numerals indicate the members on the left side (i.e., the +X side) and the members on the right side (i.e., the -X side) in the figure, respectively. In this specification, for matters common to the left and right members, the endings of the reference numerals may be omitted.

[0028] The cutter 5 includes a cutter unit 300 as a cutting part for cutting the recording medium 1 in the X direction, and a moving unit 290 as a moving part for moving the cutter unit 300 along the X direction.

[0029] The moving unit 290 includes a cutter carriage 200 slidably provided on a guide rail 101 extending in the X direction. The cutter carriage 200 is provided with a cutter unit 300 and a belt 102. The belt 102 is endlessly stretched between a motor pulley 107 and a tensioner pulley 108 provided near the left and right ends of the guide rail 101. And the belt 102 is configured to be movable by the drive of a cutter motor 103 connected to the motor pulley 107.

[0030] The cutter motor 103 is provided with a cutter encoder 104. The cutter encoder 104 counts the number of pulses corresponding to the drive of the cutter motor 103. The control unit 410, which will be described later, controls the moving positions of the cutter unit 300 in the X1 and X2 directions based on the origin position of the cutter carriage 200 and the number of pulses obtained by the cutter encoder 104.

[0031] The cutter unit 300 has an upper movable blade 301 and a lower movable blade 302, and cuts the recording medium 1 when moving in the X direction at the contact point thereof. Also, the upper movable blade 301 and the lower movable blade 302 are connected via the cutter motor 103, the belt 102, and the cutter carriage 200. For this reason, the upper movable blade 301 and the lower movable blade 302 are configured to be rotationally drivable by the drive of the cutter motor 103.

[0032] When cutting the recording medium 1, the lower movable blade 302 and the upper movable blade 301 that contacts the lower movable blade both rotate while cutting the recording medium 1. In FIG. 4, cutting by the cutter unit 300 is performed from the first end portion 1a of the recording medium toward the second end portion 1b of the recording medium. The first end portion 1a of the recording medium is the end portion on the standby position P1 side of the cutter unit 300. After cutting the recording medium 1, the cutter carriage 200 reverses at a predetermined reversal position and moves to the standby position P1 to wait for the next cutting operation. In the present embodiment, an example in which the cutter unit 300 is mounted on the cutter carriage 200 is shown, but for example, the cutter unit 300 may be mounted on the carriage 3 that mounts the recording head 2.

[0033] <Configuration of the slitter> The slitter 13 is provided on the downstream side of the cutter 5 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1. The slitter 13 has a slitter unit 303 movably provided on a slitter guide rail 307 extending in the X direction (see FIG. 4). This slitter unit 303 is movable to any position in the X1 and X2 directions and can cut the recording medium 1 along a direction parallel to the conveyance direction (+Y direction).

[0034] In the present embodiment, the slitter 13 is configured to mount two slitter units 303L and 303R. Note that the slitter units 303L and 303R are symmetric with respect to the left and right in the X1 and X2 directions and have the same component configuration. For this reason, in FIG. 4, for the sake of simplification, mainly the components of the slitter unit 303L are labeled.

[0035] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the details of the slitter unit 303L. FIG. 5(a) is a plan view of the cutting portion 60L of the slitter unit 303L, and FIG. 5(b) is a side view of the cutting portion 60L. FIG. 6 is a front view of the slitter unit 303L.

[0036] The slitter unit 303L includes a cutting portion 60L for cutting the recording medium 1 along the Y direction, and a moving portion 62L for moving the cutting portion 60L along the X direction (see FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the slitter unit 303 functions as a cutting means for cutting the recording medium 1 along the conveyance direction.

[0037] The cutting portion 60L is provided with a slitter upper movable blade 304L and a slitter lower movable blade 305L. The slitter upper movable blade 304L and the slitter lower movable blade 305L are arranged so as to provide a round blade overlap amount 313L in the vertical direction (Z direction) with each other (see FIG. 5(b)), and a predetermined angle (crossing angle) θ with respect to the conveyance direction which is the cutting direction (see FIG. 5(a)).

[0038] At the contact point 311L (see Fig. 5(b)) between the upper movable blade 304L and the lower movable blade 305L of the slitter, the recording medium 1 is cut. The upper movable blade 304L of the slitter is connected to the slitter drive motor 16L via a gear (see Fig. 6) and rotates by the drive of the slitter drive motor 16L. When rotating the upper movable blade 304L by the driving force of the slitter drive motor 16L, the upper slitter conveying roller 320L connected coaxially with the upper movable blade 304L of the slitter also rotates. The outer peripheral surface of the upper slitter conveying roller 320L is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower slitter conveying roller 321L connected coaxially with the lower movable blade 305L of the slitter at the roller clamping point 312L (see Fig. 5(b)).

[0039] Therefore, the lower slitter conveying roller 321L is driven by the frictional transmission of the upper slitter conveying roller 320L, and the lower movable blade 305L of the slitter rotates by the drive of the lower slitter conveying roller 321L. Accordingly, by the drive by such frictional transmission, the recording medium 1 is conveyed by the upper slitter conveying roller 320L and the lower slitter conveying roller 321L, and the recording medium 1 is cut in the conveying direction while the upper and lower blades (304L, 305L) both rotate.

[0040] The slitter drive motor 16L is provided with a slitter drive encoder 310L, and based on the output result by this slitter drive encoder 310L, its driving amount can be controlled. The drive of the slitter drive motor 16L is controlled in synchronization with the conveying roller 8. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the driving amount of the conveying roller 8 and the driving amount of the slitter drive motor 16L are configured to be controllable by the control unit 410.

[0041] In addition, the moving part 62L is provided with a slitter moving motor 14L and a slitter moving roller 306L. The slitter moving motor 14L is configured to be able to transmit a driving force to the slitter moving roller 306L via a gear. The slitter moving motor 14L is provided with a slitter moving encoder 309L, and based on the output result of this slitter moving encoder 309L, the driving amount thereof is controlled by the control unit 410. That is, based on the output result of the slitter moving encoder 309L, the moving position of the slitter unit 303L from the standby position is controlled.

[0042] The slitter moving roller 306L is movably provided along a slitter guide rail 307 extending in the X direction. Specifically, the slitter moving roller 306L is in contact with the slitter guide rail 307. When the slitter moving roller 306L is driven, due to the friction between its surface and the slitter guide rail 307, the slitter unit 303L moves in the X1 and X2 directions. That is, the upper slitter movable blade 304L, the lower slitter movable blade 305L, the upper slitter conveying roller 320L, and the lower slitter conveying roller 321L are integrally movable along the slitter guide rail 307.

[0043] In this embodiment, the moving mechanism of the moving part 62L is a friction drive of the slitter moving roller 306L, but it may also be configured as a rack & pinion with the slitter moving roller 306 as a pinion and the slitter guide rail as a rack.

[0044] When cutting the recording medium 1 with the slitter unit 303 having such a configuration, first, the slitter units 303L and 303R are moved to the cutting position. Also, the conveying motor 51 that drives the conveying roller 8 and the slitter driving motors 16L and 16R are driven to convey the recording medium 1 with the conveying roller 8.

[0045] Next, when the leading edge of the recording medium 1 conveyed by the conveyance roller 8 reaches the contact points 311L and 311R of the slitter 13, the recording medium 1 is conveyed by the upper-slitter conveyance rollers 320L and 320R and the lower-slitter conveyance rollers 321L and 321R. At this time, the recording medium 1 is cut by the left and right upper-slitter movable blades 304L and 304R and the lower-slitter movable blades 305L and 305R. In this way, while the recording medium 1 is being cut by the upper and lower blades (304, 305), it is sandwiched and conveyed by the upper and lower rollers (320, 321), and is discharged through the discharge guide 11.

[0046] The cutting by the slitter unit 303 can be executed in parallel with the recording operation. The slitter unit 303 moves from the standby position to predetermined cutting positions in the X1 and X2 directions according to the user's settings. Then, the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 are driven to convey the recording medium 1 by the conveyance roller 8.

[0047] In the image recording unit, when an image is recorded by scanning for one line by moving the recording head 2 via the carriage 3 in the X1 or X2 direction, the recording medium 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount by the conveyance roller 8 and the pinch roller 9. Then, the recording head 2 is scanned via the carriage 3 to record an image. As the recording progresses and the leading edge of the recording medium 1 reaches the contact point 311, the recording medium 1 is cut by the rotating upper-slitter movable blades 304L and 304R and the lower-slitter movable blades 305L and 305R. Also, while being cut, the recording medium 1 is sandwiched and conveyed by the upper-slitter conveyance rollers 320L and 320R and the lower-slitter conveyance rollers 321L and 321R.

[0048] Then, when the recording of the image is completed and the cutting by the slitter unit 303 is completed, the slitter unit 303 moves to a predetermined standby position located, for example, in the vicinity of the first end portion 1a and the second end portion 1b of the recording medium. Thereafter, the recording medium 1 is conveyed to a cutting position where it can be cut by the cutter unit 300, and is cut in the X direction by the cutter unit 300, and the cut portion is discharged through the discharge guide 11.

[0049] Note that the configuration of the slitter 13 described above is merely an example, and any configuration may be used as long as it is movable in the width direction of the recording medium 1 and can cut the conveyed recording medium 1 in the conveyance direction at an arbitrary position in the width direction. For example, the upper slitter conveyance roller 320 and the lower slitter conveyance roller 321, and the upper slitter movable blade 304 and the lower slitter movable blade 305 may be driven independently. Also, it may be configured to move manually to the cutting position without having a drive source, or the cutting portion 60 may be configured by a fixed flat blade.

[0050] <Control Configuration of the Recording Apparatus> FIG. 7 is a block configuration diagram of the control system of the recording apparatus 100. The recording apparatus 100 includes a control unit 410 for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus. The control unit 410 includes a CPU 411, a ROM 412, a RAM 413, and a motor driver 414. Although not shown, the control unit 410 also includes an ASIC 603 for controlling the detection sensor 12.

[0051] The control unit 410 controls a conveyance motor 51 that drives the conveyance roller 8, a cutter motor 103 that drives the cutter 5, a slitter movement motor 14 that moves the slitter 13, and a slitter drive motor 16 that drives the cutting portion 60 of the slitter 13. Further, the control unit 410 controls a carriage motor 52 that moves the carriage 3, a conveyance roller encoder 112 that detects the drive amount of the conveyance motor 51, and a cutter encoder 104 that detects the drive amount of the cutter motor 103. Furthermore, the control unit 410 controls a slitter movement encoder 309 that detects the drive amount of the slitter movement motor 14, and a slitter drive encoder 310 that detects the drive amount of the slitter drive motor 16. Additionally, the control unit 410 controls a carriage encoder 407 for detecting the position of the carriage 3, a recording head 2 that applies ink to the recording medium 1, and the drive of the detection sensor 12. That is, the control unit 410 controls each motor and the recording head 2 based on signals acquired from each encoder, sensor, etc.

[0052] <Recording process> As described above, in the recording apparatus 100, it is configured such that a predetermined position in the width direction (X direction) of the recording medium 1 on which an image is recorded can be cut by the slitter 13. For this reason, in the recording apparatus 100, for example, in the width direction, by cutting the inside of both end portions in the X direction of the image recording region on which the image to be left as a product is recorded by the slitter 13, so-called borderless recording can be performed. Compared with the case where borderless recording is performed by a recording apparatus not provided with the slitter 13, in the recording apparatus 100, since it is not necessary to apply ink so as to protrude from the recording medium 1, it is possible to significantly suppress the adhesion of ink to the platen 10.

[0053] Therefore, in the recording apparatus 100, it is possible to select an edge setting of "with edge" or "without edge" via an operation unit (not shown) provided in the recording apparatus 100, a host apparatus (not shown) connected to the recording apparatus 100, or the like. When the edge setting is "without edge", the image to be left as a product is cut by the slitter 13 as described above. On the other hand, when the edge setting is "with edge", the outside of the image to be left as a product, that is, the unrecorded portion in the X direction is cut by the slitter 13.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the resistance force generated in the cutting portion 60 of the slitter unit 303 according to the amount of ink applied when performing edge-less recording. FIG. 8(a) is a diagram showing a case where the amount of ink applied in the image recording area is small, and FIG. 8(b) is a diagram showing a case where the amount of ink applied in the image recording area is large. When cutting by the slitter 13, a resistance force in the -Y direction is generated in the cutting portion 60 with respect to the conveyance force of the recording medium 1 in the +Y direction. In the case of edge-less recording in which the image recording area is cut by the slitter 13, when the amount of ink applied to the image recording area is large (see FIG. 8(b)), the resistance force is larger than when the amount of ink applied to the image recording area is small (see FIG. 8(a)). This is because the rigidity (stiffness) of the recording medium 1 decreases as the amount of ink applied increases.

[0055] Therefore, due to this difference in resistance force, the conveyance amount by the slitter upper conveyance roller 320 of the slitter unit 303 decreases as the amount of ink applied to the image recording area increases. That is, in the slitter upper conveyance roller 320, as the amount of ink applied to the image recording area increases, the resistance force applied to the cutting portion 60 increases, and as a result, the conveyance amount decreases.

[0056] Incidentally, regarding the resistance force generated at the cutting portion 60 of the slitter unit 303, it also varies depending on the amount of ink applied in the image recording area, the type of the recording medium 1, the settings in the recording mode, the external environment, the cutting amount by the cutting portion 60, and the like. The recording medium 1 has different thickness, stiffness, basis weight, etc. depending on its type. The settings in the recording mode are, for example, the conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed after one scan. The external environment is the temperature and humidity of the place where the recording apparatus is installed. The cutting amount by the cutting portion 60 is the number of cutting times by the cutting portion 60, the actually cut length, and the like. Thus, the conveyance amounts of the conveyance roller 8 and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter when cutting the recording medium from the slitter unit 303 vary depending on the various conditions described above.

[0057] Therefore, due to the change in the conveyance amounts of the conveyance roller 8 and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter, floating and bending will occur in the recording medium 1 between these two conveyance rollers. As a result, the cutting accuracy by the slitter unit 303 will decrease. Further, in the present embodiment, a recording head is positioned between the above two conveyance rollers, and when floating and bending occur in the recording medium 1, a deviation occurs in the landing position of the ink, resulting in density unevenness and streaks in the recorded image. In the present embodiment, the conveyance roller 8 functions as a first conveyance means for conveying the recording medium 1 in the conveyance direction, and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter functions as a second conveyance means for conveying the recording medium 1 conveyed by the conveyance roller 8 in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the conveyance motor 51 functions as a first driving means for driving the conveyance roller 8, and the slitter driving motor 16 functions as a second driving means for driving the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter.

[0058] Therefore, in the present embodiment, for each unit recording area (band) recorded by a plurality of scans (passes), a pattern for obtaining the deviation of the conveyance amount is recorded. Then, based on the detection result obtained by reading and detecting the recorded pattern, the driving amounts of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter driving motor 16 are corrected (adjusted) so that the tension of the recording medium 1 between the conveyance roller 8 and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter is within a predetermined range.

[0059] That is, in the present embodiment, as parameters related to the conveyance of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter, the driving amounts (rotation speed, rotation amount) of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter driving motor 16 are corrected. Here, the driving amount of the conveyance motor 51 corresponds to the rotation speed or rotation amount of the conveyance roller 8, and the driving amount of the slitter driving motor 16 corresponds to the rotation speed or rotation amount of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter. Therefore, by correcting the driving amounts of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter driving motor 16, the conveyance speed or conveyance amount (conveyance distance) of the recording medium 1 by the two conveyance rollers is corrected.

[0060] Regarding the tension generated in the recording medium 1 between the two conveyance rollers, if it is set too high more than necessary, there is a possibility that the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium 1 may decrease. For this reason, as the above-mentioned predetermined range, for example, it is a range in which the cutting accuracy by the slitter 13 can be maintained well and the conveyance accuracy does not decrease. That is, in the present embodiment, the deviation in the conveyance amount of the two conveyance rollers detected based on the reading result of the above pattern is acquired as information related to the change in the rigidity of the recording medium, and the driving amounts of the two conveyance rollers are corrected based on the information.

[0061] Hereinafter, the recording process executed by the recording apparatus 100 will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the recording apparatus 100 employs a multi-pass recording method in which a unit recording area (band) that can be recorded by one scan of the recording head 2 is recorded by a plurality of scans (passes). In the present embodiment, the case where one band is recorded in two passes will be described.

[0062] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing content of the recording process executed by the recording apparatus 100. FIG. 10(a) is a diagram for explaining recording during scanning, and FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing a state where recording is performed with the number of scans overlapped. The series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 are performed by the CPU 411 (ASIC 603) expanding the program code stored in the ROM 412 into the RAM 413 and executing it. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 9 may be executed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart.

[0063] When the recording process is started, first, the CPU 411 acquires the cutting position on the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303 (S902). Regarding the cutting position of the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303, for example, it is included in the job data and input from a host device or the like. Note that the input of the cutting position is not limited to this, and for example, it may be in a form input by the user from an operation unit (not shown) provided in the recording apparatus 100.

[0064] After acquiring the cutting position by the slitter unit 303, next, the CPU 411 sets a conveyance profile (S904). The conveyance profile is stored in advance. In the conveyance profile for the area conveyed at a predetermined pitch, the conveyed distance, the conveyance speed, and the conveyance acceleration / deceleration are set. Note that the conveyance speed is the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter.

[0065] Next, the CPU 411 moves the slitter units 303L and 303R based on the cutting position acquired in S902, and drives the slitter drive motor 16 at the conveyance speed (S906). That is, in S906, the slitter drive motor 16 is driven so that the conveyance speed of the upper slitter conveyance roller 320 becomes the conveyance speed set in the conveyance profile. Thereafter, the CPU 411 drives the conveyance roller 8 to convey the recording medium 1 to the recording start position (S908), and sets the variable "n" representing the number of scanning times to "1" (S910). In the conveyance in S908, the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller 8 is the conveyance speed set in the conveyance profile.

[0066] Then, the CPU 411 performs the n-th scan (S912). That is, in S912, while moving the recording head 2 in the X direction, the CPU 411 discharges ink from the recording head 2 and applies ink to the unit recording area N of the recording medium 1 located at the position facing the recording head 2 (see FIG. 10(a)). At this time, on the outer side in the X direction of the unit recording area N, that is, in the margin portion of the recording medium 1 where no image based on the image data is recorded, a detection pattern Pt capable of detecting the deviation of the conveyance amount between the two conveyance rollers from the set conveyance amount is recorded. Note that the two conveyance rollers are the conveyance roller 8 and the upper slitter conveyance roller 320. Details of this detection pattern Pt will be described later. Regarding the area where the detection pattern Pt is recorded, in the present embodiment, it is one side (the right side in the figure) of the unit recording area N, but it is not limited thereto, and if there is a margin area where the detection pattern Pt can be recorded, the other side (the left side in the figure) may also be used.

[0067] Also, in S912, the CPU 411 reads a detection pattern Pt formed outside the unit recording area N-1 adjacent to the downstream side of the unit recording area N by the detection sensor 12. Note that in the first unit recording area, there is no unit recording area on the downstream side. Therefore, in this case, for example, the detection result by the detection sensor 12 may be ignored. Then, based on the information read by the detection sensor 12, the CPU 411 detects the deviation of the conveyance amount between the two conveyance rollers and obtains the corrected drive amounts for the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16. Note that a method for obtaining the corrected drive amounts of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 from the information read by the detection sensor 12 will be described later.

[0068] In the present embodiment, in the recording head 2, since the detection sensor 12 is provided on the downstream side of the nozzle row 20, when recording the unit recording area N, the unit recording area N-1 located on the downstream side thereof is read by the detection sensor 12. FIG. 10(b) shows an example in which the arrangement position of the detection sensor 12 in the carriage 3 is different. Specifically, the detection sensor 12 overlaps with the nozzle row 20 of the recording head 2 in the Y direction and is provided offset to the X1 direction side in the carriage 3. In this case, when the recording head 2 is scanned in the X2 direction for recording, the detection pattern Pt immediately after being recorded by the recording head 2 can be read.

[0069] When the n-th scan is performed, next, the CPU 411 determines whether "n" is the last scan number "m" in the recording based on the image data (S914). Note that this "m" is obtained, for example, based on the image data. If it is determined in S914 that n≠m, "n" is incremented (S916), and the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 are driven with the acquired drive amount (S918). In S918, the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 are driven with the corrected drive amount acquired in S912 instead of the drive amount based on the conveyance speed of the conveyance profile, and the recording medium 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount. Note that the drive amount acquired in S912 may, as a result, be the same as the drive amount based on the conveyance speed set in the conveyance profile.

[0070] In the present embodiment, since the unit recording area is recorded in two passes, if the length in the Y direction of the nozzle array 20 is L, the predetermined amount is L / 2. Thereafter, the process returns to S912. As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 410 including the CPU 411 functions as correction means for correcting the drive amounts of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter.

[0071] Also, if it is determined in S914 that n=m, the CPU 411 determines whether the recording medium 1 has been conveyed and moved to the position where the recording medium 1 is cut by the cutter 5 (S920). In S920, for example, the determination is made based on the conveyance amount of the recording medium 1 after the recording is completed. Note that after the recording is completed, the subsequent detection pattern cannot be read, so in the conveyance in S920, the drive amounts of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 are set based on the conveyance speed set in the conveyance profile. Alternatively, the most recent drive amount may be maintained.

[0072] In S920, when it is determined that the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5, the CPU 411 stops the slitter drive motor 16 and the conveyance motor 51 (S922). Then, the cutter motor 103 is driven to cut the recording medium 1 in the X direction by the cutter 5, and the recorded matter (product) is discharged (S924), and this recording process ends.

[0073] Next, the detection pattern Pt will be described. As described above, the detection pattern Pt is recorded outside the unit recording area, that is, in the margin portion of the recording medium 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 10(b), while recording is performed on the unit recording area by scanning of the recording head 2, the detection pattern Pt is also recorded outside the unit recording area. Then, for the detection pattern Pt recorded outside the most recent unit recording area, its optical characteristics are read by the detection sensor 12.

[0074] The detection pattern Pt is recorded in a pattern or recording method in which the brightness changes according to the change in the conveyance amount by the conveyance roller 8 and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter. Then, from the brightness variation of this detection pattern Pt, the deviation amount of the conveyance amount between the two conveyance rollers from the set conveyance amount is acquired.

[0075] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the detection pattern Pt. FIG. 11(a) is a diagram showing a state in which only the reference pattern in the detection pattern Pt is recorded. FIG. 11(b) is a diagram showing a state in which an adjustment pattern is recorded on the reference pattern as the detection pattern Pt.

[0076] The detection pattern Pt first records a reference pattern BP with a predetermined ink in the first pass. The reference pattern BP is recorded using two predetermined nozzles located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "upstream side") of the nozzle array 20 of the recording head 2 that discharges the predetermined ink. These two nozzles are, for example, separated by four nozzle intervals in the ODD array. Then, ink is discharged from these two nozzles, and seven lines extending in the X direction are recorded along the X direction. Each line has the same length as each other and is formed with a predetermined interval from the adjacent lines. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11(a), the reference pattern BP formed at two locations with a separation of 1 / 150 inch (equivalent to 8 dots) in the Y direction is formed by seven lines formed along the X direction. Note that the lines separated in the Y direction are formed at positions that generally coincide in the X direction.

[0077] Next, the recording medium 1 is conveyed by an amount corresponding to half the distance of the nozzle array 20. Thereafter, in the second pass, an adjustment pattern AP is recorded with the predetermined ink at a position that generally coincides with the reference pattern BP in the X direction. The adjustment pattern AP is recorded by corresponding nozzles corresponding to the two predetermined nozzles that recorded the reference pattern BP. In the present embodiment, the corresponding nozzles use, as reference nozzles, nozzles in the ODD array that are 320 positions away from the two predetermined nozzles on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and a total of seven nozzles including three nozzles on the upstream side and the downstream side from the reference nozzles. Note that both the ODD array and the EVEN array nozzles are used as the corresponding nozzles. In the following description, the downstream side in the conveyance direction is also simply referred to as the "downstream side".

[0078] Then, the adjustment pattern AP is recorded in a state where it is shifted in the Y direction by one nozzle at a time from one side (the left side in the figure) in the X direction toward the other side. That is, from one side (the left side in the figure) to the other side of the reference pattern BP, the nozzles are used for recording which are 3 nozzles away from the reference nozzle upstream, 2 nozzles away, 1 nozzle away, the reference nozzle, 1 nozzle away from the reference nozzle downstream, 2 nozzles away, and 3 nozzles away. The lines recorded by each nozzle in the adjustment pattern AP extend in the X direction, have the same length as each other, and are formed with a predetermined interval in the X direction from adjacent lines.

[0079] Accordingly, when there is no change in the conveyance amounts in the conveyance roller 8 and the upper-conveyance roller 320 of the slitter, a detection pattern Pt as shown in FIG. 11(b) is formed. In this detection pattern Pt, at the position of patch 3, the line formed by the reference nozzle (ODD column) as the adjustment pattern AP substantially coincides with and overlaps the reference pattern BP. In FIG. 11(b), at the position of patch 0, the line formed by the nozzle (EVEN column) that is three nozzles away from the reference nozzle on the upstream side as the adjustment pattern AP is recorded at a position shifted 3 dots (-3) to the upstream side from the reference pattern BP. Also, at the position of patch 1, the line formed by the nozzle (ODD column) that is two nozzles away from the reference nozzle on the upstream side as the adjustment pattern AP is recorded at a position shifted 2 dots (-2) to the upstream side from the reference pattern BP. Also, at the position of patch 2, the line formed by the nozzle (EVEN column) that is one nozzle away from the reference nozzle on the upstream side as the adjustment pattern AP is recorded at a position shifted 1 dot (-1) to the upstream side from the reference pattern BP. Also, at the position of patch 4, the line formed by the nozzle (EVEN column) that is one nozzle away from the reference nozzle on the downstream side as the adjustment pattern AP is recorded at a position shifted 1 dot (+1) to the downstream side from the reference pattern BP. Also, at the position of patch 5, the line formed by the nozzle (ODD column) that is two nozzles away from the reference nozzle on the downstream side as the adjustment pattern AP is recorded at a position shifted 2 dots (+2) to the downstream side from the reference pattern BP. Also, at the position of patch 6, the line formed by the nozzle (EVEN column) that is three nozzles away from the reference nozzle on the downstream side as the adjustment pattern AP is recorded at a position shifted 3 dots (+3) to the downstream side from the reference pattern BP.

[0080] When such a detection pattern Pt is read by the detection sensor 12, the area factor, which is a value corresponding to the density in the area of patch 3 (the dashed line in the figure), shows the minimum value. The area factor at this time theoretically becomes approximately 12.5% (= 100 / 8). However, due to various factors such as the type of recording medium and the conveyance accuracy of the machine body, the conveyance amount of the recording medium corresponding to the command pulse value in the conveyance mechanism may differ from the theoretical value. In this case, in patch 3, since the adjustment pattern AP (the black circles in the figure) is shifted from the reference pattern BP (the white circles in the figure), the area factor becomes a value exceeding 12.5%.

[0081] Here, in patches 0 and 6 of FIG. 11(b), there is a deviation corresponding to 7 dots of pixels between the lines formed as the adjustment pattern. For this reason, when a deviation within 7 dots of pixels occurs due to a change in the conveyance amount by the conveyance roller 8 or the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter, the area factor of any one of the seven patches becomes approximately 12.5%. Since the area factor and the density can be almost one-to-one associated, the deviation amount of the conveyance amount can be obtained by detecting the patch position where the density is the lowest by the detection sensor 12.

[0082] Next, the detection of the detection pattern Pt by the detection sensor 12 will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a detection example of the detection pattern Pt in FIG. 11(b). In FIG. 12, the vertical axis represents the intensity of the diffusely reflected light, indicating that the higher the intensity of the reflected light, the lower the density. The horizontal axis represents the patch position in the detection pattern Pt indicated by "0" to "6".

[0083] In FIG. 12, at the position of patch 3, the maximum value of the reflected light intensity is shown. In this case, by using the adjustment value "0" corresponding to the position of patch 3, an adjustment value comparable to the nozzle resolution is obtained. The adjustment value corresponds to the deviation amount between the reference pattern BP and the adjustment pattern AP at each patch position in FIG. 11(b), that is, the deviation amount of the conveyance amounts of the two conveyance rollers from the set conveyance amount. That is, the adjustment values are "-3" for patch 0, "-2" for patch 1, "-1" for patch 2, "0" for patch 3, "+1" for patch 4, "+2" for patch 5, and "+3" for patch 6.

[0084] Note that function approximation may be performed as shown by the curve in FIG. 12, and the adjustment value may be obtained based on this. That is, for the intensity values of the reflected light at the seven obtained patch positions, for example, an approximation curve is obtained using the least squares method. Then, the adjustment value corresponding to the position of the maximum value of the obtained approximation curve is derived and used. In this case, an adjustment value with higher accuracy than the nozzle resolution can be obtained.

[0085] In this embodiment, one band is recorded in two passes, but it is not limited thereto, and one band may be recorded in three or more passes. In this case, according to the number of passes forming one band, the position of the nozzle for recording the detection pattern Pt and the recording timing are appropriately adjusted. Also, the detection of the conveyance amount is not limited to the method using the detection pattern Pt. That is, an imaging element may be mounted on the carriage 3 or the like, and the conveyance amount may be detected based on the fine unevenness or pattern on the surface of the recording medium before and after conveyance.

[0086] Next, the acquisition of the drive amounts of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 to be corrected based on the detection results of such a detection pattern Pt will be described. The drive amounts of the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 will be obtained based on the adjustment value as the detection result of the detection pattern Pt and a calculation formula stored in advance. In the case where the detection pattern Pt cannot be read, for example, the drive amount at that time is maintained.

[0087] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing calculation formulas for calculating the driving amount of the slitter drive motor 16 and the driving amount of the conveyance motor 51 with respect to adjustment values. In FIG. 13, the conveyance command value as a drive signal for driving the slitter drive motor 16 and the conveyance motor 51 is "L", the preset driving amount of the slitter drive motor 16 is "S", and the driving amount of the conveyance motor 51 is "T". That is, the driving amounts S and T are the driving amounts corresponding to the initially set driving amounts, that is, the conveyance speed set in the conveyance profile.

[0088] When the detected deviation in the conveyance amount is less than the preset conveyance command value by X, that is, when the deviation amount from the conveyance command value is "-X", the corrected driving amount Sc of the slitter drive motor 16 and the corrected driving amount Tc of the conveyance motor 51 are calculated by the following formula. Note that the deviation amount from the conveyance command value corresponds to the above adjustment value. Therefore, in this case, when the above adjustment values are "-3", "-2", "-1", the corrected driving amounts Sc and Tc are calculated by the following formulas (1) and (2). Sc = (1 + kX / L)S ··· (1) Tc = (1 + mX / L)T ··· (2)

[0089] That is, in the above formulas (1) and (2), the ratio of the deviation amount "-X" with respect to the conveyance command value L is added to the set driving amounts S and T at the same ratio. Note that k and m are coefficients that take into account the slip amounts between the conveyance rollers 320 on the slitter and the recording medium of the conveyance roller 8, respectively. When the slip amount is "0", it is set so that k + m = 1, and when the slip amount is large, it is set so that k + m ≧ 1.

[0090] On the other hand, when the detected deviation in the conveyance amount is more than the preset conveyance command value by X, that is, when the deviation amount from the conveyance command value is "+X", the corrected driving amount Sc and the driving amount Tc are calculated by the following formula. Therefore, in this case, when the above adjustment values are "+1", "+2", "+3", the corrected driving amounts Sc and Tc are calculated by the following formulas (3) and (4). Sc = (1 - kX / L)S ··· (3) Tc = (1 - mX / L)T ··· (4)

[0091] That is, in the above equations (3) and (4), the ratio of the deviation amount “+X” to the conveyance command value L is subtracted from the preset drive amounts S and T at the same ratio.

[0092] Note that the conveyance command value L is preset according to the recording mode. Also, the above equations (1), (2), (3), and (4) are stored in the ROM 412 or the like in advance.

[0093] Based on the corrected drive amounts Tc and Sc calculated in this way, the tension of the recording medium 1 between the conveyance roller 8 and the slitter upper conveyance roller 320 driven thereby can, for example, maintain good cutting accuracy by the slitter 13.

[0094] As described above, in the recording apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, for each unit recording area recorded by a plurality of passes, a detection pattern Pt for detecting a deviation in the conveyance amount between two conveyance rollers is formed outside thereof. Note that the two conveyance rollers are the conveyance roller 8 and the slitter upper conveyance roller 320. Then, the formed detection pattern Pt is read, and based on the detection result from the detection pattern Pt, the drive amounts of the two conveyance rollers are corrected.

[0095] Thereby, in the recording apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, it becomes difficult for the recording medium 1 to float or bend between the two conveyance rollers, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the cutting accuracy by the slitter 13. Further, when the deviation in the conveyance amount between the two conveyance rollers is relatively small, it is possible to suppress the tension generated between the two conveyance rollers to be relatively low, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium 1.

[0096] In addition, in the present embodiment, between the two transport rollers, recording is performed on the recording medium 1 being transported by the recording head 2. For this reason, if the rigidity of the recording medium changes and the recording medium floats or bends, the landing position of the ink will shift, and as a result, density unevenness or streaks may occur in the recorded image. In the present embodiment, since the floating and bending that occur in the recording medium are suppressed as described above, it becomes difficult for the landing position of the ink to shift, and as a result, it becomes possible to suppress the occurrence of density unevenness and streaks in the recorded image.

[0097] (Second Embodiment) Next, a recording apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. In the following description, for configurations that are the same as or corresponding to those of the first embodiment described above, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0098] The recording apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in the following points. That is, the ink application amount in the region near the cutting line cut by the slitter unit 303 in the recording medium 1 is acquired, and the transport amounts of the two transport rollers are corrected according to the acquired ink application amount. That is, in the present embodiment, the ink application amount in the cutting region in the image recording region is acquired as information related to a change in the rigidity of the recording medium, and the transport speeds of the two transport rollers are corrected based on this information.

[0099] The floating and bending of the recording medium 1 occurring between the conveying roller 8 and the upper conveying roller 320 on the slitter, and the associated decrease in cutting accuracy in the slitter unit 303, become more noticeable, for example, in the following cases. That is, when a type of recording medium 1 with low rigidity, such as plain paper or thin coated paper, is used. Also, when a large amount of ink is applied to the vicinity of the cut portion of the recording medium 1 cut by the slitter unit 303, the rigidity of the recording medium 1 decreases due to the liquid components of the ink. Note that the cut portion of the recording medium 1 cut by the slitter unit 303 is formed linearly along the Y direction, and is therefore referred to as the "cut line" in the following description.

[0100] Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotation speed of the transport roller 8 and the transport roller 320 above the slitter are corrected in accordance with the rigidity of the recording medium 1, and an appropriate tension is applied to the recording medium 1, thereby maintaining good cutting accuracy by the slitter unit 303. Specifically, the rotation speed of the two transport rollers is corrected based on the type of recording medium and the amount of ink applied in the area near the cutting line.

[0101] If the tension applied to the recording medium 1 is too high, the transport amount of the recording medium 1 may change, or the recording medium 1 may be transported at an angle. Therefore, the tension applied is set to a level that does not cause such problems. In this embodiment, the transport speed of the transport roller 8 and the transport roller above the slitter 320 is corrected by correcting the rotation speed of the transport roller 8 and the transport roller above the slitter 320. That is, in this embodiment, the rotation speed of the transport roller 8 and the transport roller above the slitter 320 is corrected as a parameter related to transport of the transport roller 8 and the transport roller above the slitter 320. Therefore, in this embodiment, the transport speed of the recording medium 1 at the two transport rollers is corrected by driving the transport motor 51 and the slitter drive motor 16 in response to the correction of the rotation speed of the transport roller 8 and the transport roller above the slitter 320.

[0102] More specifically, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the rigidity of the recording medium 1 is less than a certain level, in order to suppress a decrease in cutting accuracy by the slitter 13, a high tension is applied to the recording medium 1 by a certain amount. Further, when it is determined that the rigidity of the recording medium 1 is equal to or higher than a certain level, in order to avoid a decrease in conveyance accuracy by the two conveyance rollers, a minimum tension is applied to suppress floating, bending, etc.

[0103] Regarding the tension applied to the recording medium 1, for example, it is adjusted by changing the ratio of the conveyance speed of the recording medium 1 by the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance speed of the recording medium 1 by the upper-conveyance roller 320 of the slitter unit 303. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the upper-conveyance roller 320 of the slitter is changed. Further, regarding the rigidity of the recording medium 1, the degree is determined based on the type of the recording medium and the recording duty as the ink application amount obtained from the job data.

[0104] Then, according to the degree of this rigidity, the conveyance speed ratio between the conveyance roller 8 and the slitter unit 303 is determined so as to obtain an appropriate tension. The conveyance speed ratio is a value obtained by dividing the conveyance speed (mm / s) by the upper-conveyance roller 320 of the slitter by the conveyance speed (mm / s) of the conveyance roller 8. Then, based on the determined conveyance speed ratio, the rotation speed of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed of the upper-conveyance roller 320 of the slitter are corrected.

[0105] Hereinafter, the recording process in the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing content of the recording process executed by the recording apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15(a) is a diagram for explaining the cutting area. FIG. 15(b) is a diagram showing the parameter table. The series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14 is performed by the CPU 411 expanding and executing the program code stored in the ROM 412 in the RAM 413. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 14 may be executed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart.

[0106] When the recording process is started, first, the CPU 411 acquires information regarding the recording medium type indicating the type of the recording medium 1 from the job data output from the host device (not shown) (S1402). Subsequently, the CPU 411 acquires the image data from the job data, analyzes the image data, and acquires the average recording duty of the cutting area 1500, which is an area in the vicinity including the cutting line formed on the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303 (S1404). The average recording duty is the amount of ink applied per unit area. In the present embodiment, a state where one dot is formed by 4 pl ink droplets in a 1200 dpi grid is defined as 100%.

[0107] Specifically, as the format of the input image data, for example, it is data with 8 bits for each of RGB, totaling 24 bits. For this image data, the CPU 411 performs color correction suitable for the characteristics of the image data, and from the corrected RGB data, it color-converts to 8 bits for each of Bk, LC, C, LM, M, and Y, which are the ink colors used in the recording device 100, with a total of 48 bits for 6 colors. The 8-bit value of each color of the data after color conversion represents the recording duty of each ink color. That is, for each 8-bit value from 0 to 255, "0" represents a recording duty of 0%, "255" represents a recording duty of 100%, and for intermediate values between 0 and 255, the duty value is proportional to that value. Based on the data thus color-converted, the CPU 411 calculates the average recording duty in the cutting area 1500.

[0108] The cutting area 1500 for obtaining the average recording duty is the cutting area 1500R including the cutting line CR by the slitter unit 303R and the cutting area 1500L including the cutting line CL by the slitter unit 303L (see Fig. 15(a)). That is, in S1404, the average recording duty DR of the cutting area 1500R and the average recording duty 1500DL of the cutting area 1500L are to be obtained.

[0109] In this embodiment, the cutting area 1500R is in the range of 100 mm on the inner side (X1 direction side) and 5 mm on the outer side (X2 direction side) in the width direction of the recording medium 1 with reference to the cutting line CR by the slitter unit 303R. In the Y direction, it is the range where the entire image based on the image data is recorded. Also, the cutting area 1500L is in the range of 100 mm on the inner side (X2 direction side) and 5 mm on the outer side (X1 direction side) in the width direction of the recording medium 1 with reference to the cutting line CL by the slitter unit 303L. In the Y direction, similar to the cutting area 1500R, it is the range where the entire image based on the image data is recorded. The positions of the cutting lines CR and CL by the slitter units 303R and 303L are obtained based on various information such as the recording size included in the input job data.

[0110] Next, the CPU 411 sets, as the recording duty D in the cutting area, the duty value that shows the higher value between the average recording duty DR of the acquired cutting area 1500R and the average recording duty DL of the cutting area 1500L (S1406). After that, the CPU 411 determines the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter based on the information regarding the recording medium type, the recording duty D, and the parameter table 1502 (S1408).

[0111] The parameter table 1502 shown in FIG. 15(b) is held in a storage area such as the ROM 412. In the parameter table 1502, the relationship between the recording medium type and the recording duty D of the cutting area, and the conveyance speed ratio P, that is, the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter is defined. In the parameter table 1502, the higher the recording duty D, the larger the conveyance speed ratio P between the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter. Note that the values and condition classifications shown in the parameter table 1502 are an example, and for the recording duty D, each rotation speed, etc., they are appropriately changed, for example, by experimentally calculating according to the type of ink used. Also, regarding the rotation speeds in the parameter table 1502, between the two conveyance rollers, a tension value that can maintain good cutting accuracy of the recording medium 1 by the slitter 13 and can suppress a decrease in conveyance accuracy is obtained.

[0112] For example, the processing in S1408 when the recording medium type is coated paper will be described. When the recording duty D is less than 100%, the conveyance speed ratio P "1.01" is selected, and the rotation speed T1 "2.00" of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 "2.02" of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter associated therewith are selected. That is, in this case, it is considered that the decrease in the rigidity of the recording medium due to the liquid component of the ink is at a negligible level. Also, when the recording duty D is 100% or more and less than 150%, the conveyance speed ratio P "1.02" is selected, and the rotation speed T1 "2.00" and the rotation speed T2 "2.04" associated therewith are selected. That is, in this case, it is considered that the rigidity of the recording medium has decreased to such an extent that it cannot be ignored due to the liquid component of the ink. Further, when the recording duty D is 150% or more, the conveyance speed ratio P "1.03" is selected, and the rotation speed T1 "2.00" and the rotation speed T2 "2.06" associated therewith are selected. That is, in this case, it is considered that the rigidity of the recording medium has decreased relatively greatly to such an extent that it cannot be ignored due to the liquid component of the ink. In this way, by setting the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter, when the recording duty D is high and the rigidity of the recording medium 1 decreases, the tension of the recording medium can be improved according to the decrease.

[0113] In the parameter table 1502, for recording media types that are more likely to have their rigidity reduced by the liquid component of the ink, the conveyance speed ratio P is set to be larger. Specifically, even when the recording duty D is the same, if the recording medium is glossy paper, since the recording medium has thickness, the width of the reduction in rigidity due to the liquid component of the ink is smaller than that of coated paper. Therefore, when the recording medium type is glossy paper, when the recording duty D is 150% or more, the conveyance speed ratio P is 1.02, which is smaller than 1.03, the conveyance speed ratio P when the recording medium type is coated paper. Also, if the recording medium is plain paper, since the thickness of the recording medium is very small, even when the recording duty D is the same, the width of the reduction in rigidity due to the liquid component of the ink is larger than that of coated paper. Therefore, when the recording medium type is plain paper, when the recording duty D is 150% or more, the conveyance speed P is 1.04, which is larger than 1.03, the conveyance speed ratio P when the recording medium type is coated paper.

[0114] Return to FIG. 14. After S1408, the CPU 411 acquires the cutting position on the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303 (S1410), and sets the conveyance profile (S1412). The specific processing content of S1410 is the same as that of S902, so the description is omitted. Also, in S1412, it is set in the same manner as S904. However, for the conveyance speed, it is set based on the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter acquired in S1408.

[0115] Next, the CPU 411 moves the slitter units 303L and 303R based on the cutting position acquired in S1410, and drives the slitter drive motor 16 (S1414). After that, the CPU 411 drives the conveyance roller 8 to convey the recording medium 1 to the recording start position (S1416), and sets the variable "n" representing the number of scanning times to "1" (S1418). Note that the specific processing content of S1414 to S1418 is the same as that of S906 to S910 described above.

[0116] Then, the CPU 411 performs the n-th scan and records on the recording medium (S1420). That is, in S1420, while moving the recording head 2 in the X direction, ink is ejected from the recording head 2 to apply ink to the recording medium 1. When the recording by the n-th scan is completed, next, the CPU 411 determines whether n = m (S1422). If it is determined that n ≠ m, n is incremented (S1424), the recording medium 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount (S1426), and the process returns to S1420. Note that the specific processing content of S1422 is the same as that of S914 described above. Also, the conveyance in S1426 reflects the rotation speeds of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter determined in S1408.

[0117] Also, in S1422, if it is determined that n = m, the CPU 411 conveys the recording medium 1 and determines whether the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5 (S1428). In the conveyance of S1428, for example, the conveyance speed (rotation speed) during the conveyance operation is maintained. In S1428, if it is determined that the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5, the CPU 411 stops the slitter drive motor 16 and the conveyance motor 51 (S1430). Then, the CPU 411 drives the cutter motor 103 to cut the recording medium 1 in the X direction by the cutter 5 to discharge the recorded matter (S1432), and ends this recording process.

[0118] As described above, in this embodiment, the rotation speeds of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are determined based on the amount of ink applied in the cutting area. Therefore, the recording apparatus 100 may adopt a single-pass recording method in which recording of a unit recording area is performed in one pass, or may adopt a multi-pass recording method in which recording of a unit recording area is performed in a plurality of passes.

[0119] As described above, in the recording apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, the recording duty D is obtained as the amount of ink applied to the cutting area including the cutting line cut by the slitter unit 303 in the recording medium 1. Further, the recording medium type representing the type of the recording medium 1 is obtained, and based on the recording duty D and the recording medium type, the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are obtained from the parameter table 1502. Then, when the recording medium 1 is conveyed, the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are controlled based on the obtained rotation speeds.

[0120] Thereby, also in the recording apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the cutting accuracy by the slitter 13 and to suppress the occurrence of density unevenness and streaks in the recorded image. Further, when the recording duty D is relatively low, it is possible to suppress the tension generated between the two conveyance rollers, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium 1.

[0121] (Third Embodiment) Next, a recording apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. In the following description, for the same or corresponding configurations as those in the above-described first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0122] In the recording apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment, it is different from the above-described first and second embodiments in the following points. That is, for the cutting area including the cutting line cut by the slitter unit 303 in the recording medium 1, the ink application amount for each unit recording area is acquired, and according to the acquired ink application amount, the conveyance by the conveyance mechanism is controlled for each unit recording area. That is, in the present embodiment, the ink application amount in the cutting area for each unit recording area is acquired as information related to the change in the rigidity of the recording medium, and the conveyance speeds of the two conveyance rollers are corrected based on the information. In the present embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, the recording apparatus 100 may adopt a single-pass recording method for recording a unit recording area in one pass, or may adopt a multi-pass recording method for recording a unit recording area in a plurality of passes.

[0123] Hereinafter, the recording process in the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the recording process executed by the recording apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17(a) is a diagram for explaining the cutting area. FIG. 17(b) is a diagram showing a parameter table. The series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 16 are performed by the CPU 411 expanding the program code stored in the ROM 412 into the RAM 413 and executing it. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 16 may be executed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart.

[0124] When the recording process is started, first, the CPU 411 acquires information regarding the recording medium type indicating the type of the recording medium 1 from the job data output from the host device (not shown) (S1602). Further, the CPU 411 acquires the cutting position on the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303 (S1604) and sets a conveyance profile (S1606). Since the specific processing contents of S1604 and S1606 are the same as those of S902 and S904 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

[0125] Next, the CPU 411 moves the slitter units 303L and 303R based on the cutting position acquired in S1604, and drives the slitter drive motor 16 (S1608). After that, the CPU 411 drives the conveyance roller 8 to convey the recording medium 1 to the recording start position (S1610), and scans the recording head 2 to start recording (S1612). In S1612, for the recorded unit recording area, the number of scans is associated so that it can be determined by which scan it was recorded. For example, the area recorded by the t-th scan is set as the t-th area. That is, the number of scans and the unit recording area are associated with each other.

[0126] Thereafter, a variable "n" representing the number of scans of the recorded unit recording area is set to "1" (S1614). Then, it is determined whether or not the unit recording area recorded by the n-th scan (hereinafter referred to as the "n-th area") has reached the correction position (S1616). The correction position is the position where it is cut and conveyed by the slitter unit 303 by the next conveyance operation (see Fig. 17(a)). Whether or not the unit recording area has reached the correction position is determined by, for example, the conveyance amount from the recording position. In S1616, if it is determined that the n-th area has not reached the correction position, during conveyance by the conveyance operation, the conveyance roller 8 and the slitter upper conveyance roller 320 are driven at a preset rotational speed for conveyance (S1618). Then, the process returns to S1616. The preset rotational speed is the initial set rotational speed corresponding to the conveyance speed set in the conveyance profile.

[0127] Also, in S1616, when it is determined that the n-th region has reached the correction position, the CPU 411 acquires image data from the job data, analyzes the image data, and acquires the average recording duty of the cutting region 1700n in the n-th region (S1620). The cutting region 1700 is a region in the vicinity including the cutting line formed on the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303 in each unit recording region. Also, the cutting region 1700 is the cutting region 1700R including the cutting line CR by the slitter unit 303R and the cutting region 1700L including the cutting line CL by the slitter unit 303L (see FIG. 17(a)). That is, in S1620, the average recording duty DRn of the cutting region 1700R and the average recording duty DLn of the cutting region 1700L in the n-th region are to be acquired.

[0128] In the present embodiment, the cutting region 1700R is in the range of 100 mm on the inner side (X1 direction side) and 5 mm on the outer side (X2 direction side) in the width direction of the recording medium 1 with respect to the cutting line CR by the slitter unit 303R. In the Y direction, it has the same length as the conveyance amount during the conveyance operation. Also, the cutting region 1700L is in the range of 100 mm on the inner side (X2 direction side) and 5 mm on the outer side (X1 direction side) in the width direction of the recording medium 1 with respect to the cutting line CL by the slitter unit 303L. In the Y direction, it has the same length as the conveyance amount during the conveyance operation. Note that the range in the width direction of the recording medium 1 of the cutting regions 1700R and 1700L is not limited to the above, and is appropriately changed according to, for example, the type of ink used.

[0129] Next, the CPU 411 sets the duty value showing the higher value among the average recording duty DRn of the cutting region 1700R and the average recording duty DLn of the cutting region 1700L in the n-th region as the recording duty Dn of the cutting region in the n-th region (S1622). After that, the CPU 411 determines the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter based on the information regarding the recording medium type, the recording duty Dn, and the parameter table 1702 (S1624).

[0130] The parameter table 1702 shown in FIG. 17(b) is stored in a storage area such as the ROM 412. In the parameter table 1702, the relationship between the recording medium type, the recording duty Dn of the cutting area in the nth area, the conveyance speed ratio P, that is, the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter is defined. Similar to the parameter table 1502, in the parameter table 1702, the higher the recording duty Dn of the cutting area, the larger the conveyance speed ratio P between the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter. Regarding the rotation speeds in the parameter table 1702, between the two conveyance rollers, a tension value that can maintain good cutting accuracy of the recording medium 1 by the slitter 13 and suppress a decrease in conveyance accuracy is set. In S1624, based on the information regarding the recording medium and the recording duty Dn, the rotation speeds T1 and T2 of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are obtained from the parameter table 1702.

[0131] Thereafter, the CPU 411 corrects (updates) the rotation speeds T1 and T2 of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter to the values determined in S1624 when conveying the recording medium 1 in the next conveyance operation (S1626). The next conveyance operation is a conveyance operation in which the nth area is conveyed from the correction position to the area where the slitter unit 303 is located. Then, the CPU 411 conveys the recording medium 1 during the next conveyance operation (S1628), and thereafter, determines whether n = m (S1630). If it is determined that n ≠ m, n is incremented (S1632), and the process returns to S1620. The specific processing content of S1630 is the same as that of S914 described above.

[0132] Also, in S1630, when it is determined that n = m, the CPU 411 conveys the recording medium 1 and determines whether the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5 (S1634). The specific processing content of S1634 is the same as that of S920 above. In S1634, when it is determined that the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5, the CPU 411 stops the slitter drive motor 16 and the conveyance motor 51 (S1636). Thereafter, the CPU 411 drives the cutter motor 103 to cut the recording medium 1 in the X direction by the cutter 5, discharge the recorded matter (S1638), and end this recording process.

[0133] Note that in the above recording process, after it is determined that the nth area has reached the correction position, the recording duty Dn of the cutting area 1700 in the nth area is obtained, and the rotation speeds of the two conveyance rollers are determined using the parameter table 1702, but it is not limited thereto. That is, before the recording operation, the rotation speeds of the conveyance roller 8 and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter may be obtained when each unit recording area is conveyed to the slitter area (see FIG. 17(a)) where it is cut and conveyed by the slitter unit 303.

[0134] As described above, in the recording apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment, for each unit recording area recorded by the scanning of the recording head 2, the ink application amount of the cutting area 1700 is obtained, and the rotation speeds of the two conveyance rollers are obtained. Then, when each unit recording area moves to the area where it is cut and conveyed by the slitter unit 303, the conveyance roller 8 and the upper conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are driven at the rotation speeds obtained for each unit recording area. Thereby, the recording apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment can also achieve the same operational effects as those of the first and second embodiments. Also, compared with the second embodiment, since the cutting area is divided more finely in the conveyance direction, a decrease in the cutting accuracy by the slitter 13 can be more appropriately suppressed.

[0135] (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20. In the following description, for configurations that are the same as or corresponding to those of the first embodiment described above, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0136] In the recording apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment, it is different from the first, second, and third embodiments described above in that the rotational speeds of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are set according to the margin setting included in the job data. That is, in the present embodiment, the margin setting is acquired as information related to the change in the rigidity of the recording medium, and the conveyance speeds of the two conveyance rollers are corrected based on the information.

[0137] The recording apparatus 100 can perform a margin setting for setting the presence or absence of margins on the left and right sides of the recorded image of the product. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the margin setting. FIG. 18(a) is a diagram showing a left and right end margin mode setting screen for margin setting. FIG. 18(b) is a diagram showing the position of the cutting line when "with margin" is set. FIG. 18(c) is a diagram showing the position of the cutting line when "without margin" is set.

[0138] In the recording apparatus 100, a left and right end margin mode setting screen 1800 for performing a margin setting is displayed on a host device (not shown) or an operation unit (not shown). The user can set "with margin" in which margins are formed on the left and right sides of the recorded image or "without margin" in which no margins are formed on the left and right sides of the recorded image on the displayed setting screen 1800.

[0139] When "with margin" is set on the setting screen 1800, the image recording area 1802 on the recording medium 1 is located inside the cutting lines CL and CR cut by the slitter units 303L and 303R. Therefore, when "with margin" is set, a recorded material with a margin of several millimeters formed on both the left and right sides of the image recording area can be obtained. Also, when "without margin" is set on the setting screen 1800, the left and right ends of the image recording area 1802 on the recording medium 1 are located outside the cutting lines CL and CR cut by the slitter units 303L and 303R. Therefore, when "without margin" is set, a recorded material with no margin formed on both the left and right sides of the image recording area can be obtained.

[0140] Next, the recording process in the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the recording process executed by the recording apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a parameter table. The series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 are performed by the CPU 411 expanding and executing the program code stored in the ROM 412 in the RAM 413. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 19 may be executed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart.

[0141] When the recording process is started, first, the CPU 411 acquires information regarding the recording medium type indicating the type of the recording medium 1 from the job data output from the host device (not shown) (S1902). Subsequently, the CPU 411 acquires the setting information of the margin setting from the job data or the input information (S1904). That is, in S1904, the setting information of the margin setting set in the host device and included in the job data, or the setting information of the margin setting input via the operation unit is acquired. The setting information of the margin setting is the setting of "with margin" or "without margin".

[0142] Next, the CPU 411 determines the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter based on the information regarding the recording medium type, the setting information of the margin setting, and the parameter table 2000 (S1906). The parameter table 2000 shown in FIG. 20 is held in a recording area such as the ROM 412. In the parameter table 2000, the relationship between the recording medium type and the setting information of the margin setting, and the conveyance speed ratio P, that is, the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter, is defined. In the parameter table 2000, when the margin setting is no margin, the conveyance speed ratio P between the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter is larger compared to the case of having a margin. Also, in the parameter table 2000, the conveyance speed ratio P is set to be larger for a recording medium whose rigidity is more likely to change due to the liquid component of the ink. The values shown in the parameter table 2000 are an example. Note that the rotation speeds in the parameter table 2000 are values that can generate a tension capable of maintaining good cutting accuracy of the recording medium 1 by the slitter 13 between the two conveyance rollers and can suppress a decrease in conveyance accuracy.

[0143] Thereafter, the CPU 411 acquires the cutting position on the recording medium 1 by the slitter unit 303 (S1908) and sets the conveyance profile (S1910). The specific processing details of S1908 are the same as those of S902, so the description is omitted. Also, in S1910, it is set in the same manner as S904. However, the conveyance speed is set based on the rotation speed T1 of the conveyance roller 8 and the rotation speed T2 of the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter acquired in S1906.

[0144] Then, based on the cutting position acquired in S1908, the CPU 411 moves the slitter units 303L and 303R and drives the slitter drive motor 16 (S1912). After that, the CPU 411 drives the conveyance roller 8 to convey the recording medium 1 to the recording start position (S1914), and sets the variable "n" representing the number of scanning times to "1" (S1916). Note that the specific processing contents of S1912 to S1916 are the same as those of S906 to S910 above.

[0145] Next, the CPU 411 performs the n-th scan and records on the recording medium 1 (S1918). That is, in S1918, while moving the recording head 2 in the X direction, ink is ejected from the recording head 2 to apply ink to the recording medium 1. When the recording by the n-th scan is completed, next, the CPU 411 determines whether n = m (S1920). If it is determined that n ≠ m, n is incremented (S1922), the recording medium 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount (S1924), and the process returns to S1918. Note that the specific processing content of S1920 is the same as that of S914 above. Also, the conveyance in S1924 reflects the rotation speeds of the conveyance roller 8 and the slitter upper conveyance roller 320 determined in S1906.

[0146] Also, in S1920, if it is determined that n = m, the CPU 411 conveys the recording medium 1 and determines whether the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5 (S1926). The specific processing content of S1926 is the same as that of S920 above. In S1926, if it is determined that the recording medium 1 has moved to the position where it is cut by the cutter 5, the CPU 411 stops the slitter drive motor 16 and the conveyance motor 51 (S1928). After that, the CPU 411 drives the cutter motor 103 to cut the recording medium 1 in the X direction by the cutter 5 to discharge the recorded matter (S1930), and ends this recording process.

[0147] As described above, in the recording apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment, the rotational speeds of the two transport rollers are obtained from the parameter table according to the presence or absence of the left and right margins of the recording material, the setting of with margin or without margin, and the type of the recording medium 1. This parameter table is set such that, for each type of recording medium, when the with margin setting is selected, the tension of the recording medium 1 generated between the two transport rollers is higher than when the without margin setting is selected.

[0148] Accordingly, also in the recording apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in cutting accuracy by the slitter 13 and to suppress the occurrence of density unevenness and streaks in the recorded image. Further, when the with margin setting is selected, since the decrease in rigidity due to the application of ink is relatively small, it is possible to suppress the tension of the recording medium 1 between the two transport rollers and to suppress a decrease in transport accuracy.

[0149] (Other embodiments) Note that the above-described embodiments may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (12).

[0150] (1) Although not particularly described in the first embodiment above, the corrected driving amounts Sc and Tc may be adjusted according to the usage amount of the slitter unit 303. That is, depending on the usage amount (number of uses, usage distance) of the slitter unit 303, the resistance at the cutting portion 60 may decrease and the conveyance amount may change. Therefore, for example, a correction table is held such that the driving amounts Sc and Tc calculated by the above equations (1) to (4) change according to the usage amount of the slitter unit 303, and the corrected driving amounts Sc and Tc are adjusted by this correction table. Note that the adjustment method is not limited to the correction table, and a calculation formula capable of obtaining the corrected driving amounts Sc and Tc according to the usage amount of the slitter unit 303 may be used. Also, for the second, third, and fourth embodiments above, the rotation speeds T1 and T2 of the obtained conveyance rollers 8 and the slitter upper conveyance roller 320 may be similarly adjusted according to the usage amount of the slitter unit 303. Also, regarding the external environment such as temperature and humidity, since there is a possibility of changing the rigidity of the recording medium, the corrected driving amounts Sc and Tc and the rotation speeds T1 and T2 may be adjusted using a correction table or a calculation formula according to the external environment.

[0151] (2) In the first embodiment above, the detection pattern Pt is formed in the margin area on one side or the other side of the recording medium in the X direction, but it is not limited thereto. That is, when there are margin areas on both sides of the image recording area where the detection pattern Pt can be formed, the detection pattern Pt may be formed on both sides, one side and the other side, of the image recording area. In this case, it becomes possible to detect the deviation of the conveyance amount on each of the one side and the other side in the X direction. Therefore, based on the deviation of the conveyance amount on the one side and the other side, the driving amounts Sc and Tc on the one side and the other side may be independently obtained.

[0152] (3) In the above-described first embodiment, the driving amount of the conveyance motor 51 and the driving amount of the slitter driving motor 16 are corrected, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, either the driving amount of the conveyance motor 51 or the driving amount of the slitter driving motor 16 may be corrected. In the above-described first embodiment, the detection pattern Pt is formed and read for each unit recording area, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the detection pattern Pt may be formed and read for a plurality of unit recording areas. Thereby, the time required for recording can be suppressed.

[0153] (4) Although not particularly described in the above-described first embodiment, various adjustment patterns may be recorded in the margin area of the recording medium 1 in addition to the detection pattern Pt. Examples of such adjustment patterns include a color shift correction pattern, a pattern capable of detecting nozzle clogging, etc., and a pattern capable of detecting a shift in the recording position of the recording head.

[0154] (5) Although not particularly described in the above-described second and third embodiments, the recording apparatus 100 may be configured to be able to set borderless recording and bordered recording, and the recording process described in the embodiment may be executed only when the cutting line is set to borderless recording located within the image recording area. That is, in this case, when the cutting line is set to bordered recording located outside the image recording area, the conveyance rollers 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter are driven at the initial set rotation speed during the conveyance operation. Also, although not particularly described in the above-described second and third embodiments, when advancing the leading end portion of the recording medium 1 on which no recording image is recorded, the conveyance rollers 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter may be driven at the initial set rotation speed.

[0155] (6) In the above-described second and third embodiments, the recording duty is used as the ink application amount, but it is not limited thereto. That is, it may be the total number of dots in the cutting regions 1500 and 1700, or the average value of the number of dots applied to each predetermined region of the cutting region. Any value may be used as long as it is possible to compare the ink application amounts to the cutting regions 1500 and 1700.

[0156] (7) In the above-described second and third embodiments, the region for calculating the recording duty is set to be 100 mm inside and 5 mm outside with reference to the cutting lines CL and CR, but it is not limited thereto. That is, the behavior of the recording medium floating due to ink application changes depending on the configuration of the conveyance path of the recording apparatus 100. Therefore, the size and position of the region for calculating the recording duty may be appropriately set according to the configuration of the conveyance path. Also, the size and position of the region for calculating the recording duty may be set according to the type of the recording medium, the type of the ink, and the like.

[0157] (8) In the above-described second and third embodiments, the average recording duty in the left and right cutting regions is calculated, and the one with the higher value is adopted as the recording duty, and the rotational speeds of the two conveyance rollers are determined based on this recording duty, but it is not limited thereto. That is, based on the average recording duties of the left and right, the rotational speeds of the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter may be determined for each of the left and right sides of the recording medium 1. Thereby, the conveyance amount of the recording medium 1 is independently controlled on the left and right sides of the image recording region.

[0158] (9) In the above-described embodiment, the recording apparatus 100 is of a so-called serial scan type in which recording is performed while scanning the recording head 2 via the carriage 3, but it is not limited to this. That is, it may be a full line type recording apparatus in which a recording head having a nozzle array with a length corresponding to the size in the width direction of the recording medium is fixedly arranged. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the recording apparatus 100 includes the recording head 2, but it is not limited to this. That is, the above-described embodiment can be applied to a transport apparatus capable of cutting the recording medium along the transport direction. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the slitter 13 has the slitter units 303L and 303R, but it is not limited to this. That is, the slitter 13 may be configured to include only one of the slitter units 303L and 303R.

[0159] (10) In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 410 of the recording apparatus 100 acquires the deviation in the transport amounts of the transport roller 8 and the upper slitter transport roller 320 and calculates the recording duty, but it is not limited to this. That is, such processing may be executed by an external apparatus such as a host apparatus based on information from the recording apparatus 100, for example. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the slitter 13 has the two slitter units 303L and 303R, but it is not limited to this. That is, the slitter 13 may be configured to include one slitter unit 303. In this case, a slitter transport roller is provided on the other side in the X direction where the slitter unit 303 is not located.

[0160] (11) In the above-described embodiment, the rotation speed, that is, the conveyance amount per unit time, is adjusted, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, it may be a form in which the conveyance amount with respect to the conveyance amount during the conveyance operation according to the length in the Y direction of the unit recording area is adjusted. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance roller 8 and the conveyance roller 320 on the slitter, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, as the conveyance means for conveying the recording medium, various known conveyance means such as using a belt may be used.

[0161] (12) The above-described embodiment and the various forms shown in the above (1) to (11) may be appropriately combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0162] 2 Recording head 8 Conveyance roller 60 Cutting portion 100 Recording apparatus 303 Slitter unit 320 Conveyance roller on slitter 410 Control unit

Claims

1. A first conveying means for conveying a recording medium, A recording means for applying ink to the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means to record an image, Cutting means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium by the first conveying means for cutting the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means along the conveying direction, A second conveying means provided in the cutting means, the recording apparatus comprising: Correction means for correcting parameters related to the conveyance of at least one of the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means based on information of the recording medium, The information is Information related to a change in rigidity, A recording apparatus characterized in that the information is information obtained by reading a detection pattern recorded together with an image recorded based on image data.

2. A first conveying means for conveying a recording medium, A recording means for applying ink to the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means to record an image, Cutting means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium by the first conveying means for cutting the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means along the conveying direction, A second conveying means provided in the cutting means, the recording apparatus comprising: Correction means for correcting parameters related to the conveyance of at least one of the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means based on information of the recording medium, The information is Information related to a change in rigidity, A recording apparatus characterized in that the information is an ink application amount to a cutting region near the cutting portion including the cutting portion cut by the cutting means.

3. A first conveying means for conveying a recording medium, A recording means for applying ink to the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means to record an image, Cutting means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium by the first conveying means for cutting the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means along the conveying direction, A second conveying means provided in the cutting means, the recording apparatus comprising: Correction means for correcting parameters related to the conveyance of at least one of the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means based on information of the recording medium, The information is Information related to a change in rigidity, A recording apparatus characterized in that the setting is to cut without an edge within the image recording region where an image based on the image data is recorded or with an edge outside the image recording region.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection pattern is a pattern in which the brightness changes when a change occurs in the conveyance amounts by the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means.

5. The cutting means is provided at two positions in the width direction of the recording medium that intersects the conveyance direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the detection pattern is formed on at least one side in the width direction outside the image recording area where an image based on image data is recorded.

6. The cutting area is divided in the conveyance direction, and the information is the ink application amount for each of the divided areas. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 is characterized in that.

7. The cutting means is provided at two positions in the width direction of the recording medium that intersects the conveyance direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information is the larger one of the ink application amounts in the two cutting areas.

8. The cutting means is provided at two positions in the width direction of the recording medium that intersects the conveyance direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information is the larger one of the ink application amounts in the two cutting areas located at both ends in the width direction in the divided area.

9. The correcting means corrects so that the ratio of the conveyance speed by the second conveyance means to the conveyance speed by the first conveyance means becomes larger as the ink application amount in the cutting area becomes larger. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 6, 7, and 8 is characterized in that.

10. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9, wherein the ink application amount is a recording duty indicating the ink application amount per unit area in the cutting area.

11. The correcting means corrects so that the ratio of the conveyance speed by the second conveyance means to the conveyance speed by the first conveyance means becomes larger when the setting is without a margin as compared with the case with a margin. The recording apparatus according to claim 3 is characterized in that.

12. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, wherein the information includes the type of the recording medium.

13. The correction means corrects such that the ratio of the conveyance speed by the second conveyance means to the conveyance speed by the first conveyance means becomes larger as the type is such that the rigidity of the recording medium is lowered by the liquid component of the ink. The recording apparatus according to claim 12.

14. The correction means adjusts the corrected value according to the usage amount of the cutting means. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The parameter is a driving amount of a first driving means for driving the first conveyance means and a second driving means for driving the second conveyance means. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The first conveyance means and the second conveyance means are each a conveyance roller. The parameter is a rotation speed of each of the conveyance rollers. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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