Recording apparatus, control method, and program

Abstract

To suppress the occurrence of stripes in a case where movement along the array direction of discharge ports is performed between scans.SOLUTION: A recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: first acquisition means which acquires inclination information indicating the inclination in the scan direction of a second scan with respect to the scan direction of the reference scan when shifting to a first scan and the second scan; second acquisition means which acquires the first position information indicating the position of a use discharge port used in the second scan among discharge ports in a discharge port array on the basis of the position of a recording end at the time of scan completion of the first scan and the inclination; third acquisition means which acquires the second position information indicating the position of the recording end in the first direction at the time of scan completion of the second scan; and fourth acquisition means which acquires image data corresponding to the second scan by using the first position information and the second position information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology of a recording device that records by being manually moved by a user.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, an inkjet recording device capable of suppressing deterioration in image quality due to variations in the conveyance amount of a recording medium by detecting an error value of the conveyance amount of the recording medium and changing the ejection port of a recording head that can be used during recording is disclosed. According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, thick streak-like lines (so-called black streaks) generated by overlapping of ink due to overlapping of the recording areas between scans and white streak-like lines (so-called white streaks) where ink is not recorded due to the recording areas being separated between scans are suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, when shifting to the next scan by moving a fixed amount along the arrangement direction of the ejection ports included in the ejection port array of the recording head, the inclination of the ejection port array that may occur between scans is not considered. Even if the inclination generated by one such movement is within the assumed range, if this movement is performed a plurality of times, there may be no ejection port for changing whether to eject ink according to the displacement. Therefore, in such a case, streaks occur and the image quality of the printed matter deteriorates.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention aims to suppress the occurrence of streaks when movement along the arrangement direction of the ejection ports performed between scans is performed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention is to discharge ink from at least a part of the plurality of ejection ports while scanning a recording head having an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports are arranged along a first direction along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and after the scanning along the second direction is completed, repeating the step of moving the ejection port array by a predetermined amount in the first direction to record an image. When shifting between a first scan and a second scan, a first acquisition unit that acquires inclination information indicating an inclination of a scan direction of the second scan with respect to a scan direction of a reference scan, and based on a position of a recording end portion at the end of the first scan and the inclination, a second acquisition unit that acquires first position information indicating a position of a used ejection port used in the second scan among the ejection ports included in the ejection port array, a third acquisition unit that acquires second position information indicating a position of a recording end portion in the first direction at the end of the second scan, and a fourth acquisition unit that acquires image data corresponding to the second scan using the first position information and the second position information. A recording apparatus characterized by having the above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of streaks when movement along the arrangement direction of the ejection ports performed during scanning is performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be exemplarily described in detail. However, the components described below are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure thereto.

[0010] <External Configuration of the Recording Device> Figure 1(a) is an external perspective view of a manual scanning type hand-held recording device 100 on a recording medium 108 in the present embodiment. This recording device is also called a handy printer, a portable printer, etc. By manually moving this recording device by the user, printing is performed.

[0011] FIG. 1(b) is a bottom view showing the configuration of the bottom surface of the recording apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. Such a bottom surface is the surface of the recording apparatus 100 on the side that contacts the recording medium. The recording head 101 has ink ejection nozzles 102 in an inkjet printer. The ink ejection nozzles 102 are physical ejection ports from which ink is ejected. In FIG. 1(b), only one nozzle row (also referred to as an ejection port row) is shown, but generally, nozzle rows are provided in the number of colors actually used. In the following description, an inkjet printer is exemplified, but the idea of the present embodiment can also be applied to recording apparatuses that employ other recording methods, such as thermal transfer type and ink ribbon type.

[0012] Position detection sensors 103a and 103b for acquiring relative position information on the recording medium plane of the recording apparatus 100 are arranged above and below the recording head 101 as shown in FIG. 1(b). As the position detection sensors, those similar to the optical sensors used in a mouse or the like can be used. The position detection sensors 103a and 103b irradiate light on the recording medium on which the recording apparatus 100 is placed and read the pattern of that portion. By continuously capturing how the pattern changes with respect to the movement of the recording apparatus 100, the movement amount of the recording apparatus 100 is derived.

[0013] X and Y shown in FIG. 1(c) indicate the movement coordinate system of the recording apparatus 100. The X direction is the direction (specifically, perpendicular) that intersects the nozzle row with respect to the nozzle row, and the Y direction is the direction in which the nozzles are arranged in the nozzle row (that is, the direction in which the nozzle row extends). The position detection sensors 103a and 103b for acquiring position information respectively acquire position information in the X direction and the Y direction. In order to assist the recording apparatus 100 in scanning in the X direction, roller units 104a and 104b each having two roller portions are installed on the left and right of the recording head 101. By the roller portions contacting and rotating on the recording medium, the recording apparatus 100 is assisted in scanning in the X direction. Note that the recording apparatus of the present embodiment has roller portions, but if it can scan in the X direction and the Y direction, the roller portions are not necessarily required.

[0014] Fig. 1(c) is a top view showing the configuration of the upper surface of the recording apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. Such an upper surface is a surface where the recording apparatus 100 and the user's hand come into contact. On the upper surface, a power button 106 for turning on or off the power of the recording apparatus 100, a control button 105 for performing printing start, printing stop, etc., and an LED 107 for notifying the user of the power state, printing state, error, etc. are arranged. Further, as shown in Fig. 1(c), after the user scans the recording apparatus 100 in the +X direction in the figure for printing and then moves the recording apparatus 100 in the +Y direction by the length d of the nozzle array shown in Fig. 1(b), an image is recorded on the recording medium in the same recording procedure as a serial scan type printer having a paper feeding and discharging mechanism.

[0015] <Hardware Configuration of the Recording Apparatus> Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the recording apparatus 100. The recording apparatus 100 has a control unit 200. The control unit 200 includes a CPU 201, an image processing accelerator 202, a data transfer I / F 203, a RAM 204, a ROM 205, and a head controller 206.

[0016] The CPU 201 performs data arithmetic processing. The image processing accelerator 202 is a block specialized for operations related to image processing and collaborates with the CPU 201 to perform data processing. The data transfer I / F 203 exchanges (transmits and receives) data with devices outside the recording apparatus 100, such as a personal computer device (PC), a smartphone, etc. The RAM 204 is a volatile temporary storage area used when the CPU 201 and the image processing accelerator 202 perform arithmetic processing. The ROM 205 is a non-volatile storage area that stores parameters used when the CPU 201 and the image processing accelerator 202 perform arithmetic operations, an image processing program described later, etc. The parameters read from the ROM 205 may be expanded in the RAM 204. The head controller 206 is a controller for controlling the operation of the recording head 101, such as ink ejection. When the power button 106 is pressed, the power supply starts or ends the power supply to the control unit 200. When the control button 105 is pressed, printing start or printing stop is performed according to the printing state. Further, the CPU 201 lights the LED 107 in a predetermined pattern or causes it to emit light in a predetermined color according to the power state, the printing state, the error situation, etc. Taking the position coordinates of the recording apparatus 100 when the control button 105 is pressed in a state where printing can be started as the origin, the CPU 201 continuously acquires position information using the position detection sensors 103a and 103b according to the subsequent movement of the recording apparatus 100.

[0017] <Software Configuration of Image Processing Accelerator> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image processing accelerator 202, which shows the flow of image processing in the recording apparatus 100. The input unit 301 of the image processing accelerator 202 receives, as input data, the image data and the print setting information received via the data transfer I / F 203. The magnification unit 302 performs magnification processing on the image data input to the input unit 301 based on the print size set by the user. Note that the “print size” means the size of the image recorded on the recording medium.

[0018] The color correction unit 303 obtains RGB 3-channel image data that depends on the device by performing color conversion processing on the image data after the zoom processing by the zoom unit 302. The color separation unit 304 converts the RGB 3-channel image data that depends on the device into image data corresponding to each ink (for example, CMYK 4 channels) used in the recording device 100. Thereafter, the output gradation correction unit 305 performs gradation characteristic correction processing on the image data of each ink color, and the quantization unit 306 performs quantization processing (for example, binarization processing), thereby obtaining recording data for each ink color. The output unit 307 outputs the recording data obtained by the quantization processing by the quantization unit 306 and stores it in the RAM 204. Based on the recording data and the control signal for driving the recording head 101, each nozzle of the recording head 101 ejects ink droplets (so-called dots), thereby recording, that is, printing, an image on the recording medium.

[0019] In the present embodiment, the image data to which image processing is applied is divided so that the size of the image in the Y direction is the length corresponding to the number of nozzles used in one-pass printing, and image processing for the divided image size is performed for each scan. Of course, after obtaining the overall recording data by performing the above-described image processing on the entire image data, the obtained recording data may be divided into the same size as the data ejected by the recording head 101. Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the image processing is performed by the recording apparatus main body is shown, but the image processing may be performed by an external device of the recording apparatus. For example, the recording data obtained as a result of performing image processing on a PC or a smartphone, etc., and the print setting information may be combined and received by the recording apparatus as input data. Further, the content of the image processing is not limited to the above, and any correction processing or the like may be added.

[0020] <Streaks generated during printing> Figures 4(a) to 4(c) each show an example of forming an image on a paper surface by scanning twice using all the nozzles of the recording head. The image formed in this example is an image recorded based on image data in which the value of each pixel of the image data is a single fixed value (that is, an image filled with a single color). In the figure, the printing area of the first scan and the printing area of the second scan are shown separately. The "printing area" means an area printed on the paper surface corresponding to the print data in the area scanned by the recording head. Hereinafter, "the first scan to the nth scan" will be described as "the first scan to the nth scan".

[0021] Scanning is performed from the scanning start position in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the nozzle array (hereinafter referred to as the scanning direction), and printing (image recording) for one scan is performed by discharging ink from at least a part of the plurality of nozzles included in the nozzle array. Thus, in this embodiment, the scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the nozzle array. Also, in this embodiment, the main body of the recording apparatus 100 is scanned in a predetermined direction (from left to right in FIG. 4) in odd-numbered scans and in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction (from right to left in FIG. 4) in even-numbered scans for printing. An image of the printing area corresponding to the one scan is formed in one scan.

[0022] During the scans, the user moves the recording apparatus 100 by a length d of the nozzle array shown in FIG. 1(a) in the direction of the next scan (hereinafter referred to as the line feed direction) along the extending direction of the nozzle array (the nozzle arrangement direction). Thereby, it becomes possible to shift from the completed scan to the next scan. In the figures for explaining this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the nozzles of the nozzle array used at both or either one of the start and completion of the nth scan are shown. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, for the purpose of making the nozzles used in each scan (hereinafter referred to as used nozzles, used ejection ports, etc.) easier to understand, the nozzles are filled in for representation. In the case of FIG. 4, since all 12 nozzles included in the nozzle array are used in all scans, all the nozzles are filled in. Also, the X and Y coordinates shown in the figure are the same as the coordinates used in FIG. 1(c) and correspond to the scanning direction and the line feed direction on the recording medium.

[0023] FIG. 4(a) shows the case where printing is accurately performed at the targeted position in each scan, and a desired image is formed without the occurrence of white streaks or black streaks.

[0024] FIG. 4(b) shows the printing result when the nozzle row of the recording head is inclined by -θ with respect to the scanning direction of the first scan due to the movement in the line feed direction for the transition from the first scan to the second scan. Further, FIG. 4(c) shows the printing result when the nozzle row of the recording head is inclined by +θ with respect to the scanning direction of the first scan due to the movement in the line feed direction for the transition from the first scan to the second scan. Regarding the inclination, if the sign is plus (+), it is considered as the inclination of the recording head in the line feed direction side (+Y direction), and if it is minus (-), it is considered as the inclination in the direction opposite to the line feed direction (-Y direction). Due to the inclination of the recording head, in the second scan, scanning is performed in a direction inclined by +θ or -θ with respect to the scanning direction of the first scan. Therefore, in FIG. 4(b), at the completion of the second scan, a positional deviation of -1.0 pitch (1.0 pitch is the interval between nozzles) occurs at the portion that is most deviated in the direction opposite to the line feed direction. Also, in FIG. 4(c), at the completion of the second scan, a positional deviation of 1.0 pitch occurs at the portion that is most deviated in the line feed direction. As a result, in FIG. 4(b), black streaks 401 occur due to the overlapping of the printing areas between scans, and in FIG. 4(c), white streaks 402 occur due to the opening of the printing areas between scans.

[0025] As described above, when a positional deviation due to the inclination of the recording head occurs in each scan, white streaks or black streaks occur and the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, in the present embodiment, recording is performed in the form as described hereinafter.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of forming continuous images during scanning, that is, even when the inclination of the nozzle row occurs when shifting from the first scan to the second scan. The broken lines shown after FIG. 5 indicate the movement trajectories of the ends of the nozzle row (or the ends of the nozzles in use) during scanning. A preliminary nozzle is prepared, and based on the position information of the recording end in the line feed direction of the previous scan, the position information acquired by the position detection sensor 103, and the inclination information of the nozzle row with respect to the first scan, the position of the nozzle to be used is changed according to the position in the scanning direction. As a result, even when the inclination of the nozzle row occurs during scanning, a continuous image can be formed between adjacent printing areas. In FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c), out of 12 nozzles, a total of 2 nozzles, one at each of the upper and lower ends, are used as preliminary nozzles.

[0027] FIG. 5(a) shows the printing result when the inclination of the nozzle row does not occur during scanning, similar to FIG. 4(a). As shown in FIG. 5(a), when there is no inclination of the nozzle row, in each scan, 10 nozzles excluding a total of 2 nozzles, one at each of the upper and lower ends, are used to form an image. After the scan along the X direction, the next scan is shifted by moving a length e (= d×10 / 12), which corresponds to the length of 10 nozzles, in the line feed direction. Note that, as described above, d is the length of the nozzle row (in this example, the length corresponding to 12 nozzles in the nozzle row).

[0028] FIG. 5(b) shows a printing result for dealing with the case where, similar to FIG. 4(b), after printing by performing the first scan over the scanning range (W), the nozzle array is tilted by -θ with respect to the scanning direction of the first scan by moving in the line feed direction for the second scan and the second scan is started in that state. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the information on the Y-direction position 501 as the recording end in the line feed direction of the first scan is stored, and using the X-direction position information acquired during the execution of the second scan, the nozzle position used for recording is shifted according to the amount of displacement in the direction opposite to the line feed direction due to the tilt. As a result, a continuous image can be formed between the first scan and the second scan, and the black streak 401 shown in FIG. 4(b) does not occur. The scanning direction in the present embodiment is a direction intersecting the extending direction of the nozzle array, the X direction shown in FIG. 4(a) in the first scan, and a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the tilted nozzle array in the second scan. Also, the line feed direction is the Y direction shown in FIG. 4(a) in the first scan, and in the second scan, it is the direction in which the nozzles are arranged in the tilted nozzle array and is the direction of the printing by the next scan.

[0029] FIG. 5(c) shows a printing result for dealing with the case where, similar to FIG. 4(c), after printing by performing the first scan over the scanning range (W), the nozzle array is tilted by +θ with respect to the scanning direction of the first scan by moving in the line feed direction for the second scan and the second scan is started in that state. As shown in FIG. 5(c), the information on the Y-direction position 501 of the recording end in the line feed direction of the first scan is stored, and using the X-direction position information acquired during the execution of the second scan, the nozzle position used for recording is shifted according to the amount of displacement in the line feed direction due to the tilt. As a result, a continuous image can be formed between the first scan and the second scan, and the white streak 402 shown in FIG. 4(c) does not occur.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining white streaks that occur when there is no nozzle at the shift destination in a form of shifting the position of a used nozzle in order to cope with a positional shift in the line feed direction due to the inclination of the nozzle row of the main scan with respect to the nozzle row of the pre-scan. Here, as in FIG. 5, it is premised that the position of the used nozzle is shifted based on the Y-direction position information of the recording end portion in the pre-scan and the X-direction position information acquired during the main scan.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a printing result when printing is further performed by the third scan and the fourth scan with respect to the state shown in FIG. 5(c). In FIG. 6, for easy understanding of the explanation, a case is shown in which the nozzle row includes 12 nozzles as in FIG. 5, and the upper 2 nozzles among the 12 nozzles are prepared as spare nozzles. Also in the third scan and the fourth scan, as in the first scan and the second scan, when moving by e in the line feed direction for shifting to the next scan, the nozzle row is inclined by θ in the line feed direction from the scan direction of the main scan. Further, due to the inclination by θ in the line feed direction, a positional shift of +2.0 pitches occurs in the line feed direction at the end of the scan. Note that the number of nozzles used in any scan is 10.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, at the end of the second scan, in order to record continuously with the first scan, the position of the used nozzle is shifted by the amount of positional shift in the line feed direction of +2.0 pitches, and 10 nozzles are used starting from the upper end of the nozzle row. In the third scan, as a result of the nozzle row being inclined by -θ with respect to the scan direction of the second scan, the scan direction of the third scan becomes the same as that of the first scan. However, since the position of the used nozzle is shifted by the amount of positional shift in the line feed direction of +2.0 pitches at the end of the second scan, it is necessary to shift the position of the used nozzle also at the start of the third scan. Then, in the fourth scan, since the position of the used nozzle is shifted by the amount of positional shift in the line feed direction of +2.0 pitches at the start of the scan as in the third scan, printing is performed using 10 nozzles starting from the first nozzle on the upstream side in the line feed direction among the 12 nozzles included in the nozzle row. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, in the fourth scan, as a result of opening by +2.0 pitches at the end of the scan, white streaks 601 occur.

[0033] In this way, a preliminary nozzle is prepared. Also, in order to address the positional shift in the line feed direction due to the inclination of the nozzle array of the main scan with respect to the nozzle array of the pre-scan, the position of the nozzle to be used is shifted based on the Y-direction position information of the recording end portion in the pre-scan and the X-direction position information acquired during the main scan. Thereby, it is possible to form a continuous image between consecutive scans. However, as shown in FIG. 6, when performing multiple scans without controlling the number of nozzles used in each scan (the number of nozzles used is always constant), even if the inclination of the nozzle array occurring during the transition between consecutive scans is within the assumed range, there may be a case where there is no nozzle for shifting. As a result, an unrecordable area occurs between scans, resulting in white streaks and potentially degrading the image quality.

[0034] <Correction of streaks caused by inclination error due to inclination of nozzle array> Hereinafter, a correction process for streaks caused by the positional shift in the line feed direction of the printing area (hereinafter referred to as inclination error) caused by the inclination of the nozzle array between scans will be described. Such an inclination of the nozzle array between scans can occur when the recording device 100 is moved at a fixed amount each time along the line feed direction (+Y direction).

[0035] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for correcting streaks caused by inclination error. FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 6 and shows the printing area in each scan, as well as the position and number of nozzles used in each scan when the streak correction process according to the present embodiment is executed when an inclination error occurs during the transition between scans to the second scan, the third scan, or the fourth scan. Regarding the preliminary nozzle, at least the number of nozzles is required to print in the main scan up to the area where the next scan can be continuously recorded while suppressing the occurrence of streaks due to the inclination error during the scan. In the present embodiment, since the nozzle pitch is 600 dpi, the distance between nozzles is approximately 42 μm. Also, regarding the inclination of the nozzle array of the main scan with respect to the nozzle array of the pre-scan, the maximum assumed inclination with respect to the line feed direction is θmb, and the maximum assumed inclination with respect to the direction opposite to the line feed direction is θmt.

[0036] In this embodiment, when the scanning range W of a predetermined scan (the first scan in this example) is scanned, the magnitude of the positional deviation in the line feed direction due to the inclination of such a nozzle row is set to 2.0 pitches (84 μm) in either the line feed direction or the direction opposite to the line feed direction. As will be described later, as for the nozzles included in the nozzle row of this example, a total of 12 nozzles are required, including 10 nozzles capable of printing an area corresponding to the movement amount and 2 nozzles for dealing with the inclination error generated when scanning the scanning range W in each scan.

[0037] Hereinafter, the details of the correction process will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 10. In this embodiment, the length in the Y direction (referred to as N) of the usable nozzle group included in the nozzle row of the recording head needs to satisfy the condition of Expression (1). This condition is based on the movement amount in the line feed direction (referred to as D) and the inclination error when the scanning range W is scanned after being inclined by the maximum assumed inclination θmb with respect to the line feed direction. As described above, in this embodiment, since the nozzle row has a total of 12 nozzles, the nozzle length is 504 μm, which is the length of 12 nozzles.

[0038]

Equation

[0039] In step S701, as a transition operation to the next scan, the user moves the recording apparatus 100 by the movement amount D in the line feed direction. The movement amount D in this example is e as described above. The movement amount D satisfies the conditions of Expressions (2) and (3) in relation to the inclination error when the scanning range W is scanned after being inclined by the maximum assumed inclination θmt with respect to the line feed direction and the direction opposite to the line feed direction. By making the movement amount D larger than the inclination error when the scanning range W is scanned after being inclined by the maximum assumed inclination θmt with respect to the line feed direction and the direction opposite to the line feed direction, streaks caused by such an inclination error can be corrected. The inclination errors in the line feed direction and the direction opposite thereto can be dealt with by reducing the number of nozzles used. Hereinafter, "step S~" will be abbreviated as "S~".

[0040]

Equation

[0041]

Number

[0042] In S702, the CPU 201 calculates the inclination Δθ of the nozzle array when shifting from the pre-scan to the main scan (hereinafter referred to as the inclination between scans) and the inclination θ of the nozzle array of the main scan with respect to a predetermined scan (also referred to as the reference scan) (hereinafter referred to as the inclination with respect to the reference). In this embodiment, the predetermined scan serving as the reference is the first scan. The calculation of the inclination in this step will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, for the sake of easy explanation of the inclination calculation method, the position of the recording device 100 at the end of the main scan is shown at the top, and the position of the recording device 100 at the end of the Y-direction movement when shifting from the main scan to the next scan is shown at the bottom. In the coordinate axes shown at the top of FIG. 9, the scan direction in the predetermined scan is the X-axis, and the line feed direction is the Y-axis. That is, in this embodiment, the scan direction of the first scan is the X-axis, and the line feed direction of the first scan is the Y-axis. Position detection sensors 103a and 103b are arranged above and below the recording head 101 of the recording device 100, and the distance between these sensors is set to L as shown in FIG. 9. When the main scan is completed, the position information acquired by the position detection sensor 103a is set as (Xa, Ya), and the position information acquired by the position detection sensor 103b is set as (Xb, Yb). Also, when the movement is completed when shifting from the main scan to the next scan, the position information acquired by the position detection sensor 103a is set as (X'a, Y'a), and the position information acquired by the position detection sensor 103b is set as (X'b, Y'b). The inclination Δθ between scans can be obtained using Equation (4).

[0043]

Number

[0044] In this embodiment, the inclination Δθ between scans of the second scan is equal to the inclination θ with respect to the reference. Also, after the third scan, the inclination θ with respect to the reference can be calculated by adding Δθ to the θ calculated in the previous scan. As shown in FIG. 8, the inclination between each of the second scan to the fourth scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction, that is, inclined by the maximum inclination assumed between scans in the line feed direction.

[0045] In this embodiment, the inclination between scans is calculated using the detection results of the position detection sensors arranged above and below the nozzle array with respect to the recording head. However, as long as the inclination can be calculated, the form of the sensor does not have to be limited to this. In order to acquire inclination information, a separate gyro sensor may be mounted on the recording apparatus, and the inclination calculated using the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor may be acquired between scans, thereby constituting a configuration for acquiring the inclination between scans.

[0046] In S703, the CPU 201 determines the position of the nozzle to be used in the current scan, in other words, acquires the position information of the nozzle to be used. The position information acquired in this step is information indicating from which nozzle, counting from the nozzle end on the upstream side in the line feed direction, is to be used in the current scan in order to continuously record from the position of the recording end of the previous scan in the current scan. In this embodiment, the position information of the recording end in the line feed direction at the end of the previous scan is acquired as the nozzle position information. The position information of the recording end in the line feed direction at the end of the previous scan is the position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the end of the previous scan acquired in S704 of the previous scan, which will be described later. In this embodiment, such position information is the information of the nozzle position of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the end of the previous scan and the information of the inclination with respect to the reference in the current scan when the inclination between the previous scan and the current scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction. This information is acquired and stored in S704 of the previous scan. Details will be described in the section of S704, which will be described later.

[0047] Regarding the second scan as this scan, the nozzle position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the first scan, which is the previous scan, is the information at position 802 in FIG. 8. Further, the inclination information with respect to the reference in the second scan when the inclination between the first scan and the second scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction is the information of the inclination θmb in the line feed direction. From these pieces of information, the upstream end in the line feed direction of the printing area corresponding to the second scan becomes position 801 in FIG. 8.

[0048] On the other hand, regarding the third scan as this scan, the nozzle position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the second scan, which is the previous scan, is the information at position 803 in FIG. 8. Further, the inclination information with respect to the reference in the third scan when the inclination between the second scan and the third scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction is the information of the inclination 0 in the line feed direction. From these pieces of information, the upstream end in the line feed direction of the printing area corresponding to the third scan becomes position 804 in FIG. 8.

[0049] In this embodiment, the position of the end of the area where an image is recorded in a certain scan is the same as the position at the completion of the scan, and from that position, the recording device 100 is moved by the movement amount e to shift to the next scan. Therefore, even when the nozzle array is inclined with respect to a predetermined scan (the first scan) in this scan (the second scan), the position of the nozzle to be used at the start of the second scan becomes the first nozzle from the nozzle end on the upstream side in the line feed direction as shown in FIG. 8. Exactly speaking, when shifting to the next scan, a positional deviation occurs in the line feed direction by θ with respect to the predetermined scan during the movement, but since this positional deviation is extremely small with respect to the nozzle pitch, it is treated as having no influence on the nozzle position. Also, a positional deviation occurs in the scanning direction between the nozzles due to the inclination by θ with respect to the predetermined scan, but this positional deviation is also extremely small with respect to the nozzle pitch and is treated as having no influence on the nozzle position. However, if the length N of the nozzle array is extremely long, there is an influence. In that case, the influence of the inclination of the nozzle array can be reduced by changing the ejection timing of each nozzle according to the positional deviation in the scanning direction between the nozzles.

[0050] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the position moved for the transition to the next scan becomes the recording start position of the print area in the next scan. In the previous scan, when transitioning to the next scan after scanning a distance d in the scanning direction from the end of the area where the image is to be recorded with respect to the scanning direction of the first scan, it is necessary to scan a distance of d×tanθ and then start printing before starting recording from the start of the next scan. The distance d scanned from the recording end in the previous scan is saved when transitioning to the next scan in S701.

[0051] In S704, the CPU 201 acquires the position information of the recording end in the line feed direction at the completion of the current scan. In this embodiment, the nozzle position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the current scan and the inclination information (θ) with respect to the reference in the next scan when the inclination between the scans with the next scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction are acquired. Thereby, the position of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction of the current scan can be derived.

[0052] In this embodiment, in the current scan, at least the area adjacent to the recordable area in the next scan is printed when the error between the scans during movement at the time of transitioning to the next scan is inclined by the assumed inclination θmb in the line feed direction. Therefore, the nozzle position of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the current scan is a position shifted by a movement amount D to the downstream side in the line feed direction from the nozzle position of the recording end on the upstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the current scan.

[0053] When the second scan is the current scan, the position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the current scan is the information at position 803 in FIG. 8. Also, the inclination information (θ) with respect to the reference in the third scan when the inclination between the scans with the third scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction is 0°. This is because the inclination with respect to the reference in the second scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction and the scanning direction in the third scan is opposite to that in the second scan and is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction. From these pieces of information, the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction of the print area corresponding to the second scan becomes position 804 in FIG. 8.

[0054] On the other hand, when the third scan is the main scan, the position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan is the information at position 805 in FIG. 8. Also, when the inclination between the third scan and the fourth scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction, the inclination information (θ) with respect to the reference of the third scan is θmb in the line feed direction. As a result, the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction of the printing area corresponding to the third scan becomes position 806 in FIG. 8.

[0055] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the printing area of the second scan when the inclination between the second scan and the third scan shown in FIG. 8 is different. FIG. 10(a) shows the case where the inclination between scans is θmb as in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10(b) shows the case where the inclination between scans is θ2 which is smaller than θmb.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 10(a), when the inclination between the previous scan and the current scan is θmb, the inclination with respect to the reference direction in the next scan when the inclination between the next scan and the current scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction is 0°. As a result, the end on the downstream side in the line feed direction of the printing area corresponding to the second scan becomes position 804 in FIG. 10(a), and it is necessary to print at least the area 1001 surrounded by the thick line in FIG. 10(a) in the second scan.

[0057] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10(b), when the inclination between the previous scan and the current scan is θ2 which is smaller than θmb, the inclination with respect to the reference direction in the next scan when the inclination between the next scan and the current scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction is θmb - θ2. As a result, the end on the downstream side in the line feed direction of the printing area corresponding to the second scan becomes position 1002 in FIG. 10(b), and it is necessary to print at least the area 1003 surrounded by the thick line in FIG. 10(b) in the second scan.

[0058] In S705, the CPU 201 acquires the image data corresponding to the main scan among the print data acquired by the recording device 100. Specifically, based on the nozzle position information acquired in S703 and the position information of the recording end portion in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan acquired in S704, the upper and lower positions of the nozzles in use at the start of the main scan and the upper and lower positions of the nozzles in use at the completion of the main scan are derived. Using the upper and lower positions of the nozzles in use at the start and at the completion of the main scan respectively, the image data to be used in the main scan is cut out from the print data corresponding to the entire image data.

[0059] Specifically explaining S705, for example, if the main scan is the second scan shown in FIG. 8, the Y-direction positions of the upper and lower ends of the nozzle row at the start of the scan are position 802 and position 803. Also, the Y-direction positions of the upper and lower ends of the nozzle row at the completion of the scan are position 807 and position 808. As a result, as the image data to be used in the second scan, the rectangular image data defined by position 802 and position 808 in FIG. 8 is cut out from the entire image data. On the other hand, in the third scan, similarly, the rectangular image data from position 803 to position 809 in FIG. 8 is cut out from the entire image data.

[0060] In S706, the CPU 201 controls the ejection or non-ejection of each nozzle using the image data acquired in S705, and performs printing by ejecting each color of ink based on the position information in the scanning direction acquired by the position detection sensor 103. This print data is image data, and the association between the image data and the nozzles is performed based on the nozzle position information acquired in S703 and the position information of the recording end portion on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan acquired in S704.

[0061] Regarding S706, for example, when the present scan is the second scan in FIG. 8, it will be specifically described. In S706, as the position information of the nozzle acquired in S703, the position information of the recording end portion on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the end of the previous scan is acquired. In this example, the information of position 802, which is the position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the end of the first scan, and the information of the inclination θmb with respect to the reference in the second scan when the inclination between scans is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction are acquired. From this position information, the position of the end nozzle on the upstream side in the line feed direction to be used at the start of the second scan becomes the first nozzle from the nozzle end on the upstream side in the line feed direction. Also, the inclination between scans of the second scan is θmb in the line feed direction. From these pieces of information, position 801 in FIG. 8 in the image data of the second scan acquired in S705 can be specified. As a result, for the image data of the second scan, the data up to the area of position 801, which is the portion printed in the first scan, is masked with 0.

[0062] On the other hand, the position information of the recording end portion on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the end of the present scan acquired in S704 is acquired. In the present embodiment, the information of position 803, which is the position information of the recording end portion on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the end of the second scan, and the information of the inclination of 0° with respect to the reference in the third scan when the inclination between the second scan and the third scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction are acquired. From this position information, the position of the end nozzle on the downstream side in the line feed direction to be used at the start of the second scan becomes the first nozzle from the nozzle end on the downstream side in the line feed direction. Also, the inclination with respect to the reference in the third scan when the inclination between the second scan and the third scan is inclined by θmb in the line feed direction is 0. From these pieces of information, position 804 in FIG. 8 in the image data of the second scan acquired in S705 can be specified. As a result, for the image data of the second scan, the area of the portion of the data to be printed in the third scan is masked with 0. As a result of the processing described above, the positions of the end nozzles on both sides in the line feed direction to be used at the start of the second scan and the data to be printed in the second scan can be obtained.

[0063] Next, printing is performed by shifting the image data corresponding to the nozzles based on the inclination θ with respect to the reference obtained in S702 and the position information obtained by the position detection sensor 103. Since the inclination with respect to the reference of the second scan is the inclination θmb in the present embodiment, the direction thereof becomes the scan direction. Also, when scanning by a distance of 1 / tanθ which is the distance by which the position of the nozzle is shifted by 1.0 pitch with respect to the scan direction, the image data corresponding to the nozzle position is updated. Therefore, as scanning progresses, the corresponding image data is shifted in the Y direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, when comparing the image data corresponding to the first nozzle from the nozzle end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the start and end of the second scan, it is shifted by 2.0 pitches in the Y direction.

[0064] In S707, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a next scan. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S701, while if the determination result is false, the series of processes ends.

[0065] As shown in the present embodiment, when shifting from the pre-scan to the main scan, the larger the inclination in the line feed direction with respect to a predetermined scan, the larger the print area of the main scan. Therefore, when the correction process of the present embodiment is executed, the number of nozzles used for printing the area scanned in the main scan increases. On the other hand, when shifting from the pre-scan to the main scan, the smaller the inclination in the line feed direction with respect to a predetermined scan, or the larger the inclination in the direction opposite to the line feed direction with respect to a predetermined scan, the smaller the print area of the main scan, and thus the number of nozzles used decreases.

[0066] <Effects and Modifications of the Present Embodiment> As described above, in the present embodiment, when moving the recording device with a fixed movement amount along the arrangement direction of the nozzles in the nozzle row, even if an inclination of the nozzle row occurs, the positions and numbers of the nozzles used in each scan are appropriately controlled. Thereby, it becomes possible to print continuous images between scans. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress white streaks generated between scans in the output printed matter.

[0067] In this embodiment, an example was shown in which, when tilted by the inclination θmb assumed in the line feed direction during movement when shifting to the next scan, the area up to the area adjacent to the recordable area of the next scan was printed in the current scan. By printing in this way, it is possible to suppress the white streaks generated between scans. However, this embodiment is not limited to this form. Specifically, it is sufficient to print at least the area up to the area adjacent to the recordable area of the next scan when tilted by the inclination θmb assumed in the line feed direction during movement when shifting to the next scan, and it is also possible to print an area larger than the area shown in the first embodiment in the current scan. For example, in the second scan of this embodiment, it may be printed up to the position 810 of the nozzle at the end in the line feed direction of the nozzle array (see FIG. 8). Of course, in the second scan, it may be printed to any position and in any shape in the area between the position 804 and the position 810. As a result, regardless of the position to which it is printed, it is possible to correct the streaks caused by the inclination error and form a continuous image between scans. Therefore, even if a sudden inclination error occurs during movement when shifting to the next scan, it is possible to suppress the influence of white streaks.

[0068] Note that the shape of the printing area for each scan is not limited to a trapezoid or a parallelogram as shown in FIG. 8, and a rectangle may be formed as shown in FIG. 11. In the trapezoidal or parallelogram printing area shown in FIG. 8, since the joint between scans is diagonal, it is weak against the positional deviation in the X direction of the image, and when a positional deviation occurs, the joint becomes dark and streaks occur. On the other hand, by making the printing area rectangular as shown in FIG. 11, it becomes strong against the positional deviation in the X direction of the image, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of streaks due to the positional deviation.

[0069] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the scanning range (W) and the image (hereinafter, the printed image) recorded on the recording medium. In this embodiment, an example in which the scanning range (W) is equal to the horizontal width of the printed image was shown (see FIG. 8). However, as shown in FIG. 12(a), if the horizontal width of the printed image is within the scanning range, even if an inclination error occurs, by appropriately controlling the position and the number of nozzles used in each scan, it is possible to print a continuous image between scans.

[0070] Further, as shown in FIG. 12(b), the scanning range (W) of the first scan may be determined based on the horizontal width of the printed image drawn with the print data. In FIG. 12(b), the assumed inclination error is set to +1.0 pitch, and the number of preliminary nozzles is set to 1. If the scanning range (W) is fixed regardless of the horizontal width of the printed image, the recording amount in the line feed direction that can be recorded in one scan is almost equal regardless of the size of the printed image, as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the printing time is also almost the same regardless of the size of the printed image. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), by making the scanning range variable in proportion to the horizontal width of the printed image, it is possible to reduce the number of preliminary nozzles. This is because if the horizontal width of the printed image becomes smaller, the scanning range also becomes narrower, so the inclination error becomes smaller, and since the assumed inclination error becomes smaller, the number of preliminary nozzles can also be reduced. As a result, the recording amount in the line feed direction that can be recorded in one scan increases, and it becomes possible to shorten the printing time as the size of the printed image becomes smaller.

[0071] [Second Embodiment] There may be a case where an error occurs in the arrangement direction of the nozzle array (hereinafter referred to as a line feed error) in addition to the inclination error when shifting to the next scan. In the first embodiment, the line feed error is not considered. When a line feed error occurs, an area that cannot be recorded between scans is generated due to the line feed error. Therefore, even if the streaks caused by the inclination error are corrected, white streaks or black streaks may occur, and it may not be possible to form a continuous printed area between scans. Therefore, in this embodiment, additional preliminary nozzles for the line feed error are prepared, and streaks caused by the line feed error are also corrected in addition to the streaks caused by the inclination error. In the following, the description of the same content as in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the content different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0072] FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG. 8 and shows an example in which a line feed error of +1.0 pitch occurs in the line feed direction in all scans of the first embodiment. Regarding the line feed error, if the sign is plus (+), it is the line feed error in the line feed direction, and if it is minus (-), it is the line feed error in the direction opposite to the line feed direction. In the case where the line feed error 1301 as shown in FIG. 13 occurs, even if the streaks caused by the inclination error are corrected as shown in the first embodiment, white streaks occur due to the occurrence of unrecorded areas. Also, although not shown in FIG. 13, when a line feed error occurs in the direction opposite to the line feed direction, black streaks occur due to the overlapping of the printed areas between scans. In the present embodiment, such white streaks and black streaks are suppressed.

[0073] Hereinafter, the streak correction process of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process for correcting streaks caused by an inclination error and streaks caused by a line feed error. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the printed area in each scan and the position and number of nozzles used in each scan when the correction process according to the present embodiment is executed, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 13.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the maximum line feed error assumed in the line feed direction (referred to as Emb) is set to +1.0 pitch, and the maximum line feed error assumed in the direction opposite to the line feed direction (referred to as Emt) is set to -1.0 pitch. Also, spare nozzles are prepared by the amount of the maximum line feed error assumed in the line feed direction. In the present embodiment, since the maximum line feed error assumed in the line feed direction is +1.0 pitch, one spare nozzle for dealing with the line feed error is prepared. The nozzle 1501 in FIG. 15 is a spare nozzle for the line feed error, and in the present embodiment, the spare nozzle is provided at the end of the nozzle row in the direction opposite to the line feed direction. Therefore, the total number of nozzles in the nozzle row is 13. When shifting to the next scan, it moves by e (equivalent to 10 nozzles) in the line feed direction, similar to the first embodiment.

[0075] In S1401 of FIG. 14, the CPU 201 acquires the line feed error when shifting from the pre-scan to the main scan. In the present embodiment, the actual movement amount (referred to as D') moved in the line feed direction acquired by the position detection sensor 103b located downstream in the line feed direction is acquired. Then, the line feed error is acquired by deriving the difference (= D' - D) between the actual movement amount D' and the fixed movement amount D. In the present embodiment, since the movement amount is e (for 10 nozzles), it is 420 μm, and it is assumed that 462 μm is acquired as the actual movement amount. Therefore, a line feed error of +42 μm (for 1 nozzle) is acquired as these differences. Alternatively, when the acquired line feed error is, for example, +25.2 μm, it becomes 0.6 pitch and may not match the nozzle pitch. In such a case, in the present embodiment, correction is performed by shifting the nozzles, so the line feed error is calculated in nozzle pitch units, for example, rounding +0.6 pitch to +1.0 pitch.

[0076] The line feed error obtained in S1401 is reflected in the nozzle position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan obtained in S704. Specifically, it is shifted from the position indicated by the nozzle position information obtained in S704 by the line feed error amount obtained in S1401. Also, in this embodiment, in the main scan, at least until reaching the area adjacent to the recordable area of the next scan when the error between scans is assumed to be inclined by the inclination θmb in the line feed direction during the movement to the next scan, printing based on the print data is executed. However, the recordable area of the next scan does not include the area recorded by the spare nozzles prepared for the line feed error. Therefore, the nozzle position of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan is shifted by a value obtained by adding the movement amount D in the line feed direction from the nozzle position of the recording end on the upstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the scan and the length corresponding to the number of spare nozzles for the line feed error. For example, when the main scan is the second scan, the position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan is the information at position 1502 in FIG. 15. As a result, the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction of the print area of the second scan becomes position 1503, which is the same regardless of the presence or absence of the line feed error. The reason for this is that by printing the amount of deviation of the assumed line feed error in the main scan and using the spare nozzles prepared for the line feed error to print the area where the line feed error has occurred when the line feed error occurs, a continuous image can be formed between scans.

[0077] The nozzle position information of the recording end on the downstream side in the line feed direction at the completion of the main scan obtained in S704 described above is saved for use in S703 of the next scan.

[0078] Also, when calculating the positions of the upper end and the lower end of the nozzle array for each of the start and completion of the main scan in S705, the nozzle position is determined with the line feed error reflected.

[0079] Note that in this embodiment, the line feed error in the direction opposite to the line feed direction is not specifically described. However, when such a line feed error occurs, the number of nozzles used in the main scan may be set to be small. Thereby, black streaks due to the overlapping of the print areas between scans can be reduced, and recording can be continued.

[0080] <Effects of the present embodiment> As shown in the present embodiment, when moving by a fixed amount with respect to the arrangement direction of the nozzles, even if an error occurs in the arrangement direction of the nozzles in addition to the inclination of the nozzle row, by appropriately controlling the position and number of the nozzles to be used, it becomes possible to print a continuous image between scans. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress white streaks and black streaks generated between scans.

[0081] [Other embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the nozzle row is adopted as the scanning direction intersecting the extending direction of the nozzle row. However, as long as the scanning direction intersects the extending direction of the nozzle row, it does not necessarily have to be perpendicular to the extending direction. If the inclination cannot be perceived due to human visual characteristics even if it is slightly deviated from the perpendicular, there is no problem at all. Also, when the deviation from the perpendicular direction is such that it can be perceived by humans, for example, a case where the recording head 101 having the nozzle row is attached to the main body of the recording apparatus 100 while being inclined can be considered. In this case, correction such as shifting the ejection timing of each nozzle included in the nozzle row may be performed so as to form a printing area to be scanned and printed. Further, according to the inclination of the nozzle row, by adjusting the fixed movement amount in the arrangement direction of the nozzles and changing the distance between the nozzles for deriving the position and number of the nozzles to be used, it is possible to record so that the printing areas between scans are continuous.

[0082] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example of printing by a manually scanned hand-held recording apparatus is shown, but the idea of the present disclosure can be applied to other forms. For example, the idea of the present disclosure can also be applied to a serial scan type printer. Specifically, in the serial scan type, since the recording head is scanned by a scanning mechanism and the paper is conveyed by a conveying mechanism to shift to the next scan, the printing area and the nozzle position shown in FIG. 8 and the like may be changed so as to match these mechanisms.

[0083] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions. Note that the contents of the foregoing embodiments may be used in appropriate combination.

Explanation of Signs

[0084] 100 Recording apparatus

Claims

1. While scanning a recording head having a row of ejection ports arranged along a first direction in a second direction intersecting the first direction, ejecting ink from at least a part of the plurality of ejection ports, and after the scanning along the second direction is completed, repeating moving the row of ejection ports by a predetermined amount of movement in the first direction to record an image, a recording apparatus comprising: first acquisition means for acquiring inclination information indicating an inclination of a scanning direction of the second scan with respect to a scanning direction of a reference scan when shifting to the first scan, the second scan, and the transition; second acquisition means for acquiring first position information indicating positions of ejection ports to be used in the second scan among the ejection ports included in the row of ejection ports based on a position of a recording end portion at the completion of the first scan and the inclination; third acquisition means for acquiring second position information indicating a position of a recording end portion in the first direction at the completion of the second scan; fourth acquisition means for acquiring image data corresponding to the second scan using the first position information and the second position information; having a recording apparatus characterized by the above.

2. When the length of the row of ejection ports in the first direction is N, the scanning range of the first scan is W, the maximum assumed inclination with respect to the first direction is θmb, the maximum assumed inclination with respect to the direction opposite to the first direction is θmt, and the predetermined amount of movement is D, satisfying equations (1) and (2). The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above. 【Number 1】 【Number 2】

3. When shifting from the first scan to the second scan, recording is performed based on image data at least up to the positions of the ejection ports to be used in the second scan in the first scan. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The first acquisition means acquires an inclination of the row of ejection ports in the second scan with respect to the first scan, and derives an inclination of the scanning direction of the second scan with respect to the scanning direction of the reference scan based on the acquired inclination of the row of ejection ports. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor respectively detect a position in the first direction and a position in the second direction, and a position of the first sensor in the first direction is different from a position of the second sensor in the first direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The first acquisition means derives the inclination of the nozzle row in the second scan with respect to the first scan based on the detection results of the first sensor and the second sensor. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The reference scan is the first scan. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. The position indicated by the first position information is the position of the most upstream one in the first direction among the used nozzles. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

9. The recording apparatus further includes an acquisition means for acquiring print data corresponding to the entire image data to be printed. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that.

10. The fourth acquisition means acquires the image data corresponding to the second scan by cutting out the rectangular image data defined by the upstream end and the downstream end in the nozzle row at the start of the second scan and the upstream end and the downstream end in the nozzle row at the completion of the second scan from the print data. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that.

11. The scanning range of the first scan is determined based on the horizontal width of the print image drawn by the print data. The recording apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that.

12. When recording is performed by the second scan based on the image data corresponding to the second scan, the image data corresponding to each of the used nozzles is updated according to the position in the second direction in the second scan. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that.

13. The recording apparatus further includes an acquisition means for acquiring an error in the first direction when shifting from the first scan to the second scan, The third acquisition means reflects the error in the second position information. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that.

14. When the inclination in the first scan is greater than the inclination in the second scan, the number of used nozzles in the first scan is greater than the number of used nozzles in the second scan. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that.

15. In the printed matter output, the occurrence of streaks is suppressed. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that.

16. A method for controlling a recording apparatus that records an image by repeating discharging ink from at least a part of a plurality of ejection ports while scanning a recording head having an ejection port array in which the plurality of ejection ports are arranged along a first direction along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and moving the ejection port array by a predetermined amount in the first direction after the scanning along the second direction is completed. When performing the first scan, the second scan, and the transition, a step of obtaining inclination information indicating an inclination of the scanning direction of the second scan with respect to the scanning direction of the reference scan. Based on the position of the recording end portion at the completion of the scanning of the first scan and the inclination, a step of obtaining first position information indicating the position of the ejection ports to be used in the second scan among the ejection ports included in the ejection port array. A step of obtaining second position information indicating the position of the recording end portion in the first direction at the completion of the scanning of the second scan. A step of obtaining image data corresponding to the second scan using the first position information and the second position information. Having A control method characterized by the above.

17. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 16.

Images