Recording device and recording method

Abstract

To solve such a problem that the quality of a recorded image is reduced even when there is change in a sheet feeding source of sheets in a recording device which includes a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes.SOLUTION: A recording device suppresses the quality reduction in a recorded image by generating correction data using a sheet position adjustment value indicating a conveyance position of a sheet for each sheet feeding cassette in consideration of a case where a sheet feeding source is changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for recording an image on a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, recording devices that record images on a recording medium by applying a recording material such as ink are known. Among these recording devices, so-called full-multi type recording devices are known, which have a recording head configured with multiple nozzles, the smallest unit for applying ink and equipped with recording elements such as heating elements, arranged across a width greater than or equal to the width of the paper in a direction intersecting the paper transport direction. A recording head configured in this manner is hereinafter referred to as a "line head." In such a recording device, one ink ejection from each color head forms one raster of an output image in a direction parallel to the line head, and the ink ejection operation is repeated in synchronization with the paper transport by a line feed motor, thereby forming a page of image. This enables high-speed recording.

[0003] Due to manufacturing errors, etc., the diameter of the nozzles and the amount and direction of ink droplets ejected by the printing elements can vary for each nozzle or each chip that makes up the print head. As a result, even print heads manufactured using the same process can exhibit variations in density when actually printed, which can be seen as density unevenness in the printed image.

[0004] As a correction method for making such density unevenness less noticeable, so-called head shading (HS) technology is known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, which corrects the density value of the color ejected by a nozzle according to the ejection characteristics of that individual nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-013674 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] On the other hand, in a recording device capable of storing paper of the same size and type in multiple paper feed cassettes, if a paper feed cassette runs out of paper during a recording operation, the paper feed source can be switched. However, if the position to which paper is transported differs for each paper feed cassette due to manufacturing errors or the like, the paper position and the nozzle position used will differ for each paper feed cassette. Therefore, when performing correction processing that takes into account the nozzle printing characteristics, such as the HS processing described above, it is necessary to consider the relationship between the paper position and the nozzle position for each paper feed cassette.

[0007] In response to such problems, the present invention aims to suppress degradation in quality of recorded images even when the paper feed source is changed by generating correction data taking into account the paper transport position for each paper feed cassette. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a recording device for recording an image on a recording medium transported in a second direction intersecting the first direction by using a plurality of recording elements arranged along a first direction, a first holding unit and a second holding unit capable of holding a plurality of recording media, an acquisition unit that acquires a first adjustment value that indicates a transport position in the first direction of the recording medium fed from the first holding unit, and a second adjustment value that indicates a transport position in the first direction of the recording medium fed from the second holding unit; and an acquisition unit that acquires first correction data for recording an image on the paper fed from the first holding unit based on input image data and the first adjustment value. generating means for generating; and when a difference between the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value is greater than a predetermined threshold, the generating unit generates second correction data for recording an image on the paper fed from the second holding unit. It is characterized by the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, one or more paper feed cassettes that may be used for recording when generating quantized data are selected, and one or more pieces of quantized data are generated and spooled by referencing the paper position adjustment value for each selected paper feed cassette. During recording, the spooled data corresponding to the paper feed cassette to be used for recording is used. In this configuration, if a paper feed cassette runs out of paper during recording and the printer switches to another paper feed cassette to continue recording, the printer can perform recording using quantized data that references the paper position adjustment value of the switched paper feed cassette. This reduces the size of the spooled data, and enables the printer to switch paper feed cassettes with different paper position adjustment values without compromising print quality and continue recording. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] Diagram of when the recording device is in standby mode [Figure 2] Control configuration diagram of the recording device [Figure 3] A flowchart showing the process from generating quantized data from a job to saving it as spool data. [Figure 4] Flowchart showing recording cassette selection [Figure 5] Flowchart showing quantization data generation [Figure 6] Example of Spool Control Data [Figure 7] Flowchart showing the recording execution flow [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram of the problem that the invention aims to solve [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a recording head 8. [Figure 10] HS processing diagram DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an inkjet recording apparatus is used as the recording apparatus. Hereinafter, in this specification, the recording medium will be referred to as "paper" and the recording material applied to the recording medium will be referred to as "ink." Note that recording apparatuses to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to inkjet recording apparatuses, and may be electrophotographic recording apparatuses or the like. Similarly, the recording medium is not limited to paper, and the recording material is not limited to ink.

[0012] (Description of Inkjet Recording Apparatus) 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as recording apparatus 1) used in this embodiment. In the figure, the x direction is the horizontal direction, the y direction (perpendicular to the paper surface) is the direction in which multiple recording elements are arranged in a recording head 8 (described later), and the z direction is the vertical direction.

[0013] The recording device 1 is a multifunction device equipped with a printing unit 2 and a scanner unit 3, and the printing unit 2 and the scanner unit 3 can perform various processes related to recording and reading operations, either individually or in conjunction with each other. The scanner unit 3 is equipped with an ADF (automatic document feeder) and an FBS (flatbed scanner), and reads documents automatically fed by the ADF and reads (scans) documents placed on the platen of the FBS by the user. Note that although the recording device 1 of this embodiment is a multifunction device equipped with both the printing unit 2 and the scanner unit 3, it may also be configured without the scanner unit 3.

[0014] In the printing unit 2, a first paper feed cassette 5A and a second paper feed cassette 5B are detachably installed at the bottom vertically below the housing 4 as holders capable of holding multiple sheets of cut sheets S. In this figure, the first paper feed cassette 5A is shown holding A4-sized paper, and the second paper feed cassette 5B is shown holding A3-sized paper, stacked flat. Note that in the processes of the flowcharts described below, both the first paper feed cassette 5A and the second paper feed cassette 5B will be described as holding the same type and size of paper (A4-sized plain paper). Note that while this embodiment describes a configuration with two paper feed cassettes, a configuration with three or more paper feed cassettes is also possible. However, the present invention is effective in a configuration in which two or more paper feed cassettes are capable of holding paper of the same size and type.

[0015] A first feeding unit 6A is provided near the first paper feed cassette 5A to separate and feed the stored paper sheets one by one. Similarly, a second feeding unit 6B is provided near the second paper feed cassette 5B. When a recording operation is performed, paper sheets S are selectively fed from either one of the cassettes.

[0016] The transport roller 7, discharge roller 12, pinch roller 7a, spur 7b, guide 18, inner guide 19, and flapper 11 constitute a transport mechanism for transporting the paper S to a recording position where recording can be performed by the recording head 8. The transport roller 7 is disposed upstream of the recording head 8 and is a drive roller driven by a transport motor (not shown). The pinch roller 7a is a driven roller that rotates together with the transport roller 7 while nipping the paper S. The discharge roller 12 is disposed downstream of the recording head 8 and is a drive roller driven by a transport motor (not shown). The spur 7b, together with the discharge roller 12, pinches and transports the paper S.

[0017] Guide 18 is provided on the transport path of paper S and guides paper S in a predetermined direction. Inner guide 19 is a member extending in the y direction, has curved sides, and guides paper S along these sides. Flapper 11 is a member for switching the direction in which paper S is transported during double-sided recording. Discharge tray 13 is a tray for stacking and holding paper S discharged by discharge rollers 12 after the recording operation is completed.

[0018] The recording head 8 of this embodiment is a so-called full-line type color inkjet recording head, in which recording elements are driven in accordance with recording data and ink is ejected from each nozzle. The recording head 8 has nozzles arranged in the y direction in the figure, the number of which corresponds to the width of the paper S.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the recording head 8 and the paper S. As shown in this figure, the recording head 8 of this embodiment is composed of four recording heads: K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow). Each recording head has recording elements arranged along the y direction in the figure, and can accommodate the width of the paper S in the y direction. In other words, an image can be recorded while the paper S is transported once in the x direction. Note that the recording elements of this embodiment are inkjet recording elements of a so-called thermal recording method, which convert electrical energy into thermal energy to generate heat and eject ink droplets from nozzles. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an image is recorded by transporting the paper S relative to the recording head 8, which is fixed in position. However, this is not limited to this, as long as the recording head 8 and the paper S move relative to each other. For example, the recording head 8 may move.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 1, when the recording head 8 is in the standby position, the nozzle surface 8a of the recording head 8 is capped by a cap unit 10 as shown in this figure. On the other hand, when a recording operation is performed to record an image on the paper S, the orientation of the recording head 8 is changed by a print controller 202, which will be described later, so that the nozzle surface 8a faces the platen 9. The platen 9 is made up of a flat plate extending in the y direction, and supports the back of the paper S that has been transported to the recording position.

[0021] The ink tank unit 14 is composed of four tanks that store four colors of ink to be supplied to the recording head 8. The ink supply unit 15 is provided in the middle of the flow path that connects the ink tank unit 14 and the recording head 8, and adjusts the pressure and flow rate of the ink inside the recording head 8 to an appropriate range. In this embodiment, a circulation-type ink supply configuration is adopted, and the ink supply unit 15 adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied to the recording head 8 and the flow rate of the ink collected from the recording head 8 to an appropriate range.

[0022] The maintenance unit 16 includes a cap unit 10 and a wiping unit 17, and operates these at a predetermined timing to perform maintenance operations on the recording head 8.

[0023] 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the recording apparatus 1. The control configuration is mainly made up of a print engine unit 200 that controls the print section 2, a scanner engine unit 300 that controls the scanner section 3, and a controller unit 100 that controls the entire recording apparatus 1. A print controller 202 controls various mechanisms of the print engine unit 200 in accordance with instructions from a main controller 101 of the controller unit 100. Various mechanisms of the scanner engine unit 300 are controlled by the main controller 101 of the controller unit 100. The control configuration will be described in detail below.

[0024] In the controller unit 100, a main controller 101 configured by a CPU controls the entire printing apparatus 1 in accordance with programs and various parameters stored in a ROM 107, using a RAM 106 as a work area. For example, when a printing job is input from a host device 400 via a host I / F 102 or a wireless I / F 103, the main controller 101 saves the input data in the RAM 106. Thereafter, the input data is analyzed, and job attributes required for job processing and page attributes required for page processing are saved in the RAM 106.

[0025] In accordance with instructions from the main controller 101, the recording cassette selection unit 110 references the job attributes and page attributes stored in RAM 106 as well as the paper information for each paper cassette, and selects one or more paper cassettes that can supply paper for this job. The paper information for each paper cassette stored in RAM 106 includes the paper size, paper type, remaining paper amount, etc., and these are values detected by sensors provided in the paper cassette. Note that the paper information for each cassette can also be set by the user via the operation panel 104, which will be described later.

[0026] The quantized data generation unit 111 issues a quantized data request to the image processing unit 108 to generate quantized data corresponding to the paper feed cassette selected by the recording cassette selection unit 110. The image processing unit 108 generates the quantized data by performing raster image generation, correction processing, and quantization processing. The correction processing utilizes a paper position adjustment value. The paper position adjustment value indicates the amount of deviation from a reference position of the transport position of the paper S transported from each paper feed cassette in the y direction in the figure. This paper position adjustment value is used to adjust the generation position of the quantized data corresponding to each nozzle. Since the recording device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with two paper feed cassettes, a first paper feed cassette 5A and a second paper feed cassette 5B, a paper position adjustment value is set for each of them. The paper position adjustment value may be stored in RAM 106 before shipping from the factory, or may be set by the user via the operation panel 104 (described later).

[0027] The image processing unit 108 performs a correction process on the generated raster image. Specifically, it references the paper position adjustment value corresponding to the selected paper feed cassette and identifies the transport position in the y direction of the paper S transported from the selected paper feed cassette. It then identifies the nozzle range corresponding to the transport position of the paper S, i.e., the nozzle range used to record an image on the paper S, and corrects each pixel value of the raster image based on the ejection characteristics of the identified nozzles. As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, quantized data is generated for all paper feed cassettes selected as paper feed cassettes capable of feeding paper in the recording job being processed. The corrected raster image is then quantized to generate the quantized data, which is saved in RAM 106 as spool data.

[0028] Now, let's explain the spooling process. In order to print a page of image without stopping the paper feed, it is necessary to supply the print head with a complete set of data for one page. Since the input image data is input to the printing device asynchronously with the paper feed, a so-called spooling process is performed in which intermediate data at the stage of generating print data from the input image data is stored in the printing device.

[0029] After generating the quantized data, the main controller 101 deletes the data of the recording job from RAM 106. The main controller 101 acquires paper information for the first paper feed cassette 5A and the second paper feed cassette 5B via the print engine I / F 105. Then, the main controller 101 determines the paper feed cassette that will feed paper S for the recording job to be processed from among the paper feed cassettes selected by the recording cassette selection unit 110 as those that can feed paper. After that, the main controller 101 transmits various parameters required for recording and the corrected quantized data corresponding to the determined paper feed cassette to the print engine unit 200. The various parameters include part of the job attributes and page attributes, such as paper size and paper position adjustment values, stored in RAM 106.

[0030] The recording device 1 may acquire the quantized data from the host device 400 via wireless or wired communication, or may acquire the quantized data from an external storage device (such as a USB memory) connected to the recording device 1. There are no limitations on the communication method used for wireless or wired communication. For example, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used as communication methods for wireless communication. Furthermore, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like can be used as a communication method for wired communication. For example, when a read command is input from the host device 400, the main controller 101 transmits the command to the scanner unit 3 via the scanner engine I / F 109.

[0031] The operation panel 104 is a mechanism that allows the user to input and output data to and from the recording device 1. The user can use the operation panel 104 to instruct operations such as copying and scanning, set the recording mode, and view information about the recording device 1.

[0032] In the print engine unit 200, a print controller 202 configured by a CPU controls various mechanisms of the print unit 2 using RAM 204 as a work area in accordance with programs and various parameters stored in ROM 203. When various commands and image data are received via a controller I / F 201, the print controller 202 temporarily stores them in RAM 204. Then, the print controller 202 causes an image processing controller 205 to generate print data from the stored quantized data so that the data can be used for printing by the print head 8. Once the print data is generated, the print controller 202 causes the print head 8 to perform a printing operation based on the print data via a head I / F 206. At this time, the print controller 202 drives the feed units 6A and 6B, the conveyance roller 7, the discharge roller 12, and the flapper 11 shown in FIG. 1 via a conveyance control unit 207 to convey the paper S. In accordance with instructions from the print controller 202, the recording head 8 performs a recording operation in conjunction with the transport operation of the paper S, and an image is recorded on the paper S.

[0033] The head carriage control unit 208 changes the orientation and position of the print head 8 depending on the operating state of the printing apparatus 1, such as maintenance or printing operation. The ink supply control unit 209 controls the ink supply unit 15 so that the pressure of the ink supplied to the print head 8 falls within an appropriate range. The maintenance control unit 210 controls the operation of the cap unit 10 and wiping unit 17 in the maintenance unit 16 when performing maintenance operation on the print head 8.

[0034] In the scanner engine unit 300, the main controller 101 uses the RAM 106 as a work area and controls the hardware resources of the scanner controller 302 in accordance with the programs and various parameters stored in the ROM 107. This controls various mechanisms of the scanner unit 3. For example, the main controller 101 controls the hardware resources in the scanner controller 302 via the controller I / F 301. As a result, a document placed on the ADF by a user is transported via the transport control unit 304 and read by the sensor 305. The read image data is stored in the RAM 303. The print controller 202 converts the image data acquired as described above into print data, thereby enabling the print head 8 to perform a print operation based on the image data read by the scanner controller 302.

[0035] A program for realizing one or more functions of the recording device 1 or the host device 400 of this embodiment may be supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (CPU, MPU, etc.) of that system or device may read and execute the program. Alternatively, the program may be executed by various mechanisms. The program may be executed by a single computer or by multiple computers working together. In addition, all of the above-described processes do not need to be implemented by software; some or all of the processes may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC. Furthermore, the system is not limited to a configuration in which all processes are performed by a single CPU; multiple CPUs may perform processes in cooperation as appropriate, or one CPU may perform some processes and multiple CPUs may perform other processes in cooperation.

[0036] (Explanation of head shading processing) The head shading process (hereinafter referred to as HS process) will be described with reference to Figure 10. First, the ejection characteristics differ for each of the multiple nozzles provided in the print head 8. The ejection characteristics vary depending on the size of the ejected ink droplets, the deviation of the ejection direction, etc. Due to such variations in ejection characteristics, there is a possibility that uneven density will occur in the printed image, even when an image is printed based on image data of uniform density.

[0037] In contrast, HS processing can suppress the occurrence of density unevenness. HS processing can be achieved by treating the nozzle array of the print head 8 as a nozzle group consisting of a predetermined number of nozzles, and performing one-dimensional color conversion LUT processing while replacing lookup table (LUT) data for each unit area corresponding to each nozzle group. For example, for a nozzle group that ejects ink droplets in an amount greater than a reference amount, multi-value image data is corrected so that fewer ink droplets are applied to the unit area printed using this nozzle group. By performing this type of correction processing, even if there is variation in the ejection characteristics of each nozzle in the nozzle array, the print density can be made approximately uniform, suppressing the occurrence of density unevenness.

[0038] To perform HS, a multi-value raster image R must be generated from the input data, and the nozzle position at which each pixel making up the image is printed must be identified. After performing HS correction according to the identified nozzle position, quantization is performed to generate quantized data. Note that the nozzle group for which correction processing is performed can be a single nozzle unit, or multiple nozzle units such as four or eight nozzles.

[0039] (Relationship between paper cassette switching and correction processing) Here, we will explain the issues that arise when switching paper feed cassettes during the above-mentioned correction process. In a recording device equipped with multiple paper feed cassettes, if a paper feed cassette runs out of paper during a recording operation, the paper feed source can be switched to another paper feed cassette that contains paper of the same size and type, and the recording operation can be continued. This paper feed source switching can be performed manually by the user, or automatically by the recording device using a so-called auto cassette change (ACC) function.

[0040] Furthermore, due to manufacturing errors in the transport path between the paper feed cassette and the print head, the position of the paper when it reaches the printable area of the print head varies for each paper feed cassette. The HS process described above corrects image data by taking into account the characteristics of each nozzle in the print head, but it is also necessary to consider the paper transport position for each paper feed cassette. For this reason, the difference in transport position for each paper feed cassette is used as an adjustment value from the reference transport position, and then correction data is generated. Hereinafter, this adjustment value will be referred to as the paper position adjustment value.

[0041] In the spooling process described above, image data is stored in a volatile storage device such as a DRAM or a non-volatile storage device such as a HDD or flash memory. It is desirable for the capacity of these volatile and non-volatile storage devices to be small. Therefore, quantized data, which has a smaller data size than a multi-level raster image, is more suitable as spool data.

[0042] On the other hand, the HS correction process described above must be performed before the quantization process. The HS correction process, which corrects the printing characteristics of each nozzle, must be performed after understanding the positional relationship between the raster image and each nozzle, so the transport position for each paper feed cassette must also be considered in advance. In other words, when spooling with quantized data, it must be determined which paper feed cassette the paper will be fed from before performing the HS correction process.

[0043] If the paper feed cassette is switched during printing, paper will be fed from a different paper feed cassette than the one that was determined when the correction data was generated. In this case, if the paper position adjustment value of the paper feed cassette before switching is significantly different from the paper position adjustment value of the paper feed cassette after switching, the relationship between the printing characteristics of each nozzle taken into account in the HS correction process will be lost, resulting in a problem of reduced quality of the printed image.

[0044] In contrast to this, in this embodiment, correction data is generated taking into consideration switching of paper feed cassettes, and quantized data corresponding to each of a plurality of paper feed cassettes is prepared.

[0045] (Correction process using paper position adjustment value for each paper feed cassette) 8, the recording result on the paper S when performing correction processing using the paper position adjustment value for each paper feed cassette will be described. The configuration and control configuration of the recording device 1 are the same as those described using FIGS.

[0046] Here, we will explain a configuration in which A4-sized plain paper is held in both the first paper feed cassette 5A and the second paper feed cassette 5B. Paper held in the first paper feed cassette 5A is fed first, and when the first paper feed cassette 5A runs out of paper, paper is fed from the second paper feed cassette 5B to continue the recording operation.

[0047] 8(a) to 8(c), the paper position adjustment value A set in the first paper feed cassette 5A, the corrected image data I, and the recorded image Sa recorded using these will be described.

[0048] FIG. 8(a) shows the positional relationship between the paper S fed from the first paper feed cassette 5A and the recording head 8. In this figure, the recording head 8 includes a nozzle group 8b made up of nozzles that eject a smaller amount of ink per droplet than the standard amount, and the amount of ink droplets ejected from the nozzles other than the nozzle group 8b is the standard amount. The paper S is fed from the first paper feed cassette 5A and is conveyed while being shifted to the right in the x direction, which is the conveyance direction, from the reference position indicated by the arrow. The amount of this conveyance position shift corresponds to the paper position adjustment value A in the y direction. As mentioned above, the value of the paper position adjustment value A corresponding to this first paper feed cassette 5A is set at the factory or by the user and is stored in RAM 106.

[0049] FIG. 8(b) shows corrected image data I generated by image processing unit 108. By referencing paper position adjustment value A and the position of nozzle group 8b, the input multi-value image data is corrected so that the density of the area printed using nozzle group 8b is increased, i.e., the pixel value is increased. The corrected image data I and paper position adjustment value A shown in FIG. 8(b) are then sent to print engine unit 200, which prints the image on paper S. FIG. 8(c) shows the result of printing image Sa on paper S, showing that an image without density unevenness has been printed in the appropriate position on paper S.

[0050] Using Figures 8(d) to (f), we will assume that an image is recorded on a recording medium fed from the second paper feed cassette 5B based on corrected image data I corrected using the paper position adjustment value A of the first paper feed cassette 5A, and explain the resulting images Sb and Sc.

[0051] In the print engine unit 200, the print controller 202 detects that the state of the first paper feed cassette 5A is “out of paper.” In response to this, the print controller 202 notifies the controller unit 100 via the controller I / F 201 of information indicating that the state of the first paper feed cassette 5A is “out of paper” and an instruction to cancel the recording job for the first paper feed cassette 5A.

[0052] In the controller unit 100, in response to a cancellation instruction notified from the print controller 202, the data of the recording job corresponding to the first paper feed cassette 5A is deleted from the RAM 106. Here, a case will be described in which the main controller 101 performs recording from the second paper feed cassette 5B using corrected image data I generated using the paper position adjustment value 800 of the first paper feed cassette 5A. Note that the paper position adjustment value of the second paper feed cassette 5B is set to 0.

[0053] 8(b) shows image Sb printed when main controller 101 sends corrected image data I and paper position adjustment value A to print engine unit 200. Image Sb is recorded by moving the image position based on paper position adjustment value A, and the density reduction caused by nozzle group 8b is corrected, resulting in an image without color unevenness. However, because the recording medium fed from second paper feed cassette 5B is transported to the reference position, the position of the recording medium and the position of the image do not match, resulting in a recording result in which part of the image is missing.

[0054] 8(e) shows image Sc printed when main controller 101 sends corrected image data I and a paper position adjustment value of 0 for the second paper feed cassette to print engine unit 200. Image Sc uses corrected image data I that was generated taking into account the density characteristics of the nozzles, but the nozzle positions do not match the corrected positions of the image data. As a result, areas output from nozzles other than nozzle group 8b based on data corrected to take into account the density reduction caused by nozzle group 8b appear dark, while areas output from nozzle group 8b based on uncorrected data appear light, resulting in an image with uneven density.

[0055] As described above, if there is a mismatch between the paper feed cassette, the paper position adjustment value indicating the transport position of the recording medium fed from that paper feed cassette, and the correction data generated using the paper position adjustment value and taking into account the nozzle characteristics, the desired recorded image may not be obtained. To address this issue, in this embodiment, in a recording device equipped with multiple paper feed cassettes, correction data corresponding to two or more paper feed cassettes is generated, taking into account the need to change cassettes when paper runs out. This prevents the printing of an image the user does not want due to the mismatch in conditions described above, even if a cassette is changed when paper runs out.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of generating quantized data from a job and saving it as spool data in this embodiment. In step S301, when a job is received from the host device 400 or the like via the host IF 102, the job is saved as input data in RAM 106. Next, in step S302, a paper feed cassette holding a recording medium capable of recording an image of the first page of the input data is selected. The number of paper feed cassettes selected here can be one or more. In step S303, quantized data corresponding to each selected paper feed cassette is generated and saved in RAM 106 as spool data associated with each selected paper feed cassette. Here, to reduce the size of the spool data, as described below, the spool data may be associated with a one-to-many relationship between the paper feed cassettes. In step S304, if the job has a next page, the process returns to step S302 and similarly processes the next page. If there is no next page, the input data is deleted from RAM 106, and the generation of quantized data for the job and saving it as spool data are completed.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the selection of a paper cassette in step S302. In step S401, paper specification information is read from the job attributes and page attributes of the job stored as input data in RAM 106. In step S402, a number N indicating the paper cassette is initialized. In this embodiment, number N is initialized to 1, assuming that paper cassettes are used preferentially, starting with the first paper cassette. In step S403, a determination is made as to whether number N exceeds the maximum number MAX of paper cassettes. Since the recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment is equipped with two paper cassettes, the maximum number MAX is 2. If the maximum number MAX is exceeded, the recording cassette selection process is terminated. If not, a determination is made as to whether the Nth paper cassette can be selected for recording. This determination is made by referring to the paper specification information read in step S401 and the paper information of the Nth paper cassette stored in RAM 106. In this embodiment, the paper size and type are compared as paper information. If both of these match, it is determined that the image of the job can be printed on the recording medium held in that paper feed cassette. If it is determined that printing is not possible, the number N is incremented by 1 in step S407, and the process returns to step S403. If it is determined that printing is possible, it is stored in step S406 that printing is possible for the Nth paper feed cassette. Thereafter, in step S406, the remaining amount (number of sheets) of paper held in the Nth paper feed cassette stored in RAM 106 is obtained, and it is determined whether it is equal to or greater than a threshold. If the remaining amount is equal to or greater than the threshold, in step S408, the number N is set to MAX+1, and the process returns to step S403. This means that other paper feed cassettes will not be evaluated in the subsequent processing. In other words, this is because it is determined that the selected paper feed cassette holds a sufficient number of sheets, and that there is no need to generate spool data for other paper feed cassettes in case of paper running out. In this way, if there is a sufficient amount of paper remaining in the paper feed cassette to be fed, there is no need to generate multiple spool data, which reduces the impact on processing speed and memory. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of paper held in the Nth paper cassette is less than the threshold value, the number N is incremented by 1 in step S407, and the process returns to step S403.In step S403, if the number N exceeds the maximum number MAX of paper cassettes, one or more paper cassettes stored up to that point are determined to be cassettes capable of recording the recording job, and the process of step S302 ends.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the quantized data generation process in step S303. In step S501, a number N indicating the paper feed cassette is initialized. As described above, in this embodiment, it is assumed that paper feed cassettes are used in order of priority, starting with the first paper feed cassette. In step S502, it is determined whether the number N exceeds the maximum number MAX of paper feed cassettes. Since the recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment is equipped with two paper feed cassettes, the maximum number MAX is 2. If the number N exceeds the maximum number MAX, the quantized data generation process ends. If the number N does not exceed the maximum number MAX, it is determined in step S503 whether the Nth paper feed cassette is the cassette selected in the recording cassette selection process in step S302 described above. If the Nth paper feed cassette is not the selected cassette, N is incremented by 1 in step S507, and the process returns to step S502.

[0059] If the Nth paper cassette is the selected cassette, step S504 determines whether quantized data has already been generated for another paper cassette. If it is determined that quantized data has not been generated for another paper cassette, step S506 generates quantized data and stores it as spool data. Then, step S507 increments N by 1, and the process returns to step S502. On the other hand, if it is determined that quantized data corresponding to another paper cassette has been generated, step S505 obtains the paper position adjustment value of the paper cassette for which quantized data has been generated and the paper position adjustment of the Nth paper cassette being evaluated, and calculates the difference. If the difference in the paper position adjustment value is equal to or less than the threshold, it is determined that there is little impact on the recording quality, and quantized data is not generated in step S508, but is associated with the existing quantized data. In other words, it is determined that the already generated quantized data is to be used as the quantized data for the Nth paper cassette. At this time, the same data may be copied and stored as the quantized data for the Nth paper cassette. At this time, if there are multiple pieces of quantized data that have been generated, it is preferable to use the quantized data that has the paper position adjustment value that is the smallest difference from the paper position adjustment value of the Nth paper feed cassette. Then, in step S507, N is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S502.

[0060] On the other hand, if the difference between the paper position adjustment value of the paper feed cassette for which quantized data has already been generated exceeds the threshold, quantized data for the Nth paper feed cassette is generated separately and saved as spool data in step S506. As a result, quantized data for the Nth paper feed cassette is generated in addition to the quantized data that has already been generated, and quantized data corresponding to multiple paper feed cassettes is saved.

[0061] By repeating the above steps, quantized data corresponding to the paper position adjustment values of the recordable paper feed cassette selected in step S302 is generated. If the difference in paper position adjustment values of the paper feed cassettes is small, using one quantized data for multiple paper feed cassettes can reduce the impact on processing speed and memory usage caused by creating multiple spool data. At this time, the quantized data is saved in RAM 106 as spool data associated with each selected paper feed cassette. Note that the quantized data may be losslessly compressed before being saved.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows an example of the correspondence between each selected paper feed cassette and spool data. Spool data is managed by assigning a unique spool ID to each data item. The correspondence between the spool ID, the actual address where the spool data is stored, the size of the spool data, the job ID, page number, and the corresponding paper feed cassette is stored in RAM 106 as a single spool management data. For spool ID 0001 in FIG. 6, the spool data is stored in RAM 106 starting at 0x80000000, and the spool data size is 0x2000 bytes. The data for the first page of job ID 0003 indicates that the quantized data corresponds to the first paper feed cassette. Meanwhile, for spool ID 0003, the spool data is stored in RAM 106 starting at 0x80004000, and the spool data size is 0x2000 bytes. The data for the first page of job ID 0004 indicates that the quantized data corresponds to the first and second paper feed cassettes. This indicates that after the quantized data for the first paper feed cassette is created in step S303, quantized data for the second paper feed cassette is not generated, but is linked to the quantized data for the first paper feed cassette.

[0063] After the quantized data is saved as spool data, the recording operation is executed. Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the execution process of the recording operation. In step S701, the main controller 101 acquires paper information for each of the first paper cassette 5A and the second paper cassette 5B via the print engine I / F 105. In step S702, the main controller 101 references the job attributes and page attributes of the job saved as input data in RAM 106 and the paper information of the paper cassette acquired in step S701 to determine the paper cassette that will feed paper in the current recording operation. In this embodiment, the paper size and paper type are referenced as the paper information of the recording job, and the paper cassette that matches both of these is determined to be the paper cassette that will feed paper.

[0064] Next, in step S703, it is determined whether spool management data corresponding to the determined paper feed cassette is stored. If spool management data is stored, the process proceeds to step S704; if not, the process proceeds to step S707. In step S704, the main controller 101 transmits various parameters necessary for the printing operation and quantized data corresponding to the determined paper feed cassette to the print engine unit 200 via the print engine I / F 105. In step S705, the main controller 101 waits until the printing operation is completed, and then deletes the spool management data and quantized data for the page printed in step S706.

[0065] If the specified quantization data is not stored in the spool management data in step S703, it is possible that the status of the paper feed cassette has changed between the time the job was received and the time of the judgment in step S703. In this case, in step S707, the recording process is temporarily stopped, and a message to replenish paper in the paper feed cassette corresponding to the spool management data is displayed on the operation panel 104, prompting the user to take action. In step S708, the process waits for a change in the status of the paper feed cassette. In other words, the process waits for the user to replenish paper in the paper feed cassette. When it is detected that paper has been replenished in the paper feed cassette, the process returns to step S701 and continues processing.

[0066] As described above, in this embodiment, one or more paper feed cassettes that may be used for recording when generating quantized data are selected. Then, based on the paper position adjustment value for each selected paper feed cassette, correction values are used that take into account the recording characteristics of the recording elements corresponding to the paper transport position of each paper feed cassette, and one or more quantized data are generated and spooled. During recording, the spooled data corresponding to the paper feed cassette being used is used for recording. In this configuration, if the paper feed cassette currently being used runs out of paper during a recording operation, the paper feed source is switched to another paper feed cassette and the recording operation continues. At this time, the quantized data used for the recording operation is also switched in conjunction with the switching of the paper feed cassette. The recording operation continues using quantized data corresponding to the paper position adjustment value set for the paper feed cassette set as the new paper feed source. To switch the quantized data, quantized data corresponding to the paper position adjustment value for each paper feed cassette is generated in advance. As described above, the same quantized data may be associated with multiple paper feed cassettes with similar paper position adjustment values.

[0067] This configuration prevents the size of the spooled data from increasing, and even when switching to a paper feed cassette with a different paper position adjustment value during recording operation, it is possible to record high-quality images that correspond to the positional relationship between the paper feed cassette and the recording element.

[0068] In the above embodiment, it is determined whether all the paper feed cassettes are selectable, but it is sufficient if it is determined whether a plurality of paper feed cassettes are selectable.

[0069] 2 is an example, and the configuration is not limited to the above. Each unit may be controlled by the same controller. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1. Recording device 2 Printing section 5A First paper feed cassette 5B Second paper drawer 8 recording head 100 Controller Unit 200 Print Engine Unit

Claims

1. a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium transported in a second direction intersecting the first direction, using a plurality of recording elements arranged along a first direction; a first holding unit and a second holding unit capable of holding a plurality of recording media; an acquisition unit that acquires a first adjustment value that indicates a transport position in the first direction of a recording medium fed from the first holding unit, and a second adjustment value that indicates a transport position in the first direction of a recording medium fed from the second holding unit; a generating unit that generates first correction data for recording an image on a sheet fed from the first holding unit based on input image data and the first adjustment value; Equipped with A recording device characterized in that, when the difference between the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value is greater than a predetermined threshold, the generation means generates second correction data for recording an image on paper fed from the second holding unit.

2. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for temporarily storing the first correction data and the second correction data generated by the generation unit.

3. the input image data is multi-value image data, 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generating means generates first multi-value image data based on the input image data and the first adjustment value, generates the first correction data by quantizing the first multi-value image data, generates second multi-value image data based on the input image data and the second adjustment value, and generates the second correction data by quantizing the second multi-value image data.

4. A recording device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a control means capable of switching paper feeding from the first holding unit to paper feeding from the second holding unit.

5. A recording device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the generating means generates the first correction data by correcting the input image data based on the first adjustment value and the recording characteristics of each of the plurality of recording elements, and generates the second correction data by correcting the input image data based on the second adjustment value and the recording characteristics of each of the plurality of recording elements.

6. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second holding section holds paper of the same size and type as the first holding section.

7. a detecting means for detecting the amount of paper held in the first holding section; 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generating unit generates the second correction data when the amount detected by the detecting unit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

8. A recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that if the difference is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the generation means corresponds the first correction data as correction data for recording an image on paper fed from the second holding unit.

9. a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium transported in a second direction intersecting the first direction, using a plurality of recording elements arranged along a first direction; a first holding unit and a second holding unit capable of holding a plurality of recording media; A recording method for a recording device comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a first adjustment value indicating a transport position in the first direction of a recording medium fed from the first holding unit, and a second adjustment value indicating a transport position in the first direction of a recording medium fed from the second holding unit; generating first correction data for recording an image on the paper fed from the first holding unit based on the input image data and the first adjustment value; generating second correction data for recording an image on the paper fed from the second holding unit when a difference between the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value is greater than a predetermined threshold value; A recording method comprising:

Images