JP2001347653A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can appropriately form images at all times when a plurality of images are to be recorded and formed to recording media of a plurality of rows. SOLUTION: This ink jet recording apparatus for recording images onto recording media by jetting ink has a plurality of recording medium-feeding means 1 for feeding the recording media respectively, transfer paths for transferring the recording media fed by the recording medium-feeding means respectively, transfer means 2 set over the transfer paths for transferring the recording media, recording means 3 for executing recording by scanning over each of the recording media along a direction nearly orthogonal to a transfer direction of the recording media and jetting ink, and a control means for controlling a recording timing by the recording means in accordance with a breadth of each of the recording media transferred on the transfer paths.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus which can greatly reduce a recording time and can always form an appropriate image on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink onto a roll-shaped or sheet-shaped recording medium generally includes an ink head that ejects ink onto the recording medium in a width direction of the recording medium. The printing operation is performed by sequentially repeating an operation of recording an image by ejecting ink in the scanning process and an operation of transporting a predetermined amount of a recording medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction. A desired image is recorded and formed on a medium.

[0003]

When a plurality of images are recorded and formed by such an ink jet recording apparatus, it is required to shorten the recording time and perform high-speed recording.

Normally, the ink jet recording apparatus starts moving the recording head from a stopped state at one end in the scanning direction, stops at the other end in the scanning direction, and ends one operation. At this time, since the image recording on the recording medium needs to be performed while scanning the recording head at a constant speed,
Before the actual print start that ejects ink, the print head
A constant speed state is set after a certain acceleration time from the stop state, and recording is performed when the recording head is in the constant speed state. After the end of the recording, the recording is stopped after a certain deceleration time.

Since the acceleration / deceleration time is constant for the recording head, for example, the smaller the size of a plurality of images to be recorded, the more the effective main scanning rate of the recording head (the time during which the recording head is in a constant speed state with respect to the entire scanning time). ), The processing capacity is reduced, and the recording time is correspondingly increased.

Therefore, the present inventors have intensively studied to improve the effective main scanning rate of the recording head, and have attempted to record an image on a plurality of rows of recording media simultaneously and in parallel by using one recording head. Was. In this case, in order to record and form high-quality images simultaneously and in parallel on a plurality of rows of recording media,
It is necessary to always record an image at an appropriate position over each recording medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of always forming an appropriate image when recording a plurality of images on a plurality of rows of recording media.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink, a plurality of recording medium supply means for supplying a recording medium, and a recording medium supplied from each of the recording medium supply means, Transport path,
A transport unit provided on the transport path, for transporting the recording medium, and performing scanning over each of the recording media along a direction substantially orthogonal to a transport direction of the recording medium, and recording by ejecting ink. And a control unit that controls the timing of recording by the recording unit according to the width of each recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path.

According to this, by controlling the recording timing of the image by the recording means on the basis of the width information of each recording medium, for example, even when the width of each recording medium is different, the recording is performed over each recording medium. Even if the recording head is moved in the main scanning direction and the image is recorded simultaneously and in parallel, the image can always be appropriately formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a recording medium width indicating means for designating a width of each recording medium conveyed on the conveying path.

According to this, the width information of each recording medium can be specified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising width detecting means for detecting a width of each recording medium conveyed on the conveying path.

According to this, it is possible to automatically detect the width information of each recording medium.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink, wherein a plurality of recording medium supplying means for supplying each recording medium, and each of the recording medium supplying means. Transport path for transporting the recording medium supplied from each, the transport means provided on the transport path, transport means for transporting the recording medium, and each of the respective along along a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium A printing unit that performs scanning over a printing medium and performs printing by ejecting ink, and a printing timing by the printing unit according to a position in the scanning direction of each printing medium conveyed along the conveyance path. And a control unit for controlling the inkjet recording apparatus.

According to this, by controlling the recording timing of the image by the recording means on the basis of the position information of each recording medium, the recording medium is shifted in the main scanning direction in the process of being conveyed on the conveying path. By controlling the timing of image recording by the recording head in accordance with the position of each recording medium even when the recording medium is conveyed to the recording means, it is possible to always perform appropriate image recording without occurrence of defects such as image shift. Will be able to

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, there is provided a position detecting means for detecting a position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveying path. is there.

Thus, the position information of each recording medium can be automatically detected.

The invention according to claim 6 is the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the position detecting means is provided in the recording means.

By providing the position detecting means in the recording means,
Since the recording source can also be used as a drive source for position detection,
A special drive source and control system for position detection are not required, and the apparatus can be simplified.

The invention according to claim 7 is the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the position detecting means is provided on the transport path.

As a result, the position detecting means can be constituted by a CCD sensor or the like. In this case also, there is an effect that no special driving source is required for the position detecting means.

According to the present invention, the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each of the recording media conveyed along the conveyance path includes:
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the inkjet recording is performed for each main scan.

This is effective when the number of nozzles of the recording head is small, and the position of the image can be adjusted according to the displacement of the recording medium.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each of the recording media conveyed on the conveyance path includes:
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step is performed every predetermined number of main scans.
An inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

According to this, by performing position detection every predetermined number of main scans, it is possible to assume a shift of the recording medium with respect to the main scan to be performed from the tendency of position information up to the main scan. By performing position correction processing on the image data based on the assumed positional deviation information,
It is possible to adjust the image position.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveying path is performed once during one image recording.
An inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

According to this, even if a displacement of the recording medium occurs during image recording, a high quality image can be recorded and formed for one image without causing image unevenness due to the displacement.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, at the time of reciprocal recording by the recording means, the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path is performed in one of an outward path and a return path. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein:

According to this, since the position is detected in one direction, the control can be simplified as compared with the case of detecting the position in both directions.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, at the time of reciprocal recording by the recording means, the position of each of the recording media conveyed along the conveyance path in the scanning direction is detected on both the outward path and the return path. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10.

According to this, since the position can be detected in both the forward path and the backward path, when two or more images are successively output in the sub-scanning direction in the reciprocating printing, either the forward path or the backward path can be used. , It is possible to output an image at an appropriate position on the recording medium even if the next image starts to be output.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the control means controls one or both of the image data output from the image data holding means and the emission signal output together with the image data, and controls the recording of the recording means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein timing is controlled.

According to this, it is possible to easily adjust the image position for a plurality of rows of recording media.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the control means does not output the emission signal to the recording means while the recording means is scanning a place other than a recording area on the plurality of recording media. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

According to this, since the recording means is in a state where the recording signal cannot be obtained, it is possible to form a blank outside each image area, and the position of the image can be surely adjusted.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the control means may control the non-ink as the image data to the recording means while the recording means scans a place other than the recording area on the plurality of recording media. 14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus outputs ejection data.

According to this, since the recording means is controlled by the non-ink ejection data so as to “do not eject ink” as image data, it is possible to form a blank outside each image area as described above. Reliable image position adjustment can be performed.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the non-ink ejection data output by the control means is generated by the control means based on width information and position information of the recording medium. An inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 15.

According to this, the image data holding means owning the image data only has to send the image data to the ink jet recording apparatus side, and the processing on the image data holding means side is simplified. Will be able to

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the non-ink ejection data output by the control means is generated by the image data holding means and transferred from the image data holding means. 16. An ink jet recording apparatus according to item 15.

According to this, since it is not necessary for the ink jet recording apparatus to generate the non-ink ejection data,
The configuration of the control unit of the recording apparatus can be simplified.

The invention according to claim 18, wherein in the non-ink ejection data generated by the image data holding means, the control means transfers width information and position information of the recording medium to the image data holding means, and 16. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the data is generated by the data holding unit based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium and transferred from the image data holding unit.

According to this, every time image data is sent to the ink jet recording apparatus, there is no need to manually input the width information and the position information into the recording apparatus, and the operator processing is surely performed. Is simplified.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, a position shift is assumed in the control means based on the position information detected by the position detection means, and the control means detects an image shift based on the assumed position shift information. 19. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data is subjected to a displacement correction process.

According to this, by correcting the positional deviation of the image data assuming the positional deviation, even if the recording medium is displaced, a high-quality image can be obtained without causing image unevenness due to the displacement. Can be recorded and formed.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the recording area is larger than a recording medium.
20. An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

As a result, a borderless image can be formed.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to twentieth aspects, wherein a recording medium on which an image is not formed among the plurality of recording media performs an operation other than recording. It is a recording device.

Thus, efficient processing can be performed.

The invention according to claim 22 is the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the operation other than the recording is an operation of transporting a recording medium to a position where an image is recorded.

As a result, the recording operation can be shortened and the efficiency can be improved.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ink jet recording apparatus according to the twenty-first aspect, wherein the operation other than the recording is an operation of conveying a recording medium to a cutting position and cutting the recording medium.

As a result, the recording operation can be shortened and the efficiency can be improved.

The invention according to claim 24 is the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the operation other than the recording is an operation of returning the non-recording recording medium from the ink jet recording apparatus to a position where the recording medium can be removed. .

As a result, the recording operation can be shortened and the efficiency can be improved.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, when a recording medium on which an image is not formed among the plurality of recording media is located at an end of the recording unit in the scanning direction, the recording unit performs a recording on the recording medium on which the image is not recorded. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein scanning is not performed.

As a result, the scanning distance is shortened, and the recording speed can be improved.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the recording timing of the recording means so as to eject ink in an area without a recording medium along the scanning direction. 25. An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

Thus, by ejecting ink (preliminary ejection) in an area where there is no recording medium, clogging of the recording head can be prevented, and ink can be ejected stably.

[0060]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration of the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the outline of the ink jet printing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the structure thereof. Reference numeral 1 denotes a printing medium supply means, and 2 denotes a printing medium supplied from the printing medium supply means 1. Transport means 3 for performing recording on a recording medium; 4, a recording medium cutting means for cutting a recorded recording medium; and 5, a paper discharge tray for accommodating the cut recording medium.

The recording medium supply means 1 is capable of rotating the first paper roll 1A and the second paper roll 1B, which are formed by winding the recording mediums 10A and 10B in a long shape into a roll, respectively, and rotating the upper part of the apparatus. Respectively. Thereby, the recording media 10A and 10B are supplied from the paper rolls 1A and 1B, respectively, and are conveyed in a downward direction in the figure by a conveying unit 2 described later.

In this specification, the two paper rolls 1A, 1B are used to separate the recording media 10A,
Although the case where 10B is supplied is illustrated and described, in the present invention, if a recording medium on which an image is recorded is configured to have two or more rows, a paper roll for supplying the recording medium is provided. Is not limited to the illustrated two.

The recording media 10A and 10B may be in the form of a sheet which has been cut to an appropriate size in advance.

The transport means 2 is provided on the transport path of the recording media 10A, 10B, and is provided on each of the recording media 10A, 10B.
Conveying roller 21 and the conveying roller 2
The recording medium 10 includes pressure rollers 22A and 22B for independently pressing the recording media 10A and 10B to the recording medium 1 and a transport motor 23 for driving the transport roller 21. The recording media 10A and 10B supplied from each of the paper rolls 1A and 1B are respectively conveyed downward in the figure by the rotation of the conveyance roller 21 while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller 21 and the pressure rollers 22A and 22B. .

In this manner, each of the recording media 10A, 10B
Is supplied, a plurality (two) of conveyance paths are formed.

It is to be noted that the recording medium 1 is provided on each conveyance path.
Optical rear end position detection sensors S1A and S1B for detecting the rear end positions in the transport direction of 0A and 10B, and optical front end position detection sensors S2A and S2B for detecting the front end position, respectively, and a recording medium is provided at each position. 10A, 10
The presence or absence of B can be detected.

Each of the pressure rollers 22 A and 22 B is pressed against the transport roller 21, and the recording medium 10
A and 10B, a press-bonding position where the recording mediums 10A and 10B are conveyed by the rotation of the conveyance roller 21 and a press-bonding release position where the press-contact is released and the conveyance of the recording media 10A and 10B is stopped. It is configured to be able to be adopted by driving a transport switching motor (not shown), and thereby, the pressing rollers 22A, 22B
Is selectively switched to the above two positions, so that the transport state and the non-transport state of the recording media 10A and 10B can be arbitrarily created.

The two positions of the pressure rollers 22A and 22B are respectively detected by a pressure position detection sensor and a pressure release position detection sensor (not shown).

As described above, by arbitrarily creating the transport state and the non-transport state of the recording media 10A and 10B, any one of a plurality of rows of recording media is selectively recorded and transported, and transported without performing recording. A recording medium that does not need to be performed can be prevented from being conveyed, and the recording medium is not wasted. In addition, since the transport rollers can be shared by a plurality of rows of recording media, compared to a case where each row is independently driven and transported,
Only one high-precision roller, drive motor, and power transmission system are required, so that a rise in device cost can be prevented.

The recording means 3 is arranged on the downstream side of the conveying means 2 and has a plurality of nozzles on the front side (recording side) of each of the recording media 10A and 10B. A recording head 31 for recording and forming an image by ejecting ink droplets from the recording medium 10A,
The carriage 33 includes a carriage 33 movably mounted along a scanning guide 32 that is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the transport direction (sub-scanning direction) of 0B, and a carriage motor 34 that moves the carriage 33.

The recording head 31 is, for example, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), K (black)
And the like, and a plurality of nozzle heads for ejecting ink in the respective ink tanks in the form of droplets. The carriage 3
3 is driven by the carriage motor 34,
Along the direction (main scanning direction) substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording media 10A and 10B,
Move over 0B. The moving amount of the recording head 31 is detected by a linear encoder (not shown).

On the back side of the recording media 10A, 10B on which the image recording is performed by the recording head 31, the recording media are arranged along the main scanning direction and across the recording media 10A, 10B so as to face the recording head 31. A holding plate 36 is provided.

This recording medium holding plate 36
A suction medium such as a suction fan or a suction pump sucks air from a large number of suction holes formed at predetermined intervals and in a predetermined arrangement on a surface opposite to the back surfaces of the recording media 10A and 10B, thereby adsorbing the recording media 10A and 10B. This prevents the recording heads 31 from lifting up the recording media 10A and 10B when recording images.

The recording medium cutting means 4 comprises recording media 10A, 10B on which an image is recorded and formed by the recording means 3.
Is received via a conveyance guide plate 6 provided on a conveyance path, and the recording media 10A and 10B are driven at a predetermined position by a cutter driving motor (not shown) to drive the cutter in the same direction as the main scanning direction. To make a sheet-shaped print.

The recording media 10A and 10B cut into a sheet of a predetermined length by the recording medium cutting means 4 are discharged from the recording medium cutting means 4 and stored in a discharge tray 5 provided on the downstream side thereof. Is done.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has width detecting means 100 for detecting the width of each of the recording media 10A and 10B and position detecting means 200 for detecting the respective positions of the recording media 10A and 10B. are doing.

The width detecting means 100 shown in the present embodiment
The width information of each of the recording media 10A and 10B conveyed on the conveyance path is detected. FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the width detecting means 100.

FIG. 3A shows a case where the width detecting means 100 is constituted by a bar code reader 101 and the bar code reader 101 is provided in a recording apparatus.
That is, each paper roll 1 around which a recording medium is wound
A, a recording medium cartridge 11A containing a 1B,
11B, the recording medium 10 housed inside
A and 10B are provided with barcodes 12A and 12B in which the respective width information is written.
When the barcode information is read by the barcode reader 101 at the time of loading the recording media A and 11B into the recording apparatus, the width information of each of the recording media 10A and 10B is detected.

FIGS. 3B and 3C show the width detecting means 10.
0 shows a case where the reflection type sensor group 102 is provided in a recording apparatus.
In this case, the recording medium cartridges 11A and 11B
In place of the barcodes 12A and 12B, width information is written and provided on detection marks 13A and 13B such as black and white binarized circular shapes (FIG. 3b) or rectangular shapes (FIG. 3c). And the reflection type sensor group 10
2 for each recording medium 10
A, 10B width information is detected.

When the cartridges 11A and 11B are loaded into the recording apparatus, the barcode reader 101 and the reflection type sensor group 102
B, the cartridges 11A and 11B are arranged on the recording apparatus side so as to correspond to the positions of the bar codes 12A and 12B and the detection marks 13A and 13B.
It is preferable because reading can be automatically performed only by loading B.

Each recording medium 10 conveyed along the conveyance path
To obtain the width information of A and 10B, the width detection means 100
In addition to or in place of the above, for example, an operator manually inputs and instructs the width information of the recording media 10A and 10B in each row using various manual input means such as a numeric keypad and an input panel. Alternatively, it may be constituted by an appropriate width designating means 200 capable of designating width information.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the width indicating means 200.

The width indicating means 200 comprises an input panel 201 having a display panel and input keys for the operator to manually input various kinds of instruction information, and is arranged on the surface of the recording apparatus. Here, in the input panel 201,
From the screen display of the “various setting menu”, call the “width designation” menu, and then select the width information of the recording medium loaded in the recording device from the “width designation menu” screen display,
Input to the recording device.

In addition, the width designating means 200 can be constituted by providing a width designating button having a plurality of predetermined standard values in the printing apparatus, for example. Further, it may be constituted by a width information input key having a numeric keypad for directly inputting a numerical value of the width.

The width detecting means 100 and the width indicating means 200
When the width information instructed by the operator is different from the actual width of the recording medium detected by the width detecting means 100, the operator can be alerted by, for example, issuing a warning.

On the other hand, the position detecting means 300 detects the position in the main scanning direction of each of the recording media 10A and 10B conveyed on the conveying path. Thereby, each recording medium 10A,
It is possible to detect a position shift of 10B in the main scanning direction.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the position detecting means 300 comprises a position detecting sensor 301 provided on the carriage 33 of the recording means 3 together with the recording head 31.

The position detecting sensor 301 is a reflection type sensor, and is provided with its sensor surface facing the recording medium holding plate 36 (recording medium side) as shown in FIG.
The carriage 33 is moved by the carriage motor 34 as it moves along the main scanning direction and across the recording media 10A and 10B.
The positions of A and 10B can be detected. This makes it possible to detect the displacement of each of the recording media 10A and 10B in the main scanning direction.

That is, each recording medium 10 of the carriage 33
A, the position detection sensor 301 is moved by the movement over 10B.
Passes through the recording media 10A to 10B, first, the left end of the recording medium 10A is detected, and then the right end thereof is detected. From this detection signal and the movement amount of the carriage 33 detected by the linear encoder, the recording medium 1
0A position information can be obtained. Further, the recording medium 1
By scanning on 0B, the position information of the recording medium 10B can be similarly obtained.

When the detection sensor 101 is provided on the carriage 33 in this manner, a drive source for scanning and moving the position detection sensor 301 can be shared by the carriage motor 34. Is eliminated, and the device configuration can be simplified.

In FIG. 5A, 61A, 61A
B is an ink drop hole provided at a position corresponding to each side edge of each of the recording media 10A and 10B.
When forming an image (edgeless image) larger than the width of 0A and 10B, the excess ink protruding from both side edges of each of the recording media 10A and 10B is received.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the position detecting means 300.

In this example, as the position detecting means 300, C
A CD sensor 302 is provided on the transport path. As shown in FIG. 6A, the CCD sensor 302
A and 10B are arranged along the main scanning direction, and as shown in FIG.
The width of B is detected from the lower surface side. This CCD sensor 3
02 is a recording head 31 for detecting the width of each of the recording media 10A and 10B prior to image recording as shown in FIG.
It is preferable to be disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction.

The CCD sensor 302 does not require any special drive source for position detection, and also has a real-time recording medium 10A when passing through the recording media 10A and 10B.
The positions of A and 10B can be detected.

The position detecting means 3 provided on this transport path
00 is not limited to the above-described CCD sensor 302, and may be arbitrarily used as long as the position of each of the recording media 10A and 10B can be detected on the line of the transport path.

FIG. 7 shows an example of detecting the position of the recording medium using the position detection sensor 301. Here, the recording medium 10
The case of detecting the position of only A will be described.

The position detection sensor 301 provided on the carriage 33 is moved by the main scanning movement of the carriage 33.
The recording medium 10A sucked and held by the recording medium holding plate 36 is scanned in the width direction, and in the process, the reflected light of the sensor light is received, and a detection signal is obtained from the received light signal. At this time, the detection of the position information of the recording medium 10A differs depending on the difference in the reflectance between the recording medium holding plate 36 and the recording medium 10A.

The reflectance of the recording medium holding plate 36 is
When the reflectance is higher than 0 A, the sensor output of the received light signal is larger in the recording medium holding plate 36 than in the recording medium 10A as shown in FIG. by setting between the ₁ and L ₂ level, it is possible to perform position detection from the detection signal.

When the reflectance of the recording medium holding plate 36 is lower than the reflectance of the recording medium 10A, the sensor output of the received light signal is smaller for the recording medium holding plate 36 as shown in FIG. 10A, the recording medium 10A
By setting the detection signal to a level equal to or higher than L, position detection can be performed from the detection signal.

In the present invention, the reflectance of the recording medium holding plate 36 is set to be smaller than that of the recording medium in the present invention because the latter can simplify the detection control of the position information. This is a preferred embodiment.

In the present invention, when detecting the position of each of the recording media 10A and 10B in the main scanning direction by the position detecting means 300, the following modes are available.

A mode in which the recording head 31 performs scanning each time one scan is performed in the main scanning direction.

This embodiment is effective when the number of nozzles of the recording head 31 is small, and can adjust the position of an image according to the displacement of the recording medium.

A mode in which the recording head 31 performs scanning every predetermined number of times in the main scanning direction.

According to this aspect, by performing position detection every predetermined number of main scans, it is possible to assume a shift of the recording medium with respect to the main scan to be performed from the tendency of position information up to the main scan. By performing position correction processing on image data based on the assumed positional deviation information, it is possible to adjust the image position.

A mode in which recording is performed once while the recording head 31 is recording one image.

According to this aspect, even if a displacement of the recording medium occurs during image recording, a high-quality image can be recorded and formed for one image without causing image unevenness due to the displacement. Further, the circuit configuration is simple, and the control method is also simplified.

In a case where the recording head 31 reciprocates in the main scanning direction to reciprocally record an image, the recording is performed in one of the forward path and the backward path.

According to this aspect, since the position is detected in one direction, the control can be simplified as compared with the case of detecting the position in both directions.

A mode in which when the recording head 31 reciprocates in the main scanning direction to reciprocally record an image, the reciprocation is performed on both the forward path and the return path.

According to this aspect, since the position can be detected in both the forward path and the backward path, when two or more images are successively output in the sub-scanning direction in the reciprocating printing, either the forward path or the backward path is used. Even if the next image starts to be output from the process, the image can be output at an appropriate position on the recording medium.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a conceptual diagram of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

Image data to be recorded in the ink jet recording apparatus (parameters such as image recording size, YM
The image data sent from the image data holding unit 400 that owns the image data separated into colors such as CK,
Control means 500 of ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention
Take in.

On the other hand, the recording mediums 10A and 10B supplied from the recording medium supply means 1 are conveyed on the conveyance path by the conveyance means 2 and, before the image recording by the recording means 3, the recording mediums 10A and 10B by the width detection means 100. 10B width information, recording media 10A, 10B by position detecting means 300
Is taken out and simultaneously taken into the control means 500.

The width instructing means 200 causes the recording medium 1
When width information of 0A and 10B is instructed, the width information is taken into the control means 500.

The control means 500 generates an emission signal based on the width information and the position information, and
The image data is sent to the recording means 3 together with the image data taken in from 00, and the timing of image recording by the recording means 3 is appropriately controlled.

Next, the electrical configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

The image data holding means 400 is composed of, for example, a host device such as a computer. The image data sent from the image data holding means 400 is taken into the ink jet recording apparatus via the interface section 501.

Reference numeral 502 denotes an image memory for temporarily storing image data fetched from the host device 400; 503, a memory write controller for controlling writing of image data to the image memory 502; and 504, an image memory for storing image data stored in the image memory 502. A memory read controller 505 for controlling reading;
And a head controller that drives and controls the head driver 35 that ejects ink from the recording head 31 in accordance with image data read from the image memory 502.

A control unit 506 controls the interface unit 501, the image memory 502, the memory write controller 503, and the memory write controller 504 to control the host device 4.
CPU that controls the head controller 505, the transport motor 23, the carriage motor 34, and the transport switching motors 24A and 24B according to various types of sensors S1A and S1B for detecting information on the recording medium and image data. .

The interface unit 501, image memory 502, memory write controller 503, memory read controller 504, head controller 505
The control unit 500 is configured by the CPU 506.

In the control means 500, the CPU 50
6 selects any one of the image data related to a plurality of images sent from the image data holding unit 400 and stored in the image memory 502 according to the position of the recording head 31 in the scanning direction, and The data relating to the image is sent to the recording means 3.

At the same time, the CPU 506
0 and / or the recording medium 10A from the width indicating means 200,
10B width information, recording medium 1 from position detecting means 300
The position information of 0A and 10B is processed, and the recording timing of the image data by the recording unit 3 is controlled based on the width information and the position information.

In the present invention, the recording media 10A, 10A
By controlling the recording timing of the image by the recording unit 3 based on the width information of B, for example, the recording media 10A and 10
B, when the widths are different from each other,
Even if the recording head 31 is moved in the main scanning direction over B to perform image recording simultaneously and in parallel, an image can always be appropriately formed.

Further, by controlling the recording timing of the image by the recording means 3 based on the position information of the recording media 10A and 10B, the recording media 10A and 10B are shifted in the main scanning direction in the process of being transported through the transport path. Recording means 3
Even if the recording medium 10A or 10B is conveyed, the timing of image recording by the recording head 31 is controlled in accordance with the position of each of the recording media 10A and 10B, thereby always performing appropriate image recording without occurrence of defects such as image shift. Will be able to do it.

In the control means 500, it is preferable to provide an image data position correcting section 507 and a position shift estimating section 508 as shown in FIG. This control means 5
In 00, the position shift of each of the recording media 10A and 10B is assumed by the position shift estimating unit 508 based on the position information detected by the position detecting means 300, and the image is further adjusted based on the assumed position shift information. The data position correction unit 507 calculates the amount of positional deviation, and performs correction processing corresponding to the amount of positional deviation on the image data in advance.

In this way, the image data can be corrected in advance in accordance with the amount of displacement, assuming the respective displacements of the recording media 10A and 10B conveyed on the transport path. Thus, even if a positional shift of 10B occurs, a high-quality image can be recorded and formed without causing image unevenness due to the positional shift.

To control the recording timing of the recording means 3 in the control means 500, the image data holding means 400
It is preferable to control one or both of the image data output from the printer and the emission signal output to the recording unit 3 together with the image data. This allows
Even if a single recording head 31 simultaneously records and forms an image on a plurality of rows of recording media 10A and 10B along the main scanning direction, the information on the width and position of each of the recording media 10A and 10B is not obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to easily adjust the positions of the images recorded and formed thereon.

The emission signal should not be output to the recording means 3 by the control means 500 during the period when the recording head 31 scans the area other than the recording area on each of the recording media 10A and 10B. Is preferred. Accordingly, when the recording head 31 is located in a place other than the recording area on each of the recording media 10A and 10B, the recording unit 3 is in a state where a recording signal cannot be obtained. As a result, the position of the image can be surely adjusted.

This recording area may be larger than the width of the recording medium along the main scanning direction in order to record and form a borderless image.

The recording head 31 is connected to each recording medium 1.
In order to form the space between the images as described above during the period of scanning the areas other than the recording areas on the recording areas 0A and 10B, the control means 500 transmits the non-ink data to the recording means 3 as image data. You may make it output injection data. The recording unit 3 drives the recording head 31 based on the non-ink ejection data so as to “do not eject ink” as image data. Therefore, the recording head 31 is located at a location other than the recording area on each of the recording media 10A and 10B. Sometimes
In the same manner as described above, it is possible to form a blank between images, and it is possible to perform accurate image position adjustment.

The generation of the non-ink ejection data output by the control means 500 is performed for each of the recording media 10A and 10A.
B based on the width information and the position information of B,
In such a case, the image data holding unit 400 owning the image data only needs to send the image data to the inkjet recording apparatus side, and the processing on the image data holding unit 400 side can be simplified. Will be able to

On the other hand, the generation of the non-ink ejection data output by the control means 500 is performed by the image data holding means 400.
In this case, the image data holding unit 400 that has generated the non-ink ejection data
The non-ink ejection data is transferred to the control means 500. This eliminates the necessity of generating non-ink ejection data on the ink jet recording apparatus side, so that the configuration of the control unit 500 of the recording apparatus can be simplified.

To generate non-ink ejection data in the image data holding means 400, the control means 500
The width information of each of the recording media 10A and 10B by the width detecting means 100 and the recording medium 10 by the position detecting means 300
A and 10B are transferred to the image data holding means 400 in the main scanning direction.
00 is preferably generated based on the width information and the position information. As a result, as before,
Each time image data is sent to the ink jet printing apparatus, there is no need to manually input the width information and the position information to the printing apparatus by the manual operation, so that the operator processing is reliably simplified. .

In the present invention, among the recording media of a plurality of rows, when the recording of the image has already been completed, or when there is a recording medium which does not need to record and form the image and does not perform the recording of the image, It is preferable that the control unit 500 controls the operation other than the printing even if the printing of the image is performed on another printing medium, so that efficient processing can be performed.

However, the recording media 10A, 10B
When the operation is performed independently for each of the recording media 10A and 10B, the conveyance unit 2 is configured in common between the recording media 10A and 10B as shown in FIG.
It is preferable that each of the members B is independently configured and the transporting means is individually driven.

The operations other than the recording include, for example, the following operations.

An operation of transporting a corresponding recording medium to a position where an image is recorded by a recording head by individually controlling driving of a transporting unit.

An operation of transporting the corresponding recording medium to a position where the recording medium is cut by the recording medium cutting means by individually controlling the driving of the conveying means.

An operation of transporting the corresponding recording medium to a position where the recording medium can be detached from the ink jet recording apparatus by individually controlling the transporting means.

It is also preferable that the control means 500 controls the recording means 3 in accordance with the position of a recording medium on which no image is to be formed among the plural rows of recording media. For example, when the corresponding recording medium is located at the end of the plurality of rows in the main scanning direction, the recording unit 3 is controlled so that scanning on a recording medium that does not perform recording and formation of the image is not performed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the recording head 31 from being scanned uselessly, and to shorten the scanning time and improve the recording speed.

Next, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the configuration of the head driver 35 controlled by the recording timing controlled by the control means 500 will be described with reference to a conceptual diagram shown in FIG. 11 and a timing chart shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows data for one color when the recording head is a four-nozzle head for convenience of explanation.

Each color data of the image read from the image memory 502 is represented by m bits of pixel unit serial data (dn
0, dn1, dn2, dn3, d (n + 1) 0, d (n + 1) 1, d
(n + 1) 2, d (n + 1) 3,...)
And input to a shift register 351 that holds data for the number of nozzles in accordance with a data transfer clock.
As for the serial data, data for one nozzle ejection is transferred in one cycle of the ejection signal.

For the effective head drive data, an ejection signal is thereafter given. The load signal is generated from the injection signal by the control circuit 352 and the shift register 351 generates the load signal.
Are held as parallel data in the flip-flop 353.

With the parallel data and the drive waveform control signal generated from the emission signal by the control circuit 352,
The drive waveform generator 354 converts the data into data necessary for driving each nozzle of the recording head 31 such as power amplification and the like.
Send data to

Control of the image recording timing will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13 shows two recording media 10A and 10B.
In the case where the size of the recording area is the same and an image with an edge is to be recorded and formed, the image is recorded on the outward path in which the recording head 31 scans from the left end to the right end in the figure, and each image is scanned by three scans. Shows a case where is recorded and formed. The hatched portions in each of the recording media 10A and 10B are recorded areas.

When the recording head 31 enters the constant speed state after a certain acceleration period from the stop state and becomes recordable, first, the control means does not output the ejection signal based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium 10A. Control the recording medium 1
At 0A, one edge of the image is formed. Next, the control unit outputs the image data of the first scan of the first image and the emission signal to record the image. Control for not outputting the emission signal is performed again, the other edge of the image is formed, and the recording of the first scan image of the first image data on the recording medium 10A ends.

Before outputting the image data to be recorded on the next recording medium 10B, the control means controls the recording mediums 10A, 10A.
B based on the width information and position information of B,
Control so as not to output the injection signal during 0B,
A blank period is formed to adjust the position of the image between the two recording media.

Further, based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium 10B, the control means controls not to output the emission signal, and forms one edge of the image on the recording medium 10B. Next, the control unit outputs the image data of the first scan of the second image and the emission signal to record the image. The control for not outputting the emission signal is performed again, the other edge of the image is formed, and the recording of the first scan image of the second image data on the recording medium 10B is completed.

After a fixed deceleration period, the recording head 31 stops at the right end in the main scanning direction, and then returns to the initial position (left end in the drawing).
OB are respectively conveyed by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction by the conveying means to prepare for the next second scan.

Thereafter, the same control as described above is repeated in the second and third scans to record and form a desired image on each of the recording media 10A and 10B.

FIG. 14 shows two recording media 10A and 10B.
In the case where the size of the recording area is the same and an edgeless image is to be recorded and formed, an image is recorded on the outward path in which the recording head 31 scans from the left end to the right end in the figure. Shows a case where is recorded and formed. The hatched portions in each of the recording media 10A and 10B are recorded areas. Here, the recording media 10A and 10A
The case where the interval between the image B and the image B is adjusted by the non-ink ejection data will be described.

When the recording head 31 enters the constant speed state after a certain acceleration period from the stop state and becomes recordable, first, the control means controls the left side of the recording medium 10A based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium 10A. At a timing slightly earlier than the edge position, image data of the first scan of the first image and an ejection signal are output to record the image, and the recording medium 10
At a timing slightly later than the right edge position of A, the recording of the first scan image of the first image data on the recording medium 10A ends.

Before outputting the image data to be recorded on the next recording medium 10B, the control means controls the recording mediums 10A and 10A.
B based on the width information and position information of B,
During the period 0B, non-ink ejection data is output as image data, control for not ejecting ink is performed, and a blank period is formed to adjust the position of the image between the two recording media.

Further, the control means, based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium 10B, outputs the image data of the first scan of the second image and the ejection timing at a timing slightly earlier than the left edge position of the recording medium 10B. The signal is output to record the image, and the recording of the first scan image of the second image data on the recording medium 10B ends at a timing slightly later than the right edge position of the recording medium 10B. .

After a certain deceleration period, the recording head 31 stops at the right end in the main scanning direction and then returns to the initial position (left end in the drawing).
OB are respectively conveyed by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction by the conveying means to prepare for the next second scan.

Thereafter, the same control as described above is repeated in the second and third scans to record and form a desired image on each of the recording media 10A and 10B.

FIG. 15 shows two recording media 10A and 10B.
In the case where the size of the recording area is different and the borderless image is recorded and formed, the image is recorded on the outward path where the recording head 31 scans from the left end to the right end in the drawing, and the recording medium 10A is printed.
3 shows that one image is recorded and formed by scanning three scans, and one image is recorded and formed by scanning two scans on the recording medium 10B. The hatched portions in each of the recording media 10A and 10B are recorded areas.

When the recording head 31 enters the constant speed state after a certain acceleration period from the stop state, and becomes recordable, first, the control means firstly controls the left side of the recording medium 10A based on the width information and position information of the recording medium 10A. At a timing slightly earlier than the edge position, image data of the first scan of the first image and an ejection signal are output to record the image, and the recording medium 10
At a timing slightly later than the right edge position of A, the recording of the first scan image of the first image data on the recording medium 10A ends.

Before outputting the image data to be recorded on the next recording medium 10B, the control means controls the recording mediums 10A, 10A.
B based on the width information and position information of B,
Control so as not to output the injection signal during 0B,
A blank period is formed to adjust the position of the image between the two recording media.

Further, the control means, based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium 10B, at a timing slightly earlier than the left edge position of the recording medium 10B, outputs the image data of the first scan of the second image and the ejection timing. The signal is output to record the image, and the recording of the first scan image of the second image data on the recording medium 10B ends at a timing slightly later than the right edge position of the recording medium 10B. .

After a fixed deceleration period, the recording head 31 returns to the initial position (left end in the drawing) after stopping at the right end in the main scanning direction, during which time the recording media 10A, 10A
B is transported by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction by the transport unit, and prepares for the next second scan.

In the second scan, the same control as described above is performed, and an image of the second scan is recorded on each of the recording media 10A and 10B.

When the recording head 31 completes the second scan,
After stopping at the right end in the main scanning direction after a certain deceleration period, the carriage returns to the initial position (left end in the drawing), and during that time, the recording media 10A and 10B are conveyed by the conveying means along the sub-scanning direction. At this time, the control means controls the recording medium 1
0A is conveyed by a predetermined amount to record the remaining third scan image, and is prepared for the next third scan. On the other hand, the recording medium 10B has already finished recording and forming the image in the second scan. Therefore, the transporting unit is controlled separately from the recording medium 10A side so that only the recording medium 10B is advanced, and the transporting unit is controlled to transport the recording medium to the next step (for example, a cutting step).

Next, based on the width information and the position information of the recording medium 10A, the control means outputs the image data of the third scan of the first image and the ejection timing slightly earlier than the left edge position of the recording medium 10A. A signal is output to record an image, and the recording of the third scan image of the first image data on the recording medium 10A ends at a timing slightly later than the right edge position of the recording medium 10A. . Here, since the recording medium 10B is advanced, the control unit scans the recording head 31 only on the recording medium 10A, stops the recording head 31 immediately after a certain deceleration period, returns to the initial position, and immediately returns to the initial position. Is controlled so as to prepare for scanning.

FIG. 16 shows two recording media 10A and 10B.
In the process, control is performed so that ink is preliminarily ejected outside the recording medium in order to prevent ink clogging of the recording head 31.

FIG. 16A shows recording media 10A and 10B.
First, the recording medium 10
Prior to image recording on A, at a position before the recording medium 10A in the main scanning direction, the control means outputs preliminary ejection image data and an ejection signal to cause the recording head 31 to perform preliminary ejection. Further, each of the recording media 10A, 10A
After scanning over B, after passing over recording medium 10B,
The control means outputs the preliminary ejection image data and the ejection signal again to cause the recording head 31 to perform the preliminary ejection.

FIG. 16B shows recording media 10A and 10B.
In this case, after completion of image recording on the recording medium 10A, at a position before the recording medium 10B after passing through the recording medium 10A, the control unit performs preliminary ejection of image data for preliminary ejection and ejection. Outputs a signal to print head 31
To make a preliminary injection.

The pre-injection timing shown in FIG. 16 may be used in combination with FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b). By ejecting ink (preliminary ejection) in an area where there is no recording medium 10A or 10B, clogging of the recording head 31 can be prevented, and ink can be ejected stably.

[0173]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of always forming an appropriate image when recording a plurality of images on a plurality of rows of recording media.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the outline of an ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of an inkjet recording apparatus.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are schematic diagrams each showing an example of a width detection unit.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an example of a width indicating unit.

FIG. 5A is a plan view illustrating an example of a position detecting unit;
(B) is a side view of the configuration

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing another example of the position detecting means, and FIG.

7A is a plan view illustrating an example of detection by a position detection sensor, and FIGS. 7B and 7C are explanatory diagrams illustrating sensor outputs thereof.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another electrical configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a head driver.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart illustrating a configuration of a head driver.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a scanning example of a recording medium of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a scanning example of a recording medium of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a scanning example of a recording medium of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a scanning example of a recording medium of the inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: recording medium supply means 2: transport means 3: recording means 10A, 10B: recording medium 100: width detection means 200: width indication means 300: position detection means 500: control means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA07 EB03 EB13 EB36 EB46 EC03 EC07 EC11 EC12 EC34 EC37 EC77 FA10 FA11 HA29 HA60

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink, comprising: a plurality of recording medium supply means for supplying a recording medium; and a recording medium supplied from each of the recording medium supply means. A transport path for transporting the recording medium, a transport unit provided on the transport path, for transporting the recording medium, and scanning over each of the recording media along a direction substantially orthogonal to a transport direction of the recording medium. And recording means for performing recording by ejecting ink, according to the width of each recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path,
An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a control unit for controlling a recording timing by the recording unit. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium width indicating means for designating a width of each recording medium conveyed on said conveying path. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a width detecting means for detecting a width of each recording medium conveyed on said conveying path. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink, comprising: a plurality of recording medium supply means for supplying a recording medium; and a recording medium supplied from each of the recording medium supply means. A transport path for transporting the recording medium, a transport unit provided on the transport path, for transporting the recording medium, and scanning over each of the recording media along a direction substantially orthogonal to a transport direction of the recording medium. A recording unit that performs recording by ejecting ink, and a control unit that controls recording timing by the recording unit according to the position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a position detecting means for detecting a position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveying path. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said position detecting means is provided in said recording means. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said position detecting means is provided on said transport path. 8. The ink jet recording according to claim 5, wherein the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveying path is performed for each main scan. apparatus. 9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path is performed every predetermined number of main scans. Ink jet recording device. 10. The method according to claim 5, wherein the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path is performed once during one image recording. Ink jet recording device. 11. A reciprocating printing by said printing means, wherein the detection of the position in the scanning direction of each printing medium conveyed on the conveying path is performed in one of a forward path and a return path. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10. 12. A reciprocating printing by said printing means, wherein the position of each of the printing media conveyed in the conveying path in the scanning direction is detected in both forward and backward paths. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of items 10. 13. The control means controls one or both of image data output from an image data holding means and an emission signal output together with the image data to control a recording timing of the recording means. An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: 14. The control unit does not output the emission signal to the recording unit while the recording unit is scanning a place other than a recording area on the plurality of recording media. 14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to item 13. 15. The control unit outputs non-ink ejection data as the image data to the recording unit during a period when the recording unit is scanning a place other than a recording area on the plurality of recording media. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: 16. The ink-jet apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said non-ink ejection data output by said control means is generated by said control means based on width information and position information of said recording medium. Recording device. 17. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-ink ejection data output by the control means is generated by image data holding means and transferred from the image data holding means. . 18. The non-ink ejection data generated by the image data holding means, wherein the control means transfers width information and position information of the recording medium to the image data holding means, and the image data holding means outputs the recording data. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image data is transferred from the image data holding unit by generating based on the width information and the position information of the medium.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 19. A position shift in the control means based on the position information detected by the position detection means, and the control means corrects the image data for a position shift based on the assumed position shift information. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 18, wherein the inkjet recording is performed. 20. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said recording area is larger than a recording medium. 21. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording medium that does not form an image among the plurality of recording media performs an operation other than recording. 22. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the operation other than the recording is an operation of conveying a recording medium to a position where an image is recorded. 23. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the operation other than the recording is an operation of conveying a recording medium to a cutting position and cutting the recording medium. 24. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the operation other than the recording is an operation of returning the non-recording recording medium to a position where it can be removed from the ink jet recording apparatus. 25. When a recording medium that does not form an image among the plurality of recording media is located at an end in the scanning direction of the recording unit, the recording unit does not perform scanning on the recording medium that does not record the image. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein: 26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls the recording timing of said recording means so as to eject ink in an area without a recording medium along the scanning direction. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.