Method for finding recording-start position Number:7,086,714 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Method for finding recording-start position

Abstract: A recording start position is obtained effectively with high precision and in a short time. A recording method for recording on a recording medium, includes the steps of: positioning a sensor in a one edge side in a movement direction of the sensor; carrying the recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position where the sensor detects the recording medium; after bringing the sensor in a state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium, moving the sensor toward another edge side opposite to the one edge side until the sensor detects the recording medium; and if the sensor detects the recording medium: obtaining a leading distance by which an upper edge of the other edge side, being one of an upper right edge and an upper left edge of the recording medium, leads an upper edge of the one edge side based on a carrying distance of the recording medium that is necessary for the sensor that has been brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium to again detect the upper edge of the recording medium at the one edge side and a movement distance of when the sensor has moved from the one edge side to a position at which the sensor detects the recording medium; and carrying the recording medium by an amount that corresponds to the leading distance.

Patent Number: 7,086,714 Issued on 08/08/2006 to Endo

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Inventors:	Endo; Hironori (Nagano-ken, JP)
Assignee:	Seiko Epson Corporation (Tokyo, JP)
Appl. No.:	10/676,251
Filed:	October 2, 2003

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Foreign Application Priority Data

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Oct 02, 2002 [JP]			2002-289818

Current U.S. Class:	347/16 ; 271/227; 347/101; 347/104; 400/633
Current International Class:	B41J 29/38 (20060101); B41J 13/26 (20060101); B41J 2/01 (20060101); B65H 7/02 (20060101)
Field of Search:	347/101,104,106,14,23,19,4,5,6,16 400/709,579

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

	5192141		March 1993		Chung et al.
	5273274		December 1993		Thomson et al.
	5466079		November 1995		Quintana
	5564848		October 1996		Quintana
	5732943		March 1998		Delfosse
	6092893		July 2000		Yokoi et al.
	6305856		October 2001		Miyazaki
	6352332		March 2002		Walker
	6447089		September 2002		Arquilevich et al.
	6527360		March 2003		Otsuki et al.
	6588872		July 2003		Anderson et al.
	6747429		June 2004		Igarashi
	6840691		January 2005		Isono et al.
	6846058		January 2005		Claramunt et al.

Foreign Patent Documents

	5-138999		Jun., 1993		JP
	7-285248		Oct., 1995		JP

Primary Examiner: Feggins; K.
Assistant Examiner: Fidler; Shelby
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

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Claims

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What is claimed is:

1. A recording method for recording on a recording medium, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a sensor at a first end point in a movement direction of said sensor, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) lowering a detection sensitivity of said sensor so that it becomes difficult for said sensor to detect said recording medium, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof based on a movement distance from said first end point to a position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and a virtual carrying distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, from said detection position in step (b) to a virtual detection position at which said sensor would detect said recording medium in step (b) if the detection sensitivity of said sensor had been lowered; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

2. A recording method according to claim 1, wherein: if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, does not detect said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then said recording medium is simply carried from said detection position by a predetermined amount in said predetermined direction.

3. A recording method according to claim 1, wherein: if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: a skew angle of said recording medium in a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor is obtained based on said movement distance from said first end point to the position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and said virtual carrying distance; and said corner-to-corner distance is obtained based on said skew angle and a width of said recording medium.

4. A recording method according to claim 1, wherein: said sensor moves in said movement direction together with a recording head.

5. A recording method according to claim 4, wherein: said recording head carries out recording with respect to an entire surface of said recording medium.

6. A recording method according to claim 1, wherein: said sensor comprises a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by said light-emitting member, and detects said recording medium based on an output value of said light-receiving member.

7. A recording method for recording on a recording medium, comprising the steps of: (a) dividing a movement direction of a sensor into a plurality of sectors and positioning said sensor at a first end point in said movement direction, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) lowering a detection sensitivity of said sensor so that it becomes difficult for said sensor to detect said recording medium, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof, according to which sector said sensor detected said recording medium in; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

8. A recording method according to claim 7, wherein: if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, does not detect said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then said recording medium is simply carried from said detection position by a predetermined amount in said predetermined direction.

9. A recording method according to claim 7, wherein: said sensor moves in said movement direction together with a recording head.

10. A recording method according to claim 9, wherein: said recording head carries out recording with respect to an entire surface of said recording medium.

11. A recording method according to claim 7, wherein: said sensor comprises a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by said light-emitting member, and detects said recording medium based on an output value of said light-receiving member.

12. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising: a movable sensor for detecting said recording medium, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from a first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; a carrying mechanism for carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction intersecting a movement direction of said sensor; wherein; (a) said sensor is positioned at said first end point in said movement direction of said sensor; (b) said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) a detection sensitivity of said sensor is lowered so that it becomes difficult for said sensor to detect said recording medium, and then said sensor is moved toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof is obtained based on a movement distance from said first end point to a position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and a virtual carrying distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, from said detection position in item (b) to a virtual detection position at which said sensor would detect said recording medium in item (b) if the detection sensitivity of said sensor had been lowered; and said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

13. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising: a movable sensor for detecting said recording medium, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from a first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; a carrying mechanism for carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction intersecting a movement direction of said sensor; wherein; (a) said movement direction of said sensor is divided into a plurality of sectors, and said sensor is positioned at said first end point in said movement direction; (b) said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) a detection sensitivity of said sensor is lowered so that it becomes difficult for said sensor to detect said recording medium, and then said sensor is moved toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof is obtained, according to which sector said sensor detected said recording medium in; and said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

14. A computer-readable medium for causing a recording apparatus to operate, comprising: (a) a code for positioning a sensor at a first end point in a movement direction of said sensor, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) a code for carrying a recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) a code for lowering a detection sensitivity of said sensor so that it becomes difficult for said sensor to detect said recording medium, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) a code for: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof based on a movement distance from said first end point to a position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and a virtual carrying distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, from said detection position in code (b) to a virtual detection position at which said sensor would detect said recording medium in code (b) if the detection sensitivity of said sensor had been lowered; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point.

15. A computer-readable medium for causing a recording apparatus to operate, comprising: (a) a code for dividing a movement direction of a sensor into a plurality of sectors and positioning said sensor at a first end point in said movement direction, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) a code for carrying a recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) a code for lowering a detection sensitivity of said sensor so that it becomes difficult for said sensor to detect said recording medium, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) a code for: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof, according to which sector said sensor detected said recording medium in; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance if said sensor, whose detection sensitivity has been lowered, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point.

16. A recording method for recording on a recording medium, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a sensor at a first end point in a movement direction of said sensor, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) carrying said recording medium by a predetermined opposite-carrying amount from said detection position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof based on a movement distance from said first end point to a position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and said predetermined opposite-carrying amount by which said recording medium is carried in said opposite direction; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

17. A recording method according to claim 16, wherein: if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, does not detect said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then said recording medium is simply carried from said detection position by a predetermined amount in said predetermined direction.

18. A recording method according to claim 16, wherein: if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: a skew angle of said recording medium in a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor is obtained based on said movement distance from said first end point to the position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and said predetermined opposite-carrying amount; and said corner-to-corner distance is obtained based on said skew angle and a width of said recording medium.

19. A recording method according to claim 16, wherein: said sensor moves in said movement direction together with a recording head.

20. A recording method according to claim 19, wherein: said recording head carries out recording with respect to an entire surface of said recording medium.

21. A recording method according to claim 16, wherein: said sensor comprises a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by said light-emitting member, and detects said recording medium based on an output value of said light-receiving member.

22. A recording method for recording on a recording medium, comprising the steps of: (a) dividing a movement direction of a sensor into a plurality of sectors and positioning said sensor at a first end point in said movement direction, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) carrying said recording medium by a predetermined opposite-carrying amount from said detection position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof, according to which sector said sensor detected said recording medium in; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

23. A recording method according to claim 22, wherein: if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, does not detect said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then said recording medium is simply carried from said detection position by a predetermined amount in said predetermined direction.

24. A recording method according to claim 22, wherein: said sensor moves in said movement direction together with a recording head.

25. A recording method according to claim 24, wherein: said recording head carries out recording with respect to an entire surface of said recording medium.

26. A recording method according to claim 22, wherein: said sensor comprises a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by said light-emitting member, and detects said recording medium based on an output value of said light-receiving member.

27. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising: a movable sensor for detecting said recording medium, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from a first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; a carrying mechanism for carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction intersecting a movement direction of said sensor; wherein; (a) said sensor is positioned at said first end point in said movement direction of said sensor; (b) said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) said recording medium is carried by a predetermined opposite-carrying amount from said detection position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and then said sensor is moved toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof is obtained based on a movement distance from said first end point to a position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and said predetermined opposite-carrying amount by which said recording medium is carried in said opposite direction; and said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

28. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising: a movable sensor for detecting said recording medium, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from a first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; a carrying mechanism for carrying said recording medium in a predetermined direction intersecting a movement direction of said sensor; wherein; (a) said movement direction of said sensor is divided into a plurality of sectors, and said sensor is positioned at said first end point in said movement direction; (b) said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) said recording medium is carried by a predetermined opposite-carrying amount from said detection position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and then said sensor is moved toward said second end point; and (d) if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point, then: a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof is obtained, according to which sector said sensor detected said recording medium in; and said carrying mechanism carries said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance.

29. A computer-readable medium for causing a recording apparatus to operate, comprising: (a) a code for positioning a sensor at a first end point in a movement direction of said sensor, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) a code for carrying a recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) a code for carrying said recording medium by a predetermined opposite-carrying amount from said detection position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) a code for: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof based on a movement distance from said first end point to a position at which said sensor detected said recording medium and said predetermined opposite-carrying amount by which said recording medium is carried in said opposite direction; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point.

30. A computer-readable medium for causing a recording apparatus to operate, comprising: (a) a code for dividing a movement direction of a sensor into a plurality of sectors and positioning said sensor at a first end point in said movement direction, said sensor being capable of performing a substantially linear movement from said first end point to a second end point and from said second end point back to said first end point; (b) a code for carrying a recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position which is a position of said recording medium where said sensor detects said recording medium when said sensor is positioned at said first end point, said predetermined direction being a direction intersecting said movement direction of said sensor, and said recording medium having at least a leading edge which is the foremost edge in said predetermined direction; (c) a code for carrying said recording medium by a predetermined opposite-carrying amount from said detection position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and then moving said sensor toward said second end point; and (d) a code for: obtaining a corner-to-corner distance which is a distance, in said predetermined direction, between a first corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a first side edge thereof, and a second corner of said recording medium formed by said leading edge of said recording medium and a second side edge thereof, according to which sector said sensor detected said recording medium in; and carrying said recording medium in said predetermined direction by an amount that corresponds to said corner-to-corner distance if said sensor, after said recording medium has been carried in said opposite direction, detects said recording medium while said sensor is being moved toward said second end point.

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Description

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-289818 filed on Oct. 2, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recording methods, recording apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media.

2. Description of the Related Art

Inkjet printers that intermittently eject a liquid to perform recording are known as an example of recording apparatuses that eject a liquid onto various types of recording media, such as paper, cloth, and film, in order to record images. With such inkjet printers, images are recorded by alternately repeating a step of positioning the recording medium after carrying it in a direction toward a recording head, and a step of ejecting liquid while moving the recording head in a main scanning direction that intersects the direction in which the recording medium is carried.

However, when the recording medium is carried in a direction toward the recording head, if it is carried while either its right upper edge or left upper edge leads the other edge, that is, if the recording medium is carried skewed in the carrying direction, then the actual recording position on the recording medium will be displaced from the intended recording position, and the quality of the recorded image may be affected. In particular, when performing borderless recording, a skew in the recording medium in the carrying direction can cause blank areas on the upper edge of the recording medium, and this alone may make the recording medium unusable. On the other hand, when performing borderless recording, although enlarging the margin of the recording area with respect to the recording medium lessens the likelihood of blank areas appearing on the upper edge of the recording medium, there is a possibility that the amount of liquid that is consumed will increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was arrived at in light of the foregoing issues, and it is an object thereof to achieve a recording method, a recording apparatus, and a computer-readable medium capable of obtaining a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time.

Features and objects of the present invention other than the above will be made clear by the description of the present specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate further understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a computer system provided with a recording apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a principal configuration of a color inkjet printer 20 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for describing an example of the reflective optical sensor 29 provided at the carriage 28;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example configuration of the carriage 28 area of the color inkjet printer 20;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the linear encoder 11;

FIG. 6A is a timing chart of the waveforms of the output signals when the CR motor 30 is rotating forward;

FIG. 6B is a timing chart of the waveforms of the output signals when the CR motor 30 is rotating in reverse;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the color inkjet printer 20;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a nozzle arrangement on a bottom surface of a print head 36;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for describing a printing method of the present embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart that shows the continuation of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11A to 11F are figures for describing the positional relationship of the print head 36, the reflective optical sensor 29, and the print paper P when the upper left edge of the print paper P in the sub-scanning direction leads the upper right edge;

FIGS. 12A to 12F are figures for describing the positional relationship of the print head 36, the reflective optical sensor 29, and the print paper P when the upper right edge of the print paper P in the sub-scanning direction leads the upper left edge by less than a distance h;

FIG. 13A is a first drawing for describing FIG. 12D in detail;

FIG. 13B is a second drawing for describing FIG. 12D in detail;

FIGS. 14A to 14F are figures for describing the positional relationship of the print head 36, the reflective optical sensor 29, and the print paper P when the upper right edge of the print paper P in the sub-scanning direction leads the upper left edge by a distance greater than h;

FIG. 15 is a drawing for describing the obtaining of a skew angle of the print paper P in the sub-scanning direction, and a distance by which the upper right edge of the print paper P leads the upper left edge in the sub-scanning direction;

FIG. 16A is a drawing showing a width W of the print paper P divided into five sectors W1, W2, W3, W4, and W5;

FIG. 16B is a drawing showing the reflective optical sensor 29 detecting the upper edge of the print paper P in the sector W3 while moving from the one edge side to the other edge at a time when the electric signal measuring section 66 of the reflective optical sensor control circuit 65 is not outputting the logic value "L"; and

FIG. 17 is a data table where a plurality of sectors correspond to a plurality of carrying distances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At least the following matters will be made clear by the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A recording method for recording on a recording medium, comprises the steps of:

positioning a sensor in a one edge side in a movement direction of the sensor;

carrying the recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position where the sensor detects the recording medium;

after bringing the sensor in a state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium, moving the sensor toward another edge side opposite to the one edge side until the sensor detects the recording medium; and

if the sensor detects the recording medium:

obtaining a leading distance by which an upper edge of the other edge side, being one of an upper right edge and an upper left edge of the recording medium, leads an upper edge of the one edge side based on

a carrying distance of the recording medium that is necessary for the sensor that has been brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium to again detect the upper edge of the recording medium at the one edge side and

a movement distance of when the sensor has moved from the one edge side to a position at which the sensor detects the recording medium; and

carrying the recording medium by an amount that corresponds to the leading distance.

According to this recording method, after the sensor detects an upper edge of the carried recording medium, if the sensor that once entered a state in which it does not detect the recording medium again detects the recording medium in the process of moving from one edge side to the other edge side, then based on the carrying distance of the recording medium that is necessary for the sensor that once entered a state in which it does not detect the recording medium to again detect the upper edge of the recording medium at the one edge side and the movement distance for when the sensor moves from the one edge side until the position in which it detects the recording medium, the distance by which the upper edge of the other edge side of the recording medium leads the upper edge of the one edge side is obtained, and the recording medium is carried by an amount in accordance with the leading distance. In this way, it becomes possible to effectively obtain the recording start position for the recording medium with high precision and in a short time. For example, it becomes possible to solve the issues of blank spaces being formed on the upper edge of the recording medium, and of the amount of liquid consumed increasing when performing borderless printing.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may be brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium by lowering a detection sensitivity of the sensor.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor in which the detection sensitivity of the sensor is lowered to bring the sensor into a state in which it does not detect the recording medium.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may be brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium by carrying the recording medium by a predetermined amount from the detection position in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor where, by carrying the recording medium by a predetermined amount from the detection position in an opposite direction to the predetermined direction, the sensor goes into a state in which the recording medium is not detected.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, if the sensor that has been brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium did not detect the recording medium while moving from the one edge side to the other edge side, then the recording medium may be carried from the detection position by a predetermined amount in the predetermined direction.

According to this recording method, while the sensor moves from the one edge side to the other edge side in a state in which it does not detect the recording medium, if the recording medium is not detected, it is determined that the one edge side of the recording medium is leading the other edge side, or that the other edge side of the recording medium is leading the one edge side by less than a predetermined amount, and the recording medium is carried. In this way, it becomes possible to effectively obtain the recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time when either the one edge side or the other edge side of the recording medium leads the other.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, if the sensor that has been brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium detects the recording medium while moving from the one edge side to the other edge side, then:

a skew angle of the recording medium in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the sensor may be obtained based on

the carrying distance of the recording medium that is necessary for the sensor that has been brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium to again detect the upper edge of the recording medium at the one edge side and

the movement distance of when the sensor has moved from the one edge side to the position at which the sensor detects the recording medium; and

the leading distance by which the upper edge of the other edge side, being one of the upper right edge and the upper left edge of the recording medium, leads the upper edge of the one edge side may be obtained based on the skew angle and a width of the recording medium.

According to this recording method, a skew angle at which the recording medium intersects a movement direction of the sensor is obtained, and a distance by which an upper edge of the other edge side of the recording medium leads an upper edge of the one edge side is obtained based on the skew angle and a width of the recording medium. In this way it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may move in the movement direction together with a recording head.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor that moves in the movement direction with a recording head.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may comprise a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by the light-emitting member, and detects the recording medium based on an output value of the light-receiving member.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor that includes a light-emitting member for emitting light, and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by the light-emitting member, and detects the recording medium based on an output value of the light-receiving member.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the recording head may carry out recording with respect to an entire surface of the recording medium.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a recording head that carries out recording on an entire front surface of the recording medium.

Furthermore, a recording method for recording on a recording medium, comprises the steps of:

dividing a movement direction of a sensor into a plurality of sectors and positioning the sensor in a one edge side in the movement direction;

carrying the recording medium in a predetermined direction up to a detection position where the sensor detects the recording medium;

after bringing the sensor in a state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium, moving the sensor toward another edge side opposite to the one edge side until the sensor detects the recording medium; and

if the sensor detects the recording medium:

obtaining a leading distance by which an upper edge of the other edge side, being one of an upper right edge and an upper left edge of the recording medium, leads an upper edge of the one edge side according to which sector, in the movement direction, the sensor detected the recording medium in; and carrying the recording medium by an amount that corresponds to the leading distance.

According to this recording method, after the sensor has detected the upper edge of the carried recording medium, the distance by which the upper edge of the other edge side of the recording medium leads the upper edge of the one edge side is obtained in accordance to which sector in the movement direction of the sensor the recording medium is detected when the sensor, which has been brought into a state in which it does not detect the recording medium, detects the recording medium in the process of moving from the one edge side to the other edge side, and the recording medium is caused to be carried by an amount in accordance to this leading distance. In this way, it becomes possible to effectively obtain the recording start position for the recording medium in a short time. In particular, by finely subdividing the sectors in the movement direction of the sensor, it becomes possible to obtain the recording start position for the recording medium with high precision.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may be brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium by lowering a detection sensitivity of the sensor.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor whose detection sensitivity is lowered so that the sensor goes into a state in which the recording medium is not detected.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may be brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium by carrying the recording medium by a predetermined amount from the detection position in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor in which, by carrying the recording medium by a predetermined amount from the detection position in an opposite direction to the predetermined direction, the sensor goes into a state in which the recording medium is not detected.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, if the sensor that has been brought into the state in which the sensor does not detect the recording medium did not detect the recording medium while moving from the one edge side to the other edge side, then the recording medium may be carried from the detection position by a predetermined amount in the predetermined direction.

According to this recording method, when the sensor, in a state in which the recording medium is not detected, does not detect the recording medium while moving from the one edge side to the other edge side, it is determined that the one edge side of the recording medium is leading the other edge side, or that the other edge side of the recording medium is leading the one edge side by less than the predetermined amount. In this way it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time no matter which of the one edge side or the other edge side of the recording medium is leading.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may move in the movement direction together with a recording head.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor that moves in the movement direction with a recording head.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the sensor may comprise a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by the light-emitting member, and detects the recording medium based on an output value of the light-receiving member.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a sensor that includes a light-emitting member for emitting light and a light-receiving member for receiving light emitted by the light-emitting member, and detects the recording medium based on an output value of the light-receiving member.

Furthermore, in the present recording method, the recording head may carry out recording with respect to an entire surface of the recording medium.

According to this recording method, it becomes possible to effectively obtain a recording start position for a recording medium with high precision and in a short time by using a recording head that carries out recording on an entire front surface of the recording medium.

Furthermore, recording apparatuses and computer-readable media allowing for the above-described methods to be achieved can also be realized.

===Example Configuration of Computer System===

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a computer system provided with a recording apparatus of the present invention. The computer system in FIG. 1 is constructed of a color inkjet printer 20, a computer 90, a display device (a CRT 21 or an unshown liquid crystal display, for example), an input device (an unshown keyboard or mouse, for example), and a drive device (an unshown flexible drive device or CD-ROM drive, for example). It should be noted that in this embodiment the recording apparatus is constructed of the color inkjet printer 20, and a printer driver 96 inside the computer 90. In this case, the recording apparatus may be configured so that the printer driver 96 is incorporated in the color inkjet printer 20. Furthermore, the color inkjet printer 20 may serve as the recording apparatus.

The computer 90 is provided with a video driver 91 for driving the CRT 21 so that is performs displaying, the printer driver 96 for driving the color inkjet printer 20 so that it prints, and an application program 95 for controlling and driving the video driver 91 and the printer driver 96. The video driver 91 appropriately processes image data to be processed in accordance with display orders from the application program 95, and then supplies the data to the CRT 21. The CRT 21 displays an image that corresponds to the image data supplied from the video driver 91. Furthermore, in accordance with print orders from the application program 95, the printer driver 96 appropriately processes the image data to be processed, and then supplies them to the color inkjet printer 20 as print data PD. The operation of the video driver 91, the printer driver 96, and the application program 95 are controlled by an operating system OS (not shown) that is installed in the computer 90 in advance.

<Example Configuration of Printer Driver 96>

The printer driver 96 is provided with a resolution conversion module 97, a color conversion module 98, a halftone module 99, a dither table 103, an error memory 104, a gamma table 105, a rasterizer 100, a user interface display module 101, a UI printer interface module 102, and a color conversion lookup table LUT.

Image data (character data in an outline font, illustration data, etc.) that is specified by a user and output from the application program 95 is converted to color image data of a resolution for printing to a print paper P by the resolution conversion module 97. It should be noted that the color image data converted by the resolution conversion module 97 are RGB color data made of color components of the three primary colors of RGB.

The color conversion lookup table LUT is for determining a conversion relationship between the RBG color data output from the resolution conversion module 97 and CMYK color data. The color conversion module 98 references the color conversion lookup table LUT and for each pixel converts the RGB color image data that is output from the resolution conversion module 97 into multi-gradation data of a plurality of ink colors that can be used by the color inkjet printer 20. It should be noted that the multi-gradation data that have been converted by the color conversion module 98 have a gradation value of 256 levels, for example.

The halftone module 99 references the dither table 103 to perform dithering and the gamma table 105 to perform .gamma. correction, and uses the error memory 104 to store diffused error when performing error diffusion. In this way, the halftone module performs halftone processing on multi-gradation data that is output from the color conversion module 98, and generates halftone image data as pixel data. It should be noted that the CMYK halftone image data is binary data in which, for each pixel unit, a dot that is to be displayed takes the logic value "1," and a dot that is not to be displayed takes the logic value "0."

The rasterizer 100 arranges the binary halftone image data obtained from the halftone module 99 into a data sequence to be supplied to the color inkjet printer 20, and supplies this to the color inkjet printer 20 as the print data PD. It should be noted that the print data PD includes raster data that indicates the manner in which dots are formed when the print head moves in the main scanning direction, and data that indicates the carry amount that the print medium is successively moved in the sub-scanning direction which intersects the main scanning direction.

The user interface display module 101 has a function for displaying various windows related to printing, and a function for receiving instructions input by the user into these windows.

The UI printer interface module 102 is interposed between the user interface display module 101 and the color inkjet printer 20 to provide a bi-directional interface. That is, when a user enters instructions to the user interface display module 101, the UI printer interface module 102 serves as an interface in the direction in which various commands COM obtained by decoding orders from the user interface display module 101 are supplied to the color inkjet printer 20. On the other hand, the UI printer interface module 102 also serves as an interface in the direction in which various commands COM from the color inkjet printer 20 are supplied to the user interface display module 101.

In this way, the printer driver 96 achieves a function for supplying print data PD to the color inkjet printer 20, and a function for inputting and outputting the various commands COM between itself and the color inkjet printer 20. It should be noted that, as a computer-readable storage medium, a program for achieving the functions of the printer driver 96 is supplied to the computer 90 in a recorded state on various media such as flexible disks, CD-ROMs, magneto optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punch cards, printed materials on which a code is printed such as barcodes, and internal storage devices and external storage devices of the computer. Furthermore, the program for achieving the functions of the printer driver 96 can be downloaded to the computer 90 from a WWW (World Wide Web) server or the like publicly available on the Internet.

===Example Configuration of Recording Apparatus (Inkjet Printer)===

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a principal configuration of the color inkjet printer 20 shown in FIG. 1. The color inkjet printer 20 is provided with a paper stacker 22, a paper feed roller 24 driven by a PF motor 31 (see FIG. 4), a platen 26, a carriage 28 that serves as a moving member, a carriage motor 30, a pull belt 32 for conveying the drive power of the carriage motor 30, and guide rails 34 for guiding the carriage 28. Also, the carriage 28 is provided with a print head 36 that has a plurality of nozzles for forming dots, and a reflective optical sensor 29 that serves as a light-emitting member and a light-receiving member that will be discussed later.

The carriage 28 is pulled by the pull belt 32, which conveys the drive power of the carriage motor 30, and moves in the main scanning direction shown in FIG. 2 along the guide rails 34. The print paper P is drawn out from the paper stacker 22, wound onto the paper feed roller 24, and then carried onto the surface of the platen 26 in a vertical sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that the paper feed roller 24 is driven by the PF motor 31 (see FIG. 4) when the operation of supplying the print paper P from the paper stacker 22 onto the platen 26 and the operation of discharging the print paper P from the platen 26 are performed, and is positioned as a carrying mechanism for carrying the print paper P.

===Example Configuration of Sen