Apparatus and method for controlling recording and sheet conveying based on recording scans and sheet position

Abstract

A recording apparatus for forming images using a recording head includes a feeding roller, a conveying roller, a conveyance control unit, and a recording control unit. The conveyance control unit performs a conveying operation a number of times after the trailing end of a sheet reaches a predetermined position defined between the feeding roller and the conveying roller such that the trailing end of the sheet is disposed in a predetermined range upstream of the conveying roller in a sheet conveying direction after the conveying operations. At least one of the conveying operations performed a number of times is performed based on a distance from the position of the trailing end of the sheet to the position of the conveying roller.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A recording apparatus for forming images using a recording head scanning over a predetermined area on a sheet N times, the recording apparatus comprising:
 a feeding roller configured to convey the sheet disposed on a stacking unit;   a conveying roller configured to further convey the sheet fed by the feeding roller;   a conveyance control unit configured to control drive of the conveying roller each time scanning is performed by the recording head; and   a recording control unit configured to control a first recording in which the scanning is performed N times by selecting recording elements of the recording head until a trailing end of the sheet reaches a predetermined position defined between the feeding roller and the conveying roller, and configured to control a second recording in which the scanning is performed N times using a part of the recording elements of the recording head after the trailing end of the sheet reaches the predetermined position,   wherein the conveyance control unit performs a conveying operation a number of times based on the value of N after the trailing end of the sheet reaches the predetermined position such that the trailing end of the sheet is disposed in a first range remote from and upstream of the conveying roller in a direction in which the sheet is conveyed after the conveying operations, and   wherein at least one of the conveying operations performed a number of times based on the value of N is performed based on a distance from a position of the trailing end of the sheet to the position of the conveying roller.   
     
     
       2. The recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a detection unit disposed between the feeding roller and the conveying roller on a conveying path and configured to detect the trailing end of the sheet. 
     
     
       3. The recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the trailing end of the sheet is conveyed to a second range downstream of the conveying roller in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed by a conveying operation performed after the trailing end of the sheet is disposed in the first range. 
     
     
       4. A method for controlling a recording apparatus for forming images using a recording head scanning over a predetermined area on a sheet N times, the recording apparatus including a feeding roller configured to convey the sheet disposed on a stacking unit and a conveying roller configured to further convey the sheet fed by the feeding roller, the method comprising:
 controlling drive of the conveying roller each time scanning is performed by the recording head; and   controlling a first recording in which the scanning is performed N times by selecting recording elements of the recording head until a trailing end of the sheet reaches a predetermined position defined between the feeding roller and the conveying roller, and controlling a second recording in which the scanning is performed N times using a part of the recording elements of the recording head after the trailing end of the sheet reaches the predetermined position,   wherein the drive of the conveying roller is controlled so as to perform a conveying operation a number of times based on the value of N after the trailing end of the sheet reaches the predetermined position such that the trailing end of the sheet is disposed in a first range including the position of the conveying roller and upstream of the conveying roller in a direction in which the sheet is conveyed after the conveying operations, and   wherein at least one of the conveying operations performed a number of times based on the value of N is performed based on a distance from a position of the trailing end of the sheet to the position of the conveying roller.   
     
     
       5. A recording apparatus comprising:
 a recording head configured to record an image on a sheet;   a conveying roller, disposed upstream of the recording head in a conveying direction, configured to convey the sheet;   a pinch roller configured to pinch the sheet, together with the conveying roller, at a nip portion;   a driving unit configured to drive the conveying roller by a first conveying amount, and by a second conveying amount when the trailing end of the sheet passes through the nip portion; and   an adjustment conveying unit configured to convey the sheet by an adjustment conveying amount, based on information on a position of a trailing end of the sheet such that the trailing end of the sheet stops in a predetermined area located upstream of the nip portion.   
     
     
       6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5,
 wherein the adjustment conveying amount is larger than the first conveying amount.   
     
     
       7. The recording apparatus according to claim 5,
 wherein the driving unit conveys the sheet whose trailing end is in the predetermined area by the second conveying amount.   
     
     
       8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7,
 wherein the second conveying amount is larger than the first conveying amount.   
     
     
       9. The recording apparatus according to claim 7,
 wherein the driving unit drives the conveying roller such that the trailing end of the sheet does not stop in an unstable stop area including the nip portion.   
     
     
       10. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
 a detection unit disposed upstream of the conveying roller in the conveying direction and configured to detect the trailing end of the sheet.   
     
     
       11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10,
 wherein the adjustment conveying unit determines the adjustment conveying amount based on the information on the position of the trailing end of the sheet detected by the detection unit.