EP3318405B1 - Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3318405B1
EP3318405B1 EP16817766.5A EP16817766A EP3318405B1 EP 3318405 B1 EP3318405 B1 EP 3318405B1 EP 16817766 A EP16817766 A EP 16817766A EP 3318405 B1 EP3318405 B1 EP 3318405B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzles
defective
nozzle
defective nozzle
later
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP16817766.5A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3318405A1 (de
EP3318405A4 (de
Inventor
Shingo Tsubotani
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Konica Minolta Inc
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Konica Minolta Inc
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Publication date
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Publication of EP3318405A1 publication Critical patent/EP3318405A1/de
Publication of EP3318405A4 publication Critical patent/EP3318405A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3318405B1 publication Critical patent/EP3318405B1/de
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16579—Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
    • B41J2/2142—Detection of malfunctioning nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2002/1657—Cleaning of only nozzles or print head parts being selected

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • nozzles may include nozzles being poor in ejection (defective nozzles) from which no ink is ejected, ink is ejected in a wrong amount, or ink is ejected in a wrong direction (described, for example, in Patent Document 1).
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-7613
  • US 6 733 100 B1 discloses that at least defective printing element information about a defective printing element among a plurality of printing elements is stored in an EEPROM.
  • a complementary printing element for masking printing data corresponding to the defective printing element indicated by the defective printing element information and complementarily printing the printing data corresponding to the defective printing element is determined.
  • the printing data of the defective printing element is printed using the determined complementary printing element.
  • US 2007 176 953 A1 discloses a method to compensate for a degradation of print image quality generated by a defective nozzle, from which no ink or less than a design specification required amount of ink is ejected, in an inkjet image forming device, which includes moving a printer head a moving distance in a scanning direction, shifting image data corresponding to nozzles of the printer head in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the printer head by the number of nozzles corresponding to the moving distance of the printer head, and printing an image by driving the nozzles according to the shifted image data, and an apparatus to compensate for a degradation of print image quality generated by a defective nozzle, from which no ink or less than a design specification required amount of ink is ejected.
  • US 2006 125 869 A1 discloses a recording head, which includes an ink-discharging surface and nozzles.
  • the ink-discharging surface is provided with ink-discharging ports of the nozzles.
  • a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are disposed opposite each other close to the ink-discharging surface.
  • the light-receiving element outputs a detection signal.
  • a reflector is provided on the ink-discharging surface and reflects light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the light-receiving element.
  • One of the nozzles is driven and whether the nozzle discharges an ink drop is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the reflected light by the ink drop. If the nozzle discharges an ink drop, then whether the nozzle discharges the ink drop in an appropriate direction is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the direct light by the ink drop.
  • defective nozzles may include initial defective nozzles due to initial failure of a recorder.
  • these initial defective nozzles are not brought back to the normal state by the maintenance operation described above.
  • maintenance operation or replacement of the recorder is performed as with for nozzles that later become defective, for example, by the nozzles being clogged or by openings of the nozzles being covered with dirt or the like as a result of use of the recorder, efficiency of management of defective nozzles decreases, which is a problem.
  • An object of the present invention is providing an inkjet recording apparatus that can manage defective nozzles more efficiently.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a conveyor 11, connectors 120, head units 12 (recorders), head unit elevators 13, a maintenance unit 14 (recovery unit), an inspection unit 15 (measurement unit), an operational display 16 (notification unit), an interface 17, a bus 18 and a controller 20.
  • the conveyor 11 includes an annular conveyor belt 113, the inner side of which is supported by two conveyor rollers 111 and 112 that rotate on their rotational axes extending in X direction in FIG. 1 .
  • the conveyor 11 conveys a recording medium M in the moving direction of the conveyor belt 113 (conveying direction; Y direction in FIG. 1 ) by rotating the conveyor rollers 111 and 112 with a not-shown motor and accordingly moving the conveyor belt 113 in the state in which the recording medium M is placed on the conveyance surface of the conveyor belt 113.
  • the recording medium M is drawn from a roller around which the recording medium M is wound and supplied onto the conveyor belt 113, and wound around another roller after images are recorded on the recording medium M.
  • the recording medium M may be flat paper that is cut into sheets of a certain size.
  • the recording medium M is supplied onto the conveyor belt 113 by a sheer feeder, and ejected from the conveyor belt 113 to a certain sheet receiver by a sheet ejector after images are recorded on the recording medium M.
  • the recording medium M a variety of media can be used as far as ink ejected onto the surfaces thereof can be fixed. Examples thereof include paper, fabrics and sheet-shaped resins.
  • the head units 12 eject, on the basis of image data, ink from nozzles to the recording medium M that is conveyed by the conveyor 11, thereby recording images on the recording medium M.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 , four head units 12 for four color inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) are arranged at predetermined intervals to line up in order of Y, M, C and K from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium M.
  • Each head unit 12 includes: a plurality (seven in this embodiment) of recording heads 122 in each of which recording elements are arranged in a direction crossing the conveying direction (in this embodiment, a direction at right angles to the conveying direction, i.e. X direction) of the recording medium M; and a recording head drive unit 121 that drives the recording heads 122. Further, each head unit 12 is provided with a first storage 124 that is integrated with the head unit 12. The head units 12 perform recording operation(s) in the state of being attached to the connectors 120. The connectors 120 send/receive data to/from the head units 12 from/to the controller 20. Four connectors 120 are provided to correspond to the four head units 12.
  • Each recording element included in each recording head 122 includes: a pressure chamber where ink is stored; a piezoelectric element disposed on the wall surface of the pressure chamber; and a nozzle.
  • the recording head drive unit 121 applies, to the piezoelectric elements, a voltage(s) signal having a drive waveform(s) to operate and transform the piezoelectric elements, the pressure in the pressure chambers changes in response to the voltage signal, and the ink is ejected from the nozzles that communicate with the pressure chambers.
  • the array of the recording elements, which are included in each head unit 12, in X direction covers the width in X direction of the image recordable region of the recording medium M, which is conveyed by the conveyor 11.
  • the head units 12 are used with their positions fixed with respect to the conveyor 11. That is, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is an inkjet recording apparatus 1 employing a single-pass system.
  • some nozzles may be defective nozzles which do not eject ink normally from the time of manufacturing the head unit 12 due to variation in processing in forming nozzles, variation in characteristics of piezoelectric elements, and so forth. Further, some nozzles may later become defective nozzles by the nozzles being clogged or by openings of the nozzles being covered with dirt or the like as a result of use of the head unit(s) 12 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • later defective nozzles those subjected to detection of defective nozzles (initial defective nozzles) due to initial failure after manufactured are used. Further, in this embodiment, defective nozzles detected later than initial detective nozzles are referred to as later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • Initial defective nozzles are detected by an external inspection apparatus (different from the inkjet recording apparatus 1).
  • ink or liquid droplets for inspection
  • the inspection apparatus captures the ejected ink from the side of the ink ejection direction and determines the ink ejection state.
  • the inspection apparatus determines that no ink is ejected when no ink is detected in the captured data, determines that the ink ejection direction is abnormal when the ink ejection direction is bent in the captured data, and determines that the ink ejection amount is abnormal when the ink flying speed is not normal in the captured data, and detects nozzles determined as the above as initial defective nozzles.
  • the "the ink ejection direction is bent" means that ink is ejected in a direction angled from its original ejection direction.
  • the inspection apparatus that detects initial defective nozzles an apparatus that can detect initial defective nozzles having abnormalities that are difficult to be detected from the below-described measurement results obtained by the inspection unit 15 is used.
  • an apparatus that can detect slight bending of the ink ejection direction, degree of the bending and degree of abnormality of the ink ejection amount is used.
  • Each recording head drive unit 121 has: a drive circuit that supplies, to the recording heads 122, a voltage signal(s) having a drive waveform(s) corresponding to image data; and a drive control circuit that supplies the image data to the drive circuit at an appropriate timing.
  • the recording head drive units 121 cause the recording heads 122 to eject inks on the basis of control signals and image data supplied from the CPU 21.
  • the drive control circuit of the recording head drive unit 121 causes the drive circuit thereof to output a voltage signal(s) having a drive waveform(s) to the piezoelectric elements of the recording elements of the recording heads 122, thereby causing the recording heads 122 to perform (i) ejection operation of ejecting ink in an ink amount(s) corresponding to a gradation value(s) of the image data from the nozzles of the recording elements or (ii) non-ejection operation of ejecting no ink if (ii-a) the image data correspond to no ejection of ink or (ii-b) it is between image recording operations.
  • Each first storage 124 is constituted of a nonvolatile memory, such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and stores therein initial defective nozzle data D1 (first defective nozzle information) on initial defective nozzles described above.
  • initial defective nozzles are identified by arrangement numbers of the nozzles in the head unit 12. Further, in the initial defective nozzle data D1, the degree of bending of the ink ejection direction and the degree of abnormality of the ink ejection amount (a variation from a normal amount) of each initial defective nozzle are indicated.
  • Each first storage 124 may be constituted of a ROM (Read Only Memory).
  • Each head unit elevator 13 moves, according to the operation of a motor, a not-shown attachment member to which the head unit 12 is attached in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface of the conveyor belt 113 (Z direction in FIG. 1 ), thereby moving up and down the head unit 12 in Z direction.
  • Four head unit elevators 13 are provided to correspond to the four head units 12.
  • the maintenance unit 14 performs maintenance operation(s) (recovery operation(s)) to return, among defective nozzles in the head units 12, nozzles that can be brought back to the normal state in which ink is ejected normally to the normal state.
  • This maintenance operation includes: pressure purge of forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles of the head units 12 to solve clogging of the nozzles; and wiping of wiping the nozzle surfaces, where the nozzles are formed, of the head units 12 to clean the nozzle surfaces.
  • the maintenance unit 14 has a not-shown pressure pump(s) that, when pressure purge is performed, pressurizes ink at a predetermined pressurizing position in an ink supply channel that communicates with the pressure chambers of the recording elements.
  • the maintenance unit also has cleaner rollers with which the nozzle surfaces are wiped.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing configuration of cleaner rollers 141.
  • the maintenance unit 14 has a not-shown rotation motor(s) and a not-shown conveyance motor(s).
  • the cleaner rollers 141 rotate according to the operation of the rotation motor, and move in Z direction and X direction according to the operation of the conveyance motor.
  • the cleaner rollers 141 abut the nozzle surfaces of the head units 12 by being moved in Z direction by the operation of the conveyance motor, and wipe the nozzle surfaces of the head units 12 with themselves by, while rotating in this state according to the operation of the rotation motor, moving in X direction according to the operation of the conveyance motor.
  • Four cleaner rollers 141 are provided to correspond to the four head units 12.
  • the inspection unit 15 performs predetermined measurement operation(s) to inspect the ink ejection state of each nozzle.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing configuration of the inspection unit 15.
  • the inspection unit 15 includes a light emitter 151, a light receiver 152, a moving unit 153, a moving belt 154, rollers 155a and 155b, a motor 156 and a linear encoder 157.
  • the inspection unit 15 emits light with the light emitter 151 to the ink flying course from the nozzles, and measures the light amount of the light with the light receiver 152.
  • the ink ejection state of each nozzle is inspected by determining whether the measured light amount is decreased by ink at a proper position for the nozzle.
  • the inspection unit 15 performs measurement operation, as shown in FIG. 4 as an example, on the head unit 12 moved to the more positive side in Z direction by the head unit elevator 13 than the position where the head unit 12 performs recording operation. Alternatively, the measurement operation may be performed on the head unit 12 moved to the position of the inspection unit 15.
  • the light emitter 151 outputs light (here, visible light) in the optical axis L direction.
  • the light receiver 152 detects the light output from the light emitter 151.
  • the light output from the light emitter 151 has directionality. If no light-blocking matter, namely, ink, is present between the light emitter 151 and the light receiver 152, the light receiver 152 detects most of the output light.
  • the light receiver 152 is determined in such a way as to be narrow within the range in which the dimming amount when the ink to be detected enters the light receiving area is equal to or more than a detectable rate with respect to the total incident light amount, and be wide within the range in which the position of the ink is not outside the light receiving area even when displacement due to mounting accuracy of the inspection unit 15 or rotation accuracy of the motor 156 occurs.
  • the moving unit 153 is a plate-like member, and the light emitter 151 and the light receiver 152 are fixed onto the surface of the plate-like member. One end of the moving unit 153 is fixed to the moving belt 154.
  • the moving belt 154 is annular, and rotationally driven by the rollers 155a and 155b that are disposed on the inner circumferential surface. By being rotationally driven, the moving belt 154 moves the moving unit 153 in X direction.
  • the motor 156 rotates the roller 155a.
  • the rotation speed of the motor 156 can be appropriately changed on the basis of a control signal from the controller 20.
  • the linear encoder 157 outputs signals that indicate movements of the moving unit 153.
  • the linear encoder 157 is not particularly limited to but includes, for example, one employing a system of reading the scale with an optical sensor.
  • the operational display 16 includes: a display, such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display; and an inputter, such as operation keys or a touch panel disposed on the screen of the display.
  • the operational display 16 displays a variety of pieces of information on the display, and converts input operations of a user(s) on the inputter into operation signals and outputs the operation signals to the controller 20.
  • the interface 17 sends/receives data to/from an external apparatus 2, and is constituted of, for example, one or a combination of a variety of serial interfaces and a variety of parallel interfaces.
  • the bus 18 is a channel to send/receive signals to/from the controller 20 from/to the other components.
  • the controller 20 includes a CPU 21 (Central Processing Unit) (detector, recovery controller, corrector, notification controller), a RAM 22 (Random Access Memory), a ROM 23 and a second storage 24.
  • CPU 21 Central Processing Unit
  • RAM 22 Random Access Memory
  • ROM 23 Read Only Memory
  • the CPU 21 reads programs for various types of control and setting data stored in the ROM 23, stores the read ones in the RAM 22, and executes the programs and thereby performs various types of arithmetic processing.
  • the CPU 21 controls the entire operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • the CPU 21 causes the head units 12 to eject inks from the nozzles to the recording medium M on the basis of image data stored in the second storage 24 while causing the conveyor 11 to convey the recording medium M, thereby recording images on the recording medium M.
  • the RAM 22 provides a memory space for work for the CPU 21 and temporarily stores data therein.
  • the RAM 22 stores therein a maintenance-done flag(s) that is used to determine whether maintenance operation has been performed.
  • the maintenance-done flag is binary data indicated in a single bit.
  • the RAM 22 may contain a nonvolatile memory.
  • the ROM 23 stores therein the programs for various types of control that are executed by the CPU 21, the setting data and so forth.
  • the programs include, for example, a defective nozzle detection program to cause the inspection unit 15 to operate to detect defective nozzles, a maintenance program to cause the maintenance unit 14 to perform maintenance operation, and an image recording program to correct image data and record images using the corrected image data on the recording medium M.
  • the setting data includes: data on a first reference number that indicates the number of later-becoming defective nozzles and serves as a reference to start maintenance operation; and data on a second reference number that indicates the number of consecutive defective nozzles.
  • a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, may be used.
  • the second storage 24 stores therein later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 (second defective nozzle information) on later-becoming defective nozzles in the head units 12 detected by the operation of the inspection unit 15.
  • later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 later-becoming defective nozzles are identified by arrangement numbers of the nozzles in their head units 12.
  • the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 are data generated by the below-described operation for detection of later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 later-becoming defective nozzles due to no ejection of ink and abnormality of the ink ejection direction are identified.
  • the second storage 24 also stores therein image recording commands and image data input from the external apparatus 2 via the interface 17 and image data corrected by the CPU 21.
  • an HDD Hard Disk Drive
  • DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory
  • the external apparatus 2 is, for example, a personal computer, and supplies the image recording commands, the image data and so forth to the controller 20 via the interface 17.
  • Management of defective nozzles includes: detection of later-becoming defective nozzles; setting for supplementing no ejection of ink from defective nozzles by correcting image data; maintenance operation on the head units 12; and replacement of the head unit(s) 12.
  • detection of later-becoming defective nozzles in each head unit 12 is performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
  • the predetermined condition can be, for example, that recording operation by each head unit 12 has been performed a predetermined number of times or more since the last operation for detection of later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • the predetermined condition may be that a predetermined ink amount or more has been consumed since the last operation for defection of later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • detection of later-becoming defective nozzles may be started by a user's instruction.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram to explain operation for detection of later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • This diagram schematically shows positions of nozzles 123 of recording heads 122 in a plan view of the recording heads 122 of a head unit 12 and the moving unit 153 of the inspection unit 15 viewed from the side facing the conveyance surface of the conveyor belt 113.
  • a head unit 12 When detection of later-becoming defective nozzles starts, a head unit 12 is moved to the more positive side in Z direction by the head unit elevator 13 than the position where the head unit 12 performs recording operation, and the inspection unit 15 is disposed between the head unit 12 and the conveyor belt 113. Alternatively, the head unit 12 may be moved to the position above the inspection unit 15.
  • the moving unit 153 is moved to the position to face a recording head 122. That is, the moving unit 153 is moved to the position where the optical axis L of the light that is output from the light emitter 151 and detected by the light receiver 152 crosses the ink flying course from the top nozzle 123.
  • the top nozzle 123 is a nozzle 123 located at the end on the positive side in X direction (the left end in FIG. 5 ) of the recording head 122, the recording head 122 being located on the most positive side in X direction.
  • the light emitter 151 and the light receiver 152 moved to the position for each of the nozzles 123 are operated to inspect the ink ejection state on the basis of the measurement results of the light amount obtained by the light receiver 152. That is, if decrease in the light amount by the ink is not detected at the position for a nozzle 123, no ejection of ink is detected, whereas if the position where decrease in the light amount is detected is different from the position for the nozzle 123, bending of the ink ejection direction is detected.
  • the nozzle 123 from which ink is ejected changes from one nozzle 123 to another nozzle 123 in order in the negative X direction in FIG. 5 to the last nozzle 123 (at the right end in FIG. 5 ) of the recording head located on the most negative side in X direction.
  • the speed of this change is set to be constant, and the moving unit 153 is moved at a constant speed corresponding to the constant speed of the change.
  • the light emitter 151 and the light receiver 152 the light amount reflecting the ink ejection state of, among the nozzles 123 of each head unit 12, a nozzle(s) 123 not identified as an initial defective nozzle in the initial defective nozzle data D1 is measured, and the ink ejection state of the nozzle 123 is inspected with the measurement result. As a result of the inspection, if no ejection of ink or bending of the ink ejection direction is detected, such a nozzle is identified as a later-becoming defective nozzle.
  • later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 which indicates later-becoming defective nozzles, is generated on the basis of the arrangement number of the identified nozzle 123 in the head unit 12 and stored in the second storage 24.
  • later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 is already stored in the second storage 24, new later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 is generated and stored in the second storage 24.
  • the history (record) of the generation state of later-becoming defective nozzles can be referred to. If the history of the generation state of later-becoming defective nozzles is unnecessary, the existing later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 may be overwritten with the new later-becoming defective nozzle data D2.
  • later-becoming defective nozzles due to abnormality of the ink ejection amount are not detected.
  • later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 later-becoming defective nozzles having abnormality of the ink ejection amount are not identified, and accordingly data indicating the degree of abnormality from a normal value of the ink ejection amount is not contained.
  • the degree of bending of ink cannot be detected with a high accuracy from the measurement result of the light amount obtained by the inspection unit 15, in the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2, data indicating the degree of bending of the ink ejection direction is not contained.
  • the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 do not contain information on the degree of poor ejection, whereas the initial defective nozzle data D1 contain the information on the degree of poor ejection. Further, the number of types of poor ejection (defect modes) identified as defective nozzles by the initial defective nozzle data D1 is more than that identified by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2. Hence, the initial defective nozzle data D1 are higher in detection accuracy of defective nozzles and larger in information amount than the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2.
  • image data is corrected to prevent disturbance in recorded images due to defective nozzles, and then images are recorded. For example, if a nozzle 123a shown in FIG. 5 is identified as a defective nozzle, image data is corrected such that no ink is ejected from the nozzle 123a, and also corrected such that the ink ejection amounts of adjacent nozzles (e.g. nozzles 123b in FIG. 5 ) to the defective nozzle or neighboring nozzles (e.g. nozzles 123b and 123c in FIG.
  • the maintenance unit 14 starts maintenance operation, which includes pressure purge and wiping.
  • the predetermined condition about the number of later-becoming defective nozzles can be that the number of later-becoming defective nozzles indicated by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 exceeds a predetermined first reference number.
  • This first reference number is set within the range of the number of defective nozzles in which decrease in image quality can be suppressed to the extent that, by supplementing no ejection of ink from defective nozzles with nozzles around the defective nozzles, poor image quality due to defective nozzles in recorded images is hardly recognized, preferably a larger value within the range in order to lower the frequency of maintenance operation.
  • the predetermined condition about arrangement of later-becoming defective nozzle(s) can be that the number of consecutive defective nozzles exceeds a predetermined second reference number, and these defective nozzles include a later-becoming defective nozzle(s).
  • This second reference number is set within the range of the number of consecutive defective nozzles in which decrease in image quality can be suppressed to the extent that, by supplementing no ejection of ink from the defective nozzles adjacent to each other with nozzles around the defective nozzles, poor image quality due to defective nozzles in recorded images is hardly recognized.
  • Pressure purge which is one of maintenance operation, is performed by pressurizing ink with the pressure pump of the maintenance unit 14 at a predetermined pressurizing position on the ink supply channel that communicates with the pressure chambers of the recording elements.
  • This ink pressurization forcibly ejects ink from the nozzles 123 of the recording elements to solve clogging of the nozzles 123.
  • Pressure purge is performed in the state in which a predetermined ink receiver is located under the nozzle surface of the head unit 12.
  • the head unit 12 When wiping, which is another one of maintenance operation, is performed, the head unit 12 is moved to a predetermined cleaning position where the cleaner roller 141 is disposed, and the cleaner roller 141 is moved to abut the nozzle surface of the head unit 12. From this state, the cleaner roller 141 moves in X direction while abutting the nozzle surface and rotating according to the operations of the conveyance motor and the rotation motor of the maintenance unit 14. Consequently, the entire nozzle surface is wiped with the wiping cloth that is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the cleaner roller 141, and the ink and foreign substances adhering to the nozzle surface and the openings of the nozzles 123 are removed accordingly.
  • this head unit 12 Because maintenance operation of this head unit 12 is to solve later-occurring clogging of nozzles and blocking of the openings of the nozzles with dirt or the like, defective nozzles having a possibility of being brought back to the normal state by the maintenance operation are usually later-becoming defective nozzles. It is very rare that initial defective nozzles are brought back to the normal state by the maintenance operation.
  • later-becoming defective nozzles In the inkjet recording apparatus 1, after the above maintenance operation but before the next image recording, detection of later-becoming defective nozzles based on the inspection result obtained by the inspection unit 15 is performed.
  • the later-becoming defective nozzles detected as a result of this are later-becoming defective nozzles that are not brought back to the normal state by the maintenance operation (hereinafter referred to as "unrecoverable later-becoming defective nozzles").
  • the operational display 16 displays head unit replacement information indicating that it is time to replace the head unit 12 so as to encourage the user to replace the head unit 12.
  • Whether to replace a head unit 12 may be determined on the basis of a condition about the number of unrecoverable later-becoming defective nozzles to which the number of initial defective nozzles is added and/or a condition about arrangement of unrecoverable later-becoming defective nozzle(s) to which arrangement of initial defective nozzle(s) is added.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the control procedure of the image recording process.
  • This image recording process is stated when image data of an image to be recorded on the recording medium M and an image recording command to record the image are supplied from the external apparatus 2 via the interface 17 and stored in the second storage 24.
  • the CPU 21 determines whether an unexecuted image recording command(s) is stored in the second storage 24 (Step S1). When determining that no unexecuted image recording command is stored in the second storage 24 (Step S1; NO), the CPU 21 ends the image recording process.
  • Step S1 When determining that an unexecuted image recording command(s) is stored in the second storage 24 (Step S1; YES), the CPU 21 determines whether the condition to start detection of later-becoming defective nozzles is satisfied (Step S2). If image recording operation has been performed by the head units 12 a predetermined number of times or more since the last detection of later-becoming defective nozzles (Step S3), the CPU 21 determines that the condition to start detection of later-becoming defective nozzles is satisfied.
  • Step S3 When determining that the condition to start detection of later-becoming defective nozzles is satisfied (Step S2; YES), the CPU 21 detects later-becoming defective nozzles (Step S3). That is, the CPU 21 (i) causes the motors of the head unit elevators 13 to operate so that the head unit elevators 13 move the head units 12 in the positive Z direction, and also (ii) moves the inspection unit 15 to between the head units 12 and the conveyor belt 113.
  • the CPU 21 refers to the initial defective nozzle data D1 and supplies control signals to the recording head drive units 121 so that the recording head drive units 121 output voltage signals of drive waveforms to the recording heads 122, thereby ejecting inks from the nozzles 123 excluding initial defective nozzles of the head units 12. Further, the CPU 21 causes the light emitter 151 and the light receiver 152 of the inspection unit 15 to operate in such a way as to be in sync with timings of ejection of the inks while causing the motor 156 of the inspection unit 15 to operate to move the moving unit 153 in time with ejection of the inks, and obtains detection signals of the light output from the light receiver 152. The CPU 21 detects later-becoming defective nozzles on the basis of the obtained detection signals, and generates later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 and stores the same in the second storage 24.
  • the CPU 21 determines, for each head unit 12, whether the number of the detected later-becoming defective nozzle(s) in the head unit 12 or arrangement thereof in the head unit 12 satisfies a predetermined condition (Step S4). If the number of later-becoming defective nozzles indicated by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 is larger than the first reference number stored in the ROM 23, the CPU 21 determines that the condition about the number of later-becoming defective nozzles is satisfied.
  • the CPU 21 determines that the condition about arrangement of later-becoming defective nozzle(s) is satisfied.
  • Step S4 When determining that both the number and arrangement of later-becoming defective nozzles do not satisfy their respective predetermined conditions (Step S4; NO), or when determining in Step S2 that the condition to start detection of later-becoming defective nozzles is not satisfied (Step S2; NO), the CPU 21 determines whether any one or more of the head units 12 has a defective nozzle(s) (Step S5). That is, the CPU 21 determines whether a detective nozzle(s) is identified by at least one of the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 for each head unit 12.
  • the CPU 21 corrects image data on the basis of the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 (Step S6). That is, the CPU 21 refers to the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 and corrects image data relating to the image recording command such that no ink is ejected from the defective nozzle(s) and this no ejection of ink from the defective nozzle(s) is supplemented, and stores the corrected image data in the second storage 24.
  • the CPU 21 records an image on the basis of the image data corrected in Step S6 (Step S7). That is, the CPU 21 supplies a control signal to the motor that drives the conveyor rollers 111 and 112 of the conveyor 11 so as to move the conveyor belt 113 and convey the recording medium M accordingly. Then, the CPU 21 supplies the corrected image data and control signals to the recording head drive units 121 so as to cause the recording head drive units 121 to output voltage signals of drive waveforms to the recording heads 122 at appropriate timings according to the movement of the conveyor belt 113, thereby causing the head units 12 to eject inks from the nozzles onto the recording medium M, which is conveyed by the conveyor 11, and record an image on the recording medium M accordingly.
  • Step S5 When determining in Step S5 that none of the head units 12 has a defective nozzle (Step S5; NO), the CPU 21 causes the head units 12 to record an image on the basis of image data relating to the image recording command without correcting the image data.
  • Step S7 the CPU 21 moves to Step S1.
  • Step S4 When determining in Step S4 that the number or arrangement of the detected later-becoming defective nozzle(s) satisfies a predetermined condition (Step S4; YES), the CPU 21 determines whether a maintenance-done flag is set to OFF (Step S8).
  • the CPU 21 When determining that the maintenance-done flag is set to OFF (Step S8; YES), the CPU 21 causes the maintenance unit 14 to perform maintenance operation (Step S9). That is, the CPU 21 positions a predetermined ink receiver under the nozzle surface(s) of the head unit(s) 12, and causes the maintenance unit 14 to operate the pressure pump to pressurize the inks, thereby performing pressure purge of forcibly ejecting the inks from the nozzles 123 of the head units 12. When pressure purge finishes, the CPU 21 moves the head units 12 to their predetermined cleaning positions, and causes the rotation motor and the conveyance motor of the maintenance unit 14 to operate to perform wiping with the cleaner rollers 141.
  • Step S9 the CPU 21 sets the maintenance-done flag to ON (Step S10).
  • Step S10 the CPU 21 moves to Step S3.
  • Step S8 When determining in Step S8 that the maintenance-done flag is set to ON (Step S8; NO), the CPU 21 causes the operational display 16 to display the head unit replacement information (Step S11).
  • determining in Step S8 that the maintenance-done flag is set to ON means that although maintenance operation is performed in Step S9, in Step S3, in one or more of the head units 12, (i) unrecoverable later-becoming defective nozzles, the number of which is more than the first reference number, are detected, or (ii) there are consecutive defective nozzles, the number of which is more than the second reference number, and the defective nozzles include a later-becoming defective nozzle(s). Then, in order to encourage the user to replace such a head unit(s) 12, the operational display 16 displays the head unit replacement information.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes: the head unit(s) 12 provided with the nozzles 123 that eject an ink; the first storage 124 in which the initial defective nozzle data D1 on, among the nozzles 123, an initial defective nozzle that (i) is a defective nozzle among defective nozzles which do not eject the ink normally and (ii) is due to initial failure of the head unit 12 is stored; and the second storage 24 in which the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 on, among the defective nozzles, a later-becoming defective nozzle that is not identified as the initial defective nozzle by the initial defective nozzle data D1 is stored.
  • This configuration can easily identify initial defective nozzles and later-becoming defective nozzles that each head unit 12 has by the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2, respectively, and accordingly enables more efficient management of defective nozzles based on the information on the initial defective nozzles and/or the later-becoming defective nozzles, or targeted at the later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • the first storage 124 is integrated with the head unit 12. This can, when a head unit 12 is replaced by an unused head unit 12, identify detective nozzles (i.e. initial defective nozzles) that this head unit 12 has without performing detection of defective nozzles on this head unit 12.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 further includes the inspection unit 15 that measures a physical quantity reflecting the ink ejection state of each of the nozzles 123, and the CPU 21 (detector) detects the defective nozzles from a result of the measurement by the inspection unit 15, and stores, in the second storage 24, the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 based on a result of the detection of the defective nozzles.
  • This configuration can detect and identify later-becoming defective nozzles in the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • the CPU 21 detects the later-becoming defective nozzle by causing the inspection unit 15 to measure the physical quantity reflecting the ink ejection state of, among the nozzles 123, a nozzle 123 that is not identified as the initial defective nozzle by the initial defective nozzle data D1.
  • This configuration can reduce the ink amount that is consumed to detect defective nozzles.
  • the initial defective nozzle data D1 is information on the initial defective nozzle detected by an external inspection apparatus. This configuration enables more efficient management of defective nozzles with reference to the initial defective nozzle data D1 that are based on the highly accurate detection results of defective nozzles obtained by an inspection apparatus different from the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • the initial defective nozzle data D1 is information on the initial defective nozzle detected by an external inspection apparatus and is higher in detection accuracy than the detection by the CPU 21 as the detector from the result of the measurement by the inspection unit 25. This can identify initial defective nozzles due to abnormality of the ejection direction, which is difficult for the inkjet recording apparatus 1 to detect, and enables more appropriate management of defective nozzles.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 further includes the maintenance unit 14 that performs maintenance operation to return, among the defective nozzles, a nozzle 123 which is recoverable to the normal state in which the ink is ejected normally to the normal state, and the CPU 21 (recovery controller) causes the maintenance unit 15 to start the maintenance operation based on at least one of (i) the number of, among the nozzles 123, nozzle(s) 123 and (ii) arrangement of the nozzle(s) 123 in the head unit 12, the nozzle(s) 123 being identified as the later-becoming defective nozzle by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2.
  • This can start maintenance operation at the appropriate timing based on at least one of the number and arrangement of recoverable later-becoming defective nozzles, which have a possibility of being brought back to the normal state by the maintenance operation, and accordingly enables more efficient management of defective nozzles.
  • the CPU 21 corrects, based on at least one of the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2, image data of an image to be recorded on a recording medium M. This can suppress decrease in image quality due to defective nozzles in images to be recorded. Further, immediately after replacement of a head unit(s) 12, image data can be corrected on the basis of the initial defective nozzle information stored in the first storage(s) 124 without performing detection of defective nozzles on a head unit(s) 12 that has replaced the head unit(s) 12. Further, even if there are defective nozzles of the defect modes (e.g.
  • image data can be corrected on the basis of the initial defective nozzle data D1, and accordingly, of the image data, parts for initial defective nozzles can be corrected more appropriately.
  • decrease in image quality due to defective nozzles in images to be recorded can be suppressed more effectively.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 further includes the operational display 16, and the CPU 21 (notification controller) causes the operational display 16 to perform notification which encourages replacement of the head unit 12 based on at least one of (i) the number of, among the nozzles 123, nozzle(s) 123 and (ii) arrangement of the nozzle(s) 123 in the head unit 12, the nozzle(s) 123 being identified as the later-becoming defective nozzle by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2. This can encourage replacement of a head unit(s) 12 at the appropriate timing based on at least one of the number and arrangement of later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • the first embodiment is different from the above inkjet recording apparatus 1 in algorithm for correction of image data in Step S6 of the image recording process shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the first embodiment is the same as the above inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • parts for initial defective nozzles indicated by the initial defective nozzle data D1 and parts for later-becoming defective nozzles indicated by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 are corrected on the basis of their respective algorithms different from each other.
  • the correction not to eject ink from all the later-becoming defective nozzles and increase the ink ejection amounts of their neighboring nozzles so as to supplement this no ejection of ink is performed.
  • correction for abnormal-ejection-amount initial defective nozzles is performed on image data in advance, and, after detection of later-becoming defective nozzles, correction for the other initial defective nozzles and the detected later-becoming defective nozzles is additionally performed thereon.
  • the CPU 21 corrects, based on the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2, the image data of the image to be recorded on the recording medium M, and corrects, of the image data, a part for the initial defective nozzle identified by the initial defective nozzle data D1 and a part for the later-becoming defective nozzle identified by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 based on respective algorithms that are different from each other.
  • This can appropriately correct image data according to the difference in information amount about poor ejection between the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2, and accordingly can suppress decrease in image quality due to defective nozzles in images to be recorded more efficiently.
  • the modification is different from the above embodiment in the point that detection of later-becoming defective nozzles is performed immediately after maintenance operation only. Other than that, the modification is the same as the above embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of control procedure of an image recording process according to the modification.
  • the image recording process shown in FIG. 7 is modified from the image recording process of the above embodiment shown in FIG. 6 as follows: Step S2 is changed to Step S2a, Step S9 is performed before Step S3, and Step S8 and Step S10 are eliminated.
  • Step S2 is changed to Step S2a
  • Step S9 is performed before Step S3
  • Step S8 and Step S10 are eliminated.
  • the point different from the image recording process shown in FIG. 6 is mainly described.
  • Step S2a the CPU 21 determines whether the condition to start maintenance operation is satisfied. If a predetermined ink amount or more has been consumed by each head unit 12 recording images since the last maintenance operation (Step S9), the CPU 21 determines that the condition to start maintenance operation is satisfied. When determining that the condition to start maintenance operation is not satisfied (Step S2a; NO), the CPU 21 moves to Step S5.
  • Step S9 When determining that the condition to start maintenance operation is satisfied (Step S2a; YES), the CPU 21 causes the maintenance unit 14 to perform maintenance operation (Step S9). When finishing Step S9, the CPU 21 detects later-becoming defective nozzles (Step S3). When determining in Step S4, which is performed after Step S3, that the number or arrangement of the later-becoming defective nozzle(s) satisfies a predetermined condition (Step S4; YES), the CPU 21 causes the operational display 16 to display the head unit replacement information (Step S11).
  • detection of later-becoming defective nozzles is performed immediately after maintenance operation only. This can reduce the execution frequency of detection of later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • the first storage 124 is provided for each head unit 12, which is a recorder, and the initial defective nozzle data D1 on initial defective nozzles that the recording heads 122 of the head unit 12 have is stored in the first storage 124.
  • a first storage may be provided for each recording head 122, and initial defective nozzle data on initial defective nozzles that the recording head 122 has may be stored in the first storage.
  • a recorder is constituted of recording heads 122 integrated with first storages.
  • This configuration can, when one or more of the recording heads 122 of a head unit 12 is replaced, identify initial defective nozzles that a recording head(s) 122 which has replaced the recording head(s) 122 has without performing detection of defective nozzles on the recording head(s) 122.
  • the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 are stored in the second storage 24.
  • the initial defective nozzle data D1 may also be stored.
  • the CPU 21 may read the initial defective nozzle data D1 from the first storages 124 and write the same in the second storage 24.
  • the initial defective nozzle data D1 may be directly written in the second storage 24 on the basis of the detection result of initial defective nozzles of each head unit 12 obtained by an inspection apparatus different from the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • later-becoming defective nozzles can be identified by excluding initial defective nozzles identified by the initial defective nozzle data D1 stored in the first storage 124 from defective nozzles identified by the initial defective nozzle data D1 and the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 stored in the second storage 24.
  • the determination can be made on the basis of thus-identified later-becoming defective nozzles.
  • This configuration can, in Step S6 of the image recording processes shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , correct image data without accessing the first storages 124.
  • the second storage 24 is the first storages and the second storage.
  • the head units 12 or the recording heads 122 may be provided with no first storages in which the initial defective nozzle data D1 are stored.
  • the inspection unit 15 measures the light amount as the physical quantity reflecting the ink ejection state of each nozzle 123 to identify later-becoming defective nozzles from the measurement results.
  • detection of later-becoming defective nozzles may be performed by: recording a predetermined inspection image on the recording medium M; and analyzing captured data obtained by capturing this inspection image with an image reader, such as a line sensor or an area sensor.
  • the predetermined inspection image can be, for example, a line pattern formed of lines recorded with inks ejected from the nozzles 123 that the head units 12 have.
  • the nozzle 123 corresponding to the line can be identified as a defective nozzle.
  • the light amount of light reflected by each line in the inspection image corresponds to the physical quantity reflecting the ink ejection state, and the image reader that measures this light amount is the measurement unit.
  • maintenance operation is performed on the whole of each head unit 12.
  • maintenance operation may be performed on some or one of nozzles 123 that each head unit 12 has. For example, flashing of ejecting ink only from nozzles 123 identified as later-becoming defective nozzles by the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 (or the later-becoming defective nozzle data D2 and the initial defective nozzle data D1) may be performed. This enables more efficient maintenance operation.
  • ink may be ejected from all the nozzles 123 including initial defective nozzles to detect defective nozzles; and identifying later-becoming defective nozzles by excluding initial defective nozzles indicated by the initial defective nozzle data D1 from the detection result.
  • detection of initial defective nozzles is performed with an inspection apparatus different from the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • detection of initial defective nozzles may be performed with the inspection unit 15 after the head units 12 are connected to the connectors 120 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • the user is notified that it is time to replace the head unit(s) 12 by displaying on the operational display 16.
  • the user may be notified that it is time to replace a head unit(s) 12 by lightening up a lamp, generating a predetermined alarm sound, or sending an email to a preset address, each of the lamp, the alarm sound and the email indicating that it is time to replace a head unit(s) 12.
  • the recording medium M is conveyed by the conveyor 11 having the conveyor belt 113.
  • the conveyor 11 may hold and convey the recording medium M on the outer circumferential surface of a conveyor drum that rotates.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 employs the single-pass system.
  • the present invention may be applied to an inkjet recording apparatus that records images while scanning recording heads.
  • the present invention is applicable to an inkjet recording apparatus.

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Claims (8)

  1. Eine Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1), die umfasst:
    einen Aufzeichner (12), der mit Düsen (123) versehen ist, die konfiguriert sind, um ein Tinte auszustoßen;
    einen ersten Speicher (124), der konfiguriert ist, um unter den Düsen (123) eine erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) über eine anfängliche defekte Düse zu speichern, die (i) eine defekte Düse unter defekten Düsen ist, die die Tinte nicht normal ausstoßen, und (ii) auf einen anfänglichen Fehler des Aufzeichners (12) zurückzuführen ist; und
    einen zweiten Speicher (24), der konfiguriert ist, um unter den defekten Düsen eine zweite Defektdüseninformation (D2) über eine nachträglich defekte Düse zu speichern, die nicht als die anfängliche defekte Düse durch die erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) identifiziert wird; und
    eine Korrekturvorrichtung (21), die konfiguriert ist, um auf der Grundlage von mindestens einer der erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) und der zweite Defektdüseninformation (D2) Bilddaten eines auf einem Aufzeichnungsmedium (M) aufzuzeichnenden Bildes zu korrigieren;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Korrekturvorrichtung (21) konfiguriert ist, um auf der Grundlage der ersten Defektdüseninformation (D1) und der zweiten Defektdüseninformation (D2) die Bilddaten des auf dem Aufzeichnungsmedium (M) aufzuzeichnenden Bildes zu korrigieren und von den Bilddaten einen Teil für die anfängliche defekte Düse, die durch die erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) identifiziert wird, und einen Teil für die nachträglich defekten Düse, die durch die zweite Defektdüseninformation (D2) identifiziert wird, auf der Grundlage jeweiliger Algorithmen zu korrigieren, die sich voneinander unterscheiden.
  2. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der erste Speicher (124) in den Aufzeichner (12) integriert ist.
  3. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, die ferner umfasst:
    eine Messeinheit (15), die konfiguriert ist, um eine physikalische Größe zu messen, die einen Tintenausstoßzustand jeder der Düsen (123) widerspiegelt; und
    einen Detektor (21), der konfiguriert ist, um die defekten Düsen anhand eines Ergebnisses der Messung durch die Messeinheit (15) zu erkennen und in dem zweiten Speicher (24) die zweite Defektdüseninformation (D2) basierend auf einem Ergebnis der Erkennung der defekten Düsen zu speichern.
  4. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei der Detektor (21) konfiguriert ist, um die nachträglich defekte Düse zu erkennen, indem er die Messeinheit (15) veranlasst, die physikalische Größe zu messen, die den Tintenausstoßzustand einer Düse unter den Düsen widerspiegelt, die nicht als die anfängliche defekte Düse durch die erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) identifiziert wird.
  5. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) eine Information über die anfänglich defekte Düse ist, die von einer externen Inspektionsvorrichtung erkannt wurde.
  6. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, wobei die erste Defektdüseninformation (D1) eine Information über die anfängliche defekte Düse ist, die von einer externen Inspektionsvorrichtung erkannt wurde und eine höhere Erfassungsgenauigkeit aufweist als die Erkennung durch den Detektor (21) anhand des Ergebnisses der Messung durch die Messeinheit (15).
  7. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, die ferner umfasst:
    eine Wiederherstellungseinheit (14), die konfiguriert ist, um einen Wiederherstellungsvorgang durchzuführen, um unter den defekten Düsen eine Düse, die in einen normalen Zustand wiederhergestellt werden kann, in dem die Tinte normal ausgestoßen wird, in den normalen Zustand zurückzuführen; und
    eine Wiederherstellungssteuerung (21), die konfiguriert ist, um die Wiederherstellungseinheit (14) zu veranlassen, den Wiederherstellungsvorgang zu starten, und zwar auf der Grundlage von (i) einer Anzahl von Düsen unter den Düsen (123), und (ii) der Anordnung der Düse in dem Aufzeichner (12), wobei die Düse durch die zweite Defektdüseninformation (D2) als die nachfolgend defekte Düse identifiziert wird.
  8. Die Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, die ferner umfasst:
    eine Benachrichtigungseinheit (16); und
    eine Benachrichtigungssteuerung (21), die konfiguriert ist, um die Benachrichtigungseinheit (16) zu veranlassen, eine Benachrichtigung auszuführen, die den Austausch des Aufzeichners (12) anregt, auf der Grundlage von (i) einer Anzahl von Düsen unter den Düsen (123), und (ii) der Anordnung der Düse in dem Aufzeichner (12), wobei die Düse durch die zweite Defektdüseninformation (D2) als die nachträglich defekte Düse identifiziert wird.
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US11783150B2 (en) 2021-10-20 2023-10-10 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Artifact compensation mechanism
US11778123B2 (en) 2021-10-20 2023-10-03 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Artifact compensation mechanism
US11818318B2 (en) 2022-03-01 2023-11-14 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Print artifact compensation mechanism
US11831844B2 (en) 2022-03-01 2023-11-28 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Print artifact compensation mechanism using transfer functions for each color generated based on ink deposition functions for groups of nozzles
US11636296B1 (en) 2022-03-01 2023-04-25 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Print artifact compensation mechanism
US11734537B1 (en) 2022-03-01 2023-08-22 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Print artifact compensation mechanism
US11900189B1 (en) 2023-02-21 2024-02-13 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Automatic tuning compensation system that determines optimal compensation target values for each of plurality of tint levels
US11900187B1 (en) 2023-03-02 2024-02-13 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Automatic tuning compensation mechanism

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JP3862450B2 (ja) * 1999-08-24 2006-12-27 キヤノン株式会社 記録装置及びその制御方法
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JP4673051B2 (ja) * 2004-12-14 2011-04-20 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置及び吐出状態検出方法
JP2007112078A (ja) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-10 Konica Minolta Ij Technologies Inc インクジェットヘッドノズル検査装置及び検査方法
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JP5361085B2 (ja) * 2011-03-29 2013-12-04 富士フイルム株式会社 不良記録素子の検出装置及び方法、画像形成装置及び方法、並びにプログラム
JP5978744B2 (ja) * 2012-05-02 2016-08-24 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体吐出装置、検査方法、及び、プログラム

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