EP3597439A1 - Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker - Google Patents

Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3597439A1
EP3597439A1 EP18184379.8A EP18184379A EP3597439A1 EP 3597439 A1 EP3597439 A1 EP 3597439A1 EP 18184379 A EP18184379 A EP 18184379A EP 3597439 A1 EP3597439 A1 EP 3597439A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printed
initialization
array
marks
swath
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP18184379.8A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Tom J.H CLABBERS
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Holding BV
Original Assignee
Oce Holding BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oce Holding BV filed Critical Oce Holding BV
Priority to EP18184379.8A priority Critical patent/EP3597439A1/de
Publication of EP3597439A1 publication Critical patent/EP3597439A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/36—Blanking or long feeds; Feeding to a particular line, e.g. by rotation of platen or feed roller
    • B41J11/42—Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering
    • B41J11/46—Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering by marks or formations on the paper being fed

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for measuring medium advance in a printer.
  • a scanning-type inkjet printer comprises an inkjet print head mounted on a carriage arranged to move relative to a recording medium along an axis of carriage motion while being guided by a guiding structure.
  • a swath of information can be printed onto a recording medium by an array of jetting nozzles of the print head ejecting sequences of ink droplets towards the recording medium while the carriage is moving.
  • a driving device is provided for driving a recording medium to move relative to the guiding structure along an axis of medium advance normal to the axis of carriage motion.
  • multiple swaths of information can be printed side by side onto a recording medium such that the multiple swaths of information together form a complete printed image.
  • the advance of the recording medium can be measured, and compared to an advance as expected based on a prescribed motion of the driving device.
  • the driving device can then be controlled such that the recording medium in a next advancing step advances over a distance larger or smaller than in a previous step, depending on a determined difference between the advance as measured and the advance as expected.
  • a known method for measuring medium advance in a printer as described comprises the steps of including a first reference mark in a first swath of printed information, including a second reference mark in a second swath of printed information, and optically scanning the two reference marks as printed to determine their relative position on a recording medium along the axis of medium advance, wherein the two reference marks are each printed using a different sub-array of jetting nozzles within the same one nozzle array, the different sub-arrays of jetting nozzles spaced apart within the nozzle array along the axis of medium advance.
  • the two sub-arrays of jetting nozzles being spaced apart along the axis of medium advance allows the two reference marks to end up printed in the vicinity of each other on a recording medium despite being included in different swaths. This allows both reference marks to reach the field of view of an optical scanner during a specific pass relative to a recording medium of a carriage carrying such a scanner. Given that the relative position of the different sub-arrays of jetting nozzles within the nozzle array is known, the relative position along the axis of medium advance of the two reference marks on a recording medium, as determined with the help of an optical scanner, is indicative of the advance made by the recording medium in between the printing of the first swath and the printing of the second swath.
  • a known reference mark comprises an array of individually recognizable dot sequences each printed with an individual nozzle of a nozzle array, each dot sequence extending along the axis of carriage motion, the different dot sequences spaced apart along the axis of medium advance.
  • a relative position of two reference marks of this type can be determined by averaging the positions along the axis of medium advance of all dots within a dot sequence; then determining a center of a reference mark along the axis of medium advance based on the average positions of all dot sequences within the reference mark, and then comparing the centers of the two reference marks.
  • a reference mark assembly in every swath printed, can be included, comprising one reference mark printed with a first sub-array of jetting nozzles within a nozzle array, and another reference mark printed with a second sub-array of jetting nozzles within a nozzle array, the two sub-arrays of jetting nozzles spaced apart within the nozzle array along the axis of media advance.
  • the one reference mark as included in a later swath is printed in the vicinity of the other reference mark as included in an earlier swath.
  • reference marks can be optically scanned in the same one pass of a carriage-mounted optical scanner, such that the relative position along the axis of medium advance of the two reference marks can be determined, and the advance made by a recording medium in between the printing of the earlier swath and the printing of the later swath can be derived.
  • a reference mark assembly as described is known to be printed in the left and right margins of a print, so that during the printing of an image, the medium advance can be continuously monitored and the motion of a driving device can be repeatedly adjusted if necessary.
  • the width of each reference mark included in the reference mark assembly can be chosen small, depending on the length of a dot sequence required for reliable measurement of a position of each dot sequence along the axis of medium advance.
  • the reference mark assembly is preferably printed in yellow, allowing the reference mark assembly to be virtually invisible to a viewer of a finished print.
  • the accuracy of a distance determined based on a relative position of two reference marks depends to a large degree on the extent to which the position of each reference mark as printed corresponds with a position of the reference mark as expected.
  • a distance derived from the relative position of two reference marks can be calculated wrong.
  • this may lead to decreased print quality due to inaccurate alignment of consecutive swaths of printed information on a recording medium.
  • An objective of the present invention is to improve the described method for measuring medium advance in a printer by printing and scanning a pair of reference marks.
  • the present invention aims to increase the accuracy of the method.
  • a method for measuring medium advance in a printer by printing and scanning a pair of reference marks as described further comprises the steps of:
  • the invention is based on the insight that a nozzle array used for printing a reference mark is subject to certain imperfections, which may lead to a whole reference mark or a part thereof being printed at an off-set position along the axis of medium advance. This will cause a distance determined based on a relative position of the reference mark and a further reference mark to be calculated wrong. In the case of medium advance, this leads to decreased print quality due to inaccurate alignment of consecutive swaths of printed information on a recording medium.
  • At least a first initial swath of information and a second initial swath of information can be printed, wherein a plurality of first initialization marks each printed with a different nozzle array is included in the first initial swath, and a plurality of second initialization marks each printed with a different nozzle array is included in the second initial swath.
  • a relative position of a first initialization mark and a second initialization mark printed with the array is determined, so that a plurality of values is obtained, each to a certain extent indicative of the advance made by a recording medium in between the printing of the first initial swath and the second initial swath.
  • the medium advance as measured can be corrected for a systemic error caused by an imperfection of a nozzle array having an influence on the positioning of a reference mark, and the medium advance can be more accurately determined.
  • a scanning-type inkjet printer 100 comprises a plurality of inkjet print heads 110, 120, 130, 140 mounted on a print head carriage 150 arranged to move relative to a recording medium 200 along an axis of carriage motion Y while being guided by a guiding structure 160.
  • the printer 100 comprises a driving roller 170 for driving the recording medium 200 to move relative to the guiding structure 160 along an axis of medium advance X normal to the axis of carriage motion Y.
  • Each print head 110, 120, 130, 140 has an array 111, 121, 131, 141 of jetting nozzles 180 for jetting out droplets of ink, each nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 oriented along the axis of medium advance X.
  • the carriage 150 carries a scanner 190 having a field of view 191 extending along the axis of medium advance X.
  • a swath of information is printed onto the recording medium 200 by jetting nozzles 180 of the print heads 110, 120, 130, 140 ejecting sequences of ink droplets towards the recording medium 200 while the carriage 150 is moving along the axis of carriage motion Y.
  • the recording medium 200 In between consecutive swaths, the recording medium 200 is moved along the axis of medium advance X by the driving roller 170, so that multiple swaths of information can be printed side by side on the recording medium 200.
  • the advance of the recording medium 200 is measured, and compared to an advance as expected based on a prescribed motion of the driving roller 170.
  • two reference marks printed with different sub-arrays of jetting nozzles 180 within the same one nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 are included in each swath of printed information, and a first reference mark and a second reference mark as included in different swaths of printed information are scanned by the scanner 190 to determine their relative position along the axis of medium advance X once the pair of reference marks, by transport of the recording medium 200, has reached an area which is covered by the field of view 191 of the scanner 190 during a certain pass of the carriage 150 relative to the recording medium 200.
  • a reference mark assembly 50a i , 50b i is included, comprising one reference mark 50a i and another reference mark 50b i .
  • Each reference mark 50a i , 50b i comprises an array 51a, 51b of individually recognizable dot sequences 53a, 53b each printed with an individual nozzle 180 of the specific nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 used for printing the reference mark assembly 50a i , 50b i .
  • Each dot sequence 53a, 53b extends along the axis of carriage motion Y, the different dot sequences 53a, 53b spaced apart along the axis of medium advance X.
  • the one reference mark 50a i and the other reference mark 50b i are each printed using a different one of two sub-arrays of jetting nozzles 180 spaced apart within the nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 used for printing the reference mark assembly 50a i , 50b i , resulting in the reference marks 50a i , 50b i to be printed at a mutual distance dX along the axis of medium advance X.
  • the reference marks 50a i , 50b i within a certain reference mark assembly 50a i , 50b i furthermore are printed at a mutual distance dY along the axis of carriage motion Y.
  • a plurality of initial swaths of information I 1 , I 2 , I 3 , I 4 is printed, wherein the recording medium 200 is moved over a certain distance along the axis of medium advance X in between the printing of consecutive swaths I 1 , I 2 , I 3 , I 4 .
  • a plurality of initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i is included, printed at different positions along the axis Y of carriage motion.
  • At least some of the initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i included in each swath I i are printed with different nozzle arrays 111, 121, 131, 141, as indicated in Figures 3 to 6 by the different line types used for the dot sequences 63a, 63b of the various initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i shown (solid, dotted, short dash, long dash).
  • groups of multiple initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i each printed with the same one nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 are included in each initial swath I i , the different initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i within each group printed at different positions along the axis of carriage motion Y.
  • Each initialization mark assembly 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i comprises a primary initialization mark 10a i , 20a i , 30a i , 40a i and a secondary initialization mark 10b i , 20b i , 30b i , 40b i , each printed with a different sub-array of jetting nozzles 180 of the nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 used for printing the initialization mark assembly 10a', 10b'; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i .
  • each initialization mark 10a i , 10b i , 20a i , 20b i , 30a i , 30b i , 40a i , 40b i comprises an array 61a, 61b of individually recognizable dot sequences 63a, 63b each printed with an individual nozzle 180 of the specific nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 used for printing the respective initialization mark assembly 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i , each dot sequence 63a, 63b again extending along the axis of carriage motion Y, the different dot sequences 63a, 63b spaced apart along the axis of medium advance X.
  • the two initialization marks 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i are each printed using a different one of two sub-arrays of jetting nozzles 180 spaced apart within the nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 used for printing the initialization mark assembly 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i , resulting in the initialization marks 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i to be printed at a mutual distance dX along the axis of medium advance X.
  • the two initialization marks 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b'; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i are furthermore printed at a mutual distance dY along the axis of carriage motion Y.
  • Each initialization mark assembly 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i , like a reference mark assembly 50a i , 50b i , serves as a means for measuring the advance of the recording medium 200 in between the printing of consecutive swaths I 1 , I 2 , I 3 , I 4 .
  • the relative position of each pair of initialization marks 10a 4 , 10b 1 ; 20a 4 , 20b 1 ; 30a 4 , 30b 1 ; 40a 4 , 40b 1 printed in the vicinity of each other is indicative of the advance made by the recording medium 200 in between the printing of the earlier swath I 1 and the printing of the later swath I 4 .
  • the accuracy of a procedure for measuring medium advance performed after the initial procedure can be improved.
  • the relative position of the two marks 10b 1 , 10a 4 ; 20b 1 , 20a 4 ; 30b 1 , 30a 4 ; 40b 1 , 40a 4 is determined, and an amount of medium advance is derived based on the determined relative position and the distance between the different sub-arrays of jetting nozzles 180 used for printing the two marks 10b 1 , 10a 4 ; 20b 1 , 20a 4 ; 30b 1 , 30a 4 ; 40b 1 , 40a 4 .
  • an average amount of medium advance can be calculated, and the difference between the average amount and the advance determined based on the relative position of the initialization marks 10b 1 , 10a 4 printed with a nozzle array 111 to be used for printing a pair of reference marks 50a 4 , 50b 1 in a procedure for measuring the medium advance can be determined.
  • a difference as described can be seen as a systemic error in a method for measuring medium advance according to the prior art, caused by an imperfection of the one nozzle array 111 used for printing the pair of reference marks 50a 4 , 50b 1 scanned in the method.
  • the measuring error is at least reduced, and the medium advance can be determined relatively accurately.
  • the accuracy is further increased by having groups of multiple initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i each printed with the same one nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 included in each initial swath I i , so that a more accurate average of medium advance can be obtained.
  • initialization mark assemblies 10a i , 10b i ; 20a i , 20b i ; 30a i , 30b i ; 40a i , 40b i printed with the same one nozzle array 111, 121, 131, 141 are included in consecutive initial swaths I i at different positions along the axis of carriage motion Y, to decrease the influence of any Y-position-related error in the X-position of an initialization mark 10a i , 10b i , 20a i , 20b i , 30a i , 30b i , 40a i , 40b i , caused by any imperfection of the guiding structure 160 influencing the motion of the carriage 150.
  • a relative position of two initialization marks 10a 4 , 10b 1 ; 20a 4 , 20b 1 ; 30a 4 , 30b 1 ; 40a 4 , 40b 1 along the axis of medium advance X can be determined by averaging the positions along the axis of medium advance X of all dots within a dot sequence 63a, 63b; then determining a center of an initialization mark 10a 4 , 10b 1 ; 20a 4 , 20b 1 ; 30a 4 , 30b 1 ; 40a 4 , 40b 1 along the axis of medium advance X based on the average positions of all dot sequences 63a, 63b within the initialization mark 10a 4 , 10b 1 ; 20a 4 , 20b 1 ; 30a 4 , 30b 1 ; 40a 4 , 40b 1 , and then comparing the centers of the two initialization marks 10a 4 , 10b 1 ; 20a 4 , 20b 1 ; 30a 4 , 30b
  • an initialization mark 10a i , 10b i , 20a i , 20b i , 30a i , 30b i , 40a i , 40b i printed at a certain position along a certain axis X, Y is centered about that certain position along said certain axis X, Y.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP18184379.8A 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker Withdrawn EP3597439A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18184379.8A EP3597439A1 (de) 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18184379.8A EP3597439A1 (de) 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3597439A1 true EP3597439A1 (de) 2020-01-22

Family

ID=63012862

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18184379.8A Withdrawn EP3597439A1 (de) 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3597439A1 (de)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9539835B2 (en) * 2012-11-29 2017-01-10 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Calibration apparatus

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9539835B2 (en) * 2012-11-29 2017-01-10 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Calibration apparatus

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6364447B1 (en) Correction system for droplet placement errors in the scan axis in inkjet printers
US6076915A (en) Inkjet printhead calibration
JP4434325B2 (ja) 微小帯状模様を補償するプリント方法
JP5620878B2 (ja) 印刷ヘッドをアライメント調整してインクジェット式プリンタ内の媒体内の寸法変化を補償する方法およびシステム
JP5063327B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置および調整値取得方法
US8636334B2 (en) Printing apparatus and adjustment pattern printing method
EP2062734B1 (de) Verfahren zur Kalibrierung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfs und Tintenstrahldruckvorrichtung
US7261396B2 (en) Continuous inkjet printer having adjustable drop placement
EP2093066B1 (de) Verfahren zur Erkennung fehlgesteuerter Düsen bei einem Tintenstrahldrucker
US7407251B2 (en) Printing method, computer-readable medium, printing apparatus, printing system, and pattern for correction
EP3317110B1 (de) Kalibrierung eines medienvorschubsystems einer druckvorrichtung mit seitenbreiter anordnung
US7758139B2 (en) Liquid ejecting apparatus and transport method
US20220088952A1 (en) Liquid ejecting device and method for adjusting liquid ejecting device
JP2022014359A (ja) インクジェット記録装置及びその制御方法
US8974034B2 (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and method of detecting inclination of nozzle row of ink-jet head
US8708444B2 (en) Inkjet printer and ejection timing correction method
US7891757B2 (en) Marking element registration
EP3597439A1 (de) Verfahren zur messung des mediumvorschubs in einem drucker
JP5312122B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置
EP1413444B1 (de) Papierschräglaufkorrektur in einem Druckgerät
EP3587130A1 (de) Verfahren zur bestimmung einer distanz in einem drucker
JP2016221764A (ja) 記録装置および記録位置調整方法
JP7244397B2 (ja) 印刷装置及び補正方法
JP2012125974A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP2005125505A (ja) 画像形成装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V.

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Effective date: 20200324