JP2007069430A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can obtain a registration adjustment value with a calibration value and correction optimum to a medium even if a paper other than a reference paper is set when the registration adjustment is carried out. <P>SOLUTION: In the automatic registration adjustment using an optical sensor set at a carriage of an inkjet printer, detection of a paper kind is carried out when the paper is supplied. The calibration value of the optical sensor is set according to the supplied medium kind. The action of reading an optimum registration value by the sensor is enabled in the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer relating to an ink jet recording system that forms an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a plurality of recording elements arranged in a recording head.

  In the conventional printer registration adjustment, it is assumed that the automatic registration adjustment is performed on plain paper, and the optimum registration value obtained on plain paper is corrected for printing on high-quality media.

Therefore, when automatic registration adjustment is performed with high-quality media, correction for high-quality media is further applied to the optimum value after registration adjustment, and when registration adjustment is performed with high-quality media, no correction is required. The cash register value was corrected and the cash register was lost.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-124221 JP-A-6-31909 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-99643

  To solve the above problems, by setting the calibration value and correction value of the sensor corresponding to the paper type as a result of the paper type detection, even if paper other than the reference paper is set during registration adjustment, it is optimal for the media An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of obtaining a registration adjustment value having a proper calibration value and correction.

  The present invention relates to a registration adjustment method when the registration adjustment of a printer is automatically performed by a sensor provided in a carriage.

  The paper type is detected by the paper type discrimination means.

  If the detected paper type has a higher reflectance than plain paper, it is judged as high-quality media, the sensor calibration value is set to high-quality, the adjustment pattern is detected, and the adjustment pattern adjustment optimum value is determined. .

  The result is adjusted with high-quality media, so when printing with high-quality media, register settings are made without correction, and when printing with plain paper, printing is performed with correction taking into account the absorption rate. Optimal adjustment can be performed regardless of the paper type used for the adjustment.

  That is, the technical contents of the present invention can solve the above-described problems by including the following configuration.

  (1) In a printer having a sensor for detecting the type of paper, a print head on the carriage, and a sensor for reading the ink discharged to the medium on the carriage, an adjustment pattern printed by changing the registration value of the print head nozzle is printed. A printer characterized in that a printed adjustment pattern is read by a sensor provided on a carriage, and an optimum read value pattern is set as a print head registration optimum value.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to correctly execute the registration adjustment value on a medium other than plain paper, and it is possible to provide a printer with the highest quality for a user who desires the highest quality.

  Hereinafter, a configuration example of an ink jet recording system applicable to the present invention will be specifically described.

  The key configuration of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment includes a power key and a function key.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1-1 includes a carriage 1-2, a print head 1-3, an optical sensor 1-4, and a platen 1-5.

  The platen 1-5 outputs a value different from that of the paper as a result of the sensor.

  A paper type detection device may be installed in the ASF, or when a paper type detection dedicated device is not provided, the paper type may be detected after feeding by the optical sensor 1-4 of the carriage.

  Specific examples of the most characteristic configuration of the present invention using the recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described below.

  Registration adjustment work is started (see step 2-1, FIG. 2).

  A registration adjustment start command from the host may be transmitted, or registration adjustment start may be selected from a panel key.

  When registration adjustment is started, paper type is detected and fed (step 2-2).

  When the paper supply is completed, the carriage is moved in the scanning direction to scan the paper width (step 2-3).

  A head discharge confirmation pattern is printed and sensored.

  If the input value does not exceed the threshold value as a result of the sensor, a head adjustment failure is caused as an error as a registration adjustment error.

  Paper type detection is performed (step 2-4).

  The paper type detecting means may be means for detecting and discriminating known reflection on the paper surface.

  When the paper type is determined to be high-quality media, the reflectivity is high, and because the ink absorption rate is high, the amount of light for setting high-quality is low, and when it is determined to be plain paper, the reflectivity is low and the ink Since the absorption rate is low, the light amount calibration of a sensor with a larger amount of light for setting plain paper is performed.

  In the case of high-quality media, even if the pattern is printed at a more detailed resolution, the adjustment pattern can be printed in detail because the absorption rate is high, so the pattern may be detailed.

  An adjustment pattern is printed (step 2-5).

  The margin of the paper is read by the sensor and used as the white reference of the sensor (step 2-6).

  The adjustment pattern is read, and the registration value of the pattern that is the most optimum registration value is determined as the optimum registration value of the printer (step 2-7).

  The determination of the optimum register value may be a detection method that optimizes the area where the sensor input value is high in the adjustment pattern in which the density increases when the register value is present, or the sensor in the adjustment pattern in which the density decreases when the register value is present. A detection method that optimizes the place where the input value is low may be used (step 2-8).

  Depending on the paper type, the paper thickness and absorption rate differ between plain paper and high-quality paper, so the optimum cash register value will be different even with the same printer.When printing on the high-quality exclusive paper to the cash register value set for plain paper Correction is performed to obtain an optimum image (step 2-9).

  When printing on high-quality dedicated paper after adjusting the registration with plain paper, correct the setting to discharge at an early timing to the optimum registration value.

  Since the paper thickness is larger than that of plain paper, it will land earlier, so that it is optimally set by discharging at a timing earlier than that of plain paper.

  When printing on plain paper after adjusting registration with high-quality paper, correct the setting to discharge at a timing later than the optimum registration value.

  Since the paper thickness is smaller than that of plain paper, it lands slowly, so that the optimal setting is achieved by discharging at a later timing than the high-quality exclusive paper.

  When users are concerned about high-quality image quality, if they set high-quality cash register and print at high quality, it is possible to provide the user with the best print quality without any correction. It becomes.

  The present invention can be applied to a serial type ink jet recording system that forms an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of recording elements.

Configuration diagram of printer of this embodiment Flowchart for explaining automatic registration adjustment of this embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Printer 1-2 Carriage 1-3 Printhead 1-4 Sensor 1-5 Platen

Claims (3)

A sensor for detecting the paper type,
A print head on the carriage,
A sensor for reading the ink discharged to the medium on the carriage;
In a printer having
Print the adjustment pattern printed by changing the registration value of the print head nozzle,
Read the printed adjustment pattern with the sensor on the carriage,
A printer characterized in that an optimum reading value pattern is set as an optimum value of a print head registration. The printer according to claim 1.
If the detected paper type is the same as the standard paper type and reflectivity, it is determined as the registration adjustment reference medium,
A printer characterized in that the registration setting value of the automatic registration adjustment result is corrected when printing high-quality media. The printer according to claim 1.
If the detected paper type has a higher reflectivity than the standard paper type, it is judged as a high-quality media,
A printer characterized in that printing is performed at the time of printing high-quality media without correcting the registration setting value of the automatic registration adjustment result.

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