JP2007210188A - Drawing apparatus and drawing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drawing apparatus capable of drawing a test pattern for adjusting alignment at a high speed and at a high adjusting resolution level, and to provide a drawing method. <P>SOLUTION: A printer draws unit patterns 31a-31f constituting the test pattern by one outward trip scanning. Then, by one return trip scanning, unit patterns 32e and 32f being a pair with the unit patterns 31e and 31f are drawn, and the return trip scanning is repeated in the similar way to draw the unit patterns 32c and 32d, and the unit patterns 32a and 32b. The drawing of the unit pattern 32e and the drawing of the unit pattern 32f are performed by mutually offset separated driving signals in relation to respective driving timings. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge type drawing apparatus that performs drawing by repeatedly scanning a head, and a method for drawing a test pattern for alignment adjustment in the drawing apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a drawing apparatus of a droplet discharge method (ink jet method), drawing is performed by repeating ink reciprocation (scanning) of the head while periodically discharging ink droplets from a head having micro nozzles having a predetermined arrangement. The thing of the structure which performs is known. In the printer having such a configuration, the marking position (alignment) in the scanning direction is controlled by synchronizing the head movement control and the ejection drive control. However, due to variations in mechanical tolerances around the head and variations in ejection to landing delay times due to the ejection speed of ink droplets, there is a problem that the alignment does not always match between the forward and backward scans. Alignment adjustment between reciprocating scans is required for each individual.

  As an alignment adjustment method, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this method, a predetermined test pattern is drawn, and the adjustment of the ejection drive timing in the return path is performed using an adjustment value selected from the result of visual recognition of the test pattern. More specifically, the test pattern includes a plurality of return path patterns drawn with slightly different ejection drive timings and a plurality of forward path patterns paired with each return path pattern.

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to perform a plurality of backward scans for drawing a test pattern, and drawing takes time. Therefore, in order to shorten the test pattern drawing time, a method described in Patent Document 2 has been proposed.

  In the method of Patent Document 2, by manipulating the bit map data related to the test pattern, the ejection drive timing is offset in a pseudo manner, and drawing of a plurality of return path patterns is not performed again each time. I'll do it. That is, according to this method, it is possible to draw the same pattern as the return path pattern group drawn by dividing the ejection drive timing into a plurality of scans by one scan, and greatly shorten the drawing time. Can be achieved.

JP 7-32654 A JP 2004-243730 A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 2, the offset amount of the ejection drive timing related to each return path pattern is limited to the recording cycle unit, and it is not possible to perform alignment adjustment in a finer unit. In particular, since the degree of freedom of the recording cycle unit is severely limited by the electrical constraints of the drive signal and the response characteristics related to the liquid motion in the nozzle, alignment adjustment at a level exceeding these limits Will be substantially limited.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a drawing apparatus and a drawing method capable of drawing a test pattern for alignment adjustment at a high speed and a high adjustment resolution level.

  According to the present invention, an electric drive signal is supplied to a head having nozzles arranged in a predetermined arrangement and discharge driving means provided in the vicinity of the nozzles under reciprocating scanning of the heads to drop droplets from the nozzles. A drawing apparatus for drawing a test pattern for alignment adjustment, wherein the test pattern is drawn by a unit pattern drawn by forward scanning and by a backward scanning; The unit pattern is composed of at least two or more unit patterns paired with the unit pattern, and one unit pattern and the other unit pattern related to the backward scanning are first and second offset with respect to drive timing. Each of the images is drawn in one scan using the drive signal.

  According to the drawing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to draw at least two or more unit patterns offset from each other with respect to the (ejection) drive timing by using the first and second drive signals in one return scan. The test pattern drawing time can be shortened. Further, the offset amount of the drive timing between the first and second drive signals can be set smaller than the recording cycle, and the test pattern can be drawn with a high adjustment resolution unit.

Preferably, in the drawing apparatus, the ejection control unit selects one of the first and second driving signals and supplies the selected one to the ejection driving unit corresponding to the one nozzle. And
According to the drawing apparatus of the present invention, since the first and second drive signals can be supplied to the ejection drive unit corresponding to one nozzle, the unit pattern related to the forward scan and the unit pattern related to the return scan can be obtained. It is possible to draw with the same nozzle.

Preferably, in the drawing apparatus, text indicating ID information for alignment adjustment corresponding to the pair is drawn in the vicinity of the pair.
According to the drawing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily select appropriate ID information corresponding to the test pattern.

Preferably, the drawing apparatus further includes an ID acquisition unit that acquires ID information for alignment adjustment, and the ejection control unit is configured to determine the drive signal related to forward scanning or backward scanning based on the acquired ID information. The drive timing is set.
According to the drawing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to perform alignment adjustment between round trip scanning based on the ID information obtained from the result of visually recognizing the test pattern.

  According to the present invention, an electric drive signal is supplied to a head having nozzles arranged in a predetermined arrangement and discharge driving means provided in the vicinity of the nozzles under reciprocating scanning of the heads to drop droplets from the nozzles. A test pattern drawing method for alignment adjustment in a drawing apparatus including a discharge control means for discharging, wherein a forward drawing step of drawing a unit pattern constituting the test pattern by one forward scan, and one return pass And a return path drawing step of drawing at least two or more unit patterns paired with the unit pattern related to the forward path drawing step by configuring the test pattern, and one unit related to the backward path drawing step The pattern and the other unit pattern are the first and second drives that are offset with respect to the drive timing. With No., characterized in that it is drawn respectively by one scanning.

  According to the drawing method of the present invention, the first and second drive signals can be used to draw at least two or more unit patterns that are offset from each other with respect to the (ejection) drive timing in one return scan. The test pattern drawing time can be shortened. Further, the offset amount of the drive timing between the first and second drive signals can be set smaller than the recording cycle, and the test pattern can be drawn with a high adjustment resolution unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiment described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these forms. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the vertical and horizontal scales of members or portions may be represented differently from actual ones for convenience of illustration.

(About the mechanical structure of the drawing device)
First, the mechanical configuration of the drawing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the drawing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the head. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the internal structure around the nozzle of the head.

  In FIG. 1, a printer 1 as a drawing device includes a guide frame 3 formed of a steel plate or the like, a transport roller 4 for transporting paper 2, and a head having minute nozzles 20 (see FIG. 2) on a nozzle surface 10a. 10 and a maintenance unit 5 for performing nozzle maintenance of the head 10. The head 10 is mounted on the carriage 6 and is reciprocated (scanned) along the guide rod 8 by driving the drive belt 9. The guide frame 3 forms the basis of the entire apparatus by its rigidity and weight, and also functions as an electrical ground.

  The carriage 6 is mounted with ink cartridges 7a to 7d that respectively store four colors of ink (for example, magenta, cyan, and yellow black inks) as liquids, and the head 10 receives inks of these colors. Supplied. Then, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle surface 10 a in synchronization with the scanning of the carriage 6 and the conveyance of the paper 2, and an image is formed on the paper 2.

  The maintenance unit 5 includes a cap 11 that can be brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 10a of the head 10 and a wiper blade 12 that is a plate-like member formed of rubber or the like. The cap 11 serves not only to protect the nozzle 20 (see FIG. 2) from dust and drying, but also during a so-called recovery operation that sucks ink from the nozzle 20 (see FIG. 2) to remove foreign matter and the like. Used. The wiper blade 12 is used for wiping off ink adhering to the nozzle surface 10a.

  2 and 3, the nozzles 20 provided on the nozzle surface 10 a constitute four nozzle rows 21 arranged in a line perpendicular to the scanning direction. Different types (colors) of ink are ejected from the nozzles 20 of each nozzle row 21.

  The head 10 includes a cavity 22 that communicates with each of the nozzles 20, and a reservoir 23 that is a common chamber for each nozzle row 21 that communicates with each cavity 22. The canopy portion 24 of the cavity 22 can be moved by the flexible film 25, and ink droplets are ejected by driving the piezoelectric element 26 serving as ejection driving means joined to the canopy portion 24. More specifically, the ink droplet ejection control is performed by an electric drive signal supplied to the piezoelectric element 26.

  The drive signal is composed of periodic pulses synchronized with the scanning of the head 10, and thereby marking on the paper 2 with ink droplets at a predetermined interval (resolution). The same drive signal is supplied to the piezoelectric elements 26 of the nozzle rows 21, but the nozzle rows 21 are arranged so that the marking positions (ink droplet landing positions) do not shift between the nozzle rows 21. The distance d is an integer multiple of the resolution.

  The specific configuration of the head 10 such as the nozzle arrangement and the driving method is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the nozzle row 21 may be inclined with respect to the scanning direction. Further, as a driving method, a so-called thermal method in which bubbles are generated in the cavity by driving the heating element to discharge the ink inside can be adopted.

(Electric configuration of the drawing device and discharge control)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrical configuration of the drawing apparatus and the discharge control will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the drawing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing a drive signal, a head control signal, and a switch signal.

  The printer 1 includes an external interface (I / F) 71, a CPU 72, a memory 73 such as a RAM and a ROM, a transmission circuit 74, a drive signal generation circuit 75, and an internal I / F 76 connected to each other via an internal bus. A controller 70 is provided. The print controller 70 is connected to the host PC 200 via the external I / F 71, and is connected to the head controller 80, the scanning drive scanning motor 13, and the paper conveyance driving conveyance motor 14 via the internal I / F 76. Yes.

  The drive signal generation circuit 75 includes two digital-analog (D / A) converters, two voltage amplification circuits, and two current amplification circuits. Accordingly, the print controller 70 generates two types of drive signals, the first drive signal (COM_A) and the second drive signal (COM_B). Further, the print controller 70 generates various head control signals (CLK, SI, LAT, CH_A, CH_B) based on the drawing pattern data (raster data) in the bitmap format received from the host PC 200. The head controller 80 that receives the drive signal and the head control signal controls the ejection of the head 10. That is, the print controller 70 and the head control unit 80 constitute an ejection control unit of the present invention.

  The drive signal and the head control signal are transmitted in synchronization with a timing signal (PTS) transmitted in conjunction with the scanning position of the head 10. In this case, the print controller 70 can change the offset time of the transmission timing (drive timing) with respect to the timing signal (PTS), thereby adjusting the marking position in the scanning direction. Can do.

  The head controller 80 includes first and second shift registers (SR) 81A and 81B, first and second latch circuits 82A and 82B, a decoder 83, and first and second switches 85A and 85B. Corresponding to each piezoelectric element 26 of the nozzle. The head control unit 80 includes a control logic 84.

  A first drive signal (COM_A) and a second drive signal (COM_B) are supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 via the first switch 85A and the second switch 85B, respectively. Here, the first drive signal (COM_A) has pulses PS1A, PS2A, and PS3A, and the second drive signal (COM_B) has pulses PS1B, PS2B, and PS3B within the recording period T. The pulses are connected at a predetermined intermediate potential.

  The pulses PS1A, PS3A, PS2B, and PS3B are the same pulse, and are supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 to eject the same amount of ink droplets (hereinafter referred to as normal dots). Further, the pulse PS1B is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, thereby ejecting a smaller amount of ink droplets (hereinafter referred to as micro dots) than the normal dots. Further, the pulse PS2A is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 and generates pressure vibration (fine vibration) in the cavity 22 (see FIG. 3) to the extent that ink droplets are not ejected. It has a role which suppresses the drying by stirring.

  The print controller 70 decodes the drawing pattern data and generates gradation data for each nozzle. This gradation data is composed of 2 bits, and is expressed as (00), (01), (10), (11) in the following by combinations of upper bits and lower bits. The gradation data is converted into a serial signal for each lower bit and upper bit in nozzle row units, and transmitted to the first shift register 81A and the second shift register 81B as a data signal (SI).

  The gradation data transmitted to the first and second shift registers 81A and 81B are latched by the latch signal (LAT) at the start timing of the recording cycle by the first and second latch circuits 82A and 82B, respectively, and Entered.

  The control logic 84 receives the latch signal (LAT), the first change signal (CH_A), and the second change signal (CH_B) and generates switch signals q0 to q7. Here, the first change signal (CH_A) is a signal that defines the time division timing related to the supply of the first drive signal (COM_A). In the present embodiment, the first change signal (CH_A) is set so that the recording cycle T is divided into periods T1 to T3 corresponding to the pulses PS1 to PS3, respectively. The second change signal (CH_B) is a signal that defines time division timing related to the supply of the second drive signal (COM_B). In the present embodiment, the timing is exactly the same as that of the first change signal (CH_A), but the two do not necessarily have to match.

  The switch signals q0 to q7 generated by the control logic 84 are transmitted to the decoder 83. The decoder 83 selects one of the switch signals q0 to q3 according to the gradation data received from the latch circuits 82A and 82B and supplies the selected signal to the gate line of the first switch 85A. The decoder 83 selects one of the switch signals q4 to q7 according to the gradation data received from the latch circuits 82A and 82B and supplies the selected signal to the gate line of the second switch 85B. Specifically, the switch signals q0 and q4 for the gradation data (00), the switch signals q1 and q5 for the gradation data (01), and the switch signals q2 and q2 for the gradation data (10). As for q6, switch signals q3 and q7 are supplied to the first and second switches 85A and 85B for the gradation data (11), respectively.

  The switch signals q0 to q7 are digital signals that are divided into a low level and a high level in units of periods T1, T2, and T3. During the low level period, the switches 85A and 85B are in the OFF state and the high level. During the period, the switches 85A and 85B are turned on. Thus, the pulses PS1A, PS2A, PS3A to PS1B, PS2B, PS3B of the drive signals corresponding to the periods T1, T2, T3 are selectively supplied to the piezoelectric element 26. Needless to say, either the pulse of the first drive signal (COM_A) or the pulse of the second drive signal (COM_B) can be supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 in the same period.

  In the case of the present embodiment, for the gradation data (00), the pulse PS2A is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26. At this time, ink droplets are not ejected, but there is a slight vibration to suppress drying of the ink in the nozzles. appear. For the gradation data (01), the pulse PS1B is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, and microdots are ejected (marked as small dots). For gradation data (10), pulses PS2B and PS3B are supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, and two normal dots are ejected (marked as medium dots). For gradation data (11), pulses PS1A, PS2B, PS3B are supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, and three normal dots are ejected (marked as large dots). As described above, the printer 1 according to this embodiment can perform gradation control of marking according to the size and number of ejected ink droplets.

  Note that the configuration of the drive signal and the selection of the configuration pulse based on the gradation data are not limited to the above-described mode. It is also possible to switch the configuration of the drive signal, head control signal, and switch signal in accordance with the drawing operation mode.

(About test pattern drawing and alignment adjustment)
Next, test pattern drawing and alignment adjustment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a drawing process of a test pattern reproduced on a sheet.

  The alignment adjustment is appropriately performed before the shipment of the product in order to adjust the initial variation for each individual or to correct a shift that has occurred later due to an environmental change or the like. This is because if the marking position (alignment) between the round trip scanning is not correct, the image quality (roughness, etc.) of the drawn image is deteriorated. Prior to the alignment adjustment, the printer 1 performs the following test pattern drawing.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the printer 1 draws the unit patterns 31a to 31f by one forward scanning (outward drawing step). Each unit pattern 31a to 31f is a solid pattern marked with medium dots by a specific nozzle row (for example, a nozzle row corresponding to magenta ink).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the printer 1 performs drawing of the unit patterns 32e and 32f that are paired with the unit patterns 31e and 31f, respectively, in one return scan (first return pass drawing step). . Here, the unit patterns 32e and 32f are the same shape pattern by the same nozzle row and the same dot (medium dot) as the unit patterns 31a to 31f, and on the drawing data (bitmap format data), the unit patterns 31e and 32f, respectively. The pattern is adjacent to 31f.

  Overlapping regions 33e and 33f where the patterns overlap each other and the density is relatively high are formed at the boundary between the unit patterns 31e and 32e and the boundary between the unit patterns 31f and 32f.

  As illustrated, the overlapping region 33e has a narrower width than the overlapping region 33f. This is because the drive timing relating to the drawing of the unit pattern 32e is offset so as to be equivalent to a quarter of the recording cycle (T / 4) compared to that of the unit pattern 32f. For this reason, in the backward scan, the medium dots constituting the unit pattern 32e are marked by shifting in the forward scan direction side, and the amount of overlap with the unit pattern 31e is smaller than that with the unit patterns 31f and 32f.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the printer 1 performs drawing of the unit patterns 32c and 32d that are paired with the unit patterns 31c and 31d, respectively, in one return scan (second return drawing step). . Here, the drive timing related to the drawing of the unit pattern 32d is offset so as to be earlier by T / 4 and T / 2 than those of the unit patterns 32e and 32f, respectively. Further, the drive timing for drawing the unit pattern 32c is offset so as to be earlier by T / 4 than that of the unit pattern 32d. Thus, there is almost no overlapping region between the unit patterns 31d and 32d, and a narrow gap region 34c is formed between the unit patterns 31c and 32c.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, the printer 1 performs drawing of the unit patterns 32a and 32b that are paired with the unit patterns 31a and 31b, respectively, in a single return scan (third return drawing step). . Here, the drive timing related to the drawing of the unit pattern 32b is offset so as to be earlier by T / 4 and T / 2 than those of the unit patterns 32c and 32d, respectively. Also, the drive timing for drawing the unit pattern 32a is offset so as to be earlier by T / 4 than that of the unit pattern 32b. Thus, a gap area 34b wider than the gap area 34c is formed between the unit patterns 31b and 32b, and a gap area 34a wider than the gap area 34b is formed between the unit patterns 31a and 32a.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 6D, the printer 1 draws text 35 indicating ID information for alignment adjustment at the lower part of each pair 36a to 36f composed of unit patterns 31a to 31f and 32a to 32f. To do.

  When the drawing of the test pattern is completed, the operator selects the most aligned one from the pairs 36a to 36f, and inputs the ID information indicated by the corresponding text 35 to the host PC 200. In the present embodiment, ID information “D” corresponding to the pair 36 d that most accurately reproduces the drawing pattern is input to the host PC 200.

  The print controller 70 serving as an ID acquisition unit updates drive timing setting information related to the backward scanning based on the ID information input by the host PC 200. That is, assuming that the drive timing related to drawing of the unit pattern 32d is the most appropriate timing, the drive timing related to the backward scan is reset and the alignment is adjusted. Note that drive timing setting information is stored in an EEPROM constituting the memory 73.

  The nozzle row (ink type) and dot gradation relating to the test pattern are preferably determined by correlation with image quality obtained by alignment adjustment. For example, the medium dots are used in the above-described embodiment. In general, small dots are used for highlight portions and large dots are used for drawing solid portions. Such portions have a rough feeling due to misalignment. This is because the influence is relatively small. In the above-described embodiment, the test pattern is drawn with magenta ink having a relatively large image quality influence. However, a composite pattern with a plurality of types of ink may be used. When independent alignment adjustment is possible for each corresponding ink type and mode, a test pattern may be drawn according to each adjustment unit.

  Moreover, the specific aspect regarding the shape and arrangement | positioning of a unit pattern is not limited to the aspect of the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, a linear pattern as shown in Patent Document 1 may be used as the unit pattern. Further, as shown in FIG. 19 of Patent Document 2, the unit patterns may be arranged so that a plurality of unit patterns related to the backward scanning form a pair with the same unit pattern related to the forward scanning.

  In the above-described embodiment, the alignment adjustment is performed by adjusting the driving timing related to the backward scanning. However, the driving timing related to the backward scanning is fixed, and the alignment is performed by adjusting the driving timing related to the outward scanning. Adjustments can also be made.

(Discharge control related to test pattern drawing)
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the discharge control related to the drawing of the test pattern will be described.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing drive signals, head control signals, and switch signals related to test pattern drawing.

  The first drive signal (COM_A ′) in the test pattern drawing (hereinafter referred to as adjustment mode) is the drive signal (COM_A in FIG. 5) in the normal drawing operation (hereinafter referred to as normal mode) in the period T1. It has a pulse PS2A which is a constituent component. In periods T2 and T3, pulses PS2B and PS3B, which are constituent components of the drive signal (COM_B in FIG. 5) in the normal mode, are included. As indicated by the first change signal (CH_A ′ in FIG. 7), the first drive signal (COM_A ′) is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 in units of a period T1 and a period T2 + T3.

  The second drive signal (COM_B ′) in the adjustment mode has the same pulse as the pulses PS2B and PS3B that are components of the first drive signal. The pulses PS2B and PS3B are offset so as to be equivalent to one-fourth of the recording period T (T / 4) with respect to the same pulse in the first drive signal (COM_A '). As indicated by the second change signal (CH_B ′ in FIG. 7), the second drive signal (COM_B ′) is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 in units of the recording cycle T.

  In the above configuration, for the gradation data (00), the pulse PS2A of the first drive signal (COM_A ′) is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, and a slight vibration is generated to suppress drying of the ink in the nozzle. To do. For the gradation data (01), the pulses PS2B and PS3B of the first drive signal (COM_A ') are supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, and medium dots are marked. For the gradation data (10), pulses PS2B and PS3B of the second drive signal (COM_B ') are supplied to the piezoelectric element 26, and medium dots are marked. No pulse is supplied to the piezoelectric element 26 for the gradation data (11).

  In FIG. 6, the unit patterns 31a to 31f related to the forward scanning are all drawn by the gradation data (01). Further, the unit patterns 32b, 32d, and 32f related to the backward scanning are drawn by the gradation data (01), and the unit patterns 32a, 32c, and 32e related to the backward scanning are drawn by the gradation data (10). As a result, the drive timing related to the drawing of the unit patterns 32a, 32c, and 32e is pseudo-offset by T / 4 with respect to the drive timing related to the drawing of the unit patterns 32b, 32d, and 32f.

  Also, when the unit patterns 32e and 32f are drawn, when the unit patterns 32c and 32d are drawn, and when the unit patterns 32a and 32b are drawn, the entire drive timing is offset by T / 2.

  Thus, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment can draw the six unit patterns 32a to 32f in which the drive timings for drawing are offset from each other by performing three backward scans. For this reason, compared to the case where the scanning is performed again for each of the unit patterns 32a to 32f, it is possible to reduce the number of (return) scanning for three times, and the test pattern can be drawn at high speed. Further, in this case, since the offset amount of the drive timing between the unit patterns 32a to 32f can be set to a value smaller than the recording cycle, alignment adjustment can be performed in units of high adjustment resolution.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, two unit patterns are drawn by two backward drive scans using two drive signals. However, a configuration using a larger number of drive signals is possible. Further speedup can be achieved.
Each configuration of each embodiment can be appropriately combined, omitted, or combined with other configurations not shown.

The perspective view which shows the whole structure of a drawing apparatus. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of a head. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an internal structure around a nozzle of a head. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a drawing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing a drive signal, a head control signal, and a switch signal. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the drawing process of the test pattern reproduced on a paper. FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a drive signal, a head control signal, and a switch signal related to test pattern drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer as drawing apparatus, 2 ... Paper, 4 ... Conveyance roller, 6 ... Carriage, 8 ... Guide rod, 9 ... Drive belt, 10 ... Head, 10a ... Nozzle surface, 20 ... Nozzle, 21 ... Nozzle row, 26 ... Piezoelectric elements as ejection driving means, 31a to 31f... Unit pattern relating to forward scanning, 32a to 32f... Unit pattern relating to backward scanning, 33e and 33f... Overlapping region, 34a to 34c. 36d ... pair, 70 ... print controller that constitutes the discharge control means and functions as an ID acquisition means, 72 ... CPU, 73 ... memory, 74 ... transmission circuit, 75 ... drive signal generation circuit, 80 ... discharge control means Head controller 81A... First shift register 81B... Second shift register 82A... First latch circuit 82B. Latch circuit, 83 ... decoder, 84 ... control logic, 85A ... first switch, 85B ... second switch, COM_A ... first driving signal, COM_B ... second driving signal.

Claims (5)

A head having nozzles in a predetermined arrangement, and discharge control for discharging droplets from the nozzles by supplying an electrical drive signal to the discharge driving means provided in the vicinity of the nozzles under reciprocating scanning of the heads A drawing apparatus for drawing a test pattern for alignment adjustment, comprising:
The test pattern is composed of a unit pattern drawn by forward scanning, and at least two or more unit patterns drawn by backward scanning and paired with the unit pattern related to the forward scanning,
The one unit pattern and the other unit patterns related to the backward scanning are drawn by one scanning using the first and second driving signals that are offset from each other with respect to the driving timing. Characteristic drawing device.   2. The drawing according to claim 1, wherein the discharge control unit selects one of the first and second drive signals and supplies the selected one to the discharge drive unit corresponding to one of the nozzles. apparatus.   The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein text indicating ID information for alignment adjustment corresponding to the pair is drawn in the vicinity of the pair. An ID acquisition means for acquiring ID information for alignment adjustment;
The said discharge control means sets a drive timing based on the acquired said ID information about the said drive signal which concerns on an outward path | pass or a return path | scan. Drawing device. A head having nozzles in a predetermined arrangement, and discharge control for discharging droplets from the nozzles by supplying an electrical drive signal to the discharge driving means provided in the vicinity of the nozzles under reciprocating scanning of the heads A test pattern drawing method for alignment adjustment in a drawing apparatus comprising:
A forward drawing step of drawing a unit pattern constituting the test pattern by one forward scanning;
A return path drawing step of drawing at least two or more unit patterns that form a pair with the unit pattern related to the forward path drawing step by configuring the test pattern by one backward path scanning;
The one unit pattern and the other unit patterns related to the return path drawing step are drawn in one scan using the first and second drive signals that are offset from each other with respect to drive timing. A drawing method characterized by.