JP2014224708A - Colorimetric device and printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device and a colorimetric device capable of miniaturizing a colorimetric patch by correcting inclination of a colorimetric sensor scanning direction to the colorimetric patch, and reducing consumption of ink and sheet during colorimetric operation.SOLUTION: A Y-deviation quantity between a color information acquisition patch and a colorimetric sensor is detected from a colorimetric result of each Y-deviation information acquisition patch arranged on both ends in the sheet width direction. When the Y-deviation quantity exceeds a threshold, a left-side regulation member and a right-side regulation member are adjusted to correct Y-deviation quantity (including an inclination factor) on both ends of the sheet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a colorimetric device capable of correction at the time of colorimetry and a printing apparatus including the colorimetric device.

  In a printing apparatus equipped with a color measurement device as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a feed amount is reduced in order to reduce the positional deviation in the conveyance direction between the color measurement patch and the color measurement sensor and to reduce the size of the color measurement patch. Means for reading a confirmation patch with a colorimetric sensor and confirming the sheet conveyance amount was provided. The positional deviation in the conveyance direction between the colorimetric patch and the colorimetric sensor is hereinafter also referred to as Y deviation.

JP 2008-290268 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, only an offset error caused by slippage of the conveyance system can be corrected, and colorimetry caused by the inclination between the rail scanned by the print head and the rail scanned by the colorimetric sensor, the meandering of the sheet, and the like. The inclination of the colorimetric sensor scanning direction with respect to the patch cannot be corrected. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is necessary to increase the size of the colorimetric patch in the conveyance direction in consideration of the amount of Y deviation caused by the inclination in advance.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to reduce the size of the color measurement patch by correcting the inclination of the color measurement sensor scanning direction with respect to the color measurement patch, thereby reducing the consumption of ink and sheet during the color measurement operation and the print. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  Therefore, the colorimetric apparatus of the present invention includes a carriage that includes a colorimetric sensor and moves in a direction that intersects the medium conveyance direction, and a colorimetric unit that performs colorimetry of a patch printed on the medium, the patch And a detecting unit configured to detect a shift amount between the colorimetric sensor and the colorimetric sensor based on the shift amount.

  According to the present invention, the colorimetric patch can be miniaturized by correcting the inclination of the colorimetric sensor scanning direction with respect to the colorimetric patch, and the consumption of ink and sheets during the colorimetric operation can be reduced.

It is the schematic of the structural example of a printing apparatus and a colorimetry apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of a color measuring apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which only main parts of a printing apparatus and a color measurement apparatus are simplified. It is a schematic side view of the mechanism for adjusting a left side control member and a right side control member. It is a figure showing an example of a colorimetric patch. (A)-(c) is a figure of the state which is measuring the Y gap information acquisition patch. It is a lightness-Y shift amount correlation graph showing the correlation between the lightness and the Y shift amount. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control system in the printing apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart of the control operation in colorimetry. It is a schematic side view of the mechanism for adjusting a left side control member and a right side control member. It is a flowchart of the control operation in colorimetry.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration example of a printing apparatus 100 and a color measurement apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sheet (medium) 1 is stacked on the printing apparatus 100, and is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 2 after the user inputs the type of the sheet through the operation panel 25. Thereafter, a color pattern for color measurement (hereinafter also referred to as a color measurement patch) is printed on the sheet by the print head 305 mounted on the print unit carriage 3. Then, the sheet is conveyed to a colorimetric device 200 attached to the printing apparatus 100 for colorimetric data acquisition. After the color measurement operation is performed, the sheet 1 is cut and discharged by the cutter 4.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of the colorimetric device 200, and FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of only the main part of the printing device and colorimetric device of the present invention. Next, the configuration of the color measuring device 200 will be described.

  A color measurement sensor 5 that quantitatively measures the color of the color measurement patch is held by a color measurement unit carriage (color measurement carriage) 6. The color measuring unit carriage 6 is slidably supported by the color measuring unit rail 21. A sliding member 8 is disposed below the colorimetric section carriage 6, and the sliding member 8 is in contact with the support plate 7 and is configured to be slidable on the support plate. Further, a loop-shaped belt 9 that is locked to the colorimetric unit carriage 6 is bridged between the motor pulley 11 and the idler pulley 12. The color measuring unit carriage 6 can be slidably scanned on the support plate 7 in the sheet width direction (direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction) by the sensor drive motor 10. The colorimetric sensor 5 scans the support plate 7 in the sheet width direction by the movement of the colorimetric carriage 6 and measures the colorimetric patches on the sheet 1 through the slits 7 b provided on the support plate 7. .

  On the downstream side of the colorimetric sensor 5 in the sheet conveying direction, a drying duct 13 and a blower fan 14 capable of changing the wind speed are disposed. Then, the wind generated by the blower fan 14 is sent to the drying duct 13 and the wind blown out from the drying duct 13 is uniformly applied toward the surface of the sheet 1 on which the colorimetric patch is printed. Promotes drying. On the other hand, a sheet discharge guide 16 that is inclined so that the downstream side in the conveyance direction is lowered is provided immediately below the support plate 7, and the sheet 1 has an opening between the pressing surface 7 a of the support plate 7 and the sheet discharge guide 16. It is conveyed through. The colorimetric sensor 5, the colorimetric carriage 6, the support plate 7, the sliding member 8, the belt 9, the sensor drive motor 10, the motor pulley 11, the idler pulley 12, the drying duct 13, and the blower fan 14 are all provided integrally. Hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as a color measurement unit U. The color measuring unit U is moved up and down by an up / down driving means (not shown) so that the opening height H of the opening between the pressing surface 7a and the paper discharge guide 16 can be variably set. The opening height H of the color measuring unit U is set in three stages: a retreat position for retracting from the sheet when the sheet is conveyed, a drying position for drying the color measuring patch, and a color measuring position for measuring the color measuring patch. It is possible.

  At the time of the color measurement position, the height of the color measurement unit U is lowered until the sheet is pressed by the pressing surface 7a against the sheet discharge guide 16 disposed below the color measurement unit U. At this time, the positioning rollers 50 and 51 provided at both ends of the color measurement unit U come into contact with the left side regulation member 30 and the right side regulation member 40 provided on the paper discharge guide 16, so that FIG. The posture of the color measurement unit U around the Z axis in the rotation direction is determined. The left regulating member 30 and the right regulating member 40 are configured such that their positions can be adjusted with respect to the sheet conveying direction.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an outline of a mechanism for adjusting the left side regulating member 30 and the right side regulating member 40. Since the basic configuration of the adjustment mechanism of the left restriction member 30 and the right restriction member 40 is the same, only the adjustment mechanism of the left restriction member 30 will be described here. The left regulating member 30 is urged in the arrow Y direction by a spring 33. In addition, a cam 31 that is rotatable and whose rotation center shaft 34 is eccentric is in contact with the opposite side of the contact surface of the left regulating member 30 with the spring 33. The cam 31 is rotated about a rotation center shaft 34 by a regulating member adjusting motor (not shown), and the left regulating member 30 can be moved in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 3 (the position can be changed). ). By adjusting the position of the left side regulation member 30 and the right side regulation member 40 in the sheet conveyance direction, the colorimetric patch conveyed immediately below the colorimetric sensor 5 (position facing the colorimetric sensor 5) and the colorimetric sensor 5 It is possible to correct a deviation in the conveyance direction from the scanning position. Further, by adjusting the left regulating member 30 and the right regulating member 40, the positioning rollers 50 and 51 can be adjusted around the Z axis, and the inclination component of the colorimetric sensor 5 in the scanning direction can be corrected. Is possible.

  As a result, the colorimetric patch caused by the offset error due to slippage of the conveyance system from the print position of the colorimetric patch to the position immediately below the colorimetric sensor 5, the inclination of the colorimetric unit U or the colorimetric unit rail 21, the sheet meandering, etc. The inclination component in the scanning direction of the colorimetric sensor 5 can be corrected.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a colorimetric patch printed for obtaining colorimetric data used in the present invention. Hereinafter, means for measuring the amount of shift in the transport direction of the colorimetric sensor 5 with respect to the colorimetric patch during colorimetry will be described.

  In the colorimetric patch, rectangular color patches of about 8 × 11 mm are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sheet width direction and the sheet conveyance direction. On both ends of the sheet in the width direction, Y deviation information acquisition patches configured by light and dark patterns for acquiring positional deviation information in the conveyance direction of the color measurement sensor 5 with respect to the color measurement patches are arranged. In addition, color information acquisition patches for acquiring colorimetric data are arranged at positions other than both ends of the sheet. If the color measurement sensor 5 is shifted in the transport direction with respect to the color information acquisition patch, the color information acquisition patch of another color is read by the color measurement sensor 5, so that accurate color information cannot be acquired. For example, when the color information acquisition patch of the B row is scanned by the colorimetric sensor 5 and the scanning position is shifted to the color information acquisition patch side of the A row or the C row, another color (A row) is added to the color measurement data of the B row. (Or C column) color information enters, and accurate colorimetric data cannot be obtained. For this reason, Y misalignment information acquisition patches are arranged at both ends of the sheet, the Y misalignment amounts between the end portions of the colorimetric patch and the colorimetric sensor 5 are detected, Measure and calculate the amount of tilt in the Y direction.

  FIGS. 6A to 6C show a state in which the Y deviation information acquisition patch is measured by the colorimetric sensor 5, and the positional relationship between the colorimetric patch and the colorimetric sensor 5 in the arrow Y direction is shifted. Represents each. The measurement and calculation of the Y shift amount is performed by measuring the Y shift information acquisition patch with the colorimetric sensor 5. In the Y deviation information acquisition patch, white and black patches are alternately and continuously arranged in the arrow Y direction, and are shifted from the color information acquisition patch by half the patch size in the arrow Y direction. Therefore, when the position in the arrow Y direction of the color measurement sensor 5 with respect to the color information acquisition patch is an ideal position, as shown in FIG. 6A, the center position of the color measurement sensor 5 is white and black of the Y deviation information acquisition patch. The patch boundary will be scanned and measured. On the other hand, when the colorimetric sensor 5 is shifted to the plus side in the arrow Y direction with respect to the color information acquisition patch, the monochrome position of the Y-deviation information acquisition patch is centered on the colorimetric sensor 5 as shown in FIG. Is shifted to the plus side in the direction of arrow Y from the boundary portion. By measuring the black-and-white patch by the colorimetric sensor 5 and taking it as lightness (L value) information, the Y-shift amount at both ends of the sheet can be detected. On the other hand, when the colorimetric sensor 5 is shifted to the minus side in the arrow Y direction with respect to the color information acquisition patch, the center position of the colorimetric sensor 5 is the Y misalignment information acquisition patch as shown in FIG. It will shift to the minus side in the arrow Y direction from the boundary of the black and white patch.

  Specifically, a Y-shift amount conversion table for converting a value from lightness information to a shift amount in the arrow Y direction is stored in the ROM 301, and the brightness information is converted into a Y-shift amount using the Y-shift amount conversion table. To do.

  FIG. 7 is a lightness-Y shift amount correlation graph showing the correlation between the lightness and the Y shift amount. Points (a), (b), and (c) in FIG. 7 roughly correspond to FIGS. 6 (a), (b), and (c). The Y shift amount conversion table is created by experimentally determining the correlation between the Y shift amount and the brightness as shown in FIG. 7 for each sheet. In the present embodiment, the colorimetric spot (measurement region) of the colorimetric sensor 5 is φ8 mm, and the size of the Y-shift information acquisition patch in the arrow Y direction is 11 mm. Therefore, the brightness has a Y-shift amount of 4 mm. When it exceeds, it becomes almost constant value. Therefore, in the Y displacement amount conversion table, the region where the lightness is constant is uniformly converted to a Y displacement amount of 4 mm, and after correcting the scanning position of the colorimetric sensor 5, the Y displacement information acquisition patch is measured again. It is desirable to reconfirm the amount of Y deviation. For reference, the difference between the color information acquisition patch size and the colorimetric spot diameter is a margin area for Y deviation. In the present embodiment, for the colorimetric spot φ8 mm of the colorimetric sensor 5, the Y-direction size of the color information acquisition patch is set to 11 mm, and ± 1.5 mm is secured as a margin area for Y deviation.

  As a Y shift margin area, the Y shift amount (± 0.5 mm) caused by the shift of the sheet when the sheet is pressed against the sheet discharge guide 16 by the pressing surface 7a of the color measurement unit U and the resolution of the color measurement sensor. Therefore, it is necessary to anticipate in advance the amount of Y deviation caused by reproducibility. In the present embodiment, a colorimetric sensor having a color difference ΔE94 ≦ 0.2 (white tile measurement) level is used as the Y deviation detection unit. In the case of the colorimetric sensor, it is sufficient to secure about ± 0.2 mm as a Y shift amount conversion error caused by at least sensor resolution and reproducibility. As described above, the amount of deviation in the conveyance direction of the light and dark pattern and the colorimetric sensor is detected from the correlation information between the amount of Y deviation and the brightness.

  FIG. 8 is a control block showing an example of the configuration of the control system in the printing apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the control operation in colorimetry. A series of operations of printing, colorimetry, and paper discharge in the present invention will be described. The CPU 300 controls the entire printing, drying, and colorimetry according to the control program stored in the ROM 301. The CPU 300 receives print data, print mode setting information, and the like from the host computer 302 via the input interface 303. In addition, the CPU 300 writes or reads print data or the like in the RAM 304. The CPU 300, based on the print data and print mode information from the host computer 302, print head 305, print section carriage motor 307, sheet transport motor 306, sensor drive motor 306, regulating member adjustment motor 308, blower fan 14, and lift drive means. 17 is controlled.

  Hereinafter, a series of operations of printing, colorimetry, and paper discharge when acquiring colorimetric data from the colorimetric patch will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The color measurement patch image data is recorded in the ROM 301 in advance. The CPU 300 determines print control according to the print mode setting information from the host computer 302 input via the input interface 303, and starts printing the colorimetric patch image in the ROM 301 in step S1. In step S <b> 2, the printed colorimetric patches are conveyed by the conveying roller pair 2 driven by the sheet conveying motor 306 until the A-line patch on the most upstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the colorimetric patches reaches just below the colorimetric sensor 5. Be transported. In this state, in step S3, the color measurement unit U rotates to the drying position at the time of drying the color measurement patch described above. In step S4, the blower fan 14 is driven to dry the colorimetric patch. When drying is completed, the colorimetric unit U rotates to the colorimetric position for colorimetry of the colorimetric patch A row in step S5. Then, in a state where the color measurement patch is pressed by the pressing surface 7a of the color measurement unit U, the color measurement unit carriage 6 scans the support plate 7 in step S6, and the color measurement sensor 5 acquires the color information of the A row. Measure the color of the patch and the Y shift information acquisition patch at both ends of row A. In step S7, the color measurement unit is rotated to the retracted position.

  From the color measurement results of the Y deviation information acquisition patches at both ends of the A row, the amount of Y deviation between the color information acquisition patch of the A row and the color measurement sensor 5 at both ends of the sheet is detected. In the calculation from the colorimetric result to the Y shift amount, as described above, the brightness information is converted into the Y shift amount using the Y shift amount conversion table printed in the ROM 301. In step S8, it is confirmed whether or not the Y shift amount is equal to or less than a threshold value. When the amount of Y misalignment is large, color information of another color in another row enters, so the accuracy and reliability of the colorimetric data deteriorates. Therefore, based on the spot diameter of the colorimetric sensor 5 and the Y-direction size of the colorimetric patch, if the preset threshold value for Y deviation is exceeded, the regulating member adjustment motor 308 is controlled in step S9. Then, the left regulating member 30 and the right regulating member 40 are adjusted to correct the Y shift amount (including the tilt factor) at both ends of the sheet. Then, by performing the color measurement operation again, accurate color measurement data is acquired. When the colorimetry of the colorimetric patch in the A column is completed, the colorimetric operation for the colorimetric patch in the B column is started. First, returning to step S <b> 2, the colorimetric patches in row B are conveyed directly below the colorimetric sensor 5. Then, as in the case of row A in step S3, the rotation of the color measurement unit U to the drying position, the drying by the blower fan 14 in step S4, the rotation of the color measurement unit U to the color measurement position in step S5, In step S6, the color measurement of the B row is performed.

  At the time of color measurement for the B row, the amount of Y deviation between the color information acquisition patch for the B row and the colorimetric sensor 5 at both ends of the sheet from the color measurement result (detection result) of the Y deviation information acquisition patch at both ends of the B row. Is detected. If the Y deviation amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold value in step S8, the process proceeds to the color measurement operation for the next C column. This series of operations is repeated, and the colorimetric patches are sequentially measured by the colorimetric sensor 5 from the A column → the B column →... When the color measurement of all the patches is completed in step S10, the color measurement patches are cut by the cutter 4 in step S11 and are discharged outside the apparatus.

  By performing a series of colorimetric operations like this, there is no risk of measuring different color patches different from the patch to be measured and obtaining inaccurate colorimetric information, and more accurate and reliable colorimetry. Can be performed. In addition, when acquiring colorimetric data with higher accuracy, the number of colorimetric patches increases, and a 24-inch sheet is a colorimetric patch having a length of about 1.2 m in the conveyance direction. If the configuration of the present embodiment is adopted, even if inaccurate color information is acquired due to the influence of Y misalignment during the 1.2 m color measurement operation, the color measurement operation is not repeated from 1 again. Colorimetry can be resumed from the column where the Y deviation has occurred. As a result, the time required for the colorimetric operation, the consumption of ink, and the sheet can be reduced. In the present embodiment, not only correction of an offset error caused by slippage of the conveyance system but also inclination of the scanning direction of the colorimetric sensor 5 with respect to the colorimetric patch can be corrected. Therefore, the Y shift of the tilt factor can be corrected, and the colorimetric patch can be further downsized.

  In this way, the colorimetric patch including the Y-deviation information acquisition patch detects and corrects the Y-shift and the inclination in the scanning direction of the colorimetric sensor, thereby reducing the size of the colorimetric patch. A printing apparatus that reduces the consumption of ink and sheets could be realized.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

  In the first embodiment, the adjustment of the restriction member in step S9 of FIG. 9 is performed by the CPU 300 controlling the restriction member adjustment motor 308. However, in this embodiment, the user controls the left restriction member 30 and the right restriction member. The member 40 is adjusted.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing an outline of a mechanism for adjusting the left side regulating member 30 and the right side regulating member 40. Since the basic structure of the adjustment mechanism of the left side regulation member 30 and the right side regulation member 40 is the same, the adjustment mechanism of the left side regulation member 30 will be described. The left regulating member 30 is urged in the arrow Y direction by a spring 33. Further, a cam 31 that is rotatable and eccentric with respect to the rotation center shaft 34 is in contact with the opposite side of the contact surface of the left regulating member 30 with the spring 33. The cam 31 can be rotated about the rotation center shaft 34 by the cam lever 32 to move the left regulating member 30 in the arrow Y direction. The cam lever 32 is disposed at a position that can be easily accessed by the user. The user moves the cam lever 32 to a predetermined scale position according to an instruction from the operation panel 25, thereby changing the position of the left regulating member 30 in the arrow Y direction. Can be adjusted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a control operation in colorimetry according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, the control operation in colorimetry according to this embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. Since there are processes similar to those of the first embodiment, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described here.

  In a series of colorimetric operations, if it is detected in step S8 that the Y deviation exceeds the threshold value, it is necessary to adjust the restricting member on the operation panel 25 and the adjustment position (scale) of the cam lever 32 in step S12. Is displayed. Based on this, the user adjusts the left regulating member 30 and the right regulating member 40. After the adjustment is completed, the user presses a button on the operation panel to notify the CPU 300 of the completion of the adjustment in step S13. When receiving an input from the operation panel, the color measurement unit U moves to the color measurement position in step S5, and a series of subsequent color measurement operations are resumed from the middle. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment without having a drive unit such as the regulating member adjusting motor 308.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to the 1st and 2nd embodiment mentioned above, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, various forms can be employ | adopted further. Of course you can.

  In this way, the colorimetric patch including the Y-deviation information acquisition patch detects and corrects the Y-shift and the inclination in the scanning direction of the colorimetric sensor, thereby reducing the size of the colorimetric patch. A printing apparatus that reduces the consumption of ink and sheets could be realized.

5 Colorimetric Sensor 14 Blower Fan 30 Left Side Control Member 40 Right Side Control Member 50 Roller 51 Roller 302 Host Computer 300 CPU
U Color measuring unit

Claims (9)

A colorimetric means that includes a carriage mounted with a colorimetric sensor and moves in a direction crossing the medium conveyance direction, and performs colorimetry of patches printed on the medium;
And a detection unit configured to detect a shift amount between the patch and the colorimetric sensor in the transport direction and a slope between the patch and the colorimetric sensor based on the shift amount. Color device. A changer capable of changing the inclination of the carriage in the scanning direction;
The color measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit corrects a shift amount and a tilt in a scanning direction of the carriage based on the shift amount and the tilt.   The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that informs that the shift amount and the inclination in the scanning direction of the carriage need to be corrected based on the shift amount and the inclination.   The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying that one of the deviation amount and the inclination needs to be corrected. A guide means for supporting the medium at a position facing the colorimetric sensor; a first restricting member and a second restricting member which are disposed in the guide means and serve as positioning means for the guide means of the colorimetric means And more.
3. The color measurement according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit is configured such that at least one of the first restricting member and the second restricting member is movable in the transport direction. apparatus.   8. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit reads a light / dark pattern of the patch by the colorimetric sensor and detects a shift amount of the patch and the colorimetric sensor in the transport direction. The colorimetric apparatus according to any one of the above. The detection means measures the brightness by the colorimetric sensor with a light and dark pattern arranged in the transport direction of white and black, arranged at both ends of the medium in the patch,
Based on the correlation information between the measured brightness and the amount of shift in the transport direction between the patch and the colorimetric sensor, the amount of shift in the transport direction of the light / dark pattern and the colorimetric sensor is detected. The colorimetric apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the colorimetric apparatus is characterized in that:   The detection of the amount of deviation and the detection of the inclination are performed each time the colorimetric unit moves to a position facing the patch for colorimetry. The color measuring device according to item. Printing means for printing on a medium;
A printing apparatus comprising the color measurement device according to claim 1.

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