JP2014235125A - Colorimetric device and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a colorimetric device capable of accurately performing colorimetry on a colorimetric object, while controlling a position of the colorimetric object, such as a recording medium and to provide a recording device.SOLUTION: A pattern for position adjustment is detected by using a colorimetry sensor, so that a relative position of a slit a of a pressing plate 24 and a spot of light of the colorimetry sensor is measured. Based on the measurement result, a relative position of recording paper of a colorimetric object and the pressing plate 24 is adjusted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a colorimetric apparatus and a recording apparatus for measuring a colorimetric object by irradiating various colorimetric objects such as an image recorded on a recording medium with a light spot.

  As the color measuring device, for example, there is a device provided in the recording device so as to measure the color of an image (including a test pattern and a patch) recorded on a recording medium by the recording device. When an image to be colorimetric is recorded by an inkjet recording apparatus or the like, the recording medium may expand due to curl wrinkles or ink of the recording medium, and the image recording surface (colorimetric surface) may rise. Such lifting of the recording surface causes a decrease in colorimetric accuracy.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to suppress such lifting of the recording medium, the recording surface is pressed by a pressing plate in which a slit is formed, and a light spot is irradiated from the color measuring device to the color measuring surface through the slit. The configuration is described. The pressing plate extends in the width direction of the recording medium, and the slit is formed long along the length direction of the pressing plate (width direction of the recording medium). The color measuring device includes a color measuring sensor including a light emitting unit that irradiates a color measuring surface with a light spot through a slit and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light from the color measuring surface. By moving this colorimetric sensor in the slit length direction, the color of the image recorded on the colorimetric surface is measured.

JP 2012-88085 A

  In order to suppress the lift of the recording medium and more reliably regulate the position of the colorimetric surface, the slit width should be narrow. When a slit having a narrow width and a long width is formed on the pressing plate in this way, the diameter of the light spot irradiated to the colorimetric surface through the slit is also reduced. However, in this case, there is a risk that the spot of the light will come off the slit due to variations in the width of the slit or relative displacement between the colorimetric sensor and the pressing plate, making it impossible to irradiate the colorimetric surface reliably. is there. Further, the center position of the light spot may be shifted for each colorimetric sensor due to variations in the position and angle of the light emitting unit in the colorimetric sensor. Therefore, even if the relative positional deviation between the colorimetric sensor and the pressing plate is adjusted once with a jig or the like, the light spot may be removed from the slit when the colorimetric sensor is replaced with another one. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a colorimetric device and a recording device that can accurately measure the colorimetric object while regulating the position of the colorimetric object such as a recording medium.

  The colorimetric device of the present invention is formed with a slit extending in a predetermined direction, and a pressing plate in contact with the surface of the object, and irradiating the object with a light spot through the slit and moving in the predetermined direction. A sensor that measures the surface of the object, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the relative position of the slit and the spot in the width direction of the slit perpendicular to the predetermined direction based on the output of the sensor; It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, the relative position between the slit of the pressing plate and the light spot of the color measuring sensor is measured using the color measuring sensor, and the relative position between the color measuring object and the pressing plate is determined based on the measurement result. Can be adjusted. As a result, it is possible to accurately measure the colorimetric object by accurately irradiating the object with the light spot through the slit of the pressing plate.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recording apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a color measurement unit in the color measurement device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the color measurement unit of FIG. 2 is in operation. It is typical sectional drawing of the vicinity part of the press plate in the colorimetry unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is a top view of the pressing plate in FIG. 4. It is a top view of the position measurement patch in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the color measurement result of the position measurement patch in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the color characteristic of the position measurement patch in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a position adjustment mechanism provided in the color measurement unit of FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is a side view of the position adjustment mechanism in FIG. 9. It is a side view for demonstrating the different operation state of the position adjustment mechanism in FIG. It is a side view for demonstrating the further different operation state of the position adjustment mechanism in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the color measuring device in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the color measurement device in FIG. 1. It is a top view of the position measurement patch in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the color measurement result of the position measurement patch of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the L * A * B * data table in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the position adjustment mechanism in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control system of the color measurement apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the color measurement apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. In the following description, a case where the colorimetric device is provided in an ink jet recording apparatus will be described. However, the colorimetric device of the present invention is not limited to the form provided in the ink jet recording apparatus, and may be incorporated in various other apparatuses or may be independent.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a recording apparatus provided with a colorimetric device of the present invention. The recording apparatus of this example is an inkjet recording apparatus 1 that uses an inkjet recording head to apply ink to a recording medium.

  A roll-shaped sheet (recording medium) 100 held by the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is conveyed through a sheet conveying path formed by the outer guide 6 and the inner guide 7. When the leading edge of the paper 100 reaches the nip portion between the conveyance roller 10 and the pinch roller 11, the paper 100 is conveyed onto the platen 12 of the image recording unit by these rollers 10 and 11. The platen 12 is disposed opposite to the recording head 2, and an image is recorded on the paper 100 conveyed on the platen 12 by the recording head 2. The image recording unit includes a recording head 2, a carriage 3 on which the recording head 2 is detachably mounted, and a platen 12 disposed to face the recording head 2. The carriage 3 reciprocates in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the paper 100 (in the present example, orthogonal) along a carriage shaft 4 and a guide rail (not shown) arranged in parallel with each other on the main body of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. It is guided to move freely.

  The recording head 2 is formed with a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink, and these nozzles form a squeeze line extending in a direction intersecting (or orthogonal in this example) with the moving direction of the carriage 3. To do. The nozzle is configured to eject ink using an ejection energy generating element such as an electrothermal conversion element (heater) or a piezo element. When the electrothermal converter is used, the ink is foamed by the heat generation, and the ink can be ejected from the ejection port at the tip of the nozzle using the foaming energy.

  In the image recording unit, the recording head 2 ejects ink, and the recording head 2 moves forward or backward together with the carriage 3 to record an image for one line. 100 is transported by a predetermined amount in the transport direction of arrow A. By repeating such a recording operation and a conveying operation, images are sequentially recorded on the paper 100. The paper 100 on which the image is recorded is conveyed toward the paper discharge guide 14. When the image recording is completed, the colorimetric region of the paper 100 on which the image is recorded is conveyed in the direction of arrow P by the conveying roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 and is carried to a predetermined colorimetric position on the paper discharge guide 14. Is done. Thereafter, the color measurement device 20 performs a color measurement operation on the paper 100 as the color measurement object, as will be described later. When the color measurement operation for all the color measurement regions is completed, the paper 100 is conveyed to a predetermined cutting position and then cut by the cutter 5. The cut paper 100 is discharged from the paper discharge guide 14 to a paper discharge basket (not shown).

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the color measurement unit 30 constituting the color measurement device 20 in the retracted state, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the color measurement unit 30 in the color measurement state (operation state). .

  The color measurement unit 30 includes a color measurement sensor 21, a sensor holder (color measurement carriage) 22, a sliding member 23, a pressing plate 24, a sliding shaft 25, a drying duct 27, a blower fan 28, and a color calibration plate 29. The colorimetric sensor 21 is detachably attached to the sensor holder 22 and irradiates light onto the measurement surface of the paper 100 on which the color patch is recorded, and the color information of the color patch is obtained based on the reflected light from the color patch. taking measurement. The sensor holder 22 is in contact with the pressing plate 24 via a sliding member 23 provided on the bottom surface. The sliding shaft 25 and the pressing plate 24 extend in a direction intersecting the transport direction P, and the sensor holder 22 can slide along the extending direction of the sliding shaft 25 and the pressing plate 24. It is supported. In the case of this example, the sliding shaft 25 and the pressing plate 24 extend in the width direction of the paper 100 (hereinafter also referred to as “paper width direction”) orthogonal to the transport direction A, and the sensor holder 22 It is guided to move in the direction. When the sensor holder 22 moves in the paper width direction, the relative posture accuracy between the pressing surface 24a of the pressing plate 24 and the colorimetric sensor 21 is determined by the pressing plate 24, the sliding member 23, the sensor holder 22, and the sliding shaft 25. Maintained by. The pressing plate 24 is attached to the colorimetric unit 30 via a hooking member 26 so that the position can be adjusted by a predetermined amount in the left-right direction in FIG.

  A drying duct 27 extending in the width direction of the paper 100 and a blower fan 28 are provided on the downstream side in the transport direction (arrow P direction) of the colorimetric sensor 21. The air generated by the blower fan 28 is sent to the drying duct 27, and the air blown from the drying duct 27 is uniformly applied to the surface of the paper 100 on which an image such as a color patch is recorded. Drying is promoted.

  Immediately below the pressing plate 24 is provided a paper discharge guide 14 that is inclined so that the downstream side in the transport direction is lowered. When the color measurement unit 30 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 2, the paper 100 is conveyed in the direction of arrow P through the opening H between the pressing surface 24 a and the paper discharge guide 14. The color measurement unit 30 is rotated by the color measurement unit drive mechanism 31 in the directions of arrows B1 and B2 around the color measurement unit shaft 32 provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the color measurement sensor 21. By such rotation of the color measurement unit 30, the opening H between the pressing surface 24a and the paper discharge guide 14 is adjusted.

  At the time of the color measurement operation, the color measurement unit drive mechanism 31 rotates the color measurement unit 30 in the direction of the arrow B2 to move the color measurement unit 30 to the color measurement position shown in FIG. Thereby, the pressing surface 24 a presses the surface of the paper 100. When the colorimetric sensor 21 scans in the paper width direction along the pressing plate 24, the color patch or the like image recorded on the paper 100 is measured through the slit 24 b provided in the pressing plate 24. The color measurement data of the color patch is compared with, for example, the color of the recording data on the monitor, and a desired color reproduction can be obtained by reflecting the comparison result on the subsequent image recording. A color calibration plate 29 is provided at the end of the pressing plate 24 in the paper width direction. The color calibration plate 29 is used to calibrate the change over time in the detection characteristics of the colorimetric sensor 21, and the colorimetric sensor 21 frequently moves to a position facing the color calibration plate 29 during the colorimetric operation. Thus, color calibration can be performed. As described above, the color measurement unit 30 rotates in the directions of the arrows B1 and B2 and moves to at least the color measurement position of FIG. 3 and the retracted position of FIG. Can do.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the slit 24b. A light beam 98 having a spot diameter D is emitted from the light source 98 in the colorimetric sensor 21 toward the paper 100. The light L1 strikes the paper 100 and is diffusely reflected. In the sensor 21, a light receiving unit 97 that receives the reflected light L <b> 2 from the paper 100 is provided at a position inclined by an angle θ with respect to the irradiation position of the light L <b> 1. Although only one light receiving portion 97 is shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of light receiving portions 97 may be provided so as to surround the light source 98. As the width W of the slit 24b in the transport direction is narrower, the lifting of the paper 100 can be suppressed. On the other hand, the width W of the slit 24b needs to be set larger than the spot diameter D so that the irradiation position of the light spot is surely located in the slit 24b. In the case of this example, the width W of the slit 24b is set larger by ΔS on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction than the spot diameter D in consideration of the tolerance of the spot diameter D of the colorimetric sensor 21. The ΔS is about 11 mm.

  Next, the relationship between the center of the spot diameter D and the center line of the slit 24b will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a top view of the pressing plate 24, and the slit 24 b extends in a predetermined direction along the length direction of the pressing plate 24. On the surface of the pressing plate 24, two position measurement patches (first and second position measurement patches) 33 as a pattern for position adjustment are installed outside the both ends of the slit 24b. The position of the position measurement patch 33 in the paper width direction is at a specific location within the color measurement range L that can be measured by the color measurement sensor 21. In the conveyance direction of the paper 100, the center line of the position measurement patch 33 and the center line CL of the slit 24b are set to coincide with each other. Two position adjustment levers 39 in total are installed at positions outside the position measurement patch 33 in the paper width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the position measurement patch 33 is located upstream of the upstream patch 33a, the center patch 33b, and the downstream of the transport direction of the paper 100 in the transport direction (arrow P direction) of the paper 100. A patch 33c is included. The center line of the center patch 33b is located coaxially with the center line CL of the slit 24b, and the width of the center patch 33b in the transport direction is ΔS on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction relative to the width of the slit 24b. It is set small. The surface color of the central patch 33b is white, and the absolute value of L * in the color system of CIE L * A * B * is the highest compared to the upstream patch 33a and the downstream patch 33c, and A *, B * The absolute value of is zero. The upstream patch 33a is located upstream of the center patch 33b in the transport direction. The surface color of the upstream patch 33a is yellow, and the absolute value of B * in the color system of CIEL * A * B * is positive. The downstream patch 33c is located downstream of the center patch 33b in the transport direction. The surface color of the downstream patch 33c is blue, and the absolute value of B * is negative. All the colors of the position measurement patch 33 including the three-color patches 33a, 33b, and 33c are acquired as measurement data before the color measurement operation, and in this example, are acquired as numerical values shown in FIG. The

  FIG. 7 shows the result of colorimetry by the colorimetric sensor 21 in the vicinity including the position measurement patch 33. 7A and 7B, the respective vertical axes represent the absolute value of L * and the absolute value of B * in the color system of CIEL * A * B *. The horizontal axes in FIGS. 7A and 7B represent the shift amount in the transport direction between the center line CL and the center O of the spot diameter D of the colorimetric sensor 21, and the center O is relative to the center line CL. The direction shifted to the upstream side in the transport direction is positive. When the center O of the spot coincides with the center line CL (in FIG. 6, when the center O coincides with the line B on the center line CL), the L * value is the highest and the B * value is 0. It becomes. When the center O of the spot is deviated from the center line CL (for example, when the center O is located on the line A or C deviated from the center line CL in FIG. 6), the absolute value of L * is As a result, the absolute value of B * becomes a minus or plus value from 0. In the case of this example, when the absolute value of B * shows a negative value, it can be seen that the center O of the spot is shifted downstream in the transport direction. Therefore, as described later, by adjusting the position of the pressing plate 24 while measuring the L * value and the B * value, the center O of the spot coincides with the center line CL (the center line of the slit 24b of the pressing plate 24). It becomes possible to make it. In this manner, the relative position between the center of the spot and the center line Cl is measured based on the color measurement result of the color measurement sensor 21, and based on the measurement result, the center of the spot and the center line Cl are matched. The spot can be positioned at the center of the slit 24b.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, a position adjusting mechanism of the pressing plate 24 for bringing the center O of the spot closer to the center line CL will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the position adjustment mechanism when the position of the pressing plate 24 is located at the most downstream side in the transport direction, and FIG. 10 is a side view of the position adjustment mechanism when the side plate 34 of the color measurement unit 30 is removed. FIG. 9, the position adjusting mechanism is provided not only on the left side of the pressing plate 24 in FIG. 9, but also on the right side thereof.

  The pressing plate 24 is always biased in the same direction as the conveying direction P by the biasing spring 40 between the spring hanging portion 24 c of the pressing plate 24 and the spring hanging portion 39 of the side plate 34 of the color measuring unit 30. Yes. In addition, a lever cam 39 d provided on one end side of the position adjustment lever 39 enters the cam hole 24 d formed in the side surface of the pressing plate 24. A rotation center shaft 39e provided at one end of the lever cam 39 is supported by a shaft hole (not shown) formed in the side plate 34 so as to be rotatable in the directions of arrows C1 and C2. The guide pin 39a on one end side of the lever cam 39 is guided in the arc-shaped guide hole 36 of the side plate 34 so that the lever 39 smoothly rotates about the central axis 39e. A roof-like lever position display part 35 extending along the guide hole 36 is provided above the guide hole 36, and the positional relationship between the numerical value given to the display part 35 and the lever 39. Thus, the rotation position of the lever 39 is displayed as a numerical value. As for the rotation position of the lever 39, the position where the lever 39 is perpendicular to the pressing plate 24 is displayed as "0" as shown in FIG. Then, the position where the lever 39 rotates to the upstream side in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed as plus, and the position where the lever 39 rotates to the downstream side in the transport direction as shown in FIG. A plurality of positioning grooves 37A are cut out at regular intervals in the arc-shaped lever positioning hole 37 of the side plate 34. When the positioning pin 39b of the lever 39 is fitted into the positioning groove 37A, the lever 39 is locked each time the lever 39 rotates by a predetermined interval.

  When the lever 39 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 from the rotation position of FIG. 10, the lever cam 39d presses the side surface of the cam hole 24d, and the pressing plate 24 is opposite to the conveying direction against the force of the biasing spring 40. It is displaced in the arrow T direction. In the case of this example, the pivotable angle of the lever 39 is 100 °, and the maximum displacement amount of the pressing plate 24 by the lever cam 39d is 2 mm. The lever 39 is in the rotation limit position in the direction of the arrow C2 in FIG. 10, and is in the rotation limit position in the direction of the arrow C1 in FIG. By rotating the lever 39 from FIG. 10 to the rotating position of FIG. 11, the pressing plate 24 is displaced by 1 mm in the direction of the arrow T, and by rotating the lever 39 from FIG. 10 to the rotating position of FIG. The pressing plate 24 is displaced by 2 mm in the arrow T direction. Further, the positioning groove 37a is notched at intervals corresponding to the displacement amount of 0.25 mm of the pressing plate 24, whereby the lever 39 is locked every time the pressing plate 24 is displaced by 0.25mm. Therefore, the position of the pressing plate 24 can be adjusted by 0.25 mm.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 13, the control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 including the color measurement device 20 will be described. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus. The control unit 200 includes a carriage motor 61, a conveyance motor 62, an operation panel 63, a colorimetric unit drive motor 51, a colorimetric carriage drive motor 52, and The colorimetric sensor 21 is controlled. The carriage motor 61 is a motor for moving the carriage 3 on which the recording head 2 is mounted, and the transport motor 62 is a motor for rotating the transport roller 10 to transport the paper 100. The control unit 200 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a motor driver, and the like (not shown).

  The main control unit 210, the drive control unit 220 of the color measurement unit 30, the drive control unit 230 of the color measurement carriage (sensor holder) 22, and the control unit 240 of the color measurement sensor 21 are included. The main control unit 210 gives commands to the drive control unit 220, the drive control unit 230, and the control unit 240. The drive control unit 220 adjusts the rotational position of the colorimetry unit 30 in the directions of arrows B1 and B2 by drivingly controlling the drive motor 51 of the colorimetry unit 30. The drive control unit 230 adjusts the sliding position in the paper width direction of the color measurement carriage (sensor holder) 22 on which the color measurement sensor 21 is mounted by drivingly controlling the drive motor 52 of the color measurement carriage (sensor holder) 22. . The control unit 240 controls the colorimetric sensor 21 to measure a predetermined position of the paper 100 and feeds back the measured color information to the main control unit 210. Based on the fed back color information, the control unit 210 displays various information on the display panel 64 of the operation panel 63. Information input by the user using the operation keys 65 is sent to the main control unit 210.

  Next, a series of operations for measuring the position of the spot center O and adjusting the position for bringing the spot center O closer to the center line CL will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  After recognizing that the colorimetric sensor 21 has been replaced (step S11), up to the first spot confirmation position where one of the two position measurement patches 33 (hereinafter also referred to as “first position measurement patch”) is located. The colorimetric sensor 21 is moved (step S12) The fact that the colorimetric sensor 21 has been replaced is, for example, using a flag (not shown) or an identification number (identification information) that the colorimetric sensor 21 has individually. Thereafter, the color measurement sensor 21 measures the color of the first position measurement patch 33 (step S13), and determines whether or not the CIEL * value exceeds 90 (step S14).

  When the CIE L * value exceeds 90, since the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 is almost within the center patch 33b, it is determined that the center O of the spot is coincident with the center line CL, and the control unit 200 determines. “Alignment complete” is displayed on the display panel 64 (S15). The CIEL * value of the center patch 33b is exactly 100. However, the threshold value is set to 90 in consideration of the case where a part of the spot is applied to the upstream patch 33a and the downstream patch 33c due to the variation in the performance of the colorimetric sensor 21 and the variation in the spot diameter D. As described above, when the CIE L * value exceeds 90 as a result of the color measurement of the first position measurement patch 33, the other of the two position measurement patches 33 (hereinafter, also referred to as “second position measurement patch”). The colorimetric sensor 21 is moved to the second spot confirmation position (step S16).

  As a result of the color measurement of the first position measurement patch 33 in the previous step S13, if the CIEL * value is 90 or less, it is determined that the center O of the spot of the color measurement sensor 21 and the center line CL are shifted. Then, it is determined whether or not the determination of the CIEb * value is less than “0” (step S17). When the CIEB * value is less than 0, a part of the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 is on the downstream patch 33c. That is, it can be determined that the center O of the spot is shifted to the downstream side in the direction of the arrow P with respect to the center line CL. In this case, the control unit 210 displays “Please press the operation key after rotating the lever in the + direction” on the display panel 64 (step S18). When the user turns the position adjustment lever 39 and then presses the operation key 65, the control unit 210 confirms the input from the operation key 65 (step S19), and then measures the first position measurement patch 33 again. (Step S20).

  On the other hand, when the CIEB * value is 0 or more, a part of the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 is on the upstream patch 33a. That is, it can be determined that the center O of the spot is shifted to the upstream side in the arrow P direction with respect to the center line CL. In this case, the control unit 210 displays “Please press the operation key after rotating the lever in the negative direction” on the display panel 64 (step S21). When the user presses the operation key 65 after turning the position adjustment lever 39, the control unit 210 confirms the input from the operation key 65 (step S22), and then measures the first position measurement patch 33 again. (Step S23).

  Through steps S14 to S23, the color measurement of the first position measurement patch 33 and the position adjustment of the pressing plate 24 are repeated until the CIE L * value becomes 90 or more. As a result of the color measurement of the first position measurement patch 33, when the CIE L * value is 90 or more, as described above, the process proceeds from step S14, S15 to step S16, and the second position measurement patch 33 is read. Process A similar to steps S13 to S15 is performed (step S24). Accordingly, the color measurement of the second position measurement patch 33 and the position adjustment of the pressing plate 24 are repeated for the second position measurement patch 33 until the CIEL * value becomes 90 or more.

  In this example, the positional deviation between the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 and the pressing plate 24 is adjusted using the recognition of the replacement of the colorimetric sensor 21 as a trigger. For example, when the identification information of the color measurement sensor 21 attached to the color measurement unit is new identification information, the necessity of adjusting the positional deviation between the spot of the color measurement sensor 21 and the pressing plate 24, that is, the adjustment of the positional deviation. Users can be notified of the need to make the mechanism work. However, this type of misalignment adjustment typing is not limited to this example, and may be performed, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the recording apparatus 1 was activated. In this example, the CIEb * value is used to determine the positional deviation between the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 and the pressing plate 24. However, the CIEa * value may be used. In this case, for example, the surface color of the upstream patch 33a is red (CIEa * value is positive), and the surface color of the downstream patch 33c is green (CIEa * value is negative). Further, the position measurement patch 33 may be formed by a sheet material attached to the pressing plate 24 or may be printed directly on the pressing plate 24.

  Further, instead of the position measurement patch 33, a part of the slit 24b is set to have the same width as the spot diameter D of the colorimetric sensor 21, and the sheet discharge guide 14 is passed through the slit 24b having the same width as the spot diameter D. The color of the surface of the backing (supporting member) 41 provided in may be measured. In that case, the CIEL * a * a * value of the surface of the backing 41 is acquired in advance. The backing 41 is a member that supports the back side of the paper 100 so that the paper 100 is sandwiched between the backing plate 24 and the pressing plate 24. Further, instead of the position measurement patch 33, the color of the surface of the paper 100 conveyed to just below the slit 24b may be measured. In that case, the CIEL * a * b * value of the surface of the paper 100 is acquired in advance. In this manner, the relative position between the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 and the slit 24b can be measured without using the position measurement patch 33. Furthermore, the position adjustment mechanism is not limited to the method of adjusting the position of the pressing plate 24 as in this example. For example, it is a position adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the colorimetric sensor 21 in the transport direction by adjusting the position of the sliding shaft 25 so that the center O of the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 approaches the center line CL. May be.

(Second Embodiment)
In the following second embodiment of the present invention, the same constituent elements as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The position measurement patch 46 in this embodiment includes an upstream patch 46a, a center patch 46b, and a downstream patch 46c, as shown in FIG. The positions and surface colors of the patches 46a, 46b, and 46c are the same as those in the first embodiment described above. In addition, the position measurement patch 46 is color-measured in advance in a state where the center O of the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 and the center line CL coincide with each other, and L * a * b * in the CIEL * a * b * color system. Get the absolute value of and save it. Similarly, the position where the center O of the spot coincides with the center line CL is defined as 0 point, and L in the CIE L * a * b * color system when the center O of the spot is shifted by Δd respectively upstream and downstream. The absolute value of * a * b * is also acquired and stored. These color measurement results are collectively stored in the L *, a *, b * data table 66 (see FIG. 19).

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the L *, a *, b * data table 66. In the table 66, a position number corresponding to a colorimetric position obtained by shifting the center O of the spot by Δd with respect to the center line CL is assigned. That is, the position number of the colorimetric position where the spot is most frequently applied to the downstream patch 46c is P1, and the position numbers of the colorimetric positions obtained by shifting the spot by Δd upstream in the transport direction are P2, P3,. . The position number when the center O of the spot coincides with the center line CL is P5. Further, the table 66 stores a positional deviation amount Δdx from the target position where the center O of the spot coincides with the center line CL for each colorimetric position.

  FIGS. 16A and 16B show the current colorimetry results obtained by measuring the color of the position measurement patch 46 by the colorimetric sensor 21. FIG. By comparing the current colorimetric result value with the stored value in the table 66 and referring to the latter value that is the closest to the former value, the center O and the center line of the spot of the current colorimetric sensor 21 are obtained. It is possible to accurately measure the amount of positional deviation from the CL. Δd can be determined to an arbitrary value. In this case, Δd is 0.25 mm.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 18, a position adjustment mechanism that brings the center O of the spot closer to the center line CL will be described. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the position adjustment mechanism in the present embodiment, and the side plate 34 is indicated by a dotted line for convenience in order to represent a mechanism portion hidden behind the side plate 34 of the color measurement unit 30. 18, the position adjusting mechanism is provided not only on the left side of FIG. 9 of the pressing plate 24 but also on the right side thereof. A position adjusting cam 45a is inserted into a cam hole 24d formed in the side surface of the pressing plate 24. The position adjustment cam 45a is provided integrally with a position adjustment gear 45b positioned coaxially therewith. An encoder 44 is provided on the rotation shaft of the position adjusting gear 45b, and the rotation angle of the position adjusting cam 45a can be detected / adjusted by reading the rotation of the encoder 44 by the encoder sensor 46. The position adjustment gear 45 b meshes with the reduction gear 43. The reduction gear 43 is a two-stage gear and meshes with the gear of the drive motor 42 for the pressing plate. The drive motor 42 for the pressing plate can be rotated forward and backward. When the drive motor 42 for the pressing plate rotates, the position adjusting cam 45a rotates via the reduction gear 43 and the position adjusting gear 45b, and accordingly, the pressing plate 24 is moved upstream and downstream in the transport direction. The position can be adjusted.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 19, a control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 including the color measurement device 20 of the present example will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a control system of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the drive control unit 220 of the color measurement unit adjusts the position of the pressing plate 24 by drivingly controlling the driving motor 42 of the pressing plate. The main control unit 210 compares the color measurement information fed back from the color measurement sensor 21 with the data stored in the L *, a *, b * data table 66, and the center of the spot of the color measurement sensor 21. The amount of deviation between O and the center line CL of the slit 24b of the pressing plate 24 is determined.

  Next, a series of operations for measuring the position of the spot center O and adjusting the position for bringing the spot center O closer to the center line CL will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  After recognizing that the colorimetric sensor 21 has been replaced (step S31), up to the first spot confirmation position where one of the two position measurement patches 46 (hereinafter also referred to as “first position measurement patch”) is located. The colorimetric sensor 21 is moved (step S32). Thereafter, the color measurement sensor 21 measures the color of the first position measurement patch 46 (step S33). From the color measurement result, the absolute value of L * a * b * in the CIEL * a * b * color system at the current position Px is acquired (step S34). Then, the acquired value is compared with the data stored in the table 66, and the position number corresponding to the latter value closest to the former value is read (step S35).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the position number corresponding to the current position Px is P5 (step S36). When the position number corresponding to the position Px is P5, it is determined that the center O of the spot substantially coincides with the center line CL. If they substantially match, the colorimetric sensor 21 is moved to a second spot confirmation position where the other of the two position measurement patches 46 (hereinafter also referred to as “second position measurement patch”) is located. (Step S37).

  If it is determined in step S36 that the position number is not P5, the drive motor 42 is moved so as to displace the pressing plate 24 by the amount of displacement Δdx corresponding to the position number stored in the table 66. Control (S39). Thereafter, the color of the first position measurement patch 46 is measured again (step S40).

  Through such steps S34 to S40, the color measurement of the first position measurement patch 46 and the position adjustment of the pressing plate 24 are repeated until the position number becomes P5. As a result of the color measurement of the first position measurement patch 46, when the position number is P5, the process proceeds from step S36 to step S37 as described above, and step S33 is performed for the second position measurement patch 46. To S40 are executed (step S38). Thus, the color measurement of the second position measurement patch 46 and the position adjustment of the pressing plate 24 are repeated for the second position measurement patch 46 until the position number becomes P5.

  In the present embodiment, since the series of operations for measuring the position of the spot of the colorimetric sensor 21 and adjusting the position for bringing the center O of the spot closer to the center line CL can be automatically performed, the load on the user is reduced. be able to.

  In this example, the position deviation amount between the center O of the spot and the center line CL is determined using the current color measurement result and the data stored in the table 66, and the drive control unit 220 presses according to the position deviation amount. The positional deviation is automatically corrected by controlling the drive motor 42 of the plate. However, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, the position deviation may be corrected manually using the position adjustment lever 39. In that case, a position number is assigned to the lever position display unit 35 (see FIG. 9), and the position adjustment lever is adjusted so that the position number of the lever position display unit 35 is adjusted to a predetermined position number by the display panel 64. The operation of 39 may be instructed.

(Other embodiments)
The colorimetric device of the present invention is not limited to the method of measuring colors based on the reflected light from the colorimetric object as in this example, but the method of measuring colors based on the transmitted light that has passed through the colorimetric object. It may be. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which a measurement object is irradiated with a light spot through the slit of the pressing plate and transmitted light transmitted through the measurement object at that time is detected.

  The colorimetric device of the present invention can also be incorporated into various devices other than a recording device capable of recording an image on a recording medium, and can also be configured as a device independent of the recording device. Further, the recording apparatus including the color measuring device is not specified only as an ink jet recording apparatus. Further, the colorimetric object is not limited to the recording medium on which the image is recorded, and can be various samples.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 20 Color measuring device 21 Color measuring sensor 24 Pressing plate 24b Slit 33 Position measuring patch 41 Backing (supporting member)
100 paper (colorimetric object)
D Spot diameter O Center of the spot CL Centerline of the slit

Claims (10)

A slit that extends in a predetermined direction and is in contact with the surface of the object; and
A sensor that measures the surface of the object by irradiating the object with a light spot through the slit and moving in the predetermined direction;
Adjusting means for adjusting a relative position of the slit and the spot in the width direction of the slit orthogonal to the predetermined direction based on the output of the sensor;
A colorimetric device comprising:   The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit is capable of adjusting the relative position so that the center of the spot approaches a center line of the slit extending in the predetermined direction. A pattern for position adjustment is provided at a location where the spot can be irradiated from the sensor,
The said adjustment means has a measurement means to measure the relative position of the said slit and the said spot in the said width direction based on the colorimetry result of the said pattern by the said sensor, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Color measuring device. Storage means for storing a colorimetric result of the pattern when the spot is irradiated at the position of the pattern corresponding to the center of the slit;
The measurement unit is configured to determine the measurement result stored in the storage unit and the color measurement result of the pattern after the measurement result is stored in the storage unit. The color measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the relative position of the spot is measured. A support member in contact with the back surface of the object so as to sandwich the object between the pressing plate,
The position measuring means measures a relative position of the slit and the spot in the width direction based on a color measurement result of the support member when the sensor irradiates the spot to the support member through the slit. The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Storage means for storing a colorimetric result of the support member when the spot is irradiated on the support member through the center of the slit;
The position measuring unit is configured to determine the slit in the width direction based on the measurement result stored in the storage unit and the color measurement result of the support member after the measurement result is stored in the storage unit. The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a relative position of the spot is measured.   The color measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit includes a position adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting positions of both end portions of the pressing plate in the predetermined direction. The sensor is mounted on a colorimetric carriage that is movably guided in the predetermined direction by a shaft,
The color measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit includes a position adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting positions of both ends of the shaft in the predetermined direction. The sensor has individual identification information and is detachably attached to the color measuring device,
The colorimetric device includes notification means for notifying the necessity of causing the position measurement means and the adjustment means to function when the identification information of the attached sensor is new identification information. The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 1. A recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium,
A recording apparatus comprising the colorimetric device according to claim 1, which measures the color of the image recorded on the recording medium.

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